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Oven Chips For Tea
Oven Chips For Tea
Dec 1, 2025 7:56 PM

Author:Alex Gutteridge

Oven Chips For Tea

Katrina has always relied on her grandparents to provide stability in comparison with her rather volatile parents. Her grandad has coached her to be an excellent table tennis player and they have a close relationship. Following a serious stroke, Grandad seems to have changed a lot and family tension runs high. When Kat hears rumours about a split in the family, she assumes her argumentative parents are splitting up, but when it turns out to be her grandparents who are getting divorced, her world is turned on its head. Worse still, her beloved Grandad is moving to Spain. Despite her desperate and sometimes comical efforts Kat fails to keep Gramps in the country, and the divorce goes ahead. In the meantime, though, she discovers several other worthwhile and important relationships in her life. Though this book tackles a serious subject it is funny and upbeat with a twist that will catch readers by surprise.

Reviews

A satisfyingly wry, realistic conclusion makes this a book to grow up with - or, at least, to help along the way

—— Carousel

A fast and fluent read

—— Niall McGonagle , Irish Times

This book will appeal to a variety of children who can relate to having mixed-up feelings and a hatred of maths!

—— Teaching and Learning

You won't be able to put this fantastic read down. We're sad it's over

—— Mizz

Invisible Threads is a wonderful exploration of the realtionship bewteen mothers and daughters and the conflict and and comfort that is at its core.

—— INIS

A touching story.

—— Teen Titles

This is a fast-paced short chapter book (perhaps as you would expect from a book about racing!) but it pauses in just the right places for the laughs.

—— The Literacy Tree

To get children's attention when it comes to reading, you have to have engaging characters - and situations... and Dixie O'Day has both in spades. Aimed at children who have just gained the confidence to read alone, this charming and utterly brilliant story, which kicks off a new series, is also perfect for sharing. The illustrations suck you in, the story will have you smiling, then laughing... Absolutely brilliant!

—— Books Monthly website

The book has a nostalgic feel, which gives the impression that it is a classic already, with simple red, white and black illustrations, and there are some added bonuses in the form of a detailed map prior to the story illustrating the adventure, and a quiz which will support any young reader to dip back into the text to find the textual references. This is a fast-paced short chapter book but it pauses in just the right places for the laughs. Ages 5-9.

—— http://theliteracytree.co.uk/august-literature-review/

Clara Vulliamy’s illustrations are filled with a nostalgic charm that perfectly complements her mother’s writing.The characters are brilliantly created, with my favourite being the duo’s neighbour and nemesis, Lou Ella. Adults can marvel at the overall design of the book and chuckle along to the pop-culture references scattered throughout. With activities at the back and an introduction to the characters at the front, this delightful book is also so much more than just a story. With such close attention to creating something to treasure, by one of England’s own treasures when it comes to younger fiction, I feel I can easily make the claim that Dixie O’Day will still be found on shelves in 2043 (gosh that seems such a long way away).

—— NightLightBooks.com

Canine capers in a beautifully designed package from a mother-and-daughter author/artist team.

—— Korky Paul , S Magazine, Sunday Express
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