Archives 9+
The Quest of the Warrior Sheep by Christopher and Christine Russell.
The Quest of the Warrior Sheep is the most unlikely of all epic adventure novels you will ever come across. When a mysterious object falls from the sky into their field, five rare breed sheep set out on a quest across England in a bid to save Aries, protector of all sheep, from the evil Lambad. They believe the object is the mighty Baaton, a mighty weapon which will help defeat this awful nemesis and so they head to the cold North where only the hardiest sheep can survive to begin their search.
The reality however is that the object is a mobile phone belonging to two bank robbers and has the details of all sorts of bank accounts on it. As you can imagine, they are desperate to rescue their phone and so begins an incredible chase across the country as sheep, robbers, the sheep’s owners and UFO spotters hurtle along on an assortment of improbable methods of transport which includes the London Eye, the tube and a plane! Sheep on a plane, whatever next? There is no end to the strange and the bizarre as our five brave and woolly heroes’ battle valiantly against the evil forces arrayed against them while stopping for more than a few food breaks along the way. Mmmm, cauliflower.
These types of books are always well received with a concoction of the weird and the ridiculous combined with plenty of action and gags which usually results in a great story for a spot of light reading. At first glance Christine and Christopher Russell seemed to have accomplished just that but as the tale developed certain aspects began to spoil my enjoyment of it. Take for example the dreadlocked rapper sheep and his constant contribution of bad “raps” which are not only not funny or well written but also hint at a desire to appear “accessible” to young readers no matter what the cost. There are times when things just become too ridiculous, apparently just for the sake of things, which is a shame because it tends to distract from some extremely quirky and imaginative goings on. The ending is especially creative and came as a bit of a surprise with a final little twist in the tail and just illustrates what an engaging plot hides behind the humour.
The characters are well written, in particular the human ones, with well defined personalities and lovable traits. My particular favourite was the huge ram, Oxo, who sees the world as something to be eaten or charged at and I can’t help hoping he will feature more heavily in the second book of the series.
An interesting start to the series even if the book does suffer from a few teething problems. Hopefully the second installation will emerge with these few kinks ironed out as the five heroic warrior sheep do battle once again.
Our thanks to Egmont for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
The reality however is that the object is a mobile phone belonging to two bank robbers and has the details of all sorts of bank accounts on it. As you can imagine, they are desperate to rescue their phone and so begins an incredible chase across the country as sheep, robbers, the sheep’s owners and UFO spotters hurtle along on an assortment of improbable methods of transport which includes the London Eye, the tube and a plane! Sheep on a plane, whatever next? There is no end to the strange and the bizarre as our five brave and woolly heroes’ battle valiantly against the evil forces arrayed against them while stopping for more than a few food breaks along the way. Mmmm, cauliflower.
These types of books are always well received with a concoction of the weird and the ridiculous combined with plenty of action and gags which usually results in a great story for a spot of light reading. At first glance Christine and Christopher Russell seemed to have accomplished just that but as the tale developed certain aspects began to spoil my enjoyment of it. Take for example the dreadlocked rapper sheep and his constant contribution of bad “raps” which are not only not funny or well written but also hint at a desire to appear “accessible” to young readers no matter what the cost. There are times when things just become too ridiculous, apparently just for the sake of things, which is a shame because it tends to distract from some extremely quirky and imaginative goings on. The ending is especially creative and came as a bit of a surprise with a final little twist in the tail and just illustrates what an engaging plot hides behind the humour.
The characters are well written, in particular the human ones, with well defined personalities and lovable traits. My particular favourite was the huge ram, Oxo, who sees the world as something to be eaten or charged at and I can’t help hoping he will feature more heavily in the second book of the series.
An interesting start to the series even if the book does suffer from a few teething problems. Hopefully the second installation will emerge with these few kinks ironed out as the five heroic warrior sheep do battle once again.
Our thanks to Egmont for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
The Toymaker by Jeremy De Quidt
When a story begins with giving life to an inanimate object, everyone knows that the tale can only end badly. As with Frankenstein, when Man seeks to do the work of God only chaos and death will follow and so it is with Jeremy De Quidt's fantastic and dark The Toymaker.
In a town in an unnamed European country with Germanic overtones, an old and famous Toymaker owns a shop. The rich come from miles around to buy his eerily lifelike creations but they are unaware of his darker secret. The Toymaker has given a toy a reaal heart and with a heart, life. Here lie the foundations for a haunting and disturbing tale of murder and intrigue.
Years later a young boy called Mathias tours with his grandfather Gustav and a travelling circus. Gustav has hinted at a terrible secret whenever he's drunk but until now there was never any reason to believe it was anything more than drunken rambling. Recently a strange man has started following the circus around and when Gustav finally catches sight of him, he collapses and dies. Mathias is literally bought by the strange Dr Leiter and his grandfather's belongings are ransacked. This searching is all in vain, because what the doctor wants is a little piece of paper hidden in Mathias' pocket. When the boy finally escapes the clutches of the evil Leiter and his strange servant, it triggers a hunt through the icy countryside. The piece of paper is half a map and Mathias is sure it will reveal his grandfather's secret. In his way stands an evil old man and the dark and evil monsters he keeps as pets.
The Toymaker is the story of a compelling search for the truth and, in this case, a horrifying truth. A part of what makes this book an extraordinary one is its rapid and inventive plot. Despite the many hints and clues that litter the story, the end is still unforeseeable for much of the book and the part the Toymaker plays doesn't appear until well over three quarters of the plot. When you reach the end the author still manages to shock you with the final, disturbing twist.
Another major part to this tale is its haunting and chilling setting. The characters suffer a series of serious and rather graphic injuries, including torture. The violence is rather hard-hitting for a book targeted at 9-12 year olds, such as people's fingers being snapped and worse; a young girl, sidekick to Mathias, suffers from a head injury that frequently causes her to have fits and collapse and these attacks can be a little disturbing.
Finally we come to the characters themselves. The author gives you a very close look at what goes on their minds and like all people, some of those thoughts can be vicious and dark. Despite this you cannot help but feel pity for them, even when they are spouting hatred or physically assaulting someone and that is due to a cleverly created past for each and every one. Every character has a shadowy and often sad period of their lives that lead them to this moment and the horrendous and presumably short future they have left.
This is a thrilling and horrifying story which I seriously believe isn't suitable for anyone under eleven. On the other hand, this is because The Toymaker is a fantastic and old-school tale of horror with monstrous creations. It is both frightening and disturbing but in the way that brings all the enjoyment that comes with that chill of fear that runs down your spine. Very dark and very good.
Our thanks to Random House for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Meteorite Strike by A.G. Taylor
Sarah and Robert are on the plane to Australia with their estranged father after the death of their mother, they don't want their lives to change but little do they know that the upheaval will be much bigger than just moving home and school. As their plane passes over the Australian desert there is a sudden weather disturbance and an announcement is made over the speakers, for some unknown reason the pilot is having some difficulty with the controls and electronics. Suddenly there's the screech of tortured engines and the plane plummets earthwards.
They hit the ground intact and luckily most of the people manage to escape alive but worse is to come as their fellow passengers just lie down on the floor and fall mysteriously to sleep. It would seem that just the two children and their father Daniel seem immune to the this strange sickness. Stuck alone in the desert their only chance of survival is to trek through the sand in search of help but when they finally come to a town, it's empty. Suddenly, men wearing bio-hazard suits burst in on them firing dart guns full of tranquilizers and when Sarah finally wakes up she's locked in a small room. It turns out an organization called HIDRA has captured the siblings but they claim their reasons are well-intentioned. Apparently a meteorite has struck Australia and unleashed a virus that puts most people to sleep but for some reason a few children are not only immune but they also develop strange powers.
HIDRA is a military and scientific organisation run by Colonel Moss who is meant to be developing a cure for the virus but is actually secretly carrying out research on the creation of his own super-army based on the children's powers. Sarah and Robert have to escape his clutches somehow. They know there are other children in the building and their best chance is to build their own small army. An army of kids with powers beyond their wildest dreams to take on and defeat this secret and evil force.
In some ways this was an easy book to call. There is absolutely no doubt that the story is full of action and excitement as well as some pretty cool super powers. Fire, telekinesis and control of the elements are just some of the awesome abilities the children possess. Best of all is little Louise, the youngest of the group who can twist, bend and break objects with her mind. She can be particularly and excitingly destructive when she chooses to be. The children have to practically take on an army and the ending involves a great showdown with tanks, helicopters and swarms of troopers. So if what you want is some real action then A.G Taylor doles it out by the spade full.
