Review: Touch and Feel: Farm by Spring Street (Children's, Board book, 9/10E)

 July 2024, Boxer Books, 10 pages, Board Book, Review copy

Summary from Union Square and Co

Touch and feel the farm animals in this stylish, design-led board book. Introducing textures and providing the child with a tactile reading experience, this book explores a cow, a sheep, a rooster, a dog, and a duckling. Beautifully produced, with contemporary artwork, can you spot these animals in the world around you?

Nayu's thoughts

Simple board books are essential for early reading skills, as they provide great opportunities to intearct with young children. The images are simple and clear without fussy backgrounds so young eyes can easily focus on them. The pages are thick, perfect to withstand any sticky hands! Each animal has a part to feel with different textures. 

The only downside is some of the parts feel quite small compared to other touch and feel books. I know little hands are small, and less coverage makes it easier to keep the book not too thick in width, but I had expected the duckling wing to be bigger. This is a very minor niggle in what is otherwise a solid read. The text says each animal's sounds and asks to feel the relevant part on it's body. 

Suggested read 

If farm animals are enjoyed, older readers may like to read a pig's diary The Seriously Extraordinary Diary of Pig by Emer Stamp (Children's, 7 years +, 10E/10E)

Review: Hetty and the Battle of the Books by Anna James and Jez Tuya (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10E)

 July 2022, Barrington Stoke, 80 pages Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Barrington Stoke

The library is Hetty’s very favourite place in school, and since falling out with her best friends Ali, Mei and Rocket she’s been spending even more time there. So she’s absolutely horrified when she learns that her head teacher is planning to close it down, claiming there aren’t enough funds to keep the library going.

There’s no way Hetty’s going to sit back and let this happen. But can she repair her broken friendships and build support for her library campaign?

Let the Battle of the Books commence!

Nayu's thoughts

A tale about a girl who loves books? I'm in! Hetty is a sweet girl, but one who knows that the school library absolutely cannot close and be done away for a reason that is just so very grrrrr inducing. The way both the students and teachers react to the news is I feel realistic. Usually I'd say petitions don't work, but Hetty and her friends do some delving, and then figure an inventive way on how to get the news out to the right people. Not all their methods were above board but they absolutely worked. 

I was a bit disappointed there wasn't a followup chapter on what happened next once the battle concluded, which is why it didn't get a perfect grade from me. However, there is a lot to love about this read, from the grogeous cover and illustrations by Jez Tuya, to the spunk Hetty has within her. I liked how there was a major falling out between her friends but they still (eventually) pitched in, as the topic was bigger than their friendship and did reunite them too. Book lovers will all love this tale of saving a school library!

Suggested read  

 For more literal school themed drama check out Hopewell High #1 & #2: Stage Fright and All Too Much by Jo Cotterill (Children's, 9 years +, Dyslexia friendly, 10E/10E)

 

Review: Finding Figgins by Shayna Leib (Children's, Picture book, 9/10E)

 October 23, SNL Design Works Publishing, 38 pages, Hardback, Review copy

Book Summary

Figgins is a lonely stuffed animal who feels forgotten by his human friend, Julian. Figgins has a rich, secret life unbeknownst to Julian in which he is a professor, a painter and scuba diver. But when Figgins goes missing, Julian has to venture beyond his comfort zone into an unusual magical world. By retracing Figgins' steps Julian finds out just who Figgins really is, with a little help from Mrs. Zebrasky's cats who know all that goes on in their neighborhood.

Nayu's thoughts

An alternate title could include the fact that cats are EVERYWHERE and Mrs Zebrasky has 18. Eighteen cats! That seems so many, my family only ever had 2 at the most. Those 18 cats are very busy, they help Julian on his journey to find Figgins. I still love my plushies, but it is normal for some to neglect childhood plushies as they grow up. Julian wondered where his past-favourite bear was, and it turns out he was quite the adventurer. 

The bright and mostly colourful illustrations truly bring the unique story to life. At one point there is a field of crayons - I was convinced I could smell that specific crayon scent as I read about it. Flying penguins was a sight to behold, although the water labyrinth made me feel a bit odd (a me thing, I like solid land). The range of adventures really bring out Shayna's talent in the varied pictures that invite pondering over them, looking at all the intricate details.  Plus there are a lot of active cats who aren't lazing at home on a blanket on the sofa like my family's cat. It is hard to tell who is having the most fun, the cats, Figgins or Julian. Or me as looking at cats is very comforting! 

Find out more on Shayna's website.

Suggested read 

If you love stories with cats check out this gem with a cat on the cover Jump by Tatsuhide Matsuoka (Children's, Picture book, Board Book, 10E/10E)

 

Review: My Magic Land by Begona True (Children's, Picture book, Poetry, 9/10E)

 

May 2023, 31 pages, Paperback, Review Copy 

Book summary

From dancing plants and animals, to souring with friends through the skies upon clouds. From fishing on a bout that brings you the many potentials of your imagination, to the River of Laughter where a mysterious lady plays the piano with the drops of water from its cascade. And the magical crystal dimensions where anything can be created and where the main character creates an inseparable friend, her cat called "Yes".

