Fire Colour One - Jenny Valentine

The Blurb
A bold and brilliant novel about love, lies and redemption, from award-winning author, Jenny Valentine – one of the greatest YA voices of her generation.

Iris's father, Ernest, is at the end of his life and she hasn't even met him. Her best friend, Thurston, is somewhere on the other side of the world. Everything she thought she knew is up in flames.

Now her mother has declared war and means to get her hands on Ernest's priceless art collection. But Ernest has other ideas. There are things he wants Iris to know after he's gone. And the truth has more than one way of coming to light.

The Review
I've been reviewing for a long time - here on Books with Bunny, on Amazon, Goodreads, book forums...and normally it's a fairly easy process.  I've either liked a book or haven't.  I've appreciated the writing or I haven't.  I've liked (or hated, or connected in some way with) the characters or I haven't.  But when it comes to this book, it's very difficult for me.

Personally, I found it incredibly 'middling' in every sense.  Whilst it was readable, I wasn't swept away and after I'd put it down I didn't find myself itching to pick it back up.  I'd expected it to feel incredibly edgy because of Iris' pyromania, and I half hoped for an element of danger which never really took over to the extent I'd hoped.

That's not to say I didn't like Fire Colour One.  Iris was an interesting protagonist, a sparky (in more ways that one) female who is fighting against the materialistic world she's part of.  But for some reason I found it hard to connect with her, and although I did care (especially when her dreadful mother was making my skin crawl with her greed and self-centred ways) something didn't quite click.

The main strength of Fire Colour One was the stylised writing.  Every so often a sentence would blow me away because it was so beautiful to read.  And the ending had me cheering in delight!  However, there was something lacking for me in this short read that I can't quite put my finger on - it just didn't 'zing'. 

A nice enough read, but didn't pack the punch I was hoping for.

Fire Colour One is out now, published by Harper Collins Children's.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Sweet Valley? Those Books from the Eighties?!

Is there something you've loved since your teens that you're still passionate about? 
 

I'm an all or nothing kind of person, that's just who I am, so when I invest in something it tends to be that I'm in it for the long haul.
 

Take That?  Yep, loved them since 1992.  David Beckham?  I've been lusting after him for twenty years.  Grease: The Movie?  I can't even begin to imagine how many times I've watched it since I first saw it as a nine year old.
 

But in terms of books, the big love affair of my adolescent years was with the residents of a white, middle class, American community.  Yes, I'm talking Sweet Valley.  Sweet, sweet, Sweet Valley.
 

I've tried to remember when I first discovered these books, and it's difficult to be sure.   Possibly my first experience was a Sweet Valley Twins book back in Summer 1991, although it could easily have been before. Whenever it was, I was quickly hooked.  Jessica and Elizabeth's lives were so totally far removed from my own, but I loved their family, their friendship groups, their clothes, their hobbies - everything!  I wanted to be a member of the Unicorns.  I wanted to go to Dairy Queen.  I wanted to be a twin.

 

Over the years the Sweet Valley series made up a large chunk of the small selection of books I actually owned.  Although I've always been a voracious reader, as a child that was mainly fed through library loans.  But Sweet Valley books seemed to turn up at car boot sales, in charity shops, fetes, fairs - making them an affordable option.  And whenever I was given spending money by a family member for birthday or Christmas, my money would almost inevitably be spent in the Monmouth branch of WH Smith, to get my latest fix of the Sweet Valley gangs antics.

 

 

As I grew older I gave my Sweet Valley books away, especially when I packed up my bedroom to move permanently to Sheffield.  I hadn't read them for a long, long time and although I had excited palpitations when the Sweet Valley Confidential book came out in 2011 (what a let down that was), I'd had no pangs to reacquaint myself with the twins earlier escapades.

 

Fast forward to 2015 and I really, really regretted not keeping my collection.  I can't say what it was that made me almost crave their familiarity, but there was an overwhelming sense that I needed these books back in my life.  And that's why I'm slowly rebuilding my Sweet Valley collection and why from now on you'll spot a fair few Sweet Valley reviews here on Books with Bunny. 

 

They've not dated well in many ways and young adult fiction has moved on to somewhere totally different, somewhere more representative of the masses and far more diverse in every possible way. They're not the books I'd recommend to the majority of teens nowadays.  However, they're special to me, partly through nostalgia, but also because they satisfied my reading needs for many, many years in the early to mid 90s.  

 

As I said at the beginning, when I love something, I'm all in.  And with Sweet Valley, I'm definitely still very much all in.

Waiting on Wednesday- Lily and the Christmas Wish- Keris Stainton

As it's Hot Key Books week on my blog, I had to choose one of their upcoming releases as my Waiting on Wednesday!  I love Christmassy books and Lily and the Christmas Wish looks like the perfect heart-warming seasonal read.

 

The Blurb

When a town's Christmas wishes get mixed-up, can one little girl and her dog put them right? The little town of Beechwood can't wait for Christmas this year. They're going to celebrate by putting up a giant Christmas tree in the town square, and asking all the townspeople to hang a Christmas wish on its branches. Everyone is feeling very festive - everyone except for nine-year-old Lily. She's only got one thing she wants for Christmas this year, and she's not sure it can ever come true. But she's determined to try - and so when she sees a shooting star just as she hangs her wish, she wishes as hard as she possibly can...and wakes up the next morning to a bit of a surprise. Bug, her adorable pug puppy, can talk! It's magic - and a wish come true! But it's not Lily's wish...Lily and her little brother James soon discover that something happened last night at the wishing tree - the wishes have been granted, but to the wrong people! They'll have to work out which wish belongs to who, and sort everything out before Christmas Day - otherwise no one will get what they want for Christmas.

