FCBG24

Another year, another conference! Henceforth known as ‘The Fun One’… the Eurovision/ SuperBowl of the KidLit calendar’ thanks to the very lovely October Jones, the FCBG Conference is always a fabulous occasion and this year’s was no exception! If anyone was wondering whether it’s worth ‘sacrificing’ one of their precious weekends for, the answer is absolutely and unequivocally YES!

This year, Woldingham School in Surrey was where it all happened. The school is set in 700 acres of lovely countryside, making it a very peaceful spot to stay and as the weather was mostly kind to us, a pleasant place to wander round.

Although the Conference Committee and their helpers has been busy for hours, delegates started to arrive at 3pm. It is always lovely to catch up with familiar faces, but a fantastic opportunity to connect with new people as well- discovering the face behind the social media name or simply meeting like minded book-lovers whilst having a cuppa and a cake.

The weekend began in earnest with afternoon tea celebrating the 10th anniversary of Supertato! Not only were there delicious cupcakes, but the tater himself made an appearance, delighting everyone with his willingness to pose for pictures! Following this were the Publishers’ Presentations, a fantastic opportunity to hear about some of the wonderful books which are currently available and coming soon. With such a wealth of books available, it is a great way of spotting books of interest to have a look at and discuss with the publishers at the exhibition!

The Publishers’ Exhibition which followed their presentations is undoubtedly one of the highlights of Conference for many delegates. The opportunity to have a closer look at some of the books mentioned in the presentations is a real joy, but actually being able to meet lovely publishing people is really special, offering an opportunity to chat about different titles, enter competitions and perhaps be offered a proof copy of something up-coming! And they really are lovely people..!

After dinner, everyone headed to the Mansion House for drinks. Sam Sedgman gave a brilliant talk about his work, including his latest book, ‘The Clockwork Conspiracy’ (review here). His knowledge, sense of humour and enthusiasm for discovering things and being interested in the world made him an absolute joy to listen to!

A hard act to follow you might think, but what came next was a fabulous session of music and poetry from three of the best! Treating us to a medley of well-known songs with altered lyrics such as ‘Feeding my Mind’ (Staying Alive) and ‘FCBG’ (Tragedy), the combined talents of Laura Mucha (review of ‘Celebrate!’ here and ‘Dear Ugly Sisters’ here), John Dougherty (The Hare-Shaped Hole here) and Roger Stevens (review of Razzmatazz here) were just what was needed to round off what had been an excellent start to the weekend!

Saturday was off to a bang with Cressida Cowell (The Wizards of Once) and David Almond (Bone Music), two real treasures of children’s books who I could have listened to all day! They were followed by a session called ‘Disadvantaged Boys Have Feelings Too’ with Brian Conaghan and Nathanael Lessore which I wasn’t able to enjoy as I was on the reception desk at this time, but which everyone was full of praise for!

After another round of cupcakes, Jenny Pearson took the stage for a fabulously funny and entertaining session. This was followed by the choice of four seminars: NSSM with Margaret Bateson-Hill, NNFN, graphic novels with Steve Webb and how to become an author with Julia Green (The Boy who Sailed the World). A tough decision to make!

After lunch, there was a session with Jennifer Killick (Dread Wood) and Peter Bentley (Octopus Shocktopus), past winners of the CBA which some children had been invited to attend. Next came the ‘Empathy in Picture Books’ panel with Mariajo Ilustrajo, Farrah Riaz and Kim Hillyard (Mabel and the Mountain), a wonderful session! More tea and cake followed to celebrate 30 years of ‘Dinosaur Roar!’ before the Group meetings.

And there was still more to come! We celebrated Michael Morpurgo’s 80th birthday with him before the Gala Dinner and then the incomparable David Fickling gave the after dinner speech! His enthusiasm and energy are completely infectious, making the perfect end to another perfect day!

