Painting Through The Rough by David Aro

Dex is a student with a strong work ethic instilled by his parents to strive for the best grades and high athleticism to achieve whatever career he desires in future, if only he can learn to control his temper which gets him into trouble risking his future achievements. However, whilst being banned from golf due to his temper, he meets artistic Hazel who together, they discover a passion for an art project that can benefit them both and brings two people unexpectedly closer together in a slow burn bond of understanding. Seeing the characters building up their trust in each other was beautiful and so realistic too especially as teenage life can be a tricky time emotionally to navigate as we see in the characters separate issues throughout the book. Also, as a girl who grew up playing golf myself as a kid and always drawing or reading I really loved the book for engaging us in thinking and appreciating the sport of golf not regularly used in children's or teen fiction and the book being written in a good flowing verse style too was engaging and more interesting to read as mini poems supplying the storyline to unfold that way too, a fabulous book to review!

Radio Boy by Christian O'Connell

Spike hosts a show on a hospital radio station only after getting fired as his show isn't very popular, he finds out he's being replaced by Graeme's gardening hour show!

Feeling down as radio is his passion, a dedicated member of his schools A/V club alongside friends Holly and Archie and encouraged by Mr Taggard his teacher, he sets up his own radio station from his shed at home thanks to his dad's credit card and permission.

Up against the school radio show which is pathetic as the head masters son runs it with no passion, Spike uses his pseudonym Radio Boy and it rockets him to popularity amongst the pupils even when he starts to let it all go to his head and demand no more homework and a protest that suddenly turns on its head to make them hunt Radio Boy and find out his true identity!

Full of hilarious antics, kooky characters including the headmaster and Graeme the gardener the book is a unique children's read with regular children as the protagonists. We witness all the antics and challenges Spike and his friends face and I hope it inspires future radio hosts and dj's as Spike makes it super fun!

The Girl Who Thought She Was A Dog by Clare Balding

When baby Fennel is brought home, Twiglet the boxer becomes her guardian protecting her as she grows up and the pair become inseparable to the point that Fennel acts more like a boxer than a baby, then a girl as she has to try and act more human to fit in at school, she decides to enter Crufts at the NEC and prove to everyone that Twiglet is as amazing as she see's him to be!

This was a fun original idea and made a great quick read I wish it was a proper full length adventure involving the pair and showed how their futures play out after the brilliant ending.

Baby Aliens Got My Teacher by Pamela Butchart

In the first in the Izzy series, we see how Izzy, Jodi and Zach befriend Maisie and they team up against their teacher as she acts so out of sorts they believe she's been taken over by aliens thanks to her new gifted teddy bear!

It was a short and hilarious story where even though you could see what was actually happening, it was amazing the way the children blew the situation up out of proportion!

Isadora Moon Gets In Trouble by Harriet Muncaster

In this book Isadora and her cousin Mirabelle have fun with a dolls house and even become part of it with a nifty spell!

However as pink rabbit remains miniature, the girls also struggle with a new oet, a dragon!

As the Dragon causes havoc at school and Isadora's parents have no idea about any of this going on, how long will they be able to keep it all a secret?

It was such a cute and fun story to read and especially as we meet more of Isadora's family it shows how they have different skills and creates more fun for us to read!

Help Wanted Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson

In this book Shailey is sick of her dad being too tired after work to read her a bed time story and so she sets about interviewing all of the fairytale characters from the ginger bread man, Hook, Goldilocks, Snow White and her dwarfs and more!

All about appreciating your family and the joys of sharing a bed time story it was a great book and with lovely illustrations to bring it to life.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

One More Time by Nancy Loewen

A story all about perseverance and getting up and trying again in this case riding a new scooter, this will teach kids try and try again, never give up and is very short and to the point.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Sophie's Shell by Jo Rooks

Sophie is a lovely little snail shy about starting school and likes to pop back into her shell when it all gets too much until she makes a new friend, Stanley!

This picture book was super sweet all about overcoming shyness and the initial starting school jitters and nerves, the illustrations were great to illustrate the take and were super sweet and vibrant.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

The Rabbit Ate My Homework by Rachel Elizabeth Cole

In this book, Drew and his sister Libby find and take home a stray rabbit they find randomly in a box after it's been abandoned.

As Drew hides the rabbit in his room, his sister complains as she wants to play and dress up the rabbit all the time.

Meanwhile their parents don't know about the rabbit and Drew tries hard to keep it a secret as their parents won't allow them to have a pet despite Libby pleading with them.

