Spark - Alice Broadway

Spark - Alice Broadway

The much anticipated sequel to Alice's first novel, Spark follows Leora on her continuing journey to discover the truth about her family and the feud between the blanks and the marked.

Without giving anything away, in Ink we learn that everybody has their lives tattooed onto their skin; every action and moment (good and bad) is recorded for all to see and, when you die, your tattoos are removed and a skin book is created as a record of your life.  When Leora's dad dies and they discover that part of his book is missing, she is determined to find out what has happened.  

In Spark, Leora is questioning everything she has ever known about herself and her family.  As half-marked, half-blank, she wonders whether she will ever fit in anywhere and Mayor Longsight decides to use that to his advantage, persuading Leora to join Featherstone (the home of the blanks) and act as his spy in order to bring them down.  Leora is still desperate to uncover the real truth behind her family so agrees to go (partly because Mayor Longsight threatens the safety of those close to her unless she does as he says); however, will she be able to fulfil the mayor's request or will seeing the other side of life and the stories she heard growing-up change her mind? 

O's Opinion:
From the first time I read Ink, I loved the perseverance and courage in Leora. She helps other people that she doesn't know and she tries everything to find out the truth. I love the relationships she makes with the other characters such as Obel and how she finds the happiness of people that seem to be very sad or grumpy. And Spark was no different.

I loved that it was written from Leora's point of view as it made me see things the way she did: curiously. It made me wonder about things I hadn't wondered about before and it helped me realise what it felt like for her to be caught between two worlds and doubting everything she grew up with. This is what I loved most about the book.

K's Opinion:
Having read and loved Ink, I was very keen to get my hands on Spark (in fact it had only just arrived in Waterstones Newcastle when I went in for it so our copy didn't even make it to the shelves!).  O stole it first so I had to wait even longer but it was worth it.  As the story picks up pretty much from where we left Leora at the end of Ink, I found it easy to get into the plot.  The style of writing is beautiful and the interweaving of the folktales gives the whole book a real fairy-tale feel.  I liked the unpredictability of the book and couldn't make up my mind which way Leora was going to turn until the very last page (which, I have to say, made me audibly gasp!). 

Leora is a complex character but one I like.  I admired her strength but, at times, I wanted to shout at her and tell her what to do so I was pleased to hear Alice herself  (in conversation at Waterstones Newcastle earlier this week) describe Leora as under-confident, intuitive, loyal and brave! She is certainly determined and questions what she discovers as she begins to realise that things are never as simple as they may first appear, and I think that the next book will reveal even more about her (Yes, I am pleased to say that Alice confirmed that there will be a third book!).

This is a great book and one which I feel perfectly crosses the MG/YA categories.  It's perfect for those beginning to dip their toes into YA as well as those who already love YA (and indeed parents and grown-ups as well!).  

O and I had a great evening at Waterstones  on Wednesday and were thrilled to hear Alice's thoughts and inspirations for the series.  She came across as modest and rather humble about her books but we both think that she should be shouting about them from the roof-tops ... we are!  We can't wait for book 3!

Brightstorm - A Sky-Ship Adventure

Brightstorm - Vashti Hardy.

‘Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will. You can be comfortable or courageous - never both.’

Twins Arthur and Maudie  Brightstorm are devastated to hear that their father has perished during his exploration to the Third Continent in a bid to be the first to reach South Polaris.  They are even more distraught to hear testimony at the Geographical Scoiety by Eudora Vane, a rival explorer, that he and his crew stole Vane's fuel and that his air ship was then found empty with traces of blood near by. News such as this means that the twins' father broke the Explorers' Code laid out by the Lontown Geographical Society which means that no insurance is paid to the now orphaned children who are subsequently sold to Mr and Mrs Beggins. Thus begins their new life in the slumps: Maudie (good with engineering) is sent to work at the docks, whilst Arthur (with one metal arm) is set to work in the house.