Although some were a little bleary eyed from staying on at the bar the night before, everyone was up bright and early on Sunday to enjoy yet more book-ish joy! The first session was Lisa Williamson, an excellent YA author (First Day of My Life) , talking about her new MG series ‘Best Friends Forever’. This was followed by ‘Inclusion in Fiction’, a panel event with Sarah Hagger-Holt, Lisette Auton and Karen Owen. Lisette Auton wasn’t able to join us in person, but appeared on screen! Both of these session were thought-provoking as well as enjoyable.

Our final tea break -more cake!- was followed by ‘Fantasy with an Environmental Twist’, a fascinating session with Pari Thomson, Jess French and Rachel Delahaye (Day of the Whale). And last, but very much not least, Christopher Edge (Escape Room) closed conference in style with another excellent, fun session which no one will forget in a hurry!

Time for lunch and then we were all saying our goodbyes- and promising to meet again in Monmouth next year so we can do it all again! Many thanks to the Conference Committee for organising such a fabulous event and many apologies if I’ve left anyone out of the pictures! Can’t wait for FCBG25!

Splinters

With her best friend moving to Scotland, Jean is only consoled by the thought of spending the summer with her first boyfriend, Leon. However, when he tells her that he is off to America for three weeks and her parents announce the family are moving house, her holiday does not go to plan and things get worse as, on his return, Leon seems changed towards her. No longer the loving boyfriend who went away, he is cold and distant, determined only to get his hands on a strange mirror in Jean’s possession, a mirror which seems to reflect a world of different choices and possibilities.

Intriguing from the first page, ‘Splinters’ is another stunning read from Rachel Delahaye. It is also going to be very hard to review without spoiling it for any future readers- and I really don’t want to do that!

Jean really represents all of us at some time or another. Things are not going smoothly for her and she is experiencing her fair share of teenage angst, heartache, friendship and family problems- all the things which make you start to question the choices you have made- the what ifs - about life. However, she really learns that the grass is not always greener and that what might appear to be the ‘unadventurous simplicity’ of someone else’s life is no better than your own. The story is brilliantly constructed, keeping the reader constantly guessing - and perhaps challenging them to reflect on what their own choices might (or might not) be!

Character is something Rachel does really well and different facets of personality are skilfully explored here, how the ways we react to others, how we handle situations, how our choices affect our lives. No life is perfect, but the one we have is the one we should focus on. As well as being an extremely gripping read, the story offers much to reflect upon. In the end, there are still choices to be made, leaving the reader wondering which one Jean finally makes.

There is so much to recommend ‘Splinters’- not least the way music has been used throughout the story! It is a deliciously dark tale, full of suspense and I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Splinters Rachel Delahaye

Troika

Coming soon…

You can read my review of ‘Day of the Whale’ here and ‘Electric Life’ here.

When Frankie Made a Human

All Frankie wants is to make a friend. His monster classmates are constantly unkind to him, leaving him feeling lonely. He decides to make himself a friend- a human one. After the Big Argument, humans moved away from Monsterweld, but Frankie is sure it will be OK. However, as he gets to know his creation, Frankie realises that humans might be more trouble than they are worth…

Told with Rachel Delahaye’s trademark humour, ‘When Frankie Made a Human’ is a brilliant read. Although a ‘monster’, Frankie is a gentle, thoughtful soul who longs for a friend. In a twist on Mary Shelley’s original, the monster creates a human who he calls Fido- with disastrous consequences. Although Fido’s antics provide much to chuckle over, the story cleverly presents the reader with plenty to think about in terms of how humans’ desire for progress is not always a good thing.

The importance of friendship is at the heart of the book. Frankie’s classmates taunt him with their thoughtless comments and unkind behaviour, suddenly taking interest in him when they thought it was worth it for them and then casually abandoning him again once they lost interest. Fido becomes manipulative, using ‘friendship’ as a way of getting Frankie to agree with him and even Frankie is suspicious of ‘Spooky Suki’ and her dolls before coming to value her as a friend. The story offers plenty of opportunities for discussions about getting to know people rather than judging on appearance and exploring what real friendship might look like.

