The Skylarks' War by Hilary McKay

Being a resident of Cornwall, I was drawn to this book because it's partly set in this beautiful county, as well as Plymouth and France. I haven't read any of Hilary McKay's other books (I'm ashamed to say), not even 'Saffy's Angel', for which she won the 2002 Whitbread Children's Book of the Year. But I've heard wonderful things about her stories, so was itching to read this one.

The story follows brother and sister Clarry and Peter, growing up in Plymouth in the early 1900s with their father (their mother died after giving birth to Clarry), and holidaying in Cornwall during the summer holidays with their grandparents and their cousin Rupert. Their father doesn't have a good bond with them, always preferring to sit on his own in his study rather than talking to his children, so Clarry and Peter always desperately look forward to their summer jaunts by the sea. When not in Cornwall during the holidays, Rupert goes to boarding school, and Peter is told he must go too. He is adamantly against this, and takes drastic measures to make sure he doesn't have to go. However, in the long run his plan doesn't have much effect and off he goes. He does make a very close friend while there, Simon, who is also very much in awe of Rupert. While the boys are at boarding school, Clarry battles against the sexism of the time whereby young ladies weren't meant to have ambitions, or want to learn anything other than needlecraft and cookery. She's a strong-willed and independent girl, and stands up to her father to make sure she gets her way. However the First World War is soon upon them, and the rosy dreams of endless summer holidays and laughter is brought to an abrupt end. How will the war affect the children's friendship? And will they all survive it?

McKay is very clever at how she explains the horror and pain of the war in a realistic but not over-dramatic way. After all, her audience is young children aged 9-12, so they need to be told the facts, but not in a way to give them nightmares. It was educational concerning how females were treated at the time, and also about how people rallied around doing their bit for the war effort. I was slightly disappointed that there weren't more descriptive scenes about their surroundings in either Cornwall or Plymouth, the text was more conversational. However, saying that, I enjoyed the book, I loved all the characters (Simon's sister Vanessa was slightly over-enthusiastic for me!), and it was a moving and fast-paced story.

The Truth and Lies of Ella Black by Emily Barr

Emily Barr is a prolific writer of adult fiction. Her first young adult novel, The One Memory of Flora Banks, was published to critical acclaim in December 2016. This is her second young adult novel, and I think it may be my favourite.

Ella Black lives in Kent with her parents and her cat, Humphrey. She has two best friends, Lily and Jack. But Ella has a secret - sometimes when she least expects it, loud ringing noises flood her head and even though she tries to fight it, she can't stop letting Bella through. Bella is the psychotic side of Ella and makes her do mean things.

One day at school, after being rude to her teacher, Ella is called to the head's office where her mother is anxiously waiting. Ella is immediately removed from school with no explanation, but it's not back home where her parents are taking her. What happens next will turn Ella's life upside down.

Chapter One of the book is titled '40 days until she dies', and all the following chapters count down the days to this event. But who is being talked about? Whose life are we counting down the final days of?

This was such a page turner - I read it in a couple of days. It was fast-paced and full of action and adventure. Ella is brave and fearless, even when facing the most frightening scenario. Move over Flora, there's a new girl in town!

The Murderer's Ape by Jakob Wegelius

What a wonderful story! A murder mystery for children like no other - the main character, Sally Jones, is a gorilla and she is a true delight. There are beautiful illustrations at the start of each chapter, and a detailed map on the inside front and back covers - no-one can resist a map!

The story is set in Lisbon in Portugal in the early to mid 1900's. Sally Jones is an engineer's assistant to the 'Chief' Henry Koskela on the vessel The Hudson Queen. However, following their refusal to take on board a certain consignment of cargo, one man ends up dead and Henry Koskela is charged with his murder. Sally Jones knows he is innocent and sets out to prove it. Her journey takes her to India and back, and along the way she meets many colourful characters - some who want to help her, but many who don't.

The story is jam-packed with adventures, it is such a page-turner. A marvelous book with a truly original heroine.

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

I absolutely loved Lauren's first book 'Wolf Hollow', and this second book is almost as good, but for me hasn't quite pipped the post, but is still a joy to read. Lauren is such a beautiful writer - she is an award-winning poet, and this definitely comes through in her writing. You just have to savour every single sentence, because each word is chosen so carefully and fits so perfectly. The writing is magical and the storyline and characters are magical too. Crow is a young girl living on a tiny island with her guardian, Osh. As a baby, she was wrapped up and put in a tiny boat and sent off from one island and landed on Osh's, where he found her and has brought her up as his own. Now Crow is older, she starts wondering about the island she was cast adrift from - an old leper colony - and of her real parents. Will her curiosity spoil the wonderfully simple life she leads with Osh? Is danger lurking close by, threatening her, Osh and their close friend Maggie?

