I’m currently listening to the audiobook of Read, Scream, Repeat and, oh my goodness, what a brilliantly scary selection of stories. I’m definitely going to have to get a copy for my class library as I know it will be really popular.

I finished listening to the audiobook of Maggie Blue and the White Crow which was just incredible – and there absolutely has to be another book in this series which I really hope is coming soon! I also finished reading the gorgeous Sky and have posted my review. Bella Bright and the Ghost Game is a perfect spooky adventure for this time of year – a great haunted house story. I will be posting my review as part of the Blog Tour over the weekend. Finally, I read The Kingdom of Broken Magic which was very strange/surreal – in a really good way! I will be posting my review shortly.

I’m hoping to read The Midnight Switch, another spooky adventure next.

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

Sky is a magical, wintry timeslip adventure that is utterly captivating, a story of friendship and determination as two brave young girls fight to save a nest of baby owls.

During the Christmas holidays, Lara is visiting her grandparents in their cottage in the Scottish Highlands.  Her grandad is excited to share his sighting of a rare white snowy owl with her.  Lara is not particularly interested, until she spots the beautiful bird, Sky, and quickly becomes fascinated by her.  The following day, Lara heads into the woods by herself for a walk and sees Sky who seems to want her to follow. 

When she does, Lara finds herself walking through the trees and back in time where she meets a young girl, Amelia, who is living in the Big House with her uncle and cousins.  During her visits, the two girls become firm friends, and enjoy their outings to visit a nest of snowy owls and watch them hatch and grow.  But when her cruel cousin threatens the safety of the baby owls and their parents, Lara and Amelia must work together to save these beautiful birds. 

This is a wonderfully warm and exciting adventure which is just perfect for the wintry months.  There is something so magical about timeslip adventures as present and past come together and, in this one, I loved discovering the reason Sky brings Lara back through time.  The baby owls are just adorable with fierce and protective parents who need a little help to keep their owlets safe from a human threat.

Lara is an incredibly likeable young girl. She has had a lot to deal with and is missing her best friend, but is soon mesmerised by Sky and transported into the most amazing adventure.  She proves herself a fantastic friend to both Lara and the owls, determined to protect them and stand up to a cruel bully so that he gets his comeuppance. 

The full-and-partial-page illustrations throughout are stunning, beautifully detailed and expressive, and exuding so much warmth. 

This is magical, mesmerising adventure, perfect for young readers of 7+ to enjoy on a cold evening – preferably with marshmallow-topped hot chocolate. 

Thank you to Little Tiger for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Taming of the Cat is a truly magical, heart-warming story within a story that completely mesmerised me as I was drawn into both stories and captivated by the many stunning illustrations. 

Brie is not like other mice:  he doesn’t like cheese and prefers to use the labels to inspire his stories rather than tell jokes and play games.  Ostracised by the other mice in his colony, he is left with no friends when the swallows, who he shares his tales with, migrate.  The cruelty of the other mice sees him seeking shelter from the cold in a dangerous place – at the side of the fridge.  Why so dangerous?  Well, there’s Gorgonzola, the cat who likes nothing better than playing with his food before eating it – and his favourite food is – mice! Brie wakes from his exhausted sleep only to find himself trapped in Gorgonzola’s paws. 

When Brie, desperate to save himself, shares that he is a storyteller, the bored Gorgonzola asks for one in return for not eating him – yet!  And so, the young mouse shares an enchanting, exciting fairytale, a tale with a courageous princess, a terrible curse, a dragon and a cat called Silk that can grow to the size of a panther.  But is it a story that will be exciting enough to capture Gorgonzola’s attention, and even stop his intention to devour Brie? 

I absolutely loved this mesmerising story, weaving beautifully between Brie’s fairytale and his own tale of survival.  I love how Brie’s story becomes a shared experience between captive and captor with Gorgonzola becoming caught up in the magic of the storytelling, eager to find out more and share his thoughts.  I really enjoyed the slowly emerging friendship between mouse and cat, but will it be enough to save Brie from his fate?  Or could the danger come from elsewhere?

Brie is absolutely adorable, and my heart went out to him as he is rejected by his colony for being different, with only a pretence of acceptance when they can use him to get something they want.  He is trapped in a place that does not feel like home, but is determined to be himself, to continue to create magical stories, and to share these even when this means facing his greatest fear.  I also really liked Gorgonzola who fights against his natural instincts in order to enjoy the magic of a great story, but can two natural enemies ever become friends?

This is a gorgeous hardback edition with a stunning cover with silver foiling.  The many internal full-and-partial-page illustrations, together with illustrated chapter headings, are simply stunning and capture the magical quality of this special book perfectly.  This would be a wonderful and, I have no doubt, treasured Christmas gift for younger readers.

An utterly captivating story within a story … a tale of facing fears, standing up to others and being true to yourself – sheer magic!

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

I’m currently reading Sky which is a gorgeous timeslip story for younger readers. I’ve also just started reading Orla and the Magpie’s Kiss which will be perfect for this time of year. I’m listening to the audiobook of Maggie Crow and the White Crow which is superb. I’m completely gripped by Maggie and her journey into the Dark World.

I read Lunar which is a short read from Barrington Stoke which I really enjoyed. I will be posting my review shortly. I also read The Taming of the Cat which is a gorgeous story within a story – I will post my review tomorrow. I finished listening to the audiobook of Maggie Blue and the Dark World which I absolutely loved so much so that I immediately got the second one. It’s taken me a while but I finally finished The Spell Tailors which was a wonderfully magical read focussed on family and friendship. I loved the idea of stitching memories into clothing so that you can re-live precious moments or share in others’ memories. I also read The Disappearing Diamond, a timeslip Victorian mystery. I have posted my review.

I’m hoping to read Bella Bright and the Ghost Game next.

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

The Disappearing Diamond is Emmie and Jack’s third exciting adventure into the past to solve an intriguing mystery.  It can be read as a standalone, but I imagine that children who have not read the first two adventures will want to catch up on them.  I know I do!

Emmie and Jack are on a school trip to the Victoria & Albert Museum, dressed as Victorian children.  Like the other children in their class, they are fascinated by the Koh-i-Noor diamond which will be included in the upcoming new king’s coronation.  As Jack approaches the cabinet where the jewel is displayed, lights flicker and the alarm goes off … the diamond has disappeared, and a familiar looking man is beckoning them.  As in previous adventures, he needs their help, this time to recover the missing diamond in time for the upcoming coronation …

The two friends step through the museum door and find themselves in Victorian London just before the opening of the 1851 Great Exhibition in the Crystal Palace.  Will they be able to uncover what happened to the diamond in the past in order to save the coronation? 

This is a wonderfully exciting adventure which gives a fascinating insight into the sights, smells and sounds of Victorian London, and especially the spectacle of the Great Exhibition of 1851.  I loved following Emmie and Jack as they race to solve the mystery of the disappearing diamond, finding help from some new friends, and the rather mysterious time architect, Mr Briggs when they need him most.  There is plenty of danger, deception, twists and revelations which kept me turning the pages to discover the culprit. 

This is the first book in this series that I have read so really enjoyed getting to know Emmie and Jack who are vey likeable characters. They have a genuine friendship and make a great team as they work together to solve the mystery and overcome problems that are thrown their way.  They show great courage in facing their fears in difficult situations, and are there to offer each other support.  I also really liked the inclusion of historical figures in the story including Queen Victoria and her protégé, Sarah. 

I love timeslip adventures and think young readers will enjoy travelling back in time into an intriguing mystery which gives them an insight into a historical period whilst chasing an exciting adventure.

This is a wonderfully engaging timeslip mystery that is sure to captivate readers of 8+. 

Thank you to the author, Glen Blackwell, for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really feel like reading some spooky middle-grade this October, so I’ve had a look on my bookshelves and have found 10 that I would really like to read. Some have been on my TBR for a while, some are very recent purchases and some have been sent by publishers. I think they’ll all be books I’ll enjoy!

I’ve taken each synopsis from Goodreads except for The Witchstone Ghosts which is from Waterstones.

