Book Review: I am Wolf / Alastair Chisholm / 9 – Adult

Published by Nosy Crow May 2024

He opened his mouth, felt the warm air around him, and howled like Wolf across the broken land. Reika joined him, and their call spread over the air. Fillan’s voice was high and short, like a yip. Brann’s was a long caw.

I am a fan of Alastair Chisholm’s books – loved all of them so far. This though is definitely a Sue Stupendous – absolutely brilliant. Reminds me a little of Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines series – but has a standing all of its own. A story of Constructs, entities that fight, in often inhospitable lands with crews, who’s very lives rely on whether they survive the fights or fall, broken to be scavenged…

‘BOOOAR! RAM! SMASH! CRASH! BOAAAAAAAAAAA!’

A story of belief and its power. Who you are and finding out who you are too. A story of unlikely friendships and of expectations, fulfilled and unfulfilled.

As always my most important criteria as to whether a book is good depends on whether I worry about the characters – whether I find myself wanting to just read another page.

I worried, I read. Little more to be said really – this is the best Chisholm volume I have read – it is BRILLIANT.

Book Review: I Know you did it / Sue Wallman / YA

Published by Scholastic

‘It was a self-defence move’, I say. ‘And it wasn’t significant.’

‘Why did you have to use it?’

‘He’s bad with personal space.’

I bought this, having dipped into it as I sold a copy to a customer. Suspenseful – written in the first person. A story of a young woman, with a secret, hoping to start afresh at her new school.

As it says on the cover, there’s a killer at Ruby’s new school – Ruby has a history that she doesn’t want anyone to know about…but the secret seems to be out.

It’s brilliant. I couldn’t put it down.

Book Review: Twice upon a Time / Michelle Harrison / 9 – 12

Published by Simon & Schuster

Not yet Published April 2024

Just a minute.

A tale of twins, one born at the end of one year, the other at the start of the second. A tale of clocks, watches, sun dials and time itself. A tale of inheritance and murder – a story of skullduggery and murder…

Michelle Harrison has done it again. I no longer need to write long reviews of her books – you know what I think of her tales – this once more, is another Sue Stupendous. Marvelous.

Out in April – and not to be missed.

Book Review: Feather / M G Leonard / 9 – 12

Published by Walker Books

The last of the Twitcher series – this time, investigating a museum theft – another brilliant book from this author that keeps them coming.

Buy the set – you can do that now – Twitch, Spark, Clutch and now Feather – four books to disappear into by this phenomenal author…

Book Review: On Silver Tides / Sylvia Bishop / 9 – 12

Andersen Press

Not yet Published February 2024

You could call them Homo aqua, if you want to think of them as people. Or Amura sapiens, if you prefer to think of them as an unusually wise sort of frog. Or you could just use their own word for themselves: silvermen.

This is really a book for those who travel, live and enjoy narrow boats. Atmospheric with silvermen living and working the canals and waterways. Born in the water – swimming from birth moving from place to place. Amphibian-like they can breath through their skins – water is their life. Landmen live together in groups, silvermen travel their own way. Only gathering at the equinoxes. This then is the story of one family – keeping a secret, but things are changing…there’s always a risk and if found out – Isla will pay the ultimate price…

Beautifully curious – clever and beautifully atmospheric. A story of sisterly love and the waterways.

I haven’t finished this yet – has superb little Natural History notes at the start of many chapters – which are a fantastic detail.

It’s brilliant, another Sue Stupendous!

Book Review: The House at the End of the Sea / Victoria M Adams / 9 – 12

Published by Andersen Press

My contact at Andersen Press sent me an email about this and I asked for a copy – preparatory to perhaps running an event with Victoria, it seems it would be easy for her to get to the Watford branch. I have a general irritation when I’m informed by authors that they live ‘just around the corner.’ That’s nice, but it has no reflection on whether the book is any good or not. It can be a social minefield. Some are OK, others – well we won’t go there.

‘It does have eye’s, though.’

This though had one or two positives – recommended by a person I trust, a good publisher and then, well Victoria came in and gave me a second copy of her book… I didn’t tell her I’d had one – but past that copy to my colleague and took House at the End of the Sea home to read on my week off…

It’s stupendous. I have only reached to page 50 – but it really is very, very good indeed. I keep wanting to stop and read. As always I started the book without reading the ‘blurb’ – always fun. This is a superbly atmospheric book with mysteries well mixed into the story – I’m really loving it. Started it after finishing Northern Soul (Phil Earle) last night as I went to bed. Didn’t turn my light off. This morning, I stayed in bed, instead of getting up and doing those jobs I’m supposed to be doing…it starts with a family move to their grandparents, ostensibly for a short holiday/break, but things are definitely not what they seem.

