Mohinder's War by Bali Rai, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb...
Thirteen-year-old Joelle Breton stumbles across Indian-born RAF pilot Mohinder Singh when his plane crashes in occupied France and it's up to her and her parents to hide him from the Nazis. After all, her parents are brave members of the French Resistance and will do everything they can to help get Mohinder back to Britain. But when they are betrayed and tragedy strikes, Joelle and Mohinder will have to act fast if they are ever to evade the enemy.

Mohinder is a young RAF pilot who crash-lands in France at the height of the war. To all appearances, Joelle is just a regular girl going about her business and helping her parents in the bakery, but appearances can be deceptive and Joelle and her family are part of the French Resistance. Joelle's family risk everything to protect Mo and are determined to keep him safe and see him home. Mo isn't a victim though, he's a fighter and being rescued is just part of his story. When death and danger come to Joelle's family, it's Mo who bravely honours his oath to them all with a daring plan to save Joelle's life and escape.

The story is thrilling and I was on the edge of my seat reading it. At one point I realised I was holding my breath and willing things to go right for Mo, and for Joelle and her family. The book has all the expert crafting that I've come to expect from Bali Rai's work, and it has been condensed into a very fine little book indeed. A glimpse into a war from a perspective that is new to me, and I'm sure will be new to many other readers.

Published by Bloombury as part of the Flashbacks series, this is another of their books written to give young readers a glimpse into a period of history that is outside their personal frame of reference. The series is excellent and the books written by some of the finest writers for children. There is a risk that books marketed as being "perfect for introducing children to historical topics" might only be found in the classroom, and that would be a great shame because books like Mohinder's War really should have a much wider audience.

Mohinder's War is written by Bali Rai and published by Bloomsbury
https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/mohinders-war-9781472958372/

Reviewed by Dawn Finch
Dawn is the current chair of the Society of Author's Children's Writers and Illustrators Committee (CWIG) and Trustee for the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
@dawnafinch

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Bright Bursts of Colour - poems by Matt Goodfellow (illus Aleksei Bitskoff), reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb...
What if cats had flavoured fur or if you swallowed the sun? What if you were a special kind of badger or if you found a map to the stars? And what if your home was split during the week: one half at Mum's, the other half at Dad's?

Packed with brilliant poems that explore a whole range of themes from the downright silly to the sensitive, this collection will delight, enthuse and resonate with children and adults alike!

You might not be familiar with Matt Goodfellow yet, but I'd make a very careful note of that name because I feel that he is definitely a poet to remember. Matt is a relatively new voice on the poetry scene but his work is so deliciously accomplished that it feels like he's already solidly established. This poetry collection is absolutely superb and so well observed. I feel that this must be due in no small part to his time as a primary school teacher. This is a poet who really knows and understands children.

This slim collection of poems for children feels like it also speaks to us as adults. There are poems here that made me laugh ("Dogs With Human Names" and "I Fell in Love with a Crumpet" stand out) but there is work here that is achingly beautiful, and sad. Goodfellow pulls no punches and at no time do you feel that anything here has been dashed off to fill pages. 

Aleksei Bitskoff's brilliantly jolly illustrations place this book firmly in the hands of children, and that is a very good thing as there is a lot for them to love here, but poems like "Empty" (which opens with "we took her clothes to the charity shop") just broke my heart and I think adult readers will get a great deal out of this book too.

I loved this book for children, but I must confess that I am very much looking forward to Goodfellow's poetry for adults because this is a poet with an artist's deft hand. The imagery in the poems is glittering like the sharpest blade, and many cut deep. Poems like "Mist" and "The Sometimes Song" will live with me for a very long time. The kind of poems that make you need a moment to gather yourself after reading. The kind of poems that make that melancholy ache in your heart. The kind of poems that make you say, "Oh.." out loud. Wonderful work.

Thanks, Matt, if we ever meet I can't promise not to hug you.

Bright Bursts of Colour - Poems by Matt Goodfellow (illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff) is published in the UK by Bloomsbury Education.


Dawn Finch is an author and librarian. She is the current chair of the Society of Authors' Children's Writers and Illustrators Group (CWIG) and a trustee of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)

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Dear Earth by Isabel Otter and Clara Anganuzzi, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb...
When Tessa writes a love letter to the Earth, it's the beginning of a glorious adventure. She blows bubbles with whales, soars with birds and joins in with the noisy rainforest hullabaloo! 
Tessa wants everyone to know how special our planet is. She believes that there is a chance to save the Earth if enough of us share the message.


There are a lot of books about the environment, and global issues like climate change and pollution. Some of good, but many are rather dreary and preachy and many still somehow fail to hit the mark. Dear Earth is a perfect example of how it can be done well.

Tessa and her Grandpa love to go walking together, and as they walk he tells her the most

Copyright Isabel Otter, Clara Anganuzzi and Little Tiger UK

amazing stories of his travels. He talks of when he was younger and was an adventurer and sailed the seas and explored the Earth. Tessa is captivated and dreams of her own adventures and decides to write a letter to the Earth to describe her dreams and what she will one day see on her own explorations.... if the Earth is safe long enough for her to grow up.

This elegantly simple (and never preachy) text from author Isabel Otter is charming and will make a lovely story to share and read aloud. The words are accompanied (and made magical) but the most extraordinarily beautiful illustrations from Clara Anganuzzi. Wonderful images of the creatures of the oceans and the air, the forests and the mountains, all the habitats of the Earth. The layout of the book is particularly lovely too as the reader turns the book around and about to achieve depth, and height while Tessa swims and soars with them. 

