An Island of Our Own by Sally Nicholls

An Island Of Our Own is an absolutely amazing book and I recommend it to anyone aged roughly 11 who loves an emotional journey. It is about the rollercoaster life of siblings Jonathan, Holly and Davy.

The trio are orphans, and with brother Jonathan as the official foster parent, and a waiter in the week, money is low and they just about have enough to pay the rent for their flat- there is no dishwasher and everybody hates washing clothes.

When their Aunty Irene has a stroke, Holly should have inherited all of her jewellery, but there is no jewellery to be found. Aunty Irene’s daughter Jo reveals to the family that Irene kept all of her documents and jewellery in locked safes so when Holly is given a photo album by her aunt on her death-bed, she is determined to solve the mystery of her missing family inheritance.

Jonathan is not so sure but with the persuasion of his internet girlfriend added to the mix, things begin to run a bit more smoothly until…sorry but I’m not going to spoil it!

One of the settings in An Island of Our Own is ‘the Maker Space.’ There are Maker Spaces all over the UK in this fictional account, which provide a sense of safety and security and encourage new things. Just to give you an example, they provide lock-picking classes!

Sally Nicholls uses imagery to help us imagine the atmosphere in the Maker Space- warm, jolly, welcoming- but I think it also adds a sense of security to the book, it makes us feel like the characters have almost got a second home.

An Island of Our Own takes on the style of an autobiography, Holly is the narrator, but we as readers also get a sense of calmness. As mentioned, the great detail of the Maker Space adds immensely to the plot but there is a twist at the end- at first the plot seems to be rolling on oiled hinges, but soon things become slightly more fragile! This book is definitely one of my current favourites.

FictionFan1 Rating: 9.5/10

If you liked this author you might like: Laurel Remington,  Katherine Rundall

About the author: Sally Nicholls is a British author and has published over 10 books and 1 movie!

Join the fun: Please subscribe or comment below. I will be posting updates whenever I read or remember a good book, which is pretty often!

Coming up soon: Stay tuned for my next review of ‘The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight’ by Jenny Valentine

The Honeymoon Sisters by Gwyneth Rees

Thanks so much everyone, I have reached three thousand views! Please subscibe using your email address!

The Honeymoon Sisters was just what I wanted at the time I read it. I had recently tried a rather gory novel, and put it down again, and I was in the library trying to choose a book to read when its eye-catching yellow cover persuaded me to borrow it.

It certainly pulled my heartstrings, that’s for sure! This amazing book’s plot is so simple yet so astonishingly brilliant. Poppy lives with her mum most of the week, and she can’t remember a time when she didn’t have a younger foster brother or sister.

But when their most recent charge moves on, the last person Poppy expects to host is Sadie Shaw, the new girl in her class. Poppy just doesn’t understand why her mum has fallen for Sadie’s sweet-as-honey act.  Poppy knows just how horrid she can be. But the two sisters begin to bond, over their big secret, they’re cousins!

This amazing book has its fair share of negatives, but on balance it was great. When I saw the author’s name, I wasn’t so sure as I’d never heard of Gwyneth Rees before, but as soon as I read the first sentence, I knew I would enjoy this book.

FictionFan1 Rating: 8.5/10

If you liked this author you might like: Laurel Remington, Cathy Cassidy, Katherine Rundall, Holly Smale

About the author: Gwyneth Rees is a children’s author and her books have won several awards including the Carnegie Medal and the Red House Children’s Book Award For Younger Readers.

Join the fun: Please subscribe or comment below. I will be posting updates whenever I read or remember a good book, which is pretty often!

Coming up soon: Stay tuned for my next review.

A Message to the Sea by Alex Shearer

I picked up this book in the library wondering what sort of book it would be. The plot was both original and intriguing. It turned out it wasn’t quite what I expected, but in a good way. I think this book is very similar in style of writing to Michael Morpurgo.

‘A Message to the Sea’ kept me hooked, and I’m tempted to look for other Alex Shearer books in the future. The main protagonist in this book is a young boy, named Tom Pellow. A year prior to the beginning of the book, his dad died at sea, but as Tom lives with his mother and sister near the sea, instead of the sea making him sad, it almost reassures him, like a father.