The characters should also appeal to kids. Gifted with huge powers they are also independent and resourceful. With barely any aid from adults they struggle to free themselves and defeat the Colonel's army. All children like a strong main character who can overcome tyrannous adults as well as drive some sort of assault vehicle! The plot is interesting and bounces along with a good pace and there are plenty of loose strands left for the next book of the series. There is no need to worry about content either as this is a very clean read with no blood, bad-language or serious violence.
The main problem with this book is that there is nothing that original with the story. The bad guys and their motivation are familiar and the children's super-powers sound like they have been taken straight from an X-men cartoon. In the end nothing comes as that much of a surprise which is something of a shame.
So if your child is already showing signs of enjoying the more subtle reads then this might not be for them but if your looking for an engaging and exciting light read then this will blow your socks off.
Our thanks to Usbourne for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
Every girl dreams of being a princess, but sometimes the life of a princess isn’t so great. This is where Facade can step in. A magical agency that provides surrogates for princesses who need to escape from the attention and pressure for a while, Facade are professional, efficient and ultra fashionable.
Desi is a normal, everyday girl. She goes to high school, has a part time job in a pet store and is not in with the popular crowd. She wishes her life could be different and voila, in steps Meredith, an agent for Facade who has spotted Desi’s magical potential. Desi is quickly whisked away to Facade HQ in Paris, undergoes a rigorous first assignment as a test and begins her life as a surrogate princess. She steps in for an shy princess with a domineering older sister and an Amazonian princess who must perform a ritual to become a woman. Not everything goes to plan. Desi has trouble sticking to the strict Facade guidelines; act as your princess would act, do not become involved and do not change anything. She feels the need to make an impact, to make things better for her princesses but she doesn’t always get things right. Her mistakes mean that her future as a princess subsitute is under threat and she has just one more chance to prove that she is worthy. Her desire to help hinders her once more however, when she gets involved in a love triangle involving her princess, the Duchess Olivia and the romantic, although slightly geeky, Prince Karl.
Princess for Hire is a riot of a read. We’ve all wanted to do something more glamorous with our lives but Desi shows that living the high life is not all it promises to be. Princesses are people and often have the same problems, but living in other people’s shoes gives Desi the confidence to do something about her own life, like ditching her crush, who is clearly no good. Desi is a really likeable character and you can quickly warm to her motive to do good and her normal, girl next door personality. Added to this everyday character is the very unusual premise of a magical agency, staffed with beautiful and charming ladies who are all fashionable and well connected. This adds the glamour, and quite often the humour, that lift this book from an easy read for girls into an pretty amusing and entertaining story. Its a natural progression from Jacqueline Wilson style novels into something a little more grown up, but still keeps its charm.
Our thanks to Egmont for sending us a copy.
Review by Joanna@KidsCompass.
Desi is a normal, everyday girl. She goes to high school, has a part time job in a pet store and is not in with the popular crowd. She wishes her life could be different and voila, in steps Meredith, an agent for Facade who has spotted Desi’s magical potential. Desi is quickly whisked away to Facade HQ in Paris, undergoes a rigorous first assignment as a test and begins her life as a surrogate princess. She steps in for an shy princess with a domineering older sister and an Amazonian princess who must perform a ritual to become a woman. Not everything goes to plan. Desi has trouble sticking to the strict Facade guidelines; act as your princess would act, do not become involved and do not change anything. She feels the need to make an impact, to make things better for her princesses but she doesn’t always get things right. Her mistakes mean that her future as a princess subsitute is under threat and she has just one more chance to prove that she is worthy. Her desire to help hinders her once more however, when she gets involved in a love triangle involving her princess, the Duchess Olivia and the romantic, although slightly geeky, Prince Karl.
Princess for Hire is a riot of a read. We’ve all wanted to do something more glamorous with our lives but Desi shows that living the high life is not all it promises to be. Princesses are people and often have the same problems, but living in other people’s shoes gives Desi the confidence to do something about her own life, like ditching her crush, who is clearly no good. Desi is a really likeable character and you can quickly warm to her motive to do good and her normal, girl next door personality. Added to this everyday character is the very unusual premise of a magical agency, staffed with beautiful and charming ladies who are all fashionable and well connected. This adds the glamour, and quite often the humour, that lift this book from an easy read for girls into an pretty amusing and entertaining story. Its a natural progression from Jacqueline Wilson style novels into something a little more grown up, but still keeps its charm.
Our thanks to Egmont for sending us a copy.
Review by Joanna@KidsCompass.
The Egyptian Chronicles 3: The Sacred Scarab by Gill Murphy
In this third book of the Egyptian Chronicles series, Isis, her brother Hopi and their dancing troupe are involved in an evil plot. A mysterious relation turns up at the family’s door begging for help. His farm was hit by a plague of mice and almost all their crop of grain was destroyed and what little was left was stolen by officials under the orders of Abana the tax collector. With no food left, he has turned to the troupe for aide. It turns out that grain is being taken from farmers all over the province while Abana’s personal granary is stuffed to the brim and boats are heading up the Nile to sell the stock and reap the illegal benefits. Isis and Hopi have just one chance; the King is coming to town for a festival and the troupe will be performing before him. If they can impress him enough they will be granted a favour and they would choose an investigation into the tax collecting. But before that they somehow have to avoid Abana’s men who are out to silence them.
The first thing you notice while reading this book is just how knowledgeable the author really is about Egypt and its history. Gill Harvey and has spent a lot of time in the country and you can tell by the way the smell of the desert leaps of the page. He has created an adventure story in a very atmospheric and ancient setting and therefore the book is crammed full of facts and history. There is plenty of stuff to learn here about the little details of day to day life from clothing to lifestyles. On top of that there are a few pages at the end called the “fascinating fact file” and covers subjects from mummies to scarabs.
On the down side all this does not cover up the lack of plotline. This is an adventure story without any adventure, suspense or interesting characters. Despite the fact that the characters are supposedly in mortal danger at one stage there is no real sense of peril and the whole thing is avoided by posting someone at the door to tell the guards that everyone has left. So no adventure there. Neither is this a mystery novel as there is no detective work involved to discover the criminal or indeed the crime. In the end it seems that the author has sacrificed a plot in favour of all the facts and that seems a bit sad for a mixture of both could have given us a great historical novel. As it is, this would be a good choice for children already interested in the period, or as an interesting springboard to learning more.
Our thanks to Bloomsbury for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
The first thing you notice while reading this book is just how knowledgeable the author really is about Egypt and its history. Gill Harvey and has spent a lot of time in the country and you can tell by the way the smell of the desert leaps of the page. He has created an adventure story in a very atmospheric and ancient setting and therefore the book is crammed full of facts and history. There is plenty of stuff to learn here about the little details of day to day life from clothing to lifestyles. On top of that there are a few pages at the end called the “fascinating fact file” and covers subjects from mummies to scarabs.
On the down side all this does not cover up the lack of plotline. This is an adventure story without any adventure, suspense or interesting characters. Despite the fact that the characters are supposedly in mortal danger at one stage there is no real sense of peril and the whole thing is avoided by posting someone at the door to tell the guards that everyone has left. So no adventure there. Neither is this a mystery novel as there is no detective work involved to discover the criminal or indeed the crime. In the end it seems that the author has sacrificed a plot in favour of all the facts and that seems a bit sad for a mixture of both could have given us a great historical novel. As it is, this would be a good choice for children already interested in the period, or as an interesting springboard to learning more.
Our thanks to Bloomsbury for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Tassie and the Black Baron by Katie Roy
It’ difficult having the most embarrassing family in the world. Tassie’s Mum, Dad and twin younger brothers never fail to cause mayhem wherever they go, so you can understand why she isn’t looking forward to a daytrip to Huffington Castle with some strange old lady in tow. The thing is, this doesn’t turn out like a normal trip. While the family is off causing trouble, Tassie and her new elderly friend, Grandma, travel back in time to save a certain Prince Billy from the evil Black Baron, Brutus. As Tassie lands in the middle of a busy medieval castle (with Grandma as a talking horse!) she soon learns that poor Prince Billy is a bit of a wimp who just wants to marry his beloved Princess Violetzka and write terrible poetry. But his cousin Brutus has come to the castle and intends to stay. He plans to duel Billy to the death, kill his father, marry Violetzka and sell off all the peasant children. If Tassie wants to change history and turn Huffington into a cheerful place once again, she must think of a way to save Billy from the Baron.