Lily and the Christmas Wish is released on November 5th, published by Hot Key Books.

Geek Drama- Holly Smale

The Blurb

“My name is Harriet Manners and I am a geek.”

Harriet Manners knows that the hottest observed place on earth is Furnace Creek in Death Valley. She knows that dolphins shed the top layer of their skin every two hours. And she knows just how badly auditions can go, especially when you’re a model. But she has no idea what to do when her arch-nemesis decides the school play is the perfect opportunity to humiliate her…

Can GEEK GIRL survive the bright lights of the stage?

The Review

I read the first two Geek Girl books last year when I was in hospital and they were such a tonic-  YA books full to the brim with slapstick humour and an entertaining plot.  They covered friendship (and bullying), first love, family and were crammed full of strange and interesting facts which Harriet shares with anyone who'll listen. 

Geek Drama is book 2.5 of the series and was released for World Book Day.  It's not a full length book, but these 128 pages squeeze in a lot of story.  There are the same hilarious characters throughout- Harriet and her family, Harriet's best friend Nat (who always wanted to be a model- and then Harriet inadvertently stole her dream), arch enemy Alexa and stalker Toby.  I loved getting to find out more about them in this novella length read.

As Nat decides she's ready to pursue her new dream of being an actress, the girls audition for parts in the school production of Hamlet.  It's an unconventional adaptation of the play in every sense, but that only enriches the entertainment value provided- I wouldn't expect anything less than slightly madcap in a Geek Girl book!  The moment when Nat realises her role isn't quite what she expected was laugh out loud funny-I could see it so clearly in my mind.  I want these books to be made into films SOOOOOO badly.

These books are fabulously funny yet also convey the importance of friendship, being true to yourself and developing resilience.  I love how Holly Smale strikes that balance between comedy and issues that are important to teens (and beyond.  I'm in my mid thirties and still need to work on developing a thicker skin). 

I can't wait to read the third and fourth books in the series- I'm a Geek Girl fangirl and proud of it!

Geek Drama is out now published by Harper Collins Children's Books.

J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan- adapted by Stref with Fin Cramb

The Blurb

Peter Pan is a familiar tale to many who have been enchanted by the adventures of the boy who wouldn't grow up. In this graphic novel Stephen White goes back to the very heart of Barrie's original tale to create a story that is dark, magical, charming and authentic. The complexity of Barrie's original is drawn out in vibrant illustrations and engaging text to create a new vision of the tale for those familiar with it and to enchant a new generation of readers.

The stunning illustrations draw on original, authentic features from the locations that inspired Barrie to write his tale including Moat Brae House in Dumfries and the garden where he played as a boy. In choosing the format of a graphic novel for this retelling, Stephen White has created a new and exciting version of Peter Pan that is like nothing that has been done before.

The Review

Before I start this review I feel I need to make something very clear.  I don't read a lot of graphic novels.  I've never really sought them out, and although I've loved Raymond Briggs' Ethel and Ernest and When The Wind Blows, and revisited one of my childhood favourites Tintin, I've not felt there was much out there in the graphic novel market that would appeal to me. 

However, when I heard Birlinn were releasing a new version of Peter Pan in graphic novel format I was excited.  So long as it's done well, I love seeing books given a new lease of life and the opportunity to reach a wider audience.  And Peter Pan certainly lends itself to a more visual approach to storytelling.

I really enjoyed the hour or so I spent reading this!  It felt strange holding such a large book but the A4 size pages allow the beautiful illustrations the space they deserve.  Everything from their intricate detail to the vibrant spread of colour- this book is a feast for the eyes to behold. The image of the crocodile waiting open-mouthed for the villainous Hook was my favourite, but the Darling's house is also portrayed exactly as it should be- wonderfully classical yet somehow with an air of eccentricity.

This is a fabulous adaptation, the exquisite artwork only serving to add to Barrie's timeless classic. I sincerely hope it gets the praise and plaudits it deserves. 

And who knows, maybe I'll be more likely to consider graphic novels in the future on the back of reading this book.

J.M Barrie's Peter Pan is out now, published by Birlinn.

With thanks to the publisher who provided me with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

 

Waiting on Wednesday- Asking for It- Louise O'Neill

My choice for Waiting on Wednesday this week is Louise O'Neill's Asking For It.  Just reading the blurb gives me chills!  It's released on September 3rd, published by Quercus Children's.

 

The Blurb

It's the beginning of the summer in a small town in Ireland. Emma O'Donovan is eighteen years old, beautiful, happy, confident.

One night, there's a party. Everyone is there. All eyes are on Emma.

The next morning, she wakes on the front porch of her house. She can't remember what happened, she doesn't know how she got there.

She doesn't know why she's in pain.

But everyone else does. Photographs taken at the party show, in explicit detail, what happened to Emma that night.

But sometimes people don't want to believe what is right in front of them, especially when the truth concerns the town's heroes...

Forever- Judy Blume

The cover I remember from my youth

 

When YA author Keris Stainton mentioned a Judy Blume readalong, I knew I'd be jumping onto that bandwagon.  I've been a fan of Judy's for over twenty five years, and it's been a while since I've reread her books.  I recently pledged to reread it when I was interviewed for Jaffa Reads Too.  You could say it was perfect timing!

Forever is one of those books people talk about.  It's a book about sex for starters, and that always gets tongues wagging.  And a YA book about sex, that was first published in 1975?  That's pretty groundbreaking by anyone's standards.

The plot is simple.  Girl (Katherine) meets boy (Michael).  They fall in love.  They have sex.  They promise each other forever.  Life changes.  Suddenly forever seems a very long time...

