The Farm Beneath the Water

The Secret Hen House Theatre #2

by Helen Peters

Hannah’s farm is facing a new threat – a water company wants to flood the land to make a reservoir. How can she stand by and watch as the land her family has farmed for generations, and the wildlife, all disappear under a deluge of water? Hannah won’t go down without a fight, and the school play might just be the answer… When the going gets tough, the tough take to the stage!

This hugely anticipated sequel to The Secret Hen House Theatre has the same hallmarks as its predecessor: great writing and an emotionally engaging, entertaining story.

Genres: Middle Grade

312 pages, Paperback

First published February 5, 2015

About the author

Helen Peters is the author of The Secret Hen House Theatre. She grew up on an old-fashioned farm in Sussex, surrounded by family, animals and mud. She spent most of her childhood reading stories and putting on plays in a tumbledown shed that she and her friends turned into a theatre. After university, she realised that she needed to find a job where someone would pay her to read stories and put on plays (though maybe not in a tumbledown shed) and so she became an English and Drama teacher. Several years later, finding herself as a stay-at-home mother of two, she decided to have a go at writing the sort of book she’d so enjoyed as a child. Helen lives with her husband and children in London, and she can still hardly believe that she now gets to call herself a writer.

Reviews

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was already really quite ashamed that it had taken me so long to read the sequel to the Secret Hen House Theatre before reading it, and after doing so I was even more so. It follows Hannah and her family as their farm is once again threatened, this time by a reservoir project, and their attempts to save it, as well as the school play Hannah is part of. Both of these elements were really enjoyable to read- the school play was such good fun, and it was so heart-warming and inspiring to see Hannah, her family and her friends stand up for what they believed in and fight for the farm (the head of the reservoir project absolutely boiled my blood, and I think it would be impossible to be rooting for them to succeed). I also really like how this series has a contemporary and classic feel at the same time, and I adore the subtle but super enjoyable humour throughout, particularly in regards to Hannah`s family and their interactions, because each member is hilarious in their own way and I love them all a great deal. This is a really charming, lovely MG contemporary, and I really wish this wasn`t only a duology. 4.5/5

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

another one of my comfort books that has been re read many a times. again loved this book and the setting. I have never read the first book and I don't want to ruin how special this book is to me. It will always hold a special place in my heart, like artichoke hearts.

[Shaunagh Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was pretty interesting but a little bit rigid with the storyline

[Flowergirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. I loved reading about Hannah and her farm. It was very scary in some places. It was a very lovely story.

[Emily H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the sequel , it was so heartwarming and showed so much strength in the characters to always stand up for what they believe in😊

[Katy Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

It will help to read The Secret Hen House Theatre first - this follows on and refers back to characters and instances regularly.

If you've read Peters' first, you'll already know Hannah and her friends. Hannah lives on a farm with her dad, rather repellent sister Martha, younger siblings The Beans (Jo and Sam) and wants to be an actress/director in the theatre. In this adventure, most of the action takes place at school, where auditions for Romeo and Juliet do not go as Hannah plans, and where she needs to drum up support for her home as it is threatened with flooding by a water company determined to use the centuries-old farming land for a reservoir.

As before, the theatre element is well done, with lots of scenes focusing on rehearsals and the process of preparing a play for the stage. The loathsome Miranda gets an even bigger role this time, and she's just awful. Wonderfully so. Jack (who disgraced himself in the previous books) gets a chance to redeem himself - will he rise to it?

There's an environmental angle now, as the family desperately search for evidence that their farm should be protected, and there are lots of interesting facts about bats, trees and British wildlife that Peters' has included that highlight the importance of this fast-declining resource

But it manages to refrain from preaching. I was with Hannah every step of the way as she searches for a way to defeat Big Water (here called Aqua).

Hannah's family are as eccentric as ever (though I'd really like to see a nicer side to Martha), with a pet sheep and duck, and a pair of scamps who create a magazine about beans. Lottie is still a loyal best friend who backs up Hannah. Other school friends aren't really differentiated aside from Jack and Miranda, but this is a great read.

I wanted to race through to see Aqua vanquished, to see the House Play competition. I really empathise with and like Hannah. She's a great heroine that I would have admired and idolised at the age of ten.

A wonderful continuation of the Roberts' family saga, for 9-13 year olds.

[Emma Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the sequel to Helen Peters' critically acclaimed " The Secret Hen House Theatre', Clayhill Farm's very existence is under threat. Water company Aqua want to flood the valley to create a reservoir and it's up to Hannah and those closest to her to halt their plans. This is a wonderful story about community, and how people working together can take on commercial giants and win. The writing is a pleasure to read. Descriptions of the natural world are rich. The plot is pacy and various story threads are integrated with skill, making the ending very satisfying and moving. Yet for me the real high point of this story are the characters. Our MC Hannah is very likeable, focused, practical: in contrast the cast of other characters - the Beans, Martha and my favourite, Jack- are all quite bonkers! This vibrant, busy, energetic mix of personalities reminds me of Hilary McKay or Natasha Farrant- high praise indeed! In all, a truly uplifting, interesting and innovative story. Highly recommended.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is a great story that I think is even better than 'The Secret Hen House Theatre' (the first book in the series). It has a little bit of everything - growing up, family dynamics, school issues, environmental issues... I found it quite gripping - you really want to keep reading to see what the kids are going to do and how it all turns out. You'll definitely want to read the first book first, but if you enjoyed that, you'll enjoy this.

[Tiferet Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you read the secret hen house theatre? If not, look it up now, go to the bookstore, buy it , and read it. Trust me on this, it. REALLY good!! If, you did already read, and (but of course) enjoy it, and are looking for more,read this amazing sequel! It so fun, to get back to the crazy Roberts! To the society of bean, to Martha, if not to mention Hannah! This time, another fabulous story is told.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was ok at the beginning. Being about a reservoir being built on Hannah's family farm, after they just saved it in the last book I was interested how they thought they might save it by reinventing Romeo & Juliet at the school play. However, by the end I was racing through it as the children had done their homework on the company, ripping all arguments for the reservoir using Aqua's own catalogue info. Brilliantly done and I shall be looking out for more by this author.

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring sequel to The Secret Henhouse Theatre that tells the story of Hannah Robert’s and her attempt to save her family farm from being turned into a reservoir, along with the help of her friends and family. As a child this was one of my favourite books and even now as a seventeen year old I still find the climax of the story to be a gripping read, 5/5 stars