#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.

#MGReview: Sin Bin Island by Doug Naylor

Cover illustration by Khadijah Khatib, publisher David Fickling Books,
11 September 2025, ISBN: 978-1788453707

Tagline: Detention just got dangerous!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Sin Bin Island, the debut middle grade novel by Doug Naylor, an award-winning television writer. It has many of the tropes of classic children’s adventure stories: orphans, a brutal school, pirates, smugglers, a sprinkle of magic, and children building friendships whilst fending off danger. I think that the highest praise I can give is that it transported me back (too many years to note here) to the utter joy I felt as a young child reading Five Go To Smuggler’s Top!

The main protagonist is Jack Winston Claremont Digby – known to his friends as Digs, who begins the story in the office of the family solicitor, shortly after being orphaned. He has inherited a magical Russian soldier doll, which appears to be able to help him navigate a bewildering future. For instead of moving into the care of family friend Mrs O’Malley, who has frequently child-minded him, he learns that he is to be sent to the Cyril Snigg’s Correctional Orphanage for Wayward Boys and Girls (referred to as Cowbag by its pupils). He has an eventful journey to the school, which is situated in a former ancient monastery, overlooking an estuary and rumoured to have once been the haunt of pirates, smugglers and wizards.

The school is well-imagined, with an eclectic mix of teachers, and subjects focussed on piracy, survival and sea-faring skills. The regime is brutal with lashes (demerit marks) being liberally awarded for the smallest infraction and the constant threat of exile to deadly Sin Bin Island at the end of term for the four pupils with the highest number of lashes. The first half of the story shows Digs building alliances with a group of new friends, nicely balanced between boys and girls, and their efforts to avoid both the bullying Lewis Seaforth, and the accumulation of 100 lashes. Directed by the Russian doll, they also begin to explore the secret corners of the old abbey and investigate its links to the rumours of smuggled Spanish treasure chests dating back to Tudor times. The second part of the story is a hair-raising fight for survival against physical and mystical terrors on the small but lethal island in the middle of the estuary!

This is a real pager-turner, with the action rattling on at fast pace, each short chapter driving the plot forward so that the 400 pages are rapidly navigated. It is definitely a book to appeal to readers for whom adventurous plot, children taking agency over their outcomes, and thrilling death-defying action are important for pleasurable reading. I would imagine that it will appeal to readers at the top end of primary school and KS3 at secondary school. Digs is a character who is thoroughly likeable, with hints throughout that he is destined for great things as the series progresses; as long as he can escape the murderous plans of certain inhabitants of the orphanage. His nascent friendships with Cav, Noah, Amber (The Binners), as well as twins Teela and Sprout, develop into deeply trusting bonds as the adventure unfolds. I would certainly recommend Sin Bin Island to primary and secondary school librarians to add to their adventure collections, it is available for pre-order now.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to David Fickling Books and publicist Liz Scott for sending me a proof copy of Sin Bin Island ahead of publication on 11th Sptember 2025. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#YAReview: My Name is Jodie Jones by Emma Shevah

Uncorrected proof cover, publisher David Fickling Books, 11 September 2025, ISBN: 978-1788453516

My Name is Jodie Jones is the most exceptional first hand narrative that I have read this year. The main protagonist is extraordinarily intelligent, single-minded and traumatised. From the opening lines where we meet Jodie Jones in the office of her psychiatrist Dr Kumar, the reader is taken inside the disturbed and fierce mind of a unique teenager, but only permitted to see what she chooses to reveal. Throughout the novel, she plays an intricate game with the adults who are trying to control her, and slowly and brilliantly discloses the full story behind her PTSD and the plan that she has enacted to win back control over her life.

I do not want to reveal any plot details which would spoil anyone’s enjoyment of reading this novel for themselves, so I will just briefly sketch out the main characters before urging you to read this book when it is published in September.

Jodie Jones is a Year 10 pupil who will only answer if she is addressed by her full name. It is clear that she was once a high-performer at school but now seems to be on an educational self-sabotage mission, refusing to do classwork or homework, receiving more detentions than there are days in the week to attend them, and teetering on the verge of expulsion from school. Her home life is heartbreaking. The fashionably designed house seems utterly devoid of comfort, every aspect of the family’s lives controlled by a mother who only values her children for how well they perform and who seems to despise her husband for not being able to stop grieving the death of his mother. Her dad obviously loves his daughter but seems so lost in his grief that he fails to provide the support she needs; her older brother Champ is struggling to meet the maternal expectations placed on him and treats Jodie Jones as an irritating nuisance. Jodie Jones spends much of her time sitting inside her wardrobe contemplating the sentences she collects and revelling in the beauty of words and language. In contrast, her loyal best friend, Becca, lives in a less affluent area but in a home which brims with love and warmth where Jodie is always welcomed with open arms and a full plate (despite her mother’s attempts to forbid her from spending time with a family who do not meet her snobbish standards). Becca’s unwavering support for her friend and the kindness shown by Champ’s friend Moses, alongside the professional support provided by Dr Khan appear to be Jodie Jones’ lifelines.

