Wonderscape - Jennifer Bell

Gaming and time-travel come together seamlessly to create this unique new sci-fi adventure from Jennifer Bell.

Arthur is on his way to school when an explosion at a nearby house stops him in his tracks.  When he's joined by two girls from school, Ren and Cecily, they decide to investigate in order to help a dog they believe is still within the house.  Before we know it, the trio, along with Cloud (the dog), end up trapped, lost in a in-reality adventure game in the year 2473.  Together, they must navigate their way through each level to find their way home before they run out of time.

From the very beginning, this is an exciting book and you're drawn quickly into the plots as the trio have to quickly learn to work together as a team whilst they make their way through each level in order to make it out alive.   In fact, I particularly like the fact that the action begins so quickly and you get to know the characters as they travel though each level as the story progresses and, despite their different backgrounds, Arthur, Ren and Cecily quickly become friends. 

Although this is very much a sci-fi novel, the worlds the children have to make their way through are not those you would necessarily associate with this genre of writing and include a scientific research ship and a Gothic castle, with each new level so detailed you'll be able to visualise them perfectly.  And the additional inclusion of  real-life heroes in the form of historical characters such as Sir Issac Newton and Mary Shelley to help the children in their quest adds an extra historical element to the story that readers will love.

This is a clever idea for a fast-paced plot that will have gamers and non-gamers of all ages completed immersed.  With messages about overcoming fears, believing in yourself and valuing friendship, this is the perfect adventure to get lost in this summer - and, by the way, Cloud is by far my favourite character!

In honour of Wonderscape's release, here are two of my heroes:

April and May Roundup

It's been a strange time, hasn't it?  Which is probably why I've only just realised that I hadn't done a round-up for April so we're combining April and May and reviewing them in the order in which they were read.

K's Reading:

Talking to the Moon - S. E. Durrant.

Iris is living with her grandmother, Mimi, whilst her parents are sorting out the damp in her bedroom.  Iris loves living there and loves Mimi; however, when Mimi begins to do odd things (giving the cat chocolate cake for breakfast) and grows increasingly more forgetful, Iris begins to worry about her grandma and about whether she'll ever get to the bottom of the mystery about Coral.
          This is a wonderfully written and touching story about family relationships, friendship and finding out about the past.  
           Iris is aware of what's happening to Mimi but desperately tries to ignore the signs; instead she writes reminders (I particularly liked these listed at the end of each chapter).  She's a strong character, stronger than she thinks she is, but does give poor Mason a hard time.  Mason's a great character: true to himself, generally oblivious to what others think of him, happy to be himself and desperate to be friends with Iris.
         The book very sensitively covers the subject of dementia which is something that many children will experience through their grandparents (like Mimi) and this book shows them that it's ok to be scared and worried, that dementia has positives and helps them to understand something that could otherwise be difficult to comprehend.
         A touching and heart-warming story and a book I hugged once I'd finished it.

Storm - Nicola Skinner

Frankie was born on a beach during a storm and, according to her family, had always had part of the storm still in her and so it's fitting that she dies at the hands of a storm with the rest of her family when she's 11 years old.  However, unlike her parents ans sister who passed straight over, Frankie finds her ghost-self back at the family's home.  Desperate for her family to come and find her, she takes a sleeping draught and doesn't wake for 100 years, and, when she does, she finds life very different and her stormy nature comes back to the fore - but can she use it for good?
          I love the idea of this book, especially after reading Tweets from Nicola about the inspiration for the book (staying at her godfather's home, Castle Drogo) and the idea of waking up to find people taking-over your home sends shivers through me!  The death of Frankie, I have to admit, made me well-up (I'm very emotional at the minute!) and I desperately wanted to reach into the book and hug her (ironic really as she's a ghost!).  As a main character, Frankie's great and I rather enjoyed her outbursts but I also really liked Scanlon and the many layers to his character - his loneliness was key to the story.
          This book was gripping (I couldn't wait to see what happened to Frankie).  It's a story about family, finding friendship and appreciating how good our lives are.  