And so a plan is hatched! With the help of the peasants, Violetzka and a talking horse, Tassie is about to tackle Brutus’ weak spot, his hay fever! First of all they cram his tent full of flowers, next they cram his stomach full of food and with a sore belly and a runny nose they hope he will be no match for that poor soppy Billy. There is one unforeseen glitch however, Tassie’s family has travelled back in time and with their usual talent for chaos they are about to turn all of our hero’s plans upside down.
This is the perfect book for those who enjoy the Horrible Histories series but always wished they came with a story. A historical fiction that is at its heart a pure work of comedy with just the sort of goings on those young readers will find hilariously funny. Including some dreadful poetry, the hokey kokey, a talking horse and a young girl with a candle stuck to her head and bottom-kicking trainers on, there’s plenty to laugh at. Children should also strongly identify with Tassie, what child is not certain that their family is too embarrassing to bear? In this case however, it turns out to be true which will only add to the reader’s enjoyment as the story keeps cutting back to an argument between Tessie’s dad and the tour guide, descending into a pitch battle that results in the police being called out.
The heroine is an admirable role model with a very resourceful and determined attitude. She hatches one genius plan after another and has no time for bullies and fools. As you would expect, the story ends happily ever after with one final lesson. If you’re going to behave like a bully and take over someone’s kingdom, make sure there aren’t any time-travelling girls around or you’re doomed!
An excellent and funny light read for a rainy day or after a visit to your local castle. A book for all those dreamers who just wish they could go back in time.
Our thanks to Egmont for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
And so a plan is hatched! With the help of the peasants, Violetzka and a talking horse, Tassie is about to tackle Brutus’ weak spot, his hay fever! First of all they cram his tent full of flowers, next they cram his stomach full of food and with a sore belly and a runny nose they hope he will be no match for that poor soppy Billy. There is one unforeseen glitch however, Tassie’s family has travelled back in time and with their usual talent for chaos they are about to turn all of our hero’s plans upside down.
This is the perfect book for those who enjoy the Horrible Histories series but always wished they came with a story. A historical fiction that is at its heart a pure work of comedy with just the sort of goings on those young readers will find hilariously funny. Including some dreadful poetry, the hokey kokey, a talking horse and a young girl with a candle stuck to her head and bottom-kicking trainers on, there’s plenty to laugh at. Children should also strongly identify with Tassie, what child is not certain that their family is too embarrassing to bear? In this case however, it turns out to be true which will only add to the reader’s enjoyment as the story keeps cutting back to an argument between Tessie’s dad and the tour guide, descending into a pitch battle that results in the police being called out.
The heroine is an admirable role model with a very resourceful and determined attitude. She hatches one genius plan after another and has no time for bullies and fools. As you would expect, the story ends happily ever after with one final lesson. If you’re going to behave like a bully and take over someone’s kingdom, make sure there aren’t any time-travelling girls around or you’re doomed!
An excellent and funny light read for a rainy day or after a visit to your local castle. A book for all those dreamers who just wish they could go back in time.
Our thanks to Egmont for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Sea Wolf by David Miller
There is a return to the Borneo and the place of their first adventure for Hannah and her brother Ned. After the excitement of Shark Island comes a second book in the series as the pair head off to meet up with their old friend Jik and hopefully have some more fun and adventures. There is such a thing as too much fun however as straight from the start they are caught out at sea by a huge typhoon. Their boat is collapsed and Ned is swept away. Hannah and Jik are left clinging to driftwood but before long a boat bears down upon them and they are dragged aboard a fishing boat captained by an old foe. Badly treated and fed, they are forced to join other young boys as they dive for fish in exhausting hard labour. With no chance of escape they look certain to be worked to death.
An unexpected event leads to Hannah saving the captain’s life and light is shone over events of the past. It turns out that the crew of the Dreamboat is not so evil after all. Before long Hannah and Jik are handed over to another ship to be sent home, but within a few pages they are captured and sold to a man known only as the Sea Wolf. The man is the dreaded Datuk, who tried to have the children’s parents killed in the previous novel. Not content with running a multi-million pound criminal empire, he has plotted for revenge upon the children after they foiled his plans. With Ned already in his hands and Hannah and Jik’s arrival he looks set to finally finish them off. The three must somehow escape and bring his empire down around him if they ever wish to be safe.
Sea Wolf is an entertaining enough story but unfortunately houses a few problems that might ruin the effect for some readers. There is no denying that the plot is crammed full of action and is hurled forward at an almost maniacal pace. From the very beginning the book resembles a Hollywood production as the children are faced with drama after the other with absolutely no pause for breath. No sooner are they out of one scrape before being cast back into the action within the next few pages. As you can imagine this will be quite appealing to young readers, especially the more adventurous type who like their entertainment to come thick and fast. On the other hand this also supplies the book with one of its biggest drawbacks. There is no time to dwell on any of the characters, or form them to develop in any way. As a consequence it isn’t easy to grow attached to them and it’s difficult to remember any defining character traits just a few hours after finishing the story.
Another drawback is the somewhat unrealistic plot, with the characters falling into the clutches of their enemies a few too many times by mere coincidence. As for the captain of the Dreamboat, we are expected to believe that his actually a good guy despite the fact that he appears to have no qualms over throwing a couple of children to the sharks!
Sea Wolf is a lot of fun, and if you’re looking for excitement, thrills and jam packed danger then this is the book for you. It could have done with stronger characters to give it depth, but it is no less entertaining for that.
Our thanks to OUP for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
An unexpected event leads to Hannah saving the captain’s life and light is shone over events of the past. It turns out that the crew of the Dreamboat is not so evil after all. Before long Hannah and Jik are handed over to another ship to be sent home, but within a few pages they are captured and sold to a man known only as the Sea Wolf. The man is the dreaded Datuk, who tried to have the children’s parents killed in the previous novel. Not content with running a multi-million pound criminal empire, he has plotted for revenge upon the children after they foiled his plans. With Ned already in his hands and Hannah and Jik’s arrival he looks set to finally finish them off. The three must somehow escape and bring his empire down around him if they ever wish to be safe.
Sea Wolf is an entertaining enough story but unfortunately houses a few problems that might ruin the effect for some readers. There is no denying that the plot is crammed full of action and is hurled forward at an almost maniacal pace. From the very beginning the book resembles a Hollywood production as the children are faced with drama after the other with absolutely no pause for breath. No sooner are they out of one scrape before being cast back into the action within the next few pages. As you can imagine this will be quite appealing to young readers, especially the more adventurous type who like their entertainment to come thick and fast. On the other hand this also supplies the book with one of its biggest drawbacks. There is no time to dwell on any of the characters, or form them to develop in any way. As a consequence it isn’t easy to grow attached to them and it’s difficult to remember any defining character traits just a few hours after finishing the story.
Another drawback is the somewhat unrealistic plot, with the characters falling into the clutches of their enemies a few too many times by mere coincidence. As for the captain of the Dreamboat, we are expected to believe that his actually a good guy despite the fact that he appears to have no qualms over throwing a couple of children to the sharks!
Sea Wolf is a lot of fun, and if you’re looking for excitement, thrills and jam packed danger then this is the book for you. It could have done with stronger characters to give it depth, but it is no less entertaining for that.
Our thanks to OUP for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Skate School: Ice Princess by Kay Woodward
Frankie has a passion for ice skating. Her family are average; loud siblings, busy parents, a stretched income and so she can never be more than an amateur. Still, she devotes every spare minute to skating at her local rink and it is there that she is talent spotted by Madame Kristiana von Berne, the director of Team
GB, the British Ice Skating Winter Olympics team.
Madame Kristiana spots Frankie's natural talents and whisks her away to Switzerland to begin training with the rest of the team. They are not all as friendly as Frankie hopes, especially not Scarlett and Flic, the popular, rich, and above all, star skaters of Team GB. Frankie, miles from home and feeling inadequate, puts all her effort into training and it soon begins to pay off. She is finally good enough to participate in the British Junior championships, but will she be brave enough to try a risky move that could just win her the gold medal?
This is a pretty good example of its genre. Frankie is normal, very likeable, and has characteristics that shine through and make her an excellent role model. Madame Kristiana von Berne has an interesting back story that adds some much needed flesh to the bones of the main plotline. The popular girls are too typical, the normal, unfriendly high school clique, which is a failing. The book is also quite heavy on ice skating related terminology, which means for sections of the book that ought to be exciting and fast paced make absolutely no sense to the uninitiated. Having said that, overall the story is interesting and should appeal to all little girls that have big dreams.
