Only We Know by Simon Packham

review by Maryom

Lauren and her sister Tilda are starting a new term at a new school, following their family's hurried house-move. Something dreadful happened at Lauren's previous school but she wants to put the past behind her and start afresh. Imagine her panic then, when among her new classmates she sees a boy, Harry, who she knew a few years ago. Luckily she's changed quite a lot since then so Harry doesn't recognise her - and Lauren just hopes it stays that way! She starts to settle in and make new friends, but then she starts to receive odd 'gifts', items with a twisted meaning relating to her past. Someone has found out her secret ...  how far will they go to expose her? is there anything Lauren can do to stop it happening?

In this excellent teen novel, Simon Packham takes a topical issue and weaves it into a compelling read. The reader knows very early on that there is something in her past that Lauren doesn't want anyone to know about - it seems to involve fast cars and a boy called Luke, but it's only at the end that all is revealed.  There are lots of hints throughout to keep you wondering, though I must admit I'd never have guessed!
Alongside this thread is the mystery of who could be sending Lauren the unpleasant packages - there are a number of red herrings to lead the reader (and Lauren) along the wrong path, but the surest way to find out is to keep reading!


Maryom's review - 4.5 stars
Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - teen/YA, teen relationships, identity

Spies in Disguise: Boy in a Tutu by Kate Scott

Review by The Mole

We first met Jo(si)e and Sam in Boy in Tights when, due to his parents having been rumbled as government spies they needed to relocate and change identities. Now Josie and Sam are given a real mission to protect some valuable World Cup memorabilia as the local leisure centre - the only thing is they must join ballet classes as part of their cover. And it becomes obvious that someone is taking too much interest in Josie.

The best thing about "Spies in Disguise" is that they are not meant as  serious spy novels - even for it's target readership. they are meant as funny escapism - even 6+ readers want that - and Kate Scott achieves it in spades! Without resorting to belches and farts she brings laughs with wit that entertains adults as well as children, which would make these excellent bed time stories. And they are stories - ones where the plot hangs together properly no matter how ridiculous the plot or action may seem to an adult. And it's not all light and roses for our duo either - there are spats and fallings out along the way, but teamwork is needed to succeed.

And there's no preaching to the reader either. Another great book for the very early reader - but why stop with just them?

Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - Children's (6+) Spy Story, humour

Hot Air by Sandrine Dumas Roy;illustrated by Emmanuelle Houssais

review by Maryom

The ice has been melting too fast and the world hotting up too much, so the animals decide to get to the bottom of the problem. It seems the cows are at fault with, dare we say it?, farting too much. All their gas is upsetting the weather and making the world far too uncomfortable. Can the animals come up with a solution? Maybe that gas could even be put to some use?

As you may have guessed, this book sheds a humorous light on the problems of global warming. There aren't going to be many kids that don't giggle every time the cows' farting problem gets mentioned but it isn't just about grabbing their attention using a 'naughty' word.
The writing is eye-catching with changes of font size, and the illustrations are bright and quirky with lots of weird and wonderful contraptions that the animals use in their investigations. The story gives lots of scope for asking 'what would you do?' and encouraging children to think about global warming and perhaps come up with their own suggestions of how it might be tackled.

Publisher - Phoenix Yard Books
Genre - Children's picture book, Environmental Issues

Buy Hot Air from Amazon

Dinosaur Scramble By Jeanne Willis

Illustrated by Arthur Robins
Review by The Mole

Darwin is to have a little brother or sister shortly because his mother has laid an egg. But is it the right egg? And then Flint, the t-rex, kidnaps the egg so Darwin's mum must prepare his wedding feast? Can Darwin sort it out? Can anyone sort it out? Can you not laugh at their attempts?

Darwin's family takes the concept of a dysfunctional family and makes even more dysfunctional. Jeanne Willis also manages to do it in a way that adults, while reading aloud, will get a lot out of too. Genuinely laugh out loud at lots of times and totally unpredictable to the last, these Downtown Dinosaur books are really wonderful books that will delight both girls and boys equally.

But let's not forget those all important  illustrations by Arthur Robins with each one complementing the story line and adding to the humour - ace!

Another great children's read!

Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - Children's 8+, Fiction

Buy Downtown Dinosaurs: Dinosaur Scramble from Amazon

Spies in Disguise: Boy in Tights by Kate Scott

Review by The Mole

When Joe gets home from school he finds his life in a small suitcase and his parents tell him that they are moving house - in 30 seconds. With only 30 seconds he grabs an armful of his favourite Dan McGuire books and is bundled into a car that they don't own and driven off at speed, by his mother who has always obeyed every traffic law, to a motel. It's there that they break the bad news that they are spies and he must change his identity for the sake of the family - to become a girl! Within hours they are climbing out of the motel window, getting into another car they don't own to move to another location. And what's with all the gadgets in the cars? This could be fun if it wasn't a nightmare!

You often read a book, particularly a children's book, and are surprised how far you can suspend disbelief. Could any young boy 'become' a girl with just a weekend to practice? But Scott has you convinced that he is making a good job of it with Joe/Josie - and he's hating every minute of it! The story becomes full of gadgets, friendship, plans and cunning, keeping the reader interested and reading.

