Laughter is the Best Ending

The latest middle grade novel from last year’s winner of The Readings Children’s Prize is a delightful story about friendship, adventure and intergenerational friendship. It begins with 13-year-old Zee laughing hysterically at the funeral of 86-year-old Dame Viv. She backtracks to explain why.

Because her parents are worried that she has no friends, Zee is forced to attend an outdoor camp and team up with twins Jonah and Moses and influencer Tiffanee for a mystery-solving activity. When the children meet Dame Viv (aka Old Bat Viv), an elegant old lady who is rumoured to have eaten numerous children, many remarkable things happen, not the least of which is that Zee and Viv become best friends.

This is a heartwarming (and truly hilarious) story about being yourself and finding your people. It’s pitched perfectly at middle grade readers, even reluctant ones, and will be a hit with everyone from 9 to 99.