Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book. I felt like the writing was quite patronizing to the intended audience. There were plot holes that felt like they assumed children wouldn't notice. I felt some language choices were lazy and the plot overall felt confusing.
Now, some children may enjoy the action in this, but in my opinion, there are other fun, adventurous middle grades that are better.

This was BRILLIANT.
It's been a long while since I've read a book like this. It was magical, whimsical, adventurous, exciting.. I could go on.
26 year old me wasn't reading this book. I was transported back nearly two decades (scary to say that!) and my inner child was reading this book. This was everything I want in a book - middle grade, YA, or adult!

I wish I had the words to explain it, but I don't. I am so mad my library doesn't have the next book. I need it NOW.

I LOVED this! I had so much fun reading this and really tried to savour it to be honest! The synopsis sounded so wonderful, magical and imaginative and the book itself really delivered on all fronts!

It’s positively brimming with magic and adventure, I could have quite easily binge read this but like I said…I really wanted to savour it because I didn’t want it to end!

There are some wonderful messages regarding family and being who you are which resonated with me and will no doubt resonate with the intended audience.

The characters were lovely and really found a place in my heart, and the twists and turns were on point!

I also genuinely found it a really sweet and kind of cosy read! I’m looking forward to reading more of this series and seeing what happens next!

A fantastic first novel from Andy Sagar, loved Yesterday as a character, hope this is going to be a series as I just loved it!

This was such a wonderful story about a girl called Yesterday Crumb. She was such a relatable character and one that I adored. The world building was beautiful and I certainly will be recommending it to my pupils. Thank you for the ARC - can't wait to buy a physical copy.

This is such a charming mixture of magic, warmth and tea, with a little sprinkle of whimsy for extra sparkle. There are some familiar elements to this book which I think will appeal to fans of fantasy tales like Nevermoor, His Dark Materials and The Apprentice Witch, but Andy Sagar gives everything a unique flavour. In short, Yesterday Crumb is a magical new fantasy series set in a wonderfully original world. Prepare to have your heart stolen!

Boiling the kettle and settling down with a cosy cuppa to read felt particularly apt as I began the first book in this new fantasy MG series. For, just when you think you've read everything to do with witches, here comes Yesterday Crumb - a tea witch in the making - with a story that will blow you away but which also feels like a 'hug in a mug'.

Yesterday Crumb has grown up in a circus cage, ridiculed for her fox ears with no idea who she is. But when a witch's familiar breaks her out, Yesterday discovers not only that she's a strangeling, but that the evil Mr. Weep wants to destroy her new life.

Taken in by a magical tea witch Miss. Dumpling, Yesterday starts to explore her powers. But with Mr. Weep's hold over her growing stronger and her witch's license in danger of being refused, Yesterday must summon a storm and fight for her life.

This is magical fantasy at its best and a wonderful new take on a witch story. Andy Sagar's imagination is second to none, the characters are gorgeous and the tea and cake is...well, simply sublime! For me, the plot combined a nod to some of the best stories in children's literature - The Snow Queen, The Wizard of Oz, The House with Chicken Legs and even Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy - with something truly fresh and orginal. Dwimmerly End feels like a cosy, safe version of Hansel and Gretel's gingerbread house and Miss. Dumpling is possibly my new favourite character of all time.

The story is charm personified but not too sugary sweet. Like a lot of Yesterday's brews, it has a bitter edge to it which makes the plot compelling and addictive. Yesterday is endearing and timid but, as she comes to the boil (in Miss. Dumpling's words), she unleashes a daring dark side with a tornado of power. The word building is wonderful and again mixes cosy fluffiness with shadow and shade, heartbreak and grief. In my personal opinion, though, it is the magical tea brewing which is the star of the show and the USP that will make me first in the queue to refill my teacup the moment the sequel comes out.

So if you're looking for a marvellous, magical tale that balances comforting charm with danger and adventure, then this is the book for you. Brew the tea, cut the cake and snuggle down for a real treat!

The Perfect Brew Of Whimsy and Warmth.

5 teacups out of 5.

Yesterday crumb is no ordinary girl. Her fox ears have made her an attraction at the circus where she was left as a baby. She has been living her life in a cage when not performing for the gaupers. That is until she is rescued by Miss Dumpling and her familiar Madrigal. The book follows Yesterday and her new friends as she learns about magic and has to solve a problem she encountered pretty much straight away in the book.

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland vibes.
Fantabulous Magic system.
Great main character.
Quick-witted side characters.
Beautifully crazy dialogue - Miss Dumpling's sayings!
A moving tea shop.
Awesome villain.
A brilliant twist.

