The Letter with the Golden Stamp by Onjali Q. Raúf is such a heartwarming story! As a lover of letters (psst: my first novel in letters, The Wall Friends Club, is just out!), I was drawn to the idea of a story about a special letter right away. With an enterprising protagonist at the centre, the book is completely unpredictable and utterly charming.
The book opens with Audrey sitting in a police station, sure that she has been arrested even though the adults around assure her that she has not. They just want to know her story. And as she tells her story, the reader keeps wondering, What did she actually do? How outlandish could her ideas get? And the reveal doesn’t disappoint!
Stories with strong familial relationships and friendships always warm my heart. The desire to protect your family’s secrets is so strong! It’s what inspired my Sisters at New Dawn, and I keep encountering it in fiction because the sentiment is so real. My heart aches, even as it fills with the sweetness of childhood love.
Each character is loveable, from Audrey herself to her friends and well-wishers. My favourite has got to be the postman Mo, whom you want to hug tight!
In some ways, I probably enjoyed The Letter with the Golden Stamp more than the author’s more famous The Boy at the Back of the Class. Character, emotion, humour and story–this one has it all!
| Title | The Letter with the Golden Stamp |
| Author | Onjali Q. Rauf |
| Tags | Middle Grade, Humour, Realistic Fiction |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.5 |
| Ages | 10+ |
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