Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Book Picks - September 2019

Piers Torday - The Frozen Sea - Published by Quercus Children's Books (5 Sept. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1786540768 - Hardback - Age: 9+ 

It is 1984 and forty years since Simon, Patricia and Evelyn and Larry first stepped through a magical library door into the enchanted world of Folio. When Patricia's daughter, Jewel, makes a mysterious discovery in an old bookshop, she begins a quest that will make her question everything she thought she knew. Summoned to Folio, she must rescue her missing aunt, helped only by her rude pet hamster Fizz and a malfunctioning robot.

Their mission to the Frozen Sea will bring them face-to-face with a danger both more deadly and more magnificent than they ever imagined.

What Jewel discovers will change not just who she thinks she is, but who we all think we are...

Victoria Schwab - Tunnel of Bones (City of Ghosts) - Published by Scholastic Press (3 Sept. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1338111040 - Hardback - Age: 9+

The thrilling sequel to Victoria Schwab's New York Timesbestselling City of Ghosts!
Trouble is haunting Cassidy Blake . . . even more than usual. 

She (plus her ghost best friend, Jacob, of course) are in Paris, where Cass's parents are filming their TV show about the world's most haunted cities. Sure, it's fun eating croissants and seeing the Eiffel Tower, but there's true ghostly danger lurking beneath Paris, in the creepy underground Catacombs. 

When Cass accidentally awakens a frighteningly strong spirit, she must rely on her still-growing skills as a ghosthunter -- and turn to friends both old and new to help her unravel a mystery. But time is running out, and the spirit is only growing stronger. 

And if Cass fails, the force she's unleashed could haunt the city forever.

Simon Mockler - Beatrix the Bold and the Riddletown Dragon - Published by Piccadilly Press (5 Sept. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1848127678 - Paperback - Age: 8+

A gloriously funny and anarchic series full of wizards, queens and more than a little mud
Perfect for fans of Andy Stanton, Danny Wallace and Roald Dahl 
Beatrix the Bold is a queen. A very bold queen. And she's also only ten years old. But that's never stopped her from doing anything before, and it's not going to stop her now. She's already averted her own kidnapping and fought off an Evil Army. Now she needs to find her long-lost parents, and fend off her villainous aunt Esmerelda. She just has to cross a vast kingdom to get there and save a bunch of children from deadly peril while confronting a terrifying dragon ... Easy, right? But when you're Beatrix the Bold and you've got Oi the Boy, Dog the Dog and Wilfred the Wise by your side, you can do anything . . .

Sophie Anderson (Author), Kathrin Honesta (Illustrator) - The Girl Who Speaks Bear - Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (5 Sept. 2019) ISBN-13: 978-1474940672 - Paperback - Age: 9

They call me Yanka the Bear. Not because of where I was found - only a few people know about that. They call me Yanka the Bear because I am so big and strong.

Found abandoned in a bear cave as a baby, Yanka has always wondered about where she is from. She tries to ignore the strange whispers and looks from the villagers, wishing she was as strong on the inside as she is on the outside. But, when she has to flee her house, looking for answers about who she really is, a journey far beyond one that she ever imagined begins: from icy rivers to smouldering mountains meeting an ever-growing herd of extraordinary friends along the way.

Natasha Farrant (Author), Lydia Corry (Illustrator) - Eight Princesses and a Magic Mirror - Published by Zephyr (5 Sept. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1788541152 - Hardback - Age: ?

Here are eight princesses for the Rebel Girls generation: bold, empowered, full of curiosity, adventure and determined to be true to themselves. Natasha Farrant's original stories are set in different times all around the world, blending modern and traditional storytelling with glowing full-colour illustrations by debut artist Lydia Corry in a glorious gift book. 

'Mirror, mirror on the wall... what makes a princess excellent?' When the enchantress flings her magic mirror into our universe, reflected in it are princesses who refuse to be pretty, polite or obedient. These are girls determined to do the rescuing themselves. The Arabian princess of the desert protects her people from the king with the black and gold banner; Latin American Princess, Tica, takes a crocodile for a pet; a Scottish princess explores the high seas; African Princess, Abayome, puts empathy and kindness above being royal; and in a tower-block, Princess saves her precious community garden from the hands of urban developers. Complemented by detailed, jewel-coloured artwork, these beautifully imagined stories are a twist on familiar princess tales.