Copyright Isabel Otter, Clara Anganuzzi and Little Tiger UK

This book is one that you could comfortably give as a gift, or keep for yourself, and it will make a superb addition to the classroom bookshelf. It is a book about a difficult subject, but it feels uplifting and hopeful. It is a joyful book and definitely one that will be read again and again.


Dear Earth by Isabel Otter and Clara Anganuzzi is published by Caterpillar Books (an imprint of Little Tiger UK)
ISBN - 9781848579415




Dawn Finch is a children's author and librarian and current chair of the Children's Writer's and Illustrators Group committee (CWIG)
@dawnafinch
www.dawnfinch.com



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The Places I've Cried in Public by Holly Bourne, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb...

Amelie loved Reese. And she thought he loved her. But she’s starting to realise love isn’t supposed to hurt like this. So now she’s retracing their story and untangling what happened by revisiting all the places he made her cry. Because if she works out what went wrong, perhaps she can finally learn to get over him.

Note - Trigger warnings in this book for abusive relationships and mental health issues

Amelie thought she was in love. Well, it certainly seemed like love and she imagined a future that was all about Reese and their life together, but what did she mean to him? She genuinely thought he loved her right back but is real love meant to hurt this badly? Does real love have so many tears, and so many places marked by crying? Amelie retraces the steps of her relationship with Reese to try to understand how she ended up here, and in doing so sees things with clarity for the first time.

As an adult reader, this book is full of all the terrible warning signs of an abusive relationship, but seeing this is perhaps something that comes to us with age. Amelie doesn't know what Reese is doing to her and doesn't have the tools to see the warning signs. Like many girls (and women) her love blinds her to the obvious. It's only when she gets help, therapy, and distance from the abusive relationship that she can begin to see the harm that has been done to her.

This is an incredibly powerful book about the subtle slide from devotion to obsession and from adoration to abuse. It is at times a traumatic read, but also one of gentle humour, sensitivity and caring. It's not a book that preaches, despite it delivering some very powerful life lessons. I wanted to be able to rescue Amelie. I wanted to sweep her away from her situation, and hug her, and give her a good talking to, and keep her safe. I think we have all had friends that we want to rescue, and have at times, maybe, needed rescuing ourselves. My hope is that if all young women have access to books like this, maybe they’ll be better placed to rescue themselves and others.

The Places I've Cried in Public by Holly Bourne is published by Usborne Books.

Reviewed by Dawn Finch, author and librarian.
@dawnafinch
www.dawnfinch.com

Usborne have a link to some resources that might be useful if referring to this book in a school setting.
https://usborne.com/browse-books/catalogue/product/1/14585/the-places-ive-cried-in-public/

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Midnight Feasts - poems chosen by AF Harrold, Illustrated by Katy Riddell, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb...
One thing that unites us all – across time, nations and peoples – is food. From chocolate, rice pudding and sandwiches to breakfast in bed, banana phones and the fruit of a mythical jelabi tree, A.F. Harrold has brought together a wonderful and diverse collection of poems on the topic of food.

Illustrated in full colour by rising star Katy Riddell, this anthology brings together work from a broad range of poets, including William Carlos Williams, award-winning Joseph Coelho and Sabrina Mahfouz. 

I love a good poetry book, and this one is particularly delicious. A.F Harrold has expertly gathered together works by some of the finest poets for children and baked them into a collection that is deeply satisfying. The poems span continents, and cultures, and time all linked together with the one thing that binds us all - food.

There are so many feasts to be had here, and food from around the world is stuffed into the pages. I particularly enjoy the fact that this book contains so many different forms of poetry too. Here the reader can find poems from the hilariously funny (I laughed out loud at Harrold's own poem, "The Perils of Breakfast" and Cat Weatherill's "The Unknown Jelly Baby") to the deeply moving (Imtiaz Dharker's tiny gem-like poem of homesickness, "Crab Apples", is one of the most beautiful things I've read in a long time).

Katy Riddell provides the illustrations and she has a deft and charming touch that gives a sense of great familiarity to the pages. These seem to be people and places we know and recognise, and the food all looks as if we could pluck and eat from the pages. Her work makes this a very complete book, and a lavish-feeling physical object that will make a wonderful addition to any bookshelves and one that should be dipped into regularly. Snacked on, feasted on.

Stuff yourself with these poems, they're so delicious they should be fattening!

Dawn Finch is a children's author and librarian.
Chair of CWIG committee and trustee of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)

www.dawnfinch.com
@dawnafinch




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Brain Fizzing Facts by Dr Emily Grossman (illustrated by Alice Bowsher), reviewed by Dawn Finch

 First the blurb...

Why is your elbow called your funny bone? How could you escape the grip of a crocodile's jaw? Which animal can breathe through its bottom? And how do these things all link together? This brilliant book by the science expert Dr Emily Grossman will have eyebrows raised and jaws dropping as it uncovers the amazing scientific explanations behind all sorts of questions that can pop into our heads. Can an egg bounce? How can a giraffe's ridiculously long neck contain the same number of bones as a human's? How much does the Internet weigh?

I was drawn to this book first by the brilliant illustrations by Alice Bowsher. The loud and bold illustrations on the cover drew my attention and, throughout the book, they punctuate and emphasise the superbly fascinating facts. I know that it is an oft-repeated phrase that “I couldn’t put it down”, but this is so true with Brain Fizzing Facts! I have bored my family and friends with endless “Did you know…?” moments.

