Category: The Review Crew Middle Grade

Fledgling by Lucy Hope, reviewed by Evie

‘Fledgling’ is a story that will suck you in from the very beginning, and make it very hard for you to put the book down.

About the book

A dark, gothic adventure set deep in a Bavarian forest, with angels and owls and magic and a boy who isn’t all that he seems to be…

A cherub is blown into Cassie Engel’s bedroom during a thunderstorm, triggering a series of terrifying events. Cassie must discover if its arrival was an accident or part of something more sinister.

With a self-obsessed opera singer for a mother, a strange taxidermist father, and a best friend who isn’t quite what he seems, Cassie is forced to unearth the secrets of her family’s past. As the dark forces gather around them, can Cassie protect all that she holds dear?

The fantastic debut novel from Lucy Hope, with cover illustration by Anna Shepeta.

How I Saved the World in a Week by Polly Ho Yen, reviewed by Rosa

I loved How I Saved the World in a Week. The way she described the ‘greys’ sent a shoulder shaking chill down my spine. Even the cover feels suspenseful, tense, and mysterious. It is also handy because dotted throughout the tale there are little survival tips and skills. This perfectly written story had me hooked in the first few chapters. 

Are you on the edge of your seat and shaking with excitement yet? Well, if you’re not then the storyline will get you biting your nails.

It is about a boy who gets taken out of school to do activities with his mum but when something goes wrong, he goes to live with Steve, his stepdad. Suddenly, these creatures start appearing, and together, he and his two friends save the world in a week.

It was a touching and tear coaxing triumph that made me want to laugh and cry, I dearly hope that Polly Ho-Yen will make a follow up version soon.

About the book

A brilliantly imagined new 8+ adventure about resilience, family and hope. From the bestselling and Waterstones Children’s Book Prize shortlisted author of BOY IN THE TOWER. Perfect for fans of Ross Welford, Lisa Thompson and Onjali Rauf.

Rule number one: Always be prepared . . .

Billy’s mum isn’t like other mums. All she wants is to teach him the Rules of Survival – how to make fire, build shelter and find food . She likes to test Billy on the rules until one day she goes too far, and Billy is sent to live with a dad he barely knows.

Then the world changes forever as people begin to be infected with a mysterious virusthat turns their skin grey. As chaos breaks out, Billy has to flee the city. Suddenly he realises that this is what his mum was preparing him for – not just to save his family, but to save the whole world. 

Keeper of Secrets by Sarah J. Dodd, reviewed by Evie-Belle

This book put me on a rollercoaster of feelings… “The rock in Emily’s stomach dropped right down to her boots, weighing down her feet so that she couldn’t move.”

Heartfelt and emotional, this book has lots of highs and lows !  With all the descriptive words being used, I almost felt as though I was in the scene and in the moment.

The story unfolds when Emily’s Dad meets a woman named Josie who disrupts the poor girl’s life. The setting is at Badger Cottage, a cottage that is set in a dreary, dark wood, where lynx’s lurk nearby. Emily is a likeable, kind character who I can relate to immensely. I felt sorry for her countless times as being and feeling alone can really hurt. 

It’s Christmas time in the book – so don’t worry ,it does have many heart warming moments !As a 10 year old (the same age as Emily) , I would recommend you read Emily’s story , as I really enjoyed it.

About the book

Eleven-year-old Emily doesn’t think Badger Cottage will ever be home. But there is something out there that needs her; a bright pair of eyes in the darkness. In the middle of a fierce battle between conservationists, who want to to rewild the lynx in the woods, and the local farmers, Emily tries to shield a baby lynx she calls Lotta, afraid it will be killed by the person who killed its mother. But can Emily work out who the illegal hunter is in time, and who can she trust?

Edie and the Box of Flits by Kate Wilkinson and Joe Berger, reviewed by Niamh

Edie and the Box of Flits is the first book written by Kate Wilkinson and is illustrated by Joe Berger, who is the well-known illustrator of the Hubble Bubble book series.

