If you would like to know more about Jasbinder click here www.jasbinderbilan.co.uk/ Support your local indie bookshop and buy your copy here uk.bookshop.org/shop/HuntingRaven
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Alfie Blackstack has his world turned upside down when he has to move from London into a village in the middle of nowhere called Little Snoddington to go and live with two aunts he hardly remembers. Alfie doesn't like adventure. He is unsure of everything. And there is something strange about his aunts. And the village. And the shop owned by the mysterious Mr Fingerhut. And the local teashop. And if that isn't enough the circus comes to town and Alfie discovers that perhaps adventures aren't something to be scared of. I really loved this book and fell in love with its batty array of characters. I am a particular fan of Rafferty (and I now want a cat just like him). The story picks up in pace as the plot unfurls and before you know it you've devoured half the book! I have also decided that I want a library ghost. It seems like a good thing to have! I also really hope that there are more stories to follow as Alfie and Calypso are such a great team. Perfect if you like: magic, crazy aunts, witches Familiars, high thrill circus acts and finding your best friend. Alice Tod Hunter Moon lives with her Dad and her mysterious Aunt in a fishing village where they have lived a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle. But everything changes when Tod's Dad fails to return from a fishing trip and she is taken into care by her Aunt. Not everything is what it seems and Tod must follow her instincts and try to find out what is happening. This book is magical and fantastic and, if you are a fan of the Sepitimus Heap books then you will simply love this. Not only do characters that you have met in the mentioned series but it doesn't matter if you know nothing at all about them either. The book is beautifully written with lovable characters and fast paced action. Recommended for aged 9+ Read if you like: mythical creatures, boat chases, magical powers, scary aunts and fantasy worlds. Book Review for Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson reinvented with doddles by Jack Noel (published by Egmont) This children’s classic should be the top of everybody’s must-read pile. This new interrelation of the much-loved story of Jim Hawkins who ends up going joining a mysterious crew and ends up sailing the seven seas looking for a long lost treasure. This new version is witty but keeps very much to the plot and language of the original Stevenson tale. The cartoons are laugh-out-loud funny but without dumbing down any of the content. For children that are perhaps a little reluctant to tackle the classics this is a super introduction to them as well. This is as fast paced as a comic book (in a fetching hue of blue, black and white) which will keep readers engaged for hours. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending it to readers aged 9+ Great for fans who love pictures as well as writing, pirates, lost treasure and talking parrots Otter moon is a glorious book which tells the story of Luke - a boy with many troubles and struggles especially with the relationship between him and his Dad. Once proud of his Dad all thoughts have turned sour since he left and his Mum has lost the reason to do anything. Luke and his Mum go to spend the summer on a remote island where they are cut off from the world with no internet and are relient on the local newsagent for any communication with anyone outside the island. Luke befriends another loner, the mysterious and and aloof Meg who has her own secrets and lives on the island with her muddled Grandfather. Together they explore the amazing hidden world that so many islanders don't know about or can't see. This book is a story about friendship in the most unlikely of places and that everyone has something to hide or that they don't want to share but sometimes, just telling another person, can make the whole world a little brighter. I highly recommend this sensitive and beautiful story and it will be re read for many years to come! You can find Susanna on Twitter here
Support your local independent bookshop by ordering your copy through bookshop.org Howl's moving castle by Diana Wynne Jones I am quite shocked with myself that I hadn't read this book before now but I am so, so glad that I have now. It is a classic. It is a classic fantasy which has obviously been an influence of so many of my favourite contemporary books and it is fabulous in every way! The story is that of the first born Sophie who is put under a curse so she ends up seeking the help of Howl, an enigmatic wizard in his moving castle and discovers that nothing is ever what it first seems. This book is fast paced with loveable (and bizarre characters) and so many twists and turns! For those that love a classic fantasy this is the book for you! Great for: magic and unexpected happenings Not great if: you are scared of scarecrows or talking sticks Why not support your local independent bookshop and buy your copy here If you would like to know more about Diana Wynne Jones and her wonderderful books click here
Brat is a servant who works for a crazy professor on an island in the middle of the sea. The professor wants to wreak revenge on the settlers in the city and on the mainland for what they did to him a long time ago. He seeks to make a monster which will bring the ultimate revenge. But something goes wrong and it is up to Brat to try and conquer his fears and try and save the world. I simply lived this book and can completely say it deserves to be on the shortlist for the children's book award as it is a masterpiece! A believable and terrifying world with a plot that is pacey and will keep you reading until your bath has gone cold or that early time in the morning! I loved the characters (particularly Sherman and Tingle - who I think are based on my own pets!) And I loved the world that Gregory has created which is hopeful and fearful in equal measures. This is a story of friendship, courage, bravery and not judging a book by its cover. If you would like to know more about Lorraine Gregory click here Why not support your local independent bookshop and purchase your copy here
I was so pleased to see that Abi Elphinstone was writing a new series as I had enjoyed Sky Song so much. This adventure is set in the Unmapped world which controls the weather of our (Faraway) one. However, a dark force is threatening to stop magic for good making sure that both the land of rumblestar and that of the Faraway kingdoms could both be doomed if someone doesn't stop them. This someone is an unlikely hero called Caspar who likes things meticulously planned and timetabled and doesn't like things that might mess.these things up. Little does he know that Destiny has a different idea up her sleeve and it is it up to him and a bottler-in-trainer named Utterly to try and save the world. This story is reminiscent of fantasy written by the classic Lewis and Tolkien with a hint of pizzazz and colour. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and to anyone who has ever wished themselves on an adventure. If you would like to support your local independent bookshop, why not buy a copy here If you would like to know more about Rumblestar and Abi's other brilliant books, check out her website here
I bought this book last year as part of the Children in Read auction and am so pleased with my purchase. I have the hardback edition of this book and the cover artwork (by Catherine Hyde) and it is simply beautiful. This story is such a rollercoaster of emotions. Set in Kenya Makena has a dream to climb mountains like her Dad. She wants to read and learn. But then tragedy strikes and it seems that Makena's dreams are out of reach and now her biggest dream is to survive this nightmare she has plunged into. This story is about hope in the face of adversity. It is about finding hope in the darkest of places. It is about not giving up on your dreams however far out of reach they may seem. And it is about finding beautiful moments in every day and cherishing them and always about finding a silver lining. I simply loved this book and devoured it within a couple of days of starting it. The characters were rounded and believable and loveable and Igor swept along in the story. It is not always happy but it is chock full of hope and it will make you smile and leave you warm and fuzzy. If you would like to buy a copy why not support your local independent bookshop here If you would like to know more about Lauren St John click here
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