Heather James's Blog, page 5

The Court of Miracles

There is no character in all of literature I dislike more than Marius Pontmercy. 

I'm all for unlikable characters - some of my very favourite books are filled with characters I would hate to meet in real life - but Marius is the only character I've ever read who makes my blood boil with fury and who makes me throw books across the room. I get the feeling Kester Grant must feel the same way. Eponine deserved so much more. 

The Court of Miracles was therefore billed as the PERFECT novel for me: a YA retelling of a story I have adored since I was six years old, centring on my favourite character in said story, and completely removing a character I can't stand from the narrative. 

It's safe to say I had very high hopes for this novel! I am so pleased that, far from disappointing my expectations, The Court of Miracles exceeded them on every page. 

This novel is filled with wonderful characters (and no Marius), all with their own strengths and weaknesses, and lots of secrets and betrayal. Nina was superb, but I also loved Ettie (who was much more interesting than Cosette has ever been), St Juste and Montparnasse. There were hints of romance and lots of flirting, but this novel was always a story about sisterhood, which I loved. 

The location was also superb. This is the third book set in revolutionary France that I've read in the past two years and it is a setting and time period I will never tire of. It's so much fun to read about - filled with drama and danger and politics, and there are endless stories to be told. 

The court of miracles itself was very well developed. I loved its intricacy and detail and I could happily read more stories about characters in other guilds. The royal court was equally intoxicating, with a strong focus on social injustice. 

If you love Les Mis, in any of its many forms, you should definitely read this book. There are lots of little nods to the original story in chapter headings, and dialogue. Grant retains the intricacy, the character names and the social themes of the original story, but turns them into something that is entirely her own. However, I also think readers with no knowledge of Les Mis at all will fall in love with the characters in this story. 

The Haunting of Aveline Jones

A chilling Halloween treat that's perfect for snuggling down with on a stormy October night. 
The Haunting of Aveline Jones is a fast paced, spooky read which kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down!
It will delight fans of ghost stories, thanks to it's fantastic, eerie setting and chilling conclusion. I will definitely be thinking about this atmospheric story next time I'm near the sea during a storm... If you like to be scared, it would be a great story to read on holiday, while staying in an unfamiliar place!
It is also full of great characters and some lovely, if unusual, friendships. The adults were as well developed as the children, which it was great to see too. 
Robinson's spooky illustrations add to the unsettling atmosphere. 
The Haunting of Aveline Jones is a brilliant, quick spooky read that opens what is sure to be a fantastic series. I will definitely be ordering the next one. 

The Teeny Weeny Genie

Old Macdonald had a farm - so far so familiar. But did you know that on that farm he had a teapot? And in that teapot he had a genie? Well Old Macdonald didn't either, and this is the story of what happened once he knew he did.

This story is packed with chaotic, wish-filled fun! There's lots of opportunity to make noise throughout, and I can see it working well in nurseries and classrooms thanks to all the onomatopoeia. 

I enjoyed the rhyming letter spells, which were fun to read aloud. This was a silly, sweet story which my three-year-old really enjoyed. Everybody (or everything!) wanted to wish for something, and I'm pleased the genie got his own wish granted at the end.

Currey's artwork is lovely, with pretty farm yard backdrops, colourful characters and plenty of magic. 

Thank you Macmillan Children's Books for sending me a copy to review

The Teeny Weeny Genie is written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Anna Currey

Blog Tour: Mina Mistry Investigates

 

Today is my stop on the Mina Mistry blog tour!
Perfect for fans of Dork Diaries and Tom Gates, Mina Mistry is a fun mystery which children will love.
Mina's school is keen to promote healthy eating, but the school dinners contain more sugar than a chocolate factory. Luckily, future private investigator, Mina Mistry, is on the case - in between listening to her best friend Holly's dreams of superstardom and helping her Granny Meera with her unusual recipe combinations. 
Mina Mistry investigates is full of laugh out loud moments. Mina is a great protagonist, and I loved her assistant, Mr Panda (who is very into his extreme sports). Mina is determined and independent, and young readers will warm to her immediately. I also loved her unusual friendship with Holly, who brought a lot of laughter in her scenes. The friendships and dynamics between the characters are really strong. 
This book is full of food related fun, with marshmallow fritters for school dinner, and Granny Meera's strangely unpopular lentil custard. Readers won't stop laughing at the interesting food combinations. 
Mina Mistry also has a great layout and style, with speech bubbles, case files and plenty of pictures. The font is large and easy to read, making it accessible and easy to enjoy. 
I can see Mina Mistry being really popular in school libraries this year. I'm really looking forward to more books in this series.

Picture This: The World Made a Rainbow

A colourful celebration of life and hope. 

A little girl is missing her extended family and friends during lockdown, so makes a rainbow for her window. Some colours remind her of the things she is missing, others of moments in her past, and some remind her how much she has to look forward to in the future. 