I love Dr Emily Grossman’s work, and this book is completely addictive. Thirty VERY IMPORTANT science-related questions are asked (such as which planet stays dark for 21 years at a time, or what the centre of the milky way tastes like) and explained in detail via a whole bunch of other interesting stuff. These are not hastily dumped facts, these are all beautifully and memorably explained, and wrapped around those eye-catching illustrations.

Who wouldn't want to know this?!

This book should live on every teacher’s desk, and every school librarian’s so that you can randomly read bits out. It should be in every kitchen for random reading aloud moments, every car for breaking up boring journeys, and every bathroom for those..ermmm…. longer stays…. It’s the kind of book that’s worth carrying around in case of quiet moments, or if you know a kid who needs regular fascinating distractions.

I know it’s early to think about this, but drop this in every Christmas stocking and you’ll have a festive period peppered with someone launching conversations with, “did you know Mount Etna is slowly sliding downhill towards the sea?”

I did not know that, but I do now!

Brain Fizzzing Facts by Dr Emily Grossman, illustrated by Alice Bowsher is published by Bloomsbury Children's Books.

Reviewed by Dawn Finch, author and children’s librarian.

www.dawnfinch.co.uk

@dawnafinch

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Malamander by Thomas Taylor, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb…

Nobody visits Eerie-on-Sea in the winter. Especially not when darkness falls and the wind howls around Maw Rocks and the wreck of the battleship Leviathan, where even now some swear they have seen the unctuous malamander creep…

Herbert Lemon, Lost-and-Founder at the Grand Nautilus Hotel, knows that returning lost things to their rightful owners is not easy – especially when the lost thing is not a thing at all, but a girl. No one knows what happened to Violet Parma’s parents twelve years ago, and when she engages Herbie to help her find them, the pair discover that their disappearance might have something to do with the legendary sea-monster, the Malamander. Eerie-on-Sea has always been a mysteriously chilling place, where strange stories seem to wash up. And it just got stranger...

First off, let me get the gushing out of the way because this book is BRILLIANT! I know people say “I couldn’t put it down,” all the time, but I REALLY COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.

Okay, I’ll calm down now.

Thomas Taylor has such a wonderful way with words and right from the start we feel that Eerie-On-Sea is a very real place. In fact, I completely believe Taylor when he says that we have “probably been to Eerie-On-Sea without ever knowing it.” This means Eerie-On-Sea feels like such a familiar place that we anything that happens there seems possible, and there are some very strange and mysterious things happening.

The characterisation is particularly strong in the novel, and all of the characters are compelling and engaging. Strange things are afoot, and with each punchy chapter (which all have great chapter headings) we creep closer and closer to finding out what’s really going on.

Brilliantly illustrated throughout by Taylor himself (and with a cracking cover by George Ermos) the book is a physically beautiful object too and one that any child would be happy to carry about like a treasure. Malamander is one of those books I loved in school. It is the kind of book I’d have on my desk and the kids would be looking forward to me reading the next chapter so much, that it would repeatedly disappear from my desk. This would read aloud so well, and I was delighted to see that Sony has snapped up the movie rights to the novel in an eight-way bidding war.

The story gently rocks along like a rising tide that creeps up on you, and then sweeps you away. We’re all going to be spending a lot more time in Eerie-On-Sea, and I’ve got my bucket and spade ready!

Malamander by Thomas Taylor is out now from Walker Books

Dawn Finch is a children’s writer and librarian.

@dawnafinch

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A Pinch of Magic by Michelle Harrison, reviewed by Dawn Finch

Image copyright Simon and Schuster

First the blurb...

Three sisters trapped by an ancient curse.

Three magical objects with the power to change their fate.

Will they be enough to break the curse?

Or will they lead the sisters even deeper into danger? ...

Okay, so that's a pretty short blurb, but was more than enough to tempt me into reading this. Covering my tick list pretty efficiently here. An ancient curse, tick. Magical objects, tick. Sisterhood, tick. Danger and adventure, tick.

The only thing that held me back from reading this book sooner was the huge number of superlatives being thrown around in other reviews for it. "Phenomenal", "spellbinding", "brilliant", "breathtaking", "glorious"... the list goes on, and that kind of makes me hold off a bit. I hate being told I'll love something.

The trouble is.... THEY ARE ALL RIGHT!!

This book is absolutely wonderful. It is a perfect example of how to unfold a story. There is exactly the right balance of description and dialogue and every character feels well-rounded and well-placed. The dialogue is natural and at times I was so swept away by the story that I properly lost track of time. I had those wonderful times when I sat down to read and hours later I looked up and found the room in darkness and my tea cold (don't you love it when that happens?!)

I suppose I should give you more detail about the story, but I really don't want to ruin it. The story of the Widdershins sisters doesn't need a longer blurb than the one above and I hate reviews that spoiler. All you need to know is in those few lines above. This fairytale/Grimm type story feels traditional, but with a whole load of new ideas and sparkling adventure. It never veers into stuffy or dull and will make a great novel to read aloud and share. This is exactly the kind of book that you will start reading aloud, and your audience will quickly be sneaking it off to read ahead!

Another thing worth mentioning is the stunning cover of this book. The design is by illustrator Melissa Castrillón and her work also peppers the text with tiny silhouettes and a fantastic map. I love it when a cover acts as a teaser for elements of the story, and this one really does make the book the full package. It makes such a difference when a publisher takes the time to make a book a desirable physical object. Book ownership is an important part of the journey to becoming a lifelong reader, and making printed books a glorious thing to own is vital.

