Heather James's Blog, page 12

Picture This: I Can Catch a Monster

When Bo's brothers tell her she's too little to go monster hunting, Bo sets out alone to prove how brave and strong she is. But she soon discovers that monsters come in unexpected forms, and it's how you treat those around you, not how you look, which makes you truly monstrous.
We loved this story immediately. Bo is a protagonist readers will really warm to. It offers a great twist on fairytale tropes of brave knights and fearsome monsters, encouraging young readers to look beyond what's on the outside. Being an adventurer shouldn't mean hurting things in an attempt to prove you are stronger than they are. The monsters Bo meets - a griffin, a kraken and a mother dragon - are all caring and kind. Bo quickly realises that an adventurer should want to learn about the world around them, not destroy it. It is a lovely message which young readers will hopefully take to heart. 
The restrictive colour pallet is really effective. Woolvin uses pink, turquoise and orange to produce illustrations which are bold and striking. Every page is a visual delight. Even the front and end papers tell a story. 

Thank you Macmillan Kids for sending us a copy of this story to review. 
I Can Catch a Monster is written and illustrated by Bethan Woolvin

Girl, Serpent, Thorn

There was and there was not, as all stories begin, a princess cursed to be poisonous to the touch. But for Soraya, who has lived her life hidden away, apart from her family, safe only in her gardens, it’s not just a story.
As the day of her twin brother’s wedding approaches, Soraya must decide if she’s willing to step outside of the shadows for the first time. Below in the dungeon is a demon who holds knowledge that she craves, the answer to her freedom. And above is a young man who isn’t afraid of her, whose eyes linger not with fear, but with an understanding of who she is beneath the poison.
Soraya thought she knew her place in the world, but when her choices lead to consequences she never imagined, she begins to question who she is and who she is becoming...human or demon. Princess or monster.
Enter a world of poison, lies and secrets, filled with morally grey characters who blur the lines between hero and villain. A fairytale where no one is what they seem, and victory might mean surrender. 
This YA fantasy is phenomenal. It has a cinematic quality and would make a brilliant film. 
The setting was stunning. I loved the secret passage ways, Soroya's garden and even the darker locations like the dakhmeh. 
Soroya is a character who will stick with me. She teeters so close to darkness I was never sure whether this was going to be a villain narrative or a heroic one, which made Girl, Serpent, Thorn all the more exciting to read. 
Over the course of the novel, Soroya becomes caught in a tangle of family secrets and regret, with hidden motivations and a plot fuelled by misunderstanding and manipulation. Tension runs high throughout and it is very hard to put this novel down!
At its heart, however, this novel also contains a beautiful, LGBTQ romance which will leave readers swooning. It also explores the dangers of toxic relationships and manipulation. 
This is also a story about learning to accept yourself, to reach your full potential, and not being afraid to embrace your true character. It is about isolation and feeling as though you don't fit in, but also finding your place in your family, even if it's not the one you expect.
In short, this is a beautiful, thrilling fantasy I will be recommending to everyone!

Sweet Cherry Publishing: Jane Austen Children's Stories

Sweet Cherry Publishing have published an adorable collection of Jane Austen children's retellings. I was able to read Pride & Prejudice through Net Galley and would definitely be interested in the rest of the series.
Barder's Pride & Prejudice adaptation retains the charm of the original, but with clear language that is easy to follow. This would be a great introduction to the story for children too young to follow the complex language of the original, and would leave them eager to read it when they are older, rather than putting them off the complete work.
I am not an Austen purist by any stretch, and think abridged versions of classics are a brilliant way to engage young audiences and introduce them to the classics. However, Darcy's first proposal is my favourite scene in English Literature, so the bar was set high for that chapter! Luckily, this edition does a brilliant job of retaining the humour and awkwardness of the original, echoing Darcy and Elizabeth's lines well. 
This edition is accompanied by adorable illustrations which I would love to have in my non-abridged Sweet Cherry Publishing collection.

The Saddest Kitten

Isla has always wanted a kitten, but her mum says her little sisters are too small. When she finds out her bet friend Hailey is getting a second cat, she's as jealous as she is happy for her. But Hailey's old cat Pickle doesn't like having a new cat in his space, and Isla struggles to know what to say to help Hailey and her cats. 
This heartfelt story explores the struggle of introducing a new pet into a home. Webb's gentle narrative shows that sometimes animal adoptions don't work even if they are carried out with the very best of intentions.
This is a story will help young readers navigate the emotions that often complicate friendships. Friends can sometimes lash out without meaning to when they are upset, but it's usually possible to move past arguments with apologies and forgiveness. There is also positive disability rep, which it was great to see included in a book for young readers.
I really enjoyed that some of this story was written from Silky' perspective, giving us a cats-eye view of joining a new home. Webb creates sympathy for Pickle and Silky, and they both get the happy ending they deserve. 
This story is complimented by lovely artwork by Sophy Williams - and an adorable front cover that it's impossible to ignore! 
Thank you Little Tiger for sending me a copy to review. 

