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I absolutely loved listening to The Ghost’s Child by Sonya Hartnett earlier this year, and definitely wanted to read more of her books. I’m currently listening to The Silver Donkey which is wonderful so far. At long last, I’m about to start my Christmas break, so I’m going to start North Child as my first Christmas read. This is one I’ve been looking forward to for a LONG time!

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I’ve finished listening to The Girl Who Saved Christmas on Borrowbox. I enjoyed this one which I found both poignant and hopeful. I also finished reading Mistletoe and Murder which is my favourite in the series so far. I loved the Christmas setting in Cambridge and that the two detective society’s meet. I loved this cover too! I also finished Delivery to the Lost City which is the final book in Train to Impossible Places series. I absolutely loved this and thought it was a wonderful end to the series. Review to follow shortly.

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As I’m off on holiday from tomorrow, I’m hoping to get lots of reading in over the Christmas break so I’m hoping to read The Forest of Moon and Sword, Dragon Detective: That’s a Wrap and The Miracle on Ebenezer Street before next Wednesday.

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

Amari and the Night Brothers was one of my most anticipated reads for 2021, so I was super excited to be invited to join The Write Reads Blog Tour. Thank you to Dave at The Write Reads and the publishers, Egmont, for sending me a physical proof copy in return for my honest opinion.

Amari and the Night Brothers was everything I was hoping it would be, and then some!  It is an exciting, action-packed, supernatural adventure with a tantalising dose of magic, danger, secrets and twists – not to mention razor-sharp humour – so much so that I was compelled to devour it in one sitting – a perfect reading adventure!

Amari Peters’ adored and brilliant older brother, Quinton, has been missing for six months.  She is convinced that he is still alive and is determined to find him and to uncover the secrets he has kept from her.  When she receives a delivery from her brother, she discovers a briefcase in his old wardrobe, and a message from him that sees her start the MOST incredible adventure to find him, and take her first steps to awakening her own magical powers, powers that put her in danger, but which may also be the key to saving her new world …

Quinton has left his younger sister a nomination to join a secret organisation, the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs.  She accepts a place in its summer training camp, where she has to undergo try outs to become a trainee agent, in the hope of being re-united with her brother.   She is also filled with a sense of excitement as she has been given the opportunity to escape from the bullying school environment where she felt like an outsider.

The Bureau opens her eyes to a world filled with a myriad of diverse, brilliant supernatural creatures which must be kept secret from the known human world.  For starters, her roommate, Elsie Rodriguez, is a were dragon!  I loved that so many creatures that cross genres exist in this hidden world within our world from magicians to mermaids to hybrid creatures:  they are woven seamlessly into the narrative.  There is one thread in particular which I adored, and which kept me on the edge of my seat as I raced to find out how it would unravel– and it was SO worth the wait! 

In her quest to find her brother, Amari is determined to become a Junior Agent in the Department of Supernatural Investigations but, when she finds out that her supernatural ability is also an illegal one, she risks becoming an outsider again.  Is Amari unwittingly a danger to the Bureau, or will her talent help them overcome the threat which they face from the infamous Night Brothers who are determined to destroy the Bureau?

Oh my goodness!  This is such a heart-racing, exciting read that I couldn’t put it down.  I loved discovering the origins of the Night Brothers and the danger they posed to the Bureau.  The twists and revelations kept me on the edge of my seat; I was kept on tenterhooks as I was trying to work out who to trust and who had an ulterior motive:  absolutely enthralling!   The ending was unexpected but also PERFECT!

Amari is an incredibly courageous young girl with an admirable inner strength and determination. She’s a real fighter:  she stands up for herself as she goes on a journey of self-discovery, taking risks along the way as she comes to believe in her own ability and her intentions to use her powers for good, despite temptation and uncertainty.

I absolutely LOVED this magical and exhilarating story set in a vividly drawn, fascinating world; after that ending, I can’t wait to go on another adventure with Amari.

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!

