#MG Review: Sammy Versus the Smartphone by Victoria Williamson

Cover design by Elise Carmichael, published by Tiny Tree, 26 March 2026,
ISBN: 978-0722360026

Sammy Versus the Smartphone could not be a more timely publication as the debate around children’s access to smartphones takes centre stage in national and international conversations. This new fictional title from award-winning author, Victoria Williamson, paints a vivid picture of the way that smartphone use can insinuate its way into every aspect of family life, with negative consequences.

Sammy is in her final year at primary school, and like many other children, has been promised a smartphone for her 11th birthday in preparation for the move to secondary school. Her parents have also been persuaded to buy the holographic interface upgrade (Hollis), so that Sammy’s phone features a ‘cooler’, airbrushed, glamorous image of Sammy, who until this point has been a star footballer, happy to live in sports clothing with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Now, she wants to fit in with the on-trend girls at school, and learn to post the selfies that they all believe will make them popular when they move onto secondary school. When a mean comment from JayBoy5 about her thighs appears under one of her photos, this is the message she obsesses over, rather than the many positive reactions that her photos receive. We see the change in Sammy’s life as she decides to start cutting back on food, thus losing the energy, focus and passion that she previously had for football and subsequently losing good friendships along the way. When her two step-siblings move in with Sammy’s family we witness the breakdown of personal communication as another upgrade is purchased to supposedly make family communications more streamlined by taking everything online and basically handing control to a virtual assistant.

I really liked the way that the author showed that despite starting out on a smartphone journey with the best intentions, it can be very easy to become totally distracted by the constant alerts pinging on our smart devices. She cleverly incorporates entries into Sammy’s secret (paper-based) diary to show that Sammy herself is aware of the negative impact of the new phone on her life, even as she is swept up in its messaging and craving the instant gratification from likes and comments. Issues such as online bullying, peer pressure and the danger of online predators are dealt with in an age-appropriate manner, as is the way that the tech companies subtly encourage constant upgrades which many families feel pressured to buy even when they struggle to afford them. As with every book that I’ve read by Victoria Williamson, the characterisation and portrayal of both home and school life is spot-on; I think that many young readers will find situations that they recognise in this story. I hope that reading and discussing the story might encourage constructive discussion of how to use smartphones for their many positive purposes, and how to regulate some of the more addictive behaviour that they can encourage. In my opinion, this is a book that needs to be in every school and I would also recommend it to parents of children at the top end of primary school to perhaps share as a joint read.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Victoria Williamson and publisher Tiny Tree who sent me a copy of Sammy Versus the Smartphone. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MG Review: Birdlands by Anthony McGowan, illustrated by Keith Robinson

Cover image by Keith Robinson, published by Rock the Boat, 14 May 2026, ISBN: 978-1836431800

Three birds, an adventure fraught with danger, one very special book!

I finished reading Birdlands, the new novel from Carnegie-winning author Anthony McGowan, a week ago. Despite trying to pull my thoughts into order since then, I really do not think that my words can do it justice. Below the surface of this pacy animal adventure, there is a story so profound that it brings a lump to my throat each time I think about it. I am many years older than the intended middle grade readership and I suspect that this is a book which will be enjoyed by many young readers who will initially delight in the thrilling and perilous journey, and perhaps as they grow older, revisit the book and appreciate the deeper themes. It is one of those books that lodges so deeply in your heart that you want to encourage everyone to read it and to see it passed down through generations.

The story begins with a young boy, Jordie, throwing his cheese sandwich towards three scrawny birds on a station platform and from that moment we fully enter the lives of the bird protagonists. Herman was once a leader of crows, and maintains an air of authority despite his broken wing. Beaky is a jackdaw who finds it difficult to feed due to his twisted beak, leaving him half-starved and with no muscle strength for flying. Pidge is afraid to fly after experiencing a traumatic event in the air, and now hobbles around on badly damaged and painful feet. When their prize of bread and cheese is cruelly snatched away by more agile birds, Herman tells Beaky and Pidge of the paradise known as ‘dump’ where food is plentiful and birds are watched over by angels. Despite scepticism from Beaky and Pidge, the three birds set off walking towards the setting sun in search of this haven and their journey is recounted with wry humour, beautiful descriptions of the landscape and pinpoint detail of the fine balance between predator and prey.

