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Junior Book Reviews
Chris Mould’s War of the Worlds: A Graphic Novel
Chris Mould, pub. Faber
It is 1894, and unbeknown to humankind, the Martians are watching, drawing up plans and beginning preparations to invade. Leon our narrator, a clerk in the city hall, is curious about the microscopic world and the whole universe he sees through a telescope. He witnesses a falling star from Mars burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere and leaves the observatory to record the interplanetary remains. Upon closer inspection however he discovers the start of the Martian invasion of Earth.
H.G. Wells’ classic science-fiction novel is an enduring, captivating story that has entered popular imagination through the theatre, radio, television and film, immortalised perhaps in Orson Welles’ 1938 radio adaptation, Jeff Wayne’s music and the octopus-like aliens of the computer game, Space Invaders. Neither is Chris Mould the first to turn the novel into a comic book or graphic novel: this accolade goes to Edgar P. Jacobs in 1946-1947. Somehow Wells’ novel appeals to the visual, as we are drawn to the strangeness of the Martian machines and their pilots.
Chris Mould’s War of the Worlds is a fusion of words, illustrations and comic form: not a typical graphic novel. The story is told through words accompanied with spot illustrations, vignettes that provide us with glimpses of scenes; full-page and double-page spreads as well as full pages of comic strips, eerily silent with no speech bubbles or captions. Chris’ illustrations use a mixture of drawing and watercolours, sometimes washing the whole scene. He has shared his sketchbook, and illustrations not included in the book on social media, showing the evolution of his ideas and the changing form of the invaders.
In his graphic novel, the Martian machine seems gangly, with wheels, hoses and pistons connecting it’s many joints, gigantic as it fills and extends beyond even Chris’s double-spread framed illustration. At a distance, the tripods tower above the landscape and the derelict houses below. The Martians however appear Victorian, using pistons, values and steam to power their machines of steel, except for the ray gun evaporating the armies sent to stop them. Although Chris never draws a Martian, a multi-jointed steel tentacle stretches ominously across a couple of pages.
Chris Mould’s War of the Worlds brings this compelling story to a brand new audience.
Simon Barrett
The Fairy Tale Fan Club
Richard Ayoade, illus. David Roberts, pub. Walker Books
Where do I start? Perhaps with the full title of this extraordinary book: The Fairy tale Fan Club. Legendary Letters Collected by C.C. Cecily. Next should come the admission that I want to be part of this fan club. After all I have been an avid reader of fairytales since I was so high and I still have some of my favourite fairytale books from childhood. Letting author Richard Ayoade peel back the curtain and reveal to his unsuspecting readers, some of the secrets behind all of our favourite Happily Ever Afters has been a risk but the benefits have most definitely outweighed it!
C.C. Cecily, the one and only collector of the letters now published here, in this very book, is Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club and it is her task to share with fairytale characters the letters sent in by their adoring fans, a.k.a. children from all over the world. The letters are a mix of questions and, to put it quite simply, fan mail. Do the characters to whom they are addressed welcome this mail? Well, the answer to that is some do. Most like to write back with truths that adults will find hilarious, children, will too, I hope. They are most certainly honest! Want to know if the Big Bad Wolf’s reputation is really as awful as it is made out to be, if Little Red is as good as we are led to believe… What about Snow White and her Dwarfs, did she really look after them after they rescued her… Would you like hair care tips from Rapunzel or pointers to spotting poison apples from Sleeping Beauty? All this and so much more is waiting for you.
With illustrations for the super-talented David Roberts who makes each of the characters and their stories his own with his flair and style, this book will open your eyes to some of our best-loved fairytale characters and have you rushing to read the stories again with new eyes! Pure escapism wrapped up in nonsense, or is it? It certainly reads as though these letters were well considered and expertly composed…
Louise Ellis-Barrett
Fia and the Last Snow Deer
Eilish Fisher, illus. Dermot Flynn, pub. Penguin Random House Children’s Books
A stunning beautiful debut novel set in prehistoric Ireland and told entirely through verse poetry, Fia and the Last Snow Deer looks set to be an instant classic.
It has been several been years since the seasons last turned and, faced with what seems to be an eternal winter, Fia’s village look to Solas, Fia’s snow deer, and the ancient prophecy that promises the return of sunlight and life if the snow deer is sacrificed. The villagers are starving, and this may be the only way out of their hunger. In a desperate attempt to save both her friend and her village, Fia, accompanied by her cousin Mish, takes Solas and runs. Together the three set out in search of the Deer Mother – the mythical being who is supposed to wake the sun at the winter solstice, finding her is their only hope. But the way is hard and Fia will face choices that will test her.
