The Good Thieves

The Good Thieves - Katherine Rundell
(Release date: 13th June 2019)

Vita and her mum have sailed to New York to help her grandfather, Jack, whose home (a castle on the outskirts of New York) has been swindled from him by conman Sorrotore.  Determined to avenge the injustice, Vita concocts a plan and, with the help of circus performers Samuel and Arkady, and Silk, a local pickpocket, begins a race against time to restore her grandfather's home and possessions to the rightful owner.

K's opinion:

I love Katherine Rundell's books so was particularly looking forward to this one.  I felt incredibly privileged to be able to read an electronic copy and, oh boy, I wasn't disappointed!  

This is an exciting, fast-paced adventure that made me gasp and kept me gripped throughout.  From the very beginning, I marvelled at the description and choice of vocabulary and the way Rundell weaves it to create magic on the page (I'm an English teacher by day - I I look at the vocabulary almost by default!).  The attention to detail immerses you  in New York life and you quickly feel as though you're in amongst the Mafia-type world next to Vita.  She is a strong lead character whose determination is evident, not least through the fact that she refuses to allow herself to be defined by her weak leg.  She is somebody whose qualities I think many young girls will want to emulate when they read the book and, together with Samuel, Arkady and Silk, will be characters that will stay with readers long after they have read the final page.  

This tale of love, family, friendship and loyalty  is a captivating adventure from the master of story-telling.

O's opinion:

WOW!!! This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through: I even stopped my homework to read it! I have always loved Katherine's books and this is without a doubt her best book yet!

I loved how Vita was always persistent, no matter what the task was, even with her disability.  The way her friends always stayed by her side, whatever the problem, was amazing. This is a characteristic I would love to have (unfortunately, I am a bit of a wuss!!), and would be incredibly fortunate to have friends like that.

This is by far one of the best books I have read this year (so far I am on 31!). I can't wait for Katherine's next!

The Longest Night Of Charlie Noon

The Longest Night Of Charlie Noon - Christopher Edge.
(Due for release 6th June)

Friends Charlie and Dizzy are determined to discover what is hiding in the woods near their home and, along with Johnny, they quickly become lost and scared!  Then night falls and they find themselves trapped and unable to find their way home.  Can they solve the mystery and find their way out of the forest and what is happening to time?

K's opinion

This is a gripping book that will have you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning.  The dynamic between the three characters is great and their very different personalities have to come together and put aside their differences in order to work together.  

I began reading this book to my class just before Easter and they are utterly hooked, often refusing to go home at the end of the day until I've finished the chapter we're reading, and then becoming even more reluctant to leave as the ends of the chapters are often the most thrilling parts!  We managed to reach the half-way mark before we broke up and there have already been many gasps and cries of, "You can't stop reading now!".  They love it just as much as O and I did.  When they knew we'd be writing the blog over the holiday, there were a flurry of quotes that came my way, with requests for them to be included, so here you go:

"It's a phenomenal book and I'm really enjoying it!"

"Amazing!  It's exceptional and the description is perfect!"

"A superb book of surprises!"

"This is an action-packed book, full of adventure and excitement!"

I have to say, that it's also an incredibly thought-provoking book and I'm very much looking forward to seeing how the class react as we make our way through the second half of the book next term (I'll keep you posted!).  I have to admit to shedding a tear (in public!)

O's opinion

WOW!!! This book is fabulous! It was constantly making me think about what was happening and the plot twists were amazing! I loved how Charlie never gave up, not even when it seemed that they were going to be lost in there forever. I loved how Charlie always stayed positive and didn't lose hope.

I have always loved Christopher's books, but this is by far the BEST book he has written!!! What's next?!?!

No Ballet Shoes in Syria - Catherine Bruton

No Ballet Shoes in Syria - Catherine Bruton.

Aya is an eleven year old asylum seeker who has just moved to Britain with her mum and baby brother from Syria.  Whilst making their regular trips to the community center, Aya stumbles across a ballet class which makes her yearn to return to the thing she loved most before the war: dancing.  Taken under her wing by the ballet teacher, Aya finds that life is tough as she tries to earn a place at a prestigious ballet school.  Can her talent help her to succeed and what will happen to her family?

K's opinion:

Normally, I wait until O has read a book as well before doing a full review like this but I just couldn't wait with this book!  Having finished it this morning, the story and the characters are still with me so I wanted to share my thoughts on the book today:

No Ballet Shoes in Syria is an insightful story full of emotion that shows the turmoil that so many children who are asylum seekers must face.  Aya tells her story beautifully, switching between her present situation in Manchester, her past-life in Syria and the difficult and turbulent journey she and her family were forced to make.  It allows young readers (suitable for children aged 9+ in my opinion) to understand the traumas of asylum seekers in an age appropriate and wonderfully written way.  The contrasts between Aya and the other girls in the ballet class show the sacrifices she and her family have had to make and the responsibility that now lies on her shoulders.  

