July Round-up

With the start of the school holidays and time in Ibiza and Nice, it's been a mammoth month of reading for us.  As the book I'm currently reading always sits on my desk at school, I need to make sure that it's MG, so with no school, O and I decided to branch out and we've read a mixture of MG and YA.  As we know that people who read the blog often only read MG books, we've added age recommendations to the YA books to help people out).

MG:

The Bad Luck Lighthouse - Nicki Thornton

Seth and Nightshade are back!  Seth is struggling to learn magic and when Pewter arrives at The Last Chance Hotel and announces that he's heading to the Snakemouth Lighthouse Hotel, Seth decides this would be the perfect place for him to practise his magic.  However, when arrives, all is not as it seems and the murder of the owner, Mina Mintencress changes everything.

It's great to be back with Seth and Nightshade.  Seth is still doubting himself but is determined to power on and Nightshade is her usual, slightly sarcastic self and is still my favourite character (although I do love Seth too!).  The book builds the tension to an exciting finish and we can't wait for the next instalment.

Evernight - Ross MacKenzie:   https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2019/08/evernight-ross-mackenzie.html









Can You See Me? - Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott.

Tilly Adams is autistic and is terrified at the prospect of starting secondary school.  She knows people don't understand her so she hides her autism as much as she can.  This book is the story of one girl coping with high school and learning that it's ok to be yourself.  

This is a truly insightful book that should be in every classroom and read by every child and every adult.  With diary extracts woven into the story, this is an honest and heart-felt novel that deserves a huge standing ovation.


I Have No Secrets - Penny Joelson

Jemma is 14 and is just like other girls her age: she's intelligent, curious, incrediblly observant and enjoys music, books, nail varnish ... but Jemma has severe cerebral palsy and cannot move or communicate so relies on her foster family and her carer for everything.  When she becomes aware of a big secret she is powerful to do anything, but then her carer goes missing and Jemma is determined to find a way to tell everybody what she thinks happened.

This is a compelling novel and very cleverly written from Jemma's point of view.  It allows you to appreciate how sharp and observant she is as well as understand her frustrations.  As well as that, you become engrossed in Jemma's foster family and the different struggles each of them face.  It's a very cleverly written story with a gripping plot-line that will engage you from the very first page.

YA

Scars Like Wings - Erin Stewart:   https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2019/08/scars-like-wings.html





I Am Not A Number - Lisa Heathfield

Ruby West is a normal 14 year old girl who goes to school and enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Luke.  The Traditional Party have just been voted into power and are promising to make the country a better place for everyone ... at any cost.  This includes rounding up any supporters of The Core Party in the middle of the night and herding them to a prison camp where they are given a number and a brutal regime begins.

Reminiscent of The Holocaust (the author says that this was the basis of the idea for the novel), this is a powerful and compelling story that will grip you.  You'll find yourself rooting for the characters and crossing your fingers that everything will be ok for them.  I even found that I'd been holding my breath whilst reading and hadn't realised!

As a mum?  Did I take different things from this book than O? Undoubtedly!  I found it heart-wrenching at times (I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear) as, being a modern day setting, it's easy to see how this could become a reality.
(Recommended for age 11+)

The Rest of Us Just Live Here - Patrick Ness.

Mikey and his friends have nearly finished high school and all they want to do is reach graduation without any trouble ... but then the indie kids start dying and the blue lights appear, so what is going on?

This is a sci-fi novel with with a hint of fantasy, set in a realistic setting in small-town North America which covers a variety of issues: annorexia, OCD, relationships and friendships.  It's a clever story (I like that each chapter starts with a synopsis of the sub-plot which links with the main plot) and a great read.
(recommended for aged 12+)

Alex In Wonderland - Simon James Green

Alex Button has a long summer ahead of him and desperately needs to find himself a part-time job to keep his dad's girlfriend off his back; however, his awkwardness is a major stumbling block.  Despite this, he manages to land himself a job at Wonderland, a run-down amusement arcade, and things start to look up.  With a group of new friends, can he finally over-come his awkwardness to land himself a boyfriend?  And, along with his friends, can they figure out who's behind the strange messages being sent to Wonderland?

This is a funny and heart-warming novel and Alex is somebody lots of readers will be able to relate to: he's shy, gets tongue-tied, talks a lot when he's nervous and is desperate to find his first boyfriend and have his first kiss.  This is a romantic summer read that will leave you with a warm glow.
(Recommended for aged 13+)

The Boy Who Steals Houses - C. G. Drews.

