The Kingdom Over The Sea - Zohra Nabi

Yara Silmayah's mother has just died, leaving her with no family and only a letter from her mum, telling her to return to the city of Zehaira.  To get there, she has to take the bus to the harbour, walk to the end and read out the words on the back of the letter in order to gain passage across the sea to find a sorceress called Leyla Khatoun.  With nothing to lose and curiosity niggling at her, Yara decides to slip away from the social worker and, armed with only the basics her mum told her to take (food, warm clothes and a waterproof coat), Yara gets the bus and begins an adventure that will change her life forever, for the city of Zehaira doesn't appear on any map Yara has seen and is a world where magic exists.  With questions burning inside her, will this new life provide the answers that Yara craves?

The Kingdom Over The Sea begins with a prologue that immediately immerses you in the city of Zahaira; you feel a sense of urgency and danger thrumming through the pages and it drags you in.  You are then transported forward twelve years to Poole where you meet Yara, a girl who is naturally grieving and feeling utterly lost following the death of her mum.  Standing alone in their flat, with the social worker waiting for her in the other room, I wanted to reach in and hug Yara; however, there is a strength in Yara that is apparent from the first time you meet her: deciding to follow the instructions her mum left her is a bold move and one that takes a great deal of courage.  What follows shows a girl who, even when she is scared, is feisty, brave and determined - qualities that will draw readers to her.

Zahaira is a city that seems to be teeming with life from the second Yara arrives, and the heat and the culture give off a warmth that was very welcome as I read on a chilly January day in England.  I imaged the colours and the noises of the market and the warmth of the ground under foot as I read, and I could almost smell the bread in Meri's oven wafting along the street.  However, there are clearly problems and those with magic seem wary and scared, and many are unwilling to help Yara.  There is a darkness lurking there and one that Yara seems to stumble upon quite by accident.

Yara's journey through the book is one of miles and emotions: accompanied by her grief and powered by her desire for answers, you will find yourself willing her on and feeling as though you are journeying beside her.  It's an immersive journey for both Yara and the reader, and one I know I won't forget in a hurry.

There is a warmth and richness to the writing in The Kingdom Over The Sea that will enchant you; the book will cast its spell upon you and leave you thinking of Yara and Zahaira even when you are not reading it.  It's an astonishing debut novel and I cannot wait to read more from Zohra.  Publishing on the 25th May, This is a book that is begging to be pre-ordered and is guaranteed to warm the hearts of all who read it. 

Villains Academy - Ryan Hammond

 

Bram Moon has been sent to Villains Academy in order to learn how to be bad; however, for the shy werewolf, things don't go quite as expected and he finds being evil rather more difficult than some of his fellow pupils.  Can he enlist the help of his friends in order to become bad before he receives three strikes and gets sent home?

I started reading Villains Academy last Saturday evening on the way home from the Simon & Schuster brunch where I'd heard Ryan talking, and finished it the following morning.  The book is a joy to read and is full of some of the most wonderful characters.  I can imagine Ryan having had the best time creating them and, without doubt, Master Mardybum has to be the best name for a teacher I have ever come across!

The writing is enhanced with illustrations throughout and the book will have readers chuckling at the events that unfold.  From getting stuck in the toilet pipes to getting bottoms trapped in doors, the plot will have readers enthralled.  However, alongside the laughs, there are important messages about teamwork, friendship, trust and being yourself woven into the book.

Due for release on the 2nd February, Villains Academy is bound to be a hit with readers and I just hope there is more to come from Bram and the rest of the class.  Now, I wonder how evil I have to be to be awarded Villain of the Week...

Like A Curse - Elle McNicoll

Ramya is back … and so is the Siren Portia who takes over Edinburgh, causing Ramya’s family to retreat to their home on the banks of Loch Ness. Frustrated by her aunts’ and Mum’s apparent lack of action, Ramya decides that it is up to herself and Marley to save the Hidden Folk and stop Portia before it’s too late, but that involves having to get past her Aunt Opal and sneak out of the house as well as getting back to Edinburgh. Can the pair do what is needed before it’s too late? Will what little magic Ramya has learnt be enough? Or will Portia finally get what she wants?

