The April theme for Six for Sunday, hosted by A Little But a Lot is The Viper-inspired ones and today’s prompt is for Magical books. I love books with magic and have decided to cheat a little (a lot!) by including six of my favourite magical series! The covers of these books are just as magical as the contents!

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I read The Strangeworlds Travel Agency about a year ago, and absolutely adored the concept of travelling to other worlds through suitcases. I’ve just finished The Edge of the Ocean, and, oh my goodness, it is brilliant. I loved being back with Flick and Jonathan as they are joined by Jonathan’s not-quite cousin Avery in their mission to save the pirate and mer-folk inhabitants of a world which is collapsing. I will post my review in the next couple of days.

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I absolutely loved The Storm Keeper’s Island series which is set on the island of Arranmore and follows Fionn Boyle, who is the island’s newly appointed Storm Keeper, on his quest to protect the islanders from the sorceress Morrigan and her terrifying Soulstalkers. The use of candles, which contain memories, as conduits for magic is just ingenious as Fionn can be transported into past memories which are very cleverly tied into present events. The world-building is truly wonderful. This is definitely an action-packed, tension-filled series with plenty of heartfelt moments. I will be posting my review of The Storm Keepers’ Battle next week.

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I adored this bewitching series. It follows Arianwyn Gribble, who is sent to Lull, which hasn’t had a resident witch for many years, to continue her apprenticeship after failing her evaluation to become a fully-fledged witch. Once there, she finds herself caught up in saving Lull from dangers, and finds that she is more magical than at first thought. I loved the friendships Arianwyn forms and she remains one of my favourite middle-grade characters.

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I read the first two books one after the other in February 2019 and had to wait until June last year for the release of the final book in the trilogy. This has a brilliant opening as Mup and her mother are followed home by Raggedy Witches on the night that her Aunty dies. They kidnap Mup’s Dad in order to force her mother to return to Witches Borough where she discovers that her grandmother is the evil ruler. I still remember the feeling of the anger conveyed by The Little Grey Girl and though the writing was incredible. I found this a really powerful and emotive series and, if I ever get time, I would love to read all three books together again.

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I absolutely adore this series and can’t believe that I haven’t read the the third one yet, but I do have it! Willow Moss is a witch who finds lost things which turns out to be a more important talent than she had first thought. The star for me is Oswin who is my favourite ever cat – I mean, kobold – he is utterly, utterly brilliant! There is a world of colourful characters, humour, plenty of action and so much warmth. I really need to pick up the third one!

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I had to include the A Pinch of Magic series! I adore the three Widdershins sisters, Betty, Fliss and Charlie who have to break a curse to allow them to leave  the isle of Crowstone. My favourite part of this series is the bond between the sisters as well as how the past/legends are interwoven into the girls’ fate. I also loved Granny!

What magical series have you enjoyed? Are any of these on your list?

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!

People called them ‘pirates’. And the sailors who lived in the world of The Break wore that title with pride, because when you live on a ship, and your life includes a lot of skulduggery and skally-waggery, what else would you call yourself but ‘pirate’?

Any ideas

I loved the first book in this series, and am currently reading the second one which is just brilliant. It is so easy to be drawn into this world, and I so love the idea of being transported to another world through a suitcase.

Goodreads Synopsis:

At the Strangeworlds Travel Agency, each suitcase transports you to a different world. All you have to do is step inside… Flick is now a badge-wearing member of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency so when an urgent summons arrives at Strangeworlds from Pirate Queen Nyfe, she and Strangeworlds Society guardian Jonathon immediately pack their bags for an adventure to Queen Nyfe’s world: The Break, a place of magic and piracy. Nyfe’s world is falling apart. The Break is used to having ships vanish without a trace, but there has been a sudden increase that can’t be explained by giant squid or mer-people. The edge of their flat world is coming ever closer to them and they need to escape before it collapses entirely. But how do you sail a ship through a suitcase? How do you fit a mer-queen the size of a whale into something small enough to carry in your hand? Will Flick and Jonathan be able to find a way to transport the inhabitants of the Break to another world before theirs disappears forever?

Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

The Eye of the North holds a special place in my heart as it is the book that I can wholeheartedly say re-awakened my love of reading which has had such a positive effect on my life in so many ways.  I very rarely find time to re-read books as I have so many on my reading shelves, but this one kept calling me back, so I recently treated myself to a re-read, and I’m so glad that I did! 

This is a brilliantly fast-paced, thrilling adventure that truly deserves the plaudit of ‘unputdownable’.  It opens with the best line ever:

For as long as she could remember, Emmeline Widget had been sure her parents were trying to kill her.

and transported me into the most gripping adventure, brimming with twists and turns, with danger and daring, and with breath-taking revelations. 

