BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
Book Title: The Secret of the Treasure Keepers (available here)
Author: A.M. Howell
Publisher: Usborne
Publication Date: March 2022
Most Suitable for: Years 4-6
A.M. Howell’s growing fanbase will be pleased to hear of the newest in her set of historical fiction for middle-grade readers. True to form, The Secrets of the Treasure Keepers is a wonderfully immersive story that takes the reader back to what life might have been like for one family at a particular moment in history. The story felt extra special for me, as it is a rare example of fiction set in the Fens near where I live. I know that the author’s commitment to highlighting this area of the country will be warmly welcomed by schools both in the local area and also for those readers yet to discover the hauntingly beautiful geography of the Fens.
The story centres around the apparent discovery of some buried Roman treasure in the field of a struggling farming family. Ruth and her mum – a budding archaeology expert – visit the farm to discover more. What drives the story is the unfolding secrets and backstories of the various different main characters – all interesting and well-nuanced – making for an enjoyable mystery full of intrigue and due compassion for the desperation that can drive deceit.
I particularly enjoyed the well-drawn historical setting of post-war Britain. We see a lot of middle-grade stories set during the war, but the period immediately after the war had finished is just as interesting and much less widely considered in children’s books. How does a country get back on its feet after the devastation of the war? No stone is left unturned when it comes to incidental details that flesh out the time and place of the story’s setting. The country is still reeling from the war’s impact and the reader is given space to reflect on the difficulty this caused for different individuals – for example in terms of ongoing rationing, widespread poverty, the ‘make do and mend’ mentally, missing family members, the dawn of the NHS and the deeply-felt consequences of the war’s destruction on property, people and family relationships. A major theme of the story is embracing change and looking at ways to improve the future even during difficult times – a theme that is just as relevant today as it was in 1948. For me, this is the crux of what makes A.M. Howell’s writing so compelling; the stories feel so authentically and evocatively set in their time period while also being timeless in their themes
Heartfelt and hopeful, this is a historical adventure not to be missed.
Order The Secret of the Treasure Keepers online from Amazon or Bookshop.
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For more new books this term, check out our Spring 2022 Ones to Watch.
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***Book Giveaway***
Thanks to the publishers at Usborne, we have a copy of The Secret of the Treasure Keepers to give away to one of our followers.
To enter, follow @booksfortopics on Twitter and RT the giveaway tweet.between Mon 28th March and Sunday 3rd April 2022 – terms and conditions here.
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Order The Secret of the Treasure Keepers online from Amazon or Bookshop.
Many thanks to the publishers for sending us a review copy. Follow along with the other stops on the blog tour for more about the book.
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Where next?
> Visit our Reading for Pleasure Hub
> Browse our Topic Booklists
> View our printable year group booklists.
> See our Books of the Month.
