When I See Blue - Lily Bailey

 

Twelve year old Ben has just moved house with his family and has started a new school where he is determined to be invisible.  You see Ben suffers from OCD and this rules his brain: his special number is four which means he has to do things four times, or in multiples of four (including only writing words with four letters in them); he finds he needs to do certain things repeatedly (opening and closing doors, tapping things ...) in order to keep his family safe and each colour has a meaning for him which dictates whether he will use it - life is exhausting and doing simple things such as getting dressed can take ages.  In his last school, he had a hard time because of this so he is determined to remain unseen at Hilltown Secondary School.  But then April starts to talk to him and they become friends.  However, at home, with his older brother Kyle in a constantly moody state and his mum's drinking becoming excessive and causing problems, Ben finds everything difficult to navigate.  But what happens when he has to put his OCD to the test?

This is a truly wonderful book and a completely honest look at what life is like for children who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder.  Ben is clearly lonely and every part of his life is ruled by his condition: what he wears, where he goes, how he eats, the way he thinks - it really is a bully in his brain and he is too scared to stop for fear of somebody in his family being hurt (they say people with OCD are incredibly caring and we see this in huge amounts in Ben).  The way Bailey describes Ben's intrusive thoughts (using italics to show his internal monologue) as well as the external struggles he faces, is insightful and gives the reader a real sense of what he is going through.   

By comparison, April is a confident young lady who seems to have everything sorted.  There's a real warmth to the friendship she and Ben form which is all down to April's decision to start to talk to Ben.  Although very different, they compliment each other and their friendship is a joy to read.  

As well as OCD, the book also tackles some other tricky domestic situations: Ben's parents clearly aren't getting on well and his mum's drinking becomes increasingly worse as the book progresses - this is a family who has a lot going on, but it is woven into the plot sensitively and compassionately. 

Mental health is at the forefront of many conversations at the minute and When I See Blue shines a spotlight on one element of this.  I know the term OCD is often used in a light-hearted/throw-away manner, but the book gives a real insight into life with this condition and will help children understand what it really means to live with this.  It will allow children with OCD to see themselves and will give them hope.  I loved Ben and found myself wanting to reach into the book to hug him.  

When I See Blue is a hugely powerful book; full of emotion whilst also being heart-warming, it made me cry, laugh and hug the book!  I found myself thinking of Ben even when I wasn't reading the book and he is somebody who will remain with me for a long time. 

Due for release on the 9th June, When I See Blue is a triumph of a novel and one that needs to be in every school.  Engaging, insightful and full of heart, this book will make you feel anything but blue!

Ajay and the Mumbai Sun - Varsha Shah

 

Ajay lives in Mumbai.  Abandoned by his parents when he was young, he lives on the railway with a group of friends, Saif, Vinod, Yasmin and Jai, making their way by picking-up jobs where they can.  However, Ajay has a deep desire: he wants nothing more than to be a journalist and, when he finds an old printing press that is heading for the scrap heap, he and his friends restore it and begin publishing The Mumbai Sun.  It isn't long before they realise that things aren't always as they seem, especially when the factory Yasmin works in collapses.  Determined to expose the corruption, can Ajay and his friends do what the major newspapers can't and find the biggest scoop in the city before it's too late?

Set on the streets of Mumbai, you quickly get to know that life isn't easy for twelve year old Ajay and his friends.  They live from day to day and have to fend for themselves; life is tough for them but I liked the positivity and warmth that resonated between the friends, despite the situation they are in.  Told through Ajay's eyes, the story combines the children's very different interests: Ajay cherishes his mother's fountain pen and it is this that drives his desire to write; Saif is an apprentice engineer and it is his skills that help to restore the printing press, whilst Vinod's love of food and cooking provide the recipes they print in every edition.  Along with Yasmin who loves to draw and dreams of drawing her own cartoons, the team begin to live their dreams in the most unlikely of circumstances. I thoroughly enjoyed reading of their bravado and the ingenious ways they found to get to the heart of the stories - I think in ways only children would be bold enough to attempt.  With a sprinkling of cricket and lots of well-paced action, this was a truly enjoyable book.  It has already piqued the interest of some of my class who I think will love it once they get their hands on it.

