New reviews - June 2015

Picture Books for young children

 

This is My Rock

Written and illustrated by David Lucas

Flying Eye   £11.99

ISBN: 978-1909263505

Little Goat feels proud. He is on top of the rock and he certainly doesn’t plan to share being there with the smaller goats, or the other animals that come climbing his way, or the birds that fly to it. But as the sun goes down he begins to have second thoughts. Bold and stylish illustrations, with very little text, make this book perfect to share with a young audience. A story about sharing, friendship and loneliness, with plenty to talk about. 

Marianne Adey

 

 

I Wish I’d Been Born a Unicorn

Written by Rachel Lyon

Illustrated by Andrea Ringli

Maverick Arts   £6.99

ISBN: 978-1848861176

A delightful story about the true nature of friendship. Mucky is a muddy, grubby horse, and he feels very sad and left out when the other horses don’t want to play with him because he is so smelly. But, clever owl steps in and hatches a plan. With the assistance of some cows and a frog, and using milk to paint Mucky white and a shell for a horn, he is transformed overnight into a beautiful unicorn. But, it starts to rain! Only then does Mucky discover that his true friends really don’t mind what he looks like, but care more about how he feels, which the wise owl had already tried to tell him. Using fresh colours and boldly drawn figures, with wonderfully expressive eyes, the story is illustrated sympathetically A lovely book to share with toddlers and preschoolers alike.

Lucy Russell

The Scarecrows’ Wedding

Written by Julia Donaldson

Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

Alison Green   £12.99

ISBN: 9781-407144412

An endearing tale of perseverance, collaboration and loyalty, The Scarecrows’ Wedding is the latest offering from the dream team that brought us such contemporary classics as The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Room on the Broom. Bursting with all the warmth and character we have come to expect from Axel Scheffler’s illustrations, the story follows two scarecrows, deeply in love as they prepare for their wedding, with the help of various animals around the farm, including, rather eccentrically, a crab. Tension builds as the bridegroom to be, Harry O’Hay, sets off to find some flowers for the bouquet, leaving his bride, Betty O’Barley, waiting back at the farm. Harry’s journey takes longer than expected and a new, somewhat swaggering scarecrow, Reginald Rake, tries to take his place. Will Betty be wooed by Reginald’s charms? Will Harry make it back to claim his beloved bride? My three year old took great delight in the clever and witty rhymes that keep the compelling story bouncing along, and both of us enjoyed the satisfaction of a happy and romantic ending.

Rowan Stanfield

First Steps in reading for young children

 

Rita’s Rhino

Written and illustrated by Tony Ross

Andersen   £11.99

ISBN: 978-1783440252

Rita wants a pet, but her Mum refuses to get her one. So, Rita decides to go and get one for herself, from the Zoo. She decides on a rhinoceros. But keeping a pet rhino secret isn’t an easy thing to do and taking care of him proves to be a lot harder than she anticipated. Tony Ross excels at blending the absurd with the normality of the everyday and, as usual, it works really well. The idea of Rita sneaking a rhino unnoticed out of the zoo, covered up with a small hat and coat to hide him from observant eyes, is deliciously funny. The joys and difficulties of owning a pet are explored in a fresh and original way. Full of wit, the illustrations work well with the text, adding additional humour to the tale and providing a story which children will love to read and adults will love to share with them.

Annie Everall

Titles for the young child just beginning to Read Alone

The Witch Dog

Written by Margaret Mahy

Illustrated by Sam Usher

Orion (eB)   £4.99

ISBN: 978-1444011340

Question: How does a witch cope if she is allergic to cats? Answer: Get a dog! Mrs. Rose has trained to be a witch, having just finished her course at night school. Now that she is fully qualified she can attend the Witches’ Dance and take her newly found dog, Nightshade, with her. Unfortunately, when she arrives at the dance, the cats and owls owned by the other witches were not at all pleased to see a dog arrive. However Nightshade has an unexpected talent. This is a very unusual book. The idea that anybody’s Mum can go to night school and become a witch is quite a strange starting point for a story. It is a lovely book, with a strong storyline and is fun to read. The text is clear and the illustrations are very amusing and perfectly match the text.

Patricia Thompson

Asterix and the Picts

Written by Jean-Yves Ferri

Illustrated by Didier Conrad

Orion (eB)   £7.99

ISBN: 978-1444011692

As a child reader I devoured the Asterix graphic novels/comic books and they helped me gain reading confidence and stamina. Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad take on the mantle from Goscinny and Uderzo in this the thirty-fifth adventure for Asterix and Obelix. This time, our favourite Gauls are off to Caledonia, the land of the Picts; what we now recognise as Scotland. After being washed up frozen on the shores of Gaul, MacAroon needs help to return home and rescue his beloved. With magic potion, plenty of eating and drinking, and a little help from the Loch Ness monster, Asterix and Obelix help defeat the Roman threat in Scotland and put a stop to the evil machinations of the  MacCabees tribe. Aside from the expressive and often funny illustrations, the accompanying text is filled with the trademark combination of puns, humour and satire. This is another excellent adventure that will stand repeated readings and, I hope, make more lifelong readers.

Benjamin Scott

 

 

The Misadventures of Sweetie Pie

Written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg

Andersen   £11.99

ISBN: 978-1783441884

A feisty hamster determines to behave well when picked up in a pet shop so that he can go off to wherever all the other hamsters in his cage have disappeared to over the weeks. Hoping for adventure and excitement, he is in many ways disappointed as he is passed from one small child to another and variously mistreated or ignored. Humans do not come off well in this story, as no-one manages to care effectively for the hamster who is always, of course, in a cage of one sort of another. The illustrations are dynamic and often from an interesting point of view. Children having this book read to them will be able to get a real sense of the indignities and dangers that Sweetie Pie is put through by his various owners and will be relieved with the very satisfying ending.

Annalise Taylor

Titles for the Confident Reader in Primary School

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

Written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney

Puffin (eB)   £12.99

ISBN: 978-0141354217

Ninth in the Wimpy Kid series, this latest ‘diary’ offers the winning blend of conversational, reader-engaging narrative and amusingly eloquent graphics that has ensured Jeff Kinney’s place at the top of the popularity list for children’s writers. In this story of guaranteed mayhem, Mom Heffley, inspired by her magazine Family Frolic, decides the family needs a ‘bonding’ adventure. Greg, the Wimpy Kid, whose sole wish is to relax at home after a hard summer term, once again finds himself with zero control of his life as the regular cast, Mum, Dad, Roderick, Greg and Manny prepare for the ultimate road trip that will give them ‘authentic’ family experiences. The writer’s ability to tell many incidental stories within the much longer overarching story is a skill that keeps readers wanting more. The book is packed with episodes of silly comedy, pandemonium and nightmarish situations, like lost credit cards, lost keys and a rammed car. Playing a key role in the drama is a temporarily adopted pig and an unscrupulous family of fellow travellers. Plot driven, fast-paced and hugely entertaining for children, this will be another winner for its author.

