Category: The Review Crew Middle Grade

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu, reviewed by Mia

When Onyeka discovers she has a superpower, her life changes immediately.

Not only is her superpower one of the things that has always caused problems and stress – her uncontrollable hair of curls, coils and kinks – but she has to return to her place of birth – Nigeria. This is a place which exists only in her dreams, because her mother, Tọ́pẹ́, never speaks about it, or her father. Onyeka has so much she wants to know about both.

Such an exciting story about finding your inner strength and discovering who you are. I’m so excited that there are more books to come…

Mia


In the middle of Nigeria is The Academy of The Sun, a a place where children just like Onyeka (called Solari) train their powers. With her mother out looking for her father, Onyeka is left trying to control her power (called Ike), but when a threat to the Solari comes, it’s up to Onyeka and her new friends to help. But is the place that’s protecting them actually the thing they should be running from? 


Such an exciting story about finding your inner strength and discovering who you are. Five stars from me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I’m so excited that there are more books to come in the series, and that this is to be made into a film! 

MagicBorn by Peter Bunzl, reviewed by Niamh

Magicborn is the latest novel by Peter Bunzl, who is the genius behind the Cogheart book series.

Taking place in 1726, 12-year-old Tempest lives with her adopted fathers, Prosper and Marino, in Ferry Keeper’s Cottage. Saved from nearly drowning, she doesn’t remember about her past life, and why she can understand her robin friend, Coriel, and nobody else can. 

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves magic, adventure and mystery. I’ve already recommended it to one of my friends so we can talk about it!

Niamh

She longs to know who her mother is. All Tempest has from her is a bone carved into the shape of a cloud she wears around her neck, which has an engraved message ‘From your mother’. 

Tempest’s life changes when she is made to take the mysterious Lord Hawthorn and his apprentice across the water to an island in search of a wild boy that can change into a wolf… Expect a magical adventure that travels from Kensington Palace to the fairy realm.

I loved the characters in Magicborn, especially the robin Coriel and how she affectionately ends her sentences with bird names, such as “Goodnight, little dunlin.” The spells were really exciting in the book, and I liked how it swapped between present and past events, revealing Tempest’s story. It would be amazing if there was a sequel and it would work really well as a film or TV series.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves magic, adventure and mystery. I’ve already recommended it to one of my friends so we can talk about it! I’m planning to dress up as Tempest for the next World Book Day! I even have a robin toy to be Coriel!

Tempest and Coriel, by Niamh

Perfect for fans of: The Cogheart novels by Peter Bunzl; Sophie Anderson’s The Girl Who Speaks Bear and The Castle of Tangled Magic; and The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.

Hedgewitch by Skye McKenna, reviewed by Alma

One of the best books I’ve read in ages; enchanting!

Ever since her mum left her there, Cassie Morgan had been living in a strict boarding school which does NOT believe in magic. Then (several years later – convinced her mum needs to be rescued) she runs  away to her aunt in the small town of Hedgely, right next to the hedge which separates England and faerie, where she trains to be the best witch she can be and pass her fledgling test.

But can she discover why children are going missing and find them before it is too late? And will she ever get what she wants?

Hedgewitch is a magical book. The characters are realistic and the world is intriguing – I was devastated when it ended. A fun, happy story with a long lead up where you really get to know the characters. An epic climax, full of surprises and drastic plot twists; as interesting and exciting as the hedge itself!

The Map of Leaves by Yarrow Townsend, reviewed by Catherine

Orla Carson lives on her own, save for her horse, Captain, and her beloved garden which was planted by her late mother. She’s happy to keep it this way but sickness comes to her hometown of Thorn Creek, and nature is blamed. Stowing away on a river boat, can Orla save the people of Thorn Creek with a little bit of luck, love, and all the help she can get along the way?

“My favourite part is that the plants communicate with Orla so it’s as if they’re talking to her.”

Catherine

The story is told in Orla’s perspective. Although only 12 years old, she is evidently a headstrong, determined character who you find yourself instantly rooting for. She prefers to do things her own way which becomes an issue as teamwork is required when two other children, Idris and Ariana, join her on her mission. Idris is the son of a Hauler, and Orla doesn’t think much of him at first. Ariana is quiet and clever, the thinker of the gang.

