#MG Review: Dracula & Daughters, written by Emma Carroll

Cover illustration by Alice Guidi, Publisher Faber& Faber, 25 September 2025,
ISBN: 9780571388769

I have updated my original review of the NetGalley e-ARC after collecting my pre-ordered physical copy and adding another signed edition to my Emma Carroll collection!

A new middle grade, historical fiction title written by Emma Carroll will always excite my interest, I have been a huge fan since meeting her in 2013 when she launched her debut novel, Frost Hollow Hall, and I expect her many fans will be as thrilled as I at the prospect of a vampire trilogy from the queen of historical fiction! I was fortunate to be given access to an advance e-copy of Dracula & Daughters on NetGalley, and I am happy to report that it was everything I expected.

The foreword announces the unexpected death of Miss Elsie Irving during a stage performance in Temstown’s Lyceum Theatre and from here we plunge immediately into the first person narrative of Mina, who is embarking on a spot of late-evening graverobbing in an attempt to impress her boss Dr Polidori. She desperately wants to become a doctor herself, but in an age when women are not admitted to many of the professions, she thinks that her only hope of being allowed to attend one of his training demonstrations is by supplying the cadaver. She has therefore ventured to the Northside Necropolis with her spade, and arranged for her friend Varney to meet her with the doctor’s horse and cart so that they can transport her prize back into town. Mina gets more and less than she bargained for in the graveyard; an unexpected encounter with Bella Drake,daughter of Beatrix Drake who is Temstown’s most successful undertaker and only woman in a position of power…and the realisation that despite all of the anti-vampire precautions that were taken at the burial, Elsie Irving has clawed her way out of her coffin and the Contagion has reappeared 20 years after the last vampire was killed in Temstown!

From here the action moves thicker and faster than blood through an artery! Mina and Bella turn out to be cousins, and along with Mina’s younger sister Buffy, they form a fearsome trio of vampire healers once they discover their special powers as half-vampires or dhampirs. They will need all of their supernatural skills to outwit the corrupt men who rule and manipulate the town, and to prove that healing of a vampire is an effective and more humane treatment than the usual prescription of hawthorn stake through the heart. For Mina this is personal, she feels immense guilt at putting her dear friend Varney into a position where he became Elsie Irving’s first victim, and she is determined to rectify this mistake.

The countdown to the next full-moon gives a huge sense of urgency to the narrative, which will keep readers gripped, wondering whether the cousins can fulfill their mission. There is an interesting layer of feminism woven into the plot, Mina is constantly irritated at the lack of opportunities open to her as a female, and the attitude of Dr Polidori toward her is perfectly illustrated by the fact that he cannot be bothered to even remember her name. The inspiration that she gains from finding a medical text on the treatment of vampires written by Professor Lucy Westenra is almost palpable. The cousins soon realise that they gain strength by working together, their combined individual skills being greater than the sum of their parts, which is a great message to be passing on to all children about the power of collaboration. I also enjoyed the author’s use of names associated with classic works of vampire fiction, making this an excellent introduction to vampire lore. Although necessarily a bit spooky and developing a truly gothic atmosphere, the plot is not too gory and I think that it will appeal to fans of Jennifer Killick’s horror novels, as well as historical fiction devotees aged 10 years and above.

Dracula & Daughters was published by Faber & Faber on 25 September 2026 and I am thrilled to add a finished edition to the Emma Carroll collection on the bookshelves, I would recommend that primary and secondary school librarians do the same; be sure to stock-up on garlic too! The physical book features chapter headers illustrated with bats and occasional small greyscale illustrations throughout the book. My copy also has some lovely sprayed edges featuring bats too.

#BlogTour: A Place of a Thousand Wishes by Sarah Merrett, illustrated by Ewa Beniak-Haremska

Graphic created by Everything With Words, Publication date 29 May 2025, ISBN: 978-1911427452

Welcome to the final stop on the blog tour for A Place of a Thousand Wishes, a magical, historical adventure which shimmers with chills and thrills in equal measure.

