Cruise Ship Kid- Emma Swan

Silver has lived on a cruise ship for most of her life; her best friends are all pensioners and she's never had a best friend her own age; however, when Yana joins the ship as a guest, Silver is hopeful they may become friends, especially when there's a theft to investigate.  But can the thief be caught before the end of the cruise?

Can I just say from the start that I absolutely loved this book!

Silver has lived a pretty  unique live on board a cruise ship and whilst that might be exciting, it certainly seems to mean that she doesn't have any friends her own age. The Gang, however, are rather wonderful and a brilliant group of 'old people' who very nicely prove that being old doesn't mean being boring.  Silver just wants to be accepted by children her own age so when Yana befriends her, she feels the need to change herself to suit Yana (please never do this- being yourself is the only thing that counts).  Silver is a character that readers will love and will get behind; full of empathy, the book makes the perfect discussion point for friendships.

A cruise ship is such a great setting for a novel with endless possibilities.  It's easy to see that Emma, like Silver, grew up on a ship and the information about life on board and sea terminology really bring the ship to life for readers. My parents have cruised for years and loved it, so I'm used to hearing tales from sea. Whilst the stops along the way were certainly ones my parents experienced, and life on board as a passenger was something I'd heard about, the idea of investigating a theft creates a brilliant adventure with numerous suspects in both the staff and passengers.  Silver is excited at the perspective of being a detective and hunting down the missing watches, and what ensues is a humours hunt for the culprit where everybody is a suspect.  

The story was full of humour, clues and guessing who dunnit. The diary-style writing makes it an easy paced, friendly and enthralling read. I loved Silver's way of chatting to readers and the various ways readers are able to interact with Silver (there's space to respond to her questions and the quizzes), and the illustrations by Katie Saunders perfectly enhance the plot.

Publishing 3rd July, Cruise Ship Kid is a delightful adventure where mystery and comedy combine seamlessly, and the book is going to make the perfect summer holiday read.  I can't wait to see what's in store for Silver next.

Live - Luke Palmer

'Sixth-former George leads the school's coolest band - no party is complete without them.  But when tragedy strikes, how can he rediscover the bright future they'd all planned?'

Having read both of Luke Palmer's previous books, I knew that trying to resist an early read of Live would be impossible to resist.  Luke writes YA novels that manage to create realistic scenarios whilst also keeping readers gripped with the plots, and Live is no exception.  Where Grow deals with recruitment into far right groups, and  Play immerses readers in county lines and drugs (you can read my review here), Live tackles what happens when a group of sixth-formers lose a friend.

Once again, Luke has manged to write a book with very real and believable characters whose lives change in unimaginable ways.  One minute, they are living their lives, doing their best to balance studies, friendships, relationships and their love of music; and then in an instant, everything changes forever.  The plot is powerful and heartfelt and reminds readers that everybody deals with death differently.  Like his previous novels, Palmer masterfully weaves relevant issues for teenagers into the plot, covering themes such as depression, porn addiction and financial issues.  

Live is a powerful novel that will stop readers in their tracks; full of empathy and reality, Palmer expertly highlights the importance of boys discussing their emotions (something we are always promoting in school).  

Publishing on the 5th June, Live is a book that should be in Senior School libraries and is a must-read for teenagers aged 14+.

 

I Am Raven - Alastair Chisholm

 

I Am Raven picks up where I Am Wolf left off (you can read my review here).  Following the destruction of Raven, Brann is determined to discover what happened, so leads Cub north.  However, what they find there is not what they expected and leads to more questions than answers.  

I Am Raven is written from Brann's point of view and allows us to get to know her in more detail.   She is a strong character and the book begins to show us why; we begin to see her struggle with emotions she is holding tightly within her (I promise there will be no spoilers) and the cracks that start to show because of this.  

The book is a gripping read, especially the ending which I simply couldn't put down.  You are definitely left with more questions, and I guarantee you will be desperate for the next book in the series (seriously, Alastair, how could you leave us hanging like that?!).

I love everything about this book, and the series, from the enticing cover that begs you to pick the book up, to the fact that the book is 218 pages long (something that definitely appeals to those who are more reluctant readers).   

I took my copy of I Am Raven into school just before the end of term but had only read the first line when a child in my class begged to read it!  As she was returning I Am Wolf, I removed my bookmark and let her read it.  The following morning she returned the book having devoured it, and declared it 'brilliant' and 'better than book 1!'  - enough said!

