#MGReview: The Boy Who Cried Ghost by Ian Eagleton

Cover art by Melissa Chaib, published by Scholastic,
1 August 2024, ISBN: 978-0702331374

The Boy Who Cried Ghost, is a seriously spooky tale with a powerfully, empathetic exploration of OCD at its core. From a third person perspective, we are invited into the life and mind of Richard Barnes, a Year Six child who has clearly experienced some upheaval in his life. He and his mother have just moved from their inner city flat to his late grandmother’s house in a smaller town, and from the moment that he enters his new bedroom, Richard senses something dark and dangerous in the locked wardrobe. Unfortunately for Richard, because of his long list of fears, which we learn dominate his entire life, his mum doesn’t take his warnings of a sinister ghostly presence seriously. Worse still, his mum’s new boyfriend Tony in trying to be helpful, opens the wardrobe and unleashes the seriously scary spectre into Richard’s already terrifying world!

The storytelling in this novel is masterful. Author, Ian Eagleton, has conjured up a ghost story which genuinely sends shivers down the spine, but manages to balance the scares, with a great deal of humour, empathy and a genuinely warm hearted and inclusive atmosphere. The friendship group that Richard gathers at his new school, Amelia, Quinn and Mei, each have distinctive characters and their own strengths and weaknesses. Through their interactions with Richard, readers are shown the power of genuine supportive relationships to help face life‘s problems. Much of the humour in the book is generated by Quinn, and mum’s boyfriend Tony with whom Richard eventually develops a close bond. The narrative is very relatable in its school and family settings for readers aged 10+ years, with contemporary references; definitely plenty here for the Swifties and gamers for example.

As a librarian, I absolutely loved the portrayal of the library as a place for research and the importance of a helpful librarian! I also thoroughly enjoyed the meta aspect of this book in the references to contemporary children’s books, and in particular Quinn’s brilliant synthesis of “Top Tips for Surviving a Ghost Story, constructed from his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Goosebumps and Dreadwood series, and the Ghostbusters films!

I also have to salute the witty word play in every chapter heading: ‘Taking Scare of Business’, ‘Saturday Fright Fever’ and ‘Crypt-ic Clues’ being some of my favourites.

Finally, the author’s notes explain that Ian Eagleton has personal experience of OCD, which he has used to positive effect in this enjoyable and helpful novel. His dedication to his late father is likely to melt even the frostiest of hearts.

This book was my own purchase.

#BHM #Non-FictionReview: The Story of Britain’s Black Nurses by K. N. Chimbiri

Cover image by Jael Umerah Makelemi, published by Scholastic, 26 September 2024, ISBN: 978-0702314452

As a librarian working in an NHS hospital library I am immensely fortunate to work alongside many Black nurses and I am always delighted to join our multicultural network in celebrating events such as Black History Month. Although it is written with primarily children as the target readership, The Story of Britain’s Black Nurses is, I think, a book which can and should be read by everyone. In fewer than 100 pages, author K. N. Chimbiri, provides an accessible history of the contributions of Black nurses to healthcare, dating from ancient and medieval Africa through to the present day.

The text is presented as a narrative and the book is illustrated in full colour and includes maps and photographs, when the timeline reaches the 20th century. I learnt many new facts and names which did not appear in the history books that I had as a child; for example that West Africans had discovered treatments for smallpox before Europeans did, and that an enslaved African named Onesimus saved many lives in 1720s Boston by teaching this cure to his enslaver. I think it is wonderful that children today can be introduced to the remarkable individuals who contributed their knowledge of the healing power of plants to the development of medicine and nursing. This book explains how this expertise was transferred from Africa to the British colonies in the Americas as a result of slavery and how some free Black and mixed race women became doctresses in the Caribbean, Couba Cornwallis and Mary Seacole becoming the most famous. Readers will also learn about the steady flow of Black nurses to work in the British healthcare system, starting long before the Windrush, and which continues to this day.

The levels of discrimination faced is not glossed over, but the dedication of Black nurses to care for patients and work their way up through layers of bias, is celebrated. There is a lovely photo towards the end of the book of Professor Dame Elizabeth NNeka Anionwu, who worked her way up to one of the highest positions in the nursing profession, carrying the golden orb at the coronation of King Charles III.

I whole-heartedly recommend this book to primary and secondary school librarians and hope that it will inspire gratitude towards those who work so hard to improve the health of our nation, and perhaps inspire a future generation of nurses and healthcare professionals.