I remembered so much of the book as I reread it- Jamie embroidering mushrooms onto jeans, the fondue party, Sharon and Ike smoking weed, Katherine's grandma sending her 'the package'... and of course, Ralph.  It was all so clear in my mind. I could even remember certain phrases word for word.  I don't think I could do that with some of the books I read in the last few weeks, but Forever, which I read over and over as a teen- it's somehow engrained in my mind.

The first time I read it I was thirteen, and an inexperienced thirteen at that.  I hadn't been kissed, let alone anything else, although I did know people in my year at school and the year above who were having sex.  I don't remember being shocked by the content though, even then- especially as Katherine and Michael are seventeen.  There was definitely an element of titillation though, and a wonder as to whether the sex scenes were accurate.  Reading this book as an adult is completely different to reading it as a teenager.

Things that struck me as I reread Forever-



The cover of the copy I now own

-I don't like Michael. I never did as a teen particularly, either.  I always felt he pressured Katherine and guilt tripped her when she didn't want to be intimate.  I still felt like that reading it now, but it made me more cross as an adult than it ever did in my teen years that as her boyfriend he felt he had the right to pressure her in that way.

-The sentences are generally short and simple, and the reading age is a lot younger than the content.  It's accessible, and can be read very quickly.  There's a lot of dialogue, but never much conversation.

-The fringe characters are really interesting, in many ways far more appealing than the protagonists.  They deserve their own books, Sybil and Artie in particular. I'd love to know what happened in their lives.

-It's about so much more than sex.  There's drugs, and teen pregnancy, and bereavement, and mental health issues.  For a book that's 178 pages, that's a lot to cover. 

-Judy Blume is so straightforward and to the point!  She's honest.  She also manages to educate through aspects of her plot (e.g. birth control) without coming across as preachy.

Do I think Forever would appeal to young people today as much as it did ten, twenty, thirty or forty years ago?  Possibly not.  The YA spectrum is so much more diverse now than it ever was then, and when you compare Blume's simplistic writing style to that of some of today's best-sellers such as John Green- it's world's apart. 

But there's still a place for Judy Blume, both on YA bookshelves and in my heart, because she tells stories that leave an impact and stay with you long after closing the book. 

And that will never, ever go out of style.

With thanks to Pan Macmillan, who sent me a new copy of Forever when I was appealing for anyone who may have my original copy to come forward.  If you happen to have the Pan Horizons issue shown above, with 'Kate loves Howard' written in the front, I would love to swap it for a new edition!


***

You're not too late to join in the Judy Blume readathon!  Find out more by visiting Keris Stainton's blog or following the hashtag #readalongralph.  The next book we're reading is Are You There God?  It's me, Margaret.

Judy Blume week is coming to Books with Bunny starting July 20th.

Finding Audrey- Sophie Kinsella

 

The Blurb

 

Audrey can't leave the house. she can't even take off her dark glasses inside the house.

Then her brother's friend Linus stumbles into her life. With his friendly, orange-slice smile and his funny notes, he starts to entice Audrey out again - well, Starbucks is a start.And with Linus at her side, Audrey feels like she can do the things she'd thought were too scary. Suddenly, finding her way back to the real world seems achievable.

Be prepared to laugh, dream and hope with Audrey as she learns that even when you feel like you have lost yourself, love can still find you . . .

The Review

I really wanted to love this book.  Firstly, because it's a YA book about mental health, and the more of those that are out there, the better.  So many young people (and not so young people too) experience anxiety and depression and it's really, really important that protagonists also face these challenges, and overcome them.  The second reason I wanted to love this was because of Sophie Kinsella.  I've been a fan of her writing for many years and thought her fast-paced narrative and distinctive voice would translate well to the YA market.

Audrey is a likeable character.  She's definitely slightly kooky, and not purely because of how her experiences have affected her outlook.  She's part of a crazy family for one thing.  Her Mum lives her life by how the Daily Mail portrays 'normal' and her elder brother Frank believes he can make a living as a professional gamer on the international circuit. 

It's through Frank's love of gaming that Audrey begins to gain confidence.  Slowly and cautiously, she befriends Linus, one of Frank's 'team'.  He understands her, patiently giving her the time and space to reach out when she feels able.  It's touching to read their story and see how Audrey grows in her ability to communicate, trust and, ultimately, love.

So, the story itself was fine.  And I found myself racing through the book, so it obviously had plenty of the trademark zippy dialogue, off-beat characters and slapstick humour for which Kinsella has made her name in the romcom market.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't get past one rather annoying feature- although Finding Audrey is set in Britain, it really does read as though it's American, particularly in the dialogue.  If it was only in some sections, I might have been able to look beyond it, but there were times where I really had to remind myself that this was UKYA.  Maybe it's deliberately been given an American feel to appeal to the US market, I don't know.   But it didn't sit right with me, and to some extent spoilt my enjoyment of Sophie Kinsella's otherwise successful journey into a new genre.

Overall, I'd probably still recommend this book, especially to teen readers.  However, I can't help but wish it had a strong British identity and a traditionally English voice to match the plot.  I didn't love this one...but I'm sure it'll do well.

Finding Audrey is released on June 4th, published by Doubleday.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

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Love, Lies and Lemon Pies- Katy Cannon

The Blurb

Love, Lies and Lemon Pies, the debut YA novel from Katy Cannon, is the perfect summer read for fans of Sarah Dessen and Louise Rennison. With a Bake Club recipe at the start of each chapter, this book perfectly captures the current appetite for all things baking!

