Always Here for You

Holly is lonely. Her best friend, Amy, has moved abroad and is caught up in her new life. Her parents are preoccupied with ‘Gran’s Crisis’ and Holly often finds herself alone. Turning to social media, Holly meets Jay online. He is also 14 and is caring, funny - everything Holly needs at the moment. Holly has heard the horror stories and knows that she has to be careful, but as things get worse, she turns more and more to Jay for support. But is he what he seems?

‘Always Here for You’ is a tense story about a very real danger. Holly is aware of the dangers of meeting strangers online and still she falls victim to the grooming of a manipulative stranger. She comes from a loving, stable home and yet, circumstances have combined to leave her vulnerable and feeling she has no one to turn to- perfect prey.

The story is pacy and successfully builds tension as Holly becomes more and more invested in her ‘relationship’. The aftermath is equally well handled, underlining the dangers and showing that the impact of grooming can be long lasting. Although this is aimed at a teen audience, it is a message which needs to be heard far and wide. Holly is aware of the dangers and still becomes ensnared- it’s a message which needs repeating again and again.

‘Always Here for You’ is a frighteningly realistic portrayal of the dangers of on-line grooming. Needs reading.

Always Here for You

Miriam Halahmy

 ZunTold    ISBN:  978-1916204218

First Day of my Life

‘First Day of My Life’ follows the stories of Frankie, Jojo and Ram as they intertwine. It starts with Frankie as she sets off to collect her GCSE results. She is puzzled and annoyed by the fact that she has to go alone as her best friend, Jojo, has not kept to their plan to go together. She is further annoyed as her way to school has been cordoned off due to a baby going missing. Later, when Jojo briefly calls her, Frankie thinks she hears a baby crying in the background. Putting the pieces together, Frankie decides Jojo must have taken the baby and calls on her ex-boyfriend, Ram, to help her. Reluctantly, he agrees to take Frankie to Swindon where she believes Jojo to be, but what happens next is unexpected by all…

Each book I read by Lisa Williamson is better than the last! I really enjoyed The Art of Being Normal; ‘All About Mia’ was fabulous; ‘Paper Avalanche’ was one of the most powerful, thought-provoking books I have ever read. And now we have ‘First Day of My Life’- and I have a new favourite.

One of the problems with reviewing a book is the lingering worry that I might spoil the story for someone else by saying too much. This is one story I have no wish to spoil so I will say little about the plot. Compelling is a good word to sum it up!

The power of the story comes from the brilliant development of each character and the relationships between them. Each personality is so well defined and the bonds so strong that the reactions of each at each stage are believable. This is maintained by the conclusion- which again I don’t want to mention!- which is plausible and satisfying.

For older reader, ‘First Day of My Life’ is an intriguing, emotional read for all to enjoy. Simply brilliant!

First Day of My Life       Lisa Williamson

David Fickling Books        ISBN: 9781788451536

Bone Music

Sylvia has reluctantly left behind her life in Newcastle for a week. In need of a break, her mother has taken a holiday to the village she grew up in. Here, Sylvia is faced with the boundless beauty of wild Northumberland and initially feels lost, the pull of her home city overwhelming. However, the magic of nature soon weaves its spell on her and when she meets the enigmatic Gabriel, Sylvia finds a new joy in the beauty surrounding her and develops a deep sense of connection with the past.

Completely spell-binding, ‘Bone Music’ is like nothing else that I have ever read. Sylvia is a city girl, passionate about the future of the planet, a protester, with a close group of friends, and yet she is initially lost in the space and nothingness of the fells. When she meets Gabriel, she connects with both him and the environment, letting go of her inhibitions, embracing nature and nature’s timeless connection with the past. When she makes an instrument from a hollow bone from a buzzard’s wing, this connection deepens, allowing her to discover more about herself and her humanity.

The book is beautifully written, showing a deep love for the wild landscape of the north, the power and magic of music, and nature’s ability to overcome man’s desire to tame it. There is even reference to the flooded village featured in another of David Almond’s books, bringing this haunting landscape to life.

I found Gabriel deeply moving. As he reveals the pain of his experiences to Sylvia, his story forces the reader to reflect on how expectation, education and traditional values can constrain and damage some who do not ‘fit’ for whatever reason. Not all learning takes place in a classroom and not all knowledge is academic. Gabriel’s self-harming is sensitively handled, allowing for many discussions and inspiring great empathy.

Lyrical and poignant, ‘Bone Music’ is hauntingly beautiful and original with a stunning cover by David Litchfield.

Bone Music David Almond

cover artwork by David Litchfield

Hodder Children’s ISBN: 978-1444961416

The Huntress: Sea

Mouse knows her destiny; 'the great green fire spirits dance and ripple' telling her Tribe the future and Mouse is destined to be a captain just as her brother, Sparrow, is a whale-singer.

