Illustrated Fiction Review: Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery by Laura Ellen Anderson

Front cover of an advanced proof of Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery by Laura Ellen Anderson. Has a cute illustration of a moth wearing a red knitted jumper on a blue background with a crescent moon. — Cover art Laura Ellen Anderson, publisher Farshore, 01 February 2024, ISBN: 9780008591335

I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to receive a proof copy of Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery, the first book in a new series by one of my favourite author-illustrators, Laura Ellen Anderson. Oh my goodness, this book is an utter delight, a magnificent fantasy creation which brings the smallest inhabitants of our planet to the fore, delivering a subtle ecological message in a package of glorious illustrations and charming storytelling.

The three main characters are Marnie Midnight, a moth who is obsessed by the moon; Floyd Flombidium, a flamboyant bee-who-is-really-an-A; and Star Vonstrosity, a supremely self-possessed ant princess! These three inhabitants of the small village of Thimbledown meet on their first day at the big bug school, Minibeast Academy, and forge a firm friendship on an out-of- this-world adventure. Marnie has been desperate to attend the Academy where her idol, Lunora Wingheart, once studied. She is determined to follow in her predecessor’s flutterings and track down the long lost, secret Book of Moon Spells, even if it means flying to the moon to find it. However, she is flabbergasted to discover that nobody else believes in moon magic and furthermore, that she is actually punished for talking about Lunora in school. When the three friends discover a dusty and apparently forgotten Moon Studies room at the top of the Academy, a breathtaking journey of discovery begins.

This book is going to be hugely popular with children of age 6 and above. The topic of minibeasts is always fascinating for young children and in this immersive story, Laura Ellen Anderson carefully combines the essential science and environmental importance of these creatures with a brilliantly imagined fantasy world. I don’t want to give away spoilers but will just say that there is a beautifully artistic map of Thimbledown as well as an illustrated guide to the main characters at the start. Most pages contain lavish black and white illustrations and chapters are short, making this an ideal book for children who are beginning to read independently. It would also make a marvellous bedtime story, one which I would have loved to share had it been around 15 years ago! Before I finish, I have to give a mention to the characters who inhabit the ‘mean girl’ trope – the ‘Betterflies’ led by the majestically mean Veronica Spottage; I look forward to seeing how she and her hangers-on, Thelma and Louise, fare in subsequent stories!

I know that school budgets are tight at present, but I do encourage you to add Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery to your classroom and school library collections to inspire both enjoyment in reading and a fascination with the insect kingdom.

I am most grateful to Liz Scott and Farshore Publishing for providing me with an advance proof of this book to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

#MG Review: Fright Bite by Jennifer Killick

Middle grade paperback Fright Bite by Jennifer Killick standing upright on a wooden mantlepiece. — Cover illustration by Tom Clohosy Cole, published by Farshore, 18 January 2024, ISBN: 9780008657031

Club Loser…always better together!

In their fifth outing together, Club Loser face their most terrifying enemy yet; never before can a birthday treat have taken such a dramatic turn for the worse! Firm friends Angelo, Colette, Gus, Hallie and Naira are expecting an evening of carefree enjoyment when they are dropped off at the Neon Perch entertainment venue to celebrate Colette’s thirteenth birthday. In addition to the familiar fun and games on the Battle Karts, Galactic Golf and Songbird Karaoke, the gang cannot wait to try out the latest addition, Project Z; a zombie themed escape room!

However, as the escape room challenges become increasingly difficult and painful you can feel the growing sense of unease gripping each of the characters, although they are all unwilling to articulate their deepest fears…that somehow, their deadly enemies the Latchitts have infiltrated the venue. When a cryptic clue spells out the word REVENGE, there can suddenly be no doubt and an evening of entertainment becomes a battle to stay alive and protect their loved ones who have been lured to Dread Wood High. The short chapters frequently end on cliffhangers, perfect for class read aloud sessions or for encouraging independent readers to storm through the novel. Furthermore, the story itself ends with unanswered questions, making fans impatient for the next book in the series.

Author, Jennifer Killick, fully earns her title of the Queen of Middle Grade Horror here. She builds tension brilliantly, generating a heart-pounding sense of claustrophobia as the teen and tween characters scuttle like rats in a maze to escape their unseen pursuers before eventually facing their human and mutant foes in a battle for survival. The phrase “Peekaboo, sweetlings” really does send icicles down the spine. Keeping the scare factor at the right level for a readership aged 9 and above, she frequently dispels the fear with hilarious teen banter and laugh out loud humour. I love the ironic touches, such as The Final Countdown playing on the karaoke machine as the backing track to a conversation about whether one of the friends should sacrifice themselves to the mutant rats in order to ensure the others survive. The deep friendship that the members of Club Loser have built over the course of their adventures is palpable throughout the narrative and I am sure adds to the appeal of the book for its target audience.

For maximum level, gripping entertainment, I wholeheartedly recommend Fright Bite for children, who enjoy the horror genre, in Year 5 and above. One of the great things about this series, especially for children who might need to rely on borrowing from school, classroom or public libraries, is that you can fully enjoy the books without having to read them in the correct order. A sixth instalment is planned and I, for one, cannot wait to read about the next confrontation between Latchitts and Losers!

