Reviews

Dare to be you by Matthew Syed

Wren & Rook, 2020. ISBN: 9781526362377.
(Ages: 11+) In this empowering non-fiction book, Dare to be you: Defy self-doubt, fearlessly follow your own path and be confidently you!' readers are encouraged to be themselves, be different, pursue their dreams and to not be defined by what is considered 'normal'. Aimed at students entering high school, the book covers self-doubt, friendships, individualism, kindness and more. Filled with research and examples, including real-life examples from the author, well known successful people and a few celebrities, the book relates to young teenagers through these examples.
I found the book easy to read, due to layout and content, and I believe it will be beneficial to teenagers who are confused and searching for where they fit in the world. Throughout the book there are activities that the reader can undertake to further explore their own strengths, ideals and future pathways. Using a variety of imagery and text styles (as well as colour), the book will appeal to many readers. There are some really good suggestions to assist with empowering the reader to own being themselves. Well suited for readers between 11 and 15 years of age.
Themes: Self-empowerment, self-improvement, courage, self-doubt, questioning.
Melanie Phillips

They wish they were us by Jessica Goodman

Razorbill/Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780593114292.
(Ages: 14+) A YA murder mystery revolving around a prestigious high school with a not so secret society - the school's elite, called 'The Players'. The story follows Jill Newman in her final year of high school, three years after her best friend, Shaila, was murdered. Shaila's boyfriend, Graham, was convicted of the murder, and Jill and her friends have tried to put that horrid night behind them. This is their last year of high school, they run the school as The Players, everything should be perfect. But Graham's sister contacts Jill making a case for Graham's innocence and Jill starts questioning everything - her friends, her family, her boyfriend and her 'perfect' school life.
Packed with underage drinking and drug use (hence the suggested age of 14 years and up), They Wish They Were Us explores the pressures of fitting in, parental expectations, the complexities of friendships and how secrets can be kept by anyone. Similar in style to People Like Us by Dana Mele, They Wish They Were Us is a good introduction to the teen murder mystery genre. Many teen murder mysteries are well paced with plenty of action, however this book has a moderate pace with numerous flash backs. Readers may find it hard to keep track of the story, though I did read a proof edition and perhaps the published edition distinguished the past and present in a more obvious way.
Themes: Popularity, murder mystery, secrets, ambition, friendships.
Melanie Phillips

A climate in chaos by Neal Layton

Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781526362315.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. In young reader friendly language, Neal Layton explains how the world got to be in the mess it is in.
We rely on breathing out carbon dioxide after taking in oxygen, and plants take in carbon dioxide, breathing out oxygen. The greenhouse gas layer kept us warm. So it has been for millions of years, but two hundred years ago we started burning fossil fuel to create energy to power machines and the balance became uneven. More carbon dioxide is created, making the greenhouse gas layer too thick and changing the climate around the world. Added to this the animals that breathe out carbon dioxide have been farmed, increasing their number, so creating more carbon dioxide, and human population has increased rapidly, adding to the amount as well. Trees and forests which soak up the extra carbon dioxide are being pulled down and the warmer temperatures are changing our climate.
Animal habitats are being changed as well, making it difficult for them to survive.
So what can we do about it?
Layton lists his suggestions with regard to transport, consumerism, waste, food, energy and forests. Each suggestion has a paragraph of information about how these should be changed for the better. Food, for example, tells us that eating more plants reduces the impact of livestock farming, eating food that is grown locally reduces the need for it to be transported while growing our own is even more beneficial.
The biggest issue of them all is burning of fossil fuels, and Layton advocates a change to renewable energy sources, wind, tidal, geothermal and solar power.
Layton explains what a sustainable house looks like with a drawing and information around it to show where savings can be made. Many children will have heard of several suggestions here and some will be practising some at home, while your school may have solar panels and a garden, but all put together this makes a fascinating reference for a classroom to read about and research to find out more information. Questions will spring up: where do we get recycled loo paper, what is a composting toilet, does it smell, how can we have a garden on the roof? And so on. The double page with the sustainable house will create a great deal of imaginative discussion, and kids will want to know what their school and council is doing to create a sustainable pathway for the area. At the end of the book Layton acknowledges the work being done around the world, and finishes with a list of things we can all do in the home to create a better environment.
A book well worth reading and sharing.
Themes: Sustainability, Climate change, Greenhouse gas, Fossil fuels, Future, Renewable energy.
Fran Knight

The mountains sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

As a young girl in the school taught by her grandmother Dieu Lan, Huong wonders why foreign armies keep invading her country, Vietnam: first the Chinese, the Mongolians, the French, the Japanese and then the American imperialists. As the Vietnam (or American) war continues, it is her grandmother's stories that keep her hope alive. Learning that her grandmother has survived the French occupation, the Japanese invasion, the Great Hunger, and the Land Reform, Huong is determined that she will find safety once again with her parents Ngoc and Hoang, both soldiers in the war against the American enemy and the South Vietnamese.