This is a really beautiful picture book exploring life during lockdown, which children will find both relatable and comforting. My daughter could definitely see herself in the main character, who misses her school and her friends, and sometimes feels lost in a house where her parents are busy working and looking after younger siblings. 

The World Made a Rainbow is a gentle reminder that it's okay to feel sad, or afraid sometimes, but also focuses on the positivity and hope in the world. 

The artwork is bright and cheerful, and we loved the images of multicoloured rain, especially at the end.

The World Made a Rainbow is a really lovely story, and would make a wonderful 'back to school' gift for anyone who is feeling a little bit nervous. 

Blog Tour: Notes from Small Planets

 

Welcome to my tour stop for 2020's must-buy travel guide!
Whether you want to search for a real wizard in Mittelvelde, or go to wizarde (no, that's not a spelling mistake) school in Whimsicalia, Floyd Watt has you covered with his comprehensive travel guide to worlds only marginally less dangerous than Earth in 2020.
From SPACE to Wastelands and everything you could possibly imagine in between, this guide will have you packing an increasingly odd collection of items into your rucksack (oil, crackers and family heirlooms are all essential) and setting off into the horizon (in any direction but west).
Ignorant, flawed and certain of his own superiority, Floyd plunges headfirst into disaster in every chapter, kept barely in check by his long-suffering editor, Eliza Salt. Along the way, he'll tell you about the climate, wildlife and people of each world he visits, letting you know what to pack, where to stay, and what time of year to visit (except for Wasteland, who will be in the midst of the apocalypse whenever you visit). 
I laughed so much reading this book, and it's very, very rare that I finish something and pass it onto my husband to read next, but that's exactly what I did with Notes from Small Planets. You absolutely don't need to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of all fantasy and SF to enjoy it, either. The in-jokes are brilliant when you get them, but this book is still extremely funny even if you're not sure what's being parodied.
Crowley says in his afterward that is "should be possible to enjoy a work while still recognising the assumptions and conventions - some of them pretty grim - that it sits amidst." Notes from Small Planets exposes the flaws, some hilarious, some uncomfortable, in the worlds many of us love. As a result, it gives readers plenty to think, as well as laugh, about.  
Notes from Small Planets was so much fun to read and would make a superb Christmas present for SF and fantasy fans (or anyone who wants to escape from the chaos of 2020 into worlds facing disasters of a more believable kind). Thank you so much Harper Voyager for sending me a copy to review.
The tour continues all week at the blogs below. A Boy with a Book is also posting today and his review is brilliant, so make sure you check it out!

Blog Tour: The Inheritance Games

Today is my stop on the blog tour for The Inheritance Games!

The Inheritance Games is utterly addictive! I could not stop thinking about this book whenever I had to (forcibly, much against my will) put it down. 

Avery's life is turned upside down when she discovers she is the heir to a multi-billion dollar fortune, left to her by a man she has never met. A man who has four grandsons who have grown up with everything, and have now been left with nothing. But Tobias Hawthorne was fond of games and puzzles, and some of his grandsons are sure there must be more to the will, and Avery, than meets the eye. Secrets are exposed and betrayals laid bare as Avery and the Hawthornes race to uncover the secrets Tobias left behind. But with billions of dollars in the balance, Avery will have to decide if she's ready to risk her life and play. 

The premise of this novel is so crazy that it's impossible not to ask yourself what you would do if you were Avery. 

The Inheritance Games is full of twists and puzzles, with concealed corridors and secrets relationships revealed in every chapter. I guessed some twists but not others, and there was always some new mystery to keep me turning the page. 

Barnes' characters were excellent. Everyone was complex and full of secrets, and there was so much backstory to uncover. Avery is very relatable and I think readers will really like her. She's also never focused on the money itself, and only considers buying things for other people. The chemistry between Avery and the Hawthorne boys was brilliant, but I liked that romance was definitely secondary to the mystery in this novel. I really loved Max and her inventive swearing. Her bits made me laugh a lot. I also loved Xander and his scone addiction and all of the other funny moments he brought to the novel. 

Just Another Little Lie - author Q&A!

Just Another Little Lie is a heartbreaking yet sensitive look at alcohol abuse. Vi's mum is drinking more and more. She forgets to pick Vi's little brother up from school, and cancels appointments to spend the day in bed. She promises Vi that things will get better, but as things begin to spiral out of control, Vi isn't sure if she can trust her anymore. 

I was very, very fortunate to be able to ask author Eve Ainsworth some questions about this very special book. 

What inspired you to write Just Another Little Lie?

I've wanted to write a teen novel focusing on alcoholism for quite a while now. It is something I have had direct experience of growing up (my older brother died of alcoholism) and it was also something that I dealt with a lot in schools when I was supporting students. I think that this is often a misunderstood area and also I believe that a lot of young people have to deal with a heavy drinker in their family. It can be a very difficult and challenging thing to deal with.