Our thanks to Usbourne for sending us a copy.
Review by Joanna@KidsCompass.
GB, the British Ice Skating Winter Olympics team.
Madame Kristiana spots Frankie's natural talents and whisks her away to Switzerland to begin training with the rest of the team. They are not all as friendly as Frankie hopes, especially not Scarlett and Flic, the popular, rich, and above all, star skaters of Team GB. Frankie, miles from home and feeling inadequate, puts all her effort into training and it soon begins to pay off. She is finally good enough to participate in the British Junior championships, but will she be brave enough to try a risky move that could just win her the gold medal?
This is a pretty good example of its genre. Frankie is normal, very likeable, and has characteristics that shine through and make her an excellent role model. Madame Kristiana von Berne has an interesting back story that adds some much needed flesh to the bones of the main plotline. The popular girls are too typical, the normal, unfriendly high school clique, which is a failing. The book is also quite heavy on ice skating related terminology, which means for sections of the book that ought to be exciting and fast paced make absolutely no sense to the uninitiated. Having said that, overall the story is interesting and should appeal to all little girls that have big dreams.
Our thanks to Usbourne for sending us a copy.
Review by Joanna@KidsCompass.
No Such Thing As Dragons by Philip Reeve
Ansel is a ten year old boy living in a quiet medieval village who since the shock of his mother's death he has remained a mute. His father believes him to be useless so it's a surprise when a knight arrives in town and buys Ansel to become his servant. The knight is Brock, a fearsome dragon slayer with the scars to prove it, touring the land hunting down the vicious beasts in return for payment. But as the pair journey onwards, Ansel starts to learn a few things about his new master. First of all, he's a fraud who pretends to kill dragons in order to win fame and fortune. Secondly he's never even seen a dragon and the reason for this is simple; dragons don't exist. Things look like they are going well when the travellers arrive at a town suffering from a ‘dragon’ problem. A man has disappeared as well as cattle and sheep and the peasants refuse to work near the mountain which has long been the home of a fierce beast. It seems like another opportunity to trick money out of some gullible townspeople, so Brock and Ansel travel up the mountain where they plan to spend a few days before returning victorious. Things start to go wrong very quickly as they find a terrified young girl hiding in the shack they planned to use. She tells them that she was meant as a sacrifice to the dragon, that it is most definitely real and is likely to be coming for them all any moment now.
Philip Reeve always delivers books that are brilliantly written with fantastic flowing descriptive passages. His descriptions and language sweep you to the mountain side with Ansel as the dragon bears down. This and the clever, polished writing style make this an entertaining enough story but it does feel as if something is lacking. The plot starts off well and has a lot of promise but dramatic tension builds up to anticlimaxes. There are no surprises and as the reader realises that the suspense will come to nothing, little excitement. The fact that it is so short, only two hundred pages, also makes sympathising with the characters difficult as there isn’t time to develop either a back story or the main characters. There is a feeling that this was written by an author with only half a mind on his work while the rest was dreaming up bigger things.
This is by no means a bad story. Although short and fairly simple, this book will be accessible to a younger age range than some of Reeve’s other work. There is a lot of action, a little bit of blood and violence which is only to be expected in a dragon tale and it is by and large enjoyable although it is a little disappointing after its initial promise.
Our thanks to Scholastic for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Philip Reeve always delivers books that are brilliantly written with fantastic flowing descriptive passages. His descriptions and language sweep you to the mountain side with Ansel as the dragon bears down. This and the clever, polished writing style make this an entertaining enough story but it does feel as if something is lacking. The plot starts off well and has a lot of promise but dramatic tension builds up to anticlimaxes. There are no surprises and as the reader realises that the suspense will come to nothing, little excitement. The fact that it is so short, only two hundred pages, also makes sympathising with the characters difficult as there isn’t time to develop either a back story or the main characters. There is a feeling that this was written by an author with only half a mind on his work while the rest was dreaming up bigger things.
This is by no means a bad story. Although short and fairly simple, this book will be accessible to a younger age range than some of Reeve’s other work. There is a lot of action, a little bit of blood and violence which is only to be expected in a dragon tale and it is by and large enjoyable although it is a little disappointing after its initial promise.
Our thanks to Scholastic for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
The Parliament of Blood by Justin Richards
It's 1886 in Victorian London and the book opens with a murder and the unwrapping of an ancient Egyptian mummy. George, Liz, Eddie and Sir William are all present at the ceremony when some blood is accidentally tipped into the mummy's mouth who rises from his resting place and staggers out into the fog. Unlike everyone else the friends do not believe this to be a prank and decide to investigate. A trail of bodies completely drained of blood and some unusual discoveries lead them to the only conclusion possible; Vampires are not a myth and are present on the streets of London. An organisation called the Damnation Club is the headquarters for a vast and secret group of vampires who have infiltrated many positions of importance within English society. It is they who engineered the escape of the mummy Orabis, the Lord of the Undead, who has vowed to take over the British Empire and then the world! The four friends must act quickly to find and destroy the missing piece of the puzzle Orabis' heart, the only thing keeping him from world domination. With the help of Liz's father, who has a great lot of experience fighting these evil creatures, they must gather what weapons they have and prepare themselves for the final showdown in the houses of parliament on the very night when the dead awaken and roam the streets.
For those who like the traditional vampire stories this may very well be the book for you. These vampires are subject to the usual laws, a sensitivity to light, a dislike of garlic and holy water. The author has adapted some of the myths to his needs, for example the fear of flowing water which is accredited to the weakness of vampires hearts. As for the creatures themselves they are alluring, charming and powerful but also incredibly dangerous and ambitious. In fact the vampires are better developed and much more interesting than the main characters themselves.
These four are rather tame and uninspiring. George, the worthy but poor young man, hero of the tale but too stiff and stale to become attached to. Secondly there's Eddie, a boy taken from the streets where he was a pickpocket, a shadowy imitation of the Artful Dodger. Next is Sir William, the elderly but knowledgeable leader of the group who makes all the deductions and decisions. Finally there is Liz the beautiful love interest, who is the weakest of them all with an incredibly implausible role in the showdown. They all have their moments of bravery and an important role to play at the end but it is very difficult to like or even have a great interest in them.
The story is meandering and vague, especially at the beginning, but it speeds up towards the end and races to a thrilling and exciting end where all the pieces of the plot cleverly come together to create a satisfying conclusion. For lovers of the supernatural this may be a snack rather than a feast of a book and for those looking for the dark and dank streets of Victorian London, there are far better novels out there.
Our thanks to Faber for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
For those who like the traditional vampire stories this may very well be the book for you. These vampires are subject to the usual laws, a sensitivity to light, a dislike of garlic and holy water. The author has adapted some of the myths to his needs, for example the fear of flowing water which is accredited to the weakness of vampires hearts. As for the creatures themselves they are alluring, charming and powerful but also incredibly dangerous and ambitious. In fact the vampires are better developed and much more interesting than the main characters themselves.
These four are rather tame and uninspiring. George, the worthy but poor young man, hero of the tale but too stiff and stale to become attached to. Secondly there's Eddie, a boy taken from the streets where he was a pickpocket, a shadowy imitation of the Artful Dodger. Next is Sir William, the elderly but knowledgeable leader of the group who makes all the deductions and decisions. Finally there is Liz the beautiful love interest, who is the weakest of them all with an incredibly implausible role in the showdown. They all have their moments of bravery and an important role to play at the end but it is very difficult to like or even have a great interest in them.
The story is meandering and vague, especially at the beginning, but it speeds up towards the end and races to a thrilling and exciting end where all the pieces of the plot cleverly come together to create a satisfying conclusion. For lovers of the supernatural this may be a snack rather than a feast of a book and for those looking for the dark and dank streets of Victorian London, there are far better novels out there.
Our thanks to Faber for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Mousehunters by Alex Milway
Imagine a world where mice played a more important role than any other animal. These mice would come in all shapes and sizes with a variety of different skills from flying to razor sharp claws. This is the world of Mousehunters. Isiah Lovelock is the world's most famous mouse collector in the world as well as the richest and most powerful man in Old Town. By comparison his young mousekeeper, Emiline, could not be any more insignificant. When Lovelock receives a warning from the most feared pirate on the seas Mousebeard, Emiline jumps at the chance to become part of the famous Captain Drewshank's crew as they set out to catch this pirate and bring him to justice.
