The Lost Girl King - Catherine Doyle

 

Amy and Liam Bell are having to spend their summer holiday at their gran's house in Connemara whilst their mum and her new boyfriend head off to Santorini.  Whilst Liam would be happy to sit inside and read his book all day (he believes that the outside world is fraught with danger), Amy is determined to explore, especially after finding a book their gran has written entitled 'Myth or Madness?  Searching for the Magical Kingdom of Tìr na NÓg' which intrigues Amy, especially as she knows their gran believes the mythical place to be real.  On the first morning of their holiday, Amy and Liam head out to explore and stumble across a waterfall that Amy notices seems to be flowing the wrong way.  This piques their interest so they follow it, and come across the entrance to Tìr na NÓg.  However, they quickly discover that their gran's images of the place are very different to the reality.  Liam is captured almost immediately and taken away by a troop of headless horsemen and it's up to Amy to not only find him, but save him as well.  However, first she has to find out where he has gone and convince the head of the Fianna to help her in her quest before the sorcerer of Tìr na NÓg captures him and uses his bones as part of his latest and very sinister spell.

I fell in love with Catherine Doyle's writing when I read The Storm Keeper's Island way back in July 2018 (https://kandobonkersaboutbooks.blogspot.com/2018/07/the-stormkeepers-secret-catherine-doyle.html) and waited with baited breath for the publication of books 2 and 3.  It was with a heavy heart that I said goodbye to Fionn and Arranmore so I was thrilled when a proof copy of The Lost Girl King arrived in the post for me (& even more delighted that it was during the Easter holidays so I could drop everything and just dive right in!).

Amy and Liam are polar opposites of each other.  Whilst Liam would be happiest curled up inside reading a book (I can sympathise, although I would happily swap rainy Ireland for Santorini!), whilst Amy is full of energy and seemingly fearless.  Her determination to find her brother is borne of sibling love but her drive is enough to empower anybody to do anything!  I loved her attitude towards Oscar and her refusal to accept his attitude towards women - I audibly cheered her on on several occasions! Whilst Liam is very different and more of a passive character, it was lovely to see him develop as a person as the book progressed - I don't want to say too much so as not to spoil anything but I was proud of him by the time the book finished. Ultimately though, the siblings both share the same quality: bravery and a bond that will never fade.

The Lost Girl King is an epic adventure that combines myth, magic and adventure perfectly, creating a vivid world that both excited and scared me.  The plot kept me on my toes and there was just enough darkness to ensure you won't see the twists coming.  This is a brilliant stand-alone novel and one I will be shouting about until (and way after) its publication date on the 1st September - however, I don't think I will ever quite look at the sun in the same way again!

Orla and the Magpie's Kiss - C.J.Haslam

 

Orla and her Jack Russell, Dave, are back and, together with her brothers, Tom and Richard, they are heading to stay with their Uncle Valentine at Sicow's Creek in Norfolk for the Easter holidays.  The house is isolated with the tidal salt-marsh coast on one side and Anna's Wood on the other,  and the first thing they are told when they arrive is to be home by dark, stay out of the water and Anna's Wood is out of bounds.  Of course, this is like a red rag to Orla who heads straight to the woods where she finds a magpie stuck in a trap.  In freeing it, she receives a 'kiss' from the magpie as a thank-you, which Uncle Valentine tells her will show her what fate has in store.  That night, Oral dreams of GasFrac and the destruction of Anna's Wood with the wildlife being killed and left homeless.  Anna realises that the woods are in imminent danger and, with the villagers refusing to do anything, it's up to Anna to lead the fight to protect the area.  However, when she discovers who the head of GasFrac is, she realises she may have taken on more than she can handle.  Can Orla save the wood and protect her family as well?

I read Orla and the Serpent's Curse during the first lockdown in March 2020 and loved the sinister mystery and twists in the plot so I was very much looking forward to seeing what Orla was up to next.  Orla and the Magpie's Kiss opens with Orla, Dave and her brothers on the train, heading to Norfolk and it's lovely to have the time to get to know them again before the action starts and gave me the time to remind myself of what happened in book 1 whilst also getting to know exactly where they were heading and why.

