Changes

|title=Dear Scarlett

|author=Fleur Hitchcock

|publisher=Nosy Crow

|date=February 2013

|website=https://fleurhitchcock.wordpress.com/

|video=EiihRY5hk98

|summary=An entertaining and exciting adventure with an engaging lead character, this story is told with warmth and wit and should appeal to tween readers.

}}

Shortly after her eleventh birthday Scarlett receives a mysterious box from her father who died five years earlier. The box contains a strange collection of items that provide Scarlett with clues to her father’s life. For years she has accepted the story that her father had been a notorious jewel thief but as she attempts to make sense of the clues it becomes apparent that maybe things were not quite as they had seemed. With the help of her friend Ellie, Scarlett sets off on an exciting and at times dangerous mission to discover the truth.

The relationships between the various members of the family are well written and the way in which these alter as the story progresses is well done. The author portrays step-families in a positive way and although Scarlett is no angel and makes some mistakes the story also demonstrates how someone can learn how to do the right thing but does not do so in a preachy manner. I felt that perhaps the villains were a little stereotypical but for this age group that is understandable. The relationship between Scarlett and her baby brother is charming and there is a sense of fun permeating the whole story which is appealing.

If you are interested in reading another humourous adventure story involving a girl dealing with family issues I would suggest [[How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant by Elen Caldecott]]