I nod. ‘But you once said you can’t be brave unless you are scared.’
This has several elements to it – theft of time and a story of a family forced to escape prosecution and terror in their own country being the two foremost. A story of the plight of many refugees, with the added twist of a boy who is able to take 15 seconds from the future – just 15 seconds to see ‘what might happen next’ depending on what he does. 15 seconds isn’t long – its an inherited ‘gift’ – one his father wishes he wouldn’t use – concerned about the responsibility of the choices made.
When life becomes untenable and they have to leave Alex’s terminally ill grandmother behind as they try to reach safety – those small stolen 15 seconds, might be the only thing to keep them safe.
An interesting twist, with the flavour, fear and details of many refugee’s experiences thrown in for good measure.
And I didn’t get the chance to own up to what I did.
One of the reasons I picked this up, was the beautiful production of the book. The illustration both on the outside cover and within the French flaps (gatefold), are perfect for this emotive, powerful and extraordinary book.
It won’t be for everyone.
The Japanese invasion of Singapore in Malaya is well mixed into this story – both in Nisha’s past and her present. It is also a tale of Twig, a character of mystery for most of the book.
Nisha has escaped with her mother from the invasion and is now living on the coast of England. Finding her new environment and her grandmother, both grey and cold…she misses Malaya and her father, left behind.
Sometimes, when words are not enough, a hug is the only way to tell someone you care.
I started it and found I couldn’t put it down and when I had to, Nisha and Twig weren’t far from my mind.
Dan Smith, has done it again. He is a superb wordsmith…a book that will haunt you and I am pleased to say, it has the right ending.
It is a powerful book with extraordinarily good descriptions of the depredations of war and its atrocities. A book too of refugees – a book sadly reflected in Ukraine.
Dan has written a number of books for adults – but amongst others of his books for younger readers that I have read include: My Friend the Enemy and My Brother’s Secret. His books are a little like good quality chocolate. They are often a little more than might be expected for (officially) a 9 – 12 book. This one, Nisha’s War, however, surpasses them all…
I am proposing a scheme that will see the end of anger, hurt, sadness, envy and despair.
That sound idyllic till you think more about it – It is without doubt important that we should feel, both the joys of this world and the other side of our mercurial lives. Without the other, what are we?
This is wonderful. I am often told that I shouldn’t ‘get so cross’ – to quote various members of my own family – who in turn become incensed about other things that don’t necessarily bother me. Sometimes what you need is an emotional response.
I am so on the side of Ani, in this fantastic and brilliant book. I so relate to her – and her reactions to what has happened to her mother, is happening to her father – and her love for her sister.
A wave of heat came over her again, sharp and sudden. She longed for it to stop, to feel nothing at all.
The idea that we should temper our emotions by removing them – both love and hate, joy and sadness – all of them – is abhorrent to me – I suppose I am perhaps more emotional than some. The idea too that in doing so we lose memory – all memory, so there’s a clean slate – makes the suggestion all the more execrable.
‘She’s right,’ said Henrich. ‘Nothing wrong with feeling angry from time to time.
Set in a world of Methics and hospitals for those emotionally driven – with black marketeering, corruption and misinformation…with a soupcon of Philip Pullman’s Dark Materials, well mixed in, this is an astounding work.
‘…some people need medicines and nursing. These things are important for healing. But we mustn’t forget other important, healing things. Things like diving into cold water, sleeping under the stars, eating fruit that’s grown warm under the sun. Lying on the grass and thinking of nothing except the shapes of the clouds…’
We need to remember our souls, as well as our physical being…this is a good book. What is more – it has the right ending – not necessarily the one you might want, but definitely the right one. Stupendous.
Set just after the 1st WW – a tale of love, decisions made, perhaps for the right reasons, beliefs and accepted ways of doing things. A tale of its time. It’s superb. I loved it. A tale of hope. A wonderful distraction when too many things are going wrong… I loved it – a story with heart, a story of people.
One of the smallest reviews I have ever written. That’s not to be an indication of value – this is lovely…
‘Well, I may have read it a little wrongly, like. Because it wasn’t sandwiches so much as Sand Witches. They is a bit like mosquitoes. Except that they is the size of large rats and wear pointy black hats, and they zoom through the sand on little broomsticks so they can suck your blood for their potions, and are unfortunately quite hard to squash.’
This book is bigger than the sum of its parts. It is an extraordinary volume – the search for safety, love and truth. The story of children of the streets – a tale of a raven, a beautiful, characterful raven, meeples (who are a joy), a boy and his father and a girl too. A tale of the afterlife, riddles and memory hungry gods. Giant spiders with…bugles. There is Terry Pratchett within these covers – a book of dreams and hopes. Of homelessness too and yearning.
Previously I have found Robert Muchamore titles a little intense for me to promote without making direct contact with my reader/customer… a bit too close to the bone. The Cherub series is better than the Henderson Boys, though both series have a very big following. They are not, though for everyone. Actually saying that – no book is for everyone…but I’m sure you know what I mean. As a result, they haven’t been reviewed on this blog; I can’t be certain of who might be picking them up.
