I was sent this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, for a full review see my Amazon and Goodreads pages.

Fun read, will definitely pick up more books by this author, my daughter was a big fan!!!

This book was a delightful surprise that I had a very enjoyable time with.
First off, I really liked the setting and the atmosphere created in it. It reminds me of some favourites with the whole town under some spell and adoring the villain, while frowning on anything that even a little bit different.
There were also some great messages about being oneself and regarding plastic and the environment. And here I thought it would all get too preachy and on the nose (and it was quite on the nose), but the plot does actually get quite exciting as well.
Ophelia was a likable enough character, though she and her parents did kinda get on my nerves at times with their bickering and senselessness. At times they just felt different for the sake of being different, instead of like real people.
But overall, a good read that I would recommend for sure.

I thought I'd reviewed this book, but I hadn't. I loved this children's tale wound with environmental and family issues. It's an excellent read for the middle-grade group. Funny and moving.

What can I say about this story. It had heart in spades. I fell head over heels for the Bottom family and everything that they stood for. The writing was witty yet had purpose and served environmental issues with the right balance. I feel that our young readers will take heartily to Ophelia and champion her gumption and tenacity. All in all this was a truly entertaining tale and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

What a fantastic book! In a clever and different way, the issue of plastic pollution is explored.
Ophelia knows that something is wrong in her new town and sets out to find out what. With the help of a new friend, she works out what the problem is and saves the town from a dangerous individual and plastic.
A must read for anyone interested in saving the planet.

I’m glad other writers have seen something fabulous about this, but I just couldn’t get on with it. It will, apparently, have a meritorious look at the world we’re creating, full of plastic crap and to some extent plastic people. But the first chunk was either the narrator, Ophelia, protesting too much, or the parents just lumpenly, boringly, bickering and yacking at each other. The fact the family run a touring theatre company with a cast of two could have been quirky and interesting – it’s played for farce instead – and the whole, from Ophelia’s overt kvetching to the annoying headmistress, is far, far too broad for my tastes.

As an educator I enjoyed reading this book, rich language and an unusual storyline meant I could see how it would work very well in literacy lessons. My daughter, the target audience, raved about this book and is looking forward to a sequel!

Ophelia Bottom longs to be from a ‘normal’ family - a family that stays put in one place and lives in a house, rather than a family that travels around and lives in a converted van. But Ar (Ophelia’s dad) is determined his daughter should be anything but ‘quotidian’.

An accident means that Ophelia’s wish comes true and the family need to stay put in idyllic Stopford for a while… and she gets to go to the local school! But with a town motto of “Plasticus stupendous est, Diversus est” (or Plastic is fantastic, Different is dangerous), Ophelia quickly realises that something isn’t quite right. What (or who) lurks behind the seemingly idyllic and perfect facade of Stopford? Can Ophelia find out before it’s too late and her differences put her in grave peril?

I absolutely loved this book; a mystery story packed with twists and turns, with heaps of comedy and a cast of larger than life, wacky characters (Ar in particular) - this was an absolute delight to read!

I particularly like the chapter names - words that young people may not necessarily use, complete with a definition; a really good way to expose readers to new and interesting vocabulary.

As well as encouraging readers to be proud of who they are and their differences, there is also a strong (but not at all preachy!) environmental message in this tale - encouraging readers to think more about recycling and plastic use etc.

A definite hit with me and one that I’ll definitely be recommending to my class when we start back to school in a couple of weeks!

4.5 Stars
One Liner: Wonderful!

Ophelia Bottom wants a normal life with normal parents, a normal school, and a home that doesn’t have wheels. As the daughter of traveling actors, her life seems to be no less a drama from the Shakespearean era.
When an unexpected incident forces the Bottom family to stay in Stopford for a few weeks, Ophelia thinks this is her chance to have a normal life (even if temporary). However, the town’s motto, Plastic Is Fantastic – Different Is Dangerous, makes Ophelia realize that this isn’t the kind of normal she wanted.
What’s more, she may have to risk everything to solve the mystery behind the motto and its aftereffects on the townsfolk. Can Ophelia Bottom get to the bottom of things?
The story comes from the first-person POV of Ophelia.

