The Dangerous Lives of the Jacobites, by Linda Strachan and Darren Gate. Reviewed by Saviour Pirotta

THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF THE JACOBITES
written by Linda Strachan
Illustrated by Darren Gate
Published by Kelpies, 2019

Like many people my age, I was a big fan of Look and Learn, an educational magazine that was published for two whole decades starting in 1962. It had a perfect mix of articles taking in geography, science, history and world culture, cartoon-strip versions of famous literary classics and even science fiction.

 For me and, I suspect for many others, the biggest draw was the historical element. Lavishly illustrated by well-known artists of the time, the articles often read like fiction, pulling you back in time to witness the events with your own eyes. I used to wait with bated breath from month to month.

Part of a series called Fact-Tastic Stories from Scotland's History, The Dangerous Lives of the Jacobites has much the same feel. It mixes first-person narratives with nuggets of well-chosen information and fantastic artwork from Darren Gate.

The Jacobites were supporters of the Stuart royal family, intent on returning them to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland. They undertook four main uprisings against the English government, between 1688 and 1746. Strachan's story follows a boy called Rob as he joins the uprising of 1745 which culminated in the famous battle of Culloden. With his father and a friend called Jamie, he enlists in Bonnie Prince Charlie's army which marches on London only to turn back when the promised help from France does not arrive. Rob's experiences come alive on the page as the reader is pulled not only into the thick of battle but also discovers the intricacies of life for ordinary people in the 18th century. Rob's sister Aggie remains home in the Highlands but her narrative adds a depth and richness to the book which I found delightful.

A delightful book that readers will enjoy not only for its educational value but also for its page-turning action!

Saviour's new historical fiction is set in the Orkneys during the Neolithic Age. It's called The Stolen Spear and is published by Maverick on the 28 September. Follow Saviour on twitter @spirotta. His website is www.spirotta.com.

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DON'T JUDGE ME by Linda Strachan, Reviewed by Penny Dolan.

This novel's stunning cover blazes with flames, reminding us that arson is, in writing terms, already an interesting focus for a book for older teens and young adult readers. 

However, in “Don’t Judge Me” award-winning author Linda Strachan has also created a very clever novel. We are offered four – or maybe five – protagonists, each of whom could have set the fire, but the plot takes one twist after another, making the reader suspend judgement.

The book is written in a simple style and the different viewpoints are clearly indicated so the novel feels accessible for most teen readers.   

Chapter by interwoven chapter, a loose gang of four teenage friends reveal more about themselves, their backgrounds and their conflicts..

The novel begins strongly, with stroppy, half-drunk Suzie, a rebel in foster care, catching a baby tumbling from one of the burning flats on the estate. Another fire blazes in the home of Jenna and her loving Indian family.  Unlike Suzie, Jenna gets almost everything she wants - except the freedom to be an individual. Now, forced to move into her aunty’s home, Jenna will be even more closely watched. And was the fire a racist attack?  Jenna and her family face troubling threats.

The pair of boys are Malky and Jack. Troubled Malky is someone Suzie has known since they were in care together, but now he brings his own problems and solutions to the mix. Jack, Malky’s friend, seems to be the most stable of the group – but is he? Jack lives with his frail grandmother. His journalist mother is more interested in her assignments abroad than in her own son and he is full of hidden anger and bitterness.

A local police officer, DI Larkin,  has the task of trying to untangle the case and the conflicting clues - as well as working out what the anonymous witness saw on that night when the fire took hold – and how her terrified account fits in with the statements on his desk.

At first, the four teenage friends seem to have little in common beyond their love of hanging about together. They are full of the usual teenage jealousies, insecurities and bravado. They get annoyed by each other and indulge in tantrums and games, especially games that can go wrong. Nevertheless,during the novel, the experiences they share force them to decide on where their loyalties lie and the importance of truth. 

Meanwhile, the reader is forced to wait and suspend judgement until they have heard each part of the story in full.

As author Keith Gray says, “Don’t Judge Me” is “a tricksy whodunit” and a great contemporary read for teenagers.

Penny Dolan.

Don't Judge Me was published in 2012 by Strident Publishing.

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Dead Boy Talking by Linda Strachan. Reviewed by Emma Barnes

A boy is dying. He has been stabbed. He is lying, abandoned, in a pool of his own blood, knowing that his life is trickling away.

This is the arresting start to Dead Boy Talking. It’s a bold and brave premise for a book. Certainly it grabs the reader’s attention in a very shocking way. But the end looks inevitable. How can the writer maintain suspense and create surprise, and maintain a deep interest in the characters, in the face of such a grim beginning – a beginning that seems to go only in one direction?

All I can say is Linda Strachan pulls it off. The writing is powerful and visceral and does not dodge the bleak present.

"I start to laugh but my breath vanishes in an icy purple stripe of pain. I grab at the pain to make it stop and stare in disbelief at my hand, a thick, sticky glove of blood."

Yet by going backwards, and delving into the story of how Josh has ended up where he has – a story which contains a tragic accident and a family mystery – Strachan cleverly creates suspense, surprise and a real desire to find out what happens next.

Furthermore, she adeptly handles – and gets into the heads of – a large cast of characters. Josh, his loyal friend Danny, his ex-best friend Ranj – and Skye, the nerdish girl-next-door: all of them are more than they seem, all have their own stories. The online friendship of Josh and Skye, based around gaming and messaging, seemed to me authentic and particularly moving.