Drew hates the rabbit though after it wrecks his room, chewing cables, comics and peeing on his bed too! But he's been blackmailed by his sister as he wrecked his new bike and fakes it being stolen, he has no choice but to go along with it all!

This book was so fun to read especially being a rabbit owner, the language of the rabbit is so true, my bunny acts the exact same ways pretty much! The joy the bunny brings Libby is relatable and the anger Drew feels is honest and both character voices were spot on. The way the bunny comes into their lives is so random I loved it.

Planet Omar Book 1: Accidental Trouble Magnet by Zanib Mian

Omar and his family have just moved to a new house. There they have a new grumpy old neighbour and are the only Muslims in the area.

As Omar joins a new school he goes through the motions of being nervous to finding a friend in Charlie but also a bully in Daniel.

Though as his neighbour falls ill, the family celebrate Eid and a trip to London for school goes awry, drama mounts up but it may be for the better overall!

The book focuses on showing how a Muslim family lives their day to day life and how they can face prejudice and try to make people more tolerant of their beliefs and how they are just like us apart from they have to say their prayers multiple times a day really! It highlights the importance of Mali friends and not judging someone even bullies can change and aren't always big and scary and great debut I can't wait for more in Omar's series!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Sami's Silver Lining by Cathy Cassidy

In the second book of the Lost and Found series, we look deeper into Sami's life this time after he left Syria and fled with his family leaving his world behind to start again in Milford with his aunt and uncle who run a tailors like his parents used to.

As he settles into his strange new life he finds friends in the band and especially Lexie after he develops a crush on her.

The band struggle with adapting to their new keyboard player
who seems to have it in for Lexi as well as being unable to play the keyboard very well at all but has connections that could help them get heard.

As Sami comes to terms with discovering things about his family, helping the band to get better and spend time with Lexi as well as help with an art project, the boy who didn't belong anymore soon finds he can have a new home, with renewed hope and chances ahead.

A sure to win your heart read with many excellent points raised in the danger people have to flee from and how their lives can change so drastically. All about promoting friendship and fun Cathy once again makes this a fun but serious read too.

Cinders And Sparks: Magic At Midnight Book 1 by Lindsey Kelk

In this reimagined version of Cinderella we meet Cinders and her loyal dog Sparks as they live with her palace designer dad, step mum and step sisters whom still the latter detest her and give her all the household chores.

However as Cinders makes it to the ball thanks to her fairy godmother Brian showing Cinders she can perform magic, its there she meets Joderick, a young prince looking to marry...

Though, Cinders doesn't know the royals believe fairies to be dangerous and unkind to them and set about trying to keep them away and end them!

As Cinders battles with her mind over what to do to save the fairies and keep the royals happy, she can't hide the fact she can perform magic and soon trouble happens in the castle as she gets sent away she finds herself searching for help, her fairy godmother and a cast of other fairy tale characters may be able to help her, if she finds them...

Cinders in this book has been touched with a modern edge that works, it's fun and fascinating to get lost in such an enchanting tale and is left open for a book two set to have more adventure within for us!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

The Pug Who Wanted To Be A Unicorn by Bella Swift

Peggy is a pug who gets abandoned at a shelter after going to her so called forever home. It was there she discovered Sparkalina a unicorn on a tv show by accident.

After going on trial to a home with a family who've just lost their beloved dog Peggy is a lively change who brings then fun and lots of laughter warming even Finn who at first doesn't tale to Peggy despite Ruby and Chloe instantly loving her.

The two girls love unicorns and with Christmas on the way Peggy wants to make the girls dream come true of owning a unicorn.

A really lovely humorous read I loved the concept of making a pet into a desired unicorn although we should appreciate each pet the way they are naturally too! The way Peggy is makes her a sure fun pet to have around and this is a book you'll want a round due to her cute crazy antics.

The Secrets Of The Superglue Sisters by Susie Day

Georgie and her mum move in with Jem and her dad, brother Noah and sister Tilly.

Georgie and Jem are best friends and through their parents now actual sisters too as they move in, start school and get used to their new family set up.

However their friendship comes to blows when a school secret sharing box project goes missing and the girls find their deepest secrets are set loose for everyone to know...

A book that shows how secrets can be dangerous but also unite people. It was a book with likable characters and the family worked well on a whole. This secret aspect added another more mischievous side to the girls tale showing how a bond can be torn and mended. A great book to educate children on the value of truth and lies.

What Lexie Did by Emma Shevah

Lexie and Eleni are as close as twins, growing up together after spending their lives literally by each others sides as Lexie helped Eleni stay alive after she had to have many operations on her heart as a young baby.

