Here’s something you should believe:  this story is a must-read!  Cymbeline made me smile on many occasions as the conversational style of the writing, and the anecdotes around school and home life, and use of humour drew me inexorably towards him:  he is just so incredibly likeable!  Coupled with this, he is honest, kind and empathetic, qualities he has in spades as he astutely pieces together the clues to solve two intriguing mysteries.

Cymbeline is best friends with Veronique whose beloved Nanai, who came to England as a refugee from Vietnam, has stopped talking and eating, and Cymbeline is determined to solve the mystery, not only to make his best friend smile again, but because he also adores Nanai.  With the help of Kit-Kat, the most adorable and clever rat – not a hamster – and his adroit sleuthing skills, he very cleverly pieces together the puzzle, revealing some incredible twists and revelations.

Not content with solving one mystery, Cymbeline is also intent on finding out who appears to have a grudge against his favourite teacher, Mrs Martins who has been targeted in a very nasty way.  The children of St Saviour’s School adore her and are shocked by what happens to her, so who could the perpetrator be? 

Whilst Cymbeline is very perceptive at solving mysteries outside his family, he is not quite so adept at spotting what in going on in his own family – until the last moment!  

I adored the friendship between Cymbeline and Veronique.  They really have each other’s backs no matter the consequences.  Each is willing to make personal sacrifices to help the other.  Their relationship feels very authentic and heartfelt with a genuine connectedness from the everyday activities they enjoy with each other to Cymbeline’s pain and helplessness at his friend’s distress, and his dogged determination to bring her Nanai back to the family.

This story expertly blends humour with poignant moments; home with school life; modern life with historical context; and, misunderstandings with revelations, all of which captured me in an engrossing read which made this book unputdownable.  I hope I get to meet Cymbeline in Year 5!

I would highly recommend this book to any child of 9+ and their teachers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books for an e-arc of this book.

This is the heart-warming story of Felix, a young boy with ADHD who can’t sit still, and his wonderfully eccentric Grandad.

When Felix is continually getting into trouble at school, and feeling a failure, his Grandad introduces him, in a very novel way, to his own passion: chess. His Grandad believes that the self- discipline needed to play chess will help Felix become better able to focus, concentrate and pay attention in lessons. But, is this enough if he doesn’t have belief and confidence in himself?

Despite his initial reluctance to play, he soon discovers an intrinsic talent for the game while also learning some of his Grandad’s secrets, carried with him from East Germany. Felix’s relationship with his Grandad is very special and resonates with humour, love, trust, frustration, betrayal, forgiveness. Ultimately, they are there for each other at a time when they are both finding adjusting to new lives difficult.

Felix has a well-meaning friend, Jake, who provides lots of humorous moments as they try to settle into life in secondary school. His other friend, Rebecca, encourages Felix to join the school chess club where he soon finds himself playing competitively, representing his school at tournaments. Will his chance of success be ruined by a rival chess player, his own lack of confidence or his Grandad’s failing health?

Check Mates is a story about the power of self-belief, perseverance and honesty and the importance of family, friends and forgiveness. I found this a truly inspirational story, coupled with an incredible historical twist!

A perfect read for children of 9+.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

This is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.  It asks three questions:

1.       What are you currently reading?

2.       What did you recently finish reading?

3.      What do you think you’ll read next?

I’m currently reading The Garden of Lost Secrets by A M Howell.  This will be the third book on my #20BooksofSummer.

I recently finished Where the River Runs Gold by Sita Brahmachari.  This is one I was approved for on NetGalley.  It is set in a dystopian society and was incredibly powerful and thought-provoking.  This will be published on 1st July. I will try to get my review posted before then!

I’ve chosen to read The Lost Tide Warriors by Catherine Doyle next.  I loved the first in this series, The Stormkeeper’s Island and can’t wait to return to Arranmore. 

This is a weekly meme now hosted by The Artsy Girl Reader.  This week’s theme is: Books On My Summer 2019 TBR.  I am taking part in the #20Booksof Summer challenge, so that will be my first!  For the rest, I’ve chosen from the books I currently have on my bookshelf.

