I’m about halfway through Hedgewitch and am absolutely loving it. The world-building is an ode to nature – just gorgeous. Cassie is a wonderful character as she discovers that she is related to a witch coven and runs away from her Boarding School to Hedgley. This one has Faeries, witches, a sarky talking cat – exactly my kind of read! I loved I, Cosmo so decided it was about time I picked up My Life as a Cat. Leonard is from an alien species who get to travel to earth to spend some time in a form of their choice. Leonard decided to be a Ranger in Yellowstone, but ended up as a cat named Leonard! I’m really enjoying this. I am also listening to the audiobook of Aftershocks after reading a brilliant review by the wonderful Veronica Price. I’m completely engrossed in this which is such a powerful read which deals with some heavy topics such as the devastation caused by a natural disaster and grief. Learning about the Endlanders belief system is so absorbing and I am eager to find out how this concludes.

So far this year, I’m keeping to my resolution of trying to read more adult books! I finished listening to The Lamplighters which I enjoyed but not as much as I thought I would. I also finished Sabotage on the Solar Express. This is such a brilliant series. I will post my review shortly.

I absolutely loved The Five Realms series, so I absolutely couldn’t resist Carnival of the Lost.

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

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

1942:  13-year-old Nisha and her mother have escaped the horrors of the Japanese invasion of Malaya to live in her father’s ancestral home on Barrow Island on the North West coast of England.  When they arrive at the imposing Barrow House, they are made to feel less than welcome by Nisha’s grandmother, the formidable Mrs Barrow who informs them that there are a set of rules which she expects to be followed, rules which are shared with them by the kind-hearted housekeeper, Mrs Foster.

When Nisha’s mother falls seriously ill with a suspected recurrence of malaria, Nisha finds herself alone and in desperate need of a friend.  Encouraged to explore outdoors by Mrs F, Nisha discovers a beautiful, secluded walled garden, and catches a glimpse of a boy, but why has Mrs F told her there is no one else living on the island?

Later, she wakes to find herself on the path leading to the mysterious weeping tree which sits on the cliff edge, beckoned towards it by the boy she has seen earlier.  Despite being forbidden to go near the tree, she finds herself inexorably drawn towards it where she meets the boy, Twig.  He asks for her help in finding three lost treasures which he cannot reveal to her and, in return, he will save her parents.  Nisha cannot resist the enigmatic bargain, and finds herself in a race to find the treasures before the full moon turns from gold to silver.  Will she be able to save her family before hope is lost? 

This is a perfect melding of the historical and the otherworldly which kept me utterly gripped throughout as danger creeps ever closer, time runs out, and secrets are uncovered. The evocation of wartime, of a sense of eeriness and of an isolated island are brilliantly portrayed.  The loss of colour, warmth and hope in Nisha’s life following the invasion of her once-happy home is powerfully portrayed in the descriptions of the island, but hope has the chance of returning through her quest and her relationships with those she meets. 

Nisha is an incredibly sympathetic character whose life in Malaya is revealed through extracts from her ‘Truths’, a series of diary entries which tell of her life in Malaya and her traumatic escape from Singapore, haunted by her own ghosts which follow her to her new home.  Learning about Nisha’s experiences as war tore her life apart was heart-breaking. She is a young girl who faces racism, loneliness and fear, but has the inner strength and courage to face that fear, to forgive, to accept and to heal her family.  Whilst Nisha faces prejudice due to her Anglo-Indian heritage, she also forms some wonderful friendships, especially with a young boy, Jamie, who she meets whilst on a visit to the nearby village.  I also really enjoyed the relationship which develops between Nisha and her grandmother which is incredibly heart-warming.

This is a thrilling, engrossing wartime adventure:  a story of family and friendship, of belonging and acceptance, and of loss and hope.  I cannot wait to share this one with my class, and can highly recommend it to anyone of 9+.

Thank you to Chicken House Books for an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

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!

It is said to have happened, some moons ago, that three children and their jinn went on a perilous voyage in search of a cursed city covered entirely in brass. The trees were covered in brass, as were the houses, and the palace that stood tall in the middle of the island. And, perhaps the most peculiar thing of all, the people were covered in brass too.

Any ideas?

The Sahar Peninsula lies just beyond the horizon, but it isn’t the easiest place to get to. No maps will take you there, nor can it be charted by gazing up at the stars, or down at a compass…

Farah and her lizard jinn, Layla, are travelling through a vast desert – returning to their village home after their adventures with Amira and Leo in Moonchild: Voyage of the Lost and Found. Farah is desperate to see her sister again, but then she discovers a hidden city – full of people who have concealed their magic for many years. At first Farah thinks she has found new friends, but everything is not what it seems and dark magic lies just beneath the surface …

Have you read this? What did you think?