Catriona Nicholson

 

The Snow Leopard

Written and illustrated by Jackie Morris

Frances Lincoln   £4.99

ISBN: 978-1847805478

Rarely does such a beautifully illustrated picture book offer such a lyrical text, making the reader feel part of a creation myth of immense style and authenticity. Since time’s beginning the snow leopard has sung life into the stars, sun and moon. Weaving songs to protect them, safe in her hidden Himalayan valley, she knows that time’s passing requires her to find her successor as Mergichan singer. Below in the valley, a girl child dreams her song even as soldiers enter it, seeking gold and slaves: “High in the sacred mountains the sacred cat walked alone, cloaked in her shadow- dappled fur. Crisp snow sparkled in icy stars beneath her huge paws, and all the while she sang. Down in the valley the Child slept, and in her dream she heard the ghost cat’s secret music, and saw the shadows of her dappled coat.” The child learns from the snow leopard the protective songs of the earth, its creatures, its weather, its space, until the day when the leopard leaps off into the stars and the child, become now a full grown snow leopard, begins her own, new song. This mini-edition is a tiny wonder, fifteen centimetres by eleven, which should become beloved by all who own it.

Tina Massey

Julius Zebra: Rumble with the Romans

Written and illustrated by Gary Northfield

Walker (eB)   £8.99

ISBN: 978-1406354928

A slice of Roman history, as told by a zebra. Friendship, loyalty and courage among trainee gladiators, including a lion, a giraffe and a warthog. Sounds bonkers? It is, completely and utterly, bonkers, but in a very entertaining way. It’s easy enough to spot the difference between actual historical facts and the author’s manic imagination. The handy Latin glossary at the back, with an explanation of how Roman numerals work, will help young readers to impress, or perhaps mystify, their friends.

Yvonne Coppard

Titles for readers Moving On from Primary to High School

Blue Moon Day

Written by Anne Fine

Corgi (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-0552571883

Short stories set in a particular framework. Once in a blue moon, Sam needs a day off school but today, when she fakes a stomach ache, Mum has to go to work. Sam finds herself waiting in Mum’s car while she makes her welfare visits with just a book of short stories called Away from Home - and here they are. Sam thinks she might enjoy boarding school but the characters in the stories have mixed experiences. What about being in an institution for young offenders? Or what about going to a main stream school if you are blind? And there is a very ‘Anne Fine story’ about a girl who goes to a Convent School who explains to the staff, politely, that God doesn’t exist. Between each story Sam talks to her mother so we get two stories: Sam’s and the book of school stories. We also discover why Sam needs that ‘once in a blue moon’ day and how she realises something about her mother which reassures her. Both threads give us a good read with some meat on it.

Pat Thomson

 

The Children who Stayed Behind

Written by Bruce Carter

Illustrated by C. Walter Hodges

Vintage Classics (R) (eB)   £5.99

ISBN: 978-1784870225

This adventure story was originally published in 1958 and the writing, the illustrations and the plot all reflect that fact. Bruce Carter, who incidentally is the father of writers Deborah Moggach and Sarah Garland, imagines what might have happened if, during the Second World War, Brighton had been evacuated due to an actual German land invasion and two families of children had somehow been left behind in the deserted town. The two families in question are the Hartfords and the Foulshams and they are sworn enemies, so some major battles have to be fought before they all unite to help two injured airmen. In fiction anything is possible, so these children are able to have amazing adventures without a parent in sight. They get to do all the things other children can only dream of doing, like driving an armoured car, having free rein on Brighton pier, getting an old steam train moving again and eating baked beans for every meal - and through all of this there is a white rabbit called Kensington to be rescued. It’s all great fun.

Jan Lennon

The Marsh Road Mysteries: Diamonds and Daggers

Written by Elen Caldecott

Bloomsbury (eB)   £5.99

ISBN: 9781-4088-47527

First in a new series of detective mysteries, it introduces us to five friends, each from a different cultural background, who join forces to solve crime. When Piotr’s Dad is accused of the theft of a diamond necklace at the theatre where he works as a security guard, Dad’s first reaction is to return to Poland taking his family with him. Piotr doesn’t want to leave his new home and friends, and so. determined to prove his Dad’s innocence and stay in Marsh Road, he leads the search for the thief. This is a fast-moving whodunit with engaging characters, an urban Famous Five with whom my young reviewers identified as they eliminated one suspect after another till they finally tracked down the villain in a satisfying climax.

Julia Jarman

Titles for Young Teenage Readers

 

Young Bond: Shoot to Kill

Written by Steve Cole

Doubleday (eB)   £12.99

ISBN: 978-0857533739

Following Charlie Higson’s successful series of five Young Bond novels, Steve Cole takes up the challenge of further developing the amazing youth that will become James Bond. So strongly established is the Ian Fleming character that there is little need to stray from that which is known and loved in the original novels. What was required of Steve Cole were believable characters, particularly the villains, and a plot to match. He has succeeded in spades. Despite looking for a quiet time in a new school away from ‘nasties’ at Eton, James finds himself right up to his neck in torture, corruption, murder and megalomania. Flying the Atlantic on an airship he arrives in L.A. and Hollywood and is instantly targeted by Chicago gangster and a crazed film producer. The level of violence is perhaps more like later Bond Films than anything Ian Fleming might have written. However, the reader today is of this time and things have changed considerably over the past decades. The formula of high living, memorable villains, action and suspense is all here. This is a read to be enjoyed by everyone that loves a Bond adventure, which means millions of fans worldwide will love to pick up Shoot To Kill.

Trevor Thompson

Department 19: Zero Hour

Written by Will Hill

HarperCollins (eB)   £8.99

ISBN: 978-0007505845

This absolutely amazing read, the fourth in the series, will have your heart thudding, your skin creeping and your brain on high alert. Vampirism is growing all over the world and vampires are expected to outnumber ordinary humans within ten years. The vile and overwhelmingly powerful Dracula is converting more and more humans to powerful super vampires by his bite, creating awful creatures which are immensely strong, fly at impossible speeds and are utterly pitiless. Members of Department 19 are desperately struggling to combat the rising tide of menace, which, inflated by social media sites, is also causing witch-hunts for suspected vampires and worldwide terror. Matt Browning goes to America, seeking a cure for vampirism, whilst Jamie Carpenter and his girl, Larissa, enter the deep forests of eastern Europe in search of an ancient, dangerous but potentially powerful, ally. In a plot as complex as Le Carre’s, with locations as wide-ranging as Bond’s Skyfall, the young people and their allies take to the skies, tunnels and darkest forests to engage in battles which are bloody, horror-filled, intense and incredibly fast-paced, leaving the reader serially exhausted. Well written, convincing, with unpredictable characters and a climax like the 1812 Overture on speed, with flights and completely unexpected twists, this is a tremendous achievement.

