Fake - Ele Fountain

 

In a world where anti-biotics no longer work, everyone is living in a time where children spend the first fourteen years of their lives at home, 'live-learning' whilst their bodies build up the immune system they need.  After that, they head to boarding school to continue their education. As Jess heads to school for the first time, she is conscious that she is leaving her sister, Chloe, at home with her sickness getting worse, and her parents struggling to pay for her medication which seems to be getting more expensive every time they order it. Once at school, Jess decides to use her coding expertise to try to help her family, but when things don't quite go to plan, can she find a way to put everything right before it's too late?

Live-learning is something none of us had considered before 2019 and is now a phrase children and educators (as well as parents) are all too familiar with. It's something that readers will be able to picture and empathise with (not being able to mix with other children; only communicating with friends through technology) and provides a way for the reader to connect with Jess from the very first page.  Then, I am sure, many will be able to relate to her first few days at school: the nervousness about making friends and getting used to new routines - it's something every child has experienced, and some may have felt on their return to school after either (or both) of the lockdowns.  Ele has managed to take our current experiences and weave them into a stunning novel that will have you gripped. 

Jess has a hidden strength that I think she sometimes doubts in herself. She wants to go to school and just blend in but her talents are desperate to shine: both in her musical ability as well as her computing prowess. Her ability, whether it be with her violin or her port-com, mean that she doesn't feel she can just stand by and watch the big tech companies bring down her family.  Being separated from her family makes her feel isolated, alone and desperate - she feels she has no other option but to act.

Set in a world where technology reigns and everything, and everyone, relies on their port-coms and their credits, Fake is a book that it is set in a dystopian world, but feels like a world that could be eerily real.  If the past two years have shown us anything, it's that we can live in a largely virtual world where school can run online and we can get anything we need at the click of a button - but is that what we want?  Jess and her family show us what we already know: human contact is essential and nothing beats family, friendship and human company.

With Fake, Ele has shown us again that she is a talented writer who can turn her hand to very different themes in her novels: from refugees fleeing the country of their birth; children lost in India; environmental issues in the Arctic and now tech giants dominating the world; her books pack a punch and are rooted in life issues that are relevant to children and adults alike.  

Fake is a compelling and thought-provoking book that already has a list of children at school waiting to read it.

Publishing in May, I can highly advise pre-ordering it today.

The Tower at the End of Time - Amy Sparkes

Nine and her friends are back and book 2 picks up from where The House at the Edge of Magic left off (for my review click on the link: https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2020/12/the-house-at-edge-of-magic-amy-sparkes.html).  They are now free to head off on adventures, and they decide that their first stop will be The Wizarding Hopscotch Championships where the prize is reaching The Tower at the End of Time!  Success means that the tower will answer any question it is asked.  Unfortunately, the house is a little nervous about the thought of moving again and develops hiccups which means that their route to the competition is somewhat diverted through different worlds until they finally reach the right destination.  With questions burning in Nine's and Flabberghast's minds, they begin their quest, but will they reach The Tower at the End of Time and, if they do, will they get the answers they seek?

I thoroughly enjoyed The House at the Edge of Magic, in particular the house, so I was thrilled when Amy agreed to write a guest post about the secrets of the house (https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-house-at-edge-of-magic-behind-scenes.html) so when The Tower at the End of Time arrived in the post, I was thrilled and dived straight in, eager to know exactly what was going to happen next.  I know that Flabbergast spoke about The Hopscotch Championships in book 1 so I was keen to know exactly what it was all about.  Danger, excitement and twists make it a thrilling game and just as wonderfully bizzare as I have come to expect from this series.  And, once you're through the game, there's the journey to the tower which involves a series of puzzles where the characters need to work together in order to move through each of the different stages.  The pace is fast and thrilling, making it unputdownable.  The worlds and the adventure that Amy builds is pure escapism.

The house remained my favourite character (although Spoon was brilliant!) and watching it Hic! Hic! all over the place, combined with the consequences made me both giggle and feel sorry for the building in equal measure.  I also know that there is so much more to the house that we don't know about and I can't wait for the next book so I can discover more.

Witty, fast-paced, exciting and inventive, The Tower at the End of Time is the perfect sequel to The House at the Edge of Magic and I know you'll love it! 

The Boy Whose Wishes Came True - Helen Rutter

 

Archie Crumb lives with his mum, although since his dad left and now has a new family, she struggles to get out of bed so Archie is forced to look after himself for much of the time (as well as look after his mum).  He spends every Sunday evening at his best friend, Mouse's house, where he has dinner and always leaves with a container of left-overs for his mum.  It is on one such Sunday evening that Archie is cycling home, trying to balance left-over shepherd's pie on his bike, when he hits a pot-hole that sends him flying. He hits his head and blacks out, but when he comes round, he is greeted by his football idol, Lucas Bailey who helps him up and grants him 9 wishes.  Archie has always felt himself unlucky: he is terrible at football, can't do maths and he's picked on in school so the thought of nine wishes fills him with utter joy as he feels he can start to turn his life around.  But things aren't as simple as they seem and he soon begins to realise that you have to be careful what you wish for.