Ebba Rose was the name of our last-born child. Except it was a lie. Her name should have been Nyamh Rose. But everyone called her Rose rather than Ebba, so the lie didn’t matter. At least, that is what I told myself. The Rose part of her name came from the symbol that lies at the centre of the wind rose – which is fitting because she was lodged at the very centre of my heart.

Any ideas?

This is one I’ve had on my TBR for so long. I’m determined to enjoy reading it over a day during my Christmas break, cuddled up on the sofa with hot chocolate and Kit Kat!

Goodreads Synopsis:

Since the day she was born, it was clear she had a special fate. Her superstitious mother keeps the unusual circumstances of Rose’s birth a secret, hoping to prevent her adventurous daughter from leaving home… but she can’t suppress Rose’s true nature forever. So when an enormous white bear shows up one cold autumn evening and asks teenage Rose to come away with it–in exchange for health and prosperity for her ailing family–she readily agrees. Rose travels on the bear’s broad back to a distant and empty castle, where she is nightly joined by a mysterious stranger. In discovering his identity, she loses her heart– and finds her purpose–and realizes her journey has only just begun.

Have you read this? What did you think?

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I’m currently reading Mistletoe and Murder on Borrowbox. I think I’ve manged to save this one for the perfect time to read! IU haven’t got too far into it yet, but I am enjoying it. Daisy and Hazel have gone to spend Christmas in Cambridge with Daisy’s older brother – I’m sure I won’t have long to wait until there’s another case for the Detective Society to solve. I’m just about to start listening to The Girl Who Saved Christmas on my way to and from work, and I’m so looking forward to it! I’ve also started Delivery to the Lost City, the final book in the A Train to Impossible Places Adventure series. I’m really enjoying being back with Suzy and her Trollville friends although the problem they have to deal with this time is my worst nightmare: an overdue book is draining all the words from the books in the library. I’m not sure I’ll cope if these books aren’t restored by the end of the story!

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I’ve now finished listening to The Amber Spyglass on Borrowbox. I absolutely loved this one which is my favourite of the trilogy. Both Lyra and Will are such courageous, resilient and resourceful characters, and I really, really enjoyed their story arcs, even though the ending was so poignant. I found their journey to the Land of the Dead fascinating as was the emotional journey her mother took. I’m going to move on to watching the BBC series over Christmas .

I’ve wanted to read Scavengers for ages, so decided to pick it up at last. Oh my goodness! It is the most amazing and powerful story, and one that I absolutely devoured. Landfill lives in Hinterland (effectively a dump) with old Babagoo who found him abandoned as a baby and cared for him. Babagoo has given him a strict set of rules, including that he must not venture to the Outside as it is dangerous. There is such a sense of threat and unease in this story as Landfill begins to uncover difficult truths, and questions his reality as he strives for understanding. Some twists absolutely made me gasp and I was desperate to uncover the truth. My heart ached for Landfill who loses his innocence as he is awakened to the world around him. His relationship with Babagoo is complex and difficult and was, at times, hard to bear. This is such a powerful and emotive coming-of-age story that I can highly recommend.

I’ve decided to read a few Christmas-themed books next, starting with The Night I Met Father Christmas.

What have you read this week? Have you read any of these?

The December theme for Six for Sunday, hosted by A Little But a Lot is Festive Goodness and today’s prompt is for Red and White books. 

THE ONE I’M READING TO MY CLASS: I read this one a while ago, and absolutely loved it – a perfect read for Christmas. It’s also my current class read and is one the children are loving.

THE ONE I’VE BORROWED: This is my current read from my library on Borrowbox. I started this series earlier this year, not quite sure what to expect, but I’ve really enjoyed it. It was perfect timing that I got to this one in December! I’ve just read the first section and think I’m getting close to the murder!

THE ONE I WAS GIFTED: I enjoy reading a scary book at Christmas and I think this one, which I got for my birthday, will be perfect.

