Tag Archives: Books

The monster, the puppy, and the mix-up

I do love a Robin Bennett book and have previously reviewed several of his books on here as well as joining him for a chat where he shared his five (and a half) writing tips. So I was always going to say “yes” to reviewing his latest book in the Monster Max series, This Time it’s Sirius.

This has all the essential ingredients: a logo (“Protect and do good stuff”), secret clubhouses, monsters, werewolves, and the cutest puppy. I’m a sucker for a cute puppy with a hidden backstory – check out my exclusive interview with Claire Fayers about her book Stormhound if you don’t believe me.

Anyway, back to Sirius. As a grown-up, the plot was entirely predictable, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. This is a perfect fun read for the last week of the school holidays, and doubly perfect given the full moon on the 30th August is both a supermoon and an extremely rare blue moon (hence the phrase “once in a blue moon”). I think we should get practising our werewolf howls, although I’m gutted to discover the moon won’t actually turn blue.

Blurb

Max can turn into a huge monster just by BURPING, and back again when he SNEEZES. Now Max and his best friend Peregrine realise that a dangerous pack of werewolves from Max’s home country of Krit are closing in on him and his family. But Max hasn’t told anyone about Sirius the tiny werewolf cub he found, smuggled home, and decided to keep…

About the author

When Robin grew up he thought he wanted to be a cavalry officer until everyone else realised that putting him in charge of a tank was a very bad idea. He then became an assistant gravedigger in London. After that he had a career frantically starting businesses (everything from dog-sitting to cigars, tuition to translation)… until finally settling down to write improbable stories to keep his children from killing each other on long car journeys.

What happens when Oliver Twist meets Harry Potter?

I’ve always loved the boarding school scenario from my first adventures at Mallory Towers to Hogwarts so I was excited to visit Crookhaven – a secret school for crooks. Given the plethora of boarding school books out there, I know it’s not easy to create a unique world and the tropes can be overdone, but this series totally nails it.

  • Secret boarding school ✔️
  • Quirky lessons ✔️
  • Fun challenges ✔️
  • Loveable rogues ✔️
  • Robin Hood ethics ✔️

This series had me reading under the covers in the middle of the night. I haven’t done that since I was ten! I literally couldn’t put it down. When is book 3 coming out? I need it now!

It does lean on some scenes from Hogwarts – e.g. there is a river crossing with the first years (“crooklings”) to get to the school and a sorting ceremony into houses – but it is really well done. Good messages on teamwork and kindness, as well as the importance of practising skills (in fact it was nice to see this applied to lessons as I always tell students that writing is a skill and you can get better at it if you practice, just like you can get better at football if you practice).

My only complaint about the books is that there are a few references to playing/ walking on railway lines and this is NOT OK. I really don’t see why this is included – it’s not critical to the plot, and certainly not something we should in any way encourage.

Blurb: Crookhaven series

Book 1: The school for thieves

The first book in the ‘criminally good’ Crookhaven series, the secret school where students are taught to do wrong, so that one day, they can put the world to rights.

“So this is really a school for criminals.” It was meant as a question, though it came out more as an accusation.

“We are so much more than that,” Caspian said, sitting in a plush leather chair and gesturing for Gabriel to sit in a similar one across the table. “We are a home for the forgotten, a sanctuary for the lost and … yes, a training ground for the greatest crooks of the future.”

13-year-old Gabriel is a brilliant pickpocket, a skill which he uses to keep his often empty belly not quite so empty. And then one day, he’s caught.

But instead of being arrested, he is invited by the mysterious Caspian Crook to attend Crookhaven – a school for thieves. At Crookhaven, students are trained in lock-picking, forgery and ‘crim-nastics’, all with the intention of doing good out in the world, by conning the bad and giving back to the innocent.

But … can you ever really trust a thief?

With a school wide competition to be crowned Top Crook and many mysteries to uncover, Gabriel’s first year at Crookhaven will be one to remember… 

Book 2: The forgotten maze

It’s Gabriel’s second year at Crookhaven School for Thieves. And with a tricky Break-In challenge to the teacher’s section of the library to attempt, plus a new class called Reclamation, his Miscreant year is already off to a busy start. 

Then Gabriel and his friends learn about Maravel’s Maze. Hidden deep beneath the lake, forgotten about by the school, it’s a labyrinth of obstacles. Each tests a crook-related skill – and all are nearly impossible. 

But the impossible has never stopped Gabriel’s crew before, especially not when there’s something at the heart of the maze that they all desperately want…

#crookhavenschoolforthieves #netgalley

Bodies, brains, and bogies

With a title like Bodies, Brains and Bogies, this could be a new horror movie, but it’s the latest addition to my non-fiction collection. And I’m very excited about it. If your kids like Horrible Histories, they’ll love this. Of course there are other similar books, but given kids devour these books faster than I get through novels on holiday, I reckon you can’t have too many.

