There are times when I wonder how on earth I will ever manage to catch up with the daunting pile of books that crowd my ‘must read soon’ shelves. This is hindered further by the many excellent books that are published each month to tempt me. Throughout December I have tried to balance the brand new and those that I have wanted to read for months but just have not got around to. My plans were hindered more than a little by Christmas preparations and Covid rearing its ugly head again, this time I escaped it but Mr T. did not. However these four books, although very different to each other, were worth making time for. Perhaps you have read them already?
Over ten years ago I read Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge, an historical mystery which I enjoyed, recommending it to many readers in the school library. Since then this author’s books have taken a slightly different direction and he has become known for pacy sci-fi adventures. Escape Room had somehow stayed on my bookshelf unread so I resolved to put that right. The story of twelve-year-old Ami who tackles The Escape, the ultimate escape room with puzzles and challenges to beat before time runs out, is a thrilling and thought provoking read. Alongside her teammates, Ami learns from the Host that they have been chosen to save the world and they must work together to find the answer. Christopher Edge is brilliant at building tension and this accessible and relatively short book packs a punch that belies its size. Perfect for young readers who enjoy gaming it also asks questions about humanity’s attitude to our planet and our role in protecting it. Published by Nosy Crow for readers aged 9+.
Our Castle By the Sea by Lucy Strange won the 2021 Young Quills Prize for Historical Fiction and is a beautifully written story set on the English coast at the start of the Second World War. Family is at the centre of the plot but just like in her debut, The Secret of Nightingale Wood, the author incorporates myth and mystery in a convincing manner. Twelve year old Petra and her older sister Magda are characters who one quickly cares about and their development is both credible and touching. Petra’s growth from a quiet, small child to a strong brave young girl is particularly well executed. Lucy Strange handles the harsh reality of the effects of war with sensitivity but without shying away from the effects of loss and trauma on individuals. The plot is utterly absorbing and will keep young readers guessing as the effects of sabotage on the coastal village add to the characters’ difficulties. The setting is an important element to Our Castle by the Sea and is brought vividly to life by the writing. This has such a realistic atmosphere due to the inclusion of historical detail and events that the story although entirely fictional has a strong authentic feel to it. This is the type of book that encouraged me to become a reader as a child and I’m delighted that Lucy Strange is encouraging that emotional engagement in today’s young readers. Highly recommended and published by Chicken House for readers of about 10+.
The sequel to Shadow Town, a Times Best Book of the Year in 2021, balances excitement and danger with personal hopes and fears in a fantasy threaded through with themes of environmental disaster and political corruption that are pertinent today. We are reunited with Toby, the young boy who visited the world of Balthasar in the first book, and Tamurlaine, his friend and princess, soon to be queen of the troubled land. The action switches between our world and that of Balthasar throughout the story and the merging of the two heightens the tension and the sense of danger in some ways. When Toby returned home after the first adventure he did not realise that Nicodemus Malladain, the evil villain had slipped to earth alongside him. Malladain is utterly bad, driven by greed and a need for absolute power and is central to the storyline. His presence threatens Toby and Tamurlaine’s lives and the future of both worlds. The harnessing of young people’s dreams for ill intent is an interesting concept and the portrayal of this is imaginative, original and frequently chilling
The cast of characters is varied and appealing adding both humanity and occasional wit to the tension and drama. Alfred, Toby’s much loved and all knowing cat features again and when friends Anon, an adolescent half-angel, Burston, a school friend and orphan and refugee, Jinky join him in this world to attempt to defeat Malladain and his evil plans each of the children’s lives change in ways they could not have foreseen.
Although reading Shadow Town adds to the enjoyment of this book I think that it could work as a stand alone with sufficient reference to the backstory included to aid understanding and appreciation. There is a satisfying conclusion to this second instalment however I do feel that the way has been left open for further adventures which would be appreciated by many young readers. Published by Everything With Words for readers aged 11+
“Runner Hawk”, an intriguing title for this YA debut by poet Michael Egan and one that doesn’t give much away about the story itself. The cover illustration by Holly Ovenden has a dream like quality to it and the quote from author Zillah Bethel describes it as, ‘mesmerising, unsettling.’ She is right. It is also deeply affecting and strangely beautiful but above all I think unsettling is the most fitting adjective. Leo, and his story, stayed with me long after I finished reading this.
Told by 17 year old Leo Runner Hawk begins with the moment that he realises something is wrong; that time is playing tricks, that his memories are fading, sometimes he sees things that may not be there and he occasionally feels as though his body is out of his control. When his parents go away on holiday his young uncle, Toby, comes to stay and encourages his nephew to try new experiences. He meets a local girl, Eadie and begins a tentative relationship with her. But Leo is struggling and doesn’t understand why. Gradually he discovers the truth that has been withheld from him for so long and now changes everything for him. Part coming of age story, part crime novel, part science fiction this is a challenging read for an older teen. The writing style immerses the reader in Leo’s experiences in a manner that maximises the emotional impact. The first person narrative and the dialogue without speech marks gives a real feel of immediacy. The publicity material compares the story to Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go and I can understand why. Michael Egan encourages his reader to consider serious questions about humanity, family, love and loss. Published by Everything With Words for 14+.
