Tall Story

by Candy Gourlay
Tall Story cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Children's Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 839
  • Added: 2025-09-20
  • Updated: 2025-09-21
  • ISBN: 9781849920391
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2011-01-01
  • Formats: 23
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £7.99

Andi is a short girl with big wishes, especially the one for her half brother Bernardo to come live with her in London. When he finally arrives, he's not just tall but a giant, turning her world upside down. The novel is packed with humor and quirkiness as it explores the touching relationship between siblings and the clash of two very different cultures. /n/nBernardo's arrival brings a whirlwind of changes, from Andi's dreams of playing basketball together to navigating their new life as siblings. The story is a delightful blend of heartwarming moments and cultural exploration, making it a unique and engaging read.

Reviews
LoveReading4Kids · 2016-02-16
heartwarming 4.50

The debut novel is filled with warmth, humor, and quirkiness, making it a memorable read. It masterfully balances laughter and tears, creating a rich emotional experience.

LoveReading4Kids praises the debut novel for its warmth, humor, and quirkiness, which make it a standout read. The reviewer highlights how the book effortlessly switches between moments of laughter and tears, creating a rich emotional tapestry. They appreciate the book's ability to explore family dynamics in an extraordinary and engaging way. The story's unique blend of ordinary and magical elements adds to its charm, making it a memorable and enjoyable read for young readers.

Quick quotes

    This is a debut novel packed with warmth, humour and quirkiness.

    It will have you in fits of laughter one minute and in tears the next.

    The story's unique blend of ordinary and magical elements adds to its charm.

The Apostate Book Bore · 2015-09-12
charming 4.00

The book is a delightful mix of humor and magic, balancing bittersweet moments with laughter. It's a heartwarming tale that captures the essence of family and belonging.

The Apostate Book Bore's review emphasizes the book's ability to blend humor and magic seamlessly, creating a bittersweet experience for the reader. They found the story to be hilarious and witty, with moments that are both magical and deeply touching. The reviewer particularly enjoyed the way the book explores the themes of family and belonging, making it a heartwarming read. The blend of different emotions keeps the reader engaged throughout, making it a memorable and enjoyable experience.

Quick quotes

    This book is bittersweet, hilarious, witty, and magical, even though some parts are sad.

    I laughed my head off while reading it.

    The blend of different emotions keeps the reader engaged throughout.

The Guardian · 2011-06-14
insightful 3.50

The book explores themes of family and identity through the eyes of two siblings with very different appearances. The narrative effectively conveys the message that appearances can be deceiving.

The Guardian's review highlights how the story of Andi and Bernardo, siblings with contrasting physical appearances, beautifully illustrates the complexity of family dynamics. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to convey deep emotional messages through a simple yet engaging narrative. They particularly enjoyed how the book challenges stereotypes and encourages readers to look beyond surface-level judgments. The alternating perspectives of the two main characters add depth and richness to the story, making it a memorable read.

Quick quotes

    Andi learned that you shouldn't always judge a person by their appearance.

    The narrative effectively conveys the message that appearances can be deceiving.

    The alternating perspectives of the two main characters add depth and richness to the story.

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