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Interview with Marie Basting - #PrincessBMX Blog Tour - (Chicken House Books)

Welcome to Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books. Today, we are celebrating the debut publication of Marie Basting's book, Princess BMX. The book was published on the 1st August 2019 by Chicken House Books and has been superbly illustrated by Flavia Sorrentino. You should check out the website link for more examples of amazing artwork and design.  

The book is a perfect fairytale adventure for the summer that will entertain younger readers or possibly the inner princess within you. This week, the author will be zipping by on her BMX bike showing off her tricks and riding the air on some of the best children's blogs around. Please see the blog tour banner at the bottom of this page for more information.

Marie has kindly answered some questions to give us a thought-provoking insight into the book. Hopefully, it will also give you a taste of what you might find amongst the pages of this brilliant story. So, without further delay, here is the interview with Marie. I hope you enjoy this post and follow the other posts as part of this tour. 


How would you describe Princess BMX to potential readers? 
Princess BMX is a funny, upside-down fairy tale adventure that brings the princess story bang up to date. It’s upside-down for a number of reasons. Firstly, it features a fairy tale character who finds everything changes when she comes to our world – she’s been brought up surrounded by dragons and unicorns and yet she finds magic in the urban chaos of Camden and BMX. The other characters are a bit upside down too, playing with reader expectations and challenging the tropes of the fairy tale.

What fun and games does Avariella get up to in this book? 
Avariella, or Ava as her new friends call her, spends a lot of time hanging around the skate-park in Camden, BMX being a natural progression from her extreme sack racing back home. Through BMX, she finds the freedom and acceptance she’s been seeking, but her radical sporting adventures are not without consequence triggering a whole host of magical fun and games. 

What is the Bubblegum Bazaar? 
The Bubble Gum Bazaar is whatever the reader wants it to be. We know it’s a fete in the far reaches of Biscotti, and that it’s significant enough for the royal family to put their best togs on, but much of the detail is left to the imagination. It’s important to me not to talk down to or spoon-feed young readers, to leave gaps for them to fill. It’s their imaginations that complete the story. 

Do you use humour in this book? What effect do you think laughter has on the reader? 
I’ve been told by my dog, who can be quite mean about my writing if I don’t feed her sufficient biscuits, that Princess BMX is a very funny book. I’m hoping readers agree and my fluffy critic hasn’t just had one gravy bone too many. Humorous books are increasingly important. Thanks to the mess adults have made of things, kids have far too much to worry about. Laughter provides a release, allowing them to focus on the now. Funny books are sometimes looked down on but they can help nurture a lifelong love of reading, and what’s wrong with having a little fun? 

If you could choose one BMX bike, what would it be and why? 
I’m rubbish on a BMX so probably one with magical powers that would stop me being such a wussy knickers and help me attack the berm with the same ferocity as Ethan, Ava’s first proper friend. And, NO, he is not her boyfriend!!! 

The book cover and interior illustrations are by one of my favourite illustrators, Flavia Sorrentino. How do they complement the story? 
I adore Flavia’s illustrations. She captures Ava’s adventurous and rebellious nature so well, reinforcing her unconventionality. Flavia’s illustrations allow readers to pause and really consider the characters and the magical world I’ve created while also adding an extra element of excitement and awe to the key action scenes.

When writing books for children, what do you think they look for in a good story? What do you think they will like the most about your book? 
There are so many different genres within children’s fiction, it’s difficult to generalise, but I think the one constant is the desire for a character they can connect with. Princess Ava may come from a different world but she wants the same things any child does – friendship, acceptance and for grown-ups to stop moaning at her. She’s also funny and kind and brave, so while the humour is likely to be the first thing to draw the reader in, I think it’s Ava’s spirit they’ll love the most.

How hard was it to get your first book published? 
On the surface, it wasn’t that hard at all. I pitched the book more by accident before it was ready to submit and feel extremely lucky that Chicken House wanted to publish it. You have to remember, though, it took me until I reached my forties to actually shake off the self-doubt and believe someone like me could become a writer. Believing in myself and rising above the expectations set by others was the hardest bit of my writing journey. 

