The Grand Central Cinema Club by Alan Nolan

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✦ BLURB ✦

Dublin, 1937

At the Grand Central Cinema on O'Connell Street, the children of Dublin watch their Hollywood heroes on the silver screen.

When Sylvie meets tenement boy Jem and his daredevil sister Juno, they bond over their love of movies. But an accident means Juno will miss the latest film at the Grando, so they hatch a plot to hijack the movie reel and do a top-secret private showing instead!

Meanwhile, a sneak thief called The Magpie has his eye on the Grand Central Cinema too. Can Sylvie and Jem revive Juno's ailing spirits by bringing the movies to her? And will they foil The Magpie's feather-brained plan in time?

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Kids, capers, and a cinema heist in 1930s Dublin 🎥✨

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Pre-Reading Thoughts
Alan Nolan never disappoints when it comes to madcap history-meets-adventure. I went in expecting hijinks, humour, and a little sneaky education on the side. Mostly, though, I was excited to see the Grand Central Cinema brought to life on the page.

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Post-Reading
As I thought…
This is classic Nolan: pacey, hilarious, and bursting with characters who feel like your new best pals. He has such a talent for weaving history into stories without ever losing the fun.

It surprised me by…
How dazzling the cinema itself was. The velvet seats, the glittering chandeliers, the hush as the silver screen flickers to life—it’s less a pastime and more a palace of dreams.

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Music Pairing
🎵 Featured Song: “Puttin’ On the Ritz” (for a dash of 1930s sparkle)
🎶 Vibe Album: The Essential Benny Goodman (swing and swagger galore)
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Postmodern Jukebox (modern songs with vintage glamour—perfect fit)

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Vibe Check
🎨 Colour palette: Velvet red, brass gold, flickering silver light
🎶 Soundtrack: The whir of a projector, trumpet flourishes, kids’ whispered excitement
🍂 Season: Autumn evenings, coats shrugged off in a warm foyer
😌 Mood: Mischievous, adventurous, wide-eyed wonder
🌹 Scent: Buttered popcorn and polished wood

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Tarot Pull
From the Storyteller’s Tarot: The Magician ✨
Just like Sylvie, Jem, and Juno, the Kitsune from Japanese myth is all about creativity, daring, and resourcefulness. It reminds us that with a spark of imagination, even the ordinary can turn extraordinary.

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For Fans Of
📖 The Legend of Valentine Joe by Rebecca Stevens
📺 Bugsy Malone (all the chaos, cheek, and pint-sized schemes)

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The Grand Central Cinema Club is available now. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.

🃏 The deck had opinions: Crone of Claws — Queen of Swords. Juno's plans and efforts fit this card beautifully.

🐾