Two Little Liars - Michelle Harrison

Erin lives her life in fear; fear of repercussions of what she did as a girl.  She and Bea told a lie, one that ended with the death of a teenage boy.  Although Erin admitted to the lie shortly afterwards, the damage had already been done. Due to their young age, the courts ruled that the girls should never be named and from then on, became known as Child A and Child B, or Two Little Liars by the press.  The girls went their separate ways, they were never really friends, but when Bea turs up again on a college trip Erin is on, everything is raked up again.  Then Bea is murdered and her killer remains at large.  Twenty years later, Erin is convinced someone knows her real identity and is trying to uncover the truth of what happened.

Having been a big fan of Michelle's middle grade books for years, I was thrilled and intrigued at the idea of a book for adults.  An early read was too tempting to turn down and proved to be completely compelling.

Told in dual time perspectives, the story follows Erin as a child as well as an adult, and we discover what why she is so paranoid about her identity and is terrified at the thought of anyone discovering who she actually is.  She is on permanent alert and never lets her guard down, ever.  Her entire life since that fateful day with Bea has been ruled by this and it is quickly easy to see the effect this has had on her as well as those around her.  Readers will quickly begin to feel for her as a character: she was just your average child where one split second decision changed everything.

The plot is scary (I found it incredibly believable how quickly everything can go wrong and that sent shivers down me); dramatic and incredibly tense.  The different time periods not only allow the plot from the past and the present to unfold, but also help to build the suspense and really create that need to read 'just one more chapter'.  From the beginning, the book will raise questions with readers, and I can absolutely see this book making the perfect read for book clubs - I can't wait to be able to talk to someone else about the plot!

Publishing, 4th June, Two Little Liars is going to chill and thrill readers, and will most certainly get them talking!  With this, Michelle is certainly showing us that she can write brilliant books for adults as well as children.  

The House With Chicken Legs Runs Away - Sophie Anderson

Marinka has lived her whole live in the house with chicken legs but, at the start of the book, she knows that the house isn't feeling itself; she's just not sure why.  She decides that organising a guiding will help it feel better, but during the event, The Gate that allows the dead to move on towards the stars grows wider and wider, sucking everything in the room through it.  When it becomes too dangerous, Marinka and her friends are forced onto the terrace.  Before anybody can do anything, the house gets up and runs ... and runs.  What follows is a journey across distant lands for the house, Marinka, Benjamin and Jack in search of answers.

Oh gosh, where do I start?  I guess by saying that it was simply wonderful to be back with Marinka and The House again. I absolutely adored The House With Chicken Legs (you can read my review here) so of course, the opportunity to read any early copy of the sequel brought huge amounts of excitement.  

Both Marinka and The House are just as I remembered them but The House in particular is clearly struggling.  Beginning the book was like catching up with old friends and it was a joy to spend more time with them.  Things have changed since the end of the first book and both are coming to terms with these changes.  

This book is a journey of discovery for so many reasons, some that are evident as the house first flees, and some that only become apparent at different stages of the journey.  Initially, it feels like the journey is one to find and help the house, but it quickly becomes clear that time away is an exploration for Marinka and Benjamin too, discovering things about the past as well as helping to make decisions about the future (I'm remaining vague so I don't give any spoilers away).  However, I will say that I sobbed through the end of the book (I highly recommend having tissues ready) but it left me with a warm glow in my heart. 

I adore Marinka and it has been an absolute pleasure to spend more time with her - she has an inner strength even she doesn't see at times.  Her friendship with Benjamin is as strong as ever and I'm so pleased they got to make this journey together, both discover things about themselves and readers.

Beautiful story-telling mixes traditional folk-tales with love and just a sprinkling of adventure in The House With Chicken Legs Runs Away.  It's a warm welcome to old friends and new; it's about learning how to say goodbye, as well as embracing the new; it's about facing fears and embracing friendship - it's an utter joy to read.  

The House With Chicken Legs Runs Away publishes on the 19th April.  

Usborne are running a UK-only pre-order campaign for The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away where you can get your hands on a limited-edition badge pack and stunning artwork print, with foiled signatures from Sophie Anderson and Elisa Paganelli. All you have to do is pre-order The House with Chicken Legs Runs Away before the 8^th April and email proof to Usborne's marketing department (marketing@usborne.co.uk).

Mammoth Rider - S. J. Poyton

 

Ash has lived her entire life at MAC, a research centre responsible for the cloning of mammoths to help the environment and combat climate change.  It's a place that is shrouded in secrecy in order the protect the animals from the public and to preserve the safety of the animals.  However, during an event for VIPs, it quickly becomes clear that all is not right and poachers are about to do anything they can to sabotage the project.  With the rest of the centre being held hostage, it's up to Ash and her friends Ruby and Jack to save not only the staff at MAC but also the mammoths.