The problem that occurs in this book is a sickness that strikes the fictional world where the story takes place. In a nearby town they had named it Mapafoglia: the map of leaves. Black veins would spread out across your body, like a map, and once it reached your heart it was the end. Yet a secret threat lurks close to home… could it be the answer that Orla and her friends are desperate to find?

My favourite part is that the plants communicate with Orla so it’s as if they’re talking to her. I wonder if her Ma shared the same gift? I think that this brilliant, gripping book deserves a 5/5 star rating.

I would recommend it to readers of ages 9 to 13 who love adventure and extreme plot twists – but if you aren’t in that age group then I’m definitely not saying you won’t love The Map of Leaves!

Our #ReviewCrew books are read and reviewed by our team of young readers.

The Wondrous Prune by Ellie Clements, reviewed by Mia E

After Prune’s Grandparents die, she moves to their old house with her mum and brother.

This means a new town and a new school, where a group of mean girls (the Vile-lets) bully her and her new friends. All these changes come with big feelings, and with them, Prune starts to see clouds of beautiful colours. Prune loves to draw and carries her sketchbook everywhere. One day she draws a hot air balloon and wishes so much that it would take her away – to her amazement it comes to life!

Prune has always loved superheroes and their powers. She always wished she had a power like them. When she realises she does, it turns out to be more shocking than she thought.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it wasn’t just about superpowers, it was about how her feelings affected them.

I liked how Prune became stronger and told her teacher about the bullying.

I like that she tells her mum and brother about her powers, although her mum is worried that it is dangerous.

I love that she chooses The Wondrous Prune as her superhero name. Even though some people had picked on her unusual name, she is proud of being Prune.

I’d like to know what Prune does next, how her powers can be used, and who else might have powers (like the boy on the bus.)

The Mermaid in the Millpond by Lucy Strange, reviewed by Abi

Abi tells us why she recommends The Mermaid in the Millpond and why Barrington Stoke books are so important to her. Thank you, Abi!

About the book:

History and myth entwine in this atmospheric tale of freedom and friendship from bestselling author Lucy Strange and acclaimed illustrator Pam Smy. Bess has left the London workhouse behind for a job at a rural cotton mill. But life at the mill is hard and cruel – a far cry from the fresh start Bess hoped for.

The only way to survive is to escape, but the mill is like a prison with no way out. Meanwhile, rumours are spreading about a vicious creature that lurks in the millpond. Bess is sure it’s all nonsense, until one night she sees something stir in the murky water.

But is it really a monster that lives in the depths of the pond? Or a creature trapped and alone, just like Bess, desperate to escape …

Check out some of the Barrington Stoke books available:

The Midnight Hunt by Benjamin Read and Laura Trinder, reviewed by Aysha

“This book was astonishingly good. The way it was written was amazing.”

We LOVE Aysha’s artwork. She always captures book covers so beautifully!

About the book

The third and final adventure in Benjamin Read and Laura Trinder’s magical Midnight Hour series!

‘A fantastic magical adventure featuring a cast of Ghibli-esque characters, a feisty heroine and a hedgehog. I loved it.’ M.G. LEONARD, author of BEETLE BOY on book 1′

Fans of Nevermoor will love this’ THE BOOKSELLER on book 1

‘I haven’t enjoyed this kind of caper so much since Harry Potter’ NEW STATESMAN on book 1

‘Pure delight’ THE GUARDIAN ON BOOK 1

Emily is locked out of the Midnight Hour, and things have grown dangerously dark in Victorian London.

Her friends and family are on the run from the terrifying Midnight Hunt, while the foul Make Britain Dark Again party schemes to break the spell that keeps both worlds safe. It’s going to take more than just Emily’s big mouth to fix this one. But how’s a girl meant to save the day (and night) when she’s all out of snacks and her possibly-magic pocket hedgehog is hibernating?

The ingeniously-plotted finale to the much-loved Midnight Hour trilogy, which began with The Midnight Hour and The Midnight Howl

A hilarious, spooky adventure full of genuine scares and belly laughs! Coraline meets A Wrinkle in Time: all the makings of a modern classic

Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket List by Jenny Pearson, reviewed by Catherine

When Frank John Davenport inherits a small fortune from a dead grandma he didn’t know he had, and instructions to look after his grumpy grandpa, he’s determined to do exactly that. On the internet he discovers a list of things for elderly people to do before they “kick the bucket” (aka the Bucket List), and knows that this is the perfect list of activities for a wacky grandson and his grandpa to attempt. What could possibly go wrong?