There is of course lots of gross stuff in it, perfect for kids to absorb and then spew up at inappropriate times, but there is also a lot of information, presented in a really accessible way. For example, you’ve got to love a BPM chart that starts at zombie level. And I didn’t know that the shape of your nose affects the sound of your voice! But the best bit of all is the section on Body Positivity – what an important topic, and it’s handled so very well – which is then reinforced in the final pages with ‘Six steps to succeed in your skin’.

It wasn’t a surprise to me that the author has outstanding science credentials which, combined with an obvious passion for STEM, and I suspect a sense of humour like a 10 year old, make this book fun, accessible, and informative.

You’ve probably gathered I love this book, but just incase I haven’t shouted out enough, this is an absolute must for every home bookshelf and every school library.

Blurb

This fantastic title from Paul Ian Cross, the writer of How to Vanquish a Virus, takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of everything that’s disgusting, unusual and amazing about the human body. Find out everything about poo, pus and bogies, while learning a whole lot about how our bodies work hard in hundreds of fascinating ways to keep us alive.

With tons of hilarious and informative illustrations, it includes lashings of Paul Ian Cross’s trademark laugh-out-loud humour, in-depth knowledge and infectious optimism. It’s the perfect funny, accessible way to discover everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the human body, but were too grossed-out to ask!

About the author

Author Paul Ian Cross

Paul works in clinical research (developing new medicines) and he’s also a science communicator (presenting science to non-scientists). Paul specialises in vaccine development and has an interest in pharmacovigilance (the safety of medicinal products). His PhD research investigated the benefit-risk assessment of medicines, and how patients and the public can be more involved in their treatment decisions. 

Paul’s popular social media accounts (@DrPaulScience) are full of STEM-themed content for all ages, but particularly for parents and adults to share with the children in their lives. Paul is a member of #TeamHalo, a UN backed initiative where doctors, healthcare workers, and scientists share accurate information about healthcare, science, and the COVID-19 vaccines. In 2021, Paul was named as a ‘Luminary’ at the G7’s Vaccine Confidence Summit, in recognition for his science communication work on social media.

In addition to his research career, Paul has a passion for introducing children to STEM subjects, particularly reluctant readers. By introducing science creatively, he aims to spark their interest, allowing them to gain confidence with their reading. As a previous reluctant reader himself, he understands how hard it can be. But it’s all about making reading fun and interesting! 

Cats, politics, and a mystery

I’m a sucker for a cat, so when I spotted this fabulous cover I had to have a sneak peek at the debut novel. Luckily the author was happy to share an extract (scroll down).

Blurb

Theo Duncan is just an ordinary student. Except he also happens to be the son of the Prime Minister, Will Duncan. When the parliamentary mace is stolen from inside the Houses of Parliament, Theo is determined to help his dad get it back. But he can’t do it alone. And when help is offered, there’s a problem. It comes from the new girl at school, Sammy Jhor, who’s a supporter of the opposition party. 

Theo and Sammy form an unlikely team to spy on government officials, sneak through the corridors of Downing Street and pursue the thief through the Palace of Westminster. But when the evidence points to suspects at the highest levels of government, finding the thief could threaten Will Duncan’s leadership. 

Can Theo and Sammy put aside their differences to find the mace – and the thief – before the government is brought to its knees? 

So here is the extract

When Theo decides to go to the Palace of Westminster to investigate the theft of the mace, he’s surprised to meet Samira Jhor on his way in. Sammy, the new girl at school, was also present during the theft of the mace. Theo knows her as a rule breaker and he isn’t pleased to find her muscling in on the plans he has made for a tour with Rupert Spencer, the government’s Chief Whip.

As Theo approached the entrance to Portcullis House, he heard running behind him.

‘Hey!’ someone shouted behind him.

He turned around to find Samira catching up to him, out of breath.

‘I waved at you from the bus, but you didn’t see me,’ she said between puffs.

‘What are you doing here?’ he said.

‘I could ask you the same.’

Theo fought the heat rising in his cheeks. ‘Working on my Citizenship project.’

‘Me too.’

Theo suspected she was just saying that because he had, but he didn’t dare challenge her. Was she there to investigate the missing mace too? Her mum had thought she would try to get involved and here she was. She didn’t look like she was there for something as serious as investigating a crime or even for school work. She had changed out of her school uniform. The hems of her long black trousers were ripped, the torn ends trailing on the ground. Her long-sleeved black top was pulled down over her hands with holes for her thumbs to poke through, just like her school jumper. A silver chain necklace swung down almost to her stomach. She had scooped her hair into a loose ponytail. A piercing through the top of her ear was now visible, but her red streaks were mostly hidden. She looked like she should be at a gig.

