Besides anything from Roald Dahl, of course.
Title: Harvey Angell
Author: Diana Henry
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Link to book: Harvey Angell
I remember reading a passage of the book in one of my reading comprehensive exercises in primary school, and I couldn’t get it out of my mind after that! I genuinely wanted to find out what happened to Aunt Agatha and who this mysterious Harvey Angell was. Sadly, it wasn’t in my local library and there weren’t online bookshops at that time. I searched high and low for years for this book, I had to go to so many different bookshops. Words cannot describe how I felt when I finally found it!
The story begins with an orphan boy, Henry, living with his stingy, grumpy Aunt Agatha, who is trying to find a new boarder to fit into their small attic. Side note, the name Agatha is such a fit for these kinds of sour characters, maybe because it sounds so similar to Aunt Agony. One day, an extremely chirpy and sparky Harvey Angell moves in, claiming to be an electrician. Mysterious things happen around the house as we find out that Harvey Angell is no ordinary electrician.
The book’s language is simple yet very descriptive. It is extremely engaging with its element of mystery, and readers will definitely be hooked until the last page. Although it is a pretty short book, it does a brilliant job developing characters. From start to finish, we see the influence of Harvey Angell on everyone who lives in the house, helping them to find closure and peace in their own ways.
It blends in elements of mystery and fantasy in the sweetest, most heartwarming way. As a children’s book, it does a great job touching upon difficult topics like grief and depression. As I reread it again as an adult, and have had more experiences in my life, I can understand Aunt Agatha’s perspective better.
Filled with clever twists, endearing characters, and a dash of magic, Harvey Angell is a delightful read for young minds. It sparks the imagination, encourages curiosity, and reminds readers that sometimes, the most extraordinary adventures come in the smallest packages. Prepare for a journey into a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and where the magic of friendship and peculiarities converge in a heartwarming tale for all ages.
“And does it make it a happy house after that?” asked Henry.
“Well, yes,” said Harvey Angell. “Not a and-the-lived-happily-ever-after sort of happiness.”
“What sort then?”
Harvey Angell pondered. “Well,” he said, “I think I’d call it a not-so-lonely kind of happiness. A belonging kind of happiness – belonging to the past, present and future. A big belonging.”
“It sounds lovely,”