Book Reviews
Night Spark by Michael Mann
Nightspark is the thrilling conclusion to the exciting fantasy adventure that began with Michael Mann’s brilliant debut novel, Ghostcloud.
Luke has escaped from captivity in Battersea Power Station and has landed not one but two dream jobs. During the day he works as an Apprentice Detective and at night he travels on his kite-cloud with ghost friend Alma, helping lost souls on their final journeys.
But his friend Ravi has disappeared and Luke is desperate to find him. He begins to follow the clues and discovers to his horror that evil Tabitha Margate is back and seeking revenge.
I particularly love Mann’s fabulously evocative descriptions of place. Nightspark takes the reader on an exciting, magical journey – from smoky, shadowy London, a city teeming with ghosts and visible souls – onto stormy seas, a storm-wracked world of zeppelins, haunted pirate ships and terrible danger.
The Reluctant Rebel by Barbara Henderson
Inverness-based Barbara Henderson writes brilliant, award-winning historical fiction, including The Chessman Thief and The Siege of Caerlaverock, both published by Cranachan Books. The Reluctant Rebel is another thrilling, meticulously researched adventure story, published by Luath Press.
Set after the battle of Culloden, the novel tells the story of young stable boy Archie and his cousin Meg’s brave efforts to save Bonnie Prince Charlie from being captured by government forces. The Reluctant Rebel brims with brilliant historical detail, and is packed with excitement and danger.
Highly recommended for primary schools studying the Jacobites.
War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson
War of the Wind is a thrilling eco-thriller for teens by Victoria Williamson, author of the brilliant children’s novels Hagstorm, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle and The Boy with the Butterfly Mind. A boating accident has caused fourteen-year-old Max to lose his hearing and he is struggling to cope. Then a new wind farm appears off the coast of his island home, and the islanders, both human and animal, start acting strangely. Max finds dead bats on the beach, all the birds have vanished and the dogs, including his Uncle Stuart’s normally gentle dog, Twister, have become scarily aggressive. Realising something horribly sinister is going on, Max decides to investigate, with the help of three friends from his special needs class. Tension and suspense build as the plot unfolds and there are some genuinely scary moments as Max, David, Erin and Beanie attempt “to stop a mad scientist from turning our island into a war zone”.
War of the Wind is an exciting adventure story with an important message about accepting differences.
Thank you Neem Tree Press for sending me a copy in exchange for a honest review.
Ghostcloud by Michael Mann
Ghostcloud is an utterly brilliant debut children’s novel by Michael Mann. The story’s a fast-paced adventure, taking the reader on an exciting journey through a steampunk, dystopian London.
Along with hundreds of other kidnapped children, 12-year-old Luke has been shovelling coal in Battersea Power Station for two years. He is desperate to win a ticket to freedom and to escape the clutches of evil villain, Tabatha Margate.
As the story whizzes along, Mann ramps up the tension and peril. Luke and his friend Jess leap from one crisis to another as they attempt, with the help of ghost-girl Alma, to free themselves and return to their families. Luke is a fabulous main character and his positive attitude and determination help drive the plot.
The dialogue’s sharp and often humorous, and the story has some quieter, thoughtful moments too, involving Luke’s family. The scene in which he sees his Nana Chatterjee standing at the window of his former home, and realises that disaster has befallen his family, is brilliant handled and very emotional.
Reading Ghostcloud is a combination of whizzing along on a rollercoaster and jumping aboard a scary ghost train. It’s a terrific read and I’m already looking forward to the sequel!
Thank you Hachette for sending me a copy in exchange for a honest review.