There is so much to enjoy and explore in this story! Generously illustrated throughout by Maïté Schmitt, it would make a perfect class story or guided reading text as well as a most enjoyable independent read. I hope there are more adventures for Frankie and Suki to come!

When Frankie Made a Human

Rachel Delahaye, illustrated by Maïté Schmitt

Sweet Cherry ISBN: 978-1782268253

You can read my review of Mort the Meek and the Monstrous Quest here , Mort the Meek and the Perilous Prophecy here, Day of the Whale here and Electric Life here.

Electric Life

Alara lives a ‘perfect’ life in Estrella where everything is tightly controlled and it is mandatory to carry a ‘Flip’ (Fully Linked Information Platform) so everyone is connected. Feelings of boredom and being ‘dulled’ are frowned upon yet Alara often feels disconnected. The skyscraper city is built on the ruins of the old city, now known as London Under, and Alara finds herself selected to go on a secret mission to gather vital intelligence about a world completely different to her own. But what she discovers makes her start to question everything she has known…

I have said it before, but have to say it again- Rachel Delahaye is an outstanding writer who really knows how to create believable worlds and compelling characters, immersing the reader completely in the story. ‘Electric Life’ is a one-sitting read- it is impossible to put down once started.

As with ‘Day of the Whale’, another of Rachel’s books, the story is both a thoroughly good read and offers plenty to think about. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems in the perfect world of Estrella, posing questions about what citizens of the ‘Star City’ might be sacrificing for their idyllic lifestyle. Everyone seems to live their lives through and around their screens which provide entertainment and constantly monitor their health and safety. They are happy to accept the parameters and rules which keep them safe… there are so many questions to be asked here and Alara’s experiences certainly make the reader think about

The story is fast-paced and full of action, building a frighteningly believable version of the future. Alara is a very likeable character- standing out against the stereotypical versions of her peers, not quite fitting in, longing for different. Readers may well recognise her clumsy attempts to ‘find’ friends and be ‘normal’ and like her all the more for ultimately coming to be herself. As she has experiences we take for granted for the first time- feeling pain, sharing human contact, tasting real food, the wild joy of a party night out- you can feel her coming alive and responding to each new sensation.

There is so much more I could say, but for fear of spoiling this brilliant book for other readers, I will finish by saying- it’s fab. Make sure you read it!

Electric Life Rachel Delahaye

Troika ISBN: 978-1912745326

You can read my review of ‘Day of the Whale’ here.

Mort the Meek and the Perilous Prophecy

‘…we don’t like strangers on Brutalia, let alone strangers that are fiendish.’

When the Queen of Brutalia declares that everyone must be alert to the presence of strangers, fear falls over the land ‘like an itchy blanket’. As a pacifist, Mort is more inclined to believe that strangers might be friends than enemies and when he and Weed meet Genia and Vita from the tropical island of Bonrock, it seems he is right. Sent on a mission to Bonrock to learn more, the boys find a warm welcome and a beautiful location …but is everything as it seems?

Rachel Delahaye’s ‘Day of the Whale’ is one of my favourite books and the contrast in style between that and the ‘Mort the Meek’ series shows what a talented and versatile author she is. And yet, amid all the humour and horseplay, punning and pacifism of the Mort books, some fairly serious points are being made.

Children love these books for their fiendish humour and deliciously dark happenings. Each chapter begins with Ratty and Ratto the rats sharing a joke (with a gust appearance from Larry and Bruce the lobsters), relishing in the word play and punning which is a key feature of each book. The use of homophones and grammar in a playful, entertaining way is perfect for using to illustrate spelling and grammar lessons, making it relevant and lighthearted. There are points at which the characters help to clarify the words which Mort and Weed are sure have been made up and help to correct their grammar, helping the reader to understand along the way. It’s beautifully done- and skilfully!

As the boys explore a different world, Mort continues to hold onto his pacifist principles and Weed develops a serious crush whilst events thunder to their exciting conclusion. Any of the books in this series would make an excellent read aloud with plenty to discuss and enjoy with a class, for a fabulous bedtime story or as a most enjoyable independent read. George Ermos’s illustrations are the perfect complement to the story.

