Saving Neverland is the most magical, mesmerising story that swept me wholeheartedly into its icy world adventure with unforgettable characters, incredible feats of peril and delight and heart-warming bonds of family and friendship.  In fact, this was so good that I have already read it twice, and cannot wait to share it with my class. 

Martha Pennydrop has moved to a townhouse at Number 14 Darlington Road with her father and younger brother, Scruff.  Martha is adamant that it is about time she grows up:  after all, she is ten years old!  Silly things like believing in magic, imaginative games and hugging must stop, but Martha is about to discover that magic is real as a boy and a fairy fly through the window-that-never-shuts …

Peter Pan and Muddle have flown from Neverland to ask for her help to save their home which is in the icy clutches of a curse laid upon it by Peter’s arch-enemy, Captain Hook.  Should Captain Hook and his pirates successfully fulfil the curse and return to Neverland, its magic will disappear forever and the joys of childhood will vanish from the Mainland. 

Whilst Martha is reluctant to leave her home, Scruff has no such qualms and, with a sprinkling of fairy dust, flies out of the window with his teddy None-the-Wiser.  Martha finds the courage to follow and it is not long before they arrive in Neverland only for Scruff to be kidnapped …

And so begins the MOST captivating, unputdownable adventure fizzing with excitement, peril and imaginative delights that kept me turning page after page with awestruck relish. Will Martha find the magic, belief and courage hidden within to save both her brother and Neverland before time runs out?  Will she find her way back to her childhood where imaginative play, curiosity and hugs are the order of the day? 

This is a re-imagining of Peter Pan but with none of the problematic associations with the original.  Anyone who has read any of Abi’s stories (and, if you haven’t, you really, really must) will know about the exquisite and immersive world-building, the inclusive and heartfelt messages and the playfulness and genius of the names!  And this is no exception!  Icy landscapes with mermaid lagoons and giant mountains, prowled by frostbears and snowtigers with magical trees and Gulping Mirrors not to mention a woolly mammoth called Armageddon (seriously gorgeous and loyal!). 

The full-page illustrations in this stunning hardback edition are absolutely beautiful, each having a quote from the story, complementing it perfectly.

Saving Neverland epitomises everything I love in children’s books – in any books!  It reaches out and wraps me in a comforting hug whilst taking me on incredible adventures where imagination knows no bounds, where fears are faced with courage, where strong bonds of friendship are built and where empathy and the most gorgeous uplifting messages of hope, kindness and wonder live at its heart. 

This is a truly unforgettable adventure that captured my imagination and heart and is one that I know I will be returning to again and again.  An absolutely magical, unmissable and snugglesome story for adventurers of 8 to 80+.

I’m listening to Tyger which is utterly brilliant. I’m enjoying the themes of darkness and light in this version of London, and am looking forward to finding out how Adam changes through his relationship with the tyger. I’m reading The Tower at the End of Time as my ‘huddled up in bed before I sleep’ read as I just knew it would be a fun read. I’d forgotten how brilliant and zany the characters are, so its such a treat to be back with them. My ‘when I’ve finished school work’ read is The Night Animals. I’m really enjoying how the ghost animals Nora meets help her to learn things about herself as she tries to cope with her Mum’s PTSD. And I’m so glad she has a friend in the wonderful Kwame.

I’ve finished Harley Hitch and the Fossil Mystery and Monster Hunting: Monsters Bite Back which are both published tomorrow – and I’ve already posted my reviews.

I’ve been aiming to get to this one for a while as I really enjoyed The Bird Singers so I’m hoping to be able to pick it up to read over the weekend.

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

Monster Hunting:  Monsters Bite Back is the second scerrifyingly hilarious adventure for apprentice monster hunter Jack, his friend Nancy and 200-year-old monster hunter Stoop.  This can be read as a standalone, but I have no doubt that young readers who haven’t already devoured – and belched a little – at Monster Hunting for Beginners will be eagerly hunting it down after reading this.

