Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 17

Heist Royale

Ross Quest may have lost The Thieves’ Gambit but she did experience life as never before, made new friends and met a guy who equally intrigues and infuriates her. She is also left reeling by lies and misdeeds by those close to her, which closes up her heart again.

Now an established part of The Organisation, Ross is suddenly part of a new type of Gambit. The leader of The Organisation has a threat against her leadership and members must choose a side. Ross and her respected but ruthless mother are on one, and her past crush Devroe and his bitter and angry mother are on the other.

The rivalry between the two mums goes as far as life or death, and once again this is on the line. Ross can’t understand why her mother is so heartless when it comes to her old friend, and she refuses to reveal why.

Once again, Ross is on a quest, a gambit, a to-the-death competition, to keep the status quo leadership in The Count, or make way for The Baron – an ambitious and ruthless threat for the top job..

Plans are lined up, including Antarctica, New Orleans and Monte Carlo – where The Organisation has secrets to win back and evidence to steal. Although Ross’ friends are on opposite sides, and risk lives to win this time, their past relationships cannot be forgotten.

Ross must wrangle her feelings about leadership, her friendships and her mother’s control and presence. Not to mention Devroe who seems to be everywhere, no matter where she goes around the world. Does he mean what he says, or is still just part of the game?

 

Heist Royale is a riveting and awe inspiring sequel to Thieves’ Gambit! Now that we know the characters from TG, there is so much more investment in this story. Just as in TG, the gasp-wrenching twist and turns left me awe struck. When a plan seems to be going one way, in a blink it is spinning in another. Ross’ team is the one you follow in the book as they try to keep The Count in her job, and Ross tries to keep her family safe.

But the stakes are high on the other side too, and loyalties are stretched again and again. The love story between Ross and Devroe is explored and Devroe does his best to impress on Ross that he really does like her. Ross is wary throughout however, and refuses to let her guard down – at least on the outside. The more time she spends with him, and he seems to be everywhere she is, the more she begins to thaw on the inside.

Still she cannot trust anyone – this is still part of her mother’s training. But with so much more experience under her belt, and her mother’s past betrayals, Ross begins to wonder if her mother is good for her future. Her plan to solve more than one problem is a surprising twist and finale.

Loved it.

 

Author – Kayvion Lewis

Age – 13+

 

 

 

 

(2024, Simon & Schuster, Series, Sequel, Family, Theft, Thieves, Thief, Master Plans, Schemes, Plots, Competition, Consequences, Love, Trust, Friendships, Antarctica, Monte Carlo, Gambling, High Stakes, Cheating, New Orleans, Jewels, Parties, Disguises, Family, Mothers, Revenge, Action, Crime)

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The Night War

Miriam believes she is safe with her parents, now they have moved to France and away from Hitler. She has made close friends in the building she lives in, and loves caring for a neighbour’s toddler named Nora. Without warning, one day their entire building and Jewish community are rounded up by the French Police. They are marched onto buses and driven away from their homes.

Miriam’s father has hidden before the round up after a tip off beforehand, but she has no idea where her mother is. Not searching for her mother before she was taken, Miriam’s guilt grows further. She’s already blaming herself for a man’s arrest the year before.

On the bus, her neighbour asks her to look out for young Nora, and Miriam escapes with the toddler in her arms. She soon finds herself in a Catholic Convent with a new name, and no idea where Nora is. Realising her true religion must be hidden, she begins to learn the Catholic prayers, and vows to find Nora and escape to Switzerland. She has heard they will be free there.

Her inner guilt has grown further after breaking her vow and losing Nora, but she tries to make the most of her new home which has girls who want to be friends and enough food to go round. The nuns are kind and caring and at first unknown to all, helping others like her.

Aiding them within this secret helps dilute a little of the guilt she is carrying, but not knowing where Nora is weighs heavily upon her. When she learns Nora’s whereabouts, her courage grows with her determination to save them.

A local castle manned by German soldiers is the gateway between occupied and free France, and Miriam knows that somehow she must find Nora and cross this armed border. Little does she know there is help at hand from a very unexpected source.

 

By the author of The War that Saved My Life, The Night War is set in German occupied France in WWII. Main character Miriam is a well rounded character, full of guilt for things out of her control and keen to make good on them. Her courage grows throughout this novel and her secret identity brings more tension to the story.