1. #20Booksof Summer list here. 
2. The Secret Dragon by Ed Clarke. I absolutely adore books about dragons and books set in Wales – and this has both!
3. The Secret Starling by Judith Eagle. Whilst I read mostly fantasy, I do like a good old-fashioned historical adventure – and this one fits the bill perfectly!
4. The Last Spell Breather by Julie Pike. “The Spell wouldn’t stay on the shelf.” With a first line like that, I’m desperate to dive in.
5. The Ice Garden by Guy Jones. This one has been on my radar for a while. I’m not sure what to expect but the blurb intrigued me: a girl who is allergic to the sun, discovering a magical garden made of ice.
6. The Girl with the Dragon Heart by Stephanie Burgis. I read The Dragon with the Chocolate Heart over Easter and loved it. I really want to read this one to be ready for the final one which I think is being released in August.

7. The Gift of Dark Hollow by Kieran Larwood. I read The Legend of Podkin One-Ear just after Christmas and adored it. It is a testament to how many brilliant books are being published that I haven’t managed to read this one yet.

8. The Butterfly Circus by Francesca Armour-Chelu. Having two sisters of my own, I love reading books with sisters as the main characters. I haven’t read a book with a circus setting, so I’m looking forward to this.

9. The True Colours of Coral Glen by Juliette Forrest. Twister was brilliant so I’m looking forward to another of Juliette’s books.

10. Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson. This is my only YA book, but I absolutely couldn’t resist it. Katherine Arden’s review had me: “If you loved the Hogwarts Library, you’ll be right at home at Summershall. Tightly paced, hugely atmospheric, with a touch of wry humour, this book had me from its Gothic beginning right to the perfect end.”

It’s going to be a busy summer – so looking forward to it! 

This is a tag I’ve seen quite a few times, and have enjoyed reading so I thought I’d give it a go! I last saw it on Lucy’s Novel Purpose, and she tagged anyone who wanted to give it a go, so I considered myself tagged. Thank you to whoever created this tag!

What is the best book that you’ve read so far in 2019?

I’ve been really lucky this year with my reading choices as I’ve really enjoyed so many of the books I’ve read. I’m going to opt for one of my more recent reads which really had me so hooked that I carried it with me all day so could take any opportunity to read it!

What has been your favourite sequel of the first half of the year?

My absolute standout sequel was one that I read immediately after the first book in the series as I loved the first so much. The first book is Begone the Raggedy Witches and the second …

Is there a new release that you haven’t read yet but you’re really excited to?

This was hard, as I have bought lots of new releases, all of which I’m looking forward to reading. I found this one today and, after reading the blurb, just had to get it.

What is your most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

I loved books inspired by folklore, so know I will love this one …

What is your biggest disappointment so far?

This many seem like a cop-out, but I really have loved all the books I’ve read this year. I’ve read outside my preferred genre (fantasy) and have actually been surprised by how much I enjoyed other genres.

What is your biggest surprise so far?

As I’ve said, the majority of my reading is within fantasy, so I’ve chosen one outside fantasy which I loved more than I thought, especially considering I have absolutely no understanding of chess!

Who is your fictional crush from this year?

I’ve taken ‘crush’ to be a character I would love to have in my life and, in this case, it’s someone who lives under the bed or in a green carpetbag! I’m talking about Oswin, the kobold who is suspiciously like a cat!

Who is your new favourite character?

I’d have to choose the most brilliantly named, Utterly Thankless, who is a quick-witted rule-breaker with a penchant for recklessness who took me on one of the most spell-binding adventures this year!

A book that made you cry?

A few books have made me cry this year, but the one that made me cry the most was this one …

A book that made you happy?

This book made me happy for a couple of reasons. It is the first physical ARC I’ve received from a publisher, and the main character is an adorable dog!

Your favourite book to movie/tv show that you’ve seen so far?

I’m going to do this the other way round. One of my favourite shows of all time is Firefly, so I was really pleased to find this …

What is the most beautiful book that you have bought?

The book with the most beautiful cover I’ve bought …

What is your favourite post that you have written so far this year?

