Recent Reviews

"Cool family history"

Faith Back,
Family Tree Magazine
Christmas edition, 2008

"Bookworm"

"It has often been said that you should start your family history when you are young, when all those people that you want to ask questions of are still around.  Unfortunately most of us don’t come into family history until it is far too late to ask those questions.

 Jane Starkie, who is a well-known family historian, has written this book to inspire young people (and the not so young) to start looking at where their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents came from.  It is a straightforward, no nonsense, easy to read kind of book, with plenty of bright and colourful pictures.  Even if the children cannot read the text, they can look at the pictures and ask questions.  Scattered throughout the book are lots of puzzles to complete, and yellow text boxes detailing ‘Important points to remember’. 

The chapters of the book are well laid out and flow nicely from one topic to another.  There are sections on old photographs, street names, heraldry, occupations etc. which cover, not only family history, but other aspects of social history as well.

As somebody who always enjoyed reading her children’s reading books when they were younger, I totally enjoyed this book and believe that Jane has ideally captured the essence of writing for children.  Hopefully, just browsing through this book will really whet their appetites to start their research.

This book will make an ideal (different) birthday or Christmas present for any child, and even adults who are new to family history."

Jackie Cotterill
The Midland Ancestor
December 2008

"Fun and very useful"

"Subtitled How to Start Your Family History: A Young Person’s Guide, this volume is obviously aimed at teenagers, although it will probably appeal to most prospective family historians who consider themselves to be young-at-heart.  Unusually for a beginners’ book, it doesn’t comprise a structured tutorial.  Instead, its focus is more on why a young person would want to research their ancestry, and the best ways to go about getting started.

The guidance offered by Mrs. Starkie is clear and straightforward, with vital learning points and website addresses included in bordered text boxes.  Each chapter concludes with a shaded and highlighted summary of ‘Important points to remember’.  To lighten what could be a dry read, there are also crosswords and puzzles dotted throughout, all of which have historical relevance and connections.

Overall, this is an appealing volume of information which may well provide many grandparents with the answer to the question of what to buy their grandchildren for Christmas.  Alternatively, you might find it a bit of fun for yourself."

Paul Gaskell
Family History Monthly
December 2008    

"Hw 2 *t ur Fmly Hstry"

"To date there has been a lack of books to attract young people to take an interest in their family history.  In a book aimed at 9-16-year-olds, the author has covered that omission.  Beginning with asking the family for information there is a list of questions to ask.  Chapters on the use of computers, the internet and web sites, civil registration, the census, occupations, surnames, photographs etc., are dealt with in a comprehensive and lively manner.  “Important Points to Remember” are given at the end of each chapter.  Several blue pages list various subjects such as “Things your great-grandmother might never have done”.  There are numerous photographs.  There is a list of books for further reading, a Bibliography and an address book.  There are two crosswords and several anagrams and puzzles to entertain.  Jane Starkie’s book is an ideal present for any young person."

Muriel Clough
The Essex Family Historian
December 2008

"Family History for Young People"

"Jane has been tracing her family history since 1968 and has been intending to write a book for young people as soon as she found time in her busy schedule – and it’s worth waiting for!

This quirky, comprehensive, cheerfully-presented and colourful guide will whet the appetite of children from 7 to 70 to discover their forebears, who they were, and how they lived.  It is liberally illustrated and also includes puzzles to challenge and entertain. 

Most family historians regret not having started their research earlier while their grandparents and possibly great-grandparents were still around to provide first-hand knowledge of their ancestors.

The "txt spk ttl" (text speak title) Hw 2 *t ur Fmly Hstry will appeal to your young relatives and is an ideal gift for children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews."

Devon Family Historian
November 2008

An imaginative family history guide for kids

"Do not adjust your sets, the title of this book really is Hw 2 *t ur Fmly Hstry – or if you like, ‘How to start your family history: a young person’s guide’ to family history.

Encouragingly, the market for genealogy books for young people is slowly opening up.  This book’s author is a keen family historian, and her enthusiasm shines throughout.  It is aimed primarily at 9-16 year olds, and is crammed full of information, fun facts and games and puzzles to enjoy. 

Chapters in turn cover subjects such as drawing up a first family tree, using websites, details of vital events and how they are held in public records, censuses and parish registers, occupations and so on.

The thread is not immediately obvious, partly because the main narrative has a very personal feel to it, and often digresses, and because of the huge variety colourful distractions on almost every page.  These include games such as word searches and anagrams, cartoons, lists of facts, photos, family trees and more besides.  Children will no doubt find these fun and stimulating..."

Your Family Tree
January 2009