Kicked Out - AM Dassu

Ali, Sami and Mark are friends who are looking forward to spending the summer together in Mark's plush new house after his mum's lottery win. However, when her new boyfriend, Callum, accuses their friend Aadam of stealing thousands of pounds, everything changes and Ali, Sami and Aadam are kicked out of Mark's house.  With Aadam already being threatened with deportation, this is a set-back that could change their lives forever.  Determined not to let Aadam leave the UK, and also determined to remain friends, the trio set about figuring out how to raise the money they need for his appeal.

Oh my goodness, Az certainly knows how to write a book that gets to you!  I finished reading Kicked Out on Sunday and it's taken a couple of days for me to write this review, largely because it's taken me a while to get my thoughts in order and to be able to write a review that does justice to this book (& I still don't think I've done that!).  

When an early copy of Kicked Out arrived for me, I was absolutely thrilled as I'm a big fan of Az's books and I know the impact they have: I used Fight Back with Year 6 last year and the discussions it prompted were incredible, and Boy Everywhere (to which Kicked Out is the sequel) left me in tears and had a profound effect on me.  

I began reading Kicked Out knowing that the book would highlight issues faced by children and young people today but those issues still hit me as the story unfolded.  We first met Sami and his family, as well as Aadam, in Boy Everywhere, as they were all fleeing Syria due to the war.  Where Boy Everywhere focussed on Sami and his family, it's Aadam's situation that takes centre stage here.  Together, they have settled into life in the UK, with Aadam living with Sam and his family; however, at the start of Kicked Out, we discover that Aadam's lack of documentation for his asylum application (this went missing during his ordeal to make it to the UK) means that his application has been unsuccessful.  Coupled with the fact that the authorities believe he is an adult instead of 16, he is being threatened with deportation unless he can quickly come up with thousands of pounds to reappeal.  As Aadam is already working several jobs (including gardening for Mark's mum in their new home), the chances of raising the money are incredibly slim.  As the plot develops, Az shows us the darker side of humanity in the way the boys are treated, but also shows us the compassion and strength of character that exists in the world, through the boys and their actions.  

As well as the asylum story, the book addresses the issues of blended families.  During the book, Mark has to face the introduction of his mum's new boyfriend and the changes that creates to him as well as his friends.  Ali is also dealing with his dad moving back to the area and is forced to face the situation that his father has a new family and the emotions that creates for him.  It is sensitively done and I think will help children to understand that absent parents does not reflect on them or their worth.  Ali really struggles to accept what his father has done and how he behaves on his return, and I hope this will help readers to understand their own situation if this is something they are experiencing.  

Kicked Out is a stunning book that I think deserves to be savoured so you can take in every detail and is one readers won't forget in a hurry.  It is a powerful story of resilience, hope and bravery that promotes empathy and speaking up for what you believe is right.  Like Boy Everywhere, Kicked Out is a book that will stay with me for a long time to come. 

Search For The Black Mirror - Helena Duggan

Search For The Black Mirror starts where The Light Thieves left off, and Grian, Jeffrey and Shelli are now being hunted as the people responsible for the explosion that has damaged the Tipping Point. The trio are on the run, determined to prove that Howard Hansom is the bad guy.  Whilst staying in the Wilde with Shelli's people, Grian confides in his two friends about the letter and the crystal his grandfather gave him. They need to find Yarrow and the Colour Council who will be able to help in their quest to find the White Rose.  Together, they decide they need to find the three other letters that will help save the sun.  However, with the police hunting for the three friends and their faces now known to the public, their quest is far from easy or safe.  Knowing who to trust is tricky, especially as they are running out of time.

The Light Thieves leaves things on a real cliff hanger so I was very excited when an early copy of Search For The Black Mirror arrived.  I was also pleased that the book begins with a four page 'story so far' map which helped to jog my memory.  

The action gets going quickly and doesn't really let up.  Just when you think the trio are making progress, something else comes along to hamper them, and without the use of technology to help them, you often wonder how they will ever succeed.  The environmental theme is strong in this book with a reminder of the importance of the sun, wildlife and the natural world around us (which seems very timely in the wake of the forest fires that have been devastating parts of the world in the past few weeks).  The reliance on technology is evident at times and Shelli's desperate need to protect nature and animal friends is strong.  It's a message that will resonate with so many readers.

The trio are clearly now firm friends and the trust is clear to see; however, like all friends, things aren't always plain sailing and disagreements rear themselves at different times.  With new characters to meet as well as old ones, there are twists along the way that may surprise and it is difficult to know who Grian, Jeffrey and Shelli can trust.   They know all too well that time is running out and that the fate of the world is in their hands.

