Category Archives: Book Reviews

How the Heather Looks: A Joyous Journey to the British Sources of Children’s Books by Joan Bodger My rating: 4 of 5 stars Poorly written in places, intensely poignant in places, How the Heather Looks is a strange book which, in a way, taught me more about my attitude towards children’s literature rather than teachingContinue reading “How the Heather Looks – a joyous journey to the British sources of Children’s Books : Joan Bodger”

The Disgrace of Kitty Grey by Mary Hooper My rating: 3 of 5 stars I love Mary Hooper. It remains a fact that I will automatically read any of her new work because it is fairly guaranteed to be good. If it’s historical, you know you get a well told story in believable circumstances, andContinue reading “The Disgrace of Kitty Grey: Mary Hooper”

Room by Emma Donoghue My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve ummed and ahhed about reviewing this for what is a blog focused on children’s literature, and yet, I think the language and the accessibility of the text will (and has) leads to a definite young adult readership. And thus: a review, albeit with someContinue reading “Room : Emma Donoghue”

Me Myself Milly by Penelope Bush My rating: 4 of 5 stars I liked this. I didn’t want to, at first, but I did. It’s a slim, articulate book that is the story of Milly. And, very simply, it’s the story of Milly trying to find out who she is. She’s spent her life asContinue reading “Me Myself Milly : Penelope Bush”

The Story of the Treasure Seekers by E. Nesbit My rating: 4 of 5 stars Seeing that The Story Of The Treasure Seekers was being republished by Hesperus Press made me very happy indeed. They’ve produced a beautiful copy, one that is almost edible with its quality and production values. You can see a largerContinue reading “The Story Of The Treasure Seekers : E Nesbit”

How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran My rating: 2 of 5 stars It may seem an odd choice to review for this blog and I have, to be frank, ummed and aahed about actually doing so. But then I thought again about the range of accessible feminist literature for this age range and realisedContinue reading “How to be a Woman : Caitlin Moran”

Dying to Know You by Aidan Chambers My rating: 3 of 5 stars One day, The Author is greeted by Karl. Karl’s been set a problem by his girlfriend, Fiorella, who wants him to write about himself. The issue is that Karl’s dyslexic. Unable, unwilling and lacking in confidence to even know how to begin,Continue reading “Dying to know you : Aidan Chambers”

I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter My rating: 4 of 5 stars In a way ever since Meg Cabot finished her Princess Diary books, I’ve been searching for a series to fill the Mia shaped hole in my life. And I think Cammie and herContinue reading “I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You : Ally Carter”

Back Home by Michelle Magorian My rating: 5 of 5 stars I have a lot of love for Michelle Magorian, one of the great dames of British children’s literature. I’ve spoken about Back Home before, briefly, in a list of books featuring Dartington Hall, the place where I went to University. It was, however, aContinue reading “Back Home : Michelle Magorian”

VIII by H.M. Castor My rating: 5 of 5 stars Sometimes it’s fun to go in a bit blind to a book, to pick it up solely because you’ve heard it mentioned by somebody, or you’ve read something about it, but can’t quite remember what it was and where you saw it. Sometimes that blindness,Continue reading “VIII : HM Castor”

Modelland by Tyra Banks My rating: 1 of 5 stars Huh. So. That happened. Modelland is possibly the purest distallation of literary crazy I have ever read. In a way it’s unrateable and unreviewable; a thick, clashing melee of genres and tones and words that once were English but now I’m not so sure. ButContinue reading “Modelland : Tyra Banks”

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’m on a bit of a classics kick recently. And as mentioned in my review of For Love Of A Horse, these aren’t the Oliver Twist sort of classics. These are classics that have framed my childhood – and my adulthood – andContinue reading “The Railway Children : E Nesbit”

For Love of a Horse by Patricia Leitch My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve been in the mood for some classics recently. And not your Oliver Twist type of classics. These are my classics, my stories that built me, that made me who I am today and they are, I hope, stories that mayContinue reading “For Love Of A Horse : Patricia Leitch”

Peppermint Kiss by Kelly McKain My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve been a little bit disappointed in the world of books for the tween-teen girl recently. I think it’s partially due to the fact that several of them (none of the worst ones have been reviewed btw) have just felt so … cheap. Like writingContinue reading “Rainbow Beauty – Peppermint Kiss : Kelly McKain”

Red Ink by Julie Mayhew My rating: 5 of 5 stars There’s a strange sort of poetry in sadness. The poetics of grief, if you will. Think about it. When sadness, darkness, pain hits us, it hits hard. We feel it. It’s an almost physical impact, this great black nothing that swings out of nowhereContinue reading “Red Ink : Julie Mayhew”

Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein My rating: 5 of 5 stars “And still the sky is beautiful.” (p26) If there’s a phrase that sums this book up for me, and perhaps Code Name Verity too (which I reviewed here) it is this phrase, this poetic and graceful phrase that sings from the page. There’sContinue reading “Rose Under Fire : Elizabeth Wein”

Fabulous Phartlehorn Affair by Megan Peel My rating: 3 of 5 stars The Fabulous Phartlehorn Affair is all about musical phartling – which is a bit phantastic. The affair involves a mysterious mountain kingdom, a fantastical musical instrument known as the ‘Phartlehorn’ and the downside to being good with your, um, downside. As Roald DahlContinue reading “The Fabulous Phartlehorn Affair : ML Peel”

Geek Girl by Holly Smale My rating: 3 of 5 stars Smale’s debut book, Geek Girl, is the story of Harriet Manners. Harriet isn’t very popular at school, and when she’s spotted by a top model scout, it seems like Harriet has a chance to reinvent herself. On this journey she encounters inappropriately hot boy-models,Continue reading “Geek Girl : Holly Smale”

The Snow Bear by Holly Webb My rating: 4 of 5 stars I’ve gone into shock from the weather. The fact that I’ve put the heating on, and had to have an extra blanket, has made me fall back several months. And it has made me seek out books of snow and Winter and ofContinue reading “The Snow Bear : Holly Webb”

Mouse Bird Snake Wolf by David Almond My rating: 5 of 5 stars So I have a little story about how I came to Mouse Bird Snake Wolf. I originally came to it via Netgalley and as I am a huge fan of David Almond, I requested it and got approved. So I downloaded aContinue reading “Mouse Bird Snake Wolf : David Almond & Dave McKean”

Pantomime by Laura Lam My rating: 4 of 5 stars We’ve come a long way, you and I. You’ve listened to me obsess over the nuances of the Chalet School, the way Clara Vulliamy is so perfect in her picture book construction and the way I get slightly evangelical when somebody tells me that Children’sContinue reading “Pantomime: Laura Lam”

A Pattern of Roses by K.M. Peyton My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have a great love for KM Peyton. She’s one of the authors that has defined my attitude towards children’s literature, to what it can and could be and to what it so very often is. And so it was with great,Continue reading “A Pattern Of Roses : KM Peyton”

Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick My rating: 4 of 5 stars The darkly poetic prose that beats at the heart of Midwinterblood is something that took me quite by surprise. I’ve known of Marcus Sedgwick and I’ve known of his work for a fair while now but never quite got down to it. That’s a shame,Continue reading “Midwinterblood : Marcus Sedgwick”

Kite Spirit by Sita Brahmachari My rating: 4 of 5 stars As you may gather from this, I am a fan of Sita Brahamachari. I think Artichoke Hearts and Jasmine Skies are two of the best, most perceptive and impressive books I’ve read for a long time. She is an exciting and brilliant writer. KiteContinue reading “Kite Spirit : Sita Brahmachari”

The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan My rating: 4 of 5 stars The Weight of Water is a book written in blank verse and it is a very beautiful thing. When books are written like this, when the words are pared back, right back to the bare minimum of what they are and whatContinue reading “The Weight of Water : Sarah Crossan”

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne My rating: 3 of 5 stars When the world turns upside down, 14 children find themselves trapped in their local superstore. Things outside are dangerous. Terrifying. Mammoth sized hail, earthquakes and – monsters. Dean, one of the children, decides to keep a diary. This is that diary. The first inContinue reading “Monument 14 : Emmy Laybourne”

Forever by Judy Blume My rating: 4 of 5 stars Have I ever told you about my love of Judy Blume? She, along with my equally beloved Paula Danziger and repeats of Mash on Sky One, form a substantial part of my introduction to Americana. That world of summer camps, of wise-cracks and heartbreak, andContinue reading “Forever : Judy Blume”

