Review: The Day of the Jackdaw written by Jo Simmons and illustrated by Lee Cosgrove

*Written by Jo Simmons*
*Illustrated by Lee Cosgrove*
*Published by Barrington Stoke*

The Day of the Jackdaw is a fantastically funny, warm-hearted and empathetic adventure about overcoming fears, belonging and acceptance.

Alex and his family are moving from the city to the countryside, but Alex is not at all keen on the move. In fact, he has made a list of things he dislikes about the countryside in his Top-Secret Stuff notebook, top of his concerns being angry badgers! Imagine his horror when he discovers from a local online newspaper article that angry badgers are the least of his concerns. Why? The village of Noggings is being terrorised by an aerial acrobat – a jackdaw called Graham – who is attacking the villagers when least expected.

Shortly after moving to Noggings, Alex makes a new friend, his neighbour Callie, who introduces him to her 12 guinea-pigs. Just as he is leaving her garden, he has his first encounter with Graham, an encounter that leaves him frozen in fear.

Later, Alex attends a meeting in the village hall with his family where the villagers are discussing how to rid themselves of their menacing avian foe before he can create chaos at their upcoming summer fete. Can Alex discover the reason for Graham’s ruinous rampages and put a stop to them before he brings more mayhem to the villagers?

This is an adventure that is guaranteed to being plenty of giggles as Graham’s antics have the villagers in uproar. They are determined to stop his attacks, but this clever corvid is always one swoop ahead of the hapless villagers.

Alex is a clever, empathetic and kind-hearted boy who overcomes his initial fear of Graham to find out more about him, putting aside his, and the villagers, pre-judgments and giving him a chance to be understood. Alex, despite his pre-judgments of life in the countryside, finds the courage to give his new community a chance, finding friendship and a sense of belonging. I think this is a wonderful message for young children as they are faced with changes in their lives, whether that be moving home or school.

The full-and-partial page illustrations throughout are absolutely gorgeous and capture the mayhem and warmth of the adventure perfectly.

This is a deliciously delightful tale of mischief and mayhem, flying high with heart and humour.

This book is published by Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages. This one is for ages 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Super Sausage to the Rescue!

*Written by Rachel Morrisroe*
Illustrated by Jenny Taylor
Published by Puffin Books

Super Sausage to the Rescue is the first adventure in a new ‘Super Pets’ series for younger readers of 7+: hilarious, exciting and full of warmth.

Dottie, an absolutely adorable dachshund puppy, yearns for her forever home after having been left at Doris Darling’s Home for Dogs by her previous owner. When nine-year-old Harry arrives at the shelter with his dad, he is excited to get to choose a dog, and quickly decides that Dottie is the perfect dog for him!

When Harry spots a squirrel outside his window, Dottie accidentally reveals the secret she has been keeping from humans. She can talk and fly! Harry’s dog has superpowers, powers that are urgently needed by Rebecca Refractor who runs Superpets, a secret organisation of superhero pets who keep the world safe from super villains.

But how can the superpets keep the world safe when they are being kidnapped by a supervillain intent on making them part of her collection? Can ‘Super Sausage’ Dottie and Harry stop the remaining superpets from being taken by Sparkletta Crystal, or will they become her next victims?

I absolutely loved this brilliantly funny, action-packed superhero adventure told from the dual viewpoints of Dottie and Harry. There is just the right amount of peril for younger readers blended with lots of laugh-out-loud moments with giggles guaranteed. I’m not sure I’ll ever think of broccoli in the same way again! The language is wonderfully playful – I’d love to fly in a wheelsparrow and visit the Factual History Museum!

I adored both Harry and Dottie who have an instant connection. They quickly build a trusting, supportive and accepting friendship. I liked that Harry needed to understand the responsibility of having a pet before he could have one although I’m not sure anything could have prepared him a superhero pet! I also really liked Rebecca who is a brilliant STEM role model with her fantastic inventions – even if they don’t always work as expected!

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are gorgeous, capturing the energy, warmth and humour of the story perfectly.