Sixteen-year-old Lottie is on a mission to protect her biggest secret, and it’ll take every lie and every baking trick she can muster. Since her dad died, life hasn’t been the same for Lottie. When the school suggests she joins Bake Club to get her back on track, Lottie reluctantly agrees. The alternative – the school paying her mum a home visit – is not an option. But Lottie’s uncertainty about Bake Club melts away as she rekindles her love of baking and gets caught up with Mac, school rebel and another unwilling Bake Club member.

As the end-of-year Bake Off approaches, the tension rises. Can Lottie keep up the façade of her perfect life? And can her bubbling romance with Mac survive the pressure?

The Review

Having read and reviewed Katy Cannon's Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines last month I just had to start Love, Lies and Lemon Pies as soon as humanly possible! 

This is actually the first in the series (I never like to be conventional!) but as both books can be read and enjoyed in their own right it didn't really matter that I'd been a little bit squiffy with the order I'd read them in. 

Lottie is the central character in this one, and she's thrown into Bake Club.  Although she's reluctant at first, she can't deny it's an escape from the realities of life-home, her Mum and the accumulation of 'stuff' which is taking over their house.  Throughout the book she develops as a character, maturing and realising that sometimes in life you do need the love and support of your friends.  The teens in Bake Club are an unlikely group but become a tight unit working towards a common goal and their loyalty towards each other is heartwarming.

Of course, there's a romantic element too when Lottie falls for bad boy Mac.  He's troubled and edgy and has a reputation which everyone around school believes.  But when he's stirring a cake mix or kneeding a dough he's a different person, and Lottie sees that.  It's just a shame that the secrets they're hiding have the potential to end their relationship before it's properly begun...

I admire Katy Cannon greatly for writing contemporary teen romances which don't revolve around sex.  Instead they're built on gently moralistic foundations- the need to be honest, to believe in yourself, to take help when you need it- vital lessons to learn at any age. 

The writing itself is also top notch.  It's well paced, appropriate for the target audience and I loved the dialogue. The added bonus of some simple recipes (without hundreds of ingredients, which is my bug bear when baking) offers something different which sets this apart from other teen romances. 

These books are without doubt some of my favourites in this genre. I'm desperately hoping there are more in the pipeline! 

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Love, Lies and Lemon Pies is out now, published by Stripes, an imprint of Little Tiger.

Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines- Katy Cannon BLOG TOUR

I am absolutely delighted to be today's stop on Katy Cannon's blog tour for her new release Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines.  This was a lovely read, a fun romance aimed at the teen market, and I'm thrilled to be able to share my review today.

The Blurb

Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines is the companion novel to Katy Cannon's delicious teen read, Love, Lies and Lemon Pies. Grace had a plan for this year - and it didn't involve learning to sew. But when her world is turned upside down by a family secret, everything changes. Grace's family is in need of patching up and she's trying to focus on what really matters. But when new boy Connor appears on the scene, it doesn't make things any easier. She's desperate to prove to him that she's not a drama queen - but why is what Connor thinks so important?

Katy Cannon is a hot new voice in Young Adult fiction, writing contemporary romance that is perfect for fans of Sarah Dessen and Louise Rennison.

The Review

Firstly, although Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines is marketed as a 'companion novel' and it's obvious throughout the book that events in Katy Cannon's previous release are being alluded to, it can definitely be enjoyed as a stand alone.  I'd not read Love, Lies and Lemon Pies (but I definitely will be!) and I didn't feel remotely short-changed or as though I was missing out on anything I needed to know to appreciate the story.

And the story- it was so sweet!  Katy Cannon has created a humorous, romantic story much like the ones I enjoyed as a teenager.  That's not to say it's in any way dated- it's fresh, contemporary and believable- but it is more a 'will they/won't they', with tensions and fall outs between the characters than some of the other releases out there right now.

Drama-mad protagonist Grace is having a tough time adjusting to changes at home.  She hasn't got the drive to work hard at anything at the moment, not even turning up at the auditions for the school production of Much Ado About Nothing.  But she wants that lead role and in a bid to win over her drama teacher, Grace offers to be the wardrobe manager for the production.  There's just one problem- she can't really sew. 

Grace sets about learning the skills she needs to pull this off, but infuriating-yet-gorgeous Connor is a distraction...plus, he knows she's doing this for her own gain not the good of the drama club.  What follows is a typical love/hate relationship, although I have to admit I was rooting for Grace and Connor from the start. Grace is stubborn and a bit of a princess at times, Connor can be a know-all and thinks he is better than everyone else. I liked that they had these minor flaws.  Neither of them are perfect and they can both be argumentative and at times unpleasant, but as the story progresses it becomes apparent that both characters are finding it hard to adapt to changes within their respective families.  They have more in common than they'd like to think...

This book brought back many happy memories of school drama productions and all the shenanigans that went with them.  I'm not the target audience by any means, but I found myself turning the pages and wanting to know what happened next with their families, the production and of course Grace and Connor's relationship. 

And as a bonus for anyone inspired to become a little bit more crafty (in the best possible way) there are sewing projects throughout the book.  From simple hearts to t-shirt dresses and aprons, if you have an inclination towards the creative, you will be in your element.

I'm sure Secrets, Schemes and Sewing Machines will appeal to readers in their early teens, especially fans of romance.  It is available now, just in time for Valentine's Day.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

You can join in the fun on twitter using the hashtag #Grace4Connor

A Whisper of Wolves- Kris Humphrey COVER REVEAL

I am delighted to finally be able to share the cover for Kris Humphrey's  A Whisper of Wolves! I received a copy of this one a while back and it certainly sounds an intriguing read.  Aimed at children aged 8-12, A Whisper of Wolves has been described as a book with a 'fast paced narrative' and is the first in the Guardians of the Wild series.

