Book Review: Hunter and the Grape by Eoin C. Macken.

Eighteen-year-old Cat is on a mission to find Sophie Durango, a girl who has stolen his heart (and his virginity). Fleeing his hometown in Albuquerque, with a few dollars and no real plan, he heads for Los Angeles and finds himself with an infuriating travelling partner, the quirky Star. The pair form an unlikely bond when their bus breaks down in the middle of the desert and they are forced to accept help from an old man and his sullen friend. Re-naming themselves Hunter and Grape they begin a journey of self-awareness, facing up to the past and discovering what true friendship means.

This is the second YA novel from author, actor and screenwriter, Eoin Macken. Like his debut, Kingdom of Scars, this is a contemporary look at a young male's coming of age. Set along the dusty roads of New Mexico, the novel is brought to life with descriptive detail and memorable characters. The dialogue is simple and extremely effective, almost like a play divided into numerous Acts: Act One: A roadside encounter where the two main characters encounter each other for the first time; the initial bus journey and the development of a tentative relationship forming. Act Two: An isolated cabin where the teenagers witness the grief of a stranger. Act Three: Another dusty roadside, further character development and background stories. Act Four: A new friendship with a homeless man and his dog and a trip to Las Vegas. Act Five: An unscheduled trip to Los Angeles and the search for Cat's dream girl; a stolen bike, a new friendship with a lonely french man and a dip in the ocean. The scenery is minimal, as both Hunter and Grape are the main attraction. Their individual stories are all the audience needs. 

These teenagers are both victims of their upbringing  and their circumstances. They are two lost souls who have found each other during their lowest moments. Without each other they may have travelled different paths, but together they complement each other and makes their pilgrimage one of adventure with semi-security. They need each other, despite their initial resistance. Damaged by their pasts, they need to face the realities of the present and learn to wade-into the future.

This is YA fiction, but with a leaning toward drama. A little slow to start, it builds up as the Acts progress and the characters reveal some of their back-stories. Hunter is struggling to be the alpha-male (lots of fist fights and hard-ons) and Grape uses her feminine charms far to much for my liking (including kissing random men to avoid confrontation). There is a sexist undertone throughout the novel which, as an adult reader, I found uncomfortable. I hope that young adult readers will realise that this is not the way gender should be categorised. However, Hunter is a genuinely nice guy, with a good heart, and matures as he travels on his journey. 

A charming, road-trip novel which takes two damaged teenagers on an unlikely adventure through the blistering heat of New Mexico and on to the more capable landscape of Los Angeles. Hunter and the Grape is refreshingly different to other YA novels, with an edgy and arty feel, which would be magnificent on stage or screen. Ideal for older teenagers and young adults alike.

*We received a copy of this title, from the publishers, in return for an honest review.

Hunter and the Grape is published by Ward River Press and is available in TBP and ebook format. You can order your copy with Free Worldwide Postage HERE. The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

The Treatment by C.L. Taylor. Review from Mia Madden, aged 13.

Review from Mia Madden, aged 13.

This is the stunning YA debut from C.L. Taylor. It is about sixteen-year-old Drew Finch, who's brother, Mason, has been sent to a reforming school.  One day, Drew meets Dr. Cobey, a person who has been working at the school. Cobey gives Drew a letter from Mason saying that the school has been brainwashing teenagers. She dismisses it at first, thinking that her younger brother is just pranking her, but then she starts to grow worried. What if her brother is being serious? What if Norton House actually was brainwashing teenagers?

She does a little bit of research and finds nothing, except for a single person claiming to know the truth about Norton House. Drew meets up with this person, who calls themself Zed Green. Zed brings her boyfriend, who was a victim of Norton House's 'treatment'. The boy, that was once a rebellious skater-kid, was now a mindless, polite, contributor to society. Drew decides to take action. She has to find a way to be sent off to Norton House to rescue Mason, without raising too much suspicion. Will she get to the school to save Mason? And will she be able to avoid the treatment, herself?