What follows is a terrifying encounter with sea monsters and a confrontation with the dreaded Mousebeard. Things don't turn out as hoped when they are overpowered and captured before the terrible truth behind their quest is revealed. Lovelock has betrayed them all, sacrificing Drewshank and his crew in order to take Mousebeard prisoner but more importantly to retrieve two incredibly valuable golden mice. Emiline and her fellow mousekeeper Scratcher must act fast to save their friends and halt Lovelock's plan for world dominance.
Mousehunters is above all a tale of piracy and adventure. The mouse theme gives it a very original twist however that reminds me quite strongly of the popular Pokemon television series. Nearly every character has their own pet mouse, each with different abilities and uses. The mice are present in every walk of life and carry out many tasks in society from working as moving drink trays in taverns to repairing ropes high up in the rigging of ships. Mouse collecting is a serious and deadly occupation with a lot of money at stake as the more ruthless collectors are casual with other’s lives in order to obtain the rarer breeds. This plays a major part in the clever plotline to this exciting and novel book. Alex Milway is a good writer but above all he is a great entertainer, as the story rushes on at breakneck speed throwing up dangers and seedy characters at every turn. The sudden change in the plot as it unveils many more layers of betrayal and subterfuge was completely unexpected but utterly welcome.
The world of Mousehunters is one closely resembling the old sea towns at the borders of the British Empire where pirates and soldiers rubbed shoulders among the dingy alleyways of rotten old towns. You get a real feel for this through Milway's writing and can almost smell the reek of stale seawater and hear the creaking of rope as the bodies on the gibbet twist in the wind. Despite the high body count there is no real violence to this book which deals with a gruesome and bloody era in a way that makes it completely suitable for young children. So sit back and enjoy the first of what is bound to be a great trilogy, of which the second book is already released and the third is due in a matter of months.
Our thanks to Faber & Faber for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
What follows is a terrifying encounter with sea monsters and a confrontation with the dreaded Mousebeard. Things don't turn out as hoped when they are overpowered and captured before the terrible truth behind their quest is revealed. Lovelock has betrayed them all, sacrificing Drewshank and his crew in order to take Mousebeard prisoner but more importantly to retrieve two incredibly valuable golden mice. Emiline and her fellow mousekeeper Scratcher must act fast to save their friends and halt Lovelock's plan for world dominance.
Mousehunters is above all a tale of piracy and adventure. The mouse theme gives it a very original twist however that reminds me quite strongly of the popular Pokemon television series. Nearly every character has their own pet mouse, each with different abilities and uses. The mice are present in every walk of life and carry out many tasks in society from working as moving drink trays in taverns to repairing ropes high up in the rigging of ships. Mouse collecting is a serious and deadly occupation with a lot of money at stake as the more ruthless collectors are casual with other’s lives in order to obtain the rarer breeds. This plays a major part in the clever plotline to this exciting and novel book. Alex Milway is a good writer but above all he is a great entertainer, as the story rushes on at breakneck speed throwing up dangers and seedy characters at every turn. The sudden change in the plot as it unveils many more layers of betrayal and subterfuge was completely unexpected but utterly welcome.
The world of Mousehunters is one closely resembling the old sea towns at the borders of the British Empire where pirates and soldiers rubbed shoulders among the dingy alleyways of rotten old towns. You get a real feel for this through Milway's writing and can almost smell the reek of stale seawater and hear the creaking of rope as the bodies on the gibbet twist in the wind. Despite the high body count there is no real violence to this book which deals with a gruesome and bloody era in a way that makes it completely suitable for young children. So sit back and enjoy the first of what is bound to be a great trilogy, of which the second book is already released and the third is due in a matter of months.
Our thanks to Faber & Faber for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Blood Hunters by Steve Voake
This story begins deep in a Mexican jungle where a team of scientists are exploring the world's deepest sinkhole. A little unmanned submarine is sent down but it's cameras pick up strange dark shapes swimming at the bottom just before they short-circuit. When the machine re-emerges one of the scientists, William Sims, notices a strange green goo stuck to the bottom. He scoops it up and smuggles it back to Britain.
Two big thing happened to Joe in just one day. First of all he makes a friend in the new boy at school, Giles. Secondly his scientist father is arrested for the murder of William Sims. Convinced of his innocence Joe and Giles set out to discover the real culprit.
Meanwhile savage attacks are being carried out against members of the public and the police are baffled. The boys suspect that something unusual is happening. Their investigations lead them to the canal where they are suddenly and violently attacked by a giant wormlike creature that surges from the waters intent on killing them. Narrowly escaping they are forced to turn to the police who are forced to face facts and an armed team is sent in to destroy this new threat. But the reality is far worse than they thought and Joe's father believes the monsters to be the Earth's reaction to human overpopulation.
Blood Hunters is fast paced, packed with action and the thrill of danger. There are plenty of fight scenes against these scary and revolting invaders with everything from guns, helicopters to cricket bats used in the attempt to beat them back. The characters are interesting and believable with a well developed background to all of them no matter how insignificant a part they may play. Giles was a particular favourite with his constant optimistic view of the world and his bravery. Joe, who is normally self-effacing, becomes determined and a bit aggressive when put in a life threatening situation. There is a strong eco message as the author deals with the theme of overpopulation and the way humankind abuses the earth. He compares the appearance and rapid reproduction of the worms to the actions of white blood cells when faced with an infection. The monsters are the Earth's attempt to curb the spread of humans over its surface.
There are some drawbacks however. It's difficult to decide just what age range the book is for with it's huge writing and simple plot indicating a younger age than its sometimes gory moments may allow for. There is also a rather repetitive element to the story with some action scenes seemingly recycled and losing originality, especially with regards to the strange fixation of fighting cricket bat and many other cricket related moments. At one point the two boys employ the bat and some bricks to good effect as one throws the bricks up for the other to hit, shooting giant beasts out of the sky. If this had been written differently it could have been comedy genius but as it was it seemed very much out of place with the feel of the book. The same could be said for the use of swords (twice), that are conveniently hanging on a wall in a house where children live. All very bizarre when mingled with the impressive firepower of a helicopter gunship.
All in all this was a reasonable enjoyable read suitable for children over ten, unless the reader is of a sensitive nature, in which case we would recommend a twelve + limit.
Our thanks to Faber & Faber for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Two big thing happened to Joe in just one day. First of all he makes a friend in the new boy at school, Giles. Secondly his scientist father is arrested for the murder of William Sims. Convinced of his innocence Joe and Giles set out to discover the real culprit.
Meanwhile savage attacks are being carried out against members of the public and the police are baffled. The boys suspect that something unusual is happening. Their investigations lead them to the canal where they are suddenly and violently attacked by a giant wormlike creature that surges from the waters intent on killing them. Narrowly escaping they are forced to turn to the police who are forced to face facts and an armed team is sent in to destroy this new threat. But the reality is far worse than they thought and Joe's father believes the monsters to be the Earth's reaction to human overpopulation.
Blood Hunters is fast paced, packed with action and the thrill of danger. There are plenty of fight scenes against these scary and revolting invaders with everything from guns, helicopters to cricket bats used in the attempt to beat them back. The characters are interesting and believable with a well developed background to all of them no matter how insignificant a part they may play. Giles was a particular favourite with his constant optimistic view of the world and his bravery. Joe, who is normally self-effacing, becomes determined and a bit aggressive when put in a life threatening situation. There is a strong eco message as the author deals with the theme of overpopulation and the way humankind abuses the earth. He compares the appearance and rapid reproduction of the worms to the actions of white blood cells when faced with an infection. The monsters are the Earth's attempt to curb the spread of humans over its surface.
There are some drawbacks however. It's difficult to decide just what age range the book is for with it's huge writing and simple plot indicating a younger age than its sometimes gory moments may allow for. There is also a rather repetitive element to the story with some action scenes seemingly recycled and losing originality, especially with regards to the strange fixation of fighting cricket bat and many other cricket related moments. At one point the two boys employ the bat and some bricks to good effect as one throws the bricks up for the other to hit, shooting giant beasts out of the sky. If this had been written differently it could have been comedy genius but as it was it seemed very much out of place with the feel of the book. The same could be said for the use of swords (twice), that are conveniently hanging on a wall in a house where children live. All very bizarre when mingled with the impressive firepower of a helicopter gunship.
All in all this was a reasonable enjoyable read suitable for children over ten, unless the reader is of a sensitive nature, in which case we would recommend a twelve + limit.
