Maddy Yip's Guide to Life

Maddy Yip has a hectic, busy (and irritating!) family but she is the only one without a trophy in the family cabinet. In this comedy drama for children, Maddy goes in search of her own talent, with the help of her dramatic friend and a hapless hamster.

When Maddy realises that she is the only one in her family without a discernible talent, she racks her brains for what it could possibly be: pinning tails on donkeys, baking spicy cakes, drawing while blindfolded…magic?! It’s not an easy journey and her best friend, Dev – who has his own sights set on being a star of the stage – agrees to be her mentor.

In an effort to refine Maddy’s talents, Dev enlists the help of her little brother’s hamster, Hulk. Unfortunately, this results in a wide-scale hamster hunt that is further hampered when Maddie’s quirky grandfather also disappears.

Though Maddy is an endearing character, who is easy to root for, her story is sadly short on excitement and laughter. Maddy’s book opens with charming illustrations of each character, and the cast is funny and diverse (including snotty evil twins, a coaster-eating grandpa, and menacing neighbours). Unfortunately, the promising characters have little space to develop or make their mark on the story, only occasionally featuring in the steady-paced narrative.

There is much charm in Maddy’s story, and many young readers will find her relatable, though her story may lack the drama to keep everyone engaged.