Ewa Jozefkowicz - Girl 38: Finding a Friend - Book Review - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books

One of the books I have read recently is the second book by Ewa Jozefkowicz entitled Girl 38: Finding a friend. It was actually published in March 2019 by Zephyr so I am a little bit behind with this one. Ewa's debut novel The Mystery of the Colour Thief was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Prize 2019. This second book builds on the same characteristics of her debut story, but with a little added extra superpower layered into the storyline. 

The first part of the story follows Kat, a 12-year-old girl, who loves working on her super-heroine in her Comic: Girl 38. Kat is lonely as her parents are busy working long hours and, at school, Gem is no longer her 'best friend'. This part of the plot draws out the narrative with a considerate and heartfelt approach.   

The second part of the story is told through the creation of Kat's inventive super-hero, a comic that she starts to write. It's a place that Kat loses herself in, an imaginary world that pulls into the contemporary thread fantastically. This helps to water down the tension, seriousness, and the dark situations that the characters face in the book. 

The final part of the storyline is also the most compelling. It is the real-life story told by Ania, Kat's lonely next-door neighbour. The story is set at the time of WWII in Poland retelling the encounters by Ania such as her daring leap to freedom, and her search for her lost friend, Mila. Unfortunately, she was taken away by soldiers to a 'walled village' at the outbreak of the war. This part explains the terrifying, darkest times and the emotions that Ania faced through her ordeal. It is told in snippets that all pull the story threads through a rollercoaster of events creating a magical performance. It really softens the heartstrings and makes it a joy to read. 

All the stories relate to unlikely friendships both new and old as well as overcoming fear in the darkest and bleakest of times. However, it also teaches us about courage, bravery, and superhero powers as Kat unravels the mystery of the girl in the painting. This is all done with an imaginative flair by a writer who understands how to keep a reader engrossed. It encompasses the darkness as well as showering the reader with light, love, and warmth told through great storytelling.

This is a fantastic thought-provoking read that will be loved by everybody regardless of age. It shows both human frailties and strengths in a blink of an eye. It is a fantastic adventure from start to finish - a book to savour and reflect upon. 

Guest Post by Sofia Croft - Finding Inspiration, and Dragons, in the Lake District - Indigo's Dragon Blog Tour

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books is very proud to be starting Indigo's Dragon blog tour. Sofi will be calling at some great blogs in the next ten days, so why not check them all out. See the tour banner at the end of this post for more details. This is the first book in the series, which is soon to be published on the 23 June 2016 by Accent Press Ltd.  It is a great dragon adventure story full of mystery; a legendary trip where the main character encounters a monster or two . Check out my book review HERE to find out more. 

We also have a cracking #bookgiveaway pack to win on twitter via @Enchantedbooks. Check it out -it ends midnight on Sunday 19th June 2016. UK only. Give it a RT and mention!  

Here is the post. I hope you enjoy it.....

Finding Inspiration, and Dragons, in the Lake District by Sofi Croft

I didn’t want to be a writer. My mother is a writer and when I was young I remember her spending hours of every day in front of her typewriter lost in an imaginary world. This didn’t appeal to me at all. I was far more interested in living in the real world. I studied science and became an exploration geologist, travelling around the UK, digging big holes to look at the soil and rocks. 

Things changed when, in my thirties, I started a family and moved to the Lake District so we could live amidst the beautiful scenery. I spent a huge amount of time outdoors with my children, wandering the valleys, climbing the fells and splashing in the becks. 

I began to see dragons everywhere. They hide in caves, smoke circling from their nostrils as they sleep. They lurk in plunge pools and dart through the deep dark waters of the lakes. They sit eyeing sheep from the edge of woodland, camouflaged among rocks and mossy mounds. They balance in the tops of the tallest trees and fly through the sunsets and clear starry nights. 

My children asked about the dragons so I told them stories, and once you start telling stories it can be very difficult to stop. Ideas for stories are everywhere in the Lake District; in the landscape, the weather, the wildlife, and the local history and legends. I started carrying a notebook when we went exploring, so I could record some of the things we saw and the stories we told. Very slowly, over the first few years I lived in the Lake District, the thoughts, ideas, pictures and words in my notebooks came together to create Indigo’s Dragon.

