Category: MG Books

‘Tidemagic: The Many Faces of Ista Flit’ by Clare Harlow

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Ista Flit lives in the town of Shelwich next to a river, a place imbued with a magic that rises and falls with the tides and gives its inhabitants ‘tide blessings’ – magical gifts. Ista’s tide blessing is that she can shapeshift – assume the form of any other person and use their tide blessing while she does it. She uses her gift to steal things for the mysterious Alexo Rokis in order to win back her father’s clarinet – the only thing she has left of him since he disappeared. But Shelwich is under threat from the grilks – terrifying creatures that stalk the streets of Shelwich by night and snatch people away from their families.

When Ista meets Nat, in the course of one of her jobs, he challenges her to help him find the person behind the grilk attacks and they begin to investigate with the help of Ruby whose sister is the grilks’ most recent victim. But, as it turns out, the grilks are not the most dangerous things lurking in the dark alleys of Shelwich.

‘Tidemagic’ is positively oozing with atmosphere and really captures the spirit of a dank, riverside town with a dark undercurrent of magic. I particularly loved the elusive Nimble Lane that Ista can only find using her sharp nose. The setting gave me ‘Malamander’ meets ‘Six of Crows’ vibes.

This is quintessential MG fantasy. In terms of the recent discussion about the length of MG books, this is not a short book (around 300 pages), but it is definitely not an insurmountable length and the charmingly whimsical illustrations, by Karl James Mountford, enhance the reading experience. It is also beautifully written – cunning and lyrical.

‘Tidemagic’ is a captivating, evocative read, perfect for fans of Jamie Littler, Amy Sparkes and Tamzin Merchant.

Thanks to Puffin for the gorgeous ARC. (I loved the transparent overlay!)

‘Mission: Microraptor’ by Philip Kavvadias

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Finn is on a school trip in the French Alps with his friend Milo (the ‘Professor’) when he falls into a glacier and discovers a mysterious egg. Later that night the egg begins to hatch, Finn thinks this could be his big break into becoming a YouTuber, so he films it. But he could never have anticipated what actually emerges – an extinct, 65 million-year-old, flying dinosaur called a microraptor.

Arty (Artemis) the microraptor immediately imprints on Finn but they hardly have any time to bond before their hotel room is under siege by mercenaries trying to steal the microraptor, and Finn, Milo and Arty only narrowly escape by abseiling out of the window with the help of secret agent Lara, of the special branch of the Natural History Museum. The four of them go on the run together to keep Arty out of the hands of the evil scientists and get her safely back to England.

Finn is a character that a lot of children will be able to relate to. He is not keen on hiking or any other kind of physical activity – he only likes three things: video games, takeaway food and a large couch. But as soon as Arty hatches he is astonished to discover that he will do anything to protect her, including hiking through the Black Forest, building their own shelter and foraging for food. 

There are plenty of children’s books that claim to be funny but the humour is often limited to fart jokes – Philip’s writing is genuinely laugh-out-loud hilarious. This madcap adventure is crammed with non-stop action, survival skills, witty quips, and impossible creatures – perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, Maz Evans and Katie & Kevin Tsang’s ‘Dragon Realm’ books. This story would be particularly great for reluctant readers as it is relatively short and illustrated throughout by Euan Cook, in addition to being fun and fast-paced. And who doesn’t love a dinosaur? 

‘Mission: Microraptor’ is also the first of a series and Finn and Milo will be back for their second adventure soon.

Thanks to Chicken House for the ARC.

‘Countdown to Yesterday’ by Shirley Marr

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When James’ mum announces she is finally going to participate in the annual Summerlake Primary School Cake Competition, he is thrilled. But also suspicious since she has never participated before. Then James finds out that his mum is moving out and his parents are getting a divorce. He doesn’t understand how this has happened and why they can’t just work things out. He remembers all the good times they had together as a family, and wishes he could go back in time to when everything used to be perfect. And then he meets Yan who claims to have a time machine. 

While James is obsessed with David Bowie, Yan is fascinated by obsolete technology. Her ‘time machine’ is a way of looking back at the history of web pages, but as the book is structured like a countdown, it seems that Yan and James will find a way to actually go back in time. Yan is a brilliantly self-sufficient character, although she clearly struggles to make friends as much as James – who spends his lunches in the front office with the receptionist.

This is a bittersweet coming-of-age story as James realises that his golden memories of his family are not the perfect moments he recalls, but this does help him come to terms with his parent’s divorce and this story would be of particular interest to any children whose parents are divorced – as was the case for a couple of the pupils in my Year 5 book club. 

As soon as the author mentioned the Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book, I remembered my mum telling me about it when I was a child (its fame extended to South Africa, where I grew up) and she made the rabbit cake with the green coconut grass for one of my sister’s birthdays. I ordered a secondhand copy of the original 1980 publication and the pupils were fascinated to see the cakes mentioned in the book, although somewhat horrified at the stereotyped ‘cakes for boys’ and ‘cakes for girls’ sections.

