Review: Time Travellers: Adventure Calling

*Written by Sufiya Ahmed*
*Illustrations by Alessia Trunfio*
*Published by Little Tiger*

Time Travellers: Adventure Calling is the first in an exciting new series of historical timeslip adventures. Perfect for readers of 8+ who I have no doubt will not only be gripped by the thrilling adventure but will also find themselves immersed in learning about aspects of our missing diverse history.

Suhana, Mia and Ayaan are visiting the Houses of Parliament after having been chosen as winner and runners-up in an art competition run by their local MP. Suhana has joined Year 6, and does not really know Mia and Ayaan who are good friends. When they arrive with their Headteacher, Mr Hayes, they witness a Fridays for Future protest against climate change by a group of teenagers. Whilst Mr Hayes is disdainful of the protest, attesting that it is a waste of time, another teacher disagrees, citing the suffragette movement.

Once inside the Houses of Parliament for a tour, the children are immediately fascinated by its history and organisation. After the tour, Suhana is keen to go back to Westminster Hall to learn more about women’s suffrage, but then she hears a phone ringing, her phone … and the three children find themselves spinning back through time to 17^th June 1911, and into the middle of a women’s suffrage demonstration.

Suhana is surprised to see Indian women taking part in the march, and immediately races towards them, losing Mia and Ayaan in the crowd. She meets Lolita Roy and her niece, Reena, who are suffragists focussed on peaceful campaigning; they invite her to take part in the march. But will Suhana be reunited with her new friends in time to return to the present? Can her experiences and discoveries in the past impact on the history which is presented in the present?

This is a brilliant adventure with plenty of fast-paced action, danger and discoveries as the children race against time to find their way back home whilst learning more about the suffrage movement and the diversity within it that is not common knowledge in the present.

Suhana is an incredibly sympathetic young girl. She has joined a new school in Year 6 and has been fostered since her mother left. Her Headteacher doesn’t like her and takes every opportunity to belittle her. It is such a credit to Suhana that she remains curious, impulsive and enthusiastic: her inner strength in the face of adversity is so inspiring as is her desire to have hidden aspects of our diverse history revealed. Mia and Ayaan prove themselves to be wonderful friends to Suhana and, together, these three make a great time travelling team.

There is a wonderful section at the end of the book which gives more information about the Women’s Suffrage Movement and key over-looked figures in its movement in the UK: Lolita Roy and Princess Sophia Duleep Singh. There is also further information about Fridays for Future.

This is a terrific start to this new time-travelling series, and I’m really looking forward to joining Suhana, Mia and Ayaan in their next adventure: Secrets and Spies.

Thank you to Little Tiger for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts by Alex Bell

*Written by Alex Bell*
*Illustrations by Tim McDonagh*
*Published by Faber*

Wow! Wow! Wow! I know it’s only the start of the year but The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts is already a contender for my book of the year! A splendiferous, magical adventure that transported me into an incredible world that I didn’t want to leave. The sheer enjoyment, connection and immersion I felt whilst reading this is a testament to the brilliance of the storytelling. This is the kind of story that makes readers – and that’s a real-life magic power! If there’s any doubt – this is an absolute must-read!

Twelve-year-old Eli is an apprentice librarian at the Royal Library in the Port City of Harmonia. And this is a job that suits the quiet, tweed-wearing Eli perfectly. He can live a safe, sensible life with his best friend, Humphrey who just so happens to be a poetry-loving moon tortoise, looking forward to celebrating his hundredth birthday. Whilst Eli may not be looking for adventure, adventure has a way of finding those with courageous, true hearts …

When Eli discovers that his Nana is unwell, he decides to enter the Glorious Race of Magical Beasts in order to sell the prize to pay for the treatment his Nana needs. This is no easy decision for Eli as his parents died during a race. But Eli adores his Nana and is prepared to do anything to save her, even if this means defying her wishes, and sailing into the adventure of his life …

And so begins the most magical, daring and dangerous adventure as Eli boards his friend, Jeremiah’s, ship, the Nepo to compete to get to each checkpoint in the race. It is not long before he is joined by Raven and her ice hare, who has her own reasons for winning the race. Can this trio work together, not only to overcome the many perils placed in their path by the race, but also a threat from someone hunting one of them? Can they trust each other in a race which can only have one winner, or will their secrets pull them apart? I really don’t want to say anything more for fear of spoilers, but suffice to say that this is an action-packed adventure brimming with unexpected happenings, oodles of danger, both scary and wonderful magical creatures and the most exciting race through the most fantastical places.

