Review: The Museum of Lost Umbrellas by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

*Written by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick*
*Cover Illustration by George Ermos*
*Published by Faber & Faber Limited*

The Museum of Lost Umbrellas is the first book in The Cloud Witch Chronicles, a new fantasy series for middle-grade readers. It’s an utterly captivating, deliciously cosy read, but with swirls of danger, that took me on the most incredible adventure to an unforgettable, magical island in the heart of the Celtic Sea.

Ten-year-old Dilly Kyteler arrives on Ollipest Island to start a new life with her Grand-Aunt Florence who lives in a beautiful cottage with secrets of its own. Whilst the cottage seems welcoming, her Aunt does not seem particularly pleased to see her and treats her rather brusquely. But, the following morning she meets her aunt’s friend, Digbee, and her grandson Callum who is spending the summer holiday on the island so things look brighter for Dilly as she may just make a friend. And there’s another new arrival, a large dog who has walked out of the sea, a companion that she has longed for.

Dilly and Callum are sent on some errands to the nearby town of Wurmston but, on their way home, Parsley, the wolfhound, leads them to a grand building: The Museum of Lost Umbrellas, due to re-open the following day after a lengthy closure. When the children enter the museum, they are immediately entranced by the wonderful assortment of umbrellas. Imagine Dilly’s surprise when a small green umbrella opens its hand-shaped handle and waves at her …

And so begins the most magical, mesmerising adventure as Dilly and Callum learn about the magic of Ollipest, magic that the islanders are so desperate to keep secret that the use of magic on the island has been forbidden, and magical items have been kept locked away from their owners. But when the Museum re-opens, it brings danger for the islanders, danger from a sinister stranger determined to destroy Ollipest’s magical heritage. Can Dilly connect with her family’s magic in time to help save the islanders, her family and friends? Can a community overcome its fear and stand against those who seek to manipulate, control and destroy?

What an incredible adventure, brimming with excitement, danger and revelations, and one that I really didn’t want to leave behind so I’m really glad there’s more to come from this world. The world-building is breath-taking from the wishing-door and the alleyway portals to the sentient library and the magical objects connected to island families. I loved the magical system with its links to many aspects of nature magic as well as the idea of everyday objects imbued with magical qualities, such as umbrellas, that can help you fly – just like in Mary Poppins with her parrot-headed umbrella – perhaps an inspiration for a certain talking parrot in the story.

I love book maps and this one has a brilliant map shaped like a creature from Irish mythology with some brilliant place names, including those linked to the shape of the ‘wurm’. I also really liked the names of characters used in the story, many with connections to nature, history and literature – and other words for umbrellas. Whilst this is a fantasy adventure, I really appreciated the historical context as I learned about the persecution of the islander’s ancestors and how they hoped to find safe haven in Ollipest.

Dilly is a wonderful young girl who, due to the death of her mum, has had to move to an unfamiliar place with a family member she does not know. I loved her bravery, strength and determination as she opens herself to her cloud magic ability and fights for her new home and those she cares about, despite knowing the risk she is taking and the danger she is facing. She is a force for good, standing up to evil, prejudice and hatred, despite her fear that she may lose the place she now calls home.

Fly, up, up, up and away into a mesmerising, magical world, brimming with heart and warmth, with danger and daring, a world where adventure and excitement await … perfect for children of 8+.

Thank you to Faber Children’s Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The World’s Worst Alien

*Written by Alice Primmer*
*Illustrations by Fred Blunt*
*Published by Walker Books*

The World’s Worst Alien is a fantastically funny, zany adventure that kept me giggling, and sometimes pondering, throughout as I followed alien, and world-creator, Sky on her month-long mission to save her project from pesky humans.

So, you think you know how Earth was created? Well, think again! We are actually the end-result of a school project created by an interdimensional being (a.k.a an alien) who wanted to move from bottom to top of the class! And Sky was certain – well, almost – certain of success if only evolution hadn’t seen the dinosaurs being replaced with humans. And they just happened to be ruining her creation so, in an effort to rescue her project, Sky decides she has no choice other than to visit Earth to fix her project – something that will actually require her to do something she really doesn’t enjoy: make an effort.

When she arrives in London, Sky finds herself walking in to Oak Lane Primary School as a Year 6 pupil with the intention of becoming a Youtube Influencer as she is sure these are the people who can change the world. She soon meets Zana who offers to help her with creating a Youtube Channel, but it is not long before she is getting her new friend (whatever one of those is), and herself, into all sorts of trouble …

And so begins a brilliantly funny adventure as Sky begins her month-long mission to save the world she has created by replacing humans with a much-more deserving successor. But what if the humans have something to teach Sky, something about the value of friendship, something about determination and effort, and something about the power of a few to make a big difference for many …

There is no doubt that Sky is incredibly honest in front of both adults and her classmates as she doesn’t have any pre-conceptions of how she should behave which leads to lots of incongruous situations, misunderstandings and oodles of humour. It also leads to her sometimes coming across as uncaring, but is that something that can change as she learns more about human emotions, and opens herself up to these, as she connects with Zana and the members of the Eco Club? Will what she learns about humans in the microcosm of the Oak Lane Primary School community change her mind about replacing them in her project?

I really enjoyed the environmental focus in this adventure which shows that a few can make a real difference and, when people come together, they can effect change for the better. What a wonderful message for children to learn!

The illustrations throughout are absolutely brilliant and really complement the action, energy and humour in this wonderful story.

Could the world’s worst alien just make the best difference when she comes to visit her school project? A wonderfully humorous adventure for readers of 8+.