While helping her dad at London Transport’s Lost Property Office, 11-year-old Edie finds a mysterious box. When Edie hears tapping coming from inside, she encounters tiny flying people called Flits needing her help. Edie must embark on an adventure across London’s forgotten underground stations to help her new little friends and solve the mystery of what the sinister magpin birds are up to and if Vera Creech, who works at the lost property office, has anything to do with it…

I thought the book was really exciting and I loved reading about the world of the Flits, especially imagining what it would be like to be that miniature size. The illustrations are beautiful and really bring the Flits and the other characters to life.

I would definitely recommend Edie and the Box of Flits to anyone who likes adventurous and mysterious books like I do. It really reminds me of the story of The Borrowers, but set in modern times. I would absolutely love for Kate Wilkinson to continue to share the story of the Flits in future books. 

Only children under the age of 13 can see Flits. I’m only 9 so have lots more years of adventures with the Flits ahead!

Perfect for fans of: The Borrowers by Mary Norton, and the Hubble Bubble series by Tracey Corderoy and illustrated by Joe Berger 

Dragon Skin by Karen Foxlee, reviewed by Leontine

An enthralling story about the bond between a girl and a baby dragon.

What to expect: a baby dragon, friendship, a never-ending waterhole, and a secret cave.

As you step in Pip, Laura and Archie’s world, you will follow Pip as she learns to care for a lost baby dragon with unexpected friends, while escaping her hard family life.

I liked this book as it was a page turner, and it was a book like no other, filled to the brim with a character’s big thoughts. It was also full of tips on how to look after a dragon, so if I ever find a dragon near a waterhole like Pip did, I’ll be prepared!

I would say that this book is suitable for 8+. I would recommend this book to those who liked “A glasshouse of stars” by Shirley Marr. Dragon skin is a great book, you should read it!

About the book

Pip never wants to be at home nowadays. There’s no laughter anymore and her mum isn’t happy. She spends most of her time alone, daydreaming and digging for treasure by the dirty creek.

But one night, Pip finds something incredible – a dragon. Tiny, possibly dying, but definitely a dragon. She quickly realises that dragons don’t come with instructions: what do you feed a dragon? Where could it have come from? And how can Pip cope with the enormous changes this creature will bring into her life? Full of enchanting magic and poignant truths, Dragon Skin is a moving story of friendship, family and finding a way to fly.

Hide and Seek by Robin Scott-Elliot, reviewed by James

Hide and Seek is a thought-provoking book about Amelie, a Jewish French girl who witnesses her family being taken away by the gestapo during World War Two, and her quest to be reunited with them in Nazi occupied Paris. This is a brilliantly written book that had me sitting on the edge of my seat all the way through and should I come across any other books written by this author, I would definitely be inclined to read them.

About the book:

‘Hide and Seek brings to vivid life the courage of young people who risked all in the French resistance in the second world war.’ OBSERVER

‘Beautifully told’ TELEGRAPH

Thrilling new page turner by Robin Scott-Elliot, author of The Tzar’s Curious Runaways and The Acrobats of Agra.

Paris, 1942. When Amelie Dreyfus hides in her mother’s wardrobe it’s a game; when she comes out it’s a matter of life or death. With her family taken, Amelie has to fend for herself in Nazi-occupied France – she’s no choice but to resist. In the Resistance life hangs by a thread. Betrayed, Amelie’s forced to flee to Britain. But Paris is home and she returns to face one final, desperate mission.

Ways to Be Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott, reviewed by Evie

This book is spreading the word on Autism. It is in one word ; Amazing !

It is definitely a page turner because as the reader you want to know what happens next in the life of Tally Olivia Adams. The book is set at school as well as home , but also includes Tallys trips to the doctor. 

Tally is just starting Year 6 – ( so am I ! ) and when she comes to school after the summer holidays everyone seems to have changed…. this confuses Tally;  and as the story progresses she learns more about herself and the reasons she acts the way she does. Tally would like to fit in at school but finds it difficult.

There are some twists that surprised me I won’t give them away….but you will learn if you read this book that Autism comes in different shapes and sizes.

