Review: Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman

*Written by Alex Atkinson*
*Cover illustration by Miriam Serafin*
*Published by Usborne*

Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman is a deliciously spooky, humorous mystery with a chilling edge guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.

Twelve-year-old twins Indigo and Rusty live in a 400-year-old house on the outskirts of the village of Greyscar which also happens to be a funeral home. Despite this, they do not believe in ghosts … until Indigo accidentally finds a hidden door behind a bookcase and decides to investigate.

In the dark room behind the bookcase, she finds something on a table and decides to bring it back to the funeral parlour. The old, dented urn which she has brought back frightens her when its lid rattles making her drop it … releasing an ash cloud that escapes through the open window, but not before she hears its voice …

The next morning, she wakes to an eerie silence and looks outside to see that everything has been coated in a layer of ash and, worse still, her parents are acting very strangely … as are all the other villagers … as if they have no control over their actions.

But why are the twins not affected by this smothering ash? It is not long before they discover that they are immune to the effects of the ash because they are spooksmiths who can see and communicate with ghosts. And Indigo has accidentally released a terrifying ghost on the village: the Cinderman who intends to turn everyone into zombies and hide the village from the outside world under a layer of ash.

And so begins a spine-tinglingly spooky mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat as I followed these two daring investigators as they race against time to learn the secrets of the Cinderman. What power does a name hold? Can they learn the Cinderman’s weakness before sunset? Or will Greyscar become a town of zombies trapped in ash and ruled over by a terrifying ghost lord?

I loved the inexorable building of tension as danger increases and time runs out which made this a real page-turner and totally unputdownable. The atmosphere was incredibly eerie and creepy with the ash encapsulating the town and people being controlled like puppets by an evil entity. The ghosts who help the twins in their mission are fantastic – and bring some brilliantly humorous moments as well as some poignant ones!

I really liked both Indigo and Rusty whose initial bickering and arguments change to support and teamwork as they learn to work together in their mission to defeat the Cinderman. As they find themselves in more and more peril, they come to realise the importance of family and friendship which gives them the strength, courage and determination to continue their pursuit of the terrifying Cinderman. I also have to mention Phrank who I absolutely adored – and who brought lots of humour!

A spooky and humorous horror-mystery, with family and friendship at its heart, perfect to snuggle up with on a dark evening for a frighteningly fantastic reading treat.

Thank you to Usborne for providing me with a proof copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: The World Between the Rain

*Written by Susan Cahill*
*Cover and Internal Illustrations by Holly Ovenden*
*Published by Everything With Words*

The World Between the Rain is a lyrical, dream-like fantasy adventure, a story of loss and healing, of family and secrets, of gods and demons, that completely enthralled me as I was caught in its magic.

It is the anniversary of her father’s death, and Marina wakes to a world where her mother has fallen in to a deep sleep, a sleep from which Marina and her younger sister, Seri, cannot rouse her. Heading to the nearby village to seek help, they discover that many others have also been afflicted by this strange sleeping sickness.

The sisters arrive home to discover a stranger: a grandmother that they hadn’t known existed. Ursula takes them, and their mother, to stay with her in her isolated house across the bay, a house with a carved bear’s head on the banister, a house full of books, shadows and secrets.

After listening to her newly-found grandmother’s stories of old gods living amongst humans and ancient battles causing their destruction, Marina needs to find some space to be alone, and leaves the house to head through the steadily increasing rain. But on her way back, she falls through a gap in the ever-present Irish raindrops … and into another world … the watery world of Ishka …

And so begins an utterly mesmerising mystery as Marina finds herself in a world of dream weavers, of terrifying creatures, of gods and demons … Can she find her way back to her world? Can she stop the monster that is devouring dreams? And, could this world between the rain be closer to her real world than she could have ever imagined?

This incredibly powerful and moving story is an allegory of the journey through grief which I found both poignant and compelling. The watery, imaginary landscape is a symbol both of being trapped in grief and that of a healing, transformative force. Coupled with this story of a young girl’s grief is an absolutely gripping story of gods – a story of unforgetting, of family and shadows and of re-connection – truly magical.

I grew up in rural County Donegal so absolutely understand the ever-rain that really does feel different in Ireland – there is a softness, a magic that I haven’t felt elsewhere. I used to love wandering over the wild bog land and mountains, tilting my face towards the rain, arms stretched up and just ‘being’ – there is definitely magic in that feeling! The rain in this story makes for a wonderfully eerie and atmospheric read and is just perfect as a portal to another world.

