The Hundred-Towered City (reviewed for writeaway.og.uk)

Author: Garry Kilworth

Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure

Age Range: 10+

Theme/Subject: alchemy, time-travel, folklore, Prague, history

Publisher: Atom

ISBN: 9781905654031

Summary:

Magic….Mystery….Monsters…That’s what awaits Jack, Annie and Davey when they are transported back in time to the gothic city of Prague, to search for their missing parents. Trying to avoid capture by the secret police, they find themselves running through dark and dangerous cobbled streets and meeting some very shady characters.

Review:

Within twenty pages Garry Kilworth has already whizzed us back in time to the tenebrific and narrow streets of Prague, 1903. The Kettle family’s father is an eccentric inventor whose latest Verne-esque masterpiece is a part motorbike – part wrist-watch time-travelling machine. Kate Kettle, the mother of the family, wishes to trace her roots back to early 1900s Prague, where she hopes to meet her ancestors. Unfortunately, the Golden City was very different a century ago – it is a place crammed with alchemists, secret police and a host of folkloric beasts, among which are water-ghouls, fire sprites and the unstoppable Golem. It falls upon the Kettle children to follow their parents back in time and break them free from Castle Karlstein and the clutches of the evil Weasel.

When it comes to exploring this story, I find high-adventure to be an understatement. Within the 300 odd pages, Kilworth crams in a healthy dollop of thrill-power, surprise, suspense and trickery. And yet the author doesn’t just want to share an exciting story with you, he also wants you to absorb the folklore and history of this Golden City. With an incisive eye, Kilworth immerses you in Prague’s past at a time when modernisation and economics are beginning to suffocate the world of magic and folklore. The Prague that Kilworth shares with us is one where at the turn of a corner, you are greeted by the secret police and the military and yet at the following corner you’re greeted with ravenous water-ghouls, waiting to feast upon your soul.

When the children arrive in Prague they are soon separated and undergo different challenges where they must prove themselves worthy, to the author and reader, of achieving their final goal. Although I enjoyed the banter between the siblings when they were together, I preferred their own quests as it allowed Kilworth to show us far more of early 20^th century Prague, which he is clearly very eager to do.

Make no mistake though, this story is no history lesson. It is the exciting pace and story that drives you to turn the pages. It is rare to read a book where you learn something about a place and yet reach the final pages feeling as if you’ve been on an exhilarating exploration through a world seeped in the fantastical. It is the shady characters and fantastical creatures that make their mark on your imagination.

‘The Hundred-Towered City’ is a novel of many possibilities. It offers itself, not only as an exciting read in the classroom or at home, but it genuinely also as a study of a society’s beliefs and constitution at the turn of the twentieth century. Readers witness a Prague that is going through great (and rather haunting) change; where folklore and fact are at a crucial turning point. It falls upon the Kettle family and the reader to make sure that this wonderful city, its history, folklore and people are never forgotten.

Odd and the Frost Giants

Author: Neil Gaiman

Genre: Myths and Legends

Age Range: 7+

Theme/Subject: Gods, equality, Norse Myth

Publisher: Bloomsbury

ISBN: 9780747595380

Summary:

The winter is ending. Nobody knows why. And Odd has run away from home, even though he can barely walk and has to use a crutch. Out in the forest he encounters a bear, a fox and an eagle – three creatures with a strange story to tell. Now Odd is faced with a stranger journey than he ever imagined. A journey to save Asgard, city of the Norse Gods, from the Frost Giants who have invaded it. It’s going to take a very special kind of boy to defeat the most dangerous of all the frost giants and rescue the mighty gods. Someone cheerful and infuriatingly clever. Someone just like Odd…

Review:

Gaiman’s short story (just shy of 100 pages) was penned for World Book Day. It is a story that an under-confident Year 5 or 6 pupil could handle and enjoy on their own. I have taken pleasure in all of Gaiman’s work thus far; especially the adult Sandman series and the children’s book, Coraline (which I read to my class of Year 6 pupils this year). Gaiman’s natural writing style and his obsession with ‘story’ and its origins comes through very much in all his work.

Odd and the Frost Giants starts off quickly which is good for that reluctant reader. As well as Odd’s own journey, the tale is that of a conflict between the Norse Gods and their enemies the Frost Giants. In it, Odd assists Loki, Thor and Odin and through his wit and cunning, tries to redeem them their city from the icy clutches of the Frost Giants.