The good thing about this book is that even though there are no pictures I can imagine the appearance of Tally and her best friend Layla. The descriptive writing helps the reader to see through the writers eyes.

Anyone around the age of 9-12 will hopefully enjoy this book as much as I did.

Scarlet and Ivy: The Lost Twin by Sophie Cleverly, reviewed by Sophie

This book is really good because it describes how the characters are feeling at that time. I liked the way the book was written as it was very descriptive and a wonderful read. It is a mystery book about twin Scarlet Grey who disappears from her school, Rookwood and her sister Ivy is invited to take her place. Friendships are made and bonds broken in this epic story. Can Ivy solve the mystery of her missing sister?

This tale of friendship, bravery and (naturally) mystery is a great read for those with a taste for adventure and mischief. I would recommend this book to everyone. 

My favourite character in this book was Ivy because she changes from a timid, shy person to a bold, brave mystery solving girl. 

I can’t wait to read the rest of the series as I know they’ll be great!

About the book

Ghostcloud by Michael Mann, reviewed by Aysha

About the book

‘A superbly inventive and magical debut’  
Piers Torday 

‘Beautifully written and filled with unforgettable characters … a diamond of a book’  
Ross McKenzie 

‘Utterly original, thrilling, strange and cracking good fun … every chapter is packed full of wild imagination’  
Liz Hyder  

Catch the wind. Find your freedom.  

A riveting, magical adventure set deep underneath a richly reimagined London for 9+ readers.  

Kidnapped and forced to shovel coal underneath a half-bombed, blackened power station, 12-year-old Luke’s life is miserable. Then, he discovers he can see things others can’t. Ghostly things. Specifically, a ghost-girl named Alma. Alma, who can ride clouds through the night sky and bend their shape to her will, befriends Luke. And with Alma’s help, Luke discovers he is in fact a rare being – half-human and half-something else …

Then Luke learns the terrible truth of why children are being kidnapped and forced to work in the power station, and he becomes even more desperate to escape.

Can Luke find out who he really is … and find his freedom?

Locked out Lily by Nick Lake and Emily Gravett, reviewed by Catherine

Locked Out Lily tells the story of a girl whose mum is having a baby. She’s about to become a big sister but she’s not happy about it! Lily is sent to her granny’s house when her parents go to hospital and that’s when strange things start happening. She runs away back to her house and realises she is locked out. Lily finds a talking crow who tries to help her, along with a band of his friends. Mouse, Mole and Snake are all talking creatures too who each help Lily in their own unique way.

Some of the other characters include the father-thing, the mother-thing and the baby-thing. These are like replacements of Lily’s family but they have empty black eyes and are not all they seem. Nick Lake is good at writing scary scenes with Lily and these demons – you don’t really know what they might do and the reader feels constantly on edge.

My favourite character was Mole because although she can’t see, she still helps Lily as much as she can. It’s not exactly a friendship between Lily and the animals but it is funny when Lily asks Crow if she’s dreaming and he does a poo on her head and asks, ‘Would that happen in a dream?’

Emily Gravett’s illustrations are amazing. I like how they are only done in black and white  but they still look and feel very real. She is famous for her drawings of little mice and some of the best pictures are the ones with Mouse. I wonder if Nick Lake put a mouse in his book for that exact reason?!

About the book

A startlingly original, stunningly-illustrated modern classic about learning to face your fears from the multi award-winning partnership of Nick Lake and Emily Gravett.

Lily just wants things to go back to the way they were: before she got sick, before her parents decided to have another baby. So when she’s sent away to stay with her grandmother while her mum has the baby, Lily is determined to go home. But she doesn’t expect to find people in her house – people who look like her parents, but definitely aren’t … Together with some unlikely animal companions, Lily must face her fears and summon the courage to break into her own house, and defeat ‘The Replacements’ before the night is out. 

Nick Lake’s atmospheric story of family and friendship is brought to spectacular life by Emily Gravett, twice winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal. 

‘A book of such wit and flair and delight: the kind of book you finish and immediately begin again, so that you can live again alongside the characters’ Katherine Rundell, bestselling author of The Explorer