Thank you to Walker Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Netta Becker and the Timeline Crime by Jennifer Claessen

*Written by Jennifer Claessen*
*Illustrations by Heidi Cannon*
*Published by uclan publishing* *(now Fox & Ink Books)*

Netta Becker and the Timeline Crime is a gripping, time travel adventure, diving into the mythology of Ancient Greece, which held me completely enthralled as I travelled between ancient and modern-day Crete.

A dilapidated, old villa in Crete is not eleven-year-old, Netta Becker’s idea of the perfect summer holiday but then, she didn’t choose this destination. It is, however, the ideal holiday for her history-buff younger brother, Remy, who is fascinated by Greek myths. Expecting to be bored and missing her swimming, Netta is surprised when she wakes from a dream where she has spoken to a Princess of Crete who thinks she’s a god …

Later, on a family excursion to the Palace of Knossos, Netta has a vivid dream of an ancient past where King Minos is discussing the completion of his latest project with its creator, but what if it is more than a dream? What if Netta is actually being pulled back 4,000 years to Bronze Age Crete, to a time when a greedy, cruel King is celebrating the opening of his labyrinth, a maze rumoured to hold a monster at its centre? Can Netta and Remy discover why she is travelling back in time before she becomes trapped in time? Can Netta help those from the past who are in danger? Can she discover the truth of the monster in the maze?

When I was in primary school, I did not have access to many books at home, but my teacher, Mr Little, was always willing to lend me his books and some of my favourites were his collections of Norse and Greek myths, so I absolutely loved that this adventure draws on some famous Greek myths – but with the most wonderful and unexpected twists that, at times, made me gasp aloud.

This is a story told from the perspective of two strong, courageous young girls who become friends as they strive to stop a terrible tyrant from committing the most monstrous deeds. I really enjoyed the increasing level of tension and danger as Netta becomes inexorably drawn into the past, as she becomes involved not only in a daring rescue mission, but in a courageous mission to discover the truth of what hides in the labyrinth. As well as the story unfolding in ancient Crete, there is also a mystery to be solved in modern Crete and, oh wow, I was not expecting that! This was a story that I read in one sitting as I was completely captured by both the adventure and the mystery. I really hope there’s more to come from Netta Becker and her wonderful younger brother!

An action-packed, heart-racing time-travelling adventure, where monsters lurk and friendships flourish, perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Fox & Ink Books for sending me a copy. It was my decision to read and review this book, and my review is my honest opinion of this book.

June Wrap-Up

How do I always forget how hectic the last half-term of school is? Reports, transition, meeting new class, endless paperwork – and then the usual planning, prep, marking, assessment – not to mention the actual teaching in the class which is the best part! After over 20 years in the classroom, I still love my job, but that doesn’t mean I’m not ready for a break! My reading has definitely taken a dip this month!

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 12 books this month. My highlights were A Language of Dragons and Where the Heart Should Be (both Young Adult books) and The Invisibles and Cruise Ship Kid (both middle-grade).

NetGalley:

My feedback ratio is at 97%. I had my wish to read Impossible Creatures: The Poisoned King granted and am so excited to read this over the summer break.

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to have been sent 9 books by publishers this month. I have read and reviewed 5 of them and aim to get the others read and reviewed before the end of July.

Books Bought:

I’ve bought 6 books this month, three adult books and three middle-grade books.

How has your reading month been? Have you read any of these? Have you any of them on your TBR?

Blog Tour Review: The Invisibles by Susie Bower

*Written by Susie Bower*
*Cover Design and Illustration by Thy Bui*
*Published by Pushkin Children’s*

The Invisibles is a stunning fantasy adventure brimming with mystery, magic and friendship, an adventure that completely captivated me from start to finish.

Merlin and his three friends live in the Land of Magics, a place of wonder where flying fish leap from the SeaSky and winged pigs fly through the sky. They live in stilt-houses and row between islands to get food and clothing from the trees on Provisions Island and gain knowledge from Library Island where books are alive. They can enjoy everything in this magical place, never growing old, but are warned by The Book of Secrets that they must never sail to the Island of Darkness, a place where a terrifying Creature is imprisoned.

But when one of the children, Merlin, suggests that the Book could be lying, he is dared to sail to the Island of Darkness where he discovers the terrifying truth, a truth that will not only change his life, but also the lives of his friends …

A young girl wakes up in Wasteland, a dreary world of greyness and rain, where only grown-ups live, grown-ups who do not believe in the magic and the power of the imagination. She has no memory of who she is or her magical home but soon finds herself in danger as the grown-ups call for the Catcher and Invisibles snatch her precious rucksack. Who are these Invisibles, both hostile and helpful, and why does the song they sing and the graffiti they write stir memories?

When the girl finds a notice on a door asking for help in exchange for bed and boarding, she meets an old man, Mr Smith, who employs her with a warning to keep the front door locked at all times. But there are secrets in Mr Smith’s house, secrets that could help her find out who she is and perhaps even find her way home before she is captured by the Catcher …

This is an absolutely stunning story which completely enchanted me as I followed a young girl on a journey of discovery, an adventure with incredible twists and turns, breath-taking revelations and oodles of tension and danger as the Catcher comes ever closer to destroying hope. I loved discovering the connections within the story as truths revealed themselves – and there were definitely moments that made me gasp. The world-building is brilliant, juxtaposing the wonder and creativity of the Land of Magics, where talents are nurtured but can also be misused, with the dreariness and lack of imagination in the Wasteland.

This is also a story about the strength and endurance of true friendship, of the courage needed to make sacrifices to protect or help friends, of the regrets of fractured friendships and of the hope of renewed connections and openness.

A magical, mesmerising fantasy adventure, perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Pushkin Press for inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour: