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Junior Book Reviews
A Sequence of Cosmic Accidents
S. A. Reyhani, pub. Rock the Boat
This book is tremendous fun! The first in a fabulous new middle grade trilogy full of action, magical happenings, twists and turns that make it one to watch out for in 2025. Influenced by the author's dual Persian and Scottish heritage, this story transports us to a brilliantly imagined parallel world filled with incredible characters.
We meet our hero Arian as he and his dad Dave are arguing about whether he should get a haircut, and we quickly learn how life has changed for the two since the loss of Arian’s mother. When Dave’s mobile rings they learn that the Head of Fostering from the local council is placing a child with them as an emergency measure and will be arriving in just a few minutes. 12-year-old Madlock enters speaking to them both in a curious version of English with which they are both unfamiliar. As they try to make conversation with her, Madlock insists that she needs to visit the Chemist on Bardsey Island. When Dave leaves the room to answer the door she tells Arian she is from another world - one filled with magick.
As Arian tries his best to reassure Madlock that the town has a Chemist and a branch of Boots, she tells him only one Chemist knows the location of the Primordial Light, that unless he agrees to help she will have to destroy him as he knows too much. Madlock tells Arian that she is the universe's most wanted fugitive and creates a portal to a Wormhole Highway. Soon they are on a mission, not just to visit the Chemist, but also to prove that Madlock is innocent. Together they embark on an incredible magical adventure, but can they put things right and prevent catastrophe?
Observant readers won't fail to notice that one of the characters on the front cover has a limb difference. This is fact Arian. Having worked with the charity REACH (https://www.reach.org.uk/) to ensure the representation of this is as accurate as possible, Reyhani creates a wonderfully inclusive world with references to how Arian's difference impacts on his day-to-day life, this will delight those who see themselves reflected here and will go a long way towards educating their able-bodied peers.
This book had me laughing out loud so many times yet welling up with sadness at the next turn of a page. This book will leave the reader in possession of information that will have them begging for more! I for one cannot wait for the next book in the trilogy!
Tracey Corner
The Appletree Animal Agency
Katya Balen, illus. Gill Smith, pub. Walker Books
When children reach the age where they no longer want to read picture books, but some of the middle grade choices are a little too long for them, short chapter books are the way forward. This book is perfect for these children.
Meet Mattie. Mattie often has some great ideas and plans but they do seem to have a habit of going go a bit awry! Her friend Zoe might be used to Mattie’s madcap schemes but it all goes wrong when they become apprentices to the new vet, Dr Polly. Discovering a puppy with a poorly leg, Mattie rescues her, naming her Luna. She decides (very sensibly) to take the puppy to Dr Polly's rescue centre. The problem is there are so many animals at the centre who need to find their forever homes that Dr Polly has run out of room.
Mattie, Zoe and Dr Polly's son, Casper decide it is up to them to help the animals find new homes, but is this just another one of Mattie's schemes and what will happen to Luna if they go ahead with their idea? This is a warm hearted adventure for all animal lovers.
Who couldn't help but love Mattie? ~A child full of love, kindness and a sense of doing the right thing. You can't help but root for her. She is the sort of character that you don't often find in stories. Along with her friends Zoe and Casper they make a fabulous team, and readers will find themselves looking up to them. This is the start of what promises to be a fabulous heartwarming series, and the adventures promise to be awesome. Plus Gill Smith's illustrations are guaranteed to make you smile!
Helen Byles
Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed
Eve Wersocki-Morris, illus. Honie Beam, pub. Little Tiger
Twelve year-old Clem Fatale, fast-thinking daughter of notorious thief Jimmy Fatale and member of his devious Spider Gang, has squeezed through a window in Lord Weatherdale’s mansion and let the other gang members in. They are there to steal the immensely valuable Fool’s Canary, a huge yellow diamond cut in the shape of a bird. Their every move has been meticulously planned. But suddenly things go wrong. There are lights, the police. The diamond has been stolen, but not by them. Jimmy has disappeared. And the gang has accidently kidnapped Lord Weatherdale’s son Gilbert, though only Clem realises who he is.
They have to get away, but Clem is desperate to find her father. Reluctantly she enters the getaway car. She is appalled when the gang insists that instead of going to their safe house they make their way to her mother’s home. Lynne Fatale cares far more about her cocktail parties than her daughter and is certainly not pleased to see the new arrivals. It’s not long before Clem is confined to her room. Not long either before she has set off on a hazardous mission to trace her dad and recover the diamond. At first Gilbert seems an embarrassing encumbrance but Clem soon discovers he is quick-witted with unexpected talents. He himself explains to one of the few people they can trust ‘I’m not kidnapped anymore. I’ve been promoted! I’m more of a runaway sidekick.’ As they race through the post second world war London underworld, navigating bombsites and sleazy night clubs they encounter not only danger but treachery.