The thing is, Grandpa Frank isn’t interested in bonding with his grandson, only in getting a quiet villa somewhere in Spain. Luckily Frank persuades him that a peaceful hot-air balloon ride will be a lot more exciting—especially with a “light” breeze and an unwelcome stowaway called Brenda! After the ordeal, Grandpa Frank certainly thinks he’s lucky to be alive. Throughout their adventure, Frank discovers that although money will buy you swimming and parkour lessons, nothing can truly buy happiness except for love.

I think this book is a great choice for 6-9-year-olds. If you like funny stories about friendship then Grandpa Frank’s Great Big Bucket Listis definitely for you. I would also recommend it to fans of Jeremy Strong’s books but this one is even better.

Like the sound of this book? Why not pop in to the shop during half term week (Sat 12th -19th Feb) and guess the number of biscuits in the jar to try and win a copy? The winner will be announced on 21st Feb.

The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy by Richard Pickard, reviewed by Evie Bath

Marina Minnow is an ordinary girl with an extraordinary imagination. In the quiet seaside town of Merlington, people rarely pay attention to her tales. But one day, one of Marina’s ‘tall tales’ becomes a reality… She meets a strange boy called William, with tentacles that sprout from his head and amber pincers rather than hands. Marina’s whole life is about to be turned upside down as she helps him solve the mystery of his past.

‘The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy’ by Richard Pickard is a heartwarming story full of plot twists and quirks. I absolutely love William and I think that he is a really special, unique character. As well as having quirky physical traits, such as claws which help him to prepare amazing sashimi, William is a fantastic boy with a gentle and caring heart. Another cool feature in this book is that all of the characters (except William) have fish-related names, which I think is really ingenious and funny.

I wanted to read ‘The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy’ straight through to the end as soon as I started it, as it’s such a unique book. At the beginning, there’s a ‘boy who cried wolf’ message about Marina’s tall tales. But the main message of the book is about acceptance – that you should treat someone not based on how they look but on how they act. The fishmongers of Marina’s town treat William like a fish at first, debating which parts of him they would sell. But by the end of the book the residents of Merlington learn to see William for the boy he is.

I adore the beautiful illustrations on the cover and at the start of every chapter, and I think the artist Maxine Lee-Mackie is really talented. Both the clever illustrations and the strange, unique characters in the book remind me of those in the ‘Starfell’ series by Dominique Valente (illustrated by Sarah Warburton) – if you like those books, you would certainly love ‘The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy.’ I would fully recommend this book to all children aged 9+, especially fans of mystery and adventure novels. 

The Wind Child by Gabriela Houston, reviewed by Leontine

I really liked The Wind Child because it was fun to learn about all the gods and goddesses of Russian mythology throughout the story.

It has lots of adventure and magic in it. The main character Mara is brave and determined and with her best friend Torniv the bear-shifter she’s unstoppable. Mara is also very cunning and that was really good because she would have probably died without it.

This is the story of how Mara sets on a quest to save someone she loves.

The ending is great because it’s really suspenseful and makes you really curious about what was going to happen next.

I would recommend it to all my friends.

About the book

Packed with a colourful Slavic cast of tempestuous gods and frightening monsters, The Wind Child is above all a story about friendship, and how far you would go and what you would sacrifice to avoid saying goodbye to someone you love. 

No human has ever returned from Navia, the Slavic afterlife. But twelve-year-old Mara is not entirely human. She is the granddaughter of Stribog, the god of winter winds and she’s determined to bring her beloved father back from the dead. Though powerless, Mara and her best friend Torniv, the bear-shifter, set out on an epic journey to defy the gods and rescue her father. On their epic journey they will bargain with forest lords, free goddesses from enchantments, sail the stormy seas in a ship made of gold and dodge the cooking pot of the villainous Baba Latingorka. Little do the intrepid duo know of the terrible forces they have set in motion, for the world is full of darkness and Mara will have to rely on her wits to survive.