Category read it yourself

I Am Wolf

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I Am Wolf
Alastair Chisholm
Nosy Crow

I read this thrilling dystopian story in proof form but liked it so much that when a finished copy arrived I couldn’t resist reading it again.

Coll, the main character has two prosthetic limbs – a leg and an arm – more advanced that those currently available, as the author discovered when researching limb differences for the book. Like many of the people he met through the Limbo Foundation and Finding Your Feet, Coll’s limb difference is part of him, but does not define him.

When first we meet twelve year old Coll, having been used to living aboard Wolf, the gigantic construct that is almost always moving, he is finding standing on still ground weird. However he joins crewmate, Luna to salvage whatever useful bits and pieces they can, mostly lost by Hyena after the previous evening’s battle between the two massive machines, when their rival was defeated.
But shortly after the two have delivered their sacks of salvaged pieces Coll learns that senior crew member Alpha, who had promised him he could go on a mission he really wanted to, now won’t let him; Coll puts this down to his limb differences. Instead she, who is not proud of being his mother, suggests he accompany her into Scatter to speak to the Mayor.

While Alpha and Mayor Ruprecht talk, Coll wanders off and comes upon a child being attacked by a group of others. He intervenes and horrified by what he’s told, takes responsibility for the boy who had once been a member of Boar. “That child is your problem now”, Alpha insists. Coll renames the terrified child Fillan (little Wolf) so he can fit in aboard Wolf.

Then the others of Wolf crew return with a cache that had been hidden and it’s time to move on, but almost immediately there is an attack from an enemy construct. After rounds of fierce fighting and an accident that involved Rieka, she, Coll and Fillan find themselves left behind by Wolf. Not long after they come upon another stranded girl, named Brann.

Coll is Wolf, but he starts to question everything he believes himself to be and wants to be. Does his original family really have his best interests at heart? It’s time to confront uncomfortable truths, shed his preconceptions and learn that trust and new relationships are possible. Is Rieka right when she says, ‘perhaps I’ll find a better way to live.’ Maybe, as Brann suggests, ‘A Cub way’.

With awesome world building, perils aplenty, sack loads of suspense, some quiet contemplative moments and several terrific characters, this is a read that grips you tight. Moreover the ending leaves you dangling, eagerly awaiting the sequel, I Am Raven.

Super Sausage Dog To The Rescue

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Super Sausage Dog To The Rescue
Rachel Morrisroe, illustrated by Jenny Taylor
Puffin

When this story starts – the first in a new series – Dottie, an adorable dachshund is residing at Doris Darling’s Home for Dogs. In order to find a forever home however, she is keeping under wraps the fact that this dachshund cross has super skills; she can fly and she can talk. Then into the rescue centre come Harry and his dad and before Dottie can say ‘treat’ she’s in a car heading for a new abode.

Once settled in, it’s not long before Dottie’s super skills are discovered by Harry and the pooch takes the risk of sharing her entire life history with the boy. Happily he thinks Dottie is amazing.
As the two are talking together, a squirrel appears at the window and using its breath and paws writes a message on the glass urging them to attend a meeting the following dawn. Dottie’s powers are urgently needed by Rebecca Refractor who runs Superpets, a secret organisation of superhero pets that keep the world safe from super villains.  How though can the superpets keep the world safe when they are being kidnapped by a supervillain intent on making them part of her collection? 

It’s up to ‘Super Sausage’ Dottie and Harry to stop the petnapping of the remaining superpets by Sparkletta Collector, either that or face being her next victims. Can the duo do it?

The two lead characters take turns to narrate their action-packed adventure giving readers a lot of laugh-out-loud moments: Dottie describes her farts thus, ‘My trumpets are louder than twenty trombones in an orchestra. Big, broccoli-scented bottom belches billow down into the room.’
More laugh-out-loud moments, including one of the Prime Minister glued to the wall wearing his polka-dot pants, are provided by Jenny Taylor’s drawings.

And who wouldn’t want to visit ‘The Factual History Museum’ – just one of Rachel Morrisroe’s splendidly playful phrases. I found myself giggling every couple of minutes as I read this zany tale and like its target audience of primary readers, will eagerly await book two.

Fireborn: Starling and the Cavern of Light

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Fireborn: Starling and the Cavern of Light
Aisling Fowler, illustrated by Sophie Medvedeva
Harper Collins Children’s Books

Slightly darker than the previous books in the series, this concludes the trilogy. As the book opens, with the Master’s army converging and moving closer to Ember, the witches virtually destroyed and the whereabouts of her friends Six and Seven not known to her, Phoenix is feeling especially low. “We should have marched north, to rescue Six from Victory and the Master … And to find Seven,” she says to her pet squirrel Widge.

Moreover, Ember can only survive the imminent fight for survival if, rather than fighting among themselves, the clans join forces and defeat their common enemy. To bring this about an address by Phoenix will, it’s hoped, be instrumental. “I think they’ll actually listen to you, Hoarfrost insists.
She agrees and speaks to them that same evening, revealing in so doing that she’s an elemental. Responding to the question “What is this ‘Master’ she tells the crowd, “He controls all dark creatures, bends them to his will effortlessly. …I can promise you this, when you face the Master and his monstrous army, the differences between your clan and another will suddenly look very small indeed…. He has united the dark creatures; if we are to survive, we must at least be as united as they are.”

There is hope lying within the Cavern of Light in the form of a hidden weapon, but embarking on a journey filled with horrific beasts and peril like they’ve never before experienced is a choice that must be made. A final showdown looms but can Phoenix possibly defeat the Master and save her beloved friends.

The battle scenes, when they eventually take place, are the stuff of nightmares, with Phoenix taking a decision she may regret. To say this book is suspenseful is an understatement; a handy box of tissues close by is advisable as you draw near to the end with Phoenix’s past and present coming together and sacrifices being made by certain characters.

With amazing world-building, a gamut of emotions and occasional dramatic illustrations by Sophie Medvedeva, this is an awesome end to a brilliant series. As the Guardian says in the final chapter, “This world is full of marvels, Phoenix. Life and wonder and glorious possibility exist alongside the darkness.”

Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea

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Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea
Pari Thomson, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Macmillan Children’s Books

For me this sequel, is every bit as good as Greenwild: The World Behind the Door. Herein Daisy’s adventures alongside her Five O’Clock Club friends – animal whisperer Indigo, The Prof, Acorn and cat Napoleon, as well as new member of the cast, Max, a fugitive with a distinctive birthmark on his face and a past he is keeping hidden or doesn’t remember – continue apace.

Botanists are being found dead in the Amazon region and the adults likely have plans of their own, plans concerning what to do. As you’d expect, Daisy is very worried about the safety of her mother who has been taken captive in the area. Rescuing her from there is not possible as it means taking on the environment-destroying Grim Reapers; but could Daisy follow her mother’s wish and enlist help from the people of the Kingdom of Iffenwild, a place most don’t even believe exists? Maybe, though Iffenwild is somewhere that has cut itself off from the rest of the world for reasons unknown to Daisy et al.

In this book the author creates a backdrop that is powerfully intricate and fascinating; there’s Iffenwild and the Nautilus Theatre Company and its players that come to life as if before your very eyes as Daisy and friends have to evade or face ambushes from the evil Grim Reapers whose effect on the coral and seaweed is devastating. They also need to find out whether the Duchess of Iffenwild is to be trusted or not. All this as well as riding majestic wild water horses and rescuing rare creatures from an animal market, not to mention how to control their individual magical gifts and learning how to trust each other. Their aim is to put paid to the evil scheme of a regent and obtain the much needed assistance for the critical conflict that is to come.

Overflowing with magical happenings, places and otherworldly creatures, some of which are portrayed in Elisa Paganelli’s awesome illustrations,

Pari Thomson’s wondrous tale is totally gripping and not only that, it gently nudges readers into thinking about the vital importance and conservation of the natural world.

Magicalia: Race of Wonders

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Magicalia: Race of Wonders
Jennifer Bell, illustrated by David Wyatt
Walker Books

Bitsy’s life is pretty normal as she endeavours to find interesting events to cover in her attempt to follow in her journalist mother’s footsteps. She enjoys creating podcasts with her best friend, Kosh, but things are pretty dull in Oddington, until that is a raven-haired woman appears in her home accompanied by a magical beast. An argument about a book ensues and this is followed by the disappearance of her Dad (an astrophysicist), along with the woman and the purple hamstoceros beast. Not however before Dad has summoned a creature of his own, Quasar, and instructed it to protect Bitsy and Kosh.

Bitsy then decides to search for clues as to where her Dad might have been taken. She comes upon an old book entitled Magicalia wherein are lists of majicores and the emotions that conjure them. The two children must use this book both to locate Eric (Bitsy’s Dad) and to work out why he was taken. First stop the address atop a letter Bitsy has found, and.there she learns things about her parents, secrets that they’d been keeping from her..

With the help of the powerful Magicalia book what follows is an incredible adventure- a race against time – taking them across the globe to places as far apart as India’s Taj Mahal and Paris as they too become conjurors of majicores and follow the clues in the hope of rescuing Bitsy’s Dad from a mysterious enemy.

Building a world of majicore beasts created by emotions is an awesome achievement on Jennifer Bell’s part: her spellbinding tale wherein the importance of creativity and courage and the power of friendship are key, will grab you from the outset and hold you captive until the end. Part of the magic also lies in David Wyatt’s illustrations of the majicores that introduce each of the twenty six chapters. Happily though it isn’t quite the end; Race of Wonders is the first of a series.

Michael the Incredible Super-Sleuth Sausage Dog

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Michael the Incredible Super-Sleuth Sausage Dog
Terrie Chilvers, illustrated by Tim Budgen
Firefly Press

In this second Michael story, the sausage dog decides that in addition to being a celebrity mind-reading expert, he wants to be a detective mastermind. The reason being Susan the Chocolate Labrador has gone missing. Could it be a case of dognapping as Police Detective Wrinkles suspects: if so that will mean the filming of Michael’s TV show featuring said Labrador will have to be halted. However, when a ransom note is discovered signed by DogX and Associates, there’s no doubt in Michael’s mind: a detective he must be. That way he can surely boost his TV ratings, which have recently nose-dived.

Time to use your talent and charm to your advantage, Michael and you’d better be quick about it. There’s just two days to drive to Three Paw Creek, meet the villainous kidnapper, be a su-paw hero and rescue Susan, then get back in time to restore your show to the top of the ratings chart.


Things don’t go exactly to plan however. To say the overnight accommodation – Dog House Motel – is substandard is being generous, especially as Detective Wrinkles has booked herself in at the vastly superior Bouncy Ball Hotel.

Far worse is to come though, for Michael’s plan goes completely off the rails when he too is dognapped. With Pamela calling the shots, this is cheesily catastrophic . How on earth is Michael going to extricate himself, not to mention Stanley and Susan from their place of incarceration? And what of that all important show?

A witty tail wagging, twisty turning delight for KS2 readers especially the dog-loving kind. Tim Budgen’s illustrations add to the zestiness of the tale so make sure you paws and look at them properly.

How To Stop The End of the World

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How To Stop The End of the World
Tom Mitchell
Harper Collins Children’s Books

Col Coleridge is facing a boring summer holiday especially as his parents are far from happy about the time he spends on his Xbox; time they think he should be spending keeping himself fit, especially as he’s just messed up a relay race his family were running in. Then Col notices some strange chalk markings on the pavement close to his home, followed shortly by the appearance of strangers acting suspiciously who claim to be to do with installing super fast broadband in the locality. Could they be burglars perhaps? Col decides to dial 999. However the police and his parents, who are both solicitors, are not at all impressed.

Having had a somewhat strange conversation about strangers in his garden with his young golf fanatic neighbour Noah, Col goes out and formulates a plan, the first part being to further investigate the strange markings. While so doing he encounters Lucy who has only recently moved to the area; she too is intrigued by the markings and is sure they are not to do with broadband. They are runes she informs Col, Anglo Saxon runes.

Another strange thing is that having put up special cameras given him by Lucy, Noah and his dad become convinced they are to spy on Noah’s golfing shots and come a-knocking on the Coleridge’s door to complain. Of course Col doesn’t tell them the real purpose is to watch for the strangers but says he’s bird-watching.

Things get progressively crazier as both Col and Lucy embark on a quest that involves combat re-enactment, an ancient mythical sword, a curse and a mission to save the world.

The writing is bursting with droll humour as the pacy plot twists hither and thither towards the dramatic denouement. A book that will work well as a KS2 class read aloud and for individual readers.

