Aidan and the unflappable (and delightful) Roxy are saddened to find that reclusive neighbour and fellow 'eleven-year-old' Alfie Monk has been made hoAidan and the unflappable (and delightful) Roxy are saddened to find that reclusive neighbour and fellow 'eleven-year-old' Alfie Monk has been made homeless after a tragedy at home, but still manage not to tell the authorities that Alfie is over 1,000 years old. This is the story of Alfie's quest for mortality! [image] A very well conceived and played middle-grade read that treats its children readers like adults in this fascinating look at immortality and its cons as well as its pros. This book does not presume to be at all a look at historical fiction, despite Alfie's Viking-linked past. It also plays down the fantasy elements, this is a fab read about friendship foremost. A hearty 8 out of 12, Four Star read, that I presume many like me, will just pick up for the title! [image] 2023 read...more
Having already read the fourth book in the series, I picked this up, the second book in the series hoping to see more of the 'Geek Girl' and less of tHaving already read the fourth book in the series, I picked this up, the second book in the series hoping to see more of the 'Geek Girl' and less of the fashion model pining for her boyfriend, but alas that appears to be the real theme of this series; I can see why it's a conventional hit for its intended audience of 11+ years old female readers, but I think it misses a trick by only focusing on Harriet Master's geekdom mostly via references and her thoughts. A meagre 3 out of 12, One Star for me, even the comedy gets tiring very quickly after reading two books in the series. [image] 2023 read...more
Malcolm Polstead was always a polite, observant and respectful child; likely because he's growing up and helping out at his parents' inn most eveningsMalcolm Polstead was always a polite, observant and respectful child; likely because he's growing up and helping out at his parents' inn most evenings. When he's not at school he loves playing and riding in his canoe La Belle Sauvage. Through overheard conversations and mosey questions Malcolm finds himself gradually becoming a key player in a a covert battle between religious extremists and those that oppose them, Oakley Street; but what does baby Lyra have to do with it all? [image] At first I was excited to be back in the world of Dust and Daemons, but this prequel was too good, in that is specifically about Lyra's early life, but we already know she survived and grew up OK to appear in the later/earlier written books, the book really lack a sense of danger? I feel it would have worked better if it focused on the early years of Lyra's parents? Right? Hard work to finish, but still a 5 out of 12, for tight continuity and world building with the rest of the series. Pullman is lucky, or has been rewarded for his past creativity as anything he creates in this reality will sell well, and be hyper marketable. [image] 2023 read...more
Twelve year-old Stephanie Edgley's fantasy writer uncle was a bit of an outlier, especially as he was often spotted with strange, dare I say dangerousTwelve year-old Stephanie Edgley's fantasy writer uncle was a bit of an outlier, especially as he was often spotted with strange, dare I say dangerous looking people. On his death, Stephanie, who was the only person who truly tolerated him (as he tolerated Stephanie) inherited the larger part of his wealth and his home, and it is in that 'home' that Stephanie is attacked, and then save by Skulduggery Pleasant. Skull who you ask? Mr Pleasant is just your every day average walking talking skeleton detective. [image] Let's be clear up front, this is very much a children's book, with it's writing, characterisations and plotting, but with enough darkness to maybe be called 'dark fantasy' as it's labelled on Wikipedia. It's pretty interesting and entertaining tale, al the better for essentially having no romantic themes of any kind and very minimal contact with the normal world. It's a 12-year old girl picking up a legacy she didn't know she had and displaying the typical flexibility of the young jumping into the adventure head-first. So why is this series so popular? For me, it's the humour/humorous dialogue, which is not only quote funny, some of it is quite clever. Only 234 more books (just joking) to go in this series :). A 6 out of 12 for the first book in this series. [image] 2023 read...more
The Swallow's crew is made up of four sibling children giving the freedom to adventure during their Summer holiday in the Lake District in 1920s EnglaThe Swallow's crew is made up of four sibling children giving the freedom to adventure during their Summer holiday in the Lake District in 1920s England, they sail(!), boat, trek, build etc. as well as battle, truce and have not necessarily all-good interactions with the adults. It is as it says on the tin, this is no coming of age drama, it's literally what the Swallow and Amazon boat crews get up to, most playing in an around the lakes... yet Ransome wrote and plotted it so well, you get drawn into their universe! [image] Oh, and it's intelligent, funny and poignant at times. Another huge plus is Ransome has the girls doing just as much boys, with very little, if any gender specific characterisations. It always annoys me when some readers excuse a writer's gender bias, racism, ignorance etc. because 'that's what it was like back then'; because 'back then' there were people who did believe in equality and wrote thus! Sorry for the digression, this modern classic is worth adding to your must-read-before-I-die list, this was my first time reading, and on completion can see how powerful a read this was for children in the mid-2oth Century, although I should stress I don't know whether modern kids would get much from this now. 8 out of 12., Four Star read. [image] 2022 read...more