I cannot do justice in this review to the exquisitely written quest that unfolds. Not only is the story infused with a real love of the natural world and acute observation of bird behaviour, but the developing bond of comradeship between the three birds is a joy to read. It is a story that reminds us that all life, no matter how small, or how damaged, is precious, and that courage and togetherness are essential to overcoming difficulties. There are also occasional greyscale illustrations by Keith Robinson and every chapter is headed by his artwork. This is a short book, just under 200 pages in length, and not a single word is wasted. I loved the circularity of the story and the way that the emotional impact never became sentimental. As I said at the start, I think this is a very special book indeed. I think that it would be a wonderful book to read aloud to Year 6/Year 7 children, and I would strongly encourage all school librarians to add it to their collections.

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of Birdlands by publicist Dannie Price and Rock The Boat ahead of publication on 14 May 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Review: Mabel and Merryglow – The Spark by Anne Montel, Loïc Clément & Julien Arnal, translated by Charis Ainslie

Artwork by Julien Arnal, published by Post Wave, 30 April 2026, ISBN: 978-1836271208

Mabel and Merryglow: The Spark is an astonishingly beautiful, graphic-novel style picture book, originally published in French and now translated by Charis Ainslie and published by PostWave in English. I have to describe this book as an absolute work of art, every single panel contains gorgeously detailed illustrations of the forest habitat and the colour choices bring to life the emotion which is described in the sparse text. The end papers alone express the level of careful thought that has been applied to this story, although they both contain the map of the story’s landscape, the different colour palettes and names of the locations visually summarise the story arc.

Mabel is a tortoise who suffers from nyctophobia – extreme fear of the dark. She is so terrified that she cannot even bring herself to hide inside her shell because it is dark in there! Sadly for Mabel, she is made to feel even worse by her family’s lack of empathy, and plods through every day simply dreading the night ahead. The night time scenes are rendered in purples and blues with clever use of silhouettes to portray Mabel’s fears. Then one day a travelling firefly appears in the forest, introducing itself as Merryglow and sparking a friendship that leads to a rapid improvement in Mabel’s quality of life.

This is a gorgeous tale about the importance of friendship to light up a life, which I think will appeal to children throughout primary school and which contains so much to enjoy in the artwork that it will likely be read repeatedly. Apparently, this is the first book in a series; I will certainly look forward to reading further adventures of this adorable duo.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Post Wave Publishing for sending me a copy of this lovely hardback book ahead of publication on 30 April 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MG Review: The Ocean and the Bones by Genevieve Carver

cover art by Richard Johnson, published by Rock the Boat, 4 June 2026, ISBN: 978-1836433095

The Ocean and the Bones is the debut middle grade adventure from Genevieve Carver, whose background in archaeology inspires and shapes this impressive, lyrical, and thought-provoking novel. Set during the Neolithic era (approximately 6000 years ago) this story is told in the first person voice of Meg, an orphan, haunted by her fear of water ever since both her parents drowned. Meg has been chosen as the Sunhealer’s Shadow, and is being trained to learn the ways of the Spirits on which her tribe depend for the success of their crops and their livestock. However, their settlement of Chalk Howe has been beset by storms and rain, and the inhabitants are filled with suspicion that something or someone has upset the Water Spirits.

Into this cauldron of discontent arrives Kalø, a girl of roughly the same age as Meg, who speaks a different language, and who has washed up on the beach during a storm which has wrecked the Midsummer Eve celebrations. Meg is assigned the tasks of looking after Kalø and additionally finding out where she has come from, and the reason for her appearance at Chalk Howe. Their friendship develops as they learn to communicate with each other. However, rivalries, jealousies and suspicion of difference lead to Kalø being scapegoated for the climatic events affecting the settlement and Meg needs to vercome her deepest fear to accompany her friend in a quest to seek her island home.

This is a beautifully crafted adventure, with plenty of high-stakes drama, threaded through with lyrical reflective passages, particularly as we enter Kalø’s memories of her family. I found that the descriptions of the food and drink, the knapping of flint tools and the boat-building process all firmly rooted the story in its time period. Like all the best stories written for children, the author brings her scholarship to life through an engaging story, so that readers (young, and significantly older in my case) learn by literary osmosis. Although set in a period of pre-history, I think that the story will make many middle grade readers reflect on the climate changes which are causing migration in our present time. Furthermore, the blaming of a stranger for the misfortunes of a local population also bears some parallels to scenes that we witness in society.

I highly recommend The Ocean and the Bones to librarians, teachers and parents who want to put an intriguing story into the hands of readers aged 9 years and above. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Dannie Price and publisher Rock the Boat for sending me a proof copy of The Ocean and the Bones ahead of publication on 4 June 2026.

