The Library Of Lost Stories - Eloise Williams

 

It's Christmas and Noni and her father are struggling to make ends meet.  Since the death of her mother, her father has struggled with day to day life, so Noni is the one who keeps things going; but now the bailiffs are banging on the door, threatening to evict them if they don't settle their debts.  When her father tells Noni about how he met her mother on the mobile library, she sees sparks of her old dad, and this inspires her to renovate the library van to see if it will bring back the father she used to know.  There's only one problem: the van has lain idle for years on Mrs Williams' drive, and Mrs Williams is known to all children in the area as the local witch.  So how is Noni going to succeed in her mission without being hexed?

Set in Wales in 1976, The Library Of Lost Stories is set in a small Welsh town where ten years earlier a coal mining accident killed over one hundred children and almost 30 adults.  The town is still healing and the van hasn't run since that day.  Things are tough for lots of the town's residents and the bailiffs are known to more than just Noni and her father.  But it's the death of Noni's mum that has affected her father and, although it is never expressly stated in the book, he is clearly suffering from depression.  It's evidently hard for both Noni and her father: he is crippled by grief and she is left picking up the pieces.  Small things like not having enough fuel to watch a full television programme; she's the one making meals and doing the cleaning; she's trying to do his repair work for him; she's no longer going to school ... she simply accepts it's what she has to do but life is tough.

At this point, I need to give my age away as the book was a rather nostalgic walk down memory lane in many respects: as a child of the 70s, there were so many subtle references that took me back in time and really made me smile (not least of which was the mention of raspberry ruffles which always remind me of my grandad!).  Life was different then and children would go off for the day without parents worrying.  I suppose it is this that allows Noni, usually a loaner, to befriend Rebecca, Claire, Gareth and Jones the stray dog, and to begin to do up the van.  Of course, they have to get past Mrs Williams and this will be the biggest problem of all.

Like Eloise, I have fond memories of hours spent at my local library as a girl (I can still visualise the place now).  As a reader it was a safe haven and a place that provided me with endless opportunities to escape into stories, so the thought if Noni and her friends restoring the van to help her father (and the community) filled my heart.  To this day, I think having access to books is essential for children (and adults, to be fair) and The Library of Lost Stories is a perfect example of why.

Publishing on the 3rd September, The Library Of Lost Stories is a poignant story about hope and faith and bringing people together; it's about justice and people being able to tell their own stories.  It's a book that will fill your heart with joy will restore your faith in humanity.  

The Galileo Heist - Sam Sedgman

Isaac and Hattie are back and this time they are spending the summer with Isaac's grandfather, Ferdinand, in Florence. The plan is for lazy days around the pool, but no sooner have they stepped off the plane than this changes. With his grandfather being chased, they head to Ferdinand's friend's apartment in the city centre, where the police quickly arrive and arrest him, for it turns out that Ferdinand is also the Tarantula, a notorious thief. Under house arrest for stealing jewels from Cosimo de Luca's estate, Ferdinand reveals that Cosimo actually stole from him and has a necklace that belonged to Isaac's mother - although it is not worth much, there is great sentimental value attached to it. Determined to get it back and prove Ferdinand's innocence, Isaac and Hattie set out to steal the necklace back during the solar eclipse. But such a huge job requires a team of people and, as the team assembles, Isaac begins to wonder who he can trust.

Isaac Turner Investigates is a series I absolutely adore, not least for the visualization of the cities he visits and The Galileo Heist is no exception (you can read my reviews for the previous books in the series here: The Clockwork Conspiracy; The Forbidden Atlas).  Having been to Florence a few years ago, I loved being able to picture the scenes unfolding in my head. The warmth of the summer sun, the piazzas and the famous landmarks of such a wonderful place which is steeped in history. I can understand why Sedgman chose it for the book: it really brings the plot to life - do make time to read the author's note at the end to enlighten you about Galileo and the museums of Florence.

For Isaac and Hattie, this is their third adventure together and their friendship continues to grow, but there are strains and I think it is good for readers to understand that friendships take work and commitment.  Hattie remains a strong, independent t character,  whilst we see Isaac grappling with the idea of loyalty and discovering things about his family he previously hadn't known ... his desire to regain the necklace... is it worth it?  Who can he really trust?

Once again, the action builds as the plot unfolds and readers are drawn into a twisting tale that will keep them guessing. The high action finish is unputdownable and will sweep you through the streets of Florence in a whirlwind of action.

