Fear Files: A Trick of the Light - Christopher Edge

 

Hazel wasn't looking forward to the school residential and hates it even more when she's there as everyone is deliberately ignoring her.  She's feeling very lonely until she meets Alice who is there with another school.  Together, they decide to seek revenge by inventing a legend about a ghost who haunts the stately home they're staying in.  But the further they get with their plans, the more Hazel begins to worry they may be going too far.

This is the second in Christopher Edge's Fear Files, (you can read my review of book 1, Hide and Seek, here) and I loved how creepy it was so I was pleased that I'd decided to read A Trick of the Light in the sunshine!

Wow!  What a deliciously creepy book this is!  Hazel is feeling incredibly lonely and pushed out so meeting Alice seems perfect as she's someone to talk to and seems to understand what she's going through.  Then Alice begins to suggest revenge and Hazel is onboard ... until it seems things are going too far.

The setting is perfect for the book: a school residential in an old, converted stately home; creaking and groaning pipes and floor boards abound; dark corners and plenty of places to get lost in.  Set in the middle of extensive grounds, you just know that something bad is bound to happen!  

Publishing on the 8th October, A Trick of The Light is the perfect book for those who like a scary read; it will have you in the edge of your seat and gripping your teddy for support!  Full of atmosphere and with an ending that will leave you shocked, this is the perfect read as the dark nights take hold.

Operation Doodlebug - Tia Fisher

 

It's 1944 and Stan wants nothing more than to keep his family together, so he's shattered when his dad announces that he has joined the war effort and is going away to fight.  He is left in Croydon with his mother where they spend many evenings in their neighbour's air raid shelter.  When Stan and his mum receive the news that his father is missing, presumed killed, his mother is distraught but Stan clings to the hope that he is still alive somewhere.  When a V1 bomb lands too close to the family home, Stan's mum decides she is sending him somewhere safe and so he, Billie and Nellie are evacuated to Norfolk where a piece of shrapnel Stan has brought with him could hold vital information from a prisoner of war, and Stan, with his friends, is determined to unlock its secrets.

Anybody who knows me, will know that I have a love of middle grade World War II books, so when Operation Doodlebug popped up on NetGalley whilst I was on holiday, there was no question about me reading it!  

The detail in the plot and the accuracy of the historical details are a credit to Tia - it's clear that she researched the period well.  Set towards the end of the war, the book gives you a feel of what life in central London was like as well as how children coped with evacuation.  Many WWII books focus on the start of the war so I found it refreshing that this is set much later and readers are able to understand that the end of the blitz didn't equate to the end of the bombing.  

Whilst I loved the setting, I feel that the friendships in this book are what really make it: Stan is dealing with so much following his father's departure and it's clear he thinks deeply about a lot of things.  Nellie is his neighbour and he looks out for her like she was his sister, especially when they are in Norfolk.  He has a different friendship with Billie who is more fearless; his dwarfism is dealt with sensitively and is woven into the plot seamlessly.  The trio balance each other well and the relationship between them is warm and wonderful to read.

Operation Doodlebug is immersive and exciting, whilst being beautifully written - it has a real feel of a classic novel and one that will be read for years to come.

Operation Doodlebug publishes on the 5th November.

A Werewolf Ate My Homework - Emily Snape

 

Asher's life has been turned upside down by the arrival of his Mum's fiancé and son in their small flat.  If this wasn't bad enough, Asher is becoming increasingly convinced that Luca (his soon to be step-brother) is actually a werewolf and he needs to find evidence to present to his mum before the next full moon.

A Werewolf Ate My Homework is such a great read and full of fun as well as carrying some heart-warming messages about friendship and blended families.

Asher is not at all happy at the fact that Luca and his dad have moved into their small flat, and is even more annoyed that he and Luca have been forced to share a room.  Their relationship is already a frosty one and this becomes even more strained once Asher suspects he is a werewolf.  With his mum refusing to listen to him, he has no choice but to enlist the help of his best friend, Helga; despite the way he has treated her recently, she jumps at the chance to help.  Readers will love the characters who are relatable and engaging.  

Each chapter begins with the time of day and how long there is until the next full moon and the evidence list is added to at the end of every chapter.  This is a book with just the right amount of spookiness and adventure that will leave readers howling with laughter when it publishes on the 10th September.

Lykewise - Darren Simpson

 

When a travelling salesman passes through Harrowmere, nobody thinks anything is untoward and folks happily buy his mirrors.  And Dunn and his friends think nothing of playing around with an old mirror ritual that will allow you to see your true self.  But then things take a very dark turn in Harrowmere and the locals begin to fear each other as, one by one, they turn nasty.  When Dunn realises what's actually happening, he knows he has to do something quickly if he is to save his village and his friends. 