Normally, when I write a review, I have the book next to me; however, such is the interest in Mammoth Rider, that a child in my class whisked it out of my hand the second I'd finished it at lunch-time!  This is a book in demand before it's even reached the shops!

Ash and her dad are muddling through since the death of her mum, with her dad doing his best to balance working at MAC, being a mammoth rider (something Ash is desperate to become) and bringing up Ash.  Theirs is a unique life living at the research facility and Ash, along with her friends Ruby and Jack, are schooled online.  It is this that first shows us Ash's neurodiversity (her dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia) and I really like that this is woven seamlessly into the plot - it is good for children to be able to see themselves in the books they read, and see them in a positive light (the notes at the end of the book tell readers that Poyton has drawn on her own experience of neurodiversity when creating Ash).

It's Ash's deep desire to follow in her parents' footsteps (Dad who is a mammoth rider, and Mum who was a mammoth whisperer) that leads her to get to know the rare mammoth that ends up at the centre of the book.  She wants nothing more than to get to know the mammoths and to discover whether she has any of her parents' skills.  Without meaning to, she becomes a real hero and is someone readers will delight in getting to know.

Friendship is one of the main themes within Mammoth Rider, and it is safe to say that it comes in many different forms.  The relationship Ash builds with the Mammoths is lovely to read and I'm sure many readers will be able to relate with the relationship they have with their own pets.  

Mammoth Rider combines adventure with important environmental messages; trusting your instincts, bravery and friendship in a book that is perfect for fans of Hannah Gold.  It's a simply wonderful read that will fill your heart whilst also leave you with your fingers crossed that there will be a second book.

Mammoth Rider publishes on the 12th March.

Inkbound Meticulous Jones And The Shadow Compass - Philippa Leathley

 

Metty is spending Founder's Day at the parade with her father and Faith when a tombstone bearing her name appears, followed by another and another.  Following the trail leads Metty and Faith to an underground cathedral and a group known as the League of Shadows who are desperate for Metty to join them, all she has to do is complete three tasks.  Before she can make a decision, Aunt Mags appears and drags Metty away, but she isn't to be put off, especially when someone threatens to tell the world about Sundar.  Metty feels like joining the League of Shadows is the only way to help, so she vows to complete the challenges before the next full moon.  It's a race against time and one Metty isn't certain she can make but she's going to do everything in her power to try.

I was woefully late to the party with The Skull Tattoo (you can read my review here) but I quickly learned the error of my ways, and Philippa's visit to school last term ensured that Inkbound fever was rife amongst the children!  It will come as no surprise then that my pre-ordered copy of Meticulous Jones And The Shadow Compass jumped my reading pile when I picked it up.

Following the events at the end of The Skull Tattoo, Metty is clearly nervous but she is also a Jones and one with fierce determination running through her bones.  She is not to be put off once she has an idea in her head, even if Aunt Mags and her father are telling her to stop (in fact, this spurs her on more than anything!).  The challenges she faces push her to her limits, especially as it's a race against time for more than one reason.  The plot unfolds in an exciting mix of adventure, jeopardy and twists - but exactly who can Metty trust?

Usually, when I begin a book on a Sunday evening during term time, it takes me until at least the following weekend to finish it; however, I found myself grabbing every spare minute I could to read just a few more pages, such was the gripping plot (yes, this did mean I stole some reading time whilst eating my lunch, and numerous children saw me reading as I walked down the corridor before school in the mornings!).  The tension and the excitement ooze through the pages which is what makes the book unputdownable.  I gobbled it up in a few short days and I'm now desperate for book 3!  Several children in school are also reading The Shadow Compass at the minute so Metty book chats in my office are currently a regular occurrence - I love that!

Out now, I think it's safe to say that Inkbound: Meticulous Jones And The Shadow Compass is a grippingly brilliant read and Inkbound fever is, once again, sweeping the school!

Love Me Tomorrow - Emiko Jean

 

Emma is struggling since her parents' divorce and feels that it is better not to fall in love than to have your heart broken, but then she starts receiving letters from an anonymous person in the future claiming to have loved her 'from the beginning' and promising to change her life, and she begins to search for the author.  Whilst continuing to correspond with the unknown writer, she begins to discover more about herself and that perhaps love isn't something to be ignored after all. 

Emma really is juggling more than many other teenagers her age: as well as having to deal with her parents' divorce when she was eleven, she now has to cope with the idea of her dad moving on.  He's about to introduce Emma to his new girlfriend and her daughter, and this comes with its own challenges.  On top of that, she feels responsible for the care of Jiji, her grandfather, who lives with her and her mum.  As her mum's arthritis grows steadily worse, Emma is forced to take on more of her cleaning jobs to help make ends meet; and she still needs to do her school work, and attend the college prep-programme at at Sherwood - it turns out Emma is a brilliant violinist.  I'm really not surprised that she feels love isn't worth the bother!

