Check Mates – Stewart Foster

Put it over simply this is Karate Kid but instead of Karate overcoming bullies it’s Chess and ADHD- but that’s gross oversimplification and it is a wonderful heartbreaking and rousing story which I pretty much blubbed constantly throughout. Felix has ADHD which his parents say is a fancy way of saying he’s got ants in …

Pause for WWW Wednesday – 31/07

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Taking on a World Of Words that simply asks three questions. I have had a good week!! What are you currently reading? The Frozen Sea - Piers TordayTurns out I'm a bit wobbly about The Lost Magician (See below) but I was sent this book (out in September) …

Under Earth – Ellen Renner

As much as I have loved some of the sequels out this year, Under Earth may just take the crown as the best, like Godfather Part II, Empire Strikes Back level greatness. Why? Because this book doubles down on all the wonderstuff from Storm Witch and certainly doesn’t disappoint. But most importantly it made me …

The True Colours of Coral Glen – Juliette Forrest

This is not at ALL what I expected from a book that seems to evoke rainbows from the name and colour. I was inspired to read this most of all by the concept of seeing colours more vibrantly and associating colours with mood and people. I’ve always been interested in the concept of synesthesia which …

The Switching Hour- Damaris Young

The Switching Hour by Damaris Young is utterly, jaw-droppingly amazing. It’s creeps under your skin until it grips and refuses to let go drifting you deeper and deeper into its spell. If you like the lyrical style and myth filled peril of Kiran Millwood Hargrave, if you loved the high stakes time pressured Quest to …

I, Cosmo- Carlie Sorosiak

I, Cosmo is a really beautiful and bittersweet story with echoes of Judy Blume crossed with one of those lovely gentle family films were ‘nothing’ yet everything happens. You know the ones where there’s something to work toward but it’s not saving the world or battling dragons, it’s battling feelings and upsets instead. The interesting …

Jemima Small Versus the Universe – Tamsin Winters

Warning: discussion of emotional bullying & peer aggression- both in book and personal. It’s taken me longer than I wanted to be ready to post this. Jemima Small Versus the Universe touches on the shock that was Judy Blume's Blubber but for this generation and done way way way better and with hope, friendship and …