reviews 8 – 10 Junior/Middle continued


grey outlines and some coloured pattern


than overly instructive guidance is given along with some basic scientific information about both the fish and their environments. Children and adults are likely to get pleasure from using this, be they the youngsters using their


adorn the pages or adults who may like to use the book as a means of relaxing. The front cover inside flap has a piece called ‘What is Art?’ from the author that is well worth reading as are the details of the artists and their art styles on the back flap. JB


My Name is Victoria HHHH


Lucy Worsley, Bloomsbury, 370pp, 978-1-4088-8201-6, £6.99 pbk


This novel by Lucy Worsley is a great way to bring to life the young Princess Victoria before she became Queen. Living in Kensington Palace, Princess Victoria’s


and regulated by rules known as the Kensington System. Devised by her mother the Duchess of Kent’s comptroller


System meant that the Princess was largely brought up by her German nurse and a governess, and kept away from the


affairs. She was allowed to have a young companion, Miss V Conroy, daughter of Sir John, who is a quiet and unassuming character – the exact opposite of the passionate and wilful princess. The story is told from the perspective of Miss V, and it works well to make the history of that period feel real.


about the behind-the-scenes plotting, as Great Britain faced a difficult and complex question of succession after the reign of King George IV. This was a time when the public needed to see their royal leaders stepping up to take a serious approach to the role of monarch. This is still a work of fiction, however, and the departure


the truth at the end of the novel may serve as a useful discussion point for a reading group. A genuine question of ‘What if…?’ LT


The Everything Machine HHH


Ally Kennen, Scholastic, 358pp, 978 14071 38558, £6.99 pbk


When a special delivery addressed to Olly arrives it is not what he is expecting. Instead of a rabbit hutch the parcel contains a massive and complex 3 D printing machine marked DEADLY. DO NOT TAMPER WITH CONTENTS.


the old mobile home in their garden named ‘Mob’ Olly starts imagining what incredible possibilities he could create with this machine. But he can’t keep it a secret for long as his younger brother Stevie has spotted it and begs for the first object made to be a Space Hound, one of the characters from a computer game MAZZO he and his siblings adore playing. Then their older sister Bird discovers ‘Russell’


Setting it up in from It is fascinating to learn public and state Sir John Conroy, the creativity to or design. Gentle, rather


and realizing that it won’t be long before someone comes looking for it they decide to make good use of the machine before this happens. They manage to create plenty of


additional


anticipate. And how can they prevent their mother noticing what is going on? Then they have the brilliant idea of printing their Dad as they are all missing him very much as he had walked out on them two months previously.


Rob seems to have a mind of its own and gets them all into terrible scrapes including winning the best dancer prize at the even outwitting Russell.


school childhood was sheltered


does become rather far-fetched and a mad-cap chase ensues when the MOD comes looking for their property. Mister Rob kidnaps the children’s mum in a bid to make her happy and there is plenty of fun when the children’s real Dad returns and has to rescue his wife from his robot twin. This is an affectionate and light- hearted children


comedy


opportunities are plentiful. The family relationships are spot-on with the knowing older sister and annoying younger


Russell has his own personality too. It does descend into farce at times but is overall a hugely enjoyable read. JC


Animals Behaving Badly HHHH


Nicola Davies, ill. Adam Stower, Walker, 111pp, 978-1-4063-6605-1, £5.99 pbk


Any book with a ‘shout out’ on the cover warning ‘this book contains farting fish’ is sure to be a hit with children (probably quite a few adults too!). The title ensures the reader is drawn in to the book as we all love reading about animal antics - certainly judging by the popularity of mischievous creatures on social media sites. Nicola Davies has a chatty,


discursive style and the book is arranged in an easy layout with 6 chapters about specific animals. The introduction lays down several clear themes that run throughout the book. The messages revolve around animals being incredibly clever, adaptable and pretty amazing altogether. However, the book also highlights the plight of these animals who share the planet with us and points out that the human race is contributing to the demise of many of those species. The author makes a strong argument that will, I’m sure resonate with many children, it is really humans who behave in a bad way - animals are merely trying to find the best way to survive today. So once that scene is set we are


brother and the will love. adventure The comic that printer The plot disco But the Dad-bot Mister


with responsibilities and problems they did not


favourite black cod from fishing boats. The illustrations by Adam Stower


sweets and even a swimming pool. But they soon realise that printing everything you could possibly want comes


are placed well throughout the book with not only scientific diagrams of the animals but also interspersed with funny cartoons of those farty fish and pesky macaques. This is a great read for all those children who love animal antics but also a good example of a funny, enticing non-fiction book which nonetheless conveys an important, powerful message for us not so clever humans today. SG


