166. The Girl with the Lost Smile by Miranda Hart

BOOK REVIEW: The Girl with the Lost Smile by Miranda Hart

As grown ups, we are so bogged down with life's many worries, stresses, sadness, and a host of other negativities that being happy is a rare occurrence. Smiling has become something of a strain to our normal facial features, being replaced with permanent frowns and smiles turned upside down. Sometimes all we need is a fun and gentle reminder that smiling and happiness is much needed and this children's book (yes, I read them for review purposes, but probably I'll read them more from now on because it reminds me to be me) is just the thing to read.

Chloe is and always has been a cheerful, smiley kind of person. Unfortunately, she has lost her smile. She's looked everywhere for it, under her pillow, under her bed and even under her nose (where her mouth is obviously). Chloe has tried everything to bring it back, from her favorite cake, to her favorite grandmother to her favorite joke. But nothing seems to be working!

Until one night, something utterly magical happens and Chloe finds herself on an adventure that is out of this world. Her imaginary land, Chloe's Magic Land, comes to life and two of the characters from that land, Godfrey and Hoppy, whisk her into a host of adventures that end up with her finding her lost smile.

This book is meaningful in the sense that it portrays how as adults, we stop smiling and become more unhappy. It also portrays that grown ups tend to find solace in fake settings like how Mrs Long, Chloe's mother, loved to escape into an untouchable world of posh magazines. It also teaches us how to face our deepest, darkest fears bravely and come to terms that not everything around us happens because of us but because it is just meant to be that way. Chloe faced the Shadow Bandits in her Magic Land which signifies facing fears while she finally gets over the fact that she isn't the cause for her parents making a decision to divorce.

However, as in all beautiful and heart warming story lines, all is well that ends well. Chloe's parents decide to stay together and her grandmother weds Trevor, a character that Chloe met in her Magic Land. This book is a 10/10 and I highly suggest that adults read it together with the kids as it's a wonderful read. Even I shed a few tears reading this as it was so touching. Three cheers for Miranda Hart and this wonderful tome!