Alice-Miranda On Holiday by Jacqueline Harvey (Children's, 7 years +, 9/10)

 

August 2012, Red Fox
298 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: life for a well loved rich girl, fun aunts & grannies, mysterious goings on, a sullen boy, being ill on holiday can be fun, strength of friendship, secrets in a laboratory, kidnap, occasional moderate peril, lots of laughs

Summary from Random House Children's Publishers

Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones has survived her first term at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale. And now Jacinta Headlington-Bear, the school's second best tantrum thrower, is joining Alice-Miranda's family for term break. Who would have thought it!

The two girls are looking forward to a relaxing holiday at Highton Hall. But a cranky boy is causing mischief on the estate, a movie star has come to visit, and a stranger is snooping about. Add a naughty pony, a hint of romance and a dastardly scheme, and Jacinta and Alice-Miranda might have a more exciting holiday than they were expecting.

Nayuleska's thoughts

Although it took me a very long time before I got all the characters straight this was a thrilling read. I enjoyed Alice-Miranda's family because they lover her so much - often in books families don't love the main character. She is delightful, very inquisitive which is a good thing by the end. It was fun to learn more about her friends, who each help Alice-Miranda when Things Happen. I'm quite sure there will be more books in the series like this 9/10 read.

To find out more about Jacqueline and her books check out Alice-Miranda's blog.

Suggested read

For holiday adventure with a family who doesn't like the heroine (the mother is truly ghastly) check out Polly Price's Totally Secret Diary: Mum in Love by Dee Shannon

What are YOU reading? #137

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.



Books I've Read

Alice-Miranda On Holiday by Jacqueline Harvey

Children's, 7 years +

(An extraordinary 7 year old stumbles on several mysteries while at home with a very caring family...)

9/10

Spell Sisters: Evie the Swan Sister by Amber Castle

Children's, 7 years +

(Evie is the most elegant of the magical sisters, and my favourite!)

10/10

Alien in My Belly Button by Jimmy Mars

Children's, 6 years +

(It's a gross story...which I love!) 

10/10

Leaving Poppy by Kate Cann

Young Adult

(Despite being totally freaked out by this scary read I kept going because Amber is such an emotionally strong girl...) 

10/10

Rosie's Magic Horse by Russell Hoban & Quentin Blake

Children's, Picture book

(The end wasn't quite what I expected...)

8/10

The Cupcake Diaries: Katie, Batter Up! By Coco Simon

Children's, 7 years +

(As well as the usual cupcake fun, Katie has to find her own talent and conquer mean girl Sydney's bullying...) 

10/10

Princess Evie's Ponies: Diamond the Magic Unicorn by Sarah KilBride & Sophie Tilley

Children's, Picture book

(This fantastic read has cute oozing from the pages!!)

10/10

Queen Rider by Alan Davidson

Children's, 9 years +

(An extremely troubled girl who loves horses finally gets the wake up call she needs...my review...)

10/10

I Am Cat by Jackie Morris

Children's, Picture book/Non-Fiction

(This book made me go "awww" with some of the cat poses...)

8/10

Gobbolino The Witch's Cat by Ursula Moray Williams

Children's, 7 years +

Special Reprint

(It was wonderful rereading a story I'd last read when I was little. Gobbolino has a tough start to life!)

10/10

Books I've reread

Airhead by Meg Cabot

Young Adult

(My views on modelling are pretty much the same as Em's, but her body switch makes a fascinating read...) 

10/10

What I've Watched  

Neo Angelique - Second Season

...the shocks and surprises just keep coming in this second season. I love how power Angelique has, how strong she's become and , how she wants to be able to protect herself, even if she's not very good at it. 

Shugo Chara Doki!

...I love it when shows are even more fun on the rewatch. I saw a clip for an earlier episode and I want to start right from the begining again (I'm not). It's interesting how Lulu and Amu are getting a lot closer now. This is one show that is guaranteed to cheer me up no matter what happens. 

Winx Club Season 4 (Spanish version)

... *smiles* I don't understand a lot of it yet. And it sounds soooo fast (more so than the French one did). But it's super fun hearing Spanish while watching my favourite show. Season 4 is a happier season (in some ways) for Winx, so it'll be enjoyable to re-watch it over and over in another language. 

The Great British Bake Off

...this semi-final was pretty tense, with some quite major disasters happening. But the contestants put their all in, and next week is the final! 

Waterloo Road

... only 2 more episodes left in this series. My family were surprised when I said 'set it on light!' at the TV (it makes sense if you watch it). Having a fire would be a lot drama, especially as it was arson (that probably says something about me...I'm a good person, really!) 

Prison Break: Season 1

...I've watched 2 more episodes. I absolutely love this show. I call it research for my WIPs. What goes on is very clever as the hero tries to break out of prison (obvious from the title), after he deliberately gets in there. 

Covert Affairs

...this is a fun series, such a shame there are only 11 episodes (unsure if this is on Netflix or for the entire series as a whole). 

H2O: Just Add Water

...sometimes I need a break from anime (yes, I am saying that!), and this series is definitely better the second time round. It's fun seeing the girls re-learning how to control their mermaid powers. 

Missing Season 1

...It's really awesome that this is based on a series by Meg Cabot whose books I read! I haven't read the Missing books, but I'll add them to my wish list. The power to find people through dreams is really cool.

The Magnificent Moon Hare and the Foul Treasure by Sue Monroe (Children's, 7 years +, 9/10)

August 2012, Jelly Pie

208 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: pirates, adventure, a hare who is both clever and a bit dim, a dragon with a girl's name, a very annoyed queen, crazy maze walking in the dark, maps, lots of humour, a little peril

Summary from Egmont   

‘We must find out what the exciting THING is! I bet that it’s TREASURE!’

