#MG Review: Quill and the Last Generation by C.M. Lewis

Illustration by Maria Vidal, Publication date 29 January 2026, Macmillan Children’s,
ISBN: 978-1035060610

Quill and the Last Generation is a beautifully crafted, middle-grade, fantasy adventure, based on the Celtic myth of Arawn and Hafgan, the two giants who battle each year to change the seasons. Author, CM Lewis, weaves a tale which totally enraptured me. The characters, setting and pacing capture the reader’s full attention, with moments of high octane drama sprinkled through a thoughtful, other-wordly adventure. There are sufficient dragons, shape-shifters, warriors, and sword skills to satisfy those children who love some battlefield action in their fantasy adventures. However, what really set this story apart, for me, were the quiet, reflective passages where you see the growth of each of the young characters, which provided authentic personalities and balanced out the action.

The main protagonist, Quill, is a 12-year-old boy, who lives with his father and mother, but has always felt like an outsider in his small harbour town. He has one close friend, Jona, but is teased by the other children because his father is so overprotective of him. Quill and Jona, along with their school peers, are the last generation of children to have been born and they have never known summer as the world went cold the year they were born. Quill seems to have a strange power over birds, which are drawn to him wherever he goes. When a very persistent crow, suddenly turns into a warrior-like girl named Deryn, Quill learns something of his true destiny and sets sail (a particularly special sail, crafted by his father) for the underworld.

Quill has many missions ahead of him, not the least of which is to rescue the Light of the World before it is extinguished. He has allies in the form of his shape-shifting friends, a small band of loyal soldiers and a magical water-horse, but he has many skills to master and time is running out. When the going gets tough, Macsen, his mentor, shows him the courage that is required to continue fighting for what feels right in his heart, even when the battle already feels lost. When the appointed full-moon arrives, Quill must face Arawn in the Valley of Fates, to try to restore warmth and light to both the underworld and the overworld. Will his love for his new-found friends, Finn, Deryn, Eos and Erin, as well as those he has left behind in the overworld, be sufficient motivation for this peace-loving boy to fight his opponent? Can Quill find a secret strength to add to the sword and sail with which he is armed?

This is a truly majestic middle-grade novel and I will predict now that it will appear on literary prize shortlists for 2026 publications. CM Lewis is an outstanding writer and presents a perfect combination of action and emotion in a novel of approximately 250 pages. I read the book as an advanced electronic copy, which contained some unfinished illustrations (by Maria Vidal) in an anime style, and also a gorgeous map at the start. I highly recommend Quill and the Last Generation to school librarians at both primary and secondary schools, as well as parents/carers for children aged 9 years and above.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Macmillan Children’s Books and NetGalley for granting me access to the e-ARC in advance of publication on 29 January 2025. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#TheWriteReads Blog Tour: Lianna and the Hombit by Valinora Troy

Cover art by Laura Tolton, published by The Silver Key, 29 January 2026, ISBN: 978-1918324013

Lianna and the Hombit is a delightful fantasy novel for middle grade readers. It gave me vibes of some of the classic stories that I enjoyed as a child; The Little Princess and The Secret Garden in particular. Lianna is a 13-year-old orphan, who has been sent to live with her uncle, Judge Sambru in the bleak, cold, harbour town of Lowdar, a long sea voyage away from her former home in the balmy land of Robunda. Her first experience of her new environment is to find herself robbed of her dear Papa’s pocket watch, her most precious possession since his sudden death.

It is clear upon her arrival at the judge’s grand house that her appearance is unexpected and unwelcome. She is accommodated in a small, unheated, attic room, her only consolation being a small glass-like bird which emerges from her empty fireplace. Not only can the creature talk, she soon learns that it is a Hombit, sent to use its magical powers on a mission so secret that it does not yet know what it has been tasked to do. The developing friendship and deep bond of trust and mutual reliance between Lianna and the Hombit sits at the heart of this novel and provides the spark to drive Lianna through her trials.

She has many mysteries to unravel and faces them with courage and determination, whether she’s investigating the contents of her uncle’s library for clues to the family’s history, or diving into a ferocious sea to rescue a woman in distress. Lianna is desperate to unravel the secrets of her late father’s flight from Lowdar; the intriguing reports of jewel thefts from clients of the Sambru family’s business and the disappearance of her uncle’s fiancee, all of which appear to be linked in some way. Most pressingly, has her arrival in her father’s home town somehow caused the living rocks to awaken, and can she save herself and the town from a terrible fate?

I found this story to be thoroughly engaging, building in tension to a dramatic and satisfying conclusion. I think that middle grade readers will empathise with Lianna and be enchanted by the Hombit, as they accompany them through their many challenges. The author brilliantly builds the forbidding atmosphere of the town, from the earliest pages I felt a real sense of menace from the harbour town, its inhabitants, and its surrounding seascape. I highly recommend it to primary school librarians and parents/caregivers for children aged 9 years and above who love to immerse themselves in mystery adventures with a spark of magic.

