#MGReview: Aliens Made Me Do It! by David Macphail & Rory Walker

Cover art by Rory Walker, published by Everything With Words,
25 September 2025, ISBN: 978-1911427469

Unidentified extra-terrestrial objects are falling from the sky in the small town of Bilgeley! The first spacecraft to arrive crushes the vintage Ford Anglia owned by Hillman Patel’s dad, and as he recovers from the shock, Hillman finds himself confronted by Galactic Princess Cassiopeia and her bloodthirsty android, Silver. Meanwhile, across town at the Bilgeley dump, Roz rescues Galactic Prince Perseus and his android, Bronze from certain death as their spacecraft sinks towards a huge methane bubble under the trash mountain in which they have landed. The two extra-terrestrial visitors are arch-enemies, vying with each other for control of the galaxy and their arrival could spell toast for planet earth! The fate of the planet is in the hands of two eleven-year-olds and a Grandad who “can barely negotiate a sausage roll”!

This is one of those deliciously bonkers books that is so appealing to lower Key Stage 2 readers. The humorous exchanges and misunderstandings between Hillman and Roz and their associated alien visitors will have young readers hooting with laughter, while the race against time to save planet earth will ensure that readers are gripped by the story. Who could have predicted that custard held so much power? There is a super sub-plot concerning a cohort of venal businessmen who want to close down the Sunny View Day Care Centre attended by Roz’s grandad and his friends, which adds an extra layer of humour as well as providing so much human heart to the story, that even a megalomaniac space warrior begins to feel emotion! It is a mark of the quality of David Macphail’s writing that he seamlessly blends humour and a page-turning plot with the warmth of human relationships.

The book is illustrated throughout by Rory Walker, and his drawings convey the humour and personalities of the characters brilliantly. The chapters are short and pacy, and the plot is intriguing from beginning to end. If you’re a primary school librarian or a parent/carer, I recommend this book for any children of 8+ years as a highly entertaining read.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Mikka at Everything With Words who sent me a copy of Aliens Made Me Do It! It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Fabulous Non-Fiction from Honor Cargill-Martin: Shakespeare’s Heroines and She Speaks: The Women of Norse Myths in their own Words

Cover art by Pauliina Hannuniemi, published by Magic Cat Publishing, 25 September 2025, ISBN:978-1917044813

Cover art by Jaimee Andrews, published by Hachette Children’s Books, 23 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1444934700

Honor Cargill-Martin has quickly become my favourite author of non-fiction for children. She has an amazing ability to transfer her own knowledge of the classical and cultural world into easily accessible text that brings stories and characters from mythology, history and the literary world, alive on the page for young readers. I do think that her books are truly inclusive because they open up ideas and culture to children who may not encounter such material otherwise. I speak as someone who followed the science route through school and university; it does concern me that currently the arts, classics and some humanities seem to be dismissed in favour of STEM subjects, when there should be acknowledgement of the value of both arts and sciences and opportunities for all children to experience both. I am therefore delighted to be able share my thoughts on the two latest titles which will engage curious minds and perhaps inspire future classicists and historians.

Shakespeare’s Heroines: A Guide to the Plays’ Leading Ladies

After a brief introduction which tells the reader that Shakespeare created a wide range of powerful female characters in his plays (although these roles could only be played by men during the Tudor era), the subsequent chapters are arranged according the character type. Thus we meet, queens, star-crossed lovers, supernatural beings, loyal friends, women in disguise and independent women. Within each chapter, there are introductory panels and fact files about the plays and characters, followed by a graphic-novel-style excerpt featuring one of the characters. All pages are vibrantly illustrated by Jaimee Andrews. As well as providing historical context for some of the characters throughout the main chapters, there are some further historical facts about Shakespeare and some of the real-life notable women from the late Tudor/early Stuart eras, as well as a fun quiz, at the end of the book.

