Angel of Grasmere is a powerful, thought-provoking and poignant story, set during the Second World War, which shows the impact of war on both those who fight, and their families and community at home. 

August 1940, and Tarn Fothergill is climbing the steep path up the fell to the tarn, a place where she feels close to her brother, Joss – and somewhere she can grieve his loss.  He had been the first man from Grasmere to sign up for the British Expeditionary Force and became one of those lost to his family and community in the chaotic retreat at Dunkirk. 

Joined by her best friend, Peter and Eric (an evacuee from Manchester), the children are quickly reminded of the threat of Nazi invasion close to home as fighter planes fly overhead.  The trio are keen to help the war effort by climbing up to the tarn to keep a lookout for the feared Nazi invasion.  But there is also danger in their midst from someone who is angry, resentful and with nothing left to lose …

As time passes and with no sign of the war ending, hope is given to the locals by a stranger who carries out acts of kindness, earning the title:  Angel of Grasmere.  Could these acts have anything to do with the man who hides on the fell, someone who is traumatised by the horrors of war?  How will the villagers react to the revelation of their angel’s identity?

This is such an incredibly powerful, heartrending story that does not shy away from the horrors and trauma of war and its impact on both those who fought and families and communities at home.  My heart ached for the young man traumatised by his experiences in the war, yet despite his obvious emotional turmoil (with flashbacks to his time at Dunkirk and feelings of guilt and shame), he shows such empathy and care for others in helping the Grasmere community.  I found him to be such an inspirational, courageous young man, someone who I cried for and, on whose behalf, I felt anger.  His desire to protect and provide for others when he so needs to be protected and cared for himself is heartbreaking.  

The illustration of the retreat from Dunkirk which runs along the bottom of each page serves as a constant reminder that war cannot be left behind, but reverberates beyond its field of combat with lasting effects on so many people.

Tarn, Peter and Eric are such sympathetic characters who have had to deal with huge changes in their lives as war gets ever closer to home.  Tarn is grieving the loss of a brother she adored and remembers him through their shared connection with places they loved.  After his father’s tragic accident, Peter has had to re-evaluate his ambitions and dreams.  Tarn has not only lost her brother to war but she fears that she may be losing her best friend too as his friendship with Eric, who has been evacuated to Peter’s farm, grows.  Eric has to live both with the constant fear that his home city will be bombed, and with the prejudice from others.  The portrayal of the relationship between these three amazing children feels really authentic as they readjust to changes as war looms over the fells.

I’ve never been to the Lake District, but it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go, even more so now after reading the depiction of the fells and tarn which are a spectacular backdrop to this remarkable historical adventure. 

The care, love and research that has gone into the writing of this story leaps from every page – an unforgettable story of the devastating impact of war, and the power of hope and kindness, on family, friendship and community.

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages. 

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy of Angel of Grasmere in exchange for my honest opinion.

Author Information

TOM PALMER is the multi-award-winning, million-copy bestselling author of the
Young Quills Award winners After the War and Resist, and FCBG Children’s Book Award winners
Armistice Runner and D-Day Dog. In 2019, Tom was awarded the National Literacy Trust’s
Ruth Rendell Award in recognition of his contribution to literacy work in the UK.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour:

I’m listening to On Silver Tides which is a stunning story that has absolutely gripped me. I’m reading The Storm and the Minotaur which is another incredible story that blends Victorian mining with Greek mythology.

This week I’ve read Fyn Carter and the Agents of Eromlos which is a wonderful sci-fi adventure – I’ve posted my review as part of the Blog Tour. I also read Tariq and the Drowning City which I really enjoyed and is a series I’m looking forward to continuing – I have posted my review. Finally, I read Angel of Grasmere which is such a powerful, heartfelt WWII story. I will be posting my review as part of the Blog Tour.

I didn’t get to Nush and the Stolen Emerald last week, so I’m hoping to read it over the weekend.

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

Tariq and the Drowning City is the first book in The Spiritstone Saga, a thrilling, action-packed adventure that completely gripped me.

Tariq of the River Clan, who is a seer, has a vision of catastrophe in which he sees a tidal wave destroying a great city.  He is woken by his Nani who tells him that the clan must leave their home, which is suffering from drought and disease, to seek refuge in Ethrial, the capital city of Osha.  When they arrive, Tariq discovers that the city in his vision is Ethrial … his clan are still in terrible danger.

