This was a short read. Alan Garner's words are like poetry. You aren't quite sure what everything means, but the story has a heavy considered-ness to This was a short read. Alan Garner's words are like poetry. You aren't quite sure what everything means, but the story has a heavy considered-ness to it. Each word and phrase carefully chosen and shaped with absolute surety to make the whole. There is a real nostalgia to it as well. It has a Sunday afternoon pre-21st century feel to it, where there's just comics to read and outdoors to explore. But also a folk and fairy tale feel, where the characters that Joe meets - Treacle Walker and Thin Amren - are like Faerie Folk or Folk Lore figures, who have existed forever and are trying to teach Joe something subtle about time and himself. And in the end we are not sure whether anything is real or a dream or a parallel world or an afterlife. It was distilled brilliance....more
I loved this 4th volume of #Heartstopper by Alice Oseman the most. It took the story to some darker places for Nick and Charlie, with Mental Health anI loved this 4th volume of #Heartstopper by Alice Oseman the most. It took the story to some darker places for Nick and Charlie, with Mental Health and difficult family, but with still with such love, positivity and celebration on growing up LGBTQ....more
I loved the detail of the setting. And the world of Black Georgian London. I loved how snotty and stubborn Jupiter could be compared to his brother. II loved the detail of the setting. And the world of Black Georgian London. I loved how snotty and stubborn Jupiter could be compared to his brother. It definitely doesn’t pull any punches in terms of the violence and danger a young black boy like Jupiter might face alone in London with no money or prospects. I really enjoyed it. *This Is definitely a YA story....more
Another beautiful historical fiction by Catherine Johnson. Set in 1763.
Nathaniel is a twelve year old slave brought by his master and mistress from JaAnother beautiful historical fiction by Catherine Johnson. Set in 1763.
Nathaniel is a twelve year old slave brought by his master and mistress from Jamaica to England to work in their London house. With the help of his friends, a maid of all works at the house and a cabin boy on the ship he came over on, Nathaniel is able to escape his confinement into the city of London, there he stumbles on a group of black abolitionists who are going to watch a trial about the terrible events that took place on the Zong slave ship. It's a sensitive personal story, that travels from Jamaica to London, and throughout it we witness through Nathaniel's eyes the injustices and cruelties of the slave trade and one of the first events that led to slavery's eventual abolition.
A subtle and thoughtful account, without some of the violence and disturbing imagery you might get in an adult book, but still with a lot for a 8+ or teen readers to think about.
Another great thing about the book is the account of the history of the slave trade in the back, that give a broader picture and encourages further reading, with dates and the sketches of the real-life figures who appear in the story....more
I enjoyed this book a lot, the dialogue and setting feels authentically Georgian. Each scene gives so much great detail that gives the characters dimeI enjoyed this book a lot, the dialogue and setting feels authentically Georgian. Each scene gives so much great detail that gives the characters dimension, away from just moving the plot along. Cato is an engaging hero. I loved the framing device of him telling his story from prison, and the way the heist of the story slowly builds and develops with twists, especially in the third act where the heist segues back into the frame section- that works really well....more
A well considered and brilliant dissertation on the lack and inadequate representation of Black characters in YA Fantasy fiction. It has left me with A well considered and brilliant dissertation on the lack and inadequate representation of Black characters in YA Fantasy fiction. It has left me with a lot to think about....more
A distilled tonic of a book that you can read in just a couple of hours. Filled with peps of inspiration about fairytales, nursery food, book memoriesA distilled tonic of a book that you can read in just a couple of hours. Filled with peps of inspiration about fairytales, nursery food, book memories and how we can recapture all those things in the books we write and read for children.
If you're a librarian, teacher, or children's book reader, or writer, it will inspire you to read more of all the wonderful children's books out there. To think about how and why they were written, and remember the child you were when you first read them....more
This was so great. Much better than I remember the first one - Carry On - being. Stylistically it’s up there with The Magicians series for how slick aThis was so great. Much better than I remember the first one - Carry On - being. Stylistically it’s up there with The Magicians series for how slick and fun and funny it was. I will definitely be reading the last part of the trilogy sometime....more
I loved the meeting with Colonel Dumas and the prison break finale. Just like the first book in the series, it has some great gruesome sawbone scenes!I loved the meeting with Colonel Dumas and the prison break finale. Just like the first book in the series, it has some great gruesome sawbone scenes!!...more
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