Hide and Seek by Robin Scott-Elliot

Posted on August 27, 2021 by alibrarylady

Hide and Seek, Robin Scott-Elliot’s third children’s book, is powerful historical fiction inspired by reality, by the lives of those whose bravery we cannot begin to imagine and whose dedication we should never forget. This is a World War 2 story told with respect and skill prompting emotions from sorrow to admiration as the reader become engrossed in this tense and enthralling adventure.

Cover illustration by Holly Ovenden

It is Summer, 1942 in Paris and thirteen-year-old Amélie Dreyfus is playing hide and seek with her family in their city centre apartment . She is scrunched up in her favourite hiding place at the back of her mother’s wardrobe when she hears the banging and thumping of German soldiers arriving. When all is quiet again and Amélie comes out of the wardrobe her world has changed. Her family have been taken away by the Nazis and Amelie is all alone. She now has to learn how to survive but Amélie also decides to fight back.

The young girl hiding in the wardrobe, the feel of a fur coat next to her is, to many readers, reminiscent of the Narnian adventure in which a child finds herself in another world, so the opening chapter of Hide and Seek has that sense of familiarity to it. However although Amélie finds a different world when she opens the wardrobe door it is one that scares rather than excites her. Without her family she must find a way to fend for herself in Nazi occupied Paris alone. Amélie spends time hiding in the quiet of one of the city’s museums where she is befriended by Cecile, the curator, and also a member of the French resistance.

Under Cecile’s guidance Amélie becomes a member of the local group and eventually finds herself travelling to London and Scotland to be trained and sent back to France under a new identity to take part in ever more dangerous missions. Over the three years we accompany her we watch as Amélie grows up far faster than she should, takes on different identities and risks her life to save others. Her childhood game of hide and seek has taken on a much more sinister and dangerous role in her life.

The suspense and tension throughout this story is well written and there are several real ‘heart in the mouth’ moments when as a reader I feared for both Amélie and her friends and allies. The atmosphere of fear and anxiety amongst those who are terrified of discovery by the Nazis is conveyed with skill and within a few pages one feels a bond with Amélie and understands her love of and concern for the family she has lost. The rumours of what has happened to the Jewish families who have been forcibly put on the trains travelling eastwards are present in the background of this adventure which focuses attention on an aspect of the Second World War that does not often feature in children’s fiction. This is both a gripping and tense story and a powerful tribute to those who risked their lives to save others.

Robin Scott-Elliott’s book was inspired by resistance fighters such as Stephen Grady, a British-French schoolboy resistance fighter and female agents such as Violette Szabo, Simone Segouin and Noor Inayat Khan. A photograph of Simone as a teenage girl taken during the liberation of Paris started the author on his path to creating Amélie and as a character she has an authenticity that encourages the reader to care. As I read I felt that I could see her and she came to represent all the brave resistance fighters to me, which I imagine is what Robin Scott- Elliott may have hoped for.

The ending is both powerful and hopeful. It would be impossible to write a story about this period and these people without incorporating loss but this is sensitively handled and the final chapters are, I think, an extremely moving piece of writing. Hide and Seek asks questions about trust, identity and survival and would be an excellent book for readers of 11+ and could be shared in the classroom at KS3 to accompany teaching of WW2 in Europe and the Holocaust.

I should like to thank Fritha Lindqvist and the publishers, Everything With Words for my review copy. Hide and Seek was published on 12th August.

The range of children’s literature set during the Second World War is extensive but I can recommend Anna at War by Helen Peters in which a young Jewish girl is transported to England and safety as part of the Kindertransport programme, After the War by Tom Palmer tells the story of the Jewish children sent to the Lake District after the end of the war and of course When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr is a classic children’s WW2 book and needs no introduction.

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Making Facts Fun: Interview with a Shark & Other Ocean Giants Too written by Andy Seed and illustrated by Nick East

Posted on August 25, 2021 by alibrarylady

Interview with a Shark is a book filled with facts but presented in a way that children will find entertaining and fun. It features ten extraordinary ocean creatures and covers everything from their habits and behaviour to their favourite foods.