Sam and Avery are brothers and they are on their own: their mum left when they were young and their abusive father abandoned them with their auntie who couldn't cope either; therefore it was left to younger brother, Sam to look after himself and Avery (who is autistic).  The pair live on the streets, stealing wallets and 'stealing' houses to sleep in and find food when they know the occupants are at home.  But one day, Sam wakes to discover the family are home and everything changes.

This is a book that shows the worst and the best in people.  It shows how far siblings will go to protect each other and that you should never give up hope.

Perfect for aged 11+

'Grown-up' Books we also read:

Humans - Matt Haig.  a brilliant and insightful book & well worth a read (14+ age recommendation on this one).

The Perks of Being A Wallflower - Stephen Chbosky. A great coming of age book but I've put this in this section as I decided not to let O read it yet.  Definitely a 16+ age recommendation on this one from me.

Evernight - Ross MacKenzie

(Release date February 2020)

Lara is a tosher, living hand to mouth whilst foraging in the sewers to make ends meet; other than her clothes and her toshing bag, the only thing she owns is a pendant her mum gave her before she died.

Meanwhile, Mrs Hester is getting ready to release the Evernight upon the kingdom which will turn everything to darkness, allowing chaos and herself to reign supreme.

When Lara finds a wooden box, she has no idea of its significance and the danger everybody is in.

K's opinion:
Deliciously dark and wonderfully magical, this fast-paced story is full of plot twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Lara is a strong character: as an orphan, she has no choice but to be independent and self-sufficient.  She looks out for herself and her friends, and is definitely the sort of person you want by your side.  I liked her as a character but I think my favourites (rather unusually for me) were the baddies!  Mrs Hester is a truly evil woman who steals bodies in order to rejuvenate herself and traps souls; whilst Shadow Jack, who lives under her control, appears just as menacing (I can imagine Ross had lots of fun creating these 2 characters in particular); together they help to make the plot utterly gripping - the question is: who will reign supreme when the baddies will stop at nothing to get what they want?

This is an original plot that allows readers to lose themselves in the allies of a different place that is begging to be explored.  The first in a new series, I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.

O's opinion:
From the first page, this book combines action, adventure and mystery into one great novel. I loved how Lara was never afraid of anything: not the other toshers, nor the mysterious Shadow Jack, not even magical Mrs Hester. She always cared for the ones she loved, even when she had to fight a swirling ball of dark magic to protect them!

I have always loved Ross' books, and this one is no exception. Can't wait for a sequel!!

Top Marks For Murder - Robin Stevens

Top Marks For Murder - Robin Stevens.

Daisy and Hazel are back (yeah!) and have returned to Deepdean just in time for the school's 50th anniversary celebrations.  However, when crimes are committed and with a murderer on the lose, the detective agency spring into action.  With the help of their old friend, Inspector Priestly, can they save lives ... and save the school?

K's opinion:
It's no secret that O and I love this series and it's also incredibly popular in school and we're always thrilled when a new book is published, and Top Marks For Murder is no exception.  Full of twists and turns, the plot will keep you on your toes and will keep you guessing - after such a brilliant ending to Death in the Spotlight, I was uncertain as to how Robin would pull off the surprise in this book but I should have known not to worry ... she did it again so brilliantly. 

It was great to see the characters maturing and 'blossoming into young ladies' whilst still maintaining their characters.  I love Daisy's feisty attitude but it was also good to see layers in her personality.  

Where will the pair end up next?  Were there hints towards the end of this book?  Robin Stevens is most definitely a modern day Agatha Christie.

O's opinion:
WOW!!! This book is absolutely AMAZING!!! When it came through the letterbox I could hear mum shriek with excitement! I have always loved the characteristics of the detecting duo: from Daisy always taking the lead to Hazel taking the clues and ruling out suspects: however they do it, they will always find the culprit. I also loved how much Kitty, Beanie and Lavinia have changed since we last met them at Deapdean. I can't wait to see the next instalment, and neither can the rest of the world!

I am lost for words to describe how good this book is, but one thing is certain: keep writing, Robin!!!

Many thanks to Penguin Random House for our ARC.

The Frozen Sea

The Frozen Sea - Piers Torday

(Release date: 5th September 2019)

Having loved The Last Magician, and waited (not so) patiently for the next instalment, it's fair to say that there was a huge amount of excitement in our house when an ARC of The Frozen Sea arrived in the post; even more so that it arrived just as we were venturing to France so it meant we could take it with us!

Jewel is Patricia's daughter, a lover of books and a girl who is picked on at school for being clever.  One day, whilst hiding from the bullies, she stumbles into a bookshop and unwittingly ends up in Folio, forty years after Simon, Patricia, Evelyn and Larry were last there.  It is her mission to find her missing Aunt Evelyn and, along with only her hamster, Fizz, and Pandora the robot, she must venture to the Frozen Sea and encounter dangers that will make her question everything she thinks she is.  Can she find her aunt and rescue her before it's too late?

K's opinion:

It was just wonderful to return to Folio again and I very quickly grew fond of the new characters, as well as being reacquainted with some familiar characters from The Lost Magician.  Jewel is a clever young lady who lives to read and certainly knows how to think for herself.  She knows she's different and doesn't particularly like this as it is why she is picked on at school, but it soon becomes her greatest asset.  

Fizz, meanwhile, is a hamster who is full of sarcasm and a feisty attitude, that's apparent from the start but he really comes into his own as a character once they enter Folio and Jewel can understand everything he is saying ... I loved him!  I also liked Pandora who showed us that everybody (even robots) think they have flaws.

Being born and brought up in Newcastle (& still a resident Geordie), I was thrilled that the book is initially set in Newcastle and (I'm going to show my age here!) the fact that it was set in the 1980s took me back to my youth (blimey I sound old!): mention of Casio watches, Our Price and Wimpy took me back to Northumberland Street many a year ago!  It also lead to the tentative ideas of computers controlling everything; everything being on the sandstone and people becoming reliant on them … it made me think of Ipads and our current technology … perhaps a lesson for us!

This was an exciting plot that had me gripped from the very start. I very quickly found myself rooting for Jewel and her companions, and literally couldn't put the book down (instead of people-watching whilst having a drink in Café de Paris in Monaco, I was firmly back in Folio!).  The links with The Lost Magician were clever (particularly the extra content in the paperback!) and I thoroughly recommend it.  The Frozen Sea is a fitting sequel to The Lost Magician and I cannot wait to share it with my class!

O's opinion:

When I finished The Lost Magician, I asked myself, "What's next for these adventurers?" The answer arrived in the post a couple of weeks ago! The Frozen Sea has everything in it: robots, trolls, gods, even a bookstore in Newcastle! Somehow, Piers has managed to fit them all together in a land of amazingness called Folio (obviously, the bookstore is in Newcastle, not Folio). I loved how Jewel always searched for a logical explanation for everything, even though in many cases there isn't one - for example, a talking bear ruling a country of robots and story characters.

I have always loved Piers' books, and this is his best yet! However, there is only one pressing question: will there be a book 3???

Scars Like Wings

Scars Like Wings - Erin Stewart

(Release date: 3rd October 2019) 

Ava's life was changed forever when she was badly burned and left severely disfigured in a fire that killed her parents and her cousin, Sara.  A year, and 19 surgeries later, Aunt Cora (Sara's mum) has persuaded Ava that it's time for her to return to school.  Unable to bare seeing her old friends, she chooses  Crossroads High, with the understanding that she only needs to stay for 2 weeks.
      Then Ava meets Piper, a fellow burns survivor who is wheelchair bound.  Can they work together to conquer their fears and beat the stares at school?  Can they find their new 'normal'?

K's opinion:
With strong, contrasting characters, this book is written honestly, showing the full range of emotions and the reality of living with burns.
Ava is trapped between life before and after the fire.  Sever disfigurement is defining her, as well as her sense of guilt that Sara's parents are now looking after her.  She just wants to hide away and disappear.  By contrast, Piper is confident and seems to be owning her scars and injuries. But what lies beneath those scars?  As the pair become friends, what isn't Piper telling Ava? The contrast between the pair works well.

This is an emotional story about finding strength, finding courage and finding yourself. Tackling the issues of loss, change, friendship and family in a heart-felt way, this is a truly brilliant debut novel that I read in one go and which made me cry (whilst on a sun-

lounger round a pool!)!  It's a story that will stay with you long after you've finished the last page and shows us that it's important to understand that what you see in the mirror is just one part of what makes you you.  

I would like to say that Scars Like Wings is 'inspirational' but won't for reasons that will become clear when you read the book!  Instead, I will say that this is a heart-felt, heart-warming novel that should be read by everybody aged 12+.

O's opinion:
This book shows the troubles that disfigured people have to go through every day: the looks, the constant whispering behind their backs; everyday life is hard on them, and this book shows the feelings that they would have. Ava is shown to be a person who struggles to fit in but, as the book continues and she meets Piper, there is a new side to her. The side that is shown when people aren't mean to her every day, where she feels like she belongs.

This is a good book because it shows how we can help people who have been scarred in accidents by not staring at them or whispering about them behind their backs. I loved how Erin has written Ava as a real person with many different emotions.  It felt real to me.  I will definitely recommend Scars Like Wings to my friends.

Many thanks for Simon & Schuster for our ARC of this stunning novel.