My Observations:
Ophelia is a sweetheart! I love how her character’s depth is revealed as the story progresses. She starts off like a regular pre-teen but goes on to show her grit and maturity.
Merry was another lovely character.
The use of capitals when the dad speaks and italics when the mom stresses every word was a great touch. The capitals initially put me off, but it didn’t last long. The explanation is right at the beginning of the book, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at it.
The setting is vivid and clear. I could easily picturize Stopford town, the school, the kids, and just about everything. This book would make a good screen adaptation. It is easy to visualize the book from start to finish.
The book deals with a few topics like plastic waste, environment protection, bullying at school, being ‘normal’ vs. by different, being true to oneself, and so on. But there’s no preaching. No one lectures on moral values. Everything is integral to the plot. Take an element out, and the story will be affected in some way. That’s how it should be done, IMO.
The twists in the plot are easy to guess (it is MG fiction, after all). Yet, I loved the last twist and the ending. It is just how a children’s book should be.
The narration further picks up pace during the climax and does justice to the build-up. It is easy to become a part of the story and root for Ophelia. Kids will enjoy the adrenaline-packed action scenes.
The second half gave me Robo/ Enthiran vibes (by director Shankar with Rajnikanth in the lead). I won’t say more as it will lead to spoilers.
There’s a wee bit of repetition, but I don’t mind ignoring it in MG fiction.
The story is fast-paced and keeps you hooked. I wish I could’ve read it in a single sitting. If you have 2+ hours to spare, grab this one. You won’t be disappointed.

To summarize, The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom is a delightful and fun novel for children dealing with an important topic. It’s pretty much a complete package.
Thank you, NetGalley and Pushkin Children's Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

In a Nutshell: The child in me is happy with the book. The parent in me is happy with the book. The climate warrior in me is happy with the book. Just in case you aren’t clear about my opinion, I am delighted with the book!

Story Synopsis:
Ten year old Ophelia Bottom is a sad child. She hates her last name, for obvious reasons. While she loves her parents, she wishes they were more ‘normal’. After all, being the only child of travelling actors who roam around the countryside in their huge van putting up Shakespearean plays for a living doesn’t give one a traditional life. When the Bottoms halt in a town named Stopford for their next gig, things take a bad turn when Ophelia accidentally utters the jinxed word: “Macbeth!” Soon, there is one bad incident after another, and things become very dangerous. How will Ophelia save all those in trouble? How will she herself get out of trouble? Will she be able to get her wish for normalcy?
The book is written in the first person perspective of Ophelia.

Where the book worked for me:
😍 It is a very quick read despite being more than 300 pages long.

😍 I loved the main characters. Ophelia comes across as a clever and loveable girl. Her parents initially seemed slotted into clichéd roles as self-absorbed actors who don’t care about their daughter. But the author surprised me with her nuanced and realistic portrayal of the fairly unrealistic Mr. and Mrs. Bottom. (The minor characters are relatively more unidimensional but that is the norm in children’s fiction, so no issues.)

😍 The writing style, especially in the dialogues of the characters, was extraordinary and helped me not just visualise the character in my head but also hear them! For instance, Ophelia’s dad always speaks loudly using his actor’s voice and loves using big words. So his spoken lines actually have words in CAPITAL LETTERS. Similarly, her mum, who loves to stress on words to accentuate their importance, has italicised words in her lines. It was such a simple technique and yet served to well to understand not just what the character was saying but how it was being said.

😍 Not many contemporary children’s books cover the idea of travelling entertainers. This story offers a realistic glimpse into the difficulties of a nomadic life rather than romanticising the concept.

😍 Considering Ophelia’s dad’s PREDILECTION to use VERBOSE words, there are plenty of new words in the story. But this doesn’t stop at just throwing words at children. Each chapter title is a word/phrase (mostly difficult ones), with a simple definition written just below the heading. Thus, kids can learn vocabulary through meaning, context and usage! Might I add, the author’s vocabulary and word usage in the writing is impeccable.

😍 I don’t expect every children’s book to have a message/moral. Some books ought to be read just for entertainment. But this book delivers a whammy on both counts. It highlights the problem of plastic pollution throughout the story instead of raising it as a minor issue in a couple of chapters. The way in which this topic is incorporated seamlessly into the main storyline ought to be a lesson to children’s writers about how they can deliver a valuable message without compromising on the fun.

😍 There are some pretty scary scenes in the story, possibly leaving the readers biting your nails in worry. (Nothing paranormal though.) Always love it when children’s fiction keeps me that engrossed.

Where the book could have worked better for me:
😌 Teeny complaint: I would have loved seeing some illustrations. The story lent itself so marvellously to a graphical representation. That gorgeous cover made me expect more sketches inside!


All in all, this children’s book left me highly entertained and mighty satisfied. It is the perfect combination of David Walliams (horrifying situations), Tom Fletcher (sweet relationships) and Roald Dahl (brave and independent main character.)

Strongly recommended. The book would be perfect for tweens and teens, and for those adults who have refused to grow up (à la moi!)

4.75 stars.

My thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Note to the adults: See the name of the place where the Bottoms have camped, and think of which movie it reminds you of. This will give you a big clue of the direction taken by the story. I am pretty sure most children haven’t seen that movie, but I enjoyed this indirect Easter egg.

This gem of a book combines the important message of plastic awareness with the equally important one of remaining true to yourself. Ophelia is not afraid to be different and is determined to solve the mystery of Stopford.

The Dangerous Life of Ophelia Bottom is a joyous read that deftly combines messages of the environment, plastic damage, friendship, family and being true to yourself.