The Secrets Of Wild Hill: Lottie's Dream - Olivia Tuffin

 

Lottie absolutely adores her pony, Patch, and spends every second with him, but when her parents want her to attend a fancy school that will take her away from Patch, she knows she needs to do something to ensure she can stay.  Add to that the fact that the future of Wild Hill, her grandparents stables where Patch stays, could be in jeopardy, and Lottie begins to realise that her dreams of competing with Patch could be over before they've begun.  With her new Felix the only person she can talk to, she hopes he will be able to help, but he's from the neighbouring stables and the rivalry between the two families stretches back years. Can Lottie really trust him to help her?

I'm not a big horse person (In fact, I'm rather nervous of them when I'm close to one) but I thoroughly enjoyed Lottie's Dream and I know it will have huge appeal to horse-lovers.

It is clear from the beginning of the book that Lottie lives to ride, and her love for Patch is what spurs her on.  Despite him being half-wild, she is determined to compete with him, even if that means going against her parents' wishes.  With her grandfather injured, her parents call her older brother, Harry, back from America to help get the stables ready to be sold.  Lottie feels that his time working at a stables in the states has changed him and he is just as determined to sell Wild Hill as his parents.  Lottie, however, has other ideas. 

Felix seems to be the only person she can talk to.  She meets him without realising who he is and quickly discovers that he has been brought back from boarding school and now attends the same local secondary school as she does.  The pair quickly form a friendship and she finds it easy to talk to him, but can she really trust him once she knows that he is part of the McCavendish family who own the neighbouring stables?

Ancient feuds, friendships and family dynamics all weave into this story of hope and resilience.  Lottie's Dream is a lovely book and I'm now keen to know how the story ends - The sequel, A Pony's Promise, is due to be released on the 2nd July so I won't have long to wait. 

We Won An Island - Charlottoe Lo

Since Luna's granny died, things have been different - Luna's dad has been depressed and the family have ended up owing too much rent on their flat and are forced to find somewhere else to live.  Just in the nick of time, they win their very own Scottish island in a competition; however, when they arrive, they discover it's over-grown and the house is run-down. 

 
As they begin to tidy up, Luna decides that holding a festival on the island would help raise funds for the donkey sanctuary she intends to open.  But planning a festival isn't easy, especially when you're trying to keep it secret from your parents!  Will she be able to pull it off?

I chuckled my way through this book and smiled a lot at the bond between Luna and her siblings, Margot and Fabien.  This will be a great read this summer and makes me want to head back up to Scotland to dance on the beach! 

Wild Magic Escape Of The Sea Turtles - Abiola Bello

Misha and Ziggy are back in their third adventure, and this time they are heading to Cancún as their dad is filming a documentary about sea turtles and how they next and hatch their eggs. But when they arrive, there are surprised to discover that there are no turtles on the beach.  Worried, the siblings decide to use their skills with animals to discover what's wrong.  With Ziggy's shape-shifting ability and Misha able to talk to animals, the pairs quickly discover that the turtles are trapped underwater.  But can Ziggy and Misha use their abilities to help the turtles and rescue their dad's documentary?

This is such a lovely book with just the right amount of adventure to keep readers gripped.  I also loved the environmental messages as well as the information about wildlife, animals and culture that are woven into the plot.  It's a lovely mix of information and story-telling that will appeal to readers, especially animal lovers. 

Although this is the third book in the series, Escape Of The Sea Turtles could easily be read as a stand alone book thanks to a recap of the twins' abilities being included in chapter one.  

With fab illustrations by Emma McCann punctuated throughout the book, this is a novel that I know will appeal to lots of lower key stage 2 children in my school.

If The Invader Comes - Tom Palmer

 

It's June 1940 and Bobble lives on the Cornish coast on the grounds of Trescatho House. Following the defeat at Dunkirk, the fear of a German invasion of Britain is at an all time high and everyone is on alert. Bobble quickly realises that the trips away her mum is making may have something to do with the war.  Along with her friends Cadan and Cilla, they come to learn that their parents are involved in top-secret war work, and they are about to become involved in covering for them.  What ensues is a test of courage and daring in the face of real danger.  

Bobble knows that her father is suffering with shell-shock since he fought during WWI, and the constant planes flying over the house are triggering him, which means it's up to her to help her mum in the house as well as with her dad. The war changed children's childhoods and forced them to grow up quickly, and If The Invader Comes shows this. Once they discover that their parents are involved in dangerous and top-secret war work, Bobble, Cilla and Cadan step-up to help them, and this is often dangerous in more ways than one. The trio are brave and wonderful characters who reader will very much enjoy getting to know. 