Pages & Co: The Last Bookwanderer

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Pages & Co: The Last Bookwanderer
Anna James, illustrated by Marco Guadalupe
Harper Collins Children’s Books

All good things must come to an end: that oft used sentence is now sadly applied to the wondrous and wonderful Pages & Co. series. Sadly for its countless followers, but not necessarily so for Tilly, Milo, Oskar and Alessia as you will discover herein. They are still endeavouring to stop the Alchemist carrying out his final plan, as well as finding a way to untangle what he’s done thus far and to save Pages & Co and indeed save bookwandering and the imagination for everyone.

To begin with they venture into Arthurian legend to find the first bookwanderer, the wizard Merlin, keeper of The Book of Books. To succeed in this final quest and get everything they require and discover all they need to know, Milo and Alessia then have to separate from Oskar and Tilly as they travel into different aspects of stories and mythologies. By so doing, can they succeed and receive the help they require?

Milo and Alessia travel into Norse mythology to try and make a deal with Loki. Tilly and Oskar travel into Greek mythology and meet the Muses

Tilly and Oskar meet Calliope, chief of the muses

and the Fates: it’s through information thus acquired that Oskar asks Lachesis, “Bookwandering isn’t as old as imagination?” “Certainly not as you understand it,” comes her reply.

So, Bookwandering is not what they understood it to be ‘. but neither is it what some people desire it to be; Moreover, one character they meet is not what he leads the children to believe either.

The narrative twists and turns so many times that it’s well nigh impossible to recount all that happens but that would surely spoil the book for those who have long awaited its arrival.Let me reassure you though, that there’s a thrilling, satisfying finale, with friendship, imagination and the power of story being key throughout. Who could ask for more; certainly not this reviewer.

The Bravest Word / The Feeling Good Club: Believe in Yourself, Bella!

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The Bravest Word
Kate Foster
Walker Books

A powerful story of trust and love between a boy and a dog that addresses depression in youngsters, it will surely help readers who are struggling to recognise the symptoms in themselves. It will also reassure those readers that they aren’t alone and however confused and scared they might feel, there are ways to cope, so long as they seek help from somebody.

Eleven year old Matt, a soccer star is suddenly beset with thoughts of “I can’t do this” especially when it comes to playing his favourite game and he feels tired all the time. He’s way too scared to talk to his mum who clearly cares but puts his troubles down to hormones, and he won’t say anything to his dad for fear of upsetting him

Then, as he’s out walking with his dad, they come across an abandoned dog that has clearly been very badly treated. Matt is determined to save the creature and decides to call him Cliff after his grandad. He also finds a scrap of paper with the words UGLY, SAD DOG. HE’S YOURS close by. Off they go to the emergency vet and having followed the required procedures, and persuaded Mum, Cliff finally goes to live with the Brown family.

As Matt cares for the newcomer, we see that boy and dog exhibit similar emotions: Cliff recovers physically but remains withdrawn and anxious while Matt remains determined to restore the pooch’s faith in human beings as well as restoring his own zest for life. It’s an arduous slow process, the highs and lows of which Matt shares with his new canine buddy.

In doing so, Matt perceives his own situation with increasing clarity. Bit by bit, the boy begins to open up, sharing, his despair, his sickness, his hopes, through Cliff’s social media presence, which soon becomes viral. There’s enormous on-line support for the dog and by association Matt, from virtual strangers, which finally forces the boy to find the courage to ask for help. “I think I might be depressed,” he tells his Dad. Dad’s response is enormously understanding; he’s clearly proud of his son and feels great empathy towards him. Matt then discovers that he’s not the only person who has problems with their mental health. Then surrounded by love and support, he is allowed to rest and begin to heal.

A hugely important, beautifully written, honest book that shows children they are not alone in their struggles, and that as Matt’s Dad tells his son, asking for help is the bravest thing.

The Feeling Good Club: Believe in Yourself, Bella!
Kelly McCain, illustrated by Jenny Latham
Little Tiger

Bella, Archie and Shazmin are three friends who set up a mindfulness club to help them understand and handle their feelings. This has really boosted Bella’s self-confidence, until the three decide to enter the Muddy Assault Course Challenge in the hope of winning £50, which they intend donating to WaterWorks (a charity). They call themselves Ace Team but they’re one person short. Billy, a rather loud, over-confident boy offers not only to join their team but also to coach them. Training begins in earnest that weekend and after one session Bella wants to pull out of the event.

Things go from bad to terrible when the team hold a training session in Bella’s garden and end up wrecking Mum’s favourite plant pots and making a whacking great hole in Dad’s new fence panel and the only one who doesn’t straightway apologise to Bella’s parents is Billy.
Somehow Bella needs to find the courage to talk with Archie and Shazmin, Billy too, about how she really feels. Can she do so and set Ace Team back on the road to enjoying preparing for and participating in, that challenge?
She’s fortunate to have Jess, her older sister, to discuss everything with; among other things that really helps her get her feelings about Billy out in the open, though as events unfold she ends up with a much greater understanding of why he behaves in ways she doesn’t like and ends up calling him a friend.

This is Bella’s second turn of sharing her diary with readers: I wonder who will be next in this very enjoyable series. Make sure you check out the mindfulness activities at the end of the book.

Knowing the Score

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Knowing the Score
Ros Roberts
Little Tiger

Gemma knows very little about her family members other than her mum with whom she has lived for as long as she can remember. However despite their closeness, Gemma is keen to find out about the others – Gran and Uncle Jo(e) – whom she has included in her special people mind map drawn during the year six residential from which she’s just returned. She’s aware that following her return from the USA, Mum fell out with Gran and since then they seldom see one another. She also has hazy memories of visiting Gran’s house and her Uncle’s disastrous wedding, after which all contact stopped.

Then Mum is invited to join Terry and two other friends on a month long, adults only Caribbean cruise. With some persuasion, she agrees to let Gemma stay with Gran, something the girl sees as an opportunity to start healing the family rift. At the last minute though comes news that Gran has fallen and broken her hip. Mum’s initial reaction is to cancel her plans but finally she allows her daughter to stay with Uncle Joe instead.

It’s evident to his niece from the start that he’s friendly, fun and generous, clearly with much more money that Gemma’s mum, though it’s his qualities not his wealth that Gemma values. When she learns that Uncle Joe has work commitments during the first part of her stay and that he has enrolled her in a tennis camp, she’s more than a little worried, but agrees to give it a try. It’s thanks to the camp that Gemma eventually discovers a vital secret about her mum; she also finds that she’s a quick learner when it comes to tennis and has a lot of potential as a player. Now all she needs to do is to bring her fractured family back together. Can she do that without upsetting anyone?

Embracing some of the harsher realities of life, this sensitively written story of a complex family
with its themes of forgiveness, new beginnings, healing and risk taking will be especially enjoyed by older KS2 readers.

North and the Only One

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North and the Only One
Vashti Hardy
Scholastic

Having woken fourteen days ago from a seemingly endless sleep, twelve year old Rose, has no memory of any life before, not even her name. What caused the scar on her head? Why does she feel lost in her own home? These are just two of the many questions she has. The only thing that feels familiar is North, her puppy. Yes, the woman she lives with, says she is Rose’s mother but despite the pleasant life the three have together, as the days pass something feels wrong. Fragments of her past come to Rose in dreams. She’s walking among the trees – there’s a forest: home perhaps? Nothing like the place she now finds herself in. Then one night Rose makes an unsettling discovery about this ‘Mother’ of hers and it drives her to leave the house, with North beside her. She runs towards the only thing that feels real to her – the forest: surely there she can find other humans.

What Rose finds is that she’s on a frightening journey through a city with a political set up based on control and fear wherein her very existence is both a threat and threatened; and where she doesn’t know whom to trust: the tour guide mouse or the charming fox and rabbit droids working for a travelling theatre. A journey that makes readers feel they’re part of the girl’s search for the truth.
Probably THE most important thing of all Rose discovers is the power of stories; stories that help us make sense of things, that connect us both to the past and one another. Stories make us human and reveal our truth.

With its STEM and environmental references, this is a compelling story for older readers that is highly thought-provoking, exploring as it does, what being human means and what makes a family.

Ferris

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Ferris
Kate DiCamillo
Walker Books

This story, set I think in the late 20th century, unfolds around ten year old Ferris (Emma Phineas Wilkey), so called because she was born beneath a ferris wheel at the fairground. Ferris is sensitive, serious and a lover of words, the last thanks to her 4th grade teacher.

It’s an eventful summer for certain. It was then that a ghost appeared to her grandmother Charisse, that Ferris’s six year old sister, Pinky, decided to become an outlaw and that her Uncle Ted left Aunt Shirley, his wife to live in the basemen of Ferris’s home, hoping to paint a masterpiece. Oh yes and it was the summer that Dad declared there was a racoon in the attic; moreover Charisse said she was unwell and agreed to see a doctor.

Add to the mix Ferris’s best friend, Billy Jackson a pianist who hears music in his head all the time, Boomer the dog, teacher Mrs Mielk, Billy’s dad Big Billy Jackson and Charisse’s oft quoted assertion that “every good story is a love story” and you realise that those words definitely apply to Kate DiCamillo’s moving, memorable, quirky tale. Assuredly there’s love in abundance, but there’s also reunion, plenty of humour supplied mainly due to Pinky’s misdemeanours, as well as loss and birth.

Jawsome: Licence to Rock

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Jawsome: Licence to Rock
R.J. Timmis
Allen & Unwin

There’s not one but two stories in this action-packed volume, the first being the titular Licence to Rock. Let me now introduce, as he says himself. ‘Finley – supernormal shark kid by day, totally famous rock star by night.’ His fellow band members are his best friends Hunter (Harriet Heartens), Gilleon (Greyson Glitter) and Gnash (Gnarly Nelson). Adult readers will find themselves smiling at these punning names,
As the first story opens the band are preparing to head off to participate in the Euro-fishin competition in Shellbania but then at the last minute Gnash fails to show up.

With just two days before the contest the clock is ticking if the other three are to find him in time. Off they go to Gnash’s home to look for a lead and there find a card with a fish symbol that sends them rushing to the Business District. Having managed to get themselves into FISH HQ, they learn that not only is Gnash there but that using his talent for rhythm, he’s helping a super-secret spy agency track down the evil organisation, A.B.B.A (Alliance of Brutally Bad Anglerfish)

and stop them from shrinking the sun; and it transpires, from taking over the entire ocean. Can Gnash crack the vital code and with his friends prevent ABBA causing crab-tastrophe? If so, is there any way that Jawsome can get to that competition in time to compete in Euro-fishin.

In the second adventure Zombie Sharks Attack! Finley is fearful about playing wrong notes in the Rhythm and Chews festival and becoming a laughing stock. The big problem though is the sudden arrival on the music scene of The Killer Wails, they’re even top of the popularity polls, stealing audiences from Jawsome by the minute. Come festival day, the four arrive on stage and find that they have no audience at all. Cancellations follow, but also something extremely seaspicious: the school is empty save for Principal Flotsam who has turned into a zombie. In fact every shark in Chumville is zombified. It seems that this is down to the sinister doings of Killer Wails. The only ones not under the mind control of the new group are Jawsome. They need to investigate pronto. Ear muffs on guys, if you’re to stand any chance of overcoming the dastardly Killer Wails; followed quickly by Jawsome’s performance of their lives.

The power of friendship and determination are crucial here, and Jawsome have those in abundance though none is flawless. For KS2 readers, liberally illustrated, this is super silly, fast paced punning fun with elements borrowed from tv shows and films. I wonder how many they will identify.

Elf Dog and Owl Head

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Elf Dog and Owl Head
T.M. Anderson, illustrated by Junyi Wu
Walker Books

This weird magical novel is set during a covid lockdown. Clay O’Brian is tired of the virus that has forced him to stay home away from his friends. All he has to play with is a frisbee but nonetheless he enjoys the time he spends in the forest exploring, it’s far better than being cooped up indoors with his siblings. As he goes to retrieve his frisbee a dog suddenly bursts out of the bushes, a strange-looking dog with long ears, red inside – an elf-hound, Clay calls her. The creature – Clay thinks she’s saved him from a bear – follows him home and decides to stay.

Next day out walking with the dog, Clay overhears that her collar has a name, Elphinore, and that the two men speaking to one another think she’s a royal hunting dog belonging to the People Under the Mountain.

Time passes, the school term ends and Clay has even more time to spend with Elphinore, more time rambling in the forest. Allowed to lead the way, she takes Clay ‘on one of the paths that led through crooked elfin ways up the flank of the mountain.’ It’s thus that he meets the owl-head people, in particular an Owl Boy, Amos from a village full of such people.

