She Wolf - Dan Smith

She Wolf - Dan Smith

'Survival always comes first; we do whatever it takes to survive.'

Set in Northumbria in December, 866, this is the story of Ylva who sets out on an epic journey in search of the three fingered man in order to avenge her mother's death.  Having to cope with the wolves that inhabit the forest as well as the harsh, winter conditions, Ylva must keep her wits about her in order to survive - but can she trust those she meets along the way?

K's opinion:

It's no secret that O and I are big fans of Dan Smith's books so we'd been looking forward to the book for some time and excitement levels were high when we got hold of a copy (there may have been squeals of delight!) and, by goodness, we weren't disappointed!  She Wolf is the perfect mix of adventure, anticipation and twists which are all bound together with a truly memorable main character.

Ylva (which means She Wolf) is young and, at first, seems fierce and determined but we soon discover that she is a many layered character and, behind her determined, stubborn exterior, there is a scared girl whose bravery is what drives her on.  I loved reading about her and seeing how she unfolded as the story progressed.  She makes mistakes along the way and I'm so pleased she does - nobody gets it right all the time & it's that that will make her relatable to readers: she's human and often thinks she knows best! I was also particularly fond of the relationship between Ylva and Geri, her dog: the discussion between the pair adds another dimension to Ylva, allowing her to share her inner most thoughts (her conscience) with her best friend.

This was a book I couldn't put down (thank goodness I got hold of it over half-term!) and one which manages to marry an action-packed story with superb description.  I loved  chatting to O about it and I'm going to love discussing it with the children in my class when they get their hands on it!  I know they have been itching to get a hold of a copy since they had a sneak preview of chapter 1 so I suspect that any post half-term bleariness will be quickly wiped away when they see the book on my desk on Monday morning!

This is a guaranteed hit, Dan and I think, dare I say it, your best book yet!!

O's opinion:

WOW! What a book! Getting my hands on a copy was the best book grab in months. I couldn't wait to start it, only Mum grabbed it out of my hands to read with my bookmark inside! What a heinous crime! (she only took a day to read it so it didn't matter!) When I finally got the book and began to read, I was not disappointed!

One of the reasons that I loved She Wolf is that it is close to home, so I can easily imagine all the places and settings. Ylva was built up so well that I could imagine every part of her, from her fearlessness to her perseverance. I think every child and adult should try to take something from her character, especially her ability to look fear in the eye and shout a silly war cry at it (I'm thinking of the bear)!

Over the years, Dan has written the best books: from Boy X to Below Zero, they have all been amazing, however, I can now reveal that this book is officially the BEST book he has ever written!!! I loved the description and adventure mix wrapped in one and how he managed to fit all of the action and heart-warmth into one book, he is an amazing author.

What's Going On Inside My Head

What's Going On Inside My Head.

I already have a copy of Let's Talk About When Somebody Dies and it's such a brilliant book (& has already been very useful) so I was very excited when What's Going On Inside My Head? came through the door.  Written in a wonderfully child-friendly way, from the introduction, this book is designed to help children understand the varying emotions and feelings they will/may have and to recognise that these things are normal.  

With colourful pages, great illustrations, top tips & 'it's good to know...' sections, the book is easy to navigate for children, whether they need to read the entire book or just need to dip in and out.  I also love the section with tips for parents - the fact that this section is also quick and easy to read I suspect will be much appreciated: great advice, quickly absorbed.

With my pastoral role in school, I know that this book will be useful with many children for a variety of reasons.  It will take pride of place on the shelf in my office after half-term and will be used frequently to help reassure children and also to help them understand what is happening in their brains.

Many thanks for sending it my way, Bloomsbury.

Owen and the Solider - Lisa Thompson

Owen and the Soldier - Lisa Thompson

Now it's just Owen and his mum, things are difficult, especially as his mum is suffering badly and needs help.  Owen is trying to cope on his own and finds solace in the local war memorial: a crumbling stone soldier.  However, when he hears the council plans to scrap him, he worries that he is too late to do anything to save his new friend.

K's opinion:

This small but perfectly formed novella is another guaranteed hit from Lisa Thompson who has a gift for writing books that just hit the spot.  Her stories have a way of covering issues that are relevant to children (and adults) but aren't often discussed and the messages she sends go right to your heart.

In just 86 pages, Lisa manages to weave her magic with words to draw the reader in and ensure they are completely encapsulated by Owen's story.  Full of empathy and with dyslexia-friendly features, this book will be accessible to everybody. 

