Yetis Don’t Exist!

When Iggy, the Yeti, hears the news that ‘Yetis Don’t Exist!’, he and his friends decide that they have to set off on a human search to prove that yetis are indeed real. But no matter how hard they look, there’s not a human to be found!

What a delightful romp of joy ‘Yetis Don’t Exist!’ is! It’s a wonderfully wintery read, full of fun and gathering giggles, and although not really a Christmas book, is sure to be quickly added to everyone’s favourite festive reads!

Illustrations and text work together perfectly with the pictures showing many details which the unobservant humans -or yetis- in the middle of the action completely miss, allowing those sharing the story to share the joke and explore the tales of other creatures which don’t exist…or do they?!

Showing new friends can be found anywhere and that there is magic in mystery, ‘Yetis Don’t Exist!’ is just the sort of brightly-coloured, fun-filled story which children- and their adults- love!

Yetis Don’t Exist!

Kate Thompson, illustrated by Loretta Schauer

Templar ISBN: 978-1800788237

The Search for Carmella

Marine biologist and explorer, Dr Rose loves everything about the sea and since being little, she has loved to listen to tales about a mysterious beast which roams the deep, known as Carmella. With a team of adventurous scientific friends, she sets off with Anne, a brilliant submersible pilot, down into the depths of the deep to see if they can find Carmella.

As Dr Rose and Anne make this special journey together, the reader is treated to the most gorgeous illustrations which are so evocative of the mystery and wonders of the deep- and is immediately able to share the joke as Carmella appears without being noticed by the intrepid explorers! There are so many wonderful details to notice, offering much to discuss and excite curiosity about the depths of the ocean. There are so many humorous touches - the keys to wind the submarine and the boat, the activities of what look like a team of mechanical crabs and so on- which make this a wonderfully engaging and satisfying story to share whether with a class, small group or one-to-one.

There is another theme to this story, however. In her wish to solve the mystery and find Carmella, Dr Rose doesn’t seem to appreciate the full beauty of what she is seeing in the moment. Gentle reminders from Anne are needed to pull her attention to the here and now to enjoy the sights in front of her- a valid lesson for all of us. In her wisdom, Anne reflects that it is not such a bad thing that they haven’t found Carmella as some things are too wonderful to be explained. Such a joyful sentiment!

I absolutely loved ‘The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish’ and am delighted to find that ‘The Search for Carmella’ is just as special.

The Search for Carmella

Chloe Savage

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1529503302

You can read my review of The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish here.

Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

On her tenth birthday, Meticulous- Metty- Jones, like other 10-year-olds, receives a magical tattoo on her hand which will indicate her fate. However, her excitement in discovering her destiny is dimmed when she sees an ink-black skull, held from underneath by a hand in a violet glove indicating her fate is to be a murderer. Hidden away by her father, Moral Jones, in a remote Welsh farmhouse, Metty tries to come to terms with this, but when Moral disappears, her Aunt Magnificent takes her to the magical city of New London, assuring her that she- Magnificent- will find Metty’s father. But rumours of a mysterious, dangerous society, known as the Black Moths, make Metty wonder whether they are connected to her father’s disappearance and begin to investigate for herself.

There is so much to enjoy in ‘Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo’ that is is hard to know exactly where to begin! It is a cracking read which bounds along at a pleasing pace, full of engaging characters and plenty of action. It’s quite amazing that I have managed to wait until now to review it!

Full of vim and vigour, Metty is a feisty character who shows courage and determination in the face of adversity and great love and loyalty to friends and family. She is an imperfect heroine, with strengths and flaws in equal measure, proving that our fates cannot be predestined, but made by our actions and reactions. As she comes to know Sundar, her aunt’s ward, they form a great partnership, their personalities complementing each other as their friendship develops. He is another very appealing character, enigmatic and cautious, the perfect foil to Metty’s impulsiveness. Faith O’Connell is another great character, once again proving the importance of forging your own path in life.

The world building is an absolute delight. Great attention to detail makes the story rich, increasing the reader’s enjoyment on every page. From the family names to the magic of ink, from the wonders of New London to the Dictionary of Fates, everything has been carefully thought about so the world flows seamlessly. It’s a world I look forward to returning to in future books!

Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

Philippa Leathley

Harper Collins ISBN: 978-0063376519

Published January 28th 2025

I Flew Around the World

At just 19, Zara Rutherford set off to fly solo around the world, becoming the youngest female pilot to do so. ‘I Flew Around the World’ is her account of this incredible journey, the places she visited, things she saw and people she met.

The book is a fascinating read, starting with the meticulous planning which led to turning her dream into reality. Extremely engaging, the content is presented in a variety of ways, including diary entries, sections of information, fact boxes and labelled diagrams. Colourful illustrations make the book attractive, but there are also photos of Zara, her cats and her experiences which engage the reader directly with her travels.