The world-building is quite simply sublime from the Royal Library (oh yes – libraries of all sorts are an important part of this adventure – and I’m all for that!) with its own bats to a dessert-selling restaurant with chocolate penguin waiters and an island where you will never view balloons the same again! Be prepared to meet a sentient ship, a vampire librarian and a mermaid queen and so many other extraordinary creatures of sky, land and sea as the race unfolds. I must say I am in awe of the author’s imagination and wonder if she has her own inspire-rat!

Oh my goodness! I absolutely adored Eli who has so much inner strength, kindness and courage. It is so wonderful to see that quiet, bookish children can have great adventures whilst remaining true to themselves. We underestimate them at our peril! It was so wonderful to see Eli find that he has things in common with Raven as their friendship grows. There is so much more to these three remarkable children than I have mentioned, but I think this is something readers need to discover for themselves. I have no doubt that they will be just as awestruck by these revelations as I was. I just have to mention Humphrey, the moon tortoise, who is just adorable with his penchant for over-confidence in his own abilities which brought me lots of smiles.

The illustrated chapter headings include a range of magical beasts and are absolutely stunning.

A marvellously magical adventure into a fantastical world that will completely captivate its readers, and take them on an incredible reading experience that they’ll want to return to again and again … an absolute must-buy!

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

Review: Shiver Point: A Tap at the Window by Gabriel Dylan

*Written by Gabriel Dylan*
*Cover Illustration by Brittney Bond*
*Published by Piccadilly Press on 1st February*

The Shiver Squad are back for another shiveringly spooky, action-packed adventure in Shiver Point: A Tap at the Window.

Riley is in her treehouse working on her latest invention when she hears screams coming from across the fields, and sees some children from Point Academy running away from Darkraven Farm which has been derelict for many years. But could something else also be making its way towards Shiver Point, something intent on revenge …

The following day, Riley and her friends are on a school trip to the local Shivering Post printworks and newsroom but, when they arrive, the police are already there. The children sneak in to the building where they learn that an intruder has vandalised the offices and broken into the archives: what could they have been looking for? Before the children can discover more, they are caught by their teacher and given an after-school detention.

After a terrifying encounter at school, the Shiver Squad find themselves at the heart of another mystery involving break-ins, missing items and sightings of strange figures in town. Could these occurrences have anything to do with the scarecrow that Riley has recently seen from her treehouse? And what is it that taps on her window three times as a storm is brewing?

Determined to save their town, and themselves, from further harm, the Shiver Squad make their way to Darkraven Farm to seek the truth behind the rumours which have haunted it for 25 years – ever since the owner and his family abandoned their home. And, oh my goodness, what they find sent shivers down my spine. Be prepared for frights and fights, danger and daring and just the right amount of grossness and horror. This is a genuinely tense, edge-of-your-seat read as clues are uncovered, truths are revealed and peril increases from a terrifyingly menacing source. Thank goodness for the humour scattered throughout which allowed me to stop holding my breath long enough to survive the adventure!

I loved following these determined and courageous children as they race to stop something truly terrifying from seeking revenge on their town. They have been brought together through their last adventure and are now firm friends with a wonderful camaraderie. This adventure gives more insight into Riley’s life as she cares for her grandfather, worried that asking for help might see her losing him. I loved how the rest of the Squad are there for her when she shares her concerns. I have to say that I have a real soft spot for Mo who is ever so cautious and sensible yet pushes himself to face his fears and support his friends – even though I think he’d rather be gardening and bird watching – much safer!

A chilling, creepy, not-to-be-missed mystery brimming with scares, screams, humour and friendship. Perfect for horror fans of 9+ who will be waiting with bated breath to join the Shiver Squad again!

Thank you to Piccadilly Press for sending me an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Dreamstalkers: The Night Train by Sarah Driver

*Written by Sarah Driver*
*Cover Illustration by Diana Renzina*
*Published by Farshore*

Dreamstalkers: The Night Train is a mesmerising, magical adventure that took me on an unforgettable journey into a world of disappearing dreams and roaming nightmares aboard the Night Train as I entered the world of the Dreamstalkers …

Twelve-year-old Bea Grimspuddle lives in a cottage on Thunderheart Tor with her mum, Ula and her long-eared owl, Pip. Sitting in an ancient dragon-skull, Bea views the wild moors below pondering why her dreams have disappeared. When she sees a girl from the settlement, Martha Hearthsweep, approaching her cottage, she races towards home where she discovers that everyone’s dreams have disappeared … and in their place nightmares have escaped into the living world. This scourge of nightmares threatens to destroy Thunderheart, forcing those living there to abandon their home.

