LoveReading4Kids Says
A laugh-out-loud illustrated story!
Hooray! Here’s another one of those direct to reader narratives, fast-paced, fizzing with fun and introducing a character readers will adore. Everyone else in Maddy Yip’s family has won trophies and her certificate for pinning the tail on the donkey just doesn’t cut it in comparison. She’s determined to find something she’s really good at, no matter what it takes. In this she is helped by her charming and immensely patient friend Dev who supports her as she tries baking, breakdancing and even magic. The laughs come thick and fast as Maddy careers from one attempt to another, cartoon style illustrations by the author adding to the general liveliness. Readers who love Tom Gates or Konnie Huq’s Cookie series will thoroughly enjoy Maddy’s adventures and will put the book down feeling she’s a real friend.
Andrea Reece
Find This Book In
| Suitable For: |
|
| Other Genres: |
|
Maddy Yip's Guide to Life Synopsis
A madcap new story from Sue Cheung, winner of the Diverse Book Award, filled with belly-laughs and packed with drawings! Perfect for fans of Tom Gates and Sam Wu.
Maddy Yip is perfectly happy in life, until she realises that everyone she knows has a talent - except for her! Maddy is determined to change that, with the help of her brothers, bewildered grandad and her best friend Dev.
There are disastrous attempts at breakdancing and playing the recorder, revolting cakes, and a magic disappearing trick that ends up with an escaped guinea pig. Will Maddy ever find her true calling?
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781839130496 |
| Publication date: |
5th August 2021 |
| Author: |
Sue Cheung |
| Illustrator: |
Sue Cheung |
| Publisher: |
Andersen Press Ltd |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
256 pages |
| Series: |
Maddy Yip |
| Suitable For: |
|
| Other Genres: |
|
A note from the author, Sue Cheung :
Maddy Yip is the book I wanted to read when I was young. Maddy is an everyday kid doing everyday things, getting it wrong a lot, but that’s ok. And she just happens to be Chinese.
When I was a kid we had no books in the house. Instead, I went and bought comics at the local newsagents: The Beano, The Dandy, Whizzer and Chips - I devoured them all and ended up with a pile taller than I was.
When I was able, I got myself a membership card from the public library and started reading other books: Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, C.S. Lewis...Then Adrian Mole came along and changed my life. At last! A character that seemed real, that I could totally relate to. Adrian was a hapless teenage outcast trying to fit in but failing miserably, written honestly and hilariously by Sue Townsend, one of my biggest influences.
My own family life was tough. You can read all about my teens growing up in a Chinese takeaway in 1980s Coventry in my book Chinglish. My parents didn’t care about my education. They just wanted me to take over the business when I left school. But I saw the stress they went through working 14 hour days with only Christmas day off a year and vowed never to follow in their footsteps. I focused on my passion, which was art, and eventually started illustrating and writing children’s books.
The comics that filled my early days with so much fun and laughter left a mark. Ever since, I’ve wanted to produce something similar, and so Maddy Yip was born. There’s a lot of me in Maddy. She’s loves clowning about and being silly and no matter how challenging life gets, she manages to see the lighter side and gets on with stuff.
Also, as an author of colour, it was only natural that I created a character that reflected that. I didn’t see myself in any of the books I read as a kid, so I think it’s important that children get the proper representation reflecting society today.
Maddy’s dad is Chinese, her mam is English, and her Chinese grandad (Agung) lives in the garage conversion.
I’ve based it in the North East where I once lived on a council estate, so because it was my experience, I made a point of making the Yips working class.
My ultimate aim with the Maddy Yip series is to make people laugh and remind them that life isn’t perfect, and that’s ok!