Like A Charm was the most amazing novel (you can read my review here) and as I started reading Like A Curse, I was torn between gobbling it up to find out what happens or savouring it so I could make it last.  I started reading it on Saturday morning and had to tear myself away to get jobs done.  It was late afternoon before I was able to curl up with a cuppa and get back to the book and it didn't take long for me to realise that the idea of savouring the book was just not going to happen!  Like A Curse is a veritable rollercoaster of events that will have you gasping out loud and yelling at the book  phrases like: 'What...?'  'Noooooo!' & 'Somebody else is going to have to make dinner!'  Trust me, there are twists in this book that you will not be able to see coming (just look back at my Tweets from Saturday night if you don't believe me!) and I guarantee that you will be on the edge of your sofa as you read.  

Elle's writing is superb and transports you directly to Scotland, starting at St Giles' Church and then quickly heading up to Loch Ness.  As I read, I was reminded of the time I was there as a child with my family and declared with great certainty that I had spotted the Loch Ness Monster, at which point my younger sister promptly locked herself in the car and refused to let us in - if only we'd known... Throughout the book, the images conjured in my mind were vivid and I wandered the Lock and the streets of Edinburgh alongside Ramya - I love it when I can do that with a book.

As you read, you quickly find yourself back with familiar faces as well as being introduced to some new ones - the question is, who can you trust?

Ramya is the most wonderful character and a force of nature.  She is true to herself and I love that she embraces who she is now she is away from her classroom.  Elle is a true champion of neurodiversity and I know that her books help children to see themselves and also educate children on neurodiversity (both of which are important).  The messages throughout the book are fiercely positive and Ramya's attitude is one I admire; however, it was this quote that I loved the most: 'I'm never going to be a neurotypical child.  I was meant to be so much more.'  The is a book full of messages like that that will help children; messages about resilience, not giving up, being yourself, staying strong, trust... and my copy is now peppered with post-its to remind me where all the quotes I want to share and remember are.

I could continue to gush about Like A Curse for so much longer and I can't wait for it to reach the book shops so that I can talk to people about it without spoiling the plot.  But, for now, I'm just going to say that Elle's writing goes from strength to strength; Like A Curse is a completely gripping, gasp-out-loud story that will send you on a rollercoaster of a ride in the best possible way.

Released on the 2nd February, Like A Curse is a book that demands to be pre-ordered and deserves all the praise that is coming its way.

The Dream Snatcher - Abi Elphinstone

 Moll lives in the Tanglefern Forest as part of a traveller community and, although she has no parents, Oak and Mooshie have brought her up as their own.  When she wakes up one night alone and in the middle of the forest, she realises she's been having the same nightmare she always has; however, this time she is determined to be brave. With Gryff the wildcat by her side,  she ventures across the river and beyond the boundary that has been set for her and towards Skull's camp.  Whilst trying to rescue her horse, Jinx, she realises that her nightmare is coming true before her very eyes.  Making it back to her own camp with Jinx, she decides she needs answers and so discovers that she is far more important than she knew.  In fact, it is up to Mol and Gryff to fight against the Dreamsnatcher to destroy the Soul Splinter.  And so begins an adventure that will take Moll on a journey in more ways than one, but can she do what she needs to?

It really is no secret that I am a MASSIVE fan of Abi's books and the Unmapped Chronicles series is one of my all time favourite series (I'm currently reading Rumblestar with my class).  I was absolutely thrilled to have her in school on Friday morning (& yes, I was in major fan-girl mode!) so I was able to get myself a signed copy of The Dreamsnatcher - I can't quite believe I haven't read it yet!

With an early train to London on Saturday, I took Moll for company and was lost in her world before we'd even passed Durham!  Although it came as no surprise to me, the world-building with in the book is superb and you instantly find yourself in Tanglefern with Moll, amongst the Sacred Oaks and the tangled branches; you can feel the drum beats and the rattle as you read, and it all goes to build a terrifically dark atmosphere that captivate you throughout.  

Moll is a wonderful character, full of spirit and determination.  She won't let anybody tell her what to do and never sits still!  She will capture the heart of readers and I found myself willing her on at every stage (which, at times, meant that I was leaning forward in my seat on the train!).  I must also mention the other characters in the book and the small touches that make them feel very human: Mooshie brandishing her tea-towel whenever you read of her; Cinderella Bull (brilliantly named) and her predictions, as well as Siddy and his pet worm, Porridge the Second.