Now, their huge Greek family is divided after a lie and secrets hidden from the family by Lexie. Also missing Eleni as she becomes best friends with new girl Anastasia Lexus feels left out and a bit lonely.

As she tries to get her mum talking to her sister and her family again to reunite the two halves of their huge family once again, she comes to realise how different life could've been growing up but more importantly that the truth is always best and lying is the worst thing ever not to mention how her grandma and God would feel watching her lie to everyone...

A family divided by a lie this book shows how harmful lies can be and the impact they have on all those effected not just the one person telling the lie. We see how friendships can be changed and how death can cause people to react differently. It's an emotional and honest book sure to win your heart.

No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen

In this book we meet Felix and his mum whom live in a van. All their life is packed away as his mum relies on her cunning will to make sure she can provide a little food and a place to sleep that is at least slightly safer than a park bench.

They get his mum's friends to cover for them and not get them found out as Felix enrols in school and makes some friends especially and become a more settled despite their situation.

It seems their luck may change when Felix gets the chance to go on a tv show with a cash prize only then trouble strikes for the pair and their future looks even more uncertain than ever before...

It was a thought provoking book and was realistic as more families fall into poverty and struggle more and more. Though his mum was trying her best we see how she fell into deep times of depression due to their unending situation which is understandable alike Felix's hatred towards their situation which mounts throughout the novel too especially as he grows ill repeatedly and can't face his friends knowing his situation.
I really liked the topic being tackled and would love to see it mentioned more in young adult fiction as it rarely is.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Butter by Erin Lange

Nicknamed by school bullies after there was an incident involving butter, our protagonists nickname became Butter.

He plans to eat himself to death and posts online on a website he creates advertising his upcoming last meal. It's through this that the popular group at school start to befriend him and take him under their wing.

Butter also likes Anna, a girl whom can't see him for who he is as they talk online anonymously all the time making Butter fall for her more but in real life she has no idea it's him she's really talking to online...

As he battles with his feelings over friends, weight, food and family we see how it all results in his 'last meal' as he feels lost in life...

A touching book showing how deep out feelings can effect the world around us and the way we see things too. It was especially touching in how he feels alone and only included when expected to kill himself and shows how dangerous the wrong attention and influences can be.

Paper Chains by Elaine Vickers

Katie and Ana are best friends with secrets.

Both girls may be of Russian decent but Katie hides the fact she's adopted and has had a heart transplant whilst Ana hates the fact her dad had left her family and her mum is a shell of her former self leaving her kids to rely on each other.

Throughout the book we see how family can be many forms as well as how secrets can be revealed at the best of times to help a situation and just how dangerous life can be too. The title was really interesting and the reference we discover early on is the idea Katie's family use in the lead up to Hannuka as they right on them things they're thankful for. It was full of thoughtful moments and empathetic meaningful moments too as the girls struggles show how harsh the realities of their issues are to them.

The Snowman by Michael Morpurgo

 

In this retelling of the classic Raymond Briggs story, we see how Michael has adapted it into another version of the beloved story, still as moving as ever!

 

In this story, James has a stammer which leaves him feeling lonely and friendless in school. After building the classic snowman, he discovers the magic of friendship and Christmas as the snowman takes him on a magical journey to meet Father Christmas and the snowmans family in the North Pole.

Also in the book James has a grandmother who also witnessed the magic and partakes in a flight with the snowman which adds to the Christmas magic sharing it with others!

I really enjoyed venturing back into the childhood classic we all know and love it was a great spin on the traditional story and the addition of grandma as a character was funny sharing the magic even more making Christmas even more meaningful any one will adore this retelling.

 

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

 

 

 

 

 

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

Kayla is about to turn sixteen and have a party thrown by her ever working mum whom doesn't listen to what she wants.

Nicole is her best friend only now she's too busy dating Kayla's secret crush Ben to notice and turn up to the party.

Janae is Kayla's nemesis at school, everything she isn't and will never be, so when she turns up at the party with her mum Kayla's angry and in disbelief.

When she wishes her past wishes will come true, she's not disappointed, when she wakes the next morning her life changes for the next week as endless gumballs, Raggedy Ann and Barbies Ken all appear in her life as well as some other shocking things too. However despite the awkward situations that follow, by the end we see in retrospect her wishes coming true have kind of some her a favour in some cases.

It was such a fun read! I read it in one day as I was so hooked on to the action about what the next wish would be, would relationships and friendships break or not etc, it was a total girly read and if you want a laugh this book will give you that with the bizarre situations that happen!