About the Author:
Valinora Troy is a children’s fantasy and horror writer from Ireland. She has a MA in Creative Writing, specialising in writing for children and young adults. She has acted as a panellist for the CYBILS awards in the middle grade speculative fiction category and served
as a Reading Ambassador for Louth Libraries. Her short stories for adults have appeared in numerous publications. She is the author of The Lucky Diamond trilogy, a middle grade children’s fantasy adventure series. In 2023 she was short-listed for the Staróg Prize. When not writing, she loves visiting schools and libraries to talk to children about books and writing.

You can find out more about Valinora’s books, as well as resources for schools, and sign up
to her newsletter on her website: Valinora Troy – Children’s Fantasy Writer

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Valinora Troy for sending me a copy of Lianna and the Hombit in paperback format in exchange for my honest opinion, and to #TheWriteReads for organising the blog tour and providing images. Do check out the other blogposts on the promotional tour.

#YA AudioBook Review: Some Like It Cold written by Elle McNicoll, read by Charlie Sanderson

AudioBook accessed by the BorrowBox app from Somerset Libraries, published by First Ink, 2 October 2024, ISBN: 978-1035027866,
read by Charlie Sanderson

Some Like it Cold is a heart-warming romance, set in the frosty landscape of Lake Pristine, a fictional small town. It has all the hallmarks of a classic will-they-won’t-they love story but with the the twist that the heroine, Jasper Montgomery, is autistic. This makes the story so special, because author Elle McNicoll, who is autistic, takes readers on an emotional journey which I think will hold huge value for both neurodivergent and neurotypical readers. I would define myself as neurotypical, but the way that the author writes with so much honesty gave me a clear insight into the challenges faced by autistic individuals when navigating personal relationships, family dynamics and social expectations.

Jasper is the younger daughter of the town’s prominent family and since early childhood has been masking her diagnosed autism to be the perfect daughter, student and friend to all. Well, actually there is one person in the town with whom she is not on the friendliest terms, former classmate Arthur, who along with his older brother Henry runs the town cinema which was established by their late father, and takes care of younger teenage sister Grace. Now Jasper has returned to Lake Pristine for the Christmas holidays, having decided to abandon the psychology degree that her parents forced her into. Meanwhile, Arthur and his cousin Marcus are filming a documentary about the town, to enter into a high profile competition. The camera rolls, but what will its intrusive lens capture?

This novel is beautifully crafted, with multiple characters who all exhibit authentic backstories and personalities, and a plot which depicts many aspects of life in a small town. Readers develop tremendous empathy for Jasper as she tries to please everyone, in particular her nightmare of an older sister, Christine, who is acting as the ultimate ‘bride-zilla’ as her wedding day approaches. The scene where Jasper has a complete sensory shutdown when Christine moves the hen night to a crowded nightclub is heartbreaking, but does open Jasper’s mind to the one person in town who has really paid attention to her needs. Arthur, to me, was a perfect, modern-day, Mr Darcy; handsome, tall, good-hearted and struggling to express his own emotions.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this story in audiobook form, brilliantly read by Charlie Sanderson.

The two lead characters are eighteen and there is some reference to alcohol and a smattering of the language familiar to all teens. I would describe it as ‘clean-teen’ and think it will be popular with readers aged 14/15+ as it provides a romantic ideal of finding a partner with whom you can be your authentic self, whilst tapping into teenage insecurities and behaviours.

I was able to listen to the audiobook for free through Borrowbox provided by my public library service. During the #NationalYearOfReading I would encourage everyone to visit their local public library and investigate the multitude of free offers available.

#MG Sci-Fi Review: The Experiment by Rebecca Stead

Cover image by Devin Elle Kurtz, published by Andersen Press 01 January 2026, ISBN: 978-1839137815

The Experiment is a page-turner of a sci-fi novel written for a middle grade readership but with themes which will interest older teen readers and adults too.

The main protagonist is a sixth-grade boy named Nathan, who lives with his parents in New York, where the three of them hide a very big secret; they are aliens, part of a network of families who have been sent to assimilate with humans as part of an experiment run by their ‘Kast’ leader, Hester. On the surface, Nathan appears to be a typical 12-year-old, he and his best friend Victor share a love of comic books and movie nights on the sofa with Victor’s extended family. However, at home, Nathan’s food intake is measured to the gram by his mother, she is constantly uploading his metabolic data for Hester’s attention, and she totally freaks out when he runs out of the special pink toothpaste with which he has to clean his teeth five times per day! The twelve alien families scattered across the United States have monthly online meetings to check on each other’s progress, and when Izzy (with whom Nathan has formed a strong bond) as well as several others from the cohort disappear, coinciding with Nathan growing a stripy tail, it looks as if their time on planet earth might be drawing to an end. Nathan and his parents are summoned back to the spacecraft known as ‘the Wagon’ where they witness the disturbing treatment of families who have ‘failed’ the experiment. With the help of his sentient tail, which Nathan has named Tuck, he begins to uncover a huge web of deceit which leads to deep questions about all of his family’s deeply held beliefs.

