The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne - Jonathan Stroud

The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne is set in a future England where cities are not as we know them: many have been wiped out and London has become fragmented by a lagoon filled with dangerous creatures. Outlaws and fortified towns are the order of the day and every town runs on its own strict rules - fall foul of those and you will be persecuted, or even killed. It's everyone for themselves and this is how we are introduced to Scarlett McCain, the main character who survives by robbing banks, being ruthless with her weapons and being self-sufficient ... and then she stumbles across Albert Browne who, at first, seems to be a rather naïve young lad who has survived a brutal crash and doesn't appear to stand a chance of survival on his own.  Scarlett agrees to get him to the nearest town but, as they get to know each other, can they go their separate ways?  And what secrets is Albert harbouring?

Stroud builds a world that is very different from the one we know today and there's a strong feel of the wild west about it: lawlessness, fortified towns where laws are localised and cages in the centre for those who break those laws.  Gun slinging and banks heists are common-place; yet there's also an element of the future hidden in there as well. I don't want to give too much away but there are creatures lurking in lagoons; people with secrets they don't want to reveal and evolved beasts that lurk in the shadows.

Scarlett is a fiercely independent young woman who relies on nobody but herself. She is adept with both a knife and a gun, and sassy enough to waltz into a bank and steal their money. She reacts on instincts and knows where she is going. In short, she is surviving in a world that's very different to ours in the only way she knows how: by never looking back.  In contrast, there's Albert Browne who Scarlett stumbles on, hiding in a toilet after his coach has been attacked. He seems weak and unable to fend for himself and relies heavily on Scarlett, but the more I got to know him, the more he grew on me, in particular his ability to make me chuckle. His attitude and speech will make you smile.

Fast-paced and gripping, this is an action-packed adventure that is the very thing the YA market is crying out for. The leap from MG to YA is a difficult one as the majority of YA seems to be romance based.  This is going to tap into that missing link in the YA market.

O's Additional Opinions:

From the start, I enjoyed the independence and resourcefulness of Scarlett, and her perseverance was especially prominent throughout the novel. I think her principles are definitely things to be copied and replicated in the real world, just not in the way she carries them out! Her level-headedness helped her out in tricky situations as well. This was useful, especially with Albert in tow! Scarlett will definitely be a role model for independent children everywhere, but also for those lacking confidence.  As a teenager, I loved having something different to read and this novel, as Mum has already said, will fill a big gap in the market. A book that will be enjoyed by many.

Due to release 1st April.

When The Sky Falls - Phil Earle

 

WWII is raging and whilst most children are being evacuated to the countryside, Joseph is being sent to the city by his grandma who can no longer cope with his angry outbursts.  There he moves in with Mrs F, a woman who spends all her time trying to maintain the rundown zoo that she owns, in particular Adonis, a silverback gorilla.  Sent to the local school, he meets Syd, who also helps Mrs F out at the zoo, and who is keen to help Joseph when the others in the class begin to bully him.  You see, although Joseph's maths skills are beyond his years, he struggles to read as the words dance across the page every time he tries.  Mrs F is determined that Joseph will help out at the zoo and reluctantly he begins his quest to find food for the animals, especially for Adonis.  But with Hitler's bombs raining down every night, Mrs F gets no rest as she needs to be at the zoo to protect the animals. As the weeks pass, Joseph and Adonis grow closer and he quickly becomes the friend Joseph's never had. But what will happen if the bombs directly hit the zoo?

Now I'm partial to a WWII book so when When The Sky Falls dropped through the door I was intrigued, especially as it's based on a true story.  Although the book never actually states which city it's is set in, I imagine it to be London and you soon appreciate what people must have gone through during the Blitz.  Night after sleepless night of bombing, not knowing whether their house (or zoo) would still be standing in the morning. Having to carry on despite the exhaustion because you know everybody's in the same boat, all the while, struggling to get food for the table, let alone food to feed animals in a zoo that's had to close. Life was hard and the book clearly illustrates that but the joy of this book is the relationships that are portrayed throughout the story: Joseph and Mrs F, Joseph and Syd, but most of all Joseph and Adonis.

