The Great Bear Breakout
Synopsis
London, 1855.
Sent away from home to live with relatives she hardly knows, twelve-year-old Rosa discovers the Surrey Zoological Gardens and soon befriends Jem, the young bearkeeper. Shocked to learn that the bears are in grave danger, Rosa and Jem vow to join forces to save them.
It seems a new home has been found for them until Rosa encounters the villainous Mr Murdlock and together they uncover his secret, terrifying plan.
With no adult they can trust, and Jem threatened into silence, can Rosa and Jem outwit Mr Murdlock and rescue the bears before it’s too late?
To Buy
Available from your local independent bookshop, Waterstones, and online retailers.
Reviews
‘I loved every minute of it! A rip-roaring Victorian adventure featuring bears, a plucky heroine and dastardly baddies – just glorious!’
Catherine Bruton
Author of No Ballet Shoes in Syria, Another Twist in the Tale and Bird Boy
'A brave young girl and boy, two orphan bears in dire peril, and a villian readers will love to hate.
Catherine Randall's latest historical adventure, set in the colourful world of a Victorian pleasure garden
and zoo, is a page-turning, heart-warming gem of a story, perfect for readers of 9 to 99!'
Ally Sherrick
Author of Black Powder, Vita and the Gladiator and Rebel Heart
'No one does historical fiction like Catherine Randall! The Great Bear Breakout transported me back to 1855 and every expertly considered sentence kept me there - I genuinely felt like I was reading a classic adventure.'
Eve McDonnell
Author of The Last Boy, The Chestnut Roaster and Elsetime
'The Great Bear Breakout has all the ingredients for a modern classic; a likeable heroine, a vivid and well-researched Victorian setting, a dastardly villain, dollops of drama, a sprinkling of peril and a heart-warming happy ending.'
Susan Brownrigg
Author of Wrong Tracks and the Gracie Fairshaw Mysteries
'My mum, my sister and I have all read this book. We were charmed and delighted by the story of Rosa who together with Jem sets out to rescue some bears from a terrible fate. Catherine Randall writes so captivatingly and transports you into London society in 1855 with exquisite detail. Having been a primary school teacher for 20 years, I recommend this book to children aged 9-13 and adults who love reading children’s literature too. It is historical fiction at its best!'
Sally Heyhoe. June 2026
Primary School Teacher
'I liked The Great Bear Breakout, it was exciting and gripping. My favourite characters were Jem and Gilbert. I liked Gilbert because he was really funny.'
Edward, aged 7, August 2026
'I found the story very exciting and loved the way the bears were described.'
Felicity, aged 10
'If you love adventure, animals, history and a heroine who refuses to give up, The Great Bear Breakout is a must-read…One of the book’s greatest strengths is the way Randall weaves historical detail naturally into the adventure. Social expectations, crowded streets, crime and animal entertainment are woven innately into the story. …Warm, witty and immersive, the novel explores grief, courage, friendship, empathy and resilience with honesty and sensitivity, but never becomes too dark. Rosa’s greatest lesson – that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness – is an especially valuable one for young readers.
A masterfully written read for upper KS2 and lower KS3, it would work brilliantly as either a class novel or a read at home…
An exciting, heartfelt historical adventure…definitely one for your reading list!'
A masterfully written read for upper KS2 and lower KS3, it would work brilliantly as either a class novel or a read at home…
An exciting, heartfelt historical adventure…definitely one for your reading list!'
Arthur the Reading Sloth book reviews, September 2026
'This is such an engaging and well-written book- I was gripped from the first page and didn't want to put it down. It is a hugely captivating portrayal of Victorian London - at the end of the book I found myself not wanting to leave the characters behind.
It's a book that can be enjoyed by adults and children alike - my 7 year old was desperate to start reading it after I finished it, having loved The White Phoenix (Catherine Randall's first book). He enjoyed it as much as me.'
Claire Emery Gerard, July 2026
Amazon Customer
'An excellent easily readable book with a good well-paced story, loveable bears and historical background which covers many aspects of London at the time. Really enjoyed sharing with my granddaughter.'
Amazon review, June 2026
'The Great Bear Breakout by Catherine Randall is the most charming book I have read this year. Set in the 19th Century, this warm and witty historical fiction follows the young heroine Rosa as she fights to save her beloved bears, Bruno and Bertha, from being sold to a corrupt travelling menagerie. Rich in Victorian detail, it is engaging but remains entirely relatable. Rosa’s voice feels authentic and familiar as she navigates difficult decisions and unlikely friendships, learning the invaluable lesson that asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. A heartfelt animal story that manages an impressive balance of mischief and real emotional depth. Highly recommended for ages 9-13 (KS2-KS3) and just as enjoyable for adults. With just over 200 pages, and chapters averaging around 8 pages each, it is a manageable but satisfying read for this age group and does well to keep you hooked. The perfect bedtime story and classroom read!'
