Cover image by Elise Carmichael, published by Scotland Street Press, 21 September 2023
This blog tour has been organised by @TheWriteReads and Scotland Street Press to whom I am grateful for the provision of an e-book and an invitation to write a review.
Victoria Williamson is such a talented and versatile writer, this is the third of her 2023 publications that I have read and each time she enthrals me with an original plot, great characters and a fascinating setting.
In this novel, aimed at readers of 9+, the action takes place in 158 AD around the Antonine Wall which was constructed by the Roman invaders north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, and which I had no knowledge of prior to reading this book. As with many of Victoria Williamson’s previous novels, the reader is given a dual perspective on events, enabling an understanding of the two sides of the conflict that drives the story. Jinny, who is 12 autumns old begins the story seeking revenge on the Roman boy whom she holds responsible for the terrible accident which befalls her younger brother and beloved dog, for which she has been blamed by her tribe, the Damnonii. Her enemy, Felix, is the son of a Roman soldier and a Damnonii woman and is consequently an outsider in the eyes of both sides of the conflict. His father has gone missing on a scouting expedition north of the wall, and very early on the reader is given an insight into his precarious place in the Roman camp.
An uneasy peace exists between the two camps, but they are always teetering on the edge of violence, the author provides readers with a tremendous sense of daily life within the walls of the Roman camp and the encircled Damnonii compound; the physical and cultural barriers between the enemies are explored in parallel. Layered delicately on top of the narrative is a mystical force in the shape of a stone circle, a sacred place to the Damnonii, who sing to ensure that the stone spirits are not woken. When Jinny’s revenge plan lures Felix inside the ancient circle, her tempestuous actions appear to wake the spirits and when tribespeople begin to disappear in the night it seems that the stone giants of legend are roaming the land once again. The ‘Whistlers’ of the title become apparent as the tense plot unfolds.
This book will be a super addition to primary school library and classroom collections and provides an exciting new background read on an aspect of Romans in Britain that I have not seen covered in children’s literature before. Author Victoria Williamson has crafted a historical adventure which explores identity, revenge and forgiveness and “Family, friendship and the courage that comes from a sure sense of belonging”. She will be donating 20% of her author proceeds from this title to Archaeology Scotland.
Cover image by Thy Bui, published by Pushkin Children’s 2 March 2023 ISBN 9781782693864
Into the Faerie Hill is a uniquely immersive blend of fairytale, folklore and eco-fiction, which thrums with the powerful magic of the natural world. The two child protagonists – both outsiders – combine their gifts to try to prevent an environmentally destructive road tunnel project, and in so doing discover a deep, unexpected friendship.
Alfred and his father have returned to the woodland cottage, owned by Alfie’s grandmother, where he was born, and where he has always believed that his mother died when he was very young. After supervising successful tunnelling projects all over the globe, Alfie’s dad has been recruited to assist with a challenging tunnel construction which will pass through the hill behind the family home – but what mysterious secrets does this hill hide? From the moment of Alfie and Dad’s homecoming there is a sinister atmosphere around the cottage. Alfie is disconcerted by rustlings in the undergrowth; the peculiar wooden carvings that gaze out from each window of the cottage; and small voices that can be heard from under the hedges. He senses that Dad and his grandmother are harbouring secrets and cannot shake the feeling of being watched.
When he meets eccentric-looking Saga, with her unbridled passion to save the local wildlife and her handwritten notebook on the Faerie Investigation Society, they join forces to try to stop the destruction of the woodland and hill. Saga is fully motivated by her desire to protect the precious local ecology and Alfie because he senses that the Faerie Hill might provide clues to the disappearance of his mother and the answers he seeks about his own identity.
This is a beautifully written quest, combining fantasy, folklore and modern reality; a blend which author H.S. Norup delivers with such panache that I barely noticed a three hour flight delay as I raced through the pages. She captures the essence of the natural world, compels you to believe in the gossamer veil between reality and fantasy in her woodland setting and ensnares you in the elemental search for identity. The chapter heading illustrations and map of The Faerie Hill by Thy Bui add to the delight of this book.
There were particular aspects which I found of interest from my perspective as a health librarian, where I am sometimes asked to recommend books with health themes for schools:
Alfie has been born with one leg shorter than the other, the difference of 5.3cm is referred to, as is the fact that he requires a built-up shoe for his right leg. He walks with a limp and after long days exploring the woods and caves and particularly during the tense action of the final third, he suffers considerable pain in his legs and hips.
