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I didn’t get very far with The House on Hoarder Hill last week, so I’m going to finish it this week. On audio, I’m listening to The Secret Garden which was one I loved as a child.

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I have finished three audio-books and three physical books this week. I absolutely loved Back Home (thanks to Rachael at Bellis Does Books for the recommendation) which follows Rusty’s journey into settling back into life in England after being evacuated to America during the Second World War. She is an incredibly sympathetic character and has to go through a lot, but I love how she stands up for herself, and the relationship which she develops with her mother as they re-connect. It was fascinating to see how the War changed women’s perspectives on their roles. I also finished The Jumbies which I am reading for an online Book Club. I was meant to leave some for the final week, but I couldn’t resist finishing at the weekend. I’ve never read a book with Caribbean folklore, and I absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed the friendship between the children, the depiction of the jumbies is just the right amount of scary, and Corinne, the main protagonist, is brilliant. I loved the earth-magic, and will definitely be looking to pick up the next book in the trilogy. I have also read (and reviewed) 44 Tiny Secrets which is a very cute lower middle-grade about 44 pygmy mice who help Betsy improve her piano-playing in order to impress her parents. She learns great lessons around the importance of honesty and being true to yourself. I’ve also read Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Poison Plot (review posted tomorrow). I also listened to New Kid which is graphic novel. I really enjoyed this book which challenges stereotypes and explores friendship. Jordan, who enjoys art, moves to a new private school where there is not much diversity. The story follows his attempts at settling in and finding new friends at this prestigious school whilst being true to himself. I think this story addressed racism really well and called out examples such as a teacher continually referring to a black boy by another black boy’s name and assumptions made due to race. Finally, I listened to the audio-book of A Boy Called Bat which I really enjoyed. It is about a young autistic boy who wants to keep the baby skunk which his veterinarian mother brings home. It gives a wonderful insight into Bat’s life for younger middle-grade readers, and has the most wonderfully heart-warming ending. I’m going to get the book for my class.

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I’m now on summer holiday, and I’m SO looking forward to sinking into these two over the next week – can’t wait!

Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue is the simply stunning sequel to The Umbrella Mouse.  This is an action-packed WWII animal adventure imbued with tremendous courage, friendship and hope in the face of terrible peril, betrayal and mistrust.  It was an emotional roller coaster of a story, both heart-warming and poignant, as I followed Pip and her friends on their dangerous mission.

Four weeks after the events of The Umbrella Mouse, French Resistance group Noah’s Ark have been left with physical and emotional scars including grief at the loss of some of their friends.  Courageously, Pip decides to continue to fight with Noah’s Ark, led by the indomitable Madame Fourcade, who agree to undertake a new assignment which requires them to meet a white mouse in the catacombs beneath the streets of Paris to help the human Allies in the liberation of the city.

This does not, of course, mean that Pip is leaving behind the Umbrella she has carried with her from her home in London and which is both a constant reminder of her childhood with her family, and a painful reminder of her terrible loss:  Pip still intends to fulfil her mission of taking it to a new life in the Umbrella Museum in Italy.  This has just been put on hold whilst she continues to fight with Noah’s Ark.

When a friend they thought they had lost returns, he brings them a dire warning:  they are being hunted by the Milice, who fight for the Axis powers, and who want revenge on Pip who has become a symbol to unite the French Resistance fighters.  They must escape the terrifying Butcher Birds and make their way through occupied territory to join in the liberation of Paris …

So begins an enthralling action-packed adventure, filled with the constant threat of danger, with astonishing revelations, with bravery overcoming fear, which sees Noah’s Ark fighting for their survival against terrifying new and old enemies. Will they be able to fulfil their mission of helping the human Allies liberate Paris, or will they be thwarted by a determined and cruel foe?  Will new friendships lead to trust or betrayal?

I absolutely adored Pip who despite her diminutive size and understandable fear and grief, radiates a great deal of courage and tenacity.  She has found a new family in Noah’s Ark, a family who she clearly loves.  Pip is willing to take great risks to protect and defend them, even when that threatens her own safety.  She is clever, noble and loyal and determined to do all she can to fight for a freedom she completely believes in:  a perfect symbol of hope to unite the Resistance in their final efforts to liberate their country.  Pip is an incredibly endearing and sympathetic character which made my heart ache for her when she experiences feelings of guilt and grief.  I just wanted to reach out to her and hug her, so I’m glad that she good friends, old and new, to support her and care for her.