This beautiful lyrical story is wrapped in the most incredible illustrations by Dermot Flynn making it a true feast for the senses, plunging the reader deep into the heart of the story. Despite the harshness of the conditions and the tension surrounding the situation there is a true lightness to both the writing and illustrations like the whisper of falling snow and each snowy step of their journey had me silently gripped.
I will be honest and say that there was a point at which I found myself crying quietly, but Eilish Fisher has a rare talent to make us feel deeply whilst her words comfort us and slowly lead us forward. In Fia she has created a true hero who not only helps others but who learns to accept the help of others too – a quality to be admired and this beautiful tale of bravery, hope, friendship and self-discovery will stay with me forever. I feel honoured to have been asked to review it, an absolute joy to read I have no doubt I will return to its pages many times. The perfect winter tale.
Tracey Corner
Hunt For the Golden Scarab
M.G. Leonard, illus. Manuel Šumberac, pub. Macmillan Children’s Books
This is the first book in the new Times Keys series. It is set in Ancient Egypt and promises to be a fast-paced mystery series. The author, M.G. Leonard, has also written the successful Trains, Twitch and Beetle Boy series of adventures.
The adventure starts in an unspecified London museum before taking us to Ancient Egypt. It is a mystery story based on historical fact, featuring myth, legend and martial arts. There are lots of Ancient Egyptian facts, including detail about the mummification process. It is an exciting adventure combining the mystery of time travel with the joy of music. The heroes are young musicians who have the ability to open doors in time with their talents. The main characters are Sim Lockier and his mum. The two never live anywhere for long. This results in a fast moving, thrilling and action-packed story. There are other interesting characters, including Nelson, who becomes Sim’s new best friend, when he finally settles in a school. We learn that mum has been keeping secrets, which adds to the excitement and uncertainty of the story. Dangerous people turn up in the museum too.
This story is packed with action, adventure, secrets, danger, fun, time travel, exploration, history, magic and deceit. It is about a chilling and epic journey to beat and foil the villains in the plot. Sim and hie friends are determined to outwit the sinister Council of Keys. They want to be the first to find Nefertiti’s lost tomb and they have to piece together long-hidden clues if they are to solve the mystery of the golden heart scarab. The book features some very good black and white illustrations and also some extra useful detail in the form of a Time Traveller’s Diary, Key’s Guide to Ancient Egypt and brief notes about the author and the illustrator. The reader is promised that there is more excitement to come in future books, when the action moves to Viking Norway, Ancient Rome and medieval England.
Gary Kenworthy
Ice Apprentices
Jacob North, pub. Simon & Schuster Children’s Books
A story of magic, mystery and monsters. Book 1 of a promised trilogy.
I was once told by a friend that a book which starts with a map is a guarantee of a great story. I was incredibly excited to find a map inside this book; I have to say, my friend’s words were definitely true for this tale.
Oswin’s dream comes true when he is taken to Corridor, the school where ice apprentices are trained, he has hopes of becoming one. Corridor is in Tundra, the last settlement remaining in a world which is now only ice. Oswin is the only Stray there, having been rescued from the Endless Expanse but he is not quite sure how he will fit in, after all he is a Stray and with the surname ‘Fields’, he soon discovers that he is quite unwelcome. But Oswin has a task ahead of him, not only to prove his worth but also to learn all there is to learn and complete his first year. We soon learn he has his own special skills including abnormally good hearing which is how he hears a mysterious voice talking to him. It has a message: ‘Oswin Fields. Steal the Ghost.’ This is just the first hint that all is not as it seems in this place. There is enchantment here, there is a puzzle within Corridor, put there for him to solve. There is also his confusing friendship with Ennastastia and the mystery of the monsters that keep appearing and attacking Tundra.
Can Oswin and Ennastastia work together to solve the mystery, save Tundra and graduate the first year whilst battling through the longest and harshest Freeze yet?
This book reminded me so much of my love for the magical setting of Harry Potter at Hogwarts and I am certain that this is only the beginning of great adventures for Oswin. I can’t wait for the next one.
Hayley Reeve
Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo
Philippa Leathley, pub. HarperCollins Children’s Books
I had no idea what to expect when I received Inkbound, which is often the loveliest way to approach a book: with no preconceived notions or ideas of where its words might take you. That said what an absolute joy it was to discover Meticulous Jones! Meticulous, or Metty for short, is turning ten and, as is customary, on her tenth birthday she visits Madame Fayola LeBeau to receive her fate in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. Whilst Metty hopes her tattoo will not be ‘boring’, she’d like it to promise travel or adventure, she is unprepared for the fate she is given. A tattoo of a skull in the palm of a violet glove reveals that Metty is destined to be a murderer!
