Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 15

Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull

The deliciously creepy title and cover drew me to this one, and the creepy but funny illustrations inside sealed the deal. I just had to read it.

I wasn’t disappointed. Mallory Vayle has just lost her parents in a terrible accident. No one knows why the horses veered off the bridge taking her parent’s carriage with it, but now Mallory is alone. But not for long.

Her parents are still with her, now as ghosts. Mallory has always known of her ability to see ghosts, but she didn’t know about the long lost aunt that arrives at the cemetery. Aunt Lilith is her mum’s sister, and she too has a way with spirits. At least she claims to be psychic and makes a living out of it. Mallory however knows her aunt is stretching the truth… a lot.

Now living in a run down and gloomy castle with her aunt, Mallory isn’t sure what to do without her parents. Her thoughts and time are soon taken up with the discovery of a talking skull. She finds Maggoty Skull (once named Matthew) locked away. He is ever so grateful after being in the dark for eternity, and knows Mallory is something special.

So does something else in the castle, and this something is keen to make use of Mallory’s gifts.

The contrast of creepy with funny (and Maggoty is incredibly funny), makes Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull a great read. This is the first in a new series and the final pages left me wondering what will happen next?

Bat illustrations frollick through the pages, among dozens more pics portraying the story scenes. Some are even double page spreads, stepping up the creep factor.

This book can be read on its own, but I for one am looking forward to reading more about Mallory and her new friend Maggoty.

 

Author – Martin Howard

Illustrator – Pete Williamson

Age – 8+

 

See inside here

 

(2025, Nosy Crow, Spooky, Creepy, Funny, Humour, Talking Skull, Spirits, Ghosts, Curse, Necromancy, Psychic, Fake, Fraud, Family, Friend, Courage, Seance, Castle, Aunt, Series, Historical, Magic)

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The Night Librarian

Page and Turner might be twins, but they’re not what you’d call really close. Page is always the leader, often getting them into trouble. Turner wants to stand up to her but can’t find the courage.

When their parents are away on business…again, and their babysitter has left them to it while she holidays with friends, the twins do what they always do. Hang out in the vast NYC library. They think, Why not make the most of it? and take one of their father’s prized rare books to be valued at the library. This copy of Dracula is a first edition, and the twins want to understand why their dad spends more time with his book collection (when he’s actually home) than with his own children.

They can’t find anyone to help at first, until they meet a night librarian – Ms Literati. But before they can find what they’re after, the treasured copy of Dracula, vanishes! Even Page knows they’re going to be in a heap of trouble if they don’t get it back before their parents get home. It’s hard enough keeping a straight face when their parents check in with them by phone, let alone they find out the truth.

Page & Turner have wondered what a Night Librarian does when the library has closed for the evening, but they soon discover why someone is needed to watch the books. Books are brimming with all sorts of adventures, magic, fantastical characters and scary ones too, such as Dracula himself.

Events in the library show the twins that sometimes this magic, especially from classic stories, can explode from their pages if not handled correctly.

Will Page and Turner find their copy of Dracula? Will they keep it a secret from their parents? Will they even survive a night in the NYC?

Not only do they have the adventure of a lifetime, they get to know each other better, make new friends and save their favourite place in the world.

 

The cover of this book captured my attention, and when I took a peek inside I knew I wanted to visit the NYC library for myself.

This is a perfect book for booklovers and fans of story. Story itself is a huge part of this adventure, and the older the story the more exciting the magic. With humour, clever story telling and two very different twins in the mix, a theme of family is also woven through the tale.

Jim Hawkins, Jack (and the Beanstalk), Alice (in Wonderland) and Dracula himself star, along with many more famous and beloved book characters, as the twins try to find a family treasure and save the NYC Library.

A enjoyable and compelling read with a satisfying ending.

 

Author / Illustrator – Christopher Lincoln

Age – 8+

Graphic Novel

 

 

(2024, Scholastic, Graphic Novel, Action, Adventure, Courage, Family, Fantasy, Friendship, Growing up, Historical, Humour, Magic, Secret, Time travel, Siblings, Twins, New York City Library, Books, Characters, Search, Missing Book, Rare book, Middle Grade, Tween read)

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ATLANTIS – The Lost Empire

Milo Thatch is preparing for the meeting of his life. Growing up on stories told by his grandfather about a lost civilisation called Atlantis, he was bitten by the desire to find it too. Now with his grandfather gone, it seems it’s only Milo who believes in Atlantis. The meeting is to convince influential historians and scientists of its existence.