#MG Sci-Fi Review: We Are Dragon by Alastair Chisholm

Cover image by Karítas Gunnarsdóttìr, published by Nosy Crow,
9 April 2026, ISBN: 978-1805131274

We Are Dragon is the final title in the I Am Wolf trilogy, and brings the series to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion. This is a truly remarkable work of science fiction which I think will appeal to sci-fi fans of any age, although it is primarily aimed for a middle grade readership. It probably could be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel, but I think that readers will get far more out of it if they have read I Am Wolf and I Am Raven beforehand.

In the land where Constructs (mechanical creatures fabricated from a massive variety of materials and powered by the thought energy of the humans who inhabit them) have battled each other for territory throughout the lifetimes of the young main protagonists, new battle lines have been drawn. Now the remaining free constructs need to work together to fight the massed ranks of Dragons which have been created by Queenie, an AI program. With the odds very definitely not in their favour, it will take original thinking and technological brilliance to outwit Queenie’s army. Fortunately, among the four inhabitants of Cub, Rieka is uniquely equipped for this challenge. She has always considered herself to be a uniquely gifted Tock, has always felt more at home communicating with machines rather than humans, and is fiercely ambitious to receive the approval of Ander, the leader of Lion clan. When she devises a plan and manufactures the technology to control and use the Wild Ants to fight against the mighty Dragon contructs, she is convinced that she alone can bring down Queenie’s military superiority.

At first the crew members of Cub, Coll, Brann, Fillan and Kevin (a small Ant construct who is devoted to Fillan) are happy to support and follow their fellow crew member. However, as her victories mount up and Rieka’s power grows, she begins to feel increasingly isolated and unable to communicate with those who love her, and fear for her.

In my opinion, this is a brilliantly written story, which ratchets up the tension to a supremely impressive final conclusion. It can be read as an all-action, thrilling, battle for supremacy between two intelligent foes who will stop at nothing to defeat their enemy. For any reader who wishes to reflect more deeply, it is a wonderful exploration of what it means to be human, to have free will, and to overcome the barriers which divide us. For any teachers or librarians who run book clubs for readers aged 9+, this would be an excellent book to include in your book club choices and the author has provided some great questions for discussion at the end of the novel.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Sian at Nosy Crow for sending me a copy of We Are Dragon ahead of publication on 9th April 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

National Year of Reading: My March 2026 round-up

Books I’ve read or listened to during March 2026

I’m almost embarrassed to write this post as I have managed to find so little time for reading during March. The chaos resulting from some home renovations has left me with very little time for reading, although I have enjoyed listening to two audiobooks as I painted the new woodwork!

I borrowed both The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver from my local public library as audiobooks. The former is a crime thriller on the unusual subject of the illegal trade in rare bird eggs and kept me intrigued from beginning to end. The latter is a reimagining of David Copperfield, set in the Appalachians and exploring the communities devastated by the opioid crisis. Once again, I was so grateful to have the opportunity to listen to brilliant narrators (Phil Dunster and Charlie Thurston) reading these fantastic works of fiction, for free, whilst I could get on with a practical task.

Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans was actually a re-read for me, in preparation for a book group meeting later this month. It is a gentle, whimsical story of a family of the landed gentry coming to terms with the breaking down of class barriers after the end of WWII. I have read many of the author Lissa Evans’ previous novels (both adult and children’s fiction) and I love her sharp observation, lyrical writing and the way in which she threads her historical research so naturally throughout her narratives.

Mummy’s Promise is a beautiful picture book written by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly, which was published just in time for Mothering Sunday this year.

The Flying Feminist by Mary Boone, illustrated by Andrea Turk is an excellent non-fiction book for a middle grade which tells the story of Lilian Bland, the first woman to both build and fly her own aeroplane.

Finally, I was delighted to be invited to join the blog tour for the first title in a new, illustrated, detective fiction series; Will Shakespeare Mysteries: The Stinky Stolen Toenails. Author Kaz Penney has crafted a novel packed with the sort of humour which will have middle grade readers hooting with laughter, whilst also introducing them to some characters and plot lines that they will meet as they begin to study Shakespeare’s work. The book is wittily illustrated throughout by Sammy Elgie.

Have you read any of these books? Do let me know in the comments. I hope that you had a better reading month than mine, and I hope to do better in April!