One afternoon a while later after a strange incident with a shaker that Clay has acquired, his sisters decide to follow him and find out from where he got it. They creep after their brother and the dog, steered by the latter, so they stay on the right path. Along that same path, DiRossi (Clay’s angsty elder sister) also forms a strange friendship with a miserable giant Vud, that her brother accidentally woke from a deep sleep. Somehow her mood seems to improve as this happens. Clay meanwhile is having to spend time helping his Dad.

Come New Year’s Eve, the absorbing tale builds to a dramatic climax with an event – ‘a party between the worlds’ – on the slopes of Mount Norumbega, after which comes a final resolution with Clay having to decide where he, Amos and Elphinore really belong.

A brilliantly clever amalgam of fantasy and the everyday world, equally brilliantly illustrated with Junyi Wu’s black and white pencil art. A book that will leave readers with a feeling of wonderment.

Lenny Lemmon and the Alien Invasion / Cluedle: The Case of the Dumpleton Diamond

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Lenny Lemmon and the Alien Invasion
Ben Davis, illustrated by James Lancett
Nosy Crow

This is the third in the laugh-out-loud series starring Lenny whose daft doings delight younger solo readers. As this book begins, Lenny is complaining of boredom: it’s the school holidays and his two best mates, Sam and Jess are, so he believes, both away enjoying life in distant parts. His Dad meanwhile is busy inventing crazy contraptions that are doomed to fail. Lenny is sent to return something to his Grandma’s ice-cream shop but unexpectedly, he finds that she’s not her usual cheerful self when he arrives. Due to lack of customers, she realises it’s either do something to boost sales or close down the shop for good.

On his way home, Lenny discovers that Sam and his family are not away, indeed they too are worried about lack of customers, to their bookshop in the town. The boys determine not to let these once much loved shops close forever. On go their thinking caps for project SAVE THE TOWN. To boost sales at the local establishments, Sam reluctantly agrees to don a alien costume and participate in a pretend alien invasion; that will surely attract attention.

Inevitably, things don’t go quite to plan. Yes the town is constantly full of tourists but it becomes under intense scrutiny from the media. With business booming who should return to the scene but their other friend. If Sam and Lenny reveal their doings, will it be a case of game over? Sir Percival Hickenbottom representing the Enormomall, certainly wants it so. Time to take him on: the chaos is only just beginning but friendship is key.

Bursting with James Lancett’s’ crazy illustrations, this riotous romp is great for newly confident solo readers or as a class read aloud.

Cluedle: The Case of the Dumpleton Diamond
Hartigan Browne
Macmillan Children’s Books

Murdle has already established itself as hugely popular with adults and now younger readers have the opportunity to get cracking on a case courtesy of the Hartigan Browne Detective Agency. Herein Dave the dog has been pup-napped and it is up to you, the reader as a newly recruited agent, to find out why and who the culprit is. This is the first of many puzzles that will, hopefully, lead you to the discovery of the Dumpleton Diamond.
To get those little grey cells all a-buzz, there’s a variety of puzzling tasks from codes to logic problems, picture puzzles to anagrams – probably something for everyone, including adults who want to stick their noses into the book. You might even want to make solving this case a joint family enterprise. Better that than cheat and look up the answers, which are given at the back of the book.

Shadow Fox

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Shadow Fox
Carlie Sorosiak
Nosy Crow

Set in the harsh environment of secret islands of the Great Lakes in Minnesota, this story is told from the viewpoint of a female fox mysteriously calling herself YAAAARRRRAAAWWWAAAARRR.
Pitifully thin, extremely hungry and cold in the snow, said fox is looking for Nan, only Nan; all other humans she hates but gentle fingered Nan, provider of tasty trout has gone missing. Suddenly a voice calls out, it’s not Nan but a girl wearing one of Nan’s jumpers, who appears to be missing someone too.

Feeling let down by the only human she trusts, the fox teams up with the girl, Beatrice or Bee for short and together they set out to search for Nan and put the world to rights once again. An adventure unfolds, which takes them to a mysterious island and unbeknownst to the fox, she possesses magical powers which the islanders are hoping to tap into. They find themselves battling to preserve the beauty and natural integrity of their surroundings. But can they together work to restore natural harmony; it’s either that or the magic of the place will be forever lost.

Slightly surreal, this is a wondrous fantasy story, at the heart of which is the power of friendship, that will draw you in from the start. It’s beautifully written with quirky details of the intelligent, intuitive fox and a potent sense of place that will ensure that readers pick up the subtle message about the vital need for us all to stop abusing our planet and look after it.

Jack Splash / Stitched Up

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Jack Splash
Tom Daley (with Simon James Green), illustrated by Luna Valentine
Scholastic

Jack, whose parents have separated, lives with his dad and does his best to live up to the sporting expectations he thinks his father, a diving coach, has. To that end he joins the AquaDucks, a diving squad, despite having a fear of drowning and hating heights. he’d much rather be spending his time on his hobby – knitting. Unsurprisingly Jack (the story’s narrator) is the worst member of the diving team but then to his surprise he performs well in an event.

Fortunately for him, a rather unusual boy named Billy joins his year 5 class. Billy, a great swimmer, is more than willing to share some diving tips with Jack. Despite the new boy’s strangeness, Jack takes a liking to him.’He seemed to sparkle – like fun and joy just shone out of him. Maybe he was just what this dull, wet little town needed,’ he tells readers. With Billy as a motivational force, perhaps Jack’s luck is about to change. He certainly has an opportunity to improve his diving and thus please his dad, but more important, through his new friend, he comes to understand what being a member of a team really means. (Supporting fellow team members through their ups and downs is a vital life skill to learn whichever sport a child participates in.)

Then, with the important regionals competition for the AquaDucks looming, Billy is kidnapped.
With the fate of a secret underwater world hanging in the balance, can Jack and the rest of the diving crew save the day? What is the importance of a ring that so many people want to have in their clutches, or rather on a finger?

As Jack discovers, winning a golden trophy is not the most important thing. Being part of a team and giving fellow members a second chance feels a lot like winning. As does being a great friend, and having your dad recognise it. And you never know, some friendships might just last forever.

With themes of friendship, teamwork and perseverance, this wonderful, gently humorous tale with a touch of fantasy, written in collaboration with Simon James Green, is full of really important messages for child readers, not least about standing up to bullying.. Equally, the book would make a terrific read aloud to a KS2 class; make sure you share Luna Valentine’s occasional black and white illustrations. I love the fact that knitting plays an important role in the story.

Also featuring knitting as a pastime:

Stitched Up
Joanne O’Connell
Macmillan Children’s Books

Cassie, the book’s narrator, loves vintage fashion but when she starts at Silverdale High School she makes friends with Azra, who is obsessive about fashion labels. Very quickly she feels under pressure to fit in, which means changing her interests to current trends rather than fashion history. Then, thanks to her neighbour, she joins a local knitting group, The Knitwits. There, in what feels more like a big family set up, she’s able to embrace her passion and be herself, while also keeping up appearances in school. (Anybody who is into knitting will enjoy the knitting element with the descriptions of patterns and stitches, and it may even encourage other readers to embrace a new hobby.)

When Cassie, eco-warrior Fern and Azra are tasked with redesigning the school uniform, Cassie feels conflicted, and finds that she’s having to lead a double life, particularly when Azra begins to ask questions. Torn between proclaiming her new passion and keeping it under wraps, things are far from easy. Can she keep this crazy double life from unravelling entirely?

With vital life lessons about being true to oneself and standing up for your beliefs and what is important to you, this is a story that will appeal to readers slightly below and above Cassie’s age particularly those who enjoy using second-hand clothing shops and believe strongly in upcycling, though the author uses a gently humorous style that never feels preachy.

Uprising

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Uprising
Jennifer A. Nielsen
Scholastic Press

Set in Poland during World War 2, this book is based on the real life story of Lidia Durr – a girl whose life changed irrevocably when the Nazis invaded Poland. Lidia, a talented pianist, is just twelve in September 1939. She and her family went into hiding in their basement when the Nazis began bombing Warsaw as part of their house was smashed by bombs. When the German takeover was complete, Lidia and her family went back to living upstairs but then were forced out as the Germans took the house for themselves. Papa meanwhile has donned his uniform from WWI and gone to fight for Poland.

The Durr family – Lidia, her mother and brother, Ryszard, together with a Jewish woman their former maid, Doda, and Doda’s mother relocate to a tiny apartment adjacent to Warsaw’s Jewish quarter from where, at the mercy of their occupiers, Lidia helplessly watches family, friends, and countless strangers suffer terrible cruelty, starvation and injustice.

With life becoming ever more difficult, Lidia, desperate to fight back, seeks opportunities to play her part. She sneaks food into the ghetto and enrols in an underground school but as she gets older, with Ryszard having joined the resistance, she finds this isn’t enough. Always hoping for liberation, she begins to fear that the world has forgotten Warsaw.

Frustratingly, her brother doesn’t talk about his resistance work so Lidia finds her own ways to increase her participation. She begins by running messages for the resistance but soon becomes a crucial element taking on ever more dangerous assignments. Admitted into the circle of people planning Operation Tempest, Lidia (code name Cello) rapidly rises up the ranks.

This is a powerful story with Polish people who are not Jewish as its main characters that demonstrates just how very dangerous it was to speak out of turn, let alone be a pro-active member of the resistance movement. Lidia survived and was eventually reunited with her mother in Chicago, dying in 2011: her father and brother perished during the war.

Child readers and adults cannot fail to feel in awe of what she and others like her contributed to her country. (Some black and white photographs of Lidia and her family follow the main narrative.)

The Time Machine Next Door: Rule Breakers and Kiwi Keepers / The Time Machine Next Door: Rebellions and Super Boots

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The Time Machine Next Door: Rule Breakers and Kiwi Keepers
The Time Machine Next Door: Rebellions and Super Boots
Iszi Lawrence, illustrated by Rebecca Bagley
Bloomsbury Education

In the first story, having failed at the first fraction in his maths test at school, Sunil runs into the toilets crying. His pretence at being ill results in his being sent home sick from school. Sunil is fed up: no cricket practice for him, insists Dad who asks Aunt Alex – she with the ‘Boring Machine’ – to babysit for the evening. Perhaps things won’t be so bad after all. However Alex refuses to let Sunil dabble with her potentially dangerous time machine. Creating a distraction, the determined boy sneaks next door into her house (although sneaks isn’t quite the right word for her creates a big disturbance with a ladder). Having located the Boring Machine and pressed the ON button, the next thing he knows is rather than going back a little bit to before his maths test as intended, the machine malfunctions and he’s talking to a girl who tells him her name is Rosa.

It’s Rosa Parks who becomes a leader in the civil rights movement in America.

This is only the first of his travels through time in Rule Breakers and Kiwi Keepers. Before the time machine is fixed, Sunil meets a very young Genghis Khan, so Alex tells him on his return; and then a young Lady Elizabeth who, despite what she says to Sunil, becomes the queen of England. All the while Wiki, the kiwi is annoyingly making his presence felt.

In Rebellions and Super Boots, the loss of his lucky T-shirt just as he’s about to go to his cousin’s house to watch the India v South Africa test match sets Sunil off on another crazy adventure whizzing back through time with Alex and the pesky Wiki. Confusingly for Sunil, there’s another Alex in this book who, except for her metal Doc Marten boots, looks exactly like his neighbour. Apparently she’s Alex-from-the-future. What begins as a search for Sunil’s T-shirt quickly turns into a visit to Roman Britain circa 31CE (time to polish up your Latin perhaps?) where Sunil is instrumental in saving the life of Caractacus but is in Alex’s bad books for being responsible for the loss of her Talk Torc.

Two further forays into the past see Sunil oddly clad in underwear and shirt delivering a message supposedly from Lord Stanley to the King, and trying to get back Alex’s Talk Torc. His third time trip takes him to the 17th century when he has to contend with a witch trial of his own. I learned a new word in that episode – pilgarlick. You’ll need to get a copy of the book to discover its meaning.
All’s well that ends well with Sunil back in the present concluding that he can cope with life without his lucky T-shirt.

Quirky assuredly but Iszi Lawrence’s fun books offer insights into many aspects of history that young readers can then delve further into. The time machine might be powered by boredom but children certainly won’t be bored by Sunil’s forays into the past amusingly illustrated by Rebecca Bagley.

For lower KS2 classrooms and home collections.

When the Wild Calls

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When the Wild Calls
Nicola Penfold
Little Tiger

In this powerful sequel to Nicola Penfold’s Where the World Turns Wild we join Juniper and her brother Bear in a raw and incredibly thought-provoking dystopian adventure that sees them (against their father’s wishes), returning from their new home in Ennerdale where they live with their Dad, his new partner, Willow, and their baby, Fern, to the city. They feel driven by the thought that
their beloved grandmother, Annie-Rose, and friend, Etienne, are still in the city where disease is fast spreading.