Mort the Meek and the Perilous Prophecy

Rachel Delahaye, illustrated by George Ermos

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788955706

You can read my review of ‘Mort the Meek and the Monstrous Quest’ here and ‘Day of the Whale’ here.

Meet Rachel Delahaye

‘Day of the Whale’ is one of the best books that I have read. Thought-provoking, challenging, full of evocative descriptions and engaging characters, it is one which I will be recommending and sharing constantly! Being able to ask author, Rachel Delahaye, some questions was a fantastic opportunity and I am delighted to be able to share these today!

1.     Cam's curiosity and determination to ask questions in the face of danger leads him to uncover some frightening truths. Did you write the story with the idea that it might encourage readers to challenge what they are told and to ask questions of their own?

No and yes. I didn’t set out to make any point when I began writing this story – I decided to launch into the world-building of Cetacea and see where it took me. It first took me to Utopia and then took me to a flipside – a place where I imagined how a small, isolated population, eager for preservation, could easily be manipulated by someone with a more sinister purpose. As soon as this dark side of paradise began unfolding, I begged my brainwashed characters to dig deeper. I realised very quickly that this wasn’t going to be adventure for adventure’s sake – and that, yes, I wanted my readers to find the truth, alongside Cam and his friends. In my opinion, there’s only one way to do that, and that’s to ask questions and to challenge the slogans we’re told explain everything. I hope the story shows that curiosity isn’t annoying, knowledge isn’t something to be suspicious of, and critical thinking is the key to finding truth; being told what we want to hear isn’t always kindness, it can be manipulation; what’s popular isn’t always what’s right. If a single reader comes away with the desire to ask more questions because of it, then I’ll be a very happy author. That was a bit long-winded, I’m sorry!

2.     Cetacea is located where Australia used to be and your descriptions of the landscape are wonderful. Why did you choose this part of the world as the setting for 'Day of the Whale'?

I was born in Australia and although I haven’t spent much of my life there (I moved to the UK when I was six, and then lived there for a few years in my 20s) it’s the kind of place that leaves a mark. Behind the glossy cities, there’s an ancient country with wild and diverse landscapes, rainbow colours, and skies that either yawn with endless blue or bubble with turbulent storms. It’s dramatic and captivating. During lockdown, I found myself missing it, and itching to write about the landscape and play around in its palette. I’m a huge fan of Australian author, Tim Winton, and I guess I was trying to emulate his style in a way – his descriptions of Australia are super sensory, wild and full of contrasts. Australia is not just a place, it’s a character. In addition to that, I wanted to introduce readers to the incredible wildlife and use that zoo-like environment of a small island to bring them all together, desert and jungle creatures side by side. There may be animals that readers haven’t even heard of – animals that might not be here much longer. What better way to show what’s a stake if we don’t look after our world? 

3.     Banjo feels a deep connection to his First Nation's heritage. What research/ advice did you seek to help you form his explanations/ ideas? 

I’m really glad you asked me this. To write a story about Australia and the importance of the past without including First Nations peoples to me would have been outrageous. As a white, far-flung Australian, I naturally felt unsure about how to write it, but Banjo came bounding into my head and led the way. Despite his light skin and fair hair, he is a descendent of the Darkinjung people of the Central Coast in NSW Australia – it’s an area I’m familiar with, and the Darkinjung are also known as the Whale Dreaming people, which of course is an absolutely perfect fit. It’s not explained exactly how Banjo is a ‘descendant’ – only that he is aware of his heritage because his parents broke the Cetacea law of not speaking about the past and whispered Dreamtime stories to him in his bed. Although better than most, his understanding of his ancestry is childlike, which provided a forgiving platform for my own very basic knowledge. Of course, in preparation, I read books, but no amount of reading could qualify me as an educator or any kind of authority – for a start, there are over Australian 800 First Nations dialects. But it did convince me that what I was doing was right. That aspect of my story is not my ‘voice’, but I recognise it as being very important – and I would be delighted if readers were inspired to discover more about First Nations history, art, cultures, because of it. What I did talk about, I knew needed to be right, so when I wrote Banjo’s explanation of what white man named The Dreamtime, I got in touch with Gavi Duncan, an Aboriginal Darkinjung Elder. Through back-and-forth emails, I got the child-friendly definition of the Dreamtime as close to correct as I could, with his approval. He also told me the Dreamtime story of Toorongong the Whale. With that in hand, it felt like I had all the threads to weave a beautiful, meaningful tale. This September, I'm going to Australia to meet with him.