A Pinch of Magic has the quality and feel of a classic children's book, and I hope it will take its place among the best of them.

A Pinch of Magic is written by Michelle Harrison (and illustrated by Melissa Castrillón). It is published by Simon and Schuster.

Review by Dawn Finch, children's author and librarian.

@dawnafinch

www.dawnfinch.com

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Unstoppable by Dan Freedman, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb...
Secrets and lies . . . secrets and lies . . . Fourteen-year-old twins, Kaine and Roxy, used to be close, but now they can hardly bear to be in the same room. Roxy hates the way her brother behaves - Kaine might be brilliant at football but he's always in trouble and cares nothing about his family. And Kaine despises the way his supposedly-perfect sister, dominates their parents in her ambition to reach Wimbledon. But the twins are both hiding dangerous secrets of their own, secrets that could destroy everything they are working towards - and both Roxy and Kaine's survival hangs precariously in the balance. 

Readers are probably most familiar with Dan Freedman's football books for kids. His series of novels for younger readers featuring his character, Jamie Johnson, have gripped tens of thousands of kids. As Freedman's background is in football (he was a football writer and even the FA's editor) he established himself in the world of children's books with a genuinely exciting set of stories based around the game. Unstoppable is slight swerve-ball from his established playing field, but one that he definitely scores with.

Freedman is an inspiring speaker in schools and had a huge impact on the kids in my school when he came to visit. He has a very natural rapport with young people, and this understanding shows in Unstoppable. Possibly in no small part due to the fact that this new book has been inspired by things Freedman has heard or been told by pupils in the schools he has visited.

Football is the lace that threads this novel together (and tennis strings things along too), but the action really hinges on the main players, their relationships with their families, and the sports that they feel define them. Kaine and Roxy are instantly relatable and the way they talk and act does feel very real. The interplay of sibling rivalry never feels as if Freedman has casually gender-flipped the situation. Kaine and Roxy are both very strong characters. The twins feel very different from each other, but ultimately it is their likenesses that both build and resolve the story.

This is a very strong book and one that is a blast of the voice of youth. It deals with issues such as gang culture, youth stress and depression, unemployment, parental pressure, sibling rivalry and the kind of family crises that most will recognise. Unstoppable deals with them with refreshing honesty and never feels preachy. I hope this book will get the attention it deserves. 

Unstoppable by Dan Freedman is published by David Fickling Books
ISBN - 9781788450492 


Dawn Finch is a children's author and librarian.
www.dawnfinch.com
@dawnafinch

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Armadillo and Hare by Jeremy Strong, Illustrated by Rebecca Bagley - reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb…

Armadillo and Hare live with their friends in the Big Forest.

Hare loves dancing. Armadillo loves cheese sandwiches.

Hare loves picnics on the beach. Armadillo loves cheese sandwiches.

Hare loves playing the tuba. Armadillo loves cheese sandwiches.

Hare loves his best friend, Armadillo. Armadillo loves Hare – AND cheese sandwiches!

As a children’s librarian I spend a lot of time reading children’s books and always find a great deal of pleasure in them. Once in a while, however, I come across a book that makes me genuinely laugh out loud with glee. Armadillo and Hare is one of those books.

The story of this unlikely partnership, and the many other forest dwellers who visit their cabin, is not only completely charming, it’s a blast too! There are superbly absurd magical elements (such as Hare’s tuba from which spring random objects like toasters, tea towels and kittens) and each creature is quirky and individual (a favourite of mine being Jaguar, who wears the most splendid fascinator).

Armadillo and Hare live their ostensibly simple life in the log cabin – painting and eating (or trying to eat) cheese sandwiches, but their animal visitors expand the story and bring them the most wonderful adventures. Strong’s text is perfectly targeted for those children getting to grips with first chapter books, and here they will find many exciting new words and phrases.

The text is beautifully matched with Rebecca Bagley’s witty and captivating illustrations. The expressions on the animals are truly adorable, but never sickly-sweet. Her work is just lovely, and it’s well worth seeking out her short graphic novel, Tick, which is a remarkable piece of work.

Armadillo and Hare is a book that I am desperate to read aloud as I can already see the excited joyful little faces as they too dive into the brilliantly funny and wonderful world of Armadillo and Hare.

Armadillo and Hare is published by David Fickling Books

ISBN 9781788450287

Dawn Finch is a children’s author and librarian.

Her most recent publication is an exploration of historical fiction for children.

@dawnafinch

www.dawnfinch.com

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Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds, illustrated by Chris Priestley - review by Dawn Finch

First the blurb...

AND THEN THERE WERE SHOTS
Everybody
ran,
ducked, 
hid, tucked
themselves tight.

Pressed our lips to the
pavement and prayed
the boom, followed by 
the buzz of a bullet,
didn't meet us.

After Will's brother is shot in a gang crime, he knows the next steps. Don't cry. Don't snitch. Get revenge. So he gets in the lift with Shawn's gun, determined to follow The Rules. Only when the lift door opens, Buck walks in, Will's friend who died years ago. And Dani, who was shot years before that. As more people from his past arrive, Will has to ask himself if he really knows what he's doing.

I read a lot of books - hundreds of them every year, but it's not often that a book leaves me speechless. I read Long Way Down shortly after it was published in January, and it has taken me this long to review it because it was hard to find the words. In that time I've been sharing it with everyone I meet and telling them that if they only buy one book this year, it should be this one.

