- Chapter Books
- Ages 9–12
- Contemporary
This Wonderful Thing
Book 3 of 4 in Cymbeline IglooView the full series
Cymbeline is struggling with his mum's new partner and step-siblings moving in, while a girl named Jessica fishes a battered teddy bear out of a river - a bear that will upend both their families. A funny, twisting mystery about change, loss and the things we hold onto.
- Best for9–12
- FormatChapter
- Length400 pp
- Read aloud~5 hr40 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
Tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Heartwarming
- Bittersweet
- Thought provoking
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Life is changing fast for Cymbeline Igloo. It used to be just him and his mum; now the house is full of her new partner and his children, and Cym isn't sure he likes it one bit. Then he comes home to find the place has been burgled - by thieves who seem strangely interested in his toys, though they've missed Not Mr Fluffy, his Bear of Most Extreme Importance. Meanwhile, a girl called Jessica pulls a filthy, bedraggled teddy out of a river while playing with her family, with no idea it will change everything for ever. Told in turn by Cym and Jessica, the two find themselves swept into a mystery that spans decades and threatens both their families. Adam Baron's third Cymbeline novel keeps the trademark laugh-out-loud voice while tackling a blended family, a grandfather's illness and the hard business of growing up. Warm, funny and full of heart, with a story that will have readers laughing one minute and welling up the next.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Aimed at 9-12s reading independently, and an enjoyable read-aloud from about 8. The humour and mystery pull younger readers along, while the themes of a blended family and a grandparent's illness resonate most with children at the older end.
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- Best fit · 9–12
- Read aloud · 8–11
- Independent · 9–12
Prose load
Moderate
Visual support
Low
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Strong
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: grief, illness or disability, absent parent.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Funny and moving
- Blended families
- Family stories
- Emotional literacy
Avoid if
- Wants gentle bedtime
- Sensitive to family change
Particularly good for children who are…
- New step parent or blended family
- Illness in family
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Cym's home is suddenly full of step-siblings he didn't ask for, his toys are being stolen, and a mystery teddy is turning two families upside down. Kids love the twin narrators, the daft humour and the puzzle that keeps them guessing right to the end.
- Being a detective
- Family belonging
- Being understood finally
- Making a difference
Why parents love it
Baron captures the wobble of a family reshaping itself - new partner, new siblings, an ill grandfather - with warmth and wit rather than worthiness. The dual narration is clever, the voice is a joy aloud, and it opens gentle conversations about change.
- Shared humour
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
In the series
Cymbeline Igloo.
4 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
