This book truly took me back, I love the trope of twins, evil people, boarding schools, and a principle that dislikes them- for what? Don't even know why! XD Oh! And how could I forget witchcraft! I feel like I'm rambling but I look forward to more by Ms. Michelle Cordara

Thank you to Matador for ARC of The Tipple Twins and the Gift in exchange for an honest review.

As a bookseller I should practice what I preach and not judge a book by its cover. That being said have you seen it? It is beautiful,

Jenna and Jessica Tipple's big sister Caitlin disappears and they are enrolled into Chumsworth School, but the Tipples have a family secret...magic and the school play; yes you guessed it the Salam Witch Trails. Strange things begin to happen and where is 'that room?'

This is a wonderful Halloween read, with snippets of history and friendship interwoven throughout it's pages. Definitely for fans of Harry Potter.

The only downside to this book is the description of the villains. For me its a stereotype that the younger generation do not need to make connections to. Other then that a great 9-12 spooky mystery.

okay, this is a children's book so, i just thought it would be better and not as like, toxic i guess. but, damn was i wrong. so, of course, if you read the description, you would know that there are a couple villains in this story, shocking, i know. and i just expected their to be villains, maybe like Ursula or like Maleficent, so nothing to crazy. but, in this book, every single villain in this book, they would have some sort of feature or body shape that isn't ideal in the eyes of society. so, they would have long and gross fingers, a big tooth, mole, a hunchback, and even described as being fat/chubby/ obese/ plump. and every single 'good character' was skinny and it got pushed down our throats.

but, also the writing was bad. like the characters get introduced, and then there is like zero development. and yeah, i guess it might work for a younger age group, but for me it did not work well at all. and i also feel like it was just all the books and movies we watched as a kid pushed into one book, and not in a good or cute way or anything. and the plot was also just a mess, and it was just rushed and it sucked.

thanks for an arc i guess.

Look at that cover and read that premise - sounds exactly like my sort of middlegrade book....but this is why you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

I think we are past the point where villains and baddies in books, especially children's books are all described as having physical appearances that are associated with ugliness - every single character (and there's a lot!) who is not an ally to our main characters or who is a 'bad' person is described has having long dirty finger nails, a giant front tooth, a large nose, hunchbacked, and of course fat/chubby/obese/plump...it's absolutely vile, especially considering the allies and non-antagonists of the story are 'small' and 'slender'. One character suggests an unseen baddie is 'well ugly' (because obviously! she's bad so must look ugly!). Absolutely vile. The fact that every single baddie - no matter how small a part the baddie played - was described this way was just disgusting.

There's also an absolutely irrelevant comment about a British woman winning Britain's Got Talent for tanning a lot in 7 minutes because "Brits only burn" as if there are not thousands of British people who are darker skinned - this is a completely offhand piece of information given to us in the book for absolutely no reason. This is fairly early on in the book and it felt off to me when I read it, but definitely shone through when we were introduced to all the ~fat and gross~ baddies.

The writing is really bad, with many characters introduced one after another but none really given any room to develop - including our main characters. The writing style and delivery is suited to a very young audience but the content seems to be for a slightly older audience and does not mesh well. The principal of the school and the 'black hole' punishment thing was just straight from Matilda, the way she and the hole was talked about by students was exactly how Trunchball and The Chokey were talked about. The plot is all over the place, it's just a mess. It's so rushed with characters popping in and out of scenes with no explanations and plot points just getting half-resolved or thrown in mid way through a paragraph. Things just suddenly happened, with no follow up. We don't get the inner thoughts of the twins, just see them being irritated with one another. I couldn't empathise or relate or care for any of the characters.

📚 The Tipple Twins and the Gift by Michelle Cordara 📚
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Jenna and Jessica Tipple are identical twins. The tipple family’s secret gift is magic – the good kind. Unfortunately, when they enrol at Chumsworth School, they discover that the head mistress, Miss Snippings, has an unnatural dislike of twins and an unhealthy interest in witchcraft.

