Jane Austen Investigates - The Abbey Mystery - Julia Golding

It's 1789 and 13 year old Jane Austen ends up being a companion for Lady Cromwell for a week at Southmoor Abbey after her sister breaks her arm in a carriage accident.  Once there, she is determined to get to the bottom of the mysterious tales of a ghostly monk in the grounds of the Abbey.  Jane is far too sensible to believe in such nonsense but, along the way, manages to stumble on quite the adventure, including a fire in the library, two prize horses in danger and people being falsely accused.  Jane, along with her faithful dog, Grandison, is determined to get to the bottom of things.

When the opportunity to read a proof copy of this book came up, I jumped at the chance.  I've read and loved Julia's books in the past and also love Jane Austen so the idea of the book really intrigued me.

Jane is exactly the way I imagined she would be: independent, earnest, happy to speak her mind (within the constraints of the time) and with a sense of adventure.  Yet she lives in her sister's shadow (who she feels is far prettier) and under the scrutiny of her mother who is determined that people will not see the family in any sort of negative light. This chance time away is just what Jane needed to be able to really find herself.  Along with her notebook and the help of some newly found friends, those around her discover that she is not to be underestimated.

The language and writing style pays homage to Jane's own writing but in a way that MG readers will find easy to follow - it's simply delicious and made me want to don a dress in they style of Jane and wander about next to her, preferably in the library at Southmoor Abbey!  It's the perfect way to introduce MG readers to Jane Austen.

This is the start of a brilliant new series that will introduce Jane to a whole new generation and is perfect for fans of Robins Stevens and Katherine Woodfine.  In fact, it's already going down a storm at school, with my proof copy being passed from child to child (there's a waiting list!).  Here are some of the comments I've already had about the book:

"The Abbey Mystery is an amazing book!"

"I enjoyed this book because it is set in 1789, when women were meant to be pretty and NOT adventurous, so it makes it exciting when Jane must find ways round the rules to solve the mystery."

"Overall, The Abbey Mystery is a great book that I would recommend to everyone!"

I know how much we've loved this book and news of the cover reveal of the second book in the series, The Burglar's Ball, has sent huge amounts of excitement around my book worms at school (not to mention my own excitement!) Due for release in October, it's definitely on my wish list!

Why not check-out some of the other blogs on the tour?

A Tangle of Spells - Michelle Harrison

'Everyone knows that magic and trouble go hand in hand...'

The Widdershins sisters are back and are leaving Crowstones with their father and granny to make a new start in Pendlewick where the sun shines and the village is centred around a green where the pond and the Hungry Tree stand.  As the family settle into the crooked Blackbird Cottage, all is not as it seems: the villagers are behaving strangely; nobody wants to talk about magic and then the sisters find a hidden room in the cottage.  When Fliss starts acting strangely and Betty and Charlie realise she has been bewitched, the race is on to save her but will their magic be strong enough to defeat the spell that has been cast of the village?

It's well-known that I am a huge fan of all of Michelle's work so there was an audible scream of excitement when I realised last Friday that A Tangle of Spells was available on Netgalley!  Never have I made a request so quickly!

From the very beginning, it was wonderful to be back with Fliss, Betty and Charlie, and I found myself shedding a tear along with the girls as they bid farewell to The Poacher's Pocket.  However, excitement soon takes over and the village of Pendlewick couldn't be more different to Crowstones.  The village sounds wonderful and has THE most wonderfully named places: Bread-and-Cheese Hill (apparently this place actually exists in real life!); Sugar Loaf, The Splintered Broomstick, Tick Tock Forest... the names alone are enough to entice me to jump into the book and join the girls!  Michelle revealed to map for the book earlier today at it just adds to the ambience! 

The girls' individual personalities again come to the fore in this book with Fliss' flirtatious ways leading to trouble, leaving Betty and Charlie to come to the rescue.  Betty shows us just how brave she is in this book and I love each of the girls but I think Charlie is my favourite: her mispronunciation of words and phrases is endearing (tenterhooks become tentacles; instincts become in stinks); her clothes done-up the wrong way at times, and her blunt manner (blunt but truthful!) all make me love her.  She the youngest but hates being treated like that - she wants to be an equal and proves that she is worthy on more than one occasion.

I have to say that this, for me, was the darkest of the Widdershins books so far, and oh, there is so much suspense!  With a host of sinister characters and people and places behaving in the most peculiar way, the book will have you gripped - and I promise that there is a twist that you really won't see coming (I most certainly didn't and it made me gasp audibly!).  This is a book that you will need to take time to read because, if you are anything like me, once you start reading it, you won't be able to put it down!

I always feel torn with books that engross me like A Tangle of Spells: on the one hand, I am desperate to simply gobble up every page as I need to know what's going to happen next as soon as is humanly possible; however, on the other hand, I want to savour every moment in an attempt to be part of the lives of the main characters for as long as I can.  This time, devouring the pages won over, largely because I'd finished for Christmas and had the time to do that!  However, the girls have stayed with me since the end of the book and I find myself imagining that I'm wandering through Pendlewick (though avoiding Tick Tock Forest!).

I honestly think that A Tangle of Spells is the best of the Widdershins stories yet and I can't wait to see what Michelle has in store for the sisters next!