P.J. and the Moon Hare are off on a new adventure, battling pirates. Accompanied by P.J.’s dragon (who’s called Sandra even though he’s a boy) can P.J. and the Moon Hare stop the horrible feathered villain Foul from stealing Uncle Julian’s treasure?

Nayuleska's thoughts

This was hilarious! I've never had either but the Moon Hare reminded of a younger brother. He is highly annoying, does everything PJ doesn't want him to...and occasionally does or says something extraordinary. I felt sorry for PJ's mother because the Moon Hare eggs on her scatterbrain brother when he doesn't need any encouragement! The real enemy had me in stitches with his antics and when the Moon Hare took his welfare into consideration. There was the odd part that was too weird for me, but overall this is a funny 9/10 read.

Suggested read

Try book one, The Magnificent Moon Hare

 

Agatha Parrot and the Zombie Bird by Kjartan Poskitt (Children's, 7 years +, 10/10)

July 2012, Jelly Pie
230 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Themes: friendship group, school stereotypes, magic (real and fake), lots of adventure, secret hide out for staff, mistreating animals, constant humour

Summary from Egmont
We had a battle of magic at Odd Street School! A magician came to do a show and he tried to hatch a scary Zombie Bird out of a silver egg. Eeky-freak!

But thanks to Bianca’s trombone, a secret trapdoor, and Martha being invisible ... the Zombie Bird turned out to be the funniest thing ever ha ha!

(If you're scared of magic like our friend Ellie, don't worry.  This book won’t turn you into a frog. Or a rabbit!)

Hope you like it, and thanks for reading this BLURB!


Nayuleska's thoughts
I was a bit tentative about reading this as I hate zombies. The note on the back cover reassured me a lot. Turns out I'm a little like Ellie in more ways than being freaked out by zombies. The group of friends are very different characters. I love how each of their weaknesses can end up being a strength. They all pulled together under Agatha's leadership, even if they are scared. They are pros at appearing innocent too. I laughed on every page of this 10/10 read.

Suggested read
If you like mayhem try Penny Dreadful Causes a Kerfuffle by Joanna Nadin 

Queen Rider by Alan Davidson (Children's, 9 years +, 10/10)

This edition May 2012, Straw Hat

128 Pages, Ebook

Review copy

Themes: disobedience, Family secrets, keeping everyone out, refusing to listen, making as much trouble as possible, horse riding, team spirit, boarding school life, strained family relationships, common sense, a little humour, lots of tantrums

Summary from Amazon UK (I don't get anything by mentioning them)

Impossible Bonnie Wyndham, expelled from her last three schools, knows she's only been accepted at sports-mad Almonside because she's a superb rider. She doesn't intend to stay long. Just long enough to prove she's the best. But equally Ruth Caradon, her tough, soft-spoken riding instructor, doesn't intend to let Bonnie get the better of her and queen it around Almonside. Or -- is their conflict about something different altogether?

Nayuleska's thoughts

I was already hooked by this book being about boarding school. Having this headstrong, too strong willed girl attend school changed a lot of character's lives. At first I couldn't believe her behaviour, but as Bonnie's secrets were revealed it made total sense why she was a brat. There are a few places she has tantrums just like a toddler. I actually quite liked her self-declared rival Christine: she was innocent & genuinely wanted to try and be Bonnie's friend. Bonnie is too willful though, and doesn't form a strong bond with anyone. However, that is in some respects beneficial given what happens at the end of this 10/10 read.

For a cool trailer check out Alan's website.

Suggested read

The wilfull girl who Bonnie reminds me of Enid Blighton's The Naughtiest Girl series

Rebel Heart by Moira Young

2nd August 2012, Marion LLoyd Books

304 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Teenage fiction (13+), Sci-fi adventure

Fast moving action adventure with undescribed violence and unusual spelling

Summary from Marion Lloyd Books (Scholastic)

Saba has rescued her kidnapped brother and defeated the fanatical Tonton. But the price to be paid for her violent victory is beyond her darkest nightmares. Jack has disappeared – and can no longer be trusted. And a new and formidable enemy is rising in the dustlands. No one is safe. But as Saba prepares to face this growing terror, she must confront a terrible secret hidden in the darkest depths of her soul… Brace yourself for danger, passion and betrayal in this heart-clenching sequel to Blood Red Road, the most exciting YA debut of 2011. It is a book that will sweep you to the highest peaks of adventure, fill you with blood-red fury and shake you to the very core.

The Mole's review 

In this book the author takes you on a journey where you will grow to hate her for what she does to our friends from the first book. She happily takes them to places that our friends shouldn't be taken and is happy to kill them off at a rate of knots! Do not get attached to anyone because no-one seems to be sacred.

For all that, it is still an excellent book and a great addition to the story. And unlike so many sequels it's not 'more of the same'. The pace changes throughout and Saba (so far one of the few 'constants' in the series) is 'fleshed' out more but not as the child she felt like in the first book, but as a young woman.

Highly recommended but make sure you've read Blood Red Road first.

Trailer video for Damian Dibben of the History Keepers series

I'm starting to get on top of my emails - and this was in the pile of ones to sort out. I'm totally thrilled to have had Damian, author of an awesome time travelling series, answer a question I put forward for him. The lovely publicists at Random House Children's Publishers offered bloggers the opportunity to ask a question, and he'd film the answer at the end of a filming session. Updated 3pm Saturday 13th October: Unfortunately I posted the wrong video, so this is a trailer for his book. Because my stupid laptop does not play videos, I've only just noticed this mistake. Better late than  never! The answer was cool :) (download has expired...)


 
Do go check out his books, which start with The History Keepers: The Storm Begins