Category Archives: Book review

Book Review: Orla and the Wild Hunt

Title: Orla and the Wild Hunt

Written by: Anna Hoghton

Illustrated by: David Dean

Published by: Chicken House

*Orla and the Wild Hunt* by Anna Hoghton

Orla and the Wild Hunt is an emotional middle-grade quest, which takes its inspirations from Irish folktales, myths and legends and is brimming with magic and suspense. The cover by David Dean is beautiful. I particularly like the fold out flaps giving a visual impression of the magical Fairy Kingdom in Tangled Woods inside the front cover and the underwater city of the merrows inside the back cover, which matched Anna Houghton’s descriptions perfectly.

The book is from the point of view of thirteen-year-old Orla who is grieving the death of her mother. She no longer sings as music reminds her of her mum and everything she’s lost. She has rejected everyone and is wallowing in this grief unable to move on, making her bitter and unhappy. She is especially angry at her younger brother, Apollo, who acts like things are ok and gets on well with everyone. This causes her to be very spiteful towards him.

She has happy memories of holidaying in Ireland with her Gran before her Mum died two years ago from an unstated illness. She reminisces about the freedom they had, the old-fashioned games they played, listening to Gran’s stories of magical creatures who live in the Tangled Woods near her house and best of all Gran’s home-cooked meals and cakes, especially the tiffin. This motivates her to choose to visit Gran in Ireland rather than go on holiday with her dad, new fiancée and her two sons. She is surprised her brother Apollo wants to come with her.

It riles Orla even more when they arrive in Ireland and her Gran is acting different. Apollo seems to have a special bond with her and Orla feels like an outsider. She can’t understand why Gran insists they keep the doors and windows locked at all times and won’t let them out after dark not even in the garden. It is the total opposite of what she used to be like. She discovers people have been going missing but believes her Gran is keeping secrets from her and is hiding something in the shed.

When Gran sneaks out one night, Orla climbs out the window and follows her to the fairies midsummer festivities where she discovers the Irish myths and legends told in Gran’s stories are all true. The thing stealing people away in the night is the Wild Hunt that feeds on people’s sadness. Gran asks the fairies to help her stop it. The fairies refuse. Orla wakes the next afternoon back in her bed and does not know how she got there. Her Gran has not been around all day. She is missing and Orla believes it is her fault, as she unlocked Gran’s bedroom window.

“…After three nights of being the Wild Hunt’s captives, mortal victims lose their minds. After three months their hearts lose all their love and the victims become Wild Hunt themselves.”
(Quote from page 35 of Orla and the Wild Hunt by Anna Hoghton)

Orla is determined to find and save her Gran from the Wild Hunt. Together with Apollo, a mysterious boy who claims he’s a friend of Gran called Connor, a rude pooka they find locked in the shed and the nonchalant giant Fionn the Pooka introduces them to in the hope Fionn will eat them, they have three days to rescue Gran, or she will become part of the Wild Hunt.

Anna Houghton cleverly explores the complexity of grief taking the reader through each stage of Orla’s emotional journey as they go on their quest to save Gran. We are shown her anger and how she is lashing out at her brother and then we see her sinking more and more into depression after the loss of her Gran. When she has to sing for the water sprites and has to give them a gift of her most treasured possession, she finally begins to accept her mother has gone and is able to move on to celebrate the good times they had spent together. It is a real journey of emotional discovery and growth.

All the characters are well portrayed, each with their own flaws that make them more endearing. I really felt for their loss of their mother and was swept away with their quest to save their Gran. The strong sibling bond between Orla and Apollo is very believable and is part of what makes this story so great. Through their quest, Orla learns they need each other and can face anything together.

This is the ideal novel for readers aged 9+. The text is well-written and flows smoothly, so suitable for reading aloud to the class, or at bedtime. It would be a great book to help young readers come to terms with grief and loss in their own lives. I would recommend this book for all readers who love fantasy adventures.

Book Review: Spark

Title: Spark

Written by: M G Leonard

Cover illustrated by: Paddy Donnelly

Map illustrated by: Laurissa Jones

Published by: Walker Books

Another exciting read by M G Leonard. I particularly like the great unique selling point of being about a group of young ornithologists who solve crimes, using their birdwatching skills. Pure genius. Spark is the second book in this crime adventure series and this time, the story is from Jack’s point of view.

