In this story, Josie and Wesley's long standing friendship has to adjust as they include newcomer Margot in their activities, which provides for some comic moments.
Under the leadership of Josie, the trio set out to make the world a better place when they form a 'do-gooding' club, The Copseys. At first it seems fairly harmless and I was starting to think the plot was a bit tedious, but then things aren't always what they seem as The Copseys also find out, when they find themselves in a situation way beyond their abilities to resolve. I don't want to give a plot spoiler - suffice to say that it is linked to a real-life scandal that involved many innocent people.
At times, I found the thoughts and actions of the children and Josie in particular too mature for their 11 years but it's a long time since I was that age! I am sure the 11-year-olds I know in year 7 will enjoy this book and it will be no bad thing if some of Josie's ideas rub off on them!

I recieved this from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

I appiled for a spot for the review team because it was listed as a middle school mystery.

I have a soft spot for mysteries so that had me hooked.
I also liked the cover art.

What I got wasnt quiet what i expected. The story centered on three pre teens. One was an over ogranized , enthusastic life planner type, the other was kinda the main non adult of his house and the lasr was a new commer who fell in with them just because?

I liked the slices of life , but it didnt add anything tp the story and after they find out the mystery is two older adults with immigration issues which force them to live like squatters it seems like a let down

I have come away from this read not feeling anything and that doesnt make me feel good.

Three children, inspired by the woman who set up the first Girl Scouts group for black children, decide to form a similar group to earn badges. They meet an elderly black couple living in an abandoned factory and decide to make them their main project.

The story is inspired by the Windrush scandal. Although this is a good way to introduce children to this element of history, the story doesn’t really end; it just fizzles out, hence the three stars.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A thrilling contemporary mystery wrapped around a real-life legal injustice, The Good Turn by Sharna Jackson is a fantastic new MG novel, as powerful as it is gripping.
We are introduced to the three main protagonists as they decide to form a club based on the principles of doing good deeds to earn badges, having been inspired by the example of Josephine Holloway. This club is known as The Copseys, because Josephine, Wesley and Margot all live in Copsey Close, a cul-de-sac close to an abandoned car factory, known locally as the Chicane and its adjoining wasteland, the Outback. Author, Sharna Jackson, is a brilliant creator of characters, building a picture of three authentic Year 6 children as she captures their personalities through pinpoint facsimile of suburban tween dialogue. Josephine is the ideas person, and from the first page we know that she is a girl who wants to get things done:
Do you know what I dislike most in the world? The wasting of time. Mine specifically.
Margot has recently moved to Copsey Close following her parents' divorce and Wesley has been Josephine's neighbour and friend for as long as they can remember. At first there is a palpable tension between affluent Margot, who is constantly capturing conversations and scenarios in her notebook, ready for use when she becomes a writer, and Wesley who bears the weight of being the male support to his mother and three younger siblings. Wesley thinks that Margot is a spy and that she looks down on him, saying to Josephine:
She's a snob and she thinks I'm budget.
However, as the plot unfolds, each child faces up to their own fears and insecurities, forging stronger bonds with each other and significant adults as they learn that doing the right thing means so much more than earning another badge. And what a plot! The reader is driven through the story by whip-smart dialogue, snappy sentences and short chapters, each named after a Copsey badge.
When Josephine observes lights on the top floor of the derelict factory late one night, she is determined that The Copseys should earn their investigating and camping badges by spending the night in the Outback and tracking down the source of the lights. She will have to lie to her loving parents, a task which does not come naturally despite her resentment about the imminent arrival of a young sibling. Margot has no difficulties in sneaking out at night as her lawyer father appears to be too committed to his high flying career to spend much time at home with her. Wesley is reluctant on two fronts, he suspects that the factory might be haunted and he is embarrassed about his lack of upmarket camping equipment. After being persuaded to join the expedition, he discovers more than he bargained for and connects with his inner confidence, as the owners of the lights are revealed.
really don't want to reveal any more plot details as this is such a unique story that I do not wish to ruin anyone's enjoyment of it. I genuinely could not have predicted the direction in which the plot was going to turn, and the incorporation of a serious social and racial injustice into the story arc is handled expertly and organically without ever becoming didactic. I utterly applaud Sharna Jackson for engaging readers, young and old, with a compelling and captivating narrative which delivers such a powerful message, prompting us all to look beyond our privilege and ally ourselves with those who need a voice. At the end of the book there is a short summary of the real-life background to the story, which will no doubt prove helpful to classroom discussions of the novel.
I have no hesitation in recommending The Good Turn to readers of 11+ and I think it will be an essential addition to primary and secondary school libraries.

