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.
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.
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.
Blog tour graphic created by Ian Hunter, cover illustration by Ian Hunter, publication date 8 May 2025, ISBN: 978-1738506934
Fyn Carter, his best friend Amy, his Grandad Bernie and rescued fox Henry Flame are trapped on Eromlos, an alternative version of earth in the multiverse. On this planet all technology is strictly controlled by “the agents” who are headquartered in the city of Atlantis, which was relocated to Eromlos during a rupture in the gateways between alternative worlds. The other human inhabitants of Eromlos live in a more primitive style as they are prevented from using technology, although they have invented some ingenious mechanical devices. The story begins at the point where the first book in the series, Fyn Carter and the Agents of Eromlos, ended but there is sufficient filling of crucial backstory that this book could be read as a standalone – often an important factor for children who rely on libraries for access to books.
This is a highly enjoyable quest adventure for children who enjoy following a character through a series of journeys and challenges while they seek to fulfil their destiny. Fyn and his allies travel back and forth across Eromlos, trying to stay one step ahead of the agents who are on their trail. Those who help and befriend him are severely punished, the village of Homehill which provided shelter and friendship for Fyn, Amy and Bernie, is burned to the ground when the agents come looking for information on the visitors from Earth. Fortunately, the villagers escape to a sanctuary in the jungle, where Fyn is reunited with his explorer father, Daniel, before everyone flies away on pedal-powered flying machines, pedal-wings, to the High Sky kingdom situated in the snowy High Sky mountains.
In the caves and caverns of the mountain realm, there are whispers of a “legendary mechanism” of which it appears that Daniel and some of the elders have some knowledge. Fyn also becomes aware of his own destiny, as revealed by hidden, ancient wall paintings which depict The Legend of the Last and the Lost, and the burden of responsibility begins to weigh heavily on his young shoulders. Amy is a sympathetic and supportive friend to him, and Grandad Bernie is always on his side, but who else can he trust? Fyn sometimes has the impression that Daniel views him more as a scientific curiosity rather that a son in need of help, and their spiky dialogue reflects the eight years absence of communication while Daniel was trapped on Eromlos with his expedition partner Scott. With twists and turns, an Atlantean military device and volcanic explosions, this story has plenty of elements to keep young readers gripped through to the final conclusion. I think this book will be most enjoyed by readers aged 9-12.
Disclaimer: This review is based on an uncorrected ARC which was kindly sent to me by Ian Hunter, who also invited me to take part in this blog tour. Do check out the other reviews on the tour schedule. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Image credit QuestFriendz, publication date 1 May 2025, ISBN: 978-9083294384
Meet best friends Lilli, Leo and Bea who are magically transformed into the SuperQuesters, Lillicorn, Leo Zoom and Bea Bumble after discovering a transformative board game locked away in an old garden shed! Finding themselves clad in superhero outfits, complete with glowing amulets and in Leo Zoom’s case, a pair of high-tech fact finder googles, they have little time to explore the village of River Crest before being alerted to the danger of rising water levels. A flood from Sunny Creek is threatening to disrupt the summer fête taking place on the meadow and the SuperQuesters are directed by their new fairy friend, Clover, to the source of the flood water. A family of beavers have been building a very haphazard dam, and the three friends are at a loss to explain the behaviour of nature’s remarkable architects. Their investigations eventually lead them to the hideout of villainous goblin, Mortifer, who has built a legion of robotic creatures to disrupt the natural harmony of River Crest.
This is a tremendously enjoyable and interactive story for readers aged 6-9 years of age. It cleverly combines facts and fiction in a fast-paced adventure where scientific and mathematical knowledge is threaded throughout the narrative as well as being highlighted in text boxes. Readers are also invited to engage with the puzzles and challenges faced by the SuperQuesters as they attempt to use their maths and science skills to outwit Mortifer’s plan to destroy River Crest. I loved the way that many different STEM topics were organically included in the plot; from Fibonacci sequences, to programming algorithms and seed bombing for re-wilding. This book really does engage children in many of the STEM concepts taught in KS1 and KS2 in an entertaining fantasy adventure. Furthermore, the book is written in a clear font, with plenty of white space on the pages and includes inviting illustrations by Katie Kear and Cherie Zamazing. Examples of illustrations are included with permission from the publisher:
Included with permission from publisher QuestFriendz
There is an excellent glossary of terms at the end of the story along with instructions for four activities which would be easy to perform in school or home settings; I am very tempted to try the seed bombing activity in my own garden.
