The Elsewhere Emporium - Ross MacKenzie

The Elsewhere Emporium - Ross MacKenzie  

The second thrilling novel in The Nowhere Emporium series, Ross Mackenzie brings the Emporium back to life with a new twist: it's been stolen!

Daniel and Ellie reveal the Emporium in a new way: a carnival of wonders! Just as they open up the shop in Keswick, a girl called Edna recognises Daniel as the owner of the Emporium and asks for a picture. She then goes on to find a new tent that no-one has seen before which includes a mirror. Breaking it, Edna then becomes possessed. How will Daniel and Ellie help her out?

Meanwhile, in 1967, Mr Ivy, Mrs Hennypeck and Flintwitch are on the hunt for a killer that has killed 6 magicians and Mrs Hennypeck is next! Will she stop the killer or will she become the next victim? And exactly how are the two stories entwined?

O's Opinion:
This book is the BEST novel I have read this year (and I've read 35 so far!). I found this a gripping tale; from the plot to the characters, everything was perfect. I have to admit that I found the plot a little hard to comprehend at first due to the dual plot/timelines, but after the first few chapters I was utterly gripped - it is a thrilling book and I loved reading it.

Daniel is my favourite character because he is very determined, not only to get his job back; but because he doesn't want to loose the new life the Emproium has given him.

Flintwitch is my favourite character in the past because he is, at first, overlooked by Mrs Hennypeck but recognised as talent by Mr Ivy. He is very courageous and I would love to be like him because he gets to work with some very talented people, as well as himself, of course.

This book needs to be read again and again. It is definitely Ross MacKenzie's finest book.

K's Opinion:
This was a much anticipated book in our house and we were thrilled to receive an early copy.  When it arrived in my classroom there were squeals of delight, audible gasps and desperate attempts to liberate it from my desk!  For a brief time, I became a slightly cool teacher thanks to The Elsewhere Emporium! 

I had intended to keep the book until the summer holiday to read but was just too tempted by its cover and the promise of what was inside to wait so I gave in to my willpower and I'm so pleased I did!  This is a wonderful book with adventure and beautifully written description woven seamlessly together (I kept going back into the classroom and reading snip-its to children who were as fully appreciative of the picture Ross paints as I was).

The dual plot was a highlight for me as I liked not quite knowing where it was taking you, but I thoroughly enjoyed be lead around London, Edinburgh and Keswick until finally all was revealed! 

This book is a triumph, Ross MacKenzie! 

'when the grand old shop made of midnight bricks comes to your town at last' will you pay the price of one dream and enter?  

I know we certainly will!

The Lost Magician - Piers Torday

The Lost Magician - Piers Torday

"You're saying that stories are real?"

"Well ... of course they are!"

It's post-World War II and siblings Simon, Patricia, Evelyn and Larry are sent to stay with Professor Diana Kelly in Salisbury after their home is damaged during a bombing raid.  They are given the freedom to explore the house ... except for the top floor which is out of bounds.  However, Larry wanders up there and discovers a rather wonderful and magical library which is divided into three categories: Read, Unread & Never Read.  Venturing towards the 'Reads' he also discovers that he has entered Folio, a world inhabited by the fictional characters in the books.  Shortly after he returns to the house, his sister, Evelyn, discovers the library and comes across the world of the Unreads who also inhabit Folio; however, they believe that the world should be dominated by facts and the future.

Back in Salisbury, the house is raided by the military police.  Fearing the gun-shots, the children make for the top floor and head into Folio for safety and to search for the founder of the library, the one person they think can help them.  However, they soon discover that the Reads and the Unreads are at war with each other and then their adventure really begins.

K's Opinion:
From the very first page, this book had me spellbound.  The writing flows effortlessly and the story unwinds with a gentle elegance that allows you to feel that you're being cocooned in a comforting blanket.  The idea of the Reads and the Unreads, fiction and non-fiction, being at war with each other is clever, yet makes complete sense to me (I often have children in the classroom who will have a preference for one or the other), yet even in the midst of the action, I have never read war described so beautifully!

This book has a real feel of classic children's literature and I guarantee that the story will stay with you long after you've read the final page.  This is a rather delicious book that you will want to both gobble up in one go and savour at the same time!


O's Opinion:
The first thing I loved about this book is how well it is written; from the description to the plot, I found the style of writing absolutely stunning.

My favourite character is Larry because he is the youngest so people don't always believe him. He is the one who discovers Folio yet nobody thinks he's telling the truth; however, his stubborn nature means he refuses to back down and this is the thing I like about him, for without that discovery, the adventure would never have begun - and what a spellbinding adventure it is! He is my favourite by far because it's not the adventure that's beckoning him, it's the thought of a friend in danger, a friend that he could lose.

This novel is now one of my favourites in the world and I would recommend it to anybody craving an adventure.

'"Why would people never want to read?"
I have no idea!'

After reading this book, neither do we!