Emmeline Widget (perfectly named!) is always prepared for mishaps with her trusty satchel of gadgets by her side.  Unlike her zoologist parents, who are seldom at home, ever-cautious Emmeline prefers to spend time indoors with her books.  And then … a letter arrives from her mother, informing her that she may well be an orphan, and leaving instructions for her to travel to Paris to live with a Madame Blancheflour, someone who is a stranger to Emmeline.

Once onboard the ship taking her to a new life, Emmeline meets Thing, a grubby stowaway who seems keen to befriend her and introduce her to some adventurin’.  Trouble soon finds them when they discover men searching Emmeline’s cabin.  This leads to a tense chase and an attempted rescue, but then Emmeline is separated from Thing and taken by the sinister Dr Siegfried Bauer.  He is taking her to a frozen land where he intends to awaken a mythical monster, but he is not the only one intent on waking the creature.  Can Thing find Emmeline and help her save the world from a terrible fate? 

I was swept into a storm of reading rapture as I devoured this incredible story:  the tension and excitement were palpable as I raced through the short chapters (perfect for a class read-aloud and I’m certain any class will be begging for just another chapter).  The villains are deliciously and fascinatingly dark; the elements of mythology are enthralling; and the icy, frozen world portrayed is magical.  I also really enjoyed the amalgamation of steampunk vibes, the natural environment and the fantastical elements which worked together in perfect unison.  Whilst this is a fantasy adventure, environmental messages are interwoven perfectly. 

Emmeline and Thing are wonderfully likeable and endearing characters, and I adored both of them.  Emmeline feels safe with her satchel and its gadgets, enjoys reading and spends a lot of her time on her own.  She is also clever, resourceful and stronger than she thinks.  Thing is impetuous, a risk-taker and seeks excitement. There are also glimpses that he has suffered in his past which made my heart ache for him.  Together, they form a wonderful bond of friendship based on kindness, support and looking out for each other.  These two are incredibly courageous, tenacious and face their fears head-on.

The Eye of the North is a heart-pounding rollercoaster of an adventure:   exhilarating, action-packed and completely and utterly fantastic. I cannot recommend this one highly enough.  I am now ridiculously excited to read the prequel, Skyborn.

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 …

This book in three words:

MYSTERY, TIME, FRIENDSHIP

Favourite Sentence from Page 11:

“My sincere apologies, Mr Westcott. And to you too, Miss Westcott,” Helena’s father said, throwing Helena a look which she interpreted to mean, Keep that parrot quiet or else.

I read A.M. Howell’s wonderful historical mystery, The Garden of Lost Secrets in July 2019, and absolutely loved it. I immediately bought The House of One Hundred Clocks when it was first published and am only sorry that it has taken me so long to read it as it is another brilliant historical mystery which I can highly recommend.

Helena’s father has accepted a position as a clock-winder for one of the wealthiest men in England, Mr Westcott. He has signed a contract stating that he must never let any of the clocks in the house stop; otherwise, there will be dreadful consequences. Helena is accompanied by her parrot, Orbit, who helps her to feel connected to her deceased mother.

It is not long before Helena finds herself in the midst of a mystery after discovering a warning hidden in a watch case. Will she be too late to stop the clocks winding down and sealing her family’s fate? This is a perfectly paced mystery that captured me completely as I followed Helena on her journey towards unravelling the secrets of the house, secrets embedded in a family’s grief, tragedy, fear and superstition. Why is Mr Westcott obsessed with the clocks never stopping? Who is leaving hidden notes and drawings? Is someone out to sabotage the clock-winders chances of keeping the clocks working?

I adored Helena who is such a sympathetic young girl. She has lost her mother and clings to her connection with her through her mother’s parrot, Orbit who can mimic the sound of her mother’s laughter: I found this incredibly poignant. She is curious, friendly and kind-hearted and is keen to do the right thing. I enjoyed the development of her friendship with Florence, Mr Westcott’s daughter. In different ways, both girls have lost connection to their fathers through their obsession with the clocks. They both have social consciences and are keen to right a wrong that has been committed.

As well as being an intriguing mystery, I really enjoyed the Edwardian setting: 1905 Cambridge, and the depiction of a changing society, from the changing role of women as they begin to fight for their rights to the protection of birds to the use of motor vehicles and the possibility of flight. There is also the depiction of an idyllic university town, perfect days out with picnics and punting along the river juxtaposed with the realities of life for many working class people including the reliance on the workhouse and living in crowded accommodation.

The House of One Hundred Clocks is an intriguing, heartfelt historical mystery with sympathetic characters and an evocative setting that completely entranced me from the opening pages. I am now really looking forward to reading the author’s next book, Mystery of the Night Watchers which is also set in the Edwardian era.