Interview With a Shark cover illustration by Nick East

Andy Seed has written numerous information books for children, including The Silly Book of Side-Splitting Stuff, which won the 2015 Blue Peter Best Book with Facts Award, and he has proved that he knows how to engage young readers with facts presented in a slightly different way. In this second title in the Interview With series he introduces children to his ‘tranimalator’ which enables him to talk to the animals. A useful skill! Each creature is interviewed in a Q&A format that frequently involves jokes and wisecracks from both the animals and the interviewer. The different creatures also have quite distinct personalities too which adds to the fun.

The format enables the information to be presented in bite sized chunks of text ensuring that this does not look overwhelming for both less confident and slightly reluctant readers. The appealing and colourful illustrations by Nick East also help to encourage children and are inviting but with sufficient detail for readers to be able to visualise the creatures’ appearance.

Among the sea animals and fish ‘interviewed’ in addition to the bull shark, are the giant squid, the octopus, the blue whale, the manta ray and several more. Andy Seed also incorporates the theme of conservation with a section titled, “How you can help.” that encourages children to visit the seaside, look after our beaches, help prevent pollution and learn more about the lives of these special animals. Finally there is a quiz for children to check their knowledge after finishing the book.

This is an information book for browsing, for sharing and for reading aloud. It would probably work as a paired reading activity in the classroom too. Pitched at a target audience aged 6-9 I think this would be popular in the primary school library, it’s the sort of book that children enjoy discovering together.

I should like to thank Laura Smythe and Welbeck Publishing for my review copy. Interview with a Shark was published in May 2021 and can be purchased at your local independent bookshop or online.

If this book prompts young readers to try to find out more I would suggest a couple of excellent titles from Flying Eye Books, Professor Astro Cat’s Deep Sea Voyage by Dr Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman and Obsessive About Octopuses by Owen Davey which you can read about here

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The Book Cat by Polly Faber illustrated by Clara Vulliamy

Posted on August 23, 2021 by alibrarylady

The Book Cat is the latest collaboration from the duo who brought us the Mango and Bambang series and although rather different in content it still contains that same feeling of kindness and friendship. Set in wartime London in the middle of the Blitz this book is inspired by a real life cat. And not just any cat, a literary cat. Morgan, the star of this story, made his home in the Faber and Faber offices and was also the inspiration for one of the poems in T S Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.

Morgan’s story is told in engaging style by Polly Faber accompanied by charming illustrations by Clara Vulliamy that capture the personalities of Morgan and his feline chums. Morgan is a young cat all alone on the city streets learning to fend for himself until by chance he finds himself a new home in the Faber publishing house offices. Gradually Morgan learns about the literary world and soon becomes the best literary cat around. As the bombing of the city intensifies Morgan takes on the daunting task of finding safe homes away from London for a large number of the neighbourhood kittens. The indefatigable Morgan has a cunning plan.

Polly Faber is the granddaughter of Geoffrey Faber and first learnt of the existence of Morgan through letters she received from her grandfather who apparently described him as “a very large, black, heavy and affectionate CAT.” Morgan’s story is introduced by the author with mentions of her own two literary cats, Alan and Babs. These two also provide the postscript which is a neat touch. It is probably time to confess that I am more of a dog person myself but am easily swayed by cats with such wonderful names. I was also converted by Morgan himself who is quite a character. From a little scrap of a kitten to a majestic father figure to the local cats the reader accompanies Morgan on his journey through life. It is a satisfying and enjoyable experience.

This is a beautiful package of a book cleverly designed to appeal to young readers. The solid larger style hardback with its beautiful cover is both eye catching and evocative of the story within. Clara Vulliamy’s delightful illustrations encourage the reader to linger and look more closely and convey both the joyful exuberance of the young cats and life in the streets and offices of wartime London. The limited palette of red, black and white works well and every page contains appealing vignettes, full page pictures or sometimes little paw prints wandering across the edges.

This is pitched perfectly for its intended audience and would be a wonderful book for a newly independent reader. The chapters, with appropriate headings such as Cat Burglar, Planner Cat and Victory Cat, are of a manageable length and are presented with large areas of white space and illustrations ensuring that it does not look overwhelming. It would work brilliantly read aloud too. This is a delight of a story to be enjoyed by many and would convert even the most reluctant to both cats and books!

