SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW April 4-5 2020

This week my children's book reviews include a magical venetian middle grade adventure, two fascinating non fiction books for budding eco warriors and and an inspiring historical coming-of-age drama.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

THE MASK OF ARIBELLA BY ANNA HOGHTON

CHILDREN 9+

Aribella lives in Renaissance Venice, the daughter of a lace-maker. When Aribella discovers that her anger makes flames shoot from her fingertips she runs away. Saved by the Cannovacci, magical masked warriors they enlist Aribella's help to defend Venice against a growing evil. This stunning, atmospheric debut with a strong, rebellious heroine at its heart will enchant and enthral children looking for escapism. Perfect for fans of Harry Potter and The Thief Lord.

PB Chicken House £6.99

CLIMATE REBELS BY BEN LERWILL

CHILDREN 7+

An inspiring collection of 25 true life stories of people who are helping the planet. From Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough to lesser-known heroes such as the founders of Greenpeace and poacher patrollers The Black Mambas, they all prove one person can make a difference. This is a powerful and hopeful reminder that we can all help the planet. Each personable and anecdotal chapter is accompanied by luscious illustrations which will ignite children's curiousity.

Puffin HB £12.99

PLANET SOS BY MARIE G. ROHDE

CHILDREN 8+

Our planet is sending out an SOS. From the Ozone Serpent to Trash Kong, these real-life environmental monsters are threatening our world. Now you can challenge them! A clever and humorous handbook that shows young eco-warriors how they can help the earth. Each 'monster' has it's own card so children can learn about what they 'feed' on and how to vanquish them. An ingenious idea which will provide hours of informative fun.

What On Earth Books HB £14.99

THE AUSTEN GIRLS BY LUCY WORSLEY

CHILDREN 12+

Anna and Fanny are cousins who must find suitors amongst the competition in the ball season. Can their unmarried Aunt, Jane Austen help them retain their sense and sensibility? Or will the girls pride and prejudices scupper their ambitions? Can they become heroines of their own story? This witty historical coming-of-age drama is a fascinating and entertaining insight into the role of women in the Georgian era. For fans of Eva Ibbotson's historical novels.

Bloomsbury PB £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW MARCH 28 -29 2020

This week my children's book reviews include a magnificent middle grade mystery, an entertaining board book about farm life, a horrible history of seafaring Britain and Ireland and a feminist coming-of-age drama.

BOOK OF THE WEEK 

WINTERBORNE HOME FOR VENGEANCE AND VALOUR BY ALLY CARTER

CHILDREN 9+

When 11-year-old orphan April joins Winterborne Home she discovers its missing heir Gabriel Winterborne living in the secret basement. Can April and her fellow orphans save Gabriel from his murderous family? Can they uncover the mystery of the ghostly Sentinel? A rip-roaring adventure bursting with excitement and escapades. The diverse cast and twists and turns will grip children until it's ending. Lemony Snicket meets The Goonies.

Orchard PB £6.99

WHAT CAN YOU SEE? BY JASON KORSNER & HANNAH ROUNDING

PICTURE BOOK 4+

A collection of gently rhyming verses which encourage the young to look at the world around them. Children and adults will have great fun spotting themes and will be inspired to play spot the object. What's on your plate, in the bathroom, lounge or garden? A fun way to play a game, explore your home and take a break from the digital world if necessary. Gorgeous pen and wash illustrations make this a treat.

Graffeg PB £7.99

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: ALL AT SEA BY TERRY DEARY & MARTIN BROWN

CHILDREN 8+

A rollicking and stormy journey around Britain and Irelands seafaring history. Children will be fascinated by the Viking attack on St Davids, how Welsh heroine Jemima Nicholas saved Britain from a French invasion and the dastardly wreckers of South Wales. There are also fishy tales of traditions and superstitions.Written in digestible segments with witty line illustrations and cartoons reluctant readers and future sailors will be hooked. Ship Ahoy!

PB Scholastic £6.99

RULES FOR BEING A GIRL BY CANDACE BUSHNELL & KATIE COTUGNO

YOUNG ADULT 14+

Marin is bright and heading to the Ivy League. When Marin's favourite English teacher, Mr Beckett kisses her no one believes her. To make herself heard and show solidarity for all girls she writes an article on misogyny and sexism. But the backlash is unexpected. Can Marin retain her self-respect and her friends? A witty and inspiring coming-of-age feminist drama about what girls have a right to expect. Moxie meets Legally Blonde.

Macmillan PB £7.99

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS IN THE SOUTH WALES EVENING POST AUG 12-13

This week my children's book reviews include an amazon adventure, a jungle sticker book, the return of Fighting Fantasy and an historical tale of freedom.

