Review: The Bookshop Sisters by Sarah Webb

*Written by Sarah Webb*
*Cover art by Lauren O’Hara*
*Published by The O’Brien Press*

The Bookshop Sisters is a heart-warming, exciting historical adventure, set in 1950s Ireland, with strong bonds of sisterhood and friendship, that sang to my bookish heart.

Thirteen-year-old Rosy Heron and her older sister, Martha are intending to spend their summer holidays in their quiet home town of Skibbereen. But that all changes when the family get an unexpected call from Aunt Toto, their mum’s sister, who wants the girls to become trainee booksellers in her Dublin bookshop, Baggot Books. Both girls are bookworms but, whilst Rosie is excited for an adventure, Martha is more reluctant to spend the summer away from home.

When they arrive at the bookshop, they are made welcome by their Aunt Toto and her booksellers and they soon find themselves settling in to the lives of junior booksellers and delivery girls. Whilst Martha settles in to pricing, stocking and selling books, Rosy discovers the neglected children’s section – and what she achieves is just wonderful – and inspirational!

It is not long before Nancy Drew enthusiast Rosy discovers that the bookshop is keeping secrets – and there may well be a mystery to solve. What are the strange noises coming from the basement? Why do secretive meetings take place there? And, why do others seem so interested in what the bookshop is selling?

This is exactly the kind of book younger me would have devoured – and older me absolutely relished. I loved that the story has a bookshop and bookselling at its heart with a wonderfully diverse, and incredibly likeable, group of booksellers and patrons, including some much-loved authors and poets. The bookselling team felt like a close family with their strong, shared beliefs, support for each other – and enjoyment of some mouth-watering meals! I also loved that they are firm believers in equal rights – and prepared to take risks to put their beliefs into action.

Many of my favourite books are mentioned in the pages of this adventure which immediately brought me back to my childhood and reignited that warm feeling that memories of favourite books always brings.

Rosy and Martha are incredibly likeable young girls who have a strong bond of sisterhood and a keen sense of justice. Rosy is kind-hearted, impulsive and outgoing, which sometimes leads her into trouble, but she really does have a heart of gold. Older sister Martha is more cautious and considered, but shows real passion when she fights for something she really believes in. I also really enjoyed learning about the two other sisters in this adventure, and loved how their story brought healing and re-connection.

There are some important themes covered in this story that will open readers’ eyes to Ireland’s social history during the 1950s with regard to equal rights for women and the banning of books. The author has included more information at the beginning of the book, and in the historical notes, which are both fascinating and informative, and a brilliant addition to the story not least because they champion the inspirational, courageous and determined woman who make a difference.

An inspiring, heart-warming historical adventure, with friendship and sisterhood at its heart, perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to The O’Brien Press for sending me a copy of this book. It was my decision to read and review the book, and my review is my honest opinion.

Review: The Children of Wolf Rock by Natasha Farrant

Written *by Natasha Farrant*
*Cover Illustration by David Dean*
*Published by Faber & Faber Limited*

The Children of Wolf Rock is a companion novel to The Children of Castle Rock, set in the same boarding school, Stormy Loch Academy, in the stunning wilds of the Scottish mountains. An absolutely gripping, unmissable adventure: exciting, heartfelt and hopeful.

Eleven-year-old Minna is a first year student, boarding at Stormy Loch Academy, a school that her parents hope will suit her better than her local secondary – and they were right. On her first weekend, Minna is enjoying the freedom afforded by the school, eager to explore the stunning natural world which surrounds her so she soon finds herself climbing Wolf Rock. When she reaches the top, she discovers a secluded valley with an abandoned bothy – the perfect place to create a cosy den as she spends her first term exploring the surrounding woods, valleys and loch. Despite not readily making new friends, Minna is happy in these idyllic surroundings which provide a balm to the noise and business of home.