This is my weekly meme celebrating amazing middle-grade books, now with a re-vamped banner!

How to take part:

• Post a picture of the front cover of a middle-grade book which you have read and would recommend to others with details of the author, illustrator and publisher.
• Open the book to page 11 and share your favourite sentence. 
• Write three words to describe the book.
• Either share why you would recommend this book, or link to your review.

This week, I’m celebrating …

Favourite Sentence from Page 11:

Smelled a bit funny to me, like the school stock cupboard.

This book in three words:

FAMILY, ADVENTURE, HAPPINESS

Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List is another absolute corker:  a wonderfully touching, laugh-out-loud, action-packed adventure with the enduring strength of family bonds at its heart.

11-year-old Frank Davenport has inherited almost half a million pounds by a step-grandmother who no-one in his family has told him about.  Nor have they mentioned that he has a grandfather who lives less than half an hour away in Autumnal Leaves Residential Home.  The money is left with the proviso that it be used to care for his namesake, Grandpa Frank.  And, oh my goodness, does young Frank take that instruction seriously and enthusiastically.  He is determined to track his grandpa down and look after him – whether he wants him to or not!  And what better way to ensure that his grandpa has the best time ever than by creating his very own personalised Bucket List!

Of course, grumpy Grandpa Frank may not be quite as enthusiastic as his grandson about all the madcap adventures that have been planned for his enjoyment, but sometimes we just have to go with the flow and accept that others know the best ways to make our hearts happy! 

And, I mean, what could possibly go wrong with taking an octogenarian hot-air ballooning, taking part in your first-ever dog show with a Newfoundland, swimming with ‘dolphins’, a parkour experience and monster-trucking.  And, by that, I meant to say:  what doesn’t go wrong?

The bucket list experiences that Frank arranges for his grandpa lead to oodles of hilarious moments that had me both giggling merrily and saying aloud ‘Oh no!’ as things don’t quite (understatement of the year!) go to plan.   I’m not going to say any more than that but, whether you’re a chortler or a chuckler, guaranteed laughs are coming your way. 

Young Frank Junior is THE most wonderful, kind-hearted, young boy who I absolutely adored.  He finds it difficult to make friends as his family move around a lot due to his dad’s penchant for wheeler-dealing a la Delboy Trotter which necessitates the family running from trouble.  Frank tells his story in such an honest, chatty, quick-witted manner that I found incredibly endearing.  This is a real testament to the strength of the writing:  I was completely drawn into Frank’s story and was completely invested in him and his family.

I adored the relationship between grandpa Frank and Frank Junior from their very first meeting when Frank finds himself eating bourbons off his grandpa’s belly (don’t ask!).  Both Franks are lonely, searching for happiness and in need of a friend:  they find each other, and the close bond that they develop is incredibly heart-warming.

This story deals with some difficult issues such as fractious family relationships, debt and memory loss in a sensitive manner which is a perfect opportunity to build empathy.

The illustrations are brilliantly lively, humorous and expressive and complement the story perfectly.  My favourite has to be the ‘swimming-with-dolphins ‘experience – the expressions made me right giggle! And those chapter headings – brilliant!

This is an incredibly heartfelt story bursting with humour, warmth and that special je ne sais quoi that imbues all of Jenny’s gorgeous adventures.  A special read that I cannot recommend highly enough.

Thank you for Fritha Lindqvist and Usborne for an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’d love if anyone who wants to give this meme a go would comment in the comments box and include a link to your post so I can visit, comment and find some great middle-grade recommendations. If you do create a post and are on Twitter, and would like to share your post, please use the hashtag  #MGTakesOnThursday so I can find it, read it and share it!

I’m continuing to listen to The Lamplighters which I’m not loving, but I am enjoying. I’m definitely invested in finding out what has happened, and have just about got used to the time shifts and different viewpoints. I’m about half way through Sabotage on the Solar Express and am really loving it! This is such a wonderful series.

I’ve finished Escape Room which is another brilliantly fast-paced, exciting story with a fantastic twist and ending. Christopher Edge always keeps me guessing and then throws something in which is unexpected. This one had a powerful environmental message too. I was sent a copy of Nisha’s War which jumped straight to the top of my TBR. I absolutely loved this war time ghost story. It is incredibly atmospheric and blends history and the supernatural brilliantly. I will post my review soon.

I think I’ll try a witchy book next so will probably read Hedgewitch which is being published in April.