Nayu's thoughts

What first appealed to me was Begona's soft and warm looking illustrations, simply looking at them makes me feel serene. I felt this was both a picture book and a poetry book, because there's a beautiful melodic feel to the words as imagination is explored, leading to fun characters and new places to explore. There is so much to look at on every image, from the full page illustrations to the smaller ones that fit alongside the prose. 

I can tell Begona had fun writing this, and is someone to whom boredom probably never exists with that vivid an imagination. It makes me feel like lazy summer days lying in the sunshine, or being cozy warm in winter as it drizzles with rain outside. This isn't a one-time read book, but one to return to when life is crazy and I need a break from the world. 

Suggested read

For more imaginative read check out The Art Garden by Penny Harrison and Penelope Pratley (Children's, Picture book 10E/10E) 

 

 

Review: Me and Aaron Ramsey by Manon Steffan Ros (Childrens, 9 years +, 9/10E)

 11th April 2024, Firefly Press, 160 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Book summary from Firefly Press

 Me and Aaron Ramsey tells the story of Sam and his dad who both love football, which is always there for them however tough real life becomes. That is, until Dad’s dreams of football stardom go horribly wrong. Sam’s love for the footballing legend becomes tangled with his relationship for his father as things go south in their family life.

Nayu's thoughts

Despite not liking the sport I thoroughly enjoy reading children's football tales. I like the dedication to the game that Sam has, it's such a good connection to have with his father who already has a secret. I feel that football really keeps Sam going no matter what life throws at him, which ends up being two major life events. Over the course of the book he learns to trust and lean on his best friend Mo who, as it turns out, has almost exactly the same kind of life worries. The moment when these two opened up together was so beautiful I cried a little, as boys need to talk about feelings as much as girls.

Sam has to cope with his parents not getting a long, which on its own is a major issue. Add to that the secret his dad keeps tight to his chest which restricts the types of part time job he can have while being a low paid professional footballer, and then a life-changing incident, there are a lot of complicated feelings that Sam's father endures which has direct effect on Sam and his sister (and their mother). Seeing their lives crumble was realistic, and it takes Mo's mother, who is a force of nature, to get Sam's dad feeling less sorry for himself and taking action to improve his life how best he can. I was cheering him on throughout that journey - I'm not spoiling what the secret was as discovering it for myself was a surprise and also not a surprise. Let's just say that not everyone is as fully educated as they ideally should be upon reaching adulthood. 

This book is full of heartwarming friendships and real life drama that is handled accurately and sensitively. 

Suggested read

Other sport themed reads include this poetry book, Give Us a Goal by Paul Cookson (Children's, Non-Fiction, Poetry, 8/10)

 

Review: Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson, Translator Elizabeth Portch (Children's, 7 years +, 9/10E)

Originally 1948, this edition 2023, Puffin, 182 pages, Paperback, Personal copy 

Book summary from Puffin

 Poor little chap! He had been turned into a very strange animal indeed . . .

Although they're small, fat and shy creatures, Moomins have the most amazing adventures. It all begins when Moominpappa tries on a magic hat that makes exciting and funny things happen . . .

Finn Family Moomintroll is the best-loved book in the cult classic Moomin series by Tove Jansson. A must-read for both children and adults.

Nayu's thoughts

As a child I remember reading about the Moomins but some of the characters scared me so I then avoided anything to do with them. The Moomins themselves look like marshmallow creatures, white and rounded. The other creatures...well I still don't like them but their characters in their non-illustrative form are absolutely fine! 

There's a new Moomin game out on Nintendo Switch which is why I wanted to reread one of their tales. They are really charming, especially on learning they hibnerate. They all have distinctive personalities which as a whole lead to amusing tales. I liked how some of the scary seeming characters ended up being rather friendly souls and helpful in their own way. I like how the characters explain some natural phenomena, and just what an odd bunch the Moomin family which includes other creatures too. Some are philosophical, others are straight forward in how they view life. Overall they are fun and I may slowly collect the books and ignore the illustrations that still freak me out. 

Suggested read

A series from my childhood that I adore is Babar The Elepehant Babar's Celesteville Games + Le Chateau de Babar by Laurent de Brunhoff (Children's, Picture books, 10E/10E)

 

Review: Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz (Children's, 9 years +, middle grade, 9/10E)

 

Gorgeous cover!

 

October 2023, Delacorte Press, Hardback, Review copy

Book summary

Dani and Eric have been best friends since Dani moved next door in second grade. They bond over donuts, comic books, and camping on the Cape.

Until one summer when everything changes.

Did Eric cause the accident that leaves Dani unable to do the one thing in the world she most cares about? The question plagues him, and he will do anything to get answers about the explosion that injured her. But Dani is hurting too much to want Eric to pursue the truth—she just wants to shut him out and move on. Besides, Eric has a history of dropping things he starts. Eric knows that and is determined that this will be the one time he follows through.

But what if his pursuit brings him into direct conflict with another friend? Where does Eric’s loyalty really lie?

Nayu's thoughts

I was initially intrigued by how Dani ended up in hospital, since I have experience of staying in one as a child. Prior to the accident it was interesting seeing how close Dani and Eric were, they were like brother and sister in how they treat each other. Having a more conservative background I found it a little odd they were allowed to stay sleep over with each other but there was absolutely nothing romantic about their friendship, it was purely platonic. 