I would never be able to do this book justice. I absolutely adored it. It's probably the best book I've read this year and I would be surprised if it doesn't win some form of award. C.L. Taylor is now my favourite (non-Irish) YA author. I just couldn't see the end coming! I love Drew's character, probably because she reminded me of myself. At one stage, she claims she was Emo. I'm sort of an Emo now. I mean if she listens to Evanescence, Fall Out Boy, Paramore and other bands that I like, she's basically an older, British, fictional version of me! Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book for ages 11+.

The Treatment is published by HQ Young Adult on 19th Oct 2017, in PB and ebook format. You can pre-order your copy via amazon link below:

**We received a copy of this title, from the publishers, in return for an honest review...

Book Review - Cats Undercover by Ged Gillmore.

We received a copy of this title, from the author, for review purposes.

REVIEW FROM MIA MADDEN, AGED 13.

This is the hilarious sequel to Cats On The Run by Ged Gillmore. It is about three cats named Ginger, Tuck and Minnie, who live a fairly happy life on an abandoned farm called Dingleberry Bottom which is bordered by a great, dark forest called (funnily enough) the Great Dark Forest. Ginger's role is to take care of food supplies for winter and also for daily use. Tuck helps his two friends, despite being a massive scaredy-cat. As for Minnie, well she really just sits around and does nothing but watch her favourite TV show, Kitten's Got Talent. Ginger starts to notice the food stocks decreasing and suspects Minnie of stealing food. But it's not Minnie. Ginger soon finds the real thief and follows them to get what is rightfully hers (and Tuck's and Minnie's, technically). 

While this is happening, Minnie gets news that she is going to audition for Kitten's Got Talent. She sets off without considering the fact that she has no money for transport. And poor Tuck is left by himself. And so, being the scaredy-cat that he is, goes off to search for his friends. He gets lost along the way and ends up in the place of his nightmares; The Dark Forest. As if things couldn't get worse, he gets captured by a pair of humans who plan to turn him, and other cats, into a a fur coat! Will the three cats get reunited and achieve whatever goals they had at first?

Cats. It just had to be cats. It couldn't have been dogs? I hate cats. But the animal choice evidently didn't affect my opinion of the book as it is one of the funniest books I have read since Skulduggery Pleasant. But maybe the author would write some books about dogs? *Nudge, Nudge* Just kidding. The book is absolutely pun-derful. The sheer pun-tasticness of it made it a very enjoyable read. I recommend this for ages 8+.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ged Gillmore was born slap-bang in the middle of England and spent his formative years there before moving to London and trying to sound posh. But he failed miserably and after 18 years in the capital he moved to Sydney. 

When he's not falling off his surfboard at Bondi or dabbling with a day job which pays the bills he sits at his laptop and bashes out fiction. He frowns while writing his crime fiction series about an English criminal forced to become a private investigator (it's fiction - honest!), but laughs his head off when he's working on his children's chapter book series starring Nip & Tuck, his two cats. Sometimes Nip & Tuck sit on his laptop and he loses a day's work...

Cats On The Run, the first book in the hilarious Tuck & Ginger series, was written for friends as a distraction while Ged was working on his first crime thriller. After being pestered by multiple parents to turn it into a book Ged did just that and it was published in mid-2015 and distributed via Scholastic Australia. Ged has been thrilled with the reaction to the book and enjoys touring schools in Sydney and introducing school children to his laugh-out loud fiction. The much-anticipated sequel, Cats Undercover, launches in early 2017 and promises to take the craziness up a notch.

And of course work continues on Ged's crime series, which follows the lovable English rogue Murdoch as he tries to adapt to a new life in Australia and leave his criminal tendencies behind. Murdoch's dangerous past is never far behind and certain shady characters are hell bent on seeking their revenge in his little piece of paradise. 

Ged will release this gripping three-part crime noir series in September 2017. Stay tuned!

Cats Undercover is available in paperback and ebook format. You can order your copy via the amazon link below:

Book Review - Joyful Trouble by Patricia Furstenberg. Ages 8+

We received an advance copy of this title, for review purposes.

Review from Endija, aged 10.