There have been a few verse books hit the shelves over the last few years, and some of them have been excellent, some have not. It is not only a difficult format to master, but it is also incredibly difficult to sell and to get young readers to take a chance on. So many readers feel that poetry is not for them, and feel excluded by the format. Long Way Down is the book to challenge that.

Reynolds' free and fluid verse is engaging and captures the reader from the opening lines. He writes with a living ease that feels real, and honest. This is the voice of youth, and anger, and it speaks directly to the reader. This is not the sound of pretentiousness or of fusty academia, this is the voice of fear, and hate, and sadness and grief. Will is real and in this verse we know him, and we understand him, and through this we understand the plight and situation of the young people who walk in his shoes.

Detail - art by Chris Priestley

The book is a powerful package with the verse supported by Chris Priestley's characteristically superb illustrations. Darkness oozes from scratchy images of Will's life. Frozen moments of memories, wisps of the past and the horrors of the present. Inky flashes of bullets, guns, body bags and fragments of the life of a boy who has been swept away into this terrible world.

This is not only a great book and a great read, it is also one of those very rare things - it is an important book.

Long Way Down is written by Jason Reynolds and illustrated by Chris Priestley
Published by Faber and Faber
ISBN - 978 0571335121

Reviewed by Dawn Finch, author and librarian.
www.dawnfinch.com
@dawnafinch

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Positively Teenage by Nicola Morgan, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb…

Full of practical, proven strategies for physical and mental health, Positively Teenage will show you lots of ways to flourish physically and mentally - from doing things you enjoy to learning new skills; looking after your diet, exercise and attitude to being healthy online; getting great sleep to understanding your personality - allowing you to take control of many areas of your life. With these new strengths and skills, you can survive any storms and thrive on the challenges of your exciting life.

I’m going to cut to the quick on this one. If I had been given this book when I was a young teen, I would have definitely (positively!) had happier teenage years. Nicola Morgan (author - NOT former politician, that's a different one) is one of the very finest writers on matters of mental health and well-being for teens and young people, and this book is a perfect example of the very best kind of self-help guide. No, not self-help, this book is more like a survival guide to help young people navigate their teens. Frankly, I found it made me feel a lot more positive about life too!

Inside this book you’ll find wise (but never patronising or cringeworthy) advice on staying positive. Positive attitudes to health and friendship abound, and there is so much good advice in these pages that it is hard to put down. Advice like how to notice what went well, how to improve the quality of your sleep, and how to appreciate yourself and boost your own self esteem...and loads more.

The book is uplifting and supportive in language that is approachable and direct. It never veers towards those glib soundbites that drip in a honeyed and sticky mess from the pages of other books of this type. Instead, Morgan speaks clearly, honestly and directly to the young reader, and comes up with practical and solid advice on how to feel..well.. positive about stuff. It is elegant in its simplicity, and heartwarming in its honesty. The advice is truly brilliant, and all of it is totally doable, and none of it makes you want to vomit. No sickly and hackneyed platitudes here!

This is a book that should be on the shelves of every public and school library (in multiple copies!), but more than that – this should be quietly slipped under the pillows of every young teen in the world. If that happened, the end result would be a more positive world all round.

Positively Teenage: A positively brilliant guide to teenage well-being, is out now and is published by Franklin Watts

ISBN - 978-1445158143

Find out more about Nicola Morgan's books, and her excellent classroom and learning materials, and her public speaking events and services on her website - www.nicolamorgan.com 

Dawn Finch is a children’s author and librarian.

@dawnafinch

www.dawnfinch.com

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Greta Zargo and the Amoeba Monsters From the Middle of the Earth by A.F Harrold - illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, Reviewed by Dawn Finch

So, that's possibly the longest title I've ever squashed into a box in a review! Let's do this thing... first, the blurb.

 Greta is an ordinary(ish) eleven-year-old orphan girl with journalistic aspirations. This weekend she's writing a big story about the Thirteenth Annual Festival of New Stuff (TAFoNS for short), being hosted by her absent-minded inventor aunt... who has gone missing. Can Greta find her aunt and answer the riddle of her mysterious missingness?

In the meantime, all across the town, people are being eaten by giant amoeba monsters that have emerged from the pit at the end of Greta's garden.

And, for various complicated reasons, only Greta stands in their way...




Before I get to the review, I need to confess to something. I can't write funny books. I mean, I've really tried but it never sounds convincing and always ends up feeling exactly what it is - clunky and amateur. I can write short bits that are funny, but I can't sustain it. I envy people who can write funny, and A.F Harrold totally nails it.

Greta is the perfect central character, and we first met her in Greta Zargo and the Death Robots from Outer Space. Greta is an independent 11 year old (for complicated but perfectly reasonable reasons) and it has fallen to her to save the people of Earth from all sorts of hideous things. In this (book 2) she is (obviously) saving us all from jellylike amoeba monsters who have a voracious appetite and a tendency to swarm over living things and dissolve them.

Along the way we meet all sorts of wonderful characters (although I can't say I'm exactly happy with the librarian from the Immobile Library - elderly lady in a tweed skirt? hmmm - although I'd love a tiny ostrich, and I do have a tweed skirt...) Where was I? Oh yes, wonderful characters. Loads of 'em, and all wind the adventure along until things speed up towards a thrilling and very satisfying climax.

Along the way we are treated to Harrolds' clever and slightly twisted sense of humour. I genuinely laughed out loud at the names and witty twists. How could I not laugh at Bogof Boredom, Hester Sometimes, Hamnet Ovenglove (world champion onion wrestler) and Rashomon O'Donoghue (All-England Tiddlyblinks champion).

