‘When life gives you mangoes’ Kereen Getten

Another BookBuzz title, which is a great addition to the offer! ‘When life gives you mangoes’ is a lovely read, seemingly relatively predictable at the start, although beautifully written. Cora lives in a village on a Caribbean island. It’s a close-knit community, and there are very few children to play with. Cora is pretty excited when best friend Gaynah announces that a new girl about their age has arrived, and Cora and Rudy soon became very close. Cora has clearly fallen out with super-critical and sulky Gaynah, so with a new friend to introduce to their village home the summer starts to look promising.

It is clear, though, that not all is well in this paradise. Cora’s uncle who lives in a big house higher up the hill has become more or less a recluse after the village pastor tells terrible stories about him, and it becomes clear that Cora herself holds a secret to do with the sea and an event that took place the previous year. It will be a summer of revelations, recovered memories and forgiveness.

This lovely book is ultimately about friendship. Cora’s developing friendship with quirky Rudy is full of sensitivity, fun and honesty – all of which seem to be oddly missing when she is with Gaynor. Cora is a lively and appealing character, although clearly troubled deeply by an event she can’t remember. Facing up to gradually returning memories will challenge Cora to come to terms with a terrible tragedy that is revealed to the reader in an unexpected huge plot twist.

This is a quick to read title but is packed full of adventure and drama. It’s also one I’ll include in empathy displays, and I hope will be a popular BookBuzz choice for our new students

‘The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne’ Jonathan Stroud

So exciting to have a new Jonathan Stroud title in my hands – and they never disappoint! I confess, one of my all-time favourite series is Lockwood & Co – a perfect mix of action, imaginations and brilliantly sassy characters. ‘The Outlaws Scarlett & Browne’ takes us in a very new direction – a future where a series of terrible events has left huge parts of the country underwater, with much of the surviving population living in very individual fortified communities. Each one is hanging on to its own traditions, and often seem very suspicious of others. Strange and terrifying creatures roam the spaces in between, along with a few brave nomadic souls, such as Scarlett.

Scarlett is a fantastic character. Strong, independent, furiously clever, but with an undeniable compassion, even though she makes a very dubious living robbing banks. In stumbling across a recent coach crash, and hoping there might be useful items to steal, Scarlett meets Albert. He is almost the polar opposite of Scarlett, hopelessly naive and oddly dazzled by the world around him, it is clear there is much more to his story. As Scarlett reluctantly journeys on with Albert, it is soon clear that their skills really do complement one another, but it is also clear that there is much more to Albert than meets the eye. They are relentlessly pursued by a ruthless group, determined to capture Albert, but oddly fearful of him. What reason can they possibly have for their absolute determination to detain him?

Loved it! Fast-paced and full of unexpected twists and turns, this is a great read. The world the author has created feels scarily possible, and is vividly drawn for the reader. Although antagonistic at first, the way the relationship between Scarlett & Albert develops is really compelling, and I know this title will go down well in my school!

‘Race to the Frozen North’ Catherine Johnson

This quick read title arrived in the most recent BookTrust libraries collection for schools.  ‘Race to the Frozen North’ is a timely addition to our stock.

This is the true story of Matthew Henson, a young, black orphan.  Matthew is treated horrifically by his step-mother & runs away to save his life.  Finding himself alone and with nowhere to turn, he resolves to go to the nearest city and to try to make his way there.  Matthew is found starving & desperate, but a suggestion leads him to a cafe, where he is given a meal and the chance to do a little work.  He soon proves himself to be able to turn his hand to pretty much anything he is asked to do, and for the first time finds kindness and stability.  However, talking with one of the cafe regulars makes Matt realise that he would love to see the world.  His yearning for adventure is so overwhelming that he decides to join the crew of a ship and he travels the world, gaining new skills and a real sense of adventure.  Back on dry land for a time Matt is introduced to Captain Peary, and that’s when plans start to unfold to travel to the North Pole.

Matt is black, and through his life encounters barriers and prejudice, yet still his dream to see the world remains the strongest driving force.  He has an incredible capacity to learn, and becomes a master carpenter, as well as being proficient in several languages.  Yet, despite all of these skills, history has whitewashed over his proudest achievement so he never had the recognition he had struggled so hard for.

A great quick read.  This is fast-paced and honest.  Not shying away from the truth of Matthew Henson’s incredible life, and hopefully helping him to be recognised for the skilled adventurer he was.