Some French history is woven through the story in an unlikely character and supernatural element, which adds a twist, and allows Miriam to achieve deeds filled with courage.

As Miriam learns the rituals of the Catholic faith, whilst secretly performing her Jewish faith (in her head), readers learn about both. This novel is ultimately about the acceptance of all peoples, no matter what race, religion or beliefs, and their right to live in peace. This is expertly woven through the plot and shown through dialogue and actions of those helping others.

The author’s note adds more with information about the building of the French resistance that ultimately helped them win their country back.

 

Author – Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Age – 9+

 

 

 

(2024, Text Publishing, War, WWII, World War 2, France, Nazis, Soldiers, Convent School, Nuns, Bravery, Courage, French Queen, Castle, Guilt, Secret, Historical, Family, Promise, Secret, Gardens)

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Virtually Christmas

Christmas isn’t how it used to be in the town of Bracket Wood. A tech company runs Christmas now, with hologram Santa’s, drone delivered presents and no sign of a sleigh, a ho ho ho, or any reindeer in sight. Sure it’s more convenient, but sometimes there are much more important things than… easy.

At least that’s what eleven year old Etta believes. She longs for the Christmases her grandmother spoke about. With tinsel, crackers, and the crazy shopping nights that all added to the Christmas spirit.

It doesn’t help Etta’s feelings to know her dad works for the company named Winterzone either. Winterzone controls everything about Christmas, and her dad likes his job. Etta wonders what happened to the reindeer, elves and the big red jolly man himself and then suddenly an answer to these questions is closer then ever before.

The mission to find real answers beyond the constant Winterzone advertising and hi tech Christmas spin reveals that Winterzone has much more power than first thought. They control much more in daily lives than Christmas, so going up against them – and her dad, could be dangerous.

But Etta is determined to find true Christmas in memory of her Grandmother, and for her little brother Jonas too.

 

The narrator speaks directly to the reader in this funny and exciting middle grade novel. This engages the reader early, hooking them into the story.

We all know what Christmas is supposed to feel like so can empathise with Etta and her friends.

The tech part of the novel is also interesting as it makes us think about how much tech we have in our lives, and the importance of cyber safety and online privacy.

I also enjoyed the main character’s dad realising that his job was making him unhappy, and he actually does something about it.

A Christmas read with substance with lots of laugh out loud moments.

 

Author – David Baddiel

Illustrator – Steven Lenton

Age – 9+

 

 

(2024, Harper Collins UK, Christmas Spirit, Family, Memories, Love, Courage, Funny, Cyber Safety, Online Privacy, Robots, Technology, Control, Grandmother)

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Flit the Fantail and the Christmas Crash

One summer evening as the dark approaches, Flit flies higher than ever before. He’s flipping and fluttering before tumbling from the sky…. right into a floofy white beard!

Its Santa on his Christmas Eve deliveries!

As Santa travels from bach, to house, and apartments leaving gifts under twinkling Christmas trees, Flit is visiting nearby nests with his own gathered treats.

Little does he know that Santa is collecting something special for him along the way.

Finding his special gift and a note from Santa is exciting. But when it brings him something or someone even more thrilling, Flit has the best Christmas of all.

 

The release of the 4th Flit the Fantail book with a Christmas theme is perfectly timed.

Full of alliteration, this episode is fun to read, in full colour and has a gorgeous story of giving, whilst also having an exciting adventure with the jolly red guy.

Three other NZ birds star in the story (even if they are sound asleep in their nests as any wee one should be on Christmas Eve).

Kindness given receives kindness in return, with a cute ending.

A wonderful holiday edition to the Flit the Fantail series, and one of my favourites for Christmas 2024.

 

Author / Illustrator – Kat Quin

Picture Book

Publisher – Scholastic NZ

 

 

(2024, Scholastic NZ, Christmas, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ Author Illustrator, Series, Native Birds, Fantail, Santa, Christmas Eve, Nests, Gifts, Kindness, Caring, Love, Sharing)

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One Wise Sheep

Everyone has heard about the three wise men and the shepherds at the manger of baby Jesus, but what about the sheep that were left behind? This is their story.

A flock of sheep wake to a bright light in the sky. They are bundled together as every night, feeling safer pressed together as they sleep. But after waking to the light and discovering their shepherds missing, they begin to panic. Well some do. One makes the most of it and raids the shepherd’s bags for any tasty snacks.

