Wildspark - Vashti Hardy

Wildspark - Vashti Hardy

Prue Haywood helps her parents run their farm, including keeping the mechanicals in good working order - it's something she loves doing, so when a stranger comes to the door looking for an apprentice for the Imperial Personifate Guild (a secret guild of inventors who have brought spirits from the dead back into the world in mechanical animals), Prue leaves her parents, heads to Medlock and becomes apprentice to Craftsman Primrose.  Her aim: to learn the craft so she can bring back her brother's ghost in mechanical form.  

K's opinion:

Beautifully written from the first page, this is a wonderfully exciting book book with its own vivid world: a magical city with new ways of travelling and inventions to marvel at - I was drawn in from the beginning and, every time I put the book down, I felt part of me remained in Metlock.  I quickly became connected to Prue and her cause: she's a strong and determined young lady who works hard but also holds her secrets close to her chest. She shows that sometimes you have to do what you think is best, despite your parents.  The three main characters (Prue, Agapantha & Edwin) show that bravery comes in all forms and I love their differences and the bond that grows between them; they are characters you will love and warm to.

     Wildspark is a story of family and friendship; of love and loss; of conquering your fears; of determination and hope.

.  It's an exciting book with some truly unexpected twists - it's the perfect adventure! 

O's opinion:

WOW!!! What a book! I found it to be an amazing combination of magic and exploration. With Prue leading me through the Guild, I felt like anything was possible, from harnessing dead spirits to finding magical rocks to power their bodies!!!

    I loved how Prue had a head for adventure when she was in the Guild, but always put her family first by trying to find her brother in all of her work there. I loved how she easily made friends and could manage anything she was told to do, and how, even if the outcome was slightly wrong, she was still proud of it.

This book is definitely Vashti's best and should be in every child's (and adult's) hands once it is released!!!

February Round-up

February Round-up

Another bumper month for books and, with a quiet half-term, we've managed to get through quite a few so here's our round-up:

MG Books:

We Won An Island

Since Luna's granny died, things have been different - Luna's dad has been depressed and the family have ended up owing too much rent on their flat and are forced to find somewhere else to live.  Just in the nick of time, they win their very own Scottish island in a competition; however, when they arrive, they discover it's over-grown and the house is run-down.  
As they begin to tidy up, Luna decides that holding a festival on the island would help raise funds for the donkey sanctuary she intends to open.  But planning a festival isn't easy, especially when you're trying to keep it secret from your parents!  Will she be able to pull it off?

I chuckled my way through this book and smiled a lot at the bond between Luna and her siblings, Margot and Fabien.  Due for release May 2nd, this will be a great read this summer and makes me want to head back up to Scotland to dance on the beach! 

The Midnight Hour - Benjamin Read & Laura Trinder

Emily thinks she leads a fairly normal life ... that is until her parents disappear and, along with Hoggins, her pet hedgehog, she sets off to try to find them and ends up entering The Midnight Hour - a magical world frozen in time full of weird & wonderful creatures (including Constable-in-Training Postlethwait, the Nocture & the Library) in a fantastic setting (Victorian London where Big Ben is the central feature).

This is a wonderful book full of adventure and imagination with a brave and feisty lead character (Emily) whose big mouth is constantly getting her into trouble!  Perfect for fans of Peter Bunzl & Katherine Woodfine.

Ghost - Jason Reynolds

Ghost (Castle Cranshaw) is very good at getting into trouble at school; trouble that will lead him down the wrong path if he's not careful.  That is until he stumbles upon a track-meet and discovers he's good enough to join the team, and his coach starts to work with him. Yet all is not plain sailing for Ghost who doesn't have the right kit and ends up cutting down his high-tops & running in his normal clothes as he knows his mum doesn't have the money to buy him what he needs.  But will Ghost be able to stay on the right track?  

Set in America, this is a story of real-life, it shows us about perseverance and about believing in what's right.  It's about not giving up and reminds us that every body is different, and that you just never know what others around you are going through.

Lenny's Book of Everything - Karen Foxlee

Set in 1970s America, this is the story of Lenny and her brother, Davey, told from Lenny's point of view.

With their father absent, their mother is forced to work two jobs in order to make ends meet so winning a full subscription to Burrell's Build-It-at-Home Encyclopedia set gives them something to look forward to; it allows the siblings to experience the wonders of the world and helps them to dream of their escape.  

All of this runs along-side the fact that Davey won't stop growing.  At first, his mum tries to ignore it, claiming they have big people in their family; however, as he begins to tower over everybody else in his class as well as those much older than himself, his mother is forced to seek medical help.  As Davey's disease progresses and medical treatment ensues, the family are forced to realise that this is something that won't resolve itself.

Lenny's Book of Everything is a moving book about family, hope, the innocence of youth, the kindness of others and love. It's a book that is both heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measures!  I highly recommend it but also recommend purchasing a box of tissues to have handy whilst reading!

We've also blogged separately about the perfectly formed novella by Lisa Thompson, Owen and the Soldier (https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2019/02/owen-and-solider-lisa-thompson.html)

and the wonderfully thrilling new release from 

Dan Smith, She Wolf (https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2019/02/she-wolf-dan-smith.html)

YA books

Boy 87 - Ele Fountain.

Shif is a young boy who loves school (in particular maths and playing chess); however, the day soldiers turn up at his door, everything changes.  With only his best friend Bini, Shif is forced to flee his home and make the dangerous trek to Europe.  Shif is forced to grow up quickly as he journeys through being imprisoned, travelling through new lands and risking everything in an attempt to find freedom. 
I read this book in a single day and barely put it down!  It's a gripping story and one that makes you realise the cruelty and kindness that there is in the world.  Boy 87 grabs hold of you from the very beginning and doesn't let you go until the very end.  Harrowing and heart-breaking in places, whilst heart-warming in others, this is a must-read book!

I've put it in the YA section as this is where I found it in Waterstones  It's possible that some Year 6 could read it but I would be wary.  I'll warn you now: I needed tissues!  
O is yet to read this book but we'll update when he has with his opinion on an age-range.