But just as these powerful men scoffed at Milo’s grandfather, they scoff at Milo too, not even bothering to stay and listen.

Milo has no sway in the museum where he works. His most important job is to look after the museum’s boiler, and no more. He feels like he will never achieve his dream of finding Atlantis and proving his grandfather right.

One night he finds a stranger in his apartment, with an invitation to meet her boss. Preston Whitmore claims to be a friend of the family and has an item to prove it. Milo finally has someone who will not only listen to his Atlantis theories but someone who will finance the expedition to find it!

Milo meets a talented and crew of men and women, all hired for their special skills for the voyage. Milo’s years of research with his grandfather and beyond has set him up well for the trip, but his lack of life skills has not.

He is about to be terribly successful, and terribly out of his depth – under the ocean and in the mission itself.

 

Atlantis is a world many have heard of over many generations with Plato first telling the story around 360 BC. It has been the subject of movies, tv series, books and artists, all imagining a hidden world deep beneath the ocean’s waves.

Originally a Disney animated film back in 2001, Atlantis – The Lost Empire graphic novel follows Milo Thatch on a voyage of discovery to find the legend of Atlantis he grew up with.

Full of adventure, evil villains, a dream to conquer and a cute love interest, the graphics include a collection of architectural styles instead of the standard Greek columns and design. The rich cultures of “Mayan, Southeast Asian, Cambodian, Indian, and Tibetan” are in the novel’s images and concept artwork.

Humour is also interspersed throughout as Milo is a fish out of water among an experienced but oddball crew. 

 

Creators – Mike Mignola; Greg Ehrbar, Claudio Sciarrone, Sonia Matrone, Matteo De Benedittis,
Charles Pritchett, and Lia Ribacchi

Age – 8+

Graphic Novel

 

 

 

(2024, Papercutz, Disney Comics, Graphic Novel, Classic, Underwater World, Legend, Ocean, Sea, Villains, Gods, Powers, Good vs Evil, Coming of Age, Courage, Adventure, Action, Grandfather, Journal, Follow your dreams, Proving yourself, Family, Mythology, Fantasy)

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Ghostlines

Tilda watches the tourists leave her home of Ayrie Island. They love the puffins and the wild spaces, but Tilda loves every part of it – especially when visitor free. But as the visitors leave, a boy named Albie and his mother arrive – to stay.

Everyone knows everyone on Ayrie, and news of the newcomer’s arrival spreads fast. Tilda is excited too, as it will be interesting to have a new person her age in the mix. But no matter how she and her friends try and coax Albie to join them in their summer fun, she receives nothing but quiet refusal.

Tilda doesn’t understand it. Ayrie is the most beautiful place on Earth. The sunsets, the millions of stars at night, the

‘sweep of the mountains and the sharp smell of the salt and peat and sea.’ 

…how can Albie be so disinterested?

She is given the task to help him settle in, and she relishes the challenge to show him how wonderful her home is. It’s much harder than she thought, until a last resort is flung out as a suggestion. This suggestion is against the rules. Dangerous. Possibly even with a supernatural threat. Only this gets Albie’s attention.

With free reign every day of the holidays, Tilda and Albie build a friendship within the off limits grounds, risking the possible disasters of every day. The breaking of rules is part of the thrill, and their friendship seems to ease Albie’s homesickness and even Tilda’s longing for a lost family member. But there are other forces at play and everything is suddenly at risk.

 

The island of Ayrie might be fictional but it feels as real as the book in your hands. Main character Tilda adores her island home and life there, even if everyone knows everyone and no one knocks when entering other islanders homes.

The stark contrast of mainlander Albie is engaging as Tilda tries to show her love to the newcomer – in part because she can’t understand why he doesn’t see what she sees, and gradually as she finds herself with something no one else on the island has. A new friendship.

A continuing backdrop of loss sits in Tilda’s mind, as her much loved older brother Rowan took the ferry away from their home never to contact them or return. Tilda’s new friendship with Albie eases this pain, and ultimately helps put her family back together.

Beautifully written as always, Ghostlines will be another treasured read on tween’s shelves.