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

I’m honoured to be part of the Blog Tour for this incredibly exciting adventure. Thank you to Fritha Lindqvist and Zephyr for inviting me to take part. Today, I will be sharing a Guest Post by Annelise about her Five Favourite Historical Novels for Children alongside my Review.

My 5 Favourite Historical Novels for Children by Annelise Gray

Growing up, I loved reading books set in the past. It felt like an adventure, to go places that were both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. The best ones had characters you fell in love with and who stayed with you long after you turned the last page. When I’m writing the Circus Maximus series, I try to keep that balance in mind. I want you to feel as if you’re there with my main character Dido in ancient Rome, experiencing all the sights and tastes and smells of her world. But it’s also important to me that the books shouldn’t feel like a history lesson. Dido’s story – of a girl fighting against the odds to achieve her dream in a man’s world – is a universal one. It’s her spirit and her heart that I hope draw you in and make you want to keep reading.

The following five examples of historical fiction are all favourites of mine and I would recommend them to any reader, young or old.

The Eagle of the Ninth – Rosemary Sutcliff

Set in second century Britain, The Eagle of the Ninth tells the story of a Roman officer, Marcus Flavius Aquila, who learns that his father’s legion has mysteriously disappeared to the north of Hadrian’s Wall. Accompanied by his faithful slave, Esca, Marcus sets off on a dangerous journey to discover what has happened to his father and to try to recover the legion’s eagle standard. Sutcliff paints landscape through prose better than almost any writer I can think of and it’s an absolutely gripping read which, for me, sets the benchmark for all Roman historical fiction.

For the King – Ronald Welch

I don’t see people talking about this Carnegie Medal winning author much these days but I think they should because he’s such a skilled writer. For the King is one of his series about different generations of the Carey family. Set in the English Civil War, it centres on Neil Carey, who is reluctantly dragged into the conflict and finds himself on opposite sides to his cousin and best friend. Welch’s historical knowledge really shines off the page and it’s a beautifully written story about betrayal, honour, family, grief, loss and the pointlessness of war.

The Secret Countess – Eva Ibbotson

I love the lightness and gentle wit of this historical romance by the great Eva Ibbotson (first published as A Countess Below Stairs) about a young Russian aristocrat who flees to England during the Russian Revolution and becomes a housemaid. But the historical setting and period detail – from the costumes to the food – is also satisfyingly and exquisitely drawn. My literary equivalent of hot chocolate and buttered toast on a rainy night.

The Book Thief – Markus Zusak

Not strictly written for children, I know, but it’s a favourite of several of my Year 8 students and understandably so. The story’s narrator is Death and it follows the path taken by Liesel – the book thief of the title – who learns about the power of words from her kindly foster father while enduring the horrors of the Third Reich. I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel that left me more emotionally wrung-out and yet also uplifted. It also has one of the best last lines in any book ever.

The Skylarks’ War – Hilary McKay

This is quite simply one of the best novels that I’ve read in the last few years. I loved it so much that I gave it as a gift to any number of people, from my twelve-year-old goddaughter to a friend in her seventies. It’s such a tenderly drawn portrait of growing up, and the characters are all wonderful, from kind, clever Clarry – trying so hard to please her unaffectionate father – to Simon the Bony One, nursing his doomed love as the shadow of the First World War looms. I haven’t yet read the follow up, The Swallows’ Flight, but I am saving it as a treat.

My Review

Circus Maximus:  Rivals on the Track is the terrifically thrilling next adventure in the Circus Maximus series:  an epic adventure which hurtled me straight back into the exciting and dangerous world of chariot-racing and kept me utterly gripped as I was mesmerised by its young heroine’s courage and determination in the face of constant threat and rivalry. 

Dido and her beloved horse, Porcellus have left behind the Circus Maximus in Rome where she was the only girl ever to have been victorious in a race.  She is now living with her uncle, Scorpus and his family in Utica, North Africa where he trains charioteers and horses for the arena.  When Dido overhears a conversation at the market, she learns that a bounty has been put on her head by the Emperor Caligula who is determined to see her return to Rome.  Dido is equally determined that she will never race for him, but will she be able to keep her true identity from her pursuers and the Emperor?

When her uncle’s business comes under financial threat, Dido decides to disguise herself as the boy Leon, and race for prize money with Porcellus and her new one-eyed horse, Jewel, who she has rescued from being sent to the mines.  After arriving home from a race in Utica, she meets her uncle’s brother, Barca, who reveals that he wants them to join forces to race in the new circus in Thugga in order to save both their stables.  At first Scorpus refuses but, following a disaster at his stables and dangerous revelations after a visit from an old enemy, Scorpus has no choice other than to take his family to Thugga.

