BfK 8 – 10 Junior/Middle continued


empathy for children and understands that nothing is scarier than a merciless, hard-hearted teacher with a violent vendetta against her pupils and, in Mrs Murkley, the book has a terrifying villain who evokes the nightmarish Ms Trunchbull from Dahl’s Matilda.       daring museum escape and a nasty encounter with three hungry tigers. Yet  disappointing as it marks a departure from the calm and whimsy of the children’s planning and preparations in previous chapters. As long as future books in the series allow ample opportunity for Archer and his friends to plot, plan and argue their way in and out of trouble, they too should be a joy to read for all young readers.


SD


The Boy Who Fell Off the Ma





PJ Lynch, Walker Books, 64pp, 979-1-4063-6163-6, £12.99 hbk


 a much longer-than-normal picture       Howland, tells how he left England along with other Pilgrims and, as a servant, sets sail on board the       and freedom to worship in their own               civil people and we hope to give no offence to God or man. We hope only for a measure of civility in return.’ Little did he realise that he was about to embark upon an adventure of a lifetime as  from Plymouth, John is washed overboard during a wild ocean storm. ‘Down and down I went into the darkness under the icy waves. It was quiet down there, no raging wind or rain like up above,’ he says. But by enormous good fortune, he is miraculously saved and what we are shown in a wonderfully scary, almost spectral underwater scene, is the boy reaching out for a rope above which, just visible, is the ship’s keel. Although John survives the journey, others are less fortunate, dying from fever on 


appropriate question to ask a stuffed polar bear! When his beloved, world- renowned grandparents go missing on an iceberg, Archer knows that he alone can save them. However, as his best friend Oliver is quick to point out, Archer lacks the necessary  mission. In fact, Archer’s mother rarely lets him leave the house. Luckily, help soon arrives in the shape of a French,    moves into the house across the street. The three friends hold clandestine conferences in the school library to plan their operation and these simple meetings are brilliantly described with subtle and infectious humour. They are animated by Gannon’s beautiful, sepia illustrations, which have a deliciously alluring quality. Their warmth and charm invite the reader to leap in and join the story. Gannon writes with wonderful


where they’d hoped to end up), the       environment. Harsh winter weather, lack of food, illness and hostility between them and the native people, were among the challenges that contributed to the decimation of their number,        things improve. Peace is made and at this point, the idea of Thanksgiving is introduced into the narrative. The whole thing is masterfully and precisely told in short chapters and with meticulous detail, verbal and visual, transporting readers back into early 17th century England and America with enormous success. Those watercolour and gouache illustrations are both stunning and at times – take for instance the scene where the newly arrived are watched by the ‘native people’ from the menacingly shadowy woods – unnerving. 


writer and illustrator; seemingly his voice is as powerful as his illustration.


JB


An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Mythical Creatures 


Theresa Breslin, illus. Kate Leiper, Floris Books, 978-1-7825-0195-4, 192pp, £14.99 hbk


Scotland has many


supernatural creatures hiding in its glens and lochs. We know about Nessie, but what about the Nucklevee or the Wulver? Perhaps you have heard of Thomas the Rhymer or seen the  they do – and here are the stories. In this companion volume to their


strange and


they sleep in hammocks, climb the rigging, and there’s a whole new ship language to learn: ‘bilges’ not toilets, ‘companionways’ not stairs. Ben and        friends they’ve had, other than each other – but there are a few bullies too, including William Hardtack, the Head Prefect of the Upper Deck. They’ve only been there a few days


 director and his crew are aboard the Albatross, a ship anchored nearby. They’re making a pirate movie and they need some children from the      picked out of a hat, and Ben is really pleased that his is among them, even though all three bullies are going to         before Ben becomes very suspicious. He doesn’t trust the director, and he        camera. He’s sure they’re not making a movie at all – but if not, what are they up to? This is a very nicely produced book with a dust jacket, line drawings of the main characters, and some full-page cartoon-strip illustrations throughout. There’s a pleasing array of goodies, baddies, and incompetent adults and, while I was unconvinced by the plot,  is as charming as ever.


