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!

Lightning clawed through the coal-black sky, throwing jagged brilliance onto the ruined earth. Cold rain lashed the island like a whip and, far below, the sea writhed endlessly. The land was facing a mighty onslaught, one not seen since the long-ago battle of Moytura three thousand years before.

Any ideas?

Sinead O’Hart is the author I credit with re-igniting my love of middle-grade fiction, so I am always excited when she has a new book coming up, and this time its based on Irish folklore, so I absolutely had to request it on NetGalley – and make it my current read!

Goodreads Synopsis:

The seandraiocht – the Old Magic – isn’t remembered like it once was. Its power is fading…

When Rose is entrusted with a powerful stone by a Frost Giant, she is swept into an adventure full of danger. The stone can be used for great good or great evil, depending on its keeper. It leads Rose to discover the magic that runs through all of Ireland. A magic that is threaded together beneath the the Silver Road. But the Silver Road is under threat.

Now Rose must keep the stone from falling into the wrong hands and embark on a quest to find its rightful owner and keep the magic alive . . .

An adventure only half done is not an adventure at all.

Wendington Jones and the Missing Tree is an absolutely brilliant adventure, with an intriguing mystery at its centre, that completely captured me.

Wendington Jone’s world is changed forever when she is given the news that her anthropologist and explorer mother, who she idolises, has been killed in a car accident following her latest adventure in Australia.  Returning to her family home, she has a midnight visitor who gives her a parcel from her mother:  half of the manuscript for her latest book, describing her search for the mythical Tree of Life, purported to be able to bring people back from the dead. Could her mother have found the mythical tree, and could this have put her in great danger?

Struggling to cope with her grief, Wendington is determined to solve the mystery of what her mother really discovered, and maybe even bring her mother back. This proves a perilous venture, and she soon finds herself running from those who seem intent on getting their hands on her mother’s work, regardless of who they might hurt.

Having found a ticket in her mother’s name to travel to Australia, she boards the SS Pembroke to escape from danger and to follow in her mother’s footsteps to attempt to discover the truth behind the existence of the Tree of Life. 

And so begins THE most incredible voyage as Wendington discovers that she may not have escaped danger, but rather that it has followed her.  I was completely gripped by this mystery which is brimming with tension, peril and brilliantly unexpected twists and revelations.  Who can Wendington trust aboard the ship?  Are there those who are prepared to betray her for their own goals?  The danger really ramps up as the voyage continues, and I was on the edge-of-my-seat as I was desperate to find out who was friend and who foe.  Will Wendington reach her destination, and locate the Tree of Life in its last-known location?  Will she find the answers she so desperately seeks? 

As well as being an intriguing mystery which gave me Enola Holmes vibes, it is also the story of a girl who is grieving the loss of her beloved mother.  Hers is a journey not only to solve the mystery of her mother’s final discovery, but also a journey through the depths of grief to some sort of acceptance and resurrection of hope where she is able to say goodbye and appreciate the strength to be gained from memories.  Wendington has just become one of my favourite characters!  She is astute, curious and quick-witted; a booklover; and, has a keen interest in engineering, a skill she makes good use of.  She has a real inner strength and shows great courage and tenacity when facing grave danger all whilst grieving the loss of her mother.  She is an unconventional young lady, not living by the expectations of the time, and I adored her!

This is an unmissable adventure for readers of 10+ who will be swept into an exhilarating and enthralling mystery.

Thank you to uclan publishing for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Every 15 seconds, somewhere in the world someone buys an Eric Carle book!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Jungle Hide & Seek is a gorgeous, bright and colourful Board Book addition to the Eric Carle Hide and Seek series for babies and toddlers.

It invites them to explore the jungle with the Very Hungry Caterpillar through a series of questions with a finger-trail leading to a lift-the-flap underneath which the answer is revealed.

The glossy board, the vibrant colours and drawings and the playful interactive elements will make this a much-loved addition to the Eric Carle Library. Little readers will enjoy finding the Hungry Caterpillar on each double page as he munches his way through the jungle.

Jungle Hide & Seek introduces a wide range of jungle creatures from birds to mammals to reptiles and insects. My favourite is the slow and sleepy sloth! This follows a question-and-answer format with each double-page asking and answering a question: part of the answer is hidden under a sturdy flap which will encourage curiosity. The book has large, clear text; a rhyming narrative; and, lots of wonderful adjectives, action verbs and sounds which make this a brilliantly interactive and engaging book.

