The Unadoptables - Hana Tooke

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The Little Tulip Orphanage has 3 rules for baby abandonment - the baby should be wrapped in a cotton blanket, placed in a wicker basket and deposited on the topmost step. In all the years that Elinora Gassbeek has been matron of the orphanage, never once have these rules been broken. Until the summer of 1880, when five babies are left in completely scandalous circumstances - one in a toolbox, one in a coal bucket, one in a picnic hamper, one in a wheat sack and one in a coffin-shaped basket.

Those babies were Lotta, Fenna, Egg, Sem and Milou. They are now 12 years old (Sem is 13) and have still not been adopted. They live in horrific conditions, and the matron is absolutely horrid to all the children. 

But when a sinister, mysterious man, Rotman, appears to adopt all five of them and when the children realise that not all is as it seems, they escape.

While they try to search for Milou's parents and with Rotman still out for them...will they be able to stick together?


About the Author:


Half Dutch, half English, Hana Tooke grew up near Amsterdam and moved to the south of England at the age of twelve. After completing a degree in music, and then a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education). She was a primary teacher for many years and she also completed the Bath Spa University Writing for Young People MA. The Unadoptables was shortlisted for The Bath Children's Novel Award 2018. She now lives in Bath with two humans and a cat.


About the Illustrator (because this book has amazing illustrations!)

Ayesha L. Rubio was born in Madrid. She studied Fine Arts in Spain and England before beginning her work as an illustrator. She has published three books of her own and has embarked on new adventures in the world of animation.


She has also done really gorgeous illustrations on the hardback cover! (I highly recommend getting a physical copy of this, it is so beautiful - I am obsessed with mine!)



What I thought of the book:

5 stars! A new favourite book, that kept me engaged all the way through and took some surprising turns!

I did feel it was a bit slow in parts, but it tells you everything you need to know.

It does get a bit scary in parts because Rotman and Gassbeek are so cruel to these kids who are only slightly older than me!

I actually only finished the last two chapters of this book today, and since some of the most exciting things happen near the end - yesterday I stayed up way past my bedtime to get some answers!

The characters are great and at the beginning of the book Matron Gassbeek names each of them based on how they arrived and what they looked like which was very interesting.

Since Milou is basically the main character and she has the most clues about her parents so when they escape, they are not only running from Rotman but trying to find her family as well. I did feel like Milou made it a little too much about herself in parts.

The writing and plot are soooooo good! The plot is just mind blowing and the way it ends is amazing. It is also a very intriguing book that will keep you wanting more to keep going. It has great logic and for enjoyment, I would give it a 10/10.

If you read this book let me know if you enjoyed it as much as I did!


More Details:  

Buy the book: 

https://www.amazon.in/Unadoptables-Hana-Tooke/dp/0241417465/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=hana+tooke&qid=1622617926&sr=8-1

Download the ebook for free (Kindle format: MOBI):

https://1lib.in/book/5645714/565c88

Book length: 384 pages 

Rating on CAWPILE: 9.14

Star Rating: 5 stars 

Happy Reading! 

💟💜📖📚😍


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