Winner takes Gold by Eloise Smith

For most of us, the world of elite sports is something that we hear about in the news.  It is also a world where we watch in awe, particularly when major events such as World or Olympic championships occur.  With the Olympics taking place in Paris this summer millions of people around the world will be watching the events and some of the most popular will be the gymnastics.  The author of this book, Eloise Smith is a former world class fencer and she wrote about this world in her first book “Sister to a Star”.  Her new book has a slight change in direction, as she enters the world of young gymnasts.

The central character of this story is a young 12 year old called Pearl,  who is fanatical about her gymnastics and is determined to follow her late mother’s dream and make it to the Great Britain team.  When she and her best friend Ryan are chosen to attend an elite training centre called  ‘Leaping Spires’, they are thrilled and understand that it will require all of their grit an determination to succeed.  However, what neither of them expects, is discovering that there are dangers to be faced and not just from their exercises.  The centre seems to be suffering from more than the average number of injuries, so that Pearl begins to suspect that some form of sabotage is at play.  The problem is, who can she trust  and who is carrying out the sabotage?

This is a fantastic story that looks at a world which most of us know very little about.  However we have seen instances over the last few years where trainers and coaches have been accused of bullying, harassing and even worse.  The author has really brought the whole sport alive for us and I am sure that any young gymnast will be absolutely enthralled by the plot, characters and the information about the various types of equipment and the moves associated with them.  However, there are several really important themes that are brought into focus in this story.  The first is the sense of loss that Pearl feel at the death of her mother, who was also her trainer;  this leads to her total fixation on succeeding, but in doing so , she misses the fact that others are also suffering from this loss.  Perhaps the most chilling element of the story is the way that the trainers expect the gymnasts to push themselves beyond what is healthy or wise and to put their sport before family, friends and normal life.  We have to remember that Pearl is just a 12 year old girl who has suffered a great loss and is clinging on to the one certainty in her life.  However, she is confused by what she sees and hears and even begins to mistrust her greatest friends, so I raced through the book with my fingers crossed that all would be well.

What a real cliff-hanger of a story which really moves along at a tremendous pace.  This is helped by the fact that the chapters are very short and you think “one more chapter”  before going to bed.  The characters are fantastic and the reader becomes truly involved in what is going on.  The fact that we are now in an Olympic year will only add to the enthusiasm for this story and I consider it as one of my 5 star choices for this year.

 

The Author

(from her website

Me, a little over-excited.

In my former lives I’ve been an Olympian, triple Commonwealth fencing gold medallist, Oxford English graduate and award-winning executive creative director in advertising. Now I’m a children’s author, following my wildest dream of all . . .

My first book draws on my experiences in fencing and film sets: Sister To A Star is a thrilling mystery about warring twins in a swash-buckling Hollywood movie. My second book uses my understanding of high-level sport: Winner Takes Gold is a gripping adventure about sabotage on an elite gymnastics camp.

In my spare time I relax by skiing, climbing, running and yoga. All while raising two boys who bring me more joy than all my dreams put together.

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.

 

 

 

Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies by Alison D Stegert and Micaela Alcaino

We seem to have a fascination with young ladies who are actually detectives or spies and it is not something new; although I am compiling a blog post for some of the latest additions to the genre.  It goes back to characters such as Nancy Drew and I am sure that there are many more sleuths to be discovered.  Over the last few years we have been delighted by authors such as Katherine Woodfine, Robin Stevens, Laura Wood and Sarah Todd Taylor and I am happy to say that this new title is a perfect addition to this group of five star authors.  I also apologise to the many other authors who I have not named, but whose work I admire and will hopefully include in other blog posts.

Winifred Weatherby is determined to be an inventor and follow in her father’s footsteps.  Even though she is only fourteen she is already helping him and is even making significant improvements to some of his ideas.  However, when her father disappears, Winnie is determined to find him, even though she is in danger herself.  Then she is recruited to a secret organization of young women (housed at her school) and they are charged with trying to discover the identity of the mysterious “Mr Magpie”, who is threatening Queen Victoria.  What follows is a fantastically exciting adventure, with a multitude of twists and turns involving the two main interlinked plots. The only questions are who is Mr Magpie and what does he want to achieve with his the threat to the Queen, and can Winnie find her father (together with his invention called a ‘Telautograph’)?

This has proved to be an absolute delight to read.  It is full of intrigue and adventure and the fast pace of the action keeps the reader focused on what is going on; it is a real roller-coaster of a ride.  The characters are well-drawn and very individual; I particularly love Winnie and her feisty and determined attitude.  We also have the inclusion of members of the royal family, which allows for a little bit of fun in highlighting the often fraught relationships.  What really comes across is the attitude towards women and the belief that they are not capable of running their own lives and having much in the way of intelligent thought.  However, the central characters in this story totally disprove such antiquated and sexist ideas (although it still seem to survive to this day in some areas).  There is a real sense of female empowerment and a desire to prove that everyone should be able to follow their interests and skills.  Winnie’s fascination with science is particularly relevant in a period where scientific achievement is at the forefront of developing a modern world.  I do hope that we see further adventures for this intrepid group of young ladies as they are going to have a huge group of followers.

Alison D Stegert

Children’s Author
Alison writes stories of many genres for children of all ages, but historical fiction for readers aged 10 -14 is her sweet spot.

Born and raised in the US, Ali has long called Australia home. She’s lucky to live in Gabbi Gabbi Country, the beautiful Sunshine Coast.

