Shortlisted for the 2015 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize: Best Fiction for 5-12s
| Cowgirl by G R Gemin | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Anne Thompson
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| Summary: This is a debut novel with a refreshing voice and a definite feel good factor in which an unlikely friendship between two young girls and their efforts to save a herd of cows rekindle a sense of community in their town. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 272 | Date: March 2014 |
| Publisher: Nosy Crow | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 9780857632814 | |
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Gemma has grown up on a housing estate in South Wales where muggings and burglaries are commonplace, her dad is in prison, her mum has given up hope for the future and Gemma argues with her younger brother. She has given up on finding happiness and escapes from her daily routine by riding her bike into the nearby countryside. On one of these trips she bumps into the notorious Cowgirl and after their initial hostilities have thawed an unlikely friendship blossoms and together the girls, with the help of a dozen cows, discover that kindness, cooperation and perseverance can restore hope to a broken community.
This book was not what I expected at all and after the first couple of chapters I had really warmed to it. The summary on the publisher’s website mentions ‘social realism’ and yes, Gemma’s family have their problems to deal with as do others in their circle, but this is most definitely not a depressing story. G R Gemin writes in an easy-to-read conversational style with an engaging and refreshing voice which will undoubtedly appeal to young readers. Although the plot is a little crazy, well very crazy really, the story works well due to the believability of all the individual characters and the manner in which the relationships are described. The bond between Gemma and her Gran is particularly lovely and the growing friendship between Gemma and Kate, or Cowgirl as she is called by the school bullies, felt realistic.
I am loathe to give away too much of the plot as half the fun is the unexpectedness of events. However, this is a book with a very positive message. The reader learns that we should not always judge others by first impressions, that friendship can be found in the most unlikely places and that kindness and understanding can conquer many problems. A pretty useful message for youngsters, I think. Despite the slightly far-fetched plot, although I confess I was cheering them on as they tried to hide an entire herd of cows, this book manages to be funny, moving, and thoughtful. I thoroughly enjoyed this impressive debut and will be watching out for this particular author’s next book. Recommended.
I should like to thank the people at Nosy Crow Publishers for sending this copy to the Bookbag.
Although this story has been described as Jacqueline Wilson meets Michael Morpurgo the humour and warmth reminded me more of Frank Cottrell Boyce.
If you would like to read another book about a town girl being affected by country life you may enjoy Shine by Kate Maryon, We also have a review of Gemin's Sweet Pizza.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Cowgirl by G R Gemin at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Cowgirl by G R Gemin at Amazon.com.
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