Sabotage on the Solar Express

Hal and his Uncle Nat are on an adventure down under as billionaire August Reza has invited them on the first trip aboard the Solar Express, winner of the Reza’s Rocket competition. Although excited about the trip, Hal is not too enthusiastic at being reunited with Marianne, August’s daughter; however, she is convinced that something is amiss and seeks Hal’s help with investigating. Shortly after departure, they discover the train has been sabotaged and is hurtling across the outback, out of control. Can Hal and his friends stop the train and expose the saboteur before it’s too late?

I love this series so much! Always full of action, each book is fast paced and absorbing from the off and Solar Express is no exception.

As with Hal’s previous adventures, the setting for his train journey is vividly brought to life. Here, the sights of the Australian outback form the backdrop to their adventure with attention and respect being given to sites sacred to the indigenous peoples. Uncle Nat might quote the guide book entry about Uluru, but Aboriginal beliefs about human relationships with the earth and the respect it should be given are simply, but clearly explained within the framework of the story. The damage being done to the land through mining is also explored and the invention of the Solar Express has come from young Boaz’s (the fourteen year old inventor of the train) desire to use greener ways of powering trains. (There’s even a ‘science bit’ at the end of the book for those who want to know more!)

It is always a joy to read a story which is not only a cracking adventure, but is also full of ‘naturally occurring educational snippets’! Sounds awful, I know, but it’s meant as a great compliment! Whilst reading this adventure, children (and adults) find out (amongst other things) that for children in the outback, remote education is completely normal; that flying doctors take medical care to those in need; that camels were used to help build the Australian railways as well as environmental and scientific facts, allowing the reader to absorb additional knowledge with no effort at all! This adds such richness and colour to a story, making it all the more worth reading.

One of the greatest strengths of this series is the relationship between Hal and his uncle. Built on mutual respect and affection, the two make perfect travelling and crime busting companions. Elisa Paganelli’s wonderful depictions of Hal’s notebook are also a brilliant way of allowing the reader to ‘see’ what Hal has noticed, leading to the solution of the mystery.

Keeping you guessing until the very end, the story is absorbing with many nail biting moments. ‘Solar Express’ would make an excellent read aloud - sure to keep a class hanging on your every word- without needing to have read the previous books. It would also make a brilliant guided reading text, offering plenty to discuss and explore along the way.

‘Sabotage on the Solar Express’ is out in February- and I am already looking forward to ‘The Arctic Railway Assassin’ which is due in October! I’d like to put in a request for an adventure through the Rocky Mountains, a rail trip I took some years ago and loved!

Sabotage on the Solar Express M G Leonard and Sam Sedgman

illustrated by Elisa Paganelli

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529072655

Escape to the River Sea

Inspired by Eva Ibbotson’s classic, ‘Escape to the River Sea’ opens with the story of Rosa Sweetman, a young girl who arrived in England as part of the Kinderstransport. When no one comes to meet her, Rosa finds herself in the care of Sir Clovis and living at Westwood Estate, initially in the company of other schoolgirls evacuated from their city homes. Once the other children leave at the end of the war, Rosa remains, longing to be reconnected with her mother and sister who she parted from in Vienna. Although Sir Clovis and his wife, Lady Prue, are kind to her, Rosa longs for adventure and when a friend of the family, Yara Fielding, arrives for a visit, Rosa asks to accompany her to the Amazon in search of the giant sloth.

Captivated by the lush beauty of the rainforest, Rosa meets Yara’s lively family, who live on the banks of the river, and finds herself caught up in the adventure of a lifetime.

In ‘Escape to the River Sea’, Emma Carroll has achieved a perfect balance of her own voice and staying true to Eva Ibbotson’s original story. The story features familiar characters and locations from ‘Journey to the River Sea’ whilst introducing the next generation. Rosa is a very engaging young girl, whose hopeful nature has kept her optimistic about being reunited with her mother and sister, and whose love of animals has sustained her during her loneliness. With the new-found freedom of her trip to the Amazon, Rosa flourishes in a way she was not able to at Westwood.

Each setting is vividly described with the beauty of the rainforest and its creatures celebrated whilst highlighting the threats it is facing.  Emma Carroll also broadens the story, developing a new thread and mystery to solve, but I don’t wish to give any spoilers..!

‘Escape to the River Sea’ would make an excellent Guided Reading text or work brilliantly as a whole class book for a class read or as a focus text. There are many elements in the story to investigate and discuss and which could offer inspiration for different forms of writing, including poetry. Emma’s vivid scenes and the rich language she uses are a joy to explore.

One not to miss, ‘Escape to the River Sea’ is a fabulous read!

Escape to the River Sea Emma Carroll

Macmillan ISBN: 978-1529062700

Published 9th June 2022

This beautifully illustrated 20th anniversary edition of ‘Journey to the River Sea’ makes the perfect gift.

Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear

Having witnessed the cruelty of bile extraction from a bear when she was a child, Chang grew up determined to become a wildlife conservationist and do all she could to protect animals and the rainforest. Although her dreams are met with ridicule and are dismissed by others, Chang persists and is at last accepted to a volunteer at the Cat Tien National Park. Here, she learns to care for rescued creatures, both here and at the Bear Rescue Centre where she also worked. Whilst here, she is introduced to Sorya, a sun bear, captured from a forest in Laos. Unlike other bears at the centre, this orphaned cub has a good chance of learning to fend for herself and being released back into the wild. Chang is put in charge of teaching her the survival skills she will need and is determined to help Sorya return to the wild. When she feels Sorya is ready, Chang faces her toughest challenge yet- letting Sorya go and live the life she was meant to live.

This is such a powerful story. Told in a chatty tone, the book is based on the true story of Trang Nguyen, a Vietnamese wildlife conservationist and environmental activist, whose own life was changed when she accidentally witnessed a moon bear having bile extracted and on the lives of real bears, Sorya and Pola, a moon bear. The book is rich in facts about these amazing creatures and the important role they play in the forest as well as the cruelty of the poachers and those who extract the bear’s bile for the medicine trade.

The illustrations are stunning and the graphic novel format engaging and absorbing. Lush scenes of the rainforest are rich in detail and colour whilst ‘pages’ from Chang’s notebook are shown in sepia. There are so many beautiful spreads to enjoy as Sorya’s story unfolds.

This powerful and moving story would make the perfect basis for an assembly or to broaden children’s understanding of conservation work and the dangers faced by creatures around the world. Gill Lewis’s unforgettable book, ‘Moon Bear’ is also about bear bile farming and would offer further reading for those who wish to develop their understanding of this cruel practice and perhaps be inspired to take action against it.

An excellent addition to any library or bookshelf, ‘Saving Sorya’ is an empowering and inspiring story.

Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear

Trang Nguyen, illustrated by Jeet Zdung

Macmillan ISBN: 978-0753446591