The book is current yet told in a way that makes it feel timeless and is perfect for fans of Onjali Rauf and Noel Streatfield.  It's a story of hope, love and 'the kindness of strangers' which broke and warmed my heart in equal measure.  There are so many important lessons to be learned from this book and, when it's published in May, it needs to be in every school in the country.  I can't recommend this book enough.

Rumblestar - Abi Elphinstone

Rumblestar - Abi Elphinstone

(Due for release, 30th May)

"Life, Casper, is wigglysplat."

Casper is an eleven year old boy who likes routine, lists and timetables, so when he accidentally finds himself in Rumblestar, one of the Unmapped Kingdoms, with Utterly Thankless, a girl who seems to be his complete opposite, things couldn't get much worse!  However, Rumblestar is under threat from an evil harpy called Morg who wants to steal the unmapped magic, and this could have dire consequences for Casper's world (our world) as well as Rumblestar.  As a result, Casper and Utterly head out on the adventure of their lives, but will they succeed and save Rumblestar or will Morg and her army of Midnights defeat them?

K's opinion:

I knew I wanted to start this review with a quote from the book; the problem was that I had too many to choose from (a great problem to have, by-the-way!).  From the opening lines ("The trouble with grown-ups is that they always think that they're right..."), the book is awash with beautiful description and poignant phrases (I'm thinking firmly of Bristlebeard here!) that make you want to dive into the world of Rumblestar and the Unmapped Kingdoms, and experience them first-hand.

And I must give a nod to the characters who help to make this world seem so real.  Casper Tock is a boy of rules & routines, his life rigidly mapped out on his timetables in order to avoid the bullies he fears, so the chaos into which he is plunged seems all too much for this boy who so desperately just wants to go home.  I love the fact that he is a quirky character and not your typical 'boy'.  In a world where we encourage children to be themselves, Casper is a character that I think may will relate to.

  

The there's Utterly Thankless (such a brilliant name!) who seems to live in the moment and finds it incredibly easy to ignore the rules!  Yet there is something more to her and her misbehavior; something that is driving her on and I enjoyed the many layers of her character.  Although she and Casper are polar opposites, they compliment each other perfectly.

And let's not forget Arlo, Utterly's miniature dragon who shows everybody that being small and unable to speak is no hindrance to be inga good friend!

This is a world full of magical creatures, good and bad; from the drizzle hags to the Midnights; from Zip the refreshingly honest and funny hot-air balloon to Bristlebeard, the wise and insightful snow troll, and everything in between.  The variety is what makes this book so good.

Rumblestar is a story full of action and adventure which tells of friendship and being brave, even when you're scared.  It shows us that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and that being a hero can creep up on you quite unexpectedly.

O's opinion:

This book is such a good read: it is full of adventure and humor along the way, with added mystery and scariness! This novel is so well written it makes me want to jump through a grandfather clock and visit Rumblestar!

Casper is my favorite character as he is always on time and is never late, but he is plunged head-first into a world where his special skills mean nothing to Utterly, who couldn't be more different to him! This makes me want to be like him because even though he doesn't know where he is, how he got there, or even if he is going to get home, he still caries on, despite his fears: as long as he's with Utterly everything will be fine - or so it seems ...!!!!!!!!

This is undoubtedly Abi at her best and we don't feel that our words can quite do the book justice.  We can't wait for the next in the Unmapped Chronicles.

March Round-up

March Round-up.

It's been another incredible bookish month for us.

We were privileged to hear Angie Thomas talk about her YA books and her inspirations (O has read and loved both her books; they're on my to-read list for Easter) and we were honoured to help Dan Smith celebrate the launch of his latest book, She Wolf, at Seven Stories (it's a brilliant book so if you haven't already read it, you really should! It's so popular in school that it still hasn't made it to the library as it's snapped up as soon as somebody returns it!)

We've also managed to read a few books as well so here's our views on the books we've read this month!

Wildspark - Hashti Vardy

https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2019/03/wildspark-vashti-hardy.html

The Dragon in the Library - Louie Stowell 

(Publication date: 6th June)

Kit hates reading and loves getting muddy and having adventures; however, her friends, Alita and Josh both love to read.  So when  they persuade Kit to make a quick stop at the library, Kit isn't very happy; however they meet Faith, the librarian and then Kit discovers that strange and magical things happen when she reads a book.  This leads to magic, dragons, adventure and an attempt to save the dragon in the library.  