When Jack gets a letter from the Sisters of Perpetual Misery asking for his help to rid them of some monsters who are making their lives in Muckle Abbey a misery, he cannot turn them down.  Especially as an ancient curse prophesying THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT may be enacted if they are forced to leave the abbey … 

And so begins a ferociously funny, action-packed and exciting adventure brimming with razor-sharp humour, a splatter (or maybe a platter) of rudeness and oodles of unforgettable, not-at-all-as-expected monsters as Jack, Nancy and Stoop travel by seven-league boots to Scotland via a quick game of Hoo Shank with some Fog Goblins …

Can Jack help the nones nuns (their names are genius!) stay in their abbey?  Could there be something more sinister behind the infestation of mayhem-loving monsters in the abbey?  Will Jack’s monster-hunting skills keep him safe from harm?  And can the THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT be prevented? 

This is written in the first person from Jack’s viewpoint, and I really loved the chatty, funny, warm style with the scintillating witty commentary in the footnotes.  I thought the plot was very clever with some unexpected twists and turns that kept me turning the pages after I’d stopped giggling at some of the most ridiculously funny encounters and characters. 

The monsters which Jack, Nancy and Stoop encounter are just brilliant and I loved reading the entries about them in Jack’s magical book, Monster Hunters for Beginners.  I definitely don’t think I’d want to meet any of them … especially the loud, unpredictable and very dangerous ones!  Maybe I’ve chosen the wrong profession!  Although, on second thoughts, a mischievous Lubber or ten might be fun on the playground – definitely not in class!

The hardback edition is just gorgeous with the cover under the dust jacket full of monsters who could definitely bite back!  The full-and-partial-page internal illustrations are stunning and complement the story’s monstrously good humour perfectly. 

This is a rollicking, ridiculously fun adventure that is guaranteed to bring giggles and groans of delight in equal measure:  perfect for young adventurers of 7+ who I have no doubt will adore monster hunting with Jack, Nancy and Stoop just as much as I did.

Thank you to Rory Codd and Farshore Books for an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely loved joining Harley, Cosmo and Sprocket on their third exciting, BIG, time-twisty adventure in Harley Hitch and the Fossil Mystery.

When Harley receives a letter from school just before the start of the summer term, she is relieved to discover that her antics of the previous term have not led to a suspension!  Instead, she discovers that new teacher, the aptly named Professor Anning, is taking the class on a trip to Inventia Jurassic Coast. 

When it seems that Harley may be the only member of her class not to discover a fossil, Sprocket, her robot-dog, unwittingly helps her to find a one-of-a-kind fossil:  a dinosaur footprint!  Could Harley have discovered a new dinosaur species?  And could this discovery, at last, help her to win the coveted Pupil of the Term?  Of course, there is the little matter of proving her discovery, especially as her former friend and now rival, Fenelda Spiggot, suggests that the fossil might not even be real. 

And what better way to prove its authenticity than to build a time machine which will also be her entry in the ‘best invention’ competition set by Professor Spark.  But, where Harley is concerned, things don’t always go exactly to plan …

And so begins another amazing, action-packed adventure which is guaranteed to keep young readers turning pages as they follow Harley on her quest to travel back in time with some brilliantly unexpected consequences sure to bring roars of delight and maybe a few squeals of fright!  Those who have read the previous adventures will be delighted to meet some well-loved characters such as the inspirational metal fish in the Rusty River and – my absolute favourites – the dazzling stars in the star-chatter observatory who I think deserve a book of their own!

Harley has definitely won a place in my heart! She really is the most wonderful young girl:  ever-curious, tenacious, a risk-taker, believing in the possibility of the impossible, as well as being kind-hearted, a quick-thinker and someone who takes responsibility for her actions.  She is such a brilliant role model for young readers, especially for those interested in STEM subjects.  I really enjoyed the blend of science with science-fiction and the perfectly scientific process that Harley takes towards her invention.    

The partial and full-page illustrations by George Ermos are wonderfully expressive and capture the fun and excitement of this adventure perfectly.  Professor Anning riding into town on her dino trundle bike is a particular favourite as is Ursa Major’s reaction to Halley’s guitar playing. Brilliant!

Harley Hitch and the Fossil Mystery is a joyous, exciting and playful adventure, perfect for young readers of 7+ who are guaranteed to want to travel into this world time and time again! 

Thank you Scholastic for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve seen this challenge on a few posts today and it couldn’t have come at a better time for me! The Beat the Backlist Challenge is in its seventh year and was started by Austine Decker. Details of how to take part are on the blog but the rules are simple:

1. The book must be published in the previous year or earlier (for the 2023 challenge, anything published in 2022 or earlier counts).
2. You have to start and finish the book in 2023.
3. And that’s it!