A woof-tastically wonderful start to this new series for younger readers brimming with friendship, humour and heart. I have no doubt that they will be eagerly waiting for the next superpet adventure in this series.

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

Blog Tour: Bringing Back Kay-Kay

*Written by Dev Kothari*
*Cover Illustration by Tara Anand*
*Published by Walker Books*

Welcome to my stop on the Blog Tour for Bringing Back Kay-Kay. I have a wonderful piece from Dev Kothari to share with you where she reflects on train journey adventures.

You can also read my review of this wonderful story here: Bringing Back Kay-Kay.

Adventuring on trains

Growing up in a small town near Mumbai, in India, I walked or cycled to school, to the shops, to my best friend’s flat. To get to nearby towns, we took buses mostly, rickshaws and taxis were a luxury. And for farther distances, like when we’d visit my grandparents or go on a rare holiday or two, we’d take the train.

And it was during those travels, especially the long, overnight ones, that my love for train journeys began. Whether it is because of the rhythm of the carriages jostling on the tracks, or the views from the windows, or the serendipitous encounters with fellow passengers, travelling on trains has always felt like adventuring to me.

When I was 18 years old, I was lucky enough to be chosen to go on a very special train journey that brought together students from all over the world, to travel across India on a 20-day adventure.

Since then, I’ve ventured on trains in many different countries like Austria, China, France, Germany, Italy, Morocco, Norway, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.S, to name some.

The more I travel by trains, the more I love it. I think that’s why the mystery-adventure in Bringing Back Kay-Kay is centred around a train journey too. Even though I didn’t set out to do so when I began writing it, I was very happy when the idea occurred to me. I loved bringing in and exploring different elements of train journeys. I think the best bit was writing the people that Lena meets like Stan the Man and Chacha and Singh Madam. What is interesting is that I had no idea when I was writing the story that these characters would appear. It was as if they were all waiting to be discovered – I’m sure that they’re all semblances of people that I came across one time or the other myself on a train somewhere.

I hope that my book is able to convey some of that sense of adventure and joy that I’ve experienced to the readers. And wouldn’t it be absolutely wonderful, if it inspirits them to adventure on trains themselves too?

Author Information

Dev Kothari grew up in a sleepy hamlet near Mumbai,
where she read obsessively, wrote furtively and daydreamed endlessly. She
won the Commonword Diversity YA novel prize in 2018 and went on to study
for an MA in Writing for Children at Bath Spa University. This is her debut
novel. Dev lives in north London. You can find Dev on Twitter: @DevyaniNK
and Instagram: devyani_nk

Bringing Back Kay-Kay by Dev Kothari (Walker Books) available now.

Waterstones

Amazon

Rocketship Bookshop

For the opportunity to win a copy of Bringing Back Kay-Kay, please check my pinned tweet.

Thank you to Lorraine Keating and Walker Books for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour. Please do check out the other stops on the Tour:

Review: Tiny Dogs: Bea’s Secret Friends written and illustrated by Rose Lihou

Written and illustrated by Rose Lihou
Published by Puffin Books
Published on 18th April

Tiny Dogs: Bea’s Secret Friends is the first book in the start of a delightful new series for younger readers with full-colour illustrations throughout. This is a charming, gently humorous story, with some wonderful messages, that is sure to captivate its readers.

Seven-year-old Beatrix Bloom and her mum are moving to live with Bea’s Grandma and Grandpa in their large house, Bloom Cottage. She has not seen her grandparents for a long time, but is immediately warmly welcomed by them. Bea’s mum runs a dog-grooming business and Bea really enjoys helping out as she is an animal-lover, and especially adores dogs who she feels comfortable around.

Bea remembers her grandparents’ garden being beautifully kept but, when she visits it with Grandpa, she is surprised to find that it is now overgrown and rather neglected. She is even more surprised to discover that her gardening-loving Grandpa seems uncomfortable in the garden and heads back indoors leaving Bea to explore further on her own. Finding a flowerpot, she watches four tiny creatures rush out and hide in the ivy but, before she can investigate further, she is called indoors. Could they be something to do with Grandpa’s reluctance to visit the garden?