This is a highly enjoyable, well-illustrated middle grade adventure, full of action and bursting with humour, the first of what will surely become an extremely popular series. The deep sea themed cocktail party with everyone dressed as sea creatures – perfect disguises for crooks – is a wonderful touch. The period details are delightful. Clem and Gilbert are great protagonists, and there are numerous other memorable characters, not least all the gang members. There is an impressive cast of villains, and several true heroes, including Winnie, the unflappable, clever taxi driver from Jamaica who sadly has time available to help Clem and Gilbert because so few people want ‘a lady driver such as myself’. Racism, social inequality and social injustice are subtle underlying themes. Oh, and it turns out that Jimmy Fatale is a gangster with a heart of gold.
Anne Harding
The Doomsday Club
Kevin Moran, pub. The O’Brien Press
‘I only lit a small fire.’ … When Jack, Conan, Yash and Jerry all find themselves in detention after Jack’s unruly behaviour there is no knowing the adventure that awaits for them or for us! Prepare yourselves.
Until this point, until the detention they had rarely talked to each other (not counting that Jack and Conan used to hang out when they were younger of course - something that Jack certainly wants to forget.) However, whilst in detention, they witness a monster mysteriously appearing through a stone archway just outside their school. Jack, of course, wants to find out more and the others tag along – because why not, it could be interesting and they all saw it. When they go out later that night to investigate further, they discover more questions to be answered and find themselves on a quest to save the world. ‘The Doomsday Club’ is formed and our fate is in their hands.
This is an action packed story with hints at Irish folklore cleverly woven in. The boys have to work together to fight demons, to save themselves and, in the process they form friendships which at the start of the story seemed unlikely.
I thought that the story was gripping and I liked the detailed descriptions which managed to avoid gore, making it suitable for a wider audience. There are some places where Irish language used and I found frustrating initially as I could not read it - the letter combinations I am unfamiliar with - however it is appropriate given the setting of the story. Furthermore, the different school systems/year groups with ages (Irish to UK) may lead to some confusion for the reader too. Although it was a demon based thriller, I may have rolled my eyes a little when the teacher got involved at the end of the battle taking it all in her stride.
A fun story, an enjoyable read and a good cast of characters.
Hayley Reeve
Ella Jones vs the Sun Stealer
Lucy Edwards with Katy Birchall, illus. Caroline Garcia, pub. Scholastic
There were a few things that stuck me immediately about this book. The stunning and tactile cover, a true burst of sunshine and fitting the title perfectly. The intriguing title, who is Ella Jones and of course, who is the Sun Stealer ~ a person, an organization… I love books which intrigue me before I have even opened them. Then there is the author, Lucy Edwards. If you don’t know she is a blind broadcaster, content creator and disability activist. Since losing her sight at the age of 17 she has been committed to sharing her own experiences and raising awareness. She has co-written this book with Katy Birchall.
In keeping with her mission Lucy has created a story which celebrates diversity, disability and above all the resilience of young people. It is the first in what is promised to be a series and after having read it I can’t wait to discover more!
At 12 years old Ella Jones has been blind for two years. Luckily she has her guide dog Maisie, sister Poppy and best friend Finn by her side to support and guide her. But it is on a day trip to London with her family that the world changes. The sun is stolen, the light of the world is suddenly extinguished. Of course, being launched into the pitch black from the light of day causes panic and chaos. What has happened being the biggest question that everyone needs an answer to. Ella however is used to living her life in the dark, it is going to be her taking on the role as hero which could save the world. But her foe is a pagan god of light so the challenge is not going to be an easy one…
Beautifully written, clearly done so by someone who knows exactly what they are describing, from experience, when there are scenes in which the characters are navigating unknown spaces. The story is a brilliant adventure with a gentle message and a clear determination to show every reader that they too can be a hero. Let nothing get in your way from reading Ella Jones vs the Sun Stealer.
May Jonas
The Green Kingdom
Cornelia Funke, Tammi Hartung, pub. Dorling Kindersley
When twelve-year-old Caspia finds out she’s spending the summer in Brooklyn – hundreds of miles away from her friends and the familiarity of her home in Maine – she is less than thrilled. Her father’s new job takes her and her mother away to New York for three months where the small apartment they rent swelters in the summer sun. With her mother writing a cookbook and her father busy at a construction site, Caspia is left to her own devices in a city that feels lonely and intimidating. But when she finds a bundle of old letters someone left behind in an old cabinet, Caspia discovers “the green kingdom” through a collection of riddles sent between sisters decades before she was born. And in her search for the answers, finds a community that welcomes her and shares in her love of plants.
