The Boy at the Back of the Class - Onjali Q. Rauf

The Boy at the Back of the Class - Onjali Q. Rauf

"Mum says that the best books leave you with more questions than answers, and that's the fun part - you have to try to find the answers for yourself somewhere else."

Written in the first person, the book tells the story of 9 year old Ahmet, a refugee who arrives in a classroom unable to speak any English.  Told from the point of view of one of his new class-mates, the story tells the incredible journey of what it's like to join a class where everything and everyone is alien to you and the lengths children will go to when they are determined to become friends.

O's opinion:

From the start I loved how the main character wanted to help Ahmet and make friends with him so started giving him sweets. The fact that Ahmet wasn't talking to anybody for the first few days but started to speak to the children who met him at the end of school made me happy for him. I liked how he started coming out to break and was amazing at football, as this gave him something to connect to his classmates with without the need to talk.

This book is amazing and is one of my favourite reads ever. I loved the friendship that binds the four children together to help Ahmet and makes them want to be friends with him. This book should be on everybody's wish list. A truly stunning read about friendship. AMAZING!

K's opinion:

Everything about this book is beautiful!  

I'd seen lots of Tweets about the book and heard many positive reviews so I was keen to read it; however, I'm not certain how ready I was to be blown away by it!

I think the fact that it's written in the first person gives it a very personal quality and allows emotions to seep through the pages.  

The main character certainly has their own struggles: Dad is dead and Mum works all hours in order to provide for the two of them - I love the idea of their 'adventures' and now see pomegranates wherever I go!  This is a Mum who truly values her time with her child. I think this is why the main character is the driving force behind wanting to become Ahmet's friend and also the one who comes up the with plan to help find his family before 'the gates close'.

Despite the very serious nature of the theme of the book, there is a lightheartedness to it in places, perhaps because it's written from the point of view of a 9 year old, and this allows what is, at times, a very sensitive subject, to become identifiable and accessible to children.

The innocence of the main characters in the book I think is one of the best things about it: they're not swayed by prejudices or preconceived ideas; they simply want to become Ahmet's friend and to help him find his family.  There is most certainly a lesson for all of us to learn from this book.

This is a book about friendship; difference; acceptance; small gestures that can have a big impact; standing up for what you feel is right; perseverance; family (in whatever shape it comes in) - this book packs a big punch in all the best ways.

Favourite quotes from the book : 
"I love being tucked up in bed ... It's the best feeling in the world to be wrapped up all warm and fuzzy in a blanket by someone you love more than anything else on the planet, and who loves you right back."

(because I love this time of day as a Mum)

"Mum says that the best books leave you with more questions than answers, and that's the fun part - you have to try to find the answers for yourself somewhere else."

This is, in all the best possible ways, a book that will leave you with questions, meaning it's a book that will stay with you long after you've read it.  It's a triumph of a novel.

The Clockwork Crow - Catherine Fisher

The Clockwork Crow - Catherine Fisher.

Seren Rhys has spent many years in an orphanage; an ancient aunt took her in but soon died and at the funeral her godfather, whom she's never met, agrees to take charge of her.  Whilst waiting for the train that will take her to their grand home in Wales, a stranger approaches her, terrified, and insists she looks after a mysterious package for him.  

Seren arrives in Plas-y-Fran to find the house deserted, except for Mrs Villiers & Denzil.  Something is wrong but nobody will tell her what.  Together with the contents of the mysterious package, she is determined to get to the bottom of things and see if she can put them right.

K's opinion:

This is a book that draws you in from the very beginning with the arrival of the mysterious package and keeps you guessing.  There is a good deal of mystery and suspense, a sprinkling of magic and some lovely description that will keep Year 5 & 6 children engaged, whilst still managing to be a gentle enough read for Year 3 & 4.

This is a feel-good book; one to read whilst curled up with a mug of hot chocolate whilst it's snowing outside.

O's opinion:

All through the book there was mystery and adventure: wondering about "Them"; the newspaper package and Tomos. The suspense kept me reading until the last page as I was worrying about Seren.

Seren is adventurous and curious, and that is what I like about her. She has everything held back from her so she has to go on adventures to get the answers to her questions.