Marina is an incredibly sympathetic young girl who has been trapped by her grief following the death of her father, someone who believed in magic and who encouraged it in his daughter. Unable to show outwards signs of grief, Marina buries her feelings of guilt, loneliness, fear and loss deep within whilst her mother and younger sister deal with their grief in their own way. Her cathartic journey allows her to face her grief and step on to the path towards facing her inner demons, the path towards acceptance and healing. It is a journey that takes incredible inner strength and courage, and a journey that brings both friendship and hope.

This is a stunning, spellbinding story that resonates with warmth, hope and family, a story of awakening and finding your way back home … utterly breath-taking.

Thank you to Mikka at Everything with Words for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy of The World Between the Rain in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

Blog Tour Review: Birdie by J P Rose

*Written by J. P. Rose*
*Cover Illustration by Keith Robinson*
*Published by Anderson Press*

Birdie is a powerful, heartfelt story of friendship, belonging and identity set in the 1950s: an unforgettable, incredibly affecting story that completely captured me.

Birdie Bagshaw has grown up in Fitzwilliam’s Children’s Home, a home for mixed race children, on the outskirts of Leeds. She adores its kind-hearted owner, Mrs Dudley so is reluctant to leave when her great-aunt sends for her. She does not want to leave the familiarity of the home, nor her friends and found family. Although frightened of starting a new life, Mrs Dudley convinces her to make the train journey to the Yorkshire Dales to live with her great-aunt, Mrs Winterbottom.

When she arrives in Barrington Dale, she has to find her own way to her great-aunt’s cottage where she is given a cold welcome. Confused by this treatment, she makes her way to school where she is subjected to appalling racism by both pupils and the teacher. Birdie feels rejected and is made to feel like an outsider by both her great-aunt and most of the villagers she meets.

When Birdie is faced with cruelty from some of the older boys, she runs to escape from them, and finds herself at the local coal mine where she meets the last remaining pit pony …

And so begins a story that broke my heart … and healed it again! The special bond that forms between Birdie and Mr Duke is just incredible and felt completely believable as their love, loyalty and trust in each other resonates throughout the story. They give each other strength to keep going in terrible circumstances – and hope that life can get better.

When Birdie discovers that Mr Duke is in terrible danger, she is determined to rescue him, no matter the risk to herself, but will she be able to save her best friend’s life?

Oh my goodness! Birdie is just the most incredible, inspirational young girl. Growing up in a home for mixed race children, she has not experienced, or has been protected from, racist abuse. My heart ached for her as she comes to realise that the reason she is being treated so horribly by others is because of the colour of her skin. But Birdie does not let this prejudice affect who she is at heart: an empathetic, caring girl whose kindness radiates from her. She is someone who enters people’s lives and changes them for the better, bringing a community together and healing those who have been lost in grief.

After reading Fablehouse, I had already learned more about the history of ‘Brown Babies’ born to relationships between African-American GIs and white British women during the Second World War, and the racism and stigma which forced many of these mothers to give up their babies in order to be ‘socially acceptable’ members of society. This story also addresses the impact of the aftermath of the Second World War on families who are grieving for those who did not come home from the war. And, of course, there is the deployment of pit ponies in the mining communities, the ‘unsung heroes’ of the coal mines, something that I found incredibly poignant and really difficult to fathom as ever being acceptable. The author’s Historical Note makes for fascinating reading and would form the basis for some wonderful classroom discussions following reading the story.

A tender story of family, connection and remaining true to yourself with the most beautiful friendship between human and animal at its heart. This is a story I cannot recommend highly enough for readers of 9+, and a definite Book of the Year for me.

Author Information

J.P. Rose was born in Manchester but was raised in Yorkshire after her adoption. Growing up she suffered extreme racism, though she continued to be proud of her diverse and rich Jamaican, Nigerian and Anglo-Irish heritage. She trained as an actress but eventually moved into writing, and she is now the author of numerous novels for adults. She owns several horses, dogs and cats and lives in London with her family.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jprosewriter
X: https://x.com/jprosewriter

Thank you so much to Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour, and to Anderson Press for providing me with a copy of Birdie in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on this week’s Blog Tour below:

Blog Tour: First Term at Fernside by Sheena Wilkinson

First Term at Fernside is a modern-day classic boarding school story that is brimming with warmth, friendship and adventure … an absolutely joyous read!