The story is written in third person and although each chapter is rather lengthy for such a small book, it flows along at a good pace. Illustrations by Mark Buckingham help to beckon and reward the reader. The story itself is Odd’s. It tells of a fatherless boy who tries to fit into his Viking life with the hindrance of a crippled leg. It shows the reader that it is the mind and our thoughts that makes us who we are.

Although nowhere near one of Gaiman’s best, it is a good tale that would work well as a short class read or as a group reading book. It is a nice introduction to Norse Mythology and for £1, a book that should probably line the shelf of every child.

City of Time (Book primarily reviewed for writeaway.org.uk )

Author: Eoin McNamee

Genre: Science Fiction

Age Range: 10 +

Theme/Subject: Families, Loss, Time-shifts,

Publisher: Harper Collins

ISBN: 9780007209798

Reviewer: Mat Tobin

Summary:

A year has passed since Owen said goodbye to Cati and relinquished his role as the Navigator, leaving the Resisters asleep on their island in time. But strange events are afoot, and both he and Cati witness extraordinary events that don’t seem quite natural. And when the sleepers cannot be awakened, she knows it is time to summon help from the Navigator once more. One thing is certain – there’s not enough time…

Review:

The second book in the ‘Time Navigator’ series sees Owen reunited with the cast from McNamee’s previous children’s novel, The Navigator. Just over 300 odd pages in size, City of Time tells the story of a young boy’s quest to stop the evil Harsh stealing time from the universe itself in order to prevent Earth’s destruction. The plot is sound and the ideas literally brimming off the pages as we re-enter McNamee’s world.

Unfortunately, I found the writing and telling of this story poor and rather jumbled: as is the author himself did not have time enough to edit and refine the piece. City of Time reads as a rather rushed story, full of bright inspirations which never quite get the time of credit they deserve. There were moments when I was hooked ( the highway scene with the dogs was excellent ) but they were overwhelmed by some poor writing and dull dialogue.

McNamee’s third-person narrative flits between multiple plot lines: from the main characters, heading to the City of Time in order to save Earth, to Owen’s mother, Wesley, Pieta and Silkie – our planet’s defenders. Along with the Harsh themselves, there were a list of enemies preventing them from achieving their goal, including Johnston (a man in league with the Harsh themselves and unfortunately, the dullest villain I have ever come across). The city itself is very well imagined and I found that I wanted to spend more time there, exploring and looking around.

One of the problems that I found with the story was that the pace failed to kick in until around page 108, when Owen, Cati and Dr. Diamond pick up Rosie (whose own story is unresolved by the end of the book). For me, Rosie was very much the life and soul of this adventure and showed me a side to McNamee’s writing that was funny, enchanting and most importantly: exciting. From this point on, the story’s pace picks up and although there are parts that still don’t read very well, the story itself and the ideas perform well enough to make the second half of the book far more enjoyable.

I came to the book with mixed feelings. When I first looked at the front cover I was rather unimpressed and felt that not a lot of effort had been put into making the author’s work attractive or alluring. Upon reading the little caption on McNamee however, whose adult work has been hailed as “one of the most outstanding pieces of Irish fiction to come along in years”, I thought that I was in for a treat.

Sadly, this was not the case. Still, within its pages I could not help feel that there beat the heart of a great idea and that the characters had the potential to be vibrant and captivating. It is difficult to recommend a book that you fail to really enjoy, but for those who like Dr. Who or even liked the idea of travelling in and on time to save the Earth, then this book could work for you.

Broken Glass

Author: Sally Grindley

Genre: Real Life

Age Range: 10 +

Theme/Subject: India, loss, families, abuse, hardship, poverty

Publisher: Bloomsbury

ISBN: 9780747586159

Summary: (Taken from the Blurb)

When two brothers find themselves homeless in the big city, things are much harder than they could ever have imagined. With the help of some other children, the brothers learn how to survive on the street. They start to work as glass collectors and soon things don’t seem so very bad – until one day Suresh realises that his younger brother isn’t coping as well as he thought. Suresh has to think very hard about how to save Sandeep, and himself, from a terrible fate.

