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.

June 17, 2020 by margaretpemberton

Surviving lockdown

The last couple of months have seen huge changes in my ability to see forthcoming titles. First we had London Book Fair cancelled and then the wonderful Federation of Children’s Book groups Conference. This month I should have been attending the School Library Association Conference, but that is now online. All of this has meant that I could not meet up with the fabulous friends in publishing and look at the amazing books that they bring to the various exhibitions. However I will say thank you to the many publishers who have kept on sending review copies when requested, it is greatly appreciated. It has also been great to keep up with those books that appear as e-galleys on Netgalley and Edelweiss, this means that I am able to still read and promote the books that I think everyone will enjoy.

I am starting off with this look at some titles for younger readers and I hope they will enjoy this small group of titles featuring ghouls, vampires and witches.

Guppy Books, 9781913101060

“Ghoul Scouts, Welcome to Camp Croak!” by Taylor Dolan is the first in a new series about Lexie Wild, who finds herself at a summer camp called ‘Camp Croak’, because her grandma took a wrong turning on the road. Finding herself sharing a cabin with a ghost, a zombie and a werewolf definitely was not what she expected, but turned out to be great fun. This is a fast and furious story of a truly evil teacher and how the girls foil a plot to take over and then sell the camp. I loved the amazing illustrations, they are totally weird and wonderful.

Egmont, 9781405293921

“Amelia Fang and the Lost Yeti Treasures” by Laura Ellen Anderson is the latest adventure of everyone’s favourite vampire and her assorted friends. When they are all invited to the 350th birthday party of Florence the yeti’s great grandmother they did not anticipate that there would be a thief about, but finding the perpetrator and saving the Yeti mountain from collapsing will take all their ingenuity and see them facing great danger.

OUP, 9780192773579

“Victoria Stitch, Bad and Glittering” by Harriet Muncaster is not due for publication until September but it brings us a new heroine from the author of the ‘Isadora Moon‘ series; in fact we get two for the price of one, because Victoria Stitch has a twin sister called Celestine. Victoria thinks she should be in line of succession to the throne of Wiskling Wood but finds herself in all sorts of trouble, especially when a strange girl called Ursuline offers to help her. This is a delightful story about two girls who discover that, in general, people are a mix of good and bad and they just need to have the right motivation. the author has produced some wonderful illustrations that have a truly witchy and gothic feel.

David Fickling, 9781788450522

“King Coo, the Curse of the Mummy’s Gold” by Adam Stower is the second adventure for young Ben Pole and the unlikely hero King Coo who lives in the woods near his house. When an ancient treasure is stolen from the local museum Ben’s mother is under suspicion as she is a security guard; so it is up to Ben to try and find the real thieves and save the day. Yet again we have a hysterical tale of intrigue and adventure, where the totally incredible King Coo helps in their own inimitable way. This is definitely for those who love to laugh their way through their adventures.

Piccadilly, 9781848127654

“Beatrix the Bold and the Curse of the Wobblers” by Simon Mockler introduces us to an exciting and feisty young heroine called Beatrix. She has spent her life cooped up in a castle with her aunt and uncle, neither of whom seem the least bit interested in her. She know that there is some mystery surrounding her but doesn’t know what, so eventually she decides to leave the castle and discover who she really is. Of course we have all guessed the secret well before Beatrix cottons on to being the QUEEN; the problem is her aunt rather enjoys running the country and Beatrix soon finds that she is in danger. This is a funny fast paced and very enjoyable read for adventurous young people.

Andersen Press, 9781783448388

“Mermaid School, the Clamshell Show” by Lucy Courtney and Sheena Dempsey joins the surge of titles that have mermaids as their central characters. this series is aimed at younger readers and centres around Marnie Blue and her two best friends as they get used to attending mermaid school. This title tells us what happens when they are all auditioning to take part in a show, but then a new girl appears on the scene who wants the starring role by fair means or foul. This is great fun and also is a good way to help young people understand the dynamics of school life.

Gecko Press, 9781776572717

“Hattie” by Frida Nilsson and Stina Wirsen is the story of a young Swedish girl and her first year at school. It shows a very different life from that in the UK but the challenges of finding friends and learning about the wider world seem to reflect issues found around the world. This is a charming look at a young person just finding their feet as they start school.

Usborne, 9781474972178

“Unipiggle, Unicorn Muddle” by Hannah Shaw tells the story of how Princess Pea (Peony) has to choose a unicorn to become the Royal Unicorn. But Pea would rather be out playing and getting muddy instead of being dressed up in all her finery and sitting on a stage with her parents. Things take a hilarious turn as a pig joins the parade of unicorns, but he also has a horn, and most importantly he seems to have a great sense of fun. Of course Princess Pea decides that this creature, she calls the Unipiggle, has to become her companion. What follows is a lot of humour and the beginning of a delightful relationship between the princess and her magical pig.