Tom throws a bottle in to the sea, as a way of ‘unbottling’ his feelings - get it? - but doesn’t expect a reply. Soon Tom writes more and more letters, in the hope of discovering his father’s whereabouts as he starts to discover some interesting facts...

Tom’s uncle works on a ferry, back and forth, back and forth every day, but he never gets tired of it. Near where he works, cargo ships are moored, waiting for when they are needed. The book also picks up on some conversations between two men painting one of the two ships, and the end of the story comes as a surprise.

This is the sort of book where at the end you just think, I should have known that would happen, or other things along those lines. I for one got to the end and thought, that was so obvious, how could I have missed that connection. But that just makes it an even better book, so go on, give it a try, and please comment below and subscribe by email!

FictionFan1 Rating: 8.5/10

If you liked this author you might like: Rebbeca Stead, SimonMayo, Michael Morpurgo

About the author: Shearer is a British novelist who was recognised aged 29 as a television scenario writer after having produced 30 works.

Join the fun: Please subscribe or comment below. I will be posting updates whenever I read or remember a good book, which is pretty often!

Coming up soon: Stay tuned for next review of The Honeymoon Sisters by Gwyneth Rees

The 1000 year-old Boy by Ross Welford

Wow. Wow in capital letters. WOW WOW WOW WOW! There is no other way to describe this book. I want to congratulate Ross Welford on this amazing novel. Let me start this review with a bit of information about my connection to Ross Welford.

I was gifted a copy of ‘Time Travelling with a Hamster’ a few years ago and devoured it. About a year later, Ross Welford visited my school, and gave an interesting talk which I clearly remember featuring a write-a-story-in-less-than-5-minutes-without-pen-and-paper. During this visit, my family purchased a copy of his newest and second book ‘What Not to do if you Turn Invisible.’

This book came out today (thank you to my secret friend for the copy!) and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is the tale of a young boy called Alfie Monk who remembers the last Viking invasion of Britain. He discovers there is more to life than age, and sets about trying to find the last life-pearl, the only way to reverse the Neverdead curse.

Along the way, Alfie learns what friends really are, and encounters somebody he recognises…but when his house in the forest where he lives with his Mam, burns down, he has nowhere left to go, but a children’s home. Mam may have perished in the fire, but Alfie’s spirit did not, and his ever-empowering spiritual journey is a real heart-string puller.

This is an original story full of wit and brains, but also a hint of history, as we learn about Alfie’s Neverdead life. Full of interesting characters, this book is one that certainly exceeded my expectations. The blurb fits the book, and the characters fit the story. Wow, Wow and Wow again!

FictionFan1 Rating: 9.5/10

If you liked this author you might like: Rebbeca Stead, Simon Mayo

About the author: Ross Welford used to be a journalist and television producer, but then became a full-time writer in order to pursue his dream. Ross visits schools and knows many book-themed magic tricks, and in his spare time, like me, he writes a blog!

Join the fun: Please subscribe or comment below. I will be posting updates whenever I read or remember a good book, which is pretty often!

Coming up soon: Stay tuned for next review of A Message to the Sea by Alex Shearer

Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundell

This story is just so moving. It’s the only way I can describe it.  I don’t normally cry when I read a book, ok maybe inside, but I had to let my emotions flow after reading Rooftoppers.

As stories go, this is a pretty good one. I first read it quite a while ago, probably when I was about eight, but have re-read it since and enjoyed it more than I did previously. This may be to do with the fact that I knew of some of the content, but I think I also understand things like adoption and guardianship much better now, which both play key parts in this novel.

The novel begins with a flashback of sorts, informing the reader of how Charles became Sophie’s guardian. It is around one chapter long, but later on in the book, some of the information in it is referred back to so don’t skip it!

Sophie is one of the only known survivors of a shipwreck that took place on what was probably her first birthday. Charles Maxim found her, wrapped in a Beethoven symphony, floating inside a cello case. Everyone tells Sophie she was orphaned in the shipwreck, but she is convinced her mother also survived the ordeal.