This book was my own purchase.

#MGReview: Kòkú Àkànbí: The King of Lost Souls by Maria Motúnráyò Adébísí, illustrated by Flavio B Silva

Cover art by Flavio B Silva, published by Hachette Children’s Books, 1 August 2024, ISBN: 978-1510111462

The second book in the Kòkú Àkànbí fantasy series is quite possibly even more exciting than the first, which is high praise. You can read my review of Kòkú Àkànbí: The Heart of Midnight here. There is sufficient backstory provided in the early chapters to allow this book to be read as a standalone, which I always think is important for children who might not be able to borrow books in the correct order from a school or public library.

Struggling to control his supernatural powers (which are causing him considerable trouble at home and school) and suffering from a severe sickle-cell crisis which has left him jaundiced, Kòkú longs to leave London and return to his ancestral homeland, the magical kingdom of Olórí. His friends Osoosi and Moremi who are now living in the capital city Ile-Kiisan, arrange transport for him and he is welcomed into the luxurious home of Chief Okenla. Trouble is brewing however: the chief’s son Jaiye is more interested in his burgeoning musical career than inheriting his father’s title; the chief’s daughter Atarodo does want to inherit his power and appears more deserving of it than her brother; the Night Creatures are causing mischief; and Osoosi has been banished from her tribal territory by her own brother.

Kòkú seeks an audience with his father, Lègbá, a Demon who controls the crossroads between the living world and the underworld, who sends him on a quest to collect the three magical artefacts that were used to create the world: the Ógún sword, the Sàngó axe and the Olókun night stone. These will free his father from imprisonment, and in return Kòkú is promised his own heart’s desire. His personal quest is set against a wider, political struggle for power in the land of Olórí, and puts him in direct competition with the new high priestess, Sade Frobenius who is also on a mission to retrieve the sacred artefacts.

Kòkú once again ventures into Jujuland with his friends Osoosi, Moremi, and now Jaiye, but how long can he hold the true nature of his quest from them? Can they learn to trust each other and combine their individual skills and magical powers to overcome Sade’s mind controlling powers and her lethal accomplice in the race for the treasures? Will Kòkú listen to the pleas of Yemaya the chief Mami Wata, the Queen of Jujuland, to use the power of the axe, sword and stone to close the portal between the human world and Jujuland to prevent the human exploitation of their resources and make it a safe haven for the night creatures once again? A heart-racing chase through Jujuland will have readers on the edge of their seats as the four teen heroes face deadly perils, their own fears, and are required to make life changing decisions.

This story provides a richly imagined fantasy world, immersed in African mythology and uniquely blended with modern-day teenage culture. Author, Maria Motúnráyò Adébísí, expertly combines Yoruba and London teenage slang to provide realistic dialogue which combines African and British identities, providing mirrors or windows to readers. The main character is one whom many readers will identify with as he battles his weaknesses to try to do the right thing and I love that he is supported by two strong female companions. From my perspective as a health librarian, I appreciated the frankness with which sickle-cell anaemia and its symptoms and impact on everyday life is presented as an organic part of this adventure.

I highly recommend that both primary and secondary school librarians add Kòkú Àkànbí: The King of Lost Souls to their collections, where it will be an excellent choice to offer to readers aged 10 all the way through to teenagers.

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of Kòkú Àkànbí: The King of Lost Souls by publicist Lucy Clayton and Hachette Children’s Books. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Non-Fiction #BlogTour: Ayo’s Adventure by Ain Heath Drew, illustrations by Erin K. Robinson

Cover art by Erin K. Robinson, published by Barefoot Books, 22 October 2024, ISBN: 9798888592120

Ayo’s Adventure Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu is a stunningly vibrant exploration of diverse African cultures across the world and is a book that needs to be in every school collection, public library and ideally home collections too. This is an example of the very best children’s non-fiction; information presented in a visually creative way enabling children and adults alike to gain a better understanding of our global community.

The imaginative concept of the book cleverly captures the reader’s attention, with young African-American Ayo falling asleep with his father’s words, “Our ancestors came from many nations in Africa. We are still connected to them today…” blending with an old ABC book to invoke dreams of an alphabetised journey through African culture. The full-colour spreads feature magnificent artwork by Erin K. Robinson which are visually arresting and are painted in rich hues of ochre, green, brown and yellow. The artwork bursts with detail which will reward careful and repeated observation, and provides perfect synergy with Ain Heath Drew’s accessible explanations. The factual content explains twenty-six items of African culture, providing pronunciation guides, the locations where they can be found today as well as the historical context and African nations from which different cultural activities were derived.

