The Adventures Of Rap Kid - Mc Grammar

 

'Meet Z, he only speaks in rhyme.'

'Teased all the time.'

'But now it’s his time to shine.'

 
Quiet in school, Z thinks and speaks in rhyme which is getting him into trouble.  But when his English teacher tells him about The Royal Rap Rumble competition and signs him and his new best friend, SFX, up, everything could change for Z.  He just needs to win the competition! 

This is the sort of book that I just know is going to go down seriously well at school!  From the layout, the illustrations, the interactive nature of the book and the fast-pace, not to mention the direct chat with the reader and the humour - this book is bound to be a huge hit.  Yes, I know this paragraph makes me sound like a middle-aged bore, but I probably am!!  

Z is the sort of character that readers will be able to relate to: he has so much going on in his head and brilliant ideas, but the teachers just don't see that.  It's not until Mr G approaches him about the competition that Z realises that what he thinks is a problem, could actually be the making of him.  The book is full of humour and fun; Z's raps are dotted through the book and readers are encouraged to create their own (I liked that the author has subtly woven grammar bits into the story in a way that readers will find appealing).   

Yes, there's a bully who is determined to thwart Z's efforts in the competition, but The Adventures Of Rap Kid is full of friendship, fun and being yourself.  It's perfect for fans of Loki and Diary of a Wimpy Kid and I can guarantee that it will be grabbed out of my hand within seconds tomorrow morning when I take it in to school. 

The Adventures OF Rap Kid publishes on the 27th February and I can't wait for the next instalment. 

Dragon Riders Of Road - Jenny McClachlan

 

Rose and Arthur have certainly had some adventures in Roar, but now Rose has started writing a story about Roar whilst she's not there.  In her story, she creates a school for dragon riders and puts herself in the lead role as the star pupil.  However, when Arthur has a sneaky read, he is gutted to discover he doesn't appear at all and sets about correcting that.  This leads to a huge argument between the twins, during which the book is shoved into the folding camp bed which is their entry into Roar.  When the twins next head to Roar, they quickly discover that the school in Rose's book is actually real.  But when they arrive, Arthur is suspicious that an evil character that Rose had killed off may not really be gone, but can he prove he's right to Rose?

The Land Of Roar series is such a wonderful one and is escapism at its best, so when Farshore gave me the opportunity to have an early read of Dragon Riders of Roar, a new book set in the same world, I jumped at the chance.

Like all siblings, Rose and Arthur argue and it's this that leads to the loss of Rose's story book into the camp bed.  Arthur's anger at not being included in the book was vented with a pencil in his hand and the changes he made become apparent as the book progresses.  It's clear Rose has created a school where she is the star and that is full of all of her favourite things (I could quite fancy a buttery where hot chocolate is on tap!), but Arthur needs to find his place and it takes him some time.  However, his bravery and courage become increasingly evident as the plot unfolds and, by the end, I found myself filling with pride at his actions.  With some familiar characters returning and a host of new ones to enjoy getting to know, Dragon Riders of Roar is a wonderful new escape in the Roar series.  It's every child's imagination come to life combined with an adventure that will have you utterly gripped (yes, I did stay in bed this morning until after 9 so I could finish the book!).  Perfect if you've read the rest of the Roar series, but equally wonderful as a stand-alone book, Dragon Riders of Roar is an amazing adventure about working together, believing in yourself and never giving up. 

Publishing 13th February, Dragon Riders of Roar is a must-read and I already have my fingers crossed that there will be more from DRAc.

Vanishing Edge - Zillah Bethell

'One morning Apricot Jones wakes up to graffiti on her front door and a man in a black Jaguar who calls himself the Baglan Giant looking for her mum. Apricot wishes she were anywhere else, maybe heading over the horizon for a new life!

But her best friend Charlie knows she will always be here, cleaning up the mess the others leave behind.'

Zillah's middle grade books, The Song Walker and The Shark Caller, were both brilliantly written and powerful reads, so I was intrigued when a proof copy of her first YA, Vanishing Edge arrived for me.

Like her MG books, Vanishing Edge is very well written novel and is a powerful read. It's a deeply dark portrayal of friendship and life in Port Talbot.  Apricot and Charlie most definitely have a love-hate relationship and their story is told as a dual narrative which adds to the insight.  Life isn't easy for either character and amongst the dark humour there is much grit.

There is warning of this at the beginning of the book explaining that the book contains references to self-harm and suicide and I like that Bethell has done this: the book is definitely one for the upper end of YA and not for those who are just beginning their YA journey. 

Publishing 6th March, Vanishing Edge is a book that will captivate readers aged 14+.

Honeysuckle & Bone - Trisha Tobias

Carina has headed to Jamaica to spend the summer caring for the children of a high profile family, the Halls; she's also trying to reinvent herself.  But what starts as a perfect summer escape quickly changes and Blackbead House starts to reveal a more sinister side, one that could halt Carina's reinvention before it's really begun.