A bit of Joe Todd-Stanton's work that I can show you

With footnotes (which are actually sidenotes - they are literally on the side) and wonderful comic-book style, slick illustrations from Joe Todd-Stanton (many of which I can't show you because they'd blow the story, including an awesome double-page spread showing the amoebas... well, you'll just have to read it), this is a brilliant book for all kids (and grown-ups) who like a well-written suspenseful adventure that is also rollickingly funny.

Greta Zargo and the Amoeba Monsters from the Middle of the Earth is written by A.F Harrold and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton
It is published by Bloomsbury (3 May 2018)
You can find more about A.F Harrold's books (and his beard*) by clicking this link.

*website may not contain beards



Reviewed by children's author and librarian Dawn Finch* www.dawnfinch.com

*not Hester Sometimes



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AdoraBULL written by Alison Donald, illustrated by Alex Willmore, reviewed by Dawn Finch

Image copyright Maverick Children's Books

Alfred is a bull. Bulls are big, and solid and dependable. One day his best friend, Tom, wants to bring home a new pet, and he makes it clear that it must be "adorable". Alfred overhears Tom asking his parents for a pet and he is very upset. He's been worried about losing his best friend ever since Tom started school, and now it seems that he's going to be replaced by something "adorable".

What can a bull do to make sure that he's adorable, and that he's not replaced?

Alfred formulates a plan to make himself look adorable too so that Tom does not get a new pet and replace him. He searches the internet for the word "adorable" and finds endless pictures of kittens and marshmallows, hamsters on swings, and puppies in teacups. He can't do any of those things, and so he tries other things to be cute.

Image copyright Maverick, Willmore, and Donald

This is a completely charming picture book that takes a look at what it means to be adorable, and to be adored. It explores in subtle ways the nature of friendship, and loneliness, and being unique and proud of who you are. Donald's gentle story unfolds around Willmore's bright and bold illustrations. I love Willmore's illustrations and am so pleased to see these two talents working together again. Their previous collaboration - The New LiBEARian is a great favourite of mine. AdoraBULL is another gem for the stable (pun intended!).

It is worth mentioning that this is a new one from indie publisher, Maverick. Launched in 2009 by Steve Bicknell. As you know, I am a bit of a fan of indie presses and this one is growing fast and is supporting some really exciting new writers and illustrators. They are well worth keeping an eye on! If you are a teacher or librarian, their resources page is well worth a visit too.

AdoraBULL by Alison Donald and Alex Willmore is published by Maverick Children's Books on March 28th 2018
ISBN 978-1-84886-322-4
RRP £7.99

Reviewed by Dawn Finch, children's author and librarian
www.dawnfinch.com
@dawnafinch

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The World of Moominvalley by Philip Ardagh, reviewed by Dawn Finch

 As a book reviewer it is often the case that the publicity and blurb do not fully represent the books to which they are attached, this is definitely the case with the World of Moominvalley. That’s not because the publishers have neglected to take care in the preparation of it, but rather because the book is a treasure that no blurb could possibly do justice to.

Philip Ardagh’s book about the much-loved Moomins is a lavish celebration of all things Moominvalley. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Moomins is here, and more, and all with Ardagh’s characteristic warmth and humour. The book opens with a charming introduction from award winning children’s author, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, after which Ardagh takes our hands and leads us into Moominland.

In the opening two-thirds of the book we read about Moomintroll and family, and the world in which they live. The characters all burst off the page with wonderful (and very Jansson-esque) biographies. We meet all of the key characters and read about their habits, their likes and dislikes and everything that makes up the Moominworld. The last section of the book is all about Jansson herself, her world and how she came to write the books. There is even a glimpse inside her studio and a look at her sketch books.

All of this is exactly what you’d expect in a book about beloved children’s characters, but this book is so much more. The book is physically beautiful. Starting off with shelf-appeal from an embossed and foiled cover, this continues throughout with hundreds of illustrations and some charming photos of Jansson and her world. It is such a thing of beauty that I simply couldn’t risk not receiving it as a gift at Christmas and had to buy myself a copy!

It is a sad fact that books like this can often be style over substance, but with the World of Moominvalley this is absolutely not the case. Beautifully written and presented this is not just a book for Christmas, buy it for yourself, read it and then dip in an and out as a salve to the pressures of the real world. In Moominvalley we can find a place where the gears of the world don’t grind us down but instead lift us to the mountaintops. A little-large place that reminds us that all small beasts should have bows in their tails, and all big animals are not dangerous.

Dawn Finch is a children’s author, researcher and librarian who doesn’t need to see the invisible shrews to know that they are there.

The World of Moominvalley is published by Macmillan Children's Books (October 2017)
ISBN 978-1509810017

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Mark of the Cyclops by Saviour Pirotta, Reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb...

Young scribe Nico's new friend Thrax has a strange knack for figuring things out. When they travel to wedding with their master, a valuable vase is broken and Thrax's special skills might just come in useful. Can the boys prove that slave girl Gaia is innocent, and discover what the mark of the cyclops means? 

Saviour Pirotta has a well deserved reputation of writing some of the best books  for children about Ancient Greece myths. His versions of many other traditional folk tales, myths and legends grace the shelves of pretty much every school library. His wonderful gift for storytelling has turned many often dry or complex stories into ripping yarns that read aloud beautifully. This is no exception, but in the form of an attractively illustrated novel. This story takes elements of legendary tales and weaves them into the lives of two very clever young people - Nico and Thrax. Their everyday lives in Ancient Greece are the backdrop for a mystery that only they can solve. Their unique skills will help them prove their friend's innocence. The characters are instantly likeable, and this makes for a very enjoyable read.