Juniper is determined to rescue them and bring them to safety, and at the same time, bring hope to the ever more barren city, a place where there are signs that the iron-fisted control of ruthless leader, President Steel, is starting to weaken. However, the possibility of insurgence by a group called the Polecats has made the authorities more aggressive. Determined to fight for freedom, Etienne who has participated in the disease trial, finds himself in extreme peril and in need of rescue from more than the city itself.

The story unfolds through the increasingly anxious voices of Juniper and Etienne who speak in alternating chapters enabling readers to see what is happening both in the Wild and in the city alongside each other. Both show enormous courage and strength of character as they give their all to what they believe in, and fight for those they love.

The threat of disease, vaccine trials, restrictions on normal life and fear of strangers will remind many readers of our own recent pandemic though Nicola tells us that her story was written prior to COVID. It’s a story from which the author’s love of the natural world shines out as she describes vast landscapes and the minutiae thereof; a story that holds powerful messages about the vital importance of caring for nature. A wonderful read and a call on us all to play our part in helping our precious natural world.

Puppet

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Puppet
David Almond, illustrated by Lizzy Stewart
Walker Books

David Almond’s sublimely written poignant fable, with Lizzy Stewart’s impressive illustrations will really pull at your heartstrings.

Silvester is a widowed puppet maker; together with his wife, Belinda, he gained a reputation for creating some of the most beautiful puppets and shows in the area. As a result, the local museum wants to exhibit the subjects of his work and a young woman, Louise from the university wants to write a short history of his creations to be offered for sale when the exhibition opens. All he has left are his memories, posters, and photographs of his beloved Belinda.

So what can a puppet master do when he’s old and alone? Pondering this question, Silvester feels strangely free. Days pass and one night, awaking from his dreams, the attic seems to call to him. Up he climbs, sits at his workbench and fashions a new puppet. Then comes, “E-O.” That’s the first sound the puppet makes: Silvester thinks he’s imagining it. Next morning he tries to get the puppet to stand; it’s a tough call but eventually he succeeds. “Hello, Puppet,” says Silvester. “E-O” comes the reply.

Puppet is a quick learner, he walks and it’s not long before the old man has found a firm place in his affections for his creation. They visit the park together and there they meet a rather unusual girl named Fleur and her mum, Antonia. The latter remembers some of Silvester’s magical shows from her childhood. The puppet becomes known in the local community as Kenneth and soon Fleur becomes Silvester’s ‘apprentice’, learning how to create and use puppets.

This eventually leads up to a public performance – but all the while, Silvester has been growing more and more tired. With the show over and everything cleared away, telling his friends, he’s seldom been happier, the old man heads home with Puppet and they lie down to sleep together. “Jam,” whispers Puppet the next morning … “Da- ad” but … . I had tears in my eyes at this point, such was the emotion I’d built up inside.

With his wondrous tale of creativity, playfulness and the circle of life, David Almond shows that with trust, love and the power of the imagination, anything is possible. Share it with a class: the children will be swept away by the magic of the telling, as will individual readers.

A Spy in the Jam Factory / The Deadlands: Survival

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These are both the concluding books in series from Walker Books: thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

A Spy in the Jam Factory
Chrissie Sains, illustrated by Jenny Taylor

When, thanks to a spate of local newspaper articles, the jam factory (Willow Green villagers’ pride and joy) comes under surveillance by the Alien Intelligence Agency, its intention is to find a reason to evict Fizzbee from Earth. Yes, there have been several mishaps of late: giant green vegetables running wild, burglaries and worst of all, children floating in the air after consuming figgy jam thanks to one of Fizzbee’s alien ingredients getting a tad out of control but Fizzbee’s reputation is a rock bottom. Scooter and his pals decide it’s time for Operation Make Fizzbee Look Good to dispel the fears of the village residents. There’s a big problem however in the form of Agent Fleur De Vious, the only spy in the Alien Intelligence Agency. She believes Earth should be alien-free and is determined to get the agency’s director to sign an eviction notice for Fizzbee.

Off she sets aided and abetted by Bottie the inept little spaceship. She certainly appears to be making headway when she starts using subterfuge.

Will Scooter, the boy with a wealth of determination and creativity, be able to stop her in time?

There’s a surprise twist at the end as well as a vital message for every one – characters and readers – from Fizzbee: “Some humans find difference scary. But differences should be celebrated, not feared.”
Many readers will be sad to learn that Chrissie Sains and Jenny Taylor’s fourth book in the Jam Factory series featuring expert inventors of wondrous jams, Scooter and his alien sidekick Fizzbee is the final one. So too was this reviewer, despite the satisfying ending.

The Deadlands: Survival
Skye Melki-Wegner

In this thrilling finale to the cracking trilogy, at the heart of which are five outcasts, former enemies, who are the only hope to save their warring dinosaur kingdoms from impending doom, author Melki-Wegner reassembles her all-dinosaur cast for a furious, climactic battle.
With a massive army to face, frenzied fights, treachery from supposed allies, ambushes, as well as betrayals, narrow squeaks, and courageous exploits the action races towards a climax that is spent against an enormous inferno and a deluge. Through all the trials, the trust Eleri et al have in one another provides a powerful support and the battle’s momentous outcome depends on loyalties and holding fast to their honourable ideals and values.
A showstopping conclusion to the adventures of the intrepid heroes that have kept many older readers, especially danger-loving ones, gripped.

Secrets of the Snakestone

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Secrets of the Snakestone
Piu DasGupta
Nosy Crow


Set above and below the Parisian streets towards the end of the nineteenth century, this utterly compelling story forced me to set aside my recently purchased adult novel in order to finish reading Snakestone in bed.

A cursed gemstone, a dark secret society – the Brotherhood of Blood, a circus full of vibrant characters, and a baby sloth, all this in a city where Zélie Dutta, a young girl from Calcutta, hopes to find her missing father and solve the mystery of why she was so suddenly taken out of school and sent to Paris. (The story of owing the Malaises money somehow doesn’t ring true, she knows there is more to it than that). Providing the lens through which we see the city – a place of innovation, decadence, and also great poverty – Zélie, our intrepid narrator, works as a lady’s maid with the formidable Madame Malaise. Because the girl’s eyes don’t match, the other servants in the house see her as a witch and are ready to blame whatever goes wrong in the household on her.

The second key character is Jules, a young boy working in the sewers, who has found a golden locket belonging to Zélie’s father. Suddenly emerging from a sewer, unaware of the way his life is about to turn, Jules – unwillingly to begin with – is drawn into Zélie’s adventures and plays an invaluable part henceforward. They make a brilliant team with the girl’s resourcefulness, determination and willingness to go to any lengths to help those she loves, not to mention her affirming pep talks that she sometimes gives herself, combined with the boy’s careful and considered attitude to things.

Full of mystery and adventure with themes of family, friendship and trust, along with the important lesson of not making hasty judgements about people, and the weaving into her story, real historical elements and allusions to colonisation, this is a great and unforgettable read for older primary children and beyond.

Bringing Back Kay-Kay

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Bringing Back Kay-Kay
Dev Kothari
Walker Books

When Lena’s older brother Kay-Kay fails to return from summer camp in Goa, despite rather enjoying feeling a bit special at home for a change in his absence, Lena knows she must find him. His parents are grief-stricken but believe that the police, who think he’s run away, are doing everything they can. His friends say they don’t know why he disappeared from the train back to Lamora but, convinced that Kay-Kay would never run away, Lena suspects that one, Samir, who also went to Wildlife Adventures camp, knows more than he is letting on.

Devastated by the idea of living without her brother and finding her parents’ pain unbearable, she decides to embark on a mission to investigate, with the aim of locating Kay-Kay and bringing him home. ‘Without you, Kay-Kay, there’s no sun, no warmth, no light. I will find you – my brother, my friend. I will find you and bring you back,’ she says. Looking for clues in his room, she discovers that Kay-Kay has been keeping part of himself hidden from the family – his secret dreams and his fears of not living up to parental expectations; these he reveals in his powerful, heartfelt poetry.

Determinedly retracing his journey across India, she meticulously begins to reassemble clues leading to his disappearance. Can she find Kay-Kay and save him before it’s too late?

This mystery set in contemporary India grips the reader from the start. Written from Lena’s view point, it’s frequently gut-wrenchingly moving, especially when she addresses her thoughts to her brother. A terrific debut that pays tribute to the power of sibling bonds especially in desperate situations as well as showing that the creative arts are every bit as valuable as engineering and medicine, subjects that in common with so many Indian parents, are favoured by Kay-Kay’s parents.

The Lighthouse at the World’s End

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The Lighthouse at the World’s End
Amy Sparkes
Walker Books

Nine (a pickpocket girl) and her friends, Eric the troll, and wizard Flabberghast are back for their final adventure. They have to head back to the mortal realm to find a priceless lost stargold locket, a family heirloom that is hidden in the Nest of a Thousand Treasures. Not only that but if she’s successful, Nine must then find a way to release its power once and for all.

Desirous to get hold of the very same object and also residing in the House at the Edge of Magic is the most troublesome witch in all the realms, Flabberghast’s sister. Said witch has some connection to Nine, and may have the answers to some of her questions.

Despite the very idea of returning to the place guarded by her old foe Pockets, the formidable gang master of all the London thieflings, making Nine feel sick, off they go. The adventure is filled with threats, there are dangers aplenty including a close call for Flabberghast, and as the oft repeated words remind us ‘things are seldom what they seem’.

Amy Sparkes has a wonderful way of making her readers feel they are truly part of Nine’s journey, a chronicle about developing a sense of belonging, about the importance of friendship, about one’s family being what you make, rather than those you are related to, and about redemption and embracing differences. Like many others who first met Nine in The House at the Edge of Magic, despite the throughly satisfying finale to the quartet, this reviewer feels sad about bidding farewell to her and her friends.

Kevin the Vampire: A Wild and Wicked Witch / Goosebumps House of Shivers: Goblin Monday

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Kevin the Vampire: A Wild and Wicked Witch
Matt Brown, illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino
Nosy Crow

In this sequel to A Most Mysterious Monster Kevin (almost eleven) and his family, plus human best friend Susie Cabbage who now lives with them, and the Carnival Monstromo carriages are heading to Monstro City to take part in the Dragon Parade. Reluctantly, Susie is clad in an exceedingly itchy, scratchy dress.

As they are running late, Kevin’s family take a shortcut through the perilous Wild Woods, a place nobody ever goes on account of the dastardly witch who lives there. Everything should be fine as long as no one gets out and no one eats anything … err? Kevin will be at the Festival before you can say incredible (which Susie does) After all, nothing goes wrong for the Carnival Monstromo, never ever …
With the performing of awesome tricks including the Danger Dive of Death, revelations relating to Uncle Drax’s falling out with Lazarus Vandross, the disappearance of Dog, some serious sadness for Susie,

and aided and abetted by The Sphinx, the fizzling out of Grayvon Fury, the most evil witch in Grackelser Odd, this is a real humdinger of an adventure. Those familiar with the first book will recognise some of the magical monstrous creatures from that, but Matt Brown has invented some additional characters, mostly of the humorous, even slightly bonkers variety. All this plus Flavia Sorrentino’s weird and wonderful illustrations: primary age readers could ask for nothing more.

Goosebumps House of Shivers: Goblin Monday
R.L. Shine
Scholastic

This story is narrated by Mario who has recently moved with his family from Florida to Philadelphia. He’s been invited to join his new friends Todd and Jewel on their winter holiday at their grandparents’ home in Vermont and is thrilled at the prospect of seeing snow for the first time.

Pretty soon after they arrive, Mario starts to suspect that something really weird is going on inside this house. Todd and Jewel’s grandparents are more than a little odd: Grandpa Tweety really loves his birds and in the evenings tells tales about goblins, gremlins and imps; he’s also written books about them. MomMom loves to make stews and she knits strange green outfits. However, the real terrors begin when Mario finds that the fairy tales may not be made up stories after all. He’s attacked by a creature in the garden and his friends’ parents disappear.

Full of twists and turns, it’s all a bit creepy and anyone prone to nightmares is advised not to read this just before bedtime.

The Magician Next Door

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The Magician Next Door
Rachel Chivers Khoo, illustrated by Alice McKinley
Walker Books

Callie and her father have moved out of London to a mountainous area of Northern Ireland; she feels far away from her friends and her memories too. One night sleepless and struggling to settle into her new life, as she stares out of her window there comes a loud BOOM! An upside-down house has appeared in her back garden. Next morning no house is there, so despite the large crater on the lawn as well as a piece of tile, she decides it must have been a dream. Then the boy from across the fields appears and he knows her name as she does his; Sam believes what she says about the previous night’s strange occurrence but Carrie remains unconvinced until that is, some weeks later she finds a mysterious paper aeroplane on her duvet on which is a message from Winnifred Potts, a magician from the strange house who is urgently asking for her help.