I should like to thank Faber for providing my free review copy. The Book Cat is published on 26th August and is available to purchase either online or at your nearest independent bookshop which can be found on this map. If young readers are looking for other stories featuring resourceful cats they may like to try Toto the Ninja Cat and the Superstar Catastrophe by Dermot O’Leary illustrated by Nick East.

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Mystery of the Night Watchers by A. M. Howell

Posted on August 16, 2021 by alibrarylady

Mystery of the Night Watchers is an engrossing story of secrets, lies, sisters and a desire for justice and truth set against the back drop of a global historical event.

Cover illustration by Saara Söderlund

Set in 1910 in the days before Halley’s Comet’s appearance there is a mix of excitement, speculation, fear and anticipation spreading throughout Edwardian England. Fuelled by dramatic newspaper headlines there are rumours and conflicting opinions circulating with some profiteering from the uncertainty.

Against this dramatic backdrop twelve year old Nancy has her own problems. For several days her mother has been behaving differently to normal and Nancy is worried about what this may mean. Her worries prove to have been well founded when on the way to school one morning her mother shepherds Nancy and her little sister, Violet to the station instead. Uprooted from her home in Leeds and separated from her stepfather Nancy finds herself in a town in Suffolk with a grandfather she thought was dead. The explanation that her grandfather is unwell and as an enthusiastic astronomer needs assistance viewing the comet is quickly proved incorrect. Nancy’s mother tells the sisters that must stay inside, draw the curtains and not be seen and subsequently starts creeping out during the night with her grandfather. As the mysteries and secrets mount Nancy grows steadily more curious and her attempts to discover the truth put the whole family in danger.

A M Howell builds up the tension well in this enjoyable story. From the opening lines the reader is made aware that all is not well and gradually alongside Nancy we discover little by little that much has been kept secret over the years. I quickly warmed to Nancy. She is in some ways a product of her time; obedient and loyal to her parents but intelligent and curious too so that her development into a brave and resourceful protagonist feels both believable and admirable. Her strong sense of social justice and support for the suffragist movement add an extra dimension to her character and an important historical context.

Although Nancy takes a lead role in the adventure her relationship to the other characters is key to the story. Her new friend, Burch, the delivery boy, helps Nancy and Violet as they work together to try to discover the truth. The development in this friendship is paralleled by the growing bond between Nancy and her grandfather. There is kindness, loyalty, bravery and perseverance running through this absorbing adventure and this creates a rewarding reading experience. As an elder sister myself I particularly enjoyed the bond between Nancy and Violet and how this altered as the story progressed.

There are several interesting themes explored by A M Howell. The presentation and interpretation of the news and the manner in which fear and suspicion is whipped up among the population has a resonance today. It would make an excellent starting point for discussions on the subject of Facts Matter and the need for trustworthy sources of information. The idea of truth and whether it is ever right to lie in order to protect someone, particularly children, is key to this story in some ways and would give young readers something to think about or discuss in the classroom. Finally, without giving away too much of the plot, we see in the villain of the piece how the abuse of power can cause misery and hardship for many.

Mystery of the Night Watchers is the sort of book that could convert children to historical fiction, it is exciting, brimming with historical detail that adds to its appeal yet with characters and themes that are relevant today. I must also mention the beautiful cover illustration by Saara Söderlund, her motifs at the start of each chapter and of course the map. Every good story needs a map! This has been promoted as perfect for lovers of novels by Emma Carroll and I am inclined to agree. Judith Eagle’s The Pear Affair although set later in time is another great mystery story that you may also like to try.

I should like to thank the publishers, Usborne and Fritha Lindqvist for my review copy. Mystery of the Night Watchers was published on 8th July. There is a range of links to resources and information about Edwardian times, Halley’s Comet and other aspects of life featured in the book available on the Usborne website.