The story is just challenging enough to please teachers and parents, but absorbing enough to quickly hook children. At its heart, it's a really great story that primary age children will love, but older struggling readers will also find a lot of enjoyment here too. Complex themes of friendship and loyalty mix in with the adventure to make a cracking story. Coupled with Freya Hartas' charming and detailed illustrations, this makes Mark of the Cyclops the first in a series you should definitely put on pre-order. 

A great read. I liked it a lot.

Mark of the Cyclops is published by Bloomsbury. The next in the series (Secret of the Oracle) was published 5 October 2017.

Dawn Finch, children's author and librarian. Past President CILIP. Member of the Society of Authors' CWIG committee.. 

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Reading by Right (Edited by Joy Court) reviewed by Dawn Finch

Literacy is a fundamental human right and recently has been publicly declared so in a number of high-profile international declarations, so why are we still not quite hitting our targets? This, and many other issues, are superbly covered in this new book identifying the barriers to successful development of children as readers.

Editor Joy Court is well known in the world of libraries and children’s reading thanks to her tireless work in the field. She is a familiar face on national steering and strategy groups for reading, and is a great champion for both school and public libraries. This new book of reading strategies has been edited by Court, and she also has a significant contribution to the content. Inside you can find strategies for encouraging reluctant readers and those with specific difficulties, as well as methods of promoting the joy of reading and supporting reading for pleasure. It also contains a huge amount of robust evidence and references many international studies relating to children’s reading.

The book is broken down into chapters, each one written by a different expert from the field of children’s reading. The contributors list is a gathering of people representing the gold standard of work in the field of children's literacy, and each person has written a chapter covering their specific area of expertise. Here you can find chapters from (among others) Wendy Cooling, Dr Rose Brock, Jake Hope, Yeejoo Lim, Amy McKay, Alexandra Strick and Mervi Heikkila – contributions from all over the world making up a wide range of approaches. All of the chapters make for fascinating reading, and each one is well supported with references to robust research and evidence.

This book is a great read (no pun intended!), but it is far more than that. This is an essential toolkit for anyone working with children’s reading. Alongside the research there are many practical ideas for parents, librarians and teachers to take reading forward. Carrying this book around is the equivalent of having a vast library of information at your fingertips, curated by some of the finest librarians and experts. Personally I consider the index a thing of great beauty and the references and appendices are a wonderful resource on their own.

I won’t lie to you; this is not a cheap book. At £55 (£44 for CILIP members) I know that most of us will feel a little faint at the price, however this is due to the huge cost of putting together an academic book like this. Many of us advise schools and educational establishments on how to better support reading, and I would suggest that you add this to your list of suggested resources. If every school had a copy of this book, and referred to it and used it to guide their reading strategies, we would see a speedy rise in literacy levels. But, as we all know, it’s not all about levels and education, this book strongly supports the joy of reading, and the love of books. Inside the pages I was delighted to find much to support reading for pleasure and to creating in young readers a life-long love of books and reading.

I’ll end this review with a quote from for children's Laureate, Chris Riddell, written for the foreword of the book.

“Reading for pleasure is the lamp post in the wood. Any librarian who has matched a child to a book, any teacher who reads aloud to their class at the end of the day, and parent who shared a book at bedtime with a son or daughter knows this. Turn the key in the lock, open the door, step inside and brush through the old fur coats. Keep going and you’ll find the lamp post in the wood. Keep going and you’ll find a lifetime of insight and empathy.” 

Reviewed by Dawn Finch, children's author and librarian, reading and children's book professional. Former President CILIP, member of the Society of Authors' Children's Writers and Illustrators Committee

www.dawnfinch.com

@dawnafinch

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S.C.R.E.A.M - The Mummy's Revenge by Andrew Beasley, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First some blurb...

Charlie Steel and Billy Flint are top-secret investigators of Supernatural Crimes, Rescues, Emergencies and Mysteries – aka S.C.R.E.A.M. 

In this first book of a new series they track down no ordinary burglar. This burglar is a 3,000 year old Egyptian mummy on the search for precious jewels for his evil master, and he’s out to destroy all who stand in his way....

I am a big fan of a classic adventure yarn, and this new book from Andrew Beasley ticks all the boxes. The characters are instantly likeable and believable, and the story has all the elements of adventure that will grip a young reader.

Charlie and Billy are intelligent, brave and funny, and the mystery is just enough to keep a child puzzled but not baffled. The story moves on rapidly with spooky mummies, missing jewels and lots of chasing and escaping through dark and sinister Edinburgh streets.

I feel that I should mention that one of the characters, Charlie, is in a wheelchair due to polio. I feel reluctant mentioning it because, while it is mentioned in the text, and obviously some of Charlie's movements are restricted due to her chair, it really is not a big part of the plot and certainly does not define her. I found this very positive and wish that every writer managed to include disabled characters with such subtlety and grace.

The book is not too long, and I think it would be particularly suited to any children who are perhaps less engaged as readers because the chapters are short and the pace is rapid. No waiting around ages for things to happen in this book! The mysterious events come thick and fast as Billy and Charlie are hot on the trail of the jewel thieves. That said, I think that all young readers who enjoy a fast-paced book with a more traditional feel would enjoy this a lot.

