The Case of the Lighthouse Intruder - Kereen Getten

 

Twelve-year-old Fayson lives in Jamaica with her mum in a small apartment close to the hospital where her mum works.  It's a far cry from the life her Uncle Edmond and her twin cousins, Aaron and Omar, live (large houses, maids and lots of rich friends around them), so Fayson is upset when her mum tells her that she will be spending October half-term with them in their home on an island off Portmore, Jamaica.  Depsite her best efforts, Fayson cannot persuade her mum (who has to work over half-term) to change her mind so an incredibly reluctant Fayson has no choice but to go.  And life is very different but the twins she remembers, who were always unkind to her, seem to have changed and now want her to become part of their gang, a gang who have a mystery to solve.  Fayson knows she is the best when it comes to solving mysteries but can she solve this one in time and prove herself to the rest of the group?

Fayson is clearly out of her comfort zone through most of this book: she's not used to the life her uncle, aunt and cousins lead and doesn't quite know how to act when she first arrives at their house.  She would much rather be back home with her mum in their apartment and resents her uncle correcting the way she speaks.  She doesn't trust her cousins who have previously been unkind to her and is wary of the change in them this time.  However, there is a fierceness and a real sense of self within Fayson that shines out of the pages; she maybe uncertain of many things but she knows that the detective books she has spent time reading are going to help her now.  There were several times I felt her discomfort but her relationship with Tia made me cheer on more than one occasion.  As the book progresses, you begin to get more of an understanding of her family and the motivation behand their actions.  

The Case of The Lighthouse Intruder is very different to Kereen's previous two books (both of which I loved) and the mystery and adventure in this book make for compelling reading.  The first in a new series of DI Island Crew Investiages, I can't wait to find out what the next mystery will be and to get to know Fayson and the others better.  

Published on the 1st June, this is a book that is guaranteed to captivate and enthral readers and will make a perfect summer read... and I only have to wait until October for book 2 (The Case of the Haunted Wardrobe).

My Name Is Sunshine Simpson - G. M. Linton

 

'Hold your head up, sweet Sunshine, let no one steal your joy.  You're a bright light in this universe, our very own Sunshine.'

Sunshine Simpson lives with her parents, her twin siblings and her grandad.  At school, she has been helping new girl, Evie, to settle in, however, the more she gets to know Evie, the more she feels that she is being unkind to her.  Evie seems to be better at everything and Sunshine's confidence is wavering.  Then, when their teacher announces that every class in school will be doing an assembly to celebrate the Golden Jubilee and the theme for their class is 'And this is why x is important to me', Sunshine really begins to worry as she feels she needs to outdo Evie.  She turns to her grandad for help: he's the life and soul of everything and known to all; he's the ox-man who loves life and lives it to the full, but even he isn't his usual self, and Sunshine doesn't know what's happening or why there seems to be lots of 'big people business' going on without her.  The closer they get to the assembly, the more Sunshine seems to be suffering from 'lost-voice-itis', but can she recover it in time? 

Sunshine is a wonderful character who is most definitely not perfect.  She is doing her best to be a good friend, a good daughter and grand-daughter and to find her way in the world, but things just don't seem to be making sense to her at the minute and her confidence is being well and truly knocked.  I can imagine that there will be so many children who will be able to relate to Sunshine and I love that she doesn't quite get things right and that she feels a little lost.  Friendships can often be tricky and this book highlights that in the best way: you just never know what's going on at home, and Sunshine's trying to cope with the changes she sees in her grandad as well as everything that is going on at school.  At so many points in the book, I wanted to reach into the pages I give her a hug ... especially after she'd picked up the scissors!

With themes of friendship, family, heritage and grief all woven beautifully into the story, My Name Is Sunshine Simpson, is a book that will make you shed a tear or two but will leave you with a warm glow in your heart.  It reminds readers that it's ok not to have all the answers, that friendship can be tricky at times but it's worth working for; it shows us that we all make mistakes and it shows us that being ourselves and being proud of that is something we should all be striving for. 

Released on the 11th May, My Name Is Sunshine Simpson is an uplifting story and I know that my copy will be in big demand as soon as I take it into school.

CBA Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the Children’s Book Award Blog Tour! 

I am delighted to share a blog from Lucy Brandt all about their shortlisted title Leonora Bolt.