When the school play just happens to be about the Salem witch trials, the twins realise they’re in a cauldron full of trouble...
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Wow, can we just talk about how stunning that cover is? Michelle Cordara has done such a fantastic job with this story and the premise behind it. I really did enjoy her writing style and the characters. I finished this story fairly quickly because it was such an easy read.

Although I can give credit to this story for all the magical entertainment, I really didn’t think this book was for me. I really did admire Michelle’s writing style, but I personally think this story was for me. I do, however, think some readers would really enjoy this. I really wished it touched more on the Salem Witch Trials, but I’m still glad it gave me something. I would definitely recommend this book for children to read during/around Halloween. It’s not really scary but it does have that spooky atmosphere.

Michelle Cordara has done such a fantastic job with this writing style. Although the story wasn’t for me personally, I would still recommend this to some readers who want that fantasy aspect in an easier read. I really did wish this story was better because I really was anticipating it. I would still check more work out from Michelle.

**I got an early copy of this book from NetGalley so huge thank you**
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Rating: 2/5 ⭐️
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This book had an interesting premise but was poorly written. I love the idea of twin sisters and their ghost friend solving mysteries, but there was barely any characterization (I think Tommy was the best written character), and the book was just over way too fast.

It's creepy, it's magical and a fun read. Twins and magic and adventure are things that will keep almost any young reader hooked. The story does feel off in some parts. Lacking in others and some of the story is only surface level deep. For young readers that isn't always a bad thing but there are readers who will be frustrated by it. The character work could have been done better. Just because readers are on the younger side doesn't mean they don't deserve deep characters and that's something that was missing. It was an okay read.

I really enjoyed getting to know the tipples. They are a fun and quirky family that everyone in the neighborhood dislikes for being different and having odd things happen to them. As far as the tipple twins gift i would of wished that they had used it more in the story. Its still a fun read and wouldnt mind reading more books about them.

Jennifer and Jessica Tipple are twins. And while that fact may not seem overly special or strange, it is when they’re the last twins left in the world. Oh, and did I mention they’re witches? So begins a lovely little fantasy perfect for young and old alike. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting the Tipple twins and their little-boy ghost friend Boo; I truly didn’t want it to end. This story was super imaginative and managed to keep me guessing, something that’s not easy to do with an ocd brain. The language was so vivid and descriptive that I could easily picture the charming Tipple house, the eerie black looming fortress that was Chumsworth, and the terrifying swirl of evil behind room 13’s door. All the characters, even the hated ones, were thoroughly fleshed out with unique personalities and traits (anyone else get mad Dursley vibes from Beatrice and her parents??), something that’s not easy to do even in a longer format novel. My only negative is that some of the transitions were abrupt and hard to follow; I would’ve liked more of a smooth continuation between scenes. Besides that, it would’ve been perfect. I hope this turns into a series; I would definitely want to read more twin escapades as well as more fun with Boo.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a ARC in exchange for a honest review.
This book started kind of slowly, but it did speed up as the book went on, and I ended up enjoying this book a lot. I liked it when Jessica and Jenna were with their family and with Tommy because I enjoyed reading about their interactions with other people. I also liked being able to hear what was going on in their heads, mostly when they were around Miss Snippings. I also think that the author could have added a bit more description and done a bit more worldbuilding so we could see the bigger picture better. Other than that, I liked this book, and I had fun reading about the world of this book!

I’m in two minds about this book. On the one hand, it was an excitingly written magical story and I loved the twins. On the other hand, it just felt lacking in parts. I feel like the ending was quite rushed and abrupt and some things throughout weren’t explored as fully as they could have been. But I did enjoy it, and I would probably read a sequel.

A creepy, magical and mysterious read!

Jenna and Jessica, the Tipple twins, live with their family in a haunted house with a resident ghost named Boo. They go to Chumsworth school where the headteacher Miss Snippings hates twins! It's been two years since their sister disappeared and there are lots of strange happenings around the twins.
I really enjoyed this short and creepy story! It was great how factual information about the witches of Salem was included in this fictional tale. I don't know if the author plans to continue this as a series but I would love to read more! I adored the friendship they struck up with Tommy and of course Boo!