Readers of this novel will learn through Dieu Lan's stories of the horrific ordeals the people of Vietnam have endured. The chapters alternate between the struggles of Huong and her grandmother during the Vietnam war, and the past stories of Dieu Lan's suffering of mass famine in 1945, the brutality of land dispossession and massacres during the Land Reform movement in the 1950s and then the conflict of the Vietnam War. Dieu Lan was the mother of six children, each of whom she had to find some way of protecting, even if it meant actually abandoning them to ensure their survival away from her. It is a heartrending story. When Dieu Lan retraces her steps to find her children again their outcomes are not always what she would have hoped for.

Each of Huong's relatives is affected by the Vietnam War, through separation from family, to beatings and rape, to Agent Orange poisoning, to traumatic amputation. But somehow, the spirit of Dieu Lan survives and even forges a way towards Buddhist forgiveness, peace and calm. It is a harrowing story, but one of the delights of this novel are the Vietnamese proverbs that Dieu Lan passes on to Huong, "fire proves gold, adversity proves men", "soft and persistent rain penetrates the earth better than a storm", and "only through love can we drive away the darkness of evil from this earth".

Millions of people lost their lives during the Vietnam War. This novel tells the stories of some of them, in the hope to learn from the past and prevent future armed conflict.

Themes Vietnam War, Famine, Endurance, Survival.

House of Dragons by Jessica Cluess

Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780593305447.
(Young Adult). Recommended. Any reader who likes dragons, misfits, intrigue and Game of Thrones will enjoy Jessica Cluess' new novel, House of Dragons. Pivoting away from her previous Victorian-era London fantasy books, Cluess introduces us to the kingdom of Etrusia, a world where humans and dragons coexist. Etrusia's emperor has died and a representative of each of the five royal houses will compete for the throne. However, instead of sending the house heirs who have spent their lives training for this competition, five mistfits and outcasts are called to battle. Emilia, a scholar hiding her dangerous magic, Lucian, a reluctant soldier, Vespir, a servant and dragon trainer, Ajax the thief, and Hyperia, a noblewoman who will stop at nothing - even murder - to claim the throne.
The teenagers and their dragons compete in a series of challenges set to test their skills and knowledge, knowing that one of them will be crowned and the other four will be killed. Despite their initial animosity however, the five eventually begin to work together to try and expose a dangerous plot that threatens Etrusia and all of its people.
While Cluess has clearly been influenced by George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones for the premise of the novel, the story is appropriate for an older teen audience - with a content warning for violence and assault. Each of the five protagonists is given a character arc so chapters are short and the novel's point of view switches constantly. This may be an issue for some readers but extensive world-building and a fast-paced, interesting story will more than make up for it. Themes: Dragons, Magic, Conflict, Royalty, Danger, Friendship.
Rose Tabeni

The other side of the sky by Amy Kaufman and Meaghan Spooner

Wow – I wish that I had picked The other side of the sky up earlier. It had been sitting in my to-read pile for quite a while and once I got started, I couldn’t put it down. It is told in two voices, that of Nimh, the living goddess of her people, and North, a prince of a home in a city high in the sky. Nimh’s world is being overtaken by a terrifying mist and some of her people believe that the Sentinels that guard the villages should be destroyed and a safe haven constructed for the lucky few. Meanwhile North is inquisitive and has found old records of technology that has been lost and invented a glider. When he loses control of it, it plummets to the earth below where Nimh finds him, convinced that he is the Lightbringer, the one who will end the world.

Kaufman and Spooner do a great job of collaborating. The dual narrative ensures that the reader really gets to know North and Nimh, their feelings and their beliefs. North, who believes in science,  really struggles to understand the magic that Nimh takes for granted. He also finds the religious beliefs on Nimh’s world strange and the idea of living gods too weird to be true.

In the teacher’s notes Meaghan Spooner writes that one of the inspirations for the book ‘was the idea of writing a romance between characters who couldn’t touch’ and this certainly has repercussions for the feelings that the two have for each other.