The twins, however, are a determined and courageous pair and are far from convinced by the story of their father's demise (even more so when Parthenon, their father's sapient bird, reappears), so when they see an advert in the paper for crew for a journey to South Polaris, posted by explorer Harriet Culpepper, they jump at the chance to join and to fulfil their dream of clearing their father's name.  And so begins their adventures.

Will they make it to be the first crew to reach South Polaris? Will they discover the truth about what happened to their father and why is Eudora Vane so keen to scupper their chances?

O's Opinion:
There was an abundance of adventure with Arthur and Maudie as wherever they went they always seemed to encounter action and mystery. I found a lot of suspense within the book in times of peril and times of mystery. I loved all of the characters but my favourite was Harriet as she helped any member of her crew no matter what. 

This book made me cry and laugh at all the right times, and I loved reading it. This is an amazing first book and I hope there will be a second!

K's Opinion:
Any book that contains the line "How exciting - books are the greatest gift." gets my vote any day!  And this book certainly gets my vote!  

I have to admit thinking that this may be a slightly predictable plot (enjoyable but possibly predictable); however, I was to be proved wrong as there were several unexpected twists along the way which kept me gripped, as did the strength of the characters.  I always enjoy getting to know independent female characters and you certainly get that in the form of Maudie and Harriet (as well as Eudora, I have to say), and I love the fact that they are both keen engineers; however, it was Arthur who really drew me in: determined, headstrong and lead by the desire to discover the truth, it's clear that he isn't held back by his arm. I liked the fact that there is also a vulnerable side to him and we see his uncertainty in himself and a jealousy of his sister's sense of direction (although he is also proud of this) - it was these complexities that made him my favourite character.

This was a very well written book and I can't wait to get back into school to start recommending it to the children.  In school, the sign of a good book is one that never makes it was far as the library as it is simply passed from child to child - I think that this will be one of those books!

We would recommend this book to fans of Cogheart, Sky Chasers, Tin and The Peculiars.

Beyond The Odyssey

Beyond The Odyssey - Maz Evans

The highly anticipated third book about Elliot Hooper and his life with the Greek gods sees our hero trying desperately to keep his family together.  

With his mother's health deteriorating and the school welfare team growing suspicious, it is up to Elliot to put things right.  Of course, he isn't on his own and his trusty family of immortals is always at his side.  He also has his father, David, who has reappeared having been in prison for ten years.  Josie-Mum; however, doesn't seem seem to trust Dave but Elliot puts this down to her worsening condition.

It quickly becomes evident to Elliot that the only way he can save the day is to go in search of a potion that will help his mum.  Of course, this entails a quest to find the third chaos stone and a trek through some pretty dangerous territory, and let's not forget that there are now Titans on the loose! Elliot is forced to confront some tricky situations; however, with the Gods by his side, he valiantly fights on.

Will he find the potion?  Will he be able to save his family and will Hermes ever wake up?

O's opinion:

I liked the way that Maz has put comedy and seriousness side by side in a way that creates the right balance and has the reader laughing and crying. I liked the determination in Elliot in the way that he's fighting Thanatos and trying to save his mum at the same time: he shouldn't even be doing one of those things at his age! This was an amazing third novel in the series and the books have been amazing to read. I can't wait for the last one!

K's opinion:

I think I experienced every emotion going whilst I read this book: I laughed (a lot), I cried, I was nervous, I was excited ... and it is rare that a book allows me to experience all those emotions in one sitting!  

We got hold of the book on Tuesday and O started reading it before

we even got home (I found him sat on the floor in John Lewis with his head buried in the book at one point!) and he finished it in a day.  There were several comments uttered (as well as a tear or two) so I was very keen to get started once I got hold of it!  Needless to say, I wasn't disappointed.  The way Maz manages to combine the Greek mythology with a modern plot and humour is a marvel to me ... and she does it so well (little things like Vetflix, Dragons Dungeon and Don'tcAIR making the difference - and O says I MUST mention Mypu here!!!) as well as the fast-paced plot, combine to make compelling stories in unputdownable books.