#BlogTour Review – Will Shakespeare Mysteries: The Stinky Stolen Toenails, written by Kaz Penney, illustrated by Sammy Elgie

Cover illustration by Sammy Elgie, publisher Andersen Press, 26 March 2026,
ISBN: 978-1839137594

Today I am delighted to be joining the blog tour for a fabulously hilarious detective mystery aimed at a Key Stage 2 audience and set in Tudor times!

The Stinky Stolen Toenails is the first book in a new junior detective series; the Will Shakespeare Mysteries. The story is aptly described by the publisher as Horrible Histories meets Loki! This book will be hugely appealing to children from 7/8 years of age, with its blend of zany humour, poo jokes and heavily illustrated style which blends artwork, doodle-style drawings and inventive text effects. It’s a great introduction to detective fiction, as well as providing a heap of Shakespeare-related information by stealth!

Set in Stratford-Upon-Avon, probably the most boring town in the entire world according to our narrator, this is the first person account of ten-year-old Will Shakespeare (with added notes by his best friend Tybalt) of his quest to become a PERSON-WHO-SOLVES-CRIMES! (Can our clever wordsmith think of a better way of describing his intended career?) The plot interweaves many allusions to the works of Shakespeare, with puns on names, and borrowed bits of narrative, which all add up to a funny and farcical detective story. Will and Tybalt find themselves in a race against time to save the Twelfth Night party hosted by Will’s parents. They can only achieve this by tracking down the stolen Moundsofgoo Treasure, thus enabling the love-sick Ronaldo to win Judy Catapult’s hand in marriage! And all the while, lurking in the background is the prospect of Will’s most dreaded chore…cleaning out the privy!

Author Kaz Penney has crafted a clever story, loaded with humour which I am sure will appeal to readers throughout Key Stage 2. Additionally, I think that classroom teachers who are covering the William Shakespeare element of the English curriculum will be happy to add this book to their additional reading selections. The artwork and doodles by Sammy Elgie add greatly to the enjoyment of the book and I suspect that Tybalt’s sarcastic commentary will provide plenty of laughs. As the 2026 National Year of Reading progresses, I am sure that this a book which youngsters will choose to read for pleasure. If you are responsible for a school or classroom library, I think you will want to add the Will Shakespeare Mysteries to your bookshelves.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Jade at Andersen Press for sending me a proof copy of this book ahead of publication and for inviting me to join the blog tour. All opinions are my own. Do take a look at the reviews written by my fellow book bloggers on the tour schedule below.

#MG Non-Fiction: The Flying Feminist by Mary Boone, illustrated by Andrea Turk

Cover art by Andrea Turk, published by Andersen Press, 19 May 2026, ISBN: 978-1839135101

This informative, middle grade title has dramatically increased my knowledge of female pioneers in the field of aviation; prior to reading it, the extent of my knowledge began and ended with Amelia Earhart! This beautifully presented, hardback book tells the story of Lilian Emily Bland (1878-1971) who was born in England but later moved to Northern Ireland. Lilian was not content simply being a ‘society lady’, she was well educated, hunted and fished, worked as a newspaper photographer and was endlessly curious. When she received a postcard featuring a picture of an early aeroplane she became fascinated by the idea of aviation and taught herself to build and fly her own plane, named the Mayfly. In doing so, she became the first woman in the world to achieve this feat.

The story is told with minimal text and is illustrated with the most gorgeous artwork. I love the colour palette which imparts the historical era, and which gives life to Lilian’s unique character. Both the author, Mary Boone, and the illustrator, Andrea Turk, have created an exceptional biography for middle grade readers. At the end of the narrative, there are short biographic paragraphs about six other women who have made significant contributions in the field of aviation.

This is a book which I feel will greatly inspire girls and boys who are interested in STEM subjects, showing as it does, the incredible capacity of motivated individuals to ignore the doubters and pursue their interests on their own terms. I found Lilian Emily Bland’s life story utterly fascinating and applaud the creative team who have brought this story to light.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to publicist Jade at Andersen Press who sent me a copy of The Flying Feminist ahead of publication. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

My good friend and children’s books expert Anne Thompson (ALibraryLady on social media) has reviewed I Flew Around the World by Zara Rutherford on her blog and suggests it would make a good companion book to The Flying Feminist.

National Year of Reading 2026: February

Book covers of all books I’ve read or listened to during February 2026

I’m “going all in” for the National Year of Reading 2026!