Joseph clearly hasn't had an easy live (did anybody growing up during WWII?): his mum left and his dad is fighting abroad, so it's up to his grandma to look after him. Full of anger and convinced that nobody really wants him, he is sent to live with Mrs F in the hope that she can help. I feel so much for Joseph: it's clear that he wants and needs love and attention but is terrified to let anybody in; anger is his defence and his automatic go-to, which just ends up getting him into more trouble, especially at school. He is obviously dyslexic in a time when this was unheard of and when nobody knew how to help. For My Gryce, the headteacher, the answer to everything is Clarence (his cane) and there was more than one occasion when I wanted to reach into the book and do horrible things to him and his cane! At first, Joseph's incredibly reluctant to help out at the zoo, but, as his friendship with Adonis grows, that changes.  And it's this friendship that is the key to everything in the book. Adonis is grieving the death of his daughter and the fact that his partner has been rehoused elsewhere, which means that he doesn't behave in the way he normally would. Terrified of him at first, Joseph begins to develop the friendship more out of defiance (he isn't prepared to let his fear get the better of him).  There are some truly touching moments between the pair at various points in the story and, at times, it's easy to forget he's a gorilla and not human.  

Although Joseph is the main character in the book, and your heart will go out to him on many occasions, it's Adonis who is the star. Rarely has a character in a book been able to say so much without ever uttering a word.  His mannerisms, behaviour and emotions show him to be so much more than an animal and the bond that builds between the pair is truly touching - the scene at the end of chapter 38 will warm even the hardest of hearts (I defy you not to shed a tear or two).

I have also also mention Mrs F, who is a force to be reckoned with. Her no-nonsense approach to Joseph (and indeed it seems to everything in life) at first rubs him up the wrong way, but with time, they begin to get along. She's obviously struggling with many things, not least of which trying to keep the animals fed and safe at an incredibly dangerous time. It's clear for everyone to see that she is devoted to the animals and her zoo, but Adonis seems to hold a special place in her heart, which is why she spends every air-raid at the zoo instead of in a shelter. She is dedicated to her cause but also to those around her. But she also has secrets she's keeping...

This is a truly wonderful and powerful book that is beautifully written and covers some weighty topics in a sensitive way. Death, grief, bullying and the upheaval of war are all tackled expertly in a must-read story that shows us that friendship can be found in the most unlikely of places and creatures. When The Sky Falls is an emotional rollercoaster of a read that will take your breath away and leave you hugging the book at the end (and, yes, Phil, you made me cry!)

Due for release in June, I cannot urge you enough to pre-order this book.

How To Be Brave - Daisy May Johnson

 

Elizabeth North had an unusual childhood: after the sudden death of her parents, she was sent to The School of the Good Sisters, a boarding school where she adopts a duck, nurses it back to health and then releases it back to the wild. This starts her love of ducks and she dedicates her life to researching them. As an adult, however, this means that she has trouble making ends meet which means that there are days when she and her daughter Calla have to visit the food bank to eat and use candles to light their home.  So when Elizabeth suddenly gets a job offer involving ducks that will solve all their financial problems, she jumps at the chance, and, much as she will miss Calla, she knows exactly where she has to send her: The School of the Good Sisters. Everything seems to be working out perfectly until Calla arrives at the school and things don't seem to be as perfect as Elizabeth portrayed them.  Then, when Elizabeth goes missing and the head teacher seems to be changing the school completely, Calla decides that she needs to take action.

How To Be Brave is a slightly different take on a girls' boarding school story: it has everything you would want from a boarding school: dormitories, hidden passages to creep along, rooftops where you can have midnight feasts, but it also has the most evil head teacher who will stop at nothing to get what she wants - can you believe she even bans fiction books?! However, the other nuns at the school are rather different to the nuns you may expect: they are happy to organise clandestine book deliveries; have a constant supply of biscuits and teach aircraft maintenance - they made me wish I'd been to boarding school!  