Carrie meets her at midnight and learns that Winnifred’s Wanderlust, the adventure magic that protects her house from attack by magical beings is lost and she begs Carrie to go and bring it back.
Can Callie and her new friend, Sam, who has hidden himself away and overheard the conversation, provide the help Winnifred and her house need?

Not only that but will she be able to transcend the overwhelming sense of loss she feels after her mother’s untimely death and her homesickness for her London community? With the help of new friends and different experiences, can she find hope for her life in the future?

With a sprinkling of Irish folklore, some great characters, and lots of sensitivity, Rachel Chivers Khoo has written a wonderful tale of magic and mayhem, with a vital message about the true meaning of home. To add to its spellbinding nature are liberal scatterings of Alice McKinley’s delightfully quirky black- and-white illustrations. A great read for children from Y2 and beyond.

Girl on the Fly

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Girl on the Fly
Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl
David Fickling Books

The story begins in April 1992 Philadelphia when Kamaria (Kam) and her relay team mates, Luce, Alexis and Neeka have just finished their practising for the day. Determined to win the upcoming championships, the regional and then the big state one, Kam has decided that the team needs something special: a chant maybe that will ensure the team all pull together – and who should write it, she should of course.

Now Kam is a girl who finds change difficult to cope with so when she’s told that her Aunt Rose from Tanzania, who is going through a hard time, has been invited to stay, she isn’t happy. With all the intense running practice, plus school work as well as the fact that she and her best friend, Odie, have stopped talking though she’s not sure why, it seems to Kam that this is just too much to handle all at once. How will she be able to concentrate on anything with her mind in a turmoil and an aunt she’s never met before, sharing her room?

However, largely thanks to Aunt Rose, who tells lots of stories, shares her beautiful kangas and their meanings, cooks delicious meals and offers carefully considered advice, – ‘To hear what is around us is very, very important. To hear what is inside us, maybe more so’ – Kam changes, becoming more placid. It’s not just Kam however, who is affected by Aunt Rose’s four week visit; she has a positive impact on Kam’s Momma and Baba too. She certainly made this reviewer’s heart soar and go ‘boom, boom, boom, boom’ and like myself, readers will find themselves rooting for Kam from the outset of this wonderfully heart-warming story.

The Girl Who Wasn’t There

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The Girl Who Wasn’t There
Jacqueline Wilson
Puffin Books

When Dad drives Luna (nearly eleven), her younger sister Aurora (almost six) and their Mum to the foot of a hill and stops the car, everyone is amazed at the tower perched atop the hill. “It’s like Rapunzel’s tower!” comments Luna. But then Dad announces that it’s to be their new home, their shocked Mum thinks he’s joking. Not so. Having lost his restaurant, Dad has somewhat recklessly bought this crumbling/tumbledown building at a bargain price and to say it needs some work done on it before they can move in is putting it mildly.

With the room at the very top strictly out of bounds, it’s anything but the ‘happily ever after’ fairytale abode Aurora imagined. However Dad promises Luna that they can have a puppy. despite the fact that temporarily they are going to have to live in a caravan. The following weekend he takes the family out to lunch to meet an elderly couple, the Stanleys, who have a pup – Molly – but are finding it too lively. They agree that a new home with Luna and her family is the ideal solution.

As someone who frequently gets her own way, Aurora has never been to school before, though thanks to her big sister, she can read and write well. However at the end of the summer there’s no choice, go to school Aurora must. Unlike her sister who is quick to make friends, Aurora decides that she hates her classmates and prefers the company of Tansy, an imaginary friend. Luna meanwhile worries that Mum and Dad might split up with so little real progress being made on their new home even though Dad now has the help of two new friends. She’s also concerned about her status in the family – is she truly a part of it when Dad isn’t her birth father?

As time passes, Aurora’s make-believe life becomes problematic for all the family, particularly as she insists Tansy is real. Could she perhaps be a ghost? And is there a curse on the tower? If so, can Luna be the one to break it?


I was fortunate that on the day this arrived it was the only book delivered so I was able to indulge myself and read right through to the end. It’s a wonderful mix of magic, the power of the imagination, family life, human resilience and love.

One of my relations, Emmanuelle an avid reader in Y6 was keen to read the book and review it: here’s what she wrote:
Jaqueline Wilson’s new book is a beautifully-written story complimented by delightful illustrations from Rachel Dean.
This book is perfect for anyone struggling with change or anyone finding it hard to be an elder sibling. They will be able to relate to Luna, the main character, who has to adapt to moving to live in an unfamiliar place and, on top of that, has a sister who she occasionally finds hard to deal with.

For fans of fairytales, there is an allusion to the story of Rapunzel because the main character is a girl with blonde hair who moves to live in a tower.
In my opinion, surprisingly, the title does not link to the main theme of the story. I think the theme of the story is Luna’s journey in adapting to a new house, a new school, a new life, whereas the title links to the fact that Luna’s little sister, Aurora, has an imaginary friend who actually used to live in the same tower that they own now.
Because of its cliffhanger ending, I think this book begs for a sequel. The final enigma leaves the reader hungry for more.

Skylar and the K-Pop Headteacher

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Skylar and the K-Pop Headteacher
Luan Goldie
Walker Books

Skylar and her best friend, Dana, are obsessed with K-Pop, in particular AZ8, but when they’re about to launch a video comeback, her parents ban her from anything to do with the group for a whole week. During the lunch break at school as she’s telling Dana, a furious Skylar grabs her light-up dancing bunny ears from her rucksack and dashes off. But she forgets to remove the hat as she sets off to her next class and encounters the head teacher, Ms Callus who shouts at her and confiscates the precious hat.

Later she makes an excuse, leaves the classroom and confronts Ms Callus. Having grabbed her hat back, Skylar declares that she’s fed up with grown-ups telling her how to live her life. “I wish I was in charge,” she says twice. With that something weird starts happening: green lights flash and Skylar and Ms Callus swap bodies. Skylar is now the 71 year-old, mega-strict headteacher with a new role to try and get used to. When she turns to Dana for advice about what she needs to learn the response is.”something to do with empathy and walking in the other person’s shoes.” But how long will Skylar be like this, neither girl knows, certainly longer that the day and night they first thought.

Alongside this AZ8 announce they’re holding a competition and anyone who goes viral with their version of the ‘Hot Feet’ dance routine will win free tickets to their upcoming gig, and there’s an emergency inspection of the school to contend with. Chaos indeed.

Is it even possible that Skylar and Ms Callus can develop empathy towards one another and their lives, and if so can it be done in time for the weekend gig? It does’t help that Skylar has upset her bestie and the two have fallen out. And what about the inspectors; will they like what they see? Will Skylar repair the rift with Dana?

With lots of laugh-out-loud moments, this is a hilarious tale, at the heart of which is the importance of seeing things from another person’s viewpoint, friendship, self-belief and being true to yourself. Older KS2 readers will love it.

Rex Dinosaur in Disguise: Undercover Alien

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Rex Dinosaur in Disguise: Undercover Alien
Elys Dolan
Walker Books

Life is going well for dinosaur Rex, now a P.E. teacher, but then he upsets a human participant over a decision he makes at a competition. This is soon followed by the disappearance of every single one of the guinea pigs … ‘Ninny pig(s)’ … ‘Grumpy pig(s)’ … ‘Gwent squid(s)’ from the school pet show as a result of an accident when Rex was trying to be helpful; you can guess who gets the blame.

With the anti- monster humans determined to prove him guilty and Rex (undercover) and his friends Sandra, Anish and Bigfoot determined to prove his innocence by solving the case of the missing guinea pigs, this mission is not going to be a walk in the park, especially as it soon transpires that further guinea pig vanishings are happening all over the city. The crux of the matter is discovering who really is to blame, first stop a meeting with mayor, Jimmy Prigg: a surprise revelation awaits. The next stop is for coffee …

There follow further encounters with disguised creatures, a daring intergalactic undertaking and fyet more wild adventuring back on Earth.

Like this reviewer, I’m sure child readers will laugh out loud all through this crazy caper with its hilarious dialogue, fantastic illustrations and chapter headings such as BUM CRAC (you’ll need the book to work that one out). Let’s hope there’s a third story in the offing soon.

Tourmaline and the Museum of Marvels / The Rock

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Tourmaline and the Museum of Marvels
Ruth Lauren
Little Tiger

Since falling into the Source of all magic on the island of Elsewhere during a mission to rescue her mother, Tourmaline has developed magical powers that are almost uncontrollable, the result being chaos. Her powers are virtually impossible to hide from others though her loyal buddies George and Maia are well aware of her plight.

When Tourmaline unexpectedly receives a postcard addressed to her, offering answers she heads off by airship, despite her friends’ reservations, to the market rendezvous mentioned on the card – the Dark Market – so the Living Archive informs her. She’s accompanied by Mai, her Mum Persephone and George, who stows away..

So begins a mysterious new adventure for Tourmaline, one wherein she finds it hard to know whom to trust, that sees her visiting incredible places where she receives further postcards, has some surprising and unexpected encounters, takes huge risks and makes astounding discoveries.
The final chapter of this thrilling fantasy neatly sets things up for the next book in the series due to be published early in 2025. I eagerly anticipate it.

The Rock
Ann Bryant, illustrated by Josephine Birch
Graffeg

Twins, twelve year old Finola and Zane and their mum from planet Sevent, have crash-landed on Earth. Eager to be reunited with Dad, they have begun to search but after several months they’ve heard nothing other than the telepathic message Mum received when first they arrived. The twins know they have to keep themselves out of sight from prying eyes. Mum has found a job in hospitality, and now the twins’ desire to stop hiding from everyone is becoming overwhelming, especially when Zane reveals that he’s received two cryptic messages – pictures of a rock – from Dad. On hearing what the children want to do, Mum says they must sleep on it, but that night on the news is an announcement from a scientific research company offering the ‘alien family’ 250,000 euros to participate in their ‘research programme’ and the same sum to anyone with information about the whereabouts of the ‘aliens’.

Next morning, an anxious Mum gives her blessing to the twins, now disguised, to teleport themselves to Albrigart, a rocky place with a conservation park. No matter what they do or where they go, it seems that eyes are on their every move. Can anybody at all be trusted?

Eventually Zane decides they should to go back to the flat but they become separated. With her energy depleted Finola finds herself alone, left to her own devices to return to Mum and Zane. Once reunited, the three talk and conclude that thus far, as Finola puts it, they only have one truth: “We want to find Dad and he wants to find us.”

As the book ends they know nothing of what the future holds but are sure that no matter what, they’ll undertake things as a team. This cliffhanger leaves the way open for the search to continue.
I suspect that like myself, child readers will be eager to discover if the family is finally reunited.

Pirates of Darksea / Interdimensional Explorers: Alien Apocalypse

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Pirates of Darksea
Catherine Doyle
Bloomsbury Children’s Books

One night Christopher writes a letter to Captain O’Malley, legendary pirate and ruler of Darksea, a secret kingdom deep in the Atlantic Ocean, begging for adventure for himself and his younger brother Max, but he receives no response. Two years later a parrot appears at Max’s bedroom window with a letter for Christopher – a letter from Captain O’Malley who is to embark on a perilous quest. But Christopher is now ill in hospital fighting for his life. What would you do if there was a possibility of a job with a reward that could help cure your brother? Max joins the parrot in a rowing boat heading for a rendezvous on the Stolen Sunrise.

Imagine the boy’s surprise when he discovers that the captain is a Pirate Queen. She offers him a deal if he’s willing to take the risk and join the crew right away, destination Darksea before the ‘Rogue Wave’ a powerful enemy comes. Of course, Max agrees. However it turns out that the Captain hasn’t told him the whole truth: the magic has dwindled drastically, this monstrous enemy is gobbling up the Darksea island of Maremaris, and the Captain needs a particular sword – the Curse Cutter. A bargain is struck: if Max helps the Captain acquire the sword, he can take some magic for his brother. A perilous task awaits.

What follows is a gripping adventure with mutiny, wraiths, fleeing mermaids and a monstrous shark man. Max’s bravery and love for his brother is the fuel that keeps him going as he faces at times, seemingly impossible challenges. After all he puts himself through though, is it even possible to save his Christopher? I just couldn’t put this down until I found out and I suspect many child readers will do the same. I love how Catherine Doyle ( a new writer to me) weaves humour and the importance of camaraderie into this thoughtful tale; the characters she’s created – human and otherwise – are truly memorable.