The Pevensies are pulled and tugged by invisible forces from a train station platform to another reality again, this time they find a world of overgroThe Pevensies are pulled and tugged by invisible forces from a train station platform to another reality again, this time they find a world of overgrown lands with acres and acres of nature gone wild; they also find the ancient ruins of a palace... and the longer they are marooned in this strange land, the more familiar it gets! [image] Lucy, Edmund, Susan and Peter are back on a magical adventure, but where are they? And what does their appearance have to do with the runaway Prince Caspian in Narnia? Another wonderful high fantasy tale written in the more innocent age of the 1950s and classically drawn by Pauline Baynes - I can't imagine reading these books with illustrations by anyone else! C.S. Lewis' second offering and sequel to his first The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, is just as spellbinding but with more mysteries and multiple sub-plots. As ever, with this series that I know that I adore it so much because I first read it as a child, and I remember my first read of this book being such a thrill with the early big plot-twist that a first-time child reader may not see coming! 8 out of 12. [image]...more
To the south of Narnia lays a vast desert, and beyond that the Calormen Empire (obviously based on the Middle Eastern Muslim world). Deep within CalorTo the south of Narnia lays a vast desert, and beyond that the Calormen Empire (obviously based on the Middle Eastern Muslim world). Deep within Calormen the bedraggled and misused Thasta the 'son' of a fisherman, and Aravis, who is due to be forced into a terrible arranged marriage find themselves unlikely travel companions, on the road to the fabled (in their country) Narnia; they get caught up in a big Narnian adventure! [image] This book, the fifth published, but third chronologically, is set during the reign of the Pevensies as briefly referred to in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and is a full-out classic fairy tale adventure with a long journey, an 'evil' empire, kings, queens, battles, giants and more, as well as your Narnian talking animals and fabled creatures. Although it doesn't particularly sit well with the other tales, it is one of the biggest reality building stories as there is so much detail about life in the Narnian reality, especially its neighbours. Fab read 8 out of 12. [image]...more
Carl Hiassen has been recommended to me by another reader continuously for years, but me being a typical egocentric know-it-all man, who considers humCarl Hiassen has been recommended to me by another reader continuously for years, but me being a typical egocentric know-it-all man, who considers humour totally subjective, and myself a tough nut to crack, just didn't get round to seeking his work out. With the overflow of used books to my local thrift stores as we come out of Lockdowns, I picked this up and was instantly hooked with the easy writing, genuinely believable but funny characters with some subtle dark undertones in this story of a animal loving father and son having to act as consultants to a power and fame driven faux survivalist reality TV show star and his latest venture in the Florida Everglades. [image] Reading this engaging read reminded me of two key things I want from books - children's books that don't talk down to the reader in anyway (I had to Google to find out this was a middle school-er read, as I couldn't tell by the writing, despite two of the key protagonist being middle teenagers; and that humour is more effective in a non-humorous 'real' world, I find I loathe comedic realities! All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and to coin the cliche, this was a book that I couldn't put down - I found myself finishing it off, by picking it up to read at 6.30 am on a Sunday morning! I also went out and immediately bought more of Hiaasen's work! 8 out of 12. [image]...more
Just can't get enough of this world! Three novellas covering three characters from Wonder; the first story is narrated by Justin and is a masterclass Just can't get enough of this world! Three novellas covering three characters from Wonder; the first story is narrated by Justin and is a masterclass in first person thoughts and narration of a bully. It's not too harsh, and neither is it apologetic, it just provides a very well thought out rationale and background to why Justin had so much issue with Auggie; there's also some WONDER-ful scenes with one of his relatives. 9.5 out of 12, Four Star read. [image] The second story Pluto follows Christopher, Auggies lifelong friend who's now moved away, in the past and in the present - not as great as the other tales, but alone in having the main focus of the story be very far from Auggie and more just about Christopher. 8.5 out of 12. The final story wraps up the book as we follow Charlotte's own story during the period covered by Wonder - more boss storytelling, heart-warming, kindness promotion entails. 9.5 out of 12, Four Star read. [image] I've been really thinking what makes Palacio's writing so special, and i think it's because it focuses on kindness and doing good, about our individual responsibility to not do harm, and even more so to be kind, do good. Also, unlike virtually every other creator I've read/consumed, she absolutely nails the syntax, styles, tones, characterisations and relationships of middle-school aged kids. Another superb visit to the world of WONDER! 9 out of 12, Four Star read. [image] 2020 read...more
To paraphrase the first page of this lighthearted and uplifting look at the last summer at school, mostly from the vantage point of the public transpoTo paraphrase the first page of this lighthearted and uplifting look at the last summer at school, mostly from the vantage point of the public transport bus that takes them there - this is the story of Lizzie, Star and M (Emma); the story of Dodo, Pram Gram, Tuba Boy, Bottom Bob and Top Bob; the story of the Good Lookings and The Beautiful Stranger; this is the story of 11 O'clock chocolate cake. [image] I think humour is so subjective, it's hard to get it right, and even harder to get that balance right for teenage readers, but I feel Pitcher nails it, in this idyllic First World Problems reality with a little unexpected and thought provoking dark centre! Dark centre... cue up another GIF:- [image] This surprisingly tasty, despite being very sugary at times, wonderful 12-14 aged read about kids doing their final pre-college/sixth form exams, is a masterclass in how to write for an adolescent audience, 8 out of 12. But let's be honest, you're still here because of the GIFs! :) [image]...more