Ajay and the Mumbai Sun is a story that reminds us to never discount people and to strive for your dreams, no matter what your situation.  It's a book full of positivity, warmth and hope that shows you are never too young to make your voice heard and will definitely be making an appearance on my display in Waterstones Newcastle when it's released on the 7th April.

SkyWake: Battlefield - Jamie Russell

 

In book 2 of the SkyWake series, Casey, her teammates and her brother, Pete, find themselves on Hosin, a distant alien planet that they believed only existed in their favourite computer game, SkyWake.  Having discovered that it is in fact very real, they have now been forced by the the Red Eyes to battle the Squids in order to get themselves and the other hundreds of gamers back to Earth.  But things aren't quite what they seem and, when Casey begins to hear voices in her head, she realises it's the Squids asking for her help.  But can she trust them and can she save her team and her brother?

I first read SkyWake: Invasion last June and absolutely loved it; it's been a huge hit at school as well with boys and girls both loving the high action, gaming theme of the book.  Since then, I have been waiting with huge amounts of excitement for book 2 (as have many of the children in my class!  In fact, one child has been asking me on a daily basis, of late, if I have a copy of Battlefield yet!).  So, when I got home on Friday evening to discover a copy waiting for me, I was utterly thrilled (there may have been dancing round the kitchen!).  Fortunately, I had finished my book earlier that day so SkyWake: Battlefield zoomed straight to the top of my book pile and I began reading it immediately! (well, after I'd put my pjs on!).

I love that the book starts with a recap of book 1 which helped me to remember all the little bits of the book that meant I could start book 2 without having to wrack my brain to remind myself.

And then we were off, and I simply couldn't put the book down!  From the get-go, the plot is fast-paced and grabs you in its thrilling ride.  As the story progresses, you get to know more about the characters (including the aliens), their personalities and their history, with true characters coming to the fore which adds to the development.  Casey is, as in book 1, a strong female lead but she has some tough decisions to make and I felt for her at times.  It's great to see a female lead in a gaming/sci-fi book and she has appealed to boys and girls alike in school.  I'm looking forward to seeing what she does next as I suspect there will be more difficult choices coming her way in book 3!

There are some unexpected twists that will keep you guessing in Battlefield and the final third of the book is, without doubt, an edge of your seat, unputdownable action-fest (I won't say any more as I don't want to spoil things, but there was more than once occasion when I was shouting at the book over things the characters did!).

I absolutely loved SkyWake: Invasion but I think I love SkyWake: Battlefield even more!  I know that I will be incredibly popular in school on Monday morning when they see the book in my hands and I won't see it again for a while as it makes its way round the SkyWake fans in school - there will absolutely need to be a waiting list!  This is guaranteed to be another huge hit for Jamie when it publishes on the 7th April and I just have one question: exactly how long am I going to have to wait to find out what happens next?!

Max Counts to a Million - Jeremy Williams

 

The coronavirus is looming and eight year old Max is trying his best to understand exactly what is happening.  As the lockdown gets underway, he realises that things aren't as easy as he first thought, so in an attempt to annoy his mum, he decides he's going to count to a million, but when he realises exactly how big a million is and how long it's going to take him, will he make it all the way?

I have to admit that I was a little wary when I first heard about this book.  Was it too early to be writing about covid?  How would children take it?  However, I very quickly discovered that I was very wrong!  From the beginning of the book, the first person, chatty style was warm and engaging, and I found myself smiling and giggling along with Max (and also desperately in need of smarties!)

Max is an endearing character whose charm and view of the pandemic made me smile and will undoubtedly help children to see recent events in a more light-hearted way (I will, from now on, see the virus as suitcase carrying zombies!).  I think it the child's-eye view of things adds an element of humour to the book and I really like that.  It's what children need and I think it will help children to frame their own experiences of lockdown in a positive light.