Five Quills, 9781912923045

“Bug Belly, Babysitting Trouble” by Paul Morton is definitely a hilarious story for those just beginning to read alone. The main character is a frog called Bug Belly, who is called upon to look after his large number of nephews and nieces (tadpoles and froglets) whilst their parents are off at a frogspawn conference. The story follows his adventures as he tries to avoid numerous enemies whilst also moving the young offspring to a safer lower pool after he accidentally created a hole in the upper pond. Not only is this a great adventure but it also enables young children to understand some of the dangers that frogs encounter. There are great illustrations and lots of fun.

Piccadilly, 9781848127753

“Hotel Flamingo” by Alex Milway tells the story of young Anna Dupont who finds herself the owner of the Hotel Flamingo; unfortunately the hotel is rundown and the animals who are running it have run out of energy. They are also facing competition from the hotel on the hill, called “The Glitz” This is a great story about friendship, sharing and creating a sense of community. There are some delightful characters and charming illustrations that bring the story alive.

OUP, 9780192773630

“Mickey and the animal spies” by Anne Miller is a fabulous story for those who like mystery, spies and some very unusual characters. Mickey is a great fan of codes and spies and longs to follow in the footsteps of her hero Hildegarde L McTavish, so when she discovers a code taped to a bus window she just has to investigate. Cracking the code leads her to a mysterious office where she discovers a spy unit consisting of animals and called Cobra. Further adventures follow as they try and save the pet of a famous pop star as well as preventing a jewel robbery. This is an excellent first children’s book by the author and I was lucky enough to attend the book launch in London earlier in the year.

I do hope that you find some books in here that you would like to share with young readers. At a time of such uncertainty it is good to have books that we can really enjoy and which take us away from the restrictions that we have to face. I sincerely wish that we all have a happy and peaceful summer and that we can return to a new normal in the near future.

August 26, 2018 by margaretpemberton

Great Reads for younger Readers

With the new term about to start there are many teachers out there who are looking for good and exciting books that they can read and recommend to their younger pupils this year. These suggestions are hopefully ones that will help them; they are really for KS1 and KS2L and whether the children read them individually is obviously a matter for the staff. However they have all got potential to be read to the children if teachers are looking for funny, interesting or exciting stories that do not take the whole term to read. Give some of them a try and decide whether they will work with your young people.

Barrington Stoke, 9781781127681

“Rose’s Dress of Dreams” by Katherine Woodfine and Kate Pankhurst is one of the first titles in a new series by Barrington Stoke. The books are a smaller format than usual and have coloured illustrations, all of which makes them very attractive to the younger reader. This title is about a young girl and her dream of becoming a dressmaker during the pre-revolutionary period in France. The young Rose eventually became the first of the famous couturiers and an influence on generations of designers. It is really about holding on to your dreams and trying to overcome the challenges that life throws at you. It is particularly good for those who have an interest in history or fashion

Usborne, 9781848127333

“Marge and the Secret Tunnel” by Isla Fisher and Eglantine Ceulemans is the fourth in a series about one of the most eccentric babysitters you are likely to meet. Jemima and Jakey often have to spend time with a babysitter and until Marge came on the scene they had always disliked the experience. However with Marge everything becomes an exciting adventure and in this story they go exploring in a secret tunnel that they find at the bottom of the garden. there are actually three stories in this book, the other two being about a”great shopping race” and the “lost kitten”. Having these short stories makes them very accessible, not only to new readers but also for reading in class; they are just long enough to read the whole tale in one session. Great for KS1 children.

Usborne, 9781474928120

“Meet the Twitches” by Hayley Scott and Pippa Curnick. This is a delightful introduction to a young girl, Stevie and the family of toy rabbits called the Twitches. When Stevie and her mother move from their tower block flat she is given a wonderful and quaint dolls’ house, in the shape of a teapot. Included are all the furnishings and fitting and a complete library; most fantastic of all are the family of toy rabbits that inhabit the house. What Stevie does not know is that the rabbits magically come alive and when the father, Gabriel is lost in the garden during the furniture moving, it is up to the family and especially young Silver to find him and get him back home. It is a lovely story about the importance of home and family and I am looking forward to reading more of their adventures in the future.

Barrington Stoke, 9781781127551

“Hari and his Electric Feet” by Alexander McCall Smith and Sam Usher. The author is well known for the crime series that he has written over the years, but he has also become known for the stories that he has written for children. This book is by Barrington Stoke and is a delightful story of hope and how music and dance can have a beneficial effect on people. Hari and his sister live with their aunt in a big city in India, as their parents have had to go away to earn money and Hari helps by making sweets and delivering lunches. he is an avid fan of Bollywood films and loves the dancing; so when his sister suggests he tries it himself, he does and discovers a talent to make others dance along with him. This leads to all sorts of adventures and a happy ending for the whole family. This is a real “feel good” story and has lots of lessons for the adults of the world, so why not get dancing.