The challenge runs from 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023

I had already made a list of books I’d bought in 2022 which I hadn’t read yet (there’s 55) and these are only the middle-grade books, but I’m taking one step at a time. I’d also taken these from the random places they are on my bookcase and put them on to two shelves. I have also included a couple of second books in series which I need to read before moving on to the third book which I bought in 2022! The second picture is of the hardback middle-grade books I bought in 2022 which also form part of my challenge!

And the good news? I’ve already read two of them: The Vanishing of Aveline Jones and My Story: Princess Sophia Duleep Singh.

I’m hoping that taking part in this challenge will keep me on track to read 2022 releases as I know I’m also going to be tempted by all the upcoming 2023 releases!

December already feels a long time ago as I’m getting myself ready to go back to work tomorrow! I did a little work at the start of the holiday and finished off planning yesterday which didn’t really feel like work as I really enjoy preparing reading comprehension lessons. Christmas was not quite the relaxing experience that I’d hoped it would be, but then I suppose life never goes exactly to plan. On to my reading month …

Goodreads Challenge:

I had set my Goodreads Challenge at 100 books and managed to surpass it with 140 books. This included physical books, e-books and audiobooks.

Books I’ve read:

This has definitely been a better month for reading as I’ve doubled what I read in November. I’ve read 12 books this month which includes 10 physical books and 2 audiobooks. One of these, Saving Neverland is a re-read as I’d read it on NetGalley in November, then saw the hardback copy in Waterstones over Christmas and couldn’t resist buying it and re-reading as I loved it so much!

NetGalley:

My feedback ratio is at 95%. I have requested and been approved to read two books this month. I have now got a physical copy of The Night Animals as I found it released a little early in Waterstones over Christmas. I haven’t read Lisette’s first book, The Secret of Haven Point, which is on my bookshelves, so I will read it before reading her new one.

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to have been sent five books by Publishers this month. I have read and written reviews for four of them. My Blog Tour post for Once Upon a Hillside has been posted. I will be taking part in the Blog Tour for The Octopus, Dadu and Me and will be sharing my reviews for Harley Hitch and Monster Hunting: Monsters Bite Back this week.

Books bought:

I’ve bought 8 books this month and have read three of them.

I also got 3 books for Christmas:

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

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!

The boat moved with a nauseous, relentless rhythm, like someone chewing on a rotten tooth. The islands just visible through the mist looked like teeth, Faith decided. Not fine, clean Dover teeth, but jaded, broken teeth, jutting crookedly amid the wash of the choppy grey sea. The mailboat chugged its dogged way through the waves, greasing the sky with smoke.

Any ideas?

I couldn’t resist this gorgeous illustrated copy of The Lie Tree even though I do have another copy somewhere on my bookcases!

Goodreads Synopsis:

When Faith’s father is found dead under mysterious circumstances, she is determined to untangle the truth from the lies. Searching through his belongings for clues, she discovers a strange tree. A tree that feeds off whispered lies and bears fruit that reveals hidden secrets. But as Faith’s untruths spiral out of control, she discovers that where lies seduce, truths shatter… 

I’ve read over 100 children’s books this year and – just wow! – the standard of writing is just incredible! I genuinely feel completely in awe of these brilliantly talented writers who are opening up such a world of wonder and delight for all readers. As a primary school teacher, I absolutely love being able to recommend books to my class and to be part of their reading journey. Whilst I have chosen 12 favourite books I’ve read and reviewed this year, I could easily have chosen so, so many more! And, of course, there’s the many, many books that I’ve bought that are patiently waiting for me to read them – and I will! Thank you to all the wonderful authors who have taken me on the most incredible reading adventures this year …

I’ve included the opening to my review in each of my choices with a link to my full review.

Nisha’s War:  a stunning, hauntingly atmospheric wartime adventure which swept me into a ghostly tale of loss, forgiveness and hope; a powerful depiction of the trauma caused by war and of healing within a family.

Hedgewitch: a gorgeously bewitching adventure that completely enthralled me:  an adventure brimming with witchy delights, Faerie tricks and nature-inspired magic.

Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup: a magical, sparkling gem of an adventure that kept me enthralled throughout:   gorgeously heart-warming, wonderfully whimsical and completely captivating. 

The Secret of the Treasure Keepers: a brilliantly absorbing, intriguing historical adventure which builds a sense of mystery so masterfully that I absolutely had to keep reading.  This is not only a gripping mystery, it is also a window into the past, and into the lives of characters who feel so real that it was a privilege to follow their story. 

Firesong: oh my goodness, what an epic adventure this is! Yes – it is gripping, exciting and action-packed, but it is also poignant and heart-warming:  an adventure which makes your heart both race and sing.  Absolute perfection!

My Friend the Octopus: an utterly gripping Victorian mystery with the most heart-warming bond between a young girl and her octopus friend at its core.

Small!: BIG on hilarity, heart and hope – with a good dollop of yuckiness, smelliness and zaniness.  A tasty treat of an adventure which delighted me, grossed me out ever so slightly and left me with a giant grin! 

Orla and the Wild Hunt: absolutely sang to my heart, and will undoubtedly be one of my favourite books of the year, transporting me back to my Irish childhood when I devoured books with Irish folklore, but with a fresh twist that made this an unputdownable, magical read. 

The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott: a truly incredible adventure brimming with discovery, danger and daring:  a story which captured me completely as I was swept into an unforgettable journey by the most remarkable young girl as she fights against society’s expectations and chases fallen stars …

The Treekeepers: a breath-takingly stunning, epic fantasy quest that enthralled me from the opening lines.  I read this masterpiece whilst sitting in the garden over a day:  living in the magic of the storytelling, drawn into the incredible landscapes of Skyra, and with my heart completely captured by the quest undertaken by a courageous band of friends, intent on saving their world from a terrible threat …  

Operation Nativity: the PERFECT Christmas adventure brimming with heart and humour, with family and friendship and with the magic of Christmas.  I am a huge fan of Jenny’s books and have devoured and loved them all, but I have to admit that this one is my favourite. 

The Chestnut Roaster: an unforgettable, mesmerising historical fantasy which swept me into late 19^th century Paris and into a gripping, dangerous and exciting adventure that completely captivated me.

Have you read any of these? What have been some of your favourite books this year? What have I missed that you would recommend I read next year?

I’ve been dipping into the short stories in this collection over Christmas and I’m definitely enjoying them as late-night reads!

I’ve been off on my Christmas holiday, so I’ve managed to read more books than I normally would in a week! I found an early copy of Saving Neverland in Waterstones, so just had to buy it and have a re-read. My review is coming! I also read Monster Hunting for Beginners which was a really fun, quick read which I think children of 7+ would really enjoy. I’ve had The Hunt for the Nightingale on my TBR for a while and decided to read it before I read The Night Animals. It was a fantastic read dealing with sibling loss in a way that I hadn’t read before. I found it incredibly poignant and adored Jasper. My Christmas Day into Boxing Day read was The Ghost Locket which was a spooky tale set at Christmas which I really enjoyed. Finally, I’ve just finished a gorgeous, heart-warming, poignant read, The Octopus, Dadu and Me. I will be taking part in the Blog Tour in early January.

I’m hoping to read the next Harley Hitch adventure next and then Monster Hunting Monsters Bite Back.

What are you reading? 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!

Night is at its deepest, darkest centre when she comes. I’m dreaming about being stranded on a wild island when I slowly notice the paws on my chest like two solid nothings. They feel the way ice does when you hold it in your hand – like something so cold, it’s just numb. And then I open my eyes and I see her.

Any ideas?

I’ve just finished reading The Hunt for the Nightingale which was absolutely beautiful and heart-breaking. I have been approved to read The Night Animals on NetGalley, but have managed to get a copy as it has appeared early in some bookshops.

Goodreads Synopsis:

Nora’s mum has good days and bad days, but the bad days are getting worse.  It’s been just the two of them for always, and they don’t need anyone else.  When the rainbow-shimmering ghost animals Nora used to see when she was small start to reappear, she’s convinced that they hold all the answers.  Along with new friend Kwame, Nora follows a glittering ghostly fox, hare, raven and otter on the adventure of a lifetime, helping her to find the strength she needs to help her family.