You're hosting a literary dinner party, which authors/illustrators would you invite and why? 
I’d invite all the fantastic writers and illustrators who have supported me on the way: SCBWI friends, my MA cohort and the lovely middle-grade debut authors I’ve connected with more recently. They are my real literary heroes and they’re probably much more likely to turn-up than Neil Gaiman or Jack Kerouac.

Marie Basting is the author of Princess BMX, a true story which provides conclusive proof that magic is real and bikes are the new broomstick. OK, that is a big fat lie, but Marie mostly speaks the truth particularly on Tuesdays when she teaches synchronised swimming to mermaids and helps out at a shelter for homeless goblins.

Princess BMX is Marie’s debut novel. But she plans to write lots more as soon as she has finished watching Adventure Time. Marie loves Adventure Time because, like Princess BMX, it is a kind of modern fairy tale, and Marie wants to show children that magic is everywhere even if it is sometimes hard to find. That sounds corny but trust me it is not as corny as Marie’s feet. 

Twitter: @riewriting
Website: mariebasting.com

(Blog Tour Banner)

Carlie Sorosiak - I, Cosmo - Blog Tour - Nosy Crow Books (8th Aug 2019)

It's an absolute pleasure to be part of the blog tour for Carlie Sorosiak's I, Cosmo which was published by the mighty Nosy Crow Books on August 1st, 2019. This is a fantastic and poignant story from the perspective of a much-loved pet, a dog called Cosmo. Below this review, Carlie has written a small post about the process of writing from this perspective. 

This is a brilliantly written story that makes you think about Cosmo's relationship with Max and his feuding family. The narrative is very thought-provoking whilst also dribbling with turkey juices and doggy humour. The more you read, the sadder the story gets, so get ready with the tissues! The story is very sensitively told and is an insightful view of modern-day family life.

The story plays with human emotions setting you on a path of human frailty and the complexities of a family unit.  It's a very relatable story, one dog's attempt to save his family, that will both delight and entertain you from the very first page. You will dance and skip through the beating narrative which will engulf you with warmth, sadness, and happiness. All of which works on so many levels. 

This is a barking and slightly different adventure where cats are not allowed.  I, Cosmo is a wagging-tail star in the making! 

Author's Guest Post. 
On writing from an animal’s perspective. 
Several times now, I’ve been asked: How difficult was it for you to write from a dog’s perspective? I think the assumption here, in large part, is that it must’ve been difficult – than placing oneself in the mind of a non-human narrator is a considerable challenge. Looking back at the writing process, I can absolutely see why people might think that; after all, Cosmo is more prone to focusing on his sense of smell (and on squirrels) than the average human. 

But I’ll admit that I’ve never truly fit in with most humans. I find a great deal of them entirely perplexing. Some social interactions baffle me; deciding where to sit in my middle school cafeteria was akin to diffusing a bomb – in stress level, at least. My comfort has always been with animals, dogs in particular. They’re great listeners. They wear their emotions in the flick of their tails, in the position of their ears. I understand them in a way that I never have with people. 

So I was quite confident when I started writing Cosmo – and that confidence continued the whole way through the process. I hope I’ve captured that essential dog-ness. And I hope that I, Cosmo is a comfort to others like me, who often prefer the company of animals.

Author Bio - Carlie Sorosiak grew up in North Carolina. She has a master’s in English from Oxford University and another in publishing from City, University of London. She is the author of two novels for young adults, If Birds Fly Back and Wild Blue Wonder. Her goals include traveling to all seven continents and fostering a wide variety of animals. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and her American dingo. 

Twitter: @carliesorosiak 
Website: carliesorosiak.com

Book Synopsis
The story of one dog's attempt to save his family, become a star, and eat a lot of bacon. Cosmo's family is falling apart. And it's up to Cosmo to keep them together. He knows exactly what to do. There's only one problem. Cosmo is a Golden Retriever. Wise, funny, and filled with warmth and heart, this is Charlotte's Web meets Little Miss Sunshine - a moving, beautiful story, with a wonderfully unique hero, from an incredible new voice in middle-grade fiction. 

Come and join in with the rest of the blog tour for more reviews, guest posts, and giveaways. See the list of stops below. 

Damaris Young - The Switching Hour - Book Review - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books

Never stay out after the Switching Hour... never let the outside in... 