I am hugely grateful to Farshore Books for sending me a review copy of Fright Bite, which I intend passing on to a school library where I know it will be enjoyed.

Review: October, October by Katya Balen, illustrated by Angela Harding

Front cover of October, October from Kindle version, illustration in woodcut style shows a girl in a woodland setting with a large barn owl. — Cover image Angela Harding, publisher Bloomsbury,
30 September 2021, ISBN: 978-1526601933

I am so incredibly pleased that I found time during my Christmas break to read October, October which I had downloaded to my Kindle many, many months earlier on the recommendation of several of my book blogging friends. Whilst I usually review newly published books, I am hoping this year, to catch up with more books from my collection which might have been published a while ago.

This is a beautifully lyrical novel, written for an audience of 9 years and above, which pulsates with the energy of the natural world and the stories that bind us together. October and her father live in total harmony within the environment of their woodland home; growing most of the food they need, coppicing the trees and bartering with the local farmer for those products which they cannot grow or make themselves. However, a terrible accident on October’s 11th birthday rips her away from the shelter of the woods and transplants October and her rescued barn owl, Stig, into the grey suburbs of London and the stark white home of her estranged mother. The gradual adaptation, acceptance and blossoming of relationships is explored through magnificent imagery and hypnotically compelling writing. Themes of nurturing, healing of both physical and psychological wounds, and the generosity of spirit to grant freedom to someone or something that you love, are handled with profound sensitivity. I literally did not put my e-reader down until I had read the entire book, so compelling was the storytelling.

This really is an extraordinary book which can be enjoyed by children and adults equally. I am kicking myself that I left it unread on my Kindle for so long but it is definitely a book that I will want to return to. I highly recommend it to anyone who has not discovered it yet.

October, October was my own purchase as an E-book.

MG Review: The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts by Alex Bell illustrated by Tim McDonagh

A proof paperback copy of middle grade adventure story The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts by Alex Bell. The cover has a picture of an old fashioned sailing ship with an octopus on the prow. — Cover artwork by Tim McDonagh, publisher Faber 01 February 2024, ISBN: 9780571388868

I cannot think of a better way to start my reading year than a swashbuckling adventure which celebrates the power of libraries and books to transport a reader into any situation, location or complication! The twelve year old hero of the story, apprentice librarian Elijah Cassius Dewey Fleet (Eli), will capture readers’ hearts as he ventures from the safety of his beloved Royal Library of Harmonia to join the eponymous race in order to save his Nana.

The world building in this story is breathtaking, from the description of the library and its resident bats, to the different levels of the city of Harmonia and the transport system that Eli uses on his daily commute, to the legendary race which, many years earlier, claimed the lives of Eli’s parents. Built into this world are magical beasts, which act as partners to their owners and without which no-one can enter the race, the existence of mage magic and the existence of wondrous kingdoms populated by mysterious creatures which will act as checkpoints in the race.

When Eli announces that he wants to enter the Glorious Race of Magical Beasts, he is met with disbelief and a degree of cruel mockery (something with which he has been familiar his whole life as the nerdy, tweed suit wearing son of legendary parents). His lack of athletic prowess and his magical beast, a 99 year old moon tortoise named Humphrey, mean that he is written off from the outset. However, his overlooked mage powers, his loyal friend Jeremiah (who he extracted from the pages of a book years earlier) and a new friend (half human, half faery) Raven with her ice hare, provide the support he needs to keep up with the other questers. In a perilous voyage during which the trio encounter myriad dangers including doom puffins, fearsome mermaids, a sinister bounty hunter and the frankly terrifying joo-joo-bubs, the hare and the tortoise fable is updated in dazzling style. The friendships between the young protagonists are written beautifully, with the impact of withholding secrets versus the desire to provide support being explored as the tension ratchets.

In the finished novel there will be illustrated chapter headers depicting the magical creatures, drawn by Tim McDonagh. My proof copy of the book had a few of these gorgeous illustrations, which I feel certain will enhance young readers’ enjoyment of the book when it is published on 1st February 2024. I highly recommend this story to children of 8 years an older who enjoy an exciting and fast-paced adventure story. I think it will be popular amongst library professionals too, for its joyous positioning of libraries at the centre of the narrative.

I am very grateful to Bethany Carter at Faber Books who sent me a proof copy of The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts to read and review.

My Children’s Books Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 24 – Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans by Isi Hendrix

2023 Advent calendar which shows the bloggers 24 favourite children's books read in 2023

With Christmas fast approaching, I have decided to rerun one of my book reviews each day in the hope that they might provide inspiration for anyone looking to buy a book as a gift for a child this year. It has been incredibly difficult to select only 24 from the 2023 bookshelves, but I hope that you like some of my choices.

December 24th

Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans (you can read my full review here) is a thrilling middle grade fantasy novel written by debut author and anthropologist, Isi Hendrix. Set in the fictional kingdom of Zaria, Adia sets out on a quest to banish her demon only to discover that her powers can impact the destiny of the entire kingdom. The plot is enjoyably fast moving, incorporating conflict and humour, and interwoven with Nigerian customs and superstitions as well as themes of colonisation. I am looking forward to reading further adventures in this planned series.