She Speaks: The Women of Norse Myths in Their Own Words

The primary school curriculum in England includes studying the Vikings, but as the author points out, this usually focusses on male warriors sailing the seas and coming ashore to raid villages. This book seeks to give a broader view of the Vikings by telling the stories of some of the women from the Norse myths, which were an important element of Viking culture. The particular mythological females featured here are: Freyja, Idunn, Skadi, Hervor, Gefion, Frigg, Gridr and Brynhildr. The stories of each of these women are told briefly across six pages, and then at the end of the book there is some interesting analysis of how these stories provide us with insights into Norse culture. The entire book is beautifully illustrated by Pauliina Hannuniemi. I love the way that the bibliography is divided into primary and secondary sources, marking this important distinction for your readers. As well as providing rich context for primary school history lessons, I also think that this book would be extremely interesting for tween and teen fans of the Thor films in the Marvel universe who will recognise Asgard, Midgard, Niflheim and the other realms.

Both of these books will be brilliant additions to school library and classroom collections, and the beautifully produced hardback editions would make enticing Christmas presents for curious minds from age 9/10 and upwards.

Disclaimer: I am extremely grateful to Honor Cargill-Martin for sending me copies of these books. It was my decision to review them, and all opinions are my own.

I have previously reviewed other non-fiction titles written by Honor Cargill-Martin, you can read my reviews at the links below:

She Speaks: The Women of Greek Myths in their own Words

The Six Queens of Henry VIII

Heroines of the Ancient World

#PictureBookFriday: Squirrel and Bird by Laura Baker, illustrated by Stacey Thomas

Cover illustration by Stacey Thomas, published by Little Tiger, 2 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1838917203

I realise that I haven’t reviewed a picture book for a while, so today I’m delighted to highlight Squirrel and Bird, written by Laura Baker and illustrated by Stacey Thomas. It was published yesterday by Little Tiger and is a beautifully produced, hardback book to share with toddlers and young children at this time of year. I hope that the cover picture gives you a good idea of the quality of the illustrations to be found within. They are beautifully detailed depictions of woodland flora and fauna, all rendered in a gorgeous autumnal palette, which offer so much scope for conversations between adult and child readers about the natural environment and seasonal changes. I could even pore over the endpapers for ages!

The story of Squirrel and Bird is lovely and conveys a message of taking a holistic view of others rather than defining personalities with just one label. As Squirrel and Bird prepare for a concert, their forest friends are too quick to define them as ‘loud’ Squirrel and ‘quiet’ Bird. When concert time arrives, Bird shows the audience just how many attributes can be assigned to each of the friends, helping youngsters understand that everyone is made up of a unique blend of personality traits.

I absolutely recommend Squirrel and Bird to parents, carers, nursery/preschools and Key Stage 1 teachers as a thoroughly engaging story to share with young children. I can imagine that it will work very well in educational settings as a book to accompany learning about seasons, and in homes it will be a perfect book to snuggle up with after a bracing autumn walk.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Jasmin at Little Tiger for sending me a copy of Squirrel and Bird. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: When the Storm Comes by Polly Ho-Yen

Cover design by Thy Bui, cover illustration by Hazem Asif, published by Knights Of, 3 July 2025, ISBN: 978-1915820068

When the Storm Comes is a truly immersive read, in all senses of the word! Author Polly Ho-Yen cleverly explores the very real threat of climate emergencies in a setting that will be familiar to the target readership, through a tense thriller of a story.

The meteorological storm is juxtaposed against the internal storms raging within the inner lives of the young protagonists: Mali, Petey, Jonesey and Fara. These four tween characters are each facing their own challenges, and have been specially chosen by heavily pregnant teacher Ms Devine, to attend a special after-school book club. However, a month of heavy rain reaches a crescendo with a spectacular storm on the afternoon and evening of the book club meeting. Suddenly the lights go out, all electrical devices fail – including the automatic doors to the library – and the children along with their teacher are trapped in the library with flood waters rising outside and inside the school building and no way of communicating with the outside world.

