Just as any other Jacqueline Wilson book.
Really great, fun for children and the parents that grew up reading her books too!

The story was beautiful from start to finish. I loved the writing and also the ending. I did think the book needed more illustrations or to be shorter in length.

I was very excited to read this to my daughter who is 9 years old. We watched the original film not so long ago. I explained to her this a would be similar but more updated, as Jacqueline has a very good knack of retelling the classics. Sadly it didn’t hold my daughters imagination. I persevered myself but I found although it was beautifully written it just had something missing. I’m not a writer obviously but compared to other JW stories I don’t enjoy this one as much :(

This author is the author of my children and Wilson has done it again. What a lovely story that I cannot wait to share, along with her other books, with my children when they are old enough.

Jacqueline Wilson has done it again! The Primrose Railway Children tells the story of Phoebe Robinson. Her life is changed when her dad disappears, and her family move to a small cottage. She discovers a steam train at a local railway station and her life is transformed. My 10-year-old could not put this story down. This modern day telling of E Nesbit’s The Railway Children is enthralling. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

another brilliant book by a fantastic author 😊 I have been a fan of jaqueline wilson since I was a child and even at 28 I can still enjoy her books and appreciate the stories and lessons in the books. this one I didn't find a little slower then some of her other books but for a child that would be fine it was a good length and great character building as always

I loved Jacqueline Wilson’s books as a child but as an adult, this is the first book of hers I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There was mystery and adventure in the book and I loved the main character, Phoebe.
I am definitely still a huge fan of Jacqueline Wilson, and I can’t wait to read more of her books!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

Me and my son had recently read the railway children so was really delighted we got to read this.
What a treat for a bedtime read we loved it and the characters.
We loved the steam train and the story of mystery what happened to their father.
Warm and loveable book.

Another amazing book by Jacqueline Wilson!

This book had me captivated throughout! It was based on The Railway Children by E. Nesbit with a modern twist and I absolutely loved it!

The characters were well rounded and relatable. The plot was very well done which was complemented by Wilson's beautiful writing!

The themes were also amazing and very well executed! Overall this was an amazing read which I would recommend!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

I received this book from Netgalley for an Honest review.

I am a huge Jacqueline Wilson fan, grew up reading her books like many others. But she inspired me to want to be a writer myself and her books always meant so much to me. So when I was offered a chance to read her new book, a retelling of the famous classic The Railway Children, I couldn’t resist.

This story tells of three siblings, Phoebe, Perry and Becca who move to a very remote cottage over the summer. We see the story through Phoebe’s eyes, an imaginative and creator child who loves her dad more than anything in the world. The only problem is her dad has gone away. (The reason why as an adult reader was quite obvious buyer didn’t detract from the story)

I loved the setting and the use of the railway, but most of all I loved the characters and writing. How Jacqueline Wilson can have been writing for so many years, yet still able to stay current with the new generation of children too is great. There is just something about her writing that absorbs me into the story, emotions and setting. Even as an adult you can still enjoy her writing.

My only tiny gripe was about school, as someone who works in one, taking a child out of school for three weeks without any contact with the school would be a huge problem with safeguarding and in reality the mum would have been contacted by the school lots etc… but obviously it’s a children's book and that would have ruined some of the magic of going on a big adventure!

It took me some time to get through this book and I haven’t read or seen The Railway Children prior to reading this adaptation so I was coming in blind to the story! I really enjoyed the storyline and wanted to Find out the real story behind the dad being gone, though I guessed it pretty early on, but also wanted to know what happened. I enjoyed this Jacqueline Wilson book and as always, feel very reminiscent of my childhood when reading her books! Another great book!!

Family tension is rife in the Robinson household with parental arguments a regular occurrence. The stress levels are high and Phoebe's anxiety is palpable. Jacqueline Wilson once again strikes at the heart of family drama. Phoebe's dad mysteriously disappears off to a "new job " without goodbyes or a mobile phone and isn't set to return for months. Mum attempts to keep family life as normal as possible, but everything is off kilter. A strange man appears in the garden sending mum spiralling into anger and retreating indoors in a panic. On the verge of tears, she whisks them off to the countryside. Confusion abounds for the children. They find themselves in the middle of nowhere in a scant cottage, 3 weeks before school should finish for summer. New adventures beckon them all, but the shadow of dad hangs over them. So many questions linger- where has he really gone? Why has mum suddenly lost her job? What will the future hold?Will they go home? There is so much heart and heartache in this novel. A superb read. #theprimroserailwaychildren #jacquelinewilson #netgalley

This was a really great book, we ended up finishing this in just one sitting! It was a really interesting and engaging story, that I could not put down! I would definitely recommend this book in the coming winter months, it would be a perfect addition to a cosy winters night in cuddling up with your child, you won't regret it!