On his way to meet his best-friend Twitch (Vernon) and the other Twitchers at their secret hideout in Aves Woods Jack discovers an injured cat. Despite the cat lashing out and scratching him he carries it over a mile to the nearest vet where it can be treated. The vet informs him the cat has been shot and it is not the first cat in the area to be shot. The first cat died. The owner of the cat, Colonel Mustard, asks jack to find out who is shooting the cats. Jack is excited about solving the mystery and believes it is the perfect quest for the Twitchers over the Autumn half-term. To Jack’s dismay his best friend does not believe him and is much more excited about the fact a rare Lammergeier vulture had been spotted by the Twitcher grapevine and is heading their way.

Spark is a story about what it means to be a true friend. It was great to learn more about Jack and his venture into twitching and finding his spark bird. Whilst searching for clues to solve the mystery of who shot Colonel Mustard jack uncovers an even bigger crime and they must all pull together to catch the criminals.

A brilliant book for all middle-grade readers. The plot zips along and will keep the readers reading until the end.

I have previously reviewed this book on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Book Review: A Family Christmas

Title: A Family Christmas

Written by: Alana Washington

Illustrated by: Emily Nash

Published by: Uclan Publishing

Written in rhyming couplets, A Family Christmas by Alana Washington and Emily Nash, brings back fond memories of reading, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. I believe it is all set to become another Christmas classic. The books opens with the excitement of Christmas morning and guides us smoothly though the family events of the day right up to bedtime when the children are safely tucked up back in their beds.

A Family Christmas would be a great book for encouraging discussion on their own family Christmas routines and traditions. Children can talk about the similarities and differences of how they celebrate Christmas Day, what foods they eat, what activities they enjoy and look forward to, and what makes the perfect Christmas. It would also be ideal in the classroom to help children with sequencing the day.

There is a strong sense of family throughout the book leaving you with a sense of peace and hope.

You can buy copies of A Family Christmas by Alana Washington and Emily Nash from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org, an organisation with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.

Blog Tour – The Complete Fairy Stories of Oscar Wilde

It is with great pleasure I join the blog tour for renowned author Oscar Wilde and the fantastic reprint of the compendium of his fairy Stories in The Complete Fairy Stories Of Oscar Wilde. It is such an honour to be included in this tour and I must thank Anne Cater from Random Things Through My Letterbox for organising the tour and for ensuring I received the incredible collectors’ edition as a review copy.

Born in Dublin in 1854, Oscar Wilde was an Irish wit, playwright and poet best remembered for his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray written in 1891. His social comedies includes The Importance of Being Earnest first performed in 1895. This is one of my favourite plays and one that I had the delight of acting in whilst I was in the sixth form at school. Oscar Wilde was educated at Trinity College, Dublin and Magdalen College, Oxford. In 1884 he married Constance Lloyd, and his two sons were born in 1885 and 1886. Oscar Wilde died in Paris in 1900.

My stop on the tour involves a book review of this beautiful new edition. It is not so much a review of the contents, as reviewing Oscar Wilde’s work as for nearly 150 years, the classic fairy stories of Oscar Wilde have been cherished by readers of all ages. This will be more a review of the magnificent book itself.

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Title: The Complete Fairy Stories Of Oscar Wilde

Written by: Oscar Wilde

Illustrated by: Philippe Jullian

Published by: Duckworth Books

The Complete Fairy Stories Of Oscar Wilde is a stunning 70th-anniversary gift-edition of Duckworth’s treasured compilation. He originally published two volumes of beloved fairy tales – The Happy Prince and other stories, bought out in 1888 and A House of Pomegranates, published in 1891. Now we have the good fortune of being able to rediscover all nine of the stories in this beautiful new edition of Duckworth’s exquisite collection.

The first edition of the complete collection was first published in 1952 and the original copy contained over twenty original line drawings. These exquisite illustrations, created by the distinguished and celebrated artist and aesthete, Philippe Jullian, have been expertly reproduced for this gorgeous giftable edition of The Complete Fairy Stories Of Oscar Wilde.