Four Children and It by Jacqueline Wilson My rating: 4 of 5 stars E Nesbit was one of those authors who wrote big, thrilling, seditious, moving books that pushed at the boundaries of what defined the genre of children’s literature of her day. And I’d argue, quite happily, that that’s pretty much what Jacqueline WilsonContinue reading “Four Children and It : Jacqueline Wilson”

Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner My rating: 3 of 5 stars There’s a difficulty for me in reviewing this, and one that I hope to address through the act of reviewing. I admit that’s a fairly Moebius-esque sentence but I hope that it becomes clearer the further I go on. Gardner’s superb. Her writing hereContinue reading “Maggot Moon : Sally Gardner”

Wonder by R.J. Palacio My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’m known to my friends and family and colleagues as having a bit of an interest in children’s literature (I know, that’s a surprise right?) They come to me for reccomendations for their brownie groups, their kids – and sometimes they come to me andContinue reading “Wonder : RJ Palacio”

Operation Bunny by Sally Gardner My rating: 4 of 5 stars I came to this following the reccomendation of the excellent Ali of Fantastic Reads. Her review is here and I urge you all to go read it forthwith because it’s a perceptive, warm and precise review of this book. Now that that’s done, here’sContinue reading “Operation Bunny : Sally Gardner”

Rosanna Joins the Wells by Lorna Hill My rating: 3 of 5 stars Oh but this book is pale and wan and feels as though you could hold it up to the light and feel the paper disintegrate in your hands. And it is saddening, saddening, for Lorna Hill shines, even now, even in herContinue reading “Rosanna Joins the Wells : Lorna Hill”

The Crew by Bali Rai My rating: 4 of 5 stars There’s a lot to love about Bali Rai. He writes with a sort of sharp truth that’s bolstered, always, with a lot of heart. He may write about difficult situations but he does so with a great love and belief in his characters. TheContinue reading “The Crew : Bali Rai”

Ballet for Laura by Linda Blake My rating: 4 of 5 stars Ballet for Laura was a bit of a surprise to me, coming blind as I did to it in a charity shop over the Easter weekend. The front cover has a particularly lovely illustration, coupling a white cat with a bent over dancerContinue reading “Ballet for Laura : Linda Blake”

Troy by Adèle Geras My rating: 4 of 5 stars Troy is one of those stories that endures. Regardless of whatever spin on it, be that the intense metrosexuality of Brad Pitt’s Achilles or the beautiful lyricism of Gareth Hinds’ Odyssey, the stories of Odysseus, Hector, Achilles and Priam last and have lasted. It’s maybeContinue reading “Troy : Adele Geras”

Oh GUYS, this BOOK. This book. I have enclosed a gallery below to fully explore the WONDER. It is making me full of capital letters and happiness. Let’s just say I practically leapt over the charity shop floor to pick it up. It’s probably the nearest I’ve ever come to a jeté What we haveContinue reading “My Pets – Pop Up Pictures”

The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams My rating: 4 of 5 stars When David Walliams first moved into writing children’s literature I was, I’ll admit, a frightful snob. I didn’t really ‘get’ his television persona (and, as we all know, what we see on television is an exact truth), and so I stayedContinue reading “The boy in the dress : David Walliams”

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman My rating: 5 of 5 stars I came back to this book as part of my preparation for World Book Night. As part of World Book Night, I will be giving away twenty copies of Noughts & Crosses for free to members of the public. And I can’t wait.Continue reading “Noughts & Crosses : Malorie Blackman”

The Sniper by James Riordan My rating: 3 of 5 stars I first came across James Riordan with his excellent The Cello so I was interested to discover this title whilst browsing the shelves recently. It’s set in Stalingrad in 1942 and, I think, spectacularly misleading in how it’s presented. The cover to me isContinue reading “The Sniper : James Riordan”

The Day I Met Suzie by Chris Higgins My rating: 5 of 5 stars Oh man, I loved this and I really loved how it started. I started reading it and it was one of those moments where I was all “Oh” and then “Oh man” and then “OH MAN”. It. Is. Good. Told inContinue reading “The day I met Suzie : Chris Higgins”