The Frozen Telescope

The Uncommoners The Frozen Telescope - Jennifer Bell

Ivy and Seb are back and, after escaping the clutches of their dead babysitter, Curtis, they head to Nubrook, the uncommon world hidden beneath New York city.  There they intend to help their friend, Valian, find his long-lost sister, Rosie, whom he's not seen since his parents were murdered.  Their search starts at Forward & Rife's auction of uncommon objects where their use of the Frozen Telescope of the North (which can show the past) reveals that Rosie must be in possession of one of the Great Uncommon Good, meaning that her life is in danger from the Dirge who are also searching for the object.  

Follow Ivy, Seb and Valian (along with their friend Judy) on their quest to find Rosie.  Can they also prevent the Dirge from taking possession of the Great Uncommon Good?

O's opinion:
I thought that this book was the best out of the three that have been published as it made me want to read on and on at the end of each chapter. I loved this book because Ivy helps Valian and thought of him first before anybody else. 

Ivy was my favourite character as she is nice to everyone and she doesn't help herself first. I want to be more like her in that way. She is the reason I love this book.

This book is amazing and should be read by adults as well as children. The book has an amazing story-line and I can't wait to see if there's another book.

K's opinion:

I'd been eagerly awaiting this book and I wasn't disappointed!  

Once again, the strong characters, great plot and twists and turns make for a fast-paced adventure which sees Ivy and Seb travelling to uncommon markets around the world.  And it's the idea of these uncommon worlds that I love: imagining cities underneath me where people trade and travel by bag or drawer is a thrilling possibility!   For me though, one of the highlights of the book is Jennifer's ability to turn everyday items into uncommon objects ... buttons which heal, coins that act like photo albums, flying vacuum cleaners, travel by carpet tile or road sign ... however, I have to say that the idea of pram travel is my favourite!

This is a brilliant book that will be a huge hit, not least with the children in school once Jennifer has visited in a week and a half!  We're all very excited! 

The Football Trials: All Out Attack & Game Changer John Hickman

The Football Trials: All Out Attack & Game Changer - 
John Hickman

Book three & four in the Football Trials series, these books see Jackson face two more challenges.

In Game Changer, his father turns up out of the blue and Jackson has to decide what he will do.  Does he want to help him and is all as it seems?

In All Out Attack, Jackson is at the top of his game when his grandfather falls ill and is taken into hospital.  Will he be ok?

O's opinion.
 I loved that the plot was easy to follow and not complicated as it helped me understand the characters more. I also liked how Jackson was very determined to continue and succeed in his footballing career.
It wasn't just the plot that I loved: I really liked Lauren as she was there for Jackson when he needed her most and she never gave up on him. She is my favourite character.
Even though we started on book three, I already feel like I know Jackson and his family. A great read.

K's opinion.
This is a great market to capture: designed for the 12+ age range but catering for those with a reading age of 9+, the books don't patronise their readers.  The issues are relevant to the age-group, the stories are portrayed in a way that will appeal and they tackle some tricky issues well (illness of a grandparent, the return of a parent, decisions about the future).  The concise style will also appeal to children as I often find that reluctant readers are put off by weightier tomes.  The yellow tint and careful font choice are also thoughtful touches.  There is a glossary at the back and a bonus section with questions to aid comprehension.  
All in all, a great choice for those reluctant readers in the classroom.

The House With Chicken Legs

The House With Chicken Legs - Sophie Anderson

Marinka's grandmother is a Yaga which means she guides the dead towards The Gate and helps them on towards the stars.  So that humans don't grow suspicious, Marinka and her grandmother are forced to move around a lot, albeit in a most unusually way: when it's time to move on, their house grows a set of chicken legs and walks (or runs) them to their new destination!  It is the house that is in charge of this and Marinka and her grandmother often wake up to discover a new landscape outside their windows.  Whilst this sounds exciting, Marinka is incredibly lonely; she longs to stay in one place long enough to make friends and go to school and to live a 'normal' childhood.  However, she is destined to become the next Yaga when her grandmother passes through The Gate. 

What will happen if she doesn't want to follow the path set out for her?  How will she cope with life without her grandmother?  Will the house survive if nobody is there to guide the dying through The gate?

O's opinion:
I loved Marinka and the way she wants to be free of her destiny. The way she was independent from the house and her grandmother when she wanted to be and how she had lots of adventures when she felt like it, made me want to be like her. I loved watching her on her adventures and how she dealt with things. Marinka makes me want to walk out of the door and have an adventure like hers. This book is such a good read, I would recommend it to anybody who wants an adventure.

K's opinion:
This is such an unusual idea for a book and is tackled so cleverly.  Told almost like a traditional tale, the story weaves its way around you and into your heart before you even realise it!  Whilst Marinka is undoubtedly the main character (and a feisty, determined one at that), the house deserves mention as a character in its own right.  Its human qualities and the way it communicates it feelings and desires is simply magical and you cannot help but warm to it as if it were human.  It may actually steal the show!

