ReadItDaddy's Book of the Week - Week Ending 23rd January 2015 - "Goth Girl - A Fete Worse than Death" by Chris Riddell (HarperCollins Children's Books)

You know we already fell in love with Chris Riddell's Goth Girl. Ada Goth is the sort of children's book character that you just can't help falling in love with and though we're late to the party with her second adventure, we're hugging ourselves with glee at how great "A Fete Worse than Death" is.

We pick up the story as a frisson of excitement fizzes around Ghastly Gorm Hall. It's time for the summer garden party, and competition is already heating up for this year's bake-off title (and you can bet that Chris includes some brilliant knowing nods to everyone's favourite cake-based TV show as well as a few other celebrity chefs thrown in for good measure!)

One person - or should that be one bear isn't quite as excited about the garden party as Ada and her newly found friends, the Attic Club. Marylebone the Bear (wink) - Ada's Maid in Waiting, is rather more concerned with matters of the heart. A mysterious marriage proposal has sent the normally erudite bear into a tailspin.

It's up to Ada and her pals in The Attic Club to lend cupid a helping hand, while avoiding the steely gaze of the nefarious indoor gamekeeper Maltravers.

Charlotte and I had to toss a coin to see who would get to read this first (I did the decent thing in the end and let her read through before stealing off with it). It's a sign of a great book that we are still giggling about it, and while discussing all the best bits, each of us got a batch of different story experiences from our read-throughs. Chris is a genius, creating a set of stories that are not only cross-generational (Charlotte knows enough about bake off to find Chris's amusing refs funny, while I can really dig all the nods to classic gothic and children's fiction).

This is so good, and now thanks to our lovely pal Anne-Marie over at child-led chaos we know that a third book is on the way, this time taking a wry poke at the beloved Brontes. We absolutely cannot wait!

"Goth Girl - a Fete Worse than Death" is available now from HarperCollins Children's Books. Do NOT miss it!

Charlotte's best bit: Her sheer and utter delight at the cake tasting!

Daddy's Favourite bit: So many genius observations, comic nuances and lovingly written tongue-in-cheek references that beg you to dive straight back in for another read through once you reach the end. Particularly loved the Nigella Lawson-alike though, oh yes!

(Kindly sent to us for review by HarperCollins Children's Books

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