But as the book unfolds, despite Emma's quiet personality, she begins to come out of her shell.  Is it down to the letters she is receiving or would this have happened anyway?  It's a question that lingered in the back of my mind through the book but I like to think the letter write played their part.  The more she corresponds with the mystery writer from the future, the more she begins to hunt for their identity in her current life.  Could it be her childhood friend and neighbour, Theo, who is like a brother to her; or Ezra the musician she's always had a crush on; or even Colin whom she meets whilst cleaning his family home?  Before she knows it, not only is she doing things she wouldn't normally do, but she's looking at these boys in a different way.

Love Me Tomorrow really is the most gorgeous book.  Gentle at first glance, it really packs a punch as you lose yourself in its pages.  I had great sympathy for Emma who is battling her emotions as well as trying desperately to keep it all together (I really empathised with her need to cry - I was exactly the same at her age ... and probably still am today!).  This book is more than just a lovely YA romance (which it is!): it's a message to everyone that it's ok to put yourself first at times; it's a reminder that taking a risk can lead to wonderful things; and it's a book that will warm your heart.

Does Emma find love?  Does she discover the identity of the mystery writer from the future?  You'll just have to read Love Me Tomorrow when it publishes on the 12th February.

Dragonflare - Jamie Hammond

 

Flynn is desperately just trying to get by so he can support himself and his sister, and that means being a thief on the streets of Hornsport.  On the day we first meet him, Flynn is weaving his way through the bustling streets whilst everybody is heading to the pier following rumours that the dragons of Dragon Island are about to reveal themselves for a day for the Wingrider Trials.  As Flynn and the rest of the town look on, 11 o'clock strikes and dragons swoop, looking for riders for the trial.  It's an unwilling Flynn that is scooped up by River who takes him to the island for the contest.  What ensues is an exciting, interactive race to the treasure and to save the island.

Jamie's first book, Grumpfort, published in March last year (you can read my review here) and is a delightful combination of monsters and giggles, so I was thrilled when Dragonflare dropped through my letter box last week.  In need of a lift (the January weather is proving particularly gloomy), it zoomed straight to the top of my reading pile. 

I can categorically say that Jamie has done it again with Dragonflare!  The book is a delightful mix of adventure, puzzles, thrills and positive messages that will enchant readers.

Flynn is such a wonderful character: down on his luck, he's just doing his best to get by.  His priority is keeping his sister safe so he really doesn't want the inconvenience of being whisked away to Dragon Island.  He's very much the reluctant hero and his relationship with River gets off to a rather rocky start with neither really trusting the other; but they need each other so they are going to have to find a way.  

Then there are the other contestants, for it wouldn't be a competition with only one contestant!  A host of characters that readers will enjoy getting to know as they weave their way through the labyrinth.  

I have to mention both Jamie's wonderful illustrations that add so much to each page as well as the interactive element of the book; readers will love having to decipher codes, weave their was through paths and spot creatures hidden within mazes - I know I did!

With just the right amount of adventure woven into strong messages about friendship and being brave, Dragonflare is a book that will delight and thrill in equal measure.  It's already causing much excitement at school and I know it will be a big hit when it publishes on the 7th May.

I'm already looking forward to seeing what Jamie writes next.

The Monster In The Mines -Jennifer Killick

Travis, Zayd, Danielle and Selene are back, and this time they are determined to find a way to head down to the Red Rock Mines in order to get to the bottom of what is going on in Hazzard, and why the witch in the woods is the way she is.  Getting into the mines seems relatively easy, but once they are down there, things take a dramatic turn and the group are suddenly faced with more problems than they could have ever anticipated.  With danger lurking at every turn, they will need to work together and keep their wits about them if they want to escape unharmed. 

It's really no secret that I'm a massive Jennifer Killick fan, and the Dread Wood series remains one of my favourites.  When it finished, I sobbed that it was over but then rejoiced when Serial Chillers arrived in book stores.  I Loved The Witch In The Woods (you can read my review here) but I have to say that I think The Monster In The Mines was even better!

The scare factor is seriously ramped up a notch in this book as the friends prepare to investigate the mines beneath their town.  The drama begins from the very start with them sneaking away from the Hazard vigil to honour those who lost their lives in the sink-hole tragedy in order to locate the map of the mines.  And things just don't stop.  There are scare-jumps and starts a-plenty, along with unusual creatures... worms with sharp, bitey teeth, creatures that unfurl like Goliath spiders ... this book gives Dread Wood vibes in the very best way.

We get to know the main characters more as their personalities come to the fore (I love Seline's sass!), and we're also left with more questions about what is going on in Hazzard - this is a series I definitely want more of!

Prepare to be scared and captivated in equal measure in this unputdownable book that, once again, reminds us of Jennifer's MG horror writing prowess.

Top tip: unless you are seriously brave, read it with your teddy and a torch for company... or during daylight hours!

Monster In The Mines is out now.