Seawitch

As part of taking her ‘Sapling’ test and moving a step closer to becoming a fully trained witch, Cassie Morgan must take on the challenge of training a new witch; however, when one arrives, Robin Kendrick is not what she- or the rest of 1st Hedgely coven- were expecting. When a letter arrives from her cousin, Sebastian, asking for her help in solving a mystery, Oak Patrol- with their new member, head off to the Faerie border town of Porthmorven whose protector the Seawitch is nowhere to be found, leaving the town vulnerable. Can Cassie and her friend work out what is going on and foil the Erl King’s plans before it’s too late?

‘Seawitch’ is the third book in this magical series about Cassie- and each seems better than the last! Wonderfully atmospheric, both characters and scenery are vividly portrayed, offering a very satisfying and immersive read.

With the support of her friends, Cassie is gaining in confidence, determined to become a witch and find her parents. Level headed and fair, she still has some qualms about the acceptance of Robin- a boy- into the coven so that he can train to be a witch- something seen as a female role. Skye McKenna explores the young witches prejudices really well - ‘You’ve got to be resourceful and observant and well… they [boys] just aren’t.’- challenging stereotypical gender roles.

‘Seawitch’ moves at a very pleasing pace, with plenty of action and Cassie learning more about her parents whilst leaving tantalising clues and paving the way for more stories to come. Although magical stories, this series has so much to recommend it to any reader that those who claim not to be fans of this genre will find themselves enjoying the books just as much as those who are!

Seawitch

Skye McKenna, illustrated by Tomislav Tomic

Welbeck ISBN: 978-1801301282

You can read my review of ‘Hedgewitch’ here and ‘Woodwitch’ here.

Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery

Marnie Midnight is really excited to be starting at Minibeast Academy where she hopes to follow in the footsteps of her heroine, Lunora Wingheart, the famous Moonologist who used to be a pupil there. But, to her disappointment, Marnie soon finds out that nobody believes in moon magic anymore. Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, Marnie and her new friends, Star and Floyd, decide to search for the truth…

From her introduction, portrait gallery of characters and map of Thimbledown to the end of the story, this new story from Laura Ellen Anderson is a charming, captivating adventure, perfect for fans of her ‘Amelia Fang’ and ‘Rainbow Grey’ series.

The detailed world building is wonderful and there are plenty of mini-beast facts woven into the tale, making this delightful story the perfect starting point for discovering more. Marnie, Floyd and Star are great characters- each personality is well-developed, showing how different natures can complement each other, each bringing their own strengths to a friendship, offering support.

The illustrations are delightful, adding much to the book and sparking imagination and interest. Whether sharing as a class story, a bedtime read or for children to love as an independent read, ‘Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery’ is a real joy!

Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery

Laura Ellen Anderson

Farshore ISBN: 978-0008591335

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Ghostly Getaway

Bea and her classmates are off on a residential to spooky Cadabra Castle. It’s sure to be a magical trip with lots to do and plenty of fun to be had…if Year 7 can just stop arguing. However, their teachers have different ideas. Miss Lupo is determined that they keep up their Potions work and they are travelling in an old orange Ordinary bus! To top it all, they have been set a series of witchy mystery challenges as Miss Sparks is sure a few team building activities will help this argumentative lot learn to work together.

Bea’s adventures started when she and her father moved to Little Spellshire and she found herself accidentally enrolled to go to the School of Extraordinary Arts. This mishap led to her attending a school for witches, but, after a somewhat exhausting and baffling start, Bea settled in well to magical life, recording her secret experiences in her diary. Now in her third term, she has started a new diary with some New Year’s resolutions.

Told in a very light-hearted style, these books make very appealing reading yet in each story Bea overcomes or solves a problem which readers themselves might encounter. In this story, as well as the on-going conflicts and rivalries with certain classmates, Bea is really worried that her father’s work (researching the bizarre weather patterns of Little Spellshire) is coming to an end and she will soon be forced to leave her new school and friends if she and her father move elsewhere. Instead of talking to him about this, she concocts a plan of action, but (as is often the case!) hasn’t thought this through, leading to on-going problems and an increasing sense of anxiety for Bea. The easiest thing to do to set her mind at rest was to actually talk to her father…which she eventually does!

This story also shows the importance of teamwork and setting aside differences. When forced to work with her nemesis, Bea needs to find a way of cooperating with Blair and the girls come to realise that this is the way to succeed. Told with much humour and ‘quirkiness’, there is no heavy moralising or preaching here- just Bea’s dawning appreciation of the fact. I love the way the teachers nudge them towards this by creating the right conditions and then sitting back and letting it happen!