This book is based on the true story of a dog called Joyful Trouble. There are three main characters: five year-old Tommy, his nine-year-old sister Anna, and their grandad. When they see a Great Dane in a parade, Grandad tells the kids the story of a dog he loved, called Joyful Trouble. He remembers being in the Navy during WWII and meeting the dog on the way to work one day.

Joyful Trouble was a mischievous but very helpful dog. The seamen got to know and love him and the dog was soon part of the crew. Joyful Trouble and Grandad were good friends and were put to work together. Along the way, the dog meets new friends, loses old ones and still is very happy. He causes a lot of trouble (that's how he got his name) but also stops fights and commotion. In this book, Grandad is the story-teller and Anna and Tommy are the very eager listeners.

I love this book and it made me happy and, at some parts, sad. It is also a bit funny. The reason I love it so much is because I love dogs and true stories. I hope others will also enjoy it. I would recommend it for ages 8+.

About The Author

Patricia Furstenberg came to writing though reading, her passion for books being something she inherited from her parents.

She won two key legs (chapter six, "Someone is Missing" and chapter nine, "Reconstruction of the Crime") of the Write Your Own Christie Competition and was runner-up for chapter four. The Judges "were impressed by her thorough investigation and admired the strength of her narrative; they were impressed by her style" and congratulated Patricia on winning the penultimate chapter. "This was perhaps one of the hardest rounds of the competition and the judges felt that Patricia's chapter was confident and intriguing." The judges thought Patricia's writing style is "well structured, with a great sense of tension and suspense."

The Judges were Mathew Prichard, Agatha Christie's grandchild involved in publishing and promoting her books since 1960s, David Brawn, Agatha Christie's Publisher at Harper Collins UK for the last 20 years and Daniel Mallory who works primarily with thrillers and crime fiction at Harper Collins US.

When she’s not writing Patricia likes to read, read, read, drink coffee and listen to music.

One of the characters portrayed in her children stories is Pete, the yellow toy elephant. Not many know, but Pete exists and lives in Pat's home.

This Romanian born writer is living happily with her husband, children and dogs in sunny South Africa.

Patricia Furstenberg Author Page and Blog: http://alluringcreations.co.za/wp/

Patricia Furstenberg for Huffington Post SA: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.za/patricia-furstenberg/

Connect on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PatFurstenberg

Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaFurstenbergAuthor

Joyful Trouble is available in paperback and ebook format. You can order your copy via amazon link below:

Book Review: The Forever Court by Dave Rudden.

Review by Mia Madden, aged 13.

This is the enthralling second part in the Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy. It takes us back to Seraphim Row (a couple of months after the Clockwork Three incident), where Denizen, Simon, Abigail, Darcie and Vivian remain. Since his run in with the Tenebrous Mercy, daughter of the Endless King, Denizen's mind has been on fire (pun intended) with the new power Mercy gave him. With all seventy-eight Cants in your head, it takes a lot of willpower not to utter a few syllables and accidentally destroy the whole world. An old friend returns with an invitation to meet up with the Endless King's most trusted minions, the Forever Court. Denizen thinks of it as a chance to see Mercy again. But is it a trap?

The book also follows Uriel Croit, a member of a very powerful family that worships a being known as the Redemptress. She is said to have given the Croits her Favour, a fire that burns in their hearts and takes the form of whatever you choose. With this mass fire-power (I can't help it! I love puns!), the army of the Favoured plan on taking down 'the Aversary', an enemy who doomed their Redemptress. But Uriel is having second thoughts about what he is doing as soon as he sees what he is up against. Will he fight for his family, or hide from the horror that is war?

Another outstanding novel from Dave Rudden. It shows two different styles of writing: humorous in Denizen and dark and literary in Uriel. Unfortunately, the week I started reading The Forever Court was the week I got back from a trip with my school. I was exhausted and couldn't read much. Fortunately, I had plenty of free-classes the next week, so I got plenty of reading done. I can't wait for book 3: The Endless King! It's hopefully coming out next year (no pressure).

HIGHLY recommended for ages 10+.

You can read my review of Knights of the Borrowed Dark HERE.

The Forever Court is published by Puffin and is available in paperback and ebook format.  You can get your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage, HERE. Check out the great book trailer below.