       This is a wonderfully exciting story of friendship, the power books, reading and libraries (I had an image in my head throughout the book of the local library I used as a child).  Kit is a reluctant reader who is clumsy and makes mistakes - it's wonderful to see this and I'm sure there will be many children who will relate to her.  With great illustrations, this is a perfect books for children aged 7-9.

Starfell - Dominique Valente. 

(Publication date: 2nd May)

Willow lives in the town of Starfell with her family.  Not everybody has magical powers but Willow does: she can find things that people have lost. She lives in the shadows of her mum and sisters, believing that their powers are far more exciting than her own.  So when Moreg Vaine, one of the most feared and infamous witches in Starfell, visits to ask for her help to find last Tuesday which she thinks has gone missing, Willow jumps at the chance.  Armed with a few hastily-chosen belongings and Oswin (the monster from under her bed) all stuffed into a green, shaggy-hired carpet bag, Willow sets out on the adventure of her life.  But as she journeys and meets characters such as Festhering, Noun Sometimes and Essential Jones, can she discover what happened to last Tuesday?

           We liked the quirkiness of the characters, their individuality and the fact that so many of them didn't quite feel they fit into 'normal' society. 

           This is a story about being different, accepting and embracing your uniqueness, and trusting your instincts.  It teaches us that we should love and embrace who we are.

The Closest Thing To Flying - Gill Lewis.

This the story of Semira and Hen (Henrietta): 100 years separate them but a hat and a hidden diary bring them together.  Semira is a refugee, brought to England with her mother and being 'looked after'  by Robel who claims to be helping them but is very controlling.  When Semira stumbles across a hidden diary, it unlocks a new world to her - that of Henritta (Hen) who lived in Victorian Britain.  As the similarities become apparent, can they help Semira uncover the secrets of her own past and also help give her the strength to be brave enough to do what's right in this life?

       A touching story that covers several rather difficult but relevant topics in an age-appropriate way.  It's a heart-warming story that flows well between the 2 time-periods.  With 2 strong, female lead characters, it shows readers that it's good to develop a sense of self and what is right. We also like  Patrick, who doesn't feel the need to conform and is accepted because he is true to himself.

      A great book and definitely one we recommend.

The Great Chocoplot - Chris Callaghan.

Be warned: this book will make you want to eat chocolate!

'In 6 days there will be no more chocolate in the world ... ever!'

And so beings the great Chocopocalypse and mass hysteria abounds round the country as everybody grapples for chocolate before it's gone for good.

         Jelly lives with her parents (her dad has been made redundant and her mum works nights at the local supermarket) and her gran lives in a caravan on the front drive.  Things are tight but they love chocolate and the prospect of no more leads Jelly and her gran to search for the truth about the great Chocopocalypse!

        This is a great read, full of fun and quirky touches (twists on names/places/shows from 'real life').  It's a choctastic book and I can't believe it took us 3 years to get round to reading it! 

My Dad's A Birdman - David Almond.

A touching story of a father who is determined to do whatever it takes to win the Great Human Bird Competition in which competitors need to fly across the River Tyne without falling in!  He decides to take things literally and become as bird-like as possible.  With Lizzie, his daughter, looking after him, the pair set about trying to win the competition.

        This is a touching story told in a relatable way, the book is distinctively Almond in its style and you can hear the Geordie voices coming through - I love it!

        This is a story about love, family, not giving up, having faith and taking risks.  Perfect for children in Years 3 and 4.

Horrid Henry Up, Up and Away - Francesca Simon

O and I loved reading Horrid Henry books when he was young, so it was a real treat when then 100th book, marking 25 years of Horrid Henry books, dropped through the door.  It comprises 4 new stories, packed with the usual antics from Henry, from heading on holiday on a plane, writing a history essay for a school competition, messing up a play and a visit to a water-park. With changes of font style & size, and great illustrations, this is a fun and appealing books that will engage younger readers.  I'm just pleased I'm never around when Henry is!

The Words that Fly Between Us - Sarah Carroll 

(Publication date: May 2019)

This is a YA book about a girl called Lucy who has a supposedly perfect life: her father is a massive name on the property market and her mother is perfectly happy. But on the inside, her bully of a father oppresses her about her 'hobby' of drawing. Can she be the person she wants to be without her father getting in her way?

This book is a great example of standing up to a bullying and Sarah Carroll writes it perfectly. I loved how Lucy tries to help her friend Megan stand up to Hazel, her 'friend' that posts mean comments on her blog. This makes me think that Lucy is a person that just wants the best for her friends. I think everyone should try to be like Lucy and should help their friends through hard times.

This book has a clear message running through the lines: stand up to bullies; your life will be better for it. This is why Sarah Carroll is an amazing author: only good will come from this book.