Just to say, I am ridiculously pleased that I have worked out how to include a cover image!!

‘Burn’ Patrick Ness

I can’t tell you how much I had looked forward to getting my hands on a copy of the new Patrick Ness novel ‘Burn’!  I have been a massive fan since I was first captivated by the ‘Chaos Walking’ trilogy, but can’t deny there have been some more recent titles that I haven’t enjoyed quite so much.  I had heard from colleagues who had managed to get early copies that they thought this one was excellent – and how right they were!

Set in a 1957 America that we might well recognise with the Cold War providing a backdrop – except for the detail that dragons exist in the world.  Sarah Dewhurst and her father have just employed a Russian Blue to help them out on their farm,  Sarah is told to stay away, although can’t help but be fascinated by the creature.  What she is unaware of is the dragon believes that Sarah is mentioned in an ancient prophecy, and that she will be instrumental somehow in saving the world.  Sarah is very self-reliant, having had to grow up very quickly after her mother died, but she has a close companion in Jason Inagawa.  Both are distinct in their town as Sarah’s mother was black and Jason’s father is Japanese – both have suffered from racism, not least at the hands of the local police deputy.  A shocking incident involving the deputy sees the dragon, Kasimir, coming to their rescue.

Alongside this, we are also introduced to Malcolm, who is an assassin from a dragon-worshiping cult.  He is on a mission to kill Sarah so that the prophecy can play itself out. When these characters’ journeys converge it leads to a devastating and world-changing conclusion.

This is a complex story, but is handled with such deftness by Patrick Ness that it feels perfectly fluid.  It deals with issues such as racism, homophobia, violence and parallel worlds, but such is the power of his storytelling that these are important parts of the story without it being an ‘issues-based’ book.  This is an all-action story, almost cinematic in the way it unfolds – I can imagine it all too easily on the big screen.  There are huge fights, car chases, weapons and, of course, dragons.  Sarah is a fantastic character.  She is self-assured, sensitive and brave – in a world at time where women had to fight so hard to be any of these things.  I also felt drawn in by the assassin, Malcolm, as his journey sees him understanding his attraction towards Nelson when they are thrown together by circumstances.  These side plots unfold in such a natural way that they become absolutely crucial to the overall story.

This is Ness at his absolute best and I loved it!  I can’t wait to share it with students when we return to school (whenever that may be).

‘Girl, Boy, Sea’ Chris Vick

Well, onto the second Carnegie 2020 title – ‘Girl, Boy, Sea’ – I still have very difficult memories of reading ‘A Boy and a Bear in a Boat’ for Carnegie, so decided to make this the second read to get it over with. I know that’s a terrible thing to say, but I wasn’t at all sure this would be my kind of thing.

Chris Vick is another author to come from the Bath Spa writing MA – there are so many that have achieved success following this route.  The book starts dramatically.  Bill is aboard a yacht on a Youth Sailing Challenge with a small group of young people and some experienced crew.  They are in the Canaries and all is going pretty well – Bill is really enjoying the experience.  However, calm seas give way to a sudden and terrible storm.  The yacht looks likely to capsize and the crew clamber into a life raft.  However, Bill suddenly realises they need supplies, and that small delay means the raft is ripped away from the yacht with no way for Bill to reach it.  He manages to get to a small rowing tender (or dinghy – I had to look up what a tender is) before the yacht sinks, and is alone and exposed in the worst possible storm.

The storm dies and Bill is pretty much adrift in scorching sun, when he spots something in the sea.  Part of a barrel with a girl clinging to it.  So he meets Aya and pulls her aboard the boat.  She is Berber and at first they find it hard to communicate, but as time goes by they learn enough of each other’s language to talk, and Aya reveals a gift for storytelling.  Barely surviving in the harsh conditions, Bill & Aya have all but given up hope of rescue when in the distance a small island appears.  However, this island is already inhabited, but this may not be the safe haven they have hoped for.

This is a beautifully written book – one of those that is hard to put down.  The writing is lyrical and totally draws the reader in to Bill and Aya’s battle with the ocean and the elements to survive.  Their unlikely relationship is tenderly developed, and even when they are at complete loggerheads with each other it is clear there is underlying love.  Through the book is woven elements of story and magic.  Bill and Aya spend much of their time desperately dehydrated and near to starvation so some of the almost dream-like aspects seem to reflect their failing life force.  But ultimately this is a story of survival against all the odds – that incredible capacity of human beings to strive to live even when the odds against seem insurmountable.