4.     There are strong environmental themes running through the story, but although whales are part of this, they are not what the story is actually about. To me, they are more a symbol of all that has been lost as Cam's people have been deceived with the lie that they need to strive to make amends for the dirty past. Is this how you see it? 

This is hard to answer, because the whale came before the story itself, and it arrived not as a symbol but as a starting point. It began when an image sprung to mind of a boy looking at a giant screen with a blue whale on it. I knew I had to write something, but I didn’t really know what… All I had was ‘the whales are talking to the people through the screen’. Why? I came up with the idea of an island being ruled by whales. As I started to write, my own fears about populist politics and climate change melted together, and the whale became a symbol of a huge deception, yes – how big tricks can be pulled right in front of our eyes – but it had several other functions too: they represent climate catastrophe and also education, illustrating what we have to lose and what we have to gain. Whales are crucial for the environment; if they go extinct, then we really are in trouble (their role in the ecosystem supplies us oxygen). But their incredible communication, compassion and teaching of life-skills to their young can be an inspiration. To us small humans, they also instil a sense of awe. And we need to sustain that same feeling of awe about our planet and its creatures. Because when they’re gone, they’re gone. And then we’re gone, too. And finally, through the story of Toorongong, they represent everything from creation to kinship, to the wisdom of our elders. And to that, I say, never ignore history. It tells us all we need to know, especially about human nature.  

5.     Your 'Mort the Meek' books and the Jim Reaper series are very funny stories- a complete contrast to 'Day of the Whale'! You do both styles very well, but which do you prefer writing?

Sorry to be annoyingly predictable, but I don’t have a favourite. The comedy is a lot of fun. It’s invigorating and light and tends to skip from my fingertips – it’s enormously enjoyable and, dare I say, comes to me more easily that my more intense stuff. But that intense stuff, writing stories that make the brain tick and the heart thump, is intoxicating. It’s harder to get right. My drafts run into double figures. But every redraft is worth it, because not only am I getting the words right, I’m finding new strands to the plot and new ways to weave them together, and I’m getting to know characters in more depth and in turn they’re enriching the story with their actions and reactions. If I could continue my career switching between thrillers and gigglers, that would be perfect!  

6.     What can we expect from you next?

I’m currently editing a futuristic duology (possibly trilogy) which will be out next year, which explores the definitions of freedom and choice, which is very exciting. I’m also toying with some more comedy ideas and a sister book to Day of the Whale, set at sea. All in good time!

7.     And lastly- and most importantly according to my niece- what is your favourite cake?

Really moist lemon drizzle cake with a crisp sugar crust and heaps of lemon juice. Anyone who doesn’t agree is wrong.

Huge thanks to Rachel for answering these questions- so hard to decide which ones to ask!- and I cannot recommend ‘Day of the Whale’ highly enough! You can read my review of it here, but much better than that, read it yourself!!

Day of the Whale Rachel Delahaye

Troika ISBN: 978-1912745197

Day of the Whale

Cam and his mother live in Cetacea, part of Australia which survived the floods, where people worship whales, particularly Big Blue, whose wishes are interpreted by Byron Vos, founder and leader of the area. Everyone is working together to repair the damage caused by their forefathers, but Cam is on a mission of his own. His father is missing and his last words to Cam were Follow Big Blue. Find the truth. With help from his new friends, Banjo and Petra, Cam is determined to discover what happened to his father, but in doing this, they uncover dangerous secrets which might just destroy the world as they know it.