THE ONE THAT REALLY GOT TO ME: I read a lot of books every year, mostly middle-grade, but I also read a few adult and young adult books. This one has been one of my absolute favourite young adult books of the year. It is an incredibly powerful fable through which 75-year-old Matilda tells her life story to her teenage visitor. She has endured great loss and grief – just thinking about it brings tears. Matilda is also incredibly resilient and strong and takes control of her life to find the answer to a question she wants to put to the love of her life who has left her: “How can you know love, and lose it, and go on living without it, and not feel the loss for ever?” I think it’s been one of those years when a book like this has such an impact.

THE ONE THAT’S BEEN ON MY TBR WAY TOO LONG: I still remember where I purchased this one – on a day trip into London in Foyles. I couldn’t resist the gorgeous cover, and the synopsis definitely intrigued me:

Our story begins on a frosty night … Laylee can barely remember the happier times before her beloved mother died. Before her father, driven by grief, lost his wits (and his way). Before she was the left as the sole remaining mordeshoor in the village of Whichwood, destined to spend her days washing the bodies of the dead and preparing their souls for the afterlife. It’s become easy to forget and easier still to ignore her own ever increasing loneliness and the way her hands are stiffening and turning silver, just like her hair. But soon, a pair of familiar strangers appear, and Laylee’s world is turned upside down as she rediscovers color, magic, and the healing power of friendship.

I mean, this is SO my kind of book. And it sounds like a perfect wintry read!

THE ONE I’M RIDICULOUSLY EXCITED TO READ: I’ve absolutely adored the first two books in the Widdershins Adventure series and absolutely cannot wait to read this one which is due to be released on 4th February so not too long to wait.

The first Thursday in January is going to be a bumper release day for middle-grade fiction. Luckily, Christmas is a perfect time to catch up on lots of reading so that I can clear some bookshelf space for these new additions. By clearing bookshelf space, I mean that, once I finish a book at home, I take it in to school to add to my class library for the children to enjoy.

I have included the Goodreads or Waterstones synopsis for each of these. Here goes …

1835. Cabin boy Syms Covington is on the voyage of a lifetime to the Galapagos Islands with the world-famous scientist Charles Darwin. But when Syms falls overboard during a huge storm, he washes up on an unexplored island. Stranded there, he makes a discovery that could change the world … Now it’s not just his own survival at stake – the future of an undiscovered species is in his hands. How to Train Your Dragon meets natural history – with real science!

When Holly and her family fly to LA for a holiday, it promises to be the trip of a lifetime. On her first day exploring the city of dreams, Holly befriends a movie director, who’s captured something suspiciously dragonlike on camera while filming out in the desert. But before she can examine the tape properly, it goes missing… Holly asks her partner-in-solving-crime, dragon detective Dirk Dilly, to join her on the hunt for clues in Hollywood. Will they be able to find the film before it falls into the wrong hands and exposes the existence of dragonkind to the world? 

Tomas is a fully-fledged expert dragon grower and protector of the dragonfruit tree. He has eyes in the back of his head for watching over those sneaky dragons, awesomely fast reflexes for putting out sparks and dodging the diving antics of whirling newly hatched dragons. He’s got it all down pat – and managing his little lightning bolt dragon Zing, too. But he’s not quite prepared for the adventure that awaits him when a huge secret is revealed about his new friend, Aura. A thrilling secret that will take Tomas and Aura on a journey of discovery that will finally unlock the last mysteries of the dragonfruit tree. A journey of discovery that all the dragons will be in on – and just what will happen when lightning bolt dragon Zing and storm dragon Flicker get together? 