Lauren Wolk is a true talent and I very much look forward to her next book.

Big Game by Dan Smith

It's quite common for big movies with big-name actors to be based on a bestselling book, but in this instance it's the opposite. At the moment, there is a film out 'Big Game' starring Samuel L. Jackson, written by Jalmari Helander and Petri Jokiranta, and directed by Jalmari Helander. Barry Cunningham, from publishers Chicken House, approached children's author Dan Smith ('My Friend the Enemy', 'My Brother's Secret') and asked if he could bring the characters to life on the page. Well, what a brilliant job he's done. I couldn't put the book down - I read it in a day. It's full of adrenalin-fuelled action and adventure, you're hardly allowed to stop and draw breath. The characters are thrown from one near-death experience to another.

The story is set in Finland. It is the eve of Oskari's 13th birthday, and following tradition he has to spend one night and one day alone in the forests surrounding Mount Akka with just a bow and arrow and an emergency fire kit and a few small essentials. At the end of that time he must emerge from the forest with his prize. When his father was his age, he came out carrying a bear's head. However, the villagers don't seem to have much faith in Oskari's ability to hunt and kill anything. Oskari is soon to find out that the forest contains things more frightening than bears and elks, and he and all the villagers will discover he has more courage and heroism than anyone would have imagined.

A brilliant adventure for ages 11+.

Mountwood School for Ghosts by Toby Ibbotson

Before her death, the wonderful author Eva Ibbotson (Journey to the River Sea is just gorgeous) planned an outline for a new story with her son Toby Ibbotson. This book is the finished product.

Daniel and his friend Charlotte live in Markham Street, a quiet cul-de-sac. Unbeknownst to all the residents there, Jack Bluffit, head of the city's Department of Planning, is planning to bulldoze the whole area and erect a sparkly new shopping centre in its place. When Daniel and Charlotte find out about it, they try their best to stop the demolitions.

Meanwhile, three Great Hagges decide that the ghosts of today are just not scary enough, and so set up Mountwood School for Ghosts. There they teach them how to literally scare humans to death.

When Daniel and Charlotte's actions to stop the building work fail, they decide to seek the help of the three Great Hagges and their ghostly students. Surely that will put a stop to all the devastation?

While I really enjoyed this book, it almost felt like 2 separate stories - one of the two children, and one about the ghosts. It's only really at the end that the two come together. I must admit that I rather preferred the story of Daniel and Charlotte. I lost a bit of interest in all the different ghosts and their stories from the past. But that said, I finished it in a day and a half and would recommend it to our customers.

Itchcraft by Simon Mayo

Simon's done it again - another fast paced, action-packed, thrilling adventure featuring the rather unlucky Lofte family and friends. If I was Itch's parents, I'd tell him to take up a different hobby!

The very unloveable character of Flowerdew rears his (literally) ugly head again, and he's out for revenge - with Itch his main target. Itch has been very lucky so far - he's like a cat with nine lives. But has his luck, and his lives, run out this time? Many heart-stopping and moving moments, as the adventure takes us from Cornwall to South Africa to Madrid.

Even though I enjoyed the book, I found it lacking in some of the really addictive thrilling moments of the first 2 books in the series. The part in Madrid is a little over-long and laborious, but other than that, it's exactly what you'd expect from an Itchingham Lofte adventure!

Close to the Wind by Jon Walter

Close to the Wind
by Jon Walter

Malik and his grandfather (Papa) are trying to flee their war-torn home country. They plan to catch the next boat out to a safer place as refugees. They hide in an abandoned house but soon have company. What takes place during that night will affect Malik's and Papa's future.

A wonderful story of escape and adventure, seen through the eyes of an innocent young boy. New friendships and a new life beckon, but will Malik be able to let go of the past?

This is a lovely story told in a very simple way, reminiscent I think of John Boyne and Sarah Moore Fitzgerald. The story is split into 3 parts, my favourites being part 2 which takes place on the boat and part 3 where Malik discovers what his new life is going to entail.

Recommended for 9-12yr olds.

One Wish by Michelle Harrison

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!

Has Anyone Seen Jessica Jenkins? by Liz Kessler

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.

Fire Storm by Lauren St John

Fire Storm
by Lauren St John

I can't believe this is the last in the trilogy of the One Dollar Horse series. I've loved every one of them (as I have all of Lauren's books - do read her White Giraffe series set on an animal reserve in South Africa and her Laura Marlin Mysteries - all excellent). I tried to read this one slowly to make it last and savour it but of course it's impossible. You have to read one chapter straight after another.

