Review: Magpie Girl by Rowan Foxwood

Written by Rowan Foxwood
Cover Illustration by Crystal Kung
Internal Illustrations by Tim Banks
*Published by Usborne Publishing Limited*

Magpie Girl is an utterly enchanting story, a story of belief and connection, of family and friendship, that completely captured me and swept me into the most magical adventure.

Thirteen-year-old Lavender Wild, the magpie girl, talks to birds, has a talent for finding lost things and even grows magpie feathers and has flying dreams as she sleeps. Whilst Lavender longs for adventure beyond her village of Maidswell, her father is reluctant to let her out of his sight as she had gone missing for four months five years before. So it is that Lavender finds herself accompanying her father to the home of Lord and Lady Noble to make a delivery, hoping to avoid a meeting with their son, Kit, who had been her best friend before she disappeared but who now seems to despise her even though she does not understand the cause for his dislike.

But when an earthquake occurs and Kit’s father goes missing on his annual pilgrimage to the Cries, a dormant volcano in the Ironridge Mountains, these two former friends find themselves setting out together on a perilous rescue mission. And so begins a truly magical adventure that kept me on the edge of my seat as I followed these two courageous and determined children on their dangerous, heart-pounding quest. A quest where family secrets are revealed, where a fractured friendship begins to heal and where a fabled firebird rises … Can these two work together to defeat the firebird before their village faces its flames?

I love stories which are inspired by folklore and mythology and these are seamlessly woven into this magical adventure as Lavender and Kit meet deities, daemons and witches as well as the firebird, some of whom prove allies but others frightening foes, one in particular that sent a shiver down my spine. I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but I really enjoyed discovering the breath-taking connections within the story as well as the re-connections that are made.

This captivating adventure is set in the same world as the spellbinding Heartseer, with some familiar characters, but can easily be read as a stand-alone although I have no doubt readers who have not already read Heartseer will want to seek it out after reading this story.

I absolutely adored both Lavender and Kit and loved following them, not only on their quest to save Kit’s father, but also on their journey towards self-belief and re-connection as their friendship heals and trust returns. Whilst Kit is cautious and careful, Lavender is torn between her happiness to have returned home and her longing for adventure. Their quest proves transformational for both, bringing hope of new beginnings, freedom to be themselves and an inner strength gained from being true to themselves.

The full-page illustrations are absolutely stunning and capture the magic, warmth and adventure perfectly.

A mesmerising, magical adventure, glowing with the warmth of family and friendship, perfect for young adventurers of 9+.

Thank you to Usborne for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Swanfall by Sophie Kirtley

*Written by Sophie Kirtley*
*Cover Illustration by Ben Mantle*
*Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books*

Swanfall is a magical, wintry adventure, lyrical and mesmerising, a story imbued with the wonder of nature and the bonds of friendship, that completely captivated me.

Eleven-year-old Pip has been living with his mum in Keeper’s Cott on the wetlands for four years. He is excited to welcome the return of the Arctic swans in their annual migration from Siberia to Rushy Lake, especially his three favourites: Moonshadow, Midnight and Silver, recognisable by their unique beak markings. This swanfall is a magical experience for nature-loving Pip and is an event that he helps record each year with his mum who is a wetlands ranger. But when his mum is called away to help another ranger, circumstances find Pip alone …

Awoken in the middle of the night, Pip opens the door to discover the ground laden with snow and the call of the first swans arriving. Discovering footsteps in the snow, Pip begins to wonder if an ancient story, discovered in a donated book, could be more than just a legend …

And so begins the most magical, mesmerising adventure as Pip and his friends work together to discover the incredible, heart-breaking truth behind the legend of three siblings who disappeared in tragic circumstances many years ago. Could the book Pip has found at the mobile school library hold the key to unlocking a tragedy? Could the songs appearing in the book, and whispered in the air, reveal a way to break a terrifying curse?

This is an absolutely gripping, thrilling adventure brimming with risk and danger, with breath-taking discoveries and revelations that, coupled with the short, often cliff hanger chapter endings, made this a story that I read in one sitting.

I really enjoyed the atmospheric, wintry setting on the wetlands with snowstorms and frozen lakes which have the ability to both hide and reveal, to bring both fear and hope. I adored reading Irish folklore tales when I was growing up in Ireland, and The Children of Lir is one of my favourites, so I loved how this myth is intricately woven into this contemporary story with some wonderful twists.

Pip is an incredibly likeable young boy, someone who finds it difficult to remain focussed in school, and who is worried about losing his best friend when he begins to form other friendships. He is much more confident when surrounded by the wetlands habitat and helping his mum with her work in recording the annual swanfall. I loved how teaming up with others to solve the mystery brought Pip into a wonderfully supportive friendship group with a real sense of strength and belonging.

A spellbinding story of friendship, connection and belonging, perfect to snuggle up with on a cold, wintry day to be enveloped in an unforgettable adventure.

Review: Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom

Written *by P.J. Killburn*
*Illustrated by Markia Jenai*
*Published by Little Tiger*

Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom is the start of a spine-tingling new series, set in contemporary London, with a fantastic fusion of Caribbean folklore, heart and humour.

Aspiring film-maker Jermaine’s work on his entry for the junior film competition isn’t exactly going to plan when his werewolf is attacked by a little old lady with a walking stick. Arranging to meet his cast the following day to continue filming, Jermaine intends to continue getting some shots that evening until he is abruptly reminded that he has somewhere else he needs to be …

Jermaine’s great-great-uncle Carl has died and he needs to attend his Dead Yard, a party to celebrate his life with lots of music and food. Heading outside to the marquee to avoid the dancing, Jermaine can’t helping treating himself to one of his mother’s patties which leads him into trouble with his great-great-grandmother, Miss Nell, who warns him that eating before midnight, when the spirit passes to the afterlife, is forbidden. Imagine his shock when he also finds out that he’s in trouble with his Uncle Carl who has not passed on, but is instead following him home as they’re now connected – and Jermaine is the only one who can see him! Can Jermaine undo what he has inadvertently done and help Uncle Carl pass on? Or does Uncle Carl have another reason for not passing on?

When his friend Annette calls round, Jermaine discovers that children are falling ill with a mystery sickness, a sickness that soon affects his little sister Kayla. Can Jermaine, best friends Assad and Annette, and Uncle Carl discover the cause of this illness and save the children before something even worse is unleashed?

I really enjoyed this action-packed, exciting story with its blend of horror and humour which sits perfectly within middle-grade. Representation in children’s stories is so important so that children can see themselves in books and so that they can learn about different cultures so it was wonderful to see the celebration of Caribbean culture with its music, dance, food and stories. I loved learning more about its folklore through the stories Miss Nell tells, but could they be more than just stories? With strangers lurking in the neighbourhood, cursed cassava seeds causing chaos and children in danger, there is plenty of mystery, uncertainty and revelations to make this an enthralling read.

Jermaine is an incredibly likeable young boy who clearly adores his wonderful extended family and values his friendships. He has a keen interest in film-making and loves food – something that leads him into more trouble than he might have expected! I loved his growing bond with Uncle Carl as he learns more about him and as they work together to save those they care about.

I really enjoyed the setting of contemporary London with the mention of familiar places alongside the culture and folklore of a Caribbean community. I adored the strong sense of community within the story with people coming together to support each other when things become difficult.

The front cover of this book is absolutely stunning and I have no doubt will encourage readers to pick up this book and then make connections as they read. The internal illustrations are also wonderful and capture both the sense of danger and strength of family perfectly.

Cric? Crac! This is superb story for spooky season and is perfect for readers of 9+ to curl up with and enjoy – maybe with some patties.

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