The summer heatwave of 1899 sees Mason and his Dad (Jack) arrive in the town of Dingbury, trying their hardest under the unforgiving sun to sell the delicious ice cream that Mason creates. When his Dad trudges off to the ice warehouse for fresh supplies to stop their products melting, Mason has three encounters which will catalyse big changes in his life. Firstly, the Wish-maker, Darlington the Miraculous flies overhead in his hot air balloon, dispensing invitations to Darlington Manor which float down to the streets inside bubbles. Mason can hardly believe his eyes when one of the invitations falls onto the ice cream cart, personally addressed to Jack and Mason Kemp. Then a well dressed gentleman with a dazzling pocket watch asks to buy two ice creams, one of which is snatched by a girl about Mason’s age to whom he gives chase. When he finally catches up with Clem and realises that she is hungry and has no money, Mason graciously lets her eat the ice cream, an act of kindness which sparks a friendship. In contrast, the gentleman ensures that the Kemp’s wooden ice cream cart is destroyed in an ‘accident’, leaving Jack and Mason facing eviction from their lodgings with no means of earning the rent money.

Word in the town is that Darlington has the magical power to make wishes come true for one audience member at his shows, but Jack Kemp tells Mason that Darlington is a con-artist and forbids him from attending the event. However, when a magnificent carriage pulls up in their street, Mason slips out of the window, is joined by Clem in the carriage, and they are whisked away to witness a spectacular performance in the opulent grounds of Darlington Manor. Here Mason will learn family secrets, witness deadly family rivalries and experience the wonder of Darlington’s magical gift. The abduction of Darlington, will lead Mason and Clem on a death-defying rescue chase, which will test their ingenuity, loyalty and bravery to extreme limits. Will Mason’s wish come true, or are wishes as ephemeral as the bubbles that Darlington conjured?

This is a fantastically well-written adventure which just flows off the page, drawing you in to the fictional world that author Sarah Merrett has crafted. She renders her characters so authentically that you experience every twist and turn of the plot alongside them, and the narrative builds so thrillingly that you really don’t want to put the book down. What I loved as much as the plot was the clever layering of contrasts throughout the novel and for me, this elevated the story. At the start we have the sweltering heat of midsummer overwhelming the cool of the ice; we see the contrast between Mason’s optimism and innovative spirit and his Dad’s worn-down, defeated-by-circumstances mindset and Clem’s lifestyle of doing whatever it takes to survive; the rich folk of the town are set in contrast to the poor who cannot keep a roof over their heads no matter how hard they work; and finally we have the battle between good and evil when we see how envy can blacken a heart and drive a person to dark deeds. The stunning illustrations by Ewa Beniak-Haremska in stark black and white, magnificently capture the atmosphere and contrasts in the story.

A Place of a Thousand Wishes is a story that fully captures the reader’s imagination and I would highly recommend it to readers of 10 years and above. I think it will be a popular addition to primary and secondary school library collections, and if you are a parent or caregiver of a child who enjoys historical fiction or fast-paced adventure, this would make an excellent summer holiday present.

I am grateful to Mikka at publisher Everything With Words for inviting me to join this blog tour and for sending me a copy of A Place of A Thousand Wishes in return for my honest opinion. Do checkout the other blog posts on the schedule to learn more about this amazing story.

#Non-Fiction Review: Shoot for the Stars by Danielle Brown, illustrated by Jayde Perkin & Filigrana de Ideas

Published by Little Tiger, 3 July 2025, ISBN: 978-1838916657

Shoot for the Stars is an informative and empowering book written by Danielle Brown MBE, who is herself a double Paralympic gold medallist and five time world champion in the sport of archery. She has produced this guide to particularly encourage girls to continue to participate in sport during the tween years, when so many turn away from physical activity for various reasons. It is a colourful, well-structured book which contains inspirational stories, practical advice and interactive activities. The illustrations by artists Jayde Perkin and Filigrana de Ideas add greatly to the enjoyment of reading, and there are also colour photographs of internationally-renowned female sports stars to accompany short biographies.

Throughout, the book provides positive and encouraging messages to help girls identify the sporting activities that they might enjoy, promoting the view that there are a vast range of sports available and finding the right one for you is very important. Perceived barriers to participation are recognised and discussed frankly, whether it might be the feeling of being judged, discomfort in regulation PE kit or body image concerns experienced during puberty. I applaud the frank discussion and practical advice around sporting performance and participation during menstruation. For so many years this seems to have been an aspect which was ignored but the book highlights the story of a Chinese swimmer, Fu Yuanhui, who openly discussed the impact of starting her period on her performance at the Rio Olympics in 2016. There is also the story of the Norwegian Beach Handball team who broke the rules at the 2021 European Championships by wearing shorts rather than the regulation bikini bottoms, and after much outrage at the fines they were given, a resulting rule change now allows women to choose to wear shorts in this sport. Another example of enabling greater access to participation, is the stand taken by US/Pakistani weightlifter Kulsoom Abdullah to allow the wearing of a hijab and kit which covered arms and legs, to enable women with strong religious beliefs to participate in weightlifting.