Tina Massey

 

Boys Don’t Knit

ISBN: 978-1471401473

An English Boy in New York

ISBN: 978-1471401497

Written by T. S. Easton

Hot Key (eB)   £6.99  

Somehow Ben Fletcher attracts trouble like a magnet, even if he never means to. His heart is in the right place but things always manage to go wrong for him, usually as a result of his friends. After an unfortunate incident with a lollipop lady, a stolen bottle of Martini from a Waitrose supermarket and a harsh judge, he very nearly gets sent to a Young Offenders Unit. To avoid this he has to agree to give something back to the community and develop his sense of social alignment, take up a hobby and stay on the straight and narrow. Because the hot teacher from his school runs the Knitting Group, one of the hobby options open to him, he opts for this, but, as usual, things don’t quite go to plan. He discovers that he has a real talent for knitting and that he loves it. Balancing his successful journey towards the Knit Fair competition finals with the need to avoid his dad and his mates uncovering his secret and bringing eternal humiliation down on his head creates a hilarious and very readable story. In the sequel, his knitting journey continues as he is invited to New York for media interviews and to take part in another knitting competition, but, yet again, his plans go awry. His idea is to use the trip for a romantic few days away with his girlfriend, Megan, but when she mysteriously pulls out, he ends up forced to take his mate, Gex, a ‘wannabe gangsta’ and all-round liability. He quickly finds that his magnetism for trouble follows him across the ocean. Written in diary form, both novels are well written, witty and with laugh-out-loud humour. Characters are well developed and there is something achingly vulnerable about Ben. Being a knitter, really added to my enjoyment of the story and my appreciation of the humour. The knitting references and analogies are spot on. Boys Don’t Knit was on the Carnegie nomination list. Both novels are excellent and reminded me of Adrian Mole. They will have great appeal to teenage boys and girls alike.

Annie Everall

Titles for More Mature readers

Black Dove, White Raven

Written by Elizabeth Wein

Electric Monkey (eB)   £7.99

ISBN: 978-1405271363

Elizabeth Wein has an admirable talent of taking fascinating characters and events which seem improbable and, through skilful writing, weaves them into an exciting, thrilling adventure. The fact that it is all based on real places, people and events makes the story all the more incredible as well as captivating and haunting. Emilia and Teo’s remarkable mothers are pilots, lovers, single parents and one is black, the other white. When Teo’s Mother Delia is tragically killed in an accident Rhoda takes the children to Ethiopia, the birthplace of Teo’s father. The descriptions of their new life on a coffee farm are as rich and colourful as the people who become their friends. An impending Italian invasion becomes a real threat to their small community and, although they try to keep out of trouble, they are soon embroiled in the conflict. Emilia uses all her ingenuity and flair, facing incredible odds to survive and unite her family. The realities of an unfair, unjust and unequal war are not spared in this engrossing and sometimes harrowing story but throughout the bonds of love and loyalty triumph across race, culture, colour and gender.

Louise Stothard

 

The Door That Led To Where

Written by Sally Gardner

Hot Key (eB)   £10.99

ISBN: 978-1471401084

This is a perfect fusion of time travel, murder mystery and historical novel. A. J. Flynn has failed all but one of his GCSE’s yet, despite this, he manages to get a job in a law firm. His mother is worse than useless and his mates, Leon and Slim, have similarly tough lives. But his life really starts to get complicated when he finds a key, with his name and date of birth on it, in the archives at work. When he manages to find the door that the key belongs to, he is compelled to go through it and discovers a very different London of 1830. From then on he ends up in a world of suspected murder and extreme danger, on both sides of the door. Which side of the door will he choose to stay in? An intriguing mystery with twists and turns and a clever mix of contemporary and historical.

Nicole Jordan

 

Rainey Royal

Written by Dylan Landis

Soho (eB)   £17.99

ISBN: 978-1616954529

Rainey Royal is the debut novel from U.S. author, Dylan Landis. It follows ten years of Rainey’s life; opening with her at age fourteen, living with her irresponsible father, Howard, a jazz musician, along with several of his musical acolytes. Rainey’s life is dysfunctional, with her frequently taking on the adult role in the father/daughter relationship. She relies on her friends, Tina and Leah, for support, but the thing that keeps her going is her desire to be an artist. She spends hours creating beautiful elaborate quilts from deceased people’s belongings. This very mature novel is very dark at times, for example, the friendship between Rainey and Gordy, her father’s best friend, and few of the characters are likable. Rainey herself has several negative traits, nevertheless you admire her strength and determination to achieve her ambition and escape from her father’s negative influence. Dylan Landis’ style of writing is distinctly staccato, as though the book is one of Rainey’s quilts, with episodes of her life stitched together to make a whole.

Jane Hall

 

Extra reviews for Issue 59

Picture Books for young children

 

Mungo Monkey Goes to School

Written and illustrated by Lydia Monk

Egmont   £7.99

ISBN: 978-1405269094

Crammed with lift-up flaps, this slight, but cheerful, picture book follows the hero of the title plus his friends on their journey to school. The classroom project today is to find out about bugs, otherwise known, at least in the country, as insects. Some vigorous sketching follows until it is time to play and finally return home. Illustrations throughout are bright and friendly and the minimal accompanying story is particularly suitable for infants at the very early stages of understanding.

Nicholas Tucker

 

The Zebra Who Ran Too Fast

Written and illustrated by Jenni Desmond

Walker   £11.99

 ISBN: 978-1406347500

Zebra loves his two best friends, Elephant and Bird. They enjoy laughing and playing games together, but, one day, the other two get cross because Zebra is too bouncy and too fast. They say he makes them dizzy. Zebra is heartbroken even though a new friend, Giraffe, is kind to him.  Can he find a way to patch things up with Elephant and Bird?  Expressive illustrations with a gentle humour of their own make this simple story about coping with the stresses within a friendship group an excellent choice for younger readers.

Marianne Adey

 

Rex Wrecks It

Written and illustrated by Ben Clanton

Candlewick   £10.99

ISBN 978-1406358230

Three little toy friends like to build things out of bricks, but their friend, Rex the dinosaur, just likes knocking them down. Everyone is sad, including Rex, who is sorry, but a bright idea from Gizmo, the robot, means they all find out that working (and wrecking) together is much more fun. This lovely warm message of friendship and togetherness in the face of a familiar problem will be of great encouragement to boisterous toddlers and help them begin to understand their world. A great book for sharing with lots of scope for young readers to expend energy and noise as they join in the repeated text. Dynamic and bold illustrations have plenty of colour and movement, and the clear facial expressions will help young readers understand how the toys feel at different points in the story. Highly recommended.

Lucy Russell

First Steps in reading for young children

 

On the day you were born

Written by Margaret Wild

Illustrated by Ron Brooks

Allen & Unwin   £10.99

ISBN: 978-1741147544

A father recounts to his child what happened when they went outside together for the very first time on the day the baby was born. We do not see the father or the child, but the images of that first day are portrayed in glorious, full colour illustrations and text that is written in soft, gentle prose, conveying the awe and quiet moments of shared joy that accompany the birth of a much-wanted child.