Casey is now looking to win the Grand Slam of horse 3-day eventing by training for the Burghley Horse Trials. But a few changes in her life start to pose a threat to this possibility. It all literally becomes a matter of life and death. The young and handsome Kyle walks into her life playing with her emotions, and the reappearance of Anna Sparkes causes Casey to fear for the safety of herself and her adorable horse Storm. But is it Anna that Casey has to watch out for?

I look forward to finding out what exciting series Lauren St John has in store for us next.

Half Bad by Sally Green

Half Bad
by Sally Green

When I first read the publicity blurb for this title I incorrectly assumed a few things :
a) the main character was female;
b) it was set in America;
c) it was going to be a witch version of Twilight.

The story is actually set in various parts of Britain, and follows Nathan, whose father, Marcus, is a Black Witch but his mother was a White Witch. As you can surmise from the names, the Black Witches are bad through and through, think nothing of deceit and murder, whereas White Witches do nothing but good and perform good and helpful spells. So Nathan is half good, half bad. When Nathan's mother dies, his grandmother brings him up, along with his half brother Arran and his two half sisters Deborah and Jessica.  Because of the atrocious acts Nathan's father has carried out during his life, the Council of Witches and their Hunters are tracking down Nathan to try to 'turn' him, and give up the whereabouts of his father. He is taken from his grandmother, kept in a cage and trained to be a fighter, but he manages to escape. He is offered help by various characters, and in so doing, learns much about his mother and father and ultimately about his own character. However, not everyone gives favours freely, and there is one sacrifice he is not willing to make.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I finished it in just a couple of sittings. The pace is fast, there is plenty of action, the characters are exciting, and you never knew who to trust. I highly recommend it.

The Ultimate Truth by Kevin Brooks

The Ultimate Truth
by Kevin Brooks

I've read a couple of Kevin Brooks's young adult books and this is completely different from, say, The Bunker Diary (very teen). The Ultimate Truth is the start of a new series of fiction for younger readers (11-12yrs). It's for fans of Alex Rider and Itch. This first book follows the hero of the series, Travis Delaney, as he recovers from the death of his parents in a car accident. His parents used to run a detective agency, and Travis starts to investigate the missing person case his parents were looking into before their death. He finds himself in more trouble than he cared for as he faces the MI5, CIA, and another mysterious group calling themselves Omega. He starts to realise that maybe the car accident wasn't just 'an accident' after all.

A Room Full of Chocolate by Jane Elson

A Room Full of Chocolate
by Jane Elson

I must admit, after reading the very first line in this book, I rolled my eyes and thought 'Oh no, not another one'. The line reads "Mum found a lump under her arm on my tenth birthday". I have read many books this year about family members ill, dying or dead and I thought I was going to have another following the same form. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I read this book in a day and quite enjoyed it. Grace, the aforementioned 10-yr-old, is sent to live with her granddad on a farm while her mum is treated in hospital for cancer. There, she meets the very colourful Megan, and they become best of friends. But Grace misses her mum, so Megan helps her plan a way of seeing her again.

Parts of the story reminded me of The Secret Hen House Theatre by Helen Peters, which is also set on a farm, and which my daughter and I both loved.

A strong exciting debut from a new author.

Lockwood & Co - The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud

Lockwood & Co - The Screaming Staircase
by Jonathan Stroud

Ooh, this is a scary one. It's marketed for 9-12s, but I'm not sure I'd give it to my just turned 11-year old yet! But if your child likes to be spooked, then go ahead. The whole book is on a par with the first chapter of Spook's Apprentice by Joseph Delaney (a great series), which I also found quite scary and warn the young ones about (we keep it in our teen section at work).

Saying that, I really enjoyed this book. Lockwood & Co are a group of 3 children who are hired to dispose of ghosts, poltergeists, basically anything paranormal. It's set in modern day London where the 'Problem' (ie, hauntings) is rife. However, it is only children who have strong powers of sensing the paranormal, so they are trained to go out specifically to remove the Problem. The adults hover in safety at the front door.

After a job goes slightly wrong and the media backlash is brutal, Anthony, Lucy and George struggle to keep their business afloat. That is until they are approached by the famous Mr Fairfax, who employs them to get rid of many 'Visitors' from his ancient home. The only thing is, the previous children who've attempted the job have not come out alive. Will the 3 young ghost hunters survive the night's ordeal?

This is the first book in a series, and I look forward to reading the next one!

The Great Unexpected by Sharon Creech

The Great Unexpected
by Sharon Creech

A wonderful tale of unexpected family ties spanning two continents - with a little bit of a ghost story thrown in too - oh, and a fairy ring!