The new edition is quarter-bound with intricate green foil cover and spine detailing. It has been divided into two sections to keep the original volumes together. This is a beautiful edition and one people will want to cherish forever. You know how sometimes you pick up a book and want to stroke the cover well this copy is highly strokeable.

Oscar Wilde’s stories themselves are as relevant today as they were in the late 1800’s. His insight into human character is perceptive and pertinent from, The Nightingale and the Rose, where the nightingale gives up his life for a selfish, ungrateful woman, to The Star-Child that portrays what a kind and just leader should be with the underlying message that evil is still out there

His deep Christian beliefs are also evident as can be seen in The Happy Prince where the statue and the Swallow devote their days to helping others and win their place in paradise, The Selfish Giant with the symbolic child who is Christ and The Fisherman and his Soul. There is also an afterword by Wilde’s son Vyvyan Holland, which explores the inspirations behind his father’s fairy stories and how they have roots in his devote Catholic beliefs and the influence of Irish folktales.

The Complete Fairy Stories Of Oscar Wilde would make the ideal Christmas of birthday present for all ages. If you have not read these stories I recommend that you do and if you have read them they are definitely worth re-reading. If you love Oscar Wilde’s writing and poignant comments on human nature as much as I do it is worth purchasing a copy as a celebrated collector’s item. head and shoulders above any other copy on the market.

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To join the other stops on the blog tour take a look at the schedule below:

You can purchase a copy of The Complete Fairy Stories Of Oscar Wilde published by Duckworth Books from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org.

Thanks again to Anne Carter for inviting me to take part and also to the publisher Duckworth Books for producing such a lovely copy. Thank you.

Book Review: The Miraculous Sweetmakers – The Frost Fair

Title: The Miraculous Sweetmakers – The Frost Fair

Written by: Natasha Hastings

Cover illustrated by: Alex T Smith

Published by: Harper Collins Children’s Books

The Miraculous Sweetmakers – The Frost Fair
by Natasha Hastings

An ingenious spooky story, full of intrigue and suspense. The book encompasses themes of family, friendship, loss, and overcoming grief.

Thirteen year old Thomasina feels responsible for the death of her twin brother Arthur. So when a mysterious, well-dressed man turns up in the family sweetshop claiming he is a conjurer and can bring Arthur back from the dead, she jumps at the chance. However, events spiral out of control putting not only her life at risk but also the lives of her friends and family.

I loved that the book was set in London 1683 when the River Thames froze over. Thomasina helps her father set up a sweet stall on the frozen river Thames. She makes friends with Anna who dreams of opening her own apothecary, which is a daring move in the 17^th century for a young girl, despite the fact many young children would be expected to work at their age. I like the way Natasha Hastings’ characters challenge the male/female stereotypes that were prominent during this time. This was also evident in the way Natasha expertly tackled the subplot of her mother’s grief and neighbours wanting to lock her up as it was seen as female mental illness. I found it realistic for the times.

On the whole the plot was well researched and full of twists and turns. I would recommend this book for all middle grade readers who love history with a hint of magic.

I have previously reviewed this book on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Book Review: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals

Title: A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals: Over 90 fun and fabulous festivals from around the world!

Written by: Claire Grace

Illustrated by: Christopher Corr

Published by: Frances Lincoln

*A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals by Claire Grace and Christopher Corr*

A Year Full of Celebrations and Festivals compiled by Christopher Corr and Claire Grace is a fantastic compendium of carnivals, festivals, historical commemorations, religious events and other special days, which are celebrated around the world. Each celebrations has a double page spread which has text on one side and a bright, vibrant illustration opposite that often bleeds across both pages. They have been collated into seasons with a brief introduction to each season to explains what that season has in common all over the world, however they mainly describe seasonal differences in the Northern hemisphere.