The next day Bea makes the most amazing discovery: there are four tiny creatures living in an old flower pot. She is excited to discover that four adorable, rare tiny dogs have made their home in the garden – and they need her help to remain safe there. Can Bea become their guardian and keep them safe? And, can they help her when the garden comes under threat from an interfering neighbour?

This is a truly wonderful adventure brimming with gentle humour, gorgeous friendships, teamwork and a garden to save that I have no doubt will appeal hugely to young readers. I think readers will appreciate the message of protecting and nurturing nature so that plants and animals can survive and thrive. I think it also addresses big issues for young children in a sensitive way that will help them deal with changes such as moving home or schools.

Bea is a wonderful young girl. She is quiet, kind-hearted and adores both animals and nature. She worries about change and is nervous about starting a new school and trying to make new friends, something which I think lots of young readers will empathise with. Bea doesn’t always find it easy to find her voice and express her opinions. I loved that her new tiny friends give her the strength, courage and confidence to speak out and make a difference. I also adored the relationship between Bea and Grandpa who is kind and reassuring and ready to listen to Bea, giving her the time to express herself.

The full-colour illustrations throughout are just beautiful and really add to the charm and warmth of this beautifully-told story. Close friendship, family and teamwork shine through in both the words and illustrations.

This is a joyous, enchanting adventure for younger readers of 5+ who will want to return to Bea’s Secret Friends again and again whilst they wait for their next adventure.

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

Blog Tour: Alex Neptune: Zombie Fighter

Written by David Owen
Illustrated by George Ermos
Published by Usborne

Alex Neptune: Zombie Fighter is the fourth amazing adventure for Alex and his friends Zoey and Anil in this action-packed, exciting and fun series … perfect for readers of 9+.

Out on their rowing boat, Alex Neptune is teaching his friends, Anil and Zoey, how to control their sea magic when a heavy fog creeps towards them. Racing it back to Haven Bay with the help of the new Water Dragon, they watch it blanket the town. When Alex arrives home and the pirate Brineblood’s skull begins to glow, he knows that the fog is bringing danger … and he’s not wrong! Hidden in the fog are frightening crab spiders ridden by creepy cloaked zombies … and they’re looking for their master, Brineblood.

And so begins a thrilling, fast-paced adventure as Alex, Anil and Zoey discover that the only way to stop the zombies from resurrecting Brineblood is to find a powerful weapon: a trident. There’s only one problem – it has been broken into three pieces. Actually, there’s two problems – each piece has been hidden in a perilous place. Can the children enter each of these places, overcome the danger there, and use their sea magic to retrieve the trident pieces before the zombies hunting them catch up? Can they trust in an old acquaintance to help save Haven Bay from the zombie hunters?

I absolutely loved being back with Alex and his friends for another incredible, page-turning adventure. The zombies, relentlessly hunting on the backs of huge spider crabs, are seriously creepy and gross. I really felt the danger and tension as they hunted for Brineblood’s skull whose twisted magic holds power over them. It felt like the children could never escape them as they get closer and closer to catching them as the friends are focussed on retrieving the hidden trident pieces.

Alex, Zoey and Anil make such a wonderful team with such a strong friendship, always ready to support and encourage each other. They face great danger with courage, determination – and a sense of humour! I really liked that the children’s families, especially Bridget (she’s seriously sassy and brilliant!) and Grandpa, are such an active part of the adventure, helping and supporting them in their mission. I also really enjoyed that the sea animals remain such a pivotal part of the adventure, helping their friends to save Haven Bay and its people.

This is an exciting, magical and humorous adventure brimming with wonderful friendships, courage and danger, and is a brilliant continuation of a series I’ve absolutely adored. I cannot wait to join this wonderful team in their next adventure: Dragon Champion.

Author Information

Having worked as a freelance games journalist and taught on a BA Creative Writing course for three years, David Owen’s debut novel, Panther, was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and was followed by three further highly
acclaimed YA novels. Alex Neptune is his first series for younger readers, born of his love for nail-biting heists, fantastical monsters and heartfelt friendships.

