Age Group: KS3 (Ages 11-14)

Maggie is an orphan who has recently escaped from a workhouse after losing her mum. Her mum had given her a letter to deliver to a Monsieur Passepartout and said that he would help her.

In tracking down Monsieur Passepartout, Maggie also finds Mr Fogg, a gentleman who has made a wager that he can travel around the world in only eighty days. She also discovers that Mr Fogg is believed to have stolen a lot of money from a bank in London.

Maggie accompanies Mr Fogg and Monsieur Passepartout on their journey around the world and tries to prove Mr Fogg’s innocence along the way. Their journey is not a straightforward one – they encounter lots of people along the way, some helpful and some not so helpful. Not everyone wants Mr Fogg to succeed in his endeavour.

‘The Girl Who Raced the World’ is a fantastic reimagining of ‘Around the World in Eighty Days’. Maggie and Monsieur Passepartout are both incredibly likeable characters, and I like how their relationship develops as they get to know each other better. Mr Fogg is mysterious but perhaps not as stern as he first appears. The story moves at a pace and is a fantastic adventure for Y4 and up. It would make a great read-aloud in the classroom or a good independent read.