The Sequin Star - Book Review

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by Ashleigh Meikle (subscribe)

Writer, student, traveller.

Published July 5th 2014

Slip back in time to the 1930s and the Great Depression in Australia with Belinda Murrell's latest novel, The Sequin Star.

Claire is starting to feel constrained by her strict parents and what they expect of her when her grandmother falls ill whilst they are at a stage show. And when Claire finds an old piece of costume jewellery shaped like a star, and decked out with sequins in her grandmother's things whilst packing a few things for Nanna's hospital stay, she is suddenly hurtled back to 1932 Sydney. She lands in the midst of a circus, and is taken in by Rosina and Jem, and learns the way of their life.

Soon, they arrive in Sydney in time for the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and to meet a young man, Kit, who comes to see Rosina perform every night. But when he is kidnapped, Claire, Rosina and Jem must unravel the mystery and save him.

From page one, I was hooked and unable to put this book down, reading until I couldn't keep my eyes open. I felt like I was back in 1932, and suffering through the Great Depression, living in the circus and crossing the Harbour Bridge the day that it opened. I could smell everything and at times I felt my heart break, leap into my mouth and tap dance in joy.

Unravelling the mystery of who Rosina and Kit were is all part of the fun of reading the book and getting lost in its world. There is a magic about time slip novels that I enjoy and Belinda Murrell is one of those special authors who has managed to capture the magic of time slip, history and fiction altogether.