Review:

This is the first book of Sally Grindley’s that I have read and will certainly not be the last! The author’s tale of poverty and hardship in Southern India, told through the account of two young boys, is a breath of fresh air from the consistent hard-lined Post-Potter era (not that I have anything against Harry at all). ‘Broken Glass’ is an important story for children. It illustrates life in the dark and dirty streets of India; allowing the reader to glimpse the daily life of a street-child. The city landscape is painted with a harsh and often unforgiving palette, where friendship and fortitude are all that keep you going.

Grindley’s first-person narrative is seen through the eyes of Suresh, eldest of the two boys. I found it remarkable how she made the story actually sound like a twelve year old boy, inviting us to see the India around him through tourist-like eyes. This was done cleverly, since Suresh and Sandeep run away from their parents to a part of India that they have yet to discover themselves. The brothers, after leaving home, greet us with a very broad range of characters who help breathe life into the city’s streets as well as keeping the story interesting and absorbing.

The story’s pace is calm and although 270 odd pages, the size of the text and spacing of the lines means that you find yourself comfortably making your way through the book. Nothing is rushed, which is what really endeared me to the story. Although the time-scale of the narrative takes place over months, I felt the heart of the story beat at a steady and controlled rhythm which allowed me to get into the characters and get a real sense of pace: I could clearly see the games of cricket on the wasteland. I also found that I as I read further into the book, I began tasting and smelling the country that Grindley unravels before us, such is the skill with which she paints the picture of India’s streets.

‘Broken Glass’ refers to the job that Suresh and his brother must undertake in order to collect enough money to buy food and live within the squalor of the city. Luckily, the spirit of the other street children and the sense of togetherness keeps them going. My heart very much went out to Chintu who, even in the face of great poverty, was able to smile and live an apparently happy life. I often found myself wishing, as I was coming to the closing pages of the book, that both boys would be safe and well by its end. Grindley, I feel, finds the perfect balance to her story’s end: believable and yet not too ‘Hollywood’.

I would recommend this book to any child or parent who wants to share an understanding of what the world can be like for those, perhaps less fortunate than us. It allows us a glimpse into an India that we know of and that, perhaps, children should begin to know about so that they can appreciate how lucky they are. They can also begin to become involved in issues that must never go unnoticed. I look forward to Sally’s next novel, ‘Torn Pages’ which will be published next February.

The High Lord (Book sent by www.writeaway.org.uk)

Author: Trudi Canavan

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 12+

Theme/Subject: Magic, Politics, Guilds

Publisher: Atom

ISBN: 9781905654093

Synopsis:

The Ichani are coming! The black magicians of Sachaka know of Imardin’s magicians and their weak, lesser magic. Led by an old enemy of the High Lord, they intend to build a force great enough to wipe out the whole city of Imardin. It will take all of Sonea’s guile and cunning, along with her companions, to defeat them. Will they be strong enough or will the land of Kyralia finally fall to black magic?

Review:

This is the final book in the trilogy which began with ‘The Magician’s Guild’ and followed with ‘The Novice’. With ‘The High Lord’, Canavan uses her ability to suck you straight into the story and sets a fast pace in this final instalment (600+ pages). With her cast already comfortably assembled, Canavan utilizes the multitude of story-lines to keep the pace and rhythm of the adventure at a speed that makes for an enjoyably quick read.
The story sees Sonea reluctantly having to learn Black Magic and exiled with Akkarin, the former High-Lord of the Magician’s Guild. As the plot grows, Akkarin shows Sonea why he has been learning the dark arts and reveals the hidden threat that has been plaguing her city for the past five years. Sonea must embrace all that she has hated about the High Lord in order to help him stand a chance of stemming the tide of destruction that heads towards the city and people she loves so much. Together they must track down the rogue black magicians that mean to destroy the magician’s guild and all it stands for.
Canavan comes far more into her own in this book and seems to have a greater grasp of her characters and novel’s pace. It is nice to see the list of characters from the first book grow stronger here and become far more involved as the novel progresses. Previously, I had complained that the other instalments of the trilogy lacked the ‘action and adventure’ they stated they had, but ‘The High Lord’ is brimming with it. Whilst still managing to increase your care and involvement for the main characters, Canavan also injects a pace that builds up to a huge speed half way through the book, leaving the final 300 odd pages a real roller-coaster of a read.
Having completed the trilogy I would advise any confident Year 6 pupil or teenager who is interested in going down the fantasy route to give this series a go. Although the pace of the first two books is rather slow, the characters and intrigue built up is enough to keep you wanting to return to the land of Kyralia. Such a trilogy can also help pave the way for young teens who may want to go on to explore other excellent fantasy writers such as Raymond E. Feist and Tolkein. I recommend Canavan’s trilogy heartily; a great stepping stone into an extensive genre.