I have to make mention of the idea of the afterlife in this book - it's so beautifully put in my opinion.  Also, huge applause is needed for Tiresias' character ('Just because a lot of people do something, doesn't make it right,' - I'll be using Tiresias in the classroom next term).

I'm in danger of waffling now, so I'll simply say that we loved this book and we'll be recommending it next term in school.  

A triumph Maz - here's to book 4!

The Silver Hand - Terry Deary

The Silver Hand - Terry Deary

We were hugely honoured to have been handed a proof copy of Terry Deary's latest book, The Silver Hand, which is due to have its book birthday on the 10th May so we wasted no time in getting stuck in ...

Set during the final days of WWI in and around The Somme and, in particular, the town of Bray-sur-Somme, the novel is centred around a girl called Aimee and her life growing up during the war.  Aimee is a confident and determined girl whose love of languages (particularly Latin and English) is evident from the start of the book. Whilst her English father is away fighting for France, she and her mum, Collette, must run the family farm.  Aimee quickly learns that Collette has also been acting as a White Lady (the code name for the underground intelligence network that operated in France and Belgium during WWI).

The arrival of the British army in Bray, means that school closes for Aimee; however, her encounters with the soldiers lead her to hear things she really shouldn't have and she meets Sergeant Grimm whose silver hand was given to him after he heroically lost his saving a solider.

As the English tactically leave the town and the Germans arrive, the farm is soon used as a hospital for wounded German soldiers and Aimee meets Marius, a gentle young German boy who joined the war to heal people but ended up as a soldier.  His knowledge of herbs (in particular Willow bark) means that Marius is able to help many of the soldiers who have fallen prey to the flu epidemic.

Despite her initial hatred of Marius, the pair soon become friends and are forced on a journey that will see them risk life and limb for each other.  

Will they make it to Clery?  Why is Sergeant Grimm so keen to catch-up with them and who is the mysterious person who is following them?

O's opinion:
I liked the way that Aimee becomes friends with 'the enemy' and how the friendship grows between them as well as how the English and French help him out in many ways. I also liked the fact that the story was told from different points of view and from different sides of the story. This book has made me feel differently towards the Germans that were in that war and it has made me see how they would feel about the war as well as our view as well. I would recommend this book to anybody who liked Letters From The Lighthouse or books about WW1. This is an amazing book.

K's opinion:

I am rather embarrassed to admit that I hadn't read any of Deary's fictional novels so I wasn't certain what to expect; however, I quickly found it difficult to put the book down.  The plot shows a different side of WWI, through the eyes of Aimee and Marius, two very different characters.  Aimee is a brave, bold young lady who contrasts against Marius' more gentle personality.  From rocky beginnings, the pair show that the two opposing sides can come together to become allies and shows us that you shouldn't judge people by their nationality.

I was impressed with the historical detail within the novel (I researched Bray after I finished the book and quickly discovered how accurate Deary had been).  As I read, I had a real feeling of walking with Aimee and Marius through the streets and towns, and I particularly liked the description entwined within the narrative.  I lived in France many years ago but have never visited the area of The Somme - I'd like to now.

This is a gripping story.  The action creeps up on you at first as the story is established and I like the development of the characters at the start; however, it's safe to say that once the plot takes hold, it doesn't release you until the very end and I was frustrated every time I had to put the book down.  This is the sort of book that stays with you long after you've read the last page and I found myself thinking of Aimee and Marius for days afterwards!

This is a truly great novel and the best historical novel I've read in a long time.  As a teacher, my reading always sparks a lot of interest from the pupils and there was much intrigue over this book, especially when I mentioned that it isn't in the shops yet! There will be a queue come May!

Bank Holiday Reading

The Eye of the North - Sinéad O'Hart

The book begins in Widget Manor, the rather dangerous home (full of strange and unusual creatures) that Emmeline shares with her often absent parents.  Convinced that her parents are trying to kill her, she has spent her childhood preparing herself for every danger imaginable and never goes anywhere without her trusty satchel which is filled with equipment. It is here that Emmeline receives the news that her parents have mysteriously disappeared and are probably dead. 

