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Rooftoppers

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Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

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By Katherine Rundell

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161 reviews

Charles, a fellow survivor and an eccentric scholar, finds Sophie and brings her home to his London bachelor flat. Raised in a quirky home filled with music, words and love (though questionable diet), Sophie grows into a free-spirited tomboy with a taste for Shakespeare and the unshakeable belief that anything is possible.

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Reviews

10 Mar 2024

I really enjoyed this book. It was recommended by a teacher at school. My favourite character is Sophie as she shows resilience and determination throughout. I enjoy reading books that are for children and young people, as I can then recommend them to the class I work with.

13 Jan 2024

I loved the book. It's one of my favourites.

17 Oct 2023

I recently re-read this book as it was a favourite read with my girls when they were going up. Rundell's descriptive abilities are second to none and they totally capture your attention and heart. Great historical setting and one of the best heroines in children's literature. Recommend this book highly.

01 Oct 2023

I really enjoyed reading this book with two of my children. We particularly liked the second half set on the rooftops of Paris where we were introduced to some very interesting characters. Sophie is such a determined character and I love the way she (together with the support of her carer, Charles) stand up for what they believe in. Sophie believes that anything is possible and never gives up hope in her quest to find her mother.

18 Sep 2023

Easy read, I didn’t feel moved by the story as much as I would’ve liked

03 Sep 2023

I didn't really like the character of Matteo because things that the author explained about him seemed to contradict one another resulting in an unclear image of his mind.

02 Sep 2023

A romantic imagining of a story. I struggled to warm to the protagonist and found her journey and the situations a little too unbelievable - although it is a fantasy book and the plot is so good it is a page turner.

29 Aug 2023

This is a fun adventure to read about.

26 Aug 2023

my favourite book, ikeep re reading it

23 Aug 2023

Stunning book. It swept me away into another world I have not contemplated before. The beautiful relationship between Sophie and Charles moved me to tears on several occasions. Wonderful imagery and descriptions. Just brilliant, and I would thoroughly recommend.

07 Aug 2023

This was a beautifully written book. The first half I loved how the relationship between Charles and Sophie develops, his love for her which allows her to grow and explore and be herself is touching. The second half of the book is adventurous yet there is also a beauty in the development of characters and how they grow with each other despite their different circumstances and how life has treated them. I would recommend this book to upper key stage 2 children. I devoured this book, especially towards the end.

01 Aug 2023

Words cannot explain how much I loved this book, keeping me at the edge of my seat at all times. I could not put this down which explains why I finished it in a day and a half. The language, emotions, plot was truly amazing. It followed Sophie on a quest to find her mother in Paris with her 'adopted father'. She meets Mattheo, a rooftopper, who gets her into scandals. She learns to fight and walk on rooftops which she loves. It also shows feminism. (Set in 20th century).

27 Jul 2023

What an amazing story! Loved the main character, Sophie, for her resilience and hope that one day she will find her mother. With the help of Charles (her protector and self-appointed guardian) she flees back to Paris to avoid being sent to an orphanage and eventually finds her mother. A truly heart-warming story. Highly recommended to Year 4/5/6 children.

19 Jul 2023

I like this book because there was a girl in the suitcase in the guitar suitcase, her mum left her there because she had to go and there was a man who saw the guitar suitcase and when opened it found a baby, so he took her home and took care of her until she was 7.

01 Jul 2023

it was amazing how they met so many characters on the way and she found what no one else thought was true

19 Oct 2022

Loved this book! It had me looking up at all the rooftops in towns! I especially loved the tree climbers and the descriptions of his roof home. Though t provoking.

03 Oct 2022

I really enjoyed the use of imagery and description as it allows you to feel as if you are there whilst it is all happening; I wish there was more or even a second book to read and carry on the story. Sophie was very likeable, it was interesting to see how fearless, resilient and brave she became throughout the story after having had such tragic start in her life. The relationship between Sophie and Matteo shows a contrast between their lives but also the similarities.

02 Oct 2022

This was beautifully written and a highly imaginative, unusual story. It was interested to have a elderly male character willing to adopt a young girl and their relationship was thoughtfully portrayed.

28 Sep 2022

I loved this book. The Year 6 class loved this book. They always wanted to read on, both boys and girls alike! We were all hooked from the start. The characters were vivid and the scene setting of the Parisian rooftops was tantalisingly real, dangerous and magical.
This book is one to reread time and time again.

05 Sep 2022

I thought it was interesting and creative, the ending was a cliffhanger and a bit confusing because Sophie and her mother finally met on a rooftop after years and Charles just watched from the opposite rooftop. I like Sophie and Charles the best because Sophie is a adventurous, unique girl and Charles because he found Sophie and raised her when he had no experience. I would recommend it to someone else because Its a great book and when you read it, it feels like your really there.

05 Sep 2022

This is a magical and adventurous book! I kept wanting to turn the pages in order to learn the little orphan’s story. I loved the quirkiness of this book. A great example of true determination.

19 Aug 2022

A lovely adventure with a courageous young girl as the main character. Rooftoppers captures the imagination and takes you on an emotional journey. A very enjoyable read.

17 Aug 2022

crazily good. made me cry. would reccomend and my fave character was matteo

14 Aug 2022

I liked the complicated plot and the drama

12 Aug 2022

I enjoyed this book because Sophie was determined to not let the authorities separate her from Charles. I really enjoyed reading about their escape to Paris where she meets Matteo, who is a rooftopper, whilst she is on a quest to find her mother despite being told that no women survived the sinking of the ship. It is an amazing story of hope and determination. I would definitely recommend this book.

12 Aug 2022

This book is fantastic fiction! A thrilling adventure story, one of those hard-to-put-down books!
An amazing Roller coaster of a story all about a girl named Sophie who sets out to find her mother!

08 Aug 2022

I enjoyed the relationships the author was able to develop. It connected with me as I have often walked through cities and looked up at the buildings and wondered what could be going on up there. It was a great way of creating distance between the world of the Rooftoppers and “real life”. It empowered the characters whilst acknowledging the dangers of the city and of life. Emotional ending.

02 Aug 2022

I really enjoyed this book because it was set in a very good landscape. My favourite part was when Sophie broke in to the police station.

01 Aug 2022

It was AMAZING

30 Jul 2022

This is an exciting book about a cello girl who is rescued but whose mother is feared drowned following a shipwreck in the English Channel. Charles is a kind bookish scholar that takes Sophie in and allows her to grow and develop. Miss Eliot is rigid and believes Sophie should be brought up in a traditional Victorian ladylike way. When they receive a letter threatening to put Sophie in an orphanage, they travel to Paris to search for Sophie’s mother as Charles believes you should never ignore a possible. Sophie meets Matteo and other orphaned rooftoppers. It’s an exciting story that is impossible to put down.

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