Award winning author Emma Carroll and former Children’s Laureate Lauren Child bring a fresh twist and a whoosh of magic to one of Hans Christian Andersen’s best-loved stories.
As in the original, this Little Match Girl, a feisty red head called Bridie Sweeney, is also poor and cold and hungry. She makes what money she can by selling matches while her mother struggles to keep a roof over the family’s head by working in the factory where the matches are made. But Bridie is never going to accept that life scan be so unfair. Why should the rich live in great comfort and the poor suffer? Bridie strikes back!
Helped by some powerful magic, she soon makes great and wonderful changes to everything!
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An excellent story!
Bridie is one of the many youngsters selling matches on the streets of Victorian London. Her mother works long hours in dangerous conditions as a dipper in the Bryant and May Match Factory and even her six-year-old brother, Fergal, spends long hours making matchboxes in their tiny home. When trouble strikes and leaves Bridie hurt and alone, with just three matches left, magic happens when she strikes each one, allowing her to see visions of a different, brighter future. Realising she can change the future, the little match girl leads the factory workers out on strike and to achieve remarkable things.
Based on the real-life events of the matchgirls’ strike, this is a re-working of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic ‘The Little Matchgirl’. Like the original matchgirl, Bridie is cold, poor and hungry, but that’s where the similarity ends.... Read Full Review
A fascinating, inspirational and feel-good story!
I loved reading The Little Match Girl Strikes Back. It was a magical and uplifting story. The book follows a girl called Bridie who sells matches on the streets of Victorian London to help feed her poor family. Bridie was a courageous girl who stood up for what she thought was right. She was fearless in her protests for better working conditions and pay for her friends and family who worked at the match making factory. All through the book I was able to really imagine what it was like to be one of the workers in the factory and how tough life must have been for them. I think Bridie was a real inspiration and the story has left me feeling that no matter how young or old you are you can do anything you put your mind to.... Read Full Review
Brilliant book. The book will inspire generations to come. The fight for good will be forever fought, and in the end, won. The Little Match Girl Strikes Back shows kindness and bravery at its heart.
Let me just say, I loved The Little Match Girl Strikes Back! I loved the characters, and how they fought for a better future for themselves and others. It makes me see how much people should do the same for the things they want to change or are passionate about. My favourite character is Kip because he's first shown in a bad light but then you realise how kind he is and how he wants his friend to be happy. Bridie is a strong character and always tries to do what is best for her family even if it means starving for a while (in relation to the strike) or working as hard as she can. She is just like her mum in that sense. Her mum just cares for her children, and she is ready to sacrifice her life for them. My complaint is short.... Read Full Review