When the Easter holidays arrive, Minna decides to stay at the school, hoping to spend more time at the bothy. Two other students, Kass and Tom, are also staying – one who has been bullied and the other who has become a bully. Each has their own reasons to head to the hidden valley where they find an older, ex-pupil, Addie, playing her guitar, and accompanied by her adorable fox terrier. Over the next few days, the children form a bond of friendship with Addie – and each other.

But then everything changes … they find out that Addie has been lying to them and, after she leaves the valley, they discover that she has gone missing. Determined to find Addie and help her, the three children make a journey to London to uncover the truth of Addie’s past – and find themselves investigating a conundrum that could put them in terrible danger. Can Minna, Kass and Tom learn to trust each other and work together to help someone they all adore?

I was completely enthralled by this thrilling adventure as I raced between the Highlands and London with three determined and courageous young children. This is the epitome of a modern, classic adventure which kept me eagerly turning pages as the children unearth the truth behind the lies, and find themselves in increasing danger. I was genuinely gripped by their discoveries, their developing friendships, and their willingness to follow their hearts, even when this led to trouble, danger and difficulties.

This adventure is imbued with a heartfelt appreciation of the wild, isolated Scottish landscape, and its power to bring healing, hope and comfort. Growing up in rural Ireland, where I spent many happy hours roaming the mountains and peatlands, I can really appreciate this sentiment.

Whilst this is a companion novel to The Children of Castle Rock, I loved spotting a connection to another of the author’s wonderful adventures within the pages of this one.

Minna, Kass and Tom each have a different reason to be boarding at Stormy Loch Academy, and for spending their Easter holidays there. Getting to know these children, learning about their different home lives, understanding their struggles and successes, and watching their tentative steps towards friendship, through their shared bond with Addie, will encourage empathy in readers and allow others to see themselves in the pages of a book.

A wonderfully heart-warming and exciting adventure, with the bonds of friendship, and the comfort of nature, at its heart. Perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Faber Children’s Books for sending me a proof of The Children of Wolf Rock. It was my decision to read and review this book and my review is my honest opinion.

Review: The Ocean and the Bones by Genevieve Carver

*Written by Genevieve*
*Illustrated by Richard Johnson*
Published by *Rock the Boat*
*(an imprint of Oneworld Publications Ltd)*

The Ocean and the Bones is an absolutely breath-taking, heartfelt adventure that transported me into the Stone Age, and into the lives of two young girls, who forge a friendship that brings acceptance, connection and hope.

The Chalk Howe Clan have lost their leader to the sea. Little Meg, who is training as the Sunhealer’s apprentice, must make offerings, together with her kinfolk, which include the bones of their dead, to the Water Spirits to mark his passing. They do this in the hope that the cycle of storms and floods that are damaging their homes and ruining their crops will be ended. Despite being responsible for giving the offerings to the Sunhealer, Meg cannot bear to part with all of her parents’ finger bones so keeps one of each. When another storm follows, Meg, who is being taught the ways of the Spirits by the Sunhealer, worries that she has angered the Water Spirits and they have sent the storm as punishment.

When her dog leads her to the beach after the storm has settled, Meg finds a young girl washed up on the shore, a girl who does not speak her language; however, the girls find a way to communicate through actions and drawings. Meg brings Kalø home, but it is not long before other kinfolk in the Clan are accusing Kalø of being responsible for the storms affecting the Clanlands. Could she be one of the Brinksfolk, from the realm of both earth and water, fabled to live on a distant island with an entrance to the Everdeep, the home of the Water Spirits?

As Meg and Kalø spend time together, they form a tentative friendship as they become more confident in communicating and learning each other’s ways. Despite the differences in their beliefs, customs and way of life, these two girls accept and work to understand each other, something that helps them forge a bond. Whilst Kalø is a child of the sea, enjoying swimming with the seals and fishing, Meg has a deep-rooted fear of the sea, something that Kalø helps her to overcome as she teaches her to swim and build a boat.