Thank you so much to Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour, and to Usborne for providing me with a copy of Alex Neptune, Zombie Fighter in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on this week’s Blog Tour below:

Review: Me and Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros

*Written by Manon* *Steffan Ros*
*Cover Illustration by Cynthia Paul*
Published by *Firefly Press*

Me and Aaron Ramsey is a heartachingly tender and hopeful story of a football-loving family facing hardships and dealing with difficult changes in their lives.

Sam loves football, both playing and watching. He may not be the best footballer, but it is clearly a passion for him, his family and friends, something that unites them. Whilst his dad is a hero to Sam, he also has another hero, Aaron Ramsey, so when he gets the opportunity to attend a friendly match between Wales and England in a few months to see him play, Sam is overjoyed and immensely looking forward to it.

Life at home is not always easy for Sam and his family so he turns to his love of football, and in particular his hero-worship of Aaron Ramsey, to help him deal with increasing arguments between his mum and dad. But then, his dad gets offered his dream – the opportunity to play for a professional football team, and an opportunity that brings the family closer together. However, when something terrible occurs that shatters his dad’s footballing dreams, the family must learn to adapt to the changes and difficulties they face, or be pulled apart by them.

I must admit that I am not a football fan (except when Ireland plays in the World or European Cup), but that didn’t matter in the slightest when reading this heartfelt story of a family coming to terms with a difficult situation with so much strength and love. It gives a powerful insight into family relationships – the things families keep hidden and what they present to others. The relationship between Sam and his dad as they deal with difficult changes is movingly portrayed.

This is a story that deals with some important issues such as illiteracy, financial worries, mental health and physical disability and their affect upon family relationships. It is also a story of hope, of support, of change, of heroism and of the joy of a shared passion.

A gorgeously told heartfelt story of family, friendship and football that is perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Firefly Press for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: Mysteries at Sea: The Royal Jewel Plot

*Written by A.M.Howell*
*Illustrated by Marco Guadalupi*
*Published by Usborne*

The Royal Jewel Plot is the second adventure in the Mysteries at Sea series which started with Peril on the Atlantic. This is another terrifically thrilling, twisty historical mystery that kept me utterly enthralled throughout.

It’s August 1936, and 12-year-old Alice is boarding the Lady Rose, a luxury steam yacht which she and her older brother Sonny have inherited from their grandfather. She is excited that she will be sharing the voyage with none other than King Edward VIII who has chartered the yacht to take a trip around the coast of Yugoslavia with his friend, Mrs Wallis Simpson.

Whilst exploring her new home with Sonny and the captain’s son, Don, they meet another guest: a poisonous octopus, Olive, who is guarding a priceless black opal. But when both the octopus and opal disappear, Alice and Sonny find themselves thrown in at the deep end of another mystery. And this time, their new home and the jobs of its crew are at risk if they don’t find the opal in time to hand it over to its owner.

So begins a fantastically enthralling, exciting mystery as Alice and Sonny work together, in a race against time, to discover the identity of the thief and their motive for stealing the opal. Their list of suspects grows ever longer – and even includes the king – as their investigation leads to uncovering secrets, discovering possible motives for committing the theft, and unravelling a trail of truths and lies. I absolutely loved following the intriguing clues as suspicion falls on different people, as danger increases, and as their investigations lead to some wonderfully unexpected revelations. Can these daring sleuths unmask the culprit before time runs out?

I loved the setting of the Lady Rose, a luxury steam yacht sailing around the coast of Yugoslavia and also enjoyed that Alice and Sonny get to disembark to explore Dubrovnik – somewhere I definitely now want to visit. I really enjoyed the 1930s historical context of the story with reference to the impending war, the king’s later decision, the role of women in society and the relationship between the paparazzi and the Royal Family.

I really liked being back with Alice and Sonny as they get to know each other as siblings. These children are incredibly likeable as they work together, and grow deeper bonds, as they investigate the crime aboard the yacht. Alice sees the Lady Rose as her new home and is eager to sail into adventures whereas Sonny, who has spent much of his life at sea, is keener to try living on land where he can have more pets than Rocket, his adorable mouse. Alice is curious, tenacious and willing to break rules whereas Sonny is more cautious, but their shared determination, resourcefulness and courage make them a perfect sleuthing team.