The reality of war is portrayed through the eyes of the animals, through their interactions and experiences, in a way that makes this period of history accessible to younger readers.  Whilst there is heart-break, grief, cruelty and destruction, there is also bravery, hope, friendship and heroism.

Sam Usher’s gorgeous illustrations are scattered throughout the story: they portray the characters perfectly, and really capture their personalities, just as I imagine them from the story.

This is a powerful and vividly told story which has at its centre the strength of friendships and the constancy of courage despite the cruelty of war with THE most heart-warming ending which is a perfect tribute to a brave little mouse!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Because reading is magic!  It can transport us into other worlds or allow us to understand our own better.

The Mask of Aribella is a magical kaleidoscope of wonder, mystery and intrigue which absolutely enthralled me as I wandered through the streets and environs of Venice with Aribella and her friends, completely and utterly fascinated by the incredible events which unfold.  It is safe to say that this story kept me on the edge of my seat, gasping at revelations, and taking a deep breath of relief at the truly heart-warming ending. 

Aribella lives with her lace-maker father who has never stopped mourning the loss of his wife ten years previously.  She worries about her father, but also enjoys escaping from her unhappy home to help her friend, Theo at the fish markets in Venice.  Confronted by another boy, who makes nasty comments about her family, she discovers a latent power which has been revealed on the Eve of her thirteenth birthday.  When angered, flames burst from her fingertips …

This is not a secret which she can hide, and leads her and her family into danger. Her father is imprisoned in the dungeons beneath the Doge of Venice’s palace, and Aribella escapes with Theo on his fishing boat.  When they are attacked by a frightening force, they are rescued by a masked man who reveals that Aribella is a Cannovacci, a person with hidden powers.  He takes her to a seemingly dilapidated palazzo where Aribella’s life changes forever as she embarks on a mission to save Venice from a great evil emanating from the Island of the Dead which threatens to destroy the city …

The story-telling is dazzling as the reader is taken on a magical journey where secrets are revealed, revelations astound and danger is abundant.  I was intrigued by how the layers of the story would unravel to reveal its truths and, oh my, I was not disappointed.  This story is fast-paced, action-packed and gloriously intricate:  it kept me completely spellbound throughout.  

I found the premise of Cannovacci with their diverse powers, controlled by wearing a mask which chooses them utterly fascinating.  The descriptions of the masks were gorgeous, and I loved how each mask matched to its owner’s abilities.  Aribella’s mask fitting was not what she had expected as, instead of gaining a beautiful new mask, she is chosen by a previously used, ugly mask … Aribella must learn to harness the power of this mask as she begins her training.

Caring about others doesn’t make you weak, it makes you strong.

Aribella is an incredibly sympathetic protagonist.  She has lost her mother at a young age and lives with her depressed father.  When she discovers her power, she is scared of Theo’s reaction.  However, he is a loyal friend who supports her and she in turn protects and helps him when he is in danger.  I loved that she formed such firm friendships with Fin and Seffie, two other Novices, who help her feel a sense of belonging, and ensure that she is not facing her mission alone.  Aribella is kind-hearted and courageous with an inner strength and determination that helps her face difficult situations. 

This is a superb story of the strength to be gained from friendship and the importance of being true to yourself with the most gorgeous heart-warming ending which was just perfect. 

44 Tiny Secrets is a gorgeously charming, heart-warming and humorous story that will entrance younger readers with both the words and illustrations. 

Despite practising the piano, Betsy Bow-Linnet, the daughter of famous concert pianists, just cannot play very well which would be fine if it weren’t for the fact that she has overheard her mother saying that her lack of talent was ‘a Terrible Disappointment’.  Hearing this makes Betsy put herself under pressure to become better at playing and, with her Grandad’s support, she practises every day whilst her parents are away.

On their return, she summons up the courage to play for them at a dinner party.  She feels proud of herself as she is note-perfect, but this proves not to have been good enough when she finds herself being harshly criticised in the gossip column of The London Natter. 

