Recent Reads

I am woefully behind with my reviews, having been unwell recently, so instead of bombarding everyone with multiple reviews, I thought I'd pop them all together in one blog post...  grab a cuppa and settle in for a bumper edition!

The Body In The Blitz - Robin Stevens

May, Eric and Nuala are back and this time they are in London, training to be spies at the Ministry.  They are staying close by in Hogarth Mews, a street that was partially bombed during one of the blitz raids.  However, when they discover a body in the basement of the bombed out house, there is something distinctly suspicious about it, especially when they find out that the body wasn't there when the house was searched just after the bombing.  With Daisy away on a mission, May, Eric and Nuala decide to investigate the death themselves but things are proving trickier than expected.  

It was great to be back with Nuala, May and Eric and to see the relationship develop between them.  They are three very different characters but they work well together.  Nuala is thrilled to have joined May at Deepdean and is loving lessons and the friendships she is forming; however, May is finding this frustrating as she wants Nuala all to herself.  We definitely get to see May's impulsive and hot headed side in this book and I can imagine there will be readers who find her annoying; me, I enjoyed the contrast.  Then there is Eric, who is the steadying influence; a thinker, he enjoys the coding lessons they have at the Ministry and is quick with languages.  Together they make a formidable team.

Robin has become synonymous with murder mysteries and is the Agatha Christie of the MG world.  In The Body In The Blitz, she combines murder mystery with the gritty life of 1940s Britain, and does so brilliantly.  Whilst the mystery will keep you guessing, the setting in 1941 London shines a spot-light on what everyday people experienced during WWII: the fear of being bombed is never far away, and the nightly raids and sirens bring home how exhausting and scary life was for Londoners of all ages.  

With familiar characters appearing alongside new, The Body In The Blitz (publishing 12th October) is another triumph of a book and one I know is being eagerly awaited by many (there is much talk in school about it already!).  

Stepfather Christmas - LD Lapinski

Christmas is coming and Harper and her brother Will are preparing for their usual Christmas when their mum announces that her new boyfriend, Nick, will be joining them for the festive period.  Things get off to a positive start and Nick seems nice; however, it isn't long before Harper starts wondering whether he is, in fact, Santa!  She tries to talk to Will about it but he just shrugs it off so it's up to Harper to find evidence to prove her theory.

I have a weakness for Christmas books so being privileged enough to read an early copy of Stepfather Christmas filled me with joy.  It took no time at all for me to curl up with a hot chocolate (it would have been rude not to!) and dive in.

Harper and her family are clearly close and their family of three works well (although, Will seems to be a rather typical teenager!).  Bringing Nick into the equation undoubtedly comes with some trepidation and is something I imagine many readers will be able to associate with.  

I loved Harper who is astute and incredibly observant, not only when it comes to Nick, but also with her brother.  She's also determined and not put off by others.  Not only does she continue her theories about Nick when Will dismisses her, but she also notices that Will is struggling with his best friend.  The big question is: is Harper right?  You'll just have to read the book to find out!

The book is the perfect mix of modern story-telling with a traditional Christmas feel.  With themes of family, love and trusting yourself, Stepfather Christmas is split into 25 chapters and is a delightful read that would be perfect as a nightly family book in the run-up to Christmas.  I genuinely wish my son was young enough for us to have enjoyed this together like that.  We always used to enjoy family reading time after dinner and I could imagine us curling up every night in December and sharing the next chapter - it's the perfect way to build to the big day.

Full of magic, hope and love, Stepfather Christmas will leave you with a warm glow in your heart and a desire for gingerbread biscuits and hot chocolate!  Publishing 12th October, this is a book that will make the perfect alternative to an advent calendar!

City Of Horses - Frances Moloney

Misty lives with her father and the pair are managing day-to-day life since the death of her mother but when her father loses his job, everything changes.  They are forced to move house to a different part of town (Redbridge council estate), an area Misty feels embarrassed about.  Determined not to let her friends know what is going on, Misty begins to hide everything from them, worried about how they will react.  Feeling alone in her new home, she discovers that horses run free on the common near her house.  Could they be a way for her to find her feet again?

