Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Darcy Burdock

4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 · rating details · 27 ratings · 10 reviews

Introducing Darcy Burdock, a new, cool, all-conquering girl character with a fresh and distinctive take on the world.

Ten-year-old Darcy is one of life's noticers. Curious, smart-as-a-whip, funny and fiercely loyal, she sees the extraordinary in the everyday and the wonder in the world around her.

Written and illustrated by Laura Dockrill: author, poet & performer – thin...more

Paperback, 278 pages

Published March 2013 by Random House Children's Publishing (first published February 28th 2013)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

UK YA in 2013

56th out of 123 books — 161 voters

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Best #UKYA Books

204th out of 290 books — 192 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 71)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Mar 07, 2013 Nikki-ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: received-for-review

In Darcy Burdock, Laura Dockrill has brought out her inner child. This book has been written with that childlike imagination that so few grown-ups still possess. It’s so easy to imagine Darcy herself telling us her story. In fact, if/when the audiobook version is released I would definitely recommend it. Last summer I was lucky enough to hear the delightful Miss Dockrill read an excerpt from the book. Laura practically turned into ten year old Darcy Burdock before our very eyes!

If you or your ch...more

like · see review

Oct 28, 2012 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, uk-author, favourites

I have been dying to read this book ever since I met Laura back in June and heard her read the first few pages.

Darcy Burdock is going to be a hit. She is a brilliant character who I think that girls are going to relate to. She's quirky and uniquely different with a real heart of gold. I love her to bits because she's very comfortable in her own skin and to be herself and I think that alone is going to make her a real role model for girls who are surrounded by vapid celebrities who aren't worth...more

like · see review

Nov 29, 2012 Vivienne Serendipity Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

I wouldn't normally write a review four months in advance, so this is a rarity for me, but I feel I want to lay out a red carpet and hire an orchestra to announce the arrival of this book. I may spontaneously combust if I don't talk about it now and get it out of my system.
I heard about this book back in June at the Random House Children's Books blogger party where I was lucky enough to meet the author, Laura Dockrill and hear her reading the first few pages from the book. (If you ever get the...more I wouldn't normally write a review four months in advance, so this is a rarity for me, but I feel I want to lay out a red carpet and hire an orchestra to announce the arrival of this book. I may spontaneously combust if I don't talk about it now and get it out of my system.
I heard about this book back in June at the Random House Children's Books blogger party where I was lucky enough to meet the author, Laura Dockrill and hear her reading the first few pages from the book. (If you ever get the opportunity to hear Laura read, then I strongly suggest you take it - as she is a very talented performer.) So I have waited really really patiently until I could stand it no more and I had to read the book.
This is Darcy Burdock's story, she is a quirky, hilarious, mischievous, kind and cool all at the same time. She is a really strong character, which many children will easily identify with.
The book is told in first person and is interspersed with hand written stories by Darcy as well as really cool illustrations by Laura herself. Darcy is the lovable child we all see hidden in ourselves - the one that is still trying to make sense of the world and deal with life. She isn't perfect and she doesn't try to be, she just learns to overcome her issues by trying to occasionally do the right thing.
This book is both heartwarming and funny at the same time, as you follow Darcy's episodic events while writing everything down in her journal. She reminded me a little of Harriet the Spy but without the nosy, snooping tendencies.
The writing in this book oozes personality and is extremely refreshing to read. Darcy's voice is unique and original, keeping you entertained all the way through the book. I really hope that Darcy will be returning to centre stage relatively soon after her debut. Knowing how much she loves attention, I believe she will be appearing a string of books over the next few years.
This is Laura Dockrill's first children's book, but she is already fast becoming a household name. Laura not only writes fiction, but she also performs and write poetry too. She was recently voted one of the top ten literary talents by the Times and a hot new face by Elle magazine.
When this book is published, I would definitely recommend buying it as it is one of the best children's books I have read in a while.(less)

like · see review

Mar 20, 2013 Booka Uhu rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 9-12-reads

Sorry, I didn't really get on with this. I could see how some girls would like reading it, and I can see how Darcy can be quite charming, but for the most part this book just...grated. Darcy babbled so much that sometimes I felt quite tired reading it all. I don't know, maybe its just me - I wanted to like it, I'd seen everyone else liked it, but I just can't get that excited about it. I think maybe I read Darcy, read all the stories about the author on Twitter, and I've got the impression that...more

like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens

Hmm, I have mixed feelings about Darcy Burdock. At the beginning I was enjoying it, she comes across as a great character full of imagination. But somewhere along the way I just lost the feeling a little bit. I read an excellent review on Bookbag that summed up how I felt (but more eloquently) - the voice was not always totally convincing and it lacked a bit of story.

However, I think it has a lot of potential, and the author seems to be brimming over with creativity so I'm sure there is more to...more

like · see review

Apr 20, 2013 Richa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Originally posted at City of Books

Darcy Burdock is an entertaining and refreshing illustrated novel from Laura Dockrill. I loved Darcy's voice and personality, as well as the fact that this book brought out my inner child. I laughed out loud several times at Darcy's antics, and it felt great to be inside a mind that's still one hundred percent childish and carefree.

