Helen Peters

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Spies, traitors and heroes

The world of detecting and spying has long been a fertile ground for authors of adventure stories.  However there has been a steady increase, particularly about the 20th century World Wars, since much of the information is no longer covered by the Official Secrets Act.  After all, we knew nothing about Bletchley Park and similar organizations, until at least the 1970s.  I have just included some of my favourite books from the last year or so and I hope that readers will find them as fascinating as I have.  These fictional events can lead you on to discover the real life heroes of the past.

Piccadilly Press, 978-1800784406

“I Spy” by Rhian Tracey  is an exciting and fascinating look at the lives of a young girl and her family, living at Bletchley Park during the war.  The story centres around 12 year old Robyn, who has to leave school for security reasons and finds herself working with the pigeon loft manager at Bletchley, looking after messenger pigeons.  When it appears that there is a traitor on site, Robyn and her friends decide to investigate, because adults rarely take note of what children are doing!  I am delighted to say that I have just seen advance notice of a second adventure called “Hide and Seek” which will be published in February 2024.  This would make an excellent introduction to the work that was being undertaken at Bletchley during the war.

Nosy Crow, 978-1788004640

“Friends and Traitors” by Helen Peters is a fantastic but quite easy to read story of life in a country house during the war.  It portrays the action from the differing perspectives of Nancy, a housemaid and Sidney, an evacuated schoolgirl, who is there with the rest of her boarding school. Also there are the owner (an Earl) and a group of his friends.  When the girls overhear some worrying conversations they each decide to take action, only discovering each other’s plans along the way.  Are there people plotting against the British government and what can the girl do to thwart their plans?  I have to say thank you to Helen Peters for the lovely shock I received on reading the name of one of the minor characters from the past; it is not often that you find your own name being used in this way and it means I will treasure the book.

Bloomsbury Education, ‎ 978-1801990103

“Rosie Raja: Mission to Cairo” by Sufiya Ahmed is the second adventure featuring this heroine and this time she manages to follow her father to Cairo and ends up being part of a mission to seek out traitors.  Whilst this is mainly a spy story, it also focuses on the role of the British as an imperial power  and on the rights of the Egyptian people to self determination.  The first book in the series is called “Rosie Raja: Churchill’s Spy” and is an exciting introduction to this brave young heroine.

Andersen Press, 978-1839133138

“Safiyyah’s war” by Hiba Noor Khan takes a look at a little known part of the war in France and that was the part played by the Muslim community in helping their Jewish neighbours and the allied soldiers to escape from the Nazis, especially in the area around Paris.  Look on this blog for a full review as part of the blog tour.  A fabulous read.  I have just seen that there is an information book about this series of events.  I have ordered it and will add this to the blog at a later date.

Puffin, 978-0241429877

“The Ministry of Unladylike Activity” by Robin Stevens is the first in the follow on series from this author.  It centres around the adventures of May Wong, the younger and very precocious sister of Hazel Wong, who was a central character in the series “Murder most Unladylike”.  May is now following her sister to Deepdean school and hates it.  However the war has begun, so she cannot return home to Hong Kong and decides to try and become a spy and of course she ends up in all kinds of trouble, as she and her friends pretend to be evacuees, in order to seek out traitors at a stately home. A second adventure “Body in the Blitz” is due for release in October 2023.  I have just read this on Netgalley and it is definitely a case of ‘get your orders in now’ for this fabulous book.  Robin Stevens just keeps getting better (impossible though that sounds).

Nosy Crow, 978-1839948855

“Alice Éclair, Spy Extraordinaire!: A Sprinkling of Danger” by Sarah Todd Taylor and Beatriz Castro is the third in a fabulous series featuring the young |Alice Eclair.  The stories are set in Paris  between the two wars and whilst Alice officially works in her mother’s Patisserie, she has also been recruited by the secret services, after her uncle turned traitor.  These stories mix danger and a hint of glamour as the heroine is involved in the worlds of fashion, film and aeronautics.  In this latest adventure Alice finds herself working undercover, as part of the catering team  whilst a film is being made at the Palace of Versailles   I really recommend these great stories, both for the action and for the descriptions of the cakes.

Hodder, 978-0340999615

“Secret Breakers Series” by H L Dennis.  This is a series of six novels set after the war but with the main characters having links back to the wartime events at Bletchley Park.  However there are hints about mysteries that are far older and which no one has been able to  interpret so far.  It is a series full of intrigue and adventure which has managed to stand the test of time.

 

 

For those who want to delve deeper into the real-life adventures of espionage and war, here are a few titles to start you off.