What do you hope readers take away from Vi's story?

I hope that readers can feel empathy for Vi and understand the situation she has been put in. I also hope that others that are in a similar situation might feel that they are not alone and that it is not shameful to ask for help, or to accept it.  

There were a lot of points in this story which brought me to tears. Which moment was the hardest to write?

I'm sorry it brought you to tears, it is an emotional story. If I'm honest, this has been one of the hardest books for me to write because I tapped into a lot of personal experience and memory. I think the scenes with Vi's little brother were particularly tricky as I always get upset when little children are scared or confused! 

While Vi's mother makes some terrible mistakes over the course of the story, she is never presented as the 'villain' and is ultimately someone readers will feel a lot of sympathy for. How difficult was this to achieve?

It was important to me that Vi's mother wasn't portrayed as a villain and I want the reader to feel empathy towards her and understand that she cannot help her actions. She has an illness which she is struggling to deal with. I think it helped that I had personal experience of living with an alcoholic. I know how difficult and challenging it can be, but I also know that the person inside is very ill and needs help and support. 

I can't stop thinking about how Vi's story would be impacted in our current situation, with many children having been cut off from vital family support, especially from elderly relatives, during lockdowns. I know this won't have been something you thought about while writing, but is it something you have reflected on recently?

Oh yes definitely. I've been talking about this recently with ex-colleagues that I used to work with in schools. It's very concerning that many young people will be isolated at home in possibly quite difficult situations. That's why it's so important that we continue to raise awareness through books, social media and other channels.  We need to keep talking and raising awareness.

What makes writing for Barrington Stoke so special?

Barrington Stoke are such a wonderful publisher, they are so pro-active and encouraging and are really, really passionate about getting young people reading, especially those who might otherwise struggle. Having worked with dyslexic and reluctant readers in the past, I know how important this is. Barrington Stoke remove the barriers to reading, by ensuring they have a fully inclusive range of books that readers will want to read! It really is inspiring.

Which other Barrington Stoke stories would you recommend to readers who enjoy Just Another Little Lie?

I think The Disconnect by Keren David would be a good choice, or Anthony McGowan's Lark.

Have you read much over the past few months? If so, what has been your favourite?

I have been reading - but it's been a huge mix of children’s, adult and non-fiction. One book that I finished recently was Kerry Dewery's The Last Paper Crane, which was just wonderful.

Thank you so much Eve for taking the time to answer my questions, and to Barrington Stoke for sending me a copy of Just Another Little Lie to review. 
If you would like to read the opening of Just Another Little Lie you can do so at Barrington Stoke. 

Picture This: Along Came a Fox

Along Came a Fox is a lovely story about friendship and how we should treat others. 

Bramble the fox is out looking for fireflies when she encounters another fox who startles her. Embarrassed by her fright, Bramble reacts angrily, making the other fox angry in return. But after some time to think about her response, Bramble realises she'd much rather make friends with the stranger - if it isn't too late. 

This is a brilliant story for exploring emotions, and prompting conversations with children about how they react in certain situations, encouraging emotional maturity as well as exploring how to make friends. Bramble reacts crossly when she's embarrassed, even though she doesn't mean to be angry, and I think a lot of readers (young and old!) will be able to relate to this. This story encourages readers to consider why others might be angry -  they might be upset, or scared or embarrassed - and to let that guide their own responses.

There's a beautiful quote from Twig the owl which would work well in a nursery or classroom setting:

"What we give out is what we get back. Tonight you have that fox your smile, and that's exactly how friendship begins."

Cally Johnson-Isaacs' artwork is very sweet and this story is filled with soft illustrations and adorable animals. Every page has a lovely, nighttime woodland background filled with bright poppies. 

Thank you Little Tiger for sending us a copy to review. 

Along Came a Fox is written by Georgina Deutsch and illustrated by Cally Johnson-Isaacs

Picture This: It's Only One

Just one bit of litter won't make a difference, will it? One flower picked from a communal flower bed surely won't be noticed? The inhabitants of Sunnyville soon discover 'just one' soon adds up to a whole lot when everyone is doing the same thing. Can they change their ways before their town is ruined forever?

This is a clever story that exemplifies the importance of being a good citizen and neighbour, and looking after your local environment so that everyone can enjoy it. 

It is filled with funny scenarios which hint at much deeper problems. The pages at the back encourage children to think about how they can look after the places where they live.

Tony Neal's artwork is always a delight. Sunnyville is full of colour and fun, and we enjoyed looking at all of the little details on the double page spreads. 

Thank you Little Tiger for sending us a copy to review 

It's Only One is written by Tracey Corderoy and illustrated by Tony Neal