Castle Club

Big Cat Read On supports fluent readers to improve their reading skills and nurture a love of reading. Consisting of a wide range of engaging chapter books, the Big Cat Read On series improves reading stamina and comprehension, develops vocabulary, and introduces children to more sophisticated narrative structures and themes.

It’s nearly the end of the final school year for Frankie, Mia, Bee, Eni and George. Every day they all eat lunch together in a tucked away corner of the school grounds and talk about their hopes and dreams for the future. But then there’s a falling out, new friendships are made and different paths are taken. Will that be the end of the Castle Club?

Ask the author and Book talk questions invite the reader to think more deeply about the themes in the book and reflect on their reading experience. Online lesson plans provide guidance in using this book in a range of settings, including independent, social and whole-class reading – all designed to support the reader to connect with the book and encourage a positive attitude to reading.

Just like Frankie in The Castle Club, Helen really wanted to be a writer when she grew up. She now writes fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children. When she isn't writing, Helen loves a long walk on a cold day, dark chocolate and making a fuss of dogs. Helen decided to write The Castle Club after rereading the classic novel Little Women and wondering what a similar story about four girls growing up, dealing with conflict and following their dreams might look like today.