Have you ever been so immersed in a book that you feel as if you’re living in that fictional world? Losing the Plot is a terrific adventure
in the world of fairytales, exploring what would happen if we could visit, and warning of the trouble that could arise if the plots of these stories aren’t followed properly.

Basil Beedon is roped in to help his neighbour Terry with reading. Basil is a bookworm; Terry loves sports. Terry arrives with his nan’s book, The Complete Fairytales of The Brothers Grimm and stumbles his way through ‘Hansel and Gretel’ before closing the book in frustration. Basil sees the bookmark has a golden swan, like on the cover. When he places the two swans together, a girl magically appears from out of the book … and promptly bursts into tears.

Gretel has travelled through a portal to Basil and Terry’s world, which is very much against the rules she has to live by. She had to as she’s desperate. Her brother, Hansel, has disappeared. Gretel says that if he’s not found soon, a plot hole will open up, threatening the whole fairytale world. Basil and Terry agree to help and are whooshed back through the portal and find themselves in a meeting with all the characters from the Brothers Grimm book.

They do eventually find Hansel, but he has been shrunk so small he fits in a bottle. Hansel and Gretel need to be back to the witch’s gingerbread house by evening to play their roles in the story, but time is running out. Basil nibbles gingerbread and is soon under its spell. His mistake could spell disaster for all of them.

Reviewed by Bob Moore
Age Guide 8+

Read a book review of Down the Plot Hole by Annaleise Byrd

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annaleise Byrd grew up on a farm in Queensland, ignoring most farm-related pursuits in favour of reading books. She then spent nine years in England and Canada, neglecting a variety of jobs in favour of reading books. Eventually, she realised the best way to get away with this was to become an author.

Annaleise now writes funny books for kids and lives in Brisbane with her husband, two young sons and rescue greyhound. She is particularly fond of lamingtons. Annaleise’s debut middle grade novel, Losing the Plot, was published in March 2024.

Visit Annaleise Byrd’s website