‘Well?’ she said.

‘What?’

‘Come on,’ she replied with an impatient sigh.

The whole wall of the building was glass, with a revolving glass door. Theo caught sight of his reflection in the window and stood up taller. He glanced at Samira as she pushed into the revolving door, wondering how he was going to get rid of her. Without thinking, he followed behind her into the revolving door and they got caught in the same tiny cubicle. Samira scowled at him over her shoulder then pushed on the door. It didn’t move. Theo leant over the top of her and pushed. He was so close that the hair in her ponytail tickled his chin. They scuttled around quickly as the door gave and propelled them forwards.

They stumbled out with a clatter. Samira turned deliberately to glower at him. He shrugged in what he hoped was an apologetic manner.

A security guard waited for them at the end of an airport-style security scanner. They loaded their bags into trays and pushed them on to the conveyor belt towards the scanner.

‘So what are you really up to it?’ Samira asked quietly.

‘Nothing.’

‘If you say so.’

Theo bristled. He was on the point of asking her what she was up to, but she went on ahead, out of whispering range.

As Samira went through a metal detector, Theo searched behind the wall of glass separating them from the main hall. It was a glass-covered piazza. Light from the glass ceiling bathed the people congregated below, their heads bent together, talking intently. It streamed through the trees that lined the middle of the space, creating dappled shadows on the creamy stone floor. It looked like a Mediterranean town square.

Rupert waved at him from the other side – he was on time. Like the last time, he wasn’t wearing a jacket. Theo suspected this was part of his look. It was a ‘man of the people’ look, unlike his dad’s, who was always formal, to suggest leadership and competence.

‘Hi, thanks,’ Theo said as he reached Rupert. ‘This is Samira,’ he said, as she came up behind him.

‘It’s Sammy actually,’ she said.

‘Pleasure,’ Rupert replied. ‘Are you coming on the tour as well?’

‘No,’ Theo said as Samira said, ‘Yes.’

‘I’ve got somewhere to be first. I’m meeting someone.’ She started to hurry away. ‘I’ll catch up with you later.’

Theo watched her with a deep scowl. Who could she possibly be meeting?

The first mystery for me is where does the cat on the cover come into the story? I’m pretty sure it must feature so I reckon any cat loving youngster will lap this up (get it? a cat themed joke – I feel like Basil Brush here – boom boom!) Anyway, I never discuss politics, so I’m going to stay on neutral ground on that point.

About the author

Sarah Lustig grew up in London and went to school in Westminster, with politicians’ children. Her experiences at school and interest in politics inspired the idea for the Westminster Mysteries series. Mystery in the Palace of Westminster is her debut novel. She has been a book editor for nearly 15 years and now lives in Buckinghamshire, where she spends her time reading, writing and pottering on her balcony garden.

Inspiration for a business?

I’m always looking at ways to use books for cross-curricular activities, and I reckon Molly Mack, Private Detective would be perfect to start a conversation about entrepreneurship, something I’m passionate about. Our school has a very popular after school club to encourage entrepreneurship and I could see myself using Mollie’s files to demonstrate the importance of systems, her backpack to demonstrate the tools needed, her fee structure for pricing etc.

But I digress, I’m supposed to be reviewing the book. This was pitched as MG/ YA, but to me the plot, simple language, and large print was much more suited to a younger age group – I’d say 7-9. It’s 215 pages long, but a quick read – I’d guess about 35k words. And for that age range, it’s a great fun read – reminded me of the Secret Seven books (and my first ever book club with my friends).

If this sounds good, you can win an ebook here

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494483/?

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Blurb

Mollie is excited! 

She has been a private detective for six months, and FINALLY a BIG case has landed on her desk. If she solves it, it will make the papers and make her agency famous. She needs to give it her full attention; but she already has three cases she is working on. And when she gets an unexpected lead in her oldest case, she HAS to run with it.

About the author

Linda Dobinson was born in Croydon but grew up in Barbados – endless sunshine and never to far from the beach. She has worked in fashion, the motor industry, and been a PA.

In the 90s she picked up her pen and started writing poetry. Her work has appeared in poetry magazines, and for two successive years she had poems selected for the anthologies Southern England and South-West England. Her second collection Encounter reached the top of Amazon’s poetry charts. Since then she has started writing middle grade novels and has discovered that immersing herself in a plot is a great distraction from a pandemic.