Join the brave friends Patch, Wren and Barver for another adventure of magic and music! Thrill as they meet the Pirates of the Eastern Seas! Marvel as they venture to the only city where dragons and humans live side by side! Gasp as they journey high into the snowy peaks, where the greatest secret of the griffins lies hidden! And tremble as they come face to face once more with the increasingly powerful and evil Hamelyn Piper…

Jessica is playing with her family at the river when she finds a dirty, bedraggled teddy bear in the water. She has no idea that it will change everything, forever. Meanwhile, Cymbeline comes home from school to find that his mum’s house has been broken into – and the thieves seemed oddly focused on his toys. Thank goodness he had Not Mr Fluffy, his Bear of Most Extreme Importance, with him. Soon, Jessica and Cymbeline find themselves swept up in a mystery that spans decades, threatens their families, and turns their lives upside down. But sometimes, just maybe, a new life can be a really wonderful thing…

Morgana loves robots and longs to attend robotics school in the city. But she’s a witch, living in a magical woodland community: the closest she comes to technology is petting her ancient mechanical familiar, Kitty. She simply doesn’t belong. But when she finally finds a way to the City, she learns of a troubling secret hiding beneath its gleaming surface: a secret that threatens the balance of civilization. Caught between two worlds, only Morgana has the power to find a solution … 

Nine is an orphan pickpocket determined to escape her life in the Nest of a Thousand Treasures. When she steals a house-shaped ornament from a mysterious woman’s purse, she knocks on its tiny door and watches it grow into a huge, higgledy-piggeldy house. Inside she finds a host of magical and brilliantly funny characters, including Flabberghast – a young wizard who’s particularly competitive at hopscotch – and a hideous troll housekeeper who’s emotionally attached to his feather duster. They have been placed under an extraordinary spell, which they are desperate for Nine to break. If she can, maybe they can offer her a new life in return… 

A spellbinding new middle grade series crackling with magic and adventure. I am Spel. Daughter of witches. The only one who can step between worlds. The only one who can save my sister. If I can find her before the witch hunt begins … Thirteen years ago, magic was banished and the witches were hunted. Sisters Spel and Egg are the daughters of witches, but they grow up in Miss Mouldheel’s School for Wicked Girls with no idea who they really are. Until the day the message arrives telling them to run … The message sends them to a funeral parlour in a far away village – and their new guardian, the Undertaker, has a secret. Beneath the funeral parlour is a portal to the Other Ways – four worlds that lie parallel to ours. When Egg vanishes through the portal, Spel knows she must try to save her sister. But no one can step between the worlds – or can they?

P. G. Bell’s Delivery to the Lost City is the thrilling conclusion of the Train to Impossible Places trilogy, a magical middle-grade adventure. When the Impossible Postal Express is charged with returning an overdue library book, Suzy Smith looks forward to a nice, simple delivery–just the thing she needs to convince her anxious parents to let her keep her job on the train. So she’s less than thrilled to discover that not only is the book alive, it’s full of a growing and dangerous magic. Worse still, the world to which it belongs is missing, and Suzy and her friends will have to use all their ingenuity to find it. Suzy must help a fledgling rebellion seize power, return the book to its rightful owner, and get home before her parents ground her for life. The conclusion to the Train to Impossible Places trilogy promises to be the most adventurous yet. 

September 1939. When Jimmy is evacuated to a small village in Wales, it couldn’t be more different from London. Green, quiet and full of strangers, he instantly feels out of place. But then he finds a skull hidden in a tree, and suddenly the valley is more frightening than the war. Who can Jimmy trust? His brother is too little; his best friend has changed. Finding an ally in someone he never expects, they set out together to uncover the secrets that lie with the skull. What they discover will change Jimmy – and the village – forever. A mesmerising mystery about bravery and brotherhood from an outstanding new voice.

Science and laughs combine in this out-of-this-world adventure, featuring illustrations by Ben Mantle! You might think that this story is going to be an intergalactic adventure filled with UFOs, black holes, killer robots and some very foul-smelling aliens. And you’d be right. But it’s mostly about a boy called Jake, his embarrassing dad, and the mind-boggling question . . . are we really alone in the universe?