The accident itself was very dramatic in a good way, and the range of emotions Dani experienced were what I'd expect from her age. Baseball was her life and she felt her world was destroyed by her injuries which needed a very long recovery period. Being a few decades older than her I could see that while she felt it was awful, given time she would see it wasn't the end of her career, it was just a little set back and she would eventually get back to the boys' team which she had been able to join right before the accident, a great achievement for her. 

As for Eric, the agony he went through by keeping a lot of his worries about the accident to himself tore him up inside. His emotions were equally as raw as Dani's. I absolutely loved the realism of when his family finally found out about his possible involvement, they clearly wanted to support him and boost his shattered confidence but there was a real sense of disappointment and fear that his accidental mistake could have caused everything that Dani went through.  The way both the two friends had to try rebuild their trust in each other and deal with ugly realities was really well written and relatable. Elly definitely is fantastic at dealing with tricky emotions and making it realistic, not melodramatic. 

Make sure you check out Elly's website. 

Suggested read

For another tale about emotions check out The Snow Witch by Rosie Boyes (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E)

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Book review: Polly Bee Makes Honey by Deborah Chancellor and Julia Groves (Children's, Picture book, 9/10E)

 September 2021, Scallywag Press, 32 pages, Hardback, Review copy

Summary from Scallywag Press

 The second title of a new non-fiction series aiming to help children understand and appreciate where their food comes from, and to be more environmentally aware.

A girl follows Polly the worker bee collecting pollen and nectar from various flowers, and bringing it back to the hive where it is stored in the honeycomb. We meet the queen bee and the drones, and finally see honey being harvested and enjoyed.

Nayu's thoughts

I adore honey, the thick kind rather than runny honey, so was eager to see what Polly's tale was about. I like the simplicity of the illustrations, they weren't crowded with lots to look at and I feel that helps focus the reader on exactly what the bee is doing. 

Everything from the different types of bees, to life in hive and out of it is explored. There is a fun section at the end which recaps some of the key bee facts covered in Polly's journey. I hope it gets readers interested in bees, and less afraid of them as they are magnificent creatures and do so much good in the world. I'm sure young readers will fall in love with Polly and think many bees are called that!

Find out more on Deborah's website and Julia's website. 

Suggested read

Another natured themed read is We Planted A Pumpkin by Rob Ramsden (Children's, Picture book, 9/10E)

 

Book review: Supendous Sports: Cracking Cricket by Robin Bennett and Matt Cherry (Non-Fiction, Children's, 9/10E)

 August 2023, Firefly Press, 140 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Summary from Firefly Press

 Originally a way for bored shepherds to pass the time, via a first international in New York in 1844, to an estimated 60 million players worldwide today – it’s no surprise that cricket is the second most popular sport in the world.

Find out all about the sport in Cracking Cricket – full of jokes, fun facts and spotlight on famous cricketers, perfect for cricket fans and newcomers alike.

Nayu's thoughts 

I'm fairly sure I'm about to insult most sports fans by saying prior to reading this book I thought cricket was a glorified game of rounders (the type I played in school). I'm not a sport person. I knew very little about cricket other than a bat is used to hit a ball (well, hopefully), and people ran after the ball got hit. And the ball got caught.

Despair not, after reading this really interesting fact-filled book I understand cricket is both more complex than rounders and also quite simple too. Somehow all the explanations made sense. With my poor memory I can't easily recall all the facts (or many of them, other than the names for parts of a cricket field are unusual) but that's what this book is for. Any cricket fan will love learnng more about their beloved game. Any non-sport person like myself will be surprised by enjoying learning the ins and outs of cricket, pun intended. 

I now understand why some matches can last literal days which always baffled me when I heard about major cricket matches on the news. I could never understand why a game couldn't be completed in a day. Now I understand how it can drag meander through countless hours when teams are evenly matched in a competitive level. I can't say I now want to watch cricket, or any other sport, but I absolutely did like learning about it and seeing how it is similar to but quite different from my childhood rounders (whose rules I barely knew, I ran when told to run (no-one minded I was slow)). There are loads of facts told in a humourous away, totally aided by the fun illustrations which made me smile a lot. 

Suggested read

 For another sport themed read check out this football poetry collection, Give Us a Goal by Paul Cookson (Children's, Non-Fiction, Poetry, 8/10)

 

Book review: Daughter of Winter and Twilight by Helen Corcoran (Young Adult, Fantasy, 9/10E)

  September 2023, The O'Brien Press, 576 pages, Paperback, Review Copy

Book summary from The O'Brien Press

Sequel to Queen of Coin and Whispers

Emri – the adopted heir and daughter of two queens – and her estranged cousin, Melisande, are attacked by a magical force and spirited away. Can they put their differences aside and survive the trials of a goddess they always considered a myth: Lady Winter?

Nayu's thoughts

Unlike many I haven't yet the first book in this series, Queen of Coin and Whispers, but truly it didn't matter that I didn't know all the back story. Background to Emri is given freely and I will read the first book because I'm so intrigued by what happens. This reminds me a bit of the Valdemar series by Mercedes Lackey in the layers of intrigue and fantasy that are woven in the tale. I have to admit some of the non-main character narration chapters were a little dull, but that is a personal thing as I wanted to know what happened next as there were a lot of chapter cliff hangers. I know the filler chapters were important to, I was simply impatient and I really hate cliff hangers! Be warned there are a lot. 