Included with permission from publisher QuestFriendz
Teachers’ notes created by the publisher can be found at this link.
I am very grateful to publisher QuestFriendz for inviting me to join the blog tour. If you haven’t already done so, do check out the other posts from a selection of brilliant children’s books bloggers on the schedule below.
Cover illustrations by Jaimee Andrews, published by Hachette Children’s Group, 10 October 2024, ISBN:978-1444976571
This beautifully produced, hardback, non-fiction title, The Six Queens of Henry VIII will be a perfect addition to primary school classroom and library collections, as well as a perfect gift for any child who shows an interest in history. Honor Cargill-Martin has written a lively, engaging text which provides details to help young readers view Henry’s six queens as individuals with their own strengths and weaknesses, rather than just a list of wives that we reel off as additions to his story. The richly coloured illustrations by Jaimee Andrews add a wealth of extra information to the short blocks of text.
I love the format of the book, which has been designed to be easily navigable, providing quick access to essential information (through the introductory biography page on each queen) in a classroom setting where perhaps a few children have to share a single book. This is then followed by a few pages describing some key details of each queen’s life in a panel layout, and finally an episode of their lives which encapsulates their character is told in a graphic novel configuration. This layering of their stories leaves the reader with an understanding of each of the six women as real people, while learning some fascinating historical facts. At the end of the book there are beautifully crafted double page spreads featuring the Tudor Family Tree and the Tudor Family Timeline, followed by short biographies of each of Henry VIII’s three children.
There is so much more on offer here than in the Tudor history books that I had access to as a child, or indeed that my now adult children had in their history books. Author Honor Cargill-Martin has a real talent for conveying her academic learning in playful language which speaks directly to young readers. Another point that I have to highlight is the clear font and excellent contrast between font colour and background colour in all of the text panels. This ensures that the text is easily accessible for readers with dyslexia or other visual difficulties, and sadly is not always considered by publishers of non-fiction books.
In my opinion, this is a book which schools should certainly add to their non-fiction collections to inspire the next generation of historians.
Disclaimer: I am immensely grateful to Honor Cargill-Martin for sending me a copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
I have reviewed other non-fiction works by the same author which you can read at the links:
Cover design by Ray Tierney & illustration by Karítas Gunnarsdóttir, published by Nosy Crow, 10 April 2025, ISBN: 978-1805131267
I am Raven is an exciting, inventive, thrill-ride of a sci-fi novel written for an audience of 9 years and above. The world-building in this novel is extraordinary; a planet populated by mechanical beasts which are known as constructs, each crewed by humans from their own clan, and each roaming their own geographical areas and fighting any other construct that ventures into their territory. The constructs are created from all manner of materials; metal, plastic, feathers, fur, and powered by an element called anthryl which is controlled by the collective mind of the crew.
In this story we follow the narrative of Brann, a young member of the Raven clan, who from the age of six was taught by Claw the clan leader, that “Raven has no fear”. Living by this mantra, Brann was a fearless and successful scout for Raven…until the day that her clan’s construct was attacked and destroyed by Dragon, and her crew members vanished without trace. She is now part of Cub, a unique construct in that it is crewed by young members of different clans: Coll, the leader is Wolf, Rieka who is a Tock (mechanical genius) is Lion, and friendly Fillan is Bear and in possession of a pet Ant called Kevin. Cub are on a dual purpose quest; trying to track down the missing Raven crew and following a signal that Rieka has picked up on an advanced tracking device, which she is reluctant to share many details about. However, when Cub are summoned to Parley, the neutral ground where the High Constructs -Lion, Tiger, Eagle and Bear – meet and accompany Bear on a mission to destroy Dragon, they discover the history of their existence and are plunged into danger.