Hodder, 9781444932065

“Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure” by Alex T. Smith is the fantastically funny story of an intrepid adventurer and detective as he searches for a lost treasure. The fact that he is a penguin and his sidekick is a spider just adds to the totally whacky plot. The illustrations are weird and wonderful and Alex T Smith has created a truly original new hero. there are lot of twists and turns in the plot and you cannot be sure who are the villains and who are the good guys. I am sure that we will see a lot more of this exciting hero with a love of fish finger sandwiches.

Hachette, 9781444921724

“Rabbit and Bear: Attack of the Snack” by Julian Gough and Jim Field. This is the third in a series of short stories about Bear and his friend Rabbit. One day they are out swimming when a creature crash lands in the lake and they pull it out, but they have no idea what it is. Eventually they discover that it is an Owl and all their friends have a view about what type of animal an owl is. It is a fascinating look at how we are affected by rumours and scaremongering and I think there are many links to what can happen in the real world. Children however are going to love the information at the end of the story, as the Owl (he is a burrowing owl) explains that he lines his hole in blueberry Poo, in order to attract beetles to eat. There are brilliant illustrations and extremely funny characters; it will be a great read for those gaining confidence, but also a lovely class read.

Usborne, 9781474932011

“Tanglewood Animal Park: Elephant Emergency” by Tamsyn Murray is the third story about the Tanglewood animal park and in particular Zoe, the daughter of the owners and Oliver, the son of the park vet. Each of the stories has followed the fortunes of new animals as they are introduced to the park and in this story it is a family of six elephants who are being re-homed, from a zoo that is closing down. This is a wonderful story of the ups and downs of looking after animals and there is a real sense that the author truly knows what it is like to be involved with all of these creatures. For anyone who loved the TV series about Longleat, or just loves wildlife, these are a fantastic read.

Oxford University Press, 9780192764058

“Night Zoo Keeper: Giraffes of whispering wood” by Joshua Davidson and Buzz Burman mixes magic and wild animals in a lovely story. When Will is transported into the world of the night garden he enters a world of imagination where he has to save the animals from the robotic spiders, called Voids. It appears that he is the next “Night Zoo Keeper” and he and his friend Riya have to help the giraffes who inhabit this part of the zoo. This is a great story about letting your imagination fly and not being afraid to be different from everyone else.

Well, there they are. Hopefully you will have found something that excites you. I would also suggest that you look on the websites of these publishers, because they are going to have other titles that you may want to consider and they often have additional materials that the children can use both in class and at home. Anyway, do Enjoy!

August 28, 2016 by margaretpemberton

Summer Sunshine reads

Well, we are now over half way through the summer break and it is about this time that I start thinking about what to read next. If you are anything like me then you will already have got through the pile of books that you had kept for the holidays. So here are some suggestions that you might have missed, or which are just being published. They are wide ranging in their subject matter and a few are ones that I might have missed if I had not been asked to review them, but all of them turned out to be very pleasant surprises.

HarperCollins, 9780008124526

“Ned’s Circus of Marvels” by Justin Fisher. This book has had a very high profile over the last few months and is a great adventure with an ‘ordinary’ hero, an amazing and magical circus and demons who live on the other side of the’veil’. Definitely a series that I will follow with interest.

Firefly Press, 978-1910080382

“Alien Rain” by Ruth Morgan was a lovely surprise. In essence it is a science fiction story but with Earth being the planet being excavated years after it had fallen to a mysterious invader and the explorers are settlers from the planet Mars and they are excavating the city after which their home settlement is named- Cardiff! . The descriptions of the city and in particular the Museum of Wales really adds to your appreciation of a very good story.When Bree was chosen to be part of the team of explorers it was a complete surprise, as she is not one of the top students in her class, so why was she chosen? The answer brings a fitting climax to the story. I will definitely be looking out for this author in the future and have high hopes for more from Firefly Press (who are based in Wales).

Chicken House, 978-1910655153

“The Apprentice Witch” by James Nicol is a truly super read. The heroine Arianwyn fails her witch’s assessment and gets sent off to a small remote village as an apprentice. Then strange things start happening and Arianwyn has to pull out all the magic that she can find. This is a lovely story about being different and being able to succeed despite this.

Andersen Press, 9781783444014

“Racing Manhattan” by Terence Blacker (NG) is the first of two titles set in the world of horse racing. Whilst I have read “horse” stories as a child I have not read those set in this particular world. The book is aimed at teens and deals with difficult issues but in a very sympathetic way. I really cared what happened to the heroine Jay as well as to the real star, Manhattan.