When Bea breaks the news that they must leave to her mother, she discovers that Ula has been keeping secrets from her, secrets that may reveal the reason behind her mother’s sickness. But before Bea can persuade her mother to leave, a mysterious steam train arrives outside the cottage, and Bea finds herself boarding the Night Train …

And so begins the most incredible adventure as Bea, Pip and Martha journey aboard the Night Train to Silvervein where they are thrown into the mysterious world of the Dreamstalkers, a secret guild of mages, who are responsible for keeping the balance between dreams and nightmares. But what happens when the balance is broken and someone is intent on usurping dreams and inflicting nightmares for their own gain? Can Bea connect with her wild magic, enter the world of the Dreamstalkers and find a way to save her mother before the nightmares stalking her catch up with her, destroying her hopes and dreams?

This is an adventure that really immersed me in a fascinating, intricate world with the most incredible, cinematic world-building: a world of dreams and nightmares; of magic and secret guilds; of music and theatre; of mythical creatures, sentient locomotives and malefic rivers; and of wild mountains, moors and wandering towers. I absolutely loved exploring Silvervein and the world of the Dreamstalkers with Bea, learning about their history, their remarkable magical abilities, and their terrible exploitation. Utterly absorbing!

I was completely captivated as I eagerly followed Bea on her quest, not only mesmerised by the world I found myself in, but on the edge of my seat as the increasing danger for Bea and her friends reached a crescendo, as secrets were revealed and as friends and foes were unmasked.

Bea is a wonderful protagonist and I liked her all the more because of her fallibility. She has been ostracised by her peers and finds friendship with her adorable, long-eared owl, Pip – their close bond is wonderfully heart-warming. Her developing friendship with Martha is by no means easy and at times it is fractious and difficult laced with jealousy and hurt. Bea is trying to find her place in the world, who she really is, whilst finding the courage and strength to fight against a terrifying foe who seeks to control the world that she wants to become part of. I really liked that she is a complex young girl which makes her feel more genuine and someone who readers can relate to.

A captivating, magical adventure into an unforgettable world where nightmares roam, but dreams may be realised … perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Thank you for the Publisher, Farshore, for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: How Do Meerkats Order Pizza? by Brooke Barker

Who wouldn’t be intrigued by a book entitled: How Do Meerkats Order Pizza? and this one is an absolute feast of fun and facts where the scientists who study animals share what they have learned about a brilliant selection of animals.

The book starts with some favourite animal facts and asks where these facts come from. I can see children quickly becoming immersed in sharing their favourite animal facts, before learning that these facts often come from scientists. And the interjections by the animals will bring immediate giggles!

It then introduces a series of scientists and the animals which they study with an illustration of the scientist and animal. There are gorgeous illustrations of the animals, lots of fascinating facts and colourful graphic novel style illustrations with hilarious callouts which are guaranteed to bring giggles.

Learn about how meerkats communicate, find out about the discovery of a new ocean species, and learn whether or not primates get grossed out. Did you know that crows remember human faces? Or that gars look the same today as they did when the Tyrannosaurus rex was live? Have you ever wondered how roosters know it is morning? Or that jaguars love the smell of perfume? Every animal chosen makes utterly fascinating reading, and I can absolutely see children wanting to find out more, not just about the animal, but about the scientists who study them. Perfect for STEM education.

What a fantastic way to make learning fun, memorable and engaging, and to introduce the world of animal scientists to children. I think this book is a wonderful introduction not only to some amazing animals, but also to some brilliant scientists and the lengths they will go to in order to learn more about the animals they study. Anyone for peeing in a bottle? How about getting stuck in deep mud? Or making fake poo? And have you ever tried to suck up an insect through a pooter? I love that children will get to see these scientists as real people who loved animals as children and who followed their dreams of studying animals as their career.

And, How Do Meerkats Order Pizza? Read this fascinating, hilarious book to discover the answer to this, and many other intriguing questions about the incredible animals we share this wonderful planet with. This is a book that should be in every school library, and is a teacher’s dream for engaging children in purposeful, fun learning!