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Black and British – A Short Essential History by David Olusoga

Posted on August 14, 2021 by alibrarylady

Historian and broadcaster David Olusoga’s book Black and British has been revised and rewritten especially for teen readers in this edition published last year. An informative and enlightening read, Black and British – A Short Essential History is perfect for secondary school libraries and an excellent introduction to the subject for adults. This book was the winner of the British Book Awards Children’s Illustrated and Non-fiction Book of the Year in May of this year.

Cover design by Emily Courdelle

Starting with the Roman Africans who helped guard Hadrian’s Wall Olusoga takes the reader up to the present day incorporating details of Black people in the Tudor Court, the effect of the American Civil war and two world wars plus the arrival of the Windrush. This is told in a readable narrative style presented with maps, illustrations, photos and a useful glossary supporting the information. The text and the tone is both accessible for teen readers and an excellent introduction for adults.

The way in which events, political movements, economics and the use of power, have connected countries and people through hundreds of years is portrayed in a concise manner. We learn about the slave trade, the Abolitionists, the Industrial Revolution and the colonisation of Africa. However history is not only about the huge national and international moments, it is about people, notably individuals who may make a difference through their actions or their experiences. This book is full of these individual stories and it is this, I think, that gives it even greater impact. Learning about John Blanke, a trumpeter in Henry VIII’s court, Olaudah Equiano and Ottobah Cugoano who wrote important 18th century abolitionist books and Walter Tull who fought in the First World War for example, brings history to life for the reader.

The author provides a clear overview of the presence of Black people in Britain throughout history, something that has been missing from the history curriculum. This excellent book asks questions and provides answers and, presented in a clear and concise style, will educate and enlighten its readers. Books such as this one can do much to combat ignorance, increase understanding and tackle racism. The publishers, Macmillan Children’s Books, are donating 50p from every copy sold to The Black Curriculum a social enterprise founded in 2019 by Lavinya Stennett to address the lack of Black British history in the UK Curriculum.

This was a fascinating read and I would highly recommend it as an essential purchase for secondary school libraries. It would also be helpful for teachers at both secondary and primary level. Black and British – A Short Essential History by David Olusoga was published in October 2020. I bought my copy at Barnett’s Books and you can find your nearest independent book shop on this map. A junior illustrated edition suitable for age 6+ is to be published in November and can be pre-ordered here.

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Lottie Loves Nature: Bird Alert by Jane Clarke illustrated by James Brown

Posted on August 7, 2021 by alibrarylady

Bird Alert, the latest title in the Lottie Loves Nature series, is an entertaining blend of fact and fiction that is perfect for encouraging children to notice and appreciate wildlife. A story of friendship and family that is fun to read and full of information about birds to be spotted in gardens and parks, it is perfect for budding ‘twitchers’ and nature lovers.

Cover illustration by James Brown

Lottie loves nature and, inspired by her favourite wildlife TV programme and its presenter Samira Breeze, she is bird-watching in her back garden. There are sparrows nesting in the garden and Lottie is noting their behaviour and progress in her nature journal. When a fledging falls from the nest Lottie is determined to keep it safe from her neighbour’s cat and to make sure that the sparrow family are well cared for.

Lottie and her friend Noah, who is as interested in space as Lottie is in nature, are appealing characters and children will enjoy following their story with the added bonus of learning a great deal as they read. I particularly like how the information is included in a variety of ways. As part of the story line the children make a bird bath and a fat cake to feed the sparrows and full instructions are provided at the end of the book. Lottie’s journal and Noah’s diary feature throughout the story naturally and there are occasional breaks to provide fact files on topics such as murmurations or migration. At just over 100 pages this is a short read but one that includes a great deal of learning. The text is broken up with plentiful black and white illustrations and the overall design is attractive. Facts are presented in text boxes and with diagrams, illustrations and maps and in a child friendly format.

Lottie Loves Nature Bird Alert is a great way of nurturing an interest in nature and is a lovely read for newly independent readers of about 7+; an entertaining, informative book with a gentle message about conservation. An earlier title in the series, Bee-ware, has been chosen as a recommended read for the Wild World Heroes, Summer Reading Challenge 2021, and I can understand why. There are some wonderful activities on the publisher’s website that would be fabulous to share both in school and at home too.

