**GENERAL REVIEW FOR THE SERIES**

As a result of my devotion to McCombie's "Ally's World" series, I was very eager to read these books, to the point that I had my da order them for me online at a time when that wasn't really a thing. They weren't exactly easy to get my hands on. To this day, I'm still waiting to get voted off the island. Oh well.

I remember really enjoying the dynamic in these books between Stella's pursuit of new friendships, helping people in their hour of need, and trying to discover the history of her ancestors and how they connect her to the small, seaside town of Potbay.

The sad thing is, I'll never know how it ended. I never managed to get my hands on the seventh book. I eventually moved on to other books and by the time I saw it in a Waterstones while on holiday in Spain, I had outgrown the series and didn't bother. I also gave all of my Ally's World and Stella Etc. books to my younger cousin. A teeny tiny part of me regrets that now for the sake of my childhood and the fact that you simply don't see the books in shops anymore.

McCombie's books are highly recommended for the 9-12/13 age group and reluctant readers, serving as an excellent gateway to the wider world of reading. ( )