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

BEAT THE BACKLIST READING CHALLENGE 2024

I took part in this Challenge last year and thought it was a great way to focus me on reading backlist titles that have been on my bookshelves for a while. Whilst I didn’t meet my target of 55 books, I did read 42 and am going to add the ones I didn’t get to on to this year’s challenge.

The Beat the Backlist Challenge is in its eighth year and was started by Austine Decker. Details of how to take part are on the blog but the rules are simple:

The book must have been published in 2023 or earlier.
You have to start and finish the book in 2024.
And that’s it!

The 2024 challenge runs from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024.

My target for this year is 46 middle-grade books.

The first 13 are the books I didn’t get to last year:

The next 33 are the books I bought last year, but which I haven’t read yet:

I’m hoping that I can meet the challenge this year – as well as reading lots of new releases this year!

Graphic Novel Review: Pablo and Splash by Sheena Dempsey

*Written and Illustrated by Sheena Dempsey*
*Published by Bloomsbury*
*Published on 18th January*

Pablo and Splash is a wonderfully funny, full-colour graphic novel that is guaranteed to delight young readers of 8+ as they adventure back in time with two accidental time-travellers.

Even though she’s a penguin, Splash is not a fan of the Antarctica temperatures, and relies on a trusty scarf and hat for added warmth – even when she’s in a penguin huddle. Whilst her best friend, Pablo, thinks their home is paradise, Splash longs for a luxury holiday … in the sun! But how to get there?

After falling down an ice hole, the two friends are captured by Professor O’Brain and, whilst trying to escape her clutches, find themselves in a time-travel machine which transports them to a beach, but one which they’re sharing with … DINOSAURS! Can these accidental explorers find their way home? Or will they be stuck in the past, avoiding becoming the next meal for the locals?

This is such a fun read that brought plenty of giggles! The language is wonderfully playful including some fantastic puns – especially the fishy ones! The interactions between the two friends are just brilliant – filled with humour, warmth and oh so many problems to solve!

I adored the friendship between Splash and Pablo who are both incredibly likeable penguins! Pablo is more cautious, careful, and sensible whilst Splash is more curious, impetuous and daring with a sense of adventure. But what a brilliant pair they make as they team up to solve a rather big problem!

I loved the bright, vivid full-colour illustrations throughout which complement the energy, humour and warmth of the adventure. And, I didn’t know that penguin beaks and flippers could be so expressive!

The endmatter includes a guide for drawing Pablo and Splash and factual information. I especially enjoyed Pablo and Splash’s completely and absolutely true facts, particularly those about huddling and the Southern Lights.

A krill-tastic, laugh-out-loud adventure that is sure to capture the imaginations of young readers who, I have no doubt, will have a whale of a time as they join Pablo and Splash on their first time-travelling adventure.

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

Review: Marvin and the Book of Magic by Jenny Pearson with illustrations by Aleksei Bitskoff

Marvin and the Book of Magic is a heart-warming and hilarious tale that had me giggling and feeling fuzzy in equal measure.

Marvin has given up on his dream of becoming a magician after a disastrous appearance on a TV Talent Show involving a badly-behaved squirrel and ensuing chaos. Giggles guaranteed!

Marvin has always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his beloved grandad who had been a magician and had believed Marvin had a gift for magic, but Marvin no longer believes in this. His confidence and self-belief have been dented by the reaction to his TV performance which has made him doubt himself.

When his best friend Asha encourages him to take part in the school talent show, Marvin is adamant that he will never perform again. In fact, he is so sure that magic is no longer for him that he trades his box of magic tricks in exchange for an old book – a magic book. Has he just been conned, or is there still some small part of him that believes in magic? Can he find his magic again and make a comeback in the school talent show?

Be prepared for giggles galore as Marvin finds out more about his magical abilities through the book of magic, as his best friend Asha practises her talent show routine (seriously brilliant) and as they take to the stage.

I loved the friendship between Marvin and Asha which felt really genuine. Asha is confident, enthusiastic and brimming with positivity and, as soon as Marvin shows an interest in the talent show, she is immediately supportive. Will Marvin find his confidence and self-belief again? There is magic in this wonderful friendship and I absolutely loved how this was shown in the story.

The full-and-partial page illustrations throughout are wonderfully expressive and complement their warmth and humour of the story perfectly.