After the heavily illustrated spreads, there is a section which explains how the African diaspora was caused by the transatlantic slave trade and then progresses to give more detailed explanations of each of the terms found earlier in the book. The result is an immersive and celebratory learning experience which leaves readers so much better educated about the diversity of African cultures and their influences on many parts of the world. This book has taught me many new facts and in such a joyous fashion that I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. (For example, I now know about Empress Taitu Betul of Ethiopia whose strategic thinking helped her country resist colonization by Italy). It would make a brilliant classroom resource for Black History Month or for geography projects and I am sure will be valued by families wishing to celebrate their own African heritage, or by those who wish to explore and celebrate cultures other than their own.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Barefoot Books and to publicist Antonia Wilkinson for sending me a copy of Ayo’s Adventure. It was my decision to join the blog tour and write this review and all opinions are my own. Do check out the other stops on the tour this week.

#MGReview: The Beast and the Bethany by Jack Meggitt-Phillips

Cover art by Isabelle Follath, published by Farshore,
26 September 2024, ISBN: 978-0008568207

The Final Feast is the fifth and concluding book in The Beast and the Bethany series, featuring the blended family of: The Beast, 12-year-old orphan Bethany and vain but kindly Ebenezer, now in his 500s! These three characters have developed a family dynamic in the fifteen story house owned by Ebenezer and are continuing their endeavours to become kind and helpful to their neighbours. Publicity materials compare Jack Meggitt-Phillips to Roald Dahl and Lemony Snickett and I would agree with those comparisons, the story is anarchic, irreverent and very funny; it is sure to entertain children in the 8-12 age range. In addition to the stylish writing, the book is peppered with charming black and white illustrations by creative agency Dynamo.

The fantastically twisty plot revolves around Bethany and The Beast trying to outdo each other in their celebratory plans for Ebenezer’s 513th birthday. Whilst both are motivated by their desire to prove to Ebenezer how much they value him, unfortunately they are also prone to the manipulative influence of a malevolent intruder. Will their former reputations as a prankster daughter of two master criminals, and an evil and noxious, man-and-pet-eating beast, overcome all of their hard work to be helpful and kind citizens? Can the bonds of found family withstand the arrival of Bethany’s contrite and charming dad Augustus, who everyone thought had died during his final heist? This exciting and entertaining story will have readers racing through the chapters and unsure of the conclusion until the very end.

A definite recommendation for primary school libraries and classrooms, and an excellent Halloween treat for half-term reading at home. Although this is the final book in a series, there is enough backstory provided to make it an enjoyable standalone read too.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Farshore Books for providing me with a copy of The Beast and the Bethany: The Final Feast. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Review: Isadora Moon Makes a Wish by Harriet Muncaster

Cover art by Harriet Muncaster, published by Oxford Children’s Books,
3 October 2024, ISBN: 978-0192778116

Isadora Moon Makes a Wish is the latest title in the long running series featuring the Moon family and in particular Isadora the half-fairy/half-vampire and her unique experiences of the world. Written and illustrated by Harriet Muncaster, the series remains as fresh and inviting as ever. There is a handy family tree at the start for anyone unfamiliar with the series, and this story can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. The book itself is perfectly gift-able, a small, sparkly hardback cover, pages with silver sprayed edges and lavishly illustrated throughout in black, grey and pink.

This story, filled with magic and charm, begins with Isadora‘s family planning a Sunday picnic in the forest. Unfortunately, Isadora is feeling rather crotchety because her cousin Mirabel was supposed to be visiting but has a cold and therefore cannot join the Moon family excursion. Isadora’s bad mood continues throughout the picnic. While her fairy mother, Countess Cordelia and little sister Honey-Blossom are swimming, and vampire dad Count Bartholomew is sheltering under a large black umbrella on the picnic rug, Isadora decides to take herself off for a walk through the woods. She finds a wishing well, decides to throw a coin in and wishes that she could feel super happy.

