A magical house. A secret past. And an awful decision. Will she claim her destiny… or save her sister?
Twelve-year-old Chia is blind and toils in the mines digging up diamonds for her evil stepmother, Priscilla. Her only thought is to rescue her twin sister Viola from a life at the palace.Everything changes when a mysterious woman transports Chia to 66 Lilly Pilly Lane, a magical house where … to 66 Lilly Pilly Lane, a magical house where wondrous creatures live. To her delight, she’s no longer blind! With an entourage at her side and magic at her fingertips, it’s time to rescue Viola from Priscilla’s clutches and start a new life elsewhere.
The trouble is, her new friends claim Viola is not as innocent and helpless as she seems…
Come on a magical adventure to discover The Splendid Secrets of 66 Lilly Pilly Lane, a middle-grade novel that will entertain and delight even the most reluctant of readers.
Ideal for kids ages 9+ and adults who love adventurous, page-turning fantasy stories.
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The Splendid Secrets of 66 Lilly Pilly Lane by Elena Page
Loved this book, it transported me to a different place in time, one that has fairies and talking ducks and fox but also where there is evil and selfishness. Excellent characters that you come to care for and a story about a little girl that believes the best in others but lacks in believing in herself. What a wonderful, magical book! Looking forward to reading the next book in this series! Huge thank you to the author for an advance copy and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Twelve-year-old Chia is blind and works in a diamond mine. Her only friend is Pip, a duck, and she’s constantly harassed by the mine master, Hitchens. However, her heart isn’t directed at escaping to a better life, but saving her twin sister, Viola, from their cruel stepmother, Priscilla.
However, when Hitchens tells her Viola hates her and sent her to the mines, Chia stands up to him and screams in fury. And that’s when a mysterious lady named Ms. Roberta shows up, ready to whisk Chia away to the most fantastic place on Earth: 66 Lilly Pilly Lane. Although Chia tells Ms. Roberta she’s a terrible girl for abandoning her twin, the mysterious lady dismisses her protests and leads her into the house … where she can suddenly see and Pip can talk. So does Artemis the tree, Jeremy the pink fox, and of course, the shining Ms. Roberta, who’s the living version of a gold statue.
As Chia continues to insist she can’t waste time at the magical house — she must rush to save her sister, who needs her desperately — all the house residents gently inquire if Viola is really the innocent, needy sister Chia believes. She closes her ears to all arguments and convinces the residents to come with her, but no good comes of their trek.
All of Chia’s allies urge her to put own welfare first, rather than worrying about her twin, but even when she sees evidence that her friends are right and Viola really is a selfish girl who sent her sister to the mines, Chia can’t bring herself to give up hope. Things go from bad to worse as a result, and as a result, she once again finds herself blind, while her friends are no longer animated. The inhabitants of Lilly Pilly Lane have been rendered still and silent, while Pip is once again reduced to honking. And still the message Chia received from every creature and person she encounters is the same: you must put yourself first.
The Splendid Secrets of 66 Lilly Pilly Lane is a fairy tale with elements of Cinderella, Snow White, and The Little Match Girl, as well as its own modern components. Elena Paige has created a magical world for all to enjoy.
This book captured this 60-year-old heart and kept me reading to the end. So I shared this with my kids and they all want a copy to read! So this is a successful awesome book! Great for all ages!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chia went through a great many trials, putting herself, her family and her home in jeopardy of destruction by a vicious and jealous baddie.
She must learn moderation and self love and care.
More exciting adventures lie ahead, if she can survive.
Amazing KU read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.