Children can follow the route of her inspirational journey on the map provided and learn how her plane works before sharing her adventures, gaining a personal view of the places she visited, as she faced the challenges posed by typhoons, earthquakes, wildfires on her way. Amongst these experiences, she shares some of the ‘speciality’ dishes she tried- like moose spaghetti- and her delight at meeting up with her parents in Mexico.

The book would make an excellent addition to school libraries, but would also make an excellent guided reading text, offering plenty to discuss and many cross-curricular links as well as being extremely inspirational, showing that determination and courage can help you achieve your dreams. Zara is also a shining role model for any young girls, particularly those keen to pursue STEM subjects- she is now studying electrical engineering at university. However, I challenge anyone not to be inspired by her story!

I Flew Around the World

Zara Rutherford, illustrated by Jiatong Liu

DK ISBN: 978-0241662311

Hunt for the Golden Scarab

Sim’s mum works as a cleaner at Sir John Soane’s Museum where the two live in the attic flat. They never stay anywhere for long but, for the first time, Sim is attending the local school instead of being homeschooled. When some sinister strangers appear at the museum one night, Sim is left with even more unanswered questions about who his mum is- and what she is hiding from. Learning that she has the power to open doors in time, he finds himself on the adventure of a lifetime to locate the golden heart scarab of Nefertiti before the mysterious Council of Keys lay their hands on it- and him.

Combining all the classic elements of exciting adventure story with time travel, ‘Hunt for the Golden Scarab’ is a fast-moving, action-packed romp of a read, rich in historical and locational details which will leave readers desperate for more. It is also one of those books which is so hard to review without spoiling for others!

Sim’s adventure starts in London before taking him to Egypt – ancient and modern. With his school friend, Nelson, supporting him at home and his newly found cousin, Jeopardy, accompanying him on his travels, well developed characters are a real strength of this story, including the adults. Sim’s mother, Callidora, has brought her son up on her own and is portrayed as strong (physically and mentally), capable and resourceful, facilitating her son’s development and taking an active part in the story rather than being killed off, kidnapped or somehow lost along the way. Similarly, her brother, Emmett, who she warns Sim is untrustworthy, is far more nuanced than many adults in children’s stories, enriching the plot and promising more in future books.

Locations are also well developed and engaging, sure to spark curiosity and interest. Sir John Soane’s Museum is a fascinating place, crammed with treasures, well worth visiting and yet, perhaps, one of London’s less well-known attractions. Details about Sir John and other historic places and events mentioned in the story are offered in Nelson’s ‘Time Traveller’s Diary’, included at the end of the book. Tutankhamun’s tomb and places in Egypt are also carefully described and there is a ‘Key’s Guide to Ancient Egypt’ which helps to explain some of the key figures and events relating to that part of the action.

A love of music and a fascination with history permeate the story, enhancing the reader’s enjoyment of this epic adventure!

Time Keys: Hunt for the Golden Scarab

M G Leonard, illustrated by Manuel Šumberac

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1035005963

Publication date: 30th January 2025

You can read my review of The Arctic Railway Assassin here and Sabotage on the Solar Express here.

Murder at Wintertide

George and his father are heading for Lyme Regis for a family gathering to celebrate both his grandfather’s birthday and Christmas where the two halves of his step-family are coming together. This includes Isla, his slightly terrifying, very intelligent step-cousin. When a body washes up on the beach, George is convinced it has something to do with some strange lights he saw on the cliff top and together with Isla, he finds himself investigating the mystery. However, someone is determined to stop them…

Once again, Fleur Hitchcock delivers an excellent murder mystery! ‘Murder at Wintertide’ is a completely absorbing and entertaining read, every bit as enjoyable as the previous ‘Murder…’ books.

Perfectly pitched for Y6/7 readers, ‘Murder at Wintertide’ offers a captivating thriller complete with red herrings, plenty of peril and ‘pesky kids’ determined to solve the crime. Readers familiar with Lyme Regis, where the action is set, will recognise many of the details Fleur adds to the story, including the sculpture of ‘some famous fossil hunter’, and the descriptions of a seaside town in winter add much to the atmosphere of the story.

George makes an appealing main character and the complexities of his blended family life add plenty of substance and realism to the story. As his friendship with Isla develops, George realises that he has misunderstood someone who actually makes a brave an loyal friend, showing how easy it is to misjudge people. They make quite a team and it would be great to see them make a reappearance in a future book!

It is always hard to review this sort of story without giving too much away and spoiling it for others, but anyone who reads this (and everyone should!) will instantly recognise the skill with which Fleur writes these stories, making them every bit as enjoyable for older readers as for those they are officially aimed at! Thoroughly enjoyable, endlessly readable… another triumph!

Murder at Wintertide

Fleur Hitchcock

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1805132233

Published 10th October 2024

You can read my review of ‘Murder at Snowfall’ here, ‘Waiting for Murder’ here and ‘Murder in Midwinter’ here.

Thunder City

Tamzin Pook does battle with Revenants in Margate’s Amusement Arcade where she is the star fighter, having survived forty-nine fights. Others are not so lucky.