Puffin, 9780141362908

“The Racehorse who wouldn’t gallop” by Claire Balding and with illustrations by Tony Ross is another story set in the world of horse racing but aimed at a slightly younger audience. The author is a well known commentator and ex- amateur jockey and has already written several books for adults. The knowledge that she brings to the book is very evident and she is also a good writer, so that we are totally engrossed in the story of the ten-year old heroine Charlie Bass and her lovable if rather eccentric family.

“A Whisper of Horses” by Zillah Bethell (Piccadilly Press, 978-1848125346) (NG) is the last of my books to feature horses, although in this case it is the heroine, Serendipity who is trying to find the last surviving horses in Britain. the plot is set in a post-disaster country where the population in London is divided into the workers and the ruling classes. There is a barrier around the city, following the lines of the M25 and no one is allowed out. However Serendipity is determined and manages to escape; with the help of her ‘storyteller’ employer and a young smuggler called Tab. It really is a magical story about chasing your dream and making the world change for the better.

“Girl out of Water” by Ned Luurtsema (Walker books, 978-1406366525) deals with the world of competition swimming and a heroine who is totally sidelined when she fails to make the summer training squad with her best friends. How she copes with this and crashes and splashes her way to success with others make up this story. It veers from sad to hysterical in turn and makes an excellent summer read.

Scholastic, 978-1407170589

“Robyn Silver: the Midnight Chimes” by Paula Harrison is the story of an ordinary girl, Robyn Silver, who suddenly starts seeing strange creatures that none of her siblings can. Then when her school is re-located to a local ‘big house’ after a disaster, she discovers that she is a “Chime”; someone born at Midnight who can see creatures from a parallel world and whose role is to keep our world safe. This is full of action, thrills and adventure but with some very human characters that you really want to succeed.

Nosy Crow, 978-0857634863

“Rose Campion and the Stolen Secret”by Lyn Gardner is a wonderful Victorian melodrama with orphaned heroines making their way in the theatre, missing heirs and a truly villainous uncle. This a fantastic read for those who have a love of Sherlock Holmes or the books of Robin Stevens and I am really looking forward to seeing some more stories featuring Rose and her friends.

“Stormwalker” by Mike Revell (Quercus, 978-1784290696) (NG) is yet another amazing story from the author of “Stonebird” . The hero Owen lives with his father and it is just over a year since his mother has died. Owen suggests that his father re-starts writing a novel to help him get over his grief, but what happens next is totally unexpected – Owen finds himself transported into the story as one of the main characters. Unfortunately the story is a dystopian one and Owen’s alter ego finds that he and those around him are in great danger. So how can Owen save the characters whilst still helping his dad get better. this really had me on the edge of my seat and longing to know the outcome.

“The girl from everywhere” by Heidi Heilig (Hot Key books, 978-1471405105) (NG) Is a fantastic time travel fantasy where the heroine Nix travels through place and time using old maps. She is part of the crew of an old pirate ship and her father is the captain; his mission in life is to go back and save his wife’s life. However they can only go to a specific time once and their attempts are also hindered by the wrong maps and some true villains who want their help for ‘nefarious’ purposes. This was a really original story and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Corgi, 978-0552572507

“The Crooked Sixpence” (The Uncommoners series) by Jennifer Bell. I really loved this story of an alternate London called Lundinor, that exists below our own city. Ivy and her older brother Seb are left alone when their grandmother is admitted to hospital after a fall (both of their parents are away working) and then strange things start happening and they find themselves transported to Lundinor via a suitcase ! All this is linked to their grandma losing her memory many years before and they face danger and excitement as they try and solve the mysteries.

“Rose in the Blitz” by Rebecca Stevens (Chicken House, 978-1910655542) is the second in the series about Rose, the first one being “Valentine Joe” when she goes back to the first world war and meets an ancestor. In this book the link to the past is her grandmother and we are taken back to her life during the London blitz. It is a really emotional story and the end just about had me in tears. This really mixes a beautiful story with the reality of life during the war and I know I will be recommending it to schools for their libraries.

Every time I write another post I am reminded of how wonderful the world of children’s books is at the moment. I can only skim the surface of what is being published but I hope that you enjoy the books that I have chosen. We are about to enter the frenetic period that leads to the big pre-Christmas launches, so there should be some fantastic titles to come; many of them from favourite authors but also some brilliant new talent.I look forward to letting you know about these little gems

NG With thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for access to the e-proofs.

Margaret's reading shelf

a personal look at a reading life.

Piccadilly Press

Spies, traitors and heroes

Surviving lockdown

Great Reads for younger Readers

Summer Sunshine reads

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