 

Author – Katya Balen

Age – 9+

 

 

 

 

(2025, Bloomsbury, Island Life, Relocating, New Home, Newcomer, Homesick, Friendships, Family, Puffin, Longing, Kayaks, Forbidden Place, Stories, Storm, Big brother, Siblings, Growing Up, Memories, Home, Belonging)

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Lost in the Future (1) The Storm

A school trip to ancient castle ruins goes horribly wrong for Sara, Arnold, Mei and Driss. Cut short because of an incoming storm, the friends make their way back to the school bus. But someone is waiting for them, ready to spring.

Piero has taunted them all before, calling them nerds and losers, but this time his target is Sara, who is on crutches. In fright, Sara loses her balance and falls down a hole in the ruins, pulling Piero with her. Her friends try to save her but tumble in after her.

They land sore, but safe (or so they think) at the bottom of a tower. The storm has arrived and water is swiftly swirling their ankles. Something in the ruins gives way and they are swept through a hole… and into somewhere strange.

Tensions are high among them as Piero tries to lay blame. They set off, knowing they must do something to try and find a way home. They are surrounded by jungle and monsters lurk and lunge from everywhere. As they flee, teeth are gnashing on their heels. Even the plants want to eat them!

To their relief, a man appears from nowhere and leaps to their rescue. He offers them food, shelter and news of where they are. They learn they are in the future, but it looks medieval to the group. All the while Piero is clashing with the others, making things even harder.

 

This graphic novel in predominately shades of orange, pinks, purples, and greens is quirky in story and style.

The Storm is the first in a series of four friends and their school nemesis, being transported through a portal to another time. This portal was also used by an ancient society to escape their own persecution.

The anomaly of begin told they are in the future but it looking more medieval than high tech or post apocalyptic (as usual in a jump through time) – is an interesting twist. I’m keen to learn what has happened between 2024 and the future they find themselves in, in the next episode.

A separate thread within the story is Piero and his anger issues. No one understands him, but through events, Piero begins to understand himself.

Be warned – you will be caught up in the action and intrigue and left hanging…. desperately waiting for the next book like me!

Thanks to Papercutz and Net Galley for the ARC of this title

 

Author / Illustrator – Damián

Age – 9+

Graphic Novel

 

 

 

 

 

(2025, Harper Collins, Graphic Novel, Friendship, Bully, Action, Time Travel, Series, Ancient castle Ruins, Knights Templar, Portal, Escape, Monsters, Journey, Trek)

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BRAVE

Merida loves to practice her archery skills every chance she can get. These moments aren’t often, as she is the princess of her lands and the eldest of her siblings. While her young triplet brothers, Hamish, Hubert and Harris run riot through their castle, Merida must learn the history of her lands, and understand the expectations of a princess.

Learning her duties and responsibilities and listening to past stories and legends of their kingdom is tedious at best, but her mother Queen Elinor does her best to prepare her for her future. Little does Merida know that this includes being betrothed to the eldest son of one of visiting lords.

This is a completely different level of expectation and Merida baulks at the idea when told. Forced to meet the ever-boastful lords and their deplorable sons is something she must bear however, all the while looking for a way out. Her father King Fergus is keen for a match.

When she unexpectedly finds a possible solution, she grabs it, not realising the anguish it will soon pour upon their castle home and family. This solution involves witchcraft of terrible power, a mistaken identity and the life of one closest to her.

Merida has made a terrible mistake and must put everything back to rights before all is lost forever. Can the queen’s tedious teachings help?

 

A full colour graphic novel adaptation of the 2012 Disney-Pixar movie.

A full team of designers and editors have brought to life on the page, this action packed, humour filled but heartfelt medieval story. Pushing against parental expectations is a normal part of growing up, and although historical, this theme is universal to the present and any other era in our history.

Bright, emotive and including 4 extra stories at the conclusion of the main story, BRAVE is a treat indeed.

 

Creators – Disney-Pixar

Age – 7+

Graphic Novel

 

 

 

(2024, Papercutz, Action, Historical, Family, Humour, Secret, Fantasy, Animals, Castle, Medieval, King, Queen, Bear, Spell, Witch, Betrothed, Archery, Courage, Graphic Novel, Disney, Pixar, Growing Up)

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The Worst Perfect Moment

Tegan Masters is dead. But that’s not the worst of it. Her heaven is definitely NOT her idea of a place to spend forever in.

It seems she is to spend eternity in the Marybelle Motor Lodge – decorated in a plethora of greens, with broken heaters, unmentionables floating in the pool, and lots and lots of tears. Only her guide to the afterlife can help. Named Zelda, this angel is in a spot of bother herself.