Another sheep blames the shepherd’s absence on UFOs – which the other sheep can’t get their head around. But this same sheep has spoken before of weird things called televisions and telephones. He isn’t to be taken seriously.

One sheep has wandered off and learnt from a passing goat of a special birth nearby. A baby! This is the most exciting news as sheep love babies with their tiny fingers and feet. They decide to visit this new arrival.

But after a few mishaps they realise they don’t have a gift. What shall they take?

After even more things go awry, they finally find the place they have been seeking….

 

This untraditional Christmas story is hilarious! I laughed out loud at the antics of the famous shepherd’s sheep as they try and organise themselves after freaking out at learning their shepherds have gone awol.

There are other animals including wicked wolves, a goat and a steer, not to mention the puffed-out donkey who brought the special family to the manger.

This story can be read to any youngster or they can read it themselves, but I think knowing the actual Nativity story beforehand, gives this wee gem so much more joy. 

Translated from German by the amazing team at Gecko Press, One Wise Sheep is a special treat to be reread every Christmas and made part of fun family traditions.

 

Author – Ulrich Hub

Illustrator – Jörg Mϋhle

Translator – Helena Kirkby

Age – 6+

 

 

 

(2024, Gecko Press, Translated from German, Animals, Sheep, Goat, Donkey, Steer, Wolves, Shepherds, Nativity, Christmas, Manger, Stables, Funny, Humour, Adventure, Silent Night, Star, Angels)

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Charlie and the Christmas Factory and Other Stories

Ever wondered what happened to all your favourite Roald Dahl characters after you closed the book?

Ever wanted to check back in to see how they were doing?

Dive into this collection of Roald Dahl themed Christmas stories with all the Roald Dahl characters you know and love.

 

Charlie is running the Chocolate Factory now, and he wants his special Christmas visitors to have the time of their lives. But Violet Beauregarde is back with a terrible problem involving lots and lots and lots of gum.

George hasn’t made any more medicine lately, but does love telling his granddaughter Gigi amazing stories about his life. She isn’t interested, in fact doesn’t even believe him, until…

There is a horrible crocodile who still lives in Australia and is still very horrible indeed. He’s determined to spoil everyone’s Christmas, but the other Aussie animals have a plan.

The BFG and Sophie are still hanging out together, but she’s a bit worried about the girls she left behind in the orphanage. Maybe she and her giant bestie can come up with something wonderful for their Christmas?

Matilda might have got rid of Head teacher Trunchbull, but now she has someone else just as nasty at school. Can she put them in their place, or at least show them how awful they really are? After all, it’s Christmas!

The Giraffe, Pelly, Monkey and friends are off to rescue Christmas. There are a lot of people relying on them, waiting for a special Christmas dinner. They have so much to do and hardly any time to do it!

The Witches haven’t left after all, but the students at a small school know there is something not right with their new teachers. These teachers have terrible plans afoot, and the students must all work together to save Christmas and themselves.

Danny is taking his family back to where he grew up with his dad in a little caravan. His children have grown up hearing the stories of the pheasants in Hazell’s Wood, and he is excited to be finally returning to his beloved Buckinghamshire town. But things are changing and the locals aren’t happy. Can they help?

The Twits are even more horrible than when we first met them, and they are nowhere near Santa’s ‘Nice’ list. He makes sure it stays that way.

A Magic Finger. A Bully and a Chicken. Magic fingers can be passed down the family it seems, and it’s not long before this new Magic Finger wreaks havoc on those who are doing wrong.

James now lives in his Giant Peach in Central Park in New York. One day the city is attacked with ice from the sky. Can James and his old friends Centipede, Mrs Ladybird, Silkworm, Earthworm and Miss Spider save the day?

Beansprout, Boggis Jnr and Bunce Jnr are just as awful as their farmer fathers, but the children of Fantastic Mr Fox are just as clever as him! Frankie, Freddie, Fraser and Felix are learning how to steal from the farmers every day, but Frankie has different ideas about turkeys and rabbits. She’d rather not eat them at all…

 

Twelve Christmas themed Roald Dahl stories from renowned international award winning children’s authors! What more could you want in a Christmas book!

All your favourite characters star in this collection of stories, with new generations of characters entertaining new generations of readers.

At over 500 pages, each story is a small novella and perfect reading for the weeks coming up to Christmas.