This is a story of growing-up and of self-discovery.  Marinka learns a lot about herself on her journey through this book (both in terms of who she wants to be as well as who she doesn't want to be); however, it's also a story of loss and acceptance - accepting what we have and appreciating the things we have whilst they are still there for us to enjoy them.

Beautifully written (and illustrated), this is a book that will warm your heart and will leave the characters (both human and non-human) with you long after you've read the final page.

The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day - Christopher Edge

The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day - Christopher Edge

Maisie already has her GCSEs, A-levels and is studying for a degree in mathematics and physics.  Today is her birthday ... her 10th birthday and all she wants is the equipment to build a nuclear reactor in her garage!  The book tells us about Maisie's day seen from two alternate realities: one in which she wakes to find her parents downstairs and her dad making banana pancakes; the other where she wakes to find herself alone with a never-ending darkness outside her house which is slowly creeping her way...

O's opinion:
At the start I found the book a bit confusing but I found it on the whole quite an enjoyable read as I began to understand the concepts more. I loved the way Maisie helps her sister and the relationship they form. This book made me feel all the emotions and more; with all of the fright, terror and excitement, I couldn't stop crying and laughing! This is a truly amazing book and should be read all over the country.

K's opinion:
I loved so much about this book I'm not certain where to begin! 

Maisie is a science geek (think of a young, female Big Bang Theory character!  There's even mention of Steven Hawking!) who isn't into 'normal girly things' - I love that! However, I also like the fact that she isn't always as strong as she first appears: in both realities, she has fears and doubts and that makes her human and will help readers relate to her.  

I love the idea of the different realities being told in alternate chapters.  I frequently found myself at the end of a chapter with a hundred unanswered questions and desperate to know what was going to happen next, only to find that the next chapter took you to the other reality!  It kept me up reading for more than one evening!

I'm really pleased that Christopher is making science cool and directed towards girls as well as boys.  I have to admit that I'm no scientist and the concepts blew my mind a little!  However, he weaves this into the plot perfectly and in a way that helps children to understand some complicated ideas and theories.

I love the sense of family that runs through the book, especially the relationship between Maisie and her sister.  It was this relationship that brought tears to my eyes on more than one occasion!  With an emotional and completely unpredictable ending, it kept my gripped until the very last page (although I've yet to work out the binary message on the last page!)

All in all, this is a great book and I guarantee that it will fly out the door when it goes into my classroom on Monday morning - there have already been mutterings about it whilst I was reading it!

Well done, Christopher Edge! (or should I say 
01010111  01100101  01101100  01101100  00100000  01100100  01101111  01101110? - I had to use a binary translator to get this!)

The Colour of the Sun - David Almond

The Colour of the Sun - David Almond.

“The day is long, the world is wide, you're young and free.”

"Walk on in peace, son."

Set in Felling, in Tyneside, this is the story of Davie.  His dad has just died and he wakes up on this hot, sunny summer's day and is sent out for a wander by his mam.  Meeting his friend, Gosh, he discovers that Jimmy Killen has been killed and he thinks he knows who killed him; however, instead of hanging around to find out what happens, he wanders off away from the town, away from the trouble and towards some answers.

O's opinion.

This is basically a book about how Davie finds Jimmy dead and goes for a walk but it is told so superbly that it makes you feel like you are walking alongside him and you can see everything he sees and smell everything he smells. I found it such an interesting read and I would read it again and again.

The first chapter was my favourite because it takes Davie on a tour of his past, visiting times when he loved to play outdoors and times when he loved to colour in. I loved this part of the book because it helped me find the real Davie before the book started so I felt like I knew who I was following on his walk. A truly amazing read, this book should be on wish-lists in every house all over the country.

K's opinion.

This is a beautifully written book... 

I could leave my part of the review there and would feel that I’d told you everything you need to know!  However, I won't ...

Although the main event in the story is the murder of a boy, the book has a calmness to it. To me, the main event is Davie's wandering up the  hills above Felling and not the murder.  

The story is set over just one day. It begins when Davie gets up and ends as the sun sets.  Nothing happens and yet everything happens at the same time, and it's Almond's skill as a storyteller that draws the reader in, that compels you to read on and to empathise with Davie.  Written with the Geordie accent audible in the characters' voices, the story wends it’s way leisurely through the day and through Davie's thoughts and encounters. The heat of the summer's day reflecting the pace of the story perfectly.

This is a story of finding the light from the darkness, of loss and discovering how to accept that loss and learn to live again. It's s story of friendship, relationships, acceptance.

Although you never know exactly when the story's set, I imagine it begin set in the 70s, a time when children were sent off in the morning and told not to return until tea-time.  There's a real feeling of nostalgia running through the book (or perhaps that's just me showing my age).  As such, I feel that adults will appreciate this book just as much, if not more than children, but probably for very different reasons.