Now, exactly how long do I have to wait for I Am Dragon?!

The Last Journey - Stacy Gregg

Pusskin has lived a privileged life with 11-year-old Lottie, who clearly adores him; however, when the birds and insects begin to disappear, life changes for everyone, especially cats.  Believing they are to blame for the decline, the government orders curfews for cats and then termination for cats of a certain age.  It's at this point that Pusskin knows he has to act if he is to save his friends and, indeed, himself.  Making the heart-breaking decision to leave Lottie in search of a hidden island where they can live in peace, Pusskin and his friends begin a journey that has the potential to change lives forever.

Having heard Stacy talk about The Last Journey during the Simon And Schuster brunch, I was intrigued by the book so I was pleased when a proof copy arrived at home for me.  I have to admit that I'm more of a dog than a cat person, but Pusskin quickly captured a place in my heart and I found myself thinking of him whilst I wasn't reading the book.  

Pusskin is the epitome of a true hero: brave, puts others before himself, treats everyone as equal, and doesn't realise the impact of what he is doing.  I defy readers not to will him on and want to reach into the pages of the book to hug him.  

The journey is one of adventure and new experiences for the band of cats and, their travels will both break and warm your heart in equal measure.  

Publishing 3rd July, The Last Journey is an epic story of life, friendship and fighting for what's right.

Shadow Thieves - Peter Burns

Tom and his friends have lived their lives fending for themselves whilst trying to dodge the workhouse; shining shoes to make ends meet as well as picking pockets when they needed to.  When Tom's friends find themselves locked in the workhouse and forced into a brutal regime, Tom is determined to rescue them if it's the last thing he does.  When his shoe shining leads him to meet the Corsair, his life changes completely.  Sceptical at first at the opportunity being presented to him, Tom succumbs and allows the Corsair to lead him to Beaufort's School For Deceptive Arts ... otherwise known as Thieves School.  Set in a remote area of the mountains, discretion is paramount which is why they majority of the students are legacy students, coming from families with a long history of studying at the school; however, there are a minority of others, preferably orphans with nobody to disclose the secret to.  As Tom tries to find his feet at the school, he quickly discovers that things may not be exactly what they seem and danger is lurking. The question is: will Tom live up to the Corsair's expectations and will he have what it takes to step up when the situation arises?

I have to say that Shadow Thieves has all the elements for a truly gripping read: adventure, an alternate world, a remote school and the promise of skulduggery.  I was thrilled to be offered an early copy and it skipped the reading pile as I was so keen to dive in; however, part of me wondered whether it could live up to my expectations.  Spoiler alert: not only did it live up to them, it went way beyond!

Initially set in a version of London where la Grande République de France rules and airships command the skies, we find Tom and his friends doing everything they can to stay out of the workhouse.  However, when they are caught, it is Maxine who breaks Tom out, which is when he first meets the Corsair.  His loyalty to his friends is evident to see throughout the book and is to be admired.  Having been forced to be independent, he is resilient and strong but not immune to doubt and worry.  He is a character that readers will quickly find themselves rooting for. I think, at times, he even surprises himself as his new life unfolds (I'm giving nothing away!).

I loved the concept of a school for thieves, spies, politicos and assassins, and was intrigued by the range of characters Tom meets along the way - the question is, who can he trust?

As I said earlier, when it arrived, Shadow Thieves jumped straight to the top of my reading pile and I began it before the end of term.  It immediately caused a stir at school, with children quick to ask what it was about and even if they could borrow it before I'd finished it!  My only regret is that I had to read the book in instalments when it quickly became apparent that hibernating with it and devouring it in one sitting was what I actually wanted to do!  The book is an immersive adventure full of twists, anticipation and deception that's guaranteed to have your pulse racing.  And oh my goodness, that ending!!  

Publishing 5th June, Shadow Thieves is the first in a new series that is destined to be a huge hit this summer.  I just have one question: when will I be able to get my hands on book 2?!

Bite Risk Cold Blood - S J Wills

 

With everything changing in Tremorglade, Sel just wants to keep a low profile but with the idea of a cure for turning on the horizon, things are heating up, especially when that cure goes missing.  In the wrong hands it could be life threatening, and when Frozen Fever breaks out, things get even worse.  It's up to Sel and his friends to sort things out but danger lurks at every turn...

