So my daughter, who's really into historical fiction, picked this one up for a book report. It’s got circuses, Victorian England, and a girl detective figuring out secrets, which is pretty much her catnip. Basically, Lizzie Brown is hanging around a circus in Edinburgh, and there's a fake medium causing trouble, plus a rich guy with a mysterious niece. All the things my kid loves!
She got really into it pretty quickly. There weren't any pictures, which she usually complains about, but she didn't seem to mind this time. She said the writing was easy to follow, and she liked how Lizzie was smart and wasn't afraid to get into trouble. She did ask me to explain what a mill owner was, but that was the only thing she needed help with. It took her about a week to read, reading a bit each night, so it wasn't too long for her attention span.
It’s an AR level 4.7 with 6.0 points, so it was a good fit for her since she's in fourth grade. The word count is just over 41,000, so it's a decent length chapter book but not overwhelming, if that makes sense. She actually picked it up and read it every night without me having to ask her to, which is always a win.
This is definitely a good pick if your kid likes strong female characters, historical settings, and a little bit of mystery. If they're easily scared, it might be a bit intense, but it wasn't anything too crazy. It’s great for a kid who needs a bit of a challenge but isn’t quite ready for something super complicated, especially if they're into Victorian stuff. My daughter is already looking for more books with Lizzie Brown, so that's a good sign!