At once modern and old-fashioned, this place, The Green Kingdom draws a young girl out of her introverted shell and into the vibrant village life of a new town. Through the charming letters written between two sisters separated for months, Caspia is drawn to a plant shop, herbalist and botanical garden meeting a cast of diverse characters that share her fascination with the riddles. Readers are invited along with the ability to read the letters just as Caspia did, then try to solve the riddles before following her through an adventure that leads to the answers, often including little-known myths or fascinating historical context around the plant. It was lovely to see Caspia’s appreciation of the natural world grow in what might seem an unexpected place.
As Caspia’s experiences change, so do her friendships. From the complexities of conflicts between best friends back at home to new connections blossoming in surprising ways, Caspia learns to branch out and even set down roots in a new place. With the support of her parents, her entire family considers a summer away from familiarity a wonderful experience. The Green Kingdom is a testament to being open to new adventures and branching out – a great book for a child who is moving or anyone with a love of plants.
Stephanie Ward
Grumpfort
Jamie Hammond, pub. Usborne
This is an exciting, action packed and hilarious adventure story which takes place in the Forbidden Forest. It features the worst monster hunter in the world. Mo has the job of protecting the village of Bogfoss from the monsters in the woods. He sets off into the Forbidden Forest to catch a monster and make himself a hero. He comes across Grumpfort, which is a secret monster fortress. There is a big problem. Mo has to stop the scary Grumpsnatcher from kidnapping another monster.
The story is full of fantastic characters. There is a grumpy gnome, a feisty troll and a kind-hearted snotwoggle. This combination of weird creatures and some very funny events leads to chaos throughout the book. To add to the fun, Mo finds himself in a booby-trapped sausage roll which is actually the fortress called Grumpfort.
The book is bursting with some brilliant black and white illustrations from beginning to end. It starts with a very useful and detailed map of Bogfoss. There follows a newspaper article about the death of Monday the Fifteenth, the warden and monster slayer. The story then moves on to Monday the Sixteenth, who is Mo. He actually does not want to be the warden. The villagers have no confidence in Mo and nor do the other wardens.
So, we have a book full of great characters, a brave lad who really doubts himself, plus loads of monsters. All this, along with the masses of illustrations and comic strips, leads to a great and fun read for young children to enjoy alone or with an adult.
Gary Kenworthy
The Last Dragon on Mars
Scott Reintgen, pub. Rock the Boat
There is a dragon for every sun, planet and moon, a physical manifestation of each celestial body. In fact, without Gaia, Earth’s dragon, and her self-sacrifice that made Earth habitable, there would be no human race. By killing Ares, the Martian dragon, humanity thought they could do the same on Mars. They were mistaken.
Meet Lunar Jones, Mars-born, an orphan, waiting for an adoption that will never happen. He helps the younger children as much as he can, going out scavenging the harsh Martian landscape to find scrap metal, remnants of the military hardware left over from the war with Ares. On his computer coded bike, riding along the edge of storms, Lunar trawls the hostile landscape of a hateful planet in which anything not human only wants to kill him. The other scavenger crews probably also want to kill him, but there are at least rules. Unless no-one is going to find out that the rules have been broken. Lunar’s only option is to keep moving, sending him blindly stumbling into Dread, a dragon.
The book weaves these two great stories together. Firstly, a brilliant cosmological tale about the universe and dragons, whose existence and ability to fold space-time makes human expansion possible. Some dragons love humans, some hate them, many are indifferent. More no doubt will be revealed about this grander narrative as the book series progresses. Secondly, the gritty adventures of Lunar Jones, desperately fighting to survive and chosen by Dread to captain his human crew. Lunar must make friends of enemies and those that betray him if his crew has any chance of success. At stake is the future of Mars.
Throughout the story Lunar and his friends face many personal battles, making difficult decisions in impossible situations with no obvious right answers. As such, these flawed characters are easy to relate to, winning over the reader’s empathy. There is also the ultimate fight between the dragons and their crews. Whilst Lunar and Dread are the classic underdogs - knowing too little, under prepared and outnumbered - as readers, we want them to win, despite the odds.
The Last Dragon on Mars is a story of deep betrayal and immense courage, but will it be enough to save Mars.
Simon Barrett
Please Don’t Read the Footnotes Please
Rob Walton, illus. Reena Makwana, The Emma Press
Rob Walton’s latest collection of thirty short stories seem to share one thing in common: they are all in this book. He reworks classic fairy tales of Goldilocks, the Princess and the Pea and of course wicked witches in deep woods. He plays with words creating the story of Penny Chocolate who buys pains-au-chocolate with chocolate coins. Other stories spiral away from the phrase you can lead a horse to water and suggest an offering of wafers. There are plenty of stories about teachers and teachers telling stories. Thrice Butterwicks knights. Tales of falling stars and the names of the planets. Stories that are counter-intuitive - being told to mess up rather than tidy your room. A puzzle asking you what they would put in a time capsule. Sadly, no story about a dog with a tuna bake, despite looking for it.