Lottie Loves Nature: Bird Alert was published on 5th August by Five Quills and is available to purchase at your local independent book shop or online. I should like to thank the publishers and Catherine Ward for providing my review copy.

If you are looking for picture books to encourage a love of nature I have reviewed a selection here.

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New Picture Books for Young Children – rainbows, waiting and hugs…

Posted on July 30, 2021 by alibrarylady

The Longer the Wait, the Bigger the Hug by Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar

In 2020 While We Can’t Hug by this picture book duo captured the feelings of many and was a source of comfort as families were separated and we tried to adapt to our changed circumstances. One year on and Hedgehog and Tortoise are back and now reunited and discover that it was worth the wait.

This gentle, hopeful book is sure to put smiles on faces with its humour and kindness. After a long hibernation Hedgehog wakes up and eagerly starts searching for his dear friend, Tortoise. But, where can Tortoise be? Lots of other friends come to say hello and play with Hedgehog but although Hedgehog tries to make the best of things, Squirrel, Badger and the others are just not the same. Hedgehog needs Tortoise. Polly Dunbar’s subtle water colour illustrations perfectly complement Eoin McLaughlin’s text depicting all the animals’ antics with a humorous touch. Observant children may even spot Tortoise before Hedgehog does.

A lovely picture book for young children and a good way of starting conversations about friendship, patience and separation from close chums and those we love most. The Longer the Wait, the Bigger the Hug was published by Faber Books in paperback in June and hardback this month.

Book Trailer from Faber Children’s Books

The Wonderful World was Waiting by Lauren Fennemore and Zoe Damoulakis

This rhyming story is full of experiences of different types, funny, exciting, and mundane but all of them are ones we have missed since the start of the pandemic. There are picnics in the park, swimming lessons, a trip to the zoo and a visit to a coffee shop all depicted in the joyful illustrations. All of these are described as events that the young readers have to look forward to and may now be enjoying as the world ventures out again. For adults this is both a sobering reminder of the things that children may not have experienced over the last year or so and a joyful celebration of the things that matter most to us.

There is a warmth and hopefulness to the text and it captures well the importance of the everyday, the things we may have previously taken for granted, and how we will now treat these with a new sense of appreciation and joy. The book is dedicated to ‘the brave who had no choice but to work; for the courageous who had no choice but to stop…’ This will, I think resonate with many adults sharing the book for whom there will be an added poignancy. However for young children this will be an entertaining and joyful book to share. They will enjoy spotting familiar items and places in the illustrations and this rhyming text makes this lovely to listen to at bedtime or storytime.

The Wonderful World was Waiting was published in June by Owlet Press.

There is a Rainbow by Theresa Trander and Grant Snider

Inspired by the rainbows seen so frequently in windows throughout the COVID19 pandemic Theresa Trinder has created a reassuring and positive picture book full of hope. The lyrical text acknowledges the difficult moments of separation from friends and loved ones, the adjustment to online schooling and the constraints placed upon us but at the same time highlights the connections still possible despite the situation. There is a kind uplifting tone to the message and the spare text, almost a poem, encourages the reader to linger over the illustrations and read more slowly. 

Grant Snider’s crayon illustrations have a smudged, childlike quality and depict scenes children will recognise from the last eighteen months; the ever present rainbows, the Zoom boxes on the computer screen which are now so familiar. However this could equally apply to any situation when we feel distanced from others or have suffered loss. Sometimes it is not only circumstances that cause children to feel separate from others, it may be emotions that overwhelm them. This gentle book encourages children to look ahead to the future with optimism as it stresses the support and connections available around us. An uplifting message of community and resilience. 

There is a Rainbow was published by Chronicle Books in April.

All three books can be purchased online by clicking on the titles.

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BookTrust Storytime – BookTrust unveils public library experience to encourage families to develop a reading habit

Posted on July 28, 2021 by alibrarylady

BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, has today announced plans to pilot a new, national library experience called BookTrust Storytime. Developed in partnership with libraries, local authorities and families, and funded by Arts Council England, the project will support disadvantaged families with children in their early years to engage with their local public library and develop an ongoing reading habit. 