Life Emri starts in the court of her two mothers, her being a princess having to deal with pomp and ceremony, her over-indulging in alcohol, and then having to play nice with her cousin when she visits for a festival. What happens to them is scary and dark. Lady Winter is not a friendly goddess, not at all. She means business and she isn't afraid to put Emri and her comrades (more join her and Melisande) on their quest. If they fail the quest conditions, which are quite specific, death would be better than what awaits them. 

Emri and her friends suffer a lot. I don't mean they are deprived food and shelter, which does happen. Emotionally they have to overcome seeing visions of their past, which in front of an audience paints them in a bad light. I love how gritty the journey is, they suffer a ridiculous amount but there is a lot of personal growth for all of them. They don't all become instant friends as a result, that's what makes it so real. And sometimes that real-ness gets a bit too dark which is why it's not 100% my most favourite book. I like that what happens at the end has me eager for the next book (there must be one) and I already know I will reread this after I eventually get book one. I have to say that Melisande is my favourite character, Emri is great but Meli nailed it in likability.. I'd love a book focused on her next please! 

Make sure you check out Helen's website. 

Suggested read

 The Mage Storms Omnibus by Mercedes Lackey (Fantasy, 10E/10E)

Review: The Traitors Card Game (Card game, 8 years +, family, game, 9/10E)

  4-8 players, 8 years +, Card game, Ginger Fox Games Ltd, Review copy

Game summary

 BASED ON THE HIT BBC TV SHOW: Drawing inspiration from the popular BBC show, the game captures the essence of intrigue, betrayal, and teamwork. Players will find themselves fully immersed in the world of trickery and hidden agendas, making every game feel like the TV series.

 FAITHFUL VS. TRAITOR GAMEPLAY: Players are randomly assigned the roles of The Faithful or The Traitor at the beginning of each game. The Faithful’s must collaboratively deduce The Traitors' identity and vote them out whilst The Traitor must cleverly deceive them to win the game.

 ALL-NEW GAMEPLAY ELEMENTS: The latest version introduces fresh gameplay, new cards, and digital events that keep players on their toes throughout the game. Get ready to outwit, outplay, and outlast the other players in The Traitors Card Game! For ages 8 years and over.

 SPECIAL EDITION MINI GAME: When you buy the Special Edition of The Traitors Card Game, you'll gain exclusive access to a captivating psychological mini game, where you and your fellow players can seize the chance to earn additional Gold which could greatly help you win the main game.  

 ENGAGING DIGITAL INTEGRATION: The new version of The Traitors Card Game features digital elements, adding a dynamic and immersive layer to the traditional card game. Players can utilise this to Banish players or commit murder, elevating the overall gameplay experience.

 

Nayu's thoughts

This is based on a BBC show which I've not seen, but I liked the premise of murdering people (which totally says something about me...) While this says its for over 8 years, I feel it will depend on the child if children play as to whether they are ok with the murdering part. Feel it's probably more for teens and adults than younger ones. 

What I love about this game is that it is quite small, so can easily be packed in a bag if going on holiday. What is more, those who love their screens can access the online version (not used for this review), but those who love more traditional games without using screens (totally me), the clear instructions explain just how to do that. The aim is to end the game with as much money as possible, trying to figure out who is a traitor and hope you aren't murdered by said traitor. If people really know each other they may be able to notice if they are are behaving suspiciously, but many will be good at fooling others into thinking they are innocent. 

 

I liked that quite a large number of people can play if needed, although then there are less rounds but more options open up as there can be more than 1 traitor with higher numbers. The cards are easy to see despite being quite small, and the premise is nice and simple. It can get tense when there is a murder due, with anticipation on learning if you stay alive or not. Being able to sometimes see another player's cards isn't always advantageous. I feel that repeated play really depends on who is played with, some will definitely only want to play it once, whereas others will want to play more often. 

I feel fans of the show would really enjoy this, and I will try to watch the show sometime if it's still on iPlayer (I can only watch it at my family's since I don't have a licence). All in all a good card game regardless of if the show has been watched! 

Blog tour: Sometimes People Die by Simon Stephenson (Thriller, 9/10E)

 1st September 2022, The Borough Press, Ebook, Review copy

Book Summary

The year is 1999. Returning to practice after a suspension for stealing opioids, a young Scottish doctor takes the only job he can find: a post as a senior house officer in the struggling east London hospital of St Luke’s.

Amid the maelstrom of sick patients, over-worked staff and underfunded wards a darker secret soon declares itself: too many patients are dying.

Which of the medical professionals our protagonist has encountered is behind the murders? And can our unnamed narrator’s version of the events be trusted?

Nayu's thoughts 

With hospitals being quite a large part of my life, I found the concept of murder in a hospital really exciting. Due to my passion for hospital dramas I understand almost all the medical terms and jargon and understood all the processes that the doctor carried out. Sometimes People Die is an accurate title, but sometimes people are also killed, which is the case in this book. What I liked quite a lot is the protagonist, who admittedly I and other characters felt could be the culprit for a time, is really far from perfect. He is not someone I can relate to on pretty much any level but that's why he was so interesting. Due to his shady past he is not in a great hospital, but he does meet some genuinely kind staff members. There are some who are not kind but he gets used to their abrupt manner. And thankfully he gets to move out of the initial accomodation because that just was not the best place for him.

