Tag: middle-grade-books

Review: Letters to a Dog written by Piers Torday and illustrated by Alice McKinley

Written by Piers Torday
Illustrated by Alice McKinley
Published by Published by Barrington Stoke (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)

Letters to a Dog is a poignant, heart-warming and humorous story that brought both tears and smiles as a grieving father and son find a way to re-connect in the most magical way.

Eleven-year-old Jamie adores animals and longs for a pet and, one pet in particular: an adorable brown-and-white terrier who he had met whilst at the dog home, pretending that he was looking for an adoptive dog even though he knows his dad is not keen.

Whilst in hospital facing a life-changing operation, nurse Shirley suggests that he writes a letter to the dog which seems a good idea to Jamie as he is desperate to share his feelings with someone. He cannot share them with his dad because Jamie has fallen out with him, and is refusing to speak to him, until he allows him to open up about how he is feeling after the loss of his mother.

Imagine his excitement and surprise when Dog writes back – he’s got his very own dog pal! And so begins the most wonderful correspondence – honest, funny and hopeful – and a way for two who are lonely and miss what they have lost, to make a fresh connection.

This is a beautifully told, empathetic story that does not shy away from the heartbreak that families go through when dealing with loss and the different ways that people cope with grief. It also a story that shines with love, memories and promises fulfilled.

The illustrations are absolutely wonderful in two different styles. One has more simple line drawings capturing Jamie’s sketches in his letters to Dog. The others are gorgeously detailed illustrations showing things that have deep meaning for Jamie including his time in hospital, visiting dog and memories of his mum. The final illustration is absolutely perfect – and captures the essence of the story perfectly.

A paw-some blend of humour and heart, of finding a way to communicate and re-connect, and of an adorable dog who brings a family together again.

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

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.

Review: The Haunting of Fortune Farm by Sophie Kirtley

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

The Haunting of Fortune Farm is an eerie, evocative and poignant ghost tale of family secrets, remembrance and healing that completely entranced me as I was swept into the isolated Irish setting, enraptured by voices of the past and present connecting through memories …

Twelve-year-old Edie and her little brother Pip are spending their half-term with their grandmother, Lolly, on her isolated farm, Fortune Farm, high up in the rugged landscape of the Irish mountains, on the shores of Lough Ivarr.  Whilst Edie used to enjoy visiting Lolly with her family, she hasn’t seen her in years – not since her father died – and she doesn’t want to be reminded of her Dad, and the farm he grew up on, as the memories are just too painful so she keeps them buried deep inside.

When Edie finds hidden items from the past – a piece of metal, her dad’s diary and a newspaper cutting – she finds herself thrown into an adventure to discover long-lost Viking treasure and to uncover family secrets …

Oh my goodness!  I was completely gripped by this incredible adventure which sent shivers down my spine as I could really feel the sense of foreboding, the eerie atmosphere and the threat of imminent danger.  This astounding adventure is shrouded in an intriguing air of mystery and otherworldliness.  Whispers in the wind, unexpected friendships, a trail of clues and an ancient weapon leads to terrifying danger, breathtaking revelations and the release of buried memories.  There is so much that happens in this haunting mystery that left me stunned, at times tearful, and always on the edge of my seat … but I don’t want to say anything else for fear of spoilers.  Suffice to say that this is an unmissable, exceptional and emotional story that I absolutely couldn’t put down.

As always with Sophie’s books, I love the Northern Irish setting which always brings me back home.  I’ve camped both in the Mourne and Sperrin Mountains and walked in many of Northern Ireland’s beautiful forests, including Lough Navar and Glenariff, so know well the wild beauty, isolation and majesty of the Irish landscape but also the sense of history and connection to the past that they engender as well as the sense of otherworldliness from standing still and appreciating these magical places.  I think an isolated farm cottage nestled in a valley surrounded by high mountains is the perfect setting for a ghost story where the past haunts the present and family secrets are revealed.

Edie is an incredibly sympathetic young girl who I absolutely adored.  She is grieving the loss of her father and burying her memories of him deep inside as they are too painful to bring to the surface.  When faced with a mystery, she is determined to solve it, even when this means following her own path and breaking rules.  She shows great courage when facing her fears and standing up to a terrifying presence as well as in finding the inner strength to connect with her memories, even when they are painful. 

A moving, mesmerising adventure where the past haunts the present, where memories swirl and whisper and where a family comes together to remember and heal.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.