The chapter about accepting feedback and using it to make positive improvements can be applied to any aspect of life, not just sport. In fact, I think one of the best takeaways from this book, is the positive impact that being active can have on so many aspects of life. In a society where we are being encouraged to take more care of our bodies and minds to help prevent the onset of long-term diseases, this book provides excellent encouragement to take those first steps.

I would encourage primary and secondary school librarians to add Shoot for the Stars to their collections, and school PE leads to read it too; I will be passing my copy on to the PE lead at my former school. It’s a book which I think will appeal to those girls who already participate in competitive sport and who will be further inspired by stories of champions across a broad range of sports, as well as helping those who have not yet found joy in sport to perhaps try a new activity or reframe their thinking around sport.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Jasmin at Little Tiger for sending me a copy of Shoot for the Stars ahead of publication. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Non-fiction Review: YOU Decide YOUR Adventure by Bear Grylls, illustrated by Jake Alexander

Cover image by Jake Alexander, published by DK Books, 29 May 2025, ISBN: 978-0241681275

Bear Grylls will be familiar to many children from his TV adventure programmes as well as his former role as the UK’s Chief Scout. So who better to author a non-fiction, interactive, choose-your-own-adventure book published by the ever reliable DK books. This is a fantastic book to encourage children to get outside and enjoy the challenges of exploring the natural world; I am sure it will be welcomed by Forest School leaders, teachers, librarians, parents and caregivers who want to nudge children into participating in activities in green spaces.

The scene is set in the early pages with an adventure map which depicts the different terrains that would be encountered on an expedition in the northern hemisphere. This is accompanied by instructions to travel from the starting point to an extraction point, with checkpoints along the way. I must praise Jake Alexander’s artwork which totally immerses the reader in the landscapes and situations, as well as providing detailed diagrams of kit and techniques that will be required to complete the challenge.

At each stage of the adventure, the different kit required for advancing across the varying terrains is depicted and described in detail, providing very many learning opportunities. You will find instructions on how to navigate with a compass; how to choose a good campsite; how to forage safely and how to build a shelter, amongst other survival tips. Scenarios are presented with descriptions of the geography and then readers are presented with two choices, with directions to turn to different pages depending on the choices made. I know that many children love these non-linear, interactive choices (which they more often encounter in fiction) and I think that they will thoroughly enjoy constructing their own expedition adventure in this non-fiction text. If, like me, you make a decision which leads you into a potentially dangerous situation, the signposted page provides lots of advice about how to keep safe, how to attract attention and what to do while awaiting rescue. The format will encourage readers to try different selections, learning from mistakes to eventually navigate the challenge successfully. The anecdotes provided by Bear Grylls about his real life adventures, give further information which can be incorporated into the decision-making process.

I think that this book will appeal to readers from age 9 right through to secondary school, it would be great to use in a primary classroom in preparation for residential trips which take place at the top end of key stage 2, and would also be useful in encouraging older children to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, Ten Tors and other outdoor challenges. I would highly recommend that primary and secondary school librarians add YOU Decide YOUR Adventure to their collections, and to parents/caregivers I would suggest that this could make an excellent summer holiday present for children aged 9 and above.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Sally Oliphant and DK Books for sending me a copy of YOU Decide YOUR Adventure. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#IllustratedFiction Review: Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission by Laura Ellen Anderson

Cover image by Laura Ellen Anderson, published by Farshore,
08 May 2025, ISBN: 978-0008591403

The third title in this delightful series, Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission finds the three bug friends, Marnie Midnight, Floyd Flombiddium and Star Vonstrosity along with Marnie’s pet mutant seed Num-Num, setting off on their end of school year camping trip. All the pupils in Marnie’s class are wildly excited about the expedition to Thimbledown Meadow under the supervision of Mr Atlas, Marnie’s form tutor at Minibeast Academy. Marnie’s only worry is that Veronica Spottage and her gang of high maintenance butterflies might make mischief with their tricky antics.