The book brilliantly portrays the reality of war for children and the dangers it posed. As characters they are very different: Bobble is brave and empathetic, showing her understanding of what others are going through. Cadan is clever and calm in the face of danger, especially whilst commanding the Iris; whilst Cilla is strong and determined, and refuses to conform to expectations, especially when it comes to flying planes. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with and, despite the book being shorter (198 pages), they are perfectly formed. 

The plot is well-paced and looks sensitively at themes that will engage readers whilst keeping them gripped as they feel like they are alongside Bobble and her friends.  If The Invader Comes is a book perfect for those studying WWII or anybody who enjoys a good adventure, and I'd really love to know what's going to happen to Bobble and her friends next.

The House Of Horrors - Dan Smith

Whilst travelling across the desert in Texas, at night, the Slade family's car breaks down leaving them stranded without phone signal.  Fortunately, Sam asses in his truck and offers to tow them to his home to help them. Their initial relief is short-lived for they are taken to the ghost town of Coyote Creek. Here they are forced into Dr Kilgore's House of Horrors and suddenly, their family trip turns into a living nightmare.

It is no secret that I am a big fan of Dan Smith's books and his Night House Files series is another huge hit (both with me and with the children at school), so I was thrilled when the third book in the series arrived for me. 

The account of the events is given by fifteen-year-old Jay Slade, and is given in snippets through story as well as case notes. The mixed-media allows different aspects of the story to be told and also helps to build the suspense.  I don't want to give anything away but what the family goes through is terrifying and told in great detail.  It's an action-packed read that doesn't let up and will have readers gripped and terrified in equal measure.  

I know I'm a scaredy cat but The House Of Horrors was a book I had to read during daylight hours!  Dan has captured the tension brilliantly in this supernatural thriller that will definitely leave readers guessing. I was genuinely scared whilst reading!

Although The House Of Horrors is part of the Night House Files series, it would also make a perfect stand alone book.  With Luke Brookes once again adding chilling illustrations, and Barrington Stoke waving their magic wand with font and layout, this really is a book that is accessible to all - but especially the very brave!

Flipped! - Philip Caveney

During the COVID pandemic, whilst his mum is at work at the hospital, Flip goes out walking.  During one such walk, he stumbles across a house that looks like it's been abandoned; however, when he ventures inside he finds things aren't quite what they should be, for inside are the characters from Great Expectations and, without realising quite how, he becomes part of Charles Dickens' famous novel.  He can come and go but he cannot escape and it looks as though things could take a horrible turn if he can't find a way out.

I loved the idea of this book. I've read Great Expectations so being able to revisit the characters in this novel was a lovely surprise. 

Flip is finding the pandemic difficult (didn't we all?!) and walking is the thing that calms him. He is worried about his mum and feels lonely.  With lockdown in full flow, he can't turn to anybody for help so has to tackle everything on his own.  He's a very relatable character and one readers will enjoy getting to know. The book is also a brilliant way to introduce a new generation to Charles Dickens. The plot of Flipped seamlessly weaves the story through its pages so that readers will understand the plot even if they haven't read the original; in fact, it may prompt some to then go on to read it.

Out now, Flipped is an engaging read and full of intrigue and mistaken identity that leads to a thought-provoking read.

A Sister Like You - Sarah Hagger-Holt

Ella and Ari have been brought up very differently but when they both start at St Hilda's school it's for a fresh start. They both feel alone but they get to know each other through the school choir, however, everything changes when they discover they are actually sisters.

This is a really lovely story with so many positive messages in it. I began reading it last weekend but have savoured it, reading a bit every evening,  as I didn't want it to end.

Ella and Ari are very different. Ella has been home schooled for a while by her mum after she was bullied at her previous school. She is very quiet, gets anxious about everything and doubts herself. Having had such a bad experience at her previous school, starting St Hilda's is a daunting prospect for her. She's only just moved back to the region and now she and her mum are living with her grandma.

In contrast, Ari is full of life and finds it tricky to stay still, which is unfortunate as she breaks her leg at the beginning of the book. Her dads are always there for her and their house is a loving but chaotic one. At school, Ari is constantly getting into trouble and is determined that this new school will be different for her.  Ella and Ari are complete opposites but finding each other could be the best thing to happen to them. Although 2 years apart in age, the girls become friends as they navigate the new school and finding friendships. The story is told in dual narrative, allowing readers to really get to know Ella and Ari, what they are thinking and how they are feeling - I really liked this aspect of the book.  

A Sister Like You is a wonderful celebration of friendships, coming out, families in different forms, being yourself and starting afresh. I genuinely loved reading it and know that it will be snapped out of my hand as soon as it heads into school.