 

 

And doesn't it have a beautiful cover?

 

To find out more prior to release on March 2nd, search the hashtag #wildguardians or tweet @stripesbooks or @KrisDHumphrey .

Wonder/The Julian Chapter- RJ Palacio

 

The Blurb

'My name is August. I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.'

Auggie wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things - eating ice cream, playing on his Xbox. He feels ordinary - inside. But ordinary kids don't make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids aren't stared at wherever they go.

Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life. Now, for the first time, he's being sent to a real school - and he's dreading it. All he wants is to be accepted - but can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, underneath it all?

The Review

I honestly don't know where to start with this one.  I'm not sure there are enough superlatives in the dictionary for me to spout out, and I don't know if I can convey how much love I have for this book.  But I'll try and explain to you just why I love Wonder so much.

First, let's talk about August.  He's different.  Or rather, he looks different, but as you read his thoughts and fears you appreciate that he's actually experiencing life in exactly the same way as everyone else.  He's nervous about starting a new school, he worries what people will think of him, he doesn't want to be judged purely on his Star Wars obsession.  But because August looks so different to his peers, he is stared at wherever he goes, openly mocked, ignored or told he is repulsive.  Life for August isn't easy.  He can't just be a ten year old boy, he's 'The Freak', 'The Ork'.  The other children at his new school don't understand why he looks like he does, and most are afraid of him purely because of his appearance. 

August is ridiculed throughout, particularly by privileged Julian and his hangers-on.  It is uncomfortable to read and I am not ashamed to admit there were tears on numerous occasions.  However, the friendships August does make shine through.  His lunchtime pal Summer is beautiful inside and out, and as warm as her name would suggest.

Told through the eyes of August, his family and his peers, it examines how one person can affect the lives of people around them.  It will cause you to consider your own actions and words more closely, and although I wouldn't call it an easy read because it will challenge your thinking (emotive-yes, engaging- yes, easy-no), it is beautifully simplistic in its message. 

 

 

As an adult reading Wonder (particularly one who has worked in education for the last sixteen years), I was especially interested in the portrayal of the teachers in the book.  Mr Browne, the English teacher with a penchant for precepts, is wonderful.  He encourages children to be introspective, to become better people and most of all to 'choose kind'.  Every child should have a teacher like him for at least one year of their schooling (I very fortunately had a brilliant teacher for two years, Mr Richards, who taught kindness and empathy alongside poetry and creative writing).  The Head teacher, Mr Tushman is also a brilliant character.  I'd say he has a quiet power, and a real knowledge about just what is going on inside his school walls.

 

It is impossible to explain just why this book is such a hit with adults and children alike except to say it is truly unique, and a book which deserves to be read, and reread until we are all better, kinder people.  It is one of my favourite reads of the year, hands down.

 

So my final message to you is to choose Wonder.  And most of all, choose kind.

 

New editions of Wonder contain The Julian Chapter (which can also be bought separately), giving the viewpoint of the ringleader and bully.  Equally as well written as Wonder, and just as powerful, I was brought to my knees by this addition to the book.  It could so easily have been overkill, but RJ Palacio judged this one just right. 

 

WIN!

 

To raise awareness of Anti-bullying week, the publisher has very kindly given me a 'Wonder Bundle' to dish out to one lucky reader.  To enter, simply comment below telling me why you should win, or tweet using the hashtags #bwbwonder and #choosekind.  A winner will be selected at random on Tuesday 26th November. Due to postage costs, I am sorry that this is a UK only competition. 

 

 

 

Children's Books I read this summer

I am a lover of children's fiction anyway, but my six year old son has become a very competent reader over the last six months or so which has definitely reawakened my fondness of the genre.  Here are the children's books I've read this summer (I already blogged the YA fiction I read over the summer here ).

Ballet Shoes- Noel Streatfeild

The Blurb
Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil are sisters - with a difference. Pauline was saved from a shipwreck as a baby. Petrova was found in a Russian hospital and Posy was from a family so poor that they couldn't look after her. All three were adopted as babies by Great Uncle Matthew, an eccentric and rich explorer . . . who then disappeared, leaving them in the care of his niece Sylvia.

The girls grow up in comfort and wealth until their money begins to run out and nobody can track Great Uncle Matthew down. At first Sylvia takes in lodgers but soon even that's not enough. Things look bleak until they hit on an inspired idea: Pauline, Petrova and Posy will take to the stage.

But it's not long before the Fossils learn that being a star isn't as easy as they first thought . .

The Review
As a girl I LOVED this book.  Although I was never likely to be a nimble little ballerina, I shared the dreams of being the next Margot Fonteyn with every other tutu-wearing girl in my dance class, and Ballet Shoes is the classic fiction book about the dance world for every wannabe prima ballerina. 

Coming back to it as an adult, I did approach it in a different way.  I suppose I found it harder to relate to the girls, and each of the Fossil sisters had character traits I found irritating- petulance, arrogance, selfishness- which I don't remember noticing as much as a child.  Perhaps it is only with a bit more life experience behind me that I truly realised just how hard people were working to give them the best opportunities they could, and I wanted them to see how blooming lucky they were given their starts in life. 

Although this story (written in 1936) is undoubtedly dated, there's enough of a plot to appeal to a younger reader, and the relationship between the sisters and the differences in their personalities ensures there is something for everyone.  It's a bit of a Little Women for younger children. 

Did I love it as much as I remembered?  I must be honest and say no.  But Noel Streatfeild writes in the most beautiful, eloquent way, vividly painting images in her readers minds, and that is why Ballet Shoes has remained so popular and will continue to be so for generations to come.  I plan to read some more of her books- there is a whole series of 'shoes' books, plus a plethora of books for adults too.  If her style is as fluid and evocative in those, then I know I am in for a treat.