      

Blog Tour: Perfect by Cecelia Ahern. Author Q&A and Review,

What an honour to be hosting a stop on the blogtour for Cecelia Ahern's latest YA novel, Perfect. On this stop, there is a fantastic Q&A session with the author. We are huge fans of Cecelia's books, here at Bleach House Library. You can read my review of Flawed HERE and thirteen-year-old, Mia, has reviewed Perfect for this tour.

PERFECT is the thrilling, shocking and romantic sequel to Cecelia Ahern’s bestselling YA debut FLAWED.

When we embrace all our flaws, that’s when we can finally become PERFECT… Celestine North lives in a society that demands perfection. After she was branded Flawed by a morality court, Celestine's life has completely fractured – all her freedoms gone. Since Judge Crevan has declared her the number one threat to the public, she has been a ghost, on the run with the complicated, powerfully attractive Carrick, the only person she can trust. But Celestine has a secret – one that could bring the entire Flawed system crumbling to the ground. Judge Crevan is gaining the upper hand, and time is running out for Celestine. With tensions building, Celestine must make a choice: save only herself, or risk her life to save all the Flawed. And, most important of all, can she prove that to be human in itself is to be Flawed…?.

Q&A WITH CECELIA AHERN

What made you decide to write a YA series?

I didn’t have a specific plan to write a YA series but when I came up with the idea for Flawed and Perfect, I knew I wanted to tell the story from the perspective of a 17 year old. I felt that was the best way to tell the story because although we’re constantly learning about ourselves throughout our life, teenage years are the years when you first really start to question authority and society, and start figuring out how you really feel about things, instead of what you’re being told to feel. I wanted to take Celestine from being that logical, obedient girl who thinks in black and white and turn her into somebody who questions, who doubts, who finds her own voice. She suddenly realizes she has to follow her own instincts, and her heart. We do this at different stages of her life when life throws us dilemmas but I wanted this to be the first big lesson in my character’s life, and also a voice and character that could teach society a thing or two.

Celestine and Carrick both rebel against a restrictive regime and are severely punished for it. Do you think our young adults should use their voices more, or less, in this age of ‘Fake News’?

I always encourage using your own voice. Celestine is not an obvious leader, she doesn’t realize her own strengths, she is not a leader because she wants to be but because she naturally makes the right choices. She brings compassion and logic to a society that has lost its humanity and I don’t think that shouting the loudest is necessarily what makes people be heard, it’s the strength of the character with quiet confidence that can truly gain a following. It’s not about shouting, it’s about leading by example, it’s about action, your own behavior, who you can influence in a positive way.

Do you find yourself noticing the restrictions of society more, since writing this series?

This story was inspired by my feelings on society so no I’m noticing it even more than before. I was inspired to write this by my belief that we live in a very judgemental society, one quick to point the finger at those who are different, who make life decisions that are frowned upon. I felt that we have a society that publicly shames, it’s almost like a sport at times, and it’s a form of entertainment for the media. It frustrated me to the point that I had to write this novel. We already label people, but this time I wanted to see what it would be like physically labeling people, branding them with an F. I’ve always felt strongly about inequality, so I suppose this was my way of condensing all my feelings on the issue and explaining it in a way that I knew how.

Of course as I was writing I realized that I was writing about everything in our history; the Flawed rules mimic the anti-Jewish decrees in World War 2, Celestine’s moment on the bus that leads her to be Flawed was inspired by the Rosa Parks event on the bus during the civil rights movement. Children born to Flawed parents are taken away from them and raised in state institutions and of course in Ireland children of unmarried mothers were taken from them. Aboriginal children in Australia were removed from their parents by the government in order to dilute the gene pool. We have tortured each other because of race, sex and religion in the past, we still do now, I wanted to explore this inhumane behaviour to punishing people for the moral and ethical decisions they make.

How important is it to have a male protagonist alongside a strong female one?

When I write, balance is very important. I like to take a dark story and bring it to a place of light, take a sad story and inject it with humour, take something negative and bring it to a positive place. I need to have the balance also of male and female.

Are there any parts of you within the character of Celestine?