Of course, as a reader you are hoping all the time that Josh will pull through. At the same time, you know a fairytale ending would feel like a cop-out. I won’t give away what happens, I will only say it is satisfying and contains an element of hope.

A gritty tale for teenagers, with a very human heart.

Emma Barnes is the writer of very un-gritty books for the 7-12 age-groups. Her latest book, How (Not) To Make Bad Children Good, concerns a naughty child who is sent a suprising and unexpected "Guardian Agent".

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Out of the Depths By Cathy MacPhail by Guest Reviewer Linda Strachan

Linda Strachan lives near Edinburgh and knows a good story. Her own work ranges from the charm of her Hamish Mc Haggis picture book series through to strong teen novels such as Spider, (Winner of the Catalyst Award 2010) and Dead Boy Talking. She also wrote a useful handbook for people interested in this market: "Writing For Children".

Here's Linda Strachan's specially chosen book: 

OUT OF THE DEPTHS by CATHY MACPHAIL

‘I saw my teacher in the supermarket last Christmas, Miss Baxter. I was surprised to see her. She’d been dead for six months’

And so begins the first book in Cathy MacPhail’s new scary thriller series.

Cathy MacPhail is a consummate storyteller and in Out of the Depths she weaves a ghostly tale of murder and suspense around her main character which makes you hold your breath as you turn the page, desperate to find out how it will all end.

Tyler Lawless can see dead people but it causes her no end of trouble.  She had to leave her last school because no one believed her and she is determined that she is going to make a fresh start at her new school.  She even tries to ignore it when she hears about a boy who died her new school, until the dead boy appears in her classroom and strange things begin to happen, again.

Trying to make new friends Tyler is determined not to believe her eyes when statues come to life,  putting it all down to her vivid imagination. But when the boy appears to her and seems to be asking for her help she wonders if she will be able to find out wht he wants.

It all goes from bad to worse as her friends and everyone around her suspects that she is just telling lies and seeking attention. But Tyler knows that she has to help the boy that no one else can see.

Out of the Depths is a wonderful blend of thriller and ghost story and Tyler Lawless is a feisty and dauntless heroine.  This is a series not to be missed.

 
Format: Paperback. Also available for Kindle.
ISBN:  978-0747599098

Published: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Price: £5.99
Reviewed by: Linda Strachan

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'Writing for Children' by Linda Strachan: reviewed by Rosalie Warren

First of all, a big thank you to Linda Strachan. Reading her book, Writing for Children, helped me get started with writing for young folk, to persevere with my revisions and submissions and, eventually, to find a publisher for Coping with Chloe, my first children's/YA book.

Actually, to speak of 'reading' Strachan's book is something of an understatement. I tend to treat my how-to-write books rather like Bibles or other religious texts. Perhaps if I squeeze a book hard enough, some of the magic will seep from it into me... inspire my dreams and help me unlock the golden gate to success. I like to think I'm a bit more rational than that, at least some of the time, but to be honest, I'm not sure...

Writing for Children certainly opened a number of gates for me. First and foremost, it helped me believe I could do it. I'd already had two books published for adults, but writing for children was something new, and I had no illusions that it would be easy.

Linda Strachan's book focuses on writing for children up to the age of 12, and she tells you everything a beginning author could possibly need to know, in the straightforward and unassuming manner of one who has been doing it for years and has over 50 books to her name. Unusually, she gives plenty of space to writing non-fiction as well as fiction, and she also discusses at length the practicalities of writing for a fee or writing for companies like Working Partners. All this was new to me and very useful to learn about. Strachan also discusses writing and publishing poetry and plays, and there's a useful section on research. She gives a great deal of helpful advice on the mechanics of writing - how to get ideas, how to tackle plot, structure, characterisation, dialogue, settings, beginnings and endings and point of view... and how to revise your work.

Strachan provides useful writing exercises, too. Normally I skip the exercises in books, but I did try some of hers and I'm very glad I did, as they are unusual and inspiring. She takes you through the process of how to prepare your submissions and send them off to agents and publishers - and what to do when the inevitable rejections come.

There's a useful chapter on what to expect of your publisher or agent - and what they might expect of you. Plus there are many ideas for self-promotion and advice on how to deal with school visits and other author events. Money matters, contracts and royalties are covered, too, and Strachan offers good counsel on how to work - as I do - without an agent. At the end there's an invaluable list of resources of all kinds, including organisations for writers, courses and consultancies, plus magazines, websites and recommended books.

Another great thing about Writing for Children is the way it is scattered throughout with helpful and inspiring remarks by children's authors of all kinds (plus Anton Chekhov, for good measure). You get the feeling that you're in the company of experts and that, with their help, you won't go far wrong. I've started recommending this book to budding authors who come to me for advice about writing and submitting their children's books.

My copy is now severely battered. Like a favourite old teddy bear, I still turn to it from time to time, and the section on handling rejection is well-stained with coffee, chocolate crumbs and tears. It's been scribbled on, too, and a number of the page corners turned down. Can a recommendation come more highly than that?

Writing for Children
Author: Linda Strachan
Publisher: A & C Black
Year of Publication: 2008

On Amazon:

Kindle edition (2009):

Rosalie Warren's website:




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