Do Not Disturb the Dragons

This story was lots of fun and had me giggling from page one! 
Grace and Portia are princesses in a kingdom governed by a series of strict rules, which must be kept in order to keep the resident dragons happy. But Grace and Portia really want to be knights and play Troll-O, and they don't see why putting on some trousers will make the dragons leave...
I read Do Not Disturb the Dragons to myself for review but will be reading it to my five year old at bedtime because I know she'll find it even funnier than I did! I think unicorns called Poop, troll drool and the constant danger of dragon droppings (which you can't wash off because they're lucky) will make this story a huge hit with its target audience. It's set in a fantastic fairytale world, with friendly imps, trolls who love nothing more than pretending to be footballs and dragons who must be kept happy at all costs. 
All of the chapters were named after silly rules that would be broken in that chapter, giving readers a humorous glimpse into what is about to happen. The plot hurries along at just the right pace and has a satisfying ending. 
Sharon Davey has provided adorable illustrations which bring the characters to life. I loved the little dragons on their towers and her unicorns were also very sweet. 
I really enjoyed Grace and Portia's adventure and would recommend it to anyone in search of a funny chapter book that will keep kids utterly entertained. 

Picture This: Boo Loves Books

Phoebe doesn't like reading. She finds it difficult and scary. When her teacher takes her class on an unusual reading-themed trip, Phoebe discovers a new love for books, and a special new friend too. 
This is a lovely story for reluctant readers. When she meets Boo, Phoebe learns to enjoy books by sharing them - it doesn't matter if you're not sure about the words, you can still engage with a story by describing the pictures and discussing what might be happening. 
Boo Loves Books touches on themes of childhood anxiety and lacking self-confidence in a subtle, sensitive way. Phoebe's bond with Boo has a really positive impact on her confidence and her engagement at school. 
The art work is bright and sweet, with lots of yellows and greens. I especially liked the image of all the dogs at the dog shelter. 


Thank you New Frontier Publishing for sending me a copy of Boo Loves Books to review. 
Boo Loves Books is written by Kaye Baille and illustrated by Tracie Grimwood. 

Blood Moon

A timely feminist YA novel in verse about periods, sex, shame and going viral for all the wrong reasons.
BLOOD MOON is a YA novel about the viral shaming of a teenage girl. During her seminal sexual experience with the quiet and lovely Benjamin, physics-lover and astronomy fan Frankie gets her period – but the next day a gruesome meme goes viral, turning an innocent, intimate afternoon into something sordid, mortifying and damaging. {goodreads summary}
I've seen a lot of hype about this book and it deserves every single word. Blood Moon is brilliant. Here are three reasons you should buy it now. 
1. We need more YA novels about periods, to help demystify and normalise them. Blood Moon does a great job of exploring the unnecessary stigma around periods, as well as the toxic nature of online shaming. The novel has a positive, empowering message which it's brilliant to see in YA. 
2. I loved the friendships in Blood Moon. They were messy and imperfect and very real. Arguments feel like the end of the world because friendships often are your world when you're a teenager, so the implications of them breaking down are astronomical. I loved the group chats, the hashtags and the in-jokes, the laughter and the tears. Frankie's bond with Harriet is really special, but it also feels like a real teenage friendship. Frankie's other relationships, with her parents and the boy she likes, are also really strong and her brilliant support network is essential to the novel's success. I love how much, as an adult, I now relate to Frankie's Dad - he's outdated jokes and language really made me giggle! 
3. This is the second novel written in verse I've read this year. It's a great format to read: fast paced, every word counts and every line flows. I think it works particularly well for teen novels because everything is so quick and fleeting - conversations flow in a very realistic way and you get a great insight into the protagonist's thoughts. Visually, Blood Moon is wonderful. It is immediately clear and accessible to anyone who picks it up. 
I really loved Blood Moon and read it in two sittings. I would recommend it without hesitation. 
I was provided with an advanced copy of Blood Moon on NetGalley.

Picture This: Like the Ocean We Rise

Like the Ocean we Rise is another superb picture book from Little Tiger about protecting the environment. It shows people from all over the world coming together in protest to make a difference. What starts as a small ripple becomes a wave demanding change. 
This picture book is a visual delight. I love the bright colours and the little peep through raindrops. Because this story travels all over the globe, there's lots of diversity too. Looking after out planet is a global responsibility, not something one country or person can do alone, as the huge crowd on the final page shows so well. My favourite pictures are the beautiful rooftop bee hives in Tokyo and the transformation from blue to rainbow raindrops on the spread at the bottom of this post. 