I love E. Nesbit’s The Railway Children and I’ve always loved Jacqueline Wilson’s work so I had high hopes for this book, especially because Katy (Wilson’s retelling of What Katy Did) was so good. Fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed! This is a beautifully crafted book for children that manages to evokes the same feelings as The Railway Children does while still feeling contemporary. I got very emotional reading this at points! Something that I particularly appreciated was the fact that the character of Perry happens to be on the autistic spectrum. It’s lovely to see more neurodiverse characters being included in children’s books as par for the course instead of being tokenistic or used as part of the plot line.

A fabulous retelling by Jacqueline Wilson.

I absolutely loved this book! We all know Jacqueline Wilson is an amazing author who has always been a big fan of E Nesbit, so I couldn't wait to read this updated version of the Railway Children. It didn't disappoint! The story is narrated by 10 year old Phoebe. She has a 14 year old sister, Becks, and an 11 year old brother, Perry, who is on the autism spectrum. When their dad leaves the family to 'work away' they move to a dilapidated holiday cottage in the country, and it is here that they become part of the Primrose railway. This story is so believable - there are no massive coincidences like in Nesbit's version, and the children are devastated when they find out their dad is in prison for fraud. You still get the 'Daddy my daddy' moment, but this one takes place in the prison visiting hall. (Still made me cry!) This book is well worth a read for all Railway Children fans. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

I’m sure anyone who has known me for a while will know how much I love Jacqueline Wilson. I was delighted to be accepted for her latest novel and what a treat it is!

Phoebe Robinson loves her dad more than anyone in the world because he tells the most wonderful stories and plays the best games with her. But then one day, her dad disappears and Phoebe’s mum is behaving strangely. Before she knows it, Phoebe and her siblings Becks and Perry are being put in the car with all their things and driven to a remote cottage with their mum. Accompanied by her guinea pig Daisy, Phoebe has no idea what is going on. The excitement of the steam trains at Primrose Railway provides plenty of fun and adventure but what is her mum hiding and where on Earth is her dad?

I think this is the first of Jacqueline Wilson’s books to be illustrated by Rachael Dean. Obviously the style is very different to what we’re used to in Wilson’s books, as they are usually accompanied by Nick Sharratt’s very distinctive artwork. The pictures are still beautiful though and they bring the story to life perfectly.

Phoebe’s dad is clearly struggling with life and his efforts seem to be falling on deaf ears. Anyone who has ever tried to make a career out of their creative passions will know how hard it can be and how emotionally difficult it can be to realise that no one is interested in paying for work you’ve put your heart and soul into. I didn’t quite guess the full extent of what had really happened to Phoebe’s dad but I did suspect where he was quite early on. This didn’t really bother me though because there was still plenty for me to figure out.

Phoebe is a very observant smart girl and although it isn’t discussed very much in the book, there is the implication that her dad is suffering from a mental breakdown. When other parents at her school and even her classmates seem to know something about him, I really started to wonder what he’d done to make it such common knowledge and yet Phoebe was still very much in the dark. I think I would have liked more discussion about depression and its effects in the book but I guess with it being a children’s book, Wilson wanted to focus more on the adventure.

There is a lot of emphasis on how special Phoebe’s dad is to her. She has a special connection with him and feels a little bit like an outsider amongst the rest of her family. I think most people can relate to feeling like they’re not their parent’s favourite child and can definitely remember what that feels like for a kid. To have all of that turmoil going on and then be ‘abandoned’ by the closest bond within your family must be heartbreakingly terrible.

The cottage that Phoebe’s mum takes them to is in the middle of nowhere. It’s the former home of an artist who has since been taken into a nursing home but all of her artwork still adorns the walls. It’s a beautiful little place with (very!) basic features but it seems like the ideal place to truly escape to if you want to shut out the world. Phoebe certainly sees the charm in the place immediately, probably because she feels the creative energy that still lives in it, but it takes a while for the rest of her family to get on board.

Phoebe often daydreams about what her dad is really doing. She becomes convinced that he is filming a Robinson Crusoe-style documentary and having a unique adventure on a desert island. Thinking about him having this amazing, crazy experience keeps Phoebe’s mind from getting too dark. Of course, I had strong doubts that this wasn’t where he was but during these moments, I had fun indulging in her fantasy too. I was right beside Phoebe for the whole book and that’s something that Wilson has always done very well. Her characters are real, normal kids and therefore they’re very easy to root for and to love.

When the bombshell drops and they learn where their dad really is, Phoebe takes it the hardest. I was worried about her when she began to refuse food and stopped talking to everyone. I continue to be amazed at how well Jacqueline Wilson writes authentic children -even their mindsets are so accurate. I’m sure she won’t mind me saying that she isn’t a young woman. It has been a long time since she was Phoebe’s age and yet she can still speak from that place in such a believable way.

The Primrose Railway Children is an emotional, heartwarming story that champions creativity and finding friendship in the most unlikely places. I loved all of the characters and wanted to spend more time with them, so I am holding out hope that they might appear in future books. I can definitely see The Railway Children influences but it’s a much more relatable, accessible adventure that I know readers of all ages will love.