When a brutal coup takes place in the wheeled city of Thorbury, Miss Torpenhow, a teacher from that city, seeks Tamzin’s help, breaking her out of the Arcade. Events progress at a rapid pace and Tamzin finds herself part of an ill-matched group, banded together in their desire to free Thorbury- and find a new life.

No poor attempt at a summary could ever do justice to the perfectly paced, tightly plotted and absolutely absorbing experience which reading a Moral Engines book offers. It was an absolute joy to return to this world!

Set about a hundred years before the setting of the first book, ‘Thunder City’ is as imaginative and richly drawn as the other stories. It is easy to read it as a stand alone story, but for anyone who has read the other books, it is fascinating to see this world following the rules of Municipal Darwinism yet before the more ruthless town-eat-town era to come.

Tamzin is a wonderful character. Thrown into the brutal world of the Amusement Arcade, she has developed her own survival strategies, trying hard not to form attachments. However, with her freedom from this life, she learns she can trust and be trusted, forming new bonds, showing her to be a courageous and loyal friend. The other characters who become part of her group are equally well developed and believable (Miss Torpenhow is just brilliant!) and I am convinced that Philip Reeve will not be heartless enough to deprive the world of more stories leading from this wonderful beginning!

 Thunder City

Philip Reeve

Scholastic    ISBN: 978-0702335471

Seawitch

As part of taking her ‘Sapling’ test and moving a step closer to becoming a fully trained witch, Cassie Morgan must take on the challenge of training a new witch; however, when one arrives, Robin Kendrick is not what she- or the rest of 1st Hedgely coven- were expecting. When a letter arrives from her cousin, Sebastian, asking for her help in solving a mystery, Oak Patrol- with their new member, head off to the Faerie border town of Porthmorven whose protector the Seawitch is nowhere to be found, leaving the town vulnerable. Can Cassie and her friend work out what is going on and foil the Erl King’s plans before it’s too late?

‘Seawitch’ is the third book in this magical series about Cassie- and each seems better than the last! Wonderfully atmospheric, both characters and scenery are vividly portrayed, offering a very satisfying and immersive read.

With the support of her friends, Cassie is gaining in confidence, determined to become a witch and find her parents. Level headed and fair, she still has some qualms about the acceptance of Robin- a boy- into the coven so that he can train to be a witch- something seen as a female role. Skye McKenna explores the young witches prejudices really well - ‘You’ve got to be resourceful and observant and well… they [boys] just aren’t.’- challenging stereotypical gender roles.

‘Seawitch’ moves at a very pleasing pace, with plenty of action and Cassie learning more about her parents whilst leaving tantalising clues and paving the way for more stories to come. Although magical stories, this series has so much to recommend it to any reader that those who claim not to be fans of this genre will find themselves enjoying the books just as much as those who are!

Seawitch

Skye McKenna, illustrated by Tomislav Tomic

Welbeck ISBN: 978-1801301282

You can read my review of ‘Hedgewitch’ here and ‘Woodwitch’ here.

Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment

In Whetherwhy, everyone has a little bit of magic inside them, linked to one of the seasons, but each year, a handful of enchanters are born, those who can wield magic connected with spring, summer, autumn and winter. Juniper and Rafferty Quinn are twins, living with their family at their bookbindery in Honeyvale. On the Spring Ember Day of their thirteenth year, they, like all other thirteen-year-olds, are tested and on finding she is an enchanter, Juniper is invited to study at Thistledown Academy. Reluctant both to leave her alone, and to be left behind, Rafferty soon follows, taking an apprenticeship at a bookbindery in the capital city of Stormgrove.

Whilst Juniper learns to control and use her magic, Rafferty finds himself drawn into a mysterious sect known as the Papercut Society whose beliefs lead him away from his sister. However, as danger and dark magic threaten them, the twins must come together once more.

No synopsis of this book could seek to do justice to the wonderfully magical and imaginative world which Anna James has created! As a great lover of the ‘Pages and Co.’ series, I had high hopes of this book- and those yet to come- and I found myself completely absorbed into the world of Whetherwhy.

Once again, Anna James puts books and the power of word at the very heart of the story, but in ‘The Age of Enchantment’, the joys and power of nature are also celebrated. With each resident having an affinity to one of the seasons, the ‘specialness’ of each time of year is highlighted, enhancing their natural abilities. As with any magical story, comparisons are sure to be made with the ‘Harry Potter’ stories and, just as fans of those identify with one of the houses, so here readers are sure to wonder which season they ‘belong’ to!

It’s the little details which make any imagined world convincing and the descriptions of Whetherwhy are full of them as well as (if I am not much mistaken!) hints of things to come in future stories. Fabulous illustrations by David Wyatt add much to the atmosphere of each chapter, capturing various scenes perfectly, with a map at the beginning to help readers orientate themselves in this new world.

