June Round-up
I think the highlight of this month was definitely the North-East Book Awards in the 4th June. It was wonderful to see so many authors (& huge congratulations to Ele Fountain for winning with Boy 87) but I think the highlight of the evening was O winning an award as the best reviewer for his blog-post - it was such a wonderful surprise!
Anyway, on to this month's reads:
An Unlikely Spy - Terry Deary.
(Release date: 11th June)
I Cosmo - Carlie Sorrosiak.
(Release date: 1st August)
Fire Girl, Forest Boy - Chloe Daykin.
(Release Date: 4th July)
Maya has escaped form the people she thinks have kidnapped her and is now trying to find her way through the jungle.
Raul is returning to his childhood home, haunted by the past but determined to help save the forest.
When the pair meet, they realise they need to work together to help each other out.
Told as a duel narrative, this story has two very strong characters both of whom have strong voices. It's a fast-paced novel, full of action that will grip readers from the first to the last page. Covering activism and environmentalism, family and learning to move on, this is a book that is guaranteed to be another hit for Chloe.
The Umbrella Mouse - Anna Fargher.
Set in 1944, during WWII, Pip (a mouse) lives with her family inside an umbrella in a shop in Bloomsbury, when one night a bomb directly hits the shop, killing her entire family. Devastated and lost, Pip takes the umbrella (the first in England) and vows to take it to Gignesse in Italy to the umbrella where her mother's family live. And so her adventures begin. In order to make her journey, she must join Noah's Ark, a band of animals fighting alongside the resistance in France. Where will her adventures take her? Will she make it to Italy? You'll just have to read the book to find out!
Brave and feisty, you soon forget that Pip is a mouse and become completely absorbed by the fast-paced adventure within this book. The band of animal characters really feel quite human in many respects and, although their animal qualities are still very much evident, their different characters are relatable and you very quickly find yourself routing for them.
This story is a great way to portray the events of WWII, D-Day and the French Resistance in a way that will appeal. Full of tension and with a host of heroes (none more-so than Pip), the book captures the war-time spirit and imparts many positive messages within its pages. We highly recommend this book and completely understand why it was chosen as Waterstones book of the month.
And Then I Turned Into A Mermaid - Laura Kirkpatrick.
Molly Seabrook lives with her mum and her sisters in a lighthouse and helps out in the family's fish and chip shop ... handing out leaflets whilst dressed as a haddock! her best friend has joined the popular gang at school - Molly thinks she has enough to be worrying about ... and then she discovers she's a mermaid! As the story unfolds, we discover how Molly copes with school, her family and trying to keep the fact she's a mermaid a secret - not so easy when you live right next to the sea!
This is an entertaining book with great characters and some relatable issues (apart from the mermaid bit, of course!).
A book about growing-up, family and friendship, this book is great at helping us realise that this it is ok to be different because we're all different.
A Girl Called Justice - Elly Griffiths.
After the death of her mum, Justice Jones is sent to Highbury House Boarding School for the Daughters of Gentlefolk. Having been home-schooled by her mum, Justice finds everything strange and different to begin with; however, she quickly discovers that there has recently been a death at the school, one of the servants, and decides she needs to investigate. She thinks there's a murderer on the lose - can she resolve the mystery in time?
What a great character Justice is - strong (despite desperately missing her mum), determined, brave (despite her fears) and she always has the perfect way of responding to those who aren't nice to her. I think she's a character that many children will want to emulate. This is a book that will make children want to go to boarding school (despite the cold bathrooms, terrible meals and murders!) and is perfect for fans of the Murder Most Unladylike series as well as the Scarlet and Ivy series.
Mo, Lottie and The Junkers - Jennifer Killick.
Mo's dad disappeared before he was born and now, 10 years on, he and his mum are moving in with his new stepdad and stepsisters, Lottie and Sadie. Their old house is just across the street from where they now live and Mo and Lottie quickly begin to realise that something very strange is now happening there and it's up to them to uncover the truth. Who are the new neighbours? Who is sending them the cryptic notes and what are the Junkers? Can Mo and Lottie unravel the mystery before something serious happens?
With the book taking the format of a transcript from Mo and Lottie who are videoing their adventures, you get both perspectives of the story which is great. I enjoyed the dynamic between the pair and the contrasts between them (quiet and organised versus outgoing and gregarious) and I also liked the inclusion of the 'new family' dynamic. This is a fun and adventurous book with an original, intriguing plot and some crazy baddies. It's a definite recommendation from us!
Kat Wolf Investigates - Lauren St John.
With a love of animals and a mum who's a vet, Kat is very much looking forward to their new life in Bluebell Bay. She helps her mum out in the surgery and starts her own pet-sitting business, but then, in a town where' there's only every been one crime, things take a sinister turn when Kat begins pet-sitting for a parrot in the town's most high-tech mansion. Can Kat and her new best-friend, Harper, unravel the mystery?
I enjoyed the adventure and the involvement of animals within this book. The story is full of adventure and spirit, and this is reflected in Kat whose independent nature and fierce determination shine through from the very beginning. The plot keeps you on your toes with lots of twists and turns, and the setting sounds idyllic!
This book will be perfect for fans of the Murder Most Unladylike books.
My Cousin Is A Time Traveller - David Solomon.
Luke and his superhero brother, Zack, are back with the rest of the members of S.C.A.R.F.. Together with Luke's cousin, Dina (who just happens to be a time traveller!), they need to save the world from take-over by the machines. In the final book of the series, will they succeed?
What a great read! Funny, full of action and fast-paced, the book will definitely make children (and adults) want superpowers! The observations on life are spot-on ('As soon as Serge returned from the toilet, the others decided that they needed to go to.'!!!) and I know that this book will be as big a hit as the previous ones ... however, I definitely won't look at my toaster or the washing machine in quite the same way again!
Frostheart - Jamie Littler.
(Release date: 3rd October)
Ash is worried about his parents and is desperate for them to return home to the stronghold where they live, a place that is completely isolated because of the creatures that lurk beneath the Snow Sea. However, when he discovers his singing has magical powers, everything changes and he joins a band of explorers on the Frostheart who need his help. But can they also help him find his family?
This is a book full of wonderful characters and thrilling adventure with some laughs thrown in for good measure. A perfect book for fans of Cressida Cowell's books.
Spaced Out. Space Poems chosen by Brian Moses & James Carter.
What a wonderful set of poems! We've thoroughly enjoyed reading these and they will make a great addition to the classroom next term. They're perfect for end of the day reading or as part of a bigger space topic. There's something for everyone in here!
How To Be An Astronaut - Dr Sheila Kanani & Sol Linero.
This non-fiction book is rather wonderful! Full of incredibly interesting information about space, becoming an astronaut, being in space and also what happens back down on Earth, the book will appeal to a wide range of children. With an easy to read format and plenty of bright pictures, I love this book. I have to say though, that my favourite section was the one about unusual space jobs ... I quite fancy trying my hand at being a spacecraft salesperson!!!