When Lewis’s family moves to a faraway town called Barrow, he can’t quite put his finger on what feels so strange about his new home. Everyone is obsessed with superstition, and an old story about floods and witches and a curse, while a mysterious bird watches his every move.
Then his family friend Moira arrives to stay. Only, there’s something peculiar about Moira too. She doesn’t know where she’s from, or even when she’s from, and strange things happen around her. Lewis and Moira are determined to figure out what’s going on in Barrow, but as they unravel secret symbols, riddles and stories of a midnight curse, they find that there might be some truth in the old town tales.
Time is running out, before magic switches up everything they know…

Eleven-year-old Bella Bright has just moved into Darkling House in Castleton. On her first day at her new school, she is spotted by a pair of manipulative mean girls, Skylar and Regan. They push her into inviting them to a Halloween sleepover. Another much friendlier girl, Lex, comes to Bella’s rescue and offers to join the sleepover to support Bella, who is delighted to be making a real friend. On Halloween night, things start getting spooky for the four girls, when the huge front door appears to shut itself, and their mobile phones lose signal. They decide to order pizza using the landline, but a hair-raising whisper comes down the line. Skylar suggests they play hide and seek, but as she utters the words, the house appears to wobble and they discover all the exits are impossibly locked. Bella searches the manor and a ghostly teenage girl appears in front of her. She reveals herself to be Alice, a young girl who died in the house 150 years ago during a game of hide and seek gone terribly wrong. She has hidden Bella’s three friends, and gives Bella a rhyming clue to find them in the enormous and cavernous house. Bella has until midnight. After that, Alice will get to keep the girls as her playmates for ever…

A boy is imprisoned by a witch and must tell her a new scary story each night to stay alive. This thrilling contemporary fantasy from J. A. White, the acclaimed author of the Thickety series, brings to life the magic and craft of storytelling.

Alex’s original hair-raising tales are the only thing keeping the witch Natacha happy, but soon he’ll run out of pages to read from and be trapped forever. He’s loved scary stories his whole life, and he knows most don’t have a happily ever after. Now that Alex is trapped in a true terrifying tale, he’s desperate for a different ending—and a way out of this twisted place.

Orla, her brothers and Dave the dog are on holiday in Norfolk, visiting their eccentric Uncle Valentine. Orla may have recently learned she’s a witch, but she’s not looking for trouble. Nope. Definitely not. Unfortunately, her timing is terrible.

She quickly discovers the beautiful Anna’s Wood, due to be bulldozed any minute for shale gas. The locals are all convinced that GasFrac’s plan is a great one. Make way for a new shopping centre and car park! But why doesn’t anyone care about the destruction of the wood? Where are the protests? Orla soon begins to suspect that this isn’t just indifference … there’s dark magic involved here. With the help of a magpie, she finds out who is behind GasFrac. And what he wants is worse than she could possibly have imagined.

Autumn Albert can see the dead – much to her annoyance. But when her dad dies in mysterious circumstances, he’s the one ghost who doesn’t appear. A curious instruction in his will sends Autumn to Imber, the storm-soaked island of his childhood: a place marked by tight-lipped locals, strange stacks of witchstones – and even fewer ghosts. Soon Autumn is ensnared in a dark and twisty mystery, which must be unravelled before the sea rises up and history is doomed to repeat itself … 

Sisters Spel and Egg grew up in Mistress Mouldheels’ School for Wicked Girls believing they were the daughters of criminals, until they discovered the truth: They are witches.

And after always being in the shadow of her big sister, Spel discovered that she was a Shadowborn Witch – the only one who can step between portals to other worlds.

Now in a coven with their schoolmates and part of the alliance against the Hunt, the sisters try to master their new powers. But the Hunt is rising, the witches are in danger and when a new portal opens the whole world is under threat . . .

On her first day in Grave’s Pass, Raven McKay spotted a pooka horses chasing goblins in a vacant lot, three banshees on a bus, a zombie in ripped jeans staring in the window of a phone shop, a bogeyman walking a labradoodle, a ghost on a ladder cleaning windows, a ghoul sipping coffee at an outdoor café. This is Dead Town― this is Raven’s new home. But will Raven find her parents who have mysteriously disappeared? And who in Dead Town Can she trust? All her parents have left her is a suit case with a black butterfly and a cryptic note.

Twelve-year-old Flossie is no ordinary ghost — she’s the caretaker of every soul in Highgate Cemetery. And during World War II, even the ghosts are unsafe.