Our thanks to Faber & Faber for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
The Battle of the Sun by Jeanette Winterson
Jack is a thirteen year old boy living in 17th Century London. He doesn't know it yet but an evil alchemist calling himself the Magus is planning to overthrow the Queen of England and take control of the kingdom for himself. To do this he will turn the entire capital, including the inhabitants, into gold. The final ingredient is the Radiant Boy, who is the key to finally turning base objects into solid gold. Jack is that boy and so finds himself kidnapped, taken to the disturbing home of the Magus who seeks to unlock his magic and bend Jack to his will. The young boy is by no means a willing captive and soon discovers another prisoner who was once the Magus' master. This prisoner promises to give him the key to escaping if he will free him in return. What follows is whirlwind of events where Jack meets a dragon and gains his own powers and superhuman strength. But the boy has no control over his new magic and is no match for the cunning Magus. Forced to obey him they set events in motion that will lead to the city being turned to gold in just a few days. With the Magus gone to prepare for his confrontation with the Queen, Jack is left to find a way to somehow defeat him. Helped by Silver, the futuristic heroine from the previous book of the series Tanglewreck, he sets out to not only save the city but everyone he loves before it is too late.
The Battle of the Sun is a highly imaginative book with strange creatures, most of which are unpleasant, making appearances throughout the tale. The best of these is the Creature(s) that consist of Wedge and mistress Split who were made in a bottle as a whole and then cut in half. Their presence is both malevolent, pitiful and amusing as they hop around one legged. It's this cast of the weird and the wonderful that really gives this book such a compelling feel. The plot itself is rather basic but then takes on so many unexpected twists and turns that it will leave the reader slightly out of breath and introduces a London that no-one could have imagined and even brings important figures such as the Queen into play. There is also a welcome return for Silver who saved the world in Tanglewreck. She is less prominent here as she figures as Jacks sidekick but nevertheless plays an important role as the book gears up towards the final deadly confrontation between the Magus and the Radiant boy.
Cleverly linked with the previous novel The Battle of the Sun can still be read as a stand alone book and there are also hints pointing to a third instalment. An exciting fantasy adventure this is highly enjoyable read. Do not let yourself be put of with Jeanette Winterson's unusual writing style which you will soon get used to and even grow to appreciate.
Our thanks to Bloomsbury for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
The Battle of the Sun is a highly imaginative book with strange creatures, most of which are unpleasant, making appearances throughout the tale. The best of these is the Creature(s) that consist of Wedge and mistress Split who were made in a bottle as a whole and then cut in half. Their presence is both malevolent, pitiful and amusing as they hop around one legged. It's this cast of the weird and the wonderful that really gives this book such a compelling feel. The plot itself is rather basic but then takes on so many unexpected twists and turns that it will leave the reader slightly out of breath and introduces a London that no-one could have imagined and even brings important figures such as the Queen into play. There is also a welcome return for Silver who saved the world in Tanglewreck. She is less prominent here as she figures as Jacks sidekick but nevertheless plays an important role as the book gears up towards the final deadly confrontation between the Magus and the Radiant boy.
Cleverly linked with the previous novel The Battle of the Sun can still be read as a stand alone book and there are also hints pointing to a third instalment. An exciting fantasy adventure this is highly enjoyable read. Do not let yourself be put of with Jeanette Winterson's unusual writing style which you will soon get used to and even grow to appreciate.
Our thanks to Bloomsbury for sending us a copy.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
The Death Defying Pepper Roux by Geraldine McCaughrean
On the day of his birth, Aunt Mireille announced that Pepper would die by his fourteenth birthday, le pauvre. Pepper lives his life with his mother and aunt, under strict control and in the knowledge that his life would be very short and he should prepare rigorously to meet God and all his saints and angels. The book begins on the morning of Pepper's fourteenth birthday and Pepper has decided that he does not want to die just yet. To escape the avenging angels and St Constance, who he is certain is coming to take him to the Lord, Pepper decides to step out of the life of Pepper Roux and take on another identity. He becomes Captain Roux the captain of a coffin ship doomed to sink, Konstantin Kruppe, a delivery boy for the French Telegraph Service and Pepper Papier, a journalist who wants to write only good news. Finally, his lives begin to crash around him, the saints eventually catch up and its up to Pepper and his friends to find a way to live past his fourteenth year.
Each life that Pepper takes on is a fascinating episode in the life of this loveable little boy. McCaughrean has written her characters extremely well and the supporting cast of quirky, unusual and yet believable characters move this book up from being a good read to a great classic. Every character, regardless of how small their role may be, is lifted from the page with turns of phrase and mannerisms that illuminate the story. Pepper himself is a wonderful character, beginning the story as a naive, downtrodden but polite little boy and growing over the course of the book into a capable, kind hearted and warm young man who is loved by all despite his twisted childhood. You naturally warm to Pepper and without realising it the reader soon becomes attached.
The Death Defying Pepper Roux is a delicate gem of a story, that rare book that should be savoured and enjoyed slowly rather than devoured in one sitting. That isn't to say the story isn't gripping; quite the opposite in fact, but I felt that I wanted to prolong this fantastic story by a superb writer.
Our thanks to OUP for sending us a copy.
Review by Joanna@KidsCompass.
Each life that Pepper takes on is a fascinating episode in the life of this loveable little boy. McCaughrean has written her characters extremely well and the supporting cast of quirky, unusual and yet believable characters move this book up from being a good read to a great classic. Every character, regardless of how small their role may be, is lifted from the page with turns of phrase and mannerisms that illuminate the story. Pepper himself is a wonderful character, beginning the story as a naive, downtrodden but polite little boy and growing over the course of the book into a capable, kind hearted and warm young man who is loved by all despite his twisted childhood. You naturally warm to Pepper and without realising it the reader soon becomes attached.
The Death Defying Pepper Roux is a delicate gem of a story, that rare book that should be savoured and enjoyed slowly rather than devoured in one sitting. That isn't to say the story isn't gripping; quite the opposite in fact, but I felt that I wanted to prolong this fantastic story by a superb writer.
Our thanks to OUP for sending us a copy.
Review by Joanna@KidsCompass.
The Comic Strip History of Space by Sally Kindburg & Tracey Turner
No one can fault the intentions of The Comic Book History of Space; imparting scientific knowledge in a light-hearted fashion so as to grab the interest of those who perhaps perceived science and history as dull subjects. Younger children will enjoy the humorous comic style, the bold illustrations and jokes; while older children will find the deluge of facts on the history of space both interesting and informative as they learn the basic facts about the universe and have an insight on just what our ancestors used to think about it. The book starts with the Big Bang and covers many subjects such as atoms, the solar system, ancient beliefs, famous astronomers and finishes with the recent history of space as far as humankind is concerned.
All this, however, also causes the book to fall short of its aspirations. Whilst the illustrations and style of writing seemed aimed at younger children, some of the subject matter may be to advanced for them. This is also not helped by the sometimes confusing way in which the book is laid out with so many facts crammed into to small a space. Older children on the other hand may find the style a bit patronising and more details as the comic strip aspect and the need to cover as many themes as possible often end up in over simplification.
The book does take a humorous approach to teaching which is always more likely to appeal to children then many other methods. The author has taken a serious subject often considered boring and stuffy and made it available to all ages, including adults, which can only be applauded. So while this will never become as hugely successful as the Horrible Histories series it will still hopefully gather a following of more scientific minded children.
Our thanks to Bloomsbury for sending us a copy.
Review by Jo@KidsCompass.
All this, however, also causes the book to fall short of its aspirations. Whilst the illustrations and style of writing seemed aimed at younger children, some of the subject matter may be to advanced for them. This is also not helped by the sometimes confusing way in which the book is laid out with so many facts crammed into to small a space. Older children on the other hand may find the style a bit patronising and more details as the comic strip aspect and the need to cover as many themes as possible often end up in over simplification.
The book does take a humorous approach to teaching which is always more likely to appeal to children then many other methods. The author has taken a serious subject often considered boring and stuffy and made it available to all ages, including adults, which can only be applauded. So while this will never become as hugely successful as the Horrible Histories series it will still hopefully gather a following of more scientific minded children.
Our thanks to Bloomsbury for sending us a copy.
Review by Jo@KidsCompass.
The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare
Quenelda's dream is to fly dragons for the STD (Stealth Dragon Services) like her father, fighting the hobgoblin armies that threaten the Seven Kingdoms. Unlike other girls Quenelda has no interest in court life and gossip but she does have a talent nobody else possesses, the ability to communicate with dragons. Born with a natural skill for flying she has no time for anyone without her talent so when her father forces her to take on a gnome who is not only inept but also terrified of dragons their friendship is unlikely. But as the war takes a turn for the worse and the survival of the Kingdoms becomes tenuous, it is this friendship that must unravel a conspiracy aimed at the heart of the STD itself and the life of her father.