I just starting blogging in April of this year and I can honestly say I’ve loved the whole experience. I didn’t realise that blogging could be more than just posting reviews, so I guess my favourite post is the first book tag I did: #SixforSunday (hosted by A Little But a Lot): 2019 Books I want to read!

What are 6 books that you want to read by the end of the year?

I have far too many middle-grade books I want to read, so I can’t possibly choose. I’m going to choose six from other books I have in my TBR which I want to read.

I’m not going to tag anyone, but if you want to have a go, you’re tagged!

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!

Nabil had been foraging on a piece of scrubland in the Western Quarter.  The air was thick with heat and dust, but otherwise there had been no warning signs.

I have been approved for this on NetGalley. It is being released on 1st July.

Goodreads synopsis:

Shifa and her brother, Themba, live in Kairos City with their father, Nabil. The few live in luxury, whilst the millions like them crowd together in compounds, surviving on meagre rations and governed by Freedom Fields – the organisation that looks after you, as long as you opt in.

The bees have long disappeared; instead children must labour on farms, pollinating crops so that the nation can eat. But Nabil remembers Before and he knows that the soul needs to be nourished as much as the body so, despite the risk, he teaches his children how to grow flowers on a secret piece of land hidden beneath the train tracks.

The farm Shifa and Themba are sent to is hard and cruel. Themba won’t survive there and Shifa comes up with a plan to break them out. But they have no idea where they are – their only guide is a map drawn from the ramblings of a stranger.

The journey ahead is fraught with danger, but Shifa is strong and knows to listen to her instincts – to let hope guide them home. The freedom of a nation depends on it . . .

This is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.  It asks three questions:

1.       What are you currently reading?

2.       What did you recently finish reading?

3.      What do you think you’ll read next?

I’m currently reading Where the River Runs Gold by Sita Brahmachari.  This is one I’ve been approved for through NetGalley:  it is being published on 11^th July so it has jumped to the top of my TBR!

I recently finished You Won’t Believe This by Adam Baron and The Longest Night of Charlie Noon by Christopher Edge.  I was approved for You Won’t Believe This on NetGalley.  It is being released on 27^th June, so I will publish my review soon.    The Longest Night of Charlie Noon is my second book on the #20 Reads of Summer challenge.  It is incredible:  an exploration of the concept of time in a fairy tale-like setting. 

Even though I’m very tempted by some of my more recent book buys, I’ve really been looking forward to The Garden of Lost Secrets by A M Howell as I hope it will be reminiscent of The Secret Garden, one of my childhood favourites.

This is a weekly meme now hosted by The Artsy Girl Reader.  This week’s theme is: Most Anticipated Releases of the Second Half of 2019. 

I have recently posted my favourite books in a series which are being released in the second half of 2019, so I’m only including books which are not on that list.

No matter how many books I have in my TBR, I keep eagerly awaiting more. 

JULY Fire Girl, Forest Boy by Chloe Daykin, released on 4^th July The True Colours of Coral Glen by Juliette Forrest, released on 4^th  July.

AUGUST A Pocketful of Stars by Aisha Busby, released on 8^th August.

SEPTEMBER Rise of the Dragon Moon by Gabrielle K Byrne, released on 1^st  September. The Girl who Speaks Bear by Sophie Anderson, released on 5^th  September. The Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay, released on 5^th  September. The Frozen Sea by Piers Torday, released on 5^th September.

OCTOBER The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll, released on 3^rd October. Frostheart by Jamie Littler, released on 3^rd October. Shadow of Winterspell by Amy Wilson, released on 17^th October.

Has anyone else got these on their list?  I’m sure I’ll be adding to my TBR from reading others lists today!

I was utterly spellbound by this absolute marvel of a book, full of jaw-dropping discoveries and unexpected twists, led by the most wonderfully realised cast of human and personifate characters.  The story is crafted beautifully by a masterful storyteller, whose imagination and world-building are breath-taking.

Prue Haywood is a talented engineer who lives on her small farm, building and repairing mechanimals.  She is overwhelmed by grief at the devastating loss of her older brother Francis.  But what if she could find a way to bring her adored brother back? 

A seemingly chance encounter with Craftsman Primrose from the Imperial Personifate Guild of Medlock offers her just that.  Prue makes a spur of the moment decision to leave her small farm and travel to the City of Medlock where she accepts an apprenticeship with Craftsman Primrose under the guise of Frances.