When Meg overhears a secret conversation, she realises that Kalø is in great danger so the girls’ escape in a small boat, hoping to find the island home that Kalø has left. So begins a dangerous and desperate sea journey as the girls fight against the sea, the elements and those who would harm them. Will they make it safely to the island and, if so, what awaits them there?

This is an all-encompassing, stunning adventure that completely and utterly entranced me from start to finish. I was swept back in time to the Neolithic period to learn the story of two incredibly courageous, resilient girls who absolutely won my heart as they opened their hearts to each other. They work together to fight against prejudice, accusations and suspicions, not allowing these to pull them apart, but instead to bring them together in mutual respect, understanding and trust. What an important message this is for our time – parallels that can open up discussions around prejudice and discrimination, around manipulation, power and control and how the few really can make a difference in bringing a community together – such a powerful message of hope.

An unforgettable and poignant pre-historic adventure, with friendship, community and hope at its heart, perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Rock the Boat for sending me a proof copy of The Ocean and the Bones. It was my decision to read this book and my review is my honest opinion.

Review: The Lost Dragon of Roar

*Written by Jenny McLachlan*
*Cover Illustration by Ben Mantle*
*Interior Illustrations by Alla Kharkevich*
*Published by Farshore (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)*

The Lost Dragon of Roar is the fifth adventure in the Roar series and, oh my goodness, what an epic, imaginary adventure! I was completely captured by this thrilling quest as I ventured once more into one of my favourite ever lands for another heart-pounding adventure brimming with risks and peril, navigated by the most incredibly courageous children.

Twins Arthur and Rose are even more eager than usual to get to their Grandad’s house as they’ve received an intriguing, and rather worrying, message from him – one that means they need to get rid of their parents quickly! After a quick goodbye, they enter the house to discover that the Headteacher of the Dragon Rider Academy (DRAc) has found her way from Roar to Home. She has an important mission for the Dragon Riders which necessitates them going back with her to the Academy.

Crawling through the old camp bed in their Grandad’s attic, they arrive in Roar, with Arthur’s best friend and ninja-wizard Win, where they take a flight on their dragons to Spindrift Island, home of the school for dragon riders. They are soon given an important mission by Miss Bonadventure, their Headteacher: to deliver a letter to Captain Gorme on Scaravay Island.

And so begins a thrilling and dangerous adventure as Arthur, Rose and Win fly on the backs of their huge dragons to Scaravay Island to find Captain Gorme, but instead meet her young son, Izzy and a giant wolf. Before they can deliver the letter, they find themselves in danger from an old enemy, the Witch King. Can the children stay one step ahead of this terrifying foe, and escape his clutches? Can they discover the truth behind rumours of a lost city and a legendary dragon? And, can they fulfil a prophecy that seems impossible …

WHAT an incredible, action-packed adventure! This series just gets better and better. The danger and tension, and unexpected twists and turns, make this such an exciting, heart-racing adventure. Coupled with this, there are brilliant moments of humour that help balance the peril for younger readers. The world-building is a feast for the imagination and I have no doubt that readers will find themselves immersed in the wonder and danger of meeting huge wolves, witches, dragons and bludowls in forests, caverns and palaces as they venture with the twins and their friends on their mission across Roar and into the Deeps.

I absolutely loved being back with Arthur, Rose and Win as I adore all three – their courage, their strong bonds of friendship, their determination, their kindness and sense of fairness – what wonderful role models for children. And, I just have to say that Win’s joie de vivre is infectious. Oh, and Crowky – what a fantastic character!

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are absolutely stunning, capturing the heart of this most incredible world, perfectly.

Venture into Roar and become lost in an exhilarating world of adventure, a world of witches and dragons, of courageous friends and terrifying foes – perfect for readers of 8+.