After an enjoyable first day of outdoor activities the young bugs settle down for the night, Marnie and her friends snuggling up deep inside a drooping drizelda flower…but the next morning…disaster! They awake to find themselves inside a human home. Their flower has been picked and Marnie’s delicate wings become soaked as a young human fills a flower jug with water. Fortunately, the humans – Martha and her dad – are not ‘Swatters’ or ‘Screamers’, and Martha carefully encourages Marnie onto absorbent paper, places her on a sunny windowsill and provides her with sugar solution. Marnie is flabbergasted to discover that not all ‘Stompers’ want to squish bugs, as she had formerly believed. However, after finding her friends, the three young bugs need to embark on an epic adventure to escape the barriers created by a human living space, and evade the hunting instincts of McWhiskers the pet cat.

As with the previous two books, author and illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson blends deep research of insect behaviour into a charming, imaginative, funny adventure which is perfectly formulated to appeal to a readership of 6-9 years of age. The book contains illustrations on every page, whether full page, half page or beautiful insect-themed page borders, and the artwork is so elegant and expressive, really helping to project the personalities of the human and insect characters. I especially loved the ‘Easter egg’ nods to another of this author’s books in a picture of Martha’s bedroom on page 65. The large font and book length of approximately 240 pages, in addition to the wonderful plot, make this a perfect book for readers who are gaining confidence in reading independently.

I have said previously that I am a huge fan of this series for the way that it reframes the narrative about insects, and I think that this title provides an excellent model of a young child taking action to care for the minibeasts that are so important to our environment. I highly recommend it to librarians and primary school teachers, and to parents and caregivers to share with your newly emerging young readers.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Liz Scott and Farshore Books for sending me a review copy of Marnie Midnight and the Minibeast Mission. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

You can read my reviews of the two previous Marnie Midnight adventures at the links below:

Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery

Marnie Midnight and the Great Critter Contest

#PictureBook Review: Follow the Swallow by Julia Donaldson & Thomas Docherty

Cover art by Thomas Docherty, published by Farshore, 05 June 2025,
ISBN: 978-0008670320

This brand new edition of Julia Donaldson’s story Follow the Swallow, with illustrations by award-winning artist Thomas Docherty, will be published on 5th June 2025 by Farshore. It is a gorgeous picture book to share with young children, introducing them to the seasonal changes in nature that they can witness in their own home environments, through a fun story about friendship.

Apollo the swallow and Chack the blackbird meet in their first season after fledging, in a typical urban back garden. After showing each other their nests, Apollo tells Chack that he is practising to fly to Africa, while Chack tells Apollo that his tree will soon be covered with tasty orange berries. Neither bird believes the other, and the repeated line “I don’t believe you!” is one that little children will likely want to echo with repeated readings of the story. Of course Chack’s berries do turn orange, but too late for Apollo to see them because he has already joined his flock on their long migration. There then follows a hilarious sequence of animal-to-animal Chinese whispers when Chack tries to get a message to Apollo who is now enjoying the fruit flies in Africa.

This book contains more text than the rhyming books which we all know and love from this author, but still presents the story in short, rhythmic, humorous sentences which are perfect for children from babyhood onwards. The colourful pictures are bursting with life and do so much additional storytelling. The details of nature found in an average back garden will reward repeated engagement with the book and provide lots of prompts for adult-child conversation. Meanwhile the contrast between Apollo’s habitat in the UK and his habitat in Africa gives a wonderful insight into the topic of migration. There are so many careful little details that make this an appealing book for both adults and children; I especially loved the subtle hint at the berry tree species through the name of Chack’s mate.

I cannot recommend Follow the Swallow highly enough as a wonderful story to share with young children through the summer months – I am certainly looking forward to sharing it with some young relatives!

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Sarah Sleath at Farshore Books for sending me a review copy of Follow the Swallow. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#AudioBook Review: Hunt for the Golden Scarab by M.G. Leonard

Screenshot of Audiobook cover from Borrowbox Published by Macmillan Children’s Books, released 30 January 2025,
ISBN: 978-1035039135

Hunt for the Golden Scarab is the first in a new series from one of my favourite authors M.G.Leonard. This author has an amazing talent for writing enthralling mystery adventures, which feature children using their investigative skills to detect the villains and foil their plots, with each series having a unique milieu which sets them apart. This time martial arts, music and time travel combine in an exhilarating plot! (I will include links to my reviews of her previous books at the end of this post.)

