#YAReview: My Name is Jodie Jones by Emma Shevah

Uncorrected proof cover, publisher David Fickling Books, 11 September 2025, ISBN: 978-1788453516

My Name is Jodie Jones is the most exceptional first hand narrative that I have read this year. The main protagonist is extraordinarily intelligent, single-minded and traumatised. From the opening lines where we meet Jodie Jones in the office of her psychiatrist Dr Kumar, the reader is taken inside the disturbed and fierce mind of a unique teenager, but only permitted to see what she chooses to reveal. Throughout the novel, she plays an intricate game with the adults who are trying to control her, and slowly and brilliantly discloses the full story behind her PTSD and the plan that she has enacted to win back control over her life.

I do not want to reveal any plot details which would spoil anyone’s enjoyment of reading this novel for themselves, so I will just briefly sketch out the main characters before urging you to read this book when it is published in September.

Jodie Jones is a Year 10 pupil who will only answer if she is addressed by her full name. It is clear that she was once a high-performer at school but now seems to be on an educational self-sabotage mission, refusing to do classwork or homework, receiving more detentions than there are days in the week to attend them, and teetering on the verge of expulsion from school. Her home life is heartbreaking. The fashionably designed house seems utterly devoid of comfort, every aspect of the family’s lives controlled by a mother who only values her children for how well they perform and who seems to despise her husband for not being able to stop grieving the death of his mother. Her dad obviously loves his daughter but seems so lost in his grief that he fails to provide the support she needs; her older brother Champ is struggling to meet the maternal expectations placed on him and treats Jodie Jones as an irritating nuisance. Jodie Jones spends much of her time sitting inside her wardrobe contemplating the sentences she collects and revelling in the beauty of words and language. In contrast, her loyal best friend, Becca, lives in a less affluent area but in a home which brims with love and warmth where Jodie is always welcomed with open arms and a full plate (despite her mother’s attempts to forbid her from spending time with a family who do not meet her snobbish standards). Becca’s unwavering support for her friend and the kindness shown by Champ’s friend Moses, alongside the professional support provided by Dr Khan appear to be Jodie Jones’ lifelines.

I was completely entranced by this book and forced myself to slow my usual reading pace so that I could relish every beautifully constructed sentence; those written by the author Emma Shevah as well as those plucked from classic works of literature. I have lost count of the number of sticky notes that I used to mark appealing passages! This is a book which will delight all bibliophiles and etymologists. If I was a teen reading this book, I know that it would propel me to the library or bookstore to seek out the original works from which Jodie Jones’ precious, collectible sentences are plucked. It is a clever, sophisticated and intriguing story, much like its main protagonist, and the twist at the end is perfect! A definite recommendation for secondary school librarians to pre-order ready for the autumn term.

Disclaimer: I was sent an uncorrected proof of My Name is Jodie Jones by the publisher David Fickling Books. It was my decision to write a review and all views expressed are my own.

#AudioBook Review – Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea by Pari Thomson, read by Sophia Nomvete

Cover art by Elisa Paganelli, audio book released 22 May 2024, publisher Macmillan Children’s Books, ISBN: 978-1035021178

The City Beyond the Sea is the second book in the Greenwild trilogy (you can read my review of Greenwild: The World Behind the Door here) and follows on just a few weeks after the end of the first book. I was delighted to find the audiobook available via the BorrowBox app from my local public library and thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Pari Thomson’s exquisite storytelling on my walks this week. I have to make a special mention of the narrator Sophia Nomvete, who reads with care and charm and does a wonderful job of distinguishing the varied characters with her vocal acting.

The story begins in the magical green world of Mallowmarsh, which will be familiar to readers of the first book, where a ship is under construction in preparation for a voyage to the Amazon. The Greenwilders are intent on rescuing the famous botanists who have been kidnapped by the Grim Reapers, a criminal organisation who wish to destroy the world’s natural resources. The main protagonists from book 1, Daisy Thistledown, The Prof, Acorn and Indigo, otherwise known as the Five O’Clock Club, are determined to sneak aboard the ship even though children have been banned from the dangerous expedition. It is not long before they find themselves in transit across the ocean, although not on the botanists’ ship. An attack by the Grim Reapers means that Daisy and her friends find themselves aboard the sea-going barges of the Nautilus Theatre Company, and en route to the hidden, mystical city of Iffenwild. There is another child hitching a ride on the barge, who appears to be of particular interest to the pursuing band of Grim Reapers, his name is Max and the interplay between him and the Five O’Clock Club contributes greatly to the tension and drama in the adventure.