Claude in the Country. by Alex T. Smith by Alex T Smith My rating: 5 of 5 stars I think the Claude series is rapidly turning into one of my top recommendations, regardless of the context. “You like chocolate? Great, read some Claude.” “The weather *is* nice today isn’t it. Read some Claude.” “You wantContinue reading “Claude in the Country : Alex T Smith”

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green My rating: 5 of 5 stars Meet Hazel. Hazel has cancer. Terminally so, but due to a wonder drug, she’s been given a few more years. And now she’s met Augustus Waters. This is the story of how they live and how they love. I finished this,Continue reading “The Fault In Our Stars : John Green”

Department 19 by Will Hill My rating: 4 of 5 stars Do you know what? I’m reading some dead good books recently. And this is one of them, but perhaps it could be better phrased as an “undead” good book (See what I did there? Wasn’t it wondrous and puntastic? Okay, I’ll stop now). WelcomeContinue reading “Department 19 : Will Hill”

Speechless by Hannah Harrington My rating: 4 of 5 stars Troublesome and yet, somehow appealing, Speechless is a book that left me in two camps. Chelsea Knot is a gossip. And then, she spills the wrong secret. People get hurt, badly, and she ends up as a social pariah. She decides to take a vowContinue reading “Speechless : Hannah Harrington”

A Pony In The Luggage by Gunnel Linde My rating: 4 of 5 stars A Pony In The Luggage starts with Aunt Tina inviting her niece and nephew – Nicklas and Anneli – to Copenhagen on holidays. Aunt Tina is a very nice sort of Aunt but not very good at dealing with lively children.Continue reading “A pony in the luggage : Gunnel Linde”

Malka by Mirjam Pressler My rating: 5 of 5 stars Hannah Mai and her two daughters, Minna and Malka, live in Lawoczne in Poland. It’s 1943, life for Jews is becoming precarious and so Hannah takes the difficult decision to leave their home and escape over the mountains to the refuge of Hungary. On theContinue reading “Malka : Mirjam Pressler”

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Aurora (Rory) is starting school in London. And just as she starts, there’s a spate of murders in London – all of which echo the work of Jack The Ripper. The small problem is that Rory’s seen the prime suspect –Continue reading “The Name Of The Star : Maureen Johnson”

Hero on a Bicycle by Shirley Hughes My rating: 5 of 5 stars The thing about Shirley Hughes is that she’s one of the authors that you think you know. And in a way, you do. When you think Shirley Hughes, you think of things like Dogger, of Alfie, of my Naughty Little Sister andContinue reading “Hero on a bicycle : Shirley Hughes”

The Double Shadow by Sally Gardner My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book is a uniquely challenging enigma to review,possessing of both heart-breaking beauty and ferociously complex and dense text. It is a book of two halves and I think, a book that doesn’t really start with page 1 nor end with page 384.Continue reading “The Double Shadow : Sally Gardner”

The Last Minute by Eleanor Updale My rating: 5 of 5 stars Here’s the pitch: Explosion That’s The Last Minute, hollywood-y and hooky in its conceit and unbearably tense in its delivery. This is 24 gone macro gone YA: sixty seconds, a cast of a hundred plus, and a town about to face its darkestContinue reading “The Last Minute : Eleanor Updale”

Tamar by Mal Peet My rating: 5 of 5 stars A story set over two timelines, one in 1945 and the other in 1995, Peet introduces us to Tamar and her grandfather and a group of Dutch resistance fighters in World War Two – one of whom is codenamed Tamar. It’s not until the endContinue reading “Tamar : Mal Peet”

TimeRiders by Alex Scarrow My rating: 5 of 5 stars Reading like a mash-up of I Am Legend, Robert Harris and HG Wells, this is a brilliant brilliant book. Three children are snatched from the jaws of death and brought to September 10 2001. There, on the day before 9/11, they’re inducted into the worldContinue reading “Timeriders : Alex Scarrow”

Josie Under Fire by Ann Turnbull My rating: 4 of 5 stars I have a lot of love for the Historical House series – a group of novels focused around a specific house in London. The books are written by some stunning authors: Adele Geras, Ann Turnbull and Linda Newbery, and very much worth aContinue reading “Josie Under Fire : Ann Turnbull”