Each season is not organised in any particular order within the chapter. Spring opens with the Indian International Kite Festival, with the Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival Hanami in the middle and concludes with Martin Luther King Jr Day. Summer includes Palio de Siena the Italian horse race, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and finishes with a spread about the different Summer Solstice celebrations across the globe. Autumn starts with the Mid-Autumn Moon festival celebrated in East Asia, Diwali in the middle and climaxes with the Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival in the United Kingdom. Winter features Hanukkah first, The African Festival of Dancing Masks (FESTIMA) in the middle and finally New Year’s Eve Countdown across the world.

Claire Grace’s text provides a brief, concise explanation of the celebrations, which includes some of the history and pageantry involved. Scattered across each spread is an insightful information bubble or snippet that contains extra fun facts about that particular celebration to stretch and entertain readers. At the back of the book is a spread of glossary words that appear in the text.

This colourful non-fiction book would be a great reference book for teachers wanting to think of ideas for a school assembly that could be expanded and for children who are curious about the world and other cultures. The ideal book for children to dip in and out of during reading times.

This book was originally reviewed for Armadillo Magazine

Book Review: The Spectaculars

Title: The Spectaculars

Written by: Jodie Garnish

Cover by: Nathan Collins

Published by: Usborne

The Spectaculars is the first in a series of books about a group of magical performers with gifted special powers from the stars.

I was enticed to read this book by the beautiful cover illustrated by Nathan Collins. However, it took me a while to get into the story and feel any rapport for the main protagonist, eleven year old Harper Woolfe, but after the first three chapters I was hooked.

When three figures arrive at Harper’s window in a flying canoe, informing her that she is due to start her apprenticeship, Harper discovers she is a Spectacular. Harper is transported away in the canoe, from the rundown Theatre Borough of the Smoke to the amazing magical world of The Hidden Peaks, dressed only in her pyjamas and dressing gown. She arrives at a magical travelling theatre and boarding school, called the Wondria, which is in a tram and has a multitude of floors, an attic and a giant glass dome.

Like her mum Harper has a love of mechanics but has inherited her dad’s magical abilities to control stardust. One of the mysterious figures is blue-haired Trick who was her best friend before the ‘accident’ that killed her father but her mother had convinced her he was imaginary to spare her the truth of what she had lost. Trick is my favourite character and in a lot of the ways he carries the book. He comes across as mischievous, but he also has a calm and reassuring side to his nature. He is always very supportive of Harper.

She learns that on the day her dad died and the Spectaculars arrived through the Gateway, thirteen stars fell from the sky and were lost. These stars are being hunted for their magical powers.

This well-crafted story reminded me in places of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust and J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series but instead of a sorting hat there is a teapot, which brews the perfect tea for their character and instead of the fallen star being human they are animals.

This novel is a fascinating look at how superstition can lead to dramatic over-reactions. Harper is convinced by the spoilt Althea Reed that she is responsible for bringing Misfortune to the Wondria. The accidents and mysterious disturbances to theatre life continue until they threaten to close down the theatre for good. With Trick and new friend Thief the magician, Harper fights to save the theatre and help the fallen stars return home.

Jodie Garnish shows a real talent for creating imaginative worlds as well as some incredible, unique magical creatures, such as a ‘kobold’ called Helja, which can shape-shift into a broom and a mangle. Her world building is elaborate and impressive. One of my favourite settings is the ingenious magical library where the bookshelves look like they are suspended in the air high above their heads.

The Spectaculars is a fantastic amalgamation of the world of theatre with the world of magic. This is a boarding school story with a difference containing some exceptional twists. I particularly enjoyed the excellent twist at the end when the real antagonist is revealed with a surprising secret.

Ideal for readers 8+. This book would be a beautiful addition to libraries and school bookshelves.

Book Review: Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain

Title: Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain

Written by: Donna and Viskesh Amey Bhatt

Illustrated by: Salini Perera

Published by: Nosy Crow

Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain is a much needed, long overdue book that should adorn every bookshelf in all schools and libraries. It outlines the history of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh and how these cultures are entwined and shape British history. It was launched by Nosy Crow in July 2022 to coincide with the 75^th anniversary of the Partition of India.

This is an innovative children’s non-fiction book about belonging and celebrating the past, present and future of our complex and diverse nation written with a clear and concise writing style by husband and wife team, Donna and Viskesh Amey Bhatt. It is divided into double-page spread chapters that start with an introductory welcome, which explains how India is divided and the difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain, to a very useful timeline and glossary at the back of the book. With a chronological overall organisation it takes us from the past, into the present and looks onwards to the future.

