I'd heard good things about this book. Book trade magazines had hailed it as one to watch out for, and another journalist said it was the best book she'd read this year. Hmm, I'm not so sure myself. From the first few lines I knew I probably wasn't going to 'get' this book. 'The house is falling, and Danny is falling, knees and elbows crumpling onto the floor' but then 'Danny curls his fingers tightly round the duvet, wanting to pull it over his head'. Hang on a minute, wasn't he just on the floor? Perhaps I'm being a bit picky right at the beginning, but the whole style of writing just jarred a little with me. The story is a bit 'over' imaginative, if I can possibly say that, as it's great to use our imagination in storytelling, but here we're expected to accept the weirdest things. It's like the strangest dream just written out in a book.
Danny's parents are obsessed with storms. Whenever one is approaching, they are out on the top of hills studying them. One night, there's a rather vicious storm, they go out to investigate, and never return. Danny is left alone. He soon discovers that by holding a stick broken off from a tree struck by lightning, he is able to speak with animals, birds, plants and rivers. With their help, he tries to track down the Book of Storms, which he hopes will tell him where his parents are, if indeed they are still alive. However, Sammael, a creature from another world, is the one that called the storm to make them disappear, and he wants what Danny has - the stick, and also wants to stop him from getting the Book of Storms.
I found it rather hard to read and understand, I felt nothing for any of the characters. One of the characters, a cat, just seems to disappear and be forgotten for a lot of the story. Was I supposed to read a bit deeper into the meaning? Does Sammael stand for something that I'm completely missing? I'm afraid I'll find it hard to recommend this one.
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.
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...
The Forever Whale
by Sarah Lean
Hannah's granddad has Alzheimer's. Before it got too bad, he had taken Hannah out in his rowing boat, like he regularly did, and promised to tell her a story about meeting her grandma, some deer, and a whale. But then the illness took hold and he was moved into a home, and his eyes became empty - along with his memory. Hannah is determined to find out what granddad wanted to tell her. She decides to visit a local island which he often talked about, and film anything she can see, in the hope that this will jog his memory, and she can have her old granddad back. What she finds stirs up memories - and a few surprises - for everybody.
This is a beautiful story which I finished in one sitting. If you like this, also try Michael Morpurgo's Why the Whales Came.
Sarah Lean has also written two other wonderful stories - A Dog Called Homeless, and A Horse for Angel.
Ghosts of the Forest
by Steve Backshall
This is the second in The Falcon Chronicles series (the first one was the excellent Tiger Wars - check out my review). There wasn't as much action in this one as there was the first, (saying that Sinter and Saker still get themselves caught up in many dangerous situations!) but it's still a great read. Steve really conveys his passion for every species on the planet - animal and plant - and his love for the conservation of both shines through strongly. In this story, Sinter and Saker battle to save the Borneo rainforests and the orangutan that struggle to survive in them as big tree felling companies cut down the trees for the palm oil that can be extracted and sold on. We are taken through Vietnam and Borneo with Steve's brilliant descriptive prose that brings everything and everyone to life, and makes you want to visit every single place mentioned. You'll definitely want to research the plights brought to your attention in his books, and Steve handily suggests some websites to check out.
Soldier Dog
by Sam Angus
Definitely an older read than The Great Escape (see above), both verbally and emotionally. This is the heart-wrenching story of young Stanley. He lies about his age to join the army and serve in the First World War to escape his mean father, but also to seek out his older brother Tom who is also a soldier. He trains as a dog-handler, and the dogs are used as messengers between dug out posts and the front line. Dogs are trained to run through bomb blasts and gunfire without flinching to return back to their trainer owner - even if their life depends upon it.
A real tear-jerker of a story, with one use of bad language.
Race The Wind
by Lauren St John
This is the sequel to The One Dollar Horse, and it's just as good! Lauren has such a natural ability to bring to life action and feelings, so you really do feel part of the story. She has a detailed knowledge of horse racing and showjumping, and her love for all things horsey comes across on every page. I've already read her Laura Marlin mystery Kentucky Thriller, and she returns to the Kentucky Derby in Race the Wind.
