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Cloudberry Castle Synopsis
Katie Mackenzie has always dreamed of being a prima ballerina like her mother. When their neighbour Dr Campbell dies, much to their surprise he leaves Cloudberry Castle to the Mackenzie family. Katie is devastated at the loss of her old friend, but soon her plans for transforming the crumbly old castle into the most wonderful ballet school in Scotland flood her mind! But Katie's parents can't afford to run a huge castle, and decide to sell. As Katie struggles to put off potential buyers - with ghosts, squatters and funny smells - her ballet school hopes begin to fade. Will her dream of the Cloudberry School of Dance ever come true?
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9780863157653 |
| Publication date: |
13th September 2010 |
| Author: |
Janey Louise Jones |
| Publisher: |
Floris Books |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Suitable For: |
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Press Reviews
Janey Louise Jones Press Reviews
'This is a story of believing you can do anything you want, not necessarily easily, this isn't a place for dreamers, but with sensible research and planning. It's a hopeful message.'
Suse Coon, Lothian Life
'... a super adventure story which young girls will love.'
Creative Steps, Jan
/Feb 2011 'Cloudberry Castle is a delicious chapter book about an irrepressible, spunky heroine named Katie Mackenzie whose family inherits a Scottish castle (Cloudberry) that needs to be saved. Katie, who loves to dance ballet like her mother, dreams of converting Cloudberry into a fabulous ballet school, but she needs some mysterious help from Dr. Campbell, a previous castle owner and author who leaves a manuscript of a potentially big selling Egyptian book for Katie to try to sell to save the castle. There are many setbacks and delays to Katie's ideas about saving Cloudberry Castle by converting it to a ballet school, but young girls ages 8-12 will love following the dreams and schemes of Katie through to their satisfying conclusion. Cloudberry Castle contains just the right mix of hardships with joy, disappointments with developments, and creative vision spiced with fun, talent and artistry. Author Janey Louse Jones has also written the popular and successful Princess Poppy books for young girls.
Midwest Book Review
'Young Katie Mackenzie dreams of becoming a ballerina, just as her mum did. When the family inherits an old castle, Katie dreams of establishing a ballet school. Katies's efforts to make her dream a reality uncover some complex secrets about the inheritance and Cloudberry Castle itself. It's a story to delight girls'. -- The Yellow Brick Road 'Cloudberry Castle is wonderful... In it Katie's family has inherited a castle. There is where Katie hopes to one day build her ballet school. But her folks are considering selling the castle. Katie starts finding out the secrets of the castle and things begin to get a lil mixed up then. But Katie's family, friends and her own goals helps her to unravel the mystery.'
Crazed Mind blog
Author
About Janey Louise Jones
Janey was born in Edinburgh and grew up by the seaside just outside the city. Janey published the first two Princess Poppy books herself (with her own illustrations) and the books were so popular that Random House Children's Books soon bought the series and re-packaged the books.
The series is now going from strength to strength, including picture books, activity books and sumptuous gift books. Janey has also written novels for young readers and the Princess Poppy Cookbook all of which have been very successful.
Janey read English at Edinburgh University specializing in the Victorian novel. Following this she became a teacher - a career that she absolutely adored - and then, with her husband, set up The Jelly Club, which has become an extremely successful chain of children's activity centres in Scotland. She still very much enjoys visiting schools and talking to children to find out what they like doing and what makes them laugh. Janey lives in Edinburgh with their three sons.
A quick fire quiz with Janey:
Describe your books in one sentence? The Flower Fairies meet Thunderbirds
Favourite character in your book? Rose – she’s gentle
Favourite sentence or line in your book? Fairies from the Blossom Tree/Superskills galore have we! (From the song)
As an author/illustrator whom would you like to be compared to? As an author, Shirley Hughes or Mairi Hedderwick
Describe yourself in three words? Imaginative, kind, feminine
Favourite character from a book? Anne of Greengables
If you weren’t an author/illustrator, you would be… a cook
Favourite place/setting to read a book? Shaded corner of a scented garden
If you could have a fairy super power what would it be? To spread peace across the world
Favourite colour? pink
Favourite flower? poppy
Favourite animal? dog
More About Janey Louise Jones