Each beautifully illustrated spread covers such topics as how every person is an amalgamation of different things; the ancient history of India and its many religions; the British Empire and the decisions that led to a divided independent India. It touches on some difficult topics such as slavery and racism, as well as exploring the beauty of South Asian culture, customs, food, sport and language exuberated by the bright and colourful illustrations.

Lands of Belonging would be an asset in all classrooms for stimulating discussion on diversity and the celebration of our differences and similarities. I particularly liked the inclusion of the spread on the Asian calendar of celebrations, which would be perfect for helping children clarify and discuss the different religious festivals and celebrations throughout the year, whether the children traditionally celebrate these or not.

This brilliant book provides an insightful and inclusive educational overview of the links between our cultures. Truly a book about identity and belonging.

I was lucky enough to interview Donna Amey Bhatt for my Writing for Children slot in the UK’s national writing magazine, Writer’s Forum. The feature appeared in issue #247 21 Sep 2022. To read highlights from the feature take a look at my blog post: An interview with… Donna Amey Bhatt.

You can buy copies of Lands of Belonging: A History of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Britain by Donna and Viskesh Amey Bhatt and illustrated by Salini Perera from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org, an organisation with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.

Book Review: The Hologram and Other Sinister Stories

Title: The Hologram and Other Sinister Stories

Written by: Stuart Ross

Cover Design by: Marcus Bell

Published by: Blean Books

The Hologram and Other Sinister Stories by Stuart Ross

The Hologram and Other Sinister Stories contains ten strong character-led stories that drive the plot to its dramatic and often gruesome conclusion.

Stuart Ross never ceases to amaze me with his keen insight into human nature. Each of the short stories included in this anthology, contain poignant and resonating observations into peoples’ psyche. They left me contemplating the resolution and events leading up to them. An insightful examination of human nature.

Each story is very different and each has at its core a very different form of technology that contributes to the main character’s grizzly and haunting demise – from AI’s over-riding their programming, possessed holograms and lethal apps, the stories grip you from the start. There are hints of Stephen King and James Herbert with a technological twist, so rather than rats devouring the flesh, we have images online devouring the soul.

If you enjoy menacing stories this is definitely the book to read.

Book Review: Autumn Moonbeam Spooky Sleepover

To mark the Halloween festivities this weekend and tomorrow I am posting an extra-special book review of tingling proportions.

Ooooohhhh!

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Title: Autumn Moonbeam Spooky Sleepover!

Written by: Emma Finlayson-Palmer

Illustrated by: Heidi Cannon

Published by: UClan Publishing

This ‘spell-tacular’ spooky sequel to Autumn Moonbeam Dance Magic is an eerie magical mystery. Join Autumn as she sets out to discover who, or what, is sabotaging their rehearsals at the Sparkledale Dance Academy and what exactly does it have to do with Autumn’s neighbour and rival, Serina Bloodworth.

This sequel is just as good as he first. I think what makes this book stand out from other early chapter books is each character has clear and distinguishable character traits. I love the way Zephyr, Autumn’s twin sister is always so neat and organised in direct contrast to Autumn and I like her best-friend Batty’s imaginative spooky story-telling, and how Leif tells such awful jokes and how Autumn has an inner struggle with her own confidence. Emma has cleverly given each character their own magical name that suits their characteristics and put a smile on your face.

The illustrations by Heidi Cannon add their own magic as you can imagine these characters dancing off the page and around the room whilst you read.

This is a story of friendship and coo-operation, full of fun and sparkle. I can’t wait to read Autumn’s next sparklicious adventure.

I would like to thank Graeme Williams, part of the Moonbeam team, for organising a review copy for me and inviting me to return as part of #TeamAutumnMoonbeam.

You can buy copies of both Autumn Moonbeam Spooky Sleepover! and Autumn Moonbeam Dance Magic! by Emma Finlayson-Palmer and Heidi Cannon from your local bookshop, or online at uk.bookshop.org, an organisation with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.