Once apprenticed, she is determined to use her superb engineering talent to bring her brother back into her life.  How?  The Guild have perfected the ability to bring people back from the dead and place them in the bodies of animal personifates, but they have no memories of their previous lives.  Can Prue bring her brother back with his memories intact? 

It is not long before Prue and her friends, Agapantha and Edwin (who is the first personificate apprentice) make some startling discoveries which lead them on an action-packed adventure to save the City of Medlock – but who is the enemy?  What terrors lurk in the depths of the forest?  The tension is palpable as the plot twists thicken, the threat increases, loyalties are questioned, and heart-breaking decisions have to be made. 

Prue is just the most amazingly inspirational young girl.  She is not only ingenious, curious and determined but also courageous, kind-hearted and principled, no matter the cost.  She is also a fantastic STEM role model, who is determined to make a difference in the world. 

The work of the Guild also deserves mention as it raises fascinating moral questions which centre around the exercise of free will, the entitlement to knowledge and the right to equality for all.  These are political and philosophical points which are addressed by a variety of characters, at different levels of society within the story, and are arguments I really enjoyed following as an underlying thread in the narrative.  As a reader, willingly ensconced in the City of Medlock, it made me question and challenge and really engage with the issues alongside the citizens of Medlock. 

Wildspark really is the most deeply immersive story which transported me on a journey as thrilling and awe-inspiring as I imagine a ride on the Gigantrak would be!  I didn’t want the journey to end, and I hope I get to adventure with Prue and her friends again.

I’m really enjoying writing reviews for my blog, although I must admit, it’s taking me a LOT longer than I thought it would to write each one – and I don’t really understand why!  I make pages and pages of notes as I read.  I think I need them as a kind of security blanket whilst I get more confident in my ability to write reviews!  The funny thing is that, although I write copious notes, I hardly look at them when actually writing my review.  I don’t yet find it easy to write reviews (not sure I ever will), but I do find it enjoyable and personally rewarding.

For most of my life, I have been an avid reader and, before I became a teacher, I was easily able to devour a book in one sitting, and would frequently be reading a book I couldn’t put down at 3am!  My nine to five job enabled me to come home from work, switch off – and read!

This is something that virtually stopped overnight when I started my PGCE and teaching life, as teaching simply took over my life!  At a time when reading books would have helped me and my class, I just stopped as the endless cycle of marking, planning and assessment took up the majority of my time.  Holidays were spent preparing for the next term and recuperating from physical and mental exhaustion! 

This is something I now regret, and I am determined to redress the balance.  During Christmas this year, I made a conscious decision that I was going to actively engage with reading again, and it really has been the most rewarding experience.  Over the Christmas period, I read 10 books – and took a break from school work for most of that time.

I started reading middle grade books which has completely rekindled my love of reading.  Reading these has reminded me of why I loved reading in the first place:  the sense of escapism; the freedom to wander in new worlds; the complete suspension of disbelief and pure joy of the fantastical; and, the emotional connection with characters. 

Just before Easter, I thought I’d have a go at blogging as I’d been admiring some great bloggers via Twitter.  I didn’t have a clue – except that maybe WordPress was a good platform to use!  It took me a while to get my head around using it – and I’m definitely still not confident with most of the features – but I learned enough to let me post my first book review! 

I thought no-one would ever read my posts, or engage with me but, to be honest, I started blogging as a personal challenge to myself – to give myself something to write other than comments in children’s books and modelled texts for writing in class!  It was an added bonus when some people liked, and commented, on my posts. 

Coming back to reading, and discovering blogging and some of the wonderful people in the book blogging community (both via WordPress and Twitter) really has been a cathartic release which has helped me in balancing my home/work life, and has made me feel so much more relaxed and content in my life. 

Picking up a book now helps me to de-stress and relax after work, but it also benefits the children in my class who love having a ‘bookish’ teacher who chats to them about books, reads to them every day and gives them free range of an ever-growing class library of fantastic fiction.  Not to mention having a relaxed, happy teacher – most of the time!