I have no doubt that the Very Hungry Caterpillar’s many young fans will enjoy playing hide-and-seek in the jungle as they learn more about this habitat and its creatures in a fun and interactive way.

Thank you to Puffin Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Treasure Hunters is an absolute gem of a story:  both an exciting, action-packed adventure and a wonderful tale of navigating friendship.

Twelve-year-old Vincent has found making new friends in secondary school difficult.  He has learned how to become invisible to hide his discomfort and awkwardness at being on the periphery of school life.  He also feels that his Dad is trying to get him to be more like his perfect older brother, Ewan, who seems to be good at everything Vincent finds a struggle.  Vincent finds co-ordination and organisation more difficult due to having dyspraxia; however, he has become good at playing his favourite computer game:  Battle Doom, and it is in this world where he doesn’t feel like a failure.

When his school is offered a last-minute opportunity for four students to take part in the annual Wilderness Warrior Challenge, which involves three days of hiking, camping and outdoor survival, Vincent cannot imagine anything worse!  So when he is invited to take part, he immediately rejects the offer, but his parents are convinced that stepping out of his comfort zone will be good for him, and he finds himself taking part in the Challenge with three of his classmates.

Only Lena wants to be on the trip, but she has her own secret reason for taking part.  Just as the others are ready to give in and go home, she reveals her secret to them.  Her deceased Grandpa was convinced that pirate treasure is hidden in the nearby mountain and she is determined to prove that he is right by finding it.  Can they work together to discover the treasure?  Are they the only ones seeking the treasure, or is there a thief on their trail?

I was absolutely gripped by the treasure hunt that the children find themselves on:  a treasure hunt that has plenty of excitement and danger as they each use their strengths to benefit the team and, in so doing, learn more about themselves and each other. I loved that this all takes place within a hiking and camping trip which really reminded me of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.  I was prepared for the Silver Award, but was a last- minute addition when someone pulled out for a Gold Award practice in the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland so wasn’t prepared.  I still remember the blisters, so I have every sympathy with Vincent! 

Vincent, Lena, Josh and Scarlett feel incredibly real and believable, and finding out more about them as the story progresses really encourages empathy.  They need others to believe in them, to give them a chance to show what they can do – a chance to shine – and to believe in themselves – to be themselves.  And I think this is something that is achieved perfectly through warm-hearted, humorous and empathetic storytelling.  Navigating new friendships is not always easy, and I really liked that the relationships between these four were messy, genuine and at times fractious.  I think many children getting ready to move to secondary school, or starting this journey in a new school, will appreciate the honesty and authenticity of this portrayal of friendship.  This story opens up lots of opportunity for discussion of issues such as poverty, toxic friendships and parental expectations, and will allow children to see themselves in stories, and encourage empathy for others. 

A wonderfully warm-hearted, exciting adventure, perfect for readers of 9+. 

Thank you to Harriet Dunlea and Scholastic for an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’ve just started Wendington Jones and the Missing Tree, and am definitely intrigued by the synopsis. I’ve also just started The Sky Over Rebecca which is set in Sweden and is one I’m really enjoying.

I’ve read a lot this week as I’m on Easter holiday – and some of these are short! I finished Eternity Engine through a mixture of audiobook and reading the physical copy. This was an absolutely breath-taking read that, as I got further through, I really didn’t want to stop reading – utterly brilliant! I also read Nic Blake and the Remarkables which I enjoyed, but not as much as I thought I would.

It was wonderful to be back with Herbie and Violet in Festergrimm and this time their old enemy Sebastian Eels is back to open Festergrimm’s spooky waxworks. This one focuses on the legend of Ludo Festergrimm, a clockwork maker, who made a mechanical robot to help find his missing daughter.

I also read Boot It! which is a World Book Day book following Sami from Boy, Everywhere. This was a wonderful short read, dealing with racism in football, and definitely think it will be a popular one in class.

I also read The Curio Collectors, another short one by the brilliant dyslexia-friendly publisher, Barrington Stoke. This is set in the Victorian era and follows Lily and Tom who travel the country with Ma Hawker, showing off their collection of curiosities. Lily is tricked in to buying a bag of worthless items, but is is hiding something very important to a young maid. I really enjoyed this charming historical tale.