I certainly wasn’t the girl that Celestine begins out as, I was probably more like her sister Juniper, who was quieter, had one close friend at school, she just can’t wait to get through it so that her life can begin. She is more of an outsider, cynical of society and questions everything around her, something Celestine learns later.  However, despite Juniper quietly grumbling about the things that bother her, Celestine is the one that takes action. I think writing this book is my version of Celestine’s action. 

REVIEW BY MIA MADDEN, AGED 13.

This is the amazing new YA novel from Cecelia Ahern. It is the follow-up to Flawed and it catches up with Celestine North, the most flawed person in the history of the Guild. Celestine is on the run from Judge Bosco Crevan and his Whistleblowers and she just wants one thing: to find her fellow inmate, Carrick Vane. Celestine believes that Carrick has vital footage of Crevan lashing out at her and she wants to use this to bring him, and hopefully the entire Guild, down. 

Celestine makes new friends in more Guild evaders; Mona, Lennox, Fergus and Lorcan. While the group are going about as normal (as evaders do), Whistleblowers find their hideout and this squad is led by Celestine's ex, Art Crevan, son of the deluded Judge. Art claims to still be on Celestine's side but she is not so sure. Now she must choose between Carrick and Art. Who will she choose? Will she get the footage of Crevan before he gains control of the entire country?

Awestruck - That is how these two books left me. Flawed was the first book to almost bring me to tears and Perfect was not far off it either. And I am not the kind to cry at books or movies. (I did not even cry when a certain house-elf came to a tragic end in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). With beautiful language, dramatic scenes and characters you will miss when you finish the book. I would rate Perfect 5*. 

Recommended for ages 12 +.

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Perfect is published is published by Harper Collins and is available in Hardback and ebook format. Published today, it is in all good bookshops or you can order your copy via amazon link below:

         

Book Review - 'The Butterfly Shell' by Maureen White. Guest review from Merith Jones.

Huge thanks to Merith Jones for guest reviewing this title for Bleach House Library.ie

The Blurb 

There are some things about me you should know. 

1. I always wear my butterfly shell - even when I’m swimming or sleeping

2. I don’t hurt myself any more

3. I believe in ghosts.

I’d better start at the beginning. The beginning of First Year. Here goes …

The story of a strange year and a very special shell.

Marie is hurting. Between the mean girls tormenting her by day and a ghostly cry waking her at night, her first year at secondary school was far from what she had expected. But Marie is now writing her story, the story of a very strange year and a very special shell which was found in a most unexpected place.

Click here to see Inside The Butterfly Shell

Review by Merith Jones 

How far do we protect our children’s childhood? Or do we accept the world as it is and offer the protection of knowledge?

Difficult issues in children’s fiction can be harder for parents to accept than the intended readers who are often more aware than we give them credit for, and, awareness does not necessarily mean the ‘focused on‘ that adults fear.

Maureen White offers a sensitive and astutely balanced view of a year in the life of Marie, a twelve year old newly facing the challenges of secondary school and the battle to establish an independent identity.

Marie reflects on the past year so we begin with the assurance of her survival of what promises to be a difficult adjustment. Until now she has been confident in her bookish world but soon learns that she is not seen as ‘cool’ and the allure of acceptance by the in crowd leads her to deny herself, the friendship of another less conventional girl and her integrity. Framing this is the ghostly presence of the lost sister after whom she is named and her feelings of inadequacy as a replacement daughter all of which lead her to dark places and self harm.

The authentic voice of Marie reflects the hopes and fears that are so fundamental to that desire for acceptance young readers will recognise but, following the dramatic incident which brings the story to a crisis she ultimately finds herself, her true friends and her own sense of value within her family.

 An uplifting and beautifully placed transitional read between the cosiness of younger fiction and the more adult themes of the Young Adult world.

Highly recommended.

The Butterfly Shell is published by The O'Brien Press and is available in PB and ebook format. You can order your copy, with Free Worldwide Postage, HERE. The ebook can be ordered via amazon link below:

Book Reviews - 'Danny Brown and the Monster Toothbrush' and 'Danny Brown and the Talking Teeth' by Brianóg Brady Dawson, Michael Connor and Alan Nolan.