As I cannot keep up with reading all of the new titles that are published whilst still working full-time, I listened to the audiobook version of Hunt for the Golden Scarab via the Borrowbox app supplied by my local public library (a reminder to everyone…please DO borrow from your public library, they need everyone’s support). This audiobook is read by Theo Solomon and he narrates beautifully, with an amazing range of voices and accents, the audio also has the advantage of including extracts of music, which is essential to the plot, and greatly enhances the experience of listening to the story.

This book begins with 12-year-old Sim and his mum, who live in a tiny flat above Sir John Soane’s Museum in central London. It is apparent from the opening lines that they are under threat and it is not long before they are hunted down by representatives of the sinister Council of Keys. Sim very quickly learns that his mum has the ability to open hidden doors in time using the resonance of musical notes; that he has an uncle and cousin with the same ability and that his mum and her brother are both renegade keys who have been on the run from the Council since before he was born. He just has time to pass on some of this life-changing information to his loyal best friend Nelson before he is whisked off to modern day Egypt with his extended family, to hunt down the golden scarab which was buried with Nefertiti, and prevent it falling into the wrong hands.

I do not want to give any plot spoilers because this really needs to be enjoyed first hand. Instead, I would like to say that the story gripped me from beginning to end and I know that I would have loved reading this when I was at the top end of primary school. M.G. Leonard weaves historical and geographical research into the plot seamlessly, I love this ability to teach by stealth through a thoroughly engaging story. Ancient Egypt holds so much fascination and scope for imagination, which is fully utilised in this novel. I also thoroughly enjoyed the early part of the story which brought streets, transit lines, neighbourhoods and buildings in central London to life on the page. Finally the bond which Sim and his formerly unknown cousin, Jeopardy, build up over the course of their adventure is supportive, respectful and heart-warming, adding a positive human factor into the heart of the fast-paced quest.

Hunt for the Golden Scarab is, in my opinion, an absolute essential book to add to school library and primary school classroom collections. If you want to encourage a child of 9 years and older to read for pleasure this half-term, why not buy them a copy of this book, or check it out from your local public library?

Here are my reviews of other middle grade adventures written by M.G. Leonard:

Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard

Beetle Queen & Battle of the Beetles by M.G. Leonard

Twitch by M.G. Leonard

The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman

Kidnap on the California Comet by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman

Murder on the Safari Star by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman

Sabotage on the Solar Express by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman

The Arctic Railway Assassin by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman

#PictureBookReview: The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough by Rébecca Dautremer

Artwork by Rébecca Dautremer, published in the UK by Post Wave,
22 May 2025, ISBN: 978-1836270171

The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough is an extraordinary book. The author and illustrator Rébecca Dautremer encourages readers to think of this tale of a little white rabbit as “an album of a life well lived, a life worth celebrating.” I cannot imagine how much time it must have taken to create the illustrations, but feel that this amazing endeavour will be repaid by many repeat readings and hours spent observing the intricate details in the pictures.

There are twelve complex scenes on double page spreads, depicting episodes from the life of the anthropomorphised animals, the watercolour artwork is exquisite; not just the animals clothed in historical fashions but also the stunning backdrops. These pages contain a small quantity of descriptive text. Interspersed with these are ten single page portraits of different life stages of Jacominus, accompanied by more detailed musings on events in his life. We learn of his accident as an infant and the long-lasting effect on his mobility, which led Jacominus to lose himself in dreams, philosophy and the study of languages. His travels accompanied by his friends and eventual return to his sweetheart and a life of love and learning to love life.

This is one of those picture books which will have universal appeal for readers of any age. This translation into English by Charis Ainslie is the 20th language into which the original French text has been translated since its publication in 2018. The beautiful hardback is a real keepsake and would make a wonderful gift for any book lover; you can take a peek inside through the short video on the publisher’s website here.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Antonia Wilkinson and Post Wave Publishing for providing me with a review copy of The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough. It was my decision to review the book and all opinions are my own.