Flossie Birdwhistle is the Turnkey at London’s Highgate Cemetery. As Turnkey, it’s Flossie’s job to ensure that all the souls buried in the cemetery stay at rest. Not an easy job for a young ghost, but a task made especially difficult by World War II: London is being attacked every night by enemy bombers, and even the dead are unsettled. When Flossie encounters the ghost of a German soldier carrying a mysterious object that seems to exist in both the living and spirit worlds, she becomes suspicious — what is the officer up to? Before long, Flossie uncovers a sinister plot that could destroy not only her cemetery, but also her beloved country. Can Flossie and her ghostly friends stop the soldier before it’s too late?

When orphans Ben and Jennet arrive in the seaside town of Whitby to stay with Alice Boston, they have no idea what to expect. A lively 92-year-old, Miss Boston is unlike any other foster mother they’ve known. Ben is gifted with ‘the sight’, which gives him the power to see things invisible to other mortals. He soon encounters the mysterious fisher folk who live under the cliffs and discovers that Alice and her friends are not quite what they seem. But a darkness is stalking the streets of Whitby, bringing with it fear and death. Could it be a ghost from the Abbey? Or a beast from hell? Unless the truth is uncovered, the town and all its inhabitants is doomed. 

There’s a new craze at Dread Wood High. Flinch is a game of fear. The more you scare your friends, the more points on the app you get. At first it’s fun, but soon fun is replaced by fear. And Angelo and his friends notice that everyone is behaving more and more strangely every day – almost as if something is taking over their brains…

With the fair arriving in town, adrenaline and excitement levels are high. But who are the people behind the super-creepy clown masks? With fights breaking out and Flinch in full force, it’s time for the final showdown at the Fear Ground. Let the REAL games begin!

Have you read any of these? What did you think? Do you have any other recommendations?

My wrap-up was very late last month, so I thought I’d try to be on time for September! Work, as always at the start of the year, has been very busy but I’m enjoying getting to know my new class, and lots of them are definitely enjoying the reading choices in my class library.  

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 12 books this month, and have almost finished another few but I’ll add them to next month’s wrap-up. Two of these (Into the Sideways World and The Boy Who Hatched Monsters) are from my #BeatTheBacklist Challenge. I’ve checked and I’ve got 18 left – not sure if this is achievable, but I’ll keep going!

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to have been sent 11 books by Publishers this month. I’ve read and reviews three of them, and will be taking part in Blog Tours for three of them in October and November.

NetGalley:

My Netgalley ratio is at 98%, and I have two books to read and review. I have requested a one and wished for one, and am waiting to see if I will get approved, or have my wish granted.

Books bought:

I’ve bought six books this month.

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

Dreamweavers:  Night of the Scary Fairies is the first book in a magical new fantasy series for younger readers of 7+.

Tito wakes from a strange dream where he is in his Spiderman PJs in a field filled with tiny, glowing winged creatures – and one of them even bites him! Surely, he couldn’t really have been awake in his dreams, could he?  When he is asked to look after new girl, Neena, on his first day in Year 5, it is not long before he is telling her about his strange dreams, and she introduces him to the magical world of Dreamweaving …

When Tito’s best friends Tiff and Murray begin to act out of character, Tito and Neena decide to enter their dreams to find out what has happened.  They discover that someone with sinister intent is using the jinn fairies from the dreamworld to change people in the real world.  Can they discover who has made the fairies scary?  Can they break the enchantment and return their school friends to their true selves?

This is a richly imaginative adventure mixing warmth and humour with just the right amount of scary.  I loved the concept of dreamweaving where dreamweavers can control their dreams and create amazing worlds with quirky creatures, limited only by their imagination – anyone for a talking hot dog, or a sparrow with a moustache?  I think children would have great fun creating their own dream world, providing a perfect opportunity for creative art and writing.

I absolutely loved the brilliant twist which brings the world of dreaming and wakefulness together in such an exciting way.  I can just see the gasps from children as realisation hits!

Tito and Neena are incredibly likeable characters who develop a close friendship as they work together to help their school friends, and stop the Darkweaver (definitely a scary villain) from merging the spirit and human worlds.  Tito is such a kind-hearted, empathetic young boy who does not give up on friendship, but learns about Chitrali folklore so that he has something to talk to Neena – who has moved from Pakistan with her mum and grandma – about.  Despite her initial fear of the Darkweaver, Neena has the courage to apologise to Tito and trust him with the truth so that they can work together to defeat this villain.