This was marketed as YA but for me it’s a lot younger, maybe more for an 8-10 year old. I think kids would enjoy it, it’s fun and exciting. But (as an adult) I really love YA fiction and this was just too young for me. I’ve also got teenage kids and I don’t think it would hit the mark. Definitely one for the kids, not one for 13+ who I think would find the plot too narrow and the characters too lightly drawn and not enough “danger”. That said, it was a good book, just not in my wheelhouse.

The Tipple Twins and the Gift by Michelle Cordara

After the strange disappearance of their big sister Caitlin, identical twins Jenna and Jessica Tipple are enrolled at Chumsworth School along with their cousin. The twins not only meet their new best friend to be 'Tommy' but they also encounter the school's horrid headmistress 'Miss Snippings' who loathes twins. But during their time at the school, strange and mysterious things start to happen, and both the twins and Tommy have a feeling that there is something just not right about their headmistress and a room in their school that no one can ever find.

If you are a fan of Harry Potter (JK Rowling) or a fan of The Apprentice Witch (James Nicol) then this would be another magical book to add to your to-read list.

Written mostly for younger audiences, this book (like the Harry Potter / Apprentice Witch series) also cries out to older readers. I found it immensely entertaining and full of mystery, magic and adventure.

The book also touches on the history of witchcraft. The author had cleverly weaved within this story, fragments from the Salem Witch Trials that relate to the overall plot. You will also find humour, friendship, ghostly birds and a very friendly ghost.

The author, who has twin boys, is also an identical twin herself. The Tipple Twins is part of a series for readers aged between 9-12.

The Tipple Twins and the Gift was a really fun middle-grade spooky whodunit. I really enjoyed the twins and Tommy's relationship. The witch aspect was great and made the book even better. Definitely a book for younger tweens who are into witchy type mysteries.

The Tipple Twins and the Gift is about two magical twins, Jessica and Jenna, and how they struggle with their magical talent and the recent abduction of their older sister, Caitlyn. When their annoying cousin, Beatryce, moves in, their life becomes even more miserable, but they do get to enroll in a fancier school than their last one: Chumsworth Academy. But strange goings on are happening at the academy. Will the twins be able to use their magical gift to help?

The Characters

I thought the idea of the characters seemed nice (for example two magical twins and a ghost), but by the end of the book, I couldn't really sympathize with them, and I didn't really care about them that much. A lot of the time, you get to know the characters and care about them through the characters' actions and thoughts, but a lot of that was left out. There wasn't much about the twins' thoughts, and I think a lot of their interactions with each other were just being annoyed with each other a lot of the time. And those weren't included much either. So, even by the end, I felt like they were strangers, which made for an unsatisfying read.

The Writing

This book was definitely younger than I thought it would be. There was the type of really obvious foreshadowing from chapter books included a lot, and I think the majority of the book had no plot, until there was some at the end, when a ton of stuff suddenly happened, which also felt like weak writing. And when the villain revealed herself, and talked about the reason for her actions, it could have actually been touching, but the way it was represented, it just felt like the hundreds-of-years-old villain was acting like a toddler (and if that was what it was supposed to feel like, well, I would still rather read about a touching villain reveal). I thought it was impressive that the book actually kept someone dead (maybe; I think there might be a sequel, and [spoiler ahead] a crow that seemed like it might be the dead person-which may be supposed to be obvious if they are), but it still felt out of place.

I wasn't that into this book, especially since the synopsis had seemed interesting at first. I thought that there were a few things in it that I liked, like the spooky element of mystery coupled with magic, and I did think that the villain's motive was interesting and creative, but those seemed to get kind of thrown away. It wasn't a terrible book, but I didn't particularly enjoy it, either. I would recommend this book for grades two through five.