Juniper and Rafferty come from a loving and supportive family which clearly contrasts with that of Olivor, another student at Thistledown Academy, who becomes Juniper’s friend and Jessy, the other apprentice at the Aufero Bindery in Stormgrove. Incredibly close, the twins grow apart as the story develops, each finding their own place, yet ultimately their bond is as strong as ever. They must work out who to trust and what to believe as they overcome dangers and unravel mysteries. Each of the characters in the story is really well developed, including the adults, adding to the richness of the read- and the potential to discover more in subsequent books. Even minor characters like Nutmeg, the owner of ‘Butter and Bean’, feel like people you might know.

Exciting from the outset, ‘The Age of Enchantment’ is a gripping read, thoroughly enjoyable and impossible to put down. Can’t wait for the next one!

Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment

Anna James, illustrated by David Wyatt

Harper Collins ISBN: 978-0008611576

Flame Chasers

Every year, Ember yearns to fly with the golden flamebirds who pause in their flight at Bright Beacon every year before heading on to their home. Those known as ‘flame chasers’ wait in the harbour, ready to follow the birds in the hope of finding one of their wish-giving tail feathers. But when her Pa goes missing, having left on the hunt without her, Ember is determined to be part of the following year’s chase and gain a feather to wish him back to her. However, finding a lost flamebird which becomes a tiny cinderling in desperate need of returning to the flamebirds’ home quickly to survive, Ember’s quest takes on a new urgency…

What a wonderful book! ‘Flame Chasers’ is a completely captivating story with wonderful characters and such a satisfying conclusion to this tale which yet offers the possibility of more adventures to come in this world!

Having thoroughly enjoyed the story, my ‘teacher brain’ went into overdrive. It would make a brilliant class story for a Year 5 or 6 class, offering plenty of dramatic bits to pause reading at, sure to cause cries of protest and requests for ‘just another chapter!’ But this is also a book which would make an excellent class text, supporting and developing English work.

Careful language choices and rich descriptions build a vivid sense of this world and its settings, offering great models for encouraging children to develop their own ideas and create their own locations, perhaps building maps to help them navigate. Ember is such a wonderful character, loving and loyal, full of empathy for others and with a strong moral code which supports the choices she makes. Stanley, who she meets whilst setting out on her quest, is led by his desire for his heart’s desire which clouds his judgement early on in the story, but he, too, has a good heart and tries to put things right. I also love the fact that the adults were not just neatly disposed of in this story. Stanley’s mum, Aggie, plays a key role in their adventure without overshadowing them or leading the action and is shown to be just as fallible as they are.

The story also lends itself to discussions about hunting wildlife and the ethics (or lack of them) of those involved. Some only chase the birds in the hope of finding a fallen feather whilst others have more sinister intentions, ready to exploit and harm these gorgeous creatures in their pursuit of wishes. This could easily be linked to work on explorers and naturalists who collected specimens and the methods which they employed versus the conservation work carried out today. The subject of ‘what would you wish for’ would also be an interesting topic to discuss!

‘Flame Chasers’ is an utterly absorbing read. Loved it!

Flame Chasers

Julie Pike

Firefly ISBN: 978-1915444554

A Riddle for a King

Philo (rhymes with high-low) has always longed for adventure, but when he follows a strange creature called Mr Spronkel through the oak door of the grandfather clock, he finds himself in a very strange place indeed. To find his way home, he must somehow pass through the Penguin Gate to the Flying Castle to ask the King for help, somehow avoiding drop-bears, answering the Bridge-Riddler’s puzzle and not being turned into a teapot by the Midnight Witch along the way!

Completely surreal and utterly entertaining, ‘A Riddle for a King’ is a quirky adventure, full of friendship and fun. As I read it, the crazy characters, weird and wonderful places and constant riddling reminded me of Alice’s Adventures, yet this is a tale all of its own!

It’s also very hard to review! It is a quite delightfully bonkers adventure which is full of humour and riddles, keeping the reader entertained to the very end! Reading the author’s ‘Afterthought’ offers plenty to think about and plenty to investigate should interest have been piqued, but the plot tumbles along at a pleasing pace so many may just enjoy it in the moment. After all, what’s not to love about chapter titles like ‘wronger than a conga’?!

Often bemused by his new surroundings, Philo’s friendship with Verity, a girl he meets on his quest to get back home, helps him to find confidence and start to see things differently. Her strong sense of right and wrong, her loyalty and quick wits are essential to his success, but this is a very real friendship with some misunderstandings and bickerings along the way which mean nothing when the chips are down and they need each other!

Perfect for those children who are looking for something a little different, ‘A Riddle for a King’ is great fun!

A Riddle for a King

Mark Forsyth, illustrated by Matthew Land

David Fickling Books ISBN: 978-1788453165

Blog Tour: Aliya Aboard the Time Train

Welcome to the third stop on the time travelling Silver Express on an exhilarating journey through Egyptian history and culture with Laila Rifaat, author of the Aliya series.