The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust by Karen Ruelle and Deborah Durland Desaix.  Holiday House Inc, 978-0823423040

Noor Inayat Khan by Sufiya Ahmed.  Scholastic, 978-0702300059

Spies, Code Breakers and Secret Agents: A WW II book for kids, by Carole P Roman.  Rockridge Press, ‎ 978-1646111015

Heroes of World War II..  by Kelly Milner Halls.  Rockridge Press, 978-1648763786

“Spies (Horrible Histories) by Terry Deary and Martin Phillips. Scholastic, 978-1407105673.

 

 

 

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A few books to whet the appetite.

The last few months have been an absolute treasure trove of new middle grade fiction; it has ranged from favourite series reaching their conclusion, to the start of some fantastic and truly imaginative adventures.   Recurring themes seem to include elements of ‘Steam Punk’ , Time slip adventures, magic and crime.  In other words there is something for everyone if they can search out the books.  As always I hope that these little tasters will help people find something that suits them.

Chicken House, 9781911077657

“Tin” by Padraig Kenny is the first book by a very talented writer and it is set in a world where mechanical persons and animals are commonplace.  Christopher is a ‘real’ boy who was orphaned as a small child and is now apprenticed to an inventor who creates mechanicals.  It is a great story that is full of adventure and a few secrets that will tug at your emotions when they are revealed

Bloomsbury, 9781408854877

“The Explorer” by Katherine Rundell is a wonderful story of a group of children who find themselves stranded in the Amazon Jungle after their aeroplane crashes and the pilot dies.   When they find evidence that someone has been in the area before them, they start to see if they can find the person or ways out of the jungle.

Nosy Crow, 978-0857638427

“Evie’s Ghost” by Helen Peters is a lovely time slip story for middle grade.  When Evie is sent to stay with an elderly and rather eccentric godmother she does not expect to find herself transported back to 1814.  She finds that the daughter of the house is being forced to marry a friend of her father; however back in the modern world there is a story that this same person has been imprisoned by her father and then mysteriously disappeared, presumed dead .  How Evie copes with life in the 19th century and searches for a way to help the daughter makes for a thrilling story which I really enjoyed.

Scholastic, 9781407181707

“Brightstorm” by Vashti Hardy is a wonderful mix of  steampunk, exploration and  the importance of family.  It has two strong and determined siblings who set out to find what has happened to their explorer father, after he is pronounced dead and accused of having sabotaged another airship crew.  I think we are going to have great fun with Arthur and Maudie as they take on further adventures.  We also have a wonderfully evil villainess in the shape of the aptly named Eudora Vane.

Sky Pony Press, 978-1510739420

“Me and Mr P” by Maria Farrer is a truly delightful story of Arthur and his younger brother Liam.  Arthur often feels left out because of the problems that Liam has to cope with (he is on the autistic spectrum), so when the mysterious Mr P, who just happens to be a Polar bear, turns  up on the doorstep he wonders what is going to happen.  This is a gorgeous story that leaves you feeling warm and cuddly inside, even though Liam has to cope with some serious issues.  I am looking forward to Mr P’s next adventure as he continues to help those in need.

Egmont, 978-1405282901

“The Midnight Peacock” by Katherine Woodfine is the final book in the ‘Sinclair’s mysteries’ series and the author provides a really exciting and satisfying finale.  When Sophie and Lil are invited to a Christmas/New Year  party at Winter Hall,they did not expect to find yet another mystery for them to solve.  Thy are pitted against old enemies and are in a race against time to prevent a disaster.  It has recently be announced that the intrepid duo will be starring in a new series of books over the next few years, so all of their fans will be jumping up and down with joy.

Bloomsbury, 978-1408872758

“The Prisoner of Ice and Snow” by Ruth Lauren is set in a country not dissimilar to old Russia with snow, wolves and warring nations.  Valor has created a situation where she has been sent to a terrible prison called Tyur’ma, made of ice and stone; however this is part of her plan to free her twin sister from this same place.  Why they are there and how they can escape and save their country forms the basis of this exciting story.  I loved the relationship between the girls but there were also lots of twists and turns in the plot which kept me guessing for a while.

Puffin, 978-0141373782

“Spoonful of Murder”  by Robin Stevens is the latest in the “Wells and Wong” series featuring the two schoolgirl detectives Daisy and Hazel.  This time they are staying in Hong Kong, after the death of Hazel’s grandfather, so that she is the one who is comfortable and in control, unlike daisy who is quite out of her depth.  This is an extremely personal investigation for the two girls and is a worthy addition to the series.  I find myself recommending this all the time and the followers are growing, book by book.

