Small Wonder - Ross Montgomery

Tick lived a quiet life in the forest with his grandfather and his brother Leaf.. After his grandfather's death, Tick takes over responsibility for the care of his younger brother; after all, his grandfather taught him well how to protect himself and Leaf and this is useful when the Hunter from Drenish arrives at their cabin.  Tick knows he has to flee, so with only their horse Pebble and a knife, the trio head out into the winter forest.  With the Hunter and his hawk on their tail, Tick is intent on getting the trio to the King's Keep, a castle in the mountains where Tick believes they will be safe.  However, time is not on their side as he knows the gates of the castle soon will close as the Drenish draw in.  With danger lurking at every bend, Tick is going to have to draw on all the skills his grandfather taught him if he is to reach his destination safely and on time.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Ross is a versatile writer whose work I always look forward to reading; whether it's scaring me with Christmas Dinner of Souls (which famously kept me awake in a hotel room on my own!), to the magic of Spellstone or the mystery of The Chime Seekers; not to mention his picture books.  I Am Rebel saw him travel back in time and write from the perspective of a dog, and his first novel for adults The Murder At World's End is a triumph.  He is a writer who seems to be able to create magic whenever he puts pen to paper, so I was utterly thrilled to get home from my recent holiday to find a signed copy of Small Wonder waiting for me. I'm sure it will come as no surprise that the book completely by-passed my tbr pile and I began reading it on Sunday evening.

Can I say from the start that the book is just wonderful?  In his foreword, Ross talks about his desire to write a book with a simple story and to tell it well and I can uncategorically say that he has absolutely done that.  Small Wonder (the name his grandfather used for Tick) is an epic adventure of good versus evil and a classic story set in a time when knights and kings ruled their castles and bandits stalked the land.  

Told from Tick's point of view, the book is all about the journey that he and his five year old brother make on their horse, Pebble.  Faced with having to flee the only home they've ever known without warning, Tick needs to rely on all his strength and the lessons his grandfather has taught him (I love that you get his grandfather's voice throughout the book through Tick's memories of what his grandfather had told him).  Danger lurks at every turn and it's impossible for Tick to know who to trust, and readers will find themselves rooting for Tick and willing him on.  He is a character who is both brave and tender, loyal and fierce, but most of all, he's a boy who's simply doing everything he can to keep his brother safe.  

Publishing on the 28th September, Small Wonder is a timeless tale of bravery and finding inner-strength that will have readers desperate for 'just one more chapter'.  My class are going to love it!  

Champions of the Galaxy - Tola Okogwu

 

When a spaceship arrives over the Houses of Parliament in London, everyone expects the worst and a taskforce is set up to make contact; however, they are rather surprised to learn that the Onni are there to help Earth, informing them that they are about to be invaded.  The Onni take 91 children from across the planet to prove that Earth is worthy of their help.

Kola is 12 years old and has, until the invasion, been preparing to be part of the first team from the new UK Space Agency to include a child to head on a 3 month mission to orbit Earth; however everything changed when the Onni arrived.  So he is surprised to discover that he is one of the 91 chosen children.  But can he and the other children prove their worth and save Earth?

TolÁ's Academy of the Sun series is absolutely brilliant and I have been privileged enough to hear TolÁ speak at the Simon and Schuster bloggers brunch in the past so finding Champions of the Galaxy on NetGalley met with sequels of delight last week, especially as it's a sci-fi book and I love a bit of sci-fi.

The book is pacey and the action starts from the very first line:

Usually with sci-fi novels, the plot revolves around aliens descending to invade Earth so I really liked the idea of the Onni being there to help humanity.  

The plot quickly moves to space, to the Onni craft where the children have to prove their worth but the group Kola is put into comprises a group of children who are very different and it quickly becomes apparent that they could lose everything if they don't learn to work together.  It's a fast-paced, action-packed story that readers will struggle to put down.  With a host of fab characters, the book is guaranteed to be a big success with readers as it feels like a new kind of sci-fi and one that will appeal to a wide range of readers.

There are strong themes in the book about understanding people's differences and learning to work together, and about friendship and family which will make wonderful discussion points in school or at home.  

