Love You To Death

Someone is obsessed with Mia Hawkins…

I normally offer a summary of the book before a review, but this is one that I am not going to do that for in case I spoil the plot for anyone who has not read it! Having finished this a while ago, I have been waiting to review it until reading all of Gina Blaxill’s books- and I can confirm that they are all excellent!

‘Love You to Death’ is a gripping, unsettling read about obsession and stalking. As the story progresses, the tension is palpable, compelling the reader to keep turning the pages as the claustrophobic feeling of threat surrounding Mia mounts.

Having her own style and wearing clothes she is comfortable in should be Mia’s right- as it should be for everyone- yet the story highlights how some people- mainly men- seem to feel entitled to comment, or worse, on a woman’s appearance. The story is thought-provoking (and anger provoking!) in places as Mia (and others) wonder whether she has done something to attract the unwanted attention of her stalker, if she is in some way to blame for being too friendly, for sending the wrong message… My blood was boiling in places and there are many red flags in the story about controlling behaviour and ‘toxic’ relationships.

The story also offers the mystery of who Mia’s stalker actually is. Red herrings abound as suspects appear to be the guilty party yet when the final reveal came, I had only just cottoned on. Once everything is solved, Gina Blaxill does a good of showing the aftermath of such an experience, not offering a neat, tidy solution where everyone goes back to normal, unaffected.

Now I have caught up, I can’t wait to see what Gina Blaxill writes next!

Love You to Death Gina Blaxill

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702325434

Never Forget You

England, 1937.

Gwen, Noor, Dodo and Vera are four very different teenage girls, with something in common. Their parents are all abroad, leaving them in their English boarding school, where they soon form an intense friendship. The four friends think that no matter what, they will always have each other. Then the war comes.

The girls find themselves flung to different corners of the war, from the flying planes in the Air Transport Auxiliary to going undercover in the French Resistance. Each journey brings danger and uncertainty as each of them wonders if they can make it through – and what will be left of the world. But at the same time, this is what shows them who they really are – and against this impossible backdrop, they find new connections and the possibility of love.

Will the four friends ever see each other again? And when the war is over, who will be left to tell the story?

‘Coram Boy’ is one of my all-time favourite novels. A poignant, compelling story rich in engaging characters, it is hard to beat, but with ‘Never Forget You’, Jamila Gavin has produced another breath-taking novel, which also has its roots in true events, in this case by the real-life resistance hero, Noor Inayat Khan.

The four girls in the story- Noor, Gwen, Dodo and Vera- are very different personalities with very different backgrounds. Although events affecting each girl are explored, the majority of the narrative is told from Gwen’s perspective and it is around her that the girls’ friendship revolves. Through their stories, the reader is afforded glimpses of events across Europe as tensions between Germany and England mount. The rise of the Nazis, their mounting persecution and abuse of Jews and the horrors that followed are not shied away from. The book also highlights the role of Nazi sympathisers in British society and government- Dodo’s own parents are great admirers of Hitler -as well as the work of the resistance in Paris. Jamila Gavin seamlessly weaves all the strands together as she tells each girls’ story against this background.

As the girls each become involved in the war effort, they follow different paths and become embroiled in intrigue, danger and espionage. Their bond of friendship remains constant throughout as they pass in and out of each others lives and there are both moments of great happiness and deep poignancy in the story. I shed many tears!

Jamila Gavin wrote this extraordinary book as a tribute to Noor Inayat Khan, who was a British resistance agent in France. The outcome for Noor was predetermined, but the skill with which her experiences have been woven together with those of the other, imaginary, characters has created a compelling story of love, loyalty, duty and friendship. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

Never Forget You Jamila Gavin

Farshore ISBN: ‎ 978-0755503346

You can read more about The Foundling Museum, setting for ‘Coram Boy’ here.

Ready or Not

A couple of weeks ago, I had the great pleasure of hearing Tracy Darnton speak at the Pontypridd Children’s Book Festival. Hosted by Storyville Books (see Brilliant Bookshops post here), this was a fascinating session about an excellent book.

Millie loves the summer holidays when everyone gathers at Creek House in Cornwall and she gets to spend time with the other kids - Matt, Charlie, Jem and Kat, her best friend. However, this year will be very different as they are all struggling to come to terms with Kat having disappeared during a game of hide and seek the previous summer. Having persuaded the others to join her for one final trip, Millie is seeking closure on the anniversary of Kat’s disappearance- and this might be the last chance to discover what really happened.