Damaris Young studied for her MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. In fact, this is where she actually wrote this novel. The Switching Hour is her debut book and has recently been released in the UK by Scholastic Books. This is a book you will certainly not miss in the shops as it has a vivid autumnal golden book cover. Both the front and back covers have been fantastically illustrated by Kelsley Buzzell and give such a brilliant feel to the story inside. To date, I've not seen many reviews for this book and so I would like to now put that right.

The story takes you on a surreal adventure following the characters, Amaya, and her lazy pet goat, Tau. The main character is a strong protagonist; very brave, young, slightly naive but instantly loveable. The story soon transports you into a world of myths and reality. It is heavily influenced by the author's childhood whilst living and growing up in Africa. This for me gives the story a different stylistic feel to most books that you will read in the UK. It makes for an intriguing plot which bends its outdoor charm on the reader. 

When the Dream Eater wakes up, the tingling sensation will disperse over the reader in a tiny gossamer of webs. The strands will weave and flutter in the wind as Badeko's song steals the dreams of the young, and spirits them away to be lost in the forest, in deep slumber, forevermore. It's a strange and bewitching narrative that feels ancient just like the setting and the forest in the book. The story is fraught with danger and outdoor adventure as nature fights back with exhilarating moments of action and drama. All of which is presented with great skill and certainly quickens the heartbeat!

This is a story of courage and bravery as Amaya saves her little baby brother (Kaleb) and the other children that have been taken by the Dream Eater. It is a brilliantly balanced book that lets the imagination feed a turbulent storm. There is just the right amount of backstory and dialogue to keep the reader thoroughly immersed and entertained throughout the unsettling sections. Conquering fears and overcoming challenges are the focus. However, that shiny piece of magic might also just give you a good nip on the back of your arms and legs. 

Book Synopsis: Amaya lives with her grandmother, her small brother Kaleb and her pet goat Tao in a land suffering a terrible drought. Every night, the doors must be locked after twilight, the Switching Hour, because the drought has awoken Badoko, a creature that snatches people away to eat their dreams. Three days later, the memory that they existed is gone from those that knew them, and those that are left are afflicted with The Sorrow Sickness - a grief which consumes a person without them knowing why. When Kaleb is taken by Badoko, Amaya must journey into the terrifying forest to find her brother before she forgets him.

Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Book Picks Series - September 2019 - Post One

Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books has picked some of the best children's books due to be published this September. In this first post, we are featuring all the new books which are part of an existing series. Many of which we already love and can't wait for the next installment. This is a fantastic month to explore the realms of fantasy - there are so many amazing books to look forward to and to add to your wanted read pile. 

Helena Duggan - The Battle for Perfect (A Place Called Perfect) - Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (5 Sept. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1474964371 - Paperback 
Things have quietened down in the town that used to be Perfect. But stories reach Violet and Boy of five missing scientists. And then they discover something odd in the forest outside Town - a mirror maze hiding a huge castle. Creeping inside, they overhear a terrible plan - a zombie army is about march on Town. Can Violet and Boy save their friends?

Kieran Larwood (Author), David Wyatt (Illustrator) - Uki and the Outcasts (The Five Realms) - Published by Faber & Faber (5 Sept. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-0571342792 - Hardback 

'EXCELLENT,' says the bard. 'It's probably a good idea for you to know about him.' 'Wait . . . him? Who's him?' said Rue. 'Uki,' says the bard. 'Uki Patchwork. The Magpie Demon. Uki of the Two Furs.' From the Ice Wastes beyond the Cinder Wall emerges an unlikely hero. Rejected by his village and left to die, young Uki is given life and unique powers by a long-buried spirit from the time of the Ancients . . . and a life or death mission. Joined by two other outcasts - a trained assassin who refuses to kill people and a very short rabbit who rides the fastest jerboa on the plains - Uki must capture Valkus, the Spirit of War, before rabbitkind destroys itself in conflict. A thrilling new book set in the Five Realms of Podkin One-Ear.

Anna James - Pages & Co. Book 2: Tilly and the Lost Fairytales - Published by HarperCollins Children's Books (19 Sept. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-0008229900 - Hardback

Tilly Pages is a bookwanderer; she can travel inside books, and even talk to the characters she meets there. But Tilly’s powers are put to the test when fairytales start leaking book magic and causing havoc . . . 