Feeling isolated from her family, Betty finds a letter addressed to her from a stranger which offers to help make her next performance incredible, just so long as she keeps the method behind her success a secret …

The ‘Method’ for improving her playing is the cutest – and rather naughty – collection of 44 African pygmy mice … will Betsy be able to keep her secret and make her parents proud, or will the truth unfold?

Don’t waste your time on something you don’t love.

This is a wonderful story, told in an engaging and humorous manner, about being true to yourself, and about finding your own talents, rather than trying to live up to others’ expectations.  

I adored the relationship between Betsy and her Grandad.  He is all sorts of wonderful:  kind, loving, patient and encouraging.  She clearly loves and trusts him.  I really felt for Betsy when she overheard herself being referred to in a negative way as she didn’t have the talent of her famous parents – it really shows how much words can hurt, and how they can affect decisions.  Betsy finds herself trapped in a lie which leads to the revelation of some incredible truths …

The story illustrations by Ashley King are absolutely gorgeous.  I loved the mix of the many shades of green which add vibrancy: a perfect complement to the story. In fact, the whole feel of this book is special with the inclusion of coloured pages, a range of fonts, and chapter heading images.  I have no doubt that it will be a treasured addition to many young readers’ book collections.

Thank you to Charlie and Little Tiger for an early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
• Finally… reveal the book!

Aleja was a girl so hungry for adventure that sometimes she found herself in strange places. Tonight she was prowling the rooftops of Sevilla when she should have been sleeping, having stuffed a pillow under her bedsheets back home.

Any ideas?

This has only just been published, but I managed to find an early release copy last weekend, so just had to add it to my TBR. The picture doesn’t do the cover justice – it is stunning! A book about female pirates, and a girl who loves reading – how could I not grab this one???

Goodreads Synopsis:

Aleja whiles away her days in her family’s dusty tavern in Seville, dreaming of distant lands and believing in the kind of magic that she’s only ever read about in books. After all, she’s always being told that girls can’t be explorers. But her life is changed forever when adventure comes for her in the form of a fabled vessel called the Ship of Shadows. Crewed by a band of ruthless women, with cabin walls dripping with secrets, the ship has sailed right out of a legend. And it wants Aleja. Once on board its shadowy deck, she begins to realize that the sea holds more secrets than she ever could have imagined. The crew are desperately seeking something, and their path will take them through treacherous waters and force them to confront nightmare creatures and pitch-dark magic. It will take all of Aleja’s strength and courage to gain the trust of her fellow pirates – and discover what they are risking everything to find.

his is my new weekly meme celebrating amazing middle-grade books. I hope others will enjoy taking part in this too!

How to take part:

• Post a picture of the front cover of a middle-grade book which you have read and would recommend to others with details of the author, illustrator and publisher.
• Open the book to page 11 and share your favourite sentence. 
• Write three words to describe the book.
• Either share why you would recommend this book, or link to your review.

This week, I’m celebrating …

Favourite Sentence from Page 11:

The opposite wall was less than an arm’s reach away; it was like living inside an egg.

This book in three words:

SPACE, FRIENDSHIP, SECRETS

I love watching science-fiction and reading fantasy. I think this is partly because there isn’t a lot of science-fiction in middle-grade, but that seems to be changing. Orion Lost is what I call a proper old-fashioned science-fiction story, and I mean that in a good way!

 The story opens with the Earth ship, Orion, sending out a distress signal. Immediately, I was intrigued and desperate to find out what the fate of the ship was; however, the story then very cleverly moves away from this scenario and takes the reader through the events which led up to the distress signal being sent, and beyond. 

This story is brimming with twists, danger, fast-paced action and perfectly timed revelations. The writing is superbly immersive, creating a believable space setting and technical language; a complex and exciting plot; and, engaging characters who are anything but perfect.  The children are resourceful, resilient and gutsy, and learn that there is a real strength in believing in yourself, in the bonds of friendship and in working together to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. 

You can read more in my review: Orion Lost

I’d love if anyone who wants to give this meme a go would comment in the comments box and include a link to your post so I can visit, comment and find some great middle-grade recommendations. If you do create a post and are on Twitter, and would like to share your post, please use the hashtag  #MGTakesOnThursday so I can find it, read it and share it!