The storytelling in I am Raven is astonishing and gripped me from beginning to end. The writing style is difficult to categorise, at times it reminded me a little of The Hobbit, but it is also quite spare (the book has fewer than 220 pages) without a single word wasted. Therefore the narrative is fast-paced which will hold the attention of young readers, but every so often you encounter a sentence that makes you stop to admire its beauty. Take this example from when Brann is describing Dragon’s attack to the leaders of the High Constructs:
The chamber was quiet and her voice seemed to curl round it like smoke; it felt like someone else talking, as if she was just a witness, like them. page 74
It is clear that there are forces at play which will require the co-operation of multiple clans to overcome, and during the dangers faced throughout the narrative Brann has to reassess her relationship with fear. The story ends on a heroically tense cliff-hanger which leaves me desperate for the next book in the series We are Dragon!
I highly recommend this book to parents, caregivers, teachers and librarians to put into the hands of readers aged 9+, it is a book to power the imagination.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to publisher Nosy Crow for my gifted copy of I am Raven. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Publisher Bloomsbury Children’s, 3rd July 2025, ISBN: 978-1526683335
A sunny bank holiday by the sea, an escape from the shadows of abandonment and a search for security…
Runaways is a contemporary story of two eleven-year-olds from London, who despite living in very different circumstances, both suffer from poor parenting and individually decide to take an extreme form of agency in changing their circumstances. The book is beautifully and sensitively written, so that despite covering difficult themes it is not just suitable for a readership aged 10+, but also helps tween readers empathise with children living under difficult conditions.
Author E.L. Norry has a warm writing style which introduces the reader to the lives led by the two child protagonists, July and Jamie, and generates empathy for the two characters from the start. I loved the device of a meal at Nando’s with their mothers being used as the introduction to each of their home circumstances. This will be such a relatable experience for many middle grade readers, and therefore transports them into the characters’ lives. July is instantly suspicious that her mother has brought her out for a rare treat which normally they cannot afford, recognising from prior experience that her mother prefers to break bad news in a public space where July will not react with a scene. Jamie, on the other hand, is taken for a treat by his affluent mother because her new live-in partner does not approve of fast food or fizzy drinks and she is possibly feeling some guilt at dragging her son shopping for new uniform before sending him to the boarding school that Garrett (the partner) has suggested for him. The subsequent chapters, which alternate between July and Jamie’s first-person narratives, show us two children whose childhood experiences have had inconsistent levels of care and nurturing due to choices made by their parents.
When events in each of July and Jamie’s lives spiral beyond their capabilities to cope, they both run away from their respective homes. A chance interaction at Waterloo station and subsequent meeting on the train to Bournemouth, followed by further serendipitous encounters, eventually leads to the runaways accompanying each other in their search for trusted adults in the seaside town. July is looking for Bee, who was a loving and caring foster parent to her, while Jamie is in search of his auntie Liz from whom his mum has been estranged since the time that his Dad disappeared from his life. Their backgrounds have given both children high levels of wariness, and each of them spin alternate realities for their current circumstances, only beginning to trust each other with their real stories as the weekend progresses.
This book highlights an important issue (The Children’s Society estimates that around 100,000 children go missing from home each year in the UK) which I have not seen covered in a contemporary work of UK middle grade fiction before. In a gripping narrative, readers are given insights into the difficulties and dangers that face young people on the streets; how to obtain food and drink, where to find a safe place to sleep, the threat of falling victim to thieves or other forms of exploitation. These issues are intrinsic to the storyline but written in a manner suitable for readers aged 10 years and above, and at no time does the book feel ‘preachy’. I was drawn into the story to such an extent that I read the book from cover to cover in one sitting; the author (who grew up in the care system) has expertly blended her lived-experience and research to craft characters and a storyline which makes readers care about an issue they might not have considered before. I thoroughly recommend Runaways to teachers, public librarians, and school librarians at both primary and secondary schools to add to their collections, publication is due on 3rd July 2025.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to Isi at Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending me an ARC of Runaways ahead of publication. I believe that the published version will contain a collection of helpful links on subjects such as foster families and parents in prison which will be useful to anyone affected by the issues faced by the fictional characters in the story.
Cover art by Anna Boulogne, published by Little Island Books, 9 April 2025, ISBN: 978-1915071798
Today I am delighted to welcome Irish novelist Gráinne O’Brien to my blog. Gráinne has written an utterly fabulous verse novel, Solo, published by Little Island Books, and has kindly agreed to answer some questions that I asked her. I am super grateful to Kate at Little Island Books for arranging this interview.