DANNY BROWN AND THE MONSTER TOOTHBRUSH

Written by

 Brianóg Brady Dawson, 

Illustrated by

 Michael Connor, 

Coloured by

 

Alan Nolan

Danny hates brushing his teeth, so when he gets a new toothbrush he wants to get rid of it! He tries blushing it down the toilet, burying it in the garden and throwing it for Keano, his dog, but it keeps coming back!

A fun story about a boy who can't help getting into trouble. Illustrated in colour throughout.

DANNY BROWN AND THE TALKING TEETH

Written by

  Brianóg Brady Dawson, 

Illustrated by

 Michael Connor, 

Coloured by

  

Alan Nolan

Danny Brown is always in trouble. Why did he take Granny’s teeth to school? Just WHAT was he thinking? Now Mum is cross, teacher is cross, and Granny is VERY cross.
But Danny was only having fun, wasn’t he?

The best way to review children's books are to read them with kids and see their reaction. I passed these books on to my latest 'guest reviewer', Rosaleen, aged five. Here is what herself and her Mum, Roisin, thought of Danny Brown...

Guest Review from Rosaleen, aged 5. (via Mum, Roisin).

Danny Brown: the Irish horrid Henry.

Rosaleen loved the books, she laughed and was equally grossed out at the disgusting bits, like when Danny Brown put granny's teeth in his mouth or when he was trying to get rid of his tooth brush and played fetch with it for the dog!

Rosaleen is learning to read at the moment and she was able to pick out words she recognised as I was reading. Short sentences on the pages made it easy for her to follow when I was reading to her.

We would give these books 10/10 and would highly recommend them.

These two delightful early readers are available from The O'Brien Press and are published in paperback and ebook format. The ebooks can be ordered via amazon links below:

          

Book Revew - The Secrets of Grindlewood: Zora's Revenge. Review by Mia, aged 13.

Review by Mia Madden, aged 13.

This is the enchanting fourth book in The Secrets of Grindlewood series, from Jackie Burke.  It's spring in the small village of Grindlewood and Jamie, Jemima, Luke and Abigail are waiting for a possible new quest.  Their waiting pays off when the children are summoned, along with trusty malamute Timber, to meet up with newly appointed Queen Wanda of the Wandeleis in Hollow Hill. The children are told that wicked sorceress Zora, sister of defeated enemy Worfeus, has returned and is seeking revenge on all of the Wandeleis. They are also told that they are people known as the worthy, beings who are capable of bringing peace.  The four kids, Timber and the residents of Grindlewood garden stop Zora before she destroys everything they know and love.  But Zora has much more in mind than just destroying a village and a few humans.  She plans to bring her brother Worfeus back from the dead with the help of her old teacher Lord Vargon and Wandelei traitor Audmund.  To add to the confusion, the worthy must also safeguard a special key each: Luke guards an iron key, Abigail a crystal key, Jemima a silver key and Jamie a gold one.  Both sides search and fight for these keys, but what do they unlock?  And will the occupants of Grindlewood stop Zora before she raises Worfeus from the dead?

This fourth addition to the Grindlewood series is jam-packed with adventure, mystery and very well-described battle scenes!  A long enough read with about 300 pages, but it has very big print and is nice and easy.  One thing that I wasn't keen on was the fact that the illustrations were the same from previous books and are placed rather randomly around the book.  Otherwise, I enjoyed it very much.

I would recommend this book for ages 8+

The Secrets of Grindlewood; Zora's Revenge is available in paperback and ebook format.  You can order your copy via amazon link below

Book Review: The Ghosts of Magnificent Children by Caroline Busher.

Reviewed by Mia Madden, age 13.

This is an incredulous debut novel about four unique children.  It's 1848 and twelve-year-old twins Archie and Millie live luxuriously.  One night a circus comes and the twins go to it without permission.  They get captured because of their abilities; they can read each others thoughts and Millie can turn into a fox and stick on to walls.  In the same year, fourteen-year-old Theo and thirteen- year-old Ginny wander the streets with a nefarious pick-pocketing gang.  Ginny gets briefly adopted after attempting to rob a finely dressed woman, but gets handed over to the circus. Theo gets caught as well and is also turned in.  The circus wants these two because Ginny has a bird living inside of her and Theo can see your worst secret and how you die.

