MG Takes on Thursday

This is my 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:

This was the first time she’d seen Grandpa for ages and now he was going to think she was weird.

This book in three words:

WEATHER-MAGIC, FRIENDSHIP, ADVENTURE

The Weather Weaver is a beautifully heart-warming and vivid story that swept me away into a captivating world that I didn’t want to leave.  This is a breath-taking and fresh adventure that sparkles with magic, wonder and mystery.

Eleven-year-old Stella has been sent to spend her summer holidays with her Grandpa on the Shetland Islands whilst her parents work on a research vessel.  She has not seen her Grandpa in six years and, when she does meet him, finds that he has changed.  He is grieving the loss of his wife and is grumpy and unwilling to spend time with her, or to let her explore the island, which is not the fun and adventurous Grandpa that Stella has such fond memories of.

Stella loves to read and has her own copy of ‘Shetland Myths and Magic’ which proves to be extremely apt!  After an incident with her Grandpa, Stella finds herself racing off and meeting an elderly lady, Tamar, who seems to have been waiting for her arrival.  Tamar has an incredible, magical ability that is at one with nature:  she is a weather weaver.  Stella discovers that she too is a weather weaver and soon fetches a spirited young storm cloud, Nimbus to her, a young cloud that will change her life, and together they will go on the most incredible adventure …

As Stella learns the art of weather-weaving, she also discovers that the island is facing a terrible threat from The Haken, a local sea witch, who has a deep hatred of weather weavers.  Will Stella have the courage and inner strength to confront the terror unleashed on the island? 

The author weaves a spellbinding story which is perfectly paced, building tension and impending danger and revealing secrets and twists that definitely took me by surprise, and which made the story a rich and touching one.  

I felt a real sense of wonder from delving into the ingenious magical system of weather-weaving which allowed me to appreciate the power and beauty of the elements. 

Stella is an incredibly sympathetic young girl.  She feels alone and disconnected from her grieving Grandpa and, whilst she desperately tries to get to know him again, he seems reluctant to spend time with her.  Her time on the island seems destined to be rather unsettled and unhappy until she meets Nimbus.  I love the friendship that forms between Stella and Nimbus.  Is this the time to say that I really, really want my own cloud and I’m sure many young readers will too!  Why?  Who wouldn’t want a playful, enthusiastic, mischievous, loyal and loving cloud-friend who is also sensitive to your moods?  There are some touching and humorous moments as Stella tries to train her new friend.  I also really enjoyed the relationship between Stella and her Grandpa as he opens up to her.  As Stella comes to accept herself, she shows admirable courage and strength when defending those she loves.

This is an exhilarating adventure, imbued with magic and myth, that took me on an exciting journey of discovery, danger and daring.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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!