Yvonne Coppard

The Not-So-Perfect Penguin

Written and illustrated by Steve Smallman

QED   £4.99

ISBN: 978-1781711347

The Not-So-Perfect Penguin is an engaging way for parents to introduce children to the impact of different types of behaviour. Percy is a fun-loving penguin. His peers are all serious and sensible, whereas Percy likes to have fun: sliding on his tummy rather than waddling along like the others, jumping and splashing rather than swimming peacefully. The other penguins are constantly moaning and telling him off, but, when Percy disappears one day, the group realise how much they miss him. Children will love Steve Smallman’s gorgeous illustrations of the cute penguins in the latest book in the ‘Storytime’ series. As with the other books in this collection, the colourful full-page illustrations and heart-warming story are subtly combined with a more serious message: here, being aware of the consequences of your actions, as sometimes what you think is just fun can cause upset and worry for others. The final page of the book contains suggested questions for parents to use to generate discussion with their children about behaviour. This is a gentle, but fun story with an important message sensitively told.

Jane Hall

The Greedy Rainbow

Written by Susan Chandler

Illustrated by Sanja Rescek

QED   £10.99

ISBN: 978-1781715765

The natural world is full of glorious colours and they are there for everyone to enjoy. In this charming story for very young book lovers a tiny rainbow gobbles up all the colour from the forest and as it grows bigger and bigger the forest gets greyer and greyer. Eventually all the colour has gone from the rainforest leaving the animals and plants completely grey and very sad. Once the rainbow realises that it has been selfish, that the forest is no longer beautiful and that it has made everyone unhappy it starts to cry and the colours pour back into the forest. But, amusingly, things aren’t quite as they were before. Lots of books for small children are about colour, but this beautifully illustrated story also highlights the importance and pleasure of sharing. The book includes a page of suggested discussion points for teachers and parents, just in case a teacher or a parent finds it tricky to talk about the book and its theme.       

Jan Lennon

Titles for the young child just beginning to Read Alone

 

The Selkie Girl

Retold by Janis Mackay

Illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane

Kelpies   £5.99

ISBN: 978-1782501305

A beautiful retelling of a traditional Scottish tale for a young audience. Fergus lives with his father, a poor fisherman. and spends his lonely days beachcombing. One day he finds a wonderful treasure - a seal skin. Fergus does not realise he has taken a Selkie girl’s skin, without which she cannot return to the sea and to her mother. Once she reveals herself, they become firm friends, playing and catching fish. Fergus longs for her to remain with him, but the Selkie girl must return to the sea. A poignant parting ensues, but the Selkie girl continues to watch over Fergus from the sea, and increases the catch of fish, improving the fortunes and happiness of the whole village. Stunning watercolour illustrations fill the pages, echoing the tenderness of the story, and drawing the reader into the beautiful Scottish coastal landscape. Every word of the text has been carefully chosen: Janis Mackay works as a storyteller as well as an author and her talent is clear. A superb book.

Lucy Russell

Titles for the Confident Reader in Primary School

 

Maisie Hitchins: The Case of the Secret Tunnel

Written by Holly Webb

Illustrated by Marion Lindsay

Stripes (eB)   £5.99

ISBN: 978-1847154361

Holly Webb's Victorian detective series is perfect for those younger readers who are starting to build their reading confidence. In this fifth mystery in the series, Maisie and her dog Eddie are on the case of the suspicious lodger who has just moved into her Gran's house. Something is just not right about Mr Grange, as he says that he works for a biscuit factory but when Maisie questions him about his favourite biscuit, his answer shows that he must be lying! Not only that but there are other strange occurrences involving missing laundry from washing lines, stolen paintings and very odd behaviour in the London Underground. Can Maisie find the link between these crimes and solve the mystery herself or will she end up in too deep when she realises there are serious criminals at work? Maisie is an endearing, confident character and the lovely illustrations work beautifully well with the plot, helping the reader to notice the clues along the way.

Nicole Jordan

 

Willy’s Stories

Written & illustrated by Anthony Browne

Walker   £12.99

ISBN: 978-1406351613

Thirty years after the publication of Willy the Wimp Anthony Browne pays tribute to the writers and illustrators who have inspired his own work over the years by enabling his iconic hero to enter the fictional worlds of ten classic stories and play a role. The compelling shine of the book jacket draws the reader through marbled end papers and into Willy’s frontispiece smile. He holds a book, bearing the title Willy’s Stories, the cover of which replicates the familiar fair-isle pattern of his jersey. This motif is used to highlight the initial letter of each verso text page. That sense of pattern that characterises Anthony Browne’s work amply fulfils reader expectations in this book. Each adventure begins with Willy going ‘through the door’ into his story world. Each places Willy in some kind of confrontation or challenge before inviting young readers to play the game of ‘What happens next?’. Each of the illustrated recto plates has some visual reference to books whether they form the trunk of a Crusoe tree, fly as gulls, become a Kansas home or construct Rapunzel’s tower. Every Anthony Browne hallmark is here: anthropomorphic woodlands, Magritte skies, gloriously incongruous transformations. A triumph of a Willy-celebration!

Catriona Nicholson

Titles for readers Moving On from Primary to High School

 

The Vanishing of Billy Buckle

Written by Sally Gardner

Illustrated by David Roberts

Orion (eB)   £5.99

ISBN: 978-1444003741

Another fabulous story about the Fairy Detective Agency, who appeared in the books Operation Bunny and Three Pickled Herrings. The Giant, Billy Buckle has disappeared. He went away for the weekend, leaving his six year old daughter, Primrose, in the safe-keeping of the Agency. However, Billy did not reappear and Emily and Co were not only concerned about him, but were also anxious because Primrose was growing very fast indeed, so much so that she was threatening to shoot through the roof. The search for Billy leads the team to the seaside and involves them in the theft of a diamond, a murder and a talent show! The pace is fast and furious and the plot quite complex, making for gripping reading. There is never a dull moment - the next crisis is just around the corner!

Patricia Thompson

 

 Nightmares! 368

Written by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Doubleday (eB)   £9.99

ISBN: 978-085753555

Nightmares! The debut novel from actor Jason Segel, of The Muppet Movie, and Kirsten Miller is actually a dream to read. Charlie Laird’s widowed father has recently remarried and Charlie hates his new stepmother. Not only because he resents her trying to take his Mum’s place, but because they have moved into her house - a huge purple mansion at the edge of town. Since moving there Charlie has had nightmares, and now the nightmares are beginning to invade his waking life too. It is up to Charlie to stop them before they take over forever. Nightmares! is an impressive start to a proposed trilogy, although it does read as a stand-alone novel too. The nightmares in the book may be familiar to young readers - fear of the dark and worries about exams. At times, the story is quite scary, especially President Fear and his goblin followers. The scares are balanced though by some lighter moments with other Netherworld characters, such as gorgons and clowns, who believe that they are there “to help children face their fears” and that once they have achieved this, the nightmares will retire to Dreamworld. This exciting fantasy adventure is ideal for confident readers.

