Frances Bloom: Dangerous Days by Katrina Nannestad

Title: Frances Bloom: Dangerous Days

Author: Katrina Nannestad

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: HarperCollins Australia

Published: 28^th April 2026

Format: Paperback

Pages: 144

Price: $17.99

Synopsis: Relish in mischief, adventure and the most unusual family ever, with the bestselling and multi-award-winning Katrina Nannestad.

Frances Bloom’s dreams have come true. Her grandparents are a honey-coloured bear and a garden gnome. Nasty Ms Thistle has been taken to Harsh Island Home for Unwanted Teachers and Cats. Her class is being taught by a retired pirate and a busker. Her friends are many and her happiness is huge. So why is she troubled?

Could it be the mean cats that are new to the village? The talking bush in her garden? The stolen tricycle? Or the feeling that she’s being followed?

Can Frances work it out before disaster strikes?

Delight in the cheeky antics of eight-year-old Frances Bloom with multi-award-winning Australian author Katrina Nannestad.

~*~

It’s been just over a week since Frances Bloom found Grandma Maude, a bear and Grandpa Harold, a garden gnome. And since her horrid teacher, Ms Thistle was whisked away to the Harsh Island Home for Unwanted Teachers and Cats. She’s managed to recruit a busker and a retired pirate to be the class teachers. If she hadn’t they’d be shoved into the bitey, jumpy year two classroom, and year three does not want that!

And yet, Frances feels that there is something wrong. She feels like someone is watching her, people keep mentioning ugly brown shoes and purple hair, and the Talls from the Bleak Island Home for Unwanted Children and Dogs, and the Shorts from Harsh Island Home for Unwanted Teachers and Cats are back. What is going on? CanFrances work it out and make sure she isn’t sent to Bleak Island?

Frances Bloom’s latest adventure is set very soon after the previous one, which should keep younger readers interested, and it gives just enough information to pick up the book on its own, as well as reading it as part of a series. It’s lighthearted and fun, with a bit of drama but not too much. It’s enough to keep kids engaged and wonder what will happen with the conflict that highlights being independent, being alone and asking for help when you need it.

It’s a fun addition to this series, ensuring the characters remain their sense of whimsy and fun desires. And of course there is a villain who is doggedly determined to get her way and send our intrepid hero away. Of course, as I read, I kept wondering where Frances’s parents had disappeared to, as was established in the first novel. It will be interesting to see if this comes up again and what Katrina does with it.

I loved that Frances’s community gest behind her and helps her. They don’t question the bear and the gnome. The pirate and the busker. It all fits so well and suits the story and setting so well too. It’s got something for every reader, whether reading independently or with someone. Another great Katrina Nannestad book.