Since the death of their Ma, she and Sparrow have grown up aboard The Huntress, their grandmother's ship, as their father is a trader, spending much time away from the family. Then Da goes missing and Grandma brings a new navigator on board. Things rapidly change and Mouse embarks on a quest to save her family and her ship.

From the first line, Sea is an amazing adventure story, set in a beautifully crafted world of fantastical creatures, people with magical talents and well drawn characters with their own customs and belief systems.

Mouse is full-on and feisty, always in the thick of the action, ready to take on the world to protect her family and her home. Strong and capable, she can run roughshod over others, making her not entirely likeable initially, although she develops over the course of the story. Her bother, Sparrow, is her opposite- 'little too-soon' is vulnerable, prone to shaking-fits, yet he sings with power and beauty, his high voice rising 'like a bell, to chime along with the whales.'

Written in beautiful, lyrical prose, the speech of the characters clashes against this like waves against the side of the ship. The use of kennings as part of this adds to this mix, creating a 'heart-bright', 'sizzle-bolt' of a story.

Perfect for children at the 'Moving On' stage, 'Sea' is a fantastic read with much to recommend it. Can't wait for the next part!

The Huntress Sea   Sarah Driver

Egmont     ISBN: 978-1405284677

A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars

Saved as a baby from a terrible shipwreck, Sante lives with her adoptive family of Mama Rose and her circus performers and a golden eagle named Priss. They live ‘off the grid’, roaming from country to country, performing as they travel and, although hard, life is good. With Cat- wild and feisty knife thrower- and Cobra- snake charmer and her possible future husband- Sante is the star of the show.

A ‘mind whisperer’, Sante can tune into the thoughts of others and has a mystical connection with those who died in the wreck she survived, the unquiet dead in search of peace. When the children rescue a young girl called Scarlett, tension mounts as they become mixed up with evil, and past and present collide.

No synopsis of this book can even begin to do it justice. It is the most original, amazing read, painful in places, but beautifully written. Haunting brutality and exploitation contrast starkly with the magical and supernatural.

Quite simply- this is one you must read.

A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars

Yaba Badoe

Zephyr ISBN: 978-1786695482

Gorilla Dawn

Imara, a young girl abducted from her home village, and Bobo, the son of a wildlife ranger, are imprisoned by rebel soldiers in the heart of the African jungle. When the rebels capture a baby gorilla which they plan to sell, the children vow to return it to the wild and escape. Should the children get caught, the consequences would be terrible...

Gill Lewis writes with a passion for living things which shines through all of her books. 'Gorilla Dawn' is the most thought provoking and challenging yet, looking at issues of exploitation- of children, of the environment, of the planet. It explores the devastating effects of war and how the selfish demands of the West can destroy life elsewhere in the world.

Through the eyes of the children, the reader is challenged to think about their responsibility to the natural world and the need to protect it. Topics like deforestation, civil war, the atrocities and devastation of conflict could all be considered and discussed and children (and adults) might well be inspired to find out more about some areas- for example the illegal/ unethical mining of coltan and the violation of Human Rights.

The children are individual, well drawn characters, allowing the reader to engage with them. Imara's role as 'Spirit Child' and her relationship with Kitwana, the baby gorilla, are particularly interesting.

This is a very touching, emotional story, but the message ultimately hopeful and the ending satisfying. The content and themes make it perfect for children at the 'moving on' stage who are looking for a challenging, but rewarding read.

Gorilla Dawn Gill Lewis

OUP   ISBN: 978-0192739179

The Secret Deep

After the death of their mother, Aster and her little sister, Poppy, leave England to go and live with their Aunt Iona in New Zealand. On the plane, they meet Sam, a native New Zealander... Due to her work, they find themselves living in an eco-village with a group of teenagers, cut off from the rest of the world with no technology. The girls soon realise that strange things are happening and life in the camp is not as idyllic as it first appeared. 

Then Aster wakes up on a tropical island, alone, with no idea of how she came to be there or where her sister is. The more she searches for Poppy, the more mysteries she encounters and the more secrets she uncovers. 

This is a richly written, compelling story which offers something very different. A mixture of science, thriller and mystery with hints of sea-lore, it is told from the alternating viewpoints of Aster and Sam. Relationships in the story are very well developed- Sam and his grandfather, Aster and Poppy- and that between the girls and their mother. The pain of loss and grief, the helplessness of watching loved ones suffering from illness and the lengths we might go to to help them are also explored.

The beauties and wonders of the deep are sensitively and carefully described, resulting in evocative, atmospheric passages. Descriptions of the nest of the puffer fish, the delicate sea horses, the beautiful, but deadly jelly fish bring the underwater scenes vividly to life, developing the tropical paradise setting which contrasts so strongly with the danger lurking in the background. 

Gripping from the first page, 'The Secret Deep' is an original, thought-provoking read which is beautifully written. A must read!

The Secret Deep    Lindsay Galvin

Chicken House    ISBN: 978-1911490029