I’ve taken the pledge and so far have managed my minimum of 10 minutes reading every day. To be fair, I’ve probably read for at least 10 minutes every day for the majority of my life, so to add something extra to my reading routines this year, I am going to try to present a monthly round-up of books I’ve either read or listened to.

I haven’t managed quite so much reading this month because February has been rather busy with home renovations, hopefully I’ll manage to carve out some more reading time in March.

As you can see, my reading has spanned the range from illustrated books through to adult titles. Some of these books have been sent to me by publicists for review, some are my own purchases (in physical or e-book format) and some have been borrowed as audiobooks. You can find my reviews at the links below:

Physical Books

How to Speak and Be Heard by Sam Hutchinson, illustrated by Vicky Barker

Fairytale Fiasco: Hansel and Gretel and Fairytale Fiasco: Cinderella by Evgenia Golubeva and Myles McLeod

Will Shakespeare Mysteries: The Stinky Stolen Toenails by Kaz Penney, illustrated by Sammy Elgie

The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Inspectors! by Sahrana Islam, illustrated by Simran Diamond Singh

Clem Fatale Has Been Upstaged by Eve Wersocki-Morris, illustrated by Honie Beam

Travels With Gannon & Wyatt: Ireland by Patti Wheeler and Keith Hemstreet

The Seeker and the Shade by Ellen Osborne

The Summer After the Night Before by Lisa Williamson

E-book

Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver (a bookclub choice) – a beautifully written novel set in a small town farming community in the Appalachians, with an environmental theme.

Audiobooks

Exit by Belinda Bauer – a surprisingly humorous murder mystery.

The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green – a deeply personal, profoundly moving and wonderfully imaginative collection of essays written by novelist John Green. Many of the essays speak of his struggles with mental health.

I borrowed audiobooks from the wonderful Somerset Libraries via the Borrowbox app.

Let me know in the comments if you have read any of these books, and/or whether you have any special plans or activities for this National Year of Reading.

#MG Review – Travels With Gannon & Wyatt: Ireland by Patti Wheeler & Keith Hemstreet

Published by Claim Stake, 15 April 2026, ISBN: 978-1936284054

Travels With Gannon & Wyatt: Ireland is an interesting blend of non-fiction travel journal and adventure fiction, written for an upper middle grade readership, which is due to be published in the UK in April 2026. It features 15-year-old twins, Gannon & Wyatt, who travel around the world with their parents, exploring the local tourist attractions and also trying to learn as much as possible about the local culture of the countries they visit.

Travelling to the land of their ancestors, the boys and their parents start their Irish trip touring some of the famous landmarks; the Cliffs of Moher, Trinity College Library and Blarney Castle – where Gannon (who seems to be quite gregarious already) kisses the famous stone! The early part of the book provides descriptions and photos of the landscape, weather and sights, but the adventure really begins when the brothers go to spend a month working on a farm in County Kerry.

When farmer, Mr O’Leary, sets eyes on the teenagers, he does not expect them to last a week on Shamrock Farm, and initially the brothers clearly struggle with the hard manual work in the driving rain. However, the boys become invested in helping their host to save his farm from the pollution which is causing his crops and livestock to suffer. When they suspect that the environmental damage is being caused by the neighbouring industrial factory farm owned by the immensely rich and bullying Mr Moloney, Gannon and Wyatt decide to investigate. Collecting samples from the pools of livestock waste that are being flushed into the local river, and taking photos of the caged pigs, the boys put themselves in danger from the unscrupulous businessman, and have to make a hasty escape. Unfortunately, they subsequently get lost in the forest that separates the two farms, and free-spirited Gannon encounters some of Ireland’s mythical creatures. His scientifically-minded twin is determined to present his water samples to the environmental agency for analysis, but will the boys find their way out of the forest in time to save Mr O’Leary’s family farm?

This book is a quick read at under 170 pages and I think the travel journal style will make it appealing to children of 10 and above who like to learn about new places, enjoy a bit of adventure and are concerned about environmental and animal welfare issues. I think it would make an excellent addition to “Go All In” collections for the National Year of Reading, where we are encouraged to read books about the topics that interest us. This would certainly appeal to those who count travel amongst their hobbies. There are other books in this series, featuring locations from Greenland to Australia, and there is a website to explore, full of facts, photos and the background to these stories: Travels With Gannon and Wyatt website

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Dannie Price for sending me a copy of Travels With Gannon & Wyatt: Ireland ahead of publication on 15 April 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.