This is a brilliant read and I would give this book to all of my friends.

Bloomsbury Round-up

Last week Bloomsbury were kind enough to send us a whole host of books so here is our round-up of those...

I Bet I Can Make You Laugh - 

Poems by Joshua Seigal and friends.

 One thing I'm conscious of is that we don't read enough poetry in the house so it was wonderful to receive this book and it came in very handy over the bank holiday weekend!  I was cooking for 9 people on the Friday afternoon and, with the kitchen looking like a bomb had hit it, my nerves were somewhat frazzled!  O appeared in the room, sat down with this book and began reading the poems aloud to me! What a great stress reliever it was!  We laughed and chuckled as I carried on cooking and we both had a great time with the book (dinner was eventually great, too!).

This is definitely heading into the classroom and O has already bookmarked all of the poems he thinks the class will want to hear.  A great book for home or the classroom (and great for reducing stress whilst cooking!)

Voices of the Future

This is a lovely collection of 8 inspiring stories with bright illustrations, each one highlighting how children can play a positive role in their future and the environment.  Covering real-world problems and ways to tackle them, the focus in the stories is teamwork in various different guises (friends, school groups, the local community, governments ...).

At the back of the book is a clear explanation about the UN rights of every child and also the Sustainable Development Goals set by the UN Development Programme.  Each story is linked to these goals using the recognisable symbols.

We loved the positive messages being sent out in each of these stories and the fact that the book is empowering children.  This is a book that I think will be loved by children of all ages (reading these aloud to younger children will help them to understand the messages from an early age).

In school, this book has much potential through PSHE, geography, to spark ideas in creative writing, in assemblies ... or simply for the children to read and enjoy!

This will become a firm fixture in my classroom.

The Last King of England The Story of Athelstand - Stuart Hill

This is the story of Prince Athelstan and how he became the first king of England, told through the eyes of his body-servant (and friend) Edwin, who began his life as a shoemaker's son.

Based on actual events, this book would make a good accompaniment to classwork on the Anglo-Saxons.  At 179 pages long, it's a manageable length and would help to bring that period in history to life for children. 

We enjoyed the story and particularly liked the friendship that forms between Athelstan and Edwin.   

Secrets of a Sun King - Emma Carroll

Secrets of a Sun King - Emma Carroll

Having loved Letters From The Lighthouse (Emma came into our school last year and had the children enthralled), we were keen to get my hands on her new book.

Set in London in 1922, the book follows Lilian Kaye who is desperate to save her grandfather's life as he lies gravely ill in hospital.  After finding a parcel at his flat, she fears he is the victim of King Tutankhamun's curse and takes on the responsibility of returning the canopic jar to its rightful place in Egypt.  Incorporating Lysandra's story, Lilain, together with her friends, Tulip and Oz, learn the truth about what happened to Tutankhamun during his final days, as they journey to Egypt in an action-packed race against time.

K's Opinion:

What a wonderful read this was!  This is a story of friendship, trust, family and curses - it has it all!  Full of excitement and adventure, I very much liked the characters in the book.  Tulip's sense of determination and independence is striking (especially given the period in history) and gives a strong message to readers; as does the fact that Lilian's father touches upon women's rights ("I don't want you to be held back because you came from a working-class family or because you're a girl.").  I also like to portrayal of Howard Carter as somebody who is not to be trusted - a more realistic portrayal?  I think perhaps it is.

This book is a celebration of difference and being yourself ... and being proud of that.  It shows us that friendships can be formed quickly and that your closest friends can often be people you haven't known for very long.  It's a story of bravery and following what you believe is right.  In short, Emma Carroll has done it again!  This will be a guaranteed hit in the classroom come September!  

O's opinion:

The reason I loved this book is because it has mystery and adventure everywhere the characters went: the streets of London; the ferries and trains and the amazing barge in Egypt. Incorporating

Lysandra's story into the plot was amazing because it helped me understand more about Tuttenkhamun when I don't know that much about him; it made me realise he was actually a real person, a young boy, and not just a ruler. I found this book a delight to read.