Jacqueline Wilson has tackled a couple of children's classics now, such as What Katy Did. The difficulty with these kind of stories is always trying to keep the balance between the spirit of the original and updating it for today's children.
As a fan of the Railway Children, I think that Wilson has done a really wonderful job and you can see the threads of the original story throughout the book, yet there are still new elements to behold.

This is a great read, with a good ending, Wilson really does has a talent for retelling classics, and I hope she keeps going with them. I would love A Little Princess retelling next hopefully.

#PrimroseRailwayChildren #NetGalley.

My 9 year old daughter and I shared the reading of this and both of us were hooked, staying up way past her bedtime to get through a bit more! It’s a classic Wilson book, with heartwarming, loveable characters, a storyline which deals with some more difficult issues in a way that makes them extremely accessible for children. As a teacher I’d also be interested in getting children in my class comparing this with the story of the railway children it is based upon, so a good one for educators! Thank you so much for this arc.

I’ve read many Jacqueline Wilson books and this was just as I would expect from her, it’s an interesting story about a family whose famous dad disappears and they struggle with his absence, even the mum seems unaware of where he is. Told from the perspective of his daughter who wants to believe her dad is working in a remote location but playground whispers leave her feeling there’s more to his disappearance than working away. The characters have a childhood innocence that I really liked and adds the appeal of the book, especially for the age group it’s aimed at, the addition of Daisy the guinea pig also added a nice element. I know this is loosely based on The Railway Children but I’m not really aware of the story which makes it difficult for me to compare but I think this must be a good modern twist to it.

Today I have a review of The Primrose Railway Children by bestselling and hugely popular children's author  - Jacqueline Wilson. Her books have included series such as Tracy Beaker, Hetty Feather and many more, tackling many subjects in the present and past. Now she is also tackling children's classics. So, this is her revamped, modern take of E-Nesbitt's The Railway Children.
I've talked many times about Jacqueline Wilson and her books to children, so it is an honour to actually be able to review one.

Jacqueline Wilson has been inspired by E. Nesbitt before with her retelling of the story Four Children and It, which she called 4 Children and It. This time she has been inspired by The Railway Children by her. My hope is that children reading these, will be also inspired to go to the original versions too and see the similarities and the differences and appreciate both authors and their talents. Let's face it, Jacqueline Wilson is enormously talented and I honestly was amazed to be given the priveledge of reviewing her book. Not only am I a fan of The Railway Children, but I also totally appreciate in wonderment what Jacqueline Wilson brings to children literature. The big question is, however, is this re-inspired story actually any good and will it hit the mark?

The timing of this book is quite perfect, just ahead of a sequel to the film of The Railway Children. I myself love trains and adventure and The Primrose Railway Children is sure to spark this in those middle-grade readers who devour Jacqueline Wilson's books with their eyes and imaginations.

The Primrose Railway Children is made up of Phoebe, Amelie, Perry and Becks and then there's their mum and dad. It's written in a way that brings everything bang up to date. This, a bit like the original, isn't a sugary sweet book, but there are cute animals. There is still upheaval, financial difficulties, technology issues and family secrets, which brings depth and intrigue. There's some great humour within the story, so it isn't too heavy, although there are some weighty themes, but they, as ever with a book by Jacqueline Wilson, are treated well and with children in mind.

The book mixes the past and present in a way that may well feed children's curiosity as the book mentions the Edwardians and steam trains that would have run then on lines like The Primrose Railway, which is gently encouraged through the characters in the book having a desire to find out more. There's something respectful about this and also makes it sound okay for children to do this. The book also mentions other classic books too in a way that is so clever and again gently encouraging the next generation to read these too, especially with all whilst putting her own spin on things and creating a pleasurable story, that is also well illustrated, but not overly so.

With dad mysteriously gone, the void this leaves can be sorely felt through the family, but none more so than Phoebe. The intensity of the bond between her and her dad can be keenly felt. There's the whole worry that he may be dead, but they don't really know if he is dead or alive and readers see the children process this between their humour and their seriousness in conversations and behaviours.

There's adventure around the trains, the train station and make a new friend in the station master, which is delightfully written, with so much to discover about The Primrose Railway. It's also a story that talks about differences between urban and rural life, differences in families as a whole and growing up.

This is overall a book many children will find engrossing and is relatable, and also as respectfully done as it possibly could be as she also puts her own slant on the family she creates and their different characterisations and the reasoning for their dad to be away and all ends in quite a twist.

There are some nods to E. Nesbitt's original story - The Railway Children and so beautifully done, Jacqueline Wilson has acknowledged her and written a bit at the back of the book about her and her stories and I like that she also encourages children to read them too.

Jacqueline Wilson has written a number of books now, that have revamped the children's classics and hopefully children will like hers as well as then discovering the original authors and reading what they wrote too. The two combined would now be pretty powerful and children could gain a lot from reading both versions, and perhaps discover the joy of reading and trains too.