Interdimensional Explorers: Alien Apocalypse
Lorraine Gregory, illustrated by Jo Lindley
Farshore

At the start of this second adventure Danny’s Grandad does two things: he announces that he’s going on a cruise with Maureen, his ‘fancy woman’ as Danny’s Mum calls her. He also hands Danny a small package containing a key that means he’s now an official Apprentice Caretaker of the secret Interdimensional Lost Property Office.

Off goes Grandad leaving Danny, his best friend Modge and cousin Inaaya to cope with Returns Day in his absence. Very soon they discover that a very special star has been stolen from the vaults, it’s up to Danny and his team to expose a conspiracy and hopefully, save the whole universe. To do so they have to contend with Goregotha hordes and weird cult members: are they up to it? And who can be trusted? As this quirky intergalactic adventure twists and turns it will surely keep readers riveted as they are sucked into the fantastic world that Lorraine Gregory has created and Jo Lindley illustrated. What I enjoyed most though, was the strong bond between Danny, Inaaya and Modge who have each others’ backs no matter what.
Highly recommended.

Lola and Larch : Fix a Fairy Forest

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Lola and Larch : Fix a Fairy Forest
Sinéad O’Hart, illustrated by Rachel Seago
Nosy Crow

Lola’s mum is a forest ranger and during the working day she and her little brother Noah are often looked after my Grandma. One stormy night on the way home from Gran’s in Mum’s car, something causes Mum to brake suddenly, something that looks like a rabbit but has a kind of shine to it. They take the little thing home to care for it overnight and the following morning the rabbit isn’t in the cage, instead there’s a tiny fairy wearing a rainbow pendant … a tree fairy, albeit with mixed up magic, and she urgently wants to get back home. This sometimes rabbit, sometimes fairy tells Lola that she’s called Larch Mugwort, she’s lost and must protect the other fairies from Euphorbia Spurge, the “baddest fairy in the forest”. Larch is also a bit of a rebel and having seen a strange dark thing the previous night in the forest, suspects it’s something malevolent to do with Euphorbia. Meanwhile Lola’s mum has started putting up ‘FOUND’ posters of a rabbit in the hope of finding Larch’s owner.

Next day Lola takes Larch to school in her bag and it will come as no surprise that at her teacher’s behest, Lola’s Gran comes and collects the creature; the problem is she arrives with a strange woman who claims that Larch belongs to her.

Lola has to think quickly to avoid having to give up Larch and once they’re back at Gran’s, Larch tells Lola that the stranger was in fact Euphorbia Spurge.

There follows a lot of shape changing, the marching of a beetle army, a pitting of wits, a coming together of fairies, a confrontation between Euphorbia and King Ash (Larch’s father) and more. However all ends satisfyingly with a declaration by Larch about being different and a final picnic.

With friendship and magic aplenty, this is funny, sweet and a great start to a new series for younger readers. Rachel Seago’s plentiful black and white illustrations are a quirky delight and help break up the text for the less confident. Anyone for pancakes?

Fairy vs Wizard

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Fairy vs. Wizard
Jenny McLachlan
Farshore

Eleven year old Danny, has just started at a new school and, so he writes in his diary, he’s desperate for people there to think he’s cool and funny. The problem is that when he opens his lunch box what does he discover inside but fairy, Stink. She says she’s returned to the Humanyworld for a short break and will go home the following day.She does so but only briefly; next day when Danny returns from school there she is sitting on his bed crying. Danny decides to let her stay till the weekend and so begins another spectacularly silly story.

With an agreement by Stink to keep three simple rules, off go Danny, his friend Kabir and Stink to school next morning and almost immediately on arrival Stink breaks one of the rules causing embarrassment to Danny. Then comes news from Danny’s teacher, Miss Nichol, that his form group is to do an assembly and she has written a play for them to perform. It’s called Nelly the Element and the Wizard of Doom and everybody wants to be the wizard.

However a Stink initiated disaster happens in a different assembly and Danny gets labelled as Disco Danny by his classmates, as well as a lot of others when a video of his dance goes viral. As compensation, Miss Nicol tells Danny he’s to play the wizard and by so doing earn a new title, Danny the Wizard. Then comes an announcement from Stink: her good deed is to invite her wizard friend Rufus Nobeard, to come and give Danny wizarding lessons.

With the revelation that Rufus has changed, and on account of crimes committed is now a wanted wizard, things get increasingly chaotic. (I won’t spoil things and reveal what happens thereafter.) Amazingly though, everything ends happily, but I hope, not, ever after, as the series is such fun. I found myself giggling at every turn of the page and so will primary school readers of this second hilarious book of daft diary entries liberally sprinkled with author Jenny’s comical black and white illustrations.

Yesterday Crumb and the Tea Witch’s Secret

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Yesterday Crumb and the Tea Witch’s Secret
Andy Sagar
Orion


This third instalment of Andy’s series is every bit as full of enchantment as the previous adventures starring apprentice tea witch Yesterday (Essie), Miss Dumpling et al. As the story starts, Yesterday and her best buddy, confectionary witch Jack, are together in the tearoom and Jack is testing his latest product, Gravitational Gumdrops on himself. Yesterday’s delight at Jack’s success however, is quickly replaced by renewed concerns about her evil stepfather, Mr Weep’s unknown reasons for restoring Jack to life; she feels certain it will have undesirable consequences for both of them.


Suddenly as she’s pondering this, a not-badger arrives with a letter for her. It’s from her mother, Nuala Quirk. Having located her whereabouts and paid her a visit, Yesterday, somewhat unsure her mother is to be trusted, is more determined than ever to put a final stop to Weep’s evil intentions, so she calls on her fellow tea witches for help. However the Lord of the Dead is already a step ahead as, one by one her potential allies become victims of a strange flower that turns their hearts cold and sets them against one another. War is surely brewing.


Now in her greatest challenge yet, Yesterday must work out a way to defeat the malevolent flowers, prevent Mr Weep from executing his wicked plans and finally end his dark reign. And her mother: what will be her fate?


Along I suspect, with a considerable number of adult reviewers, and countless child readers, I have loved the opportunities to escape into the superbly crafted magical world of possibilities that is Dwimmerly End, watch Yesterday find there a host of wonderful friends and with determination, grow through some decidedly dark events, towards reaching her full potential.

What a superbly satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I will truly miss the eccentric characters with their quirks and know that in the near future I will go back, sit with a mug of hot chocolate and relish all over again, the previous stories.

Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery

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Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery
Laura Ellen Anderson
Farshore

Having loved both of Laura’s Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey series, I was probably predisposed to like this, the first in her magical new series set in a world of minibeasts. It most certainly lives up to my expectations.

Meet Marnie Midnight; she’s just metamorphosed into a moth and is mega excited about going to Minibeast Academy for the first time, especially as her hero, Lunora Wingheart is, or possibly was, an alumna. On the journey to school she meets not quite a bee, Floyd (an A not a bee, so he tells Marnie). Marnie is eager to learn about the moon and especially the moon magic in the book of Moon Spells that Lunora told the world about before her disappearance.

However when she asks her form teacher, Mr Atlas, whether the moon is in the first year curriculum she receives the response. “There will be no talk of the moon in this school.” She soon finds that other teachers and many pupils don’t believe in moon magic. Why? Marnie wonders.

Another of the first year pupils is Star Vonstrosity, an ant princess who snubs Marnie initially. During their lunch break while Marnie and Floyd are exploring, they come upon first an old tunnel entrance with the words ‘Entry For Den’ and then a no-longer used area with a sign saying Moon Club on the door. When they enter, there is Star and a new friendship develops.

Very soon Marnie senses that something extremely weird is going on and she’s determined to discover what. With her two allies, Marnie begins a thrilling quest, a quest that before long, leads them to a realisation that Mr Atlas has destructive plans where the moon is concerned. Can the three friends pull off Operation save the moon?

This is a fast moving story told with humour (“Never trust an earthworm with a jetpack” is a line I won’t forget), a degree of tension, and lots of charm. With her unique imagination Laura has created another fabulous world with a cast of wonderful characters: Marnie is determined, brave, loyal and not afraid to say what she thinks; Star is full of surprises and Floyd a dapper delight. The illustrations are brilliant with lots of fun details. Seamlessly woven into this wonderful world are real life minibeast details and facts. What more can any young reader want? A happy ending maybe – we have that too.

Feather

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Feather
M. G. Leonard
Walker Books

This is the fourth and final book in what has been an absolutely brilliant series, a series that celebrates friendship, bird watching and the natural world. Herein the Twitchers find themselves
on the trail of a gang of ruthless rare artefact thieves as well as protecting somebody who may have been involved in the crime.

The story begins when Ava is on an end of term class visit to the Swan natural history museum. An alarm sounds and hearing a rustling, she delays leaving and by chance is present when, what turns out to be a daring and well-executed robbery of rare, vintage bird ‘skins’ takes place. Who would want such things – a fashion designer perhaps?

Once outside the museum she encounters an unusual girl with a pet raven waiting at the bus stop opposite. Does she know anything, Ava wonders. With the school trip suddenly curtailed, and a possible clue in her bag, rather than going back home early, she messages her friends and she decides to head off to Briddvale and seek the help of the other Twitchers. Needless to say, the Twitchers are immediately onto this, especially as it involves rare avian specimens of historical importance.

Ava takes the lead in this adventure and some of her actions are exceedingly risky, especially as she is soon as anxious to help Rae (the bus stop girl), who is clearly in need, as she is to get to the bottom of the feather heist, though the two strands are intertwined.

M. G. Leonard includes an amazing amount of detail about bird species and the history of scientists such as Wallace and Darwin; and she clearly respects her audience showing rather than telling lots of the story. Inspired by a true crime, this tension-filled mystery is a superb conclusion to the seasonal quartet and perfect for deep thinking nature-loving readers.

Yomi and the Power of the Yumboes / Mirabelle and the Midnight Feast

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Yomi and the Power of the Yumboes
Davina Tijani, illustrated by Adam Douglas-Bagley
Little Tiger

Starring Yomi and her younger brother, Kayode, this is the second in an exciting series that is based on African mythology. The siblings, now in Senegal, are officially members of the Sacred Beast League and Yomi is getting bored with sorting her uncle’s paperwork; what she wants to be doing is having another adventure, one that involves finding a Yumboe, the most powerful of African fairies so Uncle Olu’s Beast Atlas says. When she asks her uncle about them he tells the siblings that although the SLB has been looking for these fairies for years none have been found although the Beast Hunters are always on the watch for them.

That night Yomi is woken by a sound coming from the kitchen. Down she goes to investigate and there before her is a Yumboe sampling the contents of the fridge. The little fairy has a damaged wing. She introduces herself as Safari and tells Yomi that she’s been looking for her and needs Yomi’s help in protecting the Yumboes’ secret city from the destructive Beast Hunters.She also says she’s on a mission to find the Yumboes’ most treasured possession, a moonstone, and that nobody else knows she’s asking humans for help.This is just the kind of adventure Yomi has been waiting for so she promises that she and Kay will do their utmost to help. And so they do. But can they possibly outsmart the Beast Hunters? They’ll most definitely need to make use of all their skills, not to mention some special silver energy from that wonderful silver star.

Having faced perils aplenty, this thrilling, fast paced quest with Adam Douglas-Bagley’s powerful illustrations, ends in a way that sets things up for Yomi and Kay’s next mission: South Africa here they come. Bring on some more fascinating African folklore.
For slightly younger readers is

Mirabelle and the Midnight Feast
Harriet Muncasater
Oxford Children’s Books

In this story starring the young narrator with a witch mum and a dad who is a fairy, Mirabelle, is excited that she’s going to be spending time in a witchy environment when she goes for a sleepover, and hopefully a midnight feast, at her best friend Carlotta’s home on the other side of town. The friends have been given strict instructions to stay out of Carlotta’s big sister Edith’s bedroom, not to use any magic and under no circumstances to touch Edith’s new Witch-Twitch-Supreme potion kit. However big sister has gone out for the evening and surely it wouldn’t hurt to sneak into her bedroom and have a look around, so long as they stay well away from that special potion kit. But Mirabelle just can’t resist the allure of Edith’s crystal ball and disaster strikes when it slips out of her fingers, through the window and ends up in pieces on the patio.

Despite their best efforts at repairs, they don’t fool Edith, but it’s Carlotta who gets blamed for the breakage. Will Mirabelle find the courage to own up and if so, then what?

I know a great many followers of this enchanting series whose eyes will be all sparkly when they get their fingers on the tenth book wherein friendship, sibling solutions and the importance of owning up are key elements.