Letter 3: Read like a Ptolemaian (The Ptolemaic era, Ancient Alexandria)

Dear Geddo,

By now you might have received a chronogram with the news about Professor Fayruz. Poor old sphinx…It was so horrible seeing him lying there stiff and cold. We found him just as we were heading back to the train after our excursion to the Old Kingdom. Some travellers are saying that he was murdered! The whole matter is so disturbing, but please don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine and anyway, there’s no way of turning the train around now that we’re in the time tunnel.

In line with our present stop in the Ptolemaic era, the dining coach has been redecorated to fit the style, with the genie waiters, musicians, and coach attendants all wearing draped tunics with colourful sashes, leather sandals and headbands made of gold and leather. In an attempt to brighten the mood, the guests were given Ptolemaic headdresses to wear. Victoria got a ‘Crown of Isis,’ which had a sun-disk between a pair of cow-horns. I could tell she wasn’t sure whether to be proud or embarrassed to wear it. Aion and I got lotus-crowns which were really pretty. Soliman told us that the lotus flower which was sacred in ancient Egypt. Charlotte, our chaperone, got a headdress with cobras which I thought suited her well. She’s always hissing at us.

I hadn’t expected Ptolemaic fashion and food to be so like the one we had from Ancient Egypt. Soliman explained that this was because the Ptolemies, who came from Greece, took on a lot of the Egyptians’ way of life when they drove out the Persians and settled in Egypt. They seemed a bit divided about Egypt though, because while they liked to present themselves like Egyptian pharaohs, they refused to speak anything but Greek and only put their own people in positions of power. Soliman said they never really assimilated to Egyptian culture. Still, they liked to style themselves as Pharaohs.  Maybe they liked the outfits, or was it to win the Egyptians’ favour by adopting their culture? I’m not sure.

After dessert we headed for the outfitting coach to get dressed for our visit to the Ptolemaic era. I got to wear a purple-striped tunic, and a cloak with a hood. It was really comfortable, and quite stylish too. Arsione, who is from that time, helped dress mine and the other girls’ hair with gold bands and headdresses.

The first portal took us to a spot on a hill, overlooking the ancient town of Alexandria. It felt so strange standing there, looking out over the city I know so well from my own time. But this was sometime around 330 BCE! So, no traffic jams or hotels lining the coastline. It did look impressive though, with a great harbour, countless temples, and a massive lighthouse.

Soliman told us that the city was founded and named by Alexander the Great who drove the Persians out of Egypt in 332 BCE. Ptolomy, founder of the Ptolemaic dynasty, was one of his generals who took over when Alexander died. He’s went on to make Alexandria an important port and an intellectual hot spot. The Ptolomies founded the Library of Alexandria and built a famous lighthouse, which is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and one of the highest buildings of the ancient world. Only the pyramids of Giza are higher.

Next, we headed to the library, to a complex known as the Mouseion which housed a research institute, an astronomical observatory, gardens, and even a zoo. While passing through we ran into scholars, scientists, and philosophers from all over the world that had come to Alexandria to study, experiment, and debate the hot topics of the day.

The Ptolomies who were the patrons of the library were really crazy about books, even more than you. They would go to great lengths to get hold of them, or the scrolls on which they were written, and would collect everything from cookbooks to maps to philosophical treaties. They would even send special agents to steal or barter for manuscripts. Once a Ptolemy ruler tricked some famous philosophers, saying he would ‘borrow’ their original texts to copy them for his library. He ended up sending them the copies and keeping the originals. I can’t imagine going that crazy over some old scrolls of philosophy to the point that you want to steal them!

The library was really cool though, I’ve got to admit. I visited last year during the assessments, remember? It would have been a fond memory, but now it’s tainted by the fact that the most evil magician in the travel world was there with me.

Anyway, before heading back to the train we got to see some of Alexandria’s wide, straight roads and massive grand temples, palaces, and monuments that mixed Greek and Egyptian styles. Soliman told us that the city often came alive with festivals, parades, and celebrations honouring the gods and goddesses of both cultures. So, the Ptolomies were party animals as well as intellectuals.

I got to go now. Charlotte’s making us take baths to wash off ‘dangerous ancient germs.’ I’ll write again as soon as I get a chance. Please don’t worry.

Your granddaughter,

Aliya

Useful links

• Ptolemaian fashion: https://rawi-publishing.com/articles/ptolemaic_fashion

• History of the Ptolemaic era: https://www.worldhistory.org/Ptolemaic_Dynasty/

• Library of Alexandria: https://www.worldhistory.org/Library_of_Alexandria/ https://www.britannica.com/topic/Library-of-Alexandria

About Laila Rifaat

Laila moved to Cairo, Egypt, in her twenties to explore her father’s native country. She fell in love with the country and has lived in Cairo for over 30 years now. It remains a main source of inspiration for her stories. She has an MA in English and Comparative Literature and has worked as an ESL and IGCSE teacher. Nowadays she’s a full-time writer and stay-at-home mum to her four kids. Find out more at www.lailarifaat.com

Aliya Aboard the Time Train

The spectacular sequel to Middle Eastern-inspired fantasy Aliya to the Infinite City. 