Although flighty Elizabeth is initially the main character in the book, it's her daughter Calla who who is actually the protagonist and, in complete contrast, is a sensible, determined and rather independent young lady. Along with a group of like-minded girls she meets at the school (Edie is très magnifique!), they help create quite the adventure within the confines of the school grounds.

It would be remiss of me not to make mention of the use of footnotes within the novel; something I don't think I've ever come across in MG fiction but enjoyed.  They help to add to the humour that runs through the book and also enhance the narrator's voice - the rather exuberant Good Sister June whom I loved!

All in all, How To Be Brave is a great adventure for those who love a good boarding school story. There is a traditional feel to the story but with a modern twist. Throughout, the theme of good versus evil is evident but there are also themes of family struggle, grief, bravery and friendship all perfectly wrapped up within the pages. Perfect for fans of Robin Stevens, this is a heart-warmingly funny book that will make a wonderful new series (will there be more?  I hope so!)

Feast of the Evernight - Ross Mackenzie

 

I have long been a fan of Ross Mackenzie's books and first a proof version of Evernight in July 2019 (bizarrely on a sunbed in Ibiza which felt rather strange considering the theme of the book!). If you haven't read Evernight, you really must!!

As Feast of the Evernight begins, preparations are well under way in Lake End for the Silver King's Evernight Feast in just a couple of weeks' time; however, mysterious killings are taking place and a new threat is facing the White Witches, and Double Eight is the prime suspect. Lara and Joe, along with a group of others, make the journey back to Lake End to try to get to the bottom of what's going on before the secret police do.

It was so good to be reunited with Lara and Joe who have settled in Westerly Witch, as well as being introduced to a host of new characters.  Lara has lost none of her feistiness (although there is a definite modesty when she discusses the events of Evernight) and, now she is officially a White Witch, she is keen to use her magic skills and her wand to find out exactly what is going on. However, despite everything she is being told, she remains loyal to her friend Double Eight and finds it difficult to believe that he is behind the killings. We are also introduced to Ivy Robin, who makes an explosive entry into the book. Having had her soul returned to her, she chose freedom over serving the Silver King and is now being hunted by Karl Younger of the secret police. Having trouble learning how to control her magic, she is terrified of what she might do but is also terrified of being left alone and being discovered by Karl.  She is a character that grows in strength and courage as the book progresses and I really liked her.

As with Evernight, there is a darkness that runs through the pages, and the theme of good versus evil is ever present. Friendship and loyalty are put to the test and courage is always at the forefront of our characters' actions, even if they don't realise it at the time.  

I thoroughly enjoyed Feast of the Evernight (it was promoted to the top of my tbr pile as soon as it arrived!) and found it difficult to put down. I loved being back and seeing how the characters had developed. Although not as dark in some places as its predecessor (I don't think anybody could ever be as evil as Mrs Hester was), I still found the killings and the intent of some of the characters dark enough to make me shudder at times - which is what I was after from the sequel.  From the beginning of the book, there is an anticipation lurking of what is to come - who is this evil character that is killing people from the first chapter? And although I had my suspicions as to what would happen at the end of the book, I definitely did not see the actual events coming so hats off to you Ross!  This is another triumph of a book and I guarantee that if you loved Evernight, you will love this.  I just don't feel as if my words are quite doing the book justice if I'm honest!  So please, instead of listening to my wittering, go and pre-order it and then carve out some time to curl up and enjoy being back with Lara and Joe when the book is released on the 6th May.

The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke - Kirsty Applebaum

I'm a big fan of Kirsty's books, both because of the plots that she weaves but also because her first two books have been completely different, and this was the reason that I was incredibly excited when The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke landed on my door mat a few days ago: I couldn't wait to see in which direction Kirsty was going to take her third book... and she's done it again!  Completely different from her first 2 books, Lonny Quicke is a twelve year old boy with a very unique skill: he's a lifeling, which means that with one touch he can heal any living creature who is on the brink of dying. There is, however, a consequence, and for every life Lonny saves, some of his own life is taken.  As a result, he lives a very secluded life in the forest with his father, brother and grandfather, away from everybody else. However, when Lonny and his brother head to the nearby town of Farstoke in search of work to buy food for the family, everything changes. 