I enjoyed this book, it had a really cool story. I was only disappointed at the fact the story didn't go deeper.
The characters and the mystery were surface level. It could've been a truly amazing book with a little more depth.
I really enjoyed that the author mixed a fictional story with true facts about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692.
Overall it was a really cute book that I think children will enjoy.

A gripping story of The Tipple Twins Jessica and Jenna whose sister has gone missing due to a dark figure that usually only takes twins. The twins are enrolled in Chumsworth school with their cousin Beatrice, where they meet a friend Tommy, and discover that their headmistress Miss Snippings really does not like twins. Things begin to get stranger and soon the twins will unearth some things they didn’t quite expect.

The rather chilling tone to this book is balanced well with the humour in other parts. I really enjoyed this little mystery! The creepy feel it had to it really had me hooked, as well as the magical and witchy themes. I would definitely have enjoyed this when I was younger and I even enjoyed it now. It is definitely a great read! I also love Boo, the little boy who is their house ghost! He seems so full of character and really helps set the creepy yet somewhat inviting feeling at the beginning.

The theming of witchcraft is accompanied by tales from the Salem Witch Trials which I found really interesting. They were a great addition to the plot and also helped shape it well. I do however wish it had been a little longer as I think some more of the story could have been explored.

Gifted and magical identical twins Jenna and Jessica Tipple live in a city where all the other twins have disappeared after a strange dark figure took them. The same dark figure came for them one night but they were protected by their older sister Caitlyn who was taken instead and has been missing ever since.

When their Aunt and Uncle get into trouble for using magic they turn at the twins home and tell their parents they need to look after their spoilt daughter whilst they take refuge in Egypt. They also inform the twin’s parents that they have enrolled them all at a new school as the twin’s current school wasn’t good enough for their daughter.

The headmistress, Miss Snippings, at the new school Chumsworth, isn’t impressed to see the twins. She doesn’t like twins. She then announces that this year’s end of term play will be about the Salem Witch Trials. The girls know they are in trouble, even more so when they find a picture in a book about the trials which looks frightening like their headmistress. Who is she really and what does she want with the girls?

The Tipple Twins and the Gift is a wonderful middle-grade book about a town in which twins are going missing. The Tipples are a magical family but magic is frowned upon and anyone caught doing it will be harshly punished. The girl’s magic comes when they lose control of their emotions.

The book opens with the family moving into a new home that people don’t live in for very long, that is because it is haunted by the ghost of a young boy who they call Boo. I would have loved to have learned more about Boo and his past life. I also would have loved to have discovered more about Caitlyn as she is there at the beginning and then we move forward in time and are told that she has been taken by the dark figure. What is left of her is posters throughout the town about her disappearance.

The book features a lot of factual information on the Salem Witch Trials and the women accused of being witches. I love how the factual information has been slid into the storyline and felt relevant to the plot not just an added extra.

The book is a quick read and would be perfect for children at Halloween. It isn’t really a scary book as such but the atmosphere is there and there is an underlying foreboding feeling throughout.

This book had a good concept. Twins are disappearing from all over England, a family with magical abilities moves into a haunted house, an older daughter/sister has been missing for two years, a cousin is being sent to live with her aunt and uncle, the children (including the last set of twins in the country and their cousin) start a new school with a headmistress that is intimidating. These are all good concepts that could be developed into a great story. However, I did not get that from this story.

It felt like the author was trying to introduce characters hurriedly and without building each of the characters (how they fit or why we should care if they are in the story or not). There were several times that I had to go back and reread parts of the story because they either didn't make sense or they didn't fit in to what was happening at that particular time. The event of how the older sister goes missing is not really told, just kind of glossed over, and yet we get the story of how the family meets the ghost that is living in their house and how they except him. There also wasn't any build up to our villain and even the monolog for why the events happened didn't really explain things. And pulling in all the details of the Salem Witch Trials didn't make sense either except to show the twins that they could relate to being accused of things they did not do and that it had a tie to our villain.

I'm sorry, I wanted to like this book. The description made it sound like it had a great concept but the follow through (in my opinion) was lacking. Unfortunately, I will not be purchasing this book for my library.