Literary Agent Lucy Irvine of PFD Agency, London, represents Ali’s writing.

Safiyyah’s war by Hiba Noor Khan

Most of us will have read books about World War II and about the role that children had, sometimes as participants and sometimes as observers.  This is usually told through the eyes of those on the Home Front or those that are refugees because of persecution.  This story takes a different slant, but nevertheless it is a tale that is based on truth and what happened in Muslim communities in war torn Europe.

The central character in this story is Safiyyah, who lives with her parents in the Grand Mosque of Paris, together with the small community who work in the complex.  As the Germans move ever closer to the city, many of Safiyyah’s friends start to move away, but her community feel relatively safe.  However, when the bombs start dropping and the German troops move in to the city, life takes a much darker turn.  Safiyyah is horrified by what she is seeing happen to the people around her and finds it difficult to understand why her father seems to be doing nothing to help those in need.  It is only when she is discovered looking through papers in his office that she is told that he and other members of the community have been providing forged papers and then helping others to escape from the city; in fact there is a whole network based in the grounds of the Mosque.  When her father is arrested for helping Jewish neighbours escape, Safiyyah decides that she has to start helping the resistance in their humanitarian efforts.  What follows is a breath-taking story of courage and daring, as Safiyyah negotiates the dangers involved in leading refugees through the catacombs of Paris, as well as coping with the death of her beloved grandmother and trying to find a way to save her father.

I absolutely loved this story, which helps tell us about the bravery of people that we hear so little about.  This is yet another example of ‘ordinary people doing extraordinary things’, when faced with the inhumanity shown by some political or religious leaders.  Safiyyah is a delightful character, but as with most young people she tends to see the world in very defined ways.  It is only through experience that she begins to understand that life is far more nuanced and that the adults in her life are having to juggle a multitude of needs.  The relationships between the members of the family really highlights the closeness of all the generations and we really feel for Safiyyah when she realises that her grandmother is not going to survive; but she also learns that sometimes older people want to join those who have gone before them.  This is such a poignant episode that echoes the experience of all those other people who were losing loved ones during the war, but it also resonates today  This is one of those books where you are in danger of running out of superlatives.  There is so much hope, even amid the horrors of war and the importance of family and faith shine a real light in the darkness.  Thank you to the author for such an inspiring story, which is bound to become a classic in future years.

The author

Hiba Noor Khan

Hiba’s academic background is in Engineering/Physics, having completed Postgraduate study at the University of Oxford in 2015. Since graduating she has worked in the Environmental Sector, as a Refugee Advocacy Worker for The Children’s Society, a Physics teacher and TV presenter. She has a keen interest in social and political affairs and assisted policy research for the Governments Commission on Religion and Belief in Public Life in 2015. Her passion for international development has led Hiba to travel to implement various sustainable development projects in rural Tanzania, and to deliver aid to Syrian refugees in Turkey.

Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue by Anna Fargher and Sam Usher

The second and final book in this sequence is being published in July and will be eagerly awaited by the many fans who loved the first story.  It was originally due for publication in April, but the pandemic has meant that there has been a delay, as with so many other books this year.  The adventures of Umbrella Mouse are the first books that the author has published and they are a stunning success.  Anna’s imagination is glorious, but it is also grounded in the reality of what is actually achievable for the individual creatures, so we never have a sense of being outside the realms of possibility.  The illustrations by Sam Usher are truly delightful, as you would expect from such an accomplished illustrator.  I particularly love his series about a young boy and his grandfather and would definitely recommend “Snow” and his new title “Wild“.  Not only has he produced the cover illustration for  Anna’s book but he has also  given us some  really strong images to link with the text throughout the book.

I came across the first book when the proof copy was available at a conference I was attending, probably in late 2018 or early 2019.  Needless to say, I absolutely loved it and especially the young mouse Pip Hanway who is the heroine of both stories.  At the beginning of the sequence she is living on the premises of a well known umbrella maker in London, but then one day the shop is bombed and the owners killed; Pip has no where to go as her parents are dead, so she decides to follow an old family story about a museum in Italy, where the ancient umbrella she owns was originally from.  As she starts her journey she meets up with a group of animals that support humans in the fight against the Nazi enemy; they are called Noah’s Ark and they agree to help her with her quest.  Most of the action takes place in France, where Pip is instrumental in foiling a plot by German troops and their animal supporters.

The second story sees the delightful ‘Umbrella Mouse and her friends in the French animal resistance recovering from their battle against the Nazis and linking up with the group in the local area.  Unfortunately the German animals, led by a renegade dove called Lucia, are still trying to kill Pip; making the band of friends decide to try and get to Paris, to help in freeing the city.  Their adventures put them in great peril and they lose some of their comrades on the way, but their determination and sense of loyalty is what sees them get through.

This is a wonderful story of friendship and of courage and I am sure it reflects the feelings of the millions of humans that went through the trauma of the Second World War.  The author has allowed the animals to experience the dangers that real people faced during this and other conflicts, but because it at a slight distance from us, it is easier for the audience to cope with.  However we all understand the feelings when loved ones are lost and when something positive and uplifting happens to the central characters .  This is a heartwarming story at so many levels and is perfect for the older middle grade.  Whilst it is an animal story it does not shy away from describing the dangers and tribulations that were faced by ordinary people during this period of history and is very suitable for reading to children who are studying the war.

I am not giving the game away about the ending, but I will tell you that there is a very fitting ending and that we are left with a sense of hope for the future.  This really is highly recommended reading