The Time of Green Magic is a wonderfully magical story that captured me wholeheartedly as two families blend in an enchanting old house that holds its own secrets.

Eleven-year-old Abi’s life changes irrevocably when her Granny Grace leaves her to go to Jamaica after her Dad meets and marries Polly who has two boys, Max and Louis.  Abi struggles to feel comfortable in Polly’s home and to adapt to having two stepbrothers which is hardly surprising as she has been brought up by her father and Granny after the death of her mother. The family are forced to move and find themselves falling in love with an old ivy-covered house next to a churchyard … and so the magic begins …

Sometimes, Abi, you have to believe in magic.

Abi clearly has a deep love of reading which transports her imagination to the world of the book she is reading, but she didn’t expect to taste salt on her fingertips and feel water on a book about the ocean.   Is there a magical connection between the house and books living in more than her imagination? 

Not long after moving into his new home, six-year-old Louis, who adores animals, finds an unusual visitor which both terrifies and fascinates him.  Where has this creature come from, and does it pose a threat to the family? 

I really enjoyed the realistic portrayal of family life as the children adapt to living together.  There is jealousy, arguments and misunderstandings, but there is also the bonding that happens as time passes, as shared memories are created, and the family settle together into this new life.  Each of the children have their own issues:  Max has fallen out with his best friend Danny; Abi feels jealous of the attention that her father is giving to his stepchildren; and, Louis is keeping secrets. 

Louis eventually reveals his secret visitor to Abi; it was so heart-warming to see that she believes her young sibling and treats him with such tenderness.  Abi makes a startling discovery about the visitor’s origins, a discovery that leads to a journey into the distant past …

There is magic in this story:   the magic of story-telling and imagination, and the magic of family, connected through shared experience in a new home. 

This is a gorgeously heart-warming story of family and home, a perfect blend of reality and magic.

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I’m continuing to listen to the audiobook of Back Home which I’m really enjoying, although my heart goes out to Rusty who has returned to England after being evacuated to America. The way she is treated in the boarding school is shocking, but she seems such a strong character. I can completely see why she wouldn’t want to view England as home, and why she’d want to go back to America. I’m just starting to read The House on Hoarder Hill which is the 8th book in my 20 Books of Summer Challenge.

My intended reading went out the window this week! I finished reading The Mostly Invisible Boy which was a magical, action-packed adventure set in a wonderfully imagined forest community. I will post my review shortly. I normally read middle-grade, but this week I read a young adult and an adult book. I love reading stories with myths/legends/fairytale elements so I loved The Twisted Tree which is a dark, creepy tale influenced by Norse mythology. Martha has had an accident at her grandmother’s home and has lost the sight in one eye, but has gained the ability to tell a person’s emotions by touching their clothing. When she goes to her grandmother’s home to find out more, she discovers that her grandmother is dead, and meets Stig who has broken into the home. As Martha discovers more of her grandmother’s past, strange and terrifying occurrences take place which leads her towards the fulfilment of a family legacy as the line between living and dead weakens. I also read The Nickel Boys which absolutely blew me away. It is such a powerful story that shocked and angered me, but the ending completely wrecked me. There is much to rage over in this story, but it is also a testament to survival, endurance and redemption. I have immediately ordered The Underground Railroad.

I’m hoping to get to Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Poison Plot next, although I also really want to catch up on reviews!

The Unadoptables is a truly charming read, brimming with adventure, mystery and friendship in a wonderfully atmospheric 19^th century Amsterdam.  Amidst the danger, suspicion and fear, there is also humour, warmth and hope which makes this a not-to-be-missed delight which I couldn’t put down.

The strict Rules of Baby Abandonment at the Little Tulip Orphanage, Amsterdam are unceremoniously broken when five babies are abandoned over the course of five months.  Lotta, Egbert, Fenna, Sem and Milou are each abandoned in an item which links to their particular talents of sewing, storytelling, engineering, cooking and art.

Twelve years later in 1892, these children are firm friends who are living a hard life in the Orphanage run by the cruel, severe and menacing Matron, Elinora Gassbeek who is not interested in the welfare of the children, but in lining her own pockets. 

The children have been dubbed ‘the unadoptables’ until the arrival of a potential adopter at the Orphanage.  Meneer Rotman is a sugar merchant looking for an heir, but it is obvious this sinister, dangerous man doesn’t like children, so why does he want to adopt all five friends?

Milou’s sixth sense warns her of danger, and she is proved correct!  The lives of her and her friends are in terrible peril, and they must escape or risk a fate even worse than that of living in the Orphanage. 

The friends make a daring escape from the Orphanage into a wonderfully evocative and richly described Amsterdam with its canals, bridges and surrounding countryside where they find themselves on an incredible adventure to find Milou’s parents who she is convinced never meant to abandon her … life-like puppets, clockwork artisans, labour ships and cruel villains make this an truly unforgettable read.

This story is an intricate and thrilling tale of danger, discoveries and twists as Milou and her friends fight to stay one step ahead of the authorities and Rotman.  They work brilliantly as a team, using their resourcefulness and ingenuity to strive to outwit both.  At the same time, they search to uncover the mystery surrounding Milou’s family. 

The five children are wonderfully sympathetic characters who I adored.   They are each other’s family and have a close bond steeped in love, friendship, trust and loyalty.  Milou is brave with a real sense of justice and is protective of her friends, feeling a responsibility towards them.   She is also quick-witted, determined and lives with an enduring sense of hope.   All of her friends have individual talents, linked to the items which were left with them as babies.  The children are incredibly resourceful, and supportive of each other, and make perfect use of their talents, as they make a new life away from the orphanage.  Will these talents help this found family work together to thwart some menacing villains and discover the truth of a lost family?

The Unadoptables is an absolutely spellbinding story of the strength to be gained in family, friendship and hope when faced with danger, despair and loss … a truly mesmerising story.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Oh my goodness – I loved this story so much.  The historical context is brilliantly drawn, and gives a fascinating insight into the lives of the passengers aboard The Titanic, all with stories to tell, places to go and lives to live … which makes what happens all the more heart-breaking.

The story is told from the dual viewpoint of 12-year-old Bertha, who is excited to be going to America to join her father, and 14-year-old Johan who is homesick and lonely and not at all keen to join his father.  Bertha boards as a second-class passenger whereas Johan is in third class; the differences between these groups is brilliantly portrayed. 

As Johan is boarding, a red-haired man drops a piece of paper as he rushes aboard, which Johan picks up.  Inside is what appears to be a treasure map and a tiny, silver key.  Determined to make his fortune so that he can have the rest of his family join him, Johan is keen to find someone to help him decipher the writing …

Luckily for him, Bertha has decided to start The Collyer-Watt Detective Agency with her new friend, Marjorie.  Chance soon finds Johan and Bertha meeting and he reluctantly asks her to help him.  Bertha, of course, is excited by this case and sets out to help him track down the missing treasure which may not be at all what they expected, but may open their eyes to treasures beyond price …

The Collyer-Watt Detective Agency also has another mystery to solve, this one involving the rather suspicious Mr Collyer and his two young sons.  What secrets is he hiding?  Why is he so reluctant to let his children talk to Bertha? 

Then the unthinkable happens … the unsinkable ship hits an ice-berg.  The description of the passengers and crew’s reaction is so powerful and so heart-breaking … I could feel the uncertainty, the panic, the fear as they realised the ship was sinking and that there weren’t enough life boats …

Bertha is a strong-willed, independent young lady who is determined to solve the cases she has taken on, even if this leads her to into places she should not be.  She does not conform to society’s expectations of her, and is keen to seek greater freedoms in America.  Johan is an incredibly sympathetic character.  He suffers from terrible seasickness and is miserable on board, yet he fights against this in order to find the treasure which he hopes will offer him a different life, and the chance to be reunited with his mother.    

I was truly fascinated by the insight into life aboard The Titanic from the segregation of passengers to the conditions they lived in to the way different groups of people were treated when the worst happened.  I loved the author’s afterword which details what happened to some of the surviving passengers.

This is a truly engrossing historical fiction, a perfect blend of historical context and mystery.