As with the first book, the world-building is beautifully done; descriptions of the settings are extraordinary, and the characters (of which there are many) are all distinctive and fully fleshed out. The sense of camaraderie between the members of the theatre troupe is particularly enjoyable, with moments of comedy as well as gentle and reflective passages. As with all the best adventures, there are some mouth-watering descriptions of shared meals, which greatly add to the sense of found family. I believe that in the physical book there are drawings by Elisa Paganelli; the word craft and the skill of the narrator certainly conjured the scenes very clearly in my imagination as I listened.

This is an excellent work of fantasy fiction, with a strong underlying environmental message which I think would be greatly enjoyed by anyone aged from 8/9-years-old and above. I will have to wait for a little while before listening to my reservation of the 3rd novel, The Forest in the Sky, but I am already greatly looking forward to it!

Disclaimer: This review is based on the audiobook, borrowed via the Borrowbox app. All opinions are my own.

#YAReview: Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood by Gill Sims

Publisher Electric Monkey an imprint of Harper Collins, 14 August 2025, ISBN: 978-0008513788

This was the perfect novel to read under a shady tree on a hot day; I would highly recommend it as the one to pack in the holiday suitcase for all #YA fans. The diary format, humour and overblown teenage angst make it entertaining, immersive and a joy to read.

It starts as the journal of 14-year-old Emily, who is having the worst Easter holiday EVER, with no tech, no chance of seeing her friends and shock-horror, actually having to work to pay for phone repairs! Emily has been packed off to stay with her mum’s best friend ‘Uncle’ Tom, while her ‘uncaring’ parent swans off to attend a writing retreat to try to fulfil her lifelong goal of actually writing her novel. I loved Emily’s voice from the moment I read the melodramatic opening lines, and when she referred to Mr Rochester as a ‘massive red flag’ in the early pages, I was completely on her side! As she pines for the fact that she will never get together with Toby, her crush, and bemoans the fact that no adults understand the way she feels, she is given permission to read her mum’s old teenage journal which has been discovered in a storage box at Uncle Tom’s house.

From here, the chapters alternate between Emily’s contemporary diary, with her references to Tay-Tay, TikTok and her broken iPhone; and her mother Lila’s diary with its references to agony aunts in Just Seventeen magazine and the newly released film of Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow! Emily recognises that Lila went through the same teenage agonising over first kisses, being accepted for yourself rather than a fake persona, and following your own dreams, that she is facing – but somehow cannot equate Lila with the mother who appears so staid and boring! I enjoyed the wit, the supportive friendships and the many literary references scattered throughout this novel; it had a refreshingly feel-good vibe. I also notice that the book has been described as ‘clean-teen’ which I think is a great description; I think this will be an entertaining choice for readers of 13+ who are just starting to think about first romantic relationships.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to Electric Monkey, an imprint of Harper Collins for sending me a copy of Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood ahead of publication. It was my choice to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#PictureBookFriday: Pencil’s Best Story Ever by Carly Gledhill

Cover art by Carly Gledhill, publisher Post Wave, 4 September 2025, ISBN: 978-1836270256

Pencil’s Best Story Ever is a vibrant engaging story, written by Pencil with a little help from author/illustrator Carly Gledhill. I was immediately struck by the very distinctive artwork in this book, with scenes and characters constructed out of basic shapes, which young consumers of the story (and even older adults who share the story) could try to copy in their own drawings. The colour palette is very appealing and there is so much visual interest that this book would prompt wonderful conversations between young children and adults.

The story is simple but imaginative, with Pencil trying to write a story featuring his best friends Peanut and Jelly, sending them off on an adventure which features more jeopardy than they are prepared to accept! Therefore, they keep asking him to change the narrative, causing him to dream up ever more elaborate plots. In my experience, young children often go through a phase when they create stories or imaginative games featuring all of their friends, and I think that many will relate to this tale and will enjoy the humour in the text and pictures. I must add that I loved the endpapers, which looked as if a toddler had taken a crayon to the inside covers!

This is a high quality, hardback book which would create a lovely shared reading experience between adults, at home or in an educational setting, and children aged 3-6. I will look forward to sharing with a young relative during the summer holidays.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Post Wave Publishing and publicist Antonia Wilkinson for sending me a copy of Pencil’s Best Story Ever ahead of publication on 4 September 2025. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: Gloam by Jack Mackay

Cover image by Ben Joel Price, publisher Rock the Boat, 14 August 2025, ISBN: 978-0861549528

Think of every possible synonym for spooky, multiply by ten, and you will get somewhere close to the feels conveyed by Jack Mackay’s debut middle grade horror story, Gloam! He has combined familiar tropes of the horror genre – orphans, an old, isolated house, questionable care-givers and nightmarish chase scenarios – in an enthrallingly original narrative. I read this book in one sitting and was mightily glad that I had started it on a hot and sunny afternoon; had I picked it up on a dark, stormy evening, I might not have survived to write this review!