Despite being a brilliant swimmer and a star performer in swim teams at various international schools, Alfie always feels like an outsider; hearing cruel comments from teammates about his Paralympic prospects leads him to shy away from his peers.
I felt that these details about physical and mental wellbeing were written with great sensitivity; showed a character living with the extra demands of a physical difference; and demonstrated to readers the power of words and actions to cause hurt or conversely, healing.
If you are looking for a compelling read to place in the hands of a child reader of 9+ or should you want to share a rich story with a class or a child at home, then I highly recommend Into the Faerie Hill.
This book was my own purchase and all opinions expressed are my own. You can read my review of H.S. Norup’s previous book, The Hungry Ghost here.
Cover image by André Ducci, published by Templar Books, 14th September 2023
A brilliant book for curious young (and not so young) minds, this magnificent new publication from Bonnier Books encourages children to ask questions about the world around them by profiling 20 thinkers whose ideas changed the world.
This really would be a perfect gift for any child of 9+, additionally it would be a fantastic addition to any primary school classroom or library collection. Starting with a clear definition of philosophy, accompanied by a guide to the meaning of the different typefaces used throughout, the philosophers are then introduced in chronological order. Not only are their ideas explored, but they are placed within the context of their historical time period, the effect that they had on the world around them and the impact of their ideas on future thinkers, institutions and belief systems. The individuals profiled here range in date from Confucius (from approximately 500 BCE) to Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw (present day), with globally diverse representation, including a chapter on Māori Philosophy. Each chapter presents enough information to give a solid understanding of a particular philosophy and will likely prompt some children to explore the subjects further. My ‘home for the holidays’ youngest confirmed that she would have loved this as an immersive introduction to philosophy and philosophers had it been available when she was an avid middle grade reader.
Co-authors, Joan Haig and Joan Lennon, have extensive historical and social science research and writing backgrounds; their expertise shines through in the factual detail which has been distilled into perfectly accessible chunks of text for an upper primary school or early secondary school readership. The facts and explanations are stunningly brought to life by André Ducci’s distinctively bold illustrations. This is a highly attractive package which I can imagine children returning to again and again; I know that I will need to go back and re-read some sections to embed the learning. Philosophy is not a subject that I have studied in any depth and I have certainly picked up a great deal of new knowledge about the philosophical ideas that have shaped the world and that continue to challenge our thinking. In fact, the sections on critical race theory and intersectionality, have provided me with the clearest explanations of these concepts than any number of academic texts that I have read in my professional duties. I highly recommend all school librarians to purchase a copy of Great Minds and have a read yourselves before handing over to your library users!
I am hugely grateful to Templar Books ( an imprint of Bonnier Books) and Antonia Wilkinson for sending me a review copy of Great Minds prior to publication on 14th September 2023 in exchange for my honest opinion.
Cover image by Jenny Latham, published by Little Tiger Press, 7 September 2023
Be Kind Shazmin is the third book in The Feeling Good Club series, a gentle and humour-filled set of books which give primary school pupils an instructive guide to mindfulness activities. Each book in the series to date is presented as the mindfulness journal of one of the three friends, Bella, Archie and Shazmin, who comprise The Feeling Good Club. I applaud author Kelly McKain’s ability to create this journal with the distinctive and utterly believable voice of eleven year old Shazmin, and I am sure that the target readership will love the expressive illustrations and emoji accessorised artwork of Jenny Latham.
The situation faced by Shazmin is one that I am sure many children who are younger siblings will be familiar with – the sudden withdrawal from childhood fun and games of an older sibling when they reach their teenage years. For bubbly, dance and drama-loving Shazmin, this change of circumstances is devastating; she thinks that big sister Charita no longer likes her and can’t help feeling rather envious that Bella’s older sister is generous with her time and attention to Bella and her friends. When Shazmin develops a plan to create the winning entry in a video competition to impress Charita and win back her attention, she throws herself into the project with such determination that she completely overlooks the comfort of her loyal besties, Archie and Bella.
This story very clearly describes the physiological experiences resulting from the hurt and loss felt by Shazmin by presenting her story in journal format, allowing young readers to see how emotional situations can manifest physically and further, the ways in which mindfulness techniques can be used to help defuse these feelings. I also admired the portrayal of friendship as an active force to assist someone through a difficult time in their life. On top of the excellent depiction of the highs and lows of family life, this book is laced with humour and I particularly enjoyed Archie’s wry comments throughout the narrative. At the end of the book there are instructions for three simple mindfulness activities which can be tried by anyone – I’m thinking of having a go at the mindfulness collage myself!