Sharing stories is invaluable for children in their early years and creates lifelong positive impacts on health, wellbeing, creativity and education, yet children from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to face the biggest barriers to reading. A recent BookTrust survey of 1,000 families in poverty with a child under 5 across England, NI and Wales revealed that less than half (49%) of these families are registered with a public library.

Image from BookTrust The Next Chapter

In the wake of the COVID pandemic, BookTrust Storytime forms part of the charity’s new strategy, which is focused on finding the most effective ways of supporting the families who need more help beginning their reading journeys, so that more children can enjoy the transformative benefits of reading. The pilot also aligns with libraries’ aspirations to reconnect with their local communities after a year of closures, to kick-start visits as part of the ongoing recovery from the pandemic, and support more disadvantaged children.

‘At BookTrust we believe all children should reap the life changing benefits of reading, and our bold new strategy is focused on finding innovative ways to ensure children from disadvantaged families are not left behind.’ 

Diana Gerald, CEO of BookTrust

Launching in Autumn 2021, the large-scale national pilot, created with the support of library partners including The Association of Senior Children’s and Education Librarians (ASCEL), Libraries Connected, The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) and Youth Libraries Group (YLG), will bring together local authorities, libraries, authors and illustrators to test new ways of inspiring shared early years story experiences through local libraries. 

The project has been developed in collaboration with librarians and families to ensure the design and content reflects their experiences and meets their needs, including breaking down any limiting preconceptions – such as libraries being solely a place for reading books quietly – as well as showcasing the broader opportunities available with clear signage and a welcoming, friendly environment.

 ‘Projects like BookTrust Storytime are vital because libraries are places of possibility with the power to change lives.’

Isobel Hunter, CEO, Libraries Connected

The BookTrust Storytime experience will offer a range of resources for librarians alongside activities for families that will bring the magic of reading to life, and to inspire sharing stories and visiting the local library to become a regular and long-lasting part of family life. 

These experiences will also incorporate the existing BookTrust Storytime Prize, which celebrates the best early years children’s books. This year’s shortlist, announced today, will be integrated into the experience and used to encourage families to make repeat visits to the library to read the different books and engage in the different activities on offer.

The BookTrust Storytime Prize celebrates the very best books for sharing with babies and children under five and is run in association with the CILIP Youth Libraries Group. Selected by a panel of experts, the six titles on the shortlist for 2021 are:

  • I Really, Really Need a Wee! by Karl Newson & Duncan Beedie (Little Tiger Press)
  • Octopus Shocktopus! by Peter Bently & Steven Lenton (Nosy Crow)
  • No! Said Rabbit by Marjoke Henrichs (Scallywag Press)
  • The Whales on the Bus by Katrina Charman & Nick Sharratt (Bloomsbury Children’s)
  • Lenny and Wilbur by Ken Wilson-Max (Alanna Max)
  • Arlo The Lion Who Couldn’t Sleep by Catherine Rayner (Macmillan Children’s Books)

‘ Every library is a pathway to enjoyment, knowledge and understanding, and, to me, every librarian is a hero because they pass on what they love to children, making readers and writers of them, and bringing joy to their lives.’

Sir Michael Morpurgo, President of BookTrust

Image from Book Trust The Next Chapter

This a wonderful scheme raising the profile of both public libraries and the pleasure of sharing books with young children. To find out more about the Storytime initiative and the Storytime prize please visit the BookTrust website.

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Know My Place by Eve Ainsworth

Posted on July 26, 2021 by alibrarylady

Know My Place by Eve Ainsworth is a sensitive story about a teenager searching for home and family that explores complex issues surrounding foster care with kindness and understanding. An empathetic read for teens, it would also be useful for secondary schools as a prompt for discussion and for use in PSHE lessons.

Cover design by Helen Crawford-White

Teenager Amy has been in foster care since the age of six. Her first placement has just ended and Amy is sent to live with her new foster family, the Dawsons. Experience has resulted in Amy being wary and at first she feels like an outsider and fears that this new relationship will break down just like the previous ones. Initially reluctant to trust, gradually she finds that the Dawsons are kind and she starts to relax and her hopes for a happy future increase. However after a turn of events she fears the worst and that this family has been too good to be true after all.