Naomi and Lizzie are best friends in a small American village called Blackbird Tree. The main thing they have in common is that they are both orphans. Naomi is looked after by Nula and Joe - Nula came to America from her home country Ireland when she was a teenager. Lizzie is with foster parents - her only family is apparently a mad aunt living in Ireland. Thus the seeds of family ties are sown, and grow as the story grows. It is helped along the way by a mysterious young lad, Finn, who falls out of a tree one day in front of Naomi. He has a strange accent, and also a strange ability to appear and disappear at random moments - usually when Naomi is thinking of him. The stories of old Mrs Kavanagh and her friend Pilpenny in Ireland, and Naomi and Lizzie in America, are interwoven beautifully, helped along by all the other strange and eccentric characters in Blackbird Tree, each of them with their own secrets and stories to tell.

I just loved this!

The Bomber Dog by Megan Rix

The Bomber Dog
by Megan Rix

This is the third in Megan Rix's animal war story series (after The Great Escape and The Victory Dogs), and her storytelling continues to be exciting, heartwarming and fascinating. In this book, we find out about the adventures of Grey, a German Shepherd dog - or Alsatian as they were known as during the war so as not to use the word 'German'. Grey is rescued as a puppy from the hands of the Germans in France by British soldiers, and taken back to Britain, where he is later discovered and cared for by Nathan, a new British army recruit. Grey's looks and talents are picked up by a Colonel in the paratroop regiment, who employs both Nathan and Grey as paratroopers, their job being dropped into enemy territory and report back on what weapons the Germans are about to use against the British. Nathan and Grey form a very close bond - both would give their lives for each other, so when their first jump into France ends in disaster and they are separated, neither will give up the search for the other.

If you like animal war stories, then also try War Horse or Shadow, both by Michael Morpurgo, and Soldier Dog by Sam Angus.

How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff

How I Live Now
by Meg Rosoff

I first read this book when it was published about 8 years ago, and instantly became a Meg Rosoff fan. I then read Just In Case, What I Was, There Is No Dog, and have been lucky to read an advance copy of  Picture Me Gone (published 5th September 2013). I loved them all. There is now a film coming out of How I Live Now (release date at the moment October 2013), so I thought it was time to re-read the book.

Well, it was better than I remembered. American teenager Daisy is sent to live with her cousins in England. She is quite happy with this, as her dad has married devil woman Davina (Daisy's mother died giving birth to Daisy), and they are expecting their own baby. Her dad seems to want her out the way so he can start a new life with his new family - at least that is how Daisy tells it. We also learn that Daisy has an eating disorder and has seen many a psychiatrist while growing up in America.

As soon as she arrives in England and is met by her cigarette-smoking young teenage cousin Edmond (well, one of the cousins, there are four of them in the family), she knows that she has found a new home. Her Aunt Penn flies off to Oslo on a mission of world peace, and leaves the cousins alone. The days are fun-filled, relaxing and hugely enjoyable. Even more so as Daisy finds she has a real connection with Edmond, and they fall in love. This is not to last however as war breaks out in England. Airports are closed down so Aunty Penn can't return home and Daisy can't get back to America. Soldiers take over the cousins' farm, and the girls are separated from the boys. So begins a tale of survival and heartache for Daisy as she struggles to look after her younger cousin in a country torn apart by war, and tries to be reunited with the rest of the cousins - especially Edmond.

The story is told from Daisy's viewpoint and is full of emotion, humour, anxiety and fear. There are no direct quotes - all conversations are recorded indirectly. This is how the whole book is and I wonder how this will translate onto the screen. I hope it works. A heartbreakingly wonderful story.

Flora & Ulysses - The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

Flora & Ulysses - The Illuminated Adventures
by Kate DiCamillo

This is such a cute book! Everything about it is quirky - the story about a superhero squirrel called Ulysses, the brilliant illustrations (some in graphic novel format), Flora's hairstyle - well, she's not your average 10-yr-old girl in a story with long flowing blond locks. I mean, she's friends with a boy temporarily incapacitated by blindness following a traumatic incident (or so he says. And by the way, don't call him Billy. It's William Spiver.)

Well I can't reveal all of its wonderfulness to you, you must find out for yourself. It all starts off with a hoover...

Rendezvous in Russia by Lauren St John

Rendezvous in Russia
by Lauren St John

This is the third in the Laura Marlin mysteries series (after Dead Man's Cove, Kidnap in the Caribbean, and Kentucky Thriller), which sees Laura, Tariq and Skye caught up in another adventure involving the notorious Straight A's gang. Our three heroes become film stars as they are cast as extras in a movie where a priceless piece of art is stolen from a museum in Russia. However, scenes become more fact than fiction, and Laura finds herself closer to Mr A, the evil boss of the Straight A's, than she ever wished to be.

It's another exciting page turner from Lauren St John - I've loved all her series (The White Giraffe, Laura Marlin, The One Dollar Horse). She has a great ability of drawing you in from the first page so you are instantly hooked. I urge everyone to read all her books!