Generally this book was hugely popular with the book club – the pupils really enjoyed the time travel element in particular, as well as the characters of James, Yan and Tiger the cat! 

Thanks to Usborne and the Reading Agency for the ARC and the book group copies.

‘The Doll Twin’ by Janine Beacham

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Eleven-year-old Una has lived in a children’s home for two years since her parents died and she had to leave her beloved lighthouse. When the Smiths arrive and decide to adopt her, she is thrilled, and excited to live next to the sea once again, but their grand old house, Copperlins, is a little strange. No one else in the village will go near it, it used to be the home of a dollmaker and so the house is full of antique dolls and parts and, in the middle of the night, Una hears creaking noises from the unused second story of the house.

But there are plenty of positive things to distract her, like her kind new parents, the old carousel in the cellar that Mr Smith is restoring, and her new friend, Mary. But then one night Una comes face-to-face with a life-size clockwork doll who looks exactly like her…

This book caught my eye immediately because of the striking cover design and the wonderfully sinister and evocative title, and the story lived up to my first impression. It was full of things that I love: lighthouses, steampunk, artificial intelligence and gothic horror. It is also a book about friendship, family, bravery and resilience. And of course, the only thing creepier than lifelike dolls, is human-sized lifelike dolls, and this book is full of those uncanny valley moments.

So many pupils in my primary and secondary library are asking for scary books these days, so it is fantastic to have another thrillingly spine-chilling read to recommend to them. ‘The Doll Twin’ is a dark and twisty MG horror, perfect for fans of Coraline and Phil Hickes. I absolutely adored it!

Thanks to Firefly for the ARC.

‘Secrets of the Snakestone’ by Piu DasGupta

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Inspired by the same legends that informed Wilkie Collins’s ‘The Moonstone’, ‘Secrets of the Snakestone’ is a thrilling, pitch-perfect middle grade adventure set in the streets and the sewers of Paris at the end of the nineteenth century.

Zélie has been sent away from her family in India to live in Paris and work as a maid. But when a boy appears out of the sewers with a mysterious locket belonging to her father, the two children are swept up in a breathtaking mystery involving a cursed stone, a dark secret society and a vibrant cast of circus performers. There is also, very importantly, a baby sloth.

Zélie is a brilliantly bold and audacious narrator, balanced by the more careful and considered character of Jules. I particularly loved the little pep talks that she gives herself throughout the book, whenever she’s feeling nervous or uncertain:

Zélie Dutta, she told herself, you can hold your breath underwater for three minutes, thirteen and three-quarter seconds. You can peel a banana with your toes. You can recite the preface of Les Miserables by heart and you can lick your elbow. You are more than a match for the rubbish Malaises.”

Though it has a historical setting, this story combines a classic feel with contemporary pacing. The action is fast and furious and I read it in one sitting, engaged all the way though.

I also have to mention the thoroughly eye-catching and enticing cover design – what an absolute triumph! Designed by Elisabetta Barbazza and illustrated by Helen Crawford-White.

This engaging, evocative adventure is perfect for fans of Sophie Anderson, Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Katherine Rundell’s ‘Rooftoppers’. I know it’s going to be popular in the library!

Thanks to Netgalley and Nosy Crow for the digital ARC.

‘Cross My Heart and Never Lie’ by Nora Dåsnes, translated by Matt Bagguley

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When Tuva comes back to school after the summer holidays, she’s dismayed to realise that some things have changed in her friendship group. Now she is in seventh grade they are allowed to go into the woods behind the school at lunch and Tuva and her friend Bao are really excited to build dens and enjoy themselves, but their other friend, Linnea, has a new boyfriend and is not interested in joining them. The girls in Tuva’s class seem to have split into two groups, Tuva thinks she’d like to fall in love and have a boyfriend but she also loves building dens and playing in the woods – she feels torn between her two best friends. And just to make everything even more confusing, Tuva can’t stop thinking about the new girl, Mariam.

Nora Dasnes is a Judy Blume for a new generation. ‘Cross My Heart and Never Lie’ is a wonderfully authentic, thoughtful and engaging graphic novel about friendship, growing up and first crushes – perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier. I adored this story and the graphic diary style and can highly recommended it for upper KS2 and Year 7 pupils in particular – I know my Year 6 Book Club is going to love this one!

Thanks to The Reading Agency and Farshore for the book group copies.

‘Shadowhall Academy: The Whispering Walls’ by Phil Hickes

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Lilian’s first night at her new boarding school is interrupted by a sinister tapping on the walls and her roommates tell her the story of ‘Cold Mary’ (a brilliantly spine-chilling invention!) – the ghost of a former student who haunts their dormitory. But this is not the only strange thing going on at Shadowhall Academy. With the help of her new friends, Angela, Marian and Serena, Lilian must investigate the mysterious happenings and solve a centuries-old curse. 

This is a fantastically fun and creepy ghost story, from the author of the ‘Haunting of Aveline Jones’ series, perfect for those who love scary books. I had the ARC on my desk at school and it generated a lot of interest so I know it will be popular in the library!

Thanks to Usborne for the ARC.

‘The Witchstone Ghosts’ by Emily Randall-Jones

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Autumn has always been able to see ghosts, like her friend Jack – a Victorian chimney sweep, but when her Dad tragically dies, there’s no sign of his ghost anywhere. And even worse, his will compels Autumn and her Mum to leave their home in London and move to a tiny, stormy Cornish island called Imber. Imber, unlike London, is surprisingly devoid of ghosts. Autumn enjoys the peace and quiet, and even makes her first real-live friend, but the island is hiding a sinister secret and time is running out for her to unravel the mystery of the witchstones.

‘The Witchstone Ghosts’ is a dark and captivating story, full of rich details and humorous quips. Autumn is an engaging heroine and I particularly enjoyed the relationships she has with her embarrassing mum and her cockney ghost buddy, Jack. The plot had plenty of twists and turns and I had some theories about the Island of Imber and its inhabitants but I was wrong! 

Can you have a lively ghost story? I think so. I was thoroughly swept away by this lively, atmospheric ghost story and it is perfect for fans of Catherine Doyle’s ‘The Storm Keeper’s Island’ and Victoria Schwab’s ‘City of Ghosts’ series.

And what a gorgeous cover design by Micaela Alcaino – I love the colours in particular, and the illustrations!

Thanks to Chicken House for the ARC.

‘Peril on the Atlantic’ by AM Howell

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When Alice comes aboard the Queen Mary with her father, the Staff Captain, at Southampton docks for a voyage to New York, she doesn’t anticipate all of the drama and intrigue that awaits her during the journey. She’s supposed to keep to her cabin and out of sight of the paying customers, but when she overhears an attempted murder and uncovers a sabotage plot, she knows she has to investigate in order to find proof and stop the criminals from carrying out their diabolical plans. Alice is assisted by Sonny, a slightly older boy who is travelling with his guardian, and Miriam, a German Jewish girl travelling with her parents to start a new life in America away from the threat of the Nazis. But this is not the only mystery to unravel – Alice’s father is also keeping a life-changing secret from her…

I’ve read a few ship-based mysteries lately and have to confess that I’ve found some of them a little dull, however AM Howell does a fantastic job of sustaining the tension and keeping the plot ticking along at an engaging pace. There were lots of fun historical tidbits that added to the story and effectively created a sense of time and place.

Middle grade mystery books are very popular but I have plenty of requests in the library for mysteries that are not about murder, so I think this type of story fills an important gap. I look forward to the next book in the ‘Mysteries at Sea’ series. ‘Peril on the Atlantic’ is a thrilling, seafaring historical adventure – perfect for fans of Emma Carroll and the ‘Adventures on Trains’ series.

Thanks to Usborne for the ARC.

‘Impossible Creatures’ by Katherine Rundell

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“It was a very fine day, until something tried to eat him.”

Wherever Christopher goes, animals seek him out–cats, dogs, rats, foxes, swans, crows…but he only learns the reason for this when he goes to stay with his grandfather in Scotland and discovers that his family are the guardians for a magical realm called The Archipelago, where magical creatures live on islands, safe and hidden from humans. The book starts with ‘The Guardians Bestiary’ – a 30 page glossary of all of the creatures in the world, (most of whom want to eat humans) ranging from ones I’d heard of like: mermaids, unicorns and griffins, to some I hadn’t like: the avanc, the borometz and the longma, originating from mythologies all over over the world.

“It was a very fine day, until somebody tried to kill her.”

Mal has grown up in the Archipelago, soaring over her home with the help of a magic flying coat, until the day a murderer knocks on her door and she is forced to escape to the human world where she asks for Christopher’s help to return. They manage to get back the Archipelago and avoid the murderer, but they soon find out that Mal is not the only one at risk – there is a problem with the Glimourie the magic that sustains their world and keeps the Archipelago hidden. Mal and Christopher set off on a voyage to save the world with an unlikely crew of allies including a Beserker called Nighthand, an academic researcher called Irian, a baby griffin and a ratatoska. 

‘Impossible Creatures’ is a classic portal fantasy, reminiscent of the Narnia Chronicles, ‘The Voyage of the Dawn Treader’ in particular. Katherine Rundell has an incredibly beautiful writing style, full of imaginative touches that bring the Archipelago and its inhabitants to vivid life. It’s also a deliciously dark story, full of bloodthirsty creatures and deathly consequences, and I thoroughly enjoyed this enticing new fantasy world. 

Thanks to Bloomsbury for the ARC.