I absolutely loved this book as it was so easy to get lost in this beautifully created new world. I am so looking forward to the other books in the series.

Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup is a magical, sparkling gem of an adventure that kept me enthralled throughout: gorgeously heart-warming, wonderfully whimsical and completely captivating.

Twelve-year-old Yesterday Crumb has been born with fox ears and has spent her young life imprisoned in a cage, put on show for visitors to the travelling circus where she was left as a baby. Unbeknownst to Yesterday, her ears, which she loathes, mark her as a strangeling: a witch who has lost her magical powers due to spending too much time in the human world. However, all that is about to change when she meets Madrigal, a white-feathered notraven and witch’s familiar, who reveals the truth to her, and frees her.

Yesterday follows her rescuer into the nearby forest, but loses sight of him and instead finds herself drawn to a stranger, Mr Weep, playing a violin. When he offers her the chance to get rid of her fox ears, she finds the temptation too great, and signs a contract which places a deadly curse upon her heart. Will she be able be break the curse before time runs out, and she finds herself in the Land of the Dead?

Madrigal finds her and takes her to Dwimmerley End, THE most extraordinary teashop that moves around on its flamingo legs! The proprietor of this wondrous establishment for faerie connoisseurs of magical tea and cakes is Miss Dumpling - a tea witch extraordinaire! She welcomes Yesterday, and offers her an apprenticeship as a tea witch as well as her help in breaking the curse …

And so begins a truly engrossing, exciting adventure as Yesterday and her new friends race against time to find an elusive ingredient needed to break the curse; as they venture to dangerous and dark places; and, as they are thwarted by the minions of Mr Weep who are intent on taking Yesterday from her new friends. Will he succeed in separating her from her friends? I loved the unexpected twists and revelations, and absolutely cannot wait for the next part of Yesterday’s story.

The world-building is exquisite, enchanting and incredibly inventive: it swept me into a world I didn’t want to leave – even if there are some parts I might need Yesterday’s courage to face! I could happily see myself spending many hours of contentment in Dwimmerley End drinking an assortment of enchanted teas – and maybe a hot chocolate - and eating a varied selection of gorgeous cakes as I faerie-watch, and read a book recommended by Pepperprew, the librarian dragon. Bliss!

Oh my! I adored Yesterday who is a fierce young girl who shows such strength, courage and resilience. She learns to believe in herself and accept herself just as she is. I loved that she finds a home and family with Jack and Miss Dumpling who offer her support, love and encouragement. Madrigal the notraven is brilliant – grumpy and sarcastic – but with a heart of gold! Miss Dumpling is one of my favourite adults in children’s books! She is wonderfully eccentric, welcoming and kind-hearted and just so full of goodness that she brought a smile to my face every time she spoke!

I don’t need Clairvoyant Coffee to predict that this fantastically magical, heart-warming adventure will capture the hearts of young readers of 8+.

I really, properly, truly loved this book. It's fantastic. From the main characters to the villains and the setting to the plot, Yesterday Crumb is amazing. There's a beautiful found family at the heart of the story, the bad guy is, I suspect, scary enough for the age group it's aimed at, but not so scary that they'll have nightmares, the teashop, oh the teashop is my dream home I think, and the story rips along without sacrificing character development. I loved everything and I can't wait to own a physical copy so I can shout about it to everyone. I really think this is a book both kids and adults will love.

My full review will be posted on my blog on 15th March.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. Absolutely love the cover and idea but the writing just read really young and the plot moved so fast it felt like there wasn’t enough time for proper development. Not one for me I’m afraid!

I really enjoyed reading Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup! The story had a great pace with lots of twists and turns. Yesterday is a really lovable heroine. I'm really excited to see what Andy Sagar writes in the future!

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Age recommendation: 8+

'Nothing can't be solved with a cup of tea, a slice of cake and a very dear friend.'

Bless my crumpets! What an absolute delight this book is!

Yesterday Crumb spends her days locked away in a cage at a circus - she's a curiosity due to her fox ears, which the girl absolutely loathes. When a talking raven informs her she’s a strangeling who’s lost her magic, things begin to finally start making sense.

Yesterday becomes an apprentice to Miss Dumpling - the flamboyant Tea Witch who lives in a magical, travelling teashop on flamingo legs. As Yesterday starts to rediscover her magic and to feel a sense of belonging, an evil force is working hard to bring her new life crashing down...

Andy Sagar brewed an absolutely magical world with brilliant characters. (I still can't decide who is my favourite - Yesterday or Miss Dumpling.) The story flows flawlessly and there are treats for the imagination waiting around every corner. I was like a tea addict in a teashop all the way through. Even though I guessed what the twist in the story was going to be quite early on, it didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying the book.