This is a charming and exciting debut novel by Lucinda Hare. It will appeal mainly to girls, some of whom will sympathise with the heroines struggle to throw off society's prejudices in order to simply do what she does best, and better than most boys too. On the other hand, a whole host of fierce dragons, the vile hobgoblins and many other fantastic creatures ensure that there is plenty for boys to enjoy as well. The characters are detailed and credible and will evolve throughout to form a partnership that will involve the reader with them. The world around them is magnificently fierce and harsh lurking with evil beasts and violent storms, a perfect backdrop for the our heroines struggles. But the best part of all are the dragons who are incredibly elegant yet dangerous and fickle. Their names alone are worth reading, Quenelda's battledragon is called Two Gulps and You're Gone! Overall a well written and witty book that has a lot to offer.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
This is a charming and exciting debut novel by Lucinda Hare. It will appeal mainly to girls, some of whom will sympathise with the heroines struggle to throw off society's prejudices in order to simply do what she does best, and better than most boys too. On the other hand, a whole host of fierce dragons, the vile hobgoblins and many other fantastic creatures ensure that there is plenty for boys to enjoy as well. The characters are detailed and credible and will evolve throughout to form a partnership that will involve the reader with them. The world around them is magnificently fierce and harsh lurking with evil beasts and violent storms, a perfect backdrop for the our heroines struggles. But the best part of all are the dragons who are incredibly elegant yet dangerous and fickle. Their names alone are worth reading, Quenelda's battledragon is called Two Gulps and You're Gone! Overall a well written and witty book that has a lot to offer.
Review by James@KidsCompass.
Wilma Tenderfoot and the Case of the Frozen Hearts by Emma Kennedy
Wilma Tenderfoot is a small but determined ten year old girl who's dream is to become a great detective like her hero, Theodore P. Goodman, Cooper Island's greatest living detective. Unfortunately, Wilma is an orphan and confined to the Lowside Institute for Woeful Children and it looks like she will never get to fulfil her dream. When she is sold off to the horrible Mrs Waldock to work as a servant and finds out that she is now living next to her hero, the young girl is determined to impress him and become his apprentice. Fortunately (or not) a great crime has been committed, a priceless jewel has been stolen and innocent people murdered. The race is on for the detective and his unwanted but determined hindrance of an assistant to find the criminal before to many more people get hurt.
This is a entertaining and humorous read with a great main character who is both endearing and comical. The sentimentality of her hard and lonely life is by woven in a subtle way throughout the story and so avoids being overbearing. There is often a funny twist to her misfortune such as the chores she undertakes for Mrs Waldock, fishing for bogies and muddying the windows. The story is imaginative and the plot surprisingly complex and keeps you guessing (wrongly) right to the end. Even reluctant readers should find their imagination fired by the action and charm of this wonderful book. While murder and evil men abound it is lifted by a general feeling of light heartedness and you will really be hoping that all turns out well for this unfortunate but determined little girl.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass.
This is a entertaining and humorous read with a great main character who is both endearing and comical. The sentimentality of her hard and lonely life is by woven in a subtle way throughout the story and so avoids being overbearing. There is often a funny twist to her misfortune such as the chores she undertakes for Mrs Waldock, fishing for bogies and muddying the windows. The story is imaginative and the plot surprisingly complex and keeps you guessing (wrongly) right to the end. Even reluctant readers should find their imagination fired by the action and charm of this wonderful book. While murder and evil men abound it is lifted by a general feeling of light heartedness and you will really be hoping that all turns out well for this unfortunate but determined little girl.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass.
Skulduggery Pleasant, The Faceless Ones by Derek Landy
Skulduggery and Valkyrie are back again for a third action packed adventure! A series of murders has attracted the interest of the two detectives. Teleporters are being killed and there is no sign of a suspect. The pair are still banned from the Sanctuary and their investigation is hampered even further by the bumbling Detective Crux. As the situation worsens, it quickly becomes clear that the last Teleporter left alive, Fletcher Renn, is the key to the mystery and his safety is paramount. A plot to return the Faceless Ones to the earth is being set in motion, a deadly sect has set out to bring back these dark gods and doom the world to complete destruction. Worst of all, a spy has now infiltrated the Sanctuary, passing on vital secrets and endangering the heroes' lives as they race to save mankind.
The third book of this increasingly popular series will by no means disappoint! In fact, it is possibly the best of them all as the plot thickens and Skulduggery’s past begins to be revealed. This is magical action at its best, as the story rockets onwards leaving the reader out of breath and exhilarated. You will not want to put the book down as this clever and, at times, witty adventure drags you ever inwards with its twisting plot, great characters and brilliantly over the top fight scenes. A lot of the book’s supporting characters are wonderfully portrayed and delightfully ambiguous as the line between good and evil becomes blurred as they each pursue their own agenda. The ending is unexpected and gruesome and leaves the story on a cliff-hanger, ready for the next eagerly awaited instalment. There is little wonder that this series is getting such a strong and fervent following when Derek Landy never fails to increase an already frenetic tempo and delivers such exciting books.
A great book for over ten year olds. If you liked Harry Potter but thought it could do with some more action then this is the book for you.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass
The third book of this increasingly popular series will by no means disappoint! In fact, it is possibly the best of them all as the plot thickens and Skulduggery’s past begins to be revealed. This is magical action at its best, as the story rockets onwards leaving the reader out of breath and exhilarated. You will not want to put the book down as this clever and, at times, witty adventure drags you ever inwards with its twisting plot, great characters and brilliantly over the top fight scenes. A lot of the book’s supporting characters are wonderfully portrayed and delightfully ambiguous as the line between good and evil becomes blurred as they each pursue their own agenda. The ending is unexpected and gruesome and leaves the story on a cliff-hanger, ready for the next eagerly awaited instalment. There is little wonder that this series is getting such a strong and fervent following when Derek Landy never fails to increase an already frenetic tempo and delivers such exciting books.
A great book for over ten year olds. If you liked Harry Potter but thought it could do with some more action then this is the book for you.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass
Nathaniel Wolfe and the Bodysnatchers by Brian Keaney
Nathaniel Wolfe is bored. His life with his newly-found Grandfather is one of luxury and leisure, a vast change from his time spent working in the gutters of London, but he misses the excitement of his old life. This quickly changes however when a series of thefts from various graveyards by body snatchers begins. When a clerk from a law firm in London turns up at Nathaniel’s house with a story about a ghost haunting him, it seems that Wolfe is to make a trip to the city. Meeting up with his old friends Sophie and Lily he sets out to discover the reasons behind the haunting. Little does he suspect that this case and the body snatching are related. The story picks up pace as a large inheritance comes in to play with a vicious group of thugs after it.
A supernatural detective story set in Victorian London, the plot is simple and without any serious twists which makes this quite any easy read, perfect for young readers beginning to take an interest in mysteries. It will also appeal to those who enjoy ghost stories. That aside, there is no real thrill to this ghost hunt and the writer doesn’t quite manage to put the reader on the edge of their seat. This is perhaps due to the sedate progression of the plot line, with no particularly exciting action and the book gives the overall impression of a rather half-hearted plot. The main draw is the historical accuracy with which Brian Keaney describes Victorian society. Body snatching was a real problem at the time as was cholera, opium dens and even blocked sewer systems! The period lends itself very well to ghost stories and children will learn some interesting things from this tale. The lack of a gripping plotline aside, Nathaniel’s adventure is an enjoyable meander through a well researched supernatural mystery.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass
A supernatural detective story set in Victorian London, the plot is simple and without any serious twists which makes this quite any easy read, perfect for young readers beginning to take an interest in mysteries. It will also appeal to those who enjoy ghost stories. That aside, there is no real thrill to this ghost hunt and the writer doesn’t quite manage to put the reader on the edge of their seat. This is perhaps due to the sedate progression of the plot line, with no particularly exciting action and the book gives the overall impression of a rather half-hearted plot. The main draw is the historical accuracy with which Brian Keaney describes Victorian society. Body snatching was a real problem at the time as was cholera, opium dens and even blocked sewer systems! The period lends itself very well to ghost stories and children will learn some interesting things from this tale. The lack of a gripping plotline aside, Nathaniel’s adventure is an enjoyable meander through a well researched supernatural mystery.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass
Mad Dog Moonlight by Pauline Fisk
Mad Dog Moonlight was only a young boy when the police introduced him to the Lewis family, his new foster parents. Found wandering a lonely mountain road he had nothing but the baby in his arms and a silver-capped walking stick engraved with a mysterious word. He has no recollection of his life, where he came from or who his parents are. Struggling to come to terms with his lack of a past he often suffers from wanderlust, repeatedly disappearing at night and struggling to accept the restrictions of his new civilised life. Mad Dog gradually integrates into his new loving family but relapses are frequent especially after his first dramatic visit to Plynlimon a mysterious mountain that draws Mad Dog into a magical and thrilling adventure to uncover the secrets of his past.