13-year-old Robin is excited to return to Fernside House Boarding School to join her friends for another year, but she is not so happy that her younger cousin, Linnet, will be joining too – and she’ll be staying with her in Lilac Dorm alongside four other girls. She is also disappointed to discover that her favourite part of Fernside House, the hockey pitch, has been built over to house a new science lab.

Meanwhile, Linnet is finding her new school overwhelming, and is hoping for some much-needed support from Robin. Feeling like she doesn’t belong in this noisy place full of chattering girls, and with loud bells and stifling rules, Linnet is relieved to discover that there is a place neighbouring the school that will offer her escape and solace: Rowanbank. An empty house with an overgrown garden and woods – and just perfect for nature-loving Linnet when she needs some peace and quiet. But she is disheartened to learn that Rowanbank has been sold and is now strictly out of bounds to visit.

But Fernside is a special place where friendships blossom as the other girls help Linnet to adjust to the things she is finding difficult. A real camaraderie quickly develops between the dorm mates and, when new girl Sadie arrives, she is welcomed by the others. Sadie has been late starting at Fernside as she is recovering from polio, but she is determined to enjoy boarding school, especially as she imagines it will be just like the boarding school stories she loves …

It is not long before adventure finds the girls as they discover that animals are going missing, and Linnet begins to suspect the identity of the culprit. And when adorable puppy, Rudy, disappears, she is determined to prove her theory. Could someone mean harm to the animals which are being taken? Is Linnet putting her friends in danger in her determination to prove her theory? And could her secret hideaway hold secrets that will change her life?

This is the most wonderful boarding school story set in the mid-1920s in Northern Ireland. I loved the vivid description of boarding school life: the lessons, the meals, the strict Matron, the dorms and common room, the bells and the rules to be followed – and broken. The impact of the First World War is still being felt by families as they are coping with the loss of loved ones and the trauma experienced by those directly affected by the war. There is also an emphasis on the changing role of women in society as more avenues open up for opportunities in the field of science. Animal-lover Fran is setting her ambition on becoming a vet, a career that would not have been possible at the turn of the century.

I really liked both Robin and Linnet and their friends, especially Sadie who does not let the effects of polio impact on her enjoyment of everything boarding school life has to offer. She’s courageous, gregarious and revels in boarding school life. Robin is kind-hearted and enjoys boarding school life, especially playing sports, including the newly-introduced netball, and spending time with her friends. Whilst she doesn’t always understand her cousin Linnet, she is there for her and supports her in settling in to Fernside and they develop a genuine friendship. Linnet is a wonderful young girl who initially finds boarding school life difficult, but, as the term progresses, and her friendships deepen, she comes to enjoy her time at Fernside. She is direct, honest and empathetic, willing to break the rules and stand up for others who need help.

A charming, modern-day classic boarding school story with heart-warming friendships and exciting escapades … perfect for young readers of 9+.

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

Please do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

Author Guest Post and Review: Happy Hills: Knick Knacks Attacks

Today, I’m delighted to be able to share a fascinating guest post from author and illustrator Sophy Henn on the inspiration behind Happy Hills. I will also be sharing my review of this hilarious graphic novel.

Guest Author Post

Sophy Henn on the inspiration behind Happy Hills

One of my favourite bits of my job is doing Q&A sessions after events. Now, I must confess I rarely get to do them as I am always running out of time BUT when I do I am consistently thrilled by the variety of questions I get, but three pop up rather a lot…

How old are you?

What’s your favourite colour?

And… Where do you get your ideas from?

So, in case you are interested…

1) REALLY old (but huge thanks to the very sweet girl who suggested I was 27!)
2) Rainbow
3) EVERYWHERE.

Ideas for stories really are everywhere, they are happening around us all the time but we must stay vigilant or we will miss them! I like to scribble or doodle my ideas down when they pop up as my memory is appalling and also because more often than not I will get a bit of an idea and either have to let it grow over time in my sketchbook, or match it with something else that has been lingering there.

This was the case with Happy Hills. I have been making comics for many years and used comic strips throughout the Pizazz series but it still felt like a bit of a leap to make an ENTIRE comic book. But it was going over my sketchbooks and seeing all the characters I had dreamt up that gave me the idea to create an ensemble cast of cute but VERY feisty characters that could populate this imaginary land.

With my head full from browsing pages and pages of sketchbooks I sat down and drew pretty much the whole cast, straight away on one page of a sketchbook. And the idea of them looking so cute but having very contrasting traits was making me laugh but it was also resonating!

