Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the kind of middle-grade fiction that reminds you why the genre exists. Katherine Rundell has a genuinely distinctive voice, and the premise—rooftop-dwelling children, a baby surviving a shipwreck in a cello case, a search for an 'almost impossible' mother—is pure magic.

The book delivers on its promise: it's hopeful, thrilling, and imaginative without being saccharine. Sophie is a great protagonist, the Parisian rooftop world is evocative, and the themes (never ignore a possible, chosen family, resilience) land without being heavy-handed.

The violence is worth noting—Common Sense Media flags it specifically, and it's more graphic than you might expect (lost limbs, vicious fights). It fits the street-urchin setting and isn't gratuitous, but parents of sensitive 8-year-olds should know it's there.

Overall? This is a strong, well-loved middle-grade adventure that holds up. Not a modern classic that'll be read for decades, but a very solid pick for kids who love whimsy, adventure, and believing in the impossible.

Age Fit

Best for confident middle-grade readers 9-13. The violence and emotional weight (orphan searching for a lost mother) make it too intense for younger kids, but the whimsy and adventure will captivate upper elementary and middle schoolers. Teens might still enjoy it but it's clearly pitched at the 10-year-old sweet spot.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

78

A hopeful, heartwarming story about an orphan searching for her mother with themes of family, perseverance, and belief in the impossible. Models determination and cooperation through Sophie's relationship with Charles (her guardian) and the rooftop children. However, includes some intense child-on-child violence (a battle where one child lost a fingertip, another an arm, plus a vicious fight scene) that tempers the wholesome score. The emotional core is genuinely warm and the pacing is balanced.

Imaginative

92

Phillip Pullman calls it 'the work of a writer with an utterly distinctive voice and a wild imagination,' and that tracks. A secret network of children living on Parisian rooftops, a baby surviving a shipwreck in a cello case, evading French authorities while searching for clues—this is whimsical, magical middle-grade at its best. Invites readers to see Paris from above and believe in 'extraordinary things' and 'possibles.' Katherine Rundell's voice is genuinely original.

Safe

72

Books are generally safe, and this is a children's novel with no sexual content, profanity, or truly shocking material. However, Common Sense Media specifically flags 'intense violence among children' including graphic details (lost fingertip, lost arm, vicious fights between kid groups). For a middle-grade book marketed to 8-10 year olds, this is notable but not disqualifying—it's adventure violence, not gratuitous, and fits the turn-of-the-century street urchin setting. Still, parents should know it's there.

Enriching

86

Tackles meaningful themes: hope against impossible odds, chosen family, resilience, and the importance of never giving up on what matters. Set in historical Paris and London, exposing kids to turn-of-the-century Europe. Sophie is a strong, determined protagonist who models agency and problem-solving. The search for her mother provides emotional depth and the rooftoppers themselves offer a lens into poverty and survival. Plus it's genuinely entertaining—multiple reviews call it 'captivating,' 'thrilling,' and 'inspiring.' 4.6 stars on Amazon suggests strong reader satisfaction.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Katherine Rundell's imagination is the real deal—Phillip Pullman endorsed it, and the premise (rooftop-dwelling urchins, surviving shipwrecks in cello cases) delivers on the promise
Sophie is a determined, resourceful protagonist who never gives up hope, modeling resilience and agency without being preachy about it
Themes of chosen family, believing in 'possibles,' and pursuing the impossible even when everyone says it's hopeless—genuinely moving stuff
Turn-of-the-century Paris setting with evocative descriptions of rooftops, music, and beauty; kids get a taste of historical Europe without a history textbook
Strong reader reviews (4.6 stars on Amazon, Guardian reviewer gave it 9/10 and said they'd reread it 'again and again')

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What to Watch For

Intense violence among children—one kid lost a fingertip in a rooftop battle, another lost an arm, and there's a vicious fight scene between rival groups. It's not gratuitous but it's more graphic than many middle-grade books
Sophie's an orphan searching for her possibly-dead mother, so there's inherent sadness and loss woven throughout (though the tone stays hopeful)
Turn-of-the-century setting means some old-fashioned language and references—not a dealbreaker but may feel less immediate to modern kids

Conversation Starters

"Sophie's guardian tells her that her mother being alive is 'almost impossible'—but almost impossible means still possible. What's something you hope for that feels almost impossible?"
"The rooftoppers live in hidden spaces above Paris that most people never see. If you could discover a secret world in our city, where would it be and what would be there?"
"Sophie has to decide whether to keep searching or give up and accept what everyone tells her is true. When have you had to choose between what you believed and what others said?"
"Charles takes Sophie and flees to Paris instead of letting her go to an orphanage. Do you think he made the right choice? What would you have done?"

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