The suspense is kept alive as another young woman, Inshara, claims to be the true goddess and her party try to capture Nimh and North. With a dire murder, betrayal of trust and unexpected twists and a cliff-hanger ending, The other side of the sky is a riveting read, and readers will eagerly wait for the second in this duology. Readers who enjoy books by Laini Taylor and Scott Westerfeld are sure to enjoy this.

Themes Fantasy, Science fiction, Romance, Science, Religion.

Pat Pledger

The secret life of the Savoy and the D'Oyly Carte family

Headline, 2020. ISBN: 9781472271761.
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) The author has extensively researched the origins of the Savoy Hotel, London (opened in 1889) and its lasting impact on British customs and the Hotel industry. The book embodies the story of three generations of the D'Oyly Carte family. Richard D'Oyly Carte, an enterprising and enthusiastic musician started the empire by his establishment of theatres and commissioning Gilbert and Sullivan to write shows, making himself a fortune and them famous. Among his clients were Whistler and Oscar Wilde. His son Rupert and granddaughter Bridget continued both theatre and hotel businesses.
At a time when people did not dine outside of homes, the establishment of a luxury hotel with bathrooms, lifts, electricity, excellent wines and food (Escoffier was persuaded to become the Chef and Cesar Ritz the manager) attracted royalty, rich Americans, famous writers and actors, business magnates and politicians (even Robert Menzies was a guest!). Women were able to dine in public for the first time. Most famous people of the twentieth century are mentioned - Churchill, the queen, princess Margaret, Hemingway, Kennedys, etc are just a few. Its luxury and inflexible standards became a part of its lure. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones were apparently denied entry to the Bar as they were not wearing ties.
I enjoyed reading the book. It could be of use as a case study of the establishment and success of a business empire which still exists over a hundred years later. While the book is about the Savoy hotel and theatre, it is more a biography of the Carte family and their personal as well as business problems and achievements.
There are extensive notes and an index.
Ann Griffin

The wild way home by Sophie Kirtley

Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526616289.
Recommended for primary and middle school students. Charlie and friends, Lamont and Beaky have been playing in Mandel Forest since they were small, and while playing a game of hunters and hunted Charlie finds a deer tooth with twelve marks on it. This seems auspicious as not only is Charlie about to turn twelve but a much longed for baby brother or sister is about to be born. When Dara is born with a serious heart condition Charlie runs away from the hospital and distressed parents, escaping into the woods, led by a bird to someone lying face down in a stream. Not stopping to think Charlie rescues the person who turns out to be a long haired boy with a head injury wearing nothing but animal skins. Not only does the boy look and sound strange but the forest has changed and when Charlie tries to find the path to go and get help, it is not there. However, familiar landmarks like Pinnacle Rock and the Spirit Stone are recognisable, suggesting to Charlie that this is another version of the world, another dimension. There is no time to dwell on this as they try to survive in this Stone Age wild world of wolves, bears and lynx, courageously facing challenges and sharing laughter.  They discover that instead of difference, Charlie and Hart boy are struggling with the same fears for their families. The setting is evocative with all the features of the Stone Age, cave paintings, spears and flint tools and the wild forest with its deep spirituality is the perfect place for an adventure.
Readers will find it easy to identify with Charlie's hopes and fears especially as we are left guessing as to her/his gender and appearance. We can hold our breath at the well-constructed moments of tension, laugh and cry as the adventure unfolds and identify with the characters' need to escape. "If only we could wish things away just by not thinking about them". p. 187.
A lovely first novel with echoes of Stig of the Dump by Clive King and Skellig by David Almond. Wouldn't it be good to have a similar story set in ancient Australia?
Themes: family, Stone Age, adventure.
Sue Speck