Helen's first book, The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh, tackled children who stammer (and did so brilliantly) and it came as no surprise that The Boy Whose Wishes Came True tackles more subjects that many children have to face: divorce and its effects on families, as well as being a child carer (due to depression in this instance) and all the secrets and burdens that this places on children.  Bullying and friendship issues are also tackled with sensitivity and humour, and I love this about Helen's writing.  One minute you're laughing at events, and the next you realise that life really is a daily struggle for Archie who spends much of his time feeling isolated and alone.  Even with his best friend Mouse, he doesn't feel like he can really open up.  The one thing he has is his love of football stickers, in particular his collection of Lucas Bailey stickers.  As a local boy who managed to make a success of his life, Lucas is Archie's hero so he is utterly awe-struck when it is Lucas who helps him after his accident and then gives him his nine wishes.  He feels this is just what he needs to help him.  The result is a series of wishes made (with Mouse's help) and the knock-on effects they have.  Whilst chuckling along and longing to discover what the next wish will entail, you also begin to realise that there are bigger messages subtly being woven in.  

Archie is the sort of character you find yourself rooting for from the very beginning: he feels he is terrible at everything, he lacks self-confidence and doesn't feel he really has anybody fighting his corner for him.  Mouse (a brilliant character who doesn't feel that being female should stop her from doing exactly what she wants) has his back but his embarrassment of the state of his house and the fact that his mum spends so much time sleeping, means that he is too scared to tell her what is really happening.  This must be something many child carers go through and to see it tackled here so sensitively will help these children to realise they are not alone and may even help some to find their voice and to ask for help.  Books like The Boy Whose Wishes Came True do so much more than simply entertain, and for that I will always be grateful to authors like Helen.  She manages to perfectly weave tricky issues with the humour and heart that will make you root for Archie (and yes, you will want to give him a hug and make everything better for him).

Due for release on the 3rd February, The Boy Whose Wishes Came True is another triumph of a book for Helen and I can't wait to see what her next book has in store for us.

The Horror of Dunwick Farm - Dan Smith

You all know that I'm a huge fan of Dan's books and when he began writing this series for Barrington Stoke, I was thrilled as I knew it meant that a whole new  band of children would be able to access his stories.

The Horror of Dunwick Farm is the third book in the series (although it could easily be read as a stand alone) and Nancy, Pete and Krish find themselves at the centre of another mystery.  They're at school when the noise of a loud engine spluttering over the building disturbs everyone.  Naturally, the class rushes to the window to see what it is but they can't locate the source; however, the tremendous crash that rattles the school moments later tells everybody that something big has happened.  News quickly spreads that a plane has crashed and everyone rushes to the scene; however, when they get there, barriers have already been erected and security is in place.  It's Krish who announces that they will be able to see the site of the accident from his house on the other side of the woods so the three friends race to Dunwick Farm where they find the perfect spot from which to observe the incident.  It isn't long after the crash that things start taking a sinister turn: people falling ill and animals behaving in unusual ways, and Nancy, Pete and Krish think it's down to something from the plane.  But can they discover exactly what is happening and will they be able to save the village of Crooked Oak in time?

Ok, I'm just going to say from the start that The Horror of Dunwick Farm was most definitely the scariest of the Crooked Oak series so far!  I made the mistake of reading it after dark and, even though I had a teddy and plenty of cushions to hug and hide behind, I still found myself having to be braver than I thought I would have to be!  (In fact, at one point, my son wanted to know exactly what I was whimpering about!)  The farm setting, with its out-buildings makes the perfect setting and helps to build the atmosphere and the tension.

I also enjoyed being back with Nacy, Krish and Pete and seeing them work together again to get to the bottom of the mystery.  With each book, I see a little more in their friendship and I enjoy this development.

With superb illustrations from Chris King enhancing the story, this is a fast-paced, seriously scary book that I know will be snapped up in school on Monday morning when I take it in - I just hope the class are braver than me!

The Revelry - Katherine Webber

 

I know Katherine as Katie Webber who writes MG fiction (brilliantly!) with her husband Kevin Tsang.  I knew The Revelry would be very different to the tales of dragons and young boys who aren't afraid of things, and I knew the book would be good, but I wasn't prepared for how much it would get under my skin and grip me! 