With breadcrumbs dropped at the end of the book, readers are teased with what is to come and I'm already excited for book for which is due for publication in February 2027.

Witch Light - Zohra Nabi

Having survived the drama in London in Deep Dark, Cassia has been taken to live at Blackhurst by her uncle.  Her arrival isn't quite what she expected as her aunt and cousin Emma are rather distant. When things don't settle, her uncle decides the best thing to do is to send Cassia away to boarding school in a remote and bleak area on the moors of Lancashire; annoyed that she feels she is being left out, Emma insists on going too. The idea is a wonderful one to Cassia as she feels it's her chance to get a proper education. But things aren't what they seem and from the very start it is clear to Cassia that something issue wrong at the school, including Emma's stark change in behaviour; she just can't quite put her finger on what it is. 

Cassia has already been through a lot (if you haven't read Deep Dark you really should - you can read my review here) and this is supposed to be a new start for her, but it is clear that the school is not going to be the experience she expected. Things are incredibly strict and the older girls behave in the mist unusual way. Cassia had to draw upon every ounce of her resilience to get to the bottom of things.

Life is very isolating for Cassia now she is away from her London friends and everyone seems intent on assuming she is something she really isn't.  She is torn between fitting in with the other girls whilst bowing to the rules of the school and befriending Martha who seems to constantly get into trouble and has been deemed a 'bad influence' by the staff.  Under the surface, the book cleverly covers the idea of stereotyping, being yourself and prejudices - it would definitely create some very interesting discussions as a class read.  Cassia's strength of character and determination once again come to the fore in this book and her loyalty to those she is closest to shines through.  She is clearly missing Felix and Tao and, as with her move from India to London, this move to Lancashire is incredibly tough for her - she just wants to find somewhere to call home. 

As with Deep Dark, it is clear that something evil is lurking and the wild and remote setting makes the perfect backdrop for dark and mysterious events to unfold.  With talk of witches, magpies that can't be trusted and unexplained creatures roaming the moorland, Witch Light is a book readers won't be able to put down; with a setting to rival Wuther Heights and The Hound of the Baskervilles, the second book in the Cassia Thorne Mystery series is a gothic novel that readers are guaranteed to love. 

Witch Light publishes on the 9th April.

Questers Academy: The Box Of Locks - Sam Hay

 

Tom is a super-recogniser, which means he only needs to see somebody for a couple of seconds and he will remember every detail of their faces.  When friends don't turn up for a day at the Natural History Museum, he meets Leesha whose aunt works at the museum.  Just after they meet, they hear of the disappearance of a mythical firebird and Tom is able to immediately identify the culprit, having earlier bumped into him as he left the underground.  After that, Leesha persuades Tom to spend the day with her at the museum.  Before long, the pair are embroiled in a race against time to find the final key that will open a Box of Locks, unleashing a doom stone on London causing catastrophic damage.  

Tom has only recently moved back to London with his family from Wales and is still finding his feet.  When old friends can't meet him at the museum he begins to worry, but Leesha is quick to swoop in and befriends him.  Her confidence and knowledge of the museum give Tom a bit of a boost and, before he knows it, he's messaging his mum to say he's happy to stay for the day.  It's shortly after that that Leesha reveals that she is part of Questers Academy a summer school of extraordinary children with key skills who are charged with protecting rare artefacts.  The mythical firebird going missing is the first of these things, and when the Box of Locks goes missing, and her aunt reveals that 29 of the 30 keys that protect the device have been found; Leesha is determined that she and Tom will be the one to crack the case but this leads to a wealth of danger and a day of adventure and danger that Tom will never forget.

I loved Leesha's confidence and determination; it balanced Tom's uncertainty wonderfully.  Until now, his skill of being a super-recogniser has been one that has been nothing more than a novelty to his siblings, but now his unique talent is exactly what is needed to help Leesha.

Set in the heart of London, The Box of Locks is a book that will set hearts racing and will get readers thinking.  With plenty of clues to keep you on your toes, and short chapters, this is a definitely a 'just one more chapter' sort of book that you won't be able to put down!  

Publishing on the 4th June, and with the promise of more to come, Questers Academy: The Box of Locks is a book that will make the perfect read this summer, especially if you're planning a trip to London!

Two Is A Crowd - Cath Howe

Starting secondary school can be tricky but for Hattie it's even tricker as it seems her best friend is no longer in her class and is spending all her time with someone else.  On top of that, her mum's god-daughter, Seren, has come to stay and seems to be getting preferential treatment.  Hattie begins to feel that her family prefer Seren to her and her behaviour begins to spiral. 

