grief – Book Craic

Written by Emma Green
Cover Illustration by Jack Noel
*Published by Usborne Publishing Limited*

The Not-So Great Escape is a hilarious, heartfelt and action-packed adventure that completely captivated me as I went on the wildest, most chaotic adventure with characters who now have a forever place in my heart.

It’s been a year since twelve-year-old Hedley’s life has irrevocably changed following the death of his mother. Attending Bridlebank Therapy Centre with his younger sister Lilly, Hedley has to endure bullying from Aiden who seems to delight in being horrible to him. Whilst Hedley weighs up the risks of any action he might take and errs on the side of staying as safe as possible, Aiden has no such reservations and relishes any opportunity to cause trouble. When the two boys find themselves with a weekend job helping on a Petting Farm, it is not long before Aiden gets Hedley into a snot heap of trouble!

When he fears that he will be blamed for the theft of prize alpaca, Duke, Hedley finds himself on the run with Aiden and Lilly as they attempt to take Duke to a rescue centre. But Duke is anything but an obedient companion, although he is a loyal one, causing so much mayhem that he becomes an overnight internet sensation!

Be prepared for chaotic escapades with a petrol station hold-up, an inadvertent robbery, a night spent camping-with-a-difference in a haunted wood and a hitch hike in a caravan that I will never forget. Whilst this unstoppable adventure has giggles galore and plenty of ‘eugh’ moments, it also has some incredibly heartbreaking and poignant occasions as Hedley learns to take risks, risks that help him accept a truth he has been running from.

Oh my goodness! Hedley is the most wonderful young boy who has found a place in my heart. He is struggling to deal with his grief following his loss as well as coping with his dad’s poor mental health, keeping his emotions firmly locked inside and weighing up the level of risk before making choices. But, when Aiden is instrumental in causing Hedley to go on the run, will he find the courage to take risks and accept a truth he has been hiding from?

Whilst I can see children enjoying this for its chaotic, laugh-out-loud shenanigans, it is also a story that addresses difficult issues sensitively including grief, bullying and poor mental health. Reading about these issues in stories will enable some children to see themselves reflected in the story whilst encouraging empathy in others.

Escape into this exciting adventure, brimming with humour and heart, and a loyal woolly friend who might just change a life. Perfect for readers of 9+.

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

*Written by Susan Cahill*
*Cover and Internal Illustrations by Holly Ovenden*
*Published by Everything With Words*

The World Between the Rain is a lyrical, dream-like fantasy adventure, a story of loss and healing, of family and secrets, of gods and demons, that completely enthralled me as I was caught in its magic.

It is the anniversary of her father’s death, and Marina wakes to a world where her mother has fallen in to a deep sleep, a sleep from which Marina and her younger sister, Seri, cannot rouse her. Heading to the nearby village to seek help, they discover that many others have also been afflicted by this strange sleeping sickness.

The sisters arrive home to discover a stranger: a grandmother that they hadn’t known existed. Ursula takes them, and their mother, to stay with her in her isolated house across the bay, a house with a carved bear’s head on the banister, a house full of books, shadows and secrets.

After listening to her newly-found grandmother’s stories of old gods living amongst humans and ancient battles causing their destruction, Marina needs to find some space to be alone, and leaves the house to head through the steadily increasing rain. But on her way back, she falls through a gap in the ever-present Irish raindrops … and into another world … the watery world of Ishka …

And so begins an utterly mesmerising mystery as Marina finds herself in a world of dream weavers, of terrifying creatures, of gods and demons … Can she find her way back to her world? Can she stop the monster that is devouring dreams? And, could this world between the rain be closer to her real world than she could have ever imagined?

This incredibly powerful and moving story is an allegory of the journey through grief which I found both poignant and compelling. The watery, imaginary landscape is a symbol both of being trapped in grief and that of a healing, transformative force. Coupled with this story of a young girl’s grief is an absolutely gripping story of gods – a story of unforgetting, of family and shadows and of re-connection – truly magical.

I grew up in rural County Donegal so absolutely understand the ever-rain that really does feel different in Ireland – there is a softness, a magic that I haven’t felt elsewhere. I used to love wandering over the wild bog land and mountains, tilting my face towards the rain, arms stretched up and just ‘being’ – there is definitely magic in that feeling! The rain in this story makes for a wonderfully eerie and atmospheric read and is just perfect as a portal to another world.

Marina is an incredibly sympathetic young girl who has been trapped by her grief following the death of her father, someone who believed in magic and who encouraged it in his daughter. Unable to show outwards signs of grief, Marina buries her feelings of guilt, loneliness, fear and loss deep within whilst her mother and younger sister deal with their grief in their own way. Her cathartic journey allows her to face her grief and step on to the path towards facing her inner demons, the path towards acceptance and healing. It is a journey that takes incredible inner strength and courage, and a journey that brings both friendship and hope.

This is a stunning, spellbinding story that resonates with warmth, hope and family, a story of awakening and finding your way back home … utterly breath-taking.

Thank you to Mikka at Everything with Words for inviting me to be part of the Blog Tour and for providing me with a copy of The World Between the Rain in exchange for my honest opinion.

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