When Tariq is taken before the Council Leader, he tells him that he is a seer and warns him of the imminent flooding and destruction of the city.  The Leader does not believe him and orders that he be banished.  There are only two people in the city who believe him:  Livia, an elf inventor, who tried to keep him from getting arrested, and Artos, a member of the Silver Guard who arrested him and brought him before the Council Leader. 

And so begins the most thrilling adventure as Tariq and his new friends work together to try to save the city and his clan from a tidal wave of destruction.  The only way to save both is to find a spiritstone from an ancient legend called The Saga of the Spiritstones, a magical stone that has the power to control the elements.  Can they find the fabled stone before time runs out, or is it no more than a fairy tale?

This is a fantastically action-packed adventure where danger meets hope, where elemental magic meets science and where the power of nature meets technological advancement.  I read this is one satisfying sitting as I was desperate to find out how, and if, the new friends could overcome all the difficulties and dangers placed in their way by people, magic and nature. 

There are some important themes in this story which could open up some great discussions with children.  The river clans face prejudice and mistrust from those in the city and are ostracised and taken to an island away from the city without their consent.  Those in power seek to ensure that they keep control and wealth at any cost even when this means they use their power to take unfairly from others and exploit those working for the city.  There is a real disparity between the lives of the better-off in the city and those who live in the run-down areas which could open up discussion around equality.  There is also an opportunity to discuss the impact of industrialisation on the environment (through pollution) and the need for harmony and balance between nature and society.

Tariq, Livia and Artos make a brilliant team who form firm bonds of friendship and trust as they race to save the city and those they love from a terrifying tidal wave of destruction.  Whilst others in the city may show prejudice towards those who seek refuge, or who follow a deemed unacceptable path, these three are much more accepting and have a real sense of justice.  They show great strength, determination and courage in standing up to those in authority and following the path which they believe to be right, even when this leads them into danger.

A gripping start to an epic fantasy adventure, perfect for readers of 9+.  I’m really looking forward to the next story in the Spiritstone Saga:  Tariq and the Temple of Beasts.

Thank you to Hachette Children’s Group for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Fyn Carter and the Agents of Eromlos is the start of an exciting new sci-fi series which completely gripped me and has left me eager for Fyn’s next adventure.

12-year-old Fyn Carter is woken by a storm in the middle of the night and has such a strange experience that he assumes it is a dream, but could the warning message he receives from a stranger speaking through a world window be real?  Could it be the key to finding his father who has been missing for eight years? 

With his mother and best friend Amy’s parents setting off on a top-secret expedition, Fyn and Amy are sent to the countryside to stay with Fyn’s Grandad, Bernie.   On their way back from a day exploring, Fyn and Amy rescue an injured young fox, who they name Henry Flame, after he is attacked by a stranger’s dog, a stranger who knows Fyn’s name.  Could this be the agent that the man in the world window has warned him about?

When another storm arrives and danger threatens, the world window opens and Fyn, Amy, Bernie and Henry Flame take a leap of faith and find themselves in a parallel Earth:  Eromlos.

And so begins an action-packed, thrilling adventure as Fyn finds himself in a race against the agents of Eromlos to find the answers he has been searching for most of his life.  Can Fyn learn who to trust as danger hunts him and his friends as they move towards discovering some incredible truths?  Could Fyn, unwittingly, be the key that can save a multiverse that is in peril?

I absolutely loved this electrifying adventure which I devoured in one sitting.  I really enjoyed not knowing who to trust which increased the tension and threat, and made me worry for many of the characters.  There are some brilliant revelations in this story that have made me eager to continue this series.  I was fascinated by Eromlos which is a parallel Earth where most of the inhabitants live without technology, but where a few use their technological advantage to control the lives of others and abuse their power.   

Fyn and Amy are wonderful characters who have an amazing friendship:  supportive, trusting and loyal.  They show so much courage and determination in facing the agents of Eromlos, and in standing up for themselves and others.  Grandad Bernie is absolutely brilliant and I loved that an older person is such an active part of the adventure.

An exhilarating start to a superb new sci-fi series with friendship and family at its heart, perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Author Information

Ian Hunter is a children’s author who lives on the south coast of England, UK, with his partner and their two cheeky cats (aka writing mascots). He loves anything creative and can usually be found writing, planning an adventure holiday, or escaping to a fantasy world.