Erin Finn, April 2026
Bold Type Reviews
'This was an absolute winner in our house! My 7-year-old daughter was completely captivated by Rosa’s daring plan to save the Surrey Garden bears. The characters are brilliantly drawn, from the resourceful Rosa to the eclectic mix of people she encounters in Victorian London. It’s rare to find a book that is both an educational window into the past and a page-turning heist story, but The Great Bear Breakout hits that balance beautifully. As soon as we reached the final page, my daughter's first words were: "Can we start it again?"'
Stefan Bojanowski
The White Phoenix
Synopsis
The White Phoenix is a children’s historical novel set in a London bookshop in 1666, the year the Great Fire of London devastated the city.
After the sudden death of her father, 13-year-old Lizzie Hopper and her mother take over The White Phoenix – the family bookshop in the shadow of St Paul’s Cathedral. But women aren’t supposed to run businesses, England is at war with France and everywhere there are whispers of impending catastrophe.
As rumours of invasion and plague spread, Lizzie battles prejudice, blackmail and mob violence to protect the bookshop she loves.
When the Great Fire of London breaks out, Lizzie must rescue more than just the bookshop. Can she save the friend she wasn’t supposed to have?
To Buy
Available from your local independent bookshop, Waterstones, and online retailers.
Reviews
‘Catherine Randall brings the streets of 17th century London vividly to life…A heart-warming and skilfully told tale.’
Ally Sherrick
Author of Black Powder and The Buried Crown
‘Fantastic story, tense and gripping with some wonderful characters…Hard to believe it's Catherine's debut novel - I'm looking forward to reading more from her!’
Barbara Band
School Library, Reading and Literacy Consultant - @bcb567
'Brilliant debut middle grade historical novel perfect for fans of Emma Carroll and Barbara Henderson...Lizzie Hopper is a fantastic main character, kind and strong willed with a determination to do the right thing. I can't wait to read more books by Catherine. Highly recommended.'
Susan Brownrigg
Author of Gracie Fairshaw and the Mysterious Guest
'As a fan of children’s historical fiction, this one was right up there with my favourites - reminiscent of Emma Carroll and Nicola Pierce. An expertly crafted story set in 1666, the year of the Great Fire of London. I now miss Lizzie & the White Phoenix Bookshop!'
Eve McDonnell
Author of Elsetime
'I love historical novels and I was expecting this book to be good, but the author, Catherine Randall, surpassed my expectations. On opening the book to the first page you find yourself in London in 1666…
The White Phoenix has a strong cast of characters, from our headstrong protagonist, to the villain of the story, they all come to life and pull us into their tale. I read this fast-paced adventure in one sitting, I just couldn’t put the book down. …I will definitely be adding a copy of The White Phoenix to our school library and encouraging our children to meet Lizzie Hopper and read her story.
'This book transported me to my childhood and it gave me the same feeling I had reading or watching stories like The Railway Children, The Sound of Music, Pollyanna, Heidi, Little Women, and the early scenes in Great Expectations.'
'This is an addictive historical middle grade set between plague and fire…The fears over plague hit really hard given the situation, but I found that really cathartic, to see others tackling it and not letting it stop them…Catherine Randall’s research into 1666 England is so clear in the little details of book binding or fashions. It’s these subtle references that help bring the world to life. Rather than overpowering the story with historical detail, it grounds the story, striking a balance between story and world.
I’m excited to see what Catherine Randall writes next!'
‘I couldn't put this book down! I was reading it in school every day. It wasn't just an amazing book, but it was factual as well and helped me understand what times were like during 1666.’
Charlotte, aged 10
‘I liked The White Phoenix because it taught me about The Great Fire of London and I wanted to see if they would escape the fire..’
Edward, aged 7
‘The White Phoenix is probably one of my favourite books I have read as it has many twists and turns and likeable characters…I could not put the book down the second I read the first chapter. I would recommend it to anybody ages 9-14. I rate it 5/5 stars and it is the perfect length.’
Tom, aged 10
'Bookshops, London and the Great Fire – what more could you want in your book?! …I really liked the way Randall was able to make the story very relatable, despite being set nearly 400 years ago….While Catholics might not suffer in England in the 21st century, it’s easy to see the same prejudices aimed at other groups. I think The White Phoenix would make a great starting point for a discussion with children in the target age group.'
'I loved this book and devoured it in a couple of hours. The main character, Lizzie, is just fantastic! She exhibits all of the traits you would want your daughter to possess: she is caring, resilient, truthful and determined…The themes of prejudice and sexism are just as relevant today as they were when the book is set…I would definitely recommend this for younger readers and it would be a great book to read alongside studying 17th century history or prejudice.'
'I simply couldn’t put it down – throughout I was engrossed with the drama and the history, constantly empathising with the characters and their struggles…'