The Arctic Railway Assassin - MG Leonard & Sam Sedgman


Hal and his Uncle Nat are back for their sixth adventure, and this time they are heading to the Arctic just before Christmas aboard a night train to see the Northern Lights.  

Hal meets up with his uncle in Stockholm where Nat has seen his friend, Morti, receive her Nobel Prize.  However, it quickly becomes apparent that things aren't quite right when Morti explains that her possessions keep disappearing.  When she explains that her prize winning discovery of sound vibrations that can cure cancer, can also be used to kill a person instantly, Hal and Nat agree to help her out.  However, the next morning, she has left a note to say that she has had to go and will meet them at her cabin.  Uncle Nat and Hal continue with their journey but, as their train leaves Stockholm, they realise that they are being followed.  As they near the Arctic Circle, it's up to Hal and Uncle Nat to discover who is following them and why.  And with the possibility that Uncle Nat's past has come back to haunt him, it's up to Hal to step-up and take the lead.

I am a big fan of the Adventures on Trains series, so I was thrilled when an early copy appeared on NetGalley.  I couldn't resist jumping back on board with Hal and Nat to become completely engrossed in another adventure.  As Hal gets older, it's great to see him playing a more independent role in the investigations, but I loved the contrast between his maturity and his treatment by people such as the airline attendant - I can imagine a lot of 13 year olds will sympathise with him. 

Once again, woven into the mystery are the descriptions of the country they are travelling through and I always look forward to reading these as they really help to set the scene for me.  As ever, Hal's illustrations prove pivotal to the investigations and I always love to spend time studying the detail in each one.  Hat's off to Elisa Paganelli for these - they make the best accompaniment to the story; as does the map at the beginning.  I do love a book map.

News of me reading The Arctic Railway Assassin spread round school on Friday and there was much excitement at the thought of another book for the children to get stuck in to.  The only problem they had is that they are going to have to wait until the 13th October to read it!.

Wren - Lucy Hope


Set in Anglesey, with the Welsh hills as the backdrop, Wren lives with her Pa, her brother, Tudur and her Aunty Efa in a castle that has been in the family for generations.  Wren is a spirited girl who loves to be outdoors with nature; however, she fears the her life will change forever when her Pa announces that he intends to send her to the Anglesey Institution for the Re-educaton of Young Women (AIREYW) to calm her down.  She is determined not to be sent there and tries to enlist the support of her Aunty Efa.  However, Wren can't help her curiosity and is determined to discover why their home sighs and why she feels it move.  She knows something is going on and is determined to discover exactly what it is. 

Wren is strong character who isn't afraid to be who she wants to be.  It would appear that she gets this from her Ma who died in an accident whilst trying to create a flying machine; an accident that left her sister, Wren's Anty Efa, in a wheel-chair. Her drive (and quite possibly her grief) leads her to want to follow in her Ma's footsteps and create a flying machine. It is clear that she misses her Ma and this is a way for her to still feel connected to her.  She fights against the constraints of her father and brother who want her to be nothing more that a good Victorian girl.  I also love her curiosity as well as her determination to discover what is actually going on with her home.  I don't want to spoil anything but the revelations will make the book unputdownable. 

As with Fledgling, Wren is an atmospheric tale that weaves wonderful characters with a very gothic feel to the setting, in particular the house.  I found myself with questions I needed answering which compelled me to keep reading (I love it when a book does that!).  Wren is a book that shows you the power of curiosity and that you should never underestimate anybody.  



The Mystery of Raspberry Hill - Eva Frantz


 Stina has consumption, a disease that she believes will mean she will shortly be dead and she has made her peace with that.  But then she offered a place at Raspberry Hill sanatorium and her mother agreed to let her go, hoping that it would provide a cure for her.

When she arrives, she is greeted by what looks like a fairy-tale castle in the middle of a forest but then she finds that she is the only person on her ward and things become rather lonely.  Thankfully, on her first night, Ruben comes to visit and explains that he is from ward 23 but knows the staff so well, he can slip out sometimes.  

When she meets Dr Hagman the following day, he explains her treatment and it begins in earnest.  But, as the days pass, there are suggestions that all may not be as it seems.

This is a book that is perfect for this time of year, as the nights draw in and the weather grows chillier.  The long and echoing corridors of the sanitorium provide an eerie atmosphere, as does the thought that an entire wing is closed off after a fire.  