Gargantis - Thomas Taylor  (Release date: 12th May)

We're back in Eerie-on-Sea with Herbert Lemon (Lost and Founder at the Nautilus Hotel) and Violet Parma, and the town is in the midst of a horrendous storm which could destroy the entire town and it's believed that a monster is the cause.  When a hooded stranger arrives at the hotel just before the discovery of a blue bottle in the shape of a fish, people start to ask questions so the bottle is given to Herbie to look after and it's down to him and Vi to dig into fishing folklore, return the bottle to its rightful owner and save the town; however, they have to discover what Deep Hood is doing in town and why he's so desperate to get his hands on the bottle.
         It was great to be back in Eerie-on-Sea and with Herbie again who's such a lovable character, and from the very first chapter, we're plunged into the action as we discover Eerie is in trouble.  The story is fast-paced as we're reacquainted with familiar characters like Dr Thalassi and Mrs Fossil, and are introduced to the sinister and very mysterious Deep Hood.  The writing is just as atmospheric as in Malamander and the town has lost none of its quirky charm (I'm still desperate to visit the book dispensary) and the host of fishing folk and the trips to sea all add to the mysterious atmosphere. 
          Mythical creatures woven into an intriguing plot to create a gripping story the captures the imagination and grab the reader's attention so fully you won't be able to put the book down!


Wonderscape - Jennifer Bell (Release date: 4th June)
Review will follow on my stop on the blog tour on the 3rd June!

Starfell - Willow Moss & the Forgotten Tale - Dominique Valente.

At the beginning of our return to Starfell, we see Willow in a pickle: her magic is going hay-wire (things are disappearing instead of being found) and her friend Nolin Sometimes has been kidnapped and nobody believes her (about Nolin or the missing Tuesday she helped to recover with Moreg).  There's nothing else for it: Willow and Oswin are going to have to help rescue Nolin themselves and so begins their adventure which leads them to an enchanted tower and to the forest of Wisperia where danger awaits.
        This is a great book and it was lovely to be back with Willow again - she's the sort of friend you really want by your side.  She's loyal and an upbeat character but we see her learning to deal with her grief, having lost her Granny Floss in book 1.  There are also a host of other characters to get to know and love (my favourite being Holloway) and I have to mention the city of Library which sounds like the most perfect place to live.
        I couldn't review this books without mentioning 2 very poignant quotes that seem very fitting as we sit in these very uncertain times:

     "We all leave a little of our soul behind with the people we         
        loved."

      "Those we love never truly fade away.  They live in our hearts
        and in our memories.  They give us strength when we need it
        most."

Crater Lake - Jennifer Killick

Lance and his friends are on their way to Crater Lake on a school residential trip.  All is going as planned until they arrive and a half-dead member of staff is found in the middle of the road.  Strange ... but then they arrive at the centre itself to find things are even stranger: there's only one member of staff running the place; dinner isn't what they expected and then their first night results in children being locked in their rooms.  It isn't long before Lance and a group of his friends realise that something is desperately wrong and their teacher may not be all that she appeared to be.  The children are forced into the strangest weekend of their lives, fighting against strange, otherworldly creatures in a battle for survival.
        Fast-paced and full of excitement and action, this is a book that will make you chuckle and jump in fright in equal measure. With a host of likeable characters (and those you'll love to hate), you'll find yourself quickly drawn into the adventure and rooting for Lance and his friends.
        Sci-fi, horror and humour all wrapped up in a brilliant book that will keep you awake (which is great considering what happens to those who fall asleep!)

The Boy Who Made The World Disappear - Ben Miller

Harrison is generally a good boy; however, he has a temper that erupts during a birthday party which  doesn't go down well with the party entertainer who gives him a rather unusual balloon which is, in fact, a black hole!
      At first, this seems wonderful as Harrison is easily able to get rid of unwanted veg from his dinner plate and exercise books and tests at school; however, what happens when a neighbour's dog and one of his classmates also disappear?
      A mix of science and magic come together in this great novel.  Harrison undoubtedly behaves in the same way most of us would to begin with and is a very relatable character, the plot is pacey and the end is particularly gripping.

