The Green Sheep, by Diana Kimpton

Diana Kimpton, as many of you will know, is a prolific writer for children with over forty books published. Many of them have to do with horses, but she's also very keen on science fiction, declaring with pride that she has watched Doctor Who 'since the very first episode'.

The Green Sheep is a story about aliens. But these are not hostile aliens. They - well, 'it', to start off
with - are sheep. And they're green. And they're great fans of a terrestrial soap opera, which is the reason they're here in the first place...

Paul Dane lives with his parents on the outskirts of a village. His father has recently got a new job with a firm called DETOPS, and as a result, he doesn't seem to have time to do things with Paul any more. One evening Paul goes for a walk by himself - and sees a strange beam of light. Next thing he knows, there's a sheep in the field where there wasn't one before. It's bright green. And It can talk.

It tells Paul that it is indeed an alien, but a friendly one. It knows what Earth is like - it knows about men in suits, and it doesn't want to be taken to anybody's leader - and so it asks Paul for help. Kind-hearted Paul agrees, and then his troubles begin. One of them is that, due to a technical malfunction (one of several), whenever the sheep falls asleep, it becomes two sheep. And so on, and so on... the alien isn't due to be picked up for a month, and Paul realises that by that time, there'll be millions of them. Where can he keep them all? How will he hide them? How can he feed them? And then the men in suits arrive - and one of them is Paul's dad.

I read this with my eight year-old grandson. It made him laugh out loud, and he didn't want me to stop. He doesn't so far read much by himself, but I think this book would be one to help him feel confident about reading alone: the language is uncomplicated, the pace is brisk, and the narrative drives you from one chapter to the next. It's funny and warm and it has a reassuring message. Just the job - for any child, but particularly for those who are a little bit worried about the tiger on the landing or the monster under the bed.

The Green Sheep is published by Kubby Bridge Books, and is available  as a paperback and as an ebook.

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There Must Be Horses by Diana Kimpton. Reviewed by Ann Turnbull

As soon as I got hold of this book I wanted to read it.  It looks good, with an appealing cover, soft cream pages and a clear font.

The story is about Sasha, an emotionally damaged twelve-year-old in care.  Sasha and her social worker are on their way to a temporary foster home after yet another placement has failed.  The social worker is tired.  Sasha is stroppy.  She didn't get on with the people she'd been living with, but something good had come out of that experience: she'd been able to have riding lessons.  Sasha loves horses - and now she dreads another change.

But when they arrive she finds that her new foster carers, Beth and Joe, train and rehabilitate difficult horses.  Sasha is allowed to help care for the horses - in particular one named Meteor.  Sasha builds a special bond with Meteor, who has been badly treated in the past and is wary and fearful.  With Joe's guidance, she learns how to get him to trust her.

Sasha longs to stay with Beth and Joe, and she tries desperately to make herself indispensable to them so that they will want to keep her.  But within a few weeks her social worker tells her she has found her a new, permanent home.  Sasha is distraught.  Why don't Beth and Joe want her?  What can she do to make them change their minds?

I was gripped by this story right from the start.  It's so involving, so emotionally intense, that it sweeps you along with it and is almost impossible to put down.  Everything is seen through Sasha's eyes, and the drama comes from the powerful feelings she experiences but can't express.

It's written in a clear, simple style that makes the story very accessible.  And what a refreshing change it is to read something written in the third person, past tense, with no changes of viewpoint and a straightforward narrative.

I think any horse-mad girl (or boy) would gobble this story up.  But you don't need to be a horse-lover to enjoy it.  I'm not, but I loved reading about the horses and learned a lot about how they behave and how to care for them.  There are no villains here, and no unlikely adventures.  It all rings true, and it builds to a tense and highly-charged ending.  I've always said I'm one of those readers who never cry - but I did with this one.

Available from Amazon in a print edition or as a Kindle e-book.



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