This is a gorgeously heart-warming, hilarious story brimming with the magic of sincere friendship, perfect for young readers of 7+.

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages. This one is for ages 7+ with a reading age of 7.

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

12 children’s books with a snowy setting …

Last week, I shared some of my favourite books set during the Christmas period, so today I thought I’d share some of my absolute favourite books that have snowy settings …

Where I have written a blog post for a book, I have shared it alongside the synopsis from Waterstones.

When Tasha builds a snow girl with her grandpa, all she wants is for her to be real. If only wishes on snow could come true… Then Tasha meets Alyana, a friend made of wishes, starlight, snowfall and magic. But when your best friend is made of winter, what do you do when spring comes?

You can read my review here.

Barbegazi are fabled creatures who live in the alps, rather like gnomes. Tessa knows that they exist because her beloved grandfather told her about them. So she sets out to prove to her family and friends that her grandfather wasn’t just a confused old man. Soon she finds not only a family of Barbegazi but also a dastardly plot to kidnap one and keep it captive. But Tessa realises that uncovering the truth carries great responsibilities – and sometimes things have to remain a secret.

A young Viking girl is swept by a storm on to a desolate English
beach. Cruelly orphaned there, Ylva becomes set on revenge, tracking
a killer through dangerous hinterland.

She wants only the favour of the Norse gods and the comfort of
her stories. But when a stranger decides to protect Ylva –
seeming to understand her where others cannot – Ylva must
decide if her own legend will end in vengeance or forgiveness …

You can read my review here.

Way out in the furthest part of the known world, a tiny stronghold exists all on its own, cut off from the rest of human-kin by monsters that lurk beneath the Snow Sea. There, a little boy called Ash waits for the return of his parents, singing a forbidden lullaby to remind him of them… and doing his best to avoid his very, VERY grumpy yeti guardian, Tobu.

But life is about to get a whole lot more crazy-adventurous for Ash. When a brave rescue attempt reveals he has amazing magical powers, he’s whisked aboard the Frostheart, a sleigh packed full of daring explorers who could use his help. But can they help him find his family . . . ?

You can read my review here.

In the snowy kingdom of Erkenwald, whales glide between icebergs, wolves hunt on the tundra and polar bears roam the glaciers. But the people of this land aren’t so easy to find – because Erkenwald is ruled by an evil Ice Queen and the tribes must stay hidden or risk becoming her prisoners at Winterfang Palace.

Join Eska, a girl who breaks free from a cursed music box, and Flint, a boy whose inventions could change the fate of Erkenwald forever, as they journey to the Never Cliffs and beyond in search of an ancient, almost forgotten, song with the power to force the Ice Queen back.

Deep in the forest, magic is waiting . . .

Sparkling with frost and magic, Shadows of Winterspell will sweep you up in a world of friendship and magic, to uncover family secrets and find out who you really are.

Stella has been living behind the magic of the forest for most of her life. Lonely, she enrolls at the local school, and as she begins to make friends, she discovers that she is even more different than she thought. But as autumn turns to magical winter, Stella realizes that uncovering her own family secret is the only way to release the forest from the grip of a dark and old magic.

At the stroke of midnight on the dawn of December, five-year-old Finn Albedo is found frozen in the city park standing on a pedestal of ice. His heart is beating, he is smiling serenely, but no one can wake him. Finn’s big sister, Bianca, suspects that the beautiful sparkling book Finn got from the library has something to do with it, but the book has vanished. Does the tall mysterious stranger who first discovered Finn know more than they will admit?

Each day, more children are found frozen and Bianca realizes she’s running out of time. Her quest to discover the truth and rescue her little brother hurls her into a fantastical winter wonderland, full of beauty and danger, where all is not as it seems. Can Bianca save her brother and the other Ice Children before they are forever lost?

You can read my review here.

When Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are sent to stay with a kind professor who lives in the country, they can hardly imagine the extraordinary adventure that awaits them.

It all begins when the children explore the professor’s rambling old house. When they come across a room with an old wardrobe in the corner, Lucy opens the door and gets inside. To her amazement, she suddenly finds herself standing in a wood, with snowflakes falling through the air. Lucy has found Narnia, a magical land of fauns and centaurs, nymphs and talking animals and the magnificent lion, Aslan. They are joined by the beautiful but evil White Witch, who has held the country in eternal winter for a hundred years.

You can read my review here.