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!

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I’m continuing to listen to Evernight and, oh my goodness, it is one scary middle-grade! Mrs Hester is terrifying, probably more so as the narrator really brings her to life. Shadow Jack is menacing and cruel. I think they may well lose control of the Evernight which they have just released. My heart goes out to Lara who seems to have magical powers and the White Witch Double Eight who has a tiny piece of his soul remaining which makes him desperate to escape the clutches of Mrs Hester. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this one goes. I’m just about to start The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The Edge of the Ocean which I’m very excited to read as I loved Flick and Jonathan’s first adventure.

I’m on my Easter holiday so I’m enjoying more reading than I’ve been able to do for a while. I finished The Storm Keeper’s Battle which was a brilliant finale to this trilogy. I will post a review soon.

I attended the virtual Cranachan Books showcase of new books on Friday 2nd April and it was wonderful. I heard Caroline Logan talking about her third book in her young adult series, The Four Treasures. I have the first two on my bookcase, so decided to pick up the first one, The Stone of Destiny. I didn’t really know what to expect from this, but it was brilliant. It is steeped in Scottish folklore with selkies and kelpies. The main character, Ailsa has been ostracised by her community as she has a mark on her face that marks her as a changeling. After her mother’s death, her brother is taken from her and she loses her home. She moves around and lives on her own. Her life changes irrevocably when she rescues two selkies, brother and sister, Harris and Iona. They are on a quest to recover the Stone of Destiny in order to crown a new King, but trouble is brewing from the faerie Queen. The relationships between the characters are fantastic with witty banter and the promise of a little romance, but not too much! This is such a fast-paced, action-packed and engaging book that, despite being almost 450 pages long, I devoured in a couple of sittings. I’m definitely looking forward to picking up the next one in the series.

I then read The House of One Hundred Clocks which I loved. This is set in the mid Edwardian era and follows the story of Helena who has moved to Cambridge from London with her father and her parrot, Orbit, in order to take up employment as a clock-winder who must ensure that the clocks never stop. It is not long before Helena finds herself in the middle of uncovering the house’s secrets. I will have more to say on this one tomorrow!

I then had a real reading treat with the next two Picklewitch & Jack books which I absolutely adored. I had read the first one last year and knew I wanted to continue with this series as it is just so joyous, heart-warming and funny. I am writing a series review which I hope to post within the next couple of days.

Finally, I read a couple of picture books which caught my interest, Setsuko and the Song of the Sea and Can you Keep a Secret? I’ve posted reviews for both of these. I always love how so many picture books aimed at younger readers are perfect for older readers too. I can definitely see lots of potential for both of these in my Year 4 class.

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I need to ban myself from reading any more books until I catch up on reviews, but then I intend to read Dragon Legend (via NetGalley) and my proof of The Incredible Record Smashers.

What are you reading? Have you read any of these?

I couldn’t resist buying a copy of this gorgeous picture book with my favourite mythical creature: the dragon. My copy is signed and also came with a beautiful book print.

Winnie is looking at a huge family tapestry, and wondering if any of the beasts depicted in it will ever come back. Her parents insist that they are gone forever, yet Winnie’s dreams are full of dragons.

As the wind howls, she finds herself lifted into the air and into a fantastic adventure … on the back of a dragon.

In the forest she meets the dragon’s friends: a gryphon, a winged lion and tree-man. These creatures are the last of their kind, and need to remain hidden from humans in order to remain safe. Will Winnie be able to keep her new friends a secret?

This is an absolutely stunning picture book that swept me into its magical world. I loved the sense of wonder and delight as Winnie plays with her new friends, and wins their trust. The story very cleverly links the beginning to the end as roles change.

The illustrations throughout are a feast for the eyes, and will keep children entranced as they follow this uplifting story. The colour palette is mostly natural shades in greens, yellows and blues, but there is also vibrant pink which really brings the images to life and adds something quite unexpected.

As with many picture books for younger readers, I can see it being loved by older children too. There is scope for creative writing and links to myths as well as opening up discussion around keeping secrets, truth and knowledge. A stunning picture book that will entrance its readers.

I was browsing through the books on offer from my go-to independent bookshop when I saw this gorgeous offering was available slightly earlier than publication date so, of course, I couldn’t resist buying it.

Setsuko loves swimming in both the shallows and depths of the sea. One day, she meets an enormous whale who is looking for his friends and fearful that he may be the last whale. Setsuko offers to be his friend and together they share their love of the sea. When it is time for the whale to leave and continue his search for his friends, Setsuko gives him hope and, in return, he gifts her a song of the sea, a song which empowers her to remind others of the majesty of the sea.

This is a heartachingly stunning story encapsulating the beauty of our oceans and the harm that is being caused through plastic pollution. The thought-provoking illustrations tell their own story as plastic bags, crates and bottles hide in plain sight amongst the coral reef and fish. Plastic bags mimic jellyfish, and bottles ‘swim’ alongside fish. The notion that such a magnificent creature as a whale needs to seek a safe place in his own home, free from the harm caused by humans, is incredibly moving.

There is also a message of hope conveyed within the beautiful words and breath-taking illustrations: one voice can make a difference, can make others listen and can help conserve the beauty and wonder of the oceans.

Setsuko and the Song of the Sea is a story of an unlikely friendship; a story which is both poignant and hopeful; and, a story conveying a heartfelt message about the importance of looking after the environment. Little voices can make a difference to big issues, and I love the sense of hope and empowerment this encourages. A perfect message for little people, and older ones alike.

10% of the net profits from the sale of each book will go to the Marine Conservation Society, the UK charity working for seas full of life.

The April theme for Six for Sunday, hosted by A Little But a Lot is The Viper-inspired ones and today’s prompt is for Books with snakes on the cover/in the title. I was not at all surprised that I did not have many of these as snakes scare me, and they don’t tend to feature on a lot of middle-grade books! When I was younger, if I even found a picture of a snake in a book, I immediately screamed and dropped it. I’ve got a little better, but still can’t look at them on TV or in real life. I think our past experiences form some fears, and I definitely know the root of this fear – it was a film I watched when I was too young to deal with it. I don’t know its name, but it involved lots of tiny green snakes attacking people – might have involved magic as well, although I love magical reads!

These are the ones I have read, or have on my TBR. Even I found it hard to spot the snakes on the middle-grade ones, but they are there!

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Maybe I should run a competition to play spot-the-snake on the last three books!

Have you read any of these? Do you own any books with snakes on the cover or in the title?

This has not been a great reading month for physical books for me. Even though I have loved being back in school with the children, it has been very hectic, and I have continued to teach virtually for one or two children for most of that time which I wasn’t really mentally prepared for! I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so drained in the evenings with no energy to read more than a few pages, if that. Most of my reading has happened at the weekend. Both my husband and I have now had our first vaccination. I wasn’t expecting to have one yet but, when I was contacted by my GP Surgery and asked to book one, I went for it. I really enjoyed attending the virtual book launch for Vashti Hardy’s new lower-middle grade book, Harley Hitch and the Iron Forest this month. I even managed a green apple schnapps drink! I’m now off on my Easter holiday, and am hoping to enjoy lots of reading and walking!

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 9 books this month: 6 physical copies and 3 audiobooks. I look part in a Blog Tour for Skin Taker, and have posted reviews for Everyday Magic, Harley Hitch and the Iron Forest and Dragon World.

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NetGalley:

My Feedback Ratio is currently at 88%. I am lucky enough to be auto-approved by Little Tiger who have some wonderful reads on NetGalley which I couldn’t resist. I have Skyborn by Sinead O’Hart, Between Sea and Sky by Nicola Penfold and How to be a Human by Karen McCombie waiting to read. I am especially excited to read Skyborn as I have just finished a re-read of Eye of the North. It is a prequel which tells the story of ‘Thing’ from Eye of the North and I was reading it with whole new eyes on a second reading.

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Books sent by publishers:

I feel very fortunate to have been sent so many books by publishers this month. I think this is the most I’ve been sent.

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Books I’ve bought:

I have bought 12 books this month: mostly middle-grade with one young adult and a couple of picture books. I had already read The Wild Robot Escapes last year through the library but I have a couple of boys in my class who loved The Wild Robot. When I told them there was another book, they were very excited to read it, so I couldn’t resist adding it to our class library.

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How has your month been? Have you read any of these?

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!

Helena grasped the bars of the domed birdcage resting on her lap until her fingers ached. Mr Westcott was staring into the cage with an odd kind of intent that danced a shiver across the back of her neck. His rake-thin frame leaned forward across the desk, his eyes narrowing. “You omitted to say in your acceptance letter that you were bringing … a … bird,” he said, his sallow cheeks tightening as he glanced first at Helena’s father, and then at Helena.

Any ideas?

I loved A.M Howell’s debut middle-grade, The Garden of Lost Secrets and am really looking forward to her new book, Mystery of the Night Watchers which is due to be released on 8th July. I really want to read this one before then.

Goodreads Synopsis:

JUNE, 1905.

Helena and her parrot, Orbit, are swept off to Cambridge when her father is appointed clock-winder to one of the wealthiest men in England. There is only one rule: the clocks must never stop. But Helena discovers the house of one hundred clocks holds many mysteries; a ghostly figure, strange notes and disappearing winding keys… Can she work out its secrets before time runs out?

Have you read this? What did you think?