When I first read about the book, I'm not going to lie, I was a bit sceptical. I'm so glad my curiosity got the better of me as I feel in love with Yesterday and her story faster than I can say oolong! I loved my time at Dwimmerly End and now I'm thirsty for more.

(All the phrases coined by Andy Sagar with references to tea are absolutely brilliant! I've written all of them down!)

This was such an adorable read that made me smile so much. It was filled to the brim with so much adventure, magic and whimsy. We had everything from magic tea to witches, dryads, golems and even a librarian dragon. I absolutely adored the characters. Yesterday was wonderfully feisty and I loved seeing how she developed and grew closer to the other characters throughout. Miss Dumpling was also a wonderful character and how could I not love a sassy familiar who cares in his own stubborn way? Looking at you Madrigal. Pascal, the little teapot-turtle also absolutely stole my heart, he was so cute! I had such a fun time reading this book and I can’t wait for the sequel.

I’ve always loved books that are packed full of fantasy and magic, and I know I’ve said before that I am constantly amazed that despite witches and suchlike still being as popular as they ever were that there are still writers who are able to create fresh takes on the sort of adventures that their creations find themselves being thrown into. And yet, here I am sitting down to try to articulate my thoughts on this new title due to be released on 17th March 2022 having just finished it and – very excitedly – noticing the promise of further adventures to come for Yesterday Crumb, the fabulous protagonist of this story.

As is the case quite frequently in tales of young witches, when we meet her Yesterday is not aware of her magical background – indeed, she is held prisoner within the confines of a human circus, paraded as a freak show due to her fox ears which peep out from her pumpkin-coloured hair. When she is freed by a talking raven who tells her that he is in fact a familiar by the name of Madrigal, Yesterday leaves the circus behind as quickly as she is able with little thought as to what to do next.

Unfortunately, she soon finds herself alone and cold and frightened and heads in the direction of some violin music she hears in search of assistance. But assistance is not at all what she receives when she encounters the sinister Mr Weep who tricks her into agreeing to something she should not have before Madrigal suddenly returns and chases him away. With the familiar guiding her, Yesterday comes across Dwimmerly End – a magical travelling teashop owned by the eccentric tea witch Miss Dumpling who has her heart set on making Yesterday her apprentice.

When Madrigal explains what has happened en route, Miss Dumpling vows to do all she can to release Yesterday from her contract with Mr Weep as well as teaching her how to brew the magical beverages that will enable her to work her magic. But with Yesterday’s initial attempts at teamaking utterly disastrous, and time ticking away, will she be able to master the magic she needs to receive her witch’s licence and escape what fate appears to have in store for her?

While traditional pointy hat and broomstick witches still have their place in modern stories, as I said earlier it is great to see new and exciting types of witch now appearing in stories. Here, Yesterday and Miss Dumpling’s magic spells are all cast, not with traditional wooden wands but by creating the most British of hot drinks – tea, in an incredible range of varieties. Mentor Miss Dumpling is an absolute delight in her firm conviction that everything is better with tea and cake – something with which surely almost everyone must agree – and her utter faith that her new protégé will be able to perform the most difficult of spells if she just believes in herself.

This is a story which will have enormous appeal to fans of magic, whether it be older titles such as Harry Potter or more recent ones such as Amari and I will recommending it as an alternative to those in my class who have read those titles and are looking for something else. Enormous fun, the book doesn’t take itself too seriously and there is a lot of humour packed into its pages which will make this equally as popular with adult readers too. It would make a great class read in Year 4 through to KS3 and there will be many confident readers aged 9+ who will thoroughly enjoy this when it hits the shelves.

As always, enormous thanks must go to publisher Orion Children’s books and to Net Galley for my virtual advance read.

A book about tea, magic and witches sounded intriguing, and I wasn’t wrong to think this! I loved every minute of Yesterday’s adventures. Andy Sagar has written a charming book that will make you want to put the kettle on and brew up some magic of your own! All the inventive teas were so tempting - I definitely want to visit Miss Dumpling’s travelling teashop and taste her concoctions. All the characters are crafted well, with great descriptions. Madrigal, the moody non raven is one of my favourites. I now really want to read book 2 to carry on Yesterday’s quest - but I will make sure I have my teapot handy!

A fabulous read to cheer you up at this time of year. There are element of Celtic mythology, with quick nod to the "house with chicken legs", although I prefer this fantastic tea shop. I can't wait for further adventures, as I loved Yesterday and her very quirky friends.