Tegan didn’t die in this motel, but she does know where she did. Knowing does not help her however when Zelda stresses that this particular heaven has been built right down to the last disgusting detail like musty sheets, slimy mushrooms for breakfast and lukewarm pizza for dinner. She informs Tegan that she is very good at her job and has gone to such great lengths to get these details exactly how they were, because this is where Tegan had her happiest ever memory.

Tegan won’t have it. The Motel is in fact where her world truly fell apart. Her whole life seemed to lead to that point and the truth of everything finally comes to a head. But Zelda insists that she’s got things right.

The ‘higher ups’ of heaven decide an investigation must proceed. Did Zelda make a mistake? Is Tegan telling the entire truth? Has heaven got its processes completely wrong?

With Tegan’s ‘forever’ on the line and Zelda’s angel duties in jeopardy, only the truth can finally solve everything. But travelling the lines of truth will be no picnic. Tegan’s emotions will be turned inside out before the answers are revealed.

 

The first sentence of this book is perfect. It captured my interest immediately and kept me reading until the very end. The main character might be dead, but she isn’t a ghost. The setting is heaven, so only angels inhabit it, including admin angels trying to sort out a problem.

The Worst Perfect Moment is sad, funny, sweet and heart-wrenching all in one. A perfectly molded story of secrets, emotions, revelations and memories, triggered my own emotions of anger, sadness, empathy, and finally the one thing heaven is trying to prove to main character Tegan – happiness.

The sarky, snappy roller coaster relationship between Tegan and her angel Zelda is also funny, painful, and a great literary tool to take Tegan back and forth in time and travel through the story itself.

This sets up everything for the final important reveal and it’s carried off beautifully.

Great read. 

 

Author – Shivaun Plozza

Age – 13+

 

 

 

(2025, Heaven, Angels, Manky Motel, Love, Family, Friendship, Betrayal, Jealousy, Humour, Sarcasm, Mystery, Empathy, Understanding, Truth, Memories, Memory, Fracturing family, Sibling love)

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Chris Mould’s War of the Worlds

Life is good for Leon in London, 1894. He loved spending time with his friend Anya and helping her friends who ran a children’s orphanage. When Leon wasn’t writing or drawing, or wondering about worlds beyond the stars, he was helping Anya with the children. He had become quite attached to them all, especially an inquisitive little girl, named Esme.

A falling star was how it began. Anya was a scientist working at a laboratory at Ottershaw, which also had an observatory. Through Anya, Leon had made friends with an astronomer named Ogilvey. Together they watched the star come closer and closer to Earth. This was no star however, and many Londoners swarmed to the huge, strange capsule that imbedded itself in the common at Horsell.

What emerged from it changed Leon’s, and every Londoner’s life forever.

Ogilvy urges Leon to record everything he sees, in words and drawings, as this is an event like no other. As Londoners flee tripod machines higher than houses, Leon struggles to remain hidden as he writes and sketches what’s happening around him. All the while he worries for Anya and the children of the orphanage. Are they still alive?

 

A retelling of HG Wells science fiction classic, richly illustrated in B&W and full colour. Although a more succinct version for younger readers, it loses none of its punch as Martians invade Earth.

Chris Mould’s illustrations, from the cover to the final chilling image, capture the seemingly innocent falling star and it’s puzzling arrival, to the terrifying emergence of something ‘other’ in our world.

Main character Leon tells the story to the reader after his world is changed forever. Chris Mould captures Leon’s emotions throughout his ordeal and fight to stay alive to record all that he sees and experiences – in words and his distinctive illustration style.

As a fan of War of the Worlds, listening to the album as a child multiple times, and watching the movies, I could ‘hear’ the sound of the machines as they stomped across the ground, and inwardly cringed as they vapourised all in front of them on the page.

Brilliant. I must find an original H G Wells and dive in.

 

 

Author / Illustrator – Chris Mould

Age – 9+

 

 

(2024, Faber, Graphic Novel, Science Fiction, Sci Fi, Action, Classic, HG Wells, Retelling, Martians, Aliens, Fear, Fleeing, Documenting, Recording, Orphanage, Enemy Force, Bacteria, Historical, London, England)

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Unstoppable Us (2) Why The World Isn’t Fair

“It’s not fair!”  Most of us have thought this, or spoken these words at some time.

