I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I have a daughter who is eight years old. She is a voracious reader, so when I receive the opportunity to read a middle grade book, I often read it with her. We have discovered some lovely stories together, and it’s nice to be able to spend time with her one-on-one.

As soon as I saw The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn, I had a feeling that my daughter would like it. This book was originally published in England under the title The Snow Merchant, and it was written by Sam Gayton.

Lettie Peppercorn is only twelve years old, but she is a formidable landlady in the town of Albion. Her Da is often at the local tavern, and her mother left over ten years ago. When a mysterious alchemist arrives with an incredible invention called “snow”, Lettie’s life changes forever.

Lettie’s mother left an ominous note warning her to never leave their house on stilts, and Lettie has never broken that promise…until now. This is a story full of first for Lettie: first time leaving the house, first time having an adventure, and the first time she makes a real friend who isn’t a parrot or the Wind. Before Lettie can process what is happening, she and a boy named Noah are chasing after the alchemist, trying to find out the secret of snow and what happened to her Ma.

The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn is an absolutely amazing book. At the end of each chapter, my daughter looked up at me with big eyes and asked if we could read more. She gasped with indignation at pivotal moments, or called out excitedly as she guessed what would happen next. I can confidently say that this book was a big hit with our family.

I would enthusiastically recommend The Adventures of Lettie Peppercorn. This is a delightful middle grade book. It has some lovely lessons about family, friendship, and believing in yourself. Lettie has never left the house before, but she is able to accomplish so much. Gayton’s writing is very wry, and my daughter and I both laughed out loud at many times throughout our reading. My daughter and I are both looking forward to reading more of Sam Gayton’s books in the future!