Murder Most Unladylike
by Robin Stevens
The year is 1934. Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are both pupils at Deepdean School for Girls, Daisy being rather clever, but also clever enough to cover it up (no-one likes a swot), and Hazel is Chinese and looks up to Daisy because of her cleverness. They set up a detective agency, with Daisy as Sherlock and Hazel as the long-suffering Watson. They soon get a juicy case to get their teeth stuck into - one of the mistresses at the school is found dead - by Hazel herself. The only problem is, by the time it takes Hazel to run and get Daisy and return to the scene of the crime, the body has disappeared. Seeing as no-one else would believe them, they start investigations on their own. As another death occurs, they soon discover that they it could be they themselves next on the list of murder victims. They must move swiftly to capture the murderer before it's too late.
The suspense is held throughout, but also with a dash of humour on each page. The sense of bullyishness of the girl pupils, the strictness of the mistresses, the no-nonsense approach of all-girls schools in the 30's are all included. Daisy is friends with Hazel, but with a bit of a mean streak - she grabs her just that little bit too tightly, enough to leave a mark, she calls her an idiot, she swiftly dismisses any logical thoughts Hazel may have on the case if they do not coincide with her own. But Hazel puts on her stiff upper lip, bears it all and is determined to prove herself.
A great, funny murder-mystery - think Enid Blyton with more mischief and wickedness!
One Wish
by Michelle Harrison
Michelle Harrison is the award winning author of The 13 Treasures trilogy. This book, One Wish, is the prequel to that trilogy. Now I haven't read The 13 Treasures, so I came to this book blind - it was brilliant! It's one of those books which you have to keep reading, you're drawn from one chapter straight into the next by the excitement, adventure and drama of the storytelling. I must admit, I didn't read The 13 Treasures when I heard it was about fairies, but I've definitely missed out there, if this book is anything to go by.
Tanya goes to stay in a holiday cottage with her mother, but as soon as they go in, Tanya starts to hear voices from under the floorboards, voices only she can hear, as she has the second sight - the ability to see and hear fairies. Now these fairies are not the type you are probably picturing right this moment. They come in all forms and shapes and sizes, and some are good, some are bad. Tanya gets to meet fairies in all of these forms during her unexpectedly eventful holiday. There are kidnappings, magic spells, near drownings, wishing trees, visits to other worlds - the story is absolutely action packed, and I highly recommend it!
Solitaire
by Alice Oseman
You know when sometimes you've read such a good book that you're lost for words how to describe it? When 'brilliant' and 'amazing' don't seem to be enough? Well done, Alice Oseman, you have struck me dumb with your masterpiece. And you're only 19?? Incredible. Actually, perhaps not so incredible - it just makes sense. Still in your teens and writing about teens - of course you'd be spot on! There's just something about this book, especially the main character, Tori Spring. I had a connection with her for most of the book. I think everybody had a little bit of a Tori Spring in them when they were in sixth form at school. Not really part of a gang, and not really wanting to be either. Not loud, not following the fashions, the popular music, the clubs. Just happy with your own company. And then Michael Holden - I just loved Michael, and of course the two of them would single each other out. They're both different, both in their own way.
I don't even want to tell you what the book's about. You must read it afresh, like I did, and love it. For you WILL love it. I promise you.
Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins?
by Liz Kessler
I've met Liz Kessler a couple of times. She lives locally and has done a couple of events in our bookshop. She is brilliant with the kids, and is also a lovely lady. It's a good all-round warm fuzzy feeling when you love her books too. I guess Liz is most famous for her Emily Windsnap series - my 11-yr-old daughter loves them (I must admit I haven't read them myself). My favourites are the standalone novels - A Year Without Autumn, North of Nowhere (both being time-slip adventures), and now this one.
Jessica Jenkins is in class one day, daydreaming, staring out the window, her mind floating away, when she is brought back to earth by two things - her friend, Izzy, prodding her and giving her a funny look, and the teacher yelling at her. Izzy later reveals the reason for the funny look - Jessica's elbow was disappearing. She was slowly turning invisible. Thus begins a great adventure involving crystals, serum, labs, superpowers, break-ins, kidnaps, rescues, and friends pulling together in a crisis.
I think the cover is brilliant - it will really get the children and parents picking it up to read the back, so I hope the publisher's keep it for the retail copy. Each of the chapter headings have really detailed little drawings around them, which describe what happens in that chapter. Once I'd finished each chapter, I'd go back and look at the drawings and think to myself 'Oh yeah, there's that cat', and 'there's that crystal'. Very clever.
Another successful, very readable and enjoyable adventure story from the very talented Liz Kessler.
