The Boy Who Cried Ghost - Ian Eagleton

 

When Richard and his mum move into his grandma's old home, he thinks that there's a ghost hiding in the wardrobe.  Richard deals with the situation in the only way he knows how, by checking the doors are locked, checking the rope is wound round the handles and checking the chair is propped against the door.  And he does this over and over again.  But when Richard's mum's friend, Tony, thinks he's being helpful and opens the door, the ghost escapes and now Richard is desperate to get rid of it for good.  But how is he going to do this?

The Boy Who Cried Ghost is a simply wonderful, heart-warming story about a boy with OCD and how he goes through his daily life.  We see first hand how this affects his daily life and it's written sensitively in a way that shines a light on a mental-health condition that is often hidden from others.  Reading Ian's author's note at the end lets readers know how personal this book is for him and the authenticity of Richard's character shines off the pages.  The book really allows readers to understand what OCD and how it manifests itself both internally as well as externally.  I have to say that I also loved Quinn and his sense of humour, which brought a lightness to the plot, as did Tony with his dad jokes that really made me chuckle.

The ghostly element of the novel creates tension and adventure, and also enables Richard to develop friendships.  As things progress, the eeriness of the ghost grows and is thrilling to read - perfect for this time of year!  

The Boy Who Cried Ghost is a a book full of love, friendship, heart and determination.  It takes bravery to write a book from personal experience but I'm truly grateful for Ian's inner strength and his writing for this is a book that will help so many children to see themselves and to understand that they are not alone.

That'll Teach Her - Maz Evans

 

Claudia Stitchwell is the headteacher of St Nonnatus CE Primary School and it's fair to say she is not liked, so when she dies suddenly from a severe nut allergy at a school event, the parents are quick to suspect that all is not what it seems.  With four people emerging as suspects, clues need to be pieced together amongst the gossip to discover who the murderer is.

OH. MY. GOD. THIS. BOOK. IS. BLOOMIN'. BRILLIANT.

I feel that the eight words above sum up everything that needs to be said about this book but I feel the brilliance that is Maz Evans deserves more.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I adore Maz and her writing; she's a genius when it comes to writing comedy that combines deeper messages and That'll Teach Her is another perfect example of this.  After her first novel for adults, Over My Dead Body, was released last year (you can read my review here ), I was giddy with excitement when I discovered I could read an early copy of That'll Teach Her.  The start of half-term proved to be the perfect opportunity, especially as I needed a new book for my flight to a bit of sunshine.  

From the very beginning, this book is a work of genius: the combination of letters to parents from the school, parents WhatsApp group messages, police reports, newspaper articles and narrative all help to weave the plot perfectly.  The WhatsApp group chats, in particular, made me laugh out loud with the perfect mix of characters and gossip.  When my son was at school, I was one of his teachers and avoided the parents' WhatsApp groups like the plague, so being able to get an insight into them here gave me so many laugh out loud moments I was just pleased it was my husband sitting next to me on the plane!  Maz's observations and attention to details are spot on and, whether you're a parent or a teacher, I guarantee you will find yourself giggling and nodding away!  

In amongst the laughs, there is a murder to solve and it's the parents in the WhatsApp group who are determined to get to the bottom of things.  The drama and the plot are unpredictable, with twists that create intrigue and will keep you guessing until the end, but in true Maz style, she also weaves more serious themes through the book that will draw on readers' empathy.  

That'll Teach Her publishes 27th February and is a book you absolutely need to buy.  It's clever blend of humour and  murder makes the book an utterly compelling read.  I have just one question: does anybody know this week's spellings?!

The Great Fox Revealed - Justyn Edwards

 

Flick and Charlie are back in the final trilogy of the The Great Fox series with Flick determined to finally find her father.  When the police accuse him of stealing the Crown Jewels, she is determined to prove his innocence and finally find him.  However, with old foes chasing them and The Great Fox also on their case, can Flick find her father and the Bell System before somebody else does?

It's really no secret that I've been a huge fan of this series since the very beginning (you can read my reviews for the first two books here: The Great Fox Illusion ; The Great Fox Heist ) and I have adored the illusional magic that it's based around.  I've been excited about finding out how the series ends so when I collected my copy, I had to use all my willpower not to dive in immediately; however, I knew that waiting until half-term when I could gobble it up in large chunks would be worth the wait, and oh my goodness I was right!  From the start, the book is a rollercoaster of an adventure with twists and illusions that are guaranteed to keep you guessing right until the end. 

Flick has been determined from the start to find her father and the police accusation of theft gives her what she needs to get closer to her goal.  With Charlie by her side, the pair show, once again, what an unstoppable force they can be; however, things get heart-racingly tense in this final book and danger is a real threat - Flick really needs to ask whether find her father is worth the risks she is going to have to make.  

I promise The Great Fox Revealed is a brilliantly fitting and unputdownable ending to a simply fabulous series, but the big question is: will we see more from Flick in the future?

The Last Boy - Eve McDonnell

Brewster is a chimney sweep who spends his days risking his life to clean chimneys for cruel Master Wyer who bought him from his mother.  However, Brewster has a hidden talent: he has a unique way with numbers that allows him to predict a storm of stars.  When his talent comes to the attention of an influential Lady, Brewster hopes that his way with numbers will help him to achieve his wish to be the last boy to ever have to climb a chimney.