When sinister magic threatens Aliya’s world once more, she is sent away on a school trip for her own safety aboard the time-travelling Silver Express. But what is supposed to be an educational journey through Egyptian history becomes a deadly race to save it from evil time-twister and master of disguise, Dorian Darke. Find out more at

https://www.chickenhousebooks.com/schools/laila-rifaat/

My review will follow soon…

Anne of Green Gables

When Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert plan to adopt a boy to help them out on their farm, they are shocked to discover they have been sent a little re-headed girl instead. Not entirely sure what to do with her, they soon warm to Anne (with an ‘e’) Shirley, whose constant chatter, vivid imagination and quick temper make life constantly entertaining.

Anne Shirley is a heroine like no other and her escapades and misadventures have been entertaining readers for over a hundred years. Like many others, I have loved the ‘Anne of Green Gables’ books since first reading them as a child and it is a delight to see this gorgeous new edition which will enchant a new generation by introducing them to her stories.

Katherine Woodfine has done a brilliant job of capturing the essence of Anne’s character. The extravagance of her speech, her joy in life and her tendency to get into scrapes are all here, but the language has been simplified and modernised, clarifying the story for modern readers. Anne’s insistence that she and Diana are ‘bosom’ friends (something which confused me no end as a child!), for example, is not mentioned, nor are there the constant references to religion which permeate the original.

The illustrations are delightful, capturing scene after scene from the story, full of energy, colour and detail. The size of the book makes it perfect both for sharing and for exploring each picture at leisure. Peeling back the dust jacket offers yet more delight as the hardback cover is beautiful, bordered with ‘cross stitch’ designs matching those of the jacket and presenting illustrations from within the book in gold on the pink background.

Absolutely charming, both in illustrations and re-telling, this edition of ‘Anne of Green Gables’ captures the heart and joy of the original, making it a satisfying read in itself as well as a stepping stone to the original books.

Anne of Green Gables

L M Montgomery, retold by Katherine Woodfine, illustrated by Isabelle Follath

Nosy Crow ISBN: 978-1839943317

Coming on the 1st September 2024

The Secret of Golden Island

Yakov has fled to England to escape the war at home. Skylar’s beloved grandfather is unwell.

When the two children meet, they recognise something in each other: a reckless desire to change things for the better… Then a competition is announced. To win a nearby island! Yakov and Skylar are convinced the island will make everything better, but the odds are stacked against them.

Taken from the blurb.

A new book by Natasha Farrant is something very special. In ‘The Secret of Golden Island’ she has, once again, produced a superb adventure story, full of warmth and wonder. She manages to create a very intimate atmosphere, appealing directly to the reader and taking them with her on the most wonderful escapades.

In Yakov and Skylar, she has created two very different characters, who are both emotionally vulnerable. Yakov has had to leave behind everything he knows, his home country torn by war. Skylar is struggling to cope with how ill the grandfather she adores is. The reader feels huge sympathy for each child, empathising with their situations as they try, in their different ways, to cope with, and make sense of, what is happening. When they come, together, each is able to offer the other some comfort and a deep friendship develops.

And together, they take on the adventure of a lifetime, facing challenges and dangers with determination and courage as the prospect of winning the island gives them both hope for the future. It is an absolute joy from start to finish, a captivating read, certain to become a firm favourite with teachers and their classes as well as those who enjoy an exciting bedtime story.

Can’t recommend this one highly enough!

The Secret of Golden Island

Natasha Farrant

Faber and Faber ISBN: 978-0571382507

You can read my review of ‘The Rescue of Ravenswood’ here, ‘Voyage of the Sparrowhawk’ here and ‘The Children of Castle Rock’ here.

Witchspark

Eglantine lives in a magical house called Huswyvern, one of just three sentient houses in the land. But she needs to find her Witchspark to maintain its magic and as her family and home are threatened by the machinations of her uncle and the evil Whistlewitch, Eglantine turns to Miss Hegotty’s Course for Aspiring and Ungovernable Witches for help, an illegal correspondence course.

Meanwhile, in Kensington Palace, Princess Victoria is desperately trying to hide her Witchspark as not only is magic forbidden within the palace walls, but royals are not allowed to be magical. Like Eglantine, she turns to Miss Hegotty for help…

Anyone who has read the ‘Starfell’ series knows that Dominique Valente has a real talent for creating engaging, endearing characters. No one who has read those stories will be able to forget the very loveable Willow Moss and in ‘Witchspark’, Dominique has worked her magic again with the very different, but equally loveable Eglantine Bury.

Eglantine knows she must bond with Huswyvern for it to survive. Furious at a change in the law which means that the house passes to the eldest child, not the eldest son, her Uncle Lichen will go to any lengths to take possession of the house. That she is a girl, that she is different (she had been born with one arm ending just past her elbow), that she has, as yet, no magic, all seem to him to be good reasons for her not to inherit the house. His prejudices underline the key messages about believing in yourself and standing up to intolerance which sing through this story.