This is an emotional story (I shed a tear!) but I loved Owen's spirit & determination.  I read it on the day that many of our country's children skipped school in order to march to make their own thoughts known on climate change - I think Owen would have approved of their actions!

O's opinion:

From the start, I loved the sentiment felt by Owen and I liked how he shared his thoughts with the soldier because he found it difficult to share them with anybody else. I found the length of the book didn't matter; Lisa has managed to get such an emotional story line into such a small book. Well done!

January Round-up

What a month it's been for all things bookish in our house: we were honoured to meet the wonderful Onjali Rauf at Waterstones in Durham (we can't wait to read the next book but will forever champion the wonderful The Boy at the Back of the Class); O was lucky enough to meet and chat books with Lisa Thompson at Waterstones Newcastle & I'm super excited that Michelle Harrison is coming to school on April 1st!

In between all of that, we managed to read 16 books between us!  Some books we both read but several were different so we decided to do a round-up of everything in one post, so, here we go...

Our Castle by the Sea - Lucy Strange

Set in WWII in a lighthouse on the south coast of England, the book tells the story of Pet (Petra), her sister Mags & their Pa and Mutti (their German mother).  As war begins, their mother is arrested simply because of her nationality; however, she is then accused of passing information to the Germans.  Pet's life is turned upside-down - her mother can't be guilty; but if she's not then who is?

This is a wonderfully written story and you'll find yourself questioning Pet's family.  With an utterly gripping final few chapters, this book will have you on the edge of your seat!

When We Were Warriors - Emma Carroll 

I love Emma's books so was thrilled when an early copy of these 3 short stories landed on the door mat.  Set during World War II, it was lovely to be able to revisit some of the old haunts and discover new stories lurking there. Definitely a good read &  a great book for children who prefer shorter stories. It's released on the 7th February so there's not long to wait now!

The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods - Samuel J. Hapin

When Poppy temporarily moves in with her grandmother in the town of Sudds, she quickly becomes aware that something is not right.  After she makes friends with Erasmus, the pair decide it is up to them to discover why children have been disappearing and why peculiar things keep happening.

With just the right amount of darkness thrown in to the mix, this is a thrilling debut novel which has been beautifully written (I love the description that's woven into the plot).  Erasmus is a quirky character I warmed to but it was Gran who stole my heart: her quirky habits; her sense of self and her love for her family.

You will love this book!

Against All Gods - Maz Evans

See our separate review here: https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2019/02/against-all-gods-maz-evans.html

The Day I Was Erased - Lisa Thompson

Things aren't going too well in Maxwell's life: his parents are always arguing; he's constantly in trouble in school and then he upsets his best friend.  Fed up with everything, he visits his elderly neighbour, Reg, and whilst looking through his cabinet of curiosities, he manages to somehow erase himself from his life!  He quickly discovers what life would be like if he'd never been born and then begins the desperate race to see if he can reverse what has happened and return to his old life.

     Lisa's books are always brilliant reads: the characters are relatable; you're easily absorbed within their lives and they are incredibly popular in school!  The Day I Was Erased reminds us of the importance of valuing family and friends; of making sure we consider others and of appreciating what we have.  It's a feel-good book (think It's a Wonderful Life for children) and a must-read.

The Skylarks' War - Hilary McKay

We've been blessed with great novels based around war this month (see above) and this book is no exception.  Set during WWI this time, the book centres around Clarry and her brother, Peter.  With their mother dead and their father barely able to show any emotions towards them, the siblings live for their summer holidays with their grandparents and their cousin, Rupert, in Cornwall.  When WWI breaks out and Rupert enlists, everything changes and we follow all of the ups and inevitable downs of their lives during such a turbulent time.

    The writing in this book has all the hallmarks of a classic whilst covering some strong themes: war, friendship and sexism, all in a sensitive way.  With so many strong characters in this book, we found it difficult to chose a favourite; however, O loved Clarry's independence (she's such a champion of her own life and fiercely determined) and I couldn't help but want to hug Simon: his dedication and loyalty were heartbreaking.

Wonderfully written with thought-provoking descriptions, this is a one to read - we both loved it.

When Good Geeks Go Bad - Catherine Wilkins

Ella is struggling with her parents' separation and with the fact that her father won't buy her the right shoes, let her stay up as late as her classmates, she starts to rebel ... and the more she rebels the more she likes it; however, her best friend is far from happy.

This is a great book about family, friendship and what happens when you forget what is important to you.  A great read for those looking for an older MG book.