Oh my goodness, I read The Last Boy on the terrace in Spain over half-term and finished it with tears streaming down my face! What a powerful story this is of love, fate and determination. The book itself is enough to tug at even the hardest heart, but then reading the author's note at the end and realising that it's based on a true story makes the whole book even more poignant. 

 

George Brewster was a truly remarkable character whose love for those around him shines off the pages. His compassion radiates in everything he does and he's a character I won't forget in a hurry.  He lived in a time that was truly awful for children whose families couldn't afford to keep them. Fiction is a brilliant way of showing children today what life was like in the past and The Last Boy does this perferctly - I can see this book being a brilliant addition to any classroom as a daily read or to accompany a Victorian topic.  

Eve has a wonderful way of bringing the past to life in the most vivid way through her books and each one has provoked strong emotions in me for different reasons.  The Last Boy is a triumph of a novel that will be read by children for many many years to come.  

You'd Better Watch Out - Frank Cadaver

When Evangeline gets into trouble at school again, her father decides on a different form of discipline: he brings home a Christmas elf; however, this is no ordinary Elf on the Shelf, this is a Watching Elf and it's about to change Evangeline's life forever.  The question is, can she rid herself of the elf before it's too late?

You'd Better Watch Out is the first in a new YA series called The Blood Texts and  it's certainly not for the faint hearted: the Watching Elf is quite possibly the most evil creature I've encountered in fiction and unless those it's watching are good, it will punish them (or their family) in rather gruesome ways.  The question is: what is good?  This is an elf that will punish anything that it perceives to be remotely unkind.  As Eveline tries to unpick the mess she has got herself in to, the elf is watching every move.

Publishing on the 31st October, You'd Better Watch Out, is a fast-paced, quick read (at 142 pages, it will appeal to reluctant readers).  Written in a way that will appeal to teenagers, this is a book for the brave and those who are prepared to be good!

Kevin The Vampire: A Fanged & Fearsome Fiend - Matt Brown

 

Kevin is heading to his Gloaming, a test for all nearly eleven-year-old vampires to see if they are worthy of being given their first vampire cloak; there's just one problem: Kevin can't perform The Melt.  As they head to Castle Mort to face the most fearsome vampire ever, Bernard the Destroyer, Kevin needs to muster all his skills if he wants to pass the tests and win his cloak.

I have loved this series since the first book was published and so I was thrilled when A Fanged And Fearsome Fiend arrived for me.  Leaving the The Carnival Monstromo, Kevin and his parents head to Castle Mort for the Gloaming.  As a humam, Susie isn't permitted to attend but I was thrilled when I realised she'd managed to sneak her way in - she's a strong and fearless character who shows that she's a quick thinker and a loyal friend to Kevin.  I love their friendship and really enjoyed seeing it develop in this book.

The book is a fangtastic adventure with laughs and lessons woven perfectly into the plot.  With wonderful illustrations by Flavia Sorrentino to compliment the story, Kevin the Vampire: A Fanged & Fearsome Fiend is the perfect read for this time of year and is guaranteed to lift your spirits.

The Night House Files: The Deadsoul Project - Dan Smth

In 1977, something very unusual happened at Alpine Heights, a high-rise block of flats where soldiers awaiting family accommodation at Lightpipe Garrison were placed.  Now, forty-six years later, as the block is being demolished, The Night House, a secret organisation that investigates strange events, is looking into exactly what happened.  This book is the log of that investigation.

Kyle and Laruen live with their mother in a high rise block named Alpine Heights.  They also lived with their step-father, but have just been informed that he was killed in action, so when Kyle and Laruen discover him sitting at their kitchen table, they are shocked to say the least.  This shock grows to concern when they realise how oddly he's behaving, and then fear as this behaviour spreads to other residents of the building.  Determined to get to the bottom of what's going on, as well as save themselves, Kyle and Lauren determine to discover exactly what is going on. 

The Night House Files: The Deadsoul Project is the first in a new series from Dan Smith and continues his collaboration with Barrington Stoke.  His previous series, The Crooked Oak Mysteries, has proved very popular with my classes (both in previous years and with my current class), so the promise of a new series could only be good news.  Needless to say, the book by-passed my reading pile and I began reading it last weekend (during daylight hours!).

The book is set during the 70s and there are references to be found (dinner of crispy pancakes - I loved those!) whilst the book remains current and relevant.  The absence of technology and mobile phones gives the book an edge and leaves the children more isolated than they would be today, which really helped to build the tension.

The plot unfolds chronologically over two days and is interspersed with classified, top secret files from the modern day Nighthouse Investigation which is looking into the incident forty six years later.  I loved this element as it helped to add information and gives it a slightly non-fiction feel with news articles, interviews and diary entries.

With the mystery of military experiments and people behaving in unexpected and scary ways all interwoven into this creepy and very believable book, The Deadsoul Project is chilling and moreish in equal measure.  It's safe to say that Dan Smith has done it again with this book: I couldn't put it down!

Publishing 13th February, The Hight House Files: The Deadsoul Project is a grippingly scary book that will terrify and entertain even the most reluctant reader - just make sure you have a teddy bear ready to keep you company!