Thank you to Chris at Farshore for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Finders of Silverthorn Forest: The Faraway Adventure

*Written by Rachel Chivers Khoo*
*Illustrated by Laura Catalán*
*Published by Walker Books*

It was an absolute joy to be back with Tuft and Max in Finders of Silverthorn Forest: The Faraway Adventure as they find themselves on another exciting adventure, this time to a faraway forest. An utterly enchanting, heart-warming and magical adventure.

Tuft, who is a young Finder living in Silverthorn Forest, is woken early from his hibernation by a gale blowing outside the tree house where he lives. None of the other Finders are awake as they are still snug in their underground burrows. Of course, this proves a perfect opportunity for curious Tuft to go on another adventure and this time he intends to find the Faraway Forest, the legendary home of the Finders. Before he embarks on his adventure, he writes a letter to his best friend Max, who is living in London, but imagine Max’s surprise when he goes to collect the letter and discovers that his friend has accidentally found his way to London …

When Tuft finds a brochure for an Adventure Trails Camp in the New Forest, he is convinced that this is the Faraway Forest so he is delighted when Max’s Mum and Grandma assume he wants to spend his Easter holiday at the Camp, and sign him up.

As soon as they arrive at the Camp, Tuft heads off to explore whilst Max is partnered with Elle who is determined to win every orienteering challenge, despite having a partner who needs a lot of help. But when a storm approaches, can Max use his new found orienteering skills to find and rescue Tuft before he is placed in great danger by flash flooding? Will he discover the legendary Finders of the Faraway Forest? And, if so, will be lose his friend to a new home?

I absolutely adored joining Tuft and Max on their “second great adventure”, especially as this one takes place in the New Forest where I have often been on a residential with my classes – including meeting the lovely New Forest ponies, orienteering and exploring the rivers. This is a wonderfully heart-warming, magical and exciting adventure with just the right amount of danger for younger readers. I loved how genuine and strong the friendship felt between Max and Tuft, including the disagreements and support for each other with discussions over a cup of tea!

The full-and-partial-page illustrations, including chapter headings and borders, are absolutely gorgeous and really capture the warmth and timeless quality of this adventure perfectly.

An enchanting, magical adventure, perfect for young readers of 7+.

Thank you to Walker Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Impossible Creatures: The Poisoned King

The Poisoned King sees a breath-taking and utterly magical return to the Archipelago in the second book in the Impossible Creatures pentalogy. This has undoubtedly been one of my most anticipated books of the year – and it was absolutely worth the wait!

Christopher Forrester has returned to London to live with his father after his first incredible adventure crossing into the magical world of the Archipelago. But the Archipelago is not finished with Christopher so it is that he finds himself being woken by a tiny dragon chewing on his face. Jacques may be tiny in stature but he is mighty in heart, and has made the journey through the waybetween to summon Christopher back to the Archipelago as the great dragons are in need of his help. Willingly agreeing to return, Christopher is welcomed by a sphinx who tells him of a young girl who is in great danger, a girl connected to both Christopher and the dragons, and someone they need to find …

A young girl, Princess Anya, is racing across the rooftop of her grandfather, the King’s, castle to save an egg from being taken by those who have killed the unhatched chick’s mother. And as she rejoices in the hatching of that young chick, she is not to know that her life is about to be torn apart … and what she becomes will be born of fury and tempered with love.

When Anya finds herself in the greatest danger and in need of rescue, a sphinx with a boy on his back lands beside her. And so, Anya and Christopher’s lives become entwined as they find themselves on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind the deaths of the great dragons and reveal the heinous crimes of a would-be despot whose weapon of choice is poison. Can they enter the dragons’ lair to discover what has happened to these mighty creatures who should be invincible? Will they find a way to reveal a tyrant’s cruel plot before all hope is lost?

I only had to read the first page to be immediately drawn back into the world of Impossible Creatures – and I was completely hooked as I returned with Christopher to the Archipelago to meet both old and new friends. Be prepared to meet some creatures of myth – some friend and some foe – sphinx, manticore, winged unicorns and firebirds – and many others mentioned in The Guardian’s Bestiary included at the end of the book. I found the writing absolutely exquisite, profound in its simplicity, with powerful and much-needed messages for our time, captured within a stunning, epic fantasy adventure.