Over ten years ago I read Twelve Minutes to Midnight by Christopher Edge, an historical mystery which I enjoyed, recommending it to many readers in the school library. Since then this author’s books have taken a slightly different direction and he has become known for pacy sci-fi adventures. Escape Room had somehow stayed on my bookshelf unread so I resolved to put that right. The story of twelve-year-old Ami who tackles The Escape, the ultimate escape room with puzzles and challenges to beat before time runs out, is a thrilling and thought provoking read. Alongside her teammates, Ami learns from the Host that they have been chosen to save the world and they must work together to find the answer. Christopher Edge is brilliant at building tension and this accessible and relatively short book packs a punch that belies its size. Perfect for young readers who enjoy gaming it also asks questions about humanity’s attitude to our planet and our role in protecting it. Published by Nosy Crow for readers aged 9+.
Our Castle By the Sea by Lucy Strange won the 2021 Young Quills Prize for Historical Fiction and is a beautifully written story set on the English coast at the start of the Second World War. Family is at the centre of the plot but just like in her debut, The Secret of Nightingale Wood, the author incorporates myth and mystery in a convincing manner. Twelve year old Petra and her older sister Magda are characters who one quickly cares about and their development is both credible and touching. Petra’s growth from a quiet, small child to a strong brave young girl is particularly well executed. Lucy Strange handles the harsh reality of the effects of war with sensitivity but without shying away from the effects of loss and trauma on individuals. The plot is utterly absorbing and will keep young readers guessing as the effects of sabotage on the coastal village add to the characters’ difficulties. The setting is an important element to Our Castle by the Sea and is brought vividly to life by the writing. This has such a realistic atmosphere due to the inclusion of historical detail and events that the story although entirely fictional has a strong authentic feel to it. This is the type of book that encouraged me to become a reader as a child and I’m delighted that Lucy Strange is encouraging that emotional engagement in today’s young readers. Highly recommended and published by Chicken House for readers of about 10+.
The Republic of Dreams by Richard Lambert
The sequel to Shadow Town, a Times Best Book of the Year in 2021, balances excitement and danger with personal hopes and fears in a fantasy threaded through with themes of environmental disaster and political corruption that are pertinent today. We are reunited with Toby, the young boy who visited the world of Balthasar in the first book, and Tamurlaine, his friend and princess, soon to be queen of the troubled land. The action switches between our world and that of Balthasar throughout the story and the merging of the two heightens the tension and the sense of danger in some ways. When Toby returned home after the first adventure he did not realise that Nicodemus Malladain, the evil villain had slipped to earth alongside him. Malladain is utterly bad, driven by greed and a need for absolute power and is central to the storyline. His presence threatens Toby and Tamurlaine’s lives and the future of both worlds. The harnessing of young people’s dreams for ill intent is an interesting concept and the portrayal of this is imaginative, original and frequently chilling
The cast of characters is varied and appealing adding both humanity and occasional wit to the tension and drama. Alfred, Toby’s much loved and all knowing cat features again and when friends Anon, an adolescent half-angel, Burston, a school friend and orphan and refugee, Jinky join him in this world to attempt to defeat Malladain and his evil plans each of the children’s lives change in ways they could not have foreseen.
Although reading Shadow Town adds to the enjoyment of this book I think that it could work as a stand alone with sufficient reference to the backstory included to aid understanding and appreciation. There is a satisfying conclusion to this second instalment however I do feel that the way has been left open for further adventures which would be appreciated by many young readers. Published by Everything With Words for readers aged 11+
Runner Hawk by Michael Egan
“Runner Hawk”, an intriguing title for this YA debut by poet Michael Egan and one that doesn’t give much away about the story itself. The cover illustration by Holly Ovenden has a dream like quality to it and the quote from author Zillah Bethel describes it as, ‘mesmerising, unsettling.’ She is right. It is also deeply affecting and strangely beautiful but above all I think unsettling is the most fitting adjective. Leo, and his story, stayed with me long after I finished reading this.
Told by 17 year old Leo Runner Hawk begins with the moment that he realises something is wrong; that time is playing tricks, that his memories are fading, sometimes he sees things that may not be there and he occasionally feels as though his body is out of his control. When his parents go away on holiday his young uncle, Toby, comes to stay and encourages his nephew to try new experiences. He meets a local girl, Eadie and begins a tentative relationship with her. But Leo is struggling and doesn’t understand why. Gradually he discovers the truth that has been withheld from him for so long and now changes everything for him. Part coming of age story, part crime novel, part science fiction this is a challenging read for an older teen. The writing style immerses the reader in Leo’s experiences in a manner that maximises the emotional impact. The first person narrative and the dialogue without speech marks gives a real feel of immediacy. The publicity material compares the story to Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go and I can understand why. Michael Egan encourages his reader to consider serious questions about humanity, family, love and loss. Published by Everything With Words for 14+.