The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams by Victoria Williamson

 The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams 

by Victoria Williamson

The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams by Victoria Williamson was published on 

11th May 2023 by Tiny Tree.

 My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to

 The Write Reads for inviting me to take part on the tour.

Synopsis

In a strange little village called Witchetty Hollow, eleven-year-old Florizel is the first to run into the curious visitors who've come to open a brand new Daydream Delicatessen and sack-baby factory.

At first, it seems the daydream confection and cheap sack children are the best things that could have

happened to the poor folk of the Hollow - after all, who has the money to rent their child from

Storkhouse Services these days? But after a few weeks, Florizel starts to notice something odd happening to the adults of the town. First, they seem dreamy, then they lose all interest in their jobs and families. Soon they're trading all their worldly goods in the newly-opened Pawnshop for money

to buy daydreams. With no money for rent payments, the children of Witchetty Hollow are being

reclaimed by Storkhouse Services at an alarming rate. Florizel needs to act.

A magical tale of intrigue and adventure from award-winning children's author Victoria Williamson

My Review

This is a wonderfully creepy story aimed at the late junior, early secondary age group. The story centres in

Witchetty Hollow around the main character Florizel, along with the sack boy Burble and they have the

challenge of solving the mystery of the strange happenings in their village after the appearance of the new

daydream delicatessen.

The story is beautifully written in such a way as to keep children hooked on finding out what is going to

happen next. The pace of the story and the language used is totally appropriate for this age group and is

interspersed throughout by wonderful artwork from James Brown, which brings the world to life in the

reader's imagination.

I loved the use of "Comic" language, which will amuse readers of all ages, along with typical childish humour injections such as Frog Spawn sandwiches, which took me back to my school days of tadpole pudding; tapioca to the adults amongst you, and toe nail pie; Bakewell Tart with toasted almonds !!!!!

I also have to include this wonderful quote that had me rolling around laughing; " Gobbolino Corporation , suppliers of fine quality sack babies since twixteen twiddley- two" as my children always have a laugh at the silly nonsense words I make up .

This is a 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 read for anyone who loves reading creepy stories with laugh out loud humour and Burble is such an endearing little character.

Victoria's books are fortuitous in that as well as being ideal for the age group they are written for they also make excellent reading material for all teens and adults for whom English is not their first language.

The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams will appeal to fans of Coraline by Neil Gaimen

About the Author

Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of

different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon,

and a teacher trainer in Malawi.

As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs

in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with

a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical

disabilities and behavioural problems.

She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction

and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and

special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can

see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.

Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her

debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship

between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.

Twenty percent of her author royalties for The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle are donated to the

Scottish Refugee Council.

You can find out more about Victoria's books, school visits and upcoming events on her website:

www.strangelymagical.com