Nightshade - Anthony Horowitz

Alex is back and, just as he returns to school and normal life, he's called back into action again by MI6.  This time, he's heading undercover into the British high-security prison in Gibraltar in order to infiltrate a deadly group known as Nightshade; he needs to befriend a deadly teenage killer to save the fate of thousands back home.
      It's been a while since I've read an Alex Rider book so it was great to be back with our reluctant hero again.  This is a book that grips you from the start and is full of excitement, adventure and twists throughout.  With a definite ))& influence, readers can enjoy Rider's cool and calm demeanour in the midst of extreme adversity (oh to be that cool!) and will find them racing through the book, driven by their own raised heart-beat and the excitement of the story (well I did, reading 440 pages in just under 2 days).
       This is a brilliant book and the perfect escape. 

Burn - Patrick Ness (YA)

Where to start with this book?
It's set in 1950s America where Sarah and her father have hired a dragon to work on their farm; however, it quickly becomes apparent that the dragon is there to protect Sarah.  Meanwhile, Malcolm, an assassin, is making his way toward Sarah and he's being hunted down by 2 FBI agents.  The novel follows these 3 stories which eventually intersect (approximately 1/2 way through the book).  The essential premise is that there's a race to save the world in either this world or an alternative version of this world.
          I've enjoyed several of Patrick's books so was looking forward to Burn.  I have to admit that it took a while to get into the plot but I found myself desperate to know how the book was going to end.  Covering several themes (the Cold War, racism, sexism, same-sex couples in the 50s and prejudice) the book is a definite book for older YA readers (I say this because I know many people who read my blog are generally in search of MG books).  Fans of Patrick Ness will love this book, as will fans of dragons (I did grown very fond of Kazmir).

A Good Girl's Guide To Murder - Holly Jackson (YA)

Pip Fitz-Amobi is a good girl: she works hard, doesn't drink and is desperate to go to Cambridge to study English .  As part of her studies, she decides that the subject of her EPQ qualification will be the murder of Andie Bell 5 years ago by her boyfriend Sal Singh.  Both had been students at Pip's school.  Sal had committed suicide days after Andie's disappearance (her body was never found) and had later been found guilty of the murder.  However, Pip doesn't think Sal was guilty & is determined to use the project to investigate the murder but what will she find & how much danger will she find herself in?

        I bought this book for O last year and he's been nagging me to read it for ages! And now I know why!  This is an amazing story with a brilliant plot!  The story is fast-paced and gripping with great attention to detail; the characters are east to get to know and love (or hate!) and the whole book is just unputdownable - I literally didn't put it down, was completely anti-social and read it in a day!

        This is a brilliant YA book and I'm now off to order Goord Girl, Bad Blood!

Do You Know Me? Libby Scott & Rebecca Wescott

Tally is back and is facing the prospect of a week long residential at GoCamp with the rest of Year 7. This is hugely out of Tally's comfort zone, especially when confronted with Sky, a bully from another school.

    There is so much to love about this heart-warming book: the diary entries from Tally which give a first person insight into Tally's thought and what's really going on for her at different times; the fact that we see Tally pushing her boundaries and realising just exactly what she's capable of and facing her fears; her sense of determination once she's at camp and the realisation that she's not alone.

    The messages about friendship in this book are powerful, as is the message about being yourself.  As with Can You See Me?, it's a powerful and insightful read and one that should be read by teachers (although I'd like to have a serious word with Tally's teachers about so many things on that trip and how they treated Tally - it wouldn't have happened on my watch!).

O's view

This is an amazing book all about autism and how people cope with it in different ways. I loved how Tally found ways to manage with everything, especially Skye and her mean ways! The way that Tally found new friends in unexpected places is great as well, and it just shows that no matter who you are, you can always find people who know you.

The Silent Stars Go By - Sally Nichols (YA) (Release date: November 2020)

It's the December of 1919 and Margot ( a respectable vicar's daughter) is heading home for Christmas and to face Harry, the fiancé who'd been MIA in WWII.  She'd presumed, after many months that he was dead; however, several months after hearing he was alive, she will see him again ... but she carries with her a life-changing secret. 