On a midnight outing, Sophie encounters Matteo, a boy who lives in the sky and runs across rooftops. Soon Sophie joins him and some fellow rooftoppers to try and find Sophie’s mother, before it’s too late.

This story can be boiled down to one moral. Charles reiterates this to Sophie and she uses it to convince him to help her search. I bet you can’t guess? Never ignore a ’possible’.

This expression is very motivating and a beautiful story has been weaved around it. Filled with emotion, like the different colours of wool, this book is one I will never forget.

FictionFan1 Rating: 9.5/10

If you liked this author you might like: Rebeca Stead, E.BWhite 

About the author: Katherine Rundell writes teen and adult fiction and was inspired for this novel by summers spent working in Paris, where this story is set, but also her own experiences, trespassing on the roofs of Oxford university.

Join the fun: Please subscribe or comment below. I will be posting updates whenever I read or remember a good book, which is pretty often!

Coming up soon: Stay tuned for next review of The 1000 Year Old Boy by Ross Welford

Piglettes by Clémentine Beauvais

What can I say? Piglettes certainly leaves an imprint on my heart, that’s for sure! I finished it recently and was sad to see it end, because it was so meaningful.

Piglettes is the first person tale of three girls, the medallists of their school online ‘Pig Pageant’. They unite, all for different reasons, and set off to gate-crash a presidential garden party, in Paris, a six day cycle away. Accompanying them is Hakima’s older brother, who is a double amputee. They share the same motivation, to strip an army officer of his bravery medal, for he was the cause of Kader’s disability.

Astrid, however, is a die-hard fan of the Indochines, a band that will be performing at the garden party. Mireille is heading off for a completely different reason. She has the intention of informing her father, the husband of the president, that he has a daughter, a fifteen year old daughter to be precise.

So together with three bicycles, a wheelchair, a trailer and several sausages, the group set out on their unlikely quest. Along the way encounter another type of fame, one they’re not as used to, and an unbreakable friendship.

This story motivates me to stand up for our rights, and reiterates an important concept; nobody is ugly and everyone has the potential to be their own hero.

FictionFan1 Rating: 8.5/10

If you liked this author you might like: Sharon Creech, Laurel Remington, E.B White 

About the author: Clémentine Beauvais is French and has written many novels, mainly for adults, but some for children and teenagers. Piglettes is the English translation of Les Petites Reines and was translated by Clémentine Beauvais.

Join the fun: Please subscribe or comment below. I will be posting updates whenever I read or remember a good book, which is pretty often!

Coming up soon: Stay tuned for next review of Rooftoppers by Katherine Rundall

The Secret Cooking Club by Laurel Remington

When I first read this book I absolutely loved cooking, it was my favourite hobby, and not to boast, I was pretty good at it too. Some things in life never change, but some do. I still have a passion for cooking but unfortunately it’s not the same urge it used to be. So I read this book, having chosen it for the title, not even having read the blurb, which for me is very rare, and really enjoyed it.

All this was nearly a year ago, but it still often visits my bedside table, something to pull me back in to the real world if I have read something too graphic, or even too boring. Now, these visits also make me realise how lucky I am.

We live in a world where, let’s face it, society is not always equal, and bullying is not just a story, but most of us have a chance to leave that world every now and again, through perhaps a book, a holiday, a friend, or even just a hug.  The Secret Cooking Club gives me a window in to that ideal world. All the events in it could easily be real and that just gives it an air of happiness, even understanding.

To give you a brief synopsis, The Secret Cooking Club gives you an insight into the life of a 12 year old named Scarlett. She is both the star and victim of her mum’s blog and wishes she could fall through a hole in the ground every Friday when her mum’s blog is published. Hopefully that is not the case for any of my lovely readers!

When her neighbour is taken to hospital and Scarlett visits to feed the cat, she discovers a huge kitchen, just on the other side of her living room wall. Scarlett finds herself returning, and soon forms a cooking club.

