- Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Adventure
The Noble Adventures of Beryl and Carol
Two twelve-year-old best friends in 1990s England flee their bullies into a Forbidden Forest and, to save their friendship and their struggling town, set out to solve the mystery of a teenager who vanished there years before. A warm, old-fashioned treasure-hunt adventure about brave girls turning fear into heroism.
- Best for9–12
- FormatChapter
- Length251 pp
- Read aloud~3 hr35 min
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The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Literary
Tone
- Adventurous
- Exciting
- Warm
- Nostalgic
- Heartwarming
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Beryl and Carol are twelve years old, inseparable best friends in a small English town in 1997, devoted to their river, their woods and each other. But their world is under threat: they may soon be separated, and a gang of bullies makes their days a misery. Cornered one afternoon, they escape into the nearby Forbidden Forest - so named because fifteen years earlier a local teenager disappeared there, hunting for a legendary treasure. Rather than run from the forest's dangers, the girls decide to face them head-on: they will find the lost treasure themselves, save their town from ruin, and prove they are braver than anyone believes. Building a secret clubhouse and setting off on long bike rides to chase down clues, Beryl and Carol transform, over the course of the story, from bullied children into genuine heroines. Jeremy Sherr's independently published, award-winning adventure, illustrated by Talya Baldwin, has the flavour of a classic children's mystery - real friendship, real jeopardy, a proper puzzle to solve - with a strong, hopeful heart. A rewarding pick for readers who love plucky protagonists, treasure hunts and stories where ordinary kids rise to the occasion.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A middle-grade adventure best for 9-12s reading independently, with a treasure-hunt mystery and strong friendship at its centre. Bullying is a real thread, so it suits children who can handle that alongside the reassuring, ultimately triumphant arc.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Low
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Workable
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: bullying, scary imagery.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
2 / 5 · Mild
Best for
- Adventure and mystery
- Friendship stories
- Strong heroines
- Treasure hunts
Avoid if
- Sensitive to bullying
Particularly good for children who are…
- Being bullied
- Making friends
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Beryl and Carol turn the tables on their bullies by braving a Forbidden Forest and chasing a real mystery - building a secret clubhouse, following clues on long bike rides, and growing into heroines. A proper adventure where ordinary kids get brave.
- Adventure and freedom
- Having a secret base
- The underdog winning
- Surviving danger
- Friendship and belonging
Why parents love it
An award-winning indie treasure-hunt story with the warmth of a classic children's mystery: strong girl protagonists, real friendship, and an arc from being bullied to being brave. A hopeful, discussion-worthy read for confident younger readers.
- Nostalgia
- Indie gem discovery
About the creators
About the creators.
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