Perfect for younger, reluctant (or really any!) reader, ‘Diary of an Accidental Witch: Ghostly Getaway’ is a great addition to this series. It would make a fun class read, but actually engaging with the text with it’s footnotes, corrections, annotations and fabulous illustrations by Katie Saunders make it great for curling up with independently!

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Ghostly Getaway

Perdita and Honor Cargill, illustrated by Katie Saunders

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788953405

Diary of an Accidental Witch: Ghostly Getaway

Perdita and Honor Cargill

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-

Magicborn

Since the day of the Almost Drowning, Tempest has lived with her two fathers, the kind men who saved her. She can remember nothing of her life before this time nor how she can understand her robin, Coriel, when he speaks to her, but is happy living at the Ferry Keeper’s Cottage with Prosper and Marino. When a sinister stranger arrives at the river crossing, he convinces her to ferry him across the river despite her misgivings and she finds herself caught up in his hunt for a Wild Boy. The stranger, Lord Hawthorn, is the Royal Sorcerer, who recognises Tempest as Magicborn and takes her along with the Wild Boy back to Kensington Palace where things are not as they seem.

Telling two intertwined stories, ‘Magicborn’ is an incredible adventure, full of magic and mystery, friendship and deception. Set in 1726, the story takes place in an alternate version of England and in Fairyland as events surrounding Tempest and Thomas, the Wild Boy, unfold.

Relationships are very much at the heart of this story. The three children, twins, Tempest and Thomas, born princess and prince of Fairyland, and Kwesi, unwilling apprentice to Lord Hawthorn, learn to trust and value one another in the face of great danger and deception. Kwesi’s story is deeply poignant and its telling adds another layer to the book, offering much to contemplate and discuss. Tempest’s foster-fathers offer a stark contrast to her birth mother, showing how complex families can be and how blood ties might not be the most important factor in these.

Completely absorbing and compelling, the story moves swiftly, capturing the reader’s imagination. ‘Magicborn’ would make an excellent read aloud for a class and being the first in a new series, offers the promise of more spell-binding stories to come!

Magicborn Peter Bunzl

Usborne ISBN: 978-1803707570

Originally reviewed for Reading Zone.

You can read my review of ‘Cogheart’ here.

Starfell: Willow Moss and the Magic Thief

Having recently fought dangerous wizard, Silas, Willow Moss has been drained of her magical powers, but the danger to Starfell is far from over. With the help of her friends, Willow decides to go in search of the legendary Craegun, a powerful creature believed to be able to restore anything which has been lost, who lives in the mountains of Nach. Willow knows there will be a heavy price to pay, but Starfell and everything she loves is in danger, leaving this brave young witch determined, once again, to do her best.

The ‘Starfell’ series has been incredible and this latest (but I hope not last!) visit to Willow’s world is every bit as wonderful as the others. Full of endearing and engaging characters, the stories celebrate friendship, loyalty and believing in yourself.

Willow is so lovely. Over the course of the books, she has grown in confidence and has come to value her abilities whilst remaining kind, thoughtful and sensitive to the needs of others. Through her gentle nature, she inspires loyalty and love from those she meets- finally, her sisters recognise her worth, giving her due credit! Names (always so important to me!) have been so carefully chosen, adding to each character and Oswin continues to capture everyone’s heart with his ways as cantankerous as ever, but his affection and devotion to Willow unshakeable.

The Starfell world is richly developed and full of detail and colour with each location vividly drawn, pulling you into this world of magic and wonder. Sarah Warburton’s illustrations are the perfect complement to the text and under the dust jacket, the book cover is a joy.

An excellent series which captures both the heart and the imagination, the ‘Starfell’ books are simply brilliant!

Starfell: Willow Moss and the Magic Thief

Dominique Valente, illustrated by Sarah Warburton

Harper Collins ISBN: 978-0008308513

The Great Fox Illusion

The Great Fox, world famous illusionist and man of mystery, has died and the ‘Great Fox Hunt’ has been launched to find his worthy successor. The competition is open only to children under 14- the age he was when he first got into magic and a television show is being made of the event. Flick Lions is determined to win the competition, but she has her eyes on a far greater prize than the Great Fox’s old tricks- she wants to recover the trick she believes the Great Fox stole from her father, who has since gone missing.

What a brilliant read! Original and absorbing, full of magic, tricks and illusions, the book is bursting with puzzles for the reader to ponder- and for Flick, and her partner, Charlie, to solve. Pitched against Harry and Ruby Townsend- who have their own agenda for winning- Flick and Charlie take on the challenges set by the Great Fox and those of appearing on a game show.