Billy is cheeky and street-smart, and Charlie is the brains of the outfit, With additional characters like Doogie the Scottish servant boy and a whole set of strange adults, mysterious butlers and maids, and shuffling stinky mummified creatures - this is cracking Victorian-period adventure that will please all fans of spooky mysteries.

S.C.R.E.A.M - The Mummy's Revenge is published in the UK by Usborne (1 April 2017)
ISBN - 978-1474906920

Reviewed by Dawn Finch
www.dawnfinch.com
@dawnafinch

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What I Couldn't Tell You by Faye Bird, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb....

When love turns to jealousy, when jealousy turns to rage, when rage turns to destruction...

Laura was head over heels in love with Joe. But now Laura lies in a coma and Joe has gone missing. Was he the one who attacked her?

Laura's sister Tessie is selectively mute. She can't talk but she can listen. And as people tell her their secrets, she thinks she's getting close to understanding what happened on that fateful night.



YA books about young people with "issues" are very on-trend at the moment and so, when a friend recommended this book to me, I must confess to some resistance as I've read far too many "worthy" books recently and was becoming a little jaded with them. Don't get me wrong, many of these books are important, but there are an awful lot that are not. I was wrong to dump this book in with the masses, Faye Bird has given us quite a different thing. This is a book about a girl who is caught up in a terrible event, a girl who desperately wants to know what happened to her sister, a girl who wants more than anything for her life to go back to what it was before the attack, a girl who like all teens just wants to be happy and to have friends - and this girl happens to be selectively mute. 

Faye Bird has achieved a remarkable thing here, she has managed to deliver to the reader a very detailed understanding of the life of a SM young person, without ever being patronising or giving us infodumps. She does this by putting us firmly in Tessie's shoes. The prologue sets the scene by introducing us to Joe and Laura, but when we move on to the next chapter we are with Tessie. Bit by bit details of the attack on Laura trickle into our laps but, just like Tessie, we are mute. As readers we want to shout out to Tessie, to warn her, to tell her what we think, to tell her what is really going on... but we can't. We want to tell Tessie to go to someone, we want to share what she knows but we too are mute and can't be heard.

Characterisation is so well handled in this novel that I bonded quickly with Tessie as she is incredibly likeable. I became so fond of her and found myself missing her when I finally closed the book. Her frustrations and confusions become ours, we feel her struggle and I know that YA readers will find a great deal to identify with in the twisting and turning sub-plots.

I particularly like the fact that Bird does not neatly solve everything with a perfect happy ending. Life isn't like that and not every broken thing can, or should, be fixed.


What I Couldn't Tell You by Faye Bird was published by Usborne in May 2016 and is available in both print and e formats. You can find out more about the author on her website www.fayebirdauthor.com

Review by Dawn Finch, children's author and librarian. www.dawnfinch.com





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The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner, reviewed by Dawn Finch

First the blurb...

Dill's father is in jail for an unspeakable crime. Shunned by the neighbours in their small religious Tennessee town, Dill and his mother try to make ends meet. Dill’s only respite from poverty and prejudice are his two friends: Lydia and Travis. Travis is an oddball, finding sanctuary from his violent father in his obsession with an epic fantasy saga. Lydia is fast-talking and fiercely creative, pinning her hopes on her achingly cool fashion blog. Dill fears his heart will break when she escapes to a better life in New York.

Dill wants to get through his final year of high school in one piece. But there’s a dark secret at the heart of his family, a serpent poisoning his blood, filling him with despair. Dill must confront this legacy of madness and desperation before it tears him apart.


Jeff Zentner is a writer that you may not have yet come across as The Serpent King is his first foray into writing for young adults. Zentner lives in Nashville, Tennessee and his early career placed him firmly in the music industry, but time spent volunteering at music camps for teens steered him in the direction of writing for them. Given his background as a recording artist, I must confess to some sceptisim about this debut novel, but I am happy to admit that I was wrong - those years writing lyrics have given the author the skills he needed to weave some very elegant prose.

Serpent King is a remarkably talented bit of writing. The atmospheric descriptions of the small town where Dill, Travis and Lydia live provide the backdrop for a story that is at times achingly beautiful, and others suffocatingly enclosed. Zentner guides us through an often surreal world of poverty, wealth, isolation, and strange and obsessive religious beliefs. Thanks to Zentner's deft writing style, the town feels incredibly real - we can almost walk the streets for ourselves and step into the lives of the characters.

Description and language never take over though, the real master here is Zentner's instinctive grasp of natural dialogue. He has captured the characters of Dill, Travis and Lydia so well that we walk in their shoes and completely understand who they are. The handling of the relationships between the three central characters is beautifully done and, even when the story takes darker turns, the sentiment never becomes mawkish or glib.

I loved this book, and don't mind admitting that I was very pleased to see that it had made it onto the nomination list for the 2017 Carnegie Medal. Zentner is being hailed by the US press as the "next John Green" and, as with Green's books, you will need a box of tissues for some of the truly heartbreaking moments in Serpent King, but I think that the comparison should end there. I feel that where Zentner rises above many writers of this ilk is in his mastery of dialogue. That time spent volunteering with young people has clearly not been wasted as he really does know how young people speak to each other, and how they relate the complexities of their lives.

The Serpent King feels like a window into the lives of three young people who live in both ordinary, and extraordinary times, and I enjoyed it a great deal.

Dawn Finch is a children's writer and librarian and 2016 President of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), and member of the Society of Authors' CWIG committee.
www.dawnfinch.com
@dawnafinch

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