Orla is as determined and headstrong as in book 1.  She is fiercely determined not to allow her Uncle Valentine's stereo-types of girls to change her holiday, or of his warnings of the local area to stop her exploring - quite the opposite in fact; if anything, they spur her on (and I love that!).  She's not open about her witch status at the beginning of the book, choosing only to reveal it when she has to, but I feel she grows more comfortable with it as the book progresses.  Despite this, there is a self-doubt that remains with Orla, one that is fuelled by her need to protect her friends and family and it makes her all the more real because of this. 

For all I love Orla, it's Dave who is my favourite character again, and the one who I feel steals the show!  A truly loyal and protective dog, with feline qualities thanks to events in book 1, he has a very human personality that comes to the fore and he has a rather rye sense of humour at times that brought a smile to my face and, indeed, makes him appear more human than dog at times.  I love his 'Never. Off. Duty.' style of personal security and would love to have him by my side. 

With fracking and preservation of the natural environment one of the main themes of the book, this is perfect for Orla and it was no surprise to me that she was determined to do the right thing.  

Magic, adventure and an action-packed plot, combined with a baddie who is truly evil, Orla and the Magpie's Kiss is a perfect sequel and one I know will go down well in school. 

Small - Hannah Moffatt

 

Harvey is small but on his birthday his mum buys him a pair of stilts and a very long pair of trousers and ships him off to Madam Bogbrush's School for Gifted Giants.  Although he's terrified, he goes and must hide who he really is from his classmates, especially when he discovers that the first school rule is that people will be stomped into a sandwich if they are small.  And, as if that isn't bad enough, a school inspector arrives who seems hell-bent on closing the school.  But can Harvey and his classmates save the school and can Harvey make them accept him for who he really is (without being stomped on)?

Small is a funny book that will make readers chuckle from the very beginning, from Harvey trying to learn how to walk on his stilts, to the comments the inspector writes during her inspection, and the silliness will go down well with readers of all ages.  However, hidden in amongst the humour are some very powerful messages: that of friendship and being accepted for who you are; for not needing to hide your true self and about finding friends where you may least expect to.  One of the most powerful messages though, is Harvey's realisation that he is not responsible for the break-up of his parents' relationship.  He begins to understand that his parents are happier apart and isn't anybody's fault. It's a very powerful message for children in a similar situation to read. 

With wonderful illustrations from Rory Walker which help to enhance the story, Small is a book that will appeal to children from Year 3 upwards.

Due for release on the 16th June, I'm grateful to Everything With Words publishing for my early copy of Small. 

If You Read This - Kereen Getten

 

It's Brie's twelfth birthday and she is conscious of the fact that, for the third year, her mum is not there to celebrate.  Her mama always made life special, including treasure hunts, going on adventures together, and also leaving a breakfast menu under her door the night before her birthday.  Since her mama's death, Brie has been leaving her breakfast menu request under her Nana's door; however this morning, she can't smell anything so heads to investigate.  Her nana is quick to persuade  her into a frilly pink dress before ushering her into the back garden where her family and friends are waiting for her.  In fact, everyone is there except her papa who is at work ... again.  Amongst the presents, there is one from her mama: a small box containing three letters with clues for one final treasure hunt that will lead her to a very special place. 

I was incredibly excited about reading If You Read Me, having loved When Life Gives You Mangoes (anybody in school will tell you that and I've made no secret about the 'Mango' chats we've had) and I wasn't disappointed!  Set in Jamaica, the warmth of the island radiates off the pages and the adventure Brie has is both powerful and moving in equal measure.  I sobbed and smiled my way through the book and the ending ... well, it's safe to say I hugged the book!