All aboard for another marvellous mystery at sea, guaranteed to lead young adventurers of 9+ on a terrific treasure-trail full of twists and turns. I am now eagerly anticipating the next mystery at sea in The Hollywood Kidnap Case.

Author Information

A.M. Howell has always been inspired by the stories around her, and how imagination can unlock the secrets of the past. Her thrilling historical mysteries have garnered great critical acclaim, winning both the Mal Peet Children’s Book Award, and the East Anglian Book of the Year Award, as well as being shortlisted for lots of other prizes. A.M. Howell lives in Suffolk with her husband and two sons.

Thank you so much to Kaleidoscopic Tours for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour, and to Usborne for providing me with a copy of The Royal Jewel Plot in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on this week’s Blog Tour below:

Review: Drowning in my Bedroom

*Written by Steve Cole*
*Illustrated by Oriol Vidal*
*Published by Barrington Stoke*

Drowning in my Bedroom is a hard-hitting, powerful and absolutely gripping story told through the eyes of two incredible children living in Manila who are brought together in a fight for survival.

Eleven-year-old Junjun lives in a shack under a bridge in Manila with his mother, father and four sisters. He does not go to school, but earns money for his family by begging from passing strangers in the street. When he sees a girl in a wheelchair, he is glad that he is not her …

Gayla is staying at a residential care centre to learn to adapt to using a power wheelchair even though she doesn’t want to use it as she already feels different enough from other children. When she sees a boy sorting through a pile of junk, she is glad she is not him …

When he arrives back at the bridge, Junjun discovers that a storm surge has destroyed his home, and left one of his sisters in need of medical care. Whilst his mother has taken her to try to find a Doctor, Junjun is left with instructions to wait for his father so that they can start to rebuild their home, but he needs to get medicine for his sister …

Gayla is woken by the typhoon-level storm that has destroyed Junjun’s home. She refuses to be evacuated to the local primary school and instead is determined to wait at the Centre for her father to collect her. But then she finds herself alone … until she meets Junjun hiding in the kitchen, hoping to find medicine for his sister.

Can these two children work together to survive as the water levels rise inexorably, trapping them in the Centre? My goodness, this was such a tense, heart-pounding read as Junjun and Gayla fight for survival with the very real threat of drowning in the ever-rising flood water.

This is a story that addresses poverty, disability and climate change through the eyes of two children who pull no punches when talking about these in a brutally honest manner as they make connections with each other. Gayla shares the unfairness inherent in the people of the Philippines suffering the effects of global warming when they are only responsible for half a percent of the total global emissions: they suffer due to the actions of other countries. Junjun and Gayla are such strong, inspirational children – not looking for pity and refusing to be defined by other peoples’ expectations and prejudices because of the situations they were born into. This is certainly a story that encourages empathy and understanding, and which will open discussions around climate change, inequalities and global citizenship.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are poignant and powerful and are a testament to both the danger and hope within the story.

This is a thought-provoking, compelling novella and one which I cannot recommend highly enough to readers of 11+ .

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Alyssa and the Spell Garden

*Written by Alexandra Sheppard*
*Illustrations by* *Bex Glendining*
*Published by Faber Children’s Books*

Alyssa and the Spell Garden is a magical, mesmerising contemporary fantasy that blossoms with community spirit, family and friendship.

Eleven-year-old Alyssa is spending the summer holidays with her Great-Auntie Jasmine in North London, who she has never met before, whilst her parents are working. Arriving at Jasmine’s Teas, she quickly discovers her Great-Auntie’s love for plants as she has a greenhouse and an allotment with a wide variety of plants. Although Alyssa feels welcomed, she gets upset by something she sees which provides the catalyst that releases her hidden magical powers causing chaos in the teashop.

After her Great-Auntie reveals that her family have magical powers, she invites Alyssa to attend the magical school she runs in her spell garden to learn to control her powers, and help ensure that the magic of the spell garden survives. Her great-grandmother had planted the spell garden, which uses the magical properties of plants to protect the community and help neighbours, when she arrived from Jamaica as part of the Windrush Generation. This is a legacy that the family have continued as Keepers are trained to take care of the magical plants used in spells. But why has this family heritage been kept a secret from Alyssa by her mother?

Alyssa feels a real sense of belonging as she is welcomed into the spell garden by the other children including her cousins, Rosalie and Rue. But the magic is fading and along with it the protection that it offers the community. Will Alyssa be able to discover what is causing the magic to fade before the community also disappears? And, what will she do if she discovers that she is to blame through a decision she has made?

I really enjoyed this captivating adventure and loved the use of magical plants to make healing teas and protection spells. I loved that the children who attended the magical school did not need to have magical powers in order to learn how to use the magical plants for spells. They are a group who care about their community and looking after it which brings its own magic. This is a story that also addresses some important urban issues around eviction and gentrification of an existing community as well as the importance of having natural spaces in built-up areas.

Alyssa is a wonderfully sympathetic young girl. She is struggling to come to terms with her parents’ separation and worrying about fitting in and making friends at the magic school. Feeling a sense of belonging as she makes friends and learns about her family really helps her control her magic and settle in to the community that she is determined to save when it is threatened.

The chapter heading illustrations of plants are exquisite; I loved that each of the plants included a property that leads into the writing perfectly.

A wonderfully enchanting adventure blooming with the magic of friendship and family and the spirit of community, perfect for readers of 9+.

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

Blog Tour: Skylar and the K-pop Headteacher

*Written by Luan Goldie*
*Cover and Interior Illustrations by Amy Nguyen*
*Published by Walker Books*

Skylar and the K-pop Headteacher is a sparklingly fun, heartwarming adventure where friendship, family and K-pop fandom harmonise perfectly.

Eleven-year-old Skylar and her best friend, Dana, are enthusiastic, loyal superfans of K-pop sensation, AZ8. Unable to attend their upcoming concert, they have planned to watch their comeback video at Dana’s house. When her parents won’t allow Skylar to go to Dana’s house, she shows her frustration, and is grounded for a week with her AZ8 merchandise being confiscated and watching their online videos banned.

The only item Skylar has managed to keep is her bunny ears hat, a replica of the one worn by her favourite member of the band. When she is caught wearing it by super-strict headteacher, Ms Callus, it is also confiscated. This proves the last straw for Skylar who is fed up with grown-ups telling her what to do, so she decides to confront Ms Callus to get her hat back. But Skylar gets a lot more than she bargains for when she wishes she was in charge … and finds that she has switched bodies with her headteacher.

And so begins a brilliantly funny, fast-paced adventure as Skylar’s love for dancing and AZ8 doesn’t diminish despite the aches and pains of her 71-year-old body, and leads to her uploading a video which goes viral … but will Ms Callus welcome the internet fame? Be prepared for lots of giggles as an impulsive 11-year-old must take on the responsibility of running a school and changing its strict rules whilst maintaining her dedication to her favourite boyband. Will she be prepared to risk being stuck in the wrong body for the opportunity to meet her favourite K-pop band?

This story has some wonderful messages around following your dreams no matter your age, self-belief, empathising with others, environmental activism, and the importance of family and friendship. I really liked the friendship between Skylar and Dana which felt really genuine with their falling out, making up and shared obsession with AZ8. I also liked that Skylar, through her absence, really learns to appreciate her family and their close bond.

A delightfully fun and warm-hearted adventure guaranteed to find its own fandom in readers of 9+.

Skylar and the K-pop Headteacher by Luan Goldie (£7.99, Walker Books) is available now.

Waterstones

Blackwell’s

Amazon

Luan is an award-winning author and a former primary school teacher – her
exceptional voice and sharp, witty dialogue combine with her knowledge of exactly what makes her young readers giggle to make a perfectly laugh-inducing read for both kids and grown-ups.

Thank you to Lorraine Keating and Walker Books for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour, and for providing me with a copy of Skylar and the K-pop Headteacher in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour: