Tag Macmillan Chidlren's Books

Greenwild The World Behind the Door

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Greenwild The World Behind the Door
Pari Thomson, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Macmillan Children’s Books

Having spent almost all her life so far travelling to various parts of the world with her fearless eco-political journalist mother, eleven year old Daisy Thistledown is devastated to be told that she can’t accompany her Ma on her next expedition, to the Peruvian rainforest, as it’s far too dangerous. Instead she must spend the last two weeks of term in a boarding school; but her mother promises she’ll be back to collect her in time for Christmas. Before she leaves, her Ma takes her to visit the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew; she also gives Daisy a glass paperweight that had once belonged to Daisy’s father. 

During her time at school Daisy is treated unkindly by both pupils and staff. When she fails to turn up to collect her from the station at the promised time, Daisy learns her mother and those she travelled with, have disappeared without trace. Daisy is taken back to the school but decides to escape, taking with her a little cat that has found its way into her bag. 

Pursued through the streets of London, she heads for Kew Gardens where she manages to hide until she discovers a hidden door that leads her to the enchanted world of Greenwild. There she finds magical flora and the green-magic using Botanists who preserve and study them, shelter from the hostile Greyside, as they call our non-magical world.

Daisy is made welcome by most of the Mallowmarsh community and soon finds herself making friends with a boy named Hal and a group calling themselves the Five O’Clock Club who introduce her to such amazing things as the milk-chocolate tree; they tell her too that they are investigating the disappearance of other Botanists. 

She also endeavours to learn green magic but finds herself struggling to do so. All this while trying to come to terms with the disappearance of her mother. However, Daisy has a dangerous mystery that needs to be solved and it becomes darker, the more involved she gets.

Debut author, Pari Thomson has created a truly gripping tale that entwines you in its tendrils from the outset and like some of the Greenwild plants, twists and turns every which way. Drawing on her love of and knowledge about all things botanical, her world-building is awesome, there are some truly memorable characters, and at the same time she weaves in deep, dark evil and the vital message about saving elements of the environment from total destruction. I was utterly enchanted by this story when I first read it in proof form, but now with Elisa Paganelli’s superb illustrations, it’s even more brilliant. With its cliff hanger of an ending, it’s going to be hard to wait for the next book of Daisy’s adventures.

Dragon Detective: That a Wrap! / Vega Jane and the Secrets of Sorcery

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Dragon Detective: That’s a Wrap!
Gareth P. Jones
Little Tiger

In case you’re not familiar with the titular detective, he’s Dirk Dilly, a mountain dragon who doubles as a crime-buster, all the while endeavouring to keep the existence of dragons secret from humans – not an easy task.

This story set mainly in the USA is the 4th and final adventure in the Dragon Detective series.
Holly Bigsby, her stepmum, her dad, and Holly’s close friend Archie are unexpectedly flown out to LA in a private luxury jet at the behest of billionaire Brant Buchanan for whom Mrs Bigsby works.
Also in LA, making an autobiographical film is Petal Moses (Holly’s ex-room-mate from her boarding school days.)

On her very first day in the city, Holly meets the movie director, who while filming in the desert has captured something on camera that looks suspiciously like dragons. But before anyone has a chance to look closely at the film, it disappears. Holly is convinced it’s a case for Dirk. She rings him urging him come to LA and participate in an investigation – an investigation that involves Californian Desert Dragons. But can they solve the case and find the film before dragonkind’s reality is revealed to the world at large?

An enjoyable romp of a crime-solver, especially for those primary school readers who like fast moving stories that involve the interface of humans and dragons.

Vega Jane and the Secrets of Sorcery
David Baldacci
Macmillan Children’s Books

This was David Baldacci’s first foray into young adult fiction previously published as The Finisher, now re-edited and reissued.

It follows the quest of fourteen-year-old Vega Jane, who when the story starts works as a Finisher at Stacks, creating goods she knows she’ll never afford while living a life of hardship with her younger brother in Wormwood city. The place is surrounded by the Quag wherein lurk dangerous beasties and beyond which, it’s said, nothing exists, consequently nobody ever leaves.

Vega though is different from other Wugs; she’s curious, something that’s strongly discouraged. Then, having witnessed her mentor escaping into the unknown, she discovers a map that seems to suggest a strange world lies beyond the walls of Wormwood.

Thus begins an exciting adventure that follows Vega’s quest for freedom as she moves through time confronting not just all she’d believed was true and those intent on hiding the truth, but also, her own limitations.

Magical artefacts, mysteries, bizarre creatures, thrills aplenty, and Vega’s somewhat unusual manner of narration that blends her thoughts, Wugmort vocabulary (a translation is given at the outset) and formal speech, as well as memorable characters, are all part of Baldacci’s mix in his blend of sci-fi, myth and fantasy elements. Moreover, there’s a cliff-hanger finale that opens the way for further adventures of this strong female hero.