Review of Martine Murray‘s Molly and Pim and the Millions of Stars by guest reviewer Ella Sharpe, bookseller at The Younger Sun Children’s Bookshop in Melbourne.
Molly’s life is a little unusual. Her father and brother have disappeared somewhere in Cuba and her mama makes strange potions out of weird-smelling herbs. Molly would like nothing more than to have a normal life and a normal home – like her best friend Ellen who always has an apricot muesli bar in her lunchbox instead of weird pieces of fruit (pomegranates are not appropriate for eating at school). But when Molly’s mama makes a potion that transforms herself into a tree, Molly must try to find a way to reverse the spell before her nasty neighbours cut the tree down.
She is helped by the strange, intense Pim who spends his time looking at trees and investigating balls of dirt. But even with Pim’s help time is running out and Molly can’t remember why she ever wanted a different mama. If only she could get her back.
This is a beautiful story, by one of Australia’s best authors for children, teaching the importance of loving yourself and appreciating the things that make everyone different. Molly is an inquisitive and compassionate narrator and it is impossible not to be captivated by this magical, whimsical tale full of love, laughter and tears.
Reading age recommendation 8+
sounds like a great read to me ! thanks for sharing this book.
Cheers Beth! Hope you track it down.
T