In addition, many of the characters will leave you questioning: some are friendly towards Stina, whilst others are brusque and terrifying, but exactly who can she trust?

The Mystery of Raspberry Hill is a shorter book (156 pages) so perfect for those for whom larger novels can be daunting.  It's perfect for those looking for an atmospheric book to take them into autumn and will be a hit when it's released on the 13th October.



The Spectaculars - Jodie Garnish

 


The Spectaculars opens with a dramatic evacuation on a train into the mountains; however, the last carriage is left behind and you are left wondering what happened.  We then jump five years are are introduced to Harper Wolfe who lives with her mother in the Smoke.  However, on the night of the Parade of Progress, Harper's life changes for ever and she is whisked off to the Wondria to start her learning how to become a Spectacular, a magical performer in a travelling theatre.  All is well to begin with but when their theatre is in danger, it is up to Harper and Trick to save the day.

Ok, I'm just going to say it: The Spectaculars is spectacular!  Full of magic, mystery and intrigue in a way that will grab you and draw you in.  The idea of a travelling, magical theatre is a rather wonderful one and you are transported into the world along with Harper - I didn't want to leave.

Harper is a wonderful character who is strong and determined, and coming to terms with the idea that her world isn't quite what she thought it was.  Imagine being able to pull magic from the stars to create effects through the theatre and then travelling the land to share this with the rest of the world ... this is Harper's new life and she is thrilled to be part of it.

The Spectaculars is perfect for fans of Nevermore and Amari And The Night Brothers.  Due for release on the 29th September, this is a book that will definitely brighten those dark and chilly October evenings. 

Libby And The Highland Heist - Jo Clarke

 


After a term in Paris that wasn't quite what anyone expected, Libby and her new best friend Connie, along with Libby's aunt, Miss Mousedale, are heading to spend the Christmas holidays at Connie's ancestral home in Scotland, which just happens to come with towers and its own forest!  Hoping for a quiet break, the girls quickly realise that something isn't quite right, with both of Connie's parents behaving strangely.  But what exactly is going on?  Why Might Connie not be able to return to school next term?  And why is Libby convinced that all may not be as it seems?  It's up to Libby and Connie to get to the bottom of things in their own, unique style.  

Libby and the Parisian Puzzle was a wonderful debut novel for Jo and was the perfect introduction to Libby and Connie who make a wonderful partnership, and I've been very excited to discover exactly what they were going to get up to in Scotland.  The book opens with the pair aboard a night train to Scotland and you are immediately brought up to date with a reminder of what happened in book 1 deftly woven into the first few pages (I love it when authors do this as it helps to jog my aging memory!).  They very quickly arrive in Scotland and the mystery begins to make itself known almost from the second they walk through the door.  I won't spoil anything, but it's safe to say there there's mention of secret passage ways, unusual occurrences and twists that I didn't expect!

I'm also very pleased to say that, as with Libby and the Parisian Puzzle, food makes regular appearances; however, croissants and macarons have been replaced with tattie scones and Lorne sausage (try them: they're delicious!).  Having spent much of my childhood in Edinburgh visiting my grandparents, I was thrilled that the pair end up there and even more pleased to see Greyfriars Bobby & the kirkyard make an appearance (it's one of my favourite spots in the city!).  

I know that Jo has had second book nerves, but I can honestly say that she has absolutely no need to be nervous: Libby and the Highland Heist is a triumph of a book. I adored being back with Libby and Connie; was gripped by the plot (I read the book in one sitting, much to the annoyance of my family whom I completely ignored until I was done) and am now desperate to see what the pair get up to next.

With wonderfully illustrations by Becka Moor, Libby and the Highland Heist is published on the 19th January and will make the perfect start to everybody's New Year so I highly recommend you pre-order it now.

The Spell Tailors - James Nicol

 



Today it's my turn on The Spell Tailors blog tour and I am delighted to share James' 3 top tips for writing as well as my review of his book.

Three Top Tips For Writing.

I used to love reading these types of blog posts when I was an unpublished writer, hoping that I would glean something useful from those who were there, where I wanted to be. And there are so many bits and pieces of advice – but of course, not every piece of advice will work for everyone, so don’t worry if something doesn’t chime with you.

The other thing is that there are no quick fixes, no cheats to help you “level up”. Luck certainly plays a part in becoming published –  as it does in every aspect of life –  but putting in the hours, doing the hard work of writing is the real power that makes stuff happen and helps deliver when and if lady luck calls! 