Find Ian on Twitter and Instagram

Fyn Carter and the Agents of Eromlos is Ian’s debut novel. He has many more stories to tell and is excited to share them with children and young-hearted adults like him everywhere.

Thank you to the author, Ian Hunter 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:

I really have no idea what happened to the me that could only ever read one book at a time! My evening read is The Gathering (definitely one for adults) which has totally hooked me in from the start. I’m also reading Angel of Grasmere which is absolutely riveting – really packs an emotional punch. I’m listening to On Silver Tides which I’m absolutely loving – but definitely worried about what will happen to Kelda’s little sister, Isla as she is becoming ostracised.

I have finished The Narzat which is such a funny, heart-warming story. I have posted my review. I have also finished listening to the audiobook of Son of the Sea which was a wonderful adventure which I really enjoyed. I also read The House at the End of the Sea and have posted my review. Finally, I read The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie and have posted me review.

I’m hoping to read Nush and the Stolen Emerald next.

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

Fablehouse:  Heart of Fire is the second book in the Fablehouse series, blending magic, history and Arthurian legend in a spellbinding adventure of connection, friendship and belonging – utterly captivating!

Heather is enjoying spending time at Fablehouse with her friends who have newly discovered magical powers which they are strictly forbidden to use by their headmistress, Miss Isolde.  During a game of hide-and-seek, Davey, the youngest child at the orphanage, goes missing which causes Heather to panic and lose control of her own power:  the ability to conjure fire.  With help from her friends, Davey is found safe and well – but showing off his own powers!  Are these new-found powers a curse or a gift for the children? 

Later, there is a knock at the door, and Heather opens it to discover a stranger:  an Inspector who has come to inspect the orphanage, threatening to close it down if they don’t pass their impending inspection.  Could the children be in danger of losing their home, the place that has provided them with a safe haven, away from the prejudices of the locals?

And so begins an edge-of-your seat, action-packed adventure as the children fight to save their home from being closed down, as they face the prejudices of the local villagers and as their Arthurian knight protector, Pal, is distracted by a centuries-old quest that he must complete.  Can the children discover the truth of who is a friend, and who is an enemy, before all is lost?  Can Heather find the strength to accept and control her fiery magic and use it to save her family and home?

This is an absolutely riveting read which kept me on tenterhooks as tension and danger build to a crescendo.  I loved that I had a real sense that the children were facing danger, but not quite sure what direction this was coming from.  I genuinely gasped at the unexpected twists and revelations, and was both angered and saddened at the rejection the children were shown by the local villagers.  I loved how Arthurian legend steps into 1950s Britain to bring magic, danger and hope.

Heather and her friends are the most wonderful group of children who have really grown as a family within Fablehouse but, as with all families, there is some friction as fears and vulnerabilities are shown.  Whilst the other children are more willing to use their magical powers, Heather knows that she possesses a powerful and dangerous ability that can destroy as well as help so it takes a great deal of courage and inner strength to accept and control it. 

This is a magical, mesmerising adventure with family, friendship and belonging at its heart.  Perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The House at the End of the Sea is an enthralling, contemporary fantasy adventure that kept me completely captivated throughout. 

Saffi has started a new life with her father and younger brother, Milo, living with her grandparents in their B & B (Fortune House) in Flamborough Head on the Yorkshire coastline.  The family are grieving the loss of the children’s mum, a death that seven-year-old Milo is struggling to accept which has led to him telling lies and having angry outbursts.  Whilst grandma is welcoming, there is a much more strained relationship between granddad and his son.

When Saffi wakes in the middle of the night, she hears the laughter of guests arriving but, when she goes to investigate, her grandma sends her back to bed.  The following morning, she notices strange changes in her new home:  a pantry now filled with posh food, wallpaper changing colour, a bell constantly ringing, and a strange face in the mirror. Could these changes have something to do with their elusive guests, guests that seem to scare her grandparents. Could they be the reason for the awkwardness between her father and granddad?

On a beach walk, Saffi and Milo hear the sound of a flute which leads them to the boy they had first met when arriving in Breakwell:  Birdy.  When Saffi shares the strange things that she has witnessed at Fortune House, Birdy tells her that her ancestor may have made a bargain with those from another world.

