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I’ve included a few extra picture books this time. They can often be overlooked as just being for very young or inexperienced readers, but they can be fun for all ages and abilities -I love a good picture book. They are twice as much fun, with pictures cleverly adding to the story making them good to share. If you reread them you will often find gems you missed the first time. I like good novels as well and there is a variety of them here providing plenty of food for thought. Hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
The Forest Wolves Alex Milway (Piccadilly, £6.99)
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Debbie
Star Read
Text © D J Williams 2022
Lindsay Littleson (Cranachan Books, £7.99)
to be allowed back. If he fails he will spend eternity in a pit of angry snakes. Odin gives him a magical diary he has to write in truthfully which keeps his score (and corrects any lies). To make matters worse, his brother Thor is with him along with a giant and guard god to keep an eye on him, and he is faced with the torture called school. His arrogant nature gets him off to a bad start making his score go down instead of up and this trend continues until it is too low to count. Realising time is running out, Loki makes a real effort to be virtuous and raise his score, the trouble is he can’t really tell good from bad or understand how he is going wrong. Is he doomed or could he be developing a conscience? This is an hilarious story full of cartoons and doodles which add to the fun and make it easy to read. Loki’s diary entries revealing his feelings draw you in and, despite his many shortcomings, you can’t help liking him. There are several times you want to shout at him to help him and tell him where he is going wrong (it won’t help!) You can’t guess how he is going to go wrong again, but you’re sure he will, making this an unputdownable book. First in a new series, I can’t wait to see what he gets up to next.
Esme’s boring weekend staying with her Gran takes a very unexpected turn. Cora, a poor little kitten Gran had rescued turned out to be a wild lynx cub who was growing fast and causing all kinds of problems. Now Gran wants Esme to rewild the cub by taking her back to the estate where she had been found and where wild lynx and wolves were being kept. Esme has company to help her, but worryingly it is Callum, a badly behaved boy from her school who she heartily dislikes. She knows nothing about him, his sad past or how hurt he is by the way she and her friend treat him at school, but we do, because the chapters alternate between the two showing how both are feeling. They have to travel slowly on foot so Cora can become accustomed to being in the wild. This sounds dangerous, but they don’t realise how much danger they could be in until they hear wolves howling as they are camping on the moors. They aren’t the only ones potentially in danger - farmers sheep are being brutally killed. If they see Cora they could blame her and kill her. It is a scary time, but the pair help each other out as they get to really know each other and not their ‘in school’ versions. Will they be able to stay safe and get Cora back, and will this experience change them? There are plenty of surprises and hair raising moments in this endearing, thought provoking story.
22.
28 March - 16 May 2022
Indicates a book is part of a series
Sabotage on the Solar S Express- M.G. Leonard/Sam Sedgman (Macmillan £7.99)
Hal and Uncle Nat have been invited to go on the maiden voyage of the winning design of a train competition run by August Reza. It is supposed to be a nice relaxing holiday, Nat has assured Hal’s mum there will be no danger this time. That is how it starts, despite Reza’s daughter, Marianne’s insistence there is something odd about a gift left for her father by a stranger. They are having an enjoyable time until they discover the train has been sabotaged and can’t be controlled leaving them speeding across the Australian outback towards disaster. Boaz, the train’s designer, is very clever, but will he be able to avert danger, especially when its full extent is revealed? Will Hal and his drawings be able to find out who is behind it all? This is a thrilling adventure full of exciting events so intense you have to remember to breathe! Once again new fully rounded characters back up the likeable main characters adding to the enjoyment. The ‘Adventures in Trains’ series just gets better and better.
A storm brings many animals seeking shelter in Rosa and Grandma’s cabin, including a wolf cub. Wolves are greatly feared, but this cub needs help and when the storm dies down Rosa and Gran set out to find its family, despite their fears. On the way they discover wolves have taken over the now overgrown woods leaving Higgs the Loki A Bad God’s S hedgehog too scared to look after the trees. However, Guide To Being he takes them to the wolves who don’t Good Louie Stowell attack them and agree to take in the (Walker, £7.99) cub, even though he isn’t from their Loki might be a god, but pack. But he runs away. Whilst trying he enjoys being a trickster, to help the cub they discover animals not caring who he annoys. can be misjudged and manage to get His behaviour is so bad wolves and buffalos working together. he is banished from Asgard to live among This second book in the Big Sky Mountain humans as a normal school boy for a month, series is full of hilarious animals and unable to use his powers. He is sent with a exploits whilst delivering a serious virtue behaviour score of -3,000 and must message. behave well enough to raise the score to +3,000
The Rewilders
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Marv and the Mega Robot S Alex Falase-Koya (Oxford, £5.99) Marvin and Joe are excited to be entering their home made reading robot into the schools’ Science fair. Both boys love Superheros and Marvin secretly wishes he could be one, even though he isn’t strong or brave. Imagine his surprise to discover a superhero’s outfit among his grandad’s keepsakes. Even more shocking is the fact his grandad was the superhero Marv, and Marvin is going to take his place. The suit can do incredible things, powered by kindness and imagination. Marvin soon discovers how incredible when a new supervillain sets a giant robot to destroy the Science Fair Marv to the rescue. It was all he had ever wanted - and more. The only down side was having to keep it a secret, particularly from Joe. This is a very entertaining story, first in a new series, with a likeable title character and funny robot sidekick. I bet there are a lot of jealous readers who share Marvin’s dream!
A Gathering Storm
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Tamsin Mori (Uclan, £7.99) Stella is proud to be training to be a weather weaver with her cloud, Nimbus. Knowing her mentor, Tamar, has always been a rule breaker, Stella hopes she will take her to the upcoming Gathering of weather weavers, but Tamar doesn’t think she is ready. It isn’t until a visit from Velda, an unpleasant member of the council, that Stella learns Tamar has broken the law by training Stella before she had been assessed. It means Stella will get her wish to go to the trials, but if she doesn’t pass she will lose everything, including Nimbus. There’s a lot to be done, it is obvious Velda is hoping she will fail, and she’s not the only one. At the trails two of the other trainees seem to have it in for her as well. Usually a loner, Stella is surprised to make two friends who boost her confidence, but will she be able to beat the odds, control her temper, and Nimbus, and achieve her aim? There are lots of dramatic moments in this magical adventure that builds to a breath taking climax.
TAILS: The Animal Investigators of London - Martin Penny (Black Spring Press, £14.99) When stray kitten, Yowl, is adopted by a family he soon starts to make friends with the local cats, including wise old Diamond and Flash. Much to his surprise, they introduce him to other types of animals they call their friends, such as squirrels, dogs, a pigeon and an owl. Yowl’s happiness is blighted by the news that over 70 cats have gone missing from the area. Police had looked into it, but have not been able to find out who was doing it and seem to have given up. If humans aren’t going to help, the animals decide they will have to go into action for themselves. This means they will need to work together and use all their resourcefulness and various strengths if they are going to succeed. It is soon clear they are going to need more help and team up with a family of foxes who track down the cat killer and are able to foil his attacks for a while, but how are they going to stop him for good? It is a very difficult task, fraught with danger. This is a very entertaining story with a variety of interesting, very likeable characters. There is plenty of excitement mixed with humour, some heart stopping and very touching moments. First in a new series.
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