I am very grateful to Little Tiger Press who provided me with a review copy of The Feeling Good Club – Be Kind, Shazmin in exchange for my honest opinion.
Cover image and inside illustrations by Paddy Donnelly, Publisher David Fickling Books, 7th September 2023
The conclusion of the Utterly Dark trilogy is an adventure woven through with the ancient magic of our planet. Philip Reeve’s magnificent world building extends beyond temporal boundaries, submerging the reader through layers of complexity alongside Utterly Dark and her loyal companions. Exploring the timeless nature of friendship and the power of love to span generations and overcome ruthless ambition, this book grips you like a rip tide. I couldn’t put it down. If you have not previously read Utterly Dark and the Face of the Deep and Utterly Dark and the Heart of the Wild, can I strongly suggest that you do so to prepare for the publication of this title on 7th September 2023. (Additionally, I should point out that this review probably contains a couple of spoilers for the previous two books in the trilogy).
From the first chapter when Utterly fulfils the promise she made to her mother, The Gorm, at the end of book two, and joins the tempestuous goddess of the sea in her underwater kingdom, the reader is swept along on the currents of Philip Reeve’s imagination. I was as transfixed as Utterly by the wonders of the ocean, and similarly “castaway in time” as it becomes clear that The Gorm can transcend the boundaries of time. The transparency of the veil between worlds has been a constant theme throughout this trilogy and here at the conclusion, the elasticity of time is explored to great dramatic effect.
Map drawn by Paddy Donnelly and used with permission from David Fickling Books
Shortly after Utterly disappears to her mother’s realm, the island of Wildsea is visited by a scientific expedition. Aboard the HMS Acantha, commanded by Royal Navy Captain Bulstrode, are Frank Constantine who is an old friend of Will Dark’s from his London days and his flinty employer, fabulously wealthy Lord Langdale. They have been lured to the Autumn Isles by Constantine’s recollection of Will’s tales about sea witches, monsters and hidden lands to the west. Bulstrode is determined to claim these lands for King George, whilst Constantine and Lord Langdale are convinced that the wonders of nineteenth century science will uncover the true nature of the magical Hidden Lands. When Will Dark is forced to join their mission, against the wishes of his pregnant wife Aish, it is no surprise that serial stowaway, Egg, boards the ship and once again seeks to protect the Dark family from misadventure.
Of course Egg would come to rescue her! And of course he would not be deterred by the inconvenient span of years that separated the age he lived in from the age where Utterly was trapped!
page 172
Map drawn by Paddy Donnelly and used with permission from David Fickling Books
For running parallel to this narrative is another, set on the Wildsea of 1971, where ruthless Professor Stone has established a research station from which he intends to master the powers of The Gorm. The time shift element of the story is written with such craft that it seems as natural as the waves that endlessly crash on the shore. Philip Reeve has a unique writing style which I greatly enjoy reading and I feel sure that the books in this trilogy will become modern classics, they are thrilling stories in which readers from 10 years old to adult can completely immerse themselves and allow their own imaginations to run wild. I loved the juxtaposition of the ending of Egg and Utterly’s childhoods and the recognition of the historical shift to an age in which scientific investigation began to replace mythical beliefs:
But, Utterly, the age you were born into is the last age when magic dared to show itself, and the tide was turning even then. Humans had already begun to grow too clever, and now they have grown cleverer still and there is no place left for the old things in their world.
page 254
The beautiful map at the beginning and the illustrated chapter headers by Paddy Donnelly add to the pleasure gained from this title. If you know of a child of 10+ who enjoys reading adventure infused with the history of aeons, written in the most incredible language, then I encourage you to provide them with the Utterly Dark trilogy, this final book is available for pre-order now and will be in bookshops on 7th September 2023. I know that I would have loved this as a child and I know that at least one of my children would have adored it too.
I am thrilled that Philip Reeve agreed to answer some questions about the Utterly Dark series, so if you want some insight into these stories, please read on, and thank you Philip!