Beware! Ralfy Rabbit and the secret book biter! by Emily Mackenzie

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781408892091.
(Ages: 3-7) Recommended. This is a follow-on book from the previously published Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar. As seen in the first book, Ralfy simply loves books. But reading becomes a bit more difficult when his new baby brother arrives. Where can he go that is quiet and peaceful? Things get even worse when he starts discovering holes bitten in his books. Who could be behind the biting?
Emily MacKenzie's stories are quirky and refreshingly original. Her colourful, humorous illustrations are joyful and character-driven with a beautiful fuzzy quality. From the titles of Ralfy's books (Char-lie and the Chocolate Carrot, George's Marvellous Lettuce) to the annoying things his little brother does to interrupt his reading, this story will have the whole family amused. Children with younger siblings will identify with Ralfy's consternation at Rodney's noisy play, constant crying and food throwing. When Ralfy discovers that it is Rodney who has been biting his books Mum explains that it's probably because his teeth are growing and he has sore gums. Instead of being angry Ralfy thinks about what he could do to help and returns with a board book for Rodney that he can both read and chew on.
This is a beautiful story about the sometimes messy nature of family life and how these experiences make relationships stronger. Ralfy is still young but he is learning to be patient and to appreciate his little brother and the fun things they can do together. This will be enjoyed by all young children, but especially those with younger siblings and those who just love to read. Themes: Books, New siblings.
Nicole Nelson

The evening and the morning: the prequel to The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Macmillan, 2020. IBSN: 9781447278788.
(Age: Secondary/Adult) Highly recommended. Follett has set his prequel in Anglo-Saxon England in the years from 997 to 1007. It is a turbulent time for all the population, but even more so for the peasants and slaves. Vikings raid seemingly at will, sacking and burning villages, slaughtering, raping and taking the young as slaves. England has a king but his rule is dependent on the major landholders and the church to support and enforce his rule.
The saga revolves around Edgar the son of a boat builder whose life changes after Viking raiders kill his father and the woman he was in love with. His mother and two older brothers are left without any means to earn a living, but are offered the chance to farm a small plot at Deng's Ferry. They have little option but to try and eke out a living from the poor soil and lack of any livestock. Luckily Edgar's mother Mildred, is a canny hardworking woman who keeps the family together despite the hardships.
The Lady Ragnhild, daughter of Count Hubert of Cherbourg in Normandy, is another main character whose story runs parallel with Edgar's. She encounters Wilwulf, earldorman of Shiring in Cherbourg when he comes to bargain with the Count about the Vikings who used the port as an easy staging post to raid across the channel. She is attracted by this large confident Englishman and he finds the young beautiful Ragna very distracting indeed. After hearing nothing for a month or two his brother bishop Wynstan arrives to ask for her hand in marriage on behalf of Wilwulf.
Ragna travels to England, and after an awful sea crossing and uncomfortable journey to Shiring she marries and finds that life is very different in England. She cannot converse in Anglo-Saxon and her new family speak little French. There is also a power struggle, she must find ways of diluting the power of her step mother-in-law and her sons Wynstan and Wiglem. This is especially important when Wilwulf is away during Viking raids. Who rules in his stead?
Edgar meanwhile has been busy. He is an intelligent problem solver who is a skilled craftsman. He has made a far more useful ferry at the river crossing to replace the log canoe, built a brew house from stone to lessen the chance of it burning down and has ideas for a bridge, has made repairs to the run down church and has ideas to make the transport of goods to Deng's Ferry much more efficient as well as providing extra income for the family farm.
Both Ragna and Edgar are seen by those who hold power as trouble makers and there is much scheming to deny their hopes for the future. When Wilwulf dies Ragna's position and that of her children is in peril. Edgar sees his future in Normandy learning the stonemason's craft. That the two main characters come back together is a given , but as to the how and the tribulations they endure I shall leave to the reader.
Follett's prequel is a weighty tome of 817 pages, but it is a page turner. The insight into the Dark Ages in Anglo Saxon times, the roles of Church, King, nobles and peasants is fascinating. It is a harsh time when life after death was seen by many as more important than the existence in the present no matter how unfair or brutal. The relationship between Edgar and Ragna is rather hard to accept at such a time, when difference in social class was huge and romantic love would have been almost unheard of. However those who have enjoyed The Pillars of the Earth will eagerly devour this addition to the saga.
Theme: AngloSaxon England, Historical novel, Vikings, Power struggle, Medieval times, Stonemasons.
Mark Knight