10-year-old Darcy has quite a few problems to deal with, and gets frustrated quite a lot. She finds release in writing stories. I lo...more Originally posted at City of Books

Darcy Burdock is an entertaining and refreshing illustrated novel from Laura Dockrill. I loved Darcy's voice and personality, as well as the fact that this book brought out my inner child. I laughed out loud several times at Darcy's antics, and it felt great to be inside a mind that's still one hundred percent childish and carefree.

10-year-old Darcy has quite a few problems to deal with, and gets frustrated quite a lot. She finds release in writing stories. I loved reading Darcy's stories! Her writing book is filled with ingenious and very original stories based on her experiences, and it means the world to her. But things start to go wrong, and Darcy's busy trying to figure out how to fix them.

Darcy is the weirdest but coolest kid I've read about. The first quirky thing about her is the fact that she has a pet lamb. Yeah, a lamb! Called Lamb-Beth. I liked how she's not girly or prissy - she's just a normal 10-year-old who wants to have fun. She has a wondrous imagination, one that puts that of most grown-ups to shame. In fact, I'd really recommend this book to adults, I think it'll really help them get in touch with their inner child. Darcy is a smart cookie too, and she's so incredibly fun. She's also very supportive of her friend, Will, and her siblings. I really loved reading from her perspective. Darcy, you are one awesome mermalade!

I think kids would love this book. They can totally relate to it, and it's just the kind of book I would have read as a kid. Kind of like Roald Dahl books, actually, with the illustrations. Laura Dockrill captured the voice of a quirky 10-year-old perfectly, and I really did feel like I connected with Darcy. There is so much hilarity in this book, but at the same time there are serious parts, too. Parts that have a sort of worldly outlook to them, which make this book readable to just about anyone.

Darcy tells us all about her life, and the incidents are all so interesting! There was one part where she tried to run away with Lamb-Beth, and that was particularly funny, since of course she didn't really get anywhere. Darcy also has to deal with issues like bullying, and I liked how Laura smoothed this into the book, making it seem serious but at the same time something you can laugh at.

Ultimately all Darcy wants is for her writing to mean something to someone, and I was glad that it finally happened. All authors can relate to this, and I think Laura added a little of herself into Darcy's character. Darcy loves writing, and it's her biggest comfort. The agitation she feels when her writing book is stolen is proof enough of that. The way Darcy deals with things is simultaneously child-like and mature, which made me like her all the more.

Overall, Darcy Burdock was a fun read, and it was definitely an escape from the stress of high school and exams and whatnot. I did feel quite wistful after reading this book, though, because what wouldn't I do to go back to that carefree age! Granted, it wasn't that long ago, but it feels like ages. I'd recommend this book to adults and children alike, because honestly I think both can appreciate it equally.

*Thank you to Laura Dockrill for providing a copy for review*(less)

like · see review

Jan 04, 2013 Darren Hartwell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comedy

This review first appeared on The Book Zone(For Boys) blog

Britain finally has an answer to Jeff Kinney and his Wimpy Kid! Many have tried, but few have come close in my opinion, but come next March the trials and tribulations of Greg Heffley will be consigned to bargain bins in book stores across the UK. There will only be one name on everyone's lips, and that is Darcy Burdock. (OK make that two names as Darcy's creator, Laura Dockrill, is certainly not someone who will be easily overlooked and/...more This review first appeared on The Book Zone(For Boys) blog

Britain finally has an answer to Jeff Kinney and his Wimpy Kid! Many have tried, but few have come close in my opinion, but come next March the trials and tribulations of Greg Heffley will be consigned to bargain bins in book stores across the UK. There will only be one name on everyone's lips, and that is Darcy Burdock. (OK make that two names as Darcy's creator, Laura Dockrill, is certainly not someone who will be easily overlooked and/or forgotten).

Before I say any more about Darcy Burdock I feel I need to make a couple of things clear. This blog is called is The Book Zone (For Boys), but this does not mean that the books I review are only for boys. Far from it, and I know that there are many girls who read and comment on this blog. The point of this blog is to showcase books that boys should find interesting and fun to read, and many of these are just as suitable for girls. Darcy Burdock is possibly a book that some may be a little surprised to find reviewed here, but bear with me and I will let my love this this book be fully explained. Secondly, I very rarely post reviews so far ahead of publication date, but the lovely people at Red Fox are so excited about this book that they are happy for reviews to start appearing now.

I first heard about Darcy Burdock when I met the book's writer and illustrator, Laura Dockrill, at the Random House Bloggers' Brunch earlier this year. Laura read a few pages to us, and I was immediately hooked, even though I had initially thought it might not be a book that would sit well on my blog. I couldn't have been more wrong - just two pages from Laura and I knew I had to read this book when it was published. Thanks to the lovely people at Red Fox I haven't had to wait until February, as a proof copy landed on my door mat just a couple of weeks ago, and I pretty much dropped everything to read it.