Jane Hall

Mutant City

Written by Steve Feasey

Bloomsbury (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-1408843031

Mutant City, the first of a thrilling new adventure series, is ideal for young fans of the X-Men. It begins with the destruction of a secret experimental facility, and the covert escape of its five residents - children created with super-powers. Jump forward thirteen years and the world is divided between the privileged ‘pure’ and the abused ‘mutants’. The existence of the mutant children has been discovered by President Melk – their creator, and the battle begins between those who want to keep the children safe, and those who want to use their powers for their own benefit. This action packed tale moves along at a swift pace, but never at the expense of the plot or character development. Although aimed at a young teen audience, the premise is quite dark: mutant children created to be used and disposed of by the rich and powerful. The chapters focus on different characters so the reader gradually gets to know each one a little more. Rush and Brick are the main focus of this book and their relationship is strong and loyal. No doubt other characters will be developed more in future books. President Melk is pure evil. A thrilling read.

Jane Hall

Titles for Young Teenage Readers

 

Opal Plumstead

Written by Jacqueline Wilson

Illustrated by Nick Sharratt

Doubleday (eB)   £12 .99

ISBN: 978-0857531094

There are always legions of fans waiting avidly for the next Jacqueline Wilson novel and here comes number 100! We are taken back to 1913. Women are starting to demand the right to vote, trade unions are gaining power in the work place and World War One is not far away. Initially, Opal is not aware of any of this. She is busy coming top in everything at school and hoping to go on to university, but these dreams are shattered when her father is jailed for embezzlement and she has to leave school and start work at the sweet factory. Here she learns, among many other things, that bullying is not confined to the schoolyard and that the class system still holds firm.  Opal’s family find it a struggle to make ends meet and retain their standard of living, but Opal is an intelligent and spirited young lady who is determined to make the best of the situation. Jacqueline Wilson uses her usual deceptively light touch to tackle some weighty topics and make them accessible to her young teen readers.

Jan Lennon

 

The Piper

Written by Danny Weston

Andersen (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-1783440511

In this wonderfully dramatic story supernatural forces are at work on Romney March. At the beginning of World War II Peter and Daisy are evacuated from Dagenham to a remote farmhouse inhabited by an elderly gentleman, his invalid daughter and their devoted housekeeper. The marshland around the house is treacherous as paths are difficult to follow so the children are told not to go out alone. Each night they hear music that Daisy feels compelled to follow, but inexplicably their new guardians claim not to hear it. On a rare trip away from the house Peter hears the story of the piper and his thirst for revenge. He realises that his sister is in great danger and there is very little time to prevent yet another tragedy happening on the marsh. Danny Weston’s debut novel is an exciting and atmospheric tale with ghostly dancers and mysterious music interwoven with real locations and historical events. There is also an ancient curse and a cast of strangely remote adult characters living in an eerie isolated house, so this has all the ingredients of an enjoyably scary read.

Jan Lennon

 

Skulduggery Pleasant: Armageddon Outta Here

Written by Derek Landy

HarperCollins (eB)   £14.99

ISBN: 978-0007559534

Armageddon Outta Here (even Derek Landy admits he can’t believe they let him use this title) is not for those new to the world of Skulduggery Pleasant, but is a must read for those legions of fans eagerly awaiting the final book in the series. It is a collection of short stories previously available from websites, bonuses previously in earlier titles, the World Book Day novella The End of the World, some new short stories, plus a sneak peak at that final book The Dying of the Light. The book opens with a story set in1861 in South Dakota and follows The Dead Men pursuing a character that fans will know well. This warns the reader that this is no ordinary Skulduggery book. It leaps across the years telling tales of adventures between the novels, but a useful timeline helps place the tales in context. My personal favourite is Get thee Behind Me, Bubba Moon, a ghost story that would not be out of place in a Stephen King collection. My advice, if you are a fan don’t miss this book, if not get this book and the first Skulduggery Pleasant book and join in the fun.

Trevor Hall

 

Buffalo Soldier

Written by Tanya Landman

Walker (eB)   £7.99

ISBN: 978-1406314595

This book, of very wide ranging themes, basically tells the story of a young female slave, liberated by the American Civil War, who pretends to be a boy and joins the army. This may seem an unlikely scenario, but it is actually based on a true story. Alongside this basic plot, the book explores in some depth, the treatment of freed slaves, the pursuit of the Native American population and the management of the problems that they allegedly create. It also exposes in some detail the role of the Army, the Government, and the corrupt Indian agents in the treatment of the various tribal groups. It does not make for comfortable reading, but, it is brilliantly written! The text is a narrative by Charlotte/Charley and the book is impossible to put down. The reader can sense her feelings of fear for herself, her growing pity for the Native Americans, and her pleasure and affection for her horse and the other members of her troop, who are all black and freed slaves. There is also a sense of her growing belief that nothing will ever change and that the freedom that all slaves dream about is just a word meaning absolutely nothing. I would very strongly recommend this book.

Patricia Thompson

 

The Convent

Written by Maureen McCarthy

Allen & Unwin   £11.99

ISBN: 978-1743361184

The huge Abbotsford Convent community, where a closed order of nuns runs a school, an orphanage and one of the now notorious Magdalene Laundries, touched the lives of four generations of women in the same family. Sadie has her young daughter, Ellen, taken from her when, without any warning or court involvement, she is declared to be an unfit mother. Ellen grows up in the convent and eventually marries and has a daughter of her own, Cecilia. While Cecilia willingly enters the order as a nun, she leaves the order and gives birth to an illegitimate daughter, whom she gives up for adoption. Peach, the last link in the family chain, has a student job at the café – in the now-converted Convent building. The nuns have long gone but the memories remain. The stories of the four young women play out and intertwine in an absorbing, convincing portrayal of the journey each of them must make as she struggles to escape from her past. It is a poignant read, all the more so for being based on Maureen McCarthy’s own family history.

Yvonne Coppard

 

Killing Sound

Written by Paul Southern

Chicken House (eB)   £7.99

ISBN: 978-1909489080

This is the story of Jodie, who at the age of three years witnessed the terrible scene of her parents’ murder. She has suppressed the memory for years, but now something has awoken the past. In this horrifying story of the paranormal, Jodie and her friends confront a terrifying enemy, unleashing monstrous forces with disastrous consequences. The story unfolds slowly as Jodie first finds, and then tries to experiment with, her scientist father’s old equipment. He was in the process of testing his theories to explain the paranormal with ultrasound, working in the bowels of the London underground. But his work was cut short by a ghastly explosion and double murder. This is an exciting story, with a strong plot, as we can believe in Jodie and her motivation for seeking the truth. As the plot becomes increasingly violent we begin to suspect that Jodie may, unwittingly, be part of the problem. The final episode is disturbing and leaves a familiar question to be answered – should teenage horror novels steer towards a happy or at least hopeful ending, or not? Not recommended for the faint-hearted!