While the story does have a supernatural element most of it is subtle and occurs quite late in the book. The majority of the tale deals with the emotional trauma felt by the young boy completely lost in the world that surrounds him. Beginning at the age of five and continuing through to the beginning of adolescence Mad Dog’s plight is a truly moving one. His keen sense of loss pulls at the heartstrings and the sort of behaviour that would normally be tiresome just leads the reader to feel even more pity for this lonely little boy. A story seemingly rooted in the characters search for an identity slowly becomes laced with a supernatural feel as small, almost unnoticeable, mysterious events start to occur, an aspect that will appeal to fans of surreal novels. A beautifully descriptive and well written novel, Pauline Fisk has produced a very good book whose only fault is a lack of a real climatic ending. While it won’t appeal to everyone, this is a good book and could be the perfect choice for those looking for a heart warming novel with a supernatural twist.
Reviewed by James@Kidscompass
While the story does have a supernatural element most of it is subtle and occurs quite late in the book. The majority of the tale deals with the emotional trauma felt by the young boy completely lost in the world that surrounds him. Beginning at the age of five and continuing through to the beginning of adolescence Mad Dog’s plight is a truly moving one. His keen sense of loss pulls at the heartstrings and the sort of behaviour that would normally be tiresome just leads the reader to feel even more pity for this lonely little boy. A story seemingly rooted in the characters search for an identity slowly becomes laced with a supernatural feel as small, almost unnoticeable, mysterious events start to occur, an aspect that will appeal to fans of surreal novels. A beautifully descriptive and well written novel, Pauline Fisk has produced a very good book whose only fault is a lack of a real climatic ending. While it won’t appeal to everyone, this is a good book and could be the perfect choice for those looking for a heart warming novel with a supernatural twist.
Reviewed by James@Kidscompass
Faerie Heart by Livi Michael
In a Dark Age village lives Keri, a girl who wants nothing more than to leave behind the chores and ‘girl stuff’ that fills her life and run away to the forest in search of fairies. At every opportunity she leaves the village in search of the magic the fill the tales that are told by the fireside. As a result of one of these escapades, her little brother is dying and in desperation she calls on Mabb, Queen of the Faeries, to take Keri and spare her little brother’s life.
Mabb grants Keri’s wish and Keri quickly learns to be careful what you wish for. Mabb is beautiful but cruel and manipulative. When Keri tries to escape she finds that time has passed differently with in the faerie realm, and though once more in the human world it is not the world she knew. She must go back to Mabb and her magical world and fight to get back to her family.
This book seems to separate into two sections although it is actually written in three. The first section sees Keri fighting against the restrictions she feels are placed upon her life. She does not at all enjoy the gender stereotype that she is being encouraged to conform to, particularly disliking the ‘girl chores’ she must do. Instead she longs to discover a new path for her life to take, which we feel will resonate with many children. The book then seems to swing quite quickly to a different Keri, who has been forced to assess her life. This is the section of the book that we most enjoyed as the characters are portrayed very well and the emotions expressed are quite unusual in a children’s book. There is of course heartache and longing for her family, remorse over her previous behaviour but there is also some discussion of mortality and the feeling of being other. Having said that, all the ideas are written in a way that is definitely accessible to children and are wrapped in a very enjoyable story.
Reviewed by Joanna@Kidscompass
Mabb grants Keri’s wish and Keri quickly learns to be careful what you wish for. Mabb is beautiful but cruel and manipulative. When Keri tries to escape she finds that time has passed differently with in the faerie realm, and though once more in the human world it is not the world she knew. She must go back to Mabb and her magical world and fight to get back to her family.
This book seems to separate into two sections although it is actually written in three. The first section sees Keri fighting against the restrictions she feels are placed upon her life. She does not at all enjoy the gender stereotype that she is being encouraged to conform to, particularly disliking the ‘girl chores’ she must do. Instead she longs to discover a new path for her life to take, which we feel will resonate with many children. The book then seems to swing quite quickly to a different Keri, who has been forced to assess her life. This is the section of the book that we most enjoyed as the characters are portrayed very well and the emotions expressed are quite unusual in a children’s book. There is of course heartache and longing for her family, remorse over her previous behaviour but there is also some discussion of mortality and the feeling of being other. Having said that, all the ideas are written in a way that is definitely accessible to children and are wrapped in a very enjoyable story.
Reviewed by Joanna@Kidscompass
Barnaby Grimes & The Phantom of Blood Alley by Paul Stewart
Barnaby Grimes is a Tick Tock lad who will deliver anything anywhere travelling over the rooftops of the town. But his next assignment is to follow the strange brother of duelling governess Clarissa Oliphant. Laurence Oliphant has developed a consuming passion for photography that has twisted his personality beyond recognition and leaves him prone to violent rages. However things take a strange twist when his body is found dead and seemingly murdered by his sister. Barnaby faces a race against time to save his patron from prison as Laurence’s former competitors begin to die one by one killed by an invisible phantom.
Aimed at children aged nine to eleven, this is the fourth of the Barnaby Grimes series. A Dickensian mystery with a supernatural twist, the tale is set during an era when top hats and waistcoats were still a must along with the adventurer’s necessary swordstick. This novel is a big step up from the simple stories of the Goosebump genre. Aimed in particular at boys who will enjoy the jaunts through the rooftops and the appearance of the first skateboard, it will nevertheless appeal to all children who enjoy a good mystery novel with a hint of grisly comedy thrown in. And while the illustrations are few and far between as is suitable for the age range, Chris Riddell is a multi award winner and his work here reflects that fact. All i all a enjoyable book suitable for some light reading.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass
Aimed at children aged nine to eleven, this is the fourth of the Barnaby Grimes series. A Dickensian mystery with a supernatural twist, the tale is set during an era when top hats and waistcoats were still a must along with the adventurer’s necessary swordstick. This novel is a big step up from the simple stories of the Goosebump genre. Aimed in particular at boys who will enjoy the jaunts through the rooftops and the appearance of the first skateboard, it will nevertheless appeal to all children who enjoy a good mystery novel with a hint of grisly comedy thrown in. And while the illustrations are few and far between as is suitable for the age range, Chris Riddell is a multi award winner and his work here reflects that fact. All i all a enjoyable book suitable for some light reading.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass
Billy Bones: A Tale from the Secrets Closet by Christopher Lincoln
Billy Bones is a ten year old skeleton living in a closet of the High Manners Manor with his parents. They are charged by the Afterlife's civil service to gather the Biglum family's lies and secrets, and there are plenty of them. The closet is bursting with trunks full of tales of the Biglums greedy and cunning machinations. Also living in the Manor is Millicent, Sir Biglum's orphan niece. Bullied and kept out of sight by the fearsome housekeeper she nevertheless manages to discover the closet and quickly makes friends. Together they gradually begin to uncover the full extent of the dark secret of the Manor and reveal the extent of Sir Biglums wickedness.
Aimed at nine to eleven year olds Billy's tale is a fun adventure with plenty of humour and reminds us very strongly of a harmless Beetlejuice. The bureaucracy running the Afterlife is particularly entertaining as it is bogged down by more red tape than you can shake a stick at. This is a story that is light, charming and in not at all scary but it is, however, a very light read. The characters are a little flat and the plot devoid of very much detail. Some older readers may find this book a little unsatisfactory as it doesn't provide much meat to get your teeth into, but it's kindly air ensures that young readers will enjoy it.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass
Aimed at nine to eleven year olds Billy's tale is a fun adventure with plenty of humour and reminds us very strongly of a harmless Beetlejuice. The bureaucracy running the Afterlife is particularly entertaining as it is bogged down by more red tape than you can shake a stick at. This is a story that is light, charming and in not at all scary but it is, however, a very light read. The characters are a little flat and the plot devoid of very much detail. Some older readers may find this book a little unsatisfactory as it doesn't provide much meat to get your teeth into, but it's kindly air ensures that young readers will enjoy it.
Reviewed by James@KidsCompass