Trouble Next Door HHHH


Chris Higgins illus Emily MacKenzie, Bloomsbury, 128pp, 978-1408868836, £4.99 pbk


Chris Higgins writes with a relaxed, friendly


children’s ordinary lives and, while completely


rooted in


easy to read, and really difficult to master. Her stories


style that is wonderfully are


those characteristics that have long been favourites in children’s fiction. Bella, the central character in this


contemporary, share


new series is feeling a bit lost and lonely. Her family have just moved to a new house in the country and Bella is surprised both at how old this ‘new’ house is, and how quiet it is in the country. She cheers up when she discovers that there’s a girl her own age living in the house next door and soon she and Magda are spending lots of time together. Magda is exciting, full of ideas and great fun to be with and Bella is delighted when Magda declares they are best friends. But Magda has a knack for causing trouble too and young readers, particularly those that like Bella are generally quiet and well behaved, will be fascinated by the things she gets up to. They’ll also be amazed, and probably a bit outraged on Bella’s behalf, at the way Magda cannily avoids any of the blame for the chaos she causes, most of which is attributed to Bella. Fortunately all ends on a happy and peaceful note, as Mum realises that Magda is the kind of girl who attracts trouble wherever she goes: just as well she’s got Bella to look after her. Lively, funny and full of insight into people and the nature of our


thoroughly entertain its readers who will be delighted to hear that Bella and Magda will be back in the summer for a new adventure. Emily MacKenzie’s black and white illustrations are full of life too, the perfect accompaniment to the story. LS


Seeking Refuge HHHHH


Irene.N.Watts, ill. Kathryn Shoemaker, Tradewind Books, 130pp, 978 1926890029, £11.95 pbk


It is December 1938, Marianne is one of a group of children arriving at


off on a tour of some of the canniest animals of the animal kingdom. There are lots of great facts in the book such as a male wolverine climbing a 3,190 metre sheer rock face in a blizzard or sperm whales learning how to steal their


London, anxious and tired after their long journey from Berlin on the Kindertransport; Jewish refugees fleeing the Nazis. She is taken in by a cold, wealthy woman whose disappointment


such a young girl when hoping for an older child to be a domestic help is obvious. When war is declared Marianne is evacuated to rural Wales


Books for Keeps No.223 March 2017 27 at being allocated Liverpool Street station in friendships this will


where she has to endure the trauma of waiting to be chosen (youngest and prettiest first) then, when not selected, she is taken to a home for unmarried girls before a ‘billet’


found with a strange lonely couple who see Marianne as a sister (and to an extent replacement) for the daughter


and cannot accept. Letters from her mother are the only thing that keeps Marianne


difficult time; she loses contact with her father very quickly. Eventually she is reunited with her mother who has managed to escape Germany before war is declared and track her down. We


experience through Marianne’s eyes, missing her Mutti and Vati desperately - everything is strange. The food, customs and the language; she struggles with English and Welsh is incomprehensible. Although she experiences some kindness and makes one or two friends she often feels unwelcome, some strangers showing obvious dislike because she is Jewish, some suspicious because she is German, perhaps even a spy! She struggles to remain hopeful of being reunited with her parents and struggles also to retain her identity, her carers mispronouncing or even changing her name. This book effectively uses a graphic


novel format to tell a powerful story through words and pictures. Pencil drawing is used highly effectively to create mood, setting and character. Movement is cleverly conveyed too through the use of multiple images in the same frame. Seeking Refuge continues


story, based on the author’s own experiences, begun in Goodbye Marianne and


collaboration between this continues the


and illustrator. This is an important story which raises awareness of the experience of Jewish children fleeing Nazi Germany and also of refugees everywhere, highly relevant in the contemporary world context. SMc


author the see the whole going throughout this whose loss they grieve is


traumatic


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