I think its so important for children to have the chance to see themselves in stories so I loved the diversity in this adventure including Tito having two mums and Neena’s Chitrali heritage.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations throughout are just gorgeous – wonderfully expressive and complementing both the scary and humorous elements of the story perfectly.    

A fantastic first adventure for the Dream Team, and I can’t wait to join them in Roar of the Hungry Beast. 

Thank you to the publisher, Little Tiger, for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m really enjoying The Spell Tailors which I’m hoping to finish this week. I’m listening to Maggie Blue and The Dark World which is such an exciting read. I love stories with other worlds and this one has a fascinating one. And Hoagy, the cat, is just brilliant!

I’ve finished listening to Into the Sideways World which was an absolutely wonderful adventure into a parallel world where there is no war or pollution. I absolutely devoured Podkin and the Singing Spear and have posted my review. I also read The Spirit Snatcher which such a fun read perfect for this time of year. I will write my review over the weekend.

I’m hoping to read The Taming of the Cat next.

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

Well, that was just incredible!  357 pages of epic fantasy perfection that I didn’t want to end, but just couldn’t stop reading!  I’m a huge fan of The World of Podkin One-Ear so absolutely loved joining Podkin again for another breath-taking, thrilling adventure as he battles against an evil he thought he had defeated …

Podkin is now Keeper of the Gifts, looking after nine of the twelve gifts of the Goddess, which are kept on pedestals in a special chamber in Dark Hollow warren.  He is not looking for another adventure, or to be a hero but, when the Godseye mirror shows him a vision of strangers and old friends heading his way, adventure finds him again …

Two young kindred spirits meet as Uki brings Podkin the dreadful news that Scramashank is alive, and he fears that the terrifying Gorm will return.  Podkin reproaches himself for not having carried out his old friend, the witch-rabbit Brigid’s, final instruction to gather all the twelve gifts together.  So, when he finds that she has left him a letter, he knows that he must follow her instructions this time:  he must take the Gifts and travel to the Vale of Estra with his older sister Paz and four-year-old brother, Pook.

And so begins a perilous quest to find the singing spear, one of the last three Gifts of the Goddess, before Scramashank can build his Gorm army and take the gift for himself and his master, Gormalech.  Podkin is reunited with his siblings and friends in this riveting race to reach the fierce Crowskin tribe to convince them to trust him with the spear which has been given to their ancestors by the Goddess.  Along the way, they face great danger, meet both new and old friends and foes, and discover that their enemy is getting stronger and stronger … Will they find the spear before war comes once more?  Can Podkin reunite a broken tribe, defeat a horrifying enemy and prove himself a hero once more?

I really loved being back with Podkin, Paz and Pook and with their friends from previous adventures.  Podkin never set out to be a hero, but finds himself thrust into a dangerous adventure.  Despite his fear, he finds strength in the courage of his friends, and shows himself to be a wonderful leader, prepared to stand up for others and take risks.  I loved the teasing bond that Paz has with her younger brother coupled with her own growth towards leadership.  And of course, there’s Pook – just adorable and so very brave! 

The full- and double-page illustrations are breath-taking and give a wonderful insight into the magnitude of this world and its unforgettable inhabitants.  Each and every one is an absolute masterpiece!

I love the structure of this adventure with its prologue warning of danger, wonderful map (I love following a quest on its map) and dual timeline of events in Podkin’s past and present which kept me utterly engrossed in both narratives, relishing the connections in both.

This really is epic fantasy at its very best:  a daring quest where peril lurks around every corner; where comradeship brings courage and strength; and where a gripping battle between the forces of good and evil unfolds across a richly imagined, fantastical world.  After that ending, I cannot wait to join this world again.

A phenomenal, unmissable return to a world of adventure, friendship and danger with a family of courageous rabbits and their friends who have captured my heart.  Sheer magic through words … a book that transcends age and is sure to become a classic of epic fantasy.

Thank you to the Publisher, Faber Children’s Books, who gifted me a copy which arrived just after I had purchased my own copy which I am taking to my class library.