The rhyme scheme drives this story, giving it a growing sense of momentum, as the words swell towards an emphatic conclusion. There's also lots of clever water imagery. 
Like the Ocean we Rise is a great way to discuss activism of any form with young children, and by using figures like Greta Thunberg, shows that you are never too young to make a difference. 
Because it addresses important topics like the environment and pollution, it would also work brilliantly in a class room, as an introduction for a topic on climate change. 

Thank you Little Tiger for sending me a copy to review. 
Like the Oceans we Rise is written by Nicola Edwards and illustrated by Sarah Wilkins

Llama Out Loud!

Yasmin Shah is fed up of being spoken over and ignored. Her loud but lovable family are always deciding what's best for her and the children at school think she's 'weird'. When a birthday wish brings some llama-filled mayhem to her quiet life of checkers and... Well, just checkers really, Yasmin needs to take drastic action or face a summer in Pakistan with her strict Daadi. 
Can Yasmin get rid of Levi before he ruins her life?
This duo are a lot of fun! Yasmin's quiet frustration and Levi's over the top antics make them a hilarious pair. Levi's pranks will have children giggling out loud and gasping in horror, in equal measure. Yasmin's increasingly desperate plans to get rid of him are also very funny.
Yasmin's family life, with her annoying brothers, constantly shouting Ammi and opinionated aunties, brings added chaos and fun to this story. I loved the illustrations of her time at home, and Yasmin's trek through everyone else's rooms to reach her own creates lots of laugh out loud moments. 
Friendship is at the very heart of this story, as well as acceptance and overcoming the fear of being yourself. Communication is a vital part of any relationship, and learning to communicate with Levi helps Yasmin to open up to many of the people in her life.
The tone of the narration was my favourite part of this story - the puns, the haiku and the constant interjections had me giggling from beginning to end. It would be a great story to read aloud to a class. 
I can't wait to find out what Yasmin and Levi get up to in their next adventure, and I'm certain children will love them too.

The Shadow Keepers

Marisa Noelle's brilliant Shadow Keepers has just been rereleased! I reviewed this book last year for the blog tour, and I'm reposting my review today so that no one misses out on this unputdownable YA. Marisa is currently my mentor for Write Mentor's Summer Mentoring Program and working with her has been an absolute dream. Her writing is incredible and I can't wait to dive into her latest story - Secrets of the Deep.
Here is the creepy blurb for The Shadow Keepers:
Sixteen-year-old Georgia Boone has seen the shadow creatures in mirrors and other reflective surfaces since she was six-years-old. But no one–not even her brother, the person she’s closest to in the entire world–believes her. She is all alone in the hellish world where crow-like creatures hunting her everywhere she goes.
When an afternoon of shopping ends in violence and blood, Georgia is sent to the UK’s most prestigious mental health hospitals: Brookwood Hospital. There, she’s forced to face her fears and answer the question:
Are the shadows real, or is this all in her head?
At Brookwood, the shadow creatures are more present than ever and are getting stronger every day. Only with the help of a mysterious boy who lives inside the mirror world might she be able to prove that she’s not hallucinating and stop the shadows from destroying the human world.

The Shadow Keepers is almost impossible to put down, and the creepy premise ensured that I was always thinking about it, even when I couldn't read on. Tensions and stakes run high as Georgia races to uncover the truth about the terrifying shadow creatures who have haunted her for most of her life. 
I don't think I've read many non-contemporary YA novels which features mental health so prevalently, and it was really clever how the character's mental health struggles became integral to the plot - they were never just another plot-point or issue to 'get over'. The topic as a whole was sensitively handled and I felt like I learnt some new things about mental health conditions as a result of reading.
Having said that, readers should bear in mind that as mental health is so important within The Shadow Keepers, the novel does include subjects like self-harm and suicide. If this isn't something you're comfortable reading, it would probably be best to avoid this novel. They're not a large part of the plot, but do come up.
You should definitely read The Shadow Keepers if you like:- creepy monsters- slow-burn romance- seeing mental health in non-contemporary stories. 
From a writing perspective, The Shadow Keepers is brilliant for:- world building - I could completely believe in the monsters and shadow world that Noelle created. - pacing - this story is paced just right, with plenty of action and tension, but also some great character driven moments to help back the pace off and give you a respite between the horror. - keeping the reader guessing about who they could and couldn't trust!