2020 review: With my TBR almost eradicated by all my Lockdown reading I picked this wonder-ful book off of my shelves for a reread, and even on second2020 review: With my TBR almost eradicated by all my Lockdown reading I picked this wonder-ful book off of my shelves for a reread, and even on second reading this book is still an absolute delight! A book that does not paint grey-issues where they are not grey; a book that asks us all to recognise that we have control over how other people feel; that ultimately our teaching professions want the best for their students, and that every day and every hour they pursue that cause; that unity really is strength. So glad that the writer and the publishers weren't afraid to get this story out there. 11 out of 12! [image] 2017 review: Auggie is a normal 10 year old with a hideous genetic facial condition. This is the story of his first year in school in the Fifth Grade, told from numerous first people's viewpoints. And this book? It is a wonder, a superbly crafted piece of fiction, ultimately promoting human kindness. This book totally moved me and had my crying at the spirit of human kindness throughout. 11 out of 12. [image] It's because of books like this I have a book rating system that goes up to 12, so that books that are better than 10/10 have somewhere to go. I have only ever given one book 12/12 - To Kill a Mockingbird. 2020 read, 2017 read...more
Yet another very creative piece of children's fiction, mainly focusing on the relationships and struggles of an orphan, and an orphan fox he helps. ThYet another very creative piece of children's fiction, mainly focusing on the relationships and struggles of an orphan, and an orphan fox he helps. This one doesn't resonate as well as most of his work. 5 out of 12., Two Stars read. A review only re-shared to re-share this cute GiF :) [image] 2015 read...more
Five short stories setting mostly in or around the mythical Cornish location, Zennor - with 'The Giant's Necklace' and 'Mad Miss Marney' being the besFive short stories setting mostly in or around the mythical Cornish location, Zennor - with 'The Giant's Necklace' and 'Mad Miss Marney' being the best of them. 6 out of 12....more
I'm beginning to wonder if Morpurgo wrote any average or poor books! Another wonderful tale, set on the Isles of Scilly, focusing on isolated communitI'm beginning to wonder if Morpurgo wrote any average or poor books! Another wonderful tale, set on the Isles of Scilly, focusing on isolated communities, and further isolation of individuals amongst them. Another cracker! 7 out of 12....more
Runner-Up Whitbread Book Award 1982. Now this is also an acclaimed play and a great film, this a remarkable book, looking at war through a lens that oRunner-Up Whitbread Book Award 1982. Now this is also an acclaimed play and a great film, this a remarkable book, looking at war through a lens that one wouldn't even consider a possibility, from a non-human perspective! ...and it works so well! This story is taken from the viewpoint of a horse that took part in the First World War and is also about the quest of the war horse's original owner's (a farmer) son to find / rescue him. 8 out of 12. [image] 2014 read...more
Delightful and heart warming tale of a distant descendent of Sir Walter Raleigh, meeting his ghost! And as a result an even more amazing story emergesDelightful and heart warming tale of a distant descendent of Sir Walter Raleigh, meeting his ghost! And as a result an even more amazing story emerges from this meeting. Another great book by this fantastic children's author! 7 out of 12, Three Star read. [image] 2014 read...more
A poignant, but also slightly underwhelming Victorian tale of how a remote group of islanders (in the South West of England) were saved by the wreck oA poignant, but also slightly underwhelming Victorian tale of how a remote group of islanders (in the South West of England) were saved by the wreck of the Zanzibar, as recounted after the funeral of an island family's matriarch. 6 out of 12, Three Stars [image] 2014 read...more
Another solid and ultimately fulfilling tale for children. A young boy who has been passed from foster home to foster home for years, finds himself plAnother solid and ultimately fulfilling tale for children. A young boy who has been passed from foster home to foster home for years, finds himself placed with a family on a farm. This is a placement that changes all of their lives forever. 7 out of 12 Three Stars. [image] 2014 read...more
A rollicking adventure starting off with a missionary settlement in China being invaded by the Japanese, causing a British boy, Ashley, and his ChinesA rollicking adventure starting off with a missionary settlement in China being invaded by the Japanese, causing a British boy, Ashley, and his Chinese mentor to flee, only to see the boy end up with …wait for it... yetis! Just an OK read, despite such an intriguing premise. 5 out of 12, Two Star jam, just for Morpurgo's so accessible writing style that makes it easy for children to get into his work [image] 2014 read...more
Another astounding piece of children's fiction by Morpurgo - towards the end of the First World War a Jewish child refugee comes to a small village onAnother astounding piece of children's fiction by Morpurgo - towards the end of the First World War a Jewish child refugee comes to a small village on the Spanish border, looking to cross over, then another Jewish child arrives and another, and another and so on! Meanwhile a small German garrison is sent to the village to watch the border. Young Jo and his grandpa, find themselves caught up in a conspiracy to hide and protect the refugees, and all this time the original refugee is waiting for his young sister Anya - a beautiful piece of work! 9 out of 12. [image] Seriously, I recommend that everyone reads at least one Michael Morpurgo children's book, they are all, so delightful!...more
Loading...