And so begins the adventure: Emmeline is whisked away by boat to stay with people in Paris who have vowed to protect her; however, inevitably, she never arrives.  Instead, during the sailing, she befriends Thing, the boy with no name, who helps her when unwanted visitors raid her cabin.  She then meets Edgar and Sasha who know her parents and determine to help her to safety.  But things don't go according to plan and Emmeline is kidnapped by Doctor Bauer who is on his own journey to the ice fields of Greenland where he plans to summon, from the depths of the ice, the mystical kraken which is said to be so powerful that whoever controls it, will control the world.  He's not alone in this quest, as we soon discover that The North Witch also has designs on releasing the kraken, craving the immortality that this will bring.  

Will Emmeline and Thing remain safe?  Will they be able to halt Doctor Bauer and The North Witch?  Will they ever discover what happened to Emmeline's parents or will the kraken be awakened, changing the world as we know it?

O's opinion:

I liked the fact that Emmeline was brave enough to go on a ship on her own and do all of the things she does at the age that she is. I would never be able to accomplish what she has in this book. Thing was my favourite character because he is very adventurous and he helps Emmeline through a lot of tricky situations in the story as it goes on. He journeys to try to save her from the Dr and he meets a lot of brave people along the way. Thing is very inspirational for me as he can do all sorts of brave acts and he still has problems of his own that he has to sort out. That makes him a hero to me. I like the fact that the narrative kept switching from Emmeline to Thing in chapters and that created a lot of suspense for me in a lot of different places.

K's opinion:

'For as long as she could remember, Emmeline Widget had been sure her parents were trying to kill her.'

One of the best opening lines I've read!  Such a gripping start and the action never abates.  Emmeline is a strong, independent girl (she has to be as her parents have been absent for large parts of her young life) and I love the strength of her personality and the determination she possesses in everything she does in the book.  This really is an action-packed book with many a twist and turn along the way - be warned though, if, like me, you tend to read to the end of the chapter and then vow to stop/go to bed/go to work or school, you may find this difficult, as the end of a chapter invariably leaves you desperate to know what will happen next!

I enjoyed this book so much, I used chapter one with my class and devised comprehension questions for them to answer!  They loved it and are now queuing up to find out what happens to Emmeline!

After reading the book, I was surprised to discover that this is Sinéad O'Hart's first novel. If this is what she produces as a first book, I can't wait to see what comes next.  O is adamant there should be a sequel...

More of Emmeline and Thing's adventures ... it's a yes please from us!

Robins and Crows

Robins and Crows.

O and I are always thrilled to meet authors and are rather proud of the growing collection of signed books that adorn our shelves at home. And this week was no exception, in fact, I’d go as far as to say it was a highlight as Robin Stevens joined us in school on Friday afternoon.  There had been much excitement in the build up to the afternoon and it's fair to say that the children were giddy at the prospect of meeting their favourite murder-mystery writer. As  we entered the dinner hall for lunch, there was actual shrieking and what can only be described as pop-star style fan moments.  Robin took this in her stride and spent time before her talk with the students, enthralled everybody in school with her presentation and then her stamina knew no bounds during a mammoth 1 and 1/2 hour signing session which saw 2/3 of the school bring books (on many occasions piles of them) to her table.  It was a truly memorable afternoon and a wonderful way to end the week.  Late room was littered with children reading Robin Stevens books and next week will no doubt see classes filled with her exciting novels. 

Our first blog was dedicated to A Spoonful of Murder; however, we couldn't not mentioned the Murder Most Unladylike series in this post ... we both agree that they are exciting books with action-packed plots and are never the easiest 'who dun its' to guess (which we like!). Most of all, though, we love Daisy and Hazel for their daring, their friendship and their differences. We can't wait to see what happens next!

From robins to crows ...

Our book for this week is Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan 
Crow by Jessica Townsend.