One day I realised that, without ever really planning to, I might have written a book. I had an overwhelming urge to move it from my scribbly notebooks to the computer to see if it really was a book, so I pulled out my dilapidated laptop and spent my evenings typing it up. Dragons gathered outside my window, watching from behind the sycamore trees and circling the skies above, wondering why I was spending hours sat at the computer lost in an imaginary world like my mother. 

By the time Indigo’s Dragon was finished I had discovered that I loved writing, with all its ups and downs. I sent Indigo off to a few publishers, out of curiosity more than anything else, and set about writing another book. Six books later and my head is still full of stories I want to write, and each time I venture outside to explore the Lake District I see more dragons, and find more stories. 

Indigo’s Dragon (Indigo’s Dragon #1) by Sofi Croft is a children’s fantasy novel full of adventure, mystery, monsters and dragons.

It is published by AccentYA on 23^rd June

You can find out more about Sofi and her books on her website www.soficroft.com and follow her on twitter: @croftdragon 

Dragon photography by seenicksphotography

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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Sofi Croft - Indigo's Dragon ( Bk1) - Book Review

Indigo lives in the Lake District, and spends his time exploring the mountains he loves. An unexpected parcel arrives containing a first aid kit inside his grandfather’s satchel. Indigo’s curiosity is raised as he looks through his grandfather’s notebook to discover drawings of mythical creatures. 

Strange things begin to happen and Indigo finds himself treating an injured magpie-cat, curing a cockatrice of its death-darting gaze, and defending a dragon. Indigo realises he must uncover the secrets his family have kept hidden, and travels alone to the Polish mountains to search for his grandfather and the truth. 

Danger looms as events spiral out of control, and Indigo needs to make choices that change him, his world, and his future forever…

Summer is around the corner and this is the best time, in my opinion, to get your fantasy socks on and read a good book involving a legendary mythical dragon. Fortunately you don't need to look any further with the book Indigo's Dragon, which is set in the beautiful landscape of the Lake District. It invites you to walk the tight rope of magical adventures which will captivate the wild imagination and the spirit of being young. This is the first pocket size instalment to land on the bookshelves with two further books planned to follow. Indigo's Demons will be the follow up and will be published early December 2016. Whilst the third book, Indigo's Deep will be published at some point in June 2017. 

Indigo's Dragon is a fast paced and free flowing fantasy book for young readers around the age of 8 years old and upwards. The book features a young boy Indigo who is 13 years old and loves roaming the crags and fells of the Lake District. However, one day he gets an unusual parcel from his mysterious Grandfather Opi. It contains a book of tales of mythical beasts and a strange first aid kit, but unfortunately it is quickly stolen by a strange hybrid creature that has been conjured up in the inventive land of fantasy. 

The search for Indigo's grandfather, Opi, is a dark and dangerous path. All of which leads to the uncovering of secrets, answers to some vital questions and some really breathtaking moments. The story features lots of amazing creatures that have their roots firmly planted in folklore and tradition. It will certainly make children want to explore more original folktales and the great outdoor settings featured in the plot. The story also zips to the atmospheric Polish mountains and soon the mysteries unravel in a dream-like quality with a timely twist that will keep readers on their hooked claws.

The book is a great family adventure that will transport the reader to a magical place. It is an action packed adventure set in the great outdoors where you can breath in the magical air. The more that you read, the more you can inhale the strangeness that unfolds through the original plot. It will certainly help you to escape to a place and world far from what you know. 

This is a great debut story that really reflects the author's love and passion for reading and storytelling. It helps the story to blossom into an engaging read which is slightly different from mainstream books at the moment. This is a book that all children will identify with, especially with Indigo's character as he faces family loyalty, friendship and hidden family secrets. So much energy, emotion and feelings, with some highs and lows along the way, are delivered through this story. It is a really enjoyable tale focusing on finding out the truth about who and what you really are. 

The only possible downside about this book involves the very short page count. However, don't be disappointed fas there is more to come dear readers through the publication of a further two books in the future. The world will stop when you turn the first page, so pick up a copy, read it and enjoy .....

Published by Accent Press Ltd (23 Jun. 2016)