Puffin book of big dreams - stories to spark your imagination

Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241438206. 409p.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. A week-long festival surrounded the launch of this book in the UK to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Puffin in publishing. In June 2020, #PuffinDreamer invited the faithful to live-streamed author readings and writing activities on social media.
Puffin's hardback tome compiles excerpts about dreams or aspirations from the most lauded books published since 1940, under the little bird's brand. Many short stories, reflections and poems by contemporary writers and children, link the anthology to the present and the future. Allegories like, King of the World by Charlie Higson and Doris the Chicken who Saved the World written and illustrated by Mini Grey, bolster dreams beyond personal ambition and reference popular culture to envisage a better world.
Ballet Shoes and The Borrowers represent some of the timeless classics, and we are delighted anew with the anthropomorphism of Charlotte's Web and the Sheep-Pig. Our imaginations continue to soar with the BFG and Truckers and we remain touched by the profundity of Stig (of the Dump) or Wonder by R.J. Palacio.
Puffin's prophets are assembled in a mighty tribute, not only as a legacy but to show tomorrow's children the importance of reading, writing and dreaming, to enrich our lives. The piece most indicative of the spirit of this important sampler of children's literature is The A-Z of Amazing. Rashmi Sirdeshpande shows kids and adults alike, how a life must be lived to the full in this succinct primer. Undoubtedly, a life without Puffin's books would be a very poor life indeed.
Dreamers are too many to mention but anticipate: Helen Oxenbury, Roald Dahl, Dick King-Smith, Patricia Forde, Sam Copeland, Clive King, Jill Murphy, Michael Morporgo, Nazneen Ahmed, Raymond Briggs and dozens of the A-list authors and illustrators signed by Puffin. Puffin also acknowledges the social context when selecting, so it's not surprising to sample quotes and motivational pieces from brilliant leaders, scientists and actors.
Thank you all at Puffin for 80 years of big dreams, or seeds of dreams and perhaps the impetus for achieving our own legacies and a better world. Keep handy, it's bound to help the patron deciding 'who' to read next, or a captive class with only a few minutes for literature appreciation. And to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Puffin, throughout the month of September 2020, you'll be able to score your very own Puffin water bottle for FREE! All you have to do is visit your local bookstore and purchase two Puffin books of your choice to receive your water bottle - at participating bookstores while stocks last.
Deborah Robins

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780141338484. Board book.
(Age: 0-5) Highly recommended. This big board book of a favourite that has stood the test of years will delight another generation of children. First published in 1969, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has delighted children and adults over the years and having it in a sturdy, hard wearing large format will make it even more attractive for the very young child.
The very hungry caterpillar starts out as a tiny little egg on a leaf. Then the sun comes up and out pops a tiny and very hungry caterpillar who proceeds to munch through different fruits for each day of the week. On Saturday he eats through so many inappropriate foods that he has a stomach-ache and then must eat a lovely green leaf to recover. Ultimately, he makes a cocoon for himself before he turns into a beautiful butterfly.
My 11-month-old grandson loves this book and is happy to hear it again and again. The holes that the little caterpillar makes intrigue him and he enjoys putting his fingers in them while looking at the bright pictures. The eyes on the caterpillar are another feature that fascinate, and he likes that the board pages are strong enough for him to turn over himself. And of course there is a lot of subtle learning going on as the caterpillar eats: the names of days of the week, the names of different pieces of fruit, their colours and counting up to five, as well as a warning that overeating can give you a stomach ache. And of course, there is the whole life cycle of the butterfly, leading to lots of investigation of caterpillars especially in Spring when they are often in the garden.
A perfect gift for a new baby and a wonderful book to have in any library. There are others in the hungry caterpillar series, too including: Where is the very hungry caterpillar?, The very hungry caterpillar's hide and seek, and The very hungry caterpillar's birthday party. And to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Puffin, throughout the month of September 2020, you'll be able to score your very own Puffin water bottle for FREE! All you have to do is visit your local bookstore and purchase two Puffin books of your choice to receive your water bottle - at participating bookstores while stocks last.
Pat Pledger

