Set just before Christmas nearly four years after his sister goes missing in a mysterious storm Gwyn is given some strange and intriguing gifts by his Nain. She tells him that he is a magician. And his whole world changes with the weather. Enchanting and spellbinding with characters you will instantly fall in love with. Jenny Nimmo weaves a tale with so many twists and turns and strange events that I doubt anyone could predict. A story about hope, friendship, family, lost things, being found and being yourself. A bit scary in places but a perfect MG reading book and an absolute classic.
0 Comments
Eleanor and Park is a beautiful, touching and genuine love story. Set in Omaha 1986 it follows two teenagers who meet on the school bus. Eleanor is a new girl, whose family life is troubled (to say the least); but she’s uncompromising in the way she presents herself—she’s quirky, somewhat spikey (to begin with) and really vulnerable underneath it all. Park is a quiet boy, who keeps his head down at school, trying to not be noticed. He has a supporting and loving family; his mother is from South Korea and his dad is an army veteran. When their relationship develops it’s rewarding, realistic and pure. It took me back to my own teen years, perfectly capturing the intense emotions we all go through when we first fall in love (and then some!). I was completely immersed and rooting for them. Their romance isn’t based on lust or looks (at least not in the traditional sense). It’s just… beautiful. There isn’t much I can say about the actual story because it really would spoil the novel, although I can say that there were times when I had a good snot cry. Oh, and the ending? I couldn’t stop thinking about it. My family was already excited by this book as we are all BIG Mr Penguin fans. If you haven’t read the first two it doesn’t matter (but you really should as they are just as good). This story is set when Mr Penguin and his companions set off on a luxury cruise and Something Is Up. Mr Penguin and his hapless friends are catapulted into a sea deep mystery which they will need lots of cunning, Kung fu skills and fish finger sandwiches to be able to solve. The characters are simply brilliant (my particular favourite is Gordon the pigeon) and it will make you laugh out loud in places. The illustrations match the story throughout and are just as comical! For fans of funny and witty books with quirky characters! To be honest I knew I was going to cry. But my reasons for crying were many more than I thought there were. I cried for the characters. I cried for people reflected in those characters. I cried because of the story which I devoured in a matter of days. I cried because I didn’t want the book to end. I cried because of the ray of hope and life. I cried. Properly snot cried and I’m proud of it. Read it if you like a good teen romance with a sense of hope. I have been an Anne Fine nut from an early age and there is not a lot of her work I haven’t read. I came across this book in a charity shop (in the adult section) and knew I had to read it. Published in 2012 it tells the story of a boy called Daniel who believes himself to be an invalid. Then one day his world is turned upside down and his life starts to go in a new direction. There is not a lot I can tell you about the main plot without giving spoilers galore but this is what I can tell you: this book was very creepy - in a good way. If I try and fit it into a particular genre I would err towards gothic horror (because, as with any scary book I read, it nearly ended up in the fridge a number of times) as it will make you want to switch every light on in the house and check under the bed before you go to sleep. But it certainly isn’t conventional. Anne fine manages to weave a combination of intrigue, tension and suspense almost effortlessly into the story which, on the outset, seems completely harmless. This book is for older children and I would probably aim it at 12+. I highly recommend it! Great if: You like a horror story |
Archives
March 2021
Categories
All
|