It’s the 1680s and health information is limited at best and asthma is not the only disability representation present in The Frost Fair. No one understands what is happening with Thomasina’s mother and neighbours band together to have her institutionalised. I applaud Hastings for such a well written storyline about mental health and including it in a children’s book. And then we have the events of the story - full of twists and turns, a vibrant cast of side characters, and genuine surprises. Blending adventure, fantasy and historical fiction, the wintry tale of The Miraculous Sweetmakers will be sure to entertain you this winter season! Grief and loss underpins everything that occurs and I appreciated that there are no easy solutions suggested. Thomasina has a difficult time as do her parents and I thought their storylines were handled with real sensitivity. The period setting also allows for a look about how times have changed, particularly with regards to mental illness, depression and attitudes towards women, which I'm sure will horrify some young readers! The trials and tribulations of the time are further portrayed through the depictions of poverty and how ailments were treated in the past.

Thomasina's loneliness is almost palpable but her visit to an apothecary introduces her to Anne and a friendship which becomes the beacon of light in this beautifully empathetic book. Both girls are superb protagonists; courageous yet allowed to show their fears and so completely believable. As it becomes evident just how much trouble Thomasina is in, the magic that takes place is both frightening and heartwarming. The narration is in the third person focusing on Thomasina's point of view. This helps the reader separate from the more challenging parts of the story, whereas the first person may have been just too personal and close to them. It also allows for a much broader understanding of the time and what it meant for different members of that society. Her friendships give her hope, and the story does really get quite bleak so it’s good that she has Henry, Anne, and their business idea, to cling to. The theme of friendship features quite heavily in this book. Thomasina meets and befriends Anne Hawke, a young girl who recently moved to London and works at an apothecary shop. Together they form a friendship by baking and selling goods at the markets by the frozen Thames festival. Both characters have their own charms and quirks and I loved seeing how their friendship blossomed amidst Thomasina's own personal troubles. It's a gentle reminder that it is never too late to meet new friends, and in most cases, new friends come into our lives for a reason.The author was selected to join the London Library’s Emerging Writers Programme in 2019. She is currently working as a fundraiser, and started developing The Frost Fairwhile studying history at Cambridge University. The Miraculous Sweetmakers is the perfect winter read for middle-graders to young YA readers. The plot is filled with friendship, family, and an air of mystery when our main character Thomasina is invited to the frost fair. An important element of the storyline is Thomasina’s production of sweet treats, which are sold on the frozen River Thames – the research for which came naturally to the author. ‘I have an enduring love of sweets and chocolate!’ she says. ‘I also love cooking and trying out new recipes. Mind you, I was sharing a flat at the time and really needed a 17th century fireplace and cauldron but I did what I could!’

The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings is a heart-warming middle-grade historical fantasy that I finished a few days ago and loved every minute of. It was actually a really long read and despite how ill I’ve been feeling this week, I would have loved to follow these characters’ journey for a lot longer, so I hope it will be a series.One of my favourite aspects of the book was the writing, which treads the balance of readability especially for a younger audience, but also indulging in some truly fantastic descriptive prose. Hastings has absolutely got her finger on the pulse of winter, and all the different elements that we associate with that time of year, and the atmosphere she manages to conjure as a result feels like stepping out a cold winter’s day and into the warmth and light of a Christmas shop, with all the colours and smells, and nostalgia that comes with it. The author also uses all the senses throughout this book, particularly when exploring the sweetmaking aspect, and it got to the point where I could practically taste the creations that Anne and Thomasina were coming up (and I certainly want to try them). This skill with the description was also evident with all the fantastical elements, and it made it so easy to imagine the Other Frost Fair and the tendrils that were twining around the real one and Thomasina’s life; and the imagery for the Frost Folk and Father Winter was spectacular. I read this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser for letting me take part on this tour, and thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.