RW Catlantis 


Anna Starobinets, trans. Jane Bugaeva, illus. Andrzej Klimowski, Pushkin, 978-1-7826-9088-7, 128pp, £12.00 hbk


Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales, Theresa Breslin and Kate Leiper tell the stories around real places – the stories of the landscape, the islands, highlands and lowlands. It is this connection that gives each of the stories and their imaginative retellings real resonance. If it is Breslin’s words that open the door, snagging our  phrases, sentences, words against soft coloured backgrounds as each story opens, serve to emphasise the power of the storyteller – it is Leiper’s glowing illustrations that bring them to life, enchanting the eye, adding intriguing details, enticing the reader to turn the page. This is another stunning selection that deserves to be in every library, and would make a perfect gift to be read or listened to again and again.


School Ship Tobermory 


Alexander McCall Smith, illus. Ian McIntosh, Birlinn, 978-1-7802- 7333-4, 224pp, £10.99 hbk


Twins Ben and Fee MacTavish have always lived with their marine- scientist parents on a submarine, so now they’re nearly 13 and they have to go to a boarding school, clearly no ordinary one’s going to suit them. Luckily they’ve found a school ship, the Tobermory,


budding young sailors. Instead of a head teacher, they have a Captain,


26 Books for Keeps No.215 November 2015


Meet Baguette. He is an ordinary house cat who lives a well-regulated life. But falling in love with the beautiful street cat Purriana changes all that. To claim her as his bride, he must undertake a quest – he        the ancient cat paradise, Catlantis. However Noir the gangster cat also wants Purriana and will do his best to prevent Baguette succeeding. Translated from the Russian, this is


a story that is full of fun. Some might be reminded of the stories of Kornei Chukovsky or Paul Biegel. It is also a story that would be ideal for sharing at bedtime. The translator – presumably taking a lead from the original – has very cleverly ensured that cat puns are sustained throughout the narrative, so we do not just have Catlantis, but Pussiedon, god of the cat race, Sir Entrecat and cat-echesis among others. The quest itself is to ensure that cats will continue to have nine lives. Baguette is an enjoyable and


FH


and also in the 1860s. This is magic  purpose is to prevent her parents meeting, thereby saving her mother from untimely death in childbirth. Later however, the girls discover their mission is to save their brothers who also slip through time and become embroiled in a real historical battle rather than a 21st century re-enactment; something which takes all the girls’ courage and ingenuity. Much of the story is set during the American Civil War, and appreciation of the story would be enhanced with some basic knowledge of this period. The book touches on the savagery of war, and its waste of young lives. The power of family loyalty is a strong theme; no matter how irritating their brothers are, Miri and Molly are desperate to save them from likely death.       


Back to the Future, this is an intriguing time slip adventure story with magic triggered in very everyday


(home and garden). Although a little confusing at times, Magic in the Mix is a story with appeal for boys as well as girls, though the cover colour and design is clearly aimed at girls. Magic           series might help clarify how it is Molly and Miri, two girls from different time zones, came to live together as twins in the 21st century.


SMcG


The Secret Dinosaur Giants Awake! The Dinotek Adventures Book 1 978-0-9927-5250-7, £5.99 pbk


The Secret Dinosaur Hunter’s Awake! The Dinotek Adventures Book 2 978-0-9927-5251-4, £5.99 pbk


 NS Blackman, Dinosaur Books, 128pp


 short novels for growing independent readers about a group of dinoteks – battery operated ‘living’ dinosaurs        discovers them.


places


     as Baguette’s adventures. Another breath of fresh air from abroad.


Magic in the Mix 


Annie Burrows, Bloomsbury, 270pp, 978-1-4088-6617-7, £5.99 pbk


for


Miri and Molly are ostensibly ordinary twin sisters sandwiched between their twin older brothers and twin younger sisters; theirs is an unusual family. Their house is unusual too, containing magic portals which can transport them back in time. Slipping through the portals      


In book one of the series Marlin’s Uncle Gus tells him about a mechanical dinosaur at the museum. When his class goes on a school trip to the museum Marlin decides to go looking for the dinosaur and     centrosaurus called Protos. Waking him from a lengthy sleep, Marlin then  Protos’s help: a long forgotten room full of dusty dinoteks. During regular visits to the museum Marlin secretly works to restore the dinoteks to their former glory. When he is discovered by Oliver Grubbler, the museum manager,          Tyrannosaurus is one of the highlights of this action packed adventure. Marlin and the dinoteks work as a team to save the day, at least temporarily. The last chapter indicates the dangers are not over yet.


The second book opens with a synopsis of the story so far for readers         series. The adventure continues with Marlin seeking help from his uncle to prevent greedy museum manager Grubbler melting down the dinoteks    Uncle Gus proves very encouraging


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