1. The Autumn Isles, whilst fictional, seem incredibly real. Are they based on any particular islands where you have spent time? I’ve been meaning to write an imaginary island book since my college days. I visited Islay in the Inner Hebrides a few years ago and I think that may have been what finally prompted me to get to work. But the Autumn Isles aren’t Scottish, because I wouldn’t be able to get the names and details right, I’d be a tourist. So Wildsea, the island where the first and third of the Utterly books mostly take place, is mostly based on Dartmoor, with a coastline rather like north Cornwall.
2. You have imbued all three books in the trilogy with a very powerful sense of the natural world, do you spend a lot of time outdoors studying nature, and have you always done so? I don’t exactly study nature, I’ve never been much good at identifying birds and plants and things. But I do spend a lot of time outdoors, and walking on Dartmoor, where I live, so I get a chance to observe the trees and rocks and weather and I try to put them into the books as vividly as I can. 3. I am guessing that some part of the trilogy might have been written during lockdown, is the enormous power of nature that pervades the stories any reaction to the lockdown or pandemic experience? Good guess! A lot of island stories seem to have come out of lockdown, which I suppose makes sense. But I actually started the first Utterly book a year or two earlier. My mother was increasingly ill and frail so it was jotted down in fragments during trips to see her, or in hospital waiting rooms. I wasn’t really thinking of it at that time as something I would publish: it was rather dark and strange. It didn’t even feature Utterly herself at that stage. Then in lockdown I found myself with a lot more time on my hands, so I fetched the notebooks out and started turning them into a proper story, and Utterly appeared, at which point it grew much funnier and also more exciting. 4. Are the characters of Aish or The Gorm based on any particular mythology? Could you tell us more about how their characters developed in your imagination? They’re all my own work, although I may have chucked in a few half-remembered bits of actual folklore. The Gorm is a sort of sea goddess, and I suppose the idea is that she’s the real deal, and all the sea goddesses in world mythology are based
on her. But I didn’t know that when I started – a lot of the writing of this book was about trying to work out what she was, and her relationship to Utterly. And Aish started out as a local wise-woman, rather close to nature and old magic, as a foil for Utterly’s uncle Will, who has come home from England full of Enlightenment ideas about science and reason. But as the story progressed I started to wonder if Aish wasn’t a sort of goddess too, in a very small way. And if you have a minor goddess knocking around, maybe there are other beings like her, who are maybe not so friendly, and that’s where the Hunter in book two and also the villain of the third book came from. 5. Can you tell us why you chose to set the trilogy in the Georgian era, I haven’t read very many MG novels set in this time period before? It started out just set in the Olden Days, and then I slowly narrowed it down to the year 1810. I’m not sure why – when I’d finished the first book and was trying to describe it to my agent I realised it’s basically Magic Poldark, so maybe that was an influence! But working on the sequels made me realise that there’s a very good reason to set it in the early 1800s, as I think that’s the last time you can imagine magic existing and influencing human affairs without a load of scientists showing up to study it. Science is starting to understand the world, and the Industrial Revolution is well under way, but neither of them has made it to Wildsea yet. So the stories are set at a sort of threshold, as we move from a magical to a scientific world.
6. Something that impressed me deeply when reading the Utterly Dark trilogy was the dialogue. How did you find the old-fashioned voice which firmly roots the books in their historical setting but also seems so natural and still completely relatable to a modern reader? It’s tricky, because I’m not clever enough to write pastiche 19th Century sentences, and even if I were, younger readers might struggle to get through them. But I think it’s important to remind the reader that these characters are living in the past, that they’re not just modern people in fancy dress. So I tried to pack in plenty of archaic words and turns of phrase. 7. I don’t want to give away any plot spoilers for those readers who have the anticipated joy of reading Utterly Dark and the Tides of Time, but are Utterly or Egg likely to appear in any future books?
I would love to do more books set in the Autumn Isles, perhaps in different periods – there are several islands I haven’t visited yet, and several loose ends in the third book which could provide the basis for more stories. I think Utterly might have to step back a little to allow Egg or some new characters a chance in the limelight, but she would definitely play a part, I’m very fond of her. 8. Can you give us any clues about what you might be working on or publishing next? I’ve finished another novel which I started in lockdown, but I can’t talk about that yet – I don’t even know if it will be published. And I’m working with my fabulous co-author Sarah McIntyre on a series of books for younger readers called Adventuremice – more made-up islands, but inhabited by mice this time, and inspired by Sarah’s lovely paintings. You can find out more about those at adventuremice.com
9. Finally, can I thank you so much for writing the Utterly Dark trilogy, which I would rate amongst the very best stories that I have read, and thank you for answering my questions. I am very much looking forward to whatever you write next. Thank you very much for reading them! They’ve been wonderful books to work on, and I’d love to be able to write more of them, so I’m very grateful to you and any other reviewers who can spread the word about them. Philip
I am most grateful to David Fickling Books for providing me with a review copy ahead of publication on 7th September 2023, for supplying the fabulous maps used in this review and for enabling me to ask Philip Reeve some questions.