I want to keep plot details to a minimum for fear of ruining anyone’s enjoyment of reading the tale of the Clayton-Fenn orphans for themselves, but believe me, you will be drawn into their perilous existence from the opening lines and willing them to escape the clutches of Esme Laverne. The storytelling is masterful, written in a slightly detached third person narrative that I am sure will appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket. The tension creeps forward progressively like the mould colonising the woodwork of Somnolent Hall, building to an impressively claustrophobic showdown. All of the characters are vividly three-dimensional and my heart especially went out to clear-sighted Gwen as she battled to protect her younger siblings.

In my opinion, this is a really impressive novel to add to school library collections for children aged 10 and above who enjoy reading a book that provides some scares, I am sure that it will be very popular with those children who have enjoyed the Dreadwood or Goosebumps titles, or A Series of Unfortunate Events. I think the clever writing will appeal to readers into their early teens, so I would recommend Gloam to secondary school librarians too.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to Liz Scott PR and Rock the Boat for sending me a copy of Gloam ahead of publication. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: The Changeling Child by H.S. Norup

Cover image by Thy Bui, publisher Pushkin Press/Pushkin Children’s Books, 14 August 2025, ISBN: 978-1782695189

The Changeling Child is the enthralling follow up to H.S. Norup’s 2023 novel Into the Faerie Hill (you can read my review here). As in the original, the author achieves a magical realisation of the crossover between real life and a parallel fantasy realm, extending her brilliantly captured descriptions of the natural world into her thoughtfully imagined faerie realm. I found myself utterly immersed and believing in the interweaving of the two worlds in this wonderfully crafted middle grade novel. I think that the cover image created by Thy Bui does a marvellous job of depicting the juxtaposition of fantasy and reality which takes place within her beautifully designed covers.

Once again, the two main protagonists are Alfred (who is now aware that he is a Demi-fae) and his best friend Saga (a passionate eco-campaigner who, unusually for a human, has the ability to see and hear visitors from the fae kingdom). The novel takes the form of alternating chapters from each of Alfred and Saga’s viewpoints, as they pursue their investigations in the faerie and human worlds to locate a changeling child and prevent an ecological disaster which will have negative consequences for both realms. The narrative bursts with imagination, pulsates with twists and thrills and reveals background details on the links between Alfred’s and Saga’s mothers, all of which give context to their deeply trusting friendship. While Alfred explores alliances with the other Demi-fae, gradually learns more about his faerie family and navigates the dangers of the High fae, Saga must overcome prejudices in the human realm to save the landscape of the Faerie Hill from the mayor’s tourist development ambitions. With each child pushing themselves to the limits of their courage and capabilities, the story leaves readers as breathless as an underwater swim!

Beneath the fantasy adventure I found there to be a deep meditation on identity, belonging and the meaning of family, in addition to the ecological message. In a novel in which the plot hinges on the suspicion and distrust between the inhabitants of different worlds, there is a very powerful passage about the necessity of interacting with different groups and the power of books to help with building empathy between different sensibilities. I have read that author H.S. Norup has lived in six different countries throughout her life, and I suspect that this experience contributes to the wisdom that she disseminates in her fascinating and original middle grade novels.

I thoroughly recommend The Changeling Child to librarians, upper KS2 teachers, and parents/caregivers for sharing with readers aged 9 years and upwards. It is available for pre-order now and I am looking forward to collecting my copy on publication day from my local indie bookshop.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to Pushkin Press/Pushkin Children’s Books and NetGalley for granting me access to an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

#Non-fictionReview: Heroines of the Ancient World by Honor Cargill-Martin, illustrated by Margaux Carpentier

Cover image by Margaux Carpentier, published by Walker Books,
1 May 2025, ISBN: 978-1529507522

Heroines of the Ancient World is an excellent non-fiction title written by classicist and historian, Honor Cargill-Martin, and illustrated by Margaux Carpentier. It is published in a lovely large hardback format by Walker Books, for an upper primary school/ lower secondary school readership, and despite being a whole lot older than the intended readership, I learnt a tremendous amount from this book.

The introduction provides a clear explanation of what scholars mean when they use the term the ‘Classical Word’ and lets the reader know that this book will concentrate on the women who are often left out of previously written histories of these societies. There is a useful timeline which includes thumbnail portraits of the women whose stories are contained in the subsequent pages. The contents are divided into politics, science, the arts, sports, priestesses and warriors; demonstrating the broad range of activities in which women participated. Showing my own bias, I was particularly fascinated by the groundbreaking women in science. My mind was blown by the discovery that a bain-marie which I have often used in cooking was first invented by Mary Hebraea, an alchemist living in Alexandria approximately 2000 years ago.