Darcy Burdock is not written in diary format, but most of it is written in first person and Darcy's voice will have you crying tears of laughter within the first few pages. The best word I can come up with to describe the way Darcy tells her story is 'RANDOM' - as you read it you can't help but imagine the "ten but so nearly eleven" year old girl standing in front of you, talking at a thousand words a second, her mind making massive leaps from subject to subject. She twists words around and makes up her own (Angrosaurus Rex, mermalade, kneebows). And best of all, she notices everything, which means her descriptions of life and the people she encounters are to die for. I can't remember the last time I read a first person narrative where the character sounded so real from the very first page, and I guarantee that masses of children and probably adults too, will fall head over heels for Darcy come next March.

There are parts of the book that aren't written in Darcy's voice, as she also includes some of her own stories. You see, Darcy desperately wants to be a writer, and when something affects her, be it making her angry or sad, she invariably turns to her coveted notebook and turns her thoughts into a story. And wonderfully, these add to the appeal of the book rather than distract the reader from Darcy's ramblings, as her writing voice is just as funny and endearing.

I'm going to be shouting about this book for some time as I really think that it has huge boy appeal - it is certainly NOT a girly book. I guess that the marketing for Darcy Burdock will be somewhat more girl oriented than boy friendly, but I really hope that this book finds its way into the hands of just as many boys as girls, as I reckon the 8+ age group will love it. It is also a fab read-by-parent-at-bedtime book as well, although I'm not sure anyone could read it out loud as well as the author, so let's hope that Laura's desire for it to be released as an audio book, read by her, is realised.

Darcy Burdock is scheduled to be published on 28th February 2013, and if you haven't heard of Laura Dockrill before now then expect her to become a household name sometime in the next year. I hear from the people at Random House that Laura will be appearing all over the place in 2013, and if she is doing an event in a town near you then make sure you get along to it as I know that you love every minute of it.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 15, 2013 Sophie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, uk-author

Oh man, did I love Darcy Burdock. Every single word of praise that’s been showered on this novel over the last few months is completely justified.

Darcy is a fabulous heroine. I love that she fought with her siblings, sometimes playing dirty, and got mad at her parents like any ten-year-old would. She loves mermalades and her pet lamb, Lamb-Beth. Darcy is so, so clever and has a wonderful imagination that I’m jealous of! It came through in the hand-written stories that were interspersed throughou...more

like · see review

Mar 17, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own-print, british-author, for-review-read, read-in-2013

I'm going to be upfront and admit that this isn't the kind of book I'd usually pick up as it is aimed at a slightly younger audience than my usual reads. However, after meeting Laura Dockrill last year and having the opportunity to listen to her read a sample from this book I just knew I had to read it. Laura is such a talented performer and her quirky personality shines through in Darcy Burdock.

Darcy is a fabulous character with an unusual way of looking at the world. She isn't always perfect b...more

like · see review

Nov 26, 2012 The Meet Cute rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-for-work

I would have loved this book when I was 10.

As for now, I think my opinion of it was heavily influenced by how ace the author, Laura Dockrill, looks. Had the photo on the jacket been of someone not quite so hip, I probably would have judged it much more harshly. Yes, I am as easily influenced as that.

like · see review

May 14, 2013 Jade Casey marked it as to-read

May 13, 2013 Haseeb Faisal marked it as to-read

May 13, 2013 Rachel marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2013-release

May 10, 2013 Mila Marquez rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 09, 2013 Laura Laura added it

Shelves: 2013

May 08, 2013 Westmeath added it

Shelves: 2013-apr

May 07, 2013 Ab2y marked it as to-read

May 03, 2013 Charlotte rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 24, 2013 Pilar Sepulveda espitia marked it as to-read

Apr 20, 2013 Laika Cabic marked it as to-read

Apr 17, 2013 Sammee (I Want to Read That) marked it as to-read

Shelves: tbr-pile

Apr 15, 2013 Melanie Martinez rated it 5 of 5 stars

Apr 09, 2013 Igraine marked it as auf-gar-keinen-fall

Apr 04, 2013 Jenny marked it as to-read

Apr 03, 2013 Rosi marked it as to-read

Mar 29, 2013 Aceyjay added it

Shelves: easter-weekend

Apr 22, 2013 Ruba rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mar 23, 2013 Ella marked it as to-read

Mar 21, 2013 Annettechang2hotmail.com marked it as to-read

Mar 21, 2013 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

« previous 1 2 3 next »

See top shelves...

Books by Laura Dockrill

Echoes: Wickedly Terrifying Tales from the Undergrowth

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Darcy Burdock

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Darcy Burdock
avg rating	preview: Darcy Burdock Goodreads rating: 4.15 (27 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16106863-darcy-burdock?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1361626607l/16106863.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16106863-darcy-burdock?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Darcy Burdock by Laura Dockrill[/url]

Darcy Burdock

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)

Genres

Books by Laura Dockrill

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Darcy Burdock

Darcy Burdock

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (1)

Genres

Books by Laura Dockrill

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Darcy Burdock

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)