While their heroic teacher tries to keep the children calm, they all react to the situation in different ways, their personalities and personal circumstances dictating their behaviour towards the situation and each other. As the tension escalates and Ms Devine goes into early labour, and then one of the children gets seriously injured, the young protagonists have to work as a team and dig deep into every reservoir of resilience and resourcefulness that they possess to formulate an escape plan.

This story packs a great deal of action into less than 230 pages and will make a compelling read for children who are fans of tense thrillers as well as those interested in eco-fiction. It is likely to provoke thoughts and conversations about how to deal with an emergency situation and the importance of collaboration and teamwork when faced with difficult circumstances. As you would expect from a novel published by Knights Of, the story is inclusive, and I feel helps to develop empathy for communities that suffer the consequences of serious flooding. I think that it will be an excellent addition to both primary school collections for year 6 children, and secondary school library collections.

This book was my own purchase, all opinions are my own.

#YAReview: A Beautiful, Terrible Thing by Miranda Moore

Cover image from proof copy, publisher David Fickling Books,
9 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1788453684

A Beautiful, Terrible Thing is the winning submission for the inaugural Search for a Storyteller competition run by publisher David Fickling Books and the Arvon Foundation. As the title suggests, it is a tale of contrasts; happiness and grief, life and death, love and hate. I found it to be a deeply emotional story, opening with a powerful and shocking first chapter and gripping me in the resulting turmoil of the dual narrators until the very end.

I am fairly certain that in my many years of reading I have never before encountered a story which begins with a teenage driver, just finished with school and exams, who kills a younger teen in a road accident. This is the shocking and heart-breaking incident which triggers a deep exploration of the emotional and physical destruction that a few seconds of inattention can cause. Debut novellist, Miranda Moore, delivers a story which frankly and empathetically examines the unimaginable grief suffered by 13-year-old Si’s family, in particular his loving older sister Cara, who now finds herself alone with their parents, trying to support them in their anguish whilst feeling that her own heart has been ripped out.

In balance, we are also provided with the voice of Nathan, who is consumed by guilt and sorrow that his carelessness has resulted in the ultimate tragedy. We witness the nightmare-infested sleepless nights, the depression, the guilt at the damage he has caused to his own mother and brother, as well as the knowledge that he has destroyed another family. We see the inability to accept help from a loyal best friend and the realisation that hopes and dreams have been swept aside.

When the two teens run into each other by chance in a cafe and feel an instant attraction, which subsequently develops into a fledgling relationship, they both find moments of joy and escape from their painful realities. How can Nathan even begin to explain that he is waiting to stand trial for causing death by dangerous driving? And how can Cara explain to Nathan that she is not an only child, but actually spends most of the time she is apart from him mourning the death of a beautiful younger brother? The complexity and conflict of their situations is written with depth and sympathy, Miranda Moore is clearly an author of great talent.

This novel does not pull any punches in describing the raw emotions felt by its protagonists and I am sure will prompt soul-searching thoughts and discussions about the nature of love, loss and grief. There is also thought-provoking content on perceptions of the justice system, from the perspective of victims or the person on trial. Due to the emotional nature and mature themes of this book, it is one which I would recommend for a readership of 16+. I think that secondary school or sixth form librarians should be aware that the story does include some content of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Whilst YA readers will relate to the two main teenage protagonists, I think that many adults will find this book engrossing too. My heart went out to all of the young characters as well as the parents in this nuanced tale.

Disclaimer: I was sent a proof copy of A Beautiful, Terrible Thing by publisher David Fickling Books. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#AudioBookReview: Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past by Maisie Chan, read by Eric Mok

eAudiobook from Piccadilly Press, released 11 Jun 2025,
ISBN: 978-1867567721

Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past is a book which thoroughly hooked me with its combination of first person narrative, humour, contemporary setting, and creative method of historical education. The audiobook, which I accessed via Borrowbox from my public library, is brilliantly narrated by Eric Mok. I think that author, Maisie Chan, has expertly crafted a story that will hook middle grade readers, entertaining them as well as providing some themes to educate and induce empathy. It also contains a magical element, in that a ghost from WWI appears to the main character, Nate. This is a brilliant device through which readers are given an insight into a little known aspect of WWI.