Look up your favourites and see what they have been up to since you visited them last, in an original Roald Dahl themed story.

 

Authors – Adam Hills, Adam Kay, Ben Bailey Smith, Elle McNicoll, Greg James & Chris Smith, Hannah Gold, Konnie Huq, Nadia Shireen, Nathan Byron, Pamela Butchart, Sally Rippin, Sibéal Pounder.

Illustrator – Rikin Parekh

Age – 7+

 

 

 

 

 

(2024, Penguin Books, Christmas, Adventure, Action, Animals, Courage, Family, School, Bullies, Humour, Inspired by Roald Dahl, Classics, Funny, Friendship, BFG, Witches, James, Peach, Twits, Danny, Small towns)

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Sausage Dog Santa

Stanley is excited to be adopted by Nina and her Mum. They are kind and loving and all he could want in owners. Another member of the household isn’t as pleased about Stanley’s arrival. Cleo the cat is a bit put out about this new puppy, and refuses to be friends.

Settling in in new home, Stanley wonders why there is a tree inside the house. It does look pretty with it’s lights and tinsel, and he soon learns all about Christmas. Cleo puts him right when she tells him all about the presents from Santa.

“Well, you won’t be putting your stocking up anyway. Santa comes to children, not animals,” Cleo said dismissively.

Stanley decides to do something about this, and as he makes new friends while out on his walks and in the backyard, he begins asking about Christmas wishes.

But the hardest wish to give is for Cleo, and he wonders if they will ever be friends. Will he have to give up his new home?

 

Stanley is an adorable positive dachshund puppy, and Cleo the cat an excellent contrast. The clash between dogs and cats is age-old, and in Sausage Dog Santa it’s much more gentle and deeper than at first thought.

Trying to do the right thing by his friends, Stanley helps cause a little chaos, but the hardest to please is Cleo who just happens to be the most important. The underlining worry of possibly of being sent back to the animal shelter if he doesn’t get on with Cleo provides a little tension throughout the story, and is resolved in a tender moment.

A lovely story for any time of the year, Sausage Dog Santa has large text, short chapters, and illustrations throughout.

There are more books in the Sausage Dog Series and a taster of another novel by Bella Swift (The Pug Who Wanted to be a Unicorn) is provided at the end of the book.

 

Author – Bella Swift

Illustrator – Kelly Caswell

Age – 6+

 

 

 

(2024, Hachette, Christmas, Dog, Cat, Bird, Animals, Adopted, Dachshund, Coffee House, Cafe, New Owner, Dog vs Cats, Gift giving, Wishes, Humour, Funny, Family, Friendship, Series)

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Marmaduke Duck and the Christmas Calamity

Oh no! Santa is in a spot of bother. But his trusty reindeer or elves can’t help him, because they are stuck too! What are they to do?

Luckily, someone sees their mishap and dashes to the nearest help they can think of. Marmaduke Duck!

She and her bestie Bernadette Bear are finishing off a batch of jam, but instantly listen to the tale of woe. Marmaduke calls on her other animal buddies and they are quickly off to the rescue!

There are a few conundrums to sort out, but between the feathered and furry friends, they all chip in and with some North Pole magic. Christmas Eve is a very busy night for them all.

 

What a joyful read. Award winning picture book maestros Juliette MacIver & Sarah Davis have done it again!

Marmaduke Duck has been a firm favourite in NZ for more than a decade, and in this episode she stars in a Christmas caper.

The exciting although possibly calamitous beginning grabs the reader and the only thought is – how can they save Christmas!

Juliette MacIver’s rhyme is always superb on the page, and a pleasure to read over and over.

Add Sarah Davis’ expressive, action-packed animal illustrations and Marmaduke Duck and the Christmas Calamity is a brilliant book showing animals, action, humour and Christmas spirit. I loved the final page.

A book to be brought out every December and shared.

 

Author – Juliette MacIver

Illustrator – Sarah Davis

Publisher – Scholastic NZ

Picture Book

 

 

 

 

(2016, Scholastic NZ, Christmas, Aotearoa New Zealand, Animals, NZ, Humour, Series, Action, Adventure, Friendship, Duck, Santa, Reindeer, Saving Christmas, Rescue)

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How does Santa go down the Chimney?

This is a question that has been asked by millions of children around the world through multiple decades of Christmas. Everyone is preparing for the special day with family, friends and neighbours, and the anticipation of presents grows in children’s hearts.