As a middle aged woman I find myself often pigeon holed in one way or another, but I delight in still having the capacity for great silliness, or maybe getting furious about an injustice or possibly just wanting to sing and dance – despite what the world expects of me! And despite huge leaps and bounds this happens in all areas of society, but I think girls and young women suffer from preconceived ideas of looks /behaviour more than most. So not only did a cast of cute but spirited and silly characters make me laugh it felt like something with worth and meaning.

I wanted to keep the energy high so while I decided to have a narrative thread that ran through the books in recurring strips, I would pepper this with running gags, standalone strips and mini series that run from book to book. In my head it became a sketch show, rather like The Fast Show, with catchphrases, familiar jokes and surprisingly poignant moments. Hopefully.

The core ideas for the strips themselves come from a very disparate selection of sources – memories of my childhood, of my daughter’s childhood, moments I have witnessed and overheard when I am out and about, pop culture references, old comic strips I made years ago, films, TV and occasionally even BOOKS! As I said before the kernels of stories are everywhere, you just have to keep your eyes and ears open – oh and don’t forget to jot them down!

Review

Knick Knacks Attacks is the second madcap, hilarious book in the Happy Hills full-colour graphic novel series.

I loved the introduction to the residents of Happy Hills which is included at the start of the book – with some great asides by the flowers! As Ace wakes up and wonders where he is, he is reminded by Captain that he now lives in Happy Hills, but someone else has sight their sights on the zany residents of his new home …

Knick Knacks loves collecting things and this time, he has set his sights on swiping a collection of new Happy Hills friends – whether they like it or not! As the residents of Happy Hills live their own wacky lives with stare-offs and dance-offs, Knick Knacks plots his first friendship swipe … will the residents realise the danger they are in before it’s too late, or will Happy Hills lose its eccentric residents to a villainous collector?

Wowzers! Giggles are absolutely guaranteed in this chaotic adventure when the mischievous villain Knick Knacks comes up with his brilliantly inventive schemes for collecting his new friends. Meanwhile, the wondrously bizarre cast of characters in Happy Hills are oblivious to what is happening as they are caught up in their own laugh-out-loud stories. And just wait for the flower narrators – genius!

Whilst this is a fantastically funny story, it also has some heart-warming messages about friendships.

The full-colour, vibrant illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and so very expressive with a variety of panel sizes, captions and speech balloons which will appeal to young readers. I loved that there are tutorials to encourage young readers to draw Shroomer and Knick Knacks – maybe they’ll even be tempted to continue the story … before they can get their hands on the next Happy Hills adventure.

A delicious delight that is sure to capture the attention of young readers of 5+ as they head to Happy Hills for another wacky adventure.

Author Information

Sophy Henn is an award-winning picture book author and illustrator with an MA in Illustration from the University of Brighton. She is the creator of the much-loved Bad Nana fiction series, the Pom Pom series, the Ted board books series and has recently created the non-fiction titles Lifesize and Lifesize Dinosaurs. Her debut picture book Where Bear? Was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. Sophy was the World Book Day Illustrator in 2015 and 2016. Her books are published throughout the world.

Thank you to Nic Wilkinson and Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of Happy Hills: Knick Knacks Attacks in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: Black Gables by Eibhlís Carcione

*Written by Eibhlís Carcione*
*Cover design and internal illustrations by Holly Ovenden*
*Published by Everything With Words*

Black Gables is a deliciously dark, spine-tinglingly spooky and gloriously gothic mystery that swirls with danger, frights and secrets … an absolutely riveting read.

Twelve-year-old Rosella Frawley’s mother has lost her memory after an accident so the family have returned to the place where she grew up, Black Gables, in the hope that the familiarity of her childhood home will trigger her memory to return. But Black Gables is not a place for hope …

Rosella starts the local school, Black Gables, named after its entrance: the black gables of the workhouse that had once stood there. She immediately feels the suffocating atmosphere as fingers of thick, greenish fog reach from the lake that edges the school. There is no laughter as children arrive, and Rosella reluctantly enters the school as a strange assortment of teachers appear, expecting work to be completed in silence. And then she meets the seriously sinister headmaster, Mr Edge …

And so begins an intriguing, creepy mystery with a lyrical and surreal quality that held me completely enthralled as Rosella tries to make connections with the past and discover the secrets of Black Gables and the lake ghouls. Could Mr Edge be communicating with these ghouls? Will Rosella’s determined efforts to seek the truth put her in danger? And, is everyone at the school quite what they appear?