These four kids band together and stay alive and become known as The Magnificent Children.  But while touring Ireland, strange things happen that will mess with their minds forever.  100 years later, the children wake again to discover that they are dead.  They meet an islander named Rua who wants to help them with their troubles.  The children don't exactly trust Rua, as his father wants to destroy the children once and for all.  Will Rua save the children or die at his ruthless father's hands?

I find this book was sort of like Ransom Rigg's Ms. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and I like it.  After all, no book can be 100% unique.  But, The Ghosts of Magnificent Children was better in my opinion as it was unpredictable, funny, mysterious and tragic at the same time.  An absolutely super debut by Busher and I long for a follow-up title.  Hopefully the author will write plenty of books to keep us entertained.

I recommend this for ages 9+.

The Ghosts of Magnificent Children is published by Poolbeg books and is available in PB and ebook format.

Blog Tour: 'The Book Of Shadows' by ER Murray. Review and Q&A.

Thanks to ER Murray for inviting us to take part on her Blog Tour for Book 2 in the Nine Lives Trilogy, The Book of Shadows.  Mia was a massive fan of Book 1, The Book of Learning and you can read her review HERE.  There is also a great Q&A with Mia and Elizabeth further down this page.

Review by Mia Madden, aged 13.

This is the eagerly anticipated second part in the Nine Lives Trilogy.  It catches up with Ebony Smart two months after the events in the previous book, The Book of Learning.  Aunt Ruby introduces Ebony to another family from the Order of Nine Lives, the O'Haras.  Within the family are snooty Seamus, who copies his dad's every move, and cheery Chiyoko, Ebony's number one fan.  The Book of Learning has been dormant since the last installment but when Chiyoko picks it up, it spells out the message "They're coming".  These words start the unveiling of new secrets for Ebony, including the discovery of an anime show based on her life.  While in Stephen's Green Ebony stumbles across a silver box and is given the task of returning it to its owner.  As mysterious as it already is, things get worse when Chiyoko is taken by strange creatures called Shadow Walkers.  Ebony has to figure out what is coming and how to stop it, return the silver box when she has no idea who its owner and also find a way to get Chiyoko back.  On the bright side, she has made a few friends (some characters old and new) to stop the oncoming threat.  Can Ebony and faithful rat Winston complete their missions? Confusing, right?

Even though this all sounds a bit mind-wrecking, it is one of the best books I have read this year. A potential award winner, methinks.  There is one thing I can't mention as it could spoil the first book and I wouldn't want to ruin it for anyone.  I HATE spoilers!  Let's just say it involves a traitor, but one which side?  I enjoyed it so much that I had to re-read it.  There is a major cliffhanger, so hurry up with book three ER Murray!  I want to see what happens next. 

I recommend this book for ages 10+

**************************************

Q&A with Mia and ER Murray

If you could ride the Shadowlands, what would be the first thing you would do?

I’d go to Japan. It’s been my lifelong dream to visit Japan, but for some reason, I haven’t managed it yet, so I would use the Shadowlands to transport myself there immediately. I’d look for some beautiful gardens and feast on a huge plate of sushi and I would be in heaven. That’s if I managed to master the Shadowlands, that is: I imagine that creating them on the page and mastering them are two very different things.

Who would you prefer to be real; Mr. O'Hara, Mrs. O'Hara, Seamus or Chiyoko?

I love Mrs O’Hara – she’s so mysterious and she has a very calming effect on the people around her. I’d love if she could be brought to life. I’d like to sit next to her and read books and watch her shadow puppet plays. I think she’d be a good person to go and see when you’ve had a bad day – she’s really intuitive and you wouldn’t have to explain anything. She would instinctively know and her naturally gentle aura would make the world feel a nicer place.

If you were to have three past selves, what era would each one come from?