This book gives some reassurance that there is always good in the world, and you can always make the best of a difficult situation. I would tell you more but then I would have to have a big red sign saying !!!SPOILER ALERT!!! so I won’t, but once you’ve read it please comment below!

FictionFan1 Rating: 8.5/10

If you liked this author you might like: Rebecca Stead, Holly Smale, and Cathy Cassidy

About the author: Laurel Remington writes children’s and teen fiction and is also a mum to three girls. Her daughters love to cook and provided inspiration for this novel. She also visits schools to encourage children to read and write more.

Join the fun: Please subscribe or comment below. I will be posting updates whenever I read or remember a good book, which is pretty often!

Coming up soon: Stay tuned for future reviews.

The Geek Girl series by Holly Smale

In the Geek Girl series there are six books; I have decided to review them as a series. They all link together perfectly and flow, almost as if they were one long book.

The first book gives a fitting introduction. It explains the characters and in short gives a brief synopsis of the series. The next four books, are the jam in the sandwich, the real meat. They share the story between them and each split is clearly just where it should be. The final book in this emotional series, finishes off the journey. The series ends thoughtfully though, almost a happy ending.

In short, this series is the story of the protagonist Harriet’s love life, her career and friendship. It is so moving and is a series I will remember forever.

Although I could ramble about the positives, every book has its fair share of cons. For this series, and remember I’m talking about the whole series here, I think it goes on slightly. I want to reveal that straight away. I think that with some more ‘clues’, the story would just click, it needs some more twists and turns in my opinion, just one more push.

I may be telling you about the things I didn’t enjoy as well as those I did, but I don’t want you to get me wrong here; I love this series and it is engraved in my heart. I would say it is aimed at tweenagers, probably from the age of about 10, but that shouldn’t stop anyone older or younger reading the series. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised if mum enjoyed it!

FictionFan1 Rating: 8/10

If you liked this author you might like: Sharon Creech, Rebecca Stead

About the author: Holly Smale tells almost her own story in Geek Girl. Aged 15, she was spotted by a modelling agency and after falling over on catwalks and breaking expensive items, she decided to become a writer instead!

Join the fun: Please subscribe or comment below. I will be posting updates whenever I read or remember a good book, which is pretty often!

Coming up soon: Stay tuned for my next review of The Secret Cooking Club by Laurel Remington

Itch by Simon Mayo

As you may know, sci-fi books are not my thing. After reading the blurb however, I decided to give Itch a try. Itch is about a boy called Itchingham Lofte who is science-obsessed. He gets hold of some items he shouldn’t have, and things soon get messy. Itch, his sister Chloe, and his cousin Jack all experience arsenic poisoning and gain bodyguards - not a normal life for three teenagers!

Itch really struck me when I read it, because it is so moving, action-packed and thrilling that I didn’t want to put it down. I read this book in one sitting. There is sadly one negative to this, once I read it, it went back on the shelf. Life over. I still read this book occasionally but because it is so packed with events, it is an easy book to remember, therefore repeat reading is a challenge.

When I first read Itch, I didn’t expect there to be a sequel but when it was released, I was curious to know what the sequel would be about. You see, after reading Itch, I didn’t feel like there was anything left to cling on to, to make a sequel out of, but it turns out there was something. It was a very small and hidden link, but it was there alright. The sequel is called Itch Rocks.

Now, after reading Itch Rocks, I was pretty certain it would be a duology, but I was wrong again. The third book is called Itch Craft and makes this series a trilogy. Although the third book was unexpected, it has to be my favourite of the trilogy. It seems directly correlated to both the the first and second and I love it so much. One problem though, it doesn’t make sense unless you’ve read the others! So get reading!

FictionFan1 Rating: 8/10

If you liked this author you might like: Steve Backshall, Rebecca Stead

About the author: Simon Mayo is a famous BBC radio presenter, but also writes children’s and adults’ books. At first, Itch was meant to be the only book in the series, but it proved popular and so more were released.

Join the fun: Please subscribe or comment below.  I will be posting updates whenever I read or remember a good book, which is pretty often!

Coming up soon: Stay tuned for my review of the Geek Girl series by Holly Smale.