Publishing on the 25th September, Champions of the Galaxy left me desperate for a second instalment!

  

Swanfall - Sophie Kirtley

Pip struggles at school, especially when it comes to concentrating; he's also worried that his best friend is finding new friends.  The one thing Pip loves is nature, particularly birds. As with every winter, Pip is excited about the annual swanfall, a time when the arctic swans make their way back to the wetlands where he lives with his mum.  It's his mum's job, with him, to record the arrival of the birds and catalogue exactly which birds arrive, using their distinctive markings to help.  But this year, Pip's mum is called away and Pip is inadvertently left home alone when the swanfall begins.  And along with it comes a feeling that Pip is being watched.  Something is different and feels wrong and it's going to be up to Pip to discover exactly what is going on.

I love Sophie's books, a quick flick back through my blogs will show you that (in fact, I remember reading The Haunting of Fortune Farm whilst on holiday this time last year, so I was thrilled when I stumbled across Swanfall on NetGalley whilst on holiday last week.  

Sophie has a way of writing books that link so nicely with folklore which gives her stories a timeless fell to them and Swanfall is no exception.  The links with the poems in the book Pip finds, the songs and the legends that are woven into the plot all contribute to creating a novel that will definitely stand the test of time.  

I love Pip as a character, especially his love of nature and the way he embraces what he loves; however, I also like the exploration of friends expanding their friendship circle whilst others feel left behind - it's natural for Pip to worry about Tommo; this is something that happens in school and in life) and it was lovely to see it explored here; it will open up discussions and will help readers to understand that it's ok. 

Swanfall is a beautifully woven story that embraces legend and nature in a plot that will captivate readers.  It's a story about being brave, being yourself and trusting your instincts. 

Publishing, 6th November, Swanfall is the perfect book to curl up with when it's cold and wintery outside. It's another guaranteed hit for Sophie that will warm your heart. 

The Bother With The Bonkillyknock Beast - Karen Foxlee

Mary-Kate is back in her third monster-hunting adventure and this time she's off to stay in a very quiet castle in Scotland with her Granny, so Mary-Kate is convinced that absolutely nothing dangerous can happen there.  However, when she reaches the castle which is located on the edge of a Loch in the village of Bonykillyknock, she discovers that her granny has actually taken her to the 93rd World Society of Monster Hunters' Conference! It isn't long before thing take a turn and Mary-Kate is once again in the thick of things hunting for a monster.

This is such a delightful series and I was thrilled to see Mary-Kate return in a third adventure.  She is such an endearing character and a rather unlikely hero.  Her desire for routine and her anxieties make her a most thoughtful detective and that's what I love about her.  As well as making new friends, she catches up with some familiar characters which is nice to see.

In a world full of violence, terror and war, this series of books is a welcome rest-bite with a gentle feel to them.  They're a big hit in school and I know this one won't be on my office bookshelf for long next term. 

The Last Wish List - Jacqueline Silvester

Life hasn't been the same for Nadia since her best friend, Lizzy, died and she can't even bring herself to tick off much of the wish list Lizzy left for her.  Nobody in her family seems to understand except her Auntie Larrisa. So when Nadia is suspended from school for fighting, Larrisa decides it's time to take action and books Nadia a flight to New York so she can tick off one item on the list (get her pyjamas signed by a godlike pop star).  But things don't quite go as planned, and what should have been a short weekend trip to New York becomes a much longer trip across America.  But maybe this is just what Nadia needs to help her find closure and learn to move on.

The Last Wish List really is just the most heart-warming book that will make you laugh and cry (oh how I cried! All I can say is thank goodness for sun glasses!).  It was a truly gorgeous read and one that will stay with me.

Nadia is having the most awful time: losing your best friend at any age is awful, but as a teenager is just heart-breaking; then factor in that your Russian parents think that the best way to help you is to ignore how you're feeling and carry on as normal... I honestly don't know how she kept going.  Her emotions are bundled up inside her so it's no wonder she gets into trouble at school - something always has to give.  This is what leads to her Auntie Larrisa finally listening to her and bundling her on a plane to New York so she can meet her pop idol and get her pyjamas signed.  But of course, that goes wrong. 