Nate Yu Riley has recently moved house with his two mums, away from the small village in which he grew up, to Liverpool, which his mums have chosen due to the city’s long established Chinese community. They have adopted Nate and have the best intentions of helping him explore his Chinese identity, although Nate himself is very reluctant to do so. (I have read that Maisie Chan was herself trans-racially adopted, and therefore this aspect of the story is written with understanding and empathy). Early on in the story hints are dropped that Nate is a solitary child, his best friend being Betsy (or Queen Elizabeth III) the queen of his ant colony which is his most treasured possession, and that an incident at his old school has also contributed to the move.

On the first day in his new and intimidatingly large school, Nate is befriended by Ryan and Missy. These two contrasting characters are brilliantly realised and I am sure that their interactions will be relatable to many young readers. Missy is smart and brimming with enthusiasm to excel in all school activities. She is of Chinese heritage, and although her passion for her ethnic identity is at first overwhelming for Nate, their developing friendship and the kindness of her family gradually help him to take an interest in his background. Ryan is also a kind child who has sadly been ostracised by other children, and even judged by some adults, due to the aggressive and racist behaviour of other members of his family. He and Nate develop a supportive and empathetic friendship over the course of the story.

When the three children are grouped together to work on a history project, Nate becomes so fascinated by an engraved shell-case that has been brought into the school by a museum curator, that he keeps it when all the other artefacts are returned at the end of the lesson. In an extra-ordinary twist, a ghost appears to him from the shell case, setting him and his friends on a mission to put right a historical wrong. Through this element of the story, readers are provided with a great deal of information about the role of the Chinese Labour Corp (CLC) in the First World War and some of the history of Chinese immigrants in Liverpool. I think this is a brilliant example of fiction providing a route into a little known aspect of history (I must admit that despite my advanced years, I first read about the CLC very recently in an adult fiction book Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, it was certainly not taught during my school history lessons and I suspect that it is still omitted from the curriculum).

In my opinion, Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past should be included in recommended reading lists for children aged 10+, as a “read for pleasure” title, as a supplementary text when studying WWI as a history topic and on “read for empathy” lists. I think it will be enjoyed by children at both the top end of primary school and the lower end of secondary school. It is a unique title which defies categorisation but delivers so many lessons in a thoroughly entertaining package. It will certainly be on my list as one of my favourite books published in 2025.

#BlogTour: The Brightest Star by Meg Grehan

Today I am delighted to be joining the blog tour for The Brightest Star by Meg Grehan. This quiet, kind, novel written in free verse explores issues of identity and belonging through the characters of Stevie, Chloe and Andrew as they navigate emerging relationships, identities and the new setting of secondary school. I recently posted a review of the book, which you can read here, and today I am happy to share with you an extract from the book, to give you a glimpse of the tone and style of this novel:

Chloe stays a little later than Andrew And we talk about

Tomorrow

About the Rainbow Club

Which we’ve learned it’s called And which we love

Love love love

How lucky we feel

To be part of a rainbow

To be part of something

So lovely

We sit on the sofa

And we put on a movie

And instead of watching

We are focused

So focused

On our hands

On how close they are to each other On how they’re getting

Closer

Inch by inch

Until

Wow

Our fingers tangle

And wow

Her hand is in mine

And wow

I feel

So warm

In a good way

In a nice way

In a

Sweet way

Warm and safe

Warm and safe

Warm and safe

I wake an hour later

And Chloe is looking at me

Hey

She says

My dad is here

I have to go

And I pout before I realise what I’m doing

And she laughs

And I laugh

And she lets go of my hand

And I hold it in my other hand

To keep her warmth there

Cling to the feeling of being held

I smile at her

And she smiles at me

And she says

Tomorrow!

And I say

Tomorrow!