A long petal of the sea by Isobel Allende

Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526615909.
(Age: Senior secondary/adult) Highly recommended. In the late 1930's, Civil War rages in Spain, Franco's forces push the remnants of the opposition back to Catalonia, and Victor Dalmau, a Republican army doctor marries his brother's lover, Roser, so that they can both leave Spain for Chile. A ship, SS Winnipeg has been organised by Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda, for 2200 refugees to leave the detention camps hastily assembled by the French to accommodate the Spanish refugees, and Victor, knowing his brother is dead and wanting to save the life of his almost sister in law and her unborn child, marries her to board the ship. War is about to be declared as Franco and Hitler work together in defeating the spent Republican army.
Against the background of war, of stinking hospitals and dead and dying young men, Allende builds her story of a family surviving through the carnage, detention camps, life on board the Winnipeg then settling in Chile with its own problems, leading to the overthrow of President Allende in 1974. Victor has links to the poet, who organised the Winnipeg and these links continue after arriving in Chile, and through his life we see the problems of the country laid before us. He is friendly with a large group of people, some supporting Allende, a popularly elected president, with whom Victor plays chess, as well as businessmen and financiers supporting the wealthy who do not want a socialist government. The political intriguing behind the scenes is explained through the family, making it so much more accessible without the formality of a textbook.
Allende's introduction shows why she wrote the story, meeting Victor as an older man in Venezuela, the place he goes to after getting out of a concentration camp in Chile, sent there after the military coup because of his links to Allende.
Isobel Allende's father was a cousin to President Allende, killed after a right wing coup in 1973, officially by his own hand, and so she and her family had to flee Chile, relocating to Venezuela. Her story of Victor is a heady mixture of fact and fiction, resulting in an entertaining, informative and highly readable historical novel, one which will have readers heading to the internet to satisfy their curiosities.
Despite the pragmatic beginning to their marriage, love between Victor and Roser develops, and their relationship gathers strength after the coup placing Pinochet as president. A family saga covering three generations and set against the Spanish Civil War, World War Two, the flight to Chile by Spanish refugees, then the eight wing coup, the story leads us to the present day as the pair grapples with old age as their country starts anew.
Theme: Civil war, Spain, Chile, Franco, Allende, Pinochet, Detention camps, Concentration camps, Refugees, SS Winnipeg.
Fran Knight

The BFG by Roald Dahl

Puffin, 2016. ISBN: 9780141365428. 224pp., pbk.
When Sophie is woken by a silver moonbeam shining through a crack in the curtains, and, against the rules of the orphanage in which she lives, she gets out of bed to close the curtain she has no idea that her life is about to take her on the most amazing adventure and be changed forever.
For as she peeks out she sees a most amazing sight . . . coming up the other side of the street was something black. Something tall and black. Something very tall and very black and very thin.
It is nearly 40 years since I first picked up this book by Roald Dahl, creator of classic characters like Willy Wonka and Miss Truncbull and as I read the first few pages, I could hear myself sharing the story with my students. All these years on and countless students have met the iconic big, friendly giant as it has been my go-to book in so many situations. Share the passage of his description, get the children to identify the keywords and then interpret these in drawing and discuss why each child's work is different even though they started with the same information. Drop coloured dye onto paper towelling, write your dream on it, put it in a jar and open it on the last day of school to see if you still have the same dreams . . .
Using his gift for language that remains with us and his irreverence for adults, Dahl delights children with his tales and it is time now for the next generation to become fans, just as those who have met him previously have done.
So, on this Roald Dahl Day 2020 introduce your students to one of the world's greatest storytellers and let the fun begin.
Barbara Braxton

The reckless afterlife of Harriet Stoker by Lauren James

Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406391121.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. What a unique ride! There are ghosts with strong powers surviving the afterlife in a desolate building and then there is Harriet Stoker a newly formed ghost, determined to return home to her grandmother, no matter the cost to everyone around her. Chaos reigns as she exploits the little group of friends who have made a family for themselves in the afterlife. There is Rima, with her fox spirit Cody, Felix who is in love with the oblivious Kasper, and Leah and her baby Claudia, all who have bonded together. They are willing to accept Harriet into their group and help her adjust to the afterlife, but Harriet has no qualms about pursuing everyone's powers and making them her own.
The plot has many twists and turns and keeps the reader engrossed, trying to work out just what is going on and whether Harriet will destroy many of the ghosts in the building. There are clues left for the observant reader, but many, many surprises as Harriet ploughs through the spirits in the building, not caring who she hurts on the way.
Told in multiple voices of Harriet and the group of friends, with the addition of an unidentified narrator, this clever and compulsive story richly describes each of the individuals and gives insight into their personalities, strengths and weaknesses and the life they lead. Although Harriet is flawed, the reader can identify with the way that her grandmother has brought her up, emphasising a selfish outlook on life, and even when appalled at her actions can still feel some sympathy for her. The relationship between Felix and Kasper is beautifully handled and even baby Claudia is a stunning character.
This is a ghost story like no other I have read. James has the capacity to write engrossing stories that beg to be read in a couple of sittings, while at the same time examining some thought provoking themes. In this novel she looks at good versus evil and the ethics of an individual selfishly using other people and their powers, and whether individuals are accountable for their own actions or can blame how they are brought up and the power of fear.
An original ghost story, this thriller is sure to appeal to fans of the supernatural genre.
Pat Pledger