The clever structure of this book, with six parts counting down to the lift off of the Wagon, and very short chapters, makes it a compelling read. The book is only 270 pages in length, so perfectly manageable as an independent read for children aged 9 years and above. In addition to the gripping and increasingly tense unravelling of the mystery of Hester, the Wagon and the Kast, there is also a touching story at its heart of the very genuine friendship between Nathan and Victor, and what it means to be human. I liked the insights into the nature of scientific experimentation, and the concept of the researcher becoming so obsessed with their work that acceptable standards and ethics were ignored. I think that this could be used as the basis for interesting discussions in an upper primary or lower secondary school classroom setting. I highly recommend The Experiment as an excellent addition to primary and secondary school library collections, and as a gift for young fans of the sci-fi genre.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to publicist Jade at Andersen Press for sending me a copy of The Experiment. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#PictureBooks from Andersen Press: The Space Between, The Really Beautiful Thing and A Crinkled Screaming Thing

All 3 books published by Andersen Press: The Space Between ISBN 978-1839133817 6 February 2025, The Really Beautiful Thing ISBN 978-1839135651 1 January 2026, A Crinkled Screaming Thing 978-1839133688 15 January 2026

2026 has been designated #NationalYearOfReading2026 with many events planned to encourage everyone to spend more time reading or listening to books. The current Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, has spent a great deal of his time in post promoting the importance of sharing stories with babies and young children, which research indicates can improve bonding between parents and children. I am therefore delighted to share some recent picture books that were sent to me by Andersen Press, all of which would be excellent titles to share with babies and young children.

The Space Between is a lovely inter-generational story about a young girl who is obviously sad about moving home, and missing her old friends and familiar surroundings. Fortunately, Granny is present and able to share her wisdom about making the most of the time it takes for all manner of changes to take effect. The examples that Granny provides are all very relateable for young children. The beautiful artwork by Fiona Lumbers provides much extra information to aid discussion of the concepts written about by author Clare Helen Walsh. In an age of where many grandparents take on some childcare responsibilities, I think that this would be a lovely choice for them to share with grandchildren aged 3-6 years of age. In nursery, pre-school or early years settings, this would be a good book to share with children who are unsettled by upheavals in their lives.

The Really Beautiful Thing is a cute, cautionary tale about the truly valuable things in life. Squirrel has a comfortable home in a majestic oak tree, furnished with a squishy sofa, a bouncy bed and a fridge full of food. He loves to host his friends: a mole, a rabbit and an owl, and it is clear that they have fun times together. However, when squirrel spots a sparkly, pink crystal in Mr Wolf’s Emporium, he sacrifices all of his possessions, his home and his friendships in his desire to possess the ‘Really Beautiful Thing’. The engaging text by Frances Tosdevin and beautiful illustrations by Ali Pye will help children aged 3-6 understand the true value of friendship.

A Crinkled Screaming Thing is an engaging, humorous story depicting a growing family, which in very simple, repeated phrases and bright artwork shows the developing bonds between siblings. The ‘crinkled screaming thing’ indicates their dislike of new phenomena such as bright lights, baths and gooey food in the time-honoured way of babies. However, ‘small big one’ always seems to find a way to put a smile on the face of their baby sibling. The minimal, rhythmic text by Sarah Tagholm and the colourful illustrations by Ruby Wright make this a fun story to share with the very youngest children.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to publicist Jade at Andersen Press for sending me copies of these three books. It was my own decision to write reviews and all opinions are my own.

#MG Review: Escape from the Child Snatchers by Sufiya Ahmed

Cover illustration by Elisa Paganelli, published by Andersen Press, 29 January 2026, ISBN: 978-1839136511

Escape from the Child Snatchers is a fast-paced, historical adventure which takes young readers on a journey from Bombay to London with the protagonists Humza and his best friend Ranj. Author, Sufiya Ahmed, is adept at weaving historical facts into a thoroughly engrossing adventure which entertains the intended young readership, whilst enlightening them about historical injustices.

The story takes place in 1865 and begins in Bombay which is under British control. Humza’s older brother, Dani, has been missing since he began working as a lascar on a trade ship travelling to England several years earlier. Humza is determined to make the voyage himself, search for his brother and bring him home. His friend Ranj is eager to join him, as he sees London as the place to make his fortune. The two boys stowaway on a cargo ship and after a long and perilous voyage, they arrive at the East India Docks in London, where they soon learn that danger awaits. They almost instantly fall into the clutches of a notorious child snatcher, with only the quick thinking of a local innkeeper’s daughter, Daisy, saving them from harm. However, the criminal gang do not give up on their prey, and as Humza and Ranj take to the London streets to seek information about Dani, they are pursued by the henchmen of Basil Brookes.

A heart-pounding sequence of events sees the boys caught up in Basil Brookes’ cruel money making scheme where he exhibits Indian children for the entertainment of wealthy patrons in his London home. Shockingly, the author’s note at the end of the story makes clear that there are documented cases of this taking place in the eighteenth century. Being a middle grade adventure, there is a satisfying conclusion which will appeal to the natural sense of justice of primary school children. The story is told in less than 200 pages, with short chapters and a pacy narrative, making it perfect as an independent read for children aged 8 to 12 years. I would highly recommend it for school library and classroom collections.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Jade at Andersen Press for sending me a copy of Escape from the Child Snatchers ahead of publication on 29 January 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.