Cover art by Elisa Paganelli, published by Barrington Stoke, 6 July 2023
Regular readers of my blog will know that I have been a huge fan of Barrington Stoke books ever since a specialist dyslexia teacher introduced me to them about eighteen years ago. I love the care that has been taken to design books which are accessible to all children to encourage reading for pleasure, and I am delighted to see so many exceptional authors writing for this publisher now. The Piano at the Station is printed on dark cream paper, is beautifully illustrated by Elisa Paganelli and I think the storyline would work best for a readership of 10-14.
This recent publication captured my attention when I read some early reviews and I was not disappointed after purchasing a copy. The story revolves around Lacey, a sassy teenager who is a frequent resident of the school’s withdrawal room. Somehow, she just can’t seem to stop herself talking back to her teachers and delivering some witty but beyond the bounds retorts. Her headteacher seems to be disappointed and exasperated each time Lacey is dismissed from class and you get the impression that she feels Lacey is wasting her talent. Once you get an insight into her home life, Lacey’s attitude becomes more understandable. Although her single mother is clearly very loving, she is busy working to provide for a large family and Lacey is often left to care for her noisy younger sisters in a fairly chaotic home. On top of this, her mum and in particular her aunt, obviously did not enjoy school themselves and their attitudes almost encourage poor behaviour. As a last ditch attempt to moderate Lacey’s outbursts, Mrs Hukin, the headteacher offers her the chance of music therapy with a visiting music teacher during school lunchtimes …and I will leave you to discover the outcome.
I have added The Piano at the Station to the list of books that I recommend to health careers outreach colleagues and for health literacy purposes because it provides a super insight into the role of a music therapist and the impact that they can have on an individual’s mental wellbeing. Author, Helen Rutter, also sensitively shows the difference that guidance from caring adults can have on a young person’s outlook and attitudes. On top of this, the story is thoroughly entertaining and I am sure will be enjoyed by all fans of Saturday night reality-TV talent shows and would-be performers. Highly recommended for both primary and secondary school library collections.
This book was my own purchase and the review is my honest opinion.
I am increasingly convinced that Victoria Williamson is a one-woman empathy generator! Every time that I read one of her beautifully written novels, my eyes and heart are opened to characters who embody the harsh experiences of so many individuals in today’s society.
Norah’s Ark is written as a dual narrative, with alternate chapters narrated by the two 11-year-old protagonists, Norah and Adam. These two children couldn’t be more different in their positions on the socio-economic hierarchy, but are united by common themes, underlining for readers that we are all bonded by similar human needs, desires and fears. The ‘compare and contrast’ between the protagonists is fascinating. At the beginning of the book, when Norah and Adam are observing each other from a distance, they both jump to conclusions about each other and envy each other’s apparent lifestyles. This is such a great insight for readers, who have been given some detail on the reality of life for the protagonists, into the dangers of pre-judging someone before you get to know them.
Norah is homeless. She has spend the last few years living out of suitcases as she and her unemployed Dad are moved around homeless hostels, B&Bs and other temporary accommodation. She has no friends, is bullied at school for being poor, dirty and smelly and is desperate that the authorities do not find out just how awful her life is, in case she is taken into care and separated from the only family she knows – her father. In contrast, Adam lives in a beautiful home, with a huge garden backing onto the park, with two professional parents and every material comfort. Norah spends a great deal of time alone in the park while her dad goes to the bookies or to the job centre, she has been given a bicycle by a local church and cycles for hours when she is not taking an interest in the local wildlife. We get an insight into her kind heart when she brings crushed up cornflakes from her meagre breakfast to feed a nest of fledglings whose mother has been killed by a local cat. Adam, who is in recovery from leukaemia, and is confined to his own house and garden by his over-anxious mother, envies her freedom as he watches her from his treehouse. However, he is also aware of the abandoned baby birds, and in an act of rebellion, he sneaks through the garden gate, gathers the nest of birds and takes them to his treehouse to hand rear them. To Norah, who watches on, this is just another example of entitlement, a wealthy child taking away the one thing that she felt was hers, but it sparks the start of the children’s relationship.
