We are thrilled to introduce you to our child reviewers. Our latest critic is Yaseen Mahmood, aged 6, who enjoys sports like football and badminton and is really good at maths!
Title: Bunny Verses Monkey: Machine Mayhem
Author: James Smart
Genre: Fