Jen gave me this lovely book for Christmas, and it was the perfect way to start off the reading year. You're likely to hear the 'timeless children's book' descriptor a lot, and with good reason. It's timeless in the sense that it's a non-specified date in the past (early 1900s? Later 1800s?) when women were not cellists and were not supposed to wear trousers, but when it also feels perfectly right for a delightful man like Charles to rescue a baby, take her home and raise her, without bothering either of them with stupid things like school. It's also timeless in that same way because it could be a Noel Streatfield if he got in a Nanny to help out. a b c d de Lisle, Tim (22 January 2017). "British Novelist Bringing Edwardian Wit Off-Broadway". Newsweek. New York City . Retrieved 23 January 2017. Her books have won many awards, including the Costa Children’s Book Award, the Blue Peter Book Award, and the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. I have not read anything by Katherine Rundell before, but now I really want to read more by this incredibly talented author. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story.

McElroy, Steven (26 August 2016). " 'Life According to Saki,' a Play Set in World War I, Wins Edinburgh Award". The New York Times. New York City . Retrieved 23 January 2017.Sophie and Charles did not live neatly, but neatness, Sophie thought, was not necessary for happiness.” It was the green that emeralds and dragons usually come in; which felt to Sophie like a good omen.” Let me just talk about my love for the characters. Sophie and Charles were impossible not to grow fond of. When Sophie was a baby Charles found her floating on the English Channel in a cello case and took her in to raise her in his humble, book-filled apartment. I think it takes a certain kind of writer who can make the ordinary seem extraordinary with a few sentences and capture your imagination and encourage you, if only for a little while, to see the world in a slightly different way than you’d normally do. And Ms Rundell’s definitely that kind of writer. CELEBRATING 10 HIGH-FLYING YEARS OF THE MULTI-AWARD-WINNING MODERN CLASSIC, FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE EXPLORER

This book is a masterpiece, to say it simply. Music is a big feature in the book, as Sophie's only memory of her mother is that she played the cello. The story flows like music, the words singing softly in your head. It seemed to take no effort to read, and instead of feeling like reading a book, I always felt as if somebody was telling me a story, a beautiful story that was close to their heart. It made me want to go to Paris, to hear the music as it is described in the book and to run across the rooftops under the stars. Sophie was the most charming, adorable, and spirited twelve-year-old and Charles was her eccentric and loving guardian who had an extremely odd but wonderful way of taking care of her. He filled her mind with the knowledge of words since she was young, let her wear pants, and encouraged her to play her cello on the rooftops. This is also a bit of historical fiction that takes place in England and Paris, which makes it stand out from other middle grade books.This book was simply wonderful and dealt with themes of friendship, love, family, and music. I loved Rundell's smart but simple writing style that was unlike most books published nowadays. She had a way of stating truths so plainly and beautifully that I just adored. After a ship sinks , a baby is found floating in a cello case and is rescued by Charles Maxim , another passenger from the ship. Charles names the baby Sophie and decides to raise her. The Explorer. Illustrated by Hannah Horn. Bloomsbury Publishing, 1 September 2017. ISBN 9781408854877 [29] Prix Sorcières - Lauréats 2015: Romans Juniors - Lauréat". www.abf.asso.fr. Association des Bibliothécaires de France. 4 April 2016 . Retrieved 22 April 2017. Matteo is one of the rooftoppers. He is very mysterious and difficult to get to know; he is also very commanding. He, along with Anastasia, Safi and Gerard, help Charles and Sophie look for her mother. I really liked all the characters, and got very involved with their search. I was particularly worried for Sophie and cared a lot about her. I liked them all so much I didn't want the story to end. Katherine Rundell has written a brilliant book.