Recently, however, I received a copy of Robin Hood Hacking Heists and Flaming Arrows – which is, in effect a modern day interpretation of the Robin Hood legend – which I thoroughly enjoyed. Reading it reminded me of a recording of Shakespeare’s Julia Caesar that I listened to when studying the play – with the back ground / back drop updated – with motor bikes as a form of transport…
This has the drive and the energy of Robert Muchamore’s other books, but somehow didn’t seem to be as disturbing. It is the start of a new series. Definitely for young readers of twelve and upwards…a fantastic new direction for Robert Muchamore. I loved it!
Another fantastic tale from Michelle Lovric with mermaids (yes, the mermaids are back! Which is wonderful – they are perhaps my favourite characters), a heroine with a remarkable sense of touch (to say the least), a land-lover of a hero (in Venice), a rather wild and fascinating Djinni and a wonderful feline Afreet…to mention just a few of the extraordinary characters in this story of revenge, history and power.
I loved it. My Dad, now aged 90 – has got a copy and is now settling down to read it, having fallen for Michelle’s writing back in 2009…
An atmospheric book rich in both plot and language – dark as Michelle’s books so often are, so not for the squeamish. Definitely for those who enjoy that wonderful thing – a very good book -weirdly this is beginning to sound as though I’m advertising Mr Kipling’s cakes…apologies… as much as the story, I enjoy the language. The characters that are so full and so intricate and so in character (if that makes any sense at all) – and of course Venice, herself.
If I never sold you a copy of The Undrowned Child – a lamentable situation, if ever there was one – then buy a copy of this. Sadly The Undrowned Child is now no longer in print – but you may be able to find a copy out there, but in the mean while – enjoy this latest celebration of Venice and revenge…
‘What’s this?’ I said. ‘Tea with milk and sugar.’ said the Butler. ‘I don’t drink tea,’ I said. ‘All civilised people drink tea, young Master Jones.’
‘Then I guess I’m not civilised.’
‘A claim you share with Vikings, Huns, assorted barbarian hordes. and marauders of all stripes….’
This is about cricket. You know that game with stumps, wickets, and a hard red ball. This though, is also about so much more.
It made me laugh – I have a friend who has recently returned to Washington DC – reasonable enough, after all she is American. Having just read this – it made me wonder what she thought, truly thought of us English. We are, after all a rather unique race of people.
This was a joy. It was also touching and thought provoking.
I wish Carol was still in the UK – I would have given her this to read.
If you want a book that is about cricket, this is for you – but be warned. It’s not just about cricket…there’s a lot more depth to it than that, though I suppose some cricket fans might object to that statement. There are more depths though, whatever you may be led to believe.
Brilliant, funny, joyful and as I said, thought provoking and touching.
It’s about being a gentleman, cricket…oh, and tea…
I read a proof – that looks nothing like the cover above – which I have to admit doesn’t appeal to me – that said ‘Never judge a book by its cover.’ So don’t. Read this.
I am so excited by this book and I have only reached page 36 out of some 376 of my proof.
I received it a little while ago – and brought it home. Did my usual thing of dropping new proofs on the piles on the stairs, when I noticed the author – Nicholas Bowling and knew there was a good one in the stack. He wrote Witchborn some time ago – also reviewed on this blog.
Last night I threw away a book which wasn’t up to scratch and grabbed the next by my bed and I can tell you, this is a good one. It already has the smell, the tantalisation of a good story well told.
You won’t be able to buy it yet – comes out at the beginning of May – but already there’s mystery and intrigue…it is set in the times of Nero (54 A.D.) and the main character seems to be a young educated slave boy…a rare circumstance in ancient Rome.
It’s going to be a good one. I’m supposed to be doing jobs – the house is a tip – but all I want to do is read…I love books like this.
I have no doubt I will add to this when completed…but for now – this will have to do…
I have now finished this – so, to continue:
Jason and the Argonauts…that golden fleece…Nero…and the burning of Roman. A book for those who enjoy the Classics – and a book for those who have little or no knowledge. A brilliant adventure set in ancient Rome – stupendous. I loved it – particularly the relationship between an ancient Britain and a small dormouse. I hope and trust that this is the start of a series. Cadmus and Tog are superb characters – there is definite potential for this to be developed… it’s brilliant.
One of the lesser ‘highlights’ of my school career was to receive the extraordinary result of 11% for a Latin exam. On reflection, I feel that this was more of a failure of the teacher concerned (she was to be honest, quite terrifying), however, that said I regret it. Not least as I now have to look up the odd Latin quote – which halts the flow of the odd book in which I find them. I always like to have notes, preferably at the bottom of the page with a translation. Sadly the proof I read of this does not include these – and it would have been good to have had them. I read it on the train – and didn’t have resource to a dictionary. Further to look up a phrase would have broken the line of the story. Perhaps, though Chicken House will provide…you can never tell when reading a proof.
Buy this – check for the notes and if not there at the bottom of the page, buy a small Latin dictionary at the same time… It is certainly worth the trouble…and small expense.
Princesses and pink. Not really me. I’m not really into princesses. It started as a ‘school themed’ book – with a seasoning of princesses, to add another dimension. This, though, has been a fun diversion from my usual – I loved it. By the end, it was more than just a school story with a different flavour. A story to suspend belief – which by the end had dark tones within it. The second volume in the chronicles is out now (Princess in Practice) – so if you enjoy this little piece of literary fun, there’s the second one to enjoy!
I have now finished this – so, to continue:
Sue & Pakka's... 