From remote learning to an hour of exercise; panic buying to chatting to the neighbours during the Thursday evening clap, Williams has captured the details of what was a most unusual time for everyone and it's this attention to detail, put in a way that children will be able to relate to, that makes this such a great read.  I'm sure there were plenty of times when my son wanted to annoy me during lockdown; however, I know we relished our daily walks (especially when I was about to throw my laptop out the window!) and, of course, being apart from family and missing events like parties was difficult for us and are things we won't forget in a hurry.  Our children will be talking about this to their grandchildren ('I remember when I was your age and we couldn't go to school...') and I think this book will show them a different side to such a huge event and will remind every reader (young and old) that there was a lighter side to the pandemic.  

I find myself waffling now and quite possibly going off on a tangent (I feel Max would understand!).  It's safe to say that Max Counts to a Million is a triumph of a book, it's a moving and heart-warming story about what can happen when we can't go outside; it's about dealing with change and how communities can come together, even in the worst of times.  I know that readers will love Max and I can't wait to share this book with my class.

The Strangeworlds Travel Agency The Secrets of the Stormforest - LD Lapinski

 

With the Seren threatening, it is up to Flick and Johnathan to discover exactly what is happening and why, and then they need to work out how to save their world, as well as countless others.

I know that this is a very brief synopsis of the book, but I really don't want to give anything away!

The Secrets of the Stormforest is the last in the Strangeworlds trilogy and, as The Edge of the Ocean was left on such a cliffhanger, I was incredibly excited to be able to dive into book 3 early (although, also torn by the fact that I knew I would be saying goodbye to Flick and Johnathan at the end of it).  And I have to say that I wasn't disappointed: exciting from the very beginning, right up to the end, this is a rollercoaster of a journey, both in terms of the action as well as the emotions experienced.  Expect to need tissues if you are anything like me!  

The plot slips between worlds and helps to answer questions that have been dangling since book 1. It's unpredictable and will make you gasp on several occasions, and I promise you won't want to put the book down.  I began reading it on a Sunday evening and then found myself thinking of Flick and Johnathan when I was away from the book, longing to get back to them every evening - a rooky error, I should have begun reading on a Saturday morning so I could have read the book in one sitting! 

I have loved Flick and Jonathan from the very start: the uniqueness of Johnathan and his approach to everything - he is somebody I would love to get to know.  Flick's journey has evolved as we have progressed through the series and I was thrilled to see the way Lapinski took her in this final instalment.  She will be a role model for children everywhere.  Both characters are true to themselves and I love that about them.  Strong in their own ways and loyal in their friendship - they are characters I will remember for a very long time.

Strageworlds is a concept I have adored from the very first book, and I often find myself looking at suitcases and wondering where they may take me - unfortunately, the cases in my loft have yet to reveal other worlds when I have opened them - I confess now that I still open every suitcase with an air of expectancy!

The Secrets of the Stormforest was a fitting end to an utterly spellbinding trilogy and one I know I will revisit time and time again.  Now excuse me whilst I head to inspect my suitcases again ... just in case!

The Thief Who Sang Storms - Sophie Anderson

 

On the island of Morovia, humans and alkonosts (birdlike people) used to live together, but after a disaster at sea in which the island's leaders were killed, for which the alkonosts were blamed, the two communities have been divided.  Most of the alkonosts have singing magic within them; however, Linnet (the main protagonist) has yet to discover hers (much to her frustration).

Linnet's mother was amongst those killed during the disaster and now she and her father, Nightingale, have been forced to live in the swamps, stealing from human travellers in order to scrape by.  But when her father is captured and imprisoned by the humans, it's up to Linnet to try to save him.

Sophie Anderson is one of those writers whose books are always wonderful to read; written with a timeless quality and a folktale style, she manages to weave gripping plots in a unique way that captures the imagination and looks at important themes in a way that engages readers of all ages, and The Thief Who Sang Storms is no exception.  

Linnet is struggling to come to terms with her mother's death and her father's grief, whilst also coming to terms with the fact that she has been thrown out of her home.  Her entire life has changed and she needs to be strong for herself as well as her father.  From living a peaceful life, her world has been shattered and she is determined to find a way to bring harmony back to the island she calls home - a theme that I can imagine will resonate with many at the moment.  Her strength and determination whilst she also battles her fears make her a relatable character. 