As an adult I enjoyed this book and it's target audience (6+) will, I am sure, absolutely love it. The young readers that seem to have commented have been boys but it would interesting to hear a girl's opinion too. Although it is '6+',  it will appeal to any child that picks it up, I'm sure, but I suspect teens may keep it quiet! It's also a book that will have the readers waiting for the sequel!

Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - Children's (6+) Spy Story

Buy Spies in Disguise: Boy in Tights from Amazon

Captain Valiant (and me) - Revenge of the Black Phantom by Adam Britten

Review by The Mole

When, using their super powers, Captain Valiant and Dynamic Boy defeat The Black Phantom they are warned that much worse will follow - and it does. An explosion totally destroys Mark Taylor's (Dynamic Boy) school and, as they investigate, the Astral Knights are instructed to cleanse the earth - everything living will be wiped out unless Mark, his dad, his mum (Ms Victory) and his sister (Moon Girl) can defeat Abbadon before things get even more out of hand.

This is how I like my superheroes - funny. Poor old Dynamic Boy is forever complaining that he has a stupid name, a stupid costume and stupid super powers. His sister is always bullying him and treating him like... well a younger brother. His dad is getting fat from too many bacon sandwiches and his mum is... well a mum I suppose. With plenty to laugh at and lots of humorous black and white drawings this book will delight younger readers and older readers too, if they can find an excuse to read it - "I'm checking it out as to whether it's suitable for my nephew for his birthday!" (Or make up your own excuse - I was reviewing it!).

A really good story to encourage reading in youngsters.

Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - Children's 8+, Fiction

Buy Captain Valiant and Me: Revenge of the Black Phantom (Captin Valiant & Me) from Amazon

Firewallers by Simon Packham

Review by The Mole

Jess's dad is suspended from work and so her mum takes her and her sister off to a remote Scottish island to join a commune. Jess is freaked out by the weirdness of the other kids in the commune until she finally manages to join in their activities. But why has her mum run away instead of staying and supporting her dad? Why won't her mum and sister tell her what her dad has been accused of? And won't someone help her dad clear his name?

When I started reading this I was surprised by Jess, who describes herself as a stroppy teenager. Aren't most teenagers stroppy and how many would roll over and just agree to go without a blazing row unless parents are totally honest with them - and neither of these things happen. Once I got past that I found the story to be extremely enjoyable and quite fast paced. There is a love angle in there but it's not central at all. The behaviour of the teenagers (after the initial scene setting) is very well written from embarrassed son to supportive friends to clumsy first dates.

With Jess in year 10, I think this is probably suited to the 12-15 reader and hopefully it emphasises the 'innocent until proven guilty' message that so many people ignore. Oh, and don't send dodgy photos of yourself unless you want to be publicly embarrassed.

Publisher - Piccadilly
Genre - Teen mystery

Buy Firewallers from Amazon

My Humongous Hamster by Lorna Freytag

Review by The Mole

'My' hamster eats his food up quickly and seems to always want more. In this book the author contemplates what would happen if through all her hamster's eating, he grew and grew until he was a 'humongous' size.

With lots of clever photoshop work and careful use of fonts this book is a fun read for early readers and, while not challenging perhaps, still fun for older readers who find it on the bookshelf.

As a child I hated "The Yellow Book" with a vengeance but this kind of book would have got me reading a lot faster. But don't discount the opportunities this book has for sharing - there are plenty of things to talk about in the pictures and it wouldn't take a great deal of imagination to suggest actions that could be related to the pictures as well.

A really fun book to encourage children into reading as well as for early readers.

Genre - Children's Picture Book, Early Reader
Publisher - Piccadilly Press

Buy My Humongous Hamster from Amazon

Dinosaurs In Disguise by Jeanne Willis

Review by The Mole

The second Downtown Dinosaurs adventure starts when Uncle Darwin, a stegosaurus,  has lost his hat and on his hunt for it he sees there is a new carnivorous dinosaur in town. A big one! Bigger than any that he has seen before. Dippy has gone missing and Beastwood is hunting him down. This is not a good time for Darwin to get lost in the primeval forest, but he does and his family go to look for him - disguised as trees!

Zany, engaging and very funny is the quick summary of this book. It won't teach children about dinosaurs (although there is a guide to pronunciation in the back), the pictures (of which there are many and are cartoon like in black and white) don't look like real dinosaurs and dinosaurs didn't really talk English and live in houses. What it will do is entertain young readers and encourage them in their reading and make sure that they enjoy it too. But parents should always be sure about what their children read so why not read it first? I'm sure you will enjoy it too. I did!

Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - Children's 8+, Fiction

Buy Downtown Dinosaurs: Dinosaurs in Disguise from Amazon

Neptune's Tears by Susan Waggoner

Review by The Mole

Zee McAdams is a healing empath in a 23rd century world. She is allocated a rather unusual patient, a man who refuses medical help after a head injury. She finds she cannot easily walk away from this patient. Later when a terrorist attack happens he reappears in her life giving assistance to the injured. "What would you risk for love?" the cover asks.

