How Not To Be A Pirate: The Trouble with Curses by Jenny Pearson illustrated by Paula Bowles

Jenny Pearson has already amassed a large fan club due to her skill at balancing humour and gentle understanding in her novels for children. How Not To Be A Pirate is slightly shorter than some of her previous books and is also fully illustrated in dual colour by Paula Bowles and is therefore suitable for a slightly younger audience. It does however bear her trademark stamp of life lessons cunningly disguised as slapstick fun. The first in a new series introduces us to the likeable Wilbur. Wilbur is learning to be a pirate and along with his new shipmates, Ellie and Gilbert, is attempting to pass his Level One Pirate Grading. Unfortunately Wilbur is not ideal pirate material; he hates heights, is constantly seasick and is too scared to fire a cannon. He would much rather be busy in the kitchen creating culinary delights. However he finds himself in a race to find one of the legendary Hag Stone. The new friends face one disaster after another and danger is never far away. Readers will quickly empathise with the three would be pirates. Ellie is small but determined, oozing the self-confidence that Wilbur lacks but keeping a family secret from her new friends.

Funny, exciting and with a gentle thread of wisdom regarding self-belief, finding courage when needed and being true to yourself this visually appealing book has much to commend it to readers of about 8+. It is also set up nicely for readers to move on to the second book in the series, The Trouble With Monsters, due out early next year. Published by Usborne Books on 13th August who I would like to thank for my review copy.

Front Foot by Tom Palmer illustrated by Robin Boyden

This sporting series published by Barrington Stoke got off to a successful start with The Fear in which we met young Afghan refugee Azeem as he learned to overcome his anxiety and enjoy playing football once again. In this second book, Front Foot, the sport featured is cricket but once more Tom Palmer incorporates themes of community and family within the action. Azeem’s dad is a passionate cricket fan and dreams that one day his son will play cricket in England wearing the traditional cricket whites. However Azeem’s friends are all much more enthusiastic about football. Trying to persuade his friends to adopt cricket as a pastime and teaching them how to play is a welcome distraction for Azeem as he and his father anxiously await news of Azeem’s mum and little sister. They are both in a refugee camp and Azeem’s father is trying to hasten their journey on to England to join them.

When Azeem is playing with his friends he notices a group of older boys in the park watching and rather than be intimidated by their appearance Azeem tries a more friendly approach and invites them to play with him and his best friends. Quickly the boys become a team and even acquire a coach so Azeem’s chance to play a proper game of cricket is starting to become a possibility. Azeem’s positivity and attitude provide a welcome role model for youngsters and this is a thought provoking story. At under 70 pages Tom Palmer manages to pack a lot in to this empathetic story and Robin Boyden’s illustrations throughout increase the appeal to less committed readers. Published on 10th September for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 7 this would be a useful addition to primary school libraries. I would like to thank Barrington Stoke and Poppy McLean for my review copy.

Cleopatra’s Amulet by Lindsay Galvin

The previous books by Lindsay Galvin have in the main had events in British History as their focus. In her latest book she has transported her readers to Ancient Egypt and it proves to be an excellent setting for this author’s winning combination of factual history and myth. The story centres around the twelve year old Princess Cleopatra in the aftermath of the kidnap of her father, the Pharoah Ptolemy XII. Alongside her elder sister, Berenike, she is forced into exile and journeys along the Nile to the mysterious pyramids with her faithful cat by her side. The reader is swiftly immersed into the pampered life of Cleopatra’s family and the world of the people of Alexandria and the ensuing adventure will enthral youngsters with its tension and sinister mystery. Cleopatra and her new friend, the Roman scribe Fabius face great danger including crocodile infested waters and the shadowy tunnels of the pyramids themselves.

With thoroughly researched historical detail and the incorporation of myth and legend Cleopatra’s Amulet has much to commend it as a classroom read but children will enjoy both the adventure and the relatable characters of Cleopatra and Fabius for its own sake. The build up of suspense and the subtle clues for children to spot will motivate children to read on and the relatively short chapters also help for those who are building reading stamina. At the end of the book Lindsay Galvin has included some interesting facts about Ancient Egypt, the gods and customs of the time plus a description of the preparation for the after life which is not suitable for the squeamish! Published by Chicken House on 10th September and I would like to thank the publishers and Laura Smythe for my review copy.

Then We’ll Be Happy by Alan Carrigan

Inspired by his own experience of having cerebral palsy Alan Carrigan has written the kind of book he needed as a teenager but was unable to find. Witty, moving and enlightening Then We’ll Be Happy is a powerful coming of age novel with an important message about the realities of living with a disability. It tells the story of seventeen year old Sam who despite having cerebral palsy wants to control his own like. When he discovers, at the very last minute, that he will be unable to go on a school trip as he will be unable to access the bus taking the pupils and will have to spend the day with the class bully instead his patience runs out. He starts a campaign for an accessible bus however events then spiral and Sam finds himself in situations that are entirely new to him. Through his efforts to bring a wider awareness to the needs of those with disabilities he forges new and deeper friendships and tackles new experiences. The narrative voice of Sam is hugely affecting and brings home the many issues he faces and the frustrations and concerns that are part of his daily life. But this is never a gloomy read but instead captures and conveys the cheeky and likeable character of Sam and his irrepressible humour and lack of self pity.

Through the narrative Alan Carrigan explores both the complexities of finding independence as a young person with a disability and the impact of others’ expectations and perceptions. The overall tone is light hearted yet there are poignant moments and the role of Sam’s mum as his carer is depicted with understanding. There is wit and wisdom throughout this affecting novel and the information conveyed, on both social and medical aspects, in Then We’ll Be Happy will valuable for both the disabled and non-disabled. Enjoyable and informative this will be an excellent read for youngsters aged 14+. Published by Chicken House on 13th August and I should like to thank Laura Smythe for my review copy.