Christopher Edge - The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books Book Review (Nosy Crow)

Cover illustration by Matt Saunders.

How do you know you really exist? It's Maisie's birthday and she can't wait to open her presents. She's hoping for the things she needs to build her own nuclear reactor. But she wakes to an empty house and outside the front door is nothing but a terrifying, all-consuming blackness. Trapped in an ever-shifting reality, Maisie knows that she will have to use the laws of the universe and the love of her family to survive. And even that might not be enough...A mind-bending mystery for anyone who's ever asked questions.

It's always a real pleasure to receive a book for review, especially a book written by Christopher Edge. The Infinite Lives of Maisie Day will spring into the universe on the 5th April 2018. It is published by Nosy Crow, the Children's Publisher of the year 2017, and will hurtle through the black holes of space just in time to land in a bookshop near you. 

This might be the strangest book Christopher Edge has written. The narrative is emotionally challenging and thought provoking. As you follow the two female characters, Maisie and her sister you will soon find yourself sucked into a vortex of everyday family life. It might even be a mirror image of your own reality, fallings out, fighting, family disputes, friends making fun at you etc -  that's not too unusual, RIGHT? Well, that REALITY changes through a dramatic plot twist.  A collision course of atoms explodes into life, a tiny flutter of fantasy particles dance on the heads of the reader. It really challenges the direction you thought the story was taking and makes you want to read more, and quickly. 

The plot turns the adventure into an ever-shifting reality that will engulf you into a world of blackness. You'll hurtle into a chilling and mind-bending fantasy universe which is devoid of colour and leads you into the bizarre. This part of the story is very surreal - it certainly captured my attention. I was led into a mystery that I was desperate to uncover.  

It's very cleverly written, although all of the books that Christopher has written have been brilliant. This is a truly thought-provoking and touching story that will gently pull on the heart-strings. It will gently take you on a journey which exercises your emotional self to the full. 

Like all books by Christopher, it is full of scientific facts and wonder. It bestows a mini educational adventure that surely any teacher would recommend. It is a brilliant and well thought out story that will ask many questions of the reader whilst exploring what it's like to be human. Could we actually be characters subconsciously playing out our lives in a book or computer game? Will we ever know? The world we live in is a miracle and, just like the power of reading, this is a book that you will love and want to read. 

Katy Birchall - Secrets of a Teenage Heiress - Book Review (Egmont Publishing)

Flick's family have owned The Royale – one of London's most prestigious hotels – for generations. But Flick isn't that interested. She is interested in the newest guest – superstar celebrity Skylar Chase, and Sky's mega-famous group of friends, including dreamy YouTube star, Ethan Duke. But just as Flick gets the chance to join their glittering squad, she gets grounded following an unfortunate incident involving a prince, a wardrobe and a selfie stick (it could have happened to anyone!). With only her Instagram star pet dachshund, Fritz, for company, will Flick find a way to escape The Royale and join the fame game?

This is a book that puts me as a reader/reviewer out of my comfort READING zone. However, this year is all about me pushing my reading boundaries and trying anything that has been sent to me. Last year I would have taken one look at this book, read the synopsis and then thought that this sounded like it was not for me. However, on this occasion, I would have been very wrong. Secrets of a Teenage Heiress was recently published by Egmont Publishing on the 11th January 2018. The authors recent 'The it Girl' series has found the heart of teenage readers and their funny bone to great acclaim.  

Get your selfie sticks ready and come and read this book. As soon as you turn the pages you will fly into the world of Flick and Fritz (the dog). Flick's life involves living in the world famous hotel 'The Royale'. The reason I loved it so much is that the narrative instantly transported me into the book. Plus, the main characters actually felt like real people. The descriptive backdrop felt like The Ritz in London, which was possibly one of the inspirations for this book. 

This book takes a look at the celebrity side of life with Sklar Chase. It shows that being famous does not stop you from being human and having normal feelings. The book also covers and focuses on teenage girls who look up to famous people and want to emulate them. Looking good, having millions of Instagram followers and the need for media attention is a huge topic at the moment. This book cuts through to reality and shows the high stakes involved. In the end, the story highlights that family and true friendship are actually more important than anything else. 

I really loved reading about the hotel and the inner workings of it. It really made you want to walk around and investigate the rooms and hotel-life, just like the characters in the book. It made you feel slightly dreamy which was rather cool. 

This is definitely a book that teenagers will relate to. It explores a vivid world of glamour that people will love to read about. It's funny in some parts and yet quite moving in others. There is a great cast of characters, all of which are easy to read. The story has a happy, feel-good ending which makes you want to read the next book in the series. For those of you interested, the next book is called Dramas of a Teenage Heiress and will be out at the end of this year. 
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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Amber Lee Dodd - We Are Giants - Author Q&A Interview

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books is really pleased to be sharing with you the following Q&A with Amber Lee Dodd. Her latest book, We Are Giants, was published on the 7th April 2016 by Quercus Children's Books. The book deals with topics that will be familiar to a lot of 9-12 year olds. It is a refreshing and a heartwarming story, and very sensitively written.  I hope that this interview piques your interest and encourages you to purchase a copy and read it. Thank you Amber. 

Tell us a little bit about We Are Giants? 
It’s about love, family and being proud of who you are. 
It’s the story of Sydney, her sister Jade and her mother Amy who has dwarfism. When the family are forced to leave home and move to a new city, Sydney worries she will forget her Dad (who died a few years before) without the memories of home around her. To add to that, her new home is barely a home, it’s more of a shoe box and her new school is clearly run by mad teachers. With everything changing around her Sydney is determined to keep some things the same. Namely she wants to stay little, just like her Mum. 