My first read of 2025 (and actually my final read of 2024!), Honeysuckle & Bone is a book that transports you effortlessly to Jamaica and you can feel the warmth of the breeze and the smell of the honeysuckle wafting off the page.  The book is rich in Jamaican culture and Carina, a Jamaican American, is quick to discover that she has a lot to learn.  You realise from the start that she is hiding something big, that she's running from something and trying to start afresh but the truth and the lies becomes tangled ... and then there's the duppy which seems intent on scaring her at every opportunity.  What Tobias does so well is keep the reader hanging: you know something has happened, you just don't know what and it leaves you desperate to find out - for me, this definitely gave the book that 'just one more chapter' feel.

At it's heart Honeysuckle & Bone is a gothic ghost story that weaves secrets, lies, grief and discovering yourself deftly through its pages.  A deliciously dark and gripping YA, it's a book that will banish the January blues when it publishes on the 14th January.

The Forbidden Atlas - Sam Sedgman

The second in the Isaac Turner investigates series, The Forbidden Atlas, sees Isaac and Harriet in Paris receiving an award for their heroics in The Clockwork Conspiracy (you can read my review here), however, things don't go as planned and an attempt on the life of businessman Balthazar Blaise sees Isaac and Harriet drawn into an underground world where a stolen letter and a missing map will lead to a long forgotten secret and a whole world of danger.

The Clockwork Conspiracy was hugely exciting and I've been looking forward to reading the sequel ever since I finished book 1!  It was wonderful to be back with Isaac and Harriet again, especially as this time they are in Paris, a city dear to my heart. It was brilliant to be able to visualize everywhere they went (the catacombs and Père-Lachaise have long been on my list of places to visit and I'm now even more determined than ever to visit them next time I'm there).

The book is full of danger that will delight readers. Bouyed by their success in London, Isaac and Harriet are determined to get to the bottom of what is going on, which leads them to some incredibly dangerous situations (at times, I really felt for their parents!).

Like The Clockwork Conspiracy, The Forbidden Atlas is a book that excites and thrills, making it a read that is impossible to put down. With twists and surprises to keep readers on their toes, Sam has another guaranteed hit on his hands, which works as a stand-alone but is even better if you've experienced the adventure of The Clockwork Conspiracy. 

Publishing 27/2, secrets, lies and daring all weave perfectly through the streets of Paris in this brilliant book that is even better than book 1. The Forbidden Atlas definitely needs to pre-ordered. 

Alex Neptune Dragon Champion - David Owen

Brineblood is back and is intent on stealing all the sea magic in order to raise a monster from the bottom of the ocean.  It's up to Alex, Zoey and Anil to stop Brineblood, but can they manage to defeat him in time?

Alex Neptune has been a series I have adored since the very first book and so it was a mix of emotions that I began reading Dragon Champion over the weekend: I was excited to get back to Alex and his friends to find out how it all would end, but I was also sad that this will be the last of the books.  I was torn between savouring the book and gobbling it up - gobbling it up won as I couldn't put the book down!  From the start, the action and adventure seeps from the book and Alex is tested in ways he's never been before when he loses his magic (this is not a spoiler as it's mentioned in the blurb).  Not only does he have to come to terms with this at the worst possible moment, but he also has to deal with the fact that Zoey and Anil still have their powers.  Luckily, the bond between them is stronger than ever and the trio make a great team.  Alex has come so far in this series; from being terrified of the sea to helping keep the sea safe, it's wonderful to see how strong he's become and how passionate he is about keeping Haven Bay, its residents and his family safe. 

Alongside the adventure, David maintains the subtle environmental messages through this book.  They are messages that have been present through the previous books and are evident again in Dragon Champion, especially when the trio are descending into the depths of the ocean.

I can't finish this review without giving a nod to the host of animals who have befriended Alex along the way; in particular Kraken who often feels more human than octopus!

Publishing 2nd January, Alex Neptune Dragon Champion is an action-packed, rollercoaster of a ride and a fitting end to this brilliant series.  I can't wait to see what David writes next.

Libby And The Egyptian Escapade - Jo Clarke

The travelling school have headed to Egypt and the trip is far from plain sailing!  During a visit to a museum, Noah buys a canopic jar in the gift shop and, despite being initially thrilled, he bumps into somebody and his jar ends up with a crack in it, much to his disappointment.  However, they carry on with their trip, thinking nothing of the encounter.  However... things start going wrong and Miss Mousedale and Miss Khatun need to do everything in their power to keep their students safe, leading the kids to believe that they have unleashed a mummy's curse.  It's up to Libby and her friends to get to the bottom of things before it's too late.

I have adored the Travelling School Mysteries series from the very first book and they're also incredibly popular in school too.  It was with mixed emotions that I heard that Libby And The Egyptian Escapade was to be the final book in the series: I was excited for their next adventure but sad that this would be the last.     

We see a different side to Libby in this book: she's worried about her mum and her father is on her mind. Too add to that, when things heat up, Libby is at odds with the idea of a curse and this causes friction between her and her friends.  It's a complex situation and one that needs careful negotiation as they also brave the heat and the danger they find themselves in. 

Once again, readers are treated to an epic adventure that excites and teases in equal measure.  The plot is pacey and Becka Moore's illustrations perfectly enhance Jo's storytelling.  Libby And The Egyptian Escapade is a fitting end to the series and, although I'm going to miss Libby and her friends, I'm pleased with the way things worked out. 

 Libby And The Egyptian Escapade publishes 16/1/25.