Shadow Forest

Author & Illustrator:

Genre: Humour, Fantasy, Spooky

Age Range: 9+

Theme/Subject: Bravery, Bereavement, Norway, Folklore

Publisher: Corgi

ISBN: 9780552555630

Synopsis:

After a disastrous accident ruins a perfect day for Samuel Blink and his sister, Martha, both siblings find themselves flown off to the deepest, darkest ends of Norway to live with their Aunt Eda, whose obsession with smelly cheeses is rivalled only by her fear of the Forest that lies on the borders of her house. It is a Forest full of trolls, huldre, pixies, witches and worst of all, the Changemaker himself. Dare Samuel enter within ? It seems he has no choice but to.

Review:

When I first started this book I found myself enjoyably caught off-guard by the shocking and rather sad beginning: this was a good way to grab that reluctant reader early on (Not that I am one!). Both children find themselves whisked to Norway to live with their Aunt. From here, the story of the ‘Shadow Forest’ unravels at a comfortable pace. The tale itself is a very good one but I found that the authorial intrusions, dotted throughout the story, did not work for me. When we jumped out of the world and into the author’s thoughts (taken up by chapters), the story momentarily lost its flow. I understand that Haig was trying to add a little Snicket-like humour into the telling, but I feel he would have done better omitting it. The story is good enough to stand on its own two legs and I couldn’t help but want to explore and know more about the Forest itself. On saying this, I hope Haig leaves the forest to the reader’s imagination and never writes a sequel.

The story deals with the adventure Samuel goes on in which he attempts to retrieve his mute sister from the clutches of the sinister Changemaker. He conquers his fears and with the help of a special book, is able to tackle the denizens of the Forest. Throughout the pages, we get parallel stories and flashbacks from Martha as well as Aunt Eda and the Changemaker. This shift from different storylines works very well and helps create a sense of pace and excitement throughout.

I would recommend ‘Shadow Forest’ in many different ways. It’s not a book that will stay with me forever, but it is a well-written little story and a complete break from a lot of the same conventional rubbish that is out there at the moment. Haig has the ability to become a solid and exciting writer for those readers who enjoy an adventure that isn’t too predictable and isn’t too cozy. This is a great book to read tucked up at night or have read to in class. A good present and a book aimed at a budding a reader or an accomplished one who wishes to be whisked away to a Norway filled with rather nasty fairies.

Mr. Gum and the Power Crystals

Author: Andy Stanton

Illustrator: David Tazzyman

Genre: Humour, Nonsense

Age Range: 7+

Theme/Subject: Good versus Evil,

Publisher: Egmont

ISBN: 9781405228176

Synopsis:

Mr. Gum is up to his dastardly tricks again ! This time he is enlisting the help of a windmill ! Well, an evil spirit trapped within a power-infused windmill. If Mr. Gum can gather the power-crystals in time and store them within the windmill then all of Lamonic Bibber is doomed. Only Polly, Old Granny and Alan Taylor (the Gingery-type bread being) can stop them…oh, and a donkey named Barcelona Jim.

Review:

I read this book shortly after the ‘Goblins’ one and although that one was funnier, ‘Mr. Gum and the Power Crystals’ is actually funny but with the a worrying hint of a story trying to creep in through the door in the background. Again, all the elements of what makes Stanton so funny are here: a ridiculous story idea, hilarious conversations (I particularly liked Nicholas de Twinklecakes) and the welcoming play on the English language and all its pot-holes. Examples are numerous, from the huge range of text-sizes and font-styles to sweet play on words:
‘With a grimace, Polly took the coloured stones from her skirt pocket. She could not believe she had once thought them beautiful like a goose on a hill. They had brought nothing but trouble and now she could barely bear to bear them in her bare hands.’
See. Silly. And that’s the milder stuff.
Stanton’s ‘silly’ humour will appeal to struggling readers who need something really short and easy to read, as well as a book small in size with a simple and engaging storyline. The pace is quick and therefore short amount of reading will seem rewarding. This series allows reluctant readers to see that some stories are allowed to be fun, quirky and nonsensical.I would recommend this book to readers who like a touch of the ridiculous as well as those who might have not gotten into reading on a regular basis. The light-hearted humour of these books consistently bring a smile to my face and help me understand that the world doesn’t always have to be as serious as I often