Liz Dubber

 

Titles for More Mature readers

Out of Control

Written by Sarah Alderson

Simon & Schuster (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-1471115752

Liva, who has recently moved to New York to start a new life, is with the police giving a statement for a crime she has witnessed. Whilst there, she meets Jay, who has been arrested for car theft. Armed men break into the police station killing as they go, but, together, Jay and Liva manage to escape. Liva gradually comes to realise that she is the target and not just a witness. This book is exciting, fast paced and a real page-turner. The tension is palpable and the chase through the streets and subways of New York is like watching a film. There are unexpected twists to the story and a teenage romance which all adds to its appeal.

Ingrid Fox

 

Adaptation

Written by Malinda Lo

Hodder (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-1444917949

Malinda Lo skilfully intertwines sci-fi and romance in this, her new teen novel. Across North America flocks of birds are flying into planes, killing thousands in the resultant crashes. Fearing terrorism, the US government cancels all flights. Reese and David are stranded in Arizona following a debating competition, and on their drive home to San Francisco a bird crashes into their windscreen causing their car to flip over. When they awake twenty-seven days later in a military hospital, no one will tell them where they are or what has happened to them. All the two know is that they are subtly different from before the crash. Adaptation is perfect for fans of The X-Files. Lo has gathered all the key features to enthral young teens in a love triangle between Reese, David and the mysterious Amber, thrilling conspiracy theories and aliens. The main characters are well depicted in shy Reese, wary of romance due to her parents’ failed marriage, and geeky best friend Julian, thrilled by Reese’s extra-terrestrial adventures. While waiting for the sequel, Inheritance, fans can enjoy the accompanying eBook novella Natural Selection.

Jane Hall

 

Extra reviews - Issue 58 Winter 2014

Picture Books for young children

 

Those Magnificent Sheep in their Flying Machine

Written by Peter Bently

Illustrated by David Roberts

Andersen   £11.99

ISBN: 978-1849396349

This is delightfully silly book; a rhyming account of what happens when a flock of sheep hi-jack an old-fashioned bi-plane. There’s lots of alliteration and repetition which adds to the fun. The story moves at a very fast pace as the sheep in the yellow bi-plane circuit the globe, calling in at France, Spain, Egypt, Tibet, India and the USA in a spiffing adventure. Useful for the classroom as the story links to the history and geography syllabi and topics like ‘Transport’. The colourful illustrations perfectly match the text, conveying not only the pace, excitement and silliness, but also the varied landscape together with the personalities and emotions of the runaway sheep and the mystified chaps on the ground. It’s a very funny tour de force.

Julia Jarman

Where Are You Banana?

Written by Sofie Laguna

Illustrated by Craig Smith

Allen &Unwin   £9.99

ISBN: 978-1743361627

This story sensitively evokes the all-consuming panic and anguish experienced when a family pet goes missing. Told in the first person by Banana’s young master who has now started school, Banana is a dachshund-resembling dog who is very much a part of the family, going everywhere the family goes and chewing Mum’s shoes, Dad’s work helmet and the twins’ toys when circumstances mean there’s no option but to leave him behind. Unfortunately, he’s banned from Aunt Cecelia’s for chasing Penelope, the big red hen, and it’s when he is left in the garden with a new bone, that he digs his way out, disappears and the frantic search begins. This is a heart-warming story, beautifully illustrated, to which all dog owners can relate!

Gill Roberts

First Steps in reading for young children

 

Superfrog and the Big Stink

Written & illustrated by Michael Foreman

Anderson (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-1783440306

In inimitable, painterly style Michael Foreman tells the tale of Frank, the superfrog, not only in words but in the symbolic use of his water colour palette: from fresh green colour-washed fields and the blue lily-fringed river, where Frank, the superfrog, sits quietly reading, through the murky smokiness of an industrial, decaying landscape that needs Frank’s attention, to the opulent interior hues of the city’s tallest building and finally the consoling splendour of a rainbow. Frank is supercharged and can travel great distances, literally under his own steam: his fuel is his own body gas. Reminiscent of the Pied Piper in his colourful clothes and his ability to summon children to follow his lead, Frank’s mission is to rid the town of its invasive pollution and to expose the way in which local maladministration has brought this situation about. There’s much to talk about here in terms of caring for our world and much to amuse young readers as Frank propels himself, at will, by discharging gas from his remarkable bum.

Catriona Nicholson

 

 

The Dawn Chorus

Written and illustrated by Suzanne Barton

Bloomsbury   £10.99

ISBN: 978-1408839218

Peep wakes one morning to the sound of beautiful singing. He discovers that the music is coming from the birds in the ‘Dawn Chorus’ and he wants to be able to sing with them. They agree to audition him the next morning, but he oversleeps and misses it. Determined not to oversleep the next time, he stays awake all night only to find he’s too tired to sing. Sadly, he realises that he doesn’t fit in with the Dawn Chorus until a new friend tells him the reason and shows him the right time for him to sing. A delightful story about fitting in and finding your own place in the world. Gentle illustrations capture the feel of the story perfectly and use the space on the page very cleverly. This new author/illustrator is definitely one to watch.

Annie Everall

 

 Football Star

Written by Mina Javaherbin

Illustrated by Renato Alarcão

Walker   £6.99

ISBN: 978-1406357219

Written by an Iranian author and illustrated by a Brazilian artist, this highly topical picture book follows the fortunes of a scratch football team made up of youngsters living in poverty near the sea in Brazil. Paulo hopes to be a professional football star so that his mother will not have to work long hours. He takes care of his younger sister, Maria, as she teaches him to read and he, in return, teaches her football tactics. Everyone smiles as Paulo assembles his team after a hard day out fishing and finally allows Maria to share in the game too. Lavish water-colour illustrations quickly and effectively establish the atmosphere of a small town where no-one is rich but life is still lived to the full.

Nicholas Tucker

Titles for the young child just beginning to Read Alone

The Frankenstein Teacher

Written by Tony Bradman

Illustrated by Peter Kavanagh

Corgi (eB)   £4.99

ISBN: 9780552568999

The Doctor, in his science lab, creates a living creature - Mr Frankenstein - who loves children and desperately wants to become a teacher. When he qualifies he goes to his first school to teach 3F, but his reception is unexpected. The children are stunned at this new, huge, ugly and very scary teacher and soon Mr Frankenstein decides to leave because no-one likes him. Circumstances change and before the end of the story Mr Frankenstein is happily back in the classroom. The illustrations are excellent, there is a good use of rhyming words and onomatopoeia and the story is funny. “Colour First Readers are perfect for beginner readers and all the text has been checked and approved by a reading specialist. It is the ideal size, length and level for children beginning to read.”, so says the publisher!