    This is a gentle YA novel that will sneak up on you and draw you in so that, by the end of the book, you won't want to leave Margot and her family!  This was a huge time of change: men were coming back from the war and the country was getting back to normal, and for Margot and her family, there is so much more for them to get used to.  Margot is struggling: she has this huge secret, known on to her family and to 1 or 2 very close friends.  She desperately wants to change things and to tell Harry but that will shatter so many lives so she must decide what to do.  All this, in a time when family values were very different to today and the world moved at a much slower pace, where correspondence with Harry is via letter and they are chaperoned when they are together.

    The story is set around a traditional family Christmas without modern commercialism; where courtship and the thrill of stolen moments will keep you hooked and hoping for a happy ending.  It's a warming tonic and you should read it curled up somewhere cosy with a mug of hot chocolate and allow yourself to be transported back in time.  

The Cut-Throat Café - Nicki Thornton

Seth and Nightshade return in the third book in the series and Seth and Nightshade are separated when Seth is sent to Gramichee for a month in order to gain his Prospect whilst Angelique is sent to investigate a missing teacher from Stoney Warren School for Superior Girls.  But when apprentices in Gramichee are being attacked, can Seth discover what's going on or will his judgement and explosive magic get in the way again?

    It was great to be back with Seth and Nightshade.  Seth remains his well-meaning self who seems to get things wrong, despite his best intentions and Nightshade continues to be cunningly astute, sarcastic and just the best talking cat I've ever come across.  The story is fast-paced and gripping, and there are plenty of suspects that will leave you guessing.

    This is a magical mystery that will hook you in - I can't wait to read the next instalment! 

 

O's Reading:

The Conference Of the Birds - Ransom Riggs (YA)

This is the 5th instalment in the Miss Peregrine series, and I was not disappointed. It is packed with lots of adventure and mystery, along with the odd bits of comedy along the way. I loved how much confidence Jacob has gained during the course of the series, and this is shown well here. His friends are also very supportive, which is great to see, especially during these times, when keeping in touch with friends is so important to us. A great, well written book.

Bearmouth - Liz Hyder (YA)

Set in a mine run by the Master, and under the belief system of the Mayker, Newt lives with 7 other boys and men, working day after day to get coal, however, a new boy comes and starts talking about a revolution. This is enough to spark something in the boys.

I found this an amazingly well written book, including the way Hyder uses constant mis-spelling of words to show Newt as he learns his words. This is a great read.

Mean Time - Carol Ann Duffy (YA)

This is a collection of poems from Carol Ann Duffy that relate to her life. These are very well written and you can feel the emotion running between the lines. From her school days to her adult relationships, this is a story of her and her life. I loved how she unpicks even the littlest of things, such as sleeping, and creates such amazing poems. This is a very good collection, and I loved them.

Eats, Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss (YA)

Of course there would be a book about punctuation in here! This is a great read all about how much people misuse punctuation, ranging from the apostrophe to the dash. The comedic elements add some fun to learning about how punctuation should be properly used as well. I found the stories and anecdotes on experiences of improper use of punctuation to be really useful in setting the scene. An interesting read, and funny too!

Birthday - Meredith Russo (YA)

Morgan and Eric are twins in everything but blood: they do everything together, from football to their shared birthday. But Morgan has a secret: he wants to be a girl, but he is finding it hard to tell Eric about it. Read the book to find out what happens as they start drifting apart...

This story is all about love, friendship and how to be there for someone. I found the way Morgan was portrayed throughout the book and his constant changes to be worrying: nobody should go through that kind of situation alone. It's even worse that he feels like he can't tell his father or his best friend. I loved the book from the very first page and thoroughly recommend it.

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (adult)

Nick Carraway is moving to the East Egg, right next door to a mysterious man called Mr Gatsby. When he meets the man in question and becomes friends with him, Nick is thrown into Jay Gatsby's quest to marry Daisy Buchannan, Nick's cousin. The only problem is Tom, Daisy's husband, who is in fact having an affair himself. What will happen?

This is an absolute classic, and I loved reading about Gatsby's quest for love. I found the plot and the perspectives very interesting, and I loved the occasional comedy line or sudden drama thrown in to the novel as well. I loved it.