As danger increases and the taint of treachery reveals its dark machinations, I found this a story that was impossible to put down, encouraged by the short chapters, often with cliffhanger endings, but I also found it impossible to put down because of heart-warming friendships, of moments of joy, connection, laughter and love that brought hope amidst the darkness. This is a book that will sing to the hearts of children, make them feel both fierce and brave, and possibly remind adults that there is always goodness and hope amongst the darkness. Which is exactly why I read middle-grade books which I firmly believe are for readers of any age.

Christopher and Anya are two incredible children, brought together on a quest to save others and, in doing so, they form a wonderful bond of friendship and trust. There is a confidence and maturity in Christopher as he connects with the creatures of the Archipelago and feels the responsibility of protecting these magical islands. And, oh my, what can I say about Anya? She loves deeply, holds friendships dear, and is determined to put right the injustices she discovers, despite the danger and risk that this brings. She has a courageous heart and chooses to be the master of her own fate – and I adored her for it!

And, after that ending, I absolutely cannot wait to enter the Archipelago again and discover what is next for this magical place with its mythical creatures and wonderful protectors.

I will finish by saying that I loved the title, The Poisoned King, with its twofold meaning – but I will let readers discover this for themselves!

An unmissable return to the Archipelago to join a dangerous quest for justice and truth with two unforgettable, courageous children and their impossible creatures.

Thank you to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This is one I immediately pre-ordered and now have the stunning Waterstones special signed edition.

Review: Small Wonder by Ross Montgomery

*Written by Ross Montgomery*
*Cover Illustration by Keith Robinson*
*Published by Walker Books*

Small Wonder is an exciting epic fantasy adventure that completely enchanted me: a dangerous journey against the odds, heart-warming bonds of love and family, and a battle to save a kingdom. An absolute masterpiece of storytelling at its best!

Ten-year-old Tick lives in a cabin at the edge of a forest in the Kingdom of Ellia alongside his younger brother, Leaf and his beloved horse, Pebble. He is preparing for his first winter without his grandfather, a man he clearly adores and misses greatly, a mentor who has taught him both survival skills and integrity.

When the boys spot a fleet of Drene warships sailing towards the coastline, they are immediately alerted to an impending invasion of Ellia. Leaving Leaf with Pebble, Tick immediately runs towards their cabin to gather supplies but, on arrival, he notices someone outside: a deadly Drenish assassin, someone his grandfather has warned him to run from.

Determined to get his brother to safety and to warn the King of the invasion so that he can defend Ellia and its people, the boys and their horse begin a perilous journey through the forest to reach the protection of King’s Keep in the mountains. Constantly in fear of the assassin on their trail, they must reach the Keep within a week before the gates are closed to those seeking sanctuary.

And so begins the most incredible, action-packed journey, a journey rife with dangerous encounters, with constant threat from a fierce hunter and with breathtaking revelations that kept me eagerly turning pages. But what made this a completely unputdownable read for me was the heart-achingly beautiful bond between two young boys and their loyal horse, a bond that gives courage and strength to face fears, to take risks and to protect and comfort: a deep bond of love and family that brought both tears and smiles as I followed their adventure and learned their story.

Tick (who his Grandfather referred to as Small Wonder) is an inspirational young boy who never strays far from memories of his wise grandfather, someone whose memory he wants to honour through his actions and choices; I loved how these memories give Tick succour and strength, despite his understandable fear which he faces with true courage. Tick cares deeply about both Leaf and Pebble, but also about others and shows a keen sense of justice. He is determined to protect his five-year-old brother, Leaf, and takes pride in Leaf’s ability to adapt and cope with the danger they face. I also love, love, loved the strong bond between Tick and Pebble which felt wonderfully natural with Pebble warning of danger and protecting the boys: an absolute hero!