Casey has won at Badminton with her beloved horse Storm, and next stop is the Kentucky Three Day Event. But evil forces are out to block her path. Arrests, blackmail, troubled relationships - can Casey put everything to the back of her mind to become mentally strong to win the hardest horse championship so far? I hope another Casey and Storm story will be along soon - the Burghley Horse Trials beckons!
The Victory Dogs
by Megan Rix
From the author of The Great Escape (see my review) comes another beautiful story set in London during the Second World War.
Jack and Amy are the proud owners of 6-yr old collie Misty. Jack is preparing to go off to fight in the war and asks Amy to look after Misty for him. However, bombs start falling on London and Misty runs off frightened. She is also pregnant, due to give birth any minute. She is knocked over by a car and badly injured, but manages to find a safe hiding place in an underground station, where she befriends a cat called Sheba. The puppies are born and Sheba helps Misty look after them, as Misty's wounds are making her poorly and frail. Will the puppies survive war torn London, and will Amy manage to find them in time?
Yet again, another educational, moving story told with sensitivity and warmth. Megan's next book, The Bomber Dog, is out August 2013.
The Great Escape
by Megan Rix
Set during the start of World War II, the story follows the adventures of Buster (a Jack Russell), Rose (a collie) and Tiger (a ginger tomcat) as they escape the trauma of being put down and start a long journey from London to Devon, in search of their owners - 2 children called Lucy and Robert, who have been sent as evacuees to live with their grandmother.
An absolutely brilliant read, with many facts about the war which will be very educational for the 9-12yr olds. For fans of Michael Morpurgo.
Megan now has another book out with a similar war theme - The Victory Dogs.
One Dog and His Boy
by Eva Ibbotson
Hal's parents are very rich. He wants for nothing and owns toys and gadgets most boys can only dream of. But all he really wants is a dog. Mother will absolutely not have a dog because it will poo and wee all over her expensive carpets and chew all her expensive furniture. One day, after asking them for the umpteenth time, the father decides he will get Hal a dog. What Hal does not realise is that the dog is from a pet hire shop, and he will only have it for a weekend. When he realises the dog has gone back on the Monday morning, he makes a plan. He will break into the pet hire shop late one night and steal it back and run away with it to his grandparent's house in Northumberland. However, his plan does not go smoothly, and he ends up on a trip up north with more company than he expected, and along the way meets both colourful and unsavoury characters.
Eva Ibbotson is truly a literary treasure. I implore you all to read at least one of her books.
A lovely, sweet book for 9+.
The Falcon Chronicles: Tiger Wars
by Steve Backshall
This was brilliant! The precis on the inside cover doesn't do it justice. The storyline revolves around animals and places Steve knows much about, and his love for them shines through in his wonderfully descriptive writing.
Set in India, Saker is part of 'The Clan', a group of boys who have been unwittingly brought up being trained as hunter warriors, of both men and animals. If they show signs of wavering from their duty or questioning the reasoning, they are either drugged or they simply 'disappear'. Saker was on a mission to supply live tigers for a big client, who would then make millions out of the pelts and body parts. He escapes during the mission, but unavoidably has to take Sinter, the daughter of a wealthy tea plantation owner, as hostage. However, the two soon realise they have a lot in common when it comes to the protection of endangered wild animals, and they follow the trail of two tiger cubs to track down the evil mastermind. Their journey takes them through India, across the border to China and through the Himalayas to Tibet, with a surprise awaiting Sinter.
Tilly's Moonlight Fox
by Julia Green
One for lovers of nature and animals, this is a sweet ghost story for 9+. Tilly has moved to a new house left to her mum by an elderly friend. Her mum is heavily pregnant, but due to complications is bed-bound. The worry of this, the house move, a new school, and lack of friends all lead Tilly to an anxious state of mind. She has vivid dreams and sleepwalks. The presence of a fox in the garden and the discovery of an old dolls house in the attic both lead Tilly to meet Helen in a newly made den in the old garden. Once Tilly's mum has the baby and all is well, Helen disasppears, Tilly makes a friend at school ,and there are no more strange dreams or sleepwalking.