So what are my top three pieces of advice?

 

Don’t start at the start!

The idea of my stories generally begins with a fairly clear scene or image in my head: something exciting or important that I know I want to explore or that needs to happen in the story somewhere. This is not necessarily the beginning of the story at all. We can put a whole lot of pressure on ourselves to write a compelling first chapter that grabs the readers attention and doesn’t let go – that’s important, of course, but it doesn’t just happen and can be quite a daunting prospect for any writer at any point in their career! I remember working with Bella Pearson when I was a member of The Golden Egg Academy, and she said that the beginnings and endings of books are the hardest to write and the parts that are changed the most so don’t fret too much over them when you are just starting your story. Hands down the best piece of advice I’ve ever had. It gives you the freedom to just get going. I often find my actual first chapter might be a few chapters in from where I start with my first draft, I write my way into the story. So give yourself space to discover and if you don’t know the start, write the bit you do know!

 

Give yourself space

We all come to that point whether it’s when you’re writing an early draft of your book or editing it –   when you suddenly feel like all the ideas you ever had have fled from your mind like rats from a sinking ship! When this strikes I’ve discovered that for me there is no point sitting and staring helplessly at my notebook or computer screen. These are not the places where ideas burst into life, this is where I wrestle them to the ground and capture them. But for me ideas are more likely to make themselves known when I’m off doing something else. So in those moments I leave the desk and either take myself off for a walk with my dog or go and do something else in the house for half an hour or so – gardening or baking are good distractions – and I generally come back with an idea of how to get myself out of whatever corner I have written or edited myself into! And if that doesn’t work then at least sometimes I have the comfort of a nice cake to look forward to!

 

Read it out loud

If you do just one of these things I’ve suggested then let it be this. Reading your work out loud is invaluable. It can highlight repetitions or where punctuation has been missed and is needed. (I quite like to just forget full stops altogether sometimes!) It helps you make dialogue better and shows you the pattern and rhythm of your writing – I personally also like having a go at all the voices of the characters! I certainly try to read aloud the first draft I send to my editor or agent and then  when there have been major edits I read through the whole thing again. It takes time, but personally I think it’s worth every second! 

 

I do hope these have been helpful or interesting or both! Happy writing!


... and now here's my review of The Spell Tailors:


Hen has lived with his Nana in the shop owned by the Danelli family since they had arrived in Sparrow Down from the Scillian Islands years earlier.  The spell-tailor shop has been popular in the town, making clothing for everyone with stitches that can enhance garments, like a dress that will help you stay cool in the middle of summer or a jumper that will keep you warm on the coldest of days.  Hen dreams of becoming a spell tailor but things have been more difficult recently due to the rise in factories which are mass-producing magic clothing; then his uncle, aunt and cousin arrive at the shop and announce they have come to stay.  Things are changing for Hen but can his discovery of a stitch that can sew memories into clothing help to turn things around or will it just cause more trouble?

Hen is definitely a character who is unsure of himself.  With his parents away, his nana is his guiding light and he is determined to protect her and this creates a determination in him that drives him forwards.  He also, by default, seems to be driven by his uncle who hen feels is doing nothing but thwarting him.  It's a complex relationship they have and he cannot understand why his nana isn't backing him the way she usually does.  It's a difficult time for Hen.  The arrival of his cousin, Connie, isn't as straightforward as it may have been as she is very off-hand to begin with.  Whilst Hen doesn't understand why, Connie has had everything in her life change for her and just needs the time to get used to her new 'life'.  I also want to mention Mr Pepper, the mass manufacturer who sweeps in to destroy the lives of so many small businesses without thought or care - readers will enjoy hating him and everything he stands for.

I have to say that I was excited when I read the blurb for The Spell Tailors and so I was incredibly pleased when the book arrived just in time for me to take it to Venice with me and I'm so pleased I did.  

I adore everything about this book!  It was like a warm hug; it's a book that will make you smile, will warm you from the inside and will make everything feel better.  With an ending that surprised me, The Spell Tailors is an adorable book that brightened my days and was one my mind drifted to between reads.  

There is something special about books where you can picture yourself living in the village where the story is set and The Spell Tailors is absolutely a book that fell into that category for me - I am now desperate to visit Sparrow Down which sounds like a wonderful place to live: everybody knowing each other, people looking out for everybody... and Marjorie!  Please can I have my own shleep?  she was just adorable! (also, I would rather like to pay a visit to with Hen into that memory...).