Flick is an engaging, strong character who is determined to win the competition for the good of her family. She has a prosthetic leg and the author does not shy away from showing the reader the pain it can cause her, developing empathy for her situation. Charlie has his own reasons for wanting to win the competition and as their friendship develops and they come to trust one another, sharing their secrets and making a formidable team.

This would make an excellent class read with plenty of opportunities to introduce the children to magic tricks and illusions along the way. ‘The Fox Files’ at the end of the story explains how to perform a card trick which they are sure to love and might awaken a new interest or hobby in one or two of them!

The whole story is brilliantly contrived, managing layers of secrets and illusions- and an ending which invites a sequel! I very much hope that there is one to come…soon!

The Great Fox Illusion Justyn Edwards

Walker Books ISBN: 978-1529501940

Hedgewitch

The FCBG Conference is rapidly approaching, offering an author-packed weekend of book-ish fun. I was delighted to notice that the first event is to be tea with Welbeck Flame, celebrating ‘Hedgewitch’ with author, Skye McKenna. Lucky enough to be sent a copy of this most enjoyable book to review for Reading Zone, I am looking forward to this event very much! ‘Hedgewitch’ would make a fantastic class read, offering much to discuss and enjoy along the way. I will write more about this after conference, but for now, here is my review for Reading Zone!

Cassie Morgan has been waiting for her mother to return for her for seven long years. Now her mother has been declared legally dead and she is faced with going to the orphanage, Cassie decides to run away from Fowell House, the awful boarding school she has been attending, whatever the danger. She finds herself chased by a pack of goblins, but escapes their clutches with the help of a talking cat called Montague on a flying broom to the village of Hedgely. Here, she learns that she comes from a family of witches who protect Britain from the Faerie and that she is the niece of the Hedgewitch herself.

What a fabulous read! Skye McKenna balances the real and magic worlds with skill, creating a rich and well developed story. Cassie is subjected to bullying at her school, victim of the hockey team and their leader, Lizzie Bleacher, who make her life miserable. These pages are uncomfortable reading as Cassie tries to become ‘invisible’, isolated from any hope of friendship or support from a seemingly complicit staff, yet suffers verbally and physically at the hands of her tormentors.

Determined to find out what happened to her mother, Cassie shows herself to be determined and resourceful, making firm friendships as she navigates her new life. There is plenty of action and adventure to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Montague is a wonderful character, delivering advice in the most cat-like manner and ultimately proving the most faithful familiar!

A great read for those who love magic and mystery!

Hedgewitch Skye McKenna

Welbeck Flame ISBN: 978-1801300087

Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup

Adventure and magic await in every teacup!

Born with fox ears, Yesterday Crumb is forced to work in the circus where she was abandoned. However, her life changes when she is rescued by a caustic raven called Madrigal and goes to live with Miss Dumpling at her magical tea shop with flamingo legs known as Dwimmerly End. Starting as an apprentice tea witch, Yesterday finds herself surrounded by incredible customers, flying teapots and magic. Here, she learns that she is a strangeling who has lost her magic and begins to feel that she has found her place in the world.

But a sinister figure called Mr Weep seems to be trying to ensure that things do not run smoothly for her…

Exciting and imaginative, ‘Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup’ is an incredible read. I could not put it down and was completely absorbed into Yesterday’s world. Whilst there are sure to be comparisons with other magical adventure stories, Andy Sagar’s world building and attention to detail make it unique and special.

Yesterday- or Essie as she becomes known- is a wonderful character. Feisty and impetuous, she is also incredibly vulnerable, full of insecurities and questions about her past. This feeling of being different and being made to feel different is tackled throughout the story and Essie finds inner courage and self belief with the support of her new-found ‘family’ who all belong, no matter what. Mr Weep is a suitably despicable villain who seems intent on thwarting Essie’s happiness in her new life.

Who wouldn’t want to spend time in the teashop?! There is such joy in the descriptions of Miss Dumpling and her travelling teashop with its wonderful concoctions that everything is vividly brought to life and you can almost smell the Chimera Creampuffs and taste the Pearlescent Peppermint!

With so many characters to ‘do the voices for’ and being such an immersive treat for the imagination, ‘Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup’ would make an incredible class story, no doubt inspiring children to create their own magical shops and get swept up in their own magical adventures. Such a treat!

Heart-warming and wholesome…there’s nothing that can’t be solved with a pot of tea and a slice of cake!

Yesterday Crumb and the Storm in a Teacup Andy Sagar

Orion ISBN: 978-1510109483