The Children's Book by A S Byatt

This is a rich book that deserves you linger over every word. It starts in 1895 when 2 boys discover a third less fortunate boy living in the basement regions of the newly developing Victoria and Albert Museum. The story develops as we follow the familes and the connections between these 3 boys, their own and their adoptive families and the way the developing cultural, social and political scene develops and impacts on their worlds and their lives, culminating in the devastation of the first world war.

You need reading stamina to tackle this story but the research and imagination that has gone into it sits lightly in this enthralling but sad mammoth novel. The title derives from one of the main characters - Olive Wellwood, a children's author - who writes imaginative tales that reflect and inspire her children in their own specially constructed books - kept on a shelf in the library at their home. These are constantly added to and rewrittten over the period of the novel - with varying results.

This is a book that you want to continue reading but that you have to read quite slowly so as to savour the experiencce. Read it now!

What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell

This is a cinematic presentation of a life set in a film noir type 1947. Evie, with Mum Bev and step Dad Joe set off to Palm Beach, but out of season. All is not well, but it takes the arrival of an apparently wealthy young man, Peter Coleridge, from Joe's war time past to put the cat among the pigeons and start the inexorable tragedy unrolling. This is a thriller in the best sense, full of romance and longing, treachery and double cross; but all based on some fabulously well drawn characters and situations. Do read this book!

Killing God by Kevin Brooks

Brooks always writes compelling and hard hitting teen novels and this is no exception. Dawn Bundy is a fifteen and an oddball who doesn't fit in. Her Dad walked out some time ago - seemingly in search of God and answers. How can Dawn (and her Mum) deal with this and get on with their lives...

Their is humour midst the chilling message, and this short novel is very hard to put down. The abuse at the centre of the book is handled with care and this makes for a good read with a very strong message

Shadow of the Windby Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Interesting - I nearly gave up on this but persevered and waas glad to have done so. This is an intriguing book, following Daniel's fascination with the life and books of one author, Carax, and the way such a literary curiosity may lead you into a deep and compelling mystery.

Gripping read, full of atmosphere and I wish I knew the way to the Cemetary of Forgotten Books...

Nicholas Dane by Melvin Burgess

Melvin set out to write a campaigning novel in the style of Dickens, and using Dickens' literary architecture - based on Oliver Twist. Most of the stories used in this novel are based on the true stories of people who were in the care system in the corrupt 1980s. This is a compelling novel, full of violence, unbelievable abuse and a deep sense of dread at what will happen next. But it is also a story that needs telling and that needs exposing to a wider audience. I have some qualms that it will seem alien to today's youth, but perhaps that is my construct, and young people read as they find and skip what they don't - so it may create opportunities for talk and discussion, and may stop such abuse ever happening again; and should certainly stop the unforgivable acceptance or rather denial that these things happened in the first place.

The Bride's Farewell

Meg Rosoff's new novel is, as ever, a masterpiece of plotting and character. Pell Ridley leaves home on the morning of her wedding to avoid a marriage to the local blacksmith. Her young brother (who is mute) comes with her and they set off on her pony Jack to escape their destiny. This is set in mid 19th Century Nomansland, with lots of horses, dogs, poachers and open country (around Salisbury Plain) with itinerant people and those out to do others down. This short novel is rich in characters and incident. A real page turner.

Spring Reading

What can I say - it's been a busy time and I haven't had the time to comment as much as I would have liked - but nonetheless I have kept reading....

Some recommendations for a Good read...

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. Set in the American colonies at the time of the revolutionary wars this is the story of Isabel and Ruth - and their slavery in New York. I found it gripping and involving - as well as feeling authentic and I felt I learned a great deal about how it might have been.

The Boy Who Fell Down Exit 43 by Harriet Goodwin. Not yet published I was lucky enough to have a proof copy. This is a new take on the boy who takes and drive away a car to escape his constant grief and guilt over his father's death - and though it deals with a hard subject - and dwells on death (most of the characters are ghosts in the Underworld) the ultimate story is both uplifting, humorous and fun - as well as being an adventure quest of sorts. A good debut novel.

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant. A thriller where the detectives are a slightly misfitting boy and girl in a small German town - where their classmates are going missing. Some of the adults are totally sinister. Another new talent - well worth reading.

Malice by Chris Wooding. I love the idea of this novel - which has graphic elements as well as the usual chapters but was disappointed that it was left on such a cliff hanger ending. A sinister comic - Malice- entices young people into it's terrifying world where they may perish in their attempts to escape...