Ingrid Fox

Super-Saver Mouse

Written by Sandi Toksvig

Illustrated by George Hollingworth

Corgi   £4.99

ISBN: 978-0552568944

This fun book is part of a new series of books ideal for new readers – Colour First Readers. At the moment there are twenty books to choose from, all written by familiar and well-loved children’s authors such as Sandi Toksvig, Jacqueline Wilson and Paul Stewart. Each book is an entertaining tale which will keep young readers entertained, thus encouraging a love of reading. For instance Super-Saver Mouse tells the exciting story of Boris, a very brave young mouse, who has to stop a tube-train after his friend has an accident on the track. As well as being a thrilling read, this book will help children learn both how anyone can be a friend, regardless of how different they are, and, how the littlest person can make a big difference. All the books have big bold illustrations on each page to help support developing readers; either by giving visual prompts for difficult words, or by encouraging conversation with sharing adults about what is happening. At the back of each book is an invaluable guide for adults on how to best support their young reader, along with activities for children so that they gain further enjoyment from the book.

Jane Hall

Titles for the Confident Reader in Primary School

Charlie Merrick’s Misfits in Fouls, Friends and Football

Written and illustrated by Dave Cousins

OUP (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-0192736598

This book was written to coincide with the 2014 Football World Cup and will appeal to all football-mad young people. It is full of amusing illustrations, comic strips, football trivia, match reports, true facts and funny doodles. Charlie loves football and when he isn’t playing the game he is doodling kits and game formations. This is his first season as captain of North Star Galaxy Under 12s and he discovers there is an opportunity for youth teams to play in exhibition matches at the World Cup Tournament. Charlie wants to enter his team but there is a problem – all the best players have left to join another team. However, Charlie is determined and the story evolves in the lead up to the warm-up match at the World Cup. Will North Star Galaxy make it to the Under 12s tournament?

Ingrid Fox

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures

Written by Kate DiCamillo    

Illustrated by K.G. Campbell

Walker   £10.99

ISBN: 978-1406345186

Winner of the 2014 Newbery Medal, this is a characteristically quirky book from an acclaimed writer. The opening pages, in black and white graphic novel format, focus on the spectacular features of the Ulysses super-suction vacuum cleaner that is given to middle-aged poetry-loving Tootie Tickham by her loving husband. So powerful is the cleaner that when Tootie is persuaded to take it outside into her backyard an unfortunate visiting squirrel is sucked into its depths. Next door lives Flora Belle Buckman who, from her bedroom, sees the tragedy unfolding. Inspired by the deeds of her comic book hero, she rushes to the aid of the stunned squirrel. Needless to stay the creature is rescued, given the name of Ulysses and, born anew, assumes superhero powers and strength of comic book magnitude. Those heightened superhero moments when Ulysses writes poetry, flies and performs in unbelievable ways are signified by the use of the graphic format. But the author is not only concerned with writing a funny novel: the growth of love and loyalty between Flora and Ulysses is a touching thread woven into the narrative and Kate DiCamillo skilfully unsettles the novel’s comic dimension by gently exposing fragile human relationships that need attention.

Catriona Nicholson

Titles for readers Moving On from Primary to High School

 

The Forbidden Library

Written by Django Wexler

Doubleday (eB)   £12.99

ISBN: 978-0857532879

Alice lives alone with her father and late one night hears him having an argument with a fairy - a horrible beast with warts and needle-like teeth. It is threatening her father, insisting he accepts a mysterious offer, or else. Very shortly after this, Alice’s father is lost at sea and she is sent to live with a mysterious uncle, Geryon, of whom she has never heard. Her life becomes even stranger when she discovers a huge library owned by Geryon, which she is not supposed to enter. Once she starts exploring she discovers the magic within the library’s books which suck her into their internal worlds, helping her to unravel the story behind the mysterious fairy and the disappearance of her father. A refreshing plunge into the world of fairy and magic that successfully immerses the reader alongside Alice in fighting dark forces and evil characters. A thoroughly entertaining novel. I really enjoyed the plot structure and the character development. Django Wexler has succeeded in creating a highly likeable heroine in a magical world that will continue to reward its readers for many years to come. I can’t wait for the sequel.

Annie Everall

 

The Boy in the Porch

Written by Sharon Creech

Andersen (eB)   £9.99

ISBN: 978-1849397728

Once again Sharon Creech has created a wonderfully whimsical story about ordinary people whose lives are touched by the extraordinary. A young couple wake one day to find a strange boy curled up on the chair on the front porch. A simple note says his name is Jacob and asks them to look after him. He seems happy to be with them but doesn’t speak – simply taps messages. Their lives are transformed as they care for the boy who makes himself at home at the farm befriending the animals, painting bright pictures and learning to play the guitar. The simplicity of this story adds to the moving portrayal of what makes a family and how unconditional love binds people together. The young couple are concerned to do what is best for Jacob and try to find his family, but when he is eventually claimed they are bereft. A friend suggests that as they created such a happy family with Jacob they should continue to foster children and over the years a succession of youngsters cross their porch and enrich their lives in many ways. Jacob had taught them well and years later they are rewarded.

Louise Stothard

 

The Chronicles of Narmo

Written by Caitlin Moran

Corgi (R) (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-0552570664

There are plenty of teenager readers who want to be writers (good for them!) and this is the book to show them how it is done. These young readers are unlikely to be followers of Caitlin Moran’s column in The Times, but they are sure to love this laugh-out-loud debut novel that she wrote when she was just fifteen years old. The highly entertaining story is based on the author’s own family life at the time and it follows the chaotic Narmo family of Wolverhampton through one whole year, when, among other things, the parents decide to home-educate their children, go on holiday to Scotland, and attend a family wedding. The closely observed episodes of family life are interspersed with delightful little scenes of pure fantasy, for example, a conversation between two gargoyles on the outside of a church. Caitlin Moran was obviously a brilliant writer from the day she was born and she has the eye to spot the humour in everyday situations.

Jan Lennon

 

Pigeon Summer

Written by Ann Turnbull

Walker (R) (eB)   £5.99

ISBN:  978-1406352498

First published in 1992, this is a welcome reprint of the first in this trilogy about a Shropshire mining family in the 1930s. Despite the poverty and struggle of her family’s life, Mary takes on the mantel of racing her father’s pigeons when he has to leave home to look for work. Mary’s ability to focus on the pigeons, and the possibility of winning a major race, lifts her above the anxieties of daily life. Family relationships are portrayed with a realistic combination of affection and frustration, and readers will be drawn into Mary’s world with sympathy and understanding, as well as a whiff of excitement as the race draws near. Warm, sensitive and unsentimental, this book will be enjoyed for its sense of a time and place, different from today’s, and for the direct straightforwardness of Mary’s character as she acts, not to change her life, but to live it to the full. Further titles in the trilogy take up the stories of different characters in the community and are also currently available: No Friend of Mine and Room for a Stranger.