Hattie really feels as though her world has been turned upside down.  She'd been looking forward to secondary school but her best friend seems to have been distant over the summer.  Then Seren's arrival knocks her even more.  Having lost her parents in a car accident, she lives with her grandfather, but now he's had a fall that has landed him in hospital and Hattie's mum has stepped up.  All of a sudden, things are changing: Seren gets her own room whilst Hattie has to share with her brother; Seren gets to eat what she wants whilst Hattie has to eat what is put down in front of her, and the family seem to be making allowances for her that Hattie just can't understand - poor Hattie feels really left out and just doesn't understand what's happening.  She's excited to start her new school so she can catch up with her best friend, Amber, but this all comes crashing down around her as well.  Desperate for attention, she begins to act out at school and suddenly finds herself constantly in trouble and isolated.  

I really felt for Hattie: all she wants is to feel wanted and she doesn't understand what's happening or why her family are behaving the way they are with Seren.  I'm sure there will be readers who will relate to Hattie, both in the changing nature of friendships, and also the desire for parents' attention. 

Cath has a way of writing books this is very readable and appealing to children whilst also conveying important messages that help readers to see themselves, and Two Is A Crowd is another superb example of this.  Seren has undergone so much and needs time to process this, but Hattie is too preoccupied with her own worries to see that. Family, friendship and finding your way all feature in this wonderful book that readers are guaranteed to love when it publishes on the 9th April. 

Anya And The Light Above The Ocean - Elias Giudici

Anya doesn't know exactly what her mum's work involves, all she knows is that she heads out on a small boat to conduct experiments and is always home at 9pm.  So when she doesn't return one evening, Anya begins to worry and decides to head out to find her despite the weather.  As the storm rages, Anya sees a faint glow in the distance.  Rowing out into the fog, she heads towards the light which has her transfixed.  The next thing she knows, she wakes in her boat and the sea is quiet...

I'm not really certain where to start with my review of this book, not because I didn't love, because I absolutely did, but because I'm scared of giving anything away that will spoil the book.

Anya's life changes in an instant the night she heads out on the boat, and her strength and resilience, as well as her love for her mum, are what carry her through.

There are very few books where I am surprised by events, but less than 40 pages in and I gave an audible gasp! As I was in the middle of Book Cove at school at the time, and surrounded by students who were curled up reading, it certainly caused a stir! Suddenly everyone wanted to know what I was reading and why I had gasped. It's safe to say that I didn't give the game away, but there is now a queue of people who want to borrow the book!

Anya And The Light Above The Ocean is a gripping read whilst also being beautifully written. There are definite elements of sci-fi in the most unsci-fi way I've ever read and that will appeal to many. The book will absolutely provoke questions, and I now really just want to talk to somebody about everything that happened - I guess I'll have to wait until the first of my students has read it!

This is a book about family, resilience, doing the right thing, ethics and the possible negative effects of scientific discovery. It's about a desperate need to discover the truth and learning who to trust.

Out now, this book is one you really need to read!

Diary Of A Wicked Witch & Diary Of A Dreadful Dragon - Ben Miller

I spent a delightful Sunday morning reading the next two instalments in Ben Miller's Fairytale Woods series.

Diary Of A Wicked Witch.

Wendoline, The Wicked Witch, has been sentenced to four weeks of kindness training in order to rectify her wicked ways, but can she and her fellow witches really learn how to be nice all of the time?

Diary Of A Dreadful Dragon.

Malgundrax has been banished from yet another kingdom and is desperately looking for somewhere different to live where he can rebuild his hoard of shiny treasures.  Quite by accident, he meets the Three Bears who are in need of a new way to deliver packages for their delivery company - Malc sees this as the perfect way to get into people's home to steal their treasure, but then he discovers that he actually likes Baby Bear and his parents - can this dragon really changes his ways?

Both of these books are an absolute delight to read; fun and engaging, they take traditional fairy-tales and give them a new spin that readers will love (I particularly enjoyed the Hallowe'en twist of Diary of A Wicked Witch).  Their fast-paced and friendly style means they would make great independent reads or family read alongs.  They are funny at times, and visually a joy to explore thanks to Alise Paganelli's wonderful illustrations.  With messages about friendship and doing the right thing woven into the plot, these books are guaranteed hits.

The Fairy-tale series is a wonderful one and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.