Saffi is determined to discover the truth behind her family’s dark, supernatural secret and so begins an incredible adventure that held me completely mesmerised.  Will Saffi be able to break the contract which has been made by her ancestor, a contract that has become a curse upon the family?  Can she find a way into another world to undo the bargain made by her ancestor for which generations of her family have suffered?

This is a gripping, tense and atmospheric read where I was never quite sure who could be trusted, a story where danger lurks and where feuds bring mistrust and accusations.   

This story sensitively explores some powerful themes including grief at a parent’s death, the impact of British colonialism, and dual heritage identity.

Saffi is an incredibly sympathetic young girl.  She is grieving the loss of her mother, and trying to help her young brother, Milo, through his grief. She feels like she is in two worlds due to her dual heritage, and not quite belonging in either, a feeling that is accentuated by her discoveries in her grandparents’ home.  Saffi shows great courage in discovering the truth of her family’s past, facing up to its detrimental impact on her family, and in being prepared to enter another world to attempt to bargain with those who are notoriously tricksy. 

A gripping, magical mystery where fortune and forfeit dual, and where hope lies in one girl’s ability to open her eyes to the beauty of two worlds.  This is one I would highly recommend to readers of 9+.

Author Information

Victoria M. Adams spent her childhood bouncing between Cyprus, Canada and the US with her Iranian mother, trying to achieve first place in the ‘Most Visas Acquired Before Age Eighteen’
sweepstakes. As an adult, she carried on the nomadic family tradition by adding France and New Zealand to the mix, where she worked as an animator, copywriter, tutor and story coach, in
no particular order. She currently shares her London home with two humans and a feckless cat.

Instagram: Victoria M. Adams

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 The House at the End of the Sea in exchange for my honest opinion.

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

The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie is a contemporary story with a twist of magic that utterly enchanted me:  a story that sparkles bright with so much heart and humour and with strong bonds of family and friendship.

Twelve-year-old Priya Shah has been keeping her truths inside, telling lies to her family and friends so that she doesn’t let anyone down, letting them believe that her life is perfect so that she doesn’t disappoint.

But her life is far from perfect.  She is grieving the loss of her Ba who was the one person who she felt she could speak honestly to.  She is struggling with the pressure of expectation in her gymnastics, feeling that she must win to get the prize money to help her parents pay for her training.  Her home life is chaotic with parental arguments and financial worries, so much so that she is losing sleep which, coupled with her heavy gymnastics training schedule, is making her fall asleep in class. 

After another terrible day, she is comforting herself by looking at the gold bangle her Ba had given her, a bangle with a broken clasp making it unwearable but, when the bangle suddenly opens, she puts it on, wondering if her life will, at last, get any better …

The next day, Priya discovers that she is unable to answer a direct question with a ready lie.  She finds herself telling the truth, no matter how hard she tries not to.  Could her inability to lie have anything to do with the bangle, a bangle which she cannot take off? 

Imagine being twelve years old and never being able to tell a lie – even a white lie – not to your teachers, your friends, your family and even the boy who you’ve been hiding your crush from.  Luckily for Priya, she has two amazing friends in Mei and Sami who are incredibly supportive, but even they can’t always prevent her brutal honesty from getting her into trouble.  Can Priya find a way to open up and be honest with those she loves without hurting them?  Will her truthful revelations help or hinder her in finding true friendship and bringing her the happiness she has been yearning for?

This is an incredibly powerful and thought-provoking read with plenty of humour and insight into the ups and downs of relationships.  There is so much opportunity to empathise with the situations of others as people often keep hidden what they are scared to share with others as they are worried about a negative reaction or being judged. 

Priya is an incredibly sympathetic young girl who is so busy protecting others that she is bottling up her emotions, her feelings of grief, her anxieties and worries and her loneliness.  Whilst her Ba’s gift doesn’t always feel like a blessing, it helps Priya find the courage to face up to her own truths.  I really enjoyed the friendship between Priya, Mei and Sami which felt so genuine and brought lots of humour.  I also adored her younger sister, Pinkie, who has ADHD, and is a force to be reckoned with, not scared to show her emotions, express her own style, and stand up for herself. 

An insightful, relatable and absorbing story of family and friendship for children of 9+ who I have no doubt will be discussing it with, and recommending it to, their friends.

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