Gráinne O’Brien, photo credit Dean Kelly
Welcome to my blog Gráinne. Congratulations on the recent publication of your YA verse novel Solo, which blew me away (please excuse the pun) and thank you so much for allowing me to ask you some questions.
Could I begin by asking you to give us a short summary of the story and introduce us to the main protagonist Daisy?
Daisy is an eighteen year old recorder player who recently got broken up with by her first boyfriend. When we meet her, she is going through it all, the poor thing. Not only has she been broken up with, her friendship with her oldest friend has ended as they drift apart, she is feeling disconnected with her music.
Are you a musician yourself, I’m guessing you might be with the use of the music terminology throughout the novel? When I saw the book cover my immediate thought was: what motivated the choice of the recorder as Daisy’s instrument? So I was amazed to see this question addressed by Daisy. Could you explain why you chose this particular instrument for Daisy?
I sing as a part of a choir as a first soprano and have done for many years, but I am no way as musically gift as Daisy is. I chose the recorder because I feel like most of us have some kind of relationship with it, we recognise it from being made to play it in school and rarely do we continue it beyond those few years. But hearing a recorder played well is such a beautiful sound. I wanted Daisy to become enamoured with the recorder when most of her classmates hated it. I thought it really suited her personality. I am very lucky that my choir director is a recorder player, and I regularly picked her brain to make sure Daisy’s experience would be as true to life as possible.
You address some big topics in the novel and I love the way that the emotional upheavals are related to the musical theme throughout; do you think that teenagers have a particular tendency to link music to their emotions during a time when many are experiencing hormonal surges and mood swings? What do you hope that they will take from this novel?
I think it is incredibly important that teenagers have access to books that are just for them, that reflect the things they are going through, regardless of what is happening in the wider world. I think everyone remembers the music they listened to when they were teenagers, in writing Solo I went back to a lot of what I listened to. I think at times when we are especially vulnerable in our lives, to find music that seems to speak to that experience makes us feel less alone. And we are never as vulnerable as we are when we are a teenager. Everything is raw and exposed.
I’m really interested to know what prompted your decision to write Solo as a verse novel, could you tell us why you chose to write in this format?
In truth, it really felt like it was the only option. The verse comes from Daisy’s connection to her music, and it’s there to demonstrate that it pulses through her, even when she isn’t able to play. The characters and the plot determined what form the book was going to be written in, and I was dragged along for the ride. I have learned a lot about verse and poetry in the last two years and I am infinitely better for it.
Does the process of planning and writing a novel in verse differ from writing prose, and if so, in what ways?
Not really, but sometimes I had to be flexible and willing to jump around if I got an idea for a particular poem that I knew would be used much later in the book, or I came across a musical term that worked better with a poem I have already written. Verse novels are fun because they can almost be quilted together, and if (like me) you struggle with sticking to a strict plan or structure, there is a lot of freedom in their creation.
I have only started reading verse novels myself in the last couple of years, and wish that I had discovered them sooner (and that they had been available when I was a teen reader, which is rather a long time ago). Do you have any particular favourites that you would recommend?
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Moonrise and One both by Sarah Crossan
The Lonely Book by Meg Grehan
Wider That the Sea by Serena Malloy
I also love the poetry of Nikkita Gill, and think every teenager should read her collection These Are The Words
Which authors and/or poets did you most enjoy as a teenager? And who are your current favourite authors writing for children and young people?
I always loved stories that took place in real life. Judy Blume especially, Jacquline Wilson, Beverly Cleary, Louis Sachar and Robert Cormier. I also loved the fantasy world created by Tamora Pierce. And, but of course, the Babysitters Club. But I would read anything I could get my hands on.
There are some incredible writers working in Ireland at the moment and they are all at different stages of their careers so it is so exciting to watch, but some of my favourites of the last year are, Derek Landy, Dave Rudden, Clara Kumagai, Padraig Kenny, Meg Grehan, Patrica Forde, Sarah Bowie, Alex Dunne, Amy Clarkin, Kevin Moran, Sheena Dempsy, Kel Menton, honestly the list goes on and on.