Hour of the Bees - Lindsay Eagar:

This book is based in New Mexico in Latin America, around a character called Carolina, who visits Serge, the grandfather she's never seen before, in his ranch for the summer. Serge has had dementia since his wife, Rosa, died 12 years ago. At the ranch, she finds that bees have a tendency to follow her around. Soon, she becomes transfixed by Serge's stories and never wants to leave. But when the time comes, will she be able to leave him at his care home, and the end of the story with him?

I was given this book for Christmas, after showing interest in it at a well known book shop. I immediately started to read it and found I couldn't put it down! K still hasn't read it and I am begging her to do so! This book is AMAZING! Thank you, Lindsay!

The Dog who Saved the World - Ross Welford:

Another fabulous book by Ross! This one, set in Whitley Bay, Newcastle, has main characters Georgie and Ramzy befriending an eccentric scientist who lives in the Spanish City. They discover she has made a 3D VR system that can transport the user anywhere! But suddenly a deadly disease breaks out that will kill every dog in the world. When Georgie's dog, Mr Mash, gets sick, they must try to save the world without leaving the room...

WOW! What a book! I constantly fall in love with how Ross finds a different way to entice me to read his novels every time and this one is no different. I love the way he captures the atmosphere perfectly in each book and how I am always hooked whenever I am reading them. What's next, Ross???

Skullduggery Pleasant Last Stand of Dead Men - Derek Landy:

This is the 8th book in the series, so it's hard not to spoil anything in it. An amazing book in an amazing series that follows Valkyrie Cain and Skullduggery Pleasant on their adventures across Ireland that is still going after 12 years! I am always hooked when I get another one, and after reading this one, I was not disappointed. Well done, Derek - keep writing!

Alex Rider Scorpia Rising - Anthony Horowitz:

Another late-in-the-series book, so really hard not to give anything away. I've almost finished this series, and it's been fun to read and follow Alex's adventures through the 9 books I have read so far: I am itching to read the 10th! What a series; I can't imagine life without it.

O also read an other Agatha Christie (Black Coffee this time) before heading to the theatre to see a friend who was performing in it.  He loves all things Christie and is planning a solo blog-post about this at some point.

So there we have it: our January round-up, and February is looking good too, with releases from Michelle Harrison (A Pinch of Magic), Sinead O'Hart (The Star-Spun Web) and Maz Evans (Against All Gods)!  

Happy reading everyone!

Against All Gods - Maz Evans

Against All Gods - Maz Evans

This is our second attempt at writing this particular blog-post as we have found it bizarrely difficult to write a review and we've put that down to not wanting to give away any spoilers and because all we really want to say is, "If you haven't read this series, what have you been doing?! You need to read it now!"

Anyway, we're trying again, so here goes ... (and we promise: no spoilers!)

The final book in the series sees Elliot facing his biggest challenge yet: with his mum in the Underworld, and the final Chaos Stone still to be retrieved, he has a choice to make ... does he save his mum or save the world? (Just a small decision really!)  Should he recover the Fire Stone & hand all 4 stones over to Thanatos in order to bring back his mum or keep them, become ruler of the universe, save mankind and never see his mum again?

And that is really all we can say without giving out any spoilers, except that this is an utterly brilliant conclusion to the series that will take you on a roller-coaster of an emotional ride in order to find out exactly how things end and what happens to Elliot, his family and the Gods.

We were very lucky to have been lent a copy of this book before its release date by some very lovely book fairies and it really was a case of drop everything and read!  It even became a two book-mark book as we were both too eager to read it to wait for the other to finish!  Over the 24 hours it took us to devour it, we read everywhere (almost!), including whilst walking down the corridor in school, whilst eating my lunch and before the children came into the classroom in the morning (although that one proved fatal as I ended up properly ugly, tears streaming down my face crying seconds before they arrived and they all promptly wanted to know what was wrong with me! Not the best look for a teacher but I was happy to tell them that a book had made me cry, and they were desperate to know which book had reduced their teacher to a blubbering wreck!)

This book made us laugh, cry (see above!), gasp and hug it once we'd finished it (yes, both of us!)  It really does have it all!

This is such a brilliant series and we thank the Gods that Maz chose to dig her first draft of Who Let The Gods Out out of the drawer where it had lain abandoned and perfected it, for MG fiction would be a lesser place without it.

The question is ... what's next Maz?!

          "Forgiveness ... even more powerful than biscuits."

This quote is now proudly displayed on the wall in my office and several children have already commented on it & quote it!!