Ember Grove is a small town in America where everybody knows everyone else and where secrets and superstitions roam the streets.  The Revelry is a huge event in the town but one shrouded in secrecy.  It's a rite of passage for every high school senior and occurs at the end of summer in the woods on the edge of town ... and that's all anybody knows until it's their turn to attend.  This year, Amy is determined to attend, even though she and Bitsy aren't seniors, and when she finds an invite, there is no stopping her.  As they have been friends for 8 years (since Amy first arrived in town) Bitsy reluctantly goes with her to the woods at midnight (which is what the invite stated) but when she wakes the following morning, Bitsy can't remember anything.  How will that evening change the girls and will they ever discover what actually happened?

Set in a small town, you immediately discover that Bitsy is determined to leave as soon as she is able, after all, her brother is already away at university.  Everybody knows everyone and those who aren't born in the town are considered outsiders, no-matter how long they have been there.  The woods on the edge of town hold the most mystery and aren't patrolled by the police; it's an area that feels wild and is easy to get lost in; you can't always find the same spot twice when you enter, and you definitely get the impression throughout the book that the woods are a living thing - it's almost as if the woods is a character in its own right. It give off an air of danger and darkness, and undoubtedly builds the tension that I could feel pulsing throughout the book.

Bitsy is drawn to the woods but is definitely reluctant to enter them the night of The Revelry; she's a good girl and is wary of breaking the rules.  She and Amy have been close for so long but you get the impression that Bitsy lives in Amy's shadow a little, and this feeling grows as you progress through the book.  Amy lives in a small apartment with her Aunt, and they don't have much money but things seem to go right for her and she's popular; Bitsy often feel on the edge of things.  As the book unfolds, their friendship is tested to its limits.

There's a sense of peril that runs through the book; there's danger in the unknown and I constantly felt that there was something I didn't know lurking in the pages that I was yet to read.  I was desperate to keep reading in an attempt to grasp hold of the unknown, to complete the puzzle, and I think that this was definitely linked to Bitsy's memory loss - as her life began to unravel, she was desperate to fill in the blanks, and I could feel that urgency and desperation she felt.  The woods hold danger and secrets that draw you in and they draw Bitsy in too...

The Revelry is a book that will unsettle and grip you in equal measure.  There's a feeling of something not being quite right/of something being just out of reach that compels you to read and read and read.  It will occupy your mind, get under your skin and won't let you go, even once you've read the final page - it gave me a serious book hangover which delayed me starting my next book!  The Revelry is a wonderful book and perfect for those who are just beginning to venture into YA.

Sabotage on the Solar Express - MG Leonard & Sam Sedgeman

 

Hal and his uncle Nat are back in Sabotage on the Solar Express and I was absolutely thrilled when my NetGalley approval came through, allowing me to read an early copy.  The Adventures on Trains series is one of those that I always get excited about and never have to read the blurb to know that I'm going to enjoy it, and I wasn't wrong: I devoured the book in less than 24 hours!

Sabotage on the Solar Express is set in Australia as Hal and Nat have been invited to be part of the launch of the Solar Express, the train that won a global competition to build a futuristic train run by tech entrepreneur and millionaire August Reza.  We first met August and his daughter, Marianne on The California Comet and Hal isn't thrilled to see her again, as they didn't leave things on the best terms when they parted ways in America.  However, Marianne is convinced that something feels wrong about the trip and this is backed-up when an elaborate and expensive model of the Rocket is delivered to August but nobody seems to know who it is from.  Marianne is determined and eventually  convinces Hal to help her discover exactly what is happening.  The day of the maiden voyage dawns and everybody is excited and raring to go.  After the press conference, the guests, including Boaz (the teenage designer of the train), the Rezas, and Hal and Nat, board the Express but the journey is barely under way when they discover that the train has been sabotaged!  Suddenly, Hal and Marianne have to discover who has done this as well as try to stop the train before disaster strikes.  Can they do it or is everybody on board in jeopardy?

Part of what I love about this series is the setting: both the different countries visited as well as the trains.  I love to read the descriptions of the landscapes but am especially enamoured by the images created of the trains (and Elisa Paginelli's illustrations only help to enhance this).  The book makes me want to take a journey on a similar train; to enjoy long lunches with unmissable views of wonderful landscapes and to wake-up in a completely different place - the dangerous situations Hal and Nat find themselves I would be happy not to encounter but they definitely make the books incredibly exciting!  On a cold, dull January day, it was wonderful to be able to imagine I was zooming through Australia, with the sun beating in through the windows!

Hal and Nat make a perfect duo and I love the relationship that has built between them; there is a mutual respect between them that is based on trust and the fact that Hal is a child isn't an issue.  In Sabotage on the Solar Express, I feel that Hal takes more of a lead than Nat and I like the slight change here.  Hal's notebook and illustrations remain key in his ability to discover what is going on and tie in the book's illustrations perfectly.  