Frankie and the World Cup Carnival- Frank Lampard

The Blurb
Publishing as a Special, Frankie's biggest adventure ever sees him magic-ed to Brazil to help take the England team to World Cup victory. Can he save the tournament?

The Review
My son bought this one with a book token he was given by his Godparents, and he was absolutely thrilled.  He's a football addict, and these books are at just the right level for him- chapter books of around 100 pages with plenty of illustrations to break up the bulk of text.

We've read a few of the other 'Frankie' books, and they are certainly formulaic.  As an adult, I found that a bit irritating, but Zachary liked the familiarity and it gave him opportunities to predict where the plot might go. 

This one is all about the World Cup in Brazil and Frankie and his friends are thrown into the lively, colourful scene, building up to a climactic finale.

These aren't the most gripping stories out there, nor are they the most well-written, but there is a definite market for them with younger football fanatics.  The added bonus of Top Trump style cards at the back of the book only added to the appeal in my six year olds eyes.

Secret Seven Short Stories- Enid Blyton

 

 

The Blurb
A secret store of stolen silver, a surprising view through a telescope, a shrill scream on a night out, a disappearing cash box and a dangerous accident and a trap for the Secret Seven!

This collection includes the following short stories: The Secret of Old Mill; The Humbug Adventure; Adventure On The Way Home; An Afternoon with The Secret Seven; Where are The Secret Seven?; Hurry, Secret Seven, Hurry!

The Review
A few months back, my son and I made a rare visit to McDonalds for tea.  He ordered the obligatory Happy Meal and was chuffed to bits with a mini Enid Blyton book, which happened to be The Secret of the Old Mill, one of the stories in this collection.  He finished it in one sitting and asked he could have more Secret Seven books.  I found this book on Amazon and it sounded perfect for him to read alone and follow the plot, something he sometimes struggles with in longer books.

I read the stories first, then Zachary read them himself at bedtime.  I'd then ask him to recap the story and ask him some questions to see how much he'd understood/taken in.  This worked really well as he enjoyed telling the story in his own words (and I enjoyed finding hearing how he interpreted the book!).

They are 'of their time', but there is a reason Enid Blyton books have continued to remain popular with generations of younger readers.  The sense of adventure and the clubhouse, passwords and secrecy only adds to the appeal of these stories.

These are definitely a perfect introduction to the series for younger children or newly independent readers.

Viva Alice! - Judi Curtin

The Blurb
Alice and Megan are back together again! When they are together, they can handle anything!

Grace invites Alice and Megan to spend Easter in her house in Lanzarote. The girls are accidentally left home-alone for two days in the house. It’s fun at first, until they become trapped on an upstairs balcony and spend a long cold night and day waiting to be rescued!

Meanwhile Melissa is still unhappy at boarding school. Alice wants to help her to get back to their school, but Megan sees this as a betrayal. Tension mounts between the two girls, until Megan gives in and agrees to help. In the end, Melissa comes back, and Megan realises that she is confident enough to stand up to her.

The Review
I was sent this book for review and was immediately drawn to the attractive cover-it was bright, cheery and age appropriate, and gave me a taste of what to expect.

Judi Curtin is not an author I have heard of before, although by all accounts she is fairly prolific- this is the 8th book in the series and she's also written other books for younger readers.  The back cover quote from the Irish Independent claimed her as 'Ireland's answer to Jacqueline Wilson'- high praise indeed!  This book also reminded me of Beverley Cleary and a book I read at school back in the 1980s My Best Fiend.

Viva Alice! was a fabulous story of friendship, loyalty and family, and most of all it was funny.  I laughed a lot at the madcap escapades of the girls and the quirky, larger-than-life extended cast.  The holiday setting gave scope for plenty of drama which was fulfilled through both mishaps and mischief.

Looking beyond the plot, this is actually a really well written book with a quick pace and well developed characters.

Overall, I imagine this will be a popular book with girls 10-12 (and also with me-I want to read the rest now!)

I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Viva Alice! is out now, published by O'Brien. 

The Dinosaur that Pooped the Past- Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter

Oh. My. Word.  There is a new Pooping Dinosaur book out!  Let's just say there has been a bit of excitement about this one in our house (and not just from my son-we both squealed in equal measure when it landed on the doormat).  I love McFly and have long been aware of the warped sense of humour the band have, but my son Zachary knows Tom and Dougie only as authors-he didn't believe me when I went to watch McBusted and said Tom and Dougie were in the band!

The Dinosaur that Pooped a Planet and The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas are firm favourites here, so this latest instalment had a lot to live up to.  It's another brilliant read- children will love it and adults will be grossed out by it.  But when you've finished you'll have a smile on your face, whatever your age.

Here's my review (in funky Pooping Dino style rhyme)...

It's Danny's Gran's birthday, her party's today
But Danny and Dinosaur just want to play.
She's filled up the table with food that is green,
Probably the most green food you've ever seen.
Sweeties and biscuits and cakes it is not
But with one giant gulp Dinosaur eats the lot.

They head to the garden to play on the swing,
When suddenly something strange starts happening.
They're swinging and looping and going real fast
Then SNAP!- with a bump they're both in the past.

But Danny and Dino spy cracks in the dirt.
OH HELP, A VOLCANO IS GOING TO SPURT!
The lava is dangerous, the lava is hot,
This volcano could wipe out the past, the whole lot!
But Dinosaur knows just what he can do
He can save the whole lot with a rip-roaring poo.