Morrigan Crow is a girl who believes she's cursed (as does everybody else in Jackalfax who blame her for everything) and she also knows exactly when she is going to die: on her eleventh birthday.  Jupiter North, however, has different ideas and, as the clock strikes midnight, he arrives to whisk her away to Nevermoor - a secret city where magic abounds.  Through Jupiter, she is invited to take part in trials to join the Wundrous Society. There are four trials in total, all of which seem impossible to Morrigan who needs to use an exceptional talent to pass them - something she doesn't believe she has. How many trials will she manage?  Will she discover her talent? Who is the Wundersmith?

K's opinion: 
Without a doubt, this a feel good book with magic and strange events around every corner.  Even as an adult, I was desperate to delve into Nevermoor: to visit the Hotel Deucalion and stay in one of its rooms to discover how it would change for me and to travel by umbrella!  

Morrigan is a great character and I particularly like the contrast between her (her black clothes, her pessimism and her self-doubt) and Jupiter (his colourful outfits and his optimism).  This is a book that allows you to escape into a world that is partly reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz and also has a feel of Harry Potter about it.  

O's opinion: I loved the language used to describe the surroundings and the characters. Watching them delve into adventure filled me with anticipation for what would go wrong. It always turned out that I was wrong and they got into trouble and sorted it out. I loved how Morrigan usually had a lot of time to herself as Jupiter had other stuff to do. It ended up with her being told off and getting into a mess. This is why I loved the book.

It's a wonderful book that will be enjoyed by many so "Step boldly" into the Nevermoor and get lost in its pages.

Mum's the word.

Mum's the word!

What a week it's been for females!  With International Women's

Day on Thursday and Mothers' Day today (in the UK at least), it seemed only fitting that this week’s blog has a female focus to it.

As a girl, I loved to read (no surprise really!) and I can think of several books with strong female characters that helped me when I was growing up, however, What Katy Did (Susan M. Coolidge) and Little Women (Louisa May Alcott) were by far my favourites, were frequently reread and are books I regularly recommend to my class today.  In fact, the latter was the first book that made me cry (but not the last I hasten to add!).

O and I had originally decided that this week we should review different books with the theme of the strong, female character and I was mulling over what to choose (for we really are spoilt for choice these days) when O brought me in my Mothers' Day present ... it turns out he had dragged his father to Waterstone's in Newcastle yesterday and bought me books (he knows me so very well), one of which was Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girsl 2!  My search was over ... and, it turns out, so was his as he has decided to add his comments on his choice of book for me!

K's review of Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls 2.

Like the first one, this is a beautifully presented book which is dedicated to telling the world all about the wonderful girls and women who have gone about doing life-changing things in their lives.  Everybody has a double page spread, with one side containing an illustration whilst the other page tells the tale, each one told simply and clearly and it is this that I like the most. There's no need for elaborate retellings for what each of these women/girls has done is amazing in its own right. The power comes from their actions and that comes across in every page of this collection.  

I know that the first book was popular in schools across the country and that this one will be equally as popular - my copy will take pride of place on my desk first thing tomorrow morning - however, like the last one, I’ll be encouraging the boys to read this as well (O and I have already curled up together with it this morning) for there are lessons for everybody to learn from these stories:

It doesn't matter who you are, where you're from or what sex you are ... what does matter is that you believe in yourself and your dreams.

O's Opinion on Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls 2.

I chose this book because I think my mum is a strong woman who dares to be different. I know she bought Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls for my cousin for her birthday, having previously read and loved the copy she'd bought for school. I thought she would enjoy this one as a gift for Mother's Day. 

The illustrations go very well with the descriptions of the lives of these women and I loved the fact that women from all kinds of time periods are in this book.  I haven't read all of the stories yet, however, my favourite so far is Billie Jean King because she was told she couldn't play tennis by Bobby Riggs as he said, "A woman's place is in the kitchen, not on the tennis court." She played a match against him (known as the Battle of the Sexes) and beat him in straight sets! I find this very inspirational because she didn't give up trying to do the thing she loved and proved that she was just as good as a man.

We're now heading back to curl up and finish the book but not before mentioning that Stories for Boys Who Dare To Be Different is due to be released next month and we'll be the first in the queue to buy it!