Although she doesn't think it, Nadia is brave. It takes guts to step out of your comfort zone and it takes guts to abandon your plans to travel across America ... guts or a loss of hope.  The trip is unlike anything she's ever done and you know that the consequences when she gets home will be severe (hence her ignoring the millions of messages on her phone).  But this is exactly what she needs to help her heal.  What ensues is a wonderful story of losing yourself in order to find yourself again and I adored everything minute of it.

The Last Wish List is a book a bout grief and learning to accept and live with grief; it's about being brave and taking a leap of faith when you least feel you can; it's about embracing emotions (all of them) and it's about opening up your heart.  Beautifully written, the book sensitively looks at grief as well as mental health issues and family relationships.  It's a wonderful read that will leave you sobbing and uplifted and I adored every page - it's undoubtedly going to be one of my favourite reads of the summer. 

Gloam - Jack MacKay

When Gwen's grandmother dies, she discovers that her house has been left to Gwen and her siblings: Roger, and the twins Hazel and Hester. With their mother having recently died as well, the kids' step-father Henry moves them all to the house, which is located on a quiet island accessed only by a causeway.  With Henry needing to be on the mainland for work, he decides to employ a childminder to look after the children during the day; however, as soon as Esme arrives, Gwen knows something is not right.  The question is can she figure out what and convince her siblings to her way of thinking before it's too late?

Gloam is one of those books that is deceptively but genuinely creepy because for a great part of the story, everything is perfectly believable in a real-life setting.  It's a book that will give you chills and I'm really quite pleased I read it in the sunshine whilst on holiday!

The children have had such an awful time of things, having lost their grandfather, their mother, and their grandmother all in quick succession.  The house should be a safe haven for them and Henry is determined to build that for them, which is why he thinks that hiring Esme is the right thing to do.  Gwen has spent so long looking after her younger siblings that he feels it's time for somebody to take the responsibility from her.  But despite her grief, or perhaps because of it, Gwen is instantly on edge and knows there is something not right when Esme arrives.  

Gloam is ultimately a fight against the monsters under the bed and the daemons in our heads.  It's a story of love and loss, of learning how to grieve, of trusting your instincts and learning how to be brave.  It's creepy and unputdownable, but be warned... it's likely to leave you with a lump in your throat and a tear in you eye (thank-goodness for sunglasses!).

Gloam publishes on the 14th August.  Read it whilst the nights are still light and the monsters don't lurk under your bed!

Impossible Creatures: The Poisoned King - Katherine Rundell

When Christopher is called back to the Archipelago to help the dragons, he jumps at the chance and, after scribbling a note for his dad, leaves immediately.

Meanwhile, Anya's life is changing in ways she never thought possible.  When their lives collide, the pair must work together to fight for truth, justice and the fate of the islands and their inhabitants.

Ok, so even writing the synopsis was tricky as I really don't want to give anything away about this book.  Having loved the first book in the series, it was with huge amounts of joy that I found myself able to read an early copy of The Poisoned King.  I knew it would be good (has anything Katherine Rundell has written not been?!) but I have to say that it blew me away and is quite possibly even better than the first book!

As you would expect, the world building is extraordinary and you find yourself completely transported to the Archipelago and immersed in its world.  It was lovely to catch up with familiar characters but also wonderful to meet new ones.  Christopher continued to show his allegiance and commitment to the islands and it was great to see him again, however, for me, Anya stole the show (actually I think Jacques may have done that!).  She is strong, fierce, determined, and loyal in a way that will fill readers with hope.  She is a character that readers are going to love.

The plot itself is completely immersive and I'm so pleased I was able to read the book in only 2 sittings (I started it on a flight and then promptly ignored my family the following day whilst reading it in the sun!).  At the end of term, there were parents and children at school who were rather jealous that I'd been able to read this before its publication date and I can say to them (and indeed everybody) that the book is absolutely worth the wait.  It's a masterpiece in storytelling that will leave readers desperate for book 3 (coming next year) and with a desperate urge to head to Scotland to see if, just maybe, they can find the waybetween themselves.

Impossible Creatures: The Poisoned King publishes on the 11th September and is a book you have to pre-order.