It's pretty disgusting, but you want specifics?
He's pooping Egyptians who love hieroglyphics!
He poops baby dinosaurs, cute as can be,
He even poops Roman and Trojans, you'll see!
He's pooping out artefacts, ancient and rare,
This dinosaur poop's going everywhere!

Of course, in the end they are all safe and sound
They're back in the future, with feet on the ground.
With Dinosaur's help they escaped the great quake
and are back to eat Gran's birthday broccoli cake.

This book is disgusting (it's all about poo),
But I must admit it is hilarious too.
The pictures are awesome, eye-catching and bold,
And the story in rhyme? It is comedy gold.

My six year old's view when I asked him to rate?
'The Dinosaur That Pooped the Past is just GREAT'.

With thanks to Random House Children's Books for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Dinosaur That Pooped the Past is out now.

Dixie O'Day and the Great Diamond Robbery- Shirley Hughes and Clara Vulliamy

 

The Blurb

Dixie O'Day and his best friend Percy are off on holiday, and drive straight into adventure!

Peaches Miaow, the fabulous pop star, has her priceless diamond necklace stolen from the Hotel Splendide in the crime of the century. Can Dixie and Percy track down the sinister figures at the heart of the mystery?

Pack your bags for a thrilling trip filled with glamourpusses, cat burglars and seaside fun in this gorgeous chapter book with a chapter for each night of the week, as well as plenty of exciting extra material.

The Review

I am beyond excited that the next Dixie book has finally ventured out into the big wide world.  My son and I read the first in the series, Dixie O'Day in the Fast Lane last year and fell in love with Dixie and his sidekick Percy.  It's no exaggeration to say this has been one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year in our house, and I don't just mean by Zachary!

Everything we liked about the first book is back.  Lovable characters- check.  High drama-check.  Beautiful illustrations- check.  Additional extras, maps to envisage the places in the story, chapters which are perfect in length and substance- check, check, check.

However, there are enough changes to distinguish Dixie O'Day and the Great Diamond Robbery from what has gone before.  The holiday setting worked well and Peaches Miaow is the ultimate in glamorous- my son developed quite the soft spot for her.  I also felt the 'baddies' were just naughty enough without being nightmare-inducing and of course they get their comeuppance in the end.

The vocabulary in the book will stretch most children in the target market, introducing new words to expand their language development.  There are humorous elements and a moral message.  It is all round good old-fashioned fun, and the wonderful illustrations bring the text to life.  The illustration on page 99 of Percy and Peaches is my ultimate favourite- utterly simplistic but beautifully evocative- I want a larger version of it for my wall!!!

Overall, we were not disappointed.  The only disappointment came when we finished it at break-neck speed and we realised we had a long wait for the next Dixie adventure!

Dixie O'Day and the Great Diamond Robbery is out today, published by The Bodley Head.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this title.

Can I Tell You About Anxiety?- Lucy Willetts and Polly Waite

I have worked with children for the past sixteen years and strongly believe that to empower children you have to talk to them openly and honestly.  However, this isn't always easy, especially when it comes to the 'difficult questions'-those about emotions, illness, bereavement.  Can I Tell you about Anxiety? is part of a series designed to encourage discussion between parents and professionals and young people.

We are introduced to Megan, a ten year old with anxiety issues.  She talks about how anxiety affects her every day life-her ability to socialise, the physical manifestations of panic attacks, how others perceive her anxiety.  This case study approach makes the book more relatable. Can I Tell you about Anxiety? gives plenty of facts about how anxiety is a very real illness, and far more common than many people realise, and that it can impact on confidence, self esteem and education.

I was surprised by how accessible this book was.  I could imagine using it with KS2 or KS3 pupils, and perhaps as a prompt or to dip in and out of with younger children (KS1).  As someone who has first hand experience of anxiety, there were times where I found this difficult to read.  However, it gives information in a sensitive, age appropriate way and I am sure that not only children will benefit from this book- parents, teachers and health care professionals will learn a lot about anxiety and the coping strategies sufferers use in every day situations.

The book closes with a helpful list of website and organisations to support young people with anxiety. 

This would be a useful resource for anyone wanting an introduction to anxiety, also touching on PTSD, OCD and depression.

Can I Tell You about Anxiety? is out now, published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Fault in Our Stars- John Green

 

I am about a year behind the majority of book bloggers.  Everyone else read John Green's book way back when, long before the film brought the additional hype to The Fault in our Stars.  I bought this book late last year, but was scared that I wouldn't be emotionally strong enough to cope with the harrowing storyline.  For anyone who has been living under a rock, The Fault in Our Stars is a book about cancer.  And as if that didn't have the potential to be upsetting enough, it is about cancer in teenagers.  Sounds like a depressing read, right?

Well actually, wrong.  It is uplifting, and tender, and thought provoking.  It is heart felt, and honest, and unashamedly geeky.  It is insightful, and genuine, and humorous.  And most of all, it is romantic.  Boy, is it romantic.  Hazel and Augustus have such a mature, intense relationship, probably because of their experiences of cancer, yet they are defined by so much more than that.  Their love transcends all that is horrific about cancer and as a reader I was swept away by them as individuals and their potential as a couple.  That their relationship was ultimately a ticking time bomb waiting to explode was neither here nor there- they were just two ordinary teenagers utterly smitten with each other.  It is beautiful to read.

Although Hazel and Augustus are the protagonists, there is a wealth of peripheral characters adding to the depth of the novel.  Hazel's father almost broke my heart on a number of occasions with his thoughtful actions. 

There are elements of this book that are similar to other popular culture success stories- the overbearing first love of Love Story, the teen angst of The Perks of Being A Wallflower , the introspective navel-gazing of Dawson's Creek.  Yet there is undeniable beauty in The Fault in Our Stars.  It is painful, and beautiful, and worthy of all the acclaim.