In your role as head buyer for Kenny’s Bookshop in Galway, what do you look for in novels written for middle grade and young adult readers?
I look for books that make me feel things, that put the characters and the plot ahead of all other messaging and have a beautiful cover. It’s a simple enough formula to be honest, and it has never not worked for me.
I have read online that you founded a literary service to support writers of fiction for children to get their work published. Could you tell us about your motivation for this, and what is the current children’s book scene like in Ireland?
What Rontu is really about is about supporting authors as they navigate the next steps in their writing career. Bookselling and the realities of it can be a bit of a mystery and a scary place if you don’t understand what is happening in the market. I do my best to help calm anxieties and reassure people about whatever stage in their writing career that they are in. The current children’s book scene in Ireland is thriving. It is an incredibly exciting time to be a part of it.
How do you manage to carve out time for writing alongside your other roles?
I am not a person who writes every day. I do a lot of thinking about what I am going to write for sure, usually when I am in the car, but I tried that idea of writing every day, but for my life it wasn’t realistic and it became something I would bully myself about when I missed a day. Now I am much more relaxed about it, but every bit of annual leave that I get I usually use for writing. I try to get away for a few days at a time. I am lucky that my life and job accommodate this. My best advice to anyone writing is to find a process that works for you. Don’t kill yourself trying to reach someone else’s standard. Write when you can, and be kind to yourself while you do it.
Was your ambition always to write for children and young people? If so, what are your reasons for choosing this particular readership?
For a while I actually avoided writing for the children’s market, because I spent all day everyday with children’s books, I tried to do something different when I came home, but what can I say, the ideas wouldn’t leave me alone and eventually there were some that I just couldn’t ignore. I am open to writing for any market, but at the moment I am very happy with the books I have written and the ideas that I have on the horizon, are all for the children’s market.
In the UK, recent research indicates that the percentage of children choosing to read for pleasure is falling year-on-year. What do you think that writers and the publishing industry can do to try to persuade more youngsters to choose to spend their spare time enjoying a book?
A) THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT! Make sure the children in your life not only see you reading a book, but hear you talk passionately about it. Talk to children about the book you are reading! Tell them why you love it. Be honest with yourself about how much you are reading, and how often the children around you see you doing it, and talking about it in a way that tell them it is bringing you joy.
B) Don’t treat reading as a punishment, or something that must be done. It doesn’t always need to be a lesson or an opportunity to challenge them. Let kids read what they want to read. If they want to read the same book over and over again, let them. If they want to read a book that is ‘below their level’ let them. It’s not about constantly pushing them to move on or move up, its about associating the habit of reading with pleasure. Children that love reading will find their way to other books, more complicated books, books that make them think and challenge them and show them different points of view. All of that will come. But we need to let them experience the joy of reading in whatever form that comes first. Cultivate that joy. The rest will follow.
C) As adults we sometimes allow our own egos and vision of what a child reading should look like to get in the way. Talk to your young reader. Bring them a library or bookshop and let them talk to the staff there and tell them what they are interested in and what they want to read about. That book may be wildly different from the books you read and loved as a child. That can be hard to accept, especially if you want that child to love the same books you did so you can talk about them. But you can still talk about them! Tell them how much you loved them and why, not because you want them to love the books you read, but to show them how much reading has brought to your life.
Is there any chance that you will visit any book festivals in the UK in the near future, and are you appearing at any festivals or book events in Ireland this year where readers can come and meet you?
I would love to visit UK festivals and do my best to do so! I am doing an event in Books Upstairs in Dublin with the wonderful verse novel writer Meg Grehan on May 1st. On May 20th I am taking part in a live DnD game with other writers as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin.
Thank you so much for spending some time in answering my questions, Gráinne and for so many recommendations to follow up on. I wish you every success with the launch of Solo. I found it immensely powerful and enjoyable, and hope that school librarians, public librarians and parents/caregivers will put it into the hands of many teen readers.
