just a wonderful, magical, extraordinary book. the kind of classic-feeling book you can put in the hands of a little girl and feel confident that with it, she will grow into a wonderful, magical, extraordinary creature herself. it might work on boys, too, who knows? but right now i am speaking to the fathers i know with young daughters who are looking for that book that will leave an impression on them in a literary role-model kind of way: a strong and smart and brave little girl raised by an eccentric man who may not have taught her much about how to be conventional, but who has shared a love of language and adventure, and has raised her to be fierce and loyal and courageous and independent.

She follows her instincts and travels to Paris, even though the chances of finding her mother are slim. On the morning of its first birthday, a baby was found floating in a cello case in the middle of the English Channel. total dismissal of the numerous wide Paris boulevards that make rooftop crossing an unlikely proposition over long distances, like from Notre Dame to Gare du Nord Sophie, whose only possession is the cello box she was found drifting in, lives for 12 happy years in Charles' household, homeschooled in the most unconventional ways, allowed to ask any question she likes, read whatever she takes a fancy to and climb any tree or rooftop in sight. Their iddylic existence is put in danger when social services decide this is no way to raise a proper lady. She knows how to read, and how to draw. She knows the difference between a tortoise and a turtle. She knows one tree from another, and how to climb them. Only this morning she was telling me what is the collective noun for toads."

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CELEBRATING 10 HIGH-FLYING YEARS OF THE MULTI-AWARD-WINNING MODERN CLASSIC, FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE EXPLORER Hopeful, inspiring and thrilling in equal measure, this is a classic adventure story about pursuing your dreams and never ignoring a possible. When I was reading it and I was whisked away to Ms Rundell’s dreamlike Paris where the streets are still cobbled and the streetlights are being lit by hand, I couldn’t help but think of the film The Illusionist. Except Rooftoppers had a much happier and incredibly delightful ending. Sophie meets a boy called Matteo . Matteo is also an orphan and lives on the rooftops to avoid being found. He agrees to help Sophie in her search. A symbol is an object, person, image or event used to represent something bigger. For example, in Rooftoppers , the cello represents Sophie's mother.

Could this tale, which begins in the 1890s, take place in the modern era? How would modern technology change the story? This is also a bit of historical fiction that takes place in England and Paris, which makes it stand out from other middle grade books. A very cute, middle grade read. It kinda reminded me of "The Thief Lord" by Cornelia Fluke since both books have a very similar feel. I'd say I liked "The Thief Lord" a little more, but I enjoyed both. Sophie doesn't tell Charles she's going on the roofs even though he told her to stay in her room. Recommended ages 10+ for violence, alcohol, and language.

BookBrowse Review

Perhaps the pacing of the story was a conscious attempt by the author to mimic the theme of racing music. Cello music played double time is actually an important plot point in Rooftoppers. However, even if, interpreted in the most flattering light, the plot pacing was meant to replicate the musical theme, as a reader, I still found it to be unsatisfying. After a ship sinks , a baby is found floating in a cello case and is rescued by Charles Maxim , another passenger from the ship. Charles names the baby Sophie and decides to raise her. A brilliant new edition to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Katherine Rundell's modern classic tale of wild hope and thrilling adventure on the rooftops of Paris. This limited edition features the celebratory cover roundel and an extra letter from Katherine Rundell. The Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2022". The Baillie Gifford Prize . Retrieved 17 November 2022. Charles doesn’t think that it’s important for Sophie to behave like other young Victorian girls. He thinks it is more important for Sophie to be happy.