The Dreamsnatcher is a a thrillingly delicious adventure full of excitement, love and hope; it had me completely gripped and saw me in tears (yes, on the train!) and breathless with anticipation.  I can't believe it's taken me so long to read it and I'm now desperate to read The Shadow Keeper and The Night Spinner.

And, by the way, if you ever get the chance to have Abi in school, grab it with both hands!

  

A Romani Story - Richard O'Neil

Lijah is part of a travelling Romani community living in Sheffield.  The family make their way with their Rag-and-bone cart and are proud of their heritage but Lijah's mum is aware that, in England, children need to go to school until they are 16.  Despite his dad's protestations, Lijah is sent to school where he is treated differently and isn't even given a slate and chalk with which to work on his first day.  As he settles into routines, he discovers football and that he loves the game.  Once he begins playing, he also realises that he is good at it and dreams of becoming a professional footballer.  However, this doesn't fit with his dad's idea of the Romani way of life which means he feels as though he needs to make a choice between his family and his passion.

This is the first book in this series I have read, but it most definitely won't be the last.  Told in an engaging way, the book clearly teaches readers about Romani travellers, their way of life, their traditions and also the struggles they have faced.  Lijah is a relatable character and his love of football will be something many children will understand.  

This is a gripping story and one I know will appeal to many children at school.  Whilst being an entertaining read, it is also an important one in that it educates children into part of history - it's even lead me to researching Rab Howell to discover more of his story.

Published today, A Romani Story is a book you will want to add to your  classroom and school library.  

Wild - Ele Fountain

 

Following the sudden death of his father, Jack has been finding life tricky.  His mother is wrapped up in work and Jack has found himself growing increasingly close to boys at school who are leading him down the wrong path and he is now regularly skipping school and even starts shop lifting.  He knows it's wrong but the pressure that is building up in him is too difficult to deal with and he just wants to block everything out.  Then as the Christmas holidays are due to begin, Jack's mum announces that she thinks they should head off on a trip together.  They have never been close so Jack is shocked by this; nevertheless, he agrees to go.  With very little knowledge of where they are going, Jack certainly doesn't anticipate ending up in the middle of the rainforest, a place with more dangers than Jack had expected.  Jack may be actively seeking danger, but will this prove too much?

From the very beginning of the book, I wanted to do nothing more than to reach in and hug Jack.  It is evident that he is desperately struggling since the death of his father with whom he was incredibly close.  Now he has gone, he is finding it difficult to come to terms with things (and his mum is also struggling to know what to do and how to grow closer to Jack).  He finds it difficult to talk to his mum (or indeed anybody) and instead has turned to a group of boys who are leading him to more trouble.  The one person he needs to talk to is the only person he can't talk to.  The journey he goes on during the book (both physically and mentally) is brilliantly written and, I believe, will be of help to anybody who has lost a parent.  Jack is a relatable character and one who felt very real.

I also very much felt for Jack's mum who is trying desperately to navigate the death of her husband, her career and Jack, with whom she now has a very different relationship.  She finds herself trying to walk a fine line between giving him the space he needs and coming down hard on him for the trouble he is getting into.  For her, the trip seems like the best way to escape from everything.

The contrast between Jack's home life and the rainforest is stark and Ele vividly paints a picture of life there whilst seamlessly highlighting very real environmental issues that this part of the world is facing.  The dangers portrayed are a reminder to readers that this is a part of the world that needs protecting for more than one reason.

I have been a big fan of Ele's work since reading Boy 87 in 2019 so I knew that I would enjoy Wild; however, the book was so much more than I was expecting.  It is an immersive read that portrays family, grief and learning how to move on in a very real way; it shows bravery in many different guises whilst seamlessly weaving in strong messages about deforestation.   

Publishing on the 4th May, Ele has done it again with Wild and it's a book you absolutely need to pre-order.

