Black River - Ruby Jean Cottle

 

Black River is a small town where everybody knows everybody else.  Dusty lives with her younger sister, Opi, and her father, but prefers the company of books to people, choosing to close herself off after her mum left.  However, one morning, she wakes with her book on the floor and dirt on her feet.  With no recollection of what has happened, she begins her day, but it quickly becomes apparent that something has changed - Dusty has changed.  And she's not the only one.  What exactly has happened and can Dusty learn to control her new emotions before there are deadly consequences?

The remote location of this book is perfect and sets the atmosphere wonderfully: a small town, the mountain on the edge that leads to trails that disorientate; the misty eeriness and the feeling that somebody/someone is always watching... it creates that sense of mystery and gives an ominous feeling from the very beginning when Dusty and Opi go foraging for mushrooms.

Dusty is a character that readers will warm to: she prefers her books to people, she's a bit of a loaner, and she's inwardly struggling since her mum left.  Once she begins to change, she has no choice but to explore her emotions and face what is happening to her.  And this is done well: the idea of vampires is revealed slowly and subtly, diving into the effects and changes in detail - this is a vampire story with depth and secrets.  It looks at the difficulties of keep something so mammoth from your family and the consequences of needing to feed without causing harm.  

Family relationships are explored in various guises, as well as friendships and romance.  This is an atmospheric novel that will draw you in and haunt you in the best way.  It's more than just a vampire story; it's an immersive YA that will sink its teeth into you and won't let you go.

Black River is out now.  

A Clock Stikes Murder - Michelle Harrison

Spike and Merry are back and this time they are on the island of Crete whilst their mum restores paintings for an old friend of hers. At the same time, Yiannis is holding an auction to sell a cursed painting that reportedly kills anyone who looks at it.  Competition is fierce between those who want it but when one of them ends up dead, things take a dramatic turn.  Can the twins and their new friend Nikos get to the truth  before it's too late?

It was lovely to be back with the twins and their unusual ability to stop time, and I liked that their back story was woven seamlessly into the beginning of the book so that those who haven't read Twice Upon A Time could pick up A Clock Strikes Murder and read it as a stand alone (although I highly recommend reading it - you can read my review here).

This time, it's a small Greek museum, taverna and villa as the setting, recently cut off by a landslide and only accessible through some tricky to navigate caves - perfect for creating isolation and a murderous setting.  The summer sunshine, and descriptions of delicious Greek food sent me back to long hot days spent in Crete myself and more than made up for the fact that I read it in rainy Britain over February half-term! 

The plot is pacey and leaves little clues as it goes so readers will be able to pit their wits and see if they can guess the identity of the killer before the twins do. With twists to fool and make you think, it's a book that will keep you guessing. 

Danger, daring and drama lurk around every corner in this race against time - it's a book that readers are going to love.

A Clock Strikes Murder publishes on the 12th March.

Showstopper - Tom Ramsay

 

The Larry's are a prestigious award for teen musical-theatre performers.  Olly, an old hand, is thrilled to be in the final thirty and is determined that his last year will be his best yet; meanwhile, it's Tarun's first year, having been nominated for one performance.  When the boys are paired together as room mates, they get off to a bad start, completely misunderstanding each other.  But can they get over their differences and come together against rival competitors?

Olly has lived his life immersed in musical theatre and knows everything there is to know about it - Broadway, off Broadway, Sondheim, huge hits as well as those that flopped; if it's been a musical for more than two seconds, Olly knows about it!  This is his last year as a Larry's finalist and he knows how much winning means if he is to make it as a professional one day.  He is determined to make the most of every minute and is adamant that events from last year won't affect him this year.  Tarun, meanwhile, is a newbie to The Larry's, having been nominated for one performance where he stood in as understudy in Les Mis.  He's thrilled to have been nominated but, once he arrives, he quickly feels as though he doesn't belong: everybody seems to know more than him and it's making him feel more and more anxious by the minute.  Olly and Tarun have had very different upbringings: whilst Olly's dad has embraced his passions and his sexuality; Tarun's dad has shunned it - if it weren't for his mum since his parents' divorce, he wouldn't be involved in musical theatre at all.  The pair appear very different at first meet, but they actually have so much more in common than they think; it's just a question of whether they can get past their initial impressions.

 

Showstopper was just what I needed this half-term!  Sometimes in life, you just need pure escapism and to lose yourself in the pages of a book that sweeps you away in romance, drama and musicals... and this is just that!  It's a joyous celebration of young love; it's a beautiful exploration of first kisses, of managing unkindness and celebrating and loving who you are.  However, it quickly becomes apparent that, amongst the romance, there is so much more to the book: anxiety, parental acceptance, having the strength to stand up for what you believe in, and facing bullies are all themes that are explored alongside the will they/won't they romance.  It's a book that quietly packs a punch with messages that readers need to hear. 

Publishing on the 7th May, Showstopper is a page turning YA romance that will warm your heart and remind you that being yourself is the best thing you can be.  So whether you're defying gravity, dreaming a dream or saying hello to Dolly, this is a book you need to read - it deserves every moment of the limelight.  

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!