Order a copy (NYP May) you won’t regret it. This is one of those books I can review early. It’s a good ‘un!

Book Review: Northern Soul / Phil Earle / 11 to Adult

Published by Barrington Stoke

Phil Earle – what can I say about this one, that I haven’t said about his other brilliant books? This is a story of first love – that all encompassing turmoil. Marv is happy. His interests revolve around his mates and football. Possibly not in that order.

Because you know what they say? You can’t polish a turd…but you can sprinkle it with glitter.

Until a new girl arrives at his school and everything changes. Suddenly life isn’t simple any more…actually its becoming impossible. People (especially his mate Jimmy) are beginning to notice. Then his Dad happens to play an old LP – and he realises that someone else knows about how he feels…

It might be a relatively simple story about love, braces, soul and Carly… but it is so much more.

A slim volume from Barrington Stoke (RA8IA11+) – with their iconic design which is so helpful for those with dyslexia. Their books are often slim, but powerful. This is another.

Book Review: What the World Doesn’t See / Mel Darbon / YA

Published by Usborne

This is by way of a plea, of hope, for understanding. For allowing people to be who they are. To just be.

Jake’s come to rescue you.

This is a book about two siblings a brother and sister who love one another and are loved by their parents. When their father dies of cancer, however, things change. Emphasis changes – expectations, hopes and dreams. Their world is over taken by grief. So, you would think this to be ‘just another book about death’. It is in a way, but it is also so very much more. I have a little experience of this – a group of friends of mine meet when we can together. Each of us is different, but they are different in another way – they are people with learning difficulties of varying degrees.

They are also people. They are funny, caring and wonderful people. This is the story of Jake and Maudie and what happens when Maudie’s life is pulled apart by a family member, who believes she’s doing what is right, when their Mum disappears… It’s a story with a message. It’s also a love story –

So – a story of love, understanding and hope.

I couldn’t put it down.

For all the Jakes out there…

Book Review: Seven Million Sunflowers / Malcolm Duffy / YA – Adult

Published by Zephyr, House of Zeus

Slava Ukraini! Glory to Ukraine!

I wish I could do more – this the story of just one girl’s experiences, of her life here in England having left her father and elder brother behind to fight. Not a ‘true’ story – but one that reflects what is happening to so many people – their lives destroyed, try to start something new in a strange new land.

In war you don’t get accidentally killed, you accidentally survive.

Anatoliy, Ukrainian citizen from Avdivka

This then is the story of a young girl and her family –

Death is like a storm cloud. Far away. Easy to ignore. Until, suddenly it’s right above you, bringing lightning, torrential rain and wind, destroying everything it touches.

This is an important book – a book for adults as well as ‘YA’ – emotive. What else could it be? Malcolm Duffy and his family joined the Homes for Families scheme. I considered it – but, frankly am not in a position to help that way – at least it seemed like it. You can always do more. I am so conscious of that. His experiences with the families he invited into his home and into his family were the germ of the idea for this.

A book of anger, PTSD, fear, all pervading fear, love, an acknowledgement of people’s misunderstanding, lack of knowledge – a story of the results, some of the results of man’s inhumanity to man, woman and child.

Everyone should read it.

Book Review: A Stroke of the Pen / The Lost Stories / Terry Pratchett / Doubleday / Adult

This has been out for some time. There was a good deal of hype before publication, especially for fans of Terry – of which I am one.

His books were/are phenomenal – of the Disc World series, I like Mort, Pyramids…Hogfather – I could go on.

When he died we knew we had enjoyed a series of books like no other. There would be no more.

Back in 2017 the Guardian reported that Unpublished works are lost for ever with crushing of computer hard drive – as the late fantasy novelist had instructed.

This latest publication in 2023 by Doubleday was, I feel, an attempt to make money from him/his estate – it wasn’t the right thing to do. I received a proof – which I read on receipt but I haven’t bought a copy of A Stroke of the Pen and delayed writing this for various reasons. I strongly feel that this shouldn’t happen – especially when it is clear the author involved had thought he had taken measures to prevent it.

Pratchett’s hard drive was crushed by a vintage John Fowler & Co steamroller named Lord Jericho at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, ahead of the opening of a new exhibition about the author’s life and work.