I think the main reason I was disappointed with this book was the gap between my expectations and what I read. I was expecting a book that was much more of a mystery than I got, more in line with her previous books and the blurb, Instead, this felt much more like a contemporary about friendship and the injustice of the past.

The "mystery" of the people in the factory is solved as soon as they find the picture, which is about halfway through. The lead up to it is also very subtle/underplayed, more about Josie's desire to get her club going than anticipation and speculation over the light in the abandoned factory. It doesn't give the "mystery" element any sort of driving momentum, given it takes so long to get to the hook of the blurb and never feels like a major part of the book.

Once the "mystery" is solved, the book then focused on the children's good intentions as they get to know the couple, and the injustice of their lives and what happens next. Plus the tensions between the children over Josie's determined "organising" spills over, along with her feelings about the new baby brother who's soon to arrive. It does really give the book a contemporary feel, focusing more on the kids as a friendship group with difficulties (just added a new member) and the difficulties of their private lives.

I think I might have enjoyed it more if I had been expecting that, rather than a mystery. Then I might have been more engaged with the kids because I wasn't desperately on the look out for clues and motivation and red herrings.

Three friends, et up their own alternative Scout Troop to pursue activities and badges but soon stumble upon an elderly couple who seem to be living as a squatters in a local abandoned car factory. They are keen to help them, bringing them food and letting them use their own houses but they inadvertently cause them to flee when they mistakenly trust a local neighbour to assist them when they feel they are out of their depth.

It's an effective combination of an old fashioned style mystery adventure with plucky, well intentioned young characters but also engaging with very modern themes & concerns., as the characters quickly find themselves in over their heads with the situation they've found at the car factory. Their efforts to help are credible & compelling especially when they find themselves manipulated by no less than the car factory owner himself, who uses the information they give him willingly for his own ends. Our lead character, Josephine is a great heroine who doubts herself and her often grandiose plans and is openly jealous about the impending arrival of a baby brother, all relatable concerns for tweens with grand plans and big ideas! Really enjoyed this and it's got plenty here to appeal to middle grade readers.

A must read to give young people an insight into how unjust the Windrush Scandle is and how it heavily effects so many innocent people who just want to live the lives they deserve.
Josie, Wesley and Margot are the friends I want in my corner if I ever have to fight an injustice in my life. They’re loyal, hardworking and fun and I know they would never turn their backs on me in my hour of need. We need more young people like them in the world.

I really enjoyed this newest release from Sharna Jackson! High Rise Mystery was such a big hit in my classroom and The Good Turn does not disappoint.

In The Good Turn, we join characters Josephine, Wesley and Margot (The Corpseys) as they set up a club aiming to help people (think scouts, collecting badges for good deeds). But, do the gang bite off more than they can chew when they decide to camp out one night?

Perfect for upper middle grade readers - I will be recommending to my 9/10/11 year old students.

Another brilliant mystery book by Sharna Jackson. I liked the characters and how they had their own challenges and faults. The book tackles issues such as racism and immigration in a sensitive way.
I’m sure the children in my class will love this book as much as they loved High Rise Mystery.

S.J. is on the money with this 5 STAR sassy, fun, teeth-kissing new adventure about the perils and pluses of trying to do good! A must-read for fans of her High Rise Mystery series and for readers wanting a story of this age, socially relevant, thought-provoking and engaging.

The story focuses on three schoolmates Josephine, in whose voice the story is told, and Wesley and Margot. They all live in Copsey Close, in Luton, and are in the same class at school. The triangle they form with their families creates the dynamic backdrop to each of the lives of the three and this tale.