Princess Victoria’s stifling experiences at the Palace echo those of the real Princess Victoria who later became Queen. The ‘Kensington System’ was a set of elaborate and very strict rules created by her mother and Sir Conroy to keep her under their control. Readers feel a great empathy for the princess as she not only struggles to maintain her identity under this control, but is also forced to try and hide her growing magic. Her friendship with stable-boy, Eoin Murphy, and the wonderfully named rat, Lord Byron, is all the more delightful for being absolutely the last thing they would have allowed!

There is so much to love about this story and it would make an excellent class story or guided reading text with plenty to discuss and enjoy. The magical world created here is beautifully constructed, so imaginative and appealing, that readers find themselves instantly captivated and immersed in Eglantine and Victoria’s story. Thank goodness this is the first in a series- but how am I going to wait for the next one?!

Witchspark

Dominique Valente, illustrated by Eleonora Asparuhova

Usborne ISBN: 978-1805314998

You can read my review of ‘Starfell: Willow Moss and the Magic Thief’ here.

Huxley and Flapjack: Trouble at Sea

One hot day, when Flapjack is keeping cool, reading his book in the bath, Huxley has one of his bright ideas and decides that they should go to the seaside. Once there, they meet Winston, Wizz to his friends, who invites them aboard his submarine to search for a shipwreck called the Isabella. Huxley is keen to look for treasure, leading the more cautious Flapjack into trouble.

Adorable as ever, best friends, Huxley and Flapjack continue to demonstrate that opposites really do attract! Huxley is as impulsive and ever, seizing every chance to seek adventure with little thought to the consequences whilst Flapjack remains quite timid, far more reflective and often giving into his friend’s whims. But whatever their differences, their friendship remains true, strong and affectionate!

The story moves at a pleasing pace, keeping readers entertained and engaged whilst the plentiful illustrations are a joy to ‘read’ alongside the text. Readers will delight in noticing all the little jokes in the pictures and there are plenty of places where the illustrations are perfect for encouraging conversations to develop empathy and recognise where Huxley is mis-reading his friend’s feelings about situations.

A brilliant bedtime or class story, ‘Trouble at Sea’ also lends itself perfectly to being used to inspire a book group session. Huxley, Flapjack and their new little crab friend would all make lovely ‘jumping jack’ figures or stick puppets which could then be used to retell - or reinvent - the story. The story might inspire a sandcastle building competition, going on a picnic or creating a plastic-bottle submarine…

Like ‘Race to the Rescue’, ‘Trouble at Sea’ is a wonderfully funny, enjoyable story, perfect for newly independent readers and thoroughly enjoyable for adults too! Can’t wait for the next one!

Huxley and Flapjack: Trouble at Sea

Alan MacDonald, illustrated by Francesca Gambatesa

Little Tiger ISBN: 9781788956208

Published 4th July 2024

You can read my review of ‘Huxley and Flapjack: Race to the Rescue’ here.

The Secret Society of Very Important Post

Penny Black and her mother are leaving London and moving to Scotland. This will mean that they can spend more time together, but although Penny should feel happy, she is miserable about having to leave her friend, Wishyouwas- and she can’t bring herself to tell him. However, just as she is about to leave their flat, Wishyouwas himself arrives in need of her help as he has been summoned to Buckingham Palace for a meeting. They discover that a letter from the previous King to the new Queen, Elizabeth II, has been stolen and the Sorters are tasked with retrieving it and getting it to the new queen before her coronation. Will they be able to deliver on time?

Readers first met Wishyouwas in ‘The Tiny Guardian of Lost Letters’, an absolutely wonderful adventure, and it is a pure joy to read another story set in this fantastic world! There is something really charming and magical about all the references to the postal service and all the elements of its past glory, so unfamiliar in this world of email and texting.!

The warm friendship between Penny and Wishyouwas is as lovely as ever and the pair make an excellent team as they set about solving the mystery of the missing letter- the ‘Monarch’s Seal’- accompanied by some familiar faces and some new friends. The mystery is really well plotted, offering clues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing as events unfold. Placed at the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the story may well ignite curiosity about this event as well as some of the landmarks mentioned in the story and perhaps seek them out, following in the footsteps of Penny and Wishyouwas.  I never knew of the existence of Duck Island Cottage and will be seeking it out on my next trip to London!

There are plenty of illustrations scattered throughout the story, adding to the charm of this engaging story which would be an excellent choice for class story time or for using as a guided reading text. I look forward to the next ‘Wishyouwas Mystery’!

 The Secret Society of Very Important Post

Alexandra Page, illustrated by Penny Neville-Lee

Bloomsbury     ISBN: 978-1526644336

You can read my review of ‘Wishyouwas: The Tiny Guardian of Lost Letters’ here.

The Beanstalk Murder

When a dead giant falls from the sky and crushes her village, Old Stump, trainee meadow-witch Anwen’s bad day suddenly becomes much worse. On examination, the body of the giant leads Anwen and her grandmother, Eira Sedge, to suspect he has been murdered. Anwen and a trainee sorceress, Cerys, take a message to the land above, via a beanstalk, where they find themselves tiny in a land of giants and determined to solve the crime!