I love the way that the friendship develops over the course of the novel. We see the internal struggles of each child as they search for the language and trust to allow themselves to be honest with each other about their respective situations. Both Norah and Adam recognise the trait in each other, to misdirect and cover up their true feelings, especially for fear of upsetting the adults in their lives. Author, Victoria Williamson, opens readers eyes to a host of experiences that result from poverty including; the shame that can be felt when visiting food banks; the cruel judgements that can be felt by wearing charity shop clothes; the human consequences felt by children and parents when mistakes are made processing benefits payments and the hard reality of relying on zero-hours contract employment. I work in a health library and I was fascinated to read Adam’s narrative as a child recovering from cancer treatment, wanting to return to his previous activities but being deterred by a parent’s natural desire to keep him safe. As you would expect from a middle-grade novel, the story is suffused with hope and resilience and I loved the way that the natural world – even in the heart of an urban environment – was portrayed as a way to relax and put the day-to-day worries aside for a time. I don’t want to give away any plot spoilers, but the clever choice of title becomes clear in the dramatic final third of the story!
I think that the content of Norah’s Ark makes it suitable for readers aged 10+ to read independently; it would also be a wonderful book for adults to share with children, at home or in school, to prompt conversations about important social issues. Victoria Williamson always donates 20% of her author royalties to a relevant charity; for Norah’s Ark she will be making this donation to Shelter for the work that they do in helping families in adversity.
I am very grateful to Neem Tree Press who sent me a copy of Norah’s Ark in exchange for my honest opinion, and to @TheWriteReads who invited me to join the blog tour. Do check out the many fantastic reviews and interviews created by the great bloggers in the graphic below.
Cover image by David Dean, published by Nosy Crow, 6 July 2023
After reading the reviews from some of my favourite bloggers heaping praise on this MG title back in July, I bought a copy for myself on a recent book shopping trip in Bath. I opened the front cover to discover that I had picked up a signed copy, fell head over heels in love with it when one of my late mother’s favourite expressions appeared in the second sentence and spent a Bank Holiday morning reading it from cover to cover!
Friends and Traitors contains all the elements that I love: fully-rounded characters with believable and flawed personalities, a sense of intrigue from the earliest pages, a country house and historical setting, and a plot which blends sabotage and fifth columnists with secret passages and brave young protagonists. Layered over the top of these constituents, and the reason that I could not put the book down, is Helen Peters’ fantastic storytelling. Some writers just make the process of reading their work effortless – I don’t know enough about literary techniques to be able to explain how or why – but this book fell into that category for me. I know that I would have loved Friends and Traitors when I was 9 or 10, and finishing my ‘Blyton interregnum’ and I am sure that children in upper Key Stage 2 will adore this brilliant mystery adventure which will tie in with their WWII history topic.
The plot set-up is that St Olave’s Girls School has been evacuated to Stanbrook House, the country estate of Lord Evesham who is a senior member of the Air Ministry. The girls and their teachers arrive on the same day as Nancy, a bright country girl who has to begin working as a parlour maid because her family cannot afford for her to take up the grammar school scholarship that she has won. Nancy resents the ‘posh girls’ who do not need or value their expensive education, labelling them all the same after she repeatedly experiences the careless snobbery of nasty Lucinda. However, Lucinda is equally capable of bullying classmates and takes great delight in picking on Sidney who has newly arrived in her Form. When Sidney ropes Nancy into helping her play a midnight prank on Lucinda, the maid and the school girl overhear a conversation which leaves them in no doubt that Stanbrook House is playing host to a traitor. Driven by patriotism, a loathing of Hitler and concern for their elder brothers who are both fighting against fascism, Nancy and Sidney team up to foil a traitorous scheme.
This book really does tick all the boxes for a thoroughly enjoyable read. A great cast of pupils and teachers who add drama and humour to the narrative, the servants of the house who add an extra level of interest as well as useful background details, a repellant villain and determined, valiant heroines. With class issues, the fascists’ treatment of Jewish and other ‘undesirable’ individuals as well as the need to stand up to bullies as themes, this book educates whilst entertaining. I really cannot recommend it highly enough!