This is a series I have loved from the very beginning (you can read my reviews to the previous 2 books here: Bite Risk , Caught Dead) and the final book in this gripping trilogy is one I've been anticipating since the nail biting ending to Caught Dead, so I was absolutely thrilled that Cold Blood was waiting for me when I got home on Friday night.  Needless to say, it jumped straight to the top of the reading pile!

Life really hasn't been easy for the inhabitants of Tremorglade and things aren't about to get any easier now!  Sel is desperately trying to keep his head down but events seem to conspire against him.  When a visit to Probius goes wrong, Sel once again finds himself at the centre of everything.  Tension and nail biting action ensue as the plot unfolds and readers will begin to wonder who they can trust ( I found myself questioning the motives of more than one character!).

A fitting end to a brilliant series, Cold Blood will have readers on the edge of their seat; the mix of thrilling action combined with touches of humour and just the right amount of danger make for an unputdownable book.

With the story told largely from Sel and Ingrid's point of view, readers get the different perspectives that enable them to see how friendship are changing and the lengths characters will go to for what they believe to be right.  One thing's for certain - nothing will ever be the same again for the characters.

Friendship, acceptance and doing the right thing are all explored, along with (to a certain extent) the effects of social media.  Questions are raised that will prove interesting discussion points (given the choice, would you take a cure if it was offered?), and it's a book that will leave readers wanting to talk to others about it.

I've loved reading Sel's development through this series and seeing how he has tackled the challenges he has faced.  Cold Blood is a fitting finale but one I didn't quite see coming (which I loved).  Is there an opening for a spin-off?  I'd love to know what happens next.

Publishing 24/4, Bite Risk Cold Blood is a fitting ending to the most brilliant series.  Prepare yourself for twists and turns in a book you won't be able to put down.  This series is perfect for Year 6 upwards looking to bridge that MG/YA gap and will be adored by fans of Jennifer Killick and Dan Smith.  

I was incredibly honoured to find my name in the acknowledgments.  It's been a pleasure to have shouted about this series and I shall continue to do so - in fact, book 1 was borrowed at school today within seconds of being returned to the shelf!

The Boy With Big Decisions - Helen Rutter

 

Fred is about to start secondary school, one which his parents have chosen for him.  He is due to attend The Gains School, the place his father went to; however, Fred would prefer to go to Browtree High which has a much better art department.  Fred is desperate to tell his parents (Madeline and John - they don't like being called Mum and Dad) that he doesn't enjoy the sports teams they have him on, and he is desperate to do art, but he doesn't seem to be able to find his voice.  Then, on the morning of the first day of term, dressed in his Gains uniform, he finds a Browtree jumper hidden in the bushes next to the bus stop.  What should he do?  Should he go to Gains as his parents intend, or put on the Browtree jumper and head there?

And this is where the reader comes in.  Fred finds it difficult to make decisions in his life; after all his parents make all his decisions for him, from what to eat, what to wear and what to go to school.  When faced with making a choice for himself, he becomes paralysed and the choice is handed over to the reader. 

And this is how the book continues: any major decision Fred has becomes the responsibility of the reader.  Because of this, the plot can go in several different ways and I loved the idea of being able to go back and reread the story, changing the decisions I made for Fred.

I really felt for Fred throughout the book: it is clear that he doesn't feel as though he is the son his parents want, and he struggles with that: where his parents want him to follow in their footsteps, he wants to pursue his love of art.  As the book progresses, readers will see that his mum is battling her own struggles (she spends her days cleaning, needs set routines and feels the need to control everything - even Fred's bedroom is decorated to her design and not his) and this seems to consume her time.  Fred feels alone and needs a way to develop express himself; depending on which path the reader takes, depends on how Fred learns to do this.

I'm a big fan of Helen's books and you'll find reviews for all four of her previous middle grade books on my blog, so I was delighted when Tina Mories at Scholastic sent me a copy of The Boy With Big Decisions.  I was even more delighted when I discovered that it's a book where the reader chooses the plot.  I curled up with the book on Sunday morning and spent a delightful morning getting to know Fred.  I first decided to let him head to Browtree but I will admit that once I'd finished the first read, I went back and changed the decisions several times - I love the idea of discovering the different ways things could pan out for him (a bit like the film Sliding Doors).  It's a great take on a novel and I know that the book is going to be a huge hit in school (I'd love to read it as a class novel to see which way the class would take the story).  Full of heart and a great way to look at empathy, The Boy With The Big Decisions is guaranteed to be a big hit with children when it publishes on the 10th April.