The Children’s Book Award is the only national award for children’s books that is voted for entirely by children. It is owned and coordinated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and is highly respected by teachers, parents and librarians. It has brought acclaim and strong sales to past winners such as J.K. Rowling, Patrick Ness, Andy Stanton, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo, who has won a record four times. The award has often been the first to recognise the future stars of children’s fiction and has the ability to turn popular authors into bestsellers.

Who will win? Children nationwide are now invited to vote for their favourite of the ten shortlisted books. The deadline for online voting is 12 noon on Friday 12th May.  The category winners and the author of the best children’s book published in the 2022 nomination period will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony which takes place in Central London on Saturday 10th June, and will be live-streamed.

Lucy Brandt - Author of the Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor Series, illustrated by Gladys Jose. 

I’d like to kick off by confessing that I’m not a scientist. I’ve never calculated the density of a neutron star or the studied the digestive workings of a weasel. But I have always been fascinated by scientific ideas and innovation. 

It all started with my dad. He was an engineer and amateur inventor who was forever ‘fixing’ various household appliances in new and interesting ways. I’d often find him in the garage up to his elbows in engine oil, cheerfully dismembering a Vauxhall Astra.  

This love of experimental engineering clearly influenced me, as it forms the basis of my Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor series. And although I studied English at university, I’ve used my writing skills for various science and tech organisations over the years.   

During my time in the tech industry, I saw first-hand the dearth of female employees and that’s why Leonora was born. I wanted to encourage more girls to give science and tech subjects a go. Leonora could be my STEM alter ego if I’d put down the obscure medieval poetry and picked up a toolbelt instead.  

So, how do we encourage more kids into science and tech? I believe that humour is the best possible way to engage children in any subject. That’s why I’ve tried to make my Leonora Bolt books as silly as possible alongside the scientific themes.  

Leonora must use all her practical skills to build gadgets and solve problems to defeat her dastardly uncle. She designs hair-raising hot air balloons and slapdash submarines, using her amazing brain to get herself out of scrapes. My stories also include a hefty dose of science fiction to encourage kids not to limit their imaginations.  

In my school talks, I like to give numerous examples of things that children have invented such as trampolines, earmuffs and even snowmobiles. I want to show that there’s no minimum age for innovation. 

At home, there are plenty of everyday activities that introduce STEM skills by stealth. Baking is a brilliant one, teaching chemistry and precise measurement. My character Mildred Dribble loves food science (although perhaps she’s not the best role model given the terrifying food she produces).  

Shopping is a great way to teach arithmetic and household budgeting. Playing with Lego and building blocks can help kids learn about design and basic physics. And with so many children loving computer games, there is an opportunity to spark an interest in coding.  

There’s real fun to be had exploring easy science experiments at home, from creating mini volcanoes by mixing vinegar and baking soda, to making parachutes. The CBBC and BBC Bitesize websites are a great free resource for these. 

You can also visit local museums, zoos or aquariums. Or just get out and about in nature and see if your kids can name the types of trees or insects that they find on a walk. I was lucky enough to grow up in the countryside and I’ve been passionate about the great outdoors and conservation ever since. 

Finally, I think it’s important to instil in kids a spirit of inquiry. Encourage them to never stop asking questions about the world around them. Also, explain that failure isn’t just okay, it’s totally essential in STEM fields (and the rest of life for that matter). Only by failing can we build better models, refine theories and make incredible new discoveries.  

Kids should be urged to never limit their dreams and creativity. As Lenora Bolt would put it, nothing is impossible if you use your imagination.  

 You can read the full article on the Booktrust website. 

Spellstone - Ross Montgomery

 

Twelve year old Evie feels as though she has become invisible: in the street, at school and even at home.  But then she meets Wainwright (a man she remembers was in her dream the previous evening), who explains that he's a magician and promises to explain everything to her.  He hands her a piece of old metal that had been hanging round his neck, tells her it's precious and to take care of it; he also tells her that Alinora will find her and will explain everything to her before he tells her that she's going to be very important and then he's off, chased by men who have gathered close-by.  Confused, Evie heads home but then the cat who had also appeared in her dream arrives at her window and suddenly, everything in Evie's life changes.  She is whisked away from her parents and into a world of magic where a long-running battle is threatening to come to a head and Evie could be the only person who can stop it.  