All in the Weekend section of The South Wales Evening Post. Enjoy

BOOK OF THE WEEK

THE EXPLORER BY KATHERINE RUNDELL

CHILDREN 9+

After their plane crashes deep in the Amazon, four children must try and survive. Can they find their way out? Has someone been there before them? A wonderfully exotic adventure that makes you feel you're also in the rainforest with them, discovering little jewels of fascinating facts, along the way. A tale of friendship, bravery and survival, edged with lush illustrations. A story encouraging you to expand your horizons. Favourite quote, “You are right to be afraid. Be brave anyway.”

ISBN 9781408854877 HB Bloomsbury £12.99

STICKER ART JUNGLE BY CRAIG AND KARL

CHILDREN 5+

Create one of eight colourful and stylish sticker-by-number animal portraits with this new series. Guaranteed to keep children entertained during the rainy holidays! Fill the numbered spaces with vivid coloured stickers and watch the animal art materialise. Each animal, such as a tiger, toucan or viper, comes with a fascinating list of facts. In association with the Natural History Museum. Also, available in the series is Ocean, Savannah and Woodland.

ISBN 9781847809452 PB Frances Lincoln £5.99

THE PORT OF PERIL BY IAN LIVINGSTONE

CHILDRENS 8+

Fighting Fantasy celebrates it's 35^th anniversary, with the release of a brand new game book. I loved these books as a child and was thrilled to see their return. The reader plays the hero, picking their own route, not knowing where the adventure leads or into what danger. Use your imagination to battle monsters, solve clues and compete with perilous guests. Part story, part game, this is perfect for fantasy lovers.

ISBN 9781407181295 PB Scholastic £6.99

PASSING FOR WHITE BY TANYA LANDMAN

YOUNG ADULT (READING AGE OF 8+)

It's 1848 in America's Deep South. Slave girl Rosa, is pale-skinned enough to 'pass for white'. For a chance of freedom, she poses as a white gentleman and her husband's master and both attempt a daring escape. This courageous tale is inspired by the real life odyssey of Ellen and William Craft. Also suitable for dyslexic and reluctant readers, with short chapters, distinctive font and clear language. A thought provoking and empathetic read great for historical discussion.

ISBN 9781781126813 Barrington Stoke PB £6.99

Book Review: The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Synopsis

WINNER OF THE 2015 PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION AND
WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR FICTION

A beautiful, stunningly ambitious novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II

When Marie Laure goes blind, aged six, her father builds her a model of their Paris neighborhood, so she can memorize it with her fingers and then navigate the real streets. But when the Germans occupy Paris, father and daughter flee to Saint-Malo on the Brittany coast, where Marie-Laure’s agoraphobic great uncle lives in a tall, narrow house by the sea wall.

In another world in Germany, an orphan boy, Werner, is enchanted by a crude radio. He becomes a master at building and fixing radios, a talent ultimately makes him a highly specialized tracker of the Resistance. Werner travels through the heart of Hitler Youth to the far-flung outskirts of Russia, and finally into Saint-Malo, where his path converges with Marie-Laure.

Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE is his most ambitious and dazzling work.

My Musings

I think, no I know this is one of my favorite books of 2015. Epic and enchanting. Its a big book with short chapters that fly from one character to another, one time to another like a bee collecting honey. It almost defies description so I won't try as there is a perfectly adequate synopsis above. There is however nothing inadequate about this wondrous novel.It is exquisitely written and builds a vivid world beyond the book. It is a supremely talented writer to harness a story of such epic proportions in such eloquent and accessible style. Such is Doerr's skill at bringing all the threads of the story together you barely realise your are constantly jumping through time and into others lives every couple of pages. It seems very natural and fluid. He draws you into to his web if intrigue, friendship and survival.

There is a support cast of colourful and lovable characters that will live on in the memory as they fight the horrors of war. The end zips to 1970's and finally 2014 and it is filled with great poignancy and a reminder the horror of the war and a time of technical innocence was not that long ago. The connection the brings all the strands together is the development of the radio which even back then could bring random strangers together over the airwaves. Such encounters can be so meaningful and powerful it an last a lifetime. Now we have such a plethora of connectivity with the internet it seems meaningless. Doerr reminds us to appreciate fine craftsmanship, or the beauty of a shell,  a wild bird, the person across the street that makes your heart beat a little faster. The book is a subtle reminder that technology is a marvelous invention that can connect us but should not distract us from the life before us and around us.

I cried at the end simply because I had to close the book.

Unparalleled