The Dark and Dangerous Gifts of Delores MacKenzie - Yvonne Banham

 

Delores MacKenzie has a gift: a necromancer, she can communicate with the dead, but she can also see and communicate with Bòcan (those spirits who know they were dead but don't like it for one reason or another).  It is after such an encounter where a Bòcan is trying to drag her back into their realm that Delores' sister announces that she can no longer keep her safe so is sending her to stay with her Uncle Oddvar in his bookshop in Edinburgh in order to learn how to manage and control her gifts.

Packing lightly, Delores only takes her clothes as well as a favourite book she had stolen from the school library, a scarf that still smells like her mum and a bird skull - each of which hold precious memories for her, especially since her parents are missing.

Upon arriving at the Tollbooth Book Store in the Old Town, Delilah leaves Delores at the door so she is forced to enter alone where she meets Prudence and Gabriel who are also studying under Oddvar.  Delores feels scared and alone and the welcome isn't the warm one she may have been looking for.  With Uncle Oddvar's very formal ways, Delores finds settling in difficult and, although Gabriel is friendlier than Prudence, she still struggles.  Then a Bòcan makes itself known to her in the bookshop, a place Oddvar keeps protected, and it wants to regain its human form, something that will put Delores and her new house mates in grave danger.

I have a real soft spot for Edinburgh and so was drawn by the fact that I would be able to picture Delores wherever she went; the fact that she moves to a book shop in the Old Town just made things even more appealing.  Before I began reading, I knew there would be a darkness to the book and the setting helped to enhance that.  Clearly an ancient building with dark, narrow stairs and a mysterious feel to the place, the Book Shop was the perfect setting; add in that it overlooks a graveyard and you have all the elements you need for a darker novel, perfect for older MG or those starting to look at YA.

I enjoyed the range of characters in the book and the fact that you don't know everything about them immediately; that mystery keeps you interested.  Delores is strong and independent, and I found Prudence particularly intriguing but it was Bartleby who became my favourite character. 

The Dark and Dangerous Gifts of Delores MacKenzie is a deliciously creepy and sinister read that I thoroughly enjoyed; the book will definitely appeal to those who enjoy a gothic-style read and would also be perfect for fans of Elle McNicoll and Phil Hickes.  The end of the book heavily suggests that a sequel will follow and, personally, I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.  

Released on the 6th April, The Dark And Dangerous Gifts of Delores MacKenzie is guaranteed to send a shiver up your spine just as the weather begins to warm up.

  

The Night Animals - Sarah Ann Juckes

 

Nora lives with her mum who is a paramedic but who is off work due to PTSD.  She has good days and bad days, and Nora never knows what sort of day it's going to be, but recently there seem to have been more bad days than good, with Nora coming home from school to find her mum in bed and a note on the door.  Recently Nora has started seeing ghost animals that appear to be guiding her is some way, she just doesn't quite know how.  Along with her new friend Kwame, can Nora discover exactly what the ghost animals are trying to tell her?

I'd heard great things about The Night Animals and, having loved The Hunt For The Nightingale (you can read my review here), it felt like the perfect book to start the new year, especially as it has just been announced as Waterstone's Children's Book of the Month for January.

From the start, I need to say that this is a beautifully written and heart-felt book full of love and hope in so many different guises and what started out as reading a couple of chapters whilst having a lie-in, ended up being a book I read in one sitting.  Nora clearly feels alone but doesn't want to ask for help; it can often be a difficult thing to do, especially as she feels she needs to be strong for her mum.  She is struggling at school as well as at home to keep her emotions in check and feels that isolating herself is better; 'fine' is a word she uses a lot through the book - at so many points during the story, I wanted to reach into the pages and hug Nora.  The ghost animals are her lifeline but she is the only one who can see them so she is reluctant to tell anybody about them.  That is until Kwame comes along, and it is he who I think is my favourite character: he is hiding from the school bully when we first meet him and seems determined to blend in instead of standing out, yet he is persistent in his quest to become Nora's friend.  He is kind and caring in so many ways and a real hero in my eyes.

The Night Animals is a powerful and thought-provoking journey of discovery that it brimming with empathy.  It's a book that reminds us that it's ok to ask for help and that mental health is never something to be ashamed of.  It's about family, friendship, hope and love ... lots and lots of love ... and I promise it will leave you wanting to hug the book once you have finished reading it. 

Released on the 5th January, The Night Animals was the perfect start to the new year.