I like that somehow throughout the entire novel (I think) he is never really named. He does end up in a relationship, but it felt like something he felt he ought to do rather than really wanted, which seemed so odd to me. He himself is not a bad doctor, he isn't the best but he does his job fairly well despite the weird deaths. There's definitely a sense of fear during the time he gets blamed for the murders, every time the police came I wondered along with him if it would be the time they would formerly arrest him. He develops a rapport of sorts with the investigating officers, although as the story progresses that doesn't necessarily help him out. There is a shocking turn of events which I won't spoil but does affect his previous addiction, and seeing him spiral was not pleasant, but he does eventually get the help he needs. He is the only one who feels that the alleged murderer is not necessarily the correct one, and he gets to journey out of London in the attempt to discover the truth which was a total shock and cleverly executed.

I liked the snippets about other historical murders that came every few chapters, but as the tension mounted in the plot I did find these distracting and while I suppose it was like an alternate point of view, I just wanted to get on with the story rather than learn how evil some doctors can be in the past. I probably won't reread this as a lot of the wow factor came from not knowing anything, but it is a really good thriller and I highly recommend it. I did sit down for several hours and couldn't stop reading until I finished it! 

Check out all the stops on the tour: 

Suggested read

For other good thrillers try No Smoke Without Fire by Claire S Lewis (Thriller, 9/10E)

 

Review: The Greatest Show On Earth by Mini Grey (Children's, Non-fiction, 9/10E)

 April 2022, Puffin, Hardback, Ebook, Review copy 

Book Summary from Penguin

 Take your seats for the ENTIRE history of Planet Earth, as we take a whistle-stop tour from the birth of Earth, to the age of bacteria, the era of dinosaurs . . . to the moment of people (blink and you'll miss it).

Narrated by a friendly troop of insects and with mind-blowing, lively illustrations, this illustrated non-fiction book will entertain and educate, as we put on a show, the greatest show, the show of the evolution of life on Earth.

Nayu's thoughts

Our planet has been around for a phenomenal amount of time. Often history looks at more modern issues, but The Greatest Show on Earth focuses more what happened many millions of years ago rather than ancient civilisations. It looks at how the earth's creatures evolved to meet the changing atmosphere. The style is as a circus act with several cute creatures (even if in real life they might have some readers including myself squealing and running far from them) as the performers. There is a timeline at the bottom of the page to help keep perspective on how far back the current era is. In the margins on each page there are further details about the talked about era with fascinating facts to learn about.

The watercolour style which is in a sort of muted tone suits the feel of the book and is a pleasure to look at. There is humour in both the text and the images themselves, which will make the information more palatable for younger readers. Stopping to think of all that's happened is quite a marvelous feeling. Even now, millions of years on there are constantly new discoveries about the past which is an important part of our present. It's not all dinosaurs or amoebas, there are many other almost mythical creatures (sadly no unicorns) that I had forgotten about from when I learned about this in school. The Greatest Show On Earth is by far better than a dull textbook, and I feel is a companion book to a home library encyclopedia as facts presented in a fun way are so much easier to learn about and remember. Hopefully this will interest younger readers in historical science!

Suggested read

Take a step back in time to 2010 and check out one of Mini's fiction books:Three by the Sea by Mini Grey (Children's, Picture book, 5 years +, 9/10E)

 

Balance by Inghild Okland (Fantasy, Romance, 9/10E)

Totally gorgeous cover!

 5th February 2022, Dragonsong Publishing, 316 pages, Paperback & Ebook, Review copy 

Summary

A runaway princess. Time-twisting magic. What she doesn’t want? A knight to the rescue.

As Vildi, the less important princess of Rimdalir, my duty is to marry, and marry well. To the glacial chasms of hell with that!

I want adventure. A nice, suitor-free yet fairy-tale adventure. I can even endure rants about a tragic prince, if it brings me honey cake. Throw in a few mysteries, a sprinkle of old magic, and I’m happy.

That's what I thought.

Yet upon arriving in Lakari, Land of the Sun, I wander through familiar streets. I recognize the people, the taverns, even the black cat strolling as royalty through the market square. In this new land, no one was supposed to know my name, and yet I'm hunted.

Already they have killed me many, many times. And so I start over.

When a stranger finds me in the desert night, will he be my savior, or my undoing?

Nayu's thoughts  

Full disclosure, I recieved a copy in exchange for a fair review as always, but additionally I am friends with Inghild so there is a bit more bias than normal. That said Balance is an awesome tale! From the beautiful cover to the beautiful story, Vildi's adventure is super fun to read. So why doesn't it get full marks?

This is probably unique to me but I detest groundhog day style films/books where the same thing happens over and over only slightly differently. Possibly because I once had a groundhog day dream, and yes I have seen the film too. I really hate it. It was a bit hard having to read the mechanic in what is a fun read, however it does work as a plot mechanic and is cleverly done. I was extremely glad when Vildi's do-overs became less frequent due to circumstances. 