SUMMER 1914. When Fran unearths a bone in the garden of Longbarrow House on the same afternoon that Leo breaks his leg, it must surely be just a coincidence. But Fran can’t shake the uneasy feeling that the events are somehow connected, and there is a shift in the atmosphere that leaves her troubled and anxious. Roped into keeping wheelchair-bound Leo company, Fran is forced to listen to his foolish theories about the looming threat of war in Europe. But as the pair start to uncover more secrets buried beneath the garden, they dredge up threatening shadows of the future, and Fran begins to fear that Leo’s dire predictions might be coming true …

When Art’s mother is accused of witchcraft, she is determined to get her back – at any cost. Twelve-year-old Art lives in a small village in Scotland. Her mother has always made potions that cure the sick, but now the townspeople say she is a witch. One cloudless night, Art’s mother is accused of Witchcraft, arrested, and taken from Scotland to England. Art mounts her horse, taking a sword, a tightrope, and a herbal recipe book, and begins a journey through wild forests to find her mother before summer solstice, using nature’s signs and symbols to guide her. On her journey, Art will discover what sacrifices she will need to make to be reunited with her mother – and to alter the fate of women everywhere. But will she reach her, before it’s too late?

Melody Bird has discovered an old abandoned house in the corner of the graveyard, and a mysterious boy hiding out there… Hal tells her that he’s a spy-in-training, using the house as a base for his undercover surveillance of a known local criminal. Her friends Matthew and Jake don’t believe that a teenager would be entrusted with this mission and turn the tables to spy on him, uncovering secrets and unravelling a mystery as they go.

There you have it! There are some incredible middle-grade being released on 7th January! Are there any of these you want to read? Have you already read any of these?

Thank you so much to James Haddell for providing me with an e-copy of The Lost Child’s Quest and for inviting me to be part of this Blog Tour. My review is my honest opinion of the book.

History, Mystery, Magic and Adventure

The Lost Child’s Quest is an action-packed, heart-warming adventure steeped in history and legend with an intriguing mystery to solve.  It is the first in the ‘Tales of Truth and Treasure’ series – and what a truly brilliant start to the series it is!

Tia Hemyke is just about to be adopted from the orphanage she has spent her childhood in when she has an encounter with a dangerous stranger.  Why is he so interested in the items which were left with her when she was abandoned as a baby?  Will her adoption by the Trevelyan’s keep her safe, or will this sinister stranger continue to prove a threat?

Tia is taken to her new home by the sea close to Stormhaven Castle where her adoptive parents work as archaeologists alongside historians uncovering the history of the Castle, but Tia has her own history to uncover.  She is determined to solve the mystery behind the ‘treasures’ which were left with her at the orphanage, and so begins her incredible adventure that takes her on a journey of self-discovery filled with intrigue, danger, magic and a quest for the truth behind an ancient legend …

I absolutely loved the skilful weaving of history and Arthurian legend in this fast-paced mystery as unexpected twists and revelations kept me enthralled throughout. The ending is completely satisfying, but also opens the door to the continuation of Tia’s quest which is definitely a journey I want to follow.

Tia is an incredibly sympathetic, kind-hearted young girl who is seeking both a home where she feels she belongs and is loved, and an understanding of where she has come from.  Even though she finds it hard to trust, she shows incredible courage and inner strength in opening up to her new family and seeking their help in fulfilling her quest.  She develops a warm and genuine friendship with her new sister, Meghan and school friend, Pasco.  Meghan is welcoming and gregarious whereas Pasco is much quieter and more studious; however, they both become supportive friends, prepared to help Tia fulfil her quest.  I adored the portrayal of the heartfelt bond which develops between Tia and her new family which felt really genuine and honest.

The Lost Child’s Quest is a fantastically heart-warming story of finding family, friendship and self which I absolutely adored, and is one I am keen to share with my class.  I love that James includes reference to the real-life treasures mentioned in the book and activities for every chapter.

You can order a copy via the website: https://www.truthandtreasure.com/ and on Amazon.

To read more about this brilliant book, please check out the rest of the stops on the Blog Tour:

This is my weekly meme celebrating amazing middle-grade books. I hope others will enjoy taking part in this too!

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:

I lay awake for a while, listening to the music.

This book in three words:

COURAGE, HOPE, PREJUDICE

This story is both an incredible testament to the bravery and resilience of a German refugee during the Second World War, and a good old-fashioned adventure which completely absorbed me and, I am not ashamed to admit, led to heartfelt tears.  Any children’s book that can capture and affect me so deeply is a real credit to the depth, honesty and power of the writing.

