City of Spies
- Written by Iszi Lawrence
- illustrations by Elisa Paganelli
- Published by Bloomsbury
It’s 1780 and the struggle for American independence is raging. In New York, twelve-year-old Aiden Blaise is sure that the British will win soon. How can a few rebel colonies hold out against the might of the British crown? And anyway he’s more concerned with somehow managing to rise above his lot in life and make his fortune.
But New York is a powder keg of soldiers and spies, and soon Aiden will be drawn into the fight for freedom in a way he could never have predicted…
What a great way for children and adults to learn some history.This was a brilliant adventure from the very start.
The main character Aiden was a marvellous character who I connected with very quickly. I became fond of him and I was rooting for him from the very start.
We get to see how the people lived at that time and the jobs that were available.
I loved the spy aspect of the book and how a 12 year old was able to help. This book will have you gripped the whole way through. I hope that there will be more adventures from Aiden
Packed with historical detail and tales of the Culper Spy Ring, Benedict Arnold, James Rivington and George Washington, this page-turning thriller about the American War of Independence will have young readers gripped.
Bronte Tempestra and the Lightning Steeds
- Written by Bex Hogan
- Illustrated by Hannah McCaffery
I was so excited when I won this book and everything was put on hold .
I had just finished Black Heat by Bex Hogan so I was excited to see what MG book would be like.
Of course this was going to be completely different.
Bronte Tempestra of the Storm Kingdom is taking charge of her own destiny – she will be the first ever princess to become a knight! But knight school isn’t the fun-filled adventure Bronte is expecting – the knights don’t seem interested in saving . . . anything. And when she discovers that the Lightning Steeds have gone missing, leaving the Thunder Trolls to wreak havoc across the lands, she knows it’s her moment to prove just how brave a princess can be.
Bronte must face down pompous griffin lords and bare-bottomed cloud-stealing gnomes, monstrous horror flies and spooky zom bits. The future of the entire kingdom is at stake!
This is such an amazing adventure and Bronte is a fantastic main character.
Though she is a princess she would rather be a knight and this book will show the readers that it’s ok to be whatever you want to be.
This is ideal for those children who are newly independent readers and the illustrations bring the story to life.
This is the start of an brand new series and I look forward to finding out what happens next
Jane Eyre: Abridged for Young Readers
- Original story by Charlotte Brontë
- Abridged by Patrice Lawrence
So I’m holding my hand up and saying I have never read Jane Eyre, it just never appealed to me, but when I got this copy I was interested to read it.
And this was a wonderful read.
“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will.”As a young orphan, Jane Eyre is thrown upon the mercy of an aunt and cousins who are anything but merciful, and when they send her away to an austere boarding school for charity cases, it seems she will never be allowed to forget her humble beginnings. However, Jane has a quiet inner strength and resourcefulness, and when she take on a role as governess at Thornfield Hall, she quickly gains both the affection and respect not only of her young pupil, but also the child’s guardian, the fierce and brooding Mr Rochester.Perhaps Jane has finally found the love for which she has always longed? But Mr Rochester has a dark secret. A secret that will rock Thornfield Hall to its very foundations…
I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was quickly drawn into this world. The way the author has simplelist the book/story was brilliant . Nothing was lacking and it was word appropriate for children.
It managed to tell the story in half of the original book.
I really liked the character of Jane, and I was fascinated by her love story. I don’t think I will read the original because this is my version that I will stick to.
Carnival of the Spider
- Written by Kieran Larwood
- Illustrations by Sam Usher
I have this boy in year 4 at school that is reading the library really quickly. And he really likes books that feature unusual characters , he also prefers books that are a little spooky/horror.
So this boy keeps me on my toes. He has already read Carnival of the Lost and Carnival of the Haunted so he was completely delighted when I finished reading this book and put it into the library.
There were three men and two women . . . One had half a face. One had iron legs. The others all had one or both arms missing. There were pincers and claws and guns instead. And you could hear them ticking. Ticking all the time.When Sheba the wolf girl learns that her old friend Sister Moon is being held prisoner by the Spider and its gang of mechanical villains, the Carnival immediately launch a daring rescue mission to Paris. Along with Pyewacket the witch’s imp and catlike Inji, Sheba joins forces with Moon’s son Remy, a boy who can bend shadows to his will.Deep underground in the catacombs of Paris there is a map, which they must find to trade for Moon’s freedom. But who is this mysterious Spider? And why is she so desperate for an old map? With the city under siege from Prussian invaders and the Spider’s henchmen on their trail, the Carnival will need to use all their powers to save their friend . . .
It was fantastic to be back with favourite and familiar characters.
This is the third instalment of one of my very favourite midgrade series, and it’s just as good as all the rest. Moving from the Victorian gloom to the war torn streets of Paris, follow the Carnival as they heed a desperate call for help from one of their own…
The story doesn’t shy away from danger or genuine human tragedy, but does it in ways that children will understand. It’s also livened up with a lot of humour and some striking, heartwarming moments.
The story is gripping and once you start this then you will quickly realise that you are unable to put the book down.
Children will learn that it’s ok to be different and they will also learn that to be a family you don’t need to have the same parents, that a group of friends can be a family.
The illustrations by Sam Usher are as brilliant as always and they enhance the story.
I’m hoping there will be more from this series.
As for the year 4 boy, he loved this one too.
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