Fully aware of the warnings on the cover that love was a significant theme, I picked this up to read it as there seemed to be a strong sci-fi element to it. And there is! After a second terrorist incident it becomes apparent that Zee's abilities stretch way beyond empathy and the foundations for an exciting sci-fi story are reinforced. Sadly for me it ended with the main focus on the love story and the action scenes are rushed through as a secondary issue. It is a well told love story though - which is what it is claiming to be - but I just felt a great opportunity was missed. However it sets itself up for book 2 and there is scope in there for my sci-fi adventure in it.

Publisher - Piccadilly
Genre - Sci-Fi, Romance, Teen

Buy Neptune's Tears (Timedance) from Amazon

Alien Schoolboy's Z-A Guide to Earthlings Ros Asquith

Review by The Mole

Flowkee has visited Earth, disguised himself as a schoolboy and tried to learn about Earthlings. He made some mistakes along the way and so has produced this guide for other Faathings who will follow. Sadly he didn't get the title quite right but he did manage to put the entries in the correct order - entries starting at "Aaargh" going through to "Zoo". With an introduction on how to prepare and a section at the back where the reader can add "Everything else...".

Shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny prize it carries entries like "Losing stuff" where it says "... When earthlings find something, they say 'It's always in the last place you look.' Are there really Earthlings who go on looking after they've found something?" and you can see why it achieved that prestigious accolade.

Laugh out loud funny with lots of hilariously captioned pictures throughout this is a book that is going to be loved by it's readers and is a valuable reference book for those who follow the "Alien Schoolboy" books. A great Christmas present for young readers and it includes some facts to be absorbed by osmosis.

Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - Children's 8+,Sci-Fi(?), humour

Buy Letters from an Alien Schoolboy: Alien Schoolboy's Z - A Guide to Earthlings (Letters from/Alien Schoolboy) from Amazon

Super Soccer Boy and The Monster Mutants by Judy Brown

Review by The Mole

When a factory is to be demolished there are weeds growing out of control at the site and the caretaker went missing the day the factory closed. The demolition crew are attacked - by the plants! Super Soccer Boy, Harry Gribble, uses his skills to try to stop the plants and save the world.

I am not a football fan. There, confession made. Did it matter? Not at all. Super Soccer Boy is hardly about football, it's about fun and really good role models. Both Harry and Jake are clever, resourceful, but well behaved lads.

At about 120 pages with a good size font and plenty of light hearted illustrations the look and feel of the book is well suited to 8/9 year old reader. While the thought of plants consuming people is suited to The Day of the Triffids, Dr Who and maybe even Hammer House of Horrors, here it is handled in a way that will really delight its readers. And all those adults that can't figure out what Super Soccer Buy has worked out... well that adds to the appeal.

I came to this series late as this is the last but the other seven are out there to delight young readers. And I can't see why girls wouldn't enjoy them too. Extremely fun read. Have I already said it was fun?

We have put this one out today for our Hallowe'en reads - but mutant plants are hardly Hallowe'en? Well they could be, forgive us please this once?

Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - Children's 8+, Fiction

Buy Super Soccer Boy and the Monster Mutants (Super Soccer Boy) from Amazon

Princess Katie's Kittens - Suki in the Snow by Julie Sykes

Review by The Mole

Princess Katie is about to go on a skiing holiday and is leaving the kittens behind at the palace. Well that's the intention but Suki seems to have other plans. A skiing holiday will mean lots of fun making igloos, seeing reindeer, riding sleighs and, of course, skiing. When Suki is found in Katie's rucksack then it seems the holiday just got a whole lot better! Or did it?

One very much for young girl early readers this is peppered throughout with black and white drawings of kittens, skiing, sleigh rides, snow and much more that complement the story and has chapters of around 14 pages. Perhaps confident readers for the 5 and 6 age group and straight forward for the older princesses? The pictures are cute and the language is simple and clear and is sure to delight young cat lovers.

The back of the book has a competition and puzzles and a link to a website where more fun activities can be found.

I am sure these cute stories will find a young fan club and the books will make fantastic presents.

Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - Early Reader 5+, Fiction

Buy Princess Katie's Kittens: Suki in the Snow from Amazon

It's Time for Bed by Adele Geras and Sophy Williams

Review by The Mole

It's time for bed for Little Hare, but, like all children, Little Hare finds lots of essential things that need to be done before bedtime. Each new 'thing' requires Mother Hare to produce a lullaby. Lullabies for mice, birds, frogs and toys before, finally, one for Little Hare.

Having read this through I was very struck by something - Little Hare is neither male nor female so you can agree on 'he' or 'she' as it suits your own child.

The pastel colours in this book are 'sleepy' colours  and the the pictures are soft focus to be snuggly, warm and sleepy and this is very much a bedtime reader. The words and poem structure though is very much an 'adult read aloud', reinforcing the book's bedtime role.

A book definitely for bedtime and, hopefully, your little one will get to sleep much quicker that Little Hare!

Publisher - Piccadilly Press
Genre - Bedtime reader, children 0+