Cover art by Camille de Cussac, published by Prestel, 5 September 2023
I simply could not believe my luck when I opened the package containing this absolutely essential book for every library and book lover’s collection! This stunning, behind-the-scenes exploration tells you everything that you would want to know about the creative journey of a book from the author’s imagination into the reader’s hands.
From the moment that you open the front cover you realise just how special this book is – with details about the binding (Swiss), font choice (Lota Grotesque), paper choice and weight (offset and 170gr). Each chapter is named for a profession associated with book production and illustrated with a thumbnail portrait image. This gives a clear indication of the style of the book which is remarkable for its bright, bold, stylishly illustrated spreads punctuated with small blocks of text, translated from the original French by Paul Kelly.
Firstly, we meet the author and learn about many different ways that manuscripts can be produced, as well as some famous examples of lost manuscripts. We also learn about the essential roles played by editors, illustrators and graphic designers before gaining an insight into the actual printing and construction of a physical book. From this point, the narrative becomes about the professions involved in mobilising the book from the warehouse into the hands of readers – sales representatives and marketing professionals, booksellers, literary critics, publicists and librarians. Finally the role of readers in bringing books to life is discussed. The whole book would be an excellent resource for conversations about careers with children who are interested in creativity.
Every single spread is lavishly illustrated in the same style as the gorgeous cover shown above and the factual content is tremendously educational. There is so much to enjoy here that this book will encourage multiple readings. Of course, I loved to see my own profession celebrated in the spreads about libraries and librarians, but I also enjoyed learning a great deal from the spreads about the printing and production of books. At a time when many of us, as individuals and institutions, are concerned about sustainability and the environment, it was great to find information about climate neutral publishing practices and to find that this is an example of a climate neutral book.
I would strongly encourage every school and public library to buy a copy of this book which will provide enjoyment and insight for any bibliophile of 8 to 80 years of age.
I am very grateful to Prestel Publishing and Antonia Wilkinson PR for providing me with a review copy of Books and the People Who Make Them ahead of publication on 5th September 2023, in return for my honest opinion.
Cover design by Anna Morrison, published by Neem Tree Press, 7 September 2023
Are you ready for the unexpected? The extraordinary? The daring? Roll up, roll up! The Scareground is in town!
Nancy Crumpet is ready to seek the answers to her past! What is the meaning of the silver horse that marks her wrist and that she hides from the prying eyes of the world? Why do her loving, adoptive parents Ma and Pa Crumpet, whose bakery home is usually filled with warmth and openness, become evasive and embarrassed when she asks about her origins? And why have they, along with her only friend Arthur’s father,, forbidden her from visiting the travelling fairground setting up in Oxleas Wood? Despite her guilt at betraying the trust and love that the Crumpets have always shown her, Nancy has a burning desire to know where she comes from, so ignoring the warning messages that the sky is sending, she sets out after dark with Arthur to visit Skelter Tombola’s Scareground!
This is a deliciously creepy tale for an upper middle grade readership. It gave me vibes of Rooftoppers crossed with The Night Circus, and I am sure will be greatly enjoyed by fans of Katherine Rundell, Emma Carroll and Jennifer Killick. The juxtaposition of baked goods metaphors in parallel with an ominous sense of foreboding works brilliantly to build a tense narrative. Angela Kecojevic’s writing is distinctive, filled with originality and sentences which demand to be re-read to fully appreciate the imagery they convey. She creates the setting of Victorian Greenwich with such clarity that from the opening pages, readers feel the thrill of Nancy’s rooftop view over the Thameside village and her sense that something unexpected has been blown in by the wind.
Characters spring to life, fully formed but begging readers to explore their back stories and motivations. From Ma and Pa Crumpet who bake all week and love to relax by reading books in front of the crackling fire on Sunday evenings, to the mysterious and sinister fairground impressario Skelter Tombola, readers will be enthralled. Nancy and Arthur’s friendship is touching and entirely believable and both characters undergo considerable growth throughout the narrative. I really don’t want to ruin anyone’s enjoyment by giving away too much of the plot but the magical ability to skyread, a phantom carousel, a sky ship, a profusion of black crows’ feathers and a horrible demon who seems to leave hideous black slugs in his wake will all send shivers down the spine! Scareground is certain to be popular with mature readers of 10+ as autumn approaches.
I am most grateful to Neem Tree Press who sent me the glorious package in the image at the top of this review in return for my honest opinion. Scareground will be published on 7 September 2023 and is available for pre-order now.
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