Lucy Russell

Titles for Young Teenage Readers

 

Running Girl

Written by Simon Mason

David Fickling (eB)   £12.99

ISBN: 978-0857560582

Every so often there is an anti-hero who you can’t help but secretly love or admire and Simon Mason’s new character, Garvie Smith, certainly fits the bill. He is intelligent, attractive and very capable, but bored and cannot see the point of getting good grades. His teachers despair and his mother warns him about drinking too much and smoking ‘that stuff’ with his friends, threatening to take him back to Barbados. Whilst Garvie declares that nothing ever happens, D.I. Singh is investigating the murder of Garvie’s ex-girlfriend, Amy, the running girl of the title. Garvie becomes intrigued by the mystery surrounding Amy’s death and is impatient when the police ask what he considers to be the wrong questions and make incorrect assumptions. This exciting and intriguing mystery story has many unexpected twists and turns. It is fascinating to follow the deductions of a clever mind as clues and inconsistencies eventually lead to the truth. The characters are interesting and credible, but, best of all, Simon Mason has created a new hero and I hope Garvie Smith will soon return with a new mystery to solve.

Louise Stothard

 

Life after Theft

Written by Aprilynne Pike

HarperCollins (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-0007515974

This hilarious story of a teenage boy finding his way at a new school and in a new neighbourhood, has an unusual twist. Jeff and his family have come into some money and moved to wealthy California. On his very first day at school Jeff almost falls over the most gorgeous girl lying in the hallway. The most disturbing aspect of this unexpected sight is that he is the only one who can see her. Kimberlee is a ghost, but is delighted that Jeff can see her and confesses to having been a kleptomaniac. She can only move on once everything she has stolen is returned. As Jeff reluctantly gets involved in this ambitious plan he discovers that there is more to Kimberlee’s past than she is letting on. Also, he discovers that returning stolen goods is far more difficult than he thought. Add to that the ever constant presence of an annoying ghost at your shoulder and you have all the ingredients of a farcical adventure. But, there is a deeper layer too, as the truth behind Kim’s death is revealed and Jeff realises that wealth doesn’t necessarily bring happiness. An entertaining and thought provoking read.

Louise Stothard

 Bet Your Life

Written by Jane Casey

Corgi (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-0552566049

Jess Tennant first appeared in the book How to Fall when she arrived in Port Sentinel and immediately became involved in a quest to find out why her cousin died. In this second book Jess finds herself, reluctantly, investigating a violent incident when Seb Dawson is taken to hospital fighting for his life, apparently the victim of a hit-and-run accident. However, Jess isn’t convinced. She soon discovers that Seb may not be the clean-cut, nice guy that everyone thinks he is and that there are some very nasty games being played by the teenage population in her new home town. But this is more than just a dark and intriguing thriller, as Jess has her own personal problems to deal with. The events of last summer have made it hard for her to make friends and her fledgling romance with Will is being discouraged by Will’s policeman father. He has his own reasons for not wanting Jess in his son’s life or in his investigations. The teenage characters, even the unpleasant ones, are realistic and convincing and the plot twists and turns as it moves towards its dramatic conclusion.

Jan Lennon

 

Stars

Written by Antony Lishak

Acorn (eB)   £7.99

ISBN: 978-1909122680

Antony Lishak’s compelling novel about the plight of Polish Jews after Hitler’s bombing of Warsaw, follows the story of two boys, Stefan and Marcus, as they come to terms with the abhorrent changes that Nazism brings to the country. Stefan, a privileged Pole, son of the director of the Warsaw Zoo, is Marcus’s best friend and there is nothing extraordinary in that, until the Nazi’s arrive and being friends with a Jew is strictly forbidden. This is a subject which has been well documented and a plethora of books like Gleiztman’s Once, Then, Now and After have dealt with similar issues for children. Antony Lishak’s account is unusual as it is set around Warsaw Zoo and in particular its depiction of Jan Zabinski, Poland’s  ‘Oscar Schindler’, whose bravery and courage in finding ways of outwitting the Nazis saved hundreds of Polish Jews by sheltering them in empty animal cages. The author spent eight years writing and researching this book. The gripping storyline, and occasional touches of black humour, leave a harrowing impression of one of humanity’s darkest periods of history.

Richard Monte

 

The Children of the New Forest

Written by Frederick Marrayat

Hesperus (R) (eB)   £8.99

ISBN: 978-1843914877

A very handsomely presented edition of a book first published in 1847, when far fewer titles were available for children and this was a staple of juvenile fiction. Will this story of four orphaned children learning to fend for themselves in the New Forest during the political chaos of the English Civil War still appeal to current young readers? There will certainly be some who will enjoy its quiet, old-fashioned charms, for there are many pleasures to be found following the travails of the Beverley children whose Cavalier father has been killed in battle and whose home has been burnt to the ground by Roundheads. The account of their education in a simple life of hunting and farming is fascinating and the twists and turns of the plot as they try to survive the turmoil of war are gripping. True, there are some long-winded passages and the phraseology is occasionally a little archaic, but a story of children overcoming odds is always enthralling. On top of all this, there is a quality that young readers may relish, since it is often missing in contemporary fiction - a feeling of comfort and reassurance and steadfastness. 

Nigel Hinton

Titles for More Mature readers

Take Back the Skies

Written by Lucy Saxon

Bloomsbury (eB)   £7.99

ISBN: 978-1408847657

The totalitarian world this story describes – a society of privileged government officials oppressing a population with lies about external threats from warring neighbours – is reminiscent of 1984. However Lucy Saxon spices it up with the additional nastiness of appalling experiments on children to produce a mechanical master race. The nemesis of this vile regime is Catherine Hunter, the daughter of one of the leaders of the government, whose father plans to marry her to someone she dislikes. Escaping from his clutches, disguised as a boy, she teams up with some smugglers on a skyship and learns that everything she has been taught by the regime is a lie. She launches a revolution. The action is fast and furious, Catherine is an appealing heroine and her relationship with a boy on board the skyship provides comedy, growing romance and tragedy. It’s a winning formula!

Nigel Hinton

 

 Trouble

Written by Non Pratt

Walker (eB)   £6.99

ISBN: 978-1406347692

Hannah is fifteen, and enjoying experimenting with sex. Fletch is her boyfriend, loud and funny, yet probably not for keeps. Tyrone is Marcy’s boyfriend, exuding sexual attraction. Aaron is new to the school and has a secret to hide. When Hannah falls pregnant, the identity of the father is a mystery. Meanwhile, Aaron decides to take on the huge responsibility of claiming fatherhood and supporting Hannah. Using frank colloquial language, this novel depicts a group of teenagers coping with the realities of growing up, puberty and developing sexual experience. The diary format, related by Hannah and Aaron in turn, involves the reader closely in their lives and we see their dilemmas and concerns from their viewpoints. Apart from an understanding granny, the adults fade into the background and offer very little practical help, and so it is the teenagers themselves who have to deal with their own problems. This is a heady mix of sexuality and promiscuousness, crude jokes, foul language and teenage banter, but older teenagers will appreciate a book which tells life as it sometimes is.

Liz Dubber