This is an intensely eerie, chilling and dark mystery that sent shivers down my spine and kept me eagerly turning pages – sometimes from behind my fingers! Black Gables feels like a place both lost and hidden in time, yet waiting for a renewal which creeps ever closer with an inexorable feeling of foreboding as Rosella gets more and more entangled in her search for the truth before time runs out.

The portrayal of the teachers and students is just incredible! I absolutely felt the sense of the macabre and the strangeness which emanates from them with their old-fashioned clothing, draconian attitudes, unusual appearances and assortment of creatures. I loved that rather unsettling feeling with a few of the characters as I didn’t know if Rosella should trust them, but hoped she could. Mr Edge is a particularly sinister character not least because, whilst everyone adulates him, creepiness oozes from him.

Rosella is an incredibly sympathetic young girl who is struggling to deal with her mum not recognising her daughter, and hoping desperately that the family’s return to Black Gables will help her mum’s memories return. She senses something is not quite right with the school and refuses to become another compliant student. Instead, she is determined to discover the truth that hides in the lake and shows great courage in standing up for herself and others as she pursues her investigation.

The perfect spooky season read … visit Black Gables … if you dare!

Thank you to Mikka at Everything with Words for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour, and for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

Picture Book Review: What is a Peachick?

Have you ever wondered what a Peachick is? Could it be related to a chickpea? This is a brilliantly funny and imaginative story which addresses just that question with oodles of humour and a fantastic range of chick creations. Meet a celery chick, a dragon fruit chick and even a runner bean chick. And what if socks and shoes, and even the loo, had chicks? But, will the young reader ever learn the answer to this question?

This is such an appealing adventure for young readers who I have no doubt will have great fun creating their own chicks from everyday, familiar items. I loved the natural curiosity of the young narrator who makes some wonderfully weird associations and makes a leap of imagination from food associations to everyday objects.

The text is playful with lots of questions to pique the interest of young readers. The use of alliteration, repetition and rhyme makes this a memorable, engaging read.

The illustrations are gorgeous and are drawn against mostly bright backgrounds with a vibrant colour palette with repetition of beaks, eyes and feet to make the curious collection of chicks easily recognisable in all their brilliant and weird representations. I particularly loved the celery chicks and the umbrella chicks.

This is a gorgeous hardback picture book for young readers of 3+ who will adore meeting chicks in all their fantastically imaginative creations.

Thank you to The O’Brien Press for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Relic Hunters – The Clockwork Key

*Written by Vashti Hardy*
*Illustrated by Rebecca Sheerin*
*Published by Barrington Stoke (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)*

It’s time to get out the emergency confetti! The Clockwork Key is the first in a new series, Relic Hunters, where steampunk fantasy, archaeology and STEM combine in an exciting adventure … and it’s absolutely brilliant!

Siblings Mabel and Will Greystone are excited to be going on their first expedition with their Aunt Lucy, a relic hunter who searches the world for ancient objects. Once aboard the Steam Flyer train, their aunt wastes no time in sharing a map which she hopes will direct them to Umber, a town famous for the invention of clockwork, but now abandoned and lost to the world. When the trio are disturbed by devious hunter, Byron Cogsworth, they plot to throw him off the trail …

Travelling by steam train and airship, they eventually arrive in Marvolia before boarding a cog cruiser in search of the lost town. Will this daring trio find Umber before the dastardly Byron rumbles that he has been tricked? And could an old clockwork key left behind by the last inhabitant of Umber unlock secrets that could bring danger for the explorers?

This is a brilliantly imaginative, action-packed Indiana-Jones-esque adventure with a wonderful blend of archaeology, fantasy and technology. I loved the ominous feeling of danger being just around the corner, the incredible discoveries and the revelation of a mystery in need of solving … before it is too late.

As well as being a thrilling adventure, there are also some important messages about rightful ownership of relics, the responsibility that comes from being a relic hunter and about leadership.

I loved the close bond between the Greystone siblings and Aunt Lucy who clearly loves taking them along on her expedition and teaching them about ethical archaeology. Whilst the children have different personalities, they prove themselves to be the perfect relic-hunters-in-training whilst on the expedition. Mabel is impulsive, clever, curious and a risk-taker which can get her into, and out of, trouble! Will is quieter and more wary of adventure, but is a keen photographer who documents what is discovered. And then there’s Grimm who is sarcastic, grumpy and ‘not’ a lover of cuddles – but utterly adorable!