Due for release February 2021.

The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh - Helen Rutter

 

Billy Plimpton is 11 years old and dreams of entertaining people as a stand-up comedian.  There's just one stumbling block: Billy has a stammer.

At home, his family finds him funny and are patient when he can't get his words out; however, at school, things are different, so when it's time to go to secondary school, Billy chooses somewhere different to all but one of his classmates.  He is determined not to let his stammer define him, so much so that he doesn't say a word to anyone at all at the start of term.  So, how can Billy overcome what he sees as his biggest 'problem' to achieve his dreams, and what will happen when there's a talent show at school?

This is a funny book from the very start, with a joke at the beginning of every chapter which sets the tone.  Billy is a funny boy who has a great sense of humour and he knows how to deliver a joke well - he just feels that his stammer is holding him back.  Behind the jokey exterior is a boy who is  troubled and struggling, spending much of his time in a desperate attempt to 'cure' his stammer - sometimes going to extreme lengths.  He's a character of many layers: funny and breezy on the outside; troubled and anxious on the inside; frustrated at times; unable to express himself when he needs to, especially when being picked-on by the school bully - he is a character that children will be able to relate to.

Billy's form teacher Mr Osho plays an important role in Billy's life at school, and by simply giving him a book to write down anything Billy wants him to know, their relationship begins to develop.  He coxes and encourages Billy, helps him to develop his friendship and is a teacher that every child needs.

This is a touching story about growing up and about learning to love and accept yourself.  It will make you laugh and cry, almost in equal measure, and will inspire children to dream big and to follow those dreams.  

The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh is a captivating book about finding your voice, realising you are not alone, and learning that sometimes, it's important to stand out.

Due for release 4th February 2021.

The Boy Who Met A Whale - Nizrana Farook

Having read The Girl Who Stole An Elephant and loved everything about it, I was thrilled when The Boy Who Met A Whale landed on my door mat.

The story follows Razi who lives on the coast of Serendib with his sister, Shifa and his mum.  Despite his love of fishing and the water, Razi is terrified of boarding a ship again following the recent death of his father in an accident at sea.  Whilst out watching new-born turtles race for the shore one morning, he comes across a boat containing an unconscious boy. Saving him, he quickly discovers that he his wanted by 2 rather fearsome men who are determined to kill him. Helping him, Razi discovers that the boy, Zheng, has escaped a shipwreck and holds a map which will give the location to some much sough after treasure. Before long, Zheng's life is in danger again and Razi and Shifa become entangled in the hunt for the treasure; a hunt that will take them back out to sea and on the adventure of their lives.

This is a gripping adventure that grabs you from the very beginning (that opening page ...!).

I was thrilled that Nizrana had taken us back to Sri Lanka with the rich description of the landscape as well as the sea (the coast this time instead of the jungle) - this is just what we need during the cold winter months here in England (as I read the book, the rain pounded down on the windows and I was pleased to be curled up on the beach with the characters - well most of them!)

The characters are complex and have a lot going on in their lives which helps to add to their interest. Zheng is full of stories of treasure and sea monsters which all sounds incredibly fanciful to Razi who is still clearly grieving the loss of his father - his life has changed completely and the tragedy is having a huge impact on his life.  Then there's Marco and Cook who are intent on getting the treasure and will stop at nothing to get it - including murder.  They are really rather scary at times!

From the beach to the water, this story leads the characters out to sea after Razi decides that saving his new friend is more important than his fear of the sea.  The adventure sees them out during a storm, encountering whales and stranded on a deserted island - but will they succeed in their mission?

The Boy Who Met A Whale is a gripping read that will have you voyaging from the beaches of Sri Lanka out to sea along with the characters - you'll be completely gripped and enthralled. This is a story of resilience, friendship, family; of doing what's right and learning to live again. 

Released on the 14th January, this book will be the warming tonic you need during those post-Christmas chilly days.

The House At The Edge Of Magic - Amy Sparkes

The story follows Nine, an orphan, who is desperate for a home to call her own. After stealing an ornament from a stranger, she gets more than she bargained for when the ornament grows into a house! However, this isn't like any other house; inside Nine finds Dr Spoon, Eric the troll and Flabberghast who tell her that the house has been cursed - this means that they are unable to leave, but also that there are many strange things that happen inside, including the tea cupboard being enchanted, the toilet walks around ... and it's up to Nine to undo the curse.

This was a great book with a whole heap of wonderful characters.  Nine herself is feisty and determined; she's been on her own for so long that she cannot show her true emotions, yet internally she longs for nothing more than a home to call her own and to feel like she belongs somewhere.  It's undoubtedly this reason that means that she is rude to the others and refuses to be nice to them. In contrast, you have Eric the troll who just wants to please Nine - I grew rather fond of him!  Together with Dr Spoon and Flabbergast, they make an incredibly eclectic group.

The plot is an exciting one and full of imagination and magical surprises; the sense of urgency is there, especially when Nine discovers that the house and its residents will be shrunk until they no longer exist if she cannot break the curse - you won't help but be pulled in.  There is very much a fun element to this book which will make you laugh; however, there are also themes of friendship, supporting each other and sibling rivalry which are high on the agenda.

This is a magically wonderful book that you will love to disappear into when it's released in January.