This statement can be for something minor such as how many sweets are handed out among siblings, but in Unstoppable Us (2) Why The World Isn’t Fair, this relates to how through the ages, some humans became kings and queens, and some became slaves. This uneven order among us happened about 10,000 years ago. But how and why?

“The answer to that is one of the strangest tales you’ll ever hear. And it’s a true story.”

In the first book of this series, readers learn how and why humans are the most powerful animals on the planet, even though we’re not the fastest, or strongest and can’t even fly.

In this volume, humankind’s story continues with a timeline that begins 25,000 years ago. The important event at this stage in history was the domestication of wolves into dogs.

What follows is an agricultural revolution, and humankind’s control of even more of the planet, including plants and animals like sheep, pigs, cows and cats. But all of these require communication between humans and slowly but clearly, the answers to the above questions are revealed.

Stories are the base of these revelations, just as in the first book – all providing ways to convince people through the ages to act a certain way, listen to certain people and help form the first communities of wealth and power vs poverty and slavery. This of course is a slow process over thousands of years, and different in all parts of the world.

Humans might be cleverer than other animals, but even humans don’t see the possible future of their actions. Inequality grows in many different ways, and life becomes much more complicated than how our ancestors, the hunter-gatherers lived.

Rules, laws, taxes and bureaucracy emerge, Maths is required and the first writings too. Stories are told in Ancient Egypt, India and around the world, to provide structure, control and ultimately power over many people.

But now in the 21st Century, many rules are universal wherever you go. We all stop at red lights. We all play football with the same rules.

“How did this happen? How did some stories and rules spread all over the planet?”

 

 

Yuval Harari continues his series for children (based on his book Sapiens which has sold multi million copies around the world).

This series takes readers (young and old) through human history in a clear, easy to understand way, unravelling reasons why things happened using proven science and of course, a certain amount of scientific guess work as to how things were thousands of years ago.

The Unstoppable Us series is illustrated throughout, making the fascinating information even easier to access and understand.

I can’t wait for the next volume in this story of human history.

 

Author – Yuval Noah Harari

Illustrator – Ricard Zaplana Ruiz

Age – 9-99

 

 

(2024, Penguin UK, Series, Non-Fiction, Humankind, Human History, Agricultural Revolution, Power, Control, Stories, Religions, Rich & Poor)

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My Life with the Walter Boys

Jackie Howard’s life is meticulously organised with an important goal in mind. An excellent transcript, Princeton and then straight into her billionaire father’s business empire. And then her father, mother and glamourous older sister are suddenly… gone.

She has an uncle in New York City to look out for her but he decides she will be better away from all the memories that crush her daily. His solution is her mum’s friend, Katherine Walter. Who lives miles on a ranch in Colorado. With one girl and eleven boys!

Jackie doesn’t remember her mother’s friend and is horrified at the thought of living with so many boys. Their welcome is lukewarm at best, and she wonders how she will survive in her new home.

The quiet orderly life she had in her New York City apartment and private girl’s school is replaced by a house full of chaos, practical jokes, bets made on her, and public high school.

The Walter boys are a myriad of ages and hard to keep track of to begin with. One stands out though, showing off his lean muscled torso and staring at her with a blue eyed simmering gaze. Cole is popular at school with guys and girls seem to throw themselves at him daily. She’s warned about him but can’t deny her attraction to him.

She soon sees for herself the carnage Cole can create, and she tries to take a step back from him and her feelings. Another brother is much kinder, safer and much less infuriating.

 

A love story rising from terrible loss, and an upheaval of a teen girl’s life. Going from an inner city apartment of your family of four, to a rural ranch filled with fourteen strangers, is a huge shock to Jackie. Still reeling from the loss of her family in a terrible accident, Jackie is on unstable footing from the beginning of the novel.

It was heart-warming to watch her become a full fledged member of this pranking, raucous, strong sibling rivalry household, and fall in love too. The contrast between her past life to the new one gave a constant contrast for her to wrangle, making engaging reading.

The writing achieved it’s goal with me early as I was so cross with these Walter boys and their constant tricks and mayhem. But their acceptance of Jackie was all the more sweeter as the novel progressed.

Fun read. Will check out the Netflix series too.

 

Author – Ali Novak

Age – 13+

 

 

 

 

(2019, Sourcebooks, Family, Grief, Loss, Romance, Teen Angst, Friendships, School, Change, Contrast, Love, Indecision, Brothers, Secrets, Emotions)

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