I have to say that I think Sabotage on the Solar Express has to be the most gripping of the series so far and I found it impossible to put the book down (I was going to go for a run this afternoon but was far too gripped on the plot to even contemplate getting changed, let alone leave the house!).  The plot moves quickly, especially once they board the train and I still hadn't guessed who the saboteur was when Hal came to make his announcement!  I don't want to give anything away so I won't say anything more but ... wow!  Hold onto your seat with this book as you are in for one heck of a journey!

Sabotage on the Solar Express pulls into book stores on the 17th February so why not pre-order your copy so you can jump on board as soon as it is released?  I promise, it's a journey you won't forget!

The Secret of the Treasure Keepers - AM Howell

Set in 1947, whilst Ruth's mother, Harriet Goodspeed, is being interviewed for her ideal job at the British Museum, Ruth picks up the phone to Mary Sterne, a woman who is desperate to know what she should do about the treasure she has found on her farm.  Emerging from the meeting, it is clear that Ruth's mum hasn't got the job and Mr Knight's grumpy tone means that Ruth doesn't get the chance to pass the message on to him.  Instead, the pair make their way to Rook Farm south of Ely themselves, hoping that Harriet's archaeological skills will be able to help Mary and also impress Mr Knight enough to give Harriet a job.  Sure enough, the treasure turns out to be impressive and potentially valuable, however, Ruth quickly feels that there is something not quite right.  Why is Mary's son, Joe, so unwilling to let Harriet take the treasure back to London to be examined?  With secrets waiting to be uncovered, can Ruth get to the bottom of everything in time to help her mum and help save the farm?

I'm a fan of historical fiction, especially anything set around the time of WWII, and, coupled with the fact that I have loved Ann-Marie's previous three books, I was thrilled to have access to an early copy of The Secret of the Treasure Keepers on NetGalley.  She's a fantastic writer of historical fiction and brilliant at balancing the historical content with the adventure in the plot. 

Set firstly in London, I enjoyed being able to imagine where Ruth and her mum were at the beginning of the book and am now set to visit the British Museum next time I'm down there (I can't believe I haven't been already!).  The attention to detail in accuracy of the setting for the time period drew me in and mentions of the introduction of the National Health Service (or a new health service that won't cost a penny), a new self-service shop where you pay for everything together at the end, not to mention Baedeker raids (I had to look this up!), shops opening on buses after the bombings and electricity being used sparingly, means that readers quickly learn that 1947 Britain was still feeling the after-effects of the war (something I suspect many children will not realise).  Then you have the comparison of Rook Farm where Ruth thinks life will be easier and food more plentiful.  Surrounded by vast open fields, it quickly becomes obvious that life on the farm is far from easy: the place is heated sparingly, the family are still working the land by hand and food isn't as plentiful as Ruth thought it would be.  There is a contrast in the landscape but not in the daily struggle.

Having survived the Blitz in London, Ruth is not scared of getting stuck in and it is her idea to venture to Rook Farm.  Underneath it all though, she is driven by the idea of not wanting to lose her childhood home, the home where her father has created the most amazing sounding mural on her bedroom wall and, despite the fact that her parents are divorcing amicably, it's a change she can't bear to face.  However, Ruth doesn't always get things right and I like that about her; it makes her real.  Compare that to Joe who is definitely more reserved and clearly doesn't want to get close to Ruth; it is apparent that he has the world on his shoulders and is trying to help his mum in every way he can.  I can imagine that this is something that many children went through during this period: having lived through the harrowing events of the war, both of their childhoods are essentially being robbed from them as they have to help make ends meet, understand that food is often scarce and that life is still very different. 

As well as mastering the historical content in her novels, Ann-Marie is brilliant at weaving in intriguing plots and The Secret of the Treasure Keepers is no different: hints are dropped subtly throughout the book that something is not quite as it seems (although you're not quite certain what it is) and this draws the reader in (indeed, I couldn't put the book down, even though it was New Year's Eve!).  The odd red herring is also scattered to keep you on your toes and will ensure that you are guessing until the end (I'm determined not to give anything away!).  There's a slight darkness to the book that helps to add to the air of mystery and the host of characters helps to build that feeling.  In short, what I'm trying to tell you in a rather long-winded way, is that I adored this book!  It's a gripping read that combines intrigue. mystery and treasure whilst also expertly tackling themes of divorce, bereavement and family struggle. The Secret of the Treasure Keepers is a compelling post-WWII mystery that I know will go down very well with the children in my class; I just worry that they won't be able to put it down for long enough to be able to pay attention in lessons!

Due for release on the 31st March, I urge you to pre-order the book today!