And she leaves

And I feel

Lonely and excited and sleepy and

Ready

For another

Day

Please do read the blog posts from all of the fabulous book bloggers on the schedule below to gain more insights into this lovely book.

I am grateful to publicist Antonia Wilkinson and Little Island Books for inviting me to join the blog tour, all opinions are my own and the extract above is shared with permission from the publisher.

Image created by Little Island Books, August 2025

#YA Graphic Novel Review: Everything Amplified by Sarah Lippett and Ziggy Hanaor

Cover art by Sarah Lippett, published by Cicada Books, 18th September 2025, ISBN: 978-1800660601

Everything Amplified is a stylish and immersive, hardback, graphic novel which I am sure every secondary school librarian is going to want to add to their collections this autumn. Firstly, that title is just so clever; summing up the teenage feeling that life is happening at maximum volume around you and sometimes you are just swept along in the wave of noise. It also indicates that the story within will be music-themed, and indeed the book opens with a focus on 15-year-old Nel, who is having a hard time at school and at home, and who escapes into music to relieve the stresses of her life. She feels like an outsider in her small, boring town, and the actions of many of those around her do little to help her introverted character to flourish.

Nel is mercilessly bullied by her twin brother Ludo and his friends, and unfathomably (to her and the reader), their single mother sees him as the golden boy, that is, when she can tear herself away from the dating apps on her phone. It is obvious that Ludo has charisma, but the way he belittles his sister and encourages his friends to goad her is most unpleasant. Nel has two allies, her friend at school Kit, who tells her to ignore the mean social media posts that Ludo’s friend Bea uploads; and her aunt Jan who has spent her life in bands and who feeds Nel’s musical education. I absolutely loved the way that the graphics in this novel were used to show Nel’s phone screen when she was researching the musicians that aunt Jan recommended. This was such a clever use of the format to stealthily educate readers, alongside Nel, about some of the most successful and distinctive names from the music business.

The plot revolves around teenage bands, rivalries, relationships, exams and family dynamics. The characters behave in authentic ways and I am sure that many teens will see scenarios that are familiar to their own experiences. Although Nel experiences a range of emotions and finds her loyalties pulled in a number of directions leaving her feeling disorientated, we are never in any doubt about the singular importance of music to her. I really liked the style of Sarah Lippett’s artwork and the colour palette of black, white, blue and orange which just seemed to work so well for a teen-based story. The story is co-written by Sarah Lippett and Ziggy Hanaor, and their own experiences of being in bands or immersing themselves in music shines through the narrative. The dialogue is believable for teens (and the language reflects what I hear when passing the pupils of my local secondary and sixth form as I walk to work) so I think this book firmly belongs in YA collections, where I am sure it will be highly in demand.

After I had finished reading it the first time, and subsequently discovered a QR code to a Spotify playlist at the end, I then enjoyed re-reading accompanied by the sound track for the full multi-media experience! As well as finding Nel’s playlist, there are also musical artist biographies at the end of the story. The endpapers deserve a mention too, decorated with guitar plectrums, concert tickets and, of course, friendship bracelets and beads!

Disclaimer: I am incredibly grateful to publicist Sally Oliphant and to Cicada Books for sending me a review copy of Everything Amplified ahead of publication on 18th September 2025. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Review: The Brightest Star by Meg Grehan

Cover illustration by Nene Lonergan, published by Little Island Books,
1 May 2025, ISBN: 978-1915071804

The Brightest Star is a gentle, kind, verse novel which revolves around the close-knit friendship group of Stevie, Chloe and Andrew as they navigate the step up to secondary school. It is beautifully written by Meg Grehan, the verse style enmeshes the reader in the emotional worlds of the main protagonists, bringing their inner thoughts to the forefront, as each of them take tentative steps towards discovering their identities and revealing themselves to others.