I’m going to choose eras I’m really, really interested in; Wild West, Celtic and Victorian. They’re all pretty gruesome in their own right, but I’d love to have a poke around and see them in all their glory for myself. What we know about the Celts is pretty limited, but I adore mythology and I’d love to see the Celtic religion and worship in action, how it affected every day life. I’m a huge fan of Westerns, and that rugged landscape, so I’d love to witness the atmosphere at the time; it was a crazy free for all, and truly wild (though I’d rather be a Native American Indian than a cowboy). I’m also fascinated by the morbidity of Victorian times, the strangeness and quirkiness of it all, the contradictions; it’s no surprise that gothic horror arose from this era. But I don’t think I’d like to stick around in any of these eras for too long – they all seemed pretty dangerous!

Where did you come up with Shadow Walkers?

I’m fascinated by shadows, by how they are simply the result of an object in between light and a surface, and yet they have an eerie and unsettling quality. People always imagine things going bump in the night climbing out of the shadows – it’s like we have a natural instinct or aversion to them, so I thought that would be fun to play with. Shadows are fun to explore. The Shadow Walkers represent our worst nightmares – Ambrose is controlling them but they’re pretty terrifying, and so they’re a worthy foe for Ebony Smart and the Order to deal with.

Which would you prefer to have; The Shadowlands mask, the silver box or the soul-swap machine?

Masks can be a bit scary – I don’t like looking in the mirror when I have one on – so I’ll leave that one. I like the silver box, and would love to hear the tune, but… at the risk of sounding like a baddie, I’d take the soul-swap machine. That way, if I decided to make myself immortal, I could choose some of my favourite people to bring with me.

Who is your favourite character in the Nine Lives Trilogy?

I really like Ebony. I think she’s brave and clever, but also flawed. She has a bit of a temper but is really kind and thoughtful and she’s had a tough time but dealt with it pretty well. Many people would buckle under all that pressure but I think she’s shown great courage. I admire her strength of character. 

Would you choose Seamus, Chiyoko or Winston to be your sidekick?

Winston all the way – he’s so loyal and smart and funny. If Ebony didn’t have Winston by her side, I feel like she’d have taken more wrong turns. Rats are such intelligent creatures and also very loving. And seeing as Winston is extra special, you’d definitely want him on your side when you’re trying to solve mysteries and beat curses. 

Who do you think you're more like, Aunt Ruby or Mrs. O'Hara?

I wish I could say Mrs O’Hara, but in reality, I’m more manic and hyperactive, so I’m much more like Aunt Ruby. Dashing around, switching from one project to another, half finishing sentences and butting in other people’s conversations; that sounds a bit like me. Also – and I didn’t think of this before you asked this question – I don’t drive. I actually based her on a friend originally, but my characters are always fusions of many different people, so maybe there’s actually a bit of me that’s sneaked in there too?

What is the next book in the Nine Lives Trilogy called?

The final piece of the puzzle is called: The Book of Revenge – Nine Lives Trilogy 3. I’m writing it right now! I’m on the third draft and it’s shaping up nicely. I’m looking forward to see where the characters take me.

What is your current favourite movie?

I love films so it’s really difficult to pick a favourite, but I’ll try... I like quite dark films, so Pan’s Labyrinth and Mirror Mask are still favourites. I loved Where the Wild Things Are and I really like anime like Princess Mononoke, The Wind Rises and Spirited Away. It’s an old film, but Kes is still up there (also a favourite book) – as a child, it really spoke to me. Other than that, I like films set in other cultures, like Rabbit Proof Fence and The Whale Rider.

What is your current favourite book?

For this age group, I think My Name’s Not Friday by Jon Walter is one of my favourite books of all time and difficult to beat. Knights of The Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden is an incredible read, and also Gold by Geraldine Mills. I’m excited about The Ghosts of Magnificent Children by Caroline Busher (out in October) and The Ministry of Strange, Unusual and Impossible Things by Paul Gamble is outstanding. We’re so spoiled, aren’t we?

Team Captain America or Team Iron Man?

Team Iron Man, definitely. I think he’s darker, more broken. He has more depth. I love to love a hero that we shouldn’t love! 

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The Book of Shadows is published by Mercier Press and is available in Paperback and ebook format. You can order your copy via amazon link below.