I was completely entranced by this book and forced myself to slow my usual reading pace so that I could relish every beautifully constructed sentence; those written by the author Emma Shevah as well as those plucked from classic works of literature. I have lost count of the number of sticky notes that I used to mark appealing passages! This is a book which will delight all bibliophiles and etymologists. If I was a teen reading this book, I know that it would propel me to the library or bookstore to seek out the original works from which Jodie Jones’ precious, collectible sentences are plucked. It is a clever, sophisticated and intriguing story, much like its main protagonist, and the twist at the end is perfect! A definite recommendation for secondary school librarians to pre-order ready for the autumn term.

Disclaimer: I was sent an uncorrected proof of My Name is Jodie Jones by the publisher David Fickling Books. It was my decision to write a review and all views expressed are my own.

#AudioBook Review – Greenwild: The City Beyond the Sea by Pari Thomson, read by Sophia Nomvete

Cover art by Elisa Paganelli, audio book released 22 May 2024, publisher Macmillan Children’s Books, ISBN: 978-1035021178

The City Beyond the Sea is the second book in the Greenwild trilogy (you can read my review of Greenwild: The World Behind the Door here) and follows on just a few weeks after the end of the first book. I was delighted to find the audiobook available via the BorrowBox app from my local public library and thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in Pari Thomson’s exquisite storytelling on my walks this week. I have to make a special mention of the narrator Sophia Nomvete, who reads with care and charm and does a wonderful job of distinguishing the varied characters with her vocal acting.

The story begins in the magical green world of Mallowmarsh, which will be familiar to readers of the first book, where a ship is under construction in preparation for a voyage to the Amazon. The Greenwilders are intent on rescuing the famous botanists who have been kidnapped by the Grim Reapers, a criminal organisation who wish to destroy the world’s natural resources. The main protagonists from book 1, Daisy Thistledown, The Prof, Acorn and Indigo, otherwise known as the Five O’Clock Club, are determined to sneak aboard the ship even though children have been banned from the dangerous expedition. It is not long before they find themselves in transit across the ocean, although not on the botanists’ ship. An attack by the Grim Reapers means that Daisy and her friends find themselves aboard the sea-going barges of the Nautilus Theatre Company, and en route to the hidden, mystical city of Iffenwild. There is another child hitching a ride on the barge, who appears to be of particular interest to the pursuing band of Grim Reapers, his name is Max and the interplay between him and the Five O’Clock Club contributes greatly to the tension and drama in the adventure.

As with the first book, the world-building is beautifully done; descriptions of the settings are extraordinary, and the characters (of which there are many) are all distinctive and fully fleshed out. The sense of camaraderie between the members of the theatre troupe is particularly enjoyable, with moments of comedy as well as gentle and reflective passages. As with all the best adventures, there are some mouth-watering descriptions of shared meals, which greatly add to the sense of found family. I believe that in the physical book there are drawings by Elisa Paganelli; the word craft and the skill of the narrator certainly conjured the scenes very clearly in my imagination as I listened.

This is an excellent work of fantasy fiction, with a strong underlying environmental message which I think would be greatly enjoyed by anyone aged from 8/9-years-old and above. I will have to wait for a little while before listening to my reservation of the 3rd novel, The Forest in the Sky, but I am already greatly looking forward to it!

Disclaimer: This review is based on the audiobook, borrowed via the Borrowbox app. All opinions are my own.

#YAReview: Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood by Gill Sims

Publisher Electric Monkey an imprint of Harper Collins, 14 August 2025, ISBN: 978-0008513788

This was the perfect novel to read under a shady tree on a hot day; I would highly recommend it as the one to pack in the holiday suitcase for all #YA fans. The diary format, humour and overblown teenage angst make it entertaining, immersive and a joy to read.