The idea of a spell tailors is enchanting, harking back to the days when people had their clothes made for them instead of simply heading to the shops to buy off the rack.  It's the personal touch and the idea of being able to add a spell to a garment to enhance it which really got me thinking; but the memory stitch is by far my favourite and, when I visit Sparrow Down, I'm going to book myself an appointment at Danelli's so I can place my order!

 There is something very special about this book and I don't quite feel as though my words are doing the book justice, so I'm going to end by saying that The Spell Tailors is out now and is absolutely the book you need to keep you warm and put a cheer in your heart as the summer days grow chilly.






Rosie Raja Churchill's Spy - Sufiya Ahmed

 


Rosie has spent her entire life living in India as a princess, but when her Indian mother dies, her British father takes her to live in London.  She is not happy there and misses her home and her auntie in India; what’s more, her father seems to spend more time away for work instead of at their country home with her.

One evening, she discovers that her father has visitors coming for dinner so she decides to hide and find out what is going on.  However, she doesn’t expect to discover that her father is actually working for Churchill and the British government and is about to go away again.  Determined not to be left behind, she stows away on the plane and is only discovered when it is too late to turn back.  And so begins a thrilling but dangerous adventure for Rosie, alongside her father in WWII Paris, working to help the resistance. 

I have always had a weakness for books set during WWII, especially if they are set in Paris, so the arrival of Rosie Raja Churchill’s Spy filled with me joy, and, oh boy, it didn’t disappoint. 

Rosie is clearly miserable: she has lost her mother, her father is being distant, the governess she has won’t let her do the work she is capable of and she is missing her aunt, Rani-K, who is the queen of the kingdom in India where they lived.  It’s no wonder she is craving her father’s attention and steals away to be near him.  At first, I thought he was going to be a very traditional father figure but, once the book gets going, he surprised me and I liked him as a character.

Having recently been back to Paris, I was able to imagine the sort of cafĂ© where they were based and spent their days helping the resistance.  Although there are no detailed descriptions of Paris itself, I could easily imagine myself alongside Rosie at every stage.  The adventure is tense and thrilling at every stage of their journey and I found myself unable to put the book down so that I could find out what was going to happen.  There is a very real feel to the action in a way that books that aren’t based in real historical events cannot have – in the back of my mind, I know that events like these actually happened to people and that has quite an effect on me.

Rosie Raja Churchill’s Spy is a wonderful book that would be perfect for upper KS2 children.  It would be great as a read aloud book during a WWII topic and I fully intend to share this with my new class next week.  I can’t wait to see what is in store for Rosie next.



Rainbow Magic: Harper The Confidence Fairy - Daisy Meadows



Harper helps people feel confident using her magical objects (a heart-shaped belief badge, a coronet and her sparkly poise purse).  At the beginning of the book, we meet Sully, Flora and Luca who have formed their own Confidence Club after being bullied at school; however, their club house is about to be sold and they need the confidence to raise enough money to buy it themselves.  Kirsty and Rachel offer to help and then meet Harper the Confidence Fairy but she can't do anything until she recovers her magical objects from Jack Frost who has stolen them.  Can Rachel and Kirsty help Harper before it's too late?

The Rainbow Magic books are popular with the younger students in school so I was thrilled to get the chance to review this one.  I am also always looking for books that help to increase children's understanding of the diverse world in which we live and this is the first book with a Down's syndrome fairy.  After Harper is introduced into the story, she explains Down's syndrome to Kirsty and Rachel in a way that readers will be able to understand; I also liked that she mentions that her gift of trusting everyone is what Jack Frost took advantage of in order to steal her magical objects.  Harper is a wonderful character and, through the 3 stories in the book, readers get to know her and will be rooting for her to get her objects back.

The book is made up of three short stories which follow Harper and the others as they try to recover her magical objects.  The short stories and the short chapters within each story make the book perfect for readers who are looking to become more independent readers and I know that this book will be as popular in school as the rest of the Rainbow Magic books.  Add in the map at the beginning and the illustrations that are peppered through the book and this is an other guaranteed hit.

Huge thanks to Hachette for giving me this opportunity.



Developing Reading Comprehension Skills: Classic Poetry - Kate Heap

Poetry can be a tricky thing to understand and can be a can be a difficult to answer questions on so Kate's Developing Reading Comprehen...