There is a wealth of knowledge contained within this book, and as with other non-fiction titles that I have read by this author, the information is presented clearly and in a friendly, conversational style; it feels like being taught ancient history by the coolest teacher imaginable. I must also praise the vibrant illustrations by Margaux Carpentier which depict the women and their activities quite beautifully.

Heroines of the Ancient World is a book that I would recommend to all librarians, primary school teachers and parents/caregivers. I think that it will be very much appreciated to support ancient history topics in primary schools, and at this time of year would be an engaging book for children who are heading to a Mediterranean holiday destination in the countries inhabited by these fascinating historical figures.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to the author who sent me a copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

You can read my reviews of other non-fiction and fiction titles by Honor Cargill Martin at the links below:

The Six Queens of Henry VIII

She Speaks: The Women of Greek Myths in Their Own Words

The Diary of an Accidental Witch – Flying High

The Diary of an Accidental Witch – Ghostly Getaway

The Diary of an Accidental Witch – Stage Fright

Impossible Creatures: The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

To be published on 11 September 2025 by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

How on earth do I review The Poisoned King, the second book in the Impossible Creatures series? I could simply write: buy it, read it, gift it to everyone you know! And I do mean everyone, because I think that adults benefit as much from the exquisite imagination, academic brilliance and unique ability with words of author Katherine Rundell, as the middle grade readership for which this book is written. Like one of her characters, this author ‘deplores cliché’ and every chapter is blessed with beautifully crafted sentences whether they are describing characters, action or those deeply held truths which reach to the heart and soul of the reader.

As stated earlier, this is the second in a series, and whilst it could be read as a standalone novel, I think that it is likely to be more enjoyable and meaningful if you have read the first Impossible Creatures book in advance (I will put a link to my review at the end of this post).

The story begins with Christopher Forrester being summoned back to the magical Archipelago by a very insistent Jacques, a small Jaculus dragon, who brings news of mysterious dragon deaths which Christopher alone has the ability to investigate. Using the ‘Waybetween’ crossing in the Scottish Highlands, of which his grandfather is the guardian, Christopher and Jacques are met on the other side by Naravirala, a sphinx who is to fly them to a meeting with the majestic dragon Sarkany. They are deflected off-course by a summons to aid a young girl whose life is in grave danger and thus Christopher teams up with Princess Anya Argen of the Island of Dousha, Duchess of the Silver Mountain, Countess of the Winged Forests. Despite her grand titles, Anya would rather be cultivating plants in the forest with her father, or speaking with a flock of royal birds, than attending palace balls and banquets with her grandfather. Having been forced to live at the palace, she has become aware of discord in the kingdom and her rescue by Christopher and Naravirala is timely.

At first it would appear that each child has a different mission to fulfill and different priorities. Christopher is deeply caring, has the instinctive ability to gain the trust of any magical creature and feels duty-bound to investigate the dragon deaths immediately. Anya burns with the ferocious anger of injustice and desire for revenge. She knows the identity of the poisoner of her grandfather, King Halam Argen. The assassin is not only a cold-blooded murderer but has also framed her beloved father, Argus, for the murder. Having narrowly escaped from being poisoned herself, and with her avian companions the royal gaganas she will use every molecule of her courage to seek justice for her father and expose the traitorous villain. It takes a wise third party to make the children realise that their goals are inter-linked, and an adventure of exceptional courage, deep friendship and encounters with mythical beasts ensues.

As I have come to expect from this author, the narrative is intricately plotted, with wonders revealed on every page, the action and emotion building to a heart-affecting climax. Additionally, I was delighted to find the necessary Belgian joke, plenty more humour and lavish descriptions of food and drink. This book is noticeably shorter than Impossible Creatures and the majority of the chapters are exceptionally short. I feel that this will make it an easier book for many middle grade readers to enjoy independently, additionally it is likely to allow teachers, teaching assistants and parents/caregivers time to read a chapter aloud even when the busy term-time agenda often seems a barrier to shared enjoyment of a book.

As well as being an immersive and exciting fantasy adventure, for those who care to look deeper I think this story provides some interesting and wise commentary for our current times. The dragons’ age-old wisdom about the dangers of gold being accumulated and concentrated in the hands of just a few men; the reflections on the power and necessity of books, libraries and knowledge; and messages about being true to yourself and choosing your own future are valuable to young and older readers. I expect The Poisoned King to be on many of the book prize lists across the coming year and I can only recommend that you share it with a child you love when it is published on 11th September 2025. I have placed my pre-order with my local indie bookshop and can’t wait to re-read the physical copy!

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me access to the advance e-copy of The Poisoned King in exchange for my honest opinion.

My review of Impossible Creatures is here