When her father disappears in mysterious circumstances Metty’s Aunt arrives and warns her that someone is coming for her. Together they head for the magical floating city of New London, where Metty discovers a shady organisation known as the Black Moths are causing a great deal of trouble in the city, and she begins to wonder if her fate is somehow connected to theirs. What follows is a daring adventure full of fantastical characters which builds to a truly thrilling climax.
It’s impossible to sum this book up. Its pages crackle with adventure, wonder, magic, and humour and I found myself both laughing aloud and gripped with tension. Metty is a headstrong and bold hero who is not afraid to speak her mind. Her love for her somewhat dysfunctional family is strong and clear and in no way misplaced. From the very first page we are thrust into Metty’s magical world, and I have to say I loved every moment of it. This is an absolutely stunning debut, and the only downside is that, as I received a proof copy, I wasn’t able to relish in the wonderful, illustrated maps of New London. This book is a must read and I have a feeling it won’t be too long before we are reading more tales of Metty Jones.
Tracey Corner
Montezuma's Tantrum
Nuria Gómez Benet, illus. Santiago Sols Montes de Oca, trans. Elisa Amado, Greystone Kids
More and more we are finding ourselves using books to explain feelings, emotions and situations to children. This book definitely falls into this category with its unique choice of story to illustrate the concept of tantrums.
Emperor Montezuma's court tries everything to cure his bad mood in this delightful and hilarious story that sheds light on life in the Aztec empire-and the origins of hot chocolate.
Montezuma is in a bad mood today. He doesn't want to see anyone or do anything! The people in the palace are worried. They try everything they can to make Montezuma smile, from gifts to music, and even dance. Nothing seems to be working, what can they do…?
This brightly illustrated picture book shares some of the most well-known aspects of Aztec life, from the plumed serpent, to temples, drums, and Montezuma's elaborate palace. Most importantly it shares a delicious treat enjoyed by the Aztecs and other Indigenous peoples of Mexico long before the Spaniards arrived.
But before all that happened, Montezuma had a tantrum… Montezuma's Tantrum is a light-hearted story about the famous ancient Aztec ruler. Young readers will immediately recognize that Montezuma, despite being the emperor, is acting like a cranky child and needs soothing. Looking into the illustrations they will see monkeys grinding pods and stirring the fragrant brew, which Quetzalcóatl – the serpent - carries to the ruler on his head. Everyone will smile when Montezuma smiles, feeling happy after eating…chocolate.
Helen Byles
Murder at Wintertide
Fleur Hitchcock, pub. Nosy Crow
Yet another gripping whodunnit by Fleur Hitchcock set on the Dorset coast around Lyme Regis and Charmouth. Atmospherically charged from the outset both climatically and emotionally, as the holiday cottage is blanketed in snow. Fleur Hitchcock is a seasoned thriller writer for children and young adults, balancing comfortably the information provided between too little and too much, thus producing a cosy yet riveting read.
The story is set around the relationship between Isla and George, who find themselves in a blended family, two halves of a stepfamily, joining up for their first Christmas together. George’s Dad has a new partner, Tina, who is expecting a baby imminently and has remained at home. His Grandpa has a new partner Queenie whose daughter Charlotte is also there with her daughter Isla, George’s step cousin. Whilst initially apprehensive about the extent of Isla’s reported talents he soon relaxes as he discovers his own hidden depths. Then there’s George’s Uncle Edwin, a Curator at the New York Metropolitan Museum and archaeologist like Grandpa, making the journey from America for, amongst other things, the family event.
The prologue sets an eerily snowy scene as a dog walker discovers a body floating on the shore. George and his dad, meanwhile, witness the aftermath of an accident that has repercussions, as they combat the sleet and snow on their journey down to Lyme Regis. Rumour has it that during the Civil Wars in the 1660’s, the keepers of the Tower of London were bribed whilst the royal regalia, dating back to Alfred the Great, was stolen and subsequently buried in Dorset prior to being shipped off to France in order to be used to crown Charles the second.
A Jurassic themed murder mystery subsequently unravels, made realistically up-to-date with smart phones and computer technology, held together by a classic plot device: keen-eyed, quick-witted children who notice things other people miss. Its rapid progress and creeping tension would read well in school or tucked up in bed at night.
Elizabeth Negus
Murder For Two
Niyla Farook, pub. Templar Books
Ani and Riri are twins. Separated early on when their parents divorced and Riri went with her mother to live in California, while Ani stayed with her father in West Yorkshire, they are very different: Ani is noisy and self-confident, Riri is much quieter and more anxious. One summer, Riri comes to stay with Ani and their father. At first Ani is very hostile, but she gradually thaws as the sisters work together on a murder mystery. Solving the mystery becomes even more urgent when their father becomes chief suspect. Why are two children looking to find a murderer? Well, because Ani sees herself as a Supersleuth, and has solved other mysteries in the past.
The book is aimed at 9–13-year-olds. The publicity material tells us that the author draws on ‘well-loved murder-mystery tropes from Agatha Christie and combines them with a contemporary Yorkshire setting.’ The contemporary setting is certainly there, with a range of diverse characters; and the book deals sensitively with issues around how divorce affects children. But I query the Agatha Christie part. To me, the story has more in common with Enid Blyton adventure stories – particularly The Famous Five. The children pursue the murderer, sometimes with the help of a sympathetic policewoman, with single-minded determination and a noticeable lack of concern for their health and safety! They discover bodies – and seem to be relatively untraumatized by the experience – and interrogate suspects, who generally seem to be surprisingly willing to cooperate with the children. There are a lot of lists, and a lot of conversations around alibis and timings – which seemed to me to slow the story down rather.
The main characters are potentially interesting and appealing, and I hope they will be developed more fully in future books. The other characters are only sketched in and are subject to the complexities of the story line – in fact everything is subordinate to the story and the minutiae of the investigation. In sum, I hope that the author will relax a bit in her next book, let her delightful characters take centre stage, and pay more attention to pace and tone – in this book, one thing happens after another, and then the next thing happens, and so on – there isn’t that sense of building tension that you really need to carry a mystery forward. But this is certainly a promising start!
Sue Purkiss
The Raven’s Eye Runaways
Claire Mabey, pub. Allen & Unwin
If you could travel back in time would the Medieval world appeal? I am not sure it would to me, it seems to be a time of battles, poverty and hardship. But, what if the time you were interested in travelling back to existed in a parallel world? What if the Medieval world, the one we know so much about from history books and primary evidence, had a parallel? Now that does sound intriguing.
It is also where Claire Mabey takes us in her The Raven’s Eye Runaways. A story featuring three children and a one eyed raven. A story in which reading is a gift only given to a few elite, and magic? Well magic is not allowed. It sounds disappointing and very much like a world which is in need of some young people (and their raven) with adventurous spirits!
Getwin works with her mother, they are bookbinders at Raven’s Eye Bookbindery, a business Getwin’s mother owns. Joane is a scribe, she lives in a castle which is more like a monastery and is a place where she, and other girls are forced to make copies of manuscripts. Buckle is loyal and close friend. Sharp is the raven. Together these courageous, brave young people, and their raven, are about to find themselves on the adventure of a lifetime. Getwin’s mother has been kidnapped by the regime, Joane has escaped the castle and they are ready for their adventure, through a fearful city and a magical forest. It will have its dangers, moments when we worry for their safety and others when we wish we were there with them. Will they find Getwin’s mother and learn the truth about their world?
Beautifully written this story is a multi-layered narrative with touches of humour, a little romance and a great adventure. It is a magnificent debut reminding us of the importance of remembering our inner magic, inner strength and friends who will help us through anything.
Louise Ellis-Barrett
There is a Season
Kerri Cunningham, pub. UCLan Publishing
With the opening of the new year I received all the seasons in this gorgeously illustrated anthology, There is a Season. The bright and warm cover emanates joy as the reader enters the world of jolly verses passing through the four major seasons of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. The theme of these poems highlights the beauty and joy of little things to be captured, created and discovered in the different seasons.
The first season is Spring with bright blue skies, shiny sunlight, clear weather and blossoming nature. In spring, nature puts on quite a show, Trees bloom pink and flowers grow. And that’s why it’s so fun to go and get outside in spring.
As the time passes, the weather gets hotter and summer arrives look at how busy the bee is -
A little honeybee Buzzes by so busily. But what is it she does, Except fly by and buzz? Bees do an awful lot, Much more than fill a honey pot.
Autumn arrives with the festivals of Halloween and Diwali, and lots of baking. It starts getting chilly, step outside and witness the season’s adornments - I see autumn in technicolour. It’s made of many hues: Golden sunsets, pinkish mornings. And crisp clear skies of blue. From crunchy leaves to the floor covered in the white sheet of soft snow, winter comes with its beauty and fun things to do - Drink hot chocolate with marshmallows. Make some paper snowflakes. Wrap up warm and go for a walk. And much more!
Kerri shares fun activities for each season and throws light on different festivals which take place in these four seasons around the world from the Snow and Ice Festival of China which takes place in winter, the festival of colours, Holi, which is celebrated in India in spring and carousing on a Bonfire Night in remembrance of the Gunpowder plot by Guy Fawkes. A fabulous celebration!
Ishika Tiwari