But then the spark of a thought appears and blooms, and is often spoken,

 

“How does Santa go down the chimney?”

 

Santa is a person, is he not? But a person can’t fit down a chimney. So many chimneys are even smaller than they used to be – just round tubes with special lids on them so the birds can’t get in. So how does Santa do it?

This book explores all the possibilities that Santa has as he stands on a snowy roof, looking at a chimney. With a little Christmas magic of course.

 

Does he tighten his belt?

Or shrink himself down to the size of a mouse?

Does he go headfirst… or feet first?

 

Then there’s another question often asked at Christmas by curious young minds.

 

“How is Santa going to deliver the presents, because we don’t have a chimney?”

 

This book portrays all the ways Santa could enter a sleeping house without a chimney.

 

Maybe Santa knows about the key under the flowerpot…?

 

There are other practical things to consider. Why doesn’t the family dog bark, and how does he keep his floofy white beard and red and white suit clean after sliding down a chimney?

All these questions and more are asked in this delightful picture book to share with wee ones as Christmas approaches. A perfect invitation for children to imagine for themselves how Santa leaves the gifts while they sleep.

This story is full of humour in both the text and the distinctive style of Jon Klassen’s illustrations. I loved the final conclusion which encompasses the spirit of Christmas.

Definitely one to treasure.

 

Author – Mac Barnett

Illustrator – Jon Klassen

Picture Book

 

 

 

 

(2023, Walker Books, Christmas, Wonder, Mystery, Houses, Homes, Questions, Chimneys, Santa, Magic, Santa, Father Christmas, St Nicholas, St Nick, Humour, Funny)

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The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science

The Porch Sisters – Gertrude (nearly 13), Eugenia (just over 12), and Dee Dee (possibly 11), are a little different to the rest of their family and residents of their town. Their family now consists of an aunt and uncle and seven cousins all named Lavinia who only just tolerate them in their household.

The sisters are in no way like their cousins who excel at all things polite and with perfect etiquette. Gertrude, Eugenia and Dee Dee would much rather be researching strange creatures, looking for exploding rocks or thinking about the workings of the universe. They do try to hide their interests, especially at their etiquette school under the nose of their teacher Mrs Wintermacher, who despairs at the sister’s strange behaviours.

One day when Gertrude decides to use her smarts and interests to help in the study of ‘sitting with a straight back’, things go terribly wrong. And just maybe… a little bit right.

Soon, the Porch sisters (who have been threatened to be sent off to boarding school far away), meet Millicent Quibb. Millicent is starting her own school, but with only three pupils in mind.

Gertrude, Eugenia and Dee Dee are frightened to meet the woman the entire town deems to be a completely unhinged and dangerous crack-pot. The rumours are well spread and fierce and they’re not sure they’ll survive the day. Millicent Quibb might be strange and blunt and unaware how to talk to children, but she is clever, perfectly aware of the sister’s odd interests, and keen to help develop them.

The sisters begin to feel like they’ve finally found where they are accepted and praised for their quirkyness and scientific efforts. Millicent Quibb is not just a Mad Science teacher and mentor. She is also aware of something very curious and positively dangerous happening within their town, and she needs the Porch sisters to help stop it!

 

The narrator, G Edwina Candlestank speaks directly to the reader, including footnotes, labelled diagrams and illustrations. These extras provide the full information required to properly tell the story, and are not only helpful but really funny too. This narrator will sometimes lose her way in the telling and ask the reader questions, and then answer them herself. Not only are we getting to know the characters, but the narrator too.

To adequately describe The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science, I would call it a pinch of Addams Family, a teaspoon of Frankenstein, and a packed cup of A Serious of Unfortunate Events.

The many illustrations by Alfredo Ca´ceres are hilarious and their captions and labelling giving a scientific feel to them.

This blend of bonkers provides readers with a funny, clever, exciting read with a firm nod to more in the series. 

 

Author – Kate McKinnon

Illustrator – Alfredo Ca´ceres

Age – 10+

 

 

 

(2024, Harper Collins, Humour, Science, Family, Fantasy, Adventure, Animals, Courage, Mystery, Secret, Funny, Footnotes, Crazy experiments, School, Zany Professor, Cousins, Bichon Frise, Monsters, Saving the day, Etiquette, Manners, Bonkers,

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