On a wintery visit to Paris, Tilly and her best friend Oskar bravely bookwander into the land of fairytales to find that characters are getting lost, stories are all mixed-up, and mysterious plot holes are opening without warning. Can Tilly work out who, or what, is behind the chaos so everyone gets their happily-ever-after?

The second enthralling tale in the bestselling PAGES & CO series.

Lena Jones - The Silver Serpent (Agatha Oddly, Book 3) - Published by HarperCollins Children's Books (5 Sept. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-0008211950 - Paperback 

A third mystery for thirteen-year-old Agatha Oddly – a bold, determined heroine, and the star of this stylish new detective series.

Agatha Oddlow is on the case with yet another adventure! An assistant at the National Gallery has gone missing, but when Agatha begins investigating, she uncovers a plot bigger than she could ever have imagined. Join Agatha as she travels throughout London and into the very heart of the mystery…

Neil Patrick - The Magic Misfits: The Minor Third - Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (10 Sept. 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-0316391870 - Hardback 

The third magical book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Magic Misfits series from acclaimed and wildly popular celebrity Neil Patrick Harris!
Theo Stein-Meyer loves being part of the Magic Misfits. Armed with his trusty violin bow, he completes the team with his levitation skills, unflappable calm, and proper manners. But when a girl named Emily begins to spend time with the group, Theo is surprisingly drawn to her. She seems to understand the pull he feels between music and magic, between family and friends.
Then a famous ventriloquist arrives in town, and the Misfits are sure he (and his creepy dummy) are up to no good. With their mentor, Mr. Vernon, suddenly called away and tension simmering among the friends, can they come together to stop another member of the villainous Emerald Ring? It's time for Theo to make a choice about where--and with whom--he belongs.
Join the Magic Misfits as they discover adventure, friendship, and more than a few hidden secrets in this unique and surprising series. Whether you're a long-time expert at illusion or simply a new fan of stage magic, hold on to your top hat!

Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books: US Kids/Young Adult Book Picks - August 2019 - Post Two

Vera Greentea (Author), Yana Bogatch (Illustrator) - Grimoire Noir - Published by First Second (July 23, 2019) - 

• ISBN-13: 978-1250305732 - Hardback - Age: 11+

Beautiful, spooky, and utterly enchanting, Vera Greentea and Yana Bogatch's Grimoire Noir is a charming graphic novel about coming to terms with your own flaws and working past them to protect those dear to you.

Bucky Orson is a bit gloomy, but who isn’t at fifteen? 

His best friend left him to hang out with way cooler friends, his dad is the town sheriff, and wait for it―he lives in Blackwell, a town where all the girls are witches. But when his little sister is kidnapped because of her extraordinary power, Bucky has to get out of his own head and go on a strange journey to investigate the small town that gives him so much grief. And in the process he uncovers the town’s painful history and a conspiracy that will change it forever.

Cindy Lin - The Twelve - Published by HarperCollins Children's (July 2, 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-0062821270 - Hardback - Age: 7+

The Zodiac Legacy meets Spirit Animals in this epic, heartwarming own-voices adventure!

Usagi can hear a squirrel’s heartbeat from a mile away, and soar over treetops in one giant leap. She was born in the year of the wood rabbit, and it’s given her extraordinary zodiac gifts.

But she can never use them, not while the mysterious, vicious Dragonlord hunts down all those in her land with zodiac powers. Instead, she must keep her abilities—and those of her rambunctious sister Uma—a secret.

After Uma is captured by the Dragonguard, Usagi can no longer ignore her powers. She must journey to Mount Jade with the fabled Heirs of the Twelve, a mystical group of warriors who once protected the land.

As new mysteries unfold, Usagi must decide who she stands with, and who she trusts, as she takes on deadly foes on her path to the elusive, dangerous Dragonlord himself.

William Ritter - The Oddmire, Book 1: Changeling - Published by Algonquin Young Readers (July 16, 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1616208394 - Harback - Age: 8+

Magic is fading from the Wild Wood. To renew it, goblins must perform an ancient ritual involving the rarest of their kind—a newborn changeling. But when the night arrives to trade a human baby for a goblin one, something goes terribly wrong. After laying the changeling in a human infant’s crib, the goblin Kull is briefly distracted. By the time he turns back, the changeling has already perfectly mimicked the human child. Too perfectly: Kull cannot tell them apart, so he leaves both babies behind.