I loved Oz because he was very smart and, as his sister called him, a "walking encyclopaedia". He wasn't like everyone else, but he is liked by his sister and Lil. I also liked Tulip because she took charge when she needed to and she also let others tell her what to do. If I could be one person in the book I would be Lil's granddad because he travelled the world with his digging friends and discovered lots of interesting artefacts.

This book made me want to visit Egypt and discover everything that lurks there. Emma Carroll has written another fabulous book to add to her collection. Well done.

Peril in Paris - Katherine Woodfine

Peril in Paris - Katherine Woodfine

'I do believe I have a taste for adventure.'

This was a much anticipated book in our house and when the copy came through the letter box (thank-you Egmont!), there was a mad frenzy to see who would get to it first.  

Sophie and Lil are back with a bang (yeah!) and whilst the detective agency is still thriving within Sinclair's department store, the girls have taken on more daring challenges in this book as the they are working for the Secret Service Bureau as spies!  

There are two main plots interwoven within the book: the mysterious death of Professor James Blaxland, a member of the Bureau, who was working at the Sorbonne in Paris; and the story of Prince Alex and Princess Anna of Arnovia whose parents were killed when they were very young and who now live with the King's cousin The Count of Wilderstein and his wife.  At the beginning of the book, the children have just met their new governess, Miss Carter.

We follow both plots to Paris where danger and peril are lurking at every turn and it's up to Sophie and Lil to save the day.

O's opinion:
The best stories are the ones that can't be put down, for fear of what the characters are braving to save a cause they love, and this story does just that. Throughout the whole book, I was enticed into reading on to the next chapter until my Mum called me down to do something, and then I would return to the book instantly. The dual plot line helped with this as, just as one group ran into trouble, I was transported to the other instead of finding out what happened to them.

My favourite character is Anna, because she has a younger brother who is destined to rule Arnovia when their Grandfather dies and gets to go to an English boarding school when he doesn't want to, while she has to stay in Wilderstein castle with the Count, Countess and their mysterious new governess. All she wants is to go to an English boarding school, but she can't. I like her because she wants something we have but she can't have it. This makes me think of the Suffragettes, who only wanted simple things, but had to fight long and hard to get them. She also thinks that there is something strange about Miss Carter.

After all of that mystery and action, the worst thing to do is to end the story on a cliffhanger! Even though the cliffhanger left me gasping as to what was going to happen to Sophie and Lil, this was the best novel Katherine Woodfine has written. AMAZING! Thank you so much.

K's opinion:
Sometimes I think I should put my foot down and write my opinion first so O doesn't grab all the best bits to say!  He's right, I think this is Kathernie Woodfine at her best!  Peril in Paris is a fast-paced, thrilling adventure, full of mystery and intrigue which leads you through the story (actually, leading you through the story suggests I read it at a leisurely pace and that certainly didn't happen for either of us, as O eluded to above!) .  You are lured in with the temptation of the two plots and then kept hanging as one chapter ends and an other begins - O is right (again!), it's part of what makes this book so difficult to put down.

We already know that Sophie and Lil are brave and intelligent having read the Sinclair series (although I love the fact that you don't have to have read those to be able to pick up this book, follow the plot and fall in love with the girls) and it's lovely to see them growing with their books.  Whilst I'm aware that their strength and independence wasn't the norm at the time, I am always thrilled to see girls portrayed in this way - they make good role-models for our children today.  Anna too is a strong character and one who clearly is at odds with her role as a princess in 1911.  Her love for her brother is evident, yet her desire to be treated as an equal drives her towards her own character and a desire for adventure - again a good role-model for our children today.  

This is definitely a must-read book and will be snapped up in the classroom come September - now, when can we expect the next instalment?!

Things A Bright Girl Can Do - Sally Nicholls

Things A Bright Girl Can Do - Sally Nicholls.

Set between February 1914 and February 1918, this story follows the lives of three young girls during the suffragette movement and also through World War I.

Evelyn is following a traditional life but wants more, including a university education; however, she also has Teddy whom she knows she should marry.  In her quest to find what she wants, she begins to attend suffragette rallies.

May attends an all girls' school but, as she grows older, she is discovering her own sexuality, finding her own way through her teenage years and her emotions.  As part of a Quaker family, her strong beliefs on life and war are at the forefront of her mind as she begins to campaign for women's rights.