Here’s my review:
Solo by Gráinne O’Brien is a note-perfect story of teenage heartbreak, written in verse so that the reader actually feels every one of teenage protagonist Daisy Ryan’s emotions. I couldn’t put it down, so compelling was the voice. The verse-novel format works perfectly for this tale, the rhythm of the writing portraying the musicality which lies at the heart of the narrative. This is an astonishingly brilliant debut novel which dives into the deep well of emotional experiences which are often first encountered during the later teenage years. In sparse text, the author portrays a central character, a family, and a school community with such precision that you feel like you know them inside out.
The story opens on Daisy’s eighteenth birthday. Immediately you realise that she would like to stay buried in her duvet, nursing the utter rejection that she feels after David her first boyfriend has moved on to new conquests. Her mother and father tiptoe around her, at a loss to know what to do or say; confused that their single-minded, dedicated student daughter, who has spent her girlhood utterly dedicated to music, now appears to have lost interest in everything other than mourning for her lost love. Meanwhile, her twin brothers Fiachra and Tadgh, who operate as a single unit in everything that they do, exhibit less patience on their visits home from medical school. The author builds a picture of Daisy as a solitary presence, who built an impressive reputation as a performer and winner of musical awards through single-minded dedication to her craft. Following her Dad’s mantra, built during his former years as a hurling champion:
You must practise more
You must want it more
You must love it more
Than anyone else page 41
she perfected her art, only to neglect it for a boy unworthy of her love.
Now, with the Leaving Certificate exams looming, Daisy is cut adrift from her music, her studies, her former best friend Shannon, and David for whom she gave up her own passion to encourage him to progress from being a substitute player in the local hurling team, to now being seen as a star player who will help the school team ‘break the curse’ in the school championships this year. Dreading the final year of school, Daisy is surprised to be befriended by new arrival Nora, whose cavalier attitude hides her own private heartbreak and who begins to reawaken Daisy’s interest in music. The story builds to a crescendo as Daisy faces the prospect of losing her father to cancer and in dramatic fashion, learns of the deep loathing that Nora feels for her own father.
I loved every aspect of this book. From the beautiful cover, where the raised font on the title makes the Os feel like the holes on a recorder, to the clever text effects on some pages, to the pertinent use of musical terms as headers for each section of the story, and to the powerfully emotional narrative. I loved the character of Daisy, for whom music “forms the very fabric of who I am as a person” and loved the portrayal of her parents who exhibited her love for her in ways that authentically matched their personalities. I raced through the novel the first time, which is very possible due to the economy of the text, and then reread to savour the fantastic imagery and intelligent asides which fleshed out the personalities so perfectly. I have read quite a number of books written for the YA market over the past few years and I have to say that Solo is outstanding; a perfectly composed masterpiece which can be enjoyed by all readers of 15+.
I whole-heartedly recommend Solo to anyone who loves music, anyone who loves poetry and anyone who loves a compelling story.
Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Kate at Little Island Books for sending me a copy of Solo and for arranging the interview. It was my own decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Cover image by Sandra de la Prada, published by Little Tiger, 1 May 2025, ISBN: 978-1801046602
Jump up off your bottom and get in the groove!
Wiggle your body, let’s see how you MOVE! pages 1-2
So begins this exuberant picture book with rhyming text by Laura Baker and vibrantly coloured illustrations, bursting with energy, by Sandra de la Prada. The perfectly matched words and pictures bounce along through a sequence of moves designed to encourage everyone to get active. The depiction of an older lady (who could be interpreted as a grandmother, librarian, teacher or caregiver) with a young child, working their way through an exercise routine, accompanied by an imaginative cast of animals is irresistible; they look as if they are having the most wonderful time as they get active together. They perform cool down stretches at the end before the final encouragement to just flop…at which point there would be time to enjoy observing the lovely details in the pictures. I especially loved the underground-dwelling animals joining in with the activity in their burrows!
This is a wonderful book for adults to share with young children, the rhyming and repeating text will soon be learnt by heart, and the activity of moving together is likely to have both physical and mental health benefits. There is so much evidence in the academic literature pointing towards inactive lifestyles having negative effects on the nation’s health, that I am sure this book will be welcomed by educators and caregivers alike. I can see it being thoroughly enjoyed in nurseries, pre-schools and early years classrooms, as well as in homes. In my opinion All the Wonderful Ways to Move is a joyous book to add to your collections for sharing with children aged 3-6 years.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to Little Tiger for sending me a copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
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