The Mystery of the Missing Mum was a great read last year (you can read my review here), so I was excited when an early copy of Frances' latest book, City of Horses, arrived for me. 

It is clear from the beginning that Misty hasn't had things easy with the death of her mother still impacting her.  When her dad then loses his job, everything that was so precariously balanced seems to come tumbling down around her.  She doesn't want to let her friends know what is going on and so, when she has to move house as well, she finds herself weaving quite a complicated web of deception in order to keep up a pretence.  She's embarrassed by the situation as well as by where she now needs to live.  Her defences are up and this is apparent when some of the local children near her new home try to make friends.  It's only the horses that allow her to bring down her walls a bit.  She is somebody I think many children will be able to relate to: embarrassed and worried about her home life and keen to keep it quiet from everyone.  The fact that her father finds it difficult to get a new job means they need to rely on foodbanks for a while and this adds another layer to Misty's emotions.  I think this is a book that will show children that they are not alone and it's ok to share what worries them.

City of Horses is a book that brilliantly dives into the effects of job loss, moving home, the need to use foodbanks and friendships in a heart-warming story that will remind children that it's ok not to be ok, and that change isn't always a bad thing.  Publishing 28th September, I don't think this will be on my trolley for long at school.   

Sunshine Simpson Cooks Up A Storm - GM Linton

My Name Is Sunshine Simpson is an uplifting read (you can read my review here) so I was excited to know what was in store next for Sunshine, her family and her friends when Sunshine Simpson Cooks Up A Storm arrived for me.

Things have been different since the end of the first book (I don't want to give away any spoilers) but Sunshine is doing her best to get used to things.  Lately, however, she has noticed that there is something not right between her parents and she's getting worried, even more so when she discovers that her father is going to have to live away from home during the week for work.  At school, talk is turning to moving to secondary school which is also causing Sunshine to worry.  Add in the charity event the class are planning and things are piling up.  Can Sunshine find a way to cope everything that is happening without it all crashing around her?

Sunshine is such a wonderful character who is just doing her best to manage her way through Year 6.  She's doing her best to navigate some pretty big things and doesn't always get it right (which I like) but I think this is what makes her so relatable.  

The book covers some big issues in a way that readers will be able to understand and relate to.  Grief, worrying about parents, racism, heritage and the anxiety of moving to secondary school are all addressed in a book that will warm your heart and leave you craving hummingbird cake (thankfully, the recipe can be found at the back of the book!).  

Glassborn - Peter Bunzl

Following the death of their mother, the Belle family are moving with their father to their new home, Fairykeep Cottage, which was their mother's childhood home and where their aunty still lives.  It's not long after their arrival when Acton, the youngest sibling heads out and befriends Coriel, a robin.  That night, when the siblings are in bed, a series of events leads Acton to head to fairyland in a quest to defeat the Queen of the fairies who holds a curse over his family. Reluctant to admit that he is the Chosen One, he only has hours before the Winter Solstice when it will become too late to save anybody.  Can Acton fulfil his destiny and can his siblings locate and help him in time?

From the very beginning of the book, it is clear that Acton feels different from his siblings (Cora, Bram and Elle) and doubts himself.  He is a timid character and one who doesn't know his inner strength.   The friendship he develops with Coriel the robin is delightful to read and one that gives Acton strength.  Glassborn is the sequel to Magicborn but reads perfectly as a stand-alone book.  It has a wonderful classic feel to it and will be adored by those who enjoy the Narnia series (the q & A with Peter at the end is definitely worth a read and explains the that The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe helped to inspire Glassborn).  

With an evil fairy queen, a quest to save the day and just the right amount of magic, Glassborn is a book that is perfect for this time of year. Publishing on the 9th November, I highly recommend grabbing a mug of chocolate and curling up under a blanket to enjoy this book in the run-up to Christmas.