A worthy Carnegie shortlist title – one I am pretty certain I would not have read otherwise, but I am so glad that I did!

‘The Inventory – Iron Fist’ Andy Briggs

Well, we are well into feeling the ever-changing impact that Covid-19 is having on our day to day lives.  School closed to all but the most vulnerable students and those of essential workers a couple of days ago. I have, along with many others, volunteered to help out in school with these students, while staff have been planning and developing huge amounts of work online for students to tackle.  I suspect I may be starting a peak in reading/posting as I will be working at home 4 days a week – and Carnegie shadowing has just started.

So, ‘Iron Fist’ is the book I was already reading before school closed.  By strange coincidence I am working my way through my Warehouse 13 box set – I wonder if the author has it too?!  The similarities are uncanny – a secret warehouse of epic proportions holding mind-boggling objects/inventions/creations that are incredibly advanced, but also massively dangerous.  Dev has been brought up in the warehouse with his uncle looking after him.  He is a bit of a misfit, not really fitting in at school, but one day 2 kids from school happen to turn up at the farm hiding the underground warehouse.  Their timing is suspicious as the warehouse then comes under a well-planned attack from an organisation trying to steal an object called the Iron Fist, kept in the most secure part of the building.  However, these thieves are well armed with devices of their own and soon manage to penetrate the first defences. Dev, along with Lot & Mason must make their way ever deeper into the space to save the Iron Fist from being captured.

I have enjoyed reading this title, although found it to be a bit clunky & predictable in places.  It has some good action in it though, as the 3 move deeper into the structure, so is pacy at times, but for me it felt a little uneven.  The ending, although rushed, leaves it poised nicely for the second book, but for me I’m not quite sure it grabbed enough for me to want to read it sadly.

‘Shadowsmith’ Ross MacKenzie

This has a very different feel to most of the other BookBuzz choices. ‘Shadowsmith’ is a very dark read, and definitely not for those who don’t like spiders!  Kirby lives with his Dad, while his Mum is in hospital in a coma after being struck down by a falling roof as a sudden and violent storm hit their home town.  After being watched by a spider, Kirby then meets Amelia, a girl who seems about his age in a bright yellow coat and wellies.  But Amelia is clearly something different, as she asks Kirby if he feels brave, and with the help of a hazel stick, defeats a hoarde of spiders intent on killing him.  Dangerous events have been unleashed by a mysterious pair, including the kidnapping of a small child, and Amelia and Kirby form an unlikely duo to try to defeat the evil.

This book has a very dark feel about it, despite the humour in the writing style. It’s a great mix of genuine horror, adventure and a family in crisis.  This will appeal to more able readers, and is set up perfectly for more in the series.

‘Car-Jacked’ Ali Sparkes

Another BookBuzz choice for our students is ‘Car-Jacked’.  I wasn’t sure about this one as I started, it took just a little while to get going I felt – but after a few chapters I was completely hooked.  Jack is 12 and small for his age – but he has genius level intelligence, and his mother is determined that he will have a bright future.  Jack is home schooled and his contacts, activities, even diet are entirely controlled by his mother.  On a family holiday however, while stopping for petrol, a desperate man steals the car, not knowing that Jack is in the back seat.  As Jack and bank robber, Ross spend time together Jack is terrified, and Ross is convinced that Jack is very odd indeed.  The car crashes, and the two are on the run as a police search closes in.  As they get to know each other a little more we find out that things aren’t perhaps as simple as they might seem.  Ross was desperately trying to carve a normal life for himself after spending time in prison, but was forced to rob the bank to try to save his wayward younger brother.  If he can get to London in time, with £100,000 his brother will be freed by the crime lord holding him.  However, Ross was hurt in the crash, and Jack resolves to help free his brother.  It’s a very unlikely combination to form a bond – Ross thinks Jack is just plain weird, and Jack finds this escape from his heavily controlled life to be rather addictive – but they work brilliantly together to evade the police, get more money to make up the full amount and make their way to London.

As the journey starts, the book is a great combination of action, adventure, humour and sadness as times.  The characters are well drawn, even the more minor ones, but especially Jack’s mother who was pretty barmy!  This book will have wide appeal to students I reckon, who will also want to go on to read more by this author.