Just One Tick

The Girl Who Raced The World by Nat Harrison is a fabulous debut children’s historical novel. It is perfect for the eights and over. Whatever your age, this novel will entertain you. It is a re-telling of Around The World In Eighty Days but with a young orphan girl at the centre.

The year is 1872 as we join young Maggie delivering a letter from her late mother to a stranger called Monsieur Passepartout. This is to be the start of an adventure of racing around the world in eighty days following a bet from Mr Fogg at his gentleman’s club in London.

The trio race across stormy seas and continents, having adventures and meeting new people whilst trying to dodge an inspector from Scotland Yard who believes Mr Fogg to be guilty of theft.

Along the way there are words of wisdom and kindness. “Family is them what cares for you.” For Maggie, alone in the world, this is priceless.

New friends give help and guidance. “There is no debt among friends.” People do what they do for love, expecting nothing back. “There is nothing we cannot do if we do it together.” We are stronger together.

In the jungle we meet Kiouni, a captive elephant and also a young boy held captive. The trio are appalled at their captivity, and set about freeing them both.

Whilst in London we hear about the Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace that took place in 1850. The world is on the brink of the modern age.

Maggie’s mum left her with some wise words: “Sometimes Mamam had said… ‘rules need to be broken in order to do the right thing.’” This holds Maggie in good stead for her adventures.

All the characters were well drawn. Their excitement at new adventures is catching. Some are kind and offering friendship. Others are full of derring do. All work well together.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl Who Raced The World. I am hoping there will be many more books from Nat Harrison.

JULIA WILSON