Completely compelling, ‘Ready or Not’ is an addictive mystery which keeps the reader guessing to the very end. The story is told from Millie’s viewpoint, both from before and after Kat’s disappearance, allowing intriguing glimpses which piece together the bigger picture of the events surrounding the fateful game of hide and seek. Everyone has their secrets- even Millie. Through her letters to Kat, written on the advice of her counsellor, Millie’s complex relationship with her ‘best friend’ is exposed, revealing tensions and frustrations. Newspaper reports and transcripts of police interviews also allow different perspectives on Kat’s disappearance, scattering clues and potential red herrings which really keep the reader on tenterhooks to the very end.

And the ending is a masterpiece! Tracy cleverly manages a whole array of possibilities and potential suspects right to the final page…and even then, different readers come away with different interpretations of the concluding moments. Pure genius!

Ready or Not Tracy Darnton

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788953313

You can read my review of ‘The Rules’ here.

The Light in Everything

Born in a storm, Zofia is wild, unpredictable and tempestuous. She lives by the sea with her father. Tom is timid and withdrawn, constantly scared of the dark and the thought that his dad might return. The two children could not be more different yet each shares a close bond with their parent. And then their parents meet and before long, their families are blending and there’s a baby on the way. Tom and his mother move into the cottage by the sea and neither child is happy about the situation.

This is a deeply moving and absorbing story which skilfully moves from the viewpoint of one child to the other, allowing the reader to explore their complex emotions, actions and reactions. Each has a coping mechanism- Tom folds paper cranes to control his shaking hands and Zofia heads for the sea to find peace. Each is terrified of the change they are facing, although for very different reasons, and as the story progresses, they each learn to face their fears and find hope in the future.

Emotionally charged as the story is, there are things that should be considered if offering this to a child as a teacher. The fear of being ‘replaced’ by a new baby is very real for many children and the challenges faced by blending more than one household can be very stressful. Zofia’s jealousy is brilliantly captured, showing its self-destructive power. Tom’s also dealing with the trauma of an abusive father and the constant fear he might return. His experiences have also taught him to expect the worst of people- particularly Zofia’s father, the new man in his life. At times, his distress is palpable, making a painful read, but filling the reader with empathy and understanding.

A superb read, ‘The Light in Everything’ is everything we have come to expect from Katya Balen – and more.

The Light in Everything Katia Balen, illustrator Sydney Smith

Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1526622990

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

Our Sister, Again

Isla and her family live on the small island of Eilean Dearg in the Outer Hebrides. Grieving the loss of her older sister, Flora, the family is struggling to cope when Isla notices an advertisement for a support group. Little does she know when she fills this in that the family will be offered the chance to be part of a top-secret trial, recreating Flora as an AI robot. Initially sceptical, Isla’s doubts disappear when ‘Flora’ arrives on the island- it’s as if her sister has truly returned home. But not everyone feels the same way and tension mounts as anonymous threats are made.

A compelling and thought-provoking story, ‘Our Sister, Again’ is a brilliant read. Isla’s family are devastated by Flora’s loss, but whilst her mother grasps at the chance to have her daughter back in this way, her father has many reservations about the project, causing the family to split. The story raises plenty of questions, challenging the reader to think about life, loss and what really makes us who we are, developed by the different points of view raised by various characters through the story as they react to Flora’s return.

Family and friendship are at the heart of the story and each character is well developed and believable. The relationship between the sisters is beautifully handled, particularly that between Isla and her younger sister, Una, whose bond has grown in the face of the family’s grief. There are many poignant moments as the story develops, leading to an interesting and unexpected conclusion.

An excellent book- highly recommended!

Our Sister, Again Sophie Cameron

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788953917

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

Alice Austen Lived Here

A competition for a new statue of a local historical figure leads Sam and their friend, TJ, to design a statue of Alice Austen. Both children identify as nonbinary and want to see the LBGTQIAP+ community represented in their area. Through their research, Sam finds a further link- not only was Alice Austen queer, she had also lived in Sam’s apartment. Winning the competition becomes even more important to Sam as their history teacher, Mr Watras, seems only interested in white, male figures as inspiration for the statue. With the help of their neighbours, Sam pursues their idea, determined to celebrate the life of Alice Austen and their community.

‘Alice Austen Lived Here’ is a real celebration of queer history and culture. In the face of their teacher’s prejudice and closed mind, Sam is determined to give a voice to the rich history of their community and spread awareness of the contribution made by Alice Austen and use the past to create a more positive future in terms of representation.

Sam is a wonderful character, very comfortable in their own skin and surrounded by a strong and loving network who support them. Their best friend, TJ, is also nonbinary, but although they are the only nonbinary children in their year ( as far as they knew), this is just one of the many things they have in common. One floor below Sam’s flat lives their other best friend, Jess, who is femme, her partner, Val, who is nonbinary and their baby, Evie. Although much older than Sam, they offer advice and support and through conversations Sam has those around them, the reader gains a deeper understanding of their community and history. The story also show Sam and Jess as being overweight and very comfortable in their own skins.