Search For The Black Mirror is an exciting read that will keep readers gripped and will leave them wanting more. Publishing on the 3rd August, I am now desperate for the final book in the trilogy to discover how it all ends. 

The Boy In The Smoke - Rachel Faturoti

To his friends, Isaiah is a happy, confident boy, but they don't know the whole story: Isaiah's mum now studies in Berlin so it's just him and his dad, but things aren't easy. After an accident, his dad struggles with chronic back pain which makes working difficult; as a result, money is tight and they are struggling. 

On his way home from school one day, Isaiah heads into the basement of his block of flats and there he encounters Jacob who appears to him through the smoke in the chimney place. The pair start to communicate and Jacob reveals that he is living in the same building but in the Victorian era. He is in an orphanage after his father went missing and has been declared dead, but Jacob is convinced he is still alive.  Can Isaiah's history project in the local area help to change Jacob's life as well as his own?

The Boy In The Smoke is a book that appealed to me from the start and I read in a couple of days as I found it so engaging.  The book looks at the struggles that will be facing many young people these days in a sensitive way. Isaiah's desire to hide his struggles at home and their lack of money are honest, and things such as needing to visit the food bank and not wanting friends to come round will show readers in a similar situation that they are not alone.  Isaiah is also very clearly a carer for his dad when his pain is at its worst and this is depicted well, showing Isaiah's conflict between looking after his dad and being in trouble at school for lack of attendance and lateness. Isaiah's love for his father is obvious and his strength in dealing with everything shows, but so do the struggles and worries that come with that. 

Then there is Jacob who is a Victorian boy struggling with the conditions in the orphanage he's been placed in.  Using the fire-place and letters as their way to communicate, the pair becomes friends and determin to help each other, with Jacob offering advice to Isaiah who, in turn, uses modern technology and his history project to try to help Jacob.  

In a heart-warming book where the past and the present collide, family, friendship and courage are all evident.  Characters are real, relatable and will help readers to learn that it is important not to judge others.  The plot is pacey and engaging and I was completely invested in the outcome for both Isaiah and Jacob.  The Boy In The Smoke would make a great class reader for anybody looking for a Victorian story with a difference and will provoke interesting discussions around empathy.  I know this book will go down well with my Year 6 class in September. 

Mysteries At Sea: Peril on the Atlantic - H. M. Howell

Alice is excited to be spending the summer with her father on board the Queen Mary as it sails to New York. Whilst her father is working, desperate to ensure the ship wins the Blue Riband prize for the quickest crossing of the Atlantic, Alice hopes to explore the delights of the ship; however her plans are quickly thwarted when her father gives her strict instructions not to leave the staff quarters.  After overcoming her seasickness, Alice decides to sneak out and explore, but after slipping into the first-class swimming pool before it opens, she witnesses an attack that leaves a member of staff unconscious.  Shocked, she determins to find out who carried out the attack and why.  Along with her new friend, Sonny, she begins to investigate but the more they discover, the more serious and dangerous things get. 

I have enjoyed all of A. M. Howell's books so discovering Peril on the Atlantic filled me with joy, more so when I read that it is the start of a new series.

The setting is perfect for a good mystery and wonderfully incorporates the history of the Queen Mary, describing the splendour of it in such detail that I could imagine myself wandering the decks. The enclosed nature of the ship and the multitude of decks, small staff quarters and hidden areas make for a gripping read, and you are very quickly drawn into the adventure. You know the culprit is on board with no way of escape and this certainly adds to the tension and keeps you guessing.

We meet Alice at the very beginning of the book and quickly find that she isn't one to always follow the rules. There is a feistiness to her and she refuses to be treated the way girls traditionally were at that time.  She has to be careful though, as part of her rule-breaking involves going against her father's instructions, and she is has to make sure she doesn't get caught! Along with the new friends she meets along the way, she is a force to be reconned with and her bravery will leave readers on the edge of their seat.  But, at the end of the day, there is the added question of who can be trusted to add into the mix which only adds to the tension.

Publishing on the 3rd August, Peril on the Atlantic is a gripping adventure with that 'just one more chapter' effect. I gobbled it up in one sitting and I'm so pleased it's the start of a new series as I'm already desperate for The Royal Jewel Pot! 

The Secret of the Blood-Red Key - David Farr

The Book of Stolen Dreams was one of my favourite reads two years ago (you can read my review here ) and I've been very excited about the prospect of a sequel ever since. 