I also picked up The Haunted Hills which has been on my TBR for ages. It is a powerful, heart-breaking and redemptive story of loss, grief and guilt that completely gripped me, and is one that I became completely absorbed in.  Carl is visiting the Peak District with his parents as he tries to come to terms with a tragic event in his life, which has deeply affected his mental health, in the hope that it will give him time to heal.  Whilst there, he gets lost and is saved by a mysterious boy and his dog.  Could this be the ghost of the Lost Lad or a manifestation of Carl’s own feelings of loss?  I was completely swept into the wild and haunting landscape of the Peak District which proved a perfect background for Carl’s story.  I liked the introspection of the flashbacks to his friendship with Jack as he works to come to terms with what has happened.  I also really liked that his parents are present in such a supportive way. This is an incredibly powerful story of bereavement, guilt and hope.  

I also read Stink which is brilliantly funny, and have posted my review. Finally, I read The Treasure Hunters which I really enjoyed – I will be posting my review tomorrow.

I have only read Our Sister, Again by Sophie Cameron which I really liked, so I’m hoping to pick up Away with Words next.

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

Stink is a fairy-tastically action-packed, warm-hearted adventure with giggles galore, oodles of mischief and gorgeous friendships. 

On Danny Todd’s 11^th birthday, something strange happens – something so strange that he decides to write a diary so he doesn’t forget anything!  Amongst his collection of six presents – which includes two pet rats – his little sister has bought him a fairy door, and then immediately runs off with it, only to superglue it to his bedroom wall.  Angry with his little sister’s delight in supergluing things around his room, he pretends that it is a real fairy door, and summons a fairy to teach her a lesson. 

Of course, he wasn’t expecting to summon a real live fairy, but that is exactly what he gets – whether he likes it or not. And she’s definitely not your sparkly, cutesy kind! In fact, S.Tink is more of a rude, naughty, mess-making, trouble-bringing fairy – with attitude!  There is only one way that Danny can get her out of his hair:  help her perform a good deed so that she can earn enough fairy nuggets to get herself a new pair of wings!  And then she’s straight back through that fairy door! 

And so begins a hilarious, non-stop adventure as Danny, his best friend Kabir, and S.Tink are determined to complete a good deed for grouchy next-door neighbour, Professor Najin.  Cue mischief and mayhem as S.Tink uses her not-quite-potent magic, her penchant for causing trouble and her naughty nature to try to earn enough fairy nuggets for her much-needed new wings.  And then there’s the troll poo, the ravenous gnome and the fart-propelled boat:  seriously laugh-out-loud brilliance!

S.Tink is such a brilliant character and one who I absolutely adored.  She reminds me of Picklewitch in her feistiness, playfulness and mischievousness.  I think Danny, Kabir and S.Tink make a wonderful team, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how their friendship develops, and what mischief they get up to in their next adventure. 

The wonderfully expressive and funny illustrations complement the warmth and humour of this story perfectly.

Stink is a fabulously funny tale guaranteed to delight young readers of 7+ and is perfect for sharing as a read aloud.

Wildsmith:  City of Secrets is the second book in the fantastic Wildsmith series which starts with Into the Dark Forest.  It is every bit as enchanting, exciting and heart-warming as the first:  a perfect fantasy adventure for young readers of 7+.

Rowan is missing her father, who she has had to leave behind in the city of Holderby, to escape the war with the Estrians.  She is staying with her Grandpa and her mother in his home close to the Dark Forest where she has recently discovered that, like her Grandpa, she is a wildsmith – someone who can speak to, and heal, both magical and non-magical creatures. 

Imagine Rowan’s surprise when she wakes in the night to find that her father has arrived – but he is not alone!  He has brought a young pegasus who he has rescued from the Estrians who are breeding pegasi in captivity.  Despite the danger of hiding a rare and valuable magical creature, Rowan is determined to help the young pegasus, and keep it safe from those who are intent on hunting it.

And so begins a brilliantly exciting, fast-paced and magical adventure as Rowan must use all her courage, ingenuity and determination to protect Mouse – and herself- from capture by an old foe.  Rowan faces danger, betrayal and separation as she is forced to flee her new home in the forest …  Will she be able to evade relentless pursuers?  Who could have betrayed her family?  Can she find a place of sanctuary for the young pegasus when war continues to rage?

Rowan is an incredibly likeable, kind-hearted young girl who is not scared to stand up for what she believes is right, even when this puts her at risk.  I loved the close bond of friendship and trust she develops with Mouse, the young pegasus.  She is able to empathise with Mouse’s separation from his mother as she faces her own separation.  Rowan faces her fears with courage and shows great inner strength when making difficult decisions. 

There is so much in this adventure that will appeal to younger readers:  the gripping, action-packed adventure written in short chapters; the inclusion of magical creatures and those who can use magic; the perfect balance of danger with hope and friendship; and the discovery of secrets and exploration of new places.  Whilst this can be read as a standalone, those who have read the first book will enjoy meeting characters from the first book which I think is something that really appeals to younger readers:  that sense of connection and familiarity which makes re-reading books and enjoying books in a series a wonderfully comforting and joyous reading experience.

The full- and partial-page illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and complement the story perfectly, especially capturing the wonderful bonds of friendship and family.  I think the illustrations of Mouse will see many young readers yearning for their own pegasus!

This is a magical treat of an adventure for young readers, an adventure brimming with courage, friendship and hope.  I have no doubt that they will be as eager to read this young wildsmith’s next adventure as I am!

Thank you to Uclan Publishing for a finished copy in return for my honest opinion.

I’m listening to the audiobook of Eternity Engine which I’m really enjoying. It’s definitely a gripping read – I keep waiting for the twist as I just know there will be one! I’m just about to start The Treasure Hunters which I’m really looking forward to as I’ve read a couple of books by Lisa Thompson which I really liked.

I finished reading The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. I had no idea what this was about – apart from that there were wolves! It wasn’t what I was expecting, but I really loved it! I loved the friendship between Bonnie and Sylvia who find themselves in such a terrible situation. Miss Slighcarp is a brilliant villain. This is definitely a classic that I will be recommending to my class! I also read Ross Montgomery’s new book which is released at the start of May – Spellstone. I absolutely loved it, and have posted my review. I loved the first book in the Wildsmith series so was excited to have been sent the second in the series: City of Secrets. This is a magical adventure series for younger readers and is just gorgeous. I will be posting my review tomorrow which is publication day. Finally, I read another from my ‘Beat the BackList’ challenge, Fake. This is the second book by Ele Fountain that I’ve read and it’s so different from Boy 87. This one is a sci-fi where people rely on digital technology and home online-learning due to antibiotics no longer working and it being unsafe for people to mix. When Jess turns 14, she can go to a real school where she meets others in a classroom. Her sister Chloe is ill and needs medicine which is becoming increasingly expensive. When Jess does something to try to help her family, she makes their lives even harder and puts them – and herself- in danger. This was such a different read and one that I really enjoyed. It deals with control, identity and explores what is real and fake and different realities – this would open up some fascinating discussion in an end of Year 6/KS3 class. I’m definitely keen to read more of this author’s work.

I’m hoping to read Nic Blake and the Remarkables and Festergrimm next as I’m on my Easter holidays.

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

Spellstone is an absolutely gripping fantasy adventure that kept me utterly enthralled from start to finish:  an epic battle blending ancient legend in a modern setting where magic swirls, evil hides where people fail to notice, and hope sparks with a young sorcerer …

The last members of a secret magical organisation, the Order of the Stone, meet in an old theatre where rain pours down inside and audience is asleep.    Its leader, Wainwright, tells them that he has found a sorcerer who may be their last hope in defeating an evil magician intent on finding the Spellstone and unleashing the dark magic contained within, destroying the world. 

12-year-old Evie wakes from a strange dream of a theatre where the audience sleeps and rain pours down.  As the dream fades, she leaves for school amidst a heatwave, feeling unseen by others:  her parents, her teachers and the other children.  Walking home along the canal towpath, she is knocked over by a cyclist, and helped by someone she recognises from her dream.  This man introduces himself as Wainwright, one of the last true magicians, and informs her that the Spellstone, which he is tasked with keeping hidden, is being hunted by an evil magician.  He gives her a rusted piece of metal on a chain and tells her to take care of it and keep it hidden.  Before a confused Evie can find out more, he is running from men who are closing in on him …