Ross Montgomery is one of those authors whose books I get very excited about and have done since reading Christmas Dinner of Souls (yes, it was me who had to sleep in a hotel room with the light on after finishing that book!).  His books are ones I can always get lost in; they appeal to so many children (& adults) and will most definitely still be books that are being read many years from now.  So it was with much excitement that I heard that Ross had a new book out.  I tried hard to wait until I could read a physical copy but I'm afraid my willpower waned very quickly and I found myself heading to NetGalley for the digital version.  Grabbing a cuppa and my favourite blanket (does that make me sound incredibly old?!), I curled up against the cold and heading in to meet Evie.

Oh Ross, I'm going to say now that you've absolutely done it again!  Spellstone is an immersive book that entices you in with the lure of strange dreams, magicians, ancient stones and smoke-men, then takes you on a whirlwind of an adventure that you simply can't put down.  It has your gripped and makes you think; it leaves you smiling yet wanting more (please tell me 'this sort-of-but not-quite-a-trilogy' means there will be more), and it definitely leaves you with the very best book hangover!

Evie is the perfect main character: she is struggling to fit in in secondary school, in fact, she feels very much invisible in every walk of her life, so when she comes across Wainwright who promises to explain everything to her, I imagine that there must have been a sense of relief.  What unfolds is something I don't think any twelve-year-old would have envisaged and I can imagine that discovering you have hidden magical powers must be quite an unsettling thing to discover, especially when those powers don't seem to be revealing themselves.  We see a host of different emotions from her and I like that she has doubts on more than one occasion, it certainly made her a very believable character and one that readers will warm to.  Her determination and maturity serve her well as she gets to know the magical organisation into which she has been drawn.  She is brave and kind, even when all seems lost, and she is resilient to the end. 

The Order of the Stone are a group of people I enjoyed getting to know, each unique in their characteristics as well as their quirky magical abilities; they are brave, loyal and will remind readers that it is ok to be yourself and to be different without it being a big issue - Lady Alinora was definitely my favourite!  Val, on the other hand, was somebody I thoroughly enjoyed hating and a true example of what can happen if you crave too much power.    

Set in the modern world, Ross manages to seamlessly combine reality with magic in a world of contrasts in Spellstone: a world above ground and a world hidden beneath us; the hideout to Tower 99; the past and the present, as well as things which are hidden and those that are right in front of us.  The setting will make readers think just as much as the plot will.  

In his acknowledgements, Ross mentions the idea of discovering something different every time you head out, with magic around every corner, and that is very much reflected in the book.  When I venture out tomorrow, heading to work along my usual route, I will most definitely be looking more closely for things that are there that I miss every day and for things I often over-look, for that is where I will find magic... and magic is what Ross has created here with Spellstone: good playing off against evil; seeing the good in those around us and being open to possibilities.  

Released on the 4th May, Spellstone has blown me away and I know it's going to be a huge hit so I urge you to pre-order your copy today.

The Treasure Hunters - Lisa Thompson

Vincent is in Year 7 and is quietly trying to get through each day of secondary school without being noticed, and that seems to be going well until he is chosen as one of four students who will spend the weekend taking part in the Wilderness Warriors Challenge.  This is Vincent's worst nightmare but, despite his best attempts, he can't get out of it so he has to face a weekend of walking and camping.  Can the four come together as a team and what will happen when one of the team announces that there may be treasure hidden not far from where they are?

I'm a big fan of Lisa's writing and so it really didn't take me long to decide that The Treasure Hunters was going to jump to the top of my tbr pile. 

Vincent doesn't really seem happy at the beginning of this book.  He doesn't appear to be enjoying school and his dyspraxia isn't making things any easier.  His only respite is the computer game, Battle Doom, he plays - it's his escape and discovering he's good at it gives him something to look forward to.  I think he also feels that he is living in his brother's shadow and doesn't quite know how to shine in his own right.  I really felt for Vincent and I'm sure many reader will be able to associate with him.  Making friends isn't always easy, especially not when you're at a new school and Vincent has figured that being invisible is his best bet.  The teachers, however, are more astute than Vincent gives them credit for and have realised that he's struggling to fit in, which is why Ms Bell and Mr Hearn sign him up for the weekend.  Along with Scarlett and Josh, who both come across as incredibly mean, and Lena (who seems to be the only one who is keen to go on the trip), the four are a rather unlikely group of campers.  

The trip itself made me very much think of Duke of Edinburgh, something which my son has recently completed, and a weekend of rain, soggy tents, carrying heavy rucksacks, trying to cook outdoors and coping with blisters is something he has regaled me with so it felt vaguely familiar as I read about Team Linley High's progress (or lack of it).  I have to say that I have much sympathy for them as I would definitely find a weekend like that my worst nightmare!

It's only Lena who seems to be enjoying the weekend and her preparations and map reading are what keep the team together, but we soon learn that she has alternative plans that involve a detour and pirate's treasure.  I loved Lena's determination as well as the fact that she seems happy to simply be herself.

Lisa has a way of writing about issues that effect children that shows them they aren't alone and The Treasure Hunters is no exception: dyspraxia, separated families, family relationships and financial hardship are all explored in some way and Lisa manages to do this in a way that readers will understand and may be able to relate to.  It's always important that readers see themselves in books and The Treasure Hunters will do this for so many readers.

I began reading The Treasure Hunters on Saturday morning in between playing taxi for my son and by Saturday afternoon, all thoughts of getting jobs done had gone out the window!  The book is an unputdownable read that will remind readers not to judge people, that working together as a team helps and that friendship can appear in the most unlikely of places.

Due for release on the 13th April, The Treasure Hunters is another guaranteed hit for Lisa Thompson whose writing goes from strength to strength.

Gold Medal Mysteries: Thief on the Track - Ellie Robinson

Hannah is spending time with her dad at the World Championships in Tokyo when she meets Maria and Seb whilst enjoying the sporting action.  However, when they hear that American sprinter Jess Mark has had his gold medal stolen, the trio decide to turn detectives to try to find the medal themselves - after all, with a huge cash reward on offer, the trio have an incentive!  But can they discover who the culprit is before the closing ceremony?

Having met Ellie at the Simon and Schuster brunch in January, I was keen to read Gold Medal Mysteries.  She had shared an extract of the book and had talked about how she'd used her experience as a Paralympic swimmer to help with the details, so I was intrigued. 

From the start, this is a fast-paced book with action and twists that will keep readers on their toes - I know I didn't guess who their thief was!  The detail that Elie includes within the book helps to paint a very detailed picture and sets the scene well, especially the behind the scenes parts of the athletes' village - I learned so much!  

With characters that readers will be able to associate with and will love, Hannah, Maria and Seb make an intrepid trio who are adept at sneaking into places they shouldn't be!  I'm pleased that this is the beginning of a series as I'm looking forward to seeing what the team have to investigate next. 

Friendship, inclusion, a love of sport all feature highly in this exciting new series which is due for release on the 13th April.  Gold Medal Mysteries: Thief on the Track is going to be popular in school and I can already think of students who will be keen to grab this on Monday morning.

Jamie - LD Lapinski

Jamie is enjoying their last year of primary school and likes nothing better than spending time with their friends Daisy and Ash.  However, when they attend a talk at school with their parents about which secondary school they will go to, everything changes as they only have two choices: Queen Elizabeth's High School for Girls or St Joseph's Academy for Boys.  What Jamie wants to know is what they are going to do, as being non-binary, there seems to be no options for them.  They try to talk about it but nobody seems to be really listening so they decide to take matters into their own hands.  With the help of Daisy and Ash, can Jamie find a solution?

Every once in a while a book comes along and you just know it is going to be an important book, and this is how I felt once I'd read Jamie.  I began reading it last Sunday evening, thinking that it may take me a few days to finish; oh how wrong I was!  Once I began, I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting.  There are so many positive messages in this book and LD Lapinski manages to weave them into the plot with ease. 

This book looks at some very big topics in a way that children will understand and appreciate.  Making the move from primary to secondary school is a big enough move without having the added complication of feeling that there isn't a school for you.  Jamie is understandably upset and confused, especially when the adults around them don't seem to be really helping.  I felt for Jamie at so many different points during the book and really wanted to just reach into the book and help the adults to understand.  

As well as the story, the book contains useful useful guide pages put together by Jamie to help readers understand terminology. 

Jamie is a book about being yourself, about standing up for what you believe and about helping others to accept you for who you are.  It's about friendship, family and about being brave.  It's about identity and acceptance; it's about understanding and raising awareness.  Jamie is a book that shows children that they should be proud of who they are and reminds adults that they need to listen.

Jamie needs to be in every school and is a book that deserves all the praise that I know is coming its way when it's published on the 30th March.