It starts as the journal of 14-year-old Emily, who is having the worst Easter holiday EVER, with no tech, no chance of seeing her friends and shock-horror, actually having to work to pay for phone repairs! Emily has been packed off to stay with her mum’s best friend ‘Uncle’ Tom, while her ‘uncaring’ parent swans off to attend a writing retreat to try to fulfil her lifelong goal of actually writing her novel. I loved Emily’s voice from the moment I read the melodramatic opening lines, and when she referred to Mr Rochester as a ‘massive red flag’ in the early pages, I was completely on her side! As she pines for the fact that she will never get together with Toby, her crush, and bemoans the fact that no adults understand the way she feels, she is given permission to read her mum’s old teenage journal which has been discovered in a storage box at Uncle Tom’s house.

From here, the chapters alternate between Emily’s contemporary diary, with her references to Tay-Tay, TikTok and her broken iPhone; and her mother Lila’s diary with its references to agony aunts in Just Seventeen magazine and the newly released film of Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow! Emily recognises that Lila went through the same teenage agonising over first kisses, being accepted for yourself rather than a fake persona, and following your own dreams, that she is facing – but somehow cannot equate Lila with the mother who appears so staid and boring! I enjoyed the wit, the supportive friendships and the many literary references scattered throughout this novel; it had a refreshingly feel-good vibe. I also notice that the book has been described as ‘clean-teen’ which I think is a great description; I think this will be an entertaining choice for readers of 13+ who are just starting to think about first romantic relationships.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to Electric Monkey, an imprint of Harper Collins for sending me a copy of Lila Mackay is Very Misunderstood ahead of publication. It was my choice to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#PictureBookFriday: Pencil’s Best Story Ever by Carly Gledhill

Cover art by Carly Gledhill, publisher Post Wave, 4 September 2025, ISBN: 978-1836270256

Pencil’s Best Story Ever is a vibrant engaging story, written by Pencil with a little help from author/illustrator Carly Gledhill. I was immediately struck by the very distinctive artwork in this book, with scenes and characters constructed out of basic shapes, which young consumers of the story (and even older adults who share the story) could try to copy in their own drawings. The colour palette is very appealing and there is so much visual interest that this book would prompt wonderful conversations between young children and adults.

The story is simple but imaginative, with Pencil trying to write a story featuring his best friends Peanut and Jelly, sending them off on an adventure which features more jeopardy than they are prepared to accept! Therefore, they keep asking him to change the narrative, causing him to dream up ever more elaborate plots. In my experience, young children often go through a phase when they create stories or imaginative games featuring all of their friends, and I think that many will relate to this tale and will enjoy the humour in the text and pictures. I must add that I loved the endpapers, which looked as if a toddler had taken a crayon to the inside covers!

This is a high quality, hardback book which would create a lovely shared reading experience between adults, at home or in an educational setting, and children aged 3-6. I will look forward to sharing with a young relative during the summer holidays.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Post Wave Publishing and publicist Antonia Wilkinson for sending me a copy of Pencil’s Best Story Ever ahead of publication on 4 September 2025. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: Gloam by Jack Mackay

Cover image by Ben Joel Price, publisher Rock the Boat, 14 August 2025, ISBN: 978-0861549528

Think of every possible synonym for spooky, multiply by ten, and you will get somewhere close to the feels conveyed by Jack Mackay’s debut middle grade horror story, Gloam! He has combined familiar tropes of the horror genre – orphans, an old, isolated house, questionable care-givers and nightmarish chase scenarios – in an enthrallingly original narrative. I read this book in one sitting and was mightily glad that I had started it on a hot and sunny afternoon; had I picked it up on a dark, stormy evening, I might not have survived to write this review!

I want to keep plot details to a minimum for fear of ruining anyone’s enjoyment of reading the tale of the Clayton-Fenn orphans for themselves, but believe me, you will be drawn into their perilous existence from the opening lines and willing them to escape the clutches of Esme Laverne. The storytelling is masterful, written in a slightly detached third person narrative that I am sure will appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket. The tension creeps forward progressively like the mould colonising the woodwork of Somnolent Hall, building to an impressively claustrophobic showdown. All of the characters are vividly three-dimensional and my heart especially went out to clear-sighted Gwen as she battled to protect her younger siblings.

In my opinion, this is a really impressive novel to add to school library collections for children aged 10 and above who enjoy reading a book that provides some scares, I am sure that it will be very popular with those children who have enjoyed the Dreadwood or Goosebumps titles, or A Series of Unfortunate Events. I think the clever writing will appeal to readers into their early teens, so I would recommend Gloam to secondary school librarians too.

Disclaimer: I am most grateful to Liz Scott PR and Rock the Boat for sending me a copy of Gloam ahead of publication. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.