As a reader with little knowledge of this area of America, details about Staten Island are fascinating and I love the fact that the novel celebrates a little known historical figure. Just as Sam stubbornly pursues their research, the story encourages us all to look beyond the white men who are those mostly celebrated in history books- and indeed, statues- and look for those lesser known, but highly significant figures which history taught in schools and through film/television completely neglect. Alex Gino has included a selection of photographs with notes at the end of the book which further interest the reader in this remarkable woman and includes a very interesting author’s note which adds to the story. As TJ and Sam pursue their research, they visit the house Alice lived in before she moved to Sam’s apartment which is actually a museum as described in the book. Sadly, it is much to far for me to visit, but the story inspired me to look at their website to find out more about Alice and her family.

‘Alice Austen Lived Here’ is a thoroughly engaging and thought-provoking read.

Alice Austen Lived Here Alex Gino

Scholastic ISBN: 978-0702316166

Alice Austen Lived Here Alex Gino

Scholastic ISBN: 978-1338733891

Ghost Bird

First Nations Australians, Laney and Stacey, may be mirror twins, but their personalities are very different. Whilst Stacey works hard in school, determined to leave her home town, Laney skives off school and sneaks out to meet her boyfriend, Troy. However, when Laney disappears one night, Stacey refuses to believe she has just run off. She starts having dark, vivid dreams about her sister, leaving her in no doubt that her twin is in danger and needs her help.

This is an outstanding novel which is all consuming and compelling. Drawing on her rich cultural heritage, Lisa Fuller has created something very special and original.

Relationships are brilliantly captured from the twin’s bond to the close-knit ‘mob’ (the wider family), who rally round to find Laney in the face of apathy and racism from the authorities and parts of the wider community. Respect for elders is engrained in the girls, but in the face of her loss, Stacey is prepared to break these rules- including a long-standing family feud with the Millers- to rescue her sister from the horrors she is facing.

The settings are vividly captured. The reader can feel the relentless heat and see how the land has been scarred by the actions of white settlers in places whilst enjoying the beauty of the landscape in others. Some moments are truly disturbing, with the author skilfully building tension.

I am in no way qualified to comment on the cultural background of this story and have no wish to offend the author, or anyone else, by a clumsy comment as from the author’s note, it is obvious that she has drawn on her beliefs to create her story. All I can say is that I found it a completely absorbing, beautifully written read and I would love to read more by Lisa Fuller in the future.

Ghost Bird Lisa Fuller

Old Barn Books ISBN: 978-1910646809

Coming Up for Air

Leaving London to live in the seaside town where her mum grew up might not be Coco’s choice, but she’s determined to make the best of it. Although she’s excited about making new friends, the locals are hostile and resentful and her mum is keeping secrets from her. However, Coco is a positive young lady and her natural talent for free diving, love of the ocean and friendly demeanour soon start to win people round. But when an ill advised adventure goes wrong, history threatens to repeat itself…

I loved ‘Fig Swims the World’ and in ‘Coming Up for Air’, Lou Abercrombie offers another heroine with a unique voice and a passion for swimming. Whilst Min (her mother) and Henry, the uncle Coco never knew she had, bicker like children, Coco explores the area. No one has asked her whether she wants to leave her London life behind, but she is sure she will be able to make new friends. The town is picturesque and charming, but the attitude of the locals (known as ‘Fish’) is not and this worsens when they find that Min is Coco’s mother. Old tensions and feuds resurface, making Coco’s charm offensive fall on hostile ears. But still she persists, remaining stubbornly optimistic for the most part that she can win through. After all, with a mother like Min, she has developed a range of coping strategies that have seen her through life so far and now in Piscary, she also has the sea to help her find calm and joy.

Coco desperately wants to be a documentary maker and parts of the story are told as through she were creating one about her new life. As she records on her phone, the reader is treated to her internal monologue of events, including some humorous looks to camera moments which speak volumes! She learns much about herself, and others, as the story develops, emerging just as optimistic, but wiser at the end.

The story is full of vivid descriptions and Lou Abercrombie’s love of the sea shines through. The joys of freediving, the sense of freedom and connection to the underwater world are beautifully described, almost making me feel like sea swimming would be something to try… (Never in a million years- but that’s how good the writing is!)

‘Coming Up for Air’ is a great read, full of friendship, overcoming obstacles, humour and of course, the joys of swimming. With plenty of feel good factor, this story also offers much to think about and plenty of adventure. Highly recommended!

Coming Up for Air Lou Abercrombie

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788953184