Laika

Author & Illustrator: Nick Abadzis

Genre: Graphic Literature, Modern History

Age Range: 14+ (This is only due to there being the odd swear-word. Handled with care, then a deeper child who is younger could read this if assisted by an adult who can help them deal with the themes.)

Theme/Subject: Russia, Space Race, Cruelty to Animals, America vs. Soviets

Publisher: First Second

ISBN: 9781596431010

Synopsis: (Amended from the Inside Sleeve)

Laika was the abandoned puppy destined to become Earth’s first space traveller. This is her journey. Along with Laika, there is Korolev, once a political prisoner, now a driven engineer at the top of the Soviet space program, and Yelena, the lab technician responsible for Laika’s health and life. Abadzis gives life to a pivotal moment in modern history, casting light on the hidden moments of deep humanity behind the cold hard facts.

Review:

I saw this on the ‘Just In’ shelf in Borders and it caught my eye immediately. Judging by the text on the front, I knew the story had to be something to do with Russia (the Soviet Union as it turns out) and so I picked it up and saw, to my joy, that it was a graphic novel. This was the first piece of work I had encountered by Abadzis.
In short, the story deals with the launch of the Soviet’s launch of Sputnik (1957) and the race afterwards to launch a second ship into space. We become involved in Krushchev’s desire to out-do Eisenhower and the Americans and show them that Communism in the Soviet Union was, in his eyes, successful. Whilst this battle for the heavens goes on, the reader follows the story of Laika, a homeless stray dog who is painfully searching for companionship and comradeship. Ultimately, she is taken in and trained to be the first living creature ever to enter space. However, heartbreakingly, it was never to be a return journey.
Abadzis does a wonderful job on trying to capture the Soviet Union in the 1950s; the struggle for power in the space race; but more importantly, the struggle for compassion and love in a country only just coping with the repressive control that Stalin had placed upon them.
There are so many facets that I loved about this graphic novel: the relationship between Yelena and the dogs she handled and the huge social differences and difficulties in the Soviet Union during the 1950s, to name but a few. Abadzis handles the story with a warm and caring touch, so much so that I could not help but cry and reflect on the impact that the little dog, and all those attached to her story, had on me.

Mr. Gum and the Goblins

Image taken from pgcbooks

Title: Mr. Gum and the Goblins

Author: Andy Stanton

Illustrator: David Tazzyman

Genre: Nonsense, Humour

Age Range: 7-11

Theme/Subject: Nonsense

Publisher: Egmont

ISBN: 9781405228169

Synopsis:

Something is rumbling up in the high-distant hills of Goblin Mountain. It is the pitter patter of wild, rampant badgers? Possibly, but it’s more likely to be the angry mob of goblins led by the evil Mr. Gum! Can Polly and her friends put an end to his evil shenanigans before the wonderful town of Lamonic Bibber is left in ruins? Only the badgers know. Well, I know too as I’ve read it.

Review:

I am a huge fan of Andy Stanton and his style of writing. The Mr. Gum series is a fresh injection of nonsense humour. The style of humour smacks of Philip Ardagh only even battier; if that is conceivably possible. Whereas Ardagh (of whom I also thoroughly enjoy) seems to think of a plot first and then weaves his humour around that, I feel that when I read Stanton, he seems to just go with the flow, inject belly-blastingly funny moments and weave a plot around that instead.
For me, what makes the Mr. Gum’s series work so well is Andy Stanton’s utter embrace of pure nonsense and chaos. It is his wonderful play on words and the structure of a story (or even a book for that matter) that drives the reader on. Tazzyman’s scratchy, sketchy pen illustrations help bring Lamonic Bibber to life a little more too (I really liked the goblin pictures – my favourite being Big Steve).
The amount of times I laughed out loud at something funny a character has said or done or a scene that Stanton had created that was just plain daft, I could probably count on my fingers (I have quite a lot of them as I went out and bought a huge bag of ‘Findus Fish Fingers’ this morning). I can see this being a great book to share with someone who has a taste for the silly and shows a touch of Pythonesque humour. Andy Stanton is a unique voice out there at the moment and although not the deepest of writers (which in no uncertain terms is he even attempting to be) certainly must be one for children who will get the most laughs.