And so begins the most incredible, action-packed, perilous adventure as Dido fights to overcome her demons, as she uncovers family secrets, as she faces rivalry both on and off the track, and as she is hunted by a merciless enemy.  Will her decision to race again put her at risk of capture?  Can she overcome the dangers of the race to secure victory and honour for her family? 

This enthralling adventure gives such a rich insight into the heart-pounding danger and excitement of chariot racing with its zealous supporters, faction rivalries and the incredible courage and risks taken by its charioteers and their horses:  a real feast for the senses!  As well as the on-the-track action, I also really enjoyed the rivalries and friendships which built outside the track, especially the friendship and respect which develops between Dido and Danel. I was so moved by the struggle within Dido’s extended family as they slowly recover from having been torn apart by a painful past.  Secrets are revealed, old wounds are opened and healed, and sacrifices made that kept me just as fascinated and invested in the story as the excitement of the track.  

Central to this exceptional historical adventure is the story of a courageous, strong and resilient young girl who fights for her friends, for her family and for herself.  I really enjoyed the depth of Dido’s bond with Porcellus and Jewel which is heart-warmingly portrayed.  The horses are wonderful characters within the story and I loved how they interacted with each other and had such strong, individual personalities.  Jewel has to be a new favourite!

Circus Maximus:  Rivals on the Track is an exhilarating, action-packed historical adventure, brimming with palpable excitement, danger and revelations that made this a gripping, edge-of-your-seat, unputdownable adventure.  It is also a story of friendship, courage, resilience and family pain and healing.  I can’t wait for the next adventure in this series!

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

I can’t decide if January went quickly or seemed to last forever! I went back to work at the start of January after a wonderful Christmas break. Don’t think I’ve ever felt quite so drained trying to manage home learning, live lessons and children in class. Diving into some fantastic books this month has definitely helped!

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 11 books this month, 9 physical copies and 2 audiobooks. I’m trying to read at least one adult book each month, and this month it was The Whistling which has definitely encouraged me to pick up more adult books. I’ve also had a couple of re-reads which is quite unusual for me: one as I was using it in class (The Dreamsnatcher) and the other as I wanted to re-read for a Blog Tour (The Beast and the Bethany: Revenge of the Beast).

NetGalley:

My Feedback Ratio is at 95%. I have only requested one book from NetGalley in January: While the Storm Rages. I haven’t been approved yet, but I’m crossing my fingers that I will be! Only have to wait until June if I’m not! I’m aiming to get my 100 Reviews Badge this year, and am currently on 75 Reviews, so I might achieve it!

Books sent by publishers:

I have been lucky enough to have been sent these books by publishers this month. Rivals on the Track and Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List are gorgeous finished copies: I had been sent proof copies in previous months.

Books bought:

I’ve bought 11 books this month and have managed to read one of them so far!

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

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines?

• Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
• Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
• Finally… reveal the book!

The train crawled into Bealmouth and groaned to a halt. There was no clatter of doors as passengers disembarked from dark and lonely carriages. There was no quiet bustle of relatives meeting, or of young soldiers uttering last farewells. Here, on a grey spring evening, only one door opened at that desolate station. Only two wretched figures stepped down on to the platform.

Any ideas?

Synopsis:

Malaya, 1942. Nisha’s home is destroyed by war and she and her mother, Amma, flee to her father’s ancestral house in England, perched on a cliff top on the cold Northern coast. When Amma falls gravely ill, Nisha is left to face her formidable grandmother alone.

Grandmother’s rules are countless, and her Anglo-Indian granddaughter is even forbidden from climbing the old weeping tree. But when a ghost child beckons Nisha to sit under its boughs, and promises her Amma’s life in return for three truths, its pull proves irresistible…

A thrilling historical ghost story; full of adventure, grief, guilt, forgiveness and belonging A fresh angle on a wartime story: the prejudice Nisha faces as a refugee feels particularly relevant today.

Have you read this? What did you think?

This is my weekly meme celebrating amazing middle-grade books, now with a re-vamped banner!

How to take part:

• Post a picture of the front cover of a middle-grade book which you have read and would recommend to others with details of the author, illustrator and publisher.
• Open the book to page 11 and share your favourite sentence. 
• Write three words to describe the book.
• Either share why you would recommend this book, or link to your review.

This week, I’m celebrating …

Favourite Sentence from Page 11:

She [Gamayun] jumped off the branch and swooped so close to Mara’s voz, she brushed the girl’s hair with the tip of her wing.