Wisden Cricketers' Almanack - Edited by Lawrence Booth

Just as promised... Wisden has arrived! All 1536 pages of brilliant cricketing talk, including stats, obituaries and the occasional giggle! This book has everything, from the beginning, with the page-long anecdotes and analyses about everything from Ben Stokes to the Hundred, to the pages on EVERY SINGLE CRICKETER ever to have played internationally, Wisden has it all. The best part is that it is not just one person; many, many people are involved with writing this, and Lawrence Booth emphasises this at the start of the book, with over a page pf names of people who participated! And only at 157 editions, this amazing tradition could go on forever!

Meet Me At The Cupcake Café - Jenny Colgan (adult)

This is about a young woman called Issy, who works at Kalinga Deniki, a very successful international business. She has a very special talent for baking, and is always bringing something in for the others to try. But when she is made redundant, what will she do? Will she finally make her dream come true by opening up a bakery, or will she be forced elsewhere? Find out in the book...

This is an inspirational book about achieving your dreams, and I loved the way Issy always persevered, even when she didn't know if she could do it or not. The way her friends were always there for her was inspirational; I think friends should always be like that. Amazing!

(Note from K: we've always had a rule in this house that there are no such things as books for boys and books for girls so I was thrilled when O decided to pick this up and read it.)

The Midnight Guardians - Ross Montgomery

I originally published this review in May when I first read The Midnight Guardians and so I'm thrilled to be able to share it now through the blog tour.  I've been looking forward to sharing this book with the rest of the world for months and am thrilled that it is finally out there for all to buy ... and being Waterstones book of the month for November is a very well-deserved accolade. 

It's Christmas 1940 and Col, more than anything else, is looking forward to seeing his sister again.  With his mum having left when he was young and his dad having recently died in 'an incident', Rose is all Col has left.  However, he's been staying with his aunt over the past few months whilst Rose helps the war effort as a dispatch in their home town of London.  When he receives Rose's letter to say she won't be coming to see him, Col's emotions get the better of him and he flees, drawn back to the cottage where he, Rose and his dad used to spend their Christmases.  When he arrives, he discovers that his childhood imaginary friends (Pandbury the tiger, Mr Noakes the badger and King of Rogues, a knight) are actually real and they all need each others' help: Col needs to save Rose from the bombs reigning down on London, and the guardians need help to defeat the Midwinter King who is desperate to bring darkness to everything on Earth and in the spirit world.

This is a fast-paced story, full of adventure and wonderful characters.  Col is lost and grieving but is full of determination and discovers an inner-strength he didn't know he had, which is driven by love and the absolute need to save his sister.  Then there are the guardians, each unique in their characters and strengths, born of Col's imagination and there, by his side, prepared to die in order to help and protect their master.  I'd like to be able to say I had a favourite but I can't!  Pendlebury has her strength and bad jokes, whilst King of Rogues is fierce and noble but hiding behind his armour and Mr Noakes is protective.  And I also have to mention the Midwinter King: I know he's the bad guy and bringer of darkness, but he really is an evil character!  He reminded me, in some ways, of Darth Vader!

Set during WWII, the story sees Col and his guardians in a race against time, travelling through the British countryside in a quest to save Rose and the spirit world.  It's a throw-back to traditional values (polite manners, not stealing, British spirit and helping each other in their time of need) and this is part of why it is such a heart-warming read. 

This is a story of appreciating differences, of good versus evil, of needing the darkness in order to appreciate the light but, most of all, it's about hope and love.  Hope and love resonate so strongly through the book and I experienced every emotion possible whilst reading it (and yes, I did hug the book at the end!).

The Midnight Guardians is bound to be a hit when and will be perfect for fans of the Narnia series and of Amy Wilson's books, as well as for any KS2 teacher doing a topic about WWII.

People will devour this.

In the spirit of sharing, and as part of the blog tour, I'm going to introduce you to my oldest childhood friend Cuddles, named, rather originally, because of the amount of cuddles I used to give him!! He's most definitely been well-loved over the years but he's still going strong and now sits on the sofa in the study ... where I still cuddle him whilst I'm reading in there!

Roxy & Jones The Great Fairytale Cover-up - Angela Woolfe