Personally Vildi does not know how good her life is. She is trying to rebel against it. I can see why she may not want to get married but running away from her duty...let's just say I wanted her life ever so much, so mid to late book I was very happy with how events turned out. I understand she is a free spirit and wants to do what she wants which is why she ran away, but I did question her sense of duty to her people. Few people get to be in positions of power. I get that she didn't choose who she is, but she still has a duty to her family and her people. At times it was hard to truly get into Vildi's shoes. I didn't like all her choices but I respected her for needing to make them. Dying all the time was a horrendous occasion, more so as she told no one. She kept it to herself, and due to what was happening as time passed she chose to be true to herself in how she acted by trying to stay alive, which is a lot harder than it sounds when people were so keen on killing her. 

Both world building and characters are memorable and felt like a foreign land I wanted to be in. Well maybe not starving to death in a desert which nearly ended up being Vildi's fate. I loved learning about her family, and being able to meet some of them later in the book was a real treat. The sandstorm experience felt so very real that I wonder if Inghild has experienced one first hand. I loved learning the different customs that Vildi both has and encounters, there is a spiritual sense too which resonates with me even though it is fictional. 

As you can see from the cover Balance is the first book in the series - there are going to be more which is awesome! I want to know more about Vildi and her family and friends. Yes she does make a new friend eventually! Lakari is not all doom and gloom for her, even if she feels like it is. She tries to resist her fate but some things can't be changed and they turn out to be not all bad.

Be sure to follow Inghild on Twitter to keep up with the latest news on her books!

Suggested read

If you like the sound of fantasy and danger combined then try out some of Maria V Snyder's books, like Night Study by Maria V Snyder (Fantasy, 10/10E, Short 'n' sweet review)

 

 

Blog Tour: When The Caged Bird Flies by Louise Shelley (Young Adult, 9/10E)

Love the simple yet effective cover

January 2022, Clink Street Publishing, 188 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Book summary 

When she met Desmond, a whole new world opened before her.

Her community, however, harboured a deep suspicion and fear of strangers. Amanda then saw a different side. A community that was controlling, interfering and would go to any lengths to force its members to conform. Even her beloved Welsh mountains now bore a sinister aspect as they seemed to close in on her.

As Amanda tried to navigate this harsh new reality, she no longer knew who she could trust. She did know however, that trusting the wrong person could spell disaster.

Nayu's thoughts

I thought Amanda's adventure would be a tale about finding where her heart belongs, and while she sort of did, it was more relatable than I could expect. Yes, I'm a white girl who grew up in a white village. No I did not ever date someone not white. I also happen to be a white girl from a Christian village who converted to Islam at university. My early days of wearing a hijab got a lot of stares, even from people I knew as they then did a double take at who I was. Thankfully it became really normal and years later no one batted an eyelid, but feeling out of place and having neighbours visibly stand in the street and stare was uncomfortable enough. It is not thankfully on the level of hatred that Amanda endured because she and Desmond loved each other. 

I was pleased they found each other as they seemed well suited, apart from Desmond's strange moods. Most of the time he seemed on the same philosophical level as Amanda, delighting in showing her his town which was so different to her narrowminded village. She in turn loved showing him the surrounding countryside where they could be with each other mostly without others spoiling their fun. There were lots of great descriptions of nature, as well as of buildings too. When people were openly hostile because of Desmond's mere presence I half expected him to get more confrontational about it. He seemed almost good-natured about how deep people's racism got - it bothered him a little, but he didn't seem to be affected much by it, and yet when it came to a little thing called jealously it lit a fire within him that affected Amanda more than people would ever know. 

It did feel strange how Amanda's family were initially welcoming to Desmond while he was still her brother's friend, but as soon as their relationship got serious they showed their true colours. I'd have liked to have seen more of Desmond's family who welcomed in Amanda, I had hoped they might spend more time at his family's home when Amanda's became a battleground but hey didn't. That seed of jealousy which took route in Desmond's heart soured their friendship and in the end...well let's say I did not expect the twist the end took and was shocked by the final revelation. With hindsight the result made sense. 

I can only imagine what feels like to endure racism on a regular basis, which sadly despite many decades passing does not seem to have improved much in too many areas. I do not and can not iunderstand why it is such an issue. We all bleed the same colour blood. Desmond said something about the colour of skin that made me smile as it was so true. I like that Amanda's relationship showed how backwards some people can be in their way of thinking despite living in the modern world. I thought Desmond at times was a bit hasty, yes a certain opportunity at work possibly could have been to tick a box with having a non-white worker, but I also thought it was mostly because he was a genuinely hard worker. Unfortunately part of his heart hardend through a bitter emotion which in the end caused more trouble than the racism did which felt ironic given the opposition the duo had faced head on together.

One day I hope that no matter what someone looks like they can be accepted anywhere they go regardless of who they are with. Until then let's hope more books like this one can show the hardship of being different. Desmond definitely helped Amanda realised how penned in she was by her family and neighbours, and showed her there was more to life than a narrow-minded outlook on life. She flew when she could, but where her wings took her was unexpected to everyone. 