You absolutely must take a chance on this heart-warming, epic adventure which is destined to become a classic – utterly mesmerising storytelling!

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

Review: The Lucky House Detective Agency

*Written by Scarlett Li*
*Cover Design by Thy Bui*
*Illustrated by Sian James*
*Published by Knights Of*

The Lucky House Detective Agency is the first book in a delightful new mystery series for younger readers.

Detective-book loving Felix’s parents run the Lucky House Chinese Takeaway, somewhere that Felix spends a lot of time as he helps out taking and running orders along with his best friend, Isaac. Felix is always looking for a mystery to solve so, when he hears a loud crash and sees that Optimus, the family’s lucky jade plant, has been damaged, he is determined to find out what happened and save his family’s luck. Will the detective skills Felix has learned from reading Secret Detective Society books help him solve this real-life mystery?

I absolutely loved following the sleuthing trio of Felix, Isaac and ‘Nosy’ Nina as they follow a trail of clues to discover the identity of the plant destroyer. Could the discovery of an ancient coin in the money plant’s soil lead to hidden treasure – and another mystery? Could the culprit possibly be a regular at the Lucky House?

This is a really fun, clever and exciting mystery, with just the right amount of peril for younger readers, who I have no doubt will enjoy following the clues, and case notes, to solve the mystery. But they’ll need to look out for some red herrings!

I loved the interactions between Felix’s family and the regulars, the closeness, humour (especially in the way regulars are named after their orders) and care they show demonstrates a real sense of community – and the importance of places where different cultures can come together. British-Chinese culture is represented joyfully with readers getting an insight into traditions, values, food, stories and family life.

I really liked the friendship between Felix and Isaac who, alongside Felix’s cousin Nina, each bring different strengths to the sleuthing team. Felix is impulsive and more of a risk-taker whilst Isaac is more meticulous and wary, something that gets Felix into trouble and sometimes causes friction in their friendship.

The illustrations throughout are gorgeous and complement the energy, excitement and diversity of this story perfectly.

A scrumptious start to a new detective mystery series, perfect for younger readers of 7+.

Thank you to Knights Of for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Museum of Lost Umbrellas by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

*Written by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick*
*Cover Illustration by George Ermos*
*Published by Faber & Faber Limited*

The Museum of Lost Umbrellas is the first book in The Cloud Witch Chronicles, a new fantasy series for middle-grade readers. It’s an utterly captivating, deliciously cosy read, but with swirls of danger, that took me on the most incredible adventure to an unforgettable, magical island in the heart of the Celtic Sea.

Ten-year-old Dilly Kyteler arrives on Ollipest Island to start a new life with her Grand-Aunt Florence who lives in a beautiful cottage with secrets of its own. Whilst the cottage seems welcoming, her Aunt does not seem particularly pleased to see her and treats her rather brusquely. But, the following morning she meets her aunt’s friend, Digbee, and her grandson Callum who is spending the summer holiday on the island so things look brighter for Dilly as she may just make a friend. And there’s another new arrival, a large dog who has walked out of the sea, a companion that she has longed for.

Dilly and Callum are sent on some errands to the nearby town of Wurmston but, on their way home, Parsley, the wolfhound, leads them to a grand building: The Museum of Lost Umbrellas, due to re-open the following day after a lengthy closure. When the children enter the museum, they are immediately entranced by the wonderful assortment of umbrellas. Imagine Dilly’s surprise when a small green umbrella opens its hand-shaped handle and waves at her …

And so begins the most magical, mesmerising adventure as Dilly and Callum learn about the magic of Ollipest, magic that the islanders are so desperate to keep secret that the use of magic on the island has been forbidden, and magical items have been kept locked away from their owners. But when the Museum re-opens, it brings danger for the islanders, danger from a sinister stranger determined to destroy Ollipest’s magical heritage. Can Dilly connect with her family’s magic in time to help save the islanders, her family and friends? Can a community overcome its fear and stand against those who seek to manipulate, control and destroy?