Tinn and Cole are raised as human twins, neither knowing what secrets may be buried deep inside one of them. When they are thirteen years old, a mysterious message arrives, calling the brothers to be heroes and protectors of magic. The boys must leave their sleepy town and risk their lives in the Wild Wood, journeying through the Deep Dark to reach the goblin horde and uncover who they truly are.

In this first book in a new fantasy-adventure series, New York Timesbestselling author William Ritter takes readers on a journey of monsters, magic, and discovery.

S . S. Taylor (Author), Katherine Roy (Illustrator) - The Expeditioners and the Treasure of Drowned Man's Canyon - Published by Harlow Brook Books (July 23, 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-0960083503 - Paperback - Age: 8+

Famed Explorer of the Realm Alexander West is presumed dead in the Fazian rainforest when a mysterious man with a clockwork hand leads Alexander’s son Kit to half of a strange map. Soon Kit, his brother, Zander, and his sister, M.K., are on their way to a remote canyon in the Arizona desert, pursued by government agents and on the trail of a fabled treasure in gold. As danger of all kinds closes in on them, the Expeditioners must use all of their smarts and talents to follow their father’s map, no matter where it leads them.

Robin Scott-Elliot - The Tzar’s Curious Runaways - Book Review - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books

Robin Scott-Elliot is a writer and sporting journalist for both television and the Sunday Times. His first children’s novel, The Tzar’s Curious Runaways, will be published by Everything with Words in October 2019. I know it's a long time to wait but it's definitely worth telling you about now. The book is supported by an amazingly inviting and attractive book cover. It really captures the story inside. 

The story is set in Russia (1725) against the backdrop of the court of Peter the Great. It's a fascinating time in history; a vastly enchanting place, a land full of stories and a great place for exploration. As you turn the first pages, you are introduced to the very well written and endearing main character, Katinka Dashkova, or Kat to her handful of friends. 

Katinka, a dazzling ballerina with a hunched back, and her friends Alexei the Giant and Nikolai the dwarf are very different. In fact, they are part of Peter the Great's Circus of Curiosities. The story starts with a deadly game of hide-and-seek as we soon learn that the Tzar is dead and the characters must flee the Winter Palace. Otherwise, they could face imprisonment or a gruesome death. This sets the fantasy ripples of terror and peril as the Tzar's Circus of Curiosities try to escape the Winter Palace. What will they do and how will they escape?

The adventure takes the reader through a web of fantasy with such a brutal narrative. Every page is filled with wonderment and anticipation that leaves you on tenterhooks. The reader is instantly and easily transported to another world. However, it's a hostile landscape filled with snow-capped icy mountains, haunting great hulking forests and deadly wolves. Armed with a supposedly magical map and courage, the story takes the reader on the ultimate journey of a lifetime. The characters have to cross the vast and deadly landscape across the Steppe and to the Ural Mountains. However, will they get there before they are hunted down and re-captured? 

This is a fantastic book that stops time as you inhale the fantasy adventure that feels like reality. It's a perilous journey featuring extremely brave children. All of whom have found themselves treated as societies outcasts. However, this journey is their bid for freedom as their lives are at stake. The characters work together with bickering and laughter which definitely amuses the reader. The characters stay true to their individual personalities whilst fighting their own personal battles. This certainly gives the story a leading edge which works in harmony with the ongoing narrative. 

This has to be one of the best books that I have read this year - hence the particularly early review. It's a poignant and breathtaking rampage of storytelling goodness. If you dare to believe then you dare to become. I believe this could become a future classic. It's a journey of heart and soul with one of the most interesting sets of individual characters that you will find in children's literature. The story was an absolute joy to read - full of nonstop action/adventure, humour, and friendships. It's a great historical insight into a place and time so different from the here and now. Pop it on your pre-order list NOW.

Lindsey Whitlock - The Collective - Book Review

This is the debut book by American author Lindsey Whitlock. The Collective will be published by Pushkin Children's Books on the 29th of August 2019. The book supports an interesting book cover but, in my opinion, this does not really reflect the story inside. Nevertheless, after reading the synopsis I was subtly intrigued about the plot. This book is not something that I would normally choose to pick up and read for pleasure, however, I'm very glad the publisher sent me a copy to review - thank you. 