Brie is a wonderful main character who is clearly trying to find her way in the world without her mama who she was obviously very close to.  we get hints of her mama's larger than life character which I think is more evident as she feels that her father has forgotten about her, prioritising his work over his daughter.  He comes across as distant and removed, an outsider even when Mama was alive and still that way even though his daughter needs him.  Although Brie doesn't always get things right, she is a strong character and we see some of her mama's feistiness as the book progresses.  The treasure hunt gives her one last adventure with her mama and something she will remember forever.

Brim was the other character I loved.  The sound of his house made me love him before I'd even met him; a place that was built with love and obviously holds special memories for Brie and her family.  When we meet Brim, he appears to be suffering from Alzheimer's and has been moved into a home but obviously isn't happy.  I particularly liked his conversations with the girls when he felt they were talking over him - he may be forgetting things but he was determined not to be ignored!  The relationship between Brie and Brim is a special one.

Don't be fooled by the size of this book.  At 192 pages, If You Read Me is short but perfectly formed and I was surprised (why should I have been?) by how much Getten manages to cram into the pages (and how beautifully she writes).  There's a warmth and tenderness to this book which explores grief in a sensitive way; the death of a parent, especially for a child, is an incredibly difficult thing to deal with and this book does it so well.  Emotional, loving, heart-breaking and heart-warming, If You Read Me is a story of hope as well as remembering; it's a story of family and friendship, of coping with grief and learning how to live again.  I adored When Life Gives You Mangoes  and I love If You Read Me just as much - Kereen Getten is quickly becoming a writer with an exceptional talent for creating warm, thought-provoking books that will stay with you long after you've finished the final page and I can't wait to see what's next!

If You Read Me is due for release on the 1st September.

Every Cloud - Ros Roberts

 

Amy is in Year 6 and is looking forward to going to Valley High with her friends; however, when she discovers that her parents' house move means that she doesn't have a place, she is distraught.  She hates her new home and now it means that she is going to be separated from her friends.  And to make manners worse, she discovers that she needs to spend the beginning of the summer at her grandparents' house with her mum and her siblings.  This means she is going to be miles away from her friends so she won't be able to go to the parties they are planning.  For Amy, her life seems to be falling apart; just exactly how will she cope?

Amy, I feel, is a fairly typical eleven year old girl: she is desperate to be with her friends and doesn't want anything to come between that.  She's moody although she doesn't always mean to be, and she is more concerned with her own needs than those of her family.  Her world is literally turned upside down when she discovers that she has to go to Thornberry High and won't know anybody there.  How could her parents do this to her?  She feels this very personally and doesn't really see the true reason for their move (or chooses to gloss over it) which was due to her father's accident which left him unable to work for some time.  As the summer holiday begins, she finds herself heading to her grandparents house whilst her father remains at home to refurbish the new house.  With her two younger brothers and her mum, they will spending two weeks looking after her grandma who has injured her ankle and her grandfather (Pops) who is getting very forgetful - and what's even worse is that there is no WiFi and no mobile signal in the house - how will she survive?

Friendship is clearly at the forefront of Every Cloud and we see Amy's relationship with her best friends change over the course of the book and I think this will be good for children to read - friendships can change as we move through our lives and that's fine.  I enjoyed the way her relationship with Jay developed - he's a lovely character and I think quite possibly my favourite in the book. 

The subject of dementia is also a prominent theme in the book and is very well tackled.  It is evident that Amy's Pops is in the early stages of dementia and we see him forget a variety of different things from what he's just said to who people are, and they ways in which the family need to accommodate to support him - Pops doesn't however, forget things that happened years ago so we get an insight into his younger days which leads to a really touching event towards the end of the book.  Having watched my gran go through dementia, I found the way the subject was broached very sensitively and in a way that children will be able to understand.  

I know that the choice of secondary school can be a tricky time for Year 6 children and a stressful one for parents; however, Every Cloud is the perfect book to show them that, no matter what happens, you will be ok.