What an incredible adventure, brimming with excitement, danger and revelations, and one that I really didn’t want to leave behind so I’m really glad there’s more to come from this world. The world-building is breath-taking from the wishing-door and the alleyway portals to the sentient library and the magical objects connected to island families. I loved the magical system with its links to many aspects of nature magic as well as the idea of everyday objects imbued with magical qualities, such as umbrellas, that can help you fly – just like in Mary Poppins with her parrot-headed umbrella – perhaps an inspiration for a certain talking parrot in the story.

I love book maps and this one has a brilliant map shaped like a creature from Irish mythology with some brilliant place names, including those linked to the shape of the ‘wurm’. I also really liked the names of characters used in the story, many with connections to nature, history and literature – and other words for umbrellas. Whilst this is a fantasy adventure, I really appreciated the historical context as I learned about the persecution of the islander’s ancestors and how they hoped to find safe haven in Ollipest.

Dilly is a wonderful young girl who, due to the death of her mum, has had to move to an unfamiliar place with a family member she does not know. I loved her bravery, strength and determination as she opens herself to her cloud magic ability and fights for her new home and those she cares about, despite knowing the risk she is taking and the danger she is facing. She is a force for good, standing up to evil, prejudice and hatred, despite her fear that she may lose the place she now calls home.

Fly, up, up, up and away into a mesmerising, magical world, brimming with heart and warmth, with danger and daring, a world where adventure and excitement await … perfect for children of 8+.

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

Review: The World’s Worst Alien

*Written by Alice Primmer*
*Illustrations by Fred Blunt*
*Published by Walker Books*

The World’s Worst Alien is a fantastically funny, zany adventure that kept me giggling, and sometimes pondering, throughout as I followed alien, and world-creator, Sky on her month-long mission to save her project from pesky humans.

So, you think you know how Earth was created? Well, think again! We are actually the end-result of a school project created by an interdimensional being (a.k.a an alien) who wanted to move from bottom to top of the class! And Sky was certain – well, almost – certain of success if only evolution hadn’t seen the dinosaurs being replaced with humans. And they just happened to be ruining her creation so, in an effort to rescue her project, Sky decides she has no choice other than to visit Earth to fix her project – something that will actually require her to do something she really doesn’t enjoy: make an effort.

When she arrives in London, Sky finds herself walking in to Oak Lane Primary School as a Year 6 pupil with the intention of becoming a Youtube Influencer as she is sure these are the people who can change the world. She soon meets Zana who offers to help her with creating a Youtube Channel, but it is not long before she is getting her new friend (whatever one of those is), and herself, into all sorts of trouble …

And so begins a brilliantly funny adventure as Sky begins her month-long mission to save the world she has created by replacing humans with a much-more deserving successor. But what if the humans have something to teach Sky, something about the value of friendship, something about determination and effort, and something about the power of a few to make a big difference for many …

There is no doubt that Sky is incredibly honest in front of both adults and her classmates as she doesn’t have any pre-conceptions of how she should behave which leads to lots of incongruous situations, misunderstandings and oodles of humour. It also leads to her sometimes coming across as uncaring, but is that something that can change as she learns more about human emotions, and opens herself up to these, as she connects with Zana and the members of the Eco Club? Will what she learns about humans in the microcosm of the Oak Lane Primary School community change her mind about replacing them in her project?

I really enjoyed the environmental focus in this adventure which shows that a few can make a real difference and, when people come together, they can effect change for the better. What a wonderful message for children to learn!

The illustrations throughout are absolutely brilliant and really complement the action, energy and humour in this wonderful story.

Could the world’s worst alien just make the best difference when she comes to visit her school project? A wonderfully humorous adventure for readers of 8+.

Thank you to Walker Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.