What can I say about Hilary McKay? She writes beautiful
books that are so funny and tender hearted. I was first introduced to Hilary
McKay novels while I was doing a writer’s course and I’ve tried to get my hands
on as many as possible. The Casson Family series is beautiful and I highly
recommend it.
In this post, I’m going to talk about another McKay novel
that I found so hard to put down once I started it.
Binny Keeps a Secret by Hilary McKay
Binny has a problem, she sees things that no one else does,
particularly things that get her into trouble.
Binny’s family have just moved to a new town. Binny is stuck
in the middle. She bares little resemblance to her lovely mother, beautiful older
sister Clem and younger brother James, who is so gorgeous he has to tell people
not to kiss him as soon as they says hello.
Flung into a new town, new home and new school Binny is
awkward and shy. She puts her foot in her mouth so many times that after the
first day of school everybody hates her and she’s resolved that homeschooling
is the only option.
When a freak storm blows the roof off their new house Binny’s
family moves into an old family estate. Binny discovers a secret. A secret that
she has too keep or else it might just disappear.
One hundred years before Binny is even thought of live Rupert,
Peter and Clarry. Every summer holiday the cousins converge on their grandparent’s
cottage. One year they decide to make a natural history museum. Rupert is fast
growing up and wanting to do anything but be at school, Peter thinks he will
die if he is sent to board school and Clarry just wishes everything would stay
as it is.
The past and present converge as events from 1913 affect the
present.
Hilary McKay is a brilliant writer. She does such an
incredible job of portraying family life in a hilariously poignant way.
This book is great for 9-13 year olds as well as adults who
love a good children’s book.
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