The full-and-partial-page illustrations throughout are gorgeous, expressive and capture the heart of this exhilarating adventure perfectly.

What a fantastic start to this thrilling new adventure series and I have no doubt that young readers will be eagerly anticipating the relic hunters next adventure.

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages. This one is for ages 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for sending me a copy of The Clockwork Key in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Witchspark

*Written by Dominique Valente*
*Artwork by Eleonora Asparuhova*
*Published by Usborne*

Witchspark is the most magical, heart-warming story sparkling with friendship, hope and humour that completely captured me as I was swept into a fantastical alternative Britain for a spellbinding adventure.

12-year-old Eglantine Bury is abruptly awoken when she is shaken out of bed by none other than her sentient house, Huswyvern, who warns her that her uncle Lichen is visiting, and he is bringing trouble with him – the terrifying Whistlewitch.

When Eglantine’s father is subjected to illegal magic, Eglantine’s worst fears are realised … she is in danger of losing her home, and her father is taken by the Whistlewitch who has given her an ultimatum: hand over her home within three months, or lose her father forever. The only way to defeat the Whistlewitch and save both her home and father is to find her Witchspark and bond with Huswyvern. But Eglantine has failed her spark test so how can she possibly find her magical spark?

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Princess Victoria feels stifled by her mother’s over-protective determination to keep her safe, not allowing her any freedom within the Royal Palace. On top of this, she is fighting to control the magical powers which she cannot have as magic is forbidden to royals. As her magical abilities create havoc within the royal household, she fears that her secret will be revealed … and she will lose her royal status. Could someone who should have her best interests at heart be determined to usurp power? And, what would they do if they find out about her Witchspark?

Both girls are in danger, they both need help and they are both desperate enough to seek it from a source banned by the Department of Isle-Spark Regulations who strictly control the use of magic within the Magic Isles. Can the lessons from Miss Hegotty’s Course for Aspiring (and Ungovernable) Witches help them both on their magical journeys? Can someone who they only meet through correspondence bring these two girls together to help each other in finding friendship, self-belief and the courage to fully embrace their Witchspark and all it offers to them?

This is THE most magical adventure that swept me into a richly portrayed alternative Victorian Britain, a world where sentient houses, ghosts and mythical creatures care for a young girl who is in danger of losing all that she holds most dear. I found the magical system absolutely fascinating and loved the idea of an inner magical force and its link to nature and talent. I also really enjoyed learning about the underpinning politics and power struggles governing the use of magic. Those from rich families and males are more likely to pass the isle-spark test than those who are females or from poorer backgrounds. Could there be a reason for the imbalance? And is there someone willing to fight back against this injustice?

I loved that this adventure has such strong female protagonists who stand up for both themselves and others – even when this leads to danger from those in positions of power. Eglantine is the most wonderful young girl. She has incredible inner strength and courage, never giving up in her determination to find her magical powers, a resilience and strength she has honed from overcoming difficulties due to her limb difference and in facing prejudice and hatred from her dreadful uncle Lichen. I adored the friendship she has with both her sentient house, Huswyvern and Arthur, her loyal wyvern dragon butler who are both such fantastic, likeable characters. I also adored Princess Victoria who, far from enjoying the freedom others might think royalty affords her, feels constricted. She is fighting an inner battle with her uncontrollable magical abilities, seeking to give up a part of herself, but will she learn to embrace who she truly is and find the freedom she lacks?

After that ending, which brought a huge smile, I can’t wait for these ungovernable young ladies’ next adventure!

The illustrations, including framed chapter heading and full-page illustrations, are stunning and really complement the magical story-telling imbued with both warmth and peril.

A truly mesmerising, magical adventure which sparks with humour, heart and girl power! Perfect for young adventurers 9+.

Thank you to Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne for sending me a copy of Witchspark in exchange for my honest opinion.

Monthly Wrap-Up

What a month! I’ve had my first experience of teaching Year 3, having moved from Year 6 and, oh my goodness, I don’t think I’ve ever been so exhausted in a first few weeks of teaching! Moving Year groups was a big adjustment for me, and moving to the Junior School was a big adjustment for my new class. I’m loving getting to know my new class who are the most wonderful group of children. And of course, I’m loving reading to them every day and sharing books with them.