Suggested read

For more thoughtful tales involving not fitting in try Piglettes by Clementine Beauvais (Young Adult, 10/10E) 

 

The Bear Who Sailed The Ocean on An Iceberg by Emily Critchley and Holly Ovenden (Children's, 9 years +, 9/10E)

 

October 2021, Everything With Words, 288 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

 

Summary from Everything With Words

 From a Carnegie nominated author, a brilliantly funny and touching story about a lonely boy who finds a polar bear in his parents’ freezer. How did Monty get there? And who is Monty? Official name, Wilbur Ambrose Cedric Reginald Montague, the Third; Monty to his friends. A huge polar bear who talks like he might have swallowed a dictionary as well as a library — he has read more books than Patrick knew existed —and whose stomach is always rumbling. ALWAYS. But how is Patrick going to feed him on his pocket money that does not stretch much further than a few tins of sardines? And how to protect him from neighbours like Mr. Crankly who might report him? And if that isn’t enough, Patrick is really taking care of his mum who suffers from depression, and his dad isn’t there. But there is always Monty.

Nayu's thoughts 

Living with a parent who is depressed isn't easy for Patrick, and the root of his mother's depression is sadly common, but life gets infinitely harder for Patrick when he discovers Monty the polar bear in his garage. Monty takes residence in the freezer, constantly chips away at Patrick's limited funds as he tries to keep on top of Monty's giant appetite with great fears at first of Monty eating him, then the shops running out of affordable food. His father isn't home for most of the tale, but Patrick has to get inventive on how to stop his mother from going to the garage. Additionally he has to deal with being bullied at school and having an extremely nosy neighbour investigating the strange goings ons that all point to Monty's existence. 

Monty does not like being cooped up in the garage. He likes roaming around Patrick's home at night, and Patrick suffers several scares when Monty almost gets discovered by his mum and his neighbour but his quick thinking helps keep Monty safe. Monty doesn't seem too bothered by how risky his actions are, most of the worrying is done by Patrick who had enough to contend with before Monty. However Monty becomes a friend - once Patrick realises Monty won't eat him despite being rather huge and menacing looking. In fact Monty provides companionship when Patrick needs it the most, apart from the time life gets too much for Patrick and he is kind of mean to Monty and his school friends.

The issues of grief, depression and bullying are fully explored in the story. There is a fair amount of humour which helps the situation seem less bleak than it can feel for Patrick. The end had me crying because it is so lovely. It would have been nice to have witnessed some of Monty's journey on an iceberg: he does recount it a little to Patrick, and how he leaves is fully experienced. Patrick's life issues all get resolved which was pleasant to see, and I hope he has more adventures either from Monty returning or a different animal coming to visit (because I'm quite sure Monty will tell his adventure to all who he sees). I'm looking forward to rereading it one day for sure.

Find out more on author Emily's website and illustrator Holly's website.

Suggested read 

If you love humour and chaos check out The Rabbit Ate My Flipflops by Rachel Elizabeth Cole (Children's, 9 years +, 10E/10E, short 'n' sweet review) 

   

I Am An Artist by Kertu Sillaste and Adam Cullen (Children's, Picture Book, 9/10E)

 

 August 2021, Graffeg, 36 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Book summary from Graffeg

What is an artist? Sometimes John finds art easy, sometimes it's hard, sometimes art is like a game, but sometimes it's a puzzle. This book takes us through the many ups and downs of John's life as an artist whilst also showing the fun that can be had with many artforms, including drawing, sculpture, painting, photography and many more.

Nayu's thoughts

Art is subjective. Art has an insane amount of being expressed. I Am An Artist delves into what being an artist means, the highs of creating novel pieces, the lows of being unable to create what is in the mind. Through illustration which includes photographs the turbulent mind of an artist gets peeled back for readers, nothing is held back. I personally am more a classical art lover, I'm very much not into modern art but my opinion on art isn't what matters. Viewing the character John's world feels like I'm getting into Kertu's head a little.

In all the picture books I've read I genuinely have not come across such a comprehensive insight itno what being an artist is like. I have an artist in my family. When I was younger and my health was better I drew and painted a lot myself. Art is so fun, anyone can do it, but for those whose live, sleep, and breathe art all the time, this book accurately depicts that. It's pretty cool that this got translated from Estonian by Adam, I wonder what influences Kertu's culture had on her work. It's not a style I personally love but it doesn't make it a bad style or a wrong style. It's a distinctive style with mostly bright colours and different illustration techniques used. I like how abstract the inside cover pages are, and how I never could guess what was coming on the next page. 

Suggested read

If you love books about art check out this colourful read Colour My Days by Ross Collins (Children's, Picture book, 9/10E)

 

Swim, Shark, Swim! by Dom Conlon and Anastasia Izlesou (Children's, Picture book, 9/10E)

 

 February 2021, Graffeg, 36 pages, Paperback, Review copy 

Summary from Graffeg

Swim around the world with Shark as he explores ocean forests and coastal reefs, meeting Hammerheads and Great Whites, stingrays and dolphins in a search for the place he calls home.

Nayu's thoughts 

I adore sharks. They are fascinating creatures in how they live, needing to constantly swim to stay alive, thriving on smaller fish as prey. I loved how cute the cover is, with the bold shark in the centre page. The only reason this book doesn't get full marks is because the illustration style while beautiful in it's own right, portraying the vastness of the ocean well and the variety of sealife, the colours and colour tone was a little different to the cover. That is a purely personal preference, each page is full of action and the motion of the water and creatures including the shark are vivid and brilliantly portrayed. I'd just prefer a brighter palette. 