My Swordhand is Singing

Image taken from http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/

Author: Marcus Sedgwick

Genre: Historial, Horror,

Age Range: 11+

Theme/Subject: Vampires, Folklore, Ukraine, Historical, Loss, Redemption

Publisher: Orion

ISBN: 1842551833

Synopsis: (Edited from the inside of the jacket)

In the bitter cold of an unrelenting winter Tomas and his son, Peter arrive in Chust and settle there as woodcutters. Tomas digs a channel of fast flowing waters around their hut, so they have their own little island kingdom. Peter doesn’t know why his father has done this not why his father carries a long, battered box, whose mysterious contents he is forbidden to know. Set in the remote and forbidding landscapes of the seventeenth century, this is a heart-rending story of loss and redemption, and inspired by the original vampire folklore of Eastern Europe it represents a unique regeneration of a timeless myth.

Review:

This is the fourth Sedgwick that I have read and must admit to taking a shine, not only to his style of writing, but also the eye with which he sees the world. Sedgwick’s ‘Swordhand’ is a real triumph in portraying a time when people were still greatly affected by folklore and dark whisperings in the world that surrounded them. Much like ‘The Dark Horse’, Sedgwick has encompassed a land where, in terms of knowledge and understanding, people are still in their infancy and the Europe is still vastly untamed.
The book’s dark and brooding pace suits the story’s mood. Written in third person, the tale oversees the life of Peter whose secretive father hides a tragic past and whose distant and offhanded demeanour makes growing up in the cold wild of 17th century Romania difficult. After moving from place to place we find father and son beginning to settle on the fringes of the village of Chust. Here, Peter tries to forge relationships with the guarded locals, but all is not as it seems as the nights are plagued by vampires. Peter finds himself not only entangled a web of deceit within the village but also in the grip of his father’s past which will not leave them alone.
Although aimed at the younger teens, I have found ‘My Swordhand is Singing’ fits 10+ in age as long as the reader is prepared to be scared and is competent. The landscape and characters are so well crafted and the storyline so deeply sown into the world painted by Sedgwick that this is a book you shouldn’t miss. I was particularly taken by Tomas (Peter’s father), who is handled with great mysteriousness and who plays well opposite Sofia, a gypsy girl whom Peter befriends. With no end of scary moments and gripping episodes, the book ends in a climax that leaves the reader wanting more. This is a vampire story that deals more with their origins rather than the typical soft-brush that they tend to be painted with these days.

Catcall

Image taken from http://www.amazon.co.uk

Illustrator: Ian P. Benfold Haywood

Genre: Realism, Family-Life

Age Range: 7-11

Theme/Subject: Acceptance, Families, Separation

Publisher: Orion

ISBN: 9781842555682

Synopsis: (Taken from the blurb)

Josh’s family is used to changes – but now they’re hurtling into even more. Although Josh has always had an affinity with animals, it’s his younger brother Jamie who falls under the wild cat spell. Leo seems to have taken over Jamie’s life. Soon it becomes impossible for the family to cope with his frightening, unpredictable behaviour. Only Josh understands, but is he brave enough to break through Jamie’s unhappy mask, and save them all?

Review:

I am rather ashamed to say that ‘Catcall’ is the first Linda Newbury novel I have read. I have owned ‘At the Firefly Gate’ for over a year now but have not gotten around to reading it. However, after reading ‘Catcall’ I know that it’ll be one that makes my immediate reading list. Newbury’s writing style is accessible and yet deep and ‘empathetic’. Within moments, I was in the book and the lives of Jamie and Josh.
The novel is written in first person, which I always admire when an author handles this well. We see the story take place through the eyes of Josh, the elder brother. Josh and Jamie live with their mother and step-father as well as their ‘new’ baby step-sister, Jennie. Their father lives further in London with his girlfriend, Kim and her teenage son Kevin. The story is a very interesting insight into personal territory and one boy’s fight to try and keep his identity while the world around him changes for the worse.
Josh’s younger brother, Jamie, after a visit to a zoo, seems to become possessed by the spirit of a lion that they see caged up. As the book progresses, Jamie becomes more and more lost and the spirit of ‘Leo’ increases. Josh and his family look on in horror as they see Jamie’s persona disappear behind an angry cat-mask. It is only the person who is closest to him, his big brother Josh, who can pull him back from the darkness of acceptance.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked the whole idea of the story of ‘one boy’s refusal to accept change in his family’. Newbury seems to effortlessly create thoughtful and well-painted characters whose dialogue and actions are easy to imagine and a joy to soak up. The book is interspersed with cut-outs from Josh’s Catbook where we learn fascinating facts about cats throughout history and science. The themes of the story are ones that children, for whom the book is aimed at, can either relate to or at least empathise with. This would make a very good class reading book for Year 4 to Year 6 and could be a prompt for a lot of discussion if handled well.
This was our school Book Group book and the pupils really enjoyed it. I would like to say a huge thanks to Linda Newbury for the gifts and kind words which she wrote to the group: the children were overwhelmed and deeply grateful. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who likes to think about the challenges of a family that has broken up and the relationships between siblings in a household when this happens.

Wantage CE Primary School Book-Group: The Start of Something Big?

The Running of a successful book-group within the Primary School.

Ever since I first became a teacher at Wantage CE Primary, back in 1999, I have been striving to get every child in my class to become as avid a reader as I am. I feel that it is the duty of every teacher to do this. Real reading can open up our eyes to the world we live in as well as appreciate the world within ourselves too. With this thought I set about making sure that I frequently read a wide and challenging range of books that would ensure healthy booktalk within the classroom. Over the years I attempted many different approaches to raising the standard of reading within the school, be it reading and sharing what I have read with the class; having a reading hour where parents come in and we read in small groups to children; handing out my recommended reading lists at parents’ evenings; to finally setting up a Reading Group.
The idea of starting a Reading Group occurred when I joined one myself several years ago. This group is hosted by Mary Sutcliffe, a former lecturer of mine from Westminster College (now Oxford Brookes). I found the meetings rewarding and insightful on many levels and was reading books that would have slipped my notice. Debate about whether a novel was good or bad was always healthy as was discussion of characterisation and theme. The fact that coffee and cake were added into the mix always helped too!
When I began teaching Year 6 in September 2007, I decided that I enjoyed my Reading Group so much that installing one within the school would be a good idea. My first approach, and in fact the one I stuck with, was to open it up to Year 5 and 6. Prior to the decision, I had flitted with the idea of doing one in Year 3 & 4 also. However, my wife rightly decided that one club was enough for the time being.
Marcus Sedgwick’s ‘My Swordhand is Singing’ was to be our first book. The choice itself was based on the year’s nominees for the Carnegie Medal. I had read plenty of Sedgwick before and thought that this was a novel (and author) that none of the children had read before. As the weeks prior to the first meeting passed I had the great joy of watching several of my pupils read the book during quiet reading and neighbours asking what the book was about and that the cover looked ‘cool’. Also, in the letter reminding the pupils of when the meeting was, I stated that they could bring a snack or two (mainly chocolate based) if they wanted. This, of course, went down a storm!
At the first meeting we were all nervous. The club took place in the school’s infant library. In the middle of the huddle was a small mountain of chocolate and lemonade. All the pupils sat anxiously with their copy of the book as well as another recommended book (which they had been asked to bring along). After the disastrous first fifteen minutes, where I allowed them to eat and chat about the book, we managed to get a good discussion going. The reviews were mixed, which was excellent as it started a self-running debate about the novel itself as well as the characters and their actions. Those who were quiet were either pulled into the conversation by me or a peer and we managed to get a great deal out of the discussion. The only problems were that the session was too short (1 hour) and we had to rush the recommendations.
News travelled fast. When the following book had been decided ( ‘Catcall’ by Linda Newbury ), the number of pupils who had signed up for the club had doubled. We now had 26 pupils attending and one Teaching Assistant who had asked if she could come along to the following meeting: to which I heartily agreed. This time I was better prepared. Having read the book earlier on, I decided to get in contact with Linda Newbury and tell her that ‘Catcall’ was being read in our group. She was an absolute saint and not only wrote an email back within moments, but also sent the group a stack of bookmarks and two books signed and made out to ‘Mr. Tobin’s Reading Group.’ Naturally, the children were enthralled about this and set about reading the book with great aplomb. It was nice to see not only purchased copies of Catcall in my classroom, but also editions loaned out from the local library (which I had advised parents to consider if they couldn’t get hold of a copy). To my pleasure, it turned out we had all the copies of ‘Catcall’ that the Oxfordshire Library owned.
The second meeting took place recently (we decided that one every six to seven weeks was more than enough). This time I only allowed the food and drink to be consumed when the main discussion was over and we were making our recommendations: this helped sort out the chaos at the beginning and allowed for real booktalk. As a group, we decided to devote our library display to the work of Linda Newbury with a focus of writing reviews on ‘Catcall’ (which was loved by all). I spoke a LOT less in this meeting, allowing the children to do the talking and debating. Rather touchingly, the Year 6s were aware that they would only be here for around another two meetings and then would have to leave for secondary school. They asked if they could return next year for the meetings to which I agreed to give it some thought.
Overall, I feel that the book group has been a success on many different levels. On a personal front, I am running a club which I thoroughly enjoy being a part of. In fact, we have had to extend the club by an extra fifteen minutes as we weren’t getting through the content. It is also a joy to watch the enthusiasm emanate from these readers who are not only talking about the story, but also the style of writing adopted by the author as well as the credibility of the character’s actions and themes too. They are even making connections with other books that they have read in relation to the one we are reading and more importantly, reflecting upon how much they are learning about the world around them.
I think our Book Group is a great success and will continue to be so. Any teacher who enjoys reading and wants to share this enthusiasm with their school, should consider a similar approach. For me, the hardest part is sitting down and choosing the book. I have found a failsafe approach is to either go to www.writeaway.org.uk and look through the reviews relevant to your age category or go to the book awards sites that are out there and see which titles are making a noise. I don’t know how the Book Group will adapt throughout the years but I definitely state that as long as it runs I will be doing my utmost to delivering stories and worlds that these children may have missed had they not had the opportunity or guidance.
‘Broken Glass’ by Sally Grindley is our next book.

The Novice (Book sent by www.writeaway.org.uk)

Picture Provided by Fantastic Fiction

Author: Trudi Canavan

Genre: Fantasy

Age Range: 12+

Theme/Subject: magic, fantasy, politics, adventure

Publisher: Atom

ISBN: 9781905654116



Synopsis: After a reluctance to join the Guild of Magicians, Sonea – the slum girl – begins training within the great buildings of Imradin’s magical University. Her induction is painfully difficult as she is consistently bullied and ostracised by almost the entire guild. Meanwhile, intrigue and mystery involving the actions of the High Lord of Magicians himself causes worries that could not only threaten Sonea’s life, but also the lives of every inhabitant of Imradin.

Review: After having read the first book in this trilogy, I was slightly reluctant about attempting the second. I had found ‘The Magicians’ Guild’ to be all-too similar to many other fantasy books out there. However, to my complete delight, ‘The Novice’ was an excellent read with a great blend of magic, politics, stimulation and discovery. Canavan spent a lot of time building up the land of Kyralia in her first book and I now understand that this was a clever and well-rewarded move which helped to make ‘The Novice’ an exhilarating read.
Readers are taken through multiple stories throughout the book. Intrigue and Politics heavily feed the journey of Dannyl, whereas Bullying and Tension thread through Sonea’s story. These aspects melded with a host of other minor, but crucial storylines help drive the narrative’s pace.
Canavan’s style of writing is easy to read and although the trilogy could be seen as young-teen introduction to adult fantasy, I feel that the language at least is accessible to a younger reader who might be interested in these themes. Although a whopping 550+ pages, the text is large and there is a sense of quick progression through the book. The characters are well created and my only wish would have been that even more detail was added to a world that is already clearly painted.
‘The Novice’ is an assured stamp that Canavan is here to stay. Her writing has much improved since her first book in the trilogy and I look forward to reading more about Sonea’s journey and the outcome of the High Lord’s future in ‘The High Lord’: the final book in the series. Although too big to read to a class, the trilogy would make a great addition to a secondary school library or as a gift to a budding reader who enjoys reading fantasy novels.