Who would love reading We Are Giants, and why? 
Anyone who’s ever wanted to be different.

We all need a hero! Tell us about your protagonist(s)? Was there a real-life inspiration behind him or her? 
Sydney is shy and thoughtful and has a huge imagination. But she also has a fierce side she call ‘The Wild Thing’. Jade is brave and bold and is never more than five minutes away from throwing a wobbly. And Amy is creative and stubborn and force to be reckoned with. 

I think all the characters where inspired by the children and teens I worked with, or people I knew. 
In the book Sydney and Jade have to deal with bullies. 

How much research did you do into this subject? 
I used to tell people I hardly did any research, but that’s not true! I researched everything; it just never felt like work because all the things I found out where so interesting. Most of the research went into Amy’s dwarfism and Sydney’s fairytales. Things like place, school and the bullies are all drawn from my own childhood. 

What tips can you share in writing a believable world/background? 
I think in creating a world you have to give a voice to it as much as you would a character. Even in the craziest fantasy you have to ground your story in a place that feels real. 

For me writing about Portsmouth, where We are Giants is set, was easy as I grew up here. It’s largely a working class city with a strong, proud identity and was the perfect setting for a family struggling in post recession Britain. 
Do you have any strange writing habits? 
I write in bed because I don’t have a desk I can use. I’m also a very messy writer. I once walked out the house with several sticky notes stuck to the back of my leg! 

What do you think makes a good story? 
Oh gosh, this is such a hard one. I think great stories have their own voice. They couldn’t have been written by anyone else but that person. 

What genre of books do you like to read? do you limit yourself to only the genre that you write yourself? 
I read everything! From plays to memoir, to short stories and literary fiction. My favourite books are Olive Kittredge by Elizabeth Strout, Matilda by Roald Dahl, The play The Memory of Water by Shelia Stevenson and the short story collection How to Breathe Underwater by Julie Orringer. I come back to these books again and again. 
At the moment I have a tbr pile that includes the biographies of some lady adventures, a couple of crime novels (I love an Agatha Christie) and some smashing Middle grade books. 
If you were to look for me in a bookshop you would find me by the picture books. It is pretty much impossible to be unhappy flicking through a good picture book. 


As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? 
The first thing I desperately want to do was be a surgeon. I like to think it was because I wanted to help people, but I think it might have been more to do with the fact that I loved blood and guts. But sadly I wasn’t very good at science or maths. However, I was very good at telling stories. So that’s what I decided to do instead. 


Is there anything else that you would like to tell us, like new writing projects? 
I’m working on some more short stories. You should hopefully get to listen to my story The Love Songs of Foxes on BBC radio 4 again soon. And I’m also working on a new children’s book, staring lady adventurers, Scottish islands and a dyslexic hero with a very unusual gift. But Shhh, don’t tell anyone.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Interview with Eve Ainsworth - Seven Days

I'd like to take the opportunity to welcome Eve to Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books website and to thank her for taking the time out to answer questions about her latest book called Seven Days. This is available now to purchase from all good bookshops and websites. 

Tell us a little bit about Seven Days?

Seven Days is book about bullying, but from two sides of the story. You see the week in the life of a bully and victim, leading to a climatic ending. 

Sometimes there can more than one victim.

Give us an insight into your main character?

I have two main characters as it is a dual narrative novel. Jess is a sweet girl, who lacks confidence in herself. She sees the good in people and has a lovely soul, but is awkward in her skin. Kez is fiesty and popular. You think that she is nasty and cruel - but she has lots of insecurities  that creep deeply within her.                                               

How much of the book is realistic?

I hope a lot. I witnessed so much bullying when working in schools and saw the impact it had on students. I also spoke to bullies, I heard their stories. I wanted a story that teens could relate to. I need it to be real. 

Do you have a specific writing style?

Not really. I write fast and straight on computer. I edit as I go. I do carry a notepad around but most of my ideas are locked firmly in my head until I write. I think my style is pacy and fairly gritty.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

Yes! I know I'm attracted to covers. A good cover draws you in, it makes you want to open the book and explore. When I received the design for 7 Days from Scholastic I screamed in the street. I was so happy. I love the way the words, the abusive words, are printed all over the book. It shows how exposed a victim feels - like your life is view for everyone to see. 

What are your current projects? 

I am just finishing my second book with Scholastic, Crush - which will be published early 2016. This focuses on abusive and controlling relationships.             

What do you think makes a good story? 

Characters you believe in and care about.   

                                                                    

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?  

From life experience. From the issues I witnessed in schools and my memories of being a teen. I also read lots and lots of magazines (true stories can spark some great ideas) and eavesdrop on lots of conversations.                                                                         

What books have most influenced your life most?                                      
The L Shaped Room was the first book to make me really, really want to be a writer. The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole was the first book to be re-read again and again The Stand was the first book to make me go WOW

Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?   

Can I have 3? Please?

John Lennon - no reasons needed Julie Walters - my hero and Rik Mayall - ;)

What do you like to do when you're not writing? 

Read! Lots. Listen to music. Play with my kids. Get lost in the woods.

Is there anything that you would like to share with us?                             

I can't ride a bike, but I'm planning to learn (I may need stabilisers) 

Authors web site:http://eveainsworth.com/