It sounded like a respectable and worthy enough death for an explorer – tumbling from an ice bridge to be impaled upon a mammoth tusk – but Stella really, really didn’t want that to happen, just the same.

Join Stella Starflake Pearl and her three fellow explorers as they trek across the snowy Icelands and come face-to-face with frost fairies, snow queens, outlaw hideouts, unicorns, pygmy dinosaurs and carnivorous cabbages . . .

When Stella and three other junior explorers get separated from their expedition can they cross the frozen wilderness and live to tell the tale?

Feodora and her mother live in the snowbound woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feodora’s mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training. A wolf wilder is the opposite of an animal tamer: it is a person who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run, and to be wary of humans.

When the murderous hostility of the Russian Army threatens her very existence, Feo is left with no option but to go on the run. What follows is a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.

Somewhere in the deep and frozen north is an island surrounded entirely by ice. The inhabitants love their snowstorm isle-with its scattered wooden cottages, its small patches of forest, and its single mountain peak. Most of all they love the magnificent ice bears that roam the streets, giving the island its name-The Isle of Bears.

Life with bears is dangerous, as Marv Jackson knows-the large crescent moon shaped scar on his face acts as a constant reminder of the night he survived a bear attack. But something tells him the legendary tale of that night, isn’t quite the full story, and that the truth lies with a mysterious skating girl and her magnificent polar bear.

Mila and her sisters live with their brother Oskar in a small forest cabin in the snow. One night, a fur-clad stranger arrives seeking shelter for himself and his men. But by the next morning, they’ve gone – taking Oskar with them.

Fearful for his safety, Mila and her sisters set out to bring Oskar back – even it means going north, crossing frozen wild-lands to find a way past an eternal winter.

Have you read any of these? Have you any other snowy setting recommendations?

Review: Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency

*Written by Chris Smith*
*Illustrated by Kenneth Anderson*
*Published by Puffin Books*

Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency is an absolute riot of a magical adventure which is guaranteed to bring giggles galore and keep any young (and older) reader completely entranced.

After being chased by trainee knights from the Knights’ Academy, Mutt finds himself in front of a building he has never seen before in Meandermart: the Magical Detective Agency. When Mutt sees a sign advertising for an apprentice, he decides to apply, and is offered a trial by the lead detective, Clarity Jones. Just like the rest of Meandermart, Mutt has no idea what a detective is (which is not surprising as Clarity has invented the word) but he is intrigued, and desperate, enough to accept her offer of a trial period with the Magical Detective Agency. He joins a rather unusual team: a walking chest filled with magical items, a snowgnoblin obsessed with clean fur, an assassin with a penchant for knives and Clarity Jones who has forged her own career path!

It is not long before Mutt is called upon to prove himself worthy of becoming an apprentice when the Detective Agency are given a mystery to solve by none other than the Duchess who is the Warden of Meandermart. Her jester has gone missing and she wants him found before important visitors arrive.

And so begins a fantastically action-packed, hilarious adventure as the Agency find themselves in a race against time to hunt down clues to find the jester who seems to have disappeared into thin air. Will they be able to find him before he needs to entertain the Duchess’s guests? Can they discover who is behind his disappearance and what they have to gain? And will anyone be able to explain exactly what a detective does?

I love the narrator’s asides which give the reader insights before the characters are aware whilst still keeping plenty of surprises in store. There is oodles of peril, wonderful twists, laughs galore and a fast-paced plot that kept me thoroughly entertained.

The characters are all absolutely wonderful and incredibly likeable from Mirko, the snow gnoblin who is ~~rather~~ incredibly fussy about the cleanliness of his fur – to be fair, white is really hard to keep clean. Smyll, the walking chest, stores a wonderful collection of magical items which Clarity makes great use during her investigations. She has followed her own path, searching for magical items and inventing her own detective agency. She is also someone who sees potential in others and gives them a chance when they need it. Oh, and she loves pockets – enough said! Nissassa (very clever name!) was an assassin for the notorious White Hand Clan who has definitely not become de-skilled. And then, there’s Mutt who I absolutely adored. He is clever, kind-hearted and courageous, and is looking for a place to belong. Will he find family and friendship by completing his apprenticeship?

I love a map in a book and this one has a wonderfully detailed map of Meandermart. There are also stunning expressive full-and-partial-page illustrations throughout which complement the action and humour perfectly.

This is an absolutely delightful, hilarious fantasy adventure that I have no doubt young readers will adore – just as much as I did!

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