Like Thirst (you can read my review here), Lykewise is a book that will grip you.  It's folklore style of writing almost lulls you into a false sense of security; however there is a darkness to it that puts you on guard from the beginning.  Set in foggy boglands with sinister goings on from the start, the eerie atmosphere is built well and will have shivers running down your spine, even on the warmest of days.  As the plot unfolds, you begin to realise that the Lykewise is a dark and twisted entity set upon destroying towns and villages for its own pleasure.  The fact that villagers don't know who the next victim will be puts everyone, including the reader, on edge as they try to deduce who has been duped. It's a clever premise for a book and one that will definitely make readers think.  

At 236 pages, Lykewise is a short but perfectly formed read that will appeal to fans of Phil Hicks and Dan Smith.  It's the perfect MG/YA crossover and will have readers gripped when it publishes on the 24th September. 

The Secrets Of Wild Hill: A Pony's Promise - Olivia Tuffin

 

Lottie is back with her pony Patch and this time she is desperately trying to regain the bond they had after he is spooked.  To add to this, tensions are running high at Wild Hill with her parents determined to sell the place, and she feels very lonely since Felix, her best friend, betrayed her.  But when Felix asks for help, she knows she has to be there for him, especially when she learns that it could ruin Felix's family's farm, Highfield Acres.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Lottie's Dream a few months ago (you can read my review here), I was really keen to read A Pony's Promise.  It begins where Lottie's Dream left off and I absolutely loved that the first chapter serves as a recap of the previous book; Lottie lying on the grass thinking back over what's already happened is a great way to do this - I wish more sequels did this!

Lottie has a lot on her mind: she's worried about Wild Hill and the fact that her parents are desperate to sell it; she's missing Felix and she's also very worried about Patch.  All of these issues are worries that readers will have so it's important to see them in books.  It makes Lottie and her friends very relatable.  Then there's the issue of Highfields Acres: she knows that there is an ancient feud between the families and readers learn more of the background to this in A Pony's Promise.  We see Felix's bravery really come to the fore in this book, especially when he realises that he may end up being seen in the same light as his grandfather, despite being very different.  

With just the right amount of danger and adventure, this is a delightful sequel and one animal lovers will thoroughly enjoy.  I'm now looking forward to book 3, The Lost Horse.

The Neverland Thieves - Katie and Kevin Tsang

 

Tom is a patient at Great Ormond Street hospital; Felix is his best friend who continues to visit him even though Tom is grumpy with him; then there's Daisy whose mum is a doctor at the hospital.  The trio end up in the garden where magic starts to swirl, creatures from the chapel come to life and the world of Neverland is calling. With the promise of returning to the hospital by the end of the day, all three dive headfirst into an adventure where they meet mermaids and pirates; they're accused of being thieves and then have to clear their names, but to do that involves taking on a terrifying Beekeeper and his army of wax creatures.

Oh goodness, gracious me, where do I begin with this book?  It's a glorious new adventure that will whisk you away to a world of magic, hope and heart.

Tom is clearly very ill and is struggling with life in the hospital, being isolated and not fully understanding what is happening.  He's even pushing away his best friend Felix.  I love that the book gives us Tom's perspective on his illness but also shows us what it's like for Felix who is trying his best to understand what his friend is going through and to support him with this.  Then there's Daisy who is desperate to spend time in the hospital in order to become a doctor like her mum, but is actually feeling very lonely.  Although they don't know it, the three really need each other and Neverland needs them, which is why a small golden dragon and a bat are woken from the chapel in order to ensure they get there; something of course they can't do without a bit of fairy dust!

Neverland itself is a joy to revisit: whilst there are a host of new characters to get to know, it is also good to have familiarity in some aspects of this magical world (both for adults who are reading it to their children as well as hopefully encouraging a whole new generation of readers to dive into Peter Pan).  Readers will delight at the map and the illustrations that are woven through the book thanks to Kristian Kister, and will take huge amounts of joy in getting lost in the pages of this truly wonderful tale.

I could think of nobody better than Katie and Kevin to take on this incredibly special book.  To honour the brilliance of the original novel as well as paying tribute to Great Ormond Street hospital takes skill and is something the couple do effortlessly and with real warmth (although I know it will have taken much time as well as many tears and rewrites!).  Their style is one that draws you in from the beginning and makes you feel part of every step of the story.  It's a book that deserves to be savoured and is absolutely one that can be read and reread - I predict it will become a classic. 

I fear that this review is never going to do this book the justice it deserves so I'm just going to end by saying: 

Publishing on the 24th September, The Neverland Thieves is a book to pre-order, a book to savour and a book to treasure forever ... and yes, I did hug the book once I'd finished reading it!

Postman Planet The Big Stink - Ben Davis

Nicetopia, as its name suggests, is a planet full of incredibly nice and polite people, but all that changes when Dr Stankenstein dumps enormous amounts of his stink potion into their water supply.  Suddenly, everyone is farting everywhere and without the antidote being administered in 12 space hours, things could be ruined forever.  Thankfully, Postman Planet is at hand to help!

This is a wonderfully light-hearted book full of laughs and adventure that is guaranteed to get even the most reluctant young person reading.  With songs, plenty of mayhem, a host of unusual characters and fab illustrations, I know it's a book that will go down well.

I wonder what adventure awaits Postman Planet next!