#PictureBookReview: Tiger, Don’t Worry! by Daishu Ma

Cover image by Daishu Ma, published by Post Wave, 8 May 2025,
ISBN: 978-1836270164

I absolutely loved reading and absorbing Tiger, Don’t Worry by Chinese author and illustrator Daishu Ma; it’s a feast for the eyes and a lovely tale of familial patience, forgiveness and togetherness. Mei and Tiger decide that they would like to make tea, but when their attempts to copy the adults cause a trail of destruction they decide that running away is the best solution! When they eventually realise that they need to go home and face the consequences, a gentle lesson is learned about the need to own up to mistakes. Additionally, this story presents a completely different aspect to the concept of making tea than we would normally think of in the UK, which provides opportunities for discussion about different cultures and geographies when the book is shared between adults and young children.

The unique illustrative style is absolutely fascinating. I am not very knowledgeable about artistic styles, so I don’t feel that I have the vocabulary to do justice to Daishu Ma’s art, but I loved the vibrant colours, the seemingly simple shapes and also the way that she conveys texture, movement and emotions. While many pages contain fully coloured backgrounds, those where Mei and her pet tiger are feeling the consequences of their actions have white backgrounds and often close-ups of their faces so that young (and older) readers can clearly detect their emotional responses. I’m also fascinated at the way the pictures depict the speed at which Mei and Tiger set off when they run away from the mess that they have created compared to the sense of reluctance when they realise they need to head home and own up to their mistakes. I found the blue and green palette of many pages (and the beautiful endpapers) to be very soothing and I can imagine that this would be a lovely bedtime story for pre-school children.

Tiger, Don’t Worry! is a charming book to share with children aged 3-6 and I would highly recommend it to pre-school, nursery and early years settings as well as to parents and caregivers of young children.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Antonia Wilkinson and Post Wave Publishing for sending me a review copy of Tiger, Don’t Worry! It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Review: A Flash of Neon by Sophie Cameron

Cover illustration by Helder Oliveira, published by Little Tiger UK,
01 May 2025, ISBN: 978-1788957366

A Flash of Neon is a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable contemporary fantasy, pitched for readers at the top end of primary school or early stage of secondary school who will relate to the characters and situations portrayed in the story. Author, Sophie Cameron, has written a really clever novel about the importance of imagination and the power of stories and art to transform experiences, which simultaneously explores tween anxieties and family relationships.

Teenage Laurie’s happy place is in the bookshop, Every Book & Cranny, that her mum and Mutti own and run in Inverness, where she can lose herself in stories – either in the books from the shelves or those that she writes herself. She is not having the happiest time at school, the two friends that she met when she first started high school, Hannah and Carrie, tend to gang up on her, making her feel inadequate because she is not into fashion or relationships as they are. They have left her feeling so inadequate that when she was challenged as to whether she had ever kissed a boy, she made up a story about meeting an American boy called Neon during her summer holiday. The lie has spiralled out of control, with Laurie creating an impressive backstory for her fictitious boyfriend, complete with social media accounts for his friends and family. Hannah and Carrie are suspicious that she has invented Neon, so they are shocked – although not as flabbergasted as Laurie – when Neon turns up at the station on the day that Mum and Mutti travel to London for the launch of Mutti’s latest novel!

Laurie’s brother Joel has come home from university for a week to look after her, and he is supportive of this unexpected guest staying at their house. Laurie’s cachet at school skyrockets when she brings her American guest in to visit; Neon is every bit as perfect as she imagined him, and their friendship is charming and mutually supportive. However, life in a small town can suddenly become very complicated when fictional characters cross over from ‘The Realm’ and it is not long before Laurie needs to depend on some unexpected friends to keep her own and Neon’s secret!

I found this book to be a highly enjoyable one to read, with realistic scenarios and relationships written so well that I absolutely bought in to the fantasy element too. The sibling relationship between Laurie and Joel was lovely and the navigation of friendships during the transition from primary to high school was realistically portrayed. The book also contains positive representation of LGBT+ characters. I really enjoyed the exploration of imagination, and loved the way that a fictional character helped Laurie to become her authentic self. Finally, I applaud the author for highlighting the precarious and precious existence of independent bookshops; if my review has tempted you, why not buy A Flash of Neon from your local indie bookstore?

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Jasmine at Little Tiger UK for sending me a review copy of A Flash of Neon. It was my choice to write a review and all opinions are my own.