There are also some terrifically quotable lines in this book, my own personal favourite being 'it would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you'.  How Morrissey-esque is that?  And I love Morrissey.

If you haven't read this book yet, do yourself a favour and read it now.  You can thank me later.  Through your tears.

The Fault in our Stars is out now.

The Bell Family- Noel Streatfeild

 

As a child I loved Noel Streatfeild's most famous work Ballet Shoes.  I had dreams of being a ballerina (which were never to materialise, although I did do a few dance exams) which were pretty much exclusively because of that book.  Yet for some reason I never read any more of Streatfeild's books, until now.

 

Vintage Classics published  this edition of The Bell Family this spring.  Originally a radio series in the 1950s, the Bell's are a typical post-war family struggling to make ends meet.  They have to 'make do and mend', utilise hand me down's from the wealthier side of their family and look for ways to bring in extra money.  There isn't much of a plot, but that really doesn't matter- it is very much character driven. Each of the children brings their own personality and charm to the book-Paul, the sensible eldest child, Jane who harbours dreams of attending ballet school, rash and mischievous Ginnie who is desperate to find her role in the family (I must admit to having a soft spot for her.  She's a feisty, determined madam) and baby of the family Angus, who collects all manner of bugs in his quest to start his own zoo.  Then there is Esau the dog, who the Bell's are convinced is the most beautiful dog in Britain.  Mrs Gage, the housekeeper, has oodles of compassion and is a lovable addition to the character list.   

 

The relationships between the children are a heart warming reminder that being part of a family unit involves hard work and compromise, emphasised by the teamwork ethic which is a running theme throughout the book. 

 

As with any text of this age (it is 60 years this year since The Bell Family was first published) it contains words that are no longer in common usage.  However, there is a useful glossary in the extra features, alongside detailed author facts, information about life in the 1950s and a quiz to find out which Bell child you most closely resemble.  There are also beautiful line drawing illustrations by Shirley Hughes OBE, drawn in 1954, which compliment the story perfectly.

 

I can't say how much I enjoyed this book which reflected on an era so different to the consumerist society we currently live in.  It has similarities to classics such as The Railway Children, and I think The Bell Family deserves the same level of acclaim- it has been overlooked for far too long. I'm going to keep my copy, something I rarely do these days, because I know I will read it again in the future

 

Vintage Classics has a diverse range of titles, and the quality of the books is second to none.  They are good value for money and have modern covers to appeal to a young audience.  The hardest part is choosing which of these timeless children's books to read next-although I must admit I'm very tempted by Emil and the Detectives.

 

The Bell Family is out now published by Vintage Classics, an imprint of Random House.

 

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Being Binky- Binky Felstead

I make no bones about the fact that I love a bit of reality TV, and Made in Chelsea is possibly my favourite of all of the reality series I watch.  I like the glamour, the bitching, the fashion-plus as a bit of a London fanatic too there are regular glimpses of notable landmarks and quirky bars and cafes.  It is a far cry from life in South Yorkshire working as a dinner lady.

Binky has always been my favourite female cast member.  She seems a bit more down to earth than some of the other girls and is one of those irritating people who always appears effortlessly gorgeous.  I have a bit of a crush on her.  And I want her hair.  So when I saw she had a book out I was full of excitement.

Unfortunately, I wasn't blown away by Being Binky.  I was interested in her childhood, her experience of being bullied at school and how she came to be part of Made in Chelsea, but felt there was little in the way of juicy gossip or meaty revelations.  The book mostly covers her time up to starting on Made in Chelsea, whereas it would probably work better if it was based more around the relationships between cast members, her honest opinions on key moments in the series and how her life has changed.

There are lists of 'top tips' for things like 'how to apply fake tan' and 'how to date a Chelsea boy' which are really not relevant to me.  This is definitely aimed at the younger market, I would say 16-18s.  The pictures of Binky growing up will give any girl hope- puberty served her well- and I was amazed at how her Mum hasn't aged at all!

Overall, I was disappointed.  I love Binky and thought there was so much potential, but this book fell a bit flat for me.  It would have been better being marketed as a teen book, as a quick look on Amazon shows that other older fans of the show have had similar thoughts to me.  I can imagine younger readers will enjoy it as an easy read and find the lists fun, but for me it could have been so much more.

Being Binky is out now, published by Simon and Schuster.

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Roomies- Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

 

Roomies is a YA book exploring the transitional period between leaving school and going to University.  Elizabeth and Lauren are two very different people who are allocated a room share.  They wonder if they will get on at all, but over a summer of emails they begin to open up, talking about their hopes and fears.  I loved how the power of the internet and the opportunities it offers for developing friendships before meeting in person is explored in this book.

Roomies captures the teen angst perfectly, the self doubt, the worries about relationships, the uniqueness of this time where you are no longer a child but not quite an adult.  Roomies tugged on my heart strings and took me back to that time in my own life.  It would be a great read for anyone who is preparing to go to University this Autumn. 

The strength for me lies in the depth of Lauren and Elizabeth's personalities.  They are very much temperamental teens-not always the most likeable, yet always relatable.  Because Roomies is written partly in emails and partly in insightful prose, the reader really gets to know the girls, and as they the book progresses I felt more and more empathy towards each of the girls and their insecurities.

I really enjoyed Roomies, a modern take on the classic coming of age genre.  It has a large dose of friendship, a smattering of relationships, a sprinkling of sex and a whole load of family drama.  Overall, a touching and tender read.

Roomies is out now, published by Hodder and Stoughton.

8.5/10

With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.