This is the heart-breaking, but ultimately uplifting, story of Daniel’s Grandmother, Anna Schlesinger, who travelled to England from Germany before the outbreak of the War on the kindertransport in order to escape from the cruel and terrifying persecution of the Jewish community by the Nazis.  This persecution is compellingly described and made me appreciate the terror that Anna carries with her throughout the story. 

This is a story of incredible courage, daring and determination to help the war effort which sees Anna involved in a dangerous web of intrigue. Anna is such a wonderful young protagonist who could easily have been destroyed by her horrific experiences in Germany, but instead she chooses to honour her mother and father by making the most of the opportunities she is given, and by making them proud of her.

This story is truly inspirational:  heart-breaking in places, but also full of hope that adversity can be overcome, and that goodness will shine through in our darkest moments.

This is a story which I would highly recommend: you can read my full review here.

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!

This has probably been my slowest reading month for a while. Covid has come much closer to home and I think it just made it more difficult for me to switch off with reading as I normally would, and it has certainly made it harder for me to focus on writing reviews. Instead, I’ve been switching off with watching Christmas movies!

My younger sister was hospitalised after testing positive and was diagnosed with double pneumonia. She was in hospital for a few days but, thankfully, is well on the mend although she has been told to recuperate for 6-8 weeks. I’m sure, like a lot of people, I’m just desperate to visit family and give hugs! We’ve also had more cases in school with a Year Group having to isolate. This term has been intense in work, so I’m really looking forward to being able to switch off over Christmas.

I’ve only bought one book this month (Winterling for the Middle Grade Marvels Book Club December read), but there’s a good reason. My wonderful husband has bought me all the books I’ve mentioned as part of my Christmas present. He insists, and who am I to argue? 🙂

I took part in Believathon III but didn’t manage to finish it. I read 8 of the 13 books I’d intended to. I definitely still want to read the others and am just about to start one which was on my list.

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 11 books this month which includes 6 physical books, 4 e-books and 1 audiobook.

Physical books:

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e-books:

These are books I have either been sent by the author in exchange for an honest review, or books which I’ve been approved to read on NetGalley. I’ve posted my review for A Thousand Questions and will post my review The Lost Child’s Quest on Friday as part of their Blog Tours. I will post my reviews for The Valley of Lost Secrets and The Weather Weaver closer to their publication dates – just need to write them first!

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audiobook:

NetGalley:

My Feedback Ratio is currently at 89%. This month I’ve requested and been approved to read two books which I’m really looking forward to.

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Books sent for review:

I always feel incredibly lucky if I get sent books by Publishers to read prior to publication. I’ve been sent four I’m really looking forward to reading over Christmas.

Have you read any of these? What has been your favourite book this month?

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I’m currently almost finished listening to The Amber Spyglass which is incredible. It’s definitely my favourite of the three books. I can’t wait to find out what the final outcome will be, then I’m going to watch the BBC series. On a whim, I decided to pick up a book that has been on my bookshelf for so long. I’m absolutely loving Scavengers which has me completely gripped. I’m trying to work out whether Babagoo has ulterior motives in not allowing Landfill to go Outside. The tension is brilliantly created and I can’t wait to find out how this ones ends.

I’ve finished reading Amari and the Night Brothers. Amari is a wonderfully strong character who finds herself in a situation she does not expect as she battles to save her brother, Quinton whilst discovering more about her own abilities. I will be posting my review during the The Write Reads Blog Tour later this month.

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this to review on Toppsta, so it has jumped to the top of my TBR! The publishers very kindly sent me all three books in the series. These books are really popular in my class, and I already have two copies of each of the first two books in my class library, so it will be great to add some more copies. I have a girl in my class desperate to get her hands on Delivery to the Lost City, so she was very excited to hear that I had an early copy which I’ll let her have as soon as I’ve finished reading it.

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