From the very first page, you are introduced to Lonny and his unique skill, which is evidently something that causes him much anguish. It's clear that he hasn't had much of a childhood and has spent his life in isolation and in fear of coming across death.  He is always on his guard, waiting for that tell-tale buzzing that lets him know that a creature close by is dying. The vvvmmmmmm that trills across the page heightens the sense of tension and became something I was looking for whenever I turned the page. Was death close? How would Lonny deal with it?  

Also interspersed with the story is the local folklore of lifelings, told both through Lonny's grandma's old story book and by those from Farstoke during the lifeling festival - together they help us to understand lifelings and what could potentially happen to Lonny. As with the buzzing and the vvvvvvmmmmmmm, I felt it added to the tension in the most subtle way. This isn't an action-packed book but oh boy, does Kirsty build the tension in a way that will ensure that, once you have picked it up, you won't be able to put it down until you've finished. 

This is a truly breath-taking and thought-provoking novel that will really make you consider the value of life and the dilemma Lonny faces every day. In the classroom, I can imagine the conversation the book will provoke and I can't wait to share this book with the children.

Due for release on the 6th May, this is a book you most definitely need to pre-order.

The Muddlemore Mysteries: Peril at the Bake Off - Ruth Quayle

Joe is excited about spending the summer holiday with his granny in the village of Muddlemore, especially when he discovers that his cousins, Tom and Pip, will also be there.  The trio arrive at their granny's just in time for the annual village Bake Off competition which is always hotly contested; however, this year Joe's Granny has a secret weapon up her sleeve: her grandmother's recipe for chocolate fudge layer cake which she's going to use to create a triple layer cake with fudge icing - but it's important that the cake is kept secret until the big reveal at the final. Cue Joe, Tom and Pip who go to extraordinary lengths to try to keep their granny's cake a secret. But what will happen when the recipe goes missing?

This is a fun and fast-paced story that will be perfect for lower key stage 2. The 3 children are well-meaning and go to extraordinary lengths to try to help their granny, without her knowledge, from spying on the neighbours to kidnapping a cat, they will stop at nothing - proof that, when children put their imaginations to work, they can end up in all sorts of trouble! The different personalities of the 3 main characters shine through and it's sensible Tom who decides that written case notes are required.   

With brilliant illustrations from Marta Kissi (including a map!), this is a great book to get children into mystery stories and is perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off! I'm looking forward to seeing what the trio get up to next.

Released on the 4th March, this is a great book to curl up with, but be warned: this book will make you want to eat cake and lots of it!

Why not check out the other blogs on the tour?

Shipwreck Island - Struan Murray

Having been utterly gripped by Orphans of the Tide last year, I was both thrilled and a little wary about embarking upon Shipwreck Island; however, my fears as to whether book 2 could live up to book 1 were soon allayed and I ended up reading the book in just over a day.

From the beginning of the book, we are reunited with Ellie and Steph on board a raft as they drift at sea, hoping to find themselves a new island in which to live.  And they are soon rewarded with sightings of Shipwreck Island where they land and quickly have to get to grips with a new life; one ruled by a much loved and worshiped Queen; however, there is a darkness at play with the Queen's power and rule being sought.  Ellie and Seth must navigate the politics whilst also fighting their own demons. But can they escape the past and find the future and peace they so long for?

As with Orphans of the Tide, the world building is stunning in this book and Murray creates vivid images from the beginning that bring this new island and its intricacies to life whilst maintaining the feeling of darkness that he so expertly created in book 1 (including the use of dual narrative that runs through the book in the form of the diary entries). And with a host of new and rather lively characters to get to know, you will, once again, find yourself wondering who you can trust.

As with book 1, there is much symbolism to explore within the pages of Shipwreck Island: good versus evil, questions of trust and power, friendship and loyalty are all expertly woven into the pages, coupled with a plot that keeps you on your toes with its twists and turns, and its heart-stopping ending, this is a must-read book that will leave you begging for more!