Nell is from a big family who are squashed into two rooms of an upstairs house.  The family barely make ends meet and Nell wants to work to earn money to help her family but is thwarted by the conventions of the time.  She also knows she's different: she doesn't feel right in dresses, preferring to wear her brother's clothes and she feels alone in her feelings.

The book follows the lives of all three girls; their fight for freedom as well as the right to vote and have equality.  We see the sacrifices they make and the lengths they will go to to follow their dreams.

K's opinion:
This is an utterly brilliant book that expertly tackles topical and emotional issues.  I found myself shouting at the book as I read the way women were being treated and spoken to, yet also felt pride at the characters and their determination to stand by their beliefs - if it wasn't for people like these girls, women wouldn't have the vote.  It was for that reason that I passed the book straight on to O to read so he could begin to understand why I am so passionate about voting and equal rights - you'll see his opinion below!

I also liked the story line between May and Nell - they are clearly in love and it was gently and expertly tackled, showing the characters that this isn't something wrong or something they will grow out of.

This is a book based on real suffrage scenes and should be read by all YA (regardless of their gender).  I'm sure the 'real' suffragettes would approve and applaud this book.  It makes me proud and grateful for my right to vote.

O's opinion:
The suffragettes went through a lot to get the vote, and this book shows only part of the struggle. I am shocked at the things those women would do for their rights and by the fact that women could go to university but not get at degree at the end of it, even if they worked harder than all of the men.This is what made the book so gripping that I couldn't put it down.

I liked the strength of each of the main characters, especially Evelyn, who was trying to go to university and, after her parents said she wouldn't go, she started to attend suffragette movements. She wouldn't let her parents control her future.

I can't believe that it has only been 100 years since women first got the vote, but this book shows the suffering they went through to get it. Many people would call this a book for girls, but I would recommend it to anybody, boys included. This is one of the best books I have ever read. Thank you for showing me why women deserve the vote, Sally Nicholls.

The Stormkeeper's Island - Catherine Doyle

The Stormkeeper's Island - Catherine Doyle.

"Fionn could almost hear the whispering in his ears: a voice he had never heard before, a voice thrumming deep in his blood and in his bones.  A voice he was trying very hard to ignore.
                'Come here,' it was saying. 'Come home.'


Fionn is scared of the sea, always has been but doesn't know why, yet here he is on a ferry with his sister, Tara, heading for the first time to the island of Arranmore for the summer to stay with their grandfather whilst their mother is unwell. Fionn wasn't told about this island by his mother or his sister so he is wondering about the island and why he is forced to live there.  Their grandfather is the island's storm keeper (whose job is to protect the island from the evil sorceress Morrigan) and lives an eccentric life in a dingy cottage full of candles.  However, he is getting old and his memory is fading so a new storm keeper needs to be chosen and it's the island that does this.  By burning candles created by previous storm keepers, Fionn and his grandfather are able to be transported back to different layers of the past in order to understand the history of the island and the need for a storm keeper ... who will be chosen?

O's opinion:
From the start, I was enticed by how Fionn didn't know about the island until his mother put him on a ship heading to it. My favourite part of the story is the candles; I thought they were the most amazing things once I knew more about them.
This book is written like Fionn was reading it because he didn't know what was happening or why he was here until his Grandfather reveals it to him. This is why I found it one of the best books I have ever read.

K's opinion:
This is a wonderful book, full of magic with just the right amount of darkness woven into it.  It's about family and discovering the past as well as tackling the future.  Doyle manages to sensitively tackle Fionn and Tara's grandfather's Alzheimer's as well as their mother's difficulty in coming to terms with the death of his father and the skilful use of candles to link the different parts of the story together (as well as to manage Grandfather's Alzheimer's) was brilliant.

This is a truly wonderful book and one that everyone should read.  Come September, I guarantee that this will be a major hit in my classroom.

"That is your greatest responsibility.  To live a life of breathless wonder, so that when it begins to fade from you, you will feel the shadow of its happiness still inside you and will feel the shadow of its happiness still inside you and the blissful sense that you laughed the loudest, loved the deepest, and lived fearlessly, even as the specifics of it all melt away."