Since the end of book 1, both Rachel and Robert have become heroes as life in Krasnia gets back to the way it should be; however, things at home aren't wonderful as their father is struggling to get used to life at home without their mother. One day after school, Rachel is stopped by a boy who seems to know all about the blood-red key, in fact he has his own.  He tells her that they are both keepers of the key and should use their keys wisely.  He gives her a calling card with a phone number on it and then leaves. She tells Robert as soon as she gets home but he brushes it off.  However, when Rachel discovers that a young girl has been smuggled into the Hinterland, Rachel determins to use her key to save her.  The journey is far from an easy one and the fate of Krasnia, Rachel and the girl hang in the balance.

As with The Book of Stolen Dreams, The Secret of the Blood-Red Key is an immersive, cinematic adventure that I simply couldn't put down.  The description transports you right back to Krasnia and the vivid images are once again painted in the reader's mind.  The world-building is once again spectacular and the time spent in the Hinterland is particularly special.  The beginning of the book skillfully recaps the events in book 1 which allows you to venture into the main plot seamlessly (I love when a sequel does this). 

Already invested in the characters, it was great to join them on their journey again, as well as meet some new ones.  Rachel's love for her family shines out of the book as does her bravery, and I love her as a character.

Publishing, 14/9, The Secret of The Blood-Red Key is a book that is fantastically unputdownable and utterly delicious.  Be prepared for a rollercoaster of a ride that will leave you with an incredible book hangover.  

In The Shadow of the Wolf Queen - Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Ysolda had lived a quiet life in the forest with her sister, away from the wolf queen's reign.  That is until the day an earthquake rocks the land and Ysolda's sister vanishes. Determined to find her, Ysolda sets out, accompanied by Nara, her hawk; however, her journey is far from easy and an encounter with the wolf queen makes the quest even more dangerous. 

Kiran is an exceptional writer whose world-building is always vivid and immersive, and In The Shadow of the Wolf Queen is no exception.  Detailed in its description, you are plunged into Ysolda's world in all its harshness and magic and lore.  With a respect for nature a clear theme, the book is one to savour and immerse yourself in. 

Each of the characters encountered are incredible, both those you will love and the ones you know have ulterior motives.  They are relatable and mutli-layered, and will stay with you.

In The Shadow of the Wolf Queen is book 1 in the Geomancer trilogy and the end will leave you wanting more. Publishing on the 31st August, it will be a must-read as the nights start drawing in. 

Code Name Kingfisher - Liz Kessler

Travelling home from my holiday on Sunday, I had fully expected to spend the majority of the flight sleeping (it had been a fairly busy trip for me and crappy health issues had left me much more tired than in previous years); however, the first leg of the journey saw me begin Code Name Kingfisher and suddenly the any idea of sleeping went right out the window!

Set in Holland during the Second World War and also modern day Britain, the book follows Liv who has been tasked with a school history project to discover her family tree. With a small family, and her grandmother closed off after the death of her grandfather, Liv thinks this is going to be an impossible task,  but the discovery of a box hidden in her grandmother's attic opens up a whole new world. Through the contents of the box, Liv is transported back to 1942 Holland where Mila and her sister Hannie are forced to leave their family home and their parents in order to live with strangers; their identities and their Jewish background are kept strictly secret to protect them from the Nazis.  However, as the story unfolds, Hannie finds it increasingly difficult to simply sit and watch what is happening to other Jewish children and is determined to do all she can to help. But do she and Mila know who they can trust and can they stay safe?

I have a real weakness for books set during WWII but I don't think I've read many that are set in Holland. I'm well aware of the plight of Anne Frank and her family, as well as the brave resistance fighters who helped them, but this gave me a different perspective on life for Jewish families at this time.  The idea of parents deciding to entrust their children to strangers to save them broke my heart and I admired Mila and Hannie's parents' strength immensely; also that of the Van de Bergs who take them in. There were so many acts of bravery like this during the war and I always feel that it's important that they aren't forgotten.

Although Mila and Hannie are sisters, they are clearly two very different characters, both very strong in their own way but different in how they deal with things.  I don't want to say any more so as to avoid spoilers but they are characters I won't forget in a while. 

Then there is Liv.  Living in Britain today, she is dealing with several big things in her life: she is still coming to terms with the death of her grandfather and is also coping with changes in friendships.  Friendships often change as children progress through school but I really felt for her.  The discovery of the box and the subsequent investigations into its contents come at just the right time for Liv. 

Told in the third person, Code Name Kingfisher flits between Liv's story and that of Mila and Hannie, creating a tension that makes you want to read 'just one more chapter'.  I found myself very quickly absorbed and fully invested in the lives of all three girls and shed tears on more than one occasion (goodness knows what the person beside me on the plane thought!).

Full of hope, courage, friendship and family ties, Code Name Kingfisher is a book that will draw you in and capture your heart. It will remind you that bravery can be found in the most unlikely of places and that you should never give up hope.

Pushing on the 14th September, Code Name Kingfisher is a must-read book this autumn.