Kwame’s Magic Quest: Rise of the Green Flame / Future Hero: Battle For Sky Kingdom

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Kwame’s Magic Quest: Rise of the Green Flame
Bernard Mensah, illustrated by Natasha Nayo
Scholastic

Eight year old Kwame wakes feeling super-excited: today he will start Nkonyaa School and finally learn some calabash magic. That means finding out his magic type: maybe he’ll be a Weather Handler like his mum, or perhaps a Time Bender like his Dad. However, when his turn comes to stand before the Nkonyaa Tree and tap his head against its trunk, things don’t exactly go as anticipated for a red light pulses forth – something it’s never done before according to elder, Ms Dofi. She takes the calabash that falls, explains the procedure to Kwame and enters the hut, leaving him waiting outside. It transpires that his calabash hasn’t reacted like those of other students. Kwame fears something is wrong with it. When it’s time to be assigned rooms, Kwame is put with a boy named Fifi and before they go to sleep, the two have become friends.


Next morning things still aren’t going right for Kwame: his calabash isn’t accepting his gift. Kwame begins to fear he’ll be kicked out of the school but as the day progresses, Fifi is subjected to bullying, after which there’s more trouble. Can Kwame finally discover his magic power and help his friend?


Wow! The author has packed so much into such a short adventure, I suspect young readers will devour it a in a single sitting. With its themes of friendship and helping another in need, there’s a fair amount of Ghanian culture woven into the tale. In addition, back matter includes a spread giving additional information about Ghana and its ethnic groups. Natasha Nayo’s black and white illustrations break up the text and add further interest to the story.

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Future Hero: Battle For Sky Kingdom
Remi Blackwood
Scholastic


This is the final story in the thrilling Future Hero fantasy quartet. With the astounding revelation that he is the Future Hero of the oppressed people of his ancestral land of Ulfrika – a land ruled over by Ikala, an evil sorcerer – young Jarell’s life has changed forever.  


Now he must make a final visit – via the barber’s shop mirror – to Sky City to stop Ikala getting his hands on the Iron Eagle, the last remaining animal from the Staff of Kundi.. That means Jarell must win the deadly gladiatorial competition to find Ulfrika’s greatest warrior, for which the Iron Eagle is offered as the prize. Fortunately though, he won’t be travelling alone; some friends, one of whom is young warrior Kimisi, are also making the journey.


Fraught with danger from the outset, is the battle he faces a challenge from which Jarell can emerge victorious? Followers of the series who will be rooting for Jarell, will certainly be satisfied with how the saga ends, but if you haven’t read any of the previous books, I recommend you do so before plunging into this one.

Keisha Jones is a Force of Nature / Time Travellers: Adventure Calling

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Keisha Jones is a Force of Nature
Natalie Denny, illustrated by Chanté Timothy
Little Tiger


The story’s narrator, young activist, eight year old Keisha Jones truly is a force to be reckoned with.  In this book she extends her force field to a second cause, one inspired by her great-aunt Bee and her fight to keep a green space popular with the local community, out of the hands of a property developer. When she learns of the vital importance of trees to life itself (VITs as they become following a talk with teacher, Mr Logan,) she is immediately fired up.

Even more so when she hears of the mayor’s plan to have all the trees in Olive Meadows felled and the land turned into a car park for the mall. Keisha has less than three weeks to formulate a plan. Of course she needs to enlist the other members of the Bee Squad as well as Grandpa Joe, and reporter Rosie Parker, especially when Operation VIT isn’t quite going according to plan. For a start Mayor Branch won’t answer any of Keisha’s phone calls and she’s running up an enormous mobile bill causing Mum to revoke her phone privileges as well as treats. HMM!


Next move a protest at the site on Timber Teardown day. What will happen there: success or failure? And then … As Grandpa Joe says on World Environment Day, “ There’s something inside you, Keisha. A light. It makes the world a better and brighter place!”

Another winner for author Natalie Denny and illustrator Chanté Timothy: readers around Keisha’s age will be rooting for her and her cause right from the outset. Hopefully they too will be inspired to do some tree planting in their own local area.

Time Travellers: Adventure Calling
Sufiya Ahmed
Little Tiger

Suhana, Ayaan and Mia are among the short-listed pupils in an art competition and as a consequence, along with children from other schools, have been invited to visit the Houses of Parliament. Having been given a tour by Mike, one of the guides, they are given worksheets to do in threes on the associated history and the winners will receive book tokens. Suhana, Mia and Ayaan quickly become fascinated by what they discover and unexpectedly Suhana’s mobile phone mysteriously transports them to 1911!

Almost straightaway they are confronted by a police officer demanding to know what they’re up to and talking of a coronation. The children know they have just a few hours to explore so they need to make the most of the situation. Soon they find themselves in what Ayaan thinks is a suffragette march that includes to Suhanna’s surprise, some Indian women. One of them tells her that they are actually not suffragettes but suffragists, explaining the difference: suffragists believe in non-violent action. This was Lolita Roy, one of a group of South Asian women living in the UK at that time who played an important role in getting women the right to vote.

Having started this adventure considering herself something of an outsider, by the end, Suhana feels that she is part of a team with two new friends: the Time Travellers.

As well as a dramatic adventure, this enormously readable book offers a great introduction to how politics works and the role MPs are supposed to play in society. I strongly recommend it for KS 2 readers and look forward to the next adventure of those Time Travellers.

Heroes / I Survived The Battle of D-Day, 1944

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Heroes
Alan Gratz
Scholastic


In this gripping story we follow best friends Frank and his Japanese American buddy Stanley who live in Pearl Harbour Hawaii. Frank’s father is a Navy fighter pilot and Stanley’s works at the Naval Air Station, with both families living on the base. It’s December 1941 and the two boys are sailing across the harbour brainstorming their own superhero comic book character (Frank is the writer, Stanley the illustrator) as the book opens. Frank is hiding a secret anxiety of getting hurt as a result of what he calls ‘The Incident’ but it becomes evident when he avoids helping Stanley confront bullies, which prompts Stanley to ask, “How do you think you can write about heroes if you can’t be one yourself?” At this time the war in Europe seems distant to the boys until that is, Frank’s sister’s boyfriend, Brooks, who is in the navy is showing the boys around a battleship and suddenly planes start dropping bombs on all the battleships.. They realise this isn’t a drill, it’s an attack by the Japanese.


As a consequence, the boys witness horror after horror. Then there’s the issue that Stanley appears Japanese and has Japanese ancestry meaning that he is suddenly subjected to racism. This causes the Japanese Americans to start digging holes in the yard to bury any relics or heirlooms relating to their ancestry. However the situation does ultimately allow Frank to address the episode that has long haunted him relating to friendship, loyalty and his own mental health. Can he overcome his fears and stand by his best friend even when they have to part? Before so doing though they agree to continue working on the comic. And so they do: the final chapter of the novel is followed by the two boys’ ten page comic, The Arsenal of Democracy.


Well researched, totally gripping, albeit heartbreaking where we read of those who perished in the attack and the responses of those who help the injured. Back matter includes a map of Pearl Harbour December 7 1941 and an author’s note, both of which are important.


Equally affecting, with a French setting and presented in graphic novel form is:

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I Survived The Battle of D-Day, 1944
Lauren Tarshis and Brian Churilla
Scholastic


As the book opens Paul Colbert is walking in the rain through the Normandy village where he lives with his mother. It’s been under Nazi occupation for a long time but he’s trying to forget this and the fact that his Jewish best friend is missing and focus on his mother’s birthday. He follows a pigeon and discovers a US army paratrooper, Sergeant Victor Lopez, caught in a tree having jumped from his plane. Paul helps to free him and rather than let him fall into enemy hands, he leads the man to a nearby abandoned castle.

Or so he thinks, for the building is actually being used as a resistance hideout. And, to his joy there he discovers his old teacher, Mr Leon, whom he thought was dead.

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Paul finds himself drawn into the underground organisation, playing a vital part in the Allies secret plans to cross the English Channel and land on the beaches of Normandy with the hope that France can be liberated.


Primary age readers, like this adult reviewer will be enthralled by this, especially the bravery shown by the Resistance and the military forces, and of course Paul. With the D-Day 80th anniversary this summer, this is a must for KS2/KS3 resources. (The author includes a timeline and other historical notes at the end of the book.)

Time Travelling with a Tortoise

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Time Travelling with a Tortoise
Ross Welford
Harper Collins Children’s Books

This is the brilliantly inventive sequel to Time Travelling with a Hamster wherein Al (Albert Einstein Hawking Chaudhury) and his hamster, Alan Shearer, time travelled into the past to prevent the accident that would prematurely end his father’s life.

This has set everything back the way Al thinks it should be: no infuriating stepfather and no thoroughly annoying stepsister, though somehow it isn’t so. The laws of spacetime are set up to have the last laugh, as Al’s Grandpa points out.

But then an accident in his tuk-tuk for which Al blames himself, leaves Grandpa Byron – he of the truly amazing memory – struggling to remember things. Consequently Al decides to risk another trip back in time, taking with him two companions and they find themselves in a prehistoric dimension where dinosaurs roam. To say things don’t quite go as intended is putting it mildly; they’re way more complex than he ever expected and include that titular tortoise.

Readers will be swept away as Al grapples with the unintended aftermath of his actions; we too feel his guilt, determination, and fear as he navigates the ramifications of his choices.

What a brilliant mix of poignancy, humour and gripping excitement Ross Welford has created once again; but at the heart of everything, quantum physics and all, is the enduring power of human love. I thoroughly endorse Grandpa Byron’s philosophical comment as he and Al sit together at the end, “Sometimes… not getting exactly what you want turns out to be the best luck of all.”

Fairytale Ninjas: Two and a Half Wishes

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Fairytale Ninjas: Two and a Half Wishes
Paula Harrison, illustrated by Mónica de Rivas
Harper Collins Children’s Books

In this third story of Goldie, Snow and Red aka the fairytale ninjas residents of Hobbleton in the magical kingdom of Waybeyond, the three friends encounter what looks like one of the new guests from Goldie’s parents’ hotel, out wandering in Shadowmoon Forest. Having spoken to her, Goldie suspects Miss Raven is up to no good. Why is she carrying that empty jam jar? And why is she not concerned about the possibility of encountering a troll?

Seemingly this is a villainous enchantress: why else would she have a book about spells, something Goldie discovers later in the day when taking clean towels to Miss Raven’s room. That and a row of glass bottles on the chest of drawers set alarm bells ringing. But then Goldie hears a strange noise coming from one of the drawers and inside she finds that jam jar wherein is a very frightened fairy flying around. Goldie unscrews the lid and out bursts the fairy. Back comes Miss Raven at almost the same moment that Goldie’s Dad appears in the doorway. The next thing Goldie knows is that the woman is chanting a spell and her father is turning into a duck.

Goldie realises that, with the help of her friends, she must outwit this evil enchantress and thanks to the fairy she released, the girls have been granted three wishes. One of these can surely be used to turn her dad back into his normal self.

Young fractured fairytale enthusiasts, be they acquainted with Fairytale Ninjas or not, will enjoy this book with its magical setting, three strong girl protagonists who can perform ninja moves and mythical creatures, though I recommend new readers read the previous books beforehand. Plenty of Mónica de Rivas’ black and white illustrations break up the chapters.

An Elephant in the Garden

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An Elephant in the Garden
Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Michael Foreman
Harper Collins Children’s Books


First published some ten years ago, it’s good to see this tale now made available to a new audience. It was inspired by a real life rescue of an elephant during World War 2.


From her bed a frail old lady named Lizzie, resident of a Canadian nursing home, relates her story to her nurse and the nurse’s son, Karl, who reminds Lizzie of her young brother.


During WW2, Lizzie, then sixteen, her pacifist mum, Mutti, and her younger brother Karli lived in Dresden. Their peace-loving Papi was called to fight, Mutti went to work at the Dresden Zoo with the elephants. She had seen a small elephant born and named him Marlene. Rather than have the creature subject to mercy killing like the other zoo animals, should Dresden be bombed, she had persuaded the zoo keeper to let her take the baby elephant home to her back garden and care for it.


When Dresden comes under heavy bombing in 1945 and the city is destroyed. Lizzie, her mum and Karli decide to escape into the country and head with the elephant, towards Uncle Manfred and Aunt Lotto’s farm. At first they think the place is empty but in a barn they come upon Peter, a Canadian flyer who has bailed out of his plane. What does one do when encountering an enemy combatant? Mutti is conflicted but Lizzie is immediately drawn to the young man. Together they all make their way on a perilous trek towards the American lines, helped at one point by a Countess who asks them to take a homeless school choir along with them. As they journey Lizzie becomes ever closer to Peter.