Imagine her surprise when a tiny little nymph named Olette flies out and grants her wish! Over the subsequent days, Isadora learns that there are disadvantages to being permanently happy not least the aching cheeks from smiling too much and the disapproval of her teacher, Miss Cherry for over exuberance in the classroom and playground, and the niggling feeling that ‘something is not right’ when she cannot react with appropriate emotions. Thank goodness for sensible friend Zoe who knows when to ask grown-ups for help to put things right. Although this is absolutely a book to read for pleasure, it contains a lovely subtle message about the importance of emotions in an accessible way for a young readership.

This book will make a lovely gift for readers of 6-8 and I am sure will be very popular in school and classroom libraries. There is a section at the end with ‘Isadorable’ craft activities, quizzes and a recipe, and further ideas can be found on the author’s website: harrietmuncaster.co.uk

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Liz Scott PR and Oxford Children’s Books for sending me a copy of this book. It was my decision to review the book and all opinions are my own.

Review: Mirabelle and the Baby Dragons by Harriet Muncaster

Cover art by Harriet Muncaster, published by Oxford Children’s Books,
5 September 2024, ISBN: 978-0192787989

The latest book in the Mirabelle Starspell series is written and illustrated in Harriet Muncaster’s distinctive and charming style and arrives in small hardback format with sprayed silver edges; it’s a perfect gift for readers of 7-9 years of age.

For those unfamiliar with the series, Mirabelle’s mum Seraphina is a witch and her dad Alvin is a fairy, making Mirabelle and her brother Wilbur half-witch/half-fairy. There is an excellent family tree at the start of the book to help young readers keep track.

The start of half-term brings the exciting news that the whole family are going away to stay with one of mum’s oldest friends, a witch named Gladys who runs a dragon sanctuary in the mountains. This is particularly appealing to Mirabelle who has her own pet dragon, Violet, and considers herself to be quite the expert in dragon behaviour. She is keen to help out with the care of the baby dragons, help which is welcomed by Gladys but not so much by her young assistant Ember. When Mirabelle and Wilbur discover that looking after a family of baby draglings is much harder work than they expected, and is only made more complicated by Wilbur’s amateur spells, they learn the importance of being guided by those with more experience.

This story is full of warmth and fun. The contrast between parents Seraphina and Alvin gives rise to some great comic episodes including their different approaches to driving and their very different food preferences…slug sausages anyone? The illustrations in black, white and purple are wonderfully expressive and give young readers plenty of places to take a pause. At the end of the book there is a wonderful range of dragon-related, activity ideas, with full instructions which would be perfect to do at either school or home. A brilliant Halloween treat which will be popular all year round in schools and for home reading collections.

Disclaimer: I a very grateful to Oxford Children’s Books and Liz Scott for sending me a copy of Mirabelle and the Baby Dragons. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: Black Gables by Eibhlís Carcione

Cover art by Holly Ovenden, published by Everything with Words,
24 October 2024, ISBN: 978-1911427438

For those upper middle grade readers who enjoy a real spine-chiller, Black Gables by Eibhlís Carcione delivers a bucket of ice direct to the vertebrae and will be a perfect read as we approach Halloween!

Black Gables is a small village which hosts the world’s creepiest school, both are named after a pair of black gables which are the only remains of a former workhouse. The entire village is continually shrouded in a creeping green fog which rises from a sinister green lake which ripples with horror. Into this darkly menacing environment enters Rosella Frawley. She and her dad have returned to her mother’s childhood home in the hope that it will help her mother to recover her memory after a serious accident. Rosella’s regrets at leaving her old city life behind are compounded by her first and subsequent experiences at Black Gables school, an institution where education seems to take a very low priority compared to cruelty and bullying.

The school is dominated by a deeply unsettling headmaster, Mr Edge, who has taken an instant dislike to Rosella and seems to have a punishment rather more deadly than detention lined up for her. The motley crew of teachers and their macabre pets are brilliantly imagined and described, and portray the sense that there is some dark secret at the core of the school. The other children and their parents appear to be under some sort of spell and Rosella feels a responsibility to uncover the dark secret that permeates life in the village. Can she reveal the truth to the inhabitants of Black Gables, escape the clutches of a wickedly dark power and help her mum to recover?

Author, Eibhlís Carcione, builds a thoroughly sinister atmosphere throughout this novel and has created a sympathetic character in Rosella, whose plight drives the narrative. With lake ghouls, missing children and ghostly apparitions, this is likely to appeal to readers of 10 years and above who enjoy a scare in their reading material. I devoured the book over the course of two long train journeys, fortunately during daylight hours!