A Girl Called Joy - Jenny Valentine

 

Joy Applebloom and her family have lived a rather enviable life: travelling the world with her family and being schooled through experiences instead of in a classroom. Joy loves her life, until everything changes dramatically and the family move back to England in order to move in with Joy's maternal grandad. From the vibrancy of Zanzibar to 48 Plane Tree Gardens, live couldn't get more different, and Joy has to learn to adapt to living in a small house with a grandad who has very set routines, to going to school for the first time and adapting to all its rules. So can this girl, who is known for finding a silver lining in every situation, find a silver lining when she needs it most? And how can the ancient oak tree that stands in the school playground help?

The idea of starting again and finding the silver lining in whatever situation you are in seems particularly poingant at the moment and Joy's ability to do that is lovely to see. She is a wonderful character who enjoys being free to explore the world in her own unique way and is adept at finding the best in everything; however her resolve is tested when she has to go to school and follow the rules set out by the teacher (who, by the way, really annoyed me in her inflexibility towards Joy).  Thank goodness for Benny, and for the tree!

This is a heart-warming and uplifting book that explores family, new beginnings but, above all, learning how to find the magic in everything you do.

Due for release on the 29th April, this book will be perfect for fans of Jaqueline Wilson

Vi Spy: Licence To Chill - Maz Evans

 

Ok, so before I start this review, I feel that I must declare that I absolutely loved the Who Let The Gods Out series and adore Maz Evans so I've been anticipating a new book from her for a while.  Vi Spy: Licence To Chill dropped through the letter box earlier this week, just before the start of a live lesson so I was able to to do a 'live opening' with my class who were equally as excited as I was - they have good taste in books!  Anyway, I have to say that, having read the book, I was most definitely not disappointed!

Valentine Day's mum is an ex-spy who has spent the past eleven years in retirement in order to protect her daughter from evil.  However, on her wedding day to mild-mannered George Sprout (who also happens to be Vi's teacher), things don't go quite as expected when the husband she has told everybody is dead turns up!  Not only is Robert Ford Vi's dad, he's also the second most evil villain on the planet! But why is he back now and can Vi and Easter really believe him when he says he's given up his life of crime?  With as host of evil characters, the Neurotrol (a mind controlling device hidden inside a mobile phone) and waring parents, it's down to Vi to become a spy to save the world.

From the very beginning, this is a hilariously funny book and I was giggling from the first page (great for me, not so good for my husband who was reading a very serious book next to me!). Vi is just wonderful and her feisty manner will appeal to readers: she's headstrong and knows what she wants but certainly isn't perfect and it's this that I like about her - at times, she knows what she should do but then struggles with what she actually wants to do - it makes her real and relatable to readers. 

I have to also mention the wider cast who are all perfectly crafted. In particular, Siren who made me laugh out loud (and spurt my tea everywhere!), Vi's Nan, Indy (Independence Day) who seems to relish leading Vi astray (the second part of chapter 9 in Autumn Leaves is one of my favourite moments of the book) and Russell Sprout (Vi's soon to be stepbrother) who has the world on his shoulders.  They are a cast who are most definitely going to be readoutloudable (is that a word? It is now!) and I can't wait to tackle some of the accents!

And there are plenty of subtle 80s reference for the oldies reading the book like me!  But be warned, the name of Russell's robot will leave you with an ear-worm for days if you were alive to know it (I've even been doing the actions much to my son's disgust!!!)

But for all the hilarity, this is a book of depth, tackling issues that many children experience - divorce, friendship and bullying are all expertly and seamlessly interwoven into the plot in a way that will make you want to hug the characters one minute and then laugh out loud in the next sentence.  Maz is the queen of comedy writing and deserves all the awards that seem to inexplicably elude her - anybody who can help children understand and come to terms with big emotional issues whilst simultaneously making them laugh out loud is a writing goddess as far as I'm concerned.  She did it expertly with the Who Let The Gods Out series (Against All Gods is the only book that has made me laugh out loud and ugly cry in one sitting!) and she's done it again with Vi Spy: Licence To Chill. Fast-paced, laugh out loud funny and utterly gripping, this is a guaranteed hit and a winner in my eyes - I can't wait for book 2!