Eventually, despite Peter’s best efforts, Mutti and the children are sent to a camp along with other displaced Germans and Peter returns to Canada promising to come back and marry Lizzie. Is he able to keep that promise? And what of Lizzie’s Papi? Does he survive the war?


A gripping, enormously moving tale that offers an unusual perspective on what was a horrendous time for countless numbers of people. I read it in a single sitting.

Seven Days / Dread Wood: Fright Bite

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Seven Days
Rebeka Shaid
Walker Books

The author’s debut young adult novel about families and grief is set in Bristol and takes place over seven days ((apart from an epilogue one year on). The book is told from the viewpoints of Noori and Aamir, both of whom have recently lost those closest to them. Noori’s older cousin and best friend died while in Lahore and Aamir’s mother has died eight months ago and he has fallen out with his father. In a few days despite her own father’s disapproval, Noori plans to fly off to spend some time in Pakistan, staying with her aunt in the hope of getting some kind of closure .The seemingly more troubled Aamir has just been beaten up and robbed while on a train from Cardiff to see his older brother Bilal.

Their first encounter is on a park bench and Noori mistakes the boy for a university student as he’s holding a book of Rumi’s poems. The following day, she heads to the park and there lying on the bench is Aamir. Is he homeless after all, she wonders. They start talking and Noori offers him chai. He accepts her offer and rather than taking him to a cafe, Noori takes him to her home. She also calls her disapproving friend and neighbour, Mai, to join them and tells her mother that Aamir is a cousin of Mai’s.

Strangely, Noori feels drawn to him and their meetings continue. Aamir, meanwhile keeps going to his brother’s home but nobody ever answers the door so he is forced to sleep on the bench. Gradually the two reveal things to one another that they won’t share with anybody else.

But then the day before Noori is due to fly off to Lahore, an ailing Aamir has a fall and is rushed to hospital and into intensive care and may well not survive.

I won’t reveal how the book ends but I was swept up in the story of these two teenagers – a story of first love – as I’m sure many readers of around Noori’s age will be. I look forward to more from Rebeka Shaid; this is an intensely moving debut novel.

Dread Wood: Fright Bite
Jennifer Killick
Farshore

When Club Loser members learn of the plan Colette’s mum and Mr C have set in motion for the gang to celebrate Colette’s thirteenth birthday, which includes a kitty for ‘noms and spends’ it seems that they’re about to experience the best night ever. Neon Perch, here they come. Nothing can possibly go wrong, can it? After all the dastardly Latchitts are in prison so it’s safe to say the friends can enjoy Battle Karts, pizzas at Uccellino’s and, highlight of the excursion, the Project Z escape room experience.

Highlight it definitely isn’t however. With such things as scritchy scratchy, slime dripping creatures on the prowl, and the reappearance of their arch enemies, it would appear that the escape room knows the greatest fear of each player. Assuredly this is one birthday Colette won’t forget in a hurry.

At once scary and funny, older readers will find themselves gripped by Jennifer Killick’s fast-paced, twisting narrative, ticking clock, gigantic poisonous rats and all.

Star Friends: Dream Shield / The Firefighter’s Kitten

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These are additions to popular series for younger readers: thanks to the publishers Little Tiger for sending them for review.

Star Friends: Dream Shield
Linda Chapman, illustrated by Kim Barnes

In case you’ve not met the Star Friends, Maia, Lottie, Sita and Ionie before, they share a special secret – they have magical animal friends – Star Animals – who help them learn magic and fight evil!

There’s excitement in Westcombe: the village is hosting a scarecrow competition and the Star Friends, along with lots of other residents are participating. Strangely though soon after, lots of people in the village start feeling very sleepy and completely lacking energy. Could it be some kind of weird bug that’s doing the rounds: the friends think otherwise. It’s down to dark magic, is what they think. They really need to do something to stop it but that’s going to be a challenge on account of their own sleepiness. It’s something to do with Shades, but where are they hiding?

Can the girls solve the Shade mystery and make things right again? The story ends on a cliff hanger, which will leave readers eagerly waiting the next episode in this deservedly popular series.

The Firefighter’s Kitten
Holly Webb, illustrated by Sophy Williams

Lola’s mum has a new job as crew manager of a team of firefighters. This means that the family has moved to a new town where Lola doesn’t have any friends and must start at a new school. On the positive side their house has a garden and her parents have agreed that once they’ve settled in, they will get a cat.

As Lola walks to school on her first day accompanied by her dad, a boy calls to her, introduces himself as Noah and tells Lola that they will be in the same class. Noah has three cats and that prompts Lola to tell Noah about her cat hopes. Next day as they walk to school the two children see a tiny kitten huddled high up in a tree. On their way home, the kitten is still there and so too are a crowd of people, a fire-engine and to Lola’s surprise, her mum.

Eventually Lola’s mum rescues the creature but nobody knows where it belongs and the animal shelter is completely full. It appears that there’s only one place the kitten can go that night … Lola quickly develops an attachment to the newcomer but will he stay?

With themes that children will immediately relate to: moving house, making new friends and having a new pet, this latest in the prolific author’s animal stories, although slightly predictable will appeal to readers from around six who will love Sophy Williams’ visual portrayal of the kitten.

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Magic Ever After / The Story Shop: Detective Dash / Nikhil and Jay Flying High

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Diary of an Accidental Witch: Magic Ever After
Perdita & Honor Cargill, illustrated by Katie Saunders
Little Tiger


The Easter holidays are fast approaching for Bea Black. First though she needs to discover what is wrong with her Dad. In addition there’s the upcoming annual Eggastraordinary Eggy Day and Bea is still working on improving her spelling. To keep her sweet, Bea is helping at Taffy’s teashop and being paid in cakes. You may be surprised to learn that Bea’s Dad is also working obsessively on his spells, which makes his daughter suspect that something is up.


When Taffy takes Bea into her confidence things become clearer but she’s charged with keeping Taffy’s proposal plan a secret, which is far from easy. Why, Dad wants to know, can’t he wear his favourite scruffy jumper to the venue; after all it is supposed to be a newt-watching trip..


Despite near disaster, the couple agree to get married and then there’s just the matter of a wedding and all that entails, to focus on. Bea is definitely going to need lots of help from friends and family.
Without giving too much away, let’s just say that Bea’s final diary entry in this book starts ‘BEST.NIGHT.OF.MY.LIFE’.


You can’t ask for more and readers will certainly be more than satisfied. Team Cargill and Saunders have again created a winner.

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The Story Shop: Detective Dash
Tracey Corderoy and Tony Neal
Little Tiger

When shopkeeper Wilbur and his assistant, Fred Ferret arrive in their shop early one morning they’re puzzled to hear a strange sound. It turns out that a ferret has fallen asleep and is snoring. Once awake she introduces herself as Snoozy Suzy saying she’s eager for an adventure.

Suzy elects to be a detective, Fred adds some ingredients to the Story Pot, stirs the mix, and POP! the two of them find themselves in The Museum of Wonder where they learn, a robbery has taken place. Suzy informs the strange man, Ivar Plan busy with a display of lamps, that they’re there to solve the case of the cursed teeth. It turns out that Ivar is actually a robber and the lamps are part of his clever plan to steal priceless articles from the museum. Can Suzy and Fred save the day?


In episode two I S-Pie Trouble!, the pair are at the seaside where one of the posh hotels is in uproar due to the disappearance of Chef Humble who is supposed to be presenting his delicious new creation, the ‘Whatever You Wish For Pie’ at a banquet that coming Friday. After a night’s sleep Fred and Suzy peruse the clues they’d found the previous day and are about to have breakfast when they learn that a new chef has turned up offering to step in and save the banquet – at a price. Things seem decidedly fishy to the detective duo. Will they find the real chef in time for the Friday night banquet?


The riverside village of Watery Bottom is where the third episode is set. Here Suzy and Fred are tasked with discovering the truth about the Demon Duck of Doom. To do so they need to participate in a Doomseeker Expedition led by young April Button. But what is she up to and why?


Full of surprises, this fourth Story Shop book with its wealth of fun illustrations is again just right for younger readers.

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Nikhil and Jay Flying High
Chitra Soundar, illustrated by Soofia
Otter-Barry Books


The fourth book in the charming series for new solo readers starts one rainy day when Appa goes out to the shed to retrieve to board so the boys can play Dayan but the cat distracts him, he takes a tumble and injures his ankle. Can several rounds of the game, together with a cup of tea and a packed of frozen peas on his foot make him feel better?


Three further stories about the everyday life of Nikil, Jay and their parents follow. They participate, somewhat reluctantly at first, in the local Clean and Green Club at the neighbourhood park and then decide it’s a more enjoyable way to spend a Saturday than they’d anticipated.
Next comes a day of kite flying though they unexpectedly have to make the kites themselves as those that had been ordered aren’t delivered in time and finally, Jay gets himself in a stew about tidying up and soon discovers that doing things without his brother is far less enjoyable than doing them together.


As always bold, cheerful black and white illustrations by Soofiya complement Chitra’s telling of these tales, which are based on her own upbringing.

Wild Song

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Wild Song
Candy Gourlay
David Fickling Books

This brilliantly written book is a companion to the author’s Bone Talk. It transports us back to 1904 and is set in the same world but herein the focus is on Luki and it’s her voice that tells the story as if she’s speaking to her mother who has been dead for a year.

Having lived her life in the mountains of the Philippines with her people, the Bontok tribe, Luki has reached the age where it’s expected by the tribal elders that she should marry her best friend Samkad. However, instead she wants to be a warrior. So, she decides to leave her village home and accepts Truman Hunt’s offer to go to America to be part of the World Fair in St Louis. Missouri. It will be a grand adventure, she tells herself.

However, despite America being called the land of opportunities this isn’t the case for everyone and after an arduous journey by train and by foot, Luki is effectively trapped in the Igorot Village. She’s made to feel dehumanised by having to perform serious rituals as entertainment: we Bontok people are exhibits, she realises losing her trust in Truman Hunt and strongly suspecting he’s only interested in making money out of them.

It really feels as though we are inside Luki’s head living her aspirations, her doubts, her reluctant acceptance of the truth about those she meets including someone she thought had become a close friend. I felt myself gripped by such emotions as hopefulness, fear, shock, disgust, horror and shame. Shame because although this book is set in America in the last century, here in the UK even now, people who are considered ‘different’ for whatever reason be it way of life, appearance or skin colour, are subjected to appalling racial attitudes.

Utterly compelling, this novel will maintain its intense grip on you be you an adult reader or a youngster. Girls especially will understand the dilemma of those among them who, like Luki, try to balance a respect for their cultural and religious traditions with the constraints these may impose on them in today’s world.

Unmissable! And make sure you read the ‘What happened next’ pages at the back of the book.

Stitch / Jane Eyre

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Stitch
Pádraig Kenny
Walker Books


Stitch, a boy made from bits and pieces stitched together, and his friend, Henry Oaf, live in a castle with the Professor who brought them into being from dead things, so they discover from the Professor’s notes – ‘a mishmash of parts of other people’ is what Henry later reads about himself.


Unexpectedly the Professor’s wicked nephew, Giles Hardacre, arrives and takes over his laboratory. Not long after, Alice, the nephew’s ‘adopted’ assistant tells Stitch that his uncle has gone for ever; he’s died. It soon becomes evident that the professor’s nephew wants to use Henry as the subject for his next experiment: clearly to him lives such as that of Stitch and Henry, who are ‘different’ are worth far less that those of ‘normal’ people. Alice however disapproves of her master’s ideas.

Henry sabotages the experiment and the three of them in turn make a break for it. Inevitably, troubles lie ahead, however Stitch’s innate goodness keeps him going, intent on doing the right thing no matter what or to whom.


Finally, having always wanted to be an explorer, Stitch now has the opportunity to be one. But will he go alone?


Exploring difference, prejudice, acceptance and what it means to be human, this is such a powerful, highly accessible fable with gothic chills running through it; especially moving is the friendship between Stitch and Henry. It would make a terrific, thought-provoking read aloud for older KS2 classes as well as a gripping book for individuals whether or not they pick up any echoes of Frankenstein.

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Jane Eyre
abridged by Patrice Lawrence
Walker Books

Expertly abridged, yet staying true to Charlotte Bronte’s classic novel, this skilfully written first person narrative, is a splendid introduction to the original. Patrice Lawrence’s fresh prose maintains Bronte’s powerful atmosphere and key themes while considerably shortening the length of her book making it a highly accessible way of introducing older primary readers (or older students for whom English is an additional language) to ten year old Jane’s journey from that ‘haunted’ room in Gateshead Hall to finally becoming a wife.