It is clear that Stevie and Chloe have formed a very close friendship at primary school, and that their feelings for each other are more than platonic (I believe this realisation is explored in an earlier book The Deepest Breath, which I have not read). They are delighted to find that their new school has a rainbow club, which welcomes participation from all; those who see themselves in the LBGTQIA+ community, those who are uncertain and those who wish to be allies. It is not long before Stevie and Chloe are spending their extracurricular energy on fundraisers and other activities with Rainbow Club, but this reality seems to be driving a wedge between them and Andrew. It is Stevie on whom this has the greatest effect because she is in the same form as Andrew and he has physically as well as emotionally created a distance between them. I was impressed at the way that the author presented each of their perspectives by left or right formatting the text in the chapters which dealt with their strained friendship. In my opinion, verse novels are incredibly effective at conveying emotions, and the flexibility with formatting the text here provides an additional layer of insight for the reader.

I said at the start of this review that I considered this to be a kind novel, and this is partly due to the portrayal of the adults in the story, who exhibit patience, understanding and practical help for their children. Stevie’s mum, in particular, is endlessly supportive, at several points having to talk Stevie out of anxiety attacks, gently but firmly bringing her breathing and stress back under control, and providing constant reassurance that she will always be a loving presence. The author demonstrates a deep empathy with the young protagonists’ search for identity, and presents the viewpoint that we are not defined by one aspect of our personality, but should rather see ourselves and others for the entirety of the experiences, interests and actions that make us unique. I also liked the message that it is OK to be uncertain and that nobody should feel pressurised into defining themselves at too young an age.

The Brightest Star is an exceptional book and I think that secondary school librarians will want to add it to their collections, as well as Year 6 teachers or librarians in primary schools. It is a book to encourage empathy and acceptance.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to publicist Antonia Wilkinson and Little Island Books for sending me a review copy of The Brightest Star. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Review: My Soul, A Shining Tree by Jamila Gavin

Cover illustration by Artem Chebokha, published by Farshore, 14 August 2025, ISBN: 978-0008617189

The title of this latest book from Jamila Gavin is a line from the poem Tree and Sky by Siegfried Sassoon, and just like the war poets, the author conveys the futility of war in her poignant and eloquent story. My Soul, A Shining Tree is dedicated to an Indian gunner, Khudadad Khan, who received the Victoria Cross for bravery during WWI, and is based on his true story.

Jamila Gavin is such an extraordinarily talented storyteller, that she manages to weave the stories of multiple participants in the first world war, showing her readers a range of perspectives and the human cost of conflict, all contained in under 150 pages. The main setting is a small farm in the village of Gheluvet, near Ypres in Flanders. Lotte Becke is just turning 11 when the outbreak of war rips her family apart; first her father enlists and then her mother and uncle are killed as the family try to escape the German invasion of their land. Left with only her younger sister Els, and classmate Michel whom she had formerly bullied for being a Walloon, the children survive on walnuts from her treasured tree and whatever vegetables they can scavenge from the surrounding fields. Meanwhile the grandson of one of her mother’s friends is an underage cavalryman in the invading German army. Ernst has been destined for military life since his father began training him as a 3-year-old, he excelled at the military academy and enlisted with dreams of glory which were swiftly dispelled when he entered the battlefield. Thirdly we learn the story of Khudadad Khan, one of the 1.5 million Indian soldiers who fought for the British Empire during WWI. Despite maltreatment and broken promises, his bravery and dedication to the colonising empire were unwavering. On one incredible night, these disparate individuals come together under the canopy of the walnut tree to form a human connection which is heart-breakingly poignant.

The story does not hide the harsh realities of war, but is told in language that is appropriate for children at the top end of primary school through to secondary school. It powerfully encapsulates the impact of decisions made for political reasons, on human life and on the natural world, showing that true courage exists when our common humanity is recognised. I found it to be a deeply moving and enlightening book to read. At a time when war is again present in Europe, I think that My Soul, A Shining Tree is an essential and timely book to add to primary and secondary school library and classroom collections.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to the publicity team at Farshore/Harper Collins for sending me a review copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review, and all opinions are my own.

You can read my review for another of Jamila Gavin’s wartime novels, this one set during WWII, Never Forget You via this link.