This is one of the best books I have read in ages and I have attempted to write a review of it several times. I can’t do it justice, no matter how hard I try- so here’s my best go! Combining a powerful environmental message with a tale of intrigue and deception, ‘Day of the Whale’ is a compelling page-turner which enthralls the reader from beginning to end. However, it’s also a story which is very hard to review without spoiling for others!

Evocative descriptions bring Cam’s world vividly to life- the relentless heat, the arid landscape and beyond, the ocean ‘like a huge beast shifting in its sleep’ alongside the details of their daily lives as the community strives to make amends for the mistakes of Long Ago- the dirty past.

His mother, lost and depressed since the disappearance of Cam’s father, is desperate for him to ‘be a good Cetacea boy’ and not draw attention to himself, but new friends open Cam’s eyes to new possibilities and different versions of the truth. There is darkness and danger in this world with its struggles for power and control, greed and tyranny- and yet, the story ends with so much hope for the future- for the good in people working together for a common aim.

Petra and Banjo are wonderful characters. Like Cam, they don’t quite fit in Cetacean society. Banjo feels a deep connection to the land and his First Nation’s heritage whilst Petra believes somewhere is ‘only home if you’re free to leave it’. Both challenge Cam to question ‘the establishment’, opening his eyes to new possibilities whilst they try to make sense of the information and mis-information of their world.

I cannot stress how much I loved this book- nor how much I recommend everyone reads it. Nothing I can write will do it justice- just read it for yourself!

Day of the Whale Rachel Delahaye

Troika ISBN: 978-1912745197

You can read my review of ‘Mort the Meek and the Ravens’ Revenge’ here and ‘Mort the Meek and the Monstrous Quest’ here.

Mort the Meek and the Monstrous Quest

Having decided she is a god, the Queen of Brutalia has offered a prize to anyone bold enough to take to the seas and return bearing treasure. Mort is amongst the brave adventurers who set sail, but he is motivated by the desire to find his father and the twins, Gosh and Gee, rather than bringing the Queen riches. Although his sailing partner was supposed to be Weed, best friend and fellow pacifist, Mort has ended up sharing a boat with Punky Mason, a rock-crusher’s daughter and pacifist’s nightmare. When they find evidence of the legendary sea-monster, the Belgo, peace loving Mort is convinced it is responsible for the disappearance of his family and becomes consumed by the desire for revenge. Will he be able to stick to the Pacifist Promise?

Full of quirky humour, this deliciously dark tale is brimming with word play and fun. Each chapter is introduced by lobsters, Larry and Bruce, who continue the tradition of corny jokes started by the ravens in book one. The Queen/ God Queen’s alarming fashion sense (tarantula leg eyelashes!) is only slightly outdone by her imaginative and dastardly Punishments of the Day- all of which are sure to make the reader chuckle. Anb bon’t unberestimate the denefits of deing adle to recognise ‘b’ anb ‘d’ either!

Although Mort ends up partnered with Punky, who initially seems like his worst nightmare, the two form a strong partnership and Mort realises that appearances can be deceiving. Having let his fury cloud his judgement, ultimately, Mort stays true to his beliefs and remains Mort the Meek, the gentle pacifist we came to love in the first book, rather than becoming Mort the Murderer.

The story is brilliantly illustrated by George Ermos who captures many scenes, using a mixture of full page pictures as well as smaller ones through the text. Larry and Bruce appear at the beginning of each chapter and their range of expressions is incredible!

Ono (from book one) is only mentioned in passing in this story, which is a shame, but perhaps that little mention is hint of another book including her to come? We can only hope so. Meanwhile, Mort learns there ‘is beauty wherever you look for it’ and almost everyone lives happily ever after…But, in a land like Brutalia, who can tell what might happen next?!

Mort the Meek and the Monstrous Quest

Rachel Delahaye, illustrated by George Ermos

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788953153

NB: Teachers- just be aware that ‘sod off’ is used a few times in the text!