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Mikka at independent publisher Everything With Words who sent me a copy of Black Gables ahead of publication. It was my decision to review the book and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: Maisie vs Antarctica by Jack Jackman

Cover image by Marco Guadalupi, published by Nosy Crow, 26 September 2024,
ISBN: 978-1805131359

Maisie vs Antarctica is a sparkling adventure which has introduced a wonderful new character into middle grade fiction. Maisie Macleod is a flame-haired, eleven-year-old with a huge imagination and a freshly unique voice with which she narrates this incredible story. She and her father are both writers. While Maisie’s stories are brimming with the death-defying exploits of her ghost-pirate heroine, Nyteshade, her dad George’s books are all non-fiction with exciting titles, but in Maisie’s opinion, boring content!

Maisie clearly loves her single-parent father, but she has a pretty low opinion of his dull lifestyle. They do not own a television because dad thinks it is a waste of time, so instead spend their evenings either doing jigsaw puzzles, folding origami, or cooking. She cannot quite understand how Dad is able to write books such as How to Ride a Kangaroo or How to Wrestle Crocodiles when he only goes away for two days to do his research and therefore cannot have actually investigated the content properly. However, when childcare falls through at the last minute and Maisie has to accompany him to Antarctica, she discovers rather more about George Macleod than even her imaginative brain could have foreseen. How to Survive in Antarctica is about to become real!

This story crackles with energy and surprises, the short chapters all begin with How to… and deliver thrills and cliff-hangers (or should that be crevasse-hangers?) to hold young readers in an icy grip from beginning to end. The Antarctic setting is not something I have seen in middle grade fiction before, and presents some fantastic opportunities for edge-of-the-seat drama. On top of the excitement, the story is also filled with Maisie’s dryly humorous observations which made me smile. I was not surprised to learn that author, Jack Jackman, is a teacher – he certainly knows how to write to entertain youngsters (and not-so youngsters). George’s secret is going to intrigue readers and certainly has the potential to set up a series of books which are going to be flying off the shelves quicker than a snowflake in a blizzard, if this one is anything to go by. Maisie vs Antarctica is a perfect book for 8-12 year olds to snuggle down with as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop.

Disclaimer: I was very fortunate to be sent a copy of Maisie vs Antarctica by Hannah Prutton at Nosy Crow. It was my decision to review the book and all opinions are my own.

#YABlogTour: Jude by Elin Heron

Cover image by Kamila Krol, Published by Lucent Dreaming,
30 September 2024, ISBN: **978-1739660994**

This debut Young Adult novel by Elin Heron is beautifully written, mysterious and intimate in equal measure. It is almost impossible for me to categorise: part coming-of-age novel, part detective mystery, part queer love story and part folklore. The author has woven all of these elements into a story which I found compelling.

The novel takes place in a small seaside town, where one of the main protagonists, Nick, is listlessly passing the summer holidays before starting his sixth form education. There are clearly some tensions in his family, with his DSI father preoccupied with yet another high-profile case, this time investigating the disappearance of a young neighbour and his mother working nursing shifts at the local hospital. Nick’s days pass slowly until he meets Jude in the churchyard, where he and his artist father are spending a few weeks repairing a stained glass window and some of the church woodwork. Nick falls under Jude’s spell almost instantaneously, attracted not just by his good looks, but also by his lifestyle, his knowledge of and affinity with the natural world, and his storytelling. This gift has clearly come from his father, and it is not long before Nick is spending enchanted evenings sitting by the bonfire or inside their horse-drawn caravan, listening to their tales.

This idyll plays out against the backdrop of the police investigation, and slowly a sense of suspicion begins to build in parallel with a creeping feeling of deep earth magic, in the guise of the ‘Green Man’ which is carved into the stone and woodwork of the church. Folklore, the faerie realm and a contemporary first love story combine in a tale which I found intriguing. The two teenage protagonists are both drawn sympathetically, and their relationship is predominantly described on an emotional level; I suspect secondary school librarians might add this to collections for readers of 13 years and above. Although the adults portrayed are secondary characters, I thought that they all seemed believable and each of them played a loving and supportive role for their children. In my opinion, Elin Heron is a powerful new voice in teenage fiction, the twist at the end of this novel was unexpected and has left me eager to discover what she will write next.

Disclaimer: I was sent an advanced electronic proof of Jude by publisher Lucent Dreaming and publicist Leonie Lock. It was my decision to review this title and all opinions are my own. Do check out all the other stops on the blog tour schedule.