“The Eye of the North” by Sinead O’Hart  sees another intrepid young girl, this time called Emmeline, setting off to discover the whereabouts of her missing explorer parents.  It is a steampunk novel with two opposing and still very nasty villains both of whom want to stop Emmeline and her companions from solving the puzzle and finding the missing parents.  (Stripes, 978-1847159410)

“The Empty Grave” (Lockwood and Co.) by Jonathan Stroud brings the Lockwood and Co. series to an end and it does so with a really fantastic story which brings all of the story strands together.  A really great series for those who love the supernatural, magic and a fair bit of investigation.  The unlikely team of investigators face not only the supernatural but also real adversaries and finally discover secrets from the past. (Disney-Hyperion,  978-1484778722)

“Carnival of Monsters” (S.C.R.E.A.M) by Andrew Beasley is the second story in a new series by this author and featuring a Victorian crime-fighting duo called Charley (a girl) and Billy.  The twist is that they are part of an organization that specializes in dealing with the supernatural.  It is also great to see that Charley is a strong and leading character in the books, with no ground being given because she is in a wheelchair; an excellent role model.  (Usborne,  978-1474906937)

Usborne, 978-1474940665

“The House with Chicken Legs” by Sophie Anderson gives the game away with its name; that is if you know the Russian folk tale “Baba Yaga”. this is an updated version of the story, where the heroine live with her grandmother, the eponymous Baba Yaga but does not want to follow in her footsteps and help the dead to cross into the next world.  All Marinka wants is to be a normal girl, live in the same place and have some real friends.  Her attempts lead to some unfortunate events and she gradually learns that she needs to compromise in order to get the best for herself and those she loves.

Hodder, 978-1444936704

“The Wizards of Once” by Cressida Cowell is the first in the new series by the wonderful Cressida Cowell.  She has moved away from Dragons but this time she has  Wizards and Warriors who are hereditary enemies.  However things are about to change when it is accidentally discovered that Witches are not extinct and that the queen of witches is on the move and wanting to get rid of the two groups who banished her in the past.  A very funny story with two great characters in the centre of things.  I can’t wait to see how this continues.

Orion,978-1510104112

“Nevermoor” by Jessica Townshend is yet another story set in a magical world.  Since early childhood Morrigan has been blamed for every bad thing that has befallen the people of her village: from her mother dying in childbirth to people tripping over or even wishing someone a good day.  Because she was born on Eventide night she is doomed to die at the same time on the night she turns 11; unfortunately that date is fast approaching.  However before this date there is the annual ‘bid’ ceremony where children are chosen to attend different types of education. Morrigan is allowed to attend as an observer and is shocked when someone bids for her. When the eccentric Jupiter North offers her the chance to train for the Wundrous Society in the secret city of Nevermoor, Morrigan jumps at the opportunity to escape her fate, but is it ‘out of the frying pan’?  This is the first part of a wonderful new series that is gaining lots of fans and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

I do hope that people find stories that they will enjoy among this selection.  I thoroughly enjoyed all of them  and had a roller-coaster ride as I looked forward to the next stories in new series and said goodbye to old friends as other tales came to an end.  With Easter about to arrive I hope that you find time to enjoy several of these magic and imaginative stories.

 

 

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Nosy Crow conference

 

Saturday 13th September turned out to be a very long and tiring day for a variety of reasons, including the long delay at Westbury in Wiltshire while the police were called to escort several drunken men off the train, thankfully not in my carriage. However it was all worth it – I had a really great day at the second “Nosy Crow Conference”, so thank you Kate Wilson and Dom Kingston in particular for such an informative and inspiring day.

 

It was an event mainly aimed at those outside the field 2014-09-13 10.18.56of publishing  and a high percentage of the audience appeared to be aspiring authors and illustrators. The programme consisted of sessions about picture books, the process of getting your first book to publication, the bookseller perspective, social media and the work of the Agent.  We were also treated to sessions by Helen Peters, Tracey Corderoy and Jeff Norton; they are all relative newcomers as authors but gave tremendous insight into their work.

 

 

I still have to work my way through all the notes I took yesterday but there was such a great deal of information and I hope that it will be of use.  I particularly liked the session by Tracey about how an author should think about the sessions they do in schools, libraries etc.  I have always worked from the other viewpoint, which is how a school should treat their authors.

If you get the opportunity to go to the next conference (and I hope there will be one in 2015)  it is of interest not just to budding authors and illustrators but also to those of us who work with publishers and the artists.  It really does give an insight in to the issues they face, and how we as librarians can help and support our colleagues in publishing.

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Kate Wilson