The stories are so varied that there is something for every reader to enjoy. They are short, quickly finished offering a chance to choose another one. Moreover, the stories are really accessible, encouraging reluctant readers to dip in and simply read.
Of course, as advised by the book’s title don’t read the footnotes as Rob Walton interjects his own stories with comical additions, observations and a couple of more serious thoughts. And in the example of one story, regardless of whether you read front to back or back to front there is a disclaimer of no footnotes at all. Apparently, an editorial error.
A second collection of stories are yet to be written. At the end, of the book Emma explains that readers can write their own stories inspired by Rob Walton’s. It is only then I appreciated Rob Walton’s brilliance in the variety of different stories in this collection from stories of different genres, stories inspired by everyday items, leaps of imagination tangential to reality and what happened next told in the first or third person. Finally, to return to the title, Emma also suggests readers can add footnotes to their own copy of Rob Walton’s book.
Please Don’t Read the Footnotes Please cannot be summed up in one sentence, so I’m not going to try.
Simon Barrett
Rebel Heart
Ally Sherrick, pub. Chicken House Books
This is an incredible book with a truly dastardly villain. Merriweather Pryce is the main character, and she is living in a period of history that I know little about. It is 1645 and her town is under siege again. The battle between the Roundheads and the Royalists is a dangerous and she is worried about what her stepmother will do while her father is away fighting. Anyone interested in discovering more about this period of history could use this opening as an opportunity for just that.
This book does not shy away from the horrors of war and the reader will find themselves transported to the English Civil War by the descriptions throughout the book- an informative and impressive assault on the senses.
Merriweather will find her mission to find her father interrupted by capture and she will then find that not only does she need to escape and discover the fate of her father but also make it home to save all she has ever known. The courage and loyalty of Merriweather makes her an admirable and relatable heroine and I think readers will truly lose themselves in this gripping historical adventure.
Erin Hamilton
Vanya and the Wild Hunt
Sangu Mandanna, illus. Kristina Kister, pub. Macmillan Children’s Books
With its striking cover this book is incredibly enticing. The hues of pink, purple and yellow hint at majesty and magic, the flying horse or is it a Pegasus or some other mythical creature speaks of ancient stories and the domed golden roofs of a building in the background suggest an exotic setting. Reader, you will not be disappointed.
Vanya’s story is what we sometimes call a story within a story. It is also a book within a book (almost). Her story is inspired by ancient myth, legend and folklore. It could be retelling of any number of stories but it is thoroughly modern too, exploring the traditional themes of exciting adventure with a heroine who has ADHD. It is not simply mentioned that she has ADHD, this is woven into the story for it is what makes Vanya who she is. And that is an eleven year old girl who loves to know the answers to questions, who is always busy looking for them and who, most importantly, can talk to books. It doesn’t stop there though for the books talk back…
This becomes more important by the page with the story developing at a fast pace. Vanya’s parents are captured by monsters (if you hadn’t already realised this is a fantasy). But she thought these monsters were only in legend. It seems her parents have been keeping secrets and it is only once she is at the enchanted school of Auramere that she can hope to learn the truth. Here she finds herself among archwitches and archivists, here she finds magic and danger, here she finds out about the wild hunt. Can Vanya step up and save her new home, the one place she feels she belongs before it is too late?
A magical read full of twists and turns, surprises and wonder. An exciting new story and new world to explore.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Wildlands
Brogan Murphy, pub. Puffin Books
Wildlands is an emotionally, gripping read which had me in tears! Set 25 years in the future we find that humans have dedicated a vast area of England to nature to allow it to flourish, and have reintroduced species such as wolves, lynx and bison. This area, now known as the Wildlands, cannot be entered by humans. The only way to cross the Wildlands is via the high-speed train which travels through from London to Glasgow. When 13-year-old Astrid and little sister Indie are travelling to Glasgow to their meet their Mum, the train unexpectedly stops and, quite by accident, Astrid and Indie find themselves left alone within the depths of the Wildlands. Stranded with only a rucksack and a phone without signal, the two girls must work together if they are to survive and what follows is a journey that is as terrifying as it is exciting and wonderous!
In this story Murphy brilliantly paints a hopeful picture of a future for our world where rewilding and clean technologies are the norm and, although it is set in the future, it is easy to find yourself thinking that this is what we should be doing now! It is most beautifully written, and Murphy cleverly creates an immersive setting with her exquisite descriptions of this unpredictable and incredible new world.
Underpinning the girls’ adventure is a heartwarming story about family, coming of age and belonging. This incredible book is a real page turner and will leave you questioning the values and beliefs we hold about our world, how we treat it, our respect for it and our love and respect for one another. A truly incredible, though provoking story, absolutely perfect for class discussion about what the future of our world could and perhaps should be. I cannot recommend this highly enough! How privileged I feel to have stepped into this incredible new world.
Tracey Corner