Later that night, Evie hears a sound at the window and, on opening it, discovers the cat from her dream.  And she can talk!  She warns Evie that smoke-men are coming for her and they have to leave.  Desperate for answers, Evie follows and finds herself at an abandoned narrowboat which is not what it seems.  Inside, she meets the other members of the Order …

And so begins the most incredible, exhilarating adventure as Evie finds herself immersed in an ancient battle against a power-hungry magician intent on unleashing the evil bound within the Spellstone on an unsuspecting world.  Will Evie discover her magical power before it is too late?  Can she find the hidden Spellstone and destroy it before it returns darkness to the world?  Can she defeat a cold-hearted and cruel magician who has an army of ever-watching sinister smoke-men at his command? 

Just wow!  What an absolute page-turner!  I was completely engrossed in this brilliantly captured world:  a world where ordinary people are oblivious to the danger they are facing; where magic hides in plain sight, unseen and unnoticed by most; but where a few are prepared to make sacrifices for the good of the many.  The secrets, the revelations and the palpable danger kept me on the edge of my seat as I was drawn into a heart-pounding high-stakes race by a courageous few to defeat a spine-chillingly evil magician.

Evie is an incredibly likeable protagonist.  She does not understand why her world has changed, why she is not noticed by others, including her busy parents.  When she learns of the existence of the Order of the Stone, and her place within it, she is understandably doubtful, but shows determination and courage when facing fears and dangers and in making difficult decisions.  What really struck me about Evie is her inner strength and kindness and her belief in the inherent spark of goodness in others which brings hope when it is much needed.  I really liked the close bond of friendship that develops between Evie and the other members of the Order who must work as a team in their efforts to defeat the dark magician.  I particularly liked Alinora who is sarcastic, quick-tempered and rude, but with a heart of gold! 

I’m a huge fan of the Arthurian legends and Tolkien and spent a disproportionate part of my teenage years reading in this genre, so I loved the allusions to both, and loved the fresh twist that made this an unforgettable read that I am really looking forward to sharing with my class.

Spellstone is an absolute masterpiece:  perfect for readers of 9+ who will be spellbound by this thrilling, magical adventure. 

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

100 Ideas for Primary Teachers:  Reading for Pleasure is, without doubt, an invaluable and essential addition for any school looking to either begin, enhance, or embed their provision of a reading for pleasure curriculum. 

The ideas in this book are based on Scott’s (aka The Reader Teacher) five-point framework to revolutionise reading in schools:  Reading Roadmap.  At its heart is the aim that children become confident, enthusiastic and empathetic readers through a collaborative approach taken by teachers, reading leads, schools and communities with a unified goal of encouraging a lifelong love of reading.  It’s a goal which I’m absolutely committed to achieving within my school, so this book is exactly what I need to help me continue our school journey towards fully implementing and embedding a reading for pleasure curriculum for all children.

This book will give any school a wealth of practical, easy-to-apply ideas, and is a wonderful guide to help in implementing a reading for pleasure curriculum from ideas for individual teachers to reading leads to whole-school leadership. 

It takes a single step to start a journey and I wholeheartedly think that this is an indispensable resource to help schools begin or continue their reading journey:  a journey that really is life-changing for children.  My single step started with engaging with the primary school reading community on Twitter, with authors and publishers and with Scott’s Primary School Book Club – and I can honestly say that my engagement with reading has made a vast difference to the engagement of the children I teach.  I am hugely excited to continue my development as reading lead within my school by using more and more of the ideas within this much-needed book.

The book is divided into 11 parts:

• Raising reading children
• Creating a reading classroom
• Being a reader teacher
• Leaders are readers
• Setting up a reading school
• Understanding text types
• Cultivating a reading community
• Love your libraries
• Engaging with your reading environment
• Participating with parents and families
• Working with writers and illustrators

Each part has a detailed selection of hands-on ideas and explains clearly how each can be accomplished as well as giving additional teaching tips and ways of taking the idea further for schools whose reading for pleasure curriculum may be more established. 

I think what really stands out for me is how committed, enthusiastic and knowledgeable Scott is, and this makes Reading for Pleasure such an appealing read which really offers helpful, practical and ready-to-use recommendations.

Thank you so much to Scott Evans and Bloomsbury Education for inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour for 100 Ideas for Primary Teachers:  Reading for Pleasure, and for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review. 

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour: