Review: The Wanderdays: Journey to Fantome Island

*Written by Clare Povey*
*Cover Illustration by Ben Mantle*
*Published by Usborne*

The Wanderdays: Journey to Fantome Island is an exciting, enthralling aquatic adventure that completely captured me.

Twelve-year-old Nellie Wanderday is making breakfast, wondering when her mum, Nellie, will phone, when she is given the most terrible news by her best friend, Funmi. Her mum, a famous ocean explorer and documentary maker, has been reported missing whilst on her latest expedition in the North Atlantis Ocean.

After receiving an enigmatic message from an environmental journalist and friend of their mum, Flo and her brother, Joseph discover that their mum is involved in a dangerous mission. She is searching for proof that local TV presenter, Sir Frederick Titan, is not the environmental hero that he claims to be, but rather that he has been exploiting and destroying habitats for profit. Could Titan have discovered that Nellie was investigating him? Could he be responsible for the disappearance of her boat? And, what is the secret project he is hiding from the world on the mysterious Fantome Island?

So begins the most brilliant, edge-of-your-seat, exciting adventure. Flo, Joseph and their best friends, Funmi and Isaac, join Nellie’s friend, Marianne de la Mer, aboard a submarine in search of Nellie, and to discover the secrets of Fantome Island and proof of Titan’s crimes against the natural world. I loved the clever uncovering of clues along the way which allowed the children to follow Nellie’s trail. There is plenty of danger, threat and tension that kept me eagerly turning pages and I must admit I was completely taken by surprise at some of the twists and turns – utterly brilliant.

There is a powerful and pertinent environmental message weaved throughout the adventure which addresses exploitation of natural resources, damage to ocean life caused by ghost nets and the climate crisis.

I really liked the strong sibling bond between Flo and her younger brother, Joseph. Flo is incredibly supportive and protective of her brother who has OCD and is there for him when his intrusive thoughts and worries becoming overwhelming. Joseph has a natural curiosity and a love of marine life and doesn’t let his OCD hold him back from exploration and adventure. All four children have their own strengths and talents which make them a great team as they show courage and determination in standing against a vile villain.

A fantastic start to an exhilarating new series where friendship, teamwork and courage meet danger and dastardly villains – perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Thank you to Usborne for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The River Spirit written by Lucy Strange and illustrated by Júlia Moscardó

*Written by Lucy Strange*
*Illustrated by Júlia Moscardó*
*Published by Barrington Sto*ke

The River Spirit is a powerful, poignant and hopeful story intertwining history and myth to create a richly atmospheric tale which completely entranced me.

Young chimney sweep Tom Waterman has started seeing strange things that should not be there: a soot monster in the chimney, fairies in the flowers by the river and the ghosts of dead ferrymen in the reeds. When Tom and his friends, Bert and Squirrel, are taken to the river by their cruel master, Mister Crow, for their weekly wash, he sees another supernatural being, a river spirit, but she is different to the other beings as she can be seen by Mister Crow and Tom’s friends.

After saving him from Mister Crow’s cruelty, Elle follows Tom, and is with him when he has to clean chimneys, filthy, soot-laden chimneys that are becoming too narrow for him to climb. His job is a dangerous one, and when Tom puts the safety of a new apprentice above his own, the purpose of Elle’s appearance becomes apparent …

This story does not shy away from the harsh reality of life for young chimney sweeps in 19^th century Britain. Tom and his friends are bought by a Master Sweep and become his property, and are denied their freedom as they are forced into a dangerous job which many do not survive. The children’s appalling living and working conditions portrays the heart-breaking reality of young children forced into child labour as they are poor, orphaned or have had to become money-earners to support their family. This historical background will open up discussions about child labour in 19^th century Britain and encourage empathy both for children in this historical period, but also open opportunities to discuss modern-day child labour.

My heart ached for Tom as he daydreams of a life before his freedom was taken from him when he was six, bought from the Poor House, and forced to work as a climbing boy by a harsh master who cares nothing for his apprentices’ wellbeing. Tom, a ferryman’s son, never forgets where his true home is and the importance of his name, and feels close to home when he is washing in the river where he first meets Elle. He longs for the freedom of the river, yet is trapped in exploitation by a terrifyingly cruel owner. Tom is such an empathetic young boy, showing kindness, friendship and protection towards others. Tom’s decision to protect a new apprentice is a catalyst for change, and his courage brings hope of a better life for others.

The illustrations are stunning and perfectly capture both the ethereal elements of the story and the heart-breaking reality of life for young chimney sweeps.

The River Spirit is a heart-rending novella portraying the dreadful working and living conditions faced by young children in 19^th century Britain, but it is also a story of friendship, kindness and hope.

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages. This is suitable for 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: The Island at the Edge of Night by Lucy Strange

Written by Lucy Strange
Cover Illustration by Katie Hickey
Published by Chicken House

The Island at the Edge of Night is a dark, suspenseful, gothic mystery that completely captured me as I was swept into an absorbing adventure on a remote Scottish island where danger lies and secrets unfold.

Something happens to 12-year-old Faye Fitzgerald one fateful, stormy night, a night in which she creeps towards an ancient yew tree guarding a graveyard, a night in which she hears a scream … but Faye’s memories of that night are buried deep within her.

The events of that night are the reason that Faye finds herself on a ferry boat to a newly opened boarding school on a bleak, isolated Scottish island, a place where wicked children are sent to be reformed. What wickedness could Faye have perpetrated to lead to her being sent away from her family?

The school on Auk Island is run by Dr Lighter and his wife, Nurse Violet, who run it more like a prison, keeping the children locked in their rooms at night for their own safety and ensuring that they work hard for their board.

The island is a desolate place, with no trees, so Faye feels she must be mistaken when she hears an owl. Having been surrounded by nature when she lived in the Forest House with her botanist father, Faye yearns to have the freedom to roam the island and feels drawn to its towering mountain, the Knife. Instead, she is kept indoors, locked in her room and is supervised on outings to exercise.

Until one night Faye finds her room has been left open by someone who needs her help, someone who the children have been told has died on the island … and he has access to secret passages and keys to locked doors.

And so begins the most gripping mystery as Faye finds herself embroiled in uncovering family secrets, in discovering a seam of dark treachery within the school and in keeping the children on the island safe. This is an incredibly atmospheric, intricate read where there is a genuine sense of endangerment and threat that kept me on a knife-edge as I learned truths alongside Faye and was left stunned by the unexpected twists and turns.

Faye is an incredibly sympathetic young girl who had been brought up by a loving father until his experiences in the First World War and his own disappointments lead to him turning away from his home to move in with, and rely, on his sister. Faye feels a visceral affinity to nature and is determined to connect with the natural environment, and the freedom and release it brings her, when she is taken to Auk Island. I loved the otherworldliness of this deep connection which felt raw, wild and life-affirming for Faye. I really admired Faye’s fearlessness, resilience and determination in fighting to help others on the island, in uncovering the island’s sinister secrets whilst, at the same time, trying to find the courage to face the secrets she keeps deep within herself.

A masterfully written, breath-taking and gripping mystery rooted in family, friendship and the healing power of nature that richly deserves to become a classic of gothic literature.

Thank you to Lorraine Keating and Chicken House books for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blog Tour: The Tower Ghost by Natasha Mac a’Bháird

Written by Natasha Mac a’Bháird
Cover Illustration by Lauren O’Neill
Published by The O’Brien Press

The Tower Ghost is a brilliantly spooky, gripping mystery set in a 1960s Irish Boarding School where danger lurks, friendships grow and truths unfold … perfect for readers of 9+ who are sure to be enthralled by this intriguing story.

Twelve-year-old Clare O’Neill’s dream of attending Sycamore Hill Boarding School has come true after being awarded a scholarship there. Whilst trying on her new uniform, she meets Rose Carlisle who is two things she is not: confident and well-off. When she arrives at Sycamore Hill, Clare again meets Rose and both girls are excited to be sharing a dorm.

That evening, Clare is awoken by the sound of someone sobbing. Thinking it is new girl, Molly, she goes to sympathise with her as she is also feeling homesick, but discovers that Molly is asleep. Could she have been imagining the sound, or is there a mystery to solve?

When Clare sees a girl looking out of the window of the out-of-bounds tower and hears tapping and crying from her dorm at night, she discovers that a girl has died there, in mysterious circumstances, years ago. Could the school have its own ghost who is haunting the tower?

The friends are determined to find out who the girl in the tower is and so begin their own investigation, but could they be drawing the attention of a killer with their actions?

I absolutely loved this spine-tingling, atmospheric mystery which had me on the edge-of-my-seat as I followed its unravelling by three daring and determined young sleuths. I loved the twists and turns, the secrets and revelations, and was never sure of the culprit. I could really feel the growing sense of danger as the girls move ever closer to revealing the truth, delving into the past and revealing truths that others would prefer to remain hidden.

The setting of an isolated boarding school, complete with towers and a graveyard, on a clifftop overlooking the ocean, with an out-of-bounds forest at the edge of the school grounds, is the perfect setting for an intriguing, intricate mystery. It provides a brilliant opportunity for sneaking around at night, entering forbidden places and the tension of being caught by those in authority. On a personal note, I loved that it was set in County Donegal as this was where I was born and raised.

I really enjoyed the friendship which develops between Clare, Rose and Molly which feels really genuine as they become wonderfully close and supportive of each other, opening up about their lives and feelings, and seeking to right a past wrong. They show great courage, resourcefulness and resilience as they seek the truth which sometimes leads them to taking risks and facing real danger.

An absorbing, atmospheric boarding school mystery, and the start of what promises to be a fantastic new series.

Thank you to The O’Brien Press for inviting me to me part of the Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy of The Tower Ghost in exchange for my honest opinion.

Do check out the other stops on the Blog Tour: