The Midnight Train - Matt Haig

After Wilbur dies as an old man, he gets the chance to relive his best moments after he boards The Midnight Train.  He quickly realises that his best days were with Maggie on their honeymoon in Venice, but knows only too well that things don't work out the way he had expected them to.  Now, as his life literally flashes before his eyes, he wishes he go back and do things differently, but that could risk everything. 

It must be quite something to have your life flash before you, to have to relive the painful moments and to find you can't linger as long as you would like to with the moment to that brought you the most happiness. But what if you can do something about your regrets?  Wilbur by many standards has had a very successful life, certainly career-wise, but his one regret is losing the love of his life and, as his journey on the Midnight Train progresses, he desperately feels that he needs to do something about it, but his guide, Agnes, has already told him in no uncertain terms that he must not interfere with the past as it could have catastrophic repercussions. 

I have to say that this was a really wonderful read and one I found myself completely lost in.  The second in the Midnight series, it was lovely to see Nora whilst also getting to know Wilbur and Maggie.  Matt's writing is full of heart and emotion as we see Wilbur realise the consequences of various actions at different times in his life: he is forced to face the decisions he made and to accept those actions. 

Without doubt, The Midnight Train is a thought-provoking read and one that has stayed with me after I've finished reading it, both in terms of Wilbur and Maggie's story, but also my own.  What exactly would I see from the window of my own midnight train? I started the book on a flight last week and finished it lying on a sunbed, and it definitely reminded me that it's good to reflect upon things and to remember what's important in our life. 

The Midnight Library publishes on the 21st May.

Six Weeks - Matt Goodfellow

When Alfie's mum dies, everything changes for him. He goes to live with his Dad and his new family, leaving him (his step-dad) behind.  But as the first anniversary arrives, and the summer holidays loom ahead, Alfie begins to think about everything that happened, and without even realising it, ends up back at his old home, the home he still lives in . And they end up getting to know each other again.

Alfie has no choice but to navigate life without his mum.  He feels alone, despite having his dad and his new family there who are are wonderful with him.   All he can do is his best, taking it one day at a time.  With six weeks of summer ahead, Alfie turns to his bike and rides to help.

I can't begin to imagine what it must be like to lose your mum at such an early age but Matt explores this in a sensitive and beautiful way, whilst also looking at the wider impact on his father and the grief of Alfie's step-dad.  The use of poetry is, once again, wonderful and Joe Todd-Stanton's illustrations perfectly compliment the writing. 

Having loved Matt's previous two books (The Final Year and The First Year), I was thrilled to receive a proof copy of Six Weeks and it immediately went on the pile of books I was taking on holiday with me over the Easter break.  I'd heard from bookish friends that this was a story that would make me cry but I don't think I was really prepared for the emotional rollercoaster this book took me on (I had tissues, wore sunglasses and was incredibly glad there was nobody else around). From the very beginning, the book reaches in and twists at your heart-strings. It's beautiful, emotional, raw, heart-breaking, heart-warming ... I don't think I quite have the words to say how wonderful this book is. 

Six Weeks is a book you have to just sit with after you've finished it so you can fully absorb everything. It's a book I hugged at the end (between the tears). It's a book full of heart-break, healing and hope. 

I really don't think I can do Six Weeks the justice it deserves so please pre-order it so you can see what I'm talking about when it publishes on the 6th June.

Café Chaos That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles - Catherine Wilkins

After her mum accidentally orders way too many tins of baked beans, the family is forced to change the menu to include as many bean-containing meals as possible.  Suddenly, the whole family are involved in meetings to come up with original ideas as to how to use the beans, and although Hope is trying not to get too involved, it isn't long before café and school life collide again and the answer to the bean problem may just be in the form of a most unlikely source. 

Hope is just getting used to having her bedroom to herself again but the baked bean delivery changes everything; now instead of sharing her room with her auntie, she's sharing it with tins of beans - lots and lots of them! Unable to return the excessive order, the family have no choice but to use them so they don't lose money, but they only have a couple of months before the beans are out of date, and there are only so many beans one family can eat before it begins to have rather hilarious consequences on their digestion.

As well as this, Hope is desperately trying to find her passion in life, her USP, and she is taking the time to explore different ideas.  Add that to the idea of a fashion show taking place at the café and things really do start to get chaotic again!

This is the second in the Café Chaos series (you can read my review of My Family Is Not A Piece Of Cake here) so it was lovely to catch-up with Hope.  The writing is, once again, full of relatable moments and heart, and will have readers laughing out loud as well as empathising with Hope.  With messages about being yourself, dealing with failure and friendship woven in, and Katie's brilliant illustrations, That's The Way The Cookie Crumbles is a great second book in the series.  I can't wait to see what's in store for Hope and her family next!

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates -Jenny Pearson

After Freddie's grandma dies unexpectedly, he discovers that she's left him a letter, one that contains his birth certificate. Freddie's always known that his dad wasn't his biological dad, but until that moment, he hadn't known anything about his birth dad, and now he knows his name - Alan Froggley. Having lost his Mum shortly after he was born, and now that he's lost his grandma, Freddie worries that he won't have any family left if something happens to his dad, so he decides he needs to find his birth dad.  So, along with his two best friends, Freddie sets out on and adventure he will never forget. 

OK, at this point, I need to say that I can't believe I haven't read this book before! I'm a big fan of Jenny's books as you'll see from my blog, and she's a lovely person (she's been to school twice for book events and always goes down a storm ... she even got the entire school to sing happy birthday to me on her first visit!) so how this book has passed me by, I'll never know. However, a holiday trip to Barter Books in Alnwick earlier this week rectified that (if you've never been, I can highly recommend a visit if you're ever in Northumberland: it's an amazing second hand book stores in the most gorgeous setting). Anyway, I digress!

Freddie is struggling following the death of his grandma, and is looking for answers (he's a kid who loves facts so needing answers makes sense -I love that the book is peppered with unusual facts, by the way!). A quick internet search of his biological dad's name leads him to a company in Wales so with the school holidays having just started, he and his best friends, Ben and Charlie, decide to concoct a plan to head off on an overnight trip.  Easy really: tell parents they're staying at each other's houses, nip off on the train, meet Alan, head back the next day, no problem ... except it doesn't quite go like that! What ensues is a hilarious and often mad-capped adventure that will have you laughing out loud. It's a brilliant read with a host of wonderful characters who are very relatable for readers.  The bond between the boys is evident to see: friends and absolutely there for each other no matter what, but still arguing and disagreeing at times - it's a real friendship and it's good for readers to see that friends argue.  

I must, at this stage, mention Rob Biddulph's wonderful illustrations which perfectly compliment the story and add to the humour - it's the perfect pairing. 

Jenny has a way of being able to weave laughter, warmth and tears seamlessly into a book and The Super Miraculous Journey Of Freddie Yates is a perfect example of this. I laughed on so many occasions but also definitely found a tear rolling down my face at the end. With important messages about family and friendship woven in (and a host of facts to illuminate you along the way), this is a book you need to read.

The Unfamous Diaries of Daisy Brewster The Drama Queens - Jenny Valentine

Daisy and her cousin Maxxy are back.  Things haven't changed as they are still sharing a room which is really starting to annoy Daisy.  The only reprieve she gets is during rehearsals for her drama club's production of Bugsy Malone, but even then things don't seem to be going Daisy's way.

I really enjoyed The Frenemies (you can read my review here) so I was thrilled when book 2, The Drama Queens, arrived.  Daisy still feels she is living in her cousin's shadow, especially as her mum spends more time chaperoning Maxxy than being at home.  Their friendship is factious with Maxxy being completely wrapped up in her self.  On top of this, Leo, Daisy's brother, is being a pain in the neck; the biggest spot in the world has erupted on her chin and she has developed feelings for her co-star, Olivier.

Daisy is a completely relatable character, experiencing all the things girls of her age go through.  The fact that it's all shared through her chatty diary means readers get to hear her inner thoughts and feelings, which will help them to understand that they are not alone in the things they are experiencing (I remember applying toothpaste to spots at that age!!). 

I enjoyed the mix of everyday life and Hollywood starlet that the two main characters bring, and although Maxxy seems to have everything, there are times when Daisy realises that this might not be the case - empathy is quietly woven into the pages.

With appealing illustrations by Hannah McCaffrey to enhance the plot, The Drama Queens is a book that will be perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Lottie Brooks.

The Drama Queens publishes on the 23rd April.

This Misadventures of Mina Mahmood School Inspectors! - Farhana Islam

 

Mina is back in her second book and this time, the end of Year 6 SAT party is scuppered by the sudden arrival of the inspectors!  In an instant the teachers change and everybody is on high alert.  And if that wasn't enough, things get worse when Barney's brother's pet tarantula gets loose! It's up to Mina, Reema and Mobeen to impress the inspectors and save the day.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mina's first book, School Trip, so I was excited to dive into School Inspectors! The book is fast-paced and full of laughs that will engage readers. After the tension of the exams, Mina and her classmates are excited for the celebrations that will follow, so the idea that everything is being cancelled due to the inspectors visiting completely changes the atmosphere.  Then add in the complete identity change of every teacher and you can imagine what ensues! Chaos as staff prepare for the arrival; and tension as the inspectors need to be shown round the school. Mina, Reema and Mobeen are chosen for the honours with strict instructions to not 'embarrass or ruin the future of the school'. I'll leave you to read about everything that unfolds but be prepared to laugh out loud!

Will the school pass the inspection? You'll just have to read the book and find out.

Tarantulas, inspectors and utter chaos in this laugh out loud book that will be a hit with reader. 

K-Pop Academy - Mina Finch

Book 1 The Stage Of Shadows

Hana Kim's dreams have come true after being awarded a scholarship to K-Pop Academy, the most prestigious training school in Seoul. But when she arrives, things aren't quite as she expected them to be, and she learns that there are shadows lurking, feeding from the other students' fears. It's up to Hana and her new friends to rid the school of the shadows before they take over.

Book 2 The Cursed Spotlight

Hana and her friends are back and this time preparations are underway for the Lunar New Year celebrations, during which one lucky student is chosen to perform the Spotlight Solo. When Nari is selected for the solo, her fears increase as shadow demons grow and threaten everything. Once again, Hana and her friends need to step up and use the skills they have learnt at the academy to save the day.

I have to admit that I'm not a big K-Pop fan but I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books. The boarding school setting, the friendship aspects of both books as well as the action made for a great read. 

At about 140 pages in each book, they are great for those who prefer a shorter read, and the K-Pop link will appeal to those who love Kpop Demon Hunter (the series is the unofficial book for the fans).

Out now, the books are fun and fast-paced, with engaging characters and positive messages woven into the plot.