This book in three words:

FOLKLORE, ADVENTURE, FRIENDSHIP

The Wind Child is an utterly entrancing story, inspired by Slavic folklore, that transported me into a world of gods, spirits and demons for an unforgettable adventure with two wonderfully courageous children. 

Mara is the half-human granddaughter of Stribog, the God of Winter Winds and lives with her mother and father in his icy palace.  She is a disappointment to her mother, Zevena and her grandfather as she doesn’t exhibit any magical powers; however, she is loved by her human father.  When her father becomes unwell, the family are sent to live with Mara’s human grandmother who welcomes her and her father home. 

Mara’s world is ripped apart when her beloved father dies; however, she is determined to travel to Navia, the Slavic afterlife, to bring him back from the dead.  So begins an utterly entrancing, breath-taking quest as Mara sets off with her best friend Torniv, the bear-shifter, in a race to save her father before he is lost to her forever …

As the children journey through forest and across the sea towards Navia, they must outwit trickster gods; overcome child-snatching demons; make bargains with forest lords; travel to a magical island to seek a treasure; and, avoid becoming a meal for Baba Latingorka. 

This is a dazzlingly action-packed, perilous adventure that I found absolutely unputdownable.  I was wholly invested in the journey these two young friends were determined to make, and my heart both ached and sang for them as they faced danger, trickery and painful choices with such courage. 

This mesmerising adventure has a richly evocative setting that swept me through the forest, across the sea and on to islands to meet the demons, spirits and gods that are such an intrinsic folkloric element of this journey quest. 

I adored both Mara and Torniv and the wonderfully close and supportive friendship which grows between them.  Viewed as different by others, they find acceptance and strength through their bond and their quest.  They are courageous, determined and resourceful and look out for each other when faced with hardship and danger. 

A truly breath-taking, captivating adventure of friendship, sacrifice, loss and acceptance.  And that ending – perfect, unexpected, heart-breaking – and I’m craving another adventure!

Thank you to Antonia Wilkinson and uclan publishing for a proof in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’d love if anyone who wants to give this meme a go would comment in the comments box and include a link to your post so I can visit, comment and find some great middle-grade recommendations. If you do create a post and are on Twitter, and would like to share your post, please use the hashtag  #MGTakesOnThursday so I can find it, read it and share it!

I’m listening to The Lamplighters as my adult read for February. I’m enjoying the narration, the different viewpoints and am intrigued to find out what has happened. I’m also reading Escape Room. I’m not far into this one yet, but it has absolutely gripped me as Christopher Edge books tend to. It is tense, fast-paced and I’m very eager to find out what happens next.

I’ve finished four books this week. The Whistling was my adult read for January and, oh my goodness, did I enjoy it. The sense of foreboding is brilliantly built as is the feeling of isolation. Loved the twist which I didn’t see coming.

I also finished my re-read of The Beast and the Bethany: Revenge of the Beast and have posted my review as part of the Blog Tour.

I finished listening to The Rollercoaster Boy. I am trying to read more contemporary middle-grade and this was a brilliant one. It is a beautifully written, heart-warming adventure in Lisa Thompson’s inimitable style – an absolute winner!  This story deals with some difficult issues, such as mental health, neglect and financial hardship, in a sensitive manner that is entirely appropriate for younger readers of 9+. Todd and his young sister, Laurie are staying with their dad whilst their mother is abroad for work.  Their parents have separated, and their Dad is off the medication which was helping him with his mental health issues.  He takes them to a hotel which he had loved visiting with their mother when they were married but, when they arrive at the idyllic seaside hotel their dad has told them about, they discover that it is rundown and understaffed.  When their Dad’s health takes a turn for the worst and he wants to sleep all the time, Todd finds himself looking after both his father and little sister … with no-one he feels he can turn to for help.  Then they meet Scout, the hotel owner’s daughter, who tells him about a werewolf staying in the hotel and the locked room where her famous relative novelist vanished from many years previously, a room frozen in time that may just hold the secret to saving the hotel from financial ruin.  They also meet Patrick who is staying in the hotel with his businessman father who has no time for him.  Together these four decide to solve a mystery which leads to twists and turns, and wonderfully heart-warming friendships. I really enjoyed the mixture of real-life issues handled with such sensitivity and honesty, and the mystery of the locked room.  This is both a wonderful ‘issues’ story and a fantastically engaging mystery.

Finally, I devoured Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List over the weekend, and absolutely loved it. It is such a wonderful mixture of humour and heart. I will post my review next week.

I think I will read Sabotage on the Solar Express next as this is a series that I have loved.

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