In short novellas such as this it is important that the reader quickly feels an involvement with the characters and the voice of this particular teenage narrator is perfect for encouraging this. Amy is instantly engaging. She tells her story through current events interspersed with a look back at her previous foster care experiences. This structure allows the reader to gradually understand why Amy is so vulnerable and lacking in trust.

Despite the complex issues involved in the subject of foster care and the sadness experienced by Amy in the past this is ultimately an uplifting story. Eve Ainsworth’s experience in pastoral and child protection roles gives this story an authenticity that increases the reader’s empathy with Amy. The adult characters are portrayed as people with a mix of flaws and strengths and this feels realistic. Whilst never straying into melodrama or mawkishness the author has created a story that conveys heartbreak, grief and loss with a compassion and understanding that results in this feeling a hopeful book. The ending is realistic and satisfying without being fairy tale like. I had grown to care about Amy and I think teen readers will do so too.

As with all Barrington Stoke books this is presented in a super readable style making it suitable for dyslexic and reluctant readers. It would also be a great book for a more confident reader looking for a quick read. Although the subject matter makes this a book for a teen audience it has been edited to ensure that it has a reading age of 8+.

I should like to thank Kirstin Lamb and Barrington Stoke for providing my review copy. Know My Place was published on 1st July and is available to purchase on the publishers’ website.

Another book from Barrington Stoke which deals with social issues experienced by families is Pickles The Dog That Saved the World (Cup) by Phil Earle. This tells the story of a family struggling with the prospect of homelessness and is another kind story but for a slightly younger readership.

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Blog Tour: How to Be Brave by Daisy May Johnson

Posted on July 22, 2021 by alibrarylady

How to Be Brave by Daisy May Johnson is a boarding school story with a difference. Johnson takes all the traditional ingredients; midnight feasts, secret passages, intrepid girls solving mysteries and putting right wrongs and presents them in an original and immensely appealing style. Full of fun with laugh out loud moments it also conveys how much friendship, family, love and loyalty matter. A delight from the first page to the last.

Calla and her mum, Elizabeth are used to learning to be brave. The two of them have experienced hardship, difficulty paying the bills and worries about where the next meal will come from. Yet they are happy and very much a partnership. Elizabeth’s abiding passion is ducks and her extensive knowledge of a particular rare duck sees her asked to go on an expedition to the Amazon rainforest. While she is away Calla is sent to Elizabeth’s old boarding school, The School of the Good Sisters, run by an order of eccentric but kindly nuns who teach everything from baking to helicopter maintenance. However a new Head Teacher has been installed and Calla and her new friends are faced with the horrors of a rigid curriculum and appalling food. They are determined to put things right!

Traditional school stories have been popular for generations and this version is expertly executed in a way that feels fresh. It is a mix of classic and contemporary with cultural references that today’s readers will recognise and identify with yet retains the familiar framework of successful school series such as Malory Towers and the Chalet School. It is, I think, the narrative voice that gives the book its truly original feel. I have struggled to think of another children’s novel where footnotes are used so extensively but cannot. It is through these that the reader ‘meets’ our likeable narrator and is encouraged to feel part of the story rather than an observer. Although at first I wondered if this would work I was quickly converted as it is so amusing and subtly alters the reading experience.

This is great fun and made this particular reader yearn for a pink wafer biscuit and a custard cream and the chance to join in the girls’ revolt. A story with a wide appeal as adults will love some of the references and the nostalgic appeal. I simply loved the “I’m Spartacus” moment! There are some fabulous characters, I particularly liked the unstoppable Edie, a rebel with French flair, and Good Sister June who I do wish had taught me.

How to Be Brave is a wonderful, funny, school story but running through it are themes of family, loss, hardship, loyalty and friendship. The love between Calla and Elizabeth is central to the story and this is a kind story as well as a very amusing one. It would probably appeal to lovers of the Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens.

I was delighted to be able to take part in this blog tour and should like to thank Poppy Stimpson and Pushkin Press for providing my review copy. How to Be Brave was published on 1st July and is available to purchase at all good independent bookshops or online. Full details of the blog tour are below so do please catch up with the other reviews if you have missed them.

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