On to the story:  shark is on a mission to find where it belongs. I love how all the different types of ocean with different climates and many types of shark reside are explored in shark's journey, emphasising that there are many sharks and not all can live in the same area. There is even a handy map at the story's end so readers can see where in the world the oceans area. The lyrical style of tale is pleasing to read, it isn't really a rhyming style but it has it's own distinct rhythm which matches well with the illustrations. Shark may be a predator but there are dangers in the world, which is why shark must keep on swimming (like Dory from Finding Nemo) until the perfect place is found, which does happen at the end.

Find out more on Dom's website and Anastasia's website.

Suggested read

The eagle-eyed among you will notice that yes I have recently reviewed another book by Dom and Anastasia: Blow, Wind Blow! by Dom Conlon and Anastasia Izlesou (Children's, Picture book, 10/10E)

 

 

 

Blog Tour: Ruthless Women by Melanie Blake (Thriller, Romance, 9/10E)

 

 18th February 2018, Head of Zeus, 464 pages, Ebook, Review copy

Book summary

On a beautiful private island off the coast of the UK, the cast and crew of glamorous TV show Falcon Bay are at breaking point.

Ratings are falling, and their new boss is inventing ever more dramatic - and impossible - storylines to get Falcon Bay back into the number 1 slot.

Director Farrah, lead actress Catherine and producer Amanda are the driven, ambitious women holding the show together. With so much at stake, they will stop at nothing to stay in the jobs they love and on the island they call home.

Can these women team up to bring down their rivals? Or will scandal, betrayal and ambition tear them apart?

 

Nayu's thoughts

Wow. I have just finished reading this and let me say the ending is impressive. There is so much to like about this, especially the strong, determined women who despite their mistakes keep fighting for what is right. The only reason this didn't get a top grade is because I had really wanted one of the women not to be so eager for romance - well, not even romance, but I'd wanted one to be someone I could relate to, even if they then went off the rails. The inappropriate for under 18s scenes are graphic and nothing is left to the imagination: I did skim read them only to see where they stopped. I'm more a left off the page girl for those topics, so a fair amount of blushing happened. However, I can see it was all keeping with the characters' personalities and was important to the plot. 

Moving on to the overall story, honestly I prefer this book to Melanie's previous book, The Thunder Girls, which I've read possibly because I have more interest in soaps - or should I say continuing dramas? - than the music industry, and find learning about film sets fascinating. It is important to point out that Melanie does a brilliant job of showcasing gender inequality in the film world, especially when it comes down to women becoming mothers. It is horrifying how mean the antagonists are, more so because it happens in real life outside of the book's pages too. It touches on the #metoo movement which is important for every person, no matter their gender. I can easily imagine those scenes in the book happening in the past and sadly in the present. I just hope the future will see changes to that. 

 

I promise the characters who are wronged get their revenge one way or another. I personally think it hints there may be a sequel one day, just because of how one is at the end. Farrah, Catherine and Amanda have strong personalities, some with admirable tenacity and inner strength despite not always taking life choices I would make. The way the women bond and band together when wronged is how it should be. All of them make mistakes they are not proud of. As someone who is sick a fair amount due to chronic illness rather than overindulgence in alcohol, I felt so sorry for the character who has a vomit accident in front of people. Yes it was her fault, but it is horrid being sick let alone over someone else with an audience. 

There is a lot of emotion and it's not a case of women being ridiculous. There is nothing ridiculous about them in this book, other than that some of the male characters are dimwits who completely underestimate them. The emotions surrounding each main character's current life are raw and powerful, even if they are at fault for their own circumstances. I don't have to have experienced all they did to connect with them on an emotional level, to want their lives to straighten out - especially their public humiliations. I'm human, I feel things, I have my own experiences to draw on and I can imagine the embarrassment the women felt as it dripped from the page. They may have caved a little under the weight of what was happening, but they all drew on their inner strength, leaning on each other literally at times when needed. Women can be ruthless, but when gathering together to fight a cause they are unstoppable. 

 

Because there was a lot of drug and alcohol abuse, neither of which I can relate to, I suppose the character I liked the most was Amanda who for the most part abstained from all that. She excused so much of her husband's behaviour, how he treated her at work and at home, but mercifully sees sense eventually, especially when he makes major errors regarding their daughter Olivia. I was aware before reading Ruthless Women, how women can be sidelined at work after they have a child, which is completely wrong. They are as capable as anyone else, and actually talented at multi-tasking, so should not be underestimated. I liked that the women weren't all in their 20s and 30s, it gave a different perspective to what was going on, showing that older absolutely does not mean past it or unfit to keep acting. Farrah was a bit too wild for me, and I did admire Catherine a lot because of her age and all she had experienced.

Shoutout to the shark who was cool for existing. I had actually expected there to be deliberate foul play by a certain someone against a certain someone, so it was nice to be surprised by that plot twist. Almost every plot twist was unexpected, a sign of great writing that I appreciate and like. I truly want a sequel to Ruthless Women, as I'm sure there is more drama to be had at Falcon Bay. Regardless of if that happens, I am definitely keeping an eye on Melanie's future books!

Find out more on Melanie's website, and her social media which includes Twitter.