I was sent a review copy of this book by Nina Douglas PR on behalf of publisher Usborne Books. .

#Illustrated Christmas fiction: Clarice Bean Think Like an Elf by Lauren Child

front cover of children's chapter book Clarice Bean Think Like an Elf, features a young girl in red flowery dress and elf hat standing in front of a Christmas tree. — Cover art by Lauren Child, published by Harper Collins, 28 September 2023, ISBN: 978-0008472337

Lauren Child’s entire range of children’s books have been big favourites in my family for many years, and even with adult children, I cannot resist picking up her recently published titles! Think Like an Elf was published in 2023. For those of you who are not familiar with this series, Clarice Bean is the third child in a family of seven: Mum, Dad, teenage sister Marcie, teenage brother Kurt, younger brother Minal Cricket and granddad, who all live together in a chaotic, noisy home.

Christmas is fast-approaching for the Tuesday family but this year seems to be lacking the usual sparkle because uncles, aunts cousins and friends all have plans to go away and the usual festive gathering will be diminished. Clarice Bean in her own inimitable fashion, takes it upon herself to spread cheer and try to find the Christmas spirit for her family, friends, neighbours and even those with whom she is not usually on friendly terms! Clarice Bean has an ‘exceptionordinarily’ interesting way of seeing the word (and vocabulary for describing it) and her character is always utterly charming, slightly accident-prone and consistently well-meaning. This story does not disappoint, with major and minor catastrophes revolving around turkey deliveries and Christmas parcel mishaps, when Clarice is simply trying to be helpful! The family interactions and incidents will be familiar to many readers, and are brought to life with wit and panache by Lauren Child.

As Clarice learns about the joy of handmade cards and presents, she also benefits from kindly granddad’s advice about the value of giving of your time to do something special for those you care about. I love that the underlying theme of this totally engaging story is the importance of shared time with family and friends. The book is a perfect size and length for readers of 8 years and over, with twelve chapters, each named after Christmas carols or songs and illustrated throughout with Lauren Child’s glorious blend of drawing and collage. I can’t recommend it highly enough for schools, libraries, homes or gifting!

This book was my own purchase.

Clarice refers to the Ruby Redfort series throughout this story, so older readers (9/10+) might like to know that Lauren Child has in fact written this series too. Click for my review of the first book in the series Ruby Redfort: Look into my Eyes.

Original post updated on 13 December 2023.

My Children’s Books Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 23 – Friends and Traitors by Helen Peters

December 23rd

Friends and Traitors (you can read my full review here) was a book which transported me back to my 10 year old self and one which I read in an afternoon, so great was my enjoyment of it. It contains so many of the elements that I love: historical country house setting (WWII), intrigue, interesting characters, peril and bravery. The plot is perfectly formed and Helen Peters writes with such fluency that readers just glide through the story. If you are shopping for last minute gifts for a child of 9+, can I highly recommend this book to you?

This was one of my own purchases in 2023.

My Children’s Books Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 22 – Best Friends Forever by Lisa Williamson

December 22nd

Best Friends Forever (you can read my full review here) is a fun and insightful illustrated novel which is perfect for children at the transition stage between primary and secondary school. The characterisation is wonderful, tween conversations and situations are depicted with great authenticity as the main protagonist and narrator, Lola, learns to accept changes in her life, and to embrace new opportunities and friendships. The cute illustrations throughout the book, drawn by Jess Bradley, add to the fun tone of this novel which I highly recommend for readers of 10+. The really good news is that this is the first in a planned series!

I was sent a review copy of Best Friends Forever by Guppy Books and Catherine Alport PR.

My Children’s Books Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 21 – All the World’s a Stage by Sarah Walden and Hannah Li

December 21st

A standing ovation please, as I return to non-fiction to recommend a stunning, large format, hardback All the World’s a Stage: A Practical Guide to Performance (you can read my full review here). This was, I think, the first review I published in 2023 and the book was actually a 2022 publication. I had to include it because it celebrates the world of Arts & Culture in a way that I have not seen before in a publication for children. Sarah Walden’s text and Hannah Li’s illustrations explore all forms of performance: stage, film and TV, telling stories of major productions and exploring career options both front and backstage. This book would make a perfect gift for any creative child, whether they favour music, dance, acting, telling jokes, drawing painting or any other form of self-expression.

I was sent a review copy by publisher Noodle Juice.

My Children’s Books Advent Calendar 2023 – Day 20 – Norah’s Ark by Victoria Williamson

December 20th

2023 has been an incredible year for those of us who are devotees of Victoria Williamson’s writing as she has had four books published, three of which I have read and reviewed. Norah’s Ark (you can read my full review here) just edged into position as my favourite because of the themes covered. This author excels in the split narrative and her two protagonists in this story perfectly embody very different challenges in their lives and show readers the importance of not judging by first impressions but to actively seek the reasons for an individual’s behaviour. Norah’s Ark is a wonderfully structured empathy-generator, perfect for children of 10 years and above.

I was sent a review copy of this book by publisher Neem Tree Press.