Set on the fictional island of Morovia, the world-building is vivid and believable, and I was completely captivated.  I also love that characters from Sophie's previous books make cameos in her other books and this one is no exception - Baba Yaga felt like an old friend I was happy to see when she appeared.  

With powerful messages about friendship, kindness, accepting yourself and understanding difference, The Thief Who Sang Songs is guaranteed to be another hit for Sophie. 

Dragon Rising - Katie & Kevin Tsang

 

Book 4 in the Dragon Realm series sees Billy, Dylan, Charlotte and Ling-Fei back home after their adventures with their dragons over the summer.  It’s Billy we see first, who is finding it difficult to be home, unable to talk about any of what happened, and finding that surfing is the best way for him to get some headspace.  He has found a quiet cove near his home where he is usually able to surf solo; however, on this particular morning, he is shocked to find a water-dragon rearing out of the ocean and is even more shocked when he discovers that there is somebody there to witness it: a girl called Lola who is new to the area.  Billy is quick to contact Spark and the four friends, as well as Lola, are soon back in the Dragon Realm where they discover that some incredibly strange things are happening which could have disastrous consequences for both the dragon and the human worlds.  But can the friends and their dragons get to the truth before it’s too late?

I have a confession to make: I wasn't a huge fan of dragon books … until a book called Dragon Mountain arrived on my iPad during lockdown (April 2020 to be exact).  Initially hesitant, I began reading and was completely and utterly hooked!  So much so, I gobbled it up in one sitting, absolutely adored it and was desperate for a second instalment even before book 1 had been released!  Since then, I have been a complete convert and have waited rather impatiently for every instalment! So imagine my excitement when I realised last weekend that Dragon Rising was available on NetGalley!  I was there in an instant and headed straight in.

It was so good to be back with Billy and to see how difficult it was for him to be back home and unable to talk about everything he had been through over the summer – imagine having the most amazing, life-changing experience and not being able to tell a soul about it!  I’d want to shout it from the rooftops!  On top of that, missing his friends (both human and dragon) must make him feel as though part of him is missing.  Surfing is what grounds him at home and so this is how he is spending his time, loosing himself in the water.  The emergence of a dragon in his hometown comes as a complete shock to him and his immediate reaction is to protect Lola and also to try to hide everything from her.  However, we quickly see that she is not to be fobbed off easily!

This book takes on a slightly different feel with the dragon and the human worlds colliding.  At first, it feels subtle, with only the water-dragon appearing, but, as the book progresses, it quickly becomes apparent that things are much worse than the team first thought it was.  We see familiar friends back in the form of Goldie and Midnight (2 characters I’ve loved in precious books), as well as the introduction of new ones (both dragon and human).  Billy, Dylan, Charlotte and Ling-Fe show us their unique personalities once again and I really enjoy being reminded of the different elements they bring to the team.  Lola is a strong and feisty addition to the group; her determination to know exactly what is going on means that Billy can’t fob her off and it’s this attitude, along with her bravery, that makes her wonderful to meet.

In the previous three books, we have found ourselves largely in the dragon realm; the shift in Dragon Rising is one I enjoyed and found, at some points, scarily believable!  The thought of dragons appearing in our world is both terrifying and intriguing.  I won’t say any more as I don’t want to spoil the plot, but I definitely found the latter part of the book utterly gripping and a rollercoaster of an adventure – trust me when I say it’s breath-taking and unputdownable!  The end of the book will leave you exhausted and absolutely wanting more!

When I began reading Dragon Rising, I thought that this was going to be the final book in the series so was completely torn between gobbling it up as I was desperate to know what was going to happen, and savouring it as I didn’t want to say to goodbye to everybody.  Thankfully, Katie has been able to allay my fears and has reassured me that she and Kevin are currently writing book 5 – phew! 

This is a hugely popular series in school, and I know that excitement is building about Dragon Rising (I may have increased that somewhat when children heard I was reading it!).  This is an unputdownable fourth book in an utterly addictive series that will make you want to heart-bond with your own dragon!