"Spanning centuries as three young lives are threaded together by spidery connections, this Middle Grade adventure throngs with magic, ghosts, theatrical enchantment and friendship."
Richly atmospheric, Lisette Auton’s Lights Up is a fine novel for readers who like meaty magical adventures. Boasting a unique blend of theatre, arachnids, and family connections through time, it explores love, loss, friendship and putting past ghosts to bed through thoroughly engaging, well-formed characters whose journeys linger long in the heart.
Lights Up begins in classic style, “Way Back When”, in 1767, when two sisters ask Mam to “Tell us about the spiders’ diamond that lets you say goodbye to the dead!” In reality, Araine is alone in the world.
Skip forward to 1878, and we meet Jack, who’s bursting with anticipation before visiting the Machiavelli Empire theatre. Turns out, Harus and Ariane Machiavelli have been waiting for Jack and he’s invited backstage…
Meanwhile, a third present-day narrative features Hettie Lightfoot, whose grandad was Artistic Director of the Free Spirits theatre. Now both are gone, with a new theatre building standing in place of the former, and Grandad still very much in Hettie’s heart. Everything changes when she finds a letter to her from a certain Jack Redwood: “We are the only ones who understand the fire burning deep in your heart. If you want to see your grandad for one final time, come to our theatre”.
As connections between the characters come to light, emotional truths around loss and grief, love and friendship are subtly unveiled, making Lights Up a magical novel that’s also illuminating on handling raw real-life situations.
A magical, theatrical adventure about friendship, acceptance and putting the ghosts of the past to rest, from the award-winning author of The Secret of Haven Point. Just like her favourite person in the whole world - her grandad - Hettie's favourite place in the whole world - the Arts Centre - has gone. And Hettie can't quite work out how she's supposed to feel anything like how she did before.
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A magical, theatrical adventure about friendship, acceptance and putting the ghosts of the past to rest, from the award-winning author of The Secret of Haven Point. Just like her favourite person in the whole world - her grandad - Hettie's favourite place in the whole world - the Arts Centre - has gone.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Lights Up and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-10 years old
Lights Up features in the following genres: Featured Books for 9+ readers, Recommendations, Adventure Stories, Fantasy / Magical, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
Lights Up was written by Lisette Auton and published by Puffin an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK
Lights Up has 37 pages
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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