‘The Beanstalk Murder’ is a fantastic read, combining a classic murder mystery with hints of a fairy tale favourite! Engaging characters and a twisty plot keep the reader guessing to the very end!

The relationship between Anwen and Cerys adds much to the story. Initially enemies, when the two girls find themselves thrown together in a land so completely alien to their own, they are forced into an uneasy truce. Cerys has been accepted at the Academy of High Magic whereas Anwen believes Cerys sabotaged her entrance exam. The two are at loggerheads with Cerys referring to Anwen, a Meadow Witch, as ‘ditch witch’ and Anwen causing a seagull to follow Cerys around and poo on her! As the girls spend time together, each learns more about the other, discovering the importance of looking beyond first impressions and working as a team. Anwen is impulsive and instinctive with a warm heart and insatiable curiosity and her skills as a Meadow Witch play a big part in solving the mystery, leading her to value what she has and what she is rather than envying Cerys.

The murder is so well constructed with clues and red-herrings skilfully threaded through the story, encouraging the reader to don their deerstalker alongside the girls to uncover those responsible. Their size in a giant world both helps and hinders their investigation, but nothing deters them in their quest. Although the giants of the Sky Kingdom and the humans below are alienated, the two sides develop a new understanding, seeing past their differences.

I really hope there will be more adventures set in this wonderful world!

The Beanstalk Murder

P G Bell

Usborne ISBN: 978-1805312536

Published 1st August 2024

You can read my review of ‘The Train to Impossible Places’ here, ‘The Great Brain Robbery’ here and ‘Delivery to the Lost City’ here.

Alice Éclair: A Dash of Daring

When an ingenious cipher machine, capable of converting messages into unreadable code in seconds, and its creator go missing, Alice Éclair finds herself once more in the thick of the action, this time at the Olympic training camp, where the daughter of the missing machine maker is getting ready to compete in the cycling events. Working undercover- and facing the challenges of creating healthy desserts- in the Olimpic kitchens, Alice is determined to solve the case.

This is the fourth and – I hate to say it- final book in the incredibly popular series about the clever, creative and kind-hearted, Alice Éclair, everyone’s favourite spy Every bit as delicious as its predecessors, ‘A Dash of Daring’ offers a very satisfying conclusion.

The story is packed with the usual clues and red herrings which make solving the case so enjoyable and there is plenty of code breaking to tickle the tastebuds. Developing relationships, coming to understand others and overcoming barriers are things which Alice is good at and once again, she makes new friends and meets up with some old ones as she rises to the challenges of the case and faces her nemesis.

Adele, the Olympic cyclist, has a twin, Hugo, a talented designer, who happens to be in a wheelchair. Having taken guidance from a fellow author, Sarah Todd Taylor offers a sensitive, accurate portrayal of his experiences, seamlessly adding this to the story, but greatly enriching the understanding and empathy of readers in the process.

An excellent conclusion to an excellent series!

Alice Éclair: A Dash of Daring

Sarah Todd Taylor, illustrated by Beatriz Castro

Nosy Crow    ISBN: ‎ 978-1839948879

Published 6th June

You can read my review of ‘A Spoonful of Spying’ here and ‘A Sprinkling of Danger’ here.

Ettie and the Midnight Pool

When Ettie meets Cora, she discovers she wants more than just the rural solitary life she has previously lived. And when Cora leads her to a hidden quarry pool- deep, beautiful and dangerously inviting- Ettie is ready to jump straight in. But the quarry itself has secrets…

(taken from book cover)

A book from Julia Green is always something special and ‘Ettie and the Midnight Pool’ is a lyrical, hauntingly beautiful story, one which leaves the reader reflecting on life’s stories and how the past mingles with the present.

No one could possibly read this without being struck by the rich, evocative writing which effortlessly summons the sights, scents and sounds of Ettie’s world. It is a love-letter to nature, reflected in the wisdom of Ettie’s Grandma, her knowledge of plants and flowers and the timeless patterns of nature. Mingled with this are references to ancient tales- the enduring nature of story and how we are made up of our own stories and those of others.

Against the traditions and certainties of this idyllic life in nature, Cora makes a stark contrast. She offers the excitement, the uncertainties, the adventure which Ettie craves, breaking the cocoon of safety and childhood her grandmother has woven around her. Ettie’s mother- a wild one- never settled to that life and in her new friendship with Cora, Ettie is starting to feel she might be more like her adventurous mother than her settled Grandmother as everyone previously thought. Ettie has to navigate her friendship, the secrets she uncovers and the truth about her family to truly find herself and realise who she is.

This would make the perfect read for those children who are thinkers, who want something different or special to read. Every class has them and it’s always a joy to have a gem like this to offer when they are ready for their next book! It is a wonderful, layered story, full of love, longing and life.

Ettie and the Midnight Pool

Julia Green

David Fickling Books ISBN: 978-1788452090

Published 6th June