Firesong A Brightstorm Adventure - Vashti Hardy

 

The final instalment in the Brightstorm trilogy sees Arthur and Maudie decide where they are heading off to next with Harriet and the rest of the crew of the Aurora.  Following information about their parents, they decide to head to the Volcanic North in search of the Brightstorm moth which is the explorer tattoo both Arthur and Maudie are proud to have.  However, as they start their adventure, they begin to hear a song in their heads that is familiar to them.  How can they both hear it and what does it mean?

I'm deliberately keeping my synopsis short as I don't want to ruin anything for anyone; however, it's safe to say that this was a gripping finale to the trilogy and one that you won't want to miss.

I've been a fan of the Brightstorm books from the very beginning and it has been a pleasure to have watched the twins grow into the young adults they are in Firesong. Although they are twins, they are very much their own people: Maudie is fierce and independent with a deep love of engineering and we see that from book one when we discover that she had created Arthur's prosthetic arm - we see her love of engineering grow further in this book.  Arthur's love of exploring continues to shine and he spends a lot of time pouring over maps and planning expeditions - exploring is in his blood after all.  Together, they make a determined and courageous pair, and it's been a privilege to have been able to share their journey with them.      

I have to also mention the other members of the Aurora crew, in particular Harriet who is a warm and caring captain of the Aurora (I still love the fact that the ship is part of her home and launches from the roof - I would love to have been in Lontown to see that in person), and also Harriet with her lucky spoon - she's warm and caring, and somebody I would love to have onboard any sky ship I travel on.  Firesong shows us that family comes in all shapes and sizes and the Aurora crew have definitely become family to the Brightstorm twins over they years.

Throughout the series, the attention to detail has been wonderful to read, and this is no different in Firesong: the lands, the sky ship and the animals are immersive and help the reader to imagine they are travelling alongside the twins.  

The Brightstorm trilogy has been a truly wonderful set and I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring new worlds on board the Aurora.   Firesong is a thrilling and fitting final instalment, full of twists that meant I absolutely could not put it down.  I smiled, I cried and I hugged the book at the end; you really will experience every emotion!  I am really going to miss Arthur, Maudie and the rest of the crew but I'm sure it won't be long until I head back into the books again to reread their adventures.  

I am hugely grateful for Harriet Dunlea at Scholastic for sending me an early copy - I know that this book is going to be in demand next term! 

The Dragon In The Bookshop - Ewa Jozefkowicz

 

Since Konrad's dad died, he has been unable to speak to anybody, the words getting stuck in his throat instead of making their way out.  A sudden death, both he and his mum have found things difficult since and they are now being forced to sell the bookshop that his dad owned and ran.  One day, whilst walking along the beach, Konrad finds a dinosaur footprint and next time he goes back to investigate further, he meets Maya and he finds that, for the first time in months, he can talk.  He takes Maya to the bookshop and whilst, showing her his favourite book of folktales, they find themselves inside the book reliving the quest with the dragon.  But what happens once they are actually in medieval times? Can they find a way to stop the dragon or will they be faced with no choice but to kill it?

It is clear from the start of the book that Konrad is grieving and finding life without his father very difficult.  Grief hits everybody in a different way and for Konrad that means he has lost his ability to talk to people.  His thoughts and frustrations are there, but he simply cannot find his voice.  I know that Ewa wrote this book following her own personal experiences of losing her father as a teenager and the effect this had on her and, knowing this made the book even more powerful for me.  I was lucky enough not to experience grief as a child but I have seen the effect it can have on children and I hope that books like this can offer readers support and hope.

A big part of the book is set in Medieval times where Konrad and Maya are transported back to live the dragon quest that Konrad has spent many years loving in the pages of his favourite book.  The sense of adventure and daring are wonderful to read and yet, you can also see a sense of Konrad (and Maya) working through their own grief as the quest unfolds.

The Dragon in the Bookshop is a thought-provoking, heart-felt book about grief and moving on that will touch the heart of everyone who reads it when it publishes in July.