The book is set in America after a civil war in which the country becomes very much divided. The narrative is evocative and set in the traditional community of Badfish Creek. It is a coming of age novel centered around a young boy (Elwyn) who longs for change and the chance to leave his a rural background behind him. When his uncle offers him the chance to leave his rural roots behind, he jumps at the opportunity as he is eager to move to Liberty to gain an education and become part of a flourishing world. 

I loved the historical snapshot from a time period so far removed from our very own. It really depicted the differences and traditions between urban and rural life at this time. For me, it captured the essence really well which trickled over me like droplets of freshwater over the tongue. It quenched the fantasy thirst whilst hurtling along the climatic journey of Elwyn - dazzled by the promise of a bright future. The book really tackles the important issues of responsibility, belonging and growing up in a world where things do not always go according to plan. 

This is a fantastically engaging and thought-provoking novel; it's very different from traditional books published in the UK. The book is emotionally charged and will easily suck you in with its charming setting and naive outlook on life. Has Elwyn been blinded by his new future as events threaten the world and the people he has left behind? The story soon becomes a great fight for survival against the powerful and the rich highlighting the true meaning of home, family, and loyalty.

This is a great teenage read; deep and meaningful that will leave a residue of feelings and emotions behind. It's a book that raises a lot of topical questions in a world of displacement. A highly recommended read if you are looking for something different and interesting.  

Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books: US Kids/Young Adult Book Picks - August 2019 - Post One

Katherine Arden - Dead Voices - Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (August 27, 2019) -  ISBN-13: 978-0525515050 - Hardback - Age: 10+

Bestselling author Katherine Arden returns with another creepy, spine-tingling adventure in this follow-up to the critically acclaimed Small Spaces. 

Having survived sinister scarecrows and the malevolent smiling man in Small Spaces, newly minted best friends Ollie, Coco, and Brian are ready to spend a relaxing winter break skiing together with their parents at Mount Hemlock Resort. But when a snowstorm sets in, causing the power to flicker out and the cold to creep closer and closer, the three are forced to settle for hot chocolate and board games by the fire.

Ollie, Coco, and Brian are determined to make the best of being snowed in, but odd things keep happening. Coco is convinced she has seen a ghost, and Ollie is having nightmares about frostbitten girls pleading for help. Then Mr. Voland, a mysterious ghost hunter, arrives in the midst of the storm to investigate the hauntings at Hemlock Lodge. Ollie, Coco, and Brian want to trust him, but Ollie's watch, which once saved them from the smiling man, has a new cautionary message: BEWARE.

With Mr. Voland's help, Ollie, Coco, and Brian reach out to the dead voices at Mount Hemlock. Maybe the ghosts need their help--or maybe not all ghosts can or should be trusted.

Dead Voices is a terrifying follow-up to Small Spaces with thrills and chills galore and the captive foreboding of a classic ghost story.

K. A. Reynolds - The Spinner of Dreams - Published by HarperCollins (August 27, 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-0062673954 - Hardback - Age: 8+

Inventive, empathetic, and strange in all the best ways, The Spinner of Dreams draws from the author’s own experiences to create a story that feels timeless and universal. As she did in her debut The Land of Yesterday, K. A. Reynolds thoughtfully explores mental health and crafts an adventure that fits right alongside middle-grade classics like The Phantom Tollbooth.

Annalise Meriwether—though kind, smart, and curious—is terribly lonely.

Cursed at birth by the devious Fate Spinner, Annalise has always lived a solitary life with her loving parents. She does her best to ignore the cruel townsfolk of her desolate town—but the black mark on her hand won’t be ignored.

Not when the monster living within it, which seems to have an agenda of its own, grows more unpredictable each day. 

There’s only one way for Annalise to rid herself of her curse: to enter the Labyrinth of Fate and Dreams and defeat the Fate Spinner. So despite her anxiety, Annalise sets out to undo the curse that’s defined her—and to show the world, and herself, exactly who she is inside.

Kate Hannigan (Author), Patrick Spaziante (Illustrator) - Cape (The League of Secret Heroes: Bk 1) - Published by Aladdin (August 6, 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1534439115 - Hardback - Age: 8

Hidden Figures meets Wonder Woman in this action-packed, comic-inspired adventure about a brilliant girl puzzler who discovers she’s part of a superhero team!