Josephine is a go-getter, a leader and eager to do better for herself and drag her classmates, willingly or otherwise, with her. Wesley has responsibilities and worries at home way beyond his paygrade. Margot, the newcomer, who to Wesley is a spy and interloper intent on snatching away his friendship with Josephine, is eager to please and wants to be friends with both the others. The trouble is Margot is a bit tactless with her humour. They each have many things to work on and also crosses to bear, real or imaginary.

When Josephine suggests they start their own local version of the Guides and Scouts, called the Copseys, a group to help others, community action. Also, something that will look good on a CV. She gets the others on board, albeit Wesley somewhat reluctantly. Each has a role to play, with Josephine as the leader. They start by litter-picking an old man's garden. With each activity, they will earn a badge. Positive results arise and they earn some money. Now, this would all be a bit mundane if not for the mysterious appearance one night of lights in a nearby abandoned and derelict factory.

From that point on, as they investigate and also try to earn badges for their activities, and tensions mount at home, things start to spiral desperately out of control for the Copseys.

There is so much to this adventure, it is hard for me to take just one aspect and say that it stood out. On that basis, I think this is going to be a readers, classroom and parents' favourite. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve really enjoyed the previous books written by Sharna Jackson so had high hopes for this one. It was great to be introduced to new characters and I loved the idea of the Copsey’s and what they wanted to achieve. Young people can be very proactive within the community and it was great to see this represented within a children’s novel. I enjoyed the character development throughout the story and the way they overcame any challenges they faced. The introduction to the windrush generation is done gently but in an informative way for young readers to get an insight into the challenges many face/have faced. I would have enjoyed more depth towards the ending but feel that this is a brilliant book for year 5/6 with a great sense of adventure, friendship and standing up for what you believe in.

This was certainly a story that children may love, but I found it hard to engage with the characters. Not sure why, possibly because, although I generally love reading children's fiction, I'm not the target age group.

Sharna Jackson pitches this just right, her story is engaging with likeable and relatable characters. The storyline was exciting and kept up pace till the end. The mysteries had the children thinking and coming up with lots of questions and solutions. An excellent read.

What a wonderful and wholesome read. Filled with the same enticing mystery writing that has made the High Rise Mystery books so popular, this book will leave readers young and old alike needing to read ‘just one more chapter’ to know what happens next over and over again. Without ever stepping away from being an enjoyable, intriguing, and entertaining read, The Good Turn has themes of social justice, community and doing the right thing at its heart. You shout for the Copseys at every stage and feel their pain and anger at the injustice they uncover. The characters are instantly likeable, and the short chapters will make it an easy read for many kids. I’ve already pre-ordered class sets for multiple primary schools in our authority, and I can’t wait to see how the students enjoy adventuring with the Copseys. The afterword from the author is also well worth reading.

This was really enjoyable, it was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. there was a good level of mystery and twists in this to keep children engaged without being frustrated. A really good read

This is a great book, full of mystery's to solve, a really good storyline and great characters. I enjoyed this one. Easy to read and fun.

What a great read!!
A wonderful book filled with adventure and a mystery to solve.
Josephine is so inspiring that she wants to be out in the world and make a difference to the world.
While on this journey they come across a photograph, Josephine and her friends are intrigued and want to know who they are and what happened to them.
such a compelling read that you do not want to put down.

As someone who has enjoyed Sharna Jackson's previous novels, particularly High Rise Mystery, I was really looking forward to reading this, and it completely lived up to my expectations! Josephine has high aspirations for herself, and when she forms The Copseys (a small, select group) with Wesley and Margot, she is determined to change the world for the better, just like her heroes have done before her. One night, Jo spots some lights in an old abandoned warehouse and is determined to find out where they are coming from. What they discover sets the Copseys on an exciting adventure, which is at once gripping, tear-inducing and wonderfully heart-warming. A great read!

The Good Turn is yet another realistic and relevant book from Sharna Jackson, offering an opportunity for pupils to see themselves reflected in the literature they read. The storyline is engaging, unpredictable and intriguing, while the characters are well-developed and realistically portrayed. The Good Turn offers a vivid depiction of lives and realities often untouched in other children’s literature, whilst still being a very readable - and enjoyable - piece of children’s fiction.