Josie O’Malley does a lot to help out Mam after her father goes off to fight the Nazis, but she wishes she could do more—like all those caped heroes who now seem to have disappeared. If Josie can’t fly and control weather like her idol, Zenobia, maybe she can put her math smarts to use cracking puzzles for the government.

After an official tosses out her puzzler test because she’s a girl, it soon becomes clear that an even more top-secret agency has its eye on Josie, along with two other applicants: Akiko and Mae. The trio bonds over their shared love of female superhero celebrities, from Fantomah to Zenobia to the Black Cat. But during one extraordinary afternoon, they find themselves transformed into the newest (and youngest!) superheroes in town. As the girls’ abilities slowly begin to emerge, they learn that their skills will be crucial in thwarting a shapeshifting henchman of Hitler, and, just maybe, in solving an even larger mystery about the superheroes who’ve recently gone missing.

Inspired by remarkable real-life women from World War II—the human computers and earliest programmers called “the ENIAC Six”—this pulse-pounding adventure features bold action, brave thinking, and an empowering belief that each one of us has the stuff it takes to be a superhero.

Heather Kassner (Author), Matt Saunders (Illustrator) - The Bone Garden - Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (August 6, 2019) - ISBN-13: 978-1250296894 - Hardback - Age: 9+

"This magical story―and the brave girl in its pages―will haunt you in the best way." ―Natalie Lloyd, New York Times bestselling author of Over the Moon

“Remember, my dear, you do not really and truly exist.” 

Irréelle fears she’s not quite real. Only the finest magical thread tethers her to life―and to Miss Vesper. But for all her efforts to please her cruel creator, the thread is unraveling. Irréelle is forgetful as she gathers bone dust. She is slow returning from the dark passages beneath the cemetery. Worst of all, she is unmindful of her crooked bones.

When Irréelle makes one final, unforgivable mistake by destroying a frightful creature just brought to life, Miss Vesper threatens to imagine her away once and for all. Defying her creator for the very first time, Irréelle flees to the underside of the graveyard and embarks on an adventure to unearth the mysterious magic that breathes bones to life, even if it means she will return to dust and be no more.

A spooky and adventurous debut illustrated fantasy novel about a girl made of dust and bone and imagination who seeks the truth about the magic that brought her to life. 
Featuring illustrations by Matt Saunders!

Susie Day - Max Kowalski Didn't Mean It - Book Review (Puffin)

As I was delving further into the 'to be read' pile, I came across the latest book by Susie Day. Max Kowalski Didn't Mean It will be published in paperback this coming September (2019). The story idea was formed after the author attended a Mental Health First Aid course where a frightening statistic was shared revealing that suicide is the number one cause of death among men aged 20-49. This led to the author writing a middle-grade book that covers mental empathy with great skill. 

The book from the first page is very compelling to read. Max Kowalski is an 11-year old boy who is always in trouble. He wants to be just like his dad: fun, loud, strong and dependable. However, with three younger siblings and a family coping with the loss of their mother the story takes you on a turbulent path that will pull on the emotional heartstrings. Overnight, everything changes when mysterious boxes and even more mysterious bundles of cash start turning up at their house.  The story takes another twist when Max's dad goes missing and Max has to 'step up' and look after his three little sisters: Ripley (a great name!) and twins Thelma and Louise. 

The magic for me in this story starts when Max takes them away to hide in a remote village in Wales. Here they learn about the legend of the golden dragon who guards a hoard of gold on the top of Snowdonia. However, is the legend real? Max wants to be a big hero, so he sets off on a quest to 'do battle'. The story highlights the naivety of the children and the idyllic brilliant setting of the Welsh mountains. The plot breaths fresh air and a dash of fantasy magic throughout it. 

The book explores all of the different forms of masculinity whilst keeping the story upbeat and very uplifting. The three sisters will make you laugh and the interaction between them in this story feels whimsical - filling the story with moments of sorrow and laughter. The characters are brilliantly written and will help young readers relate to many of the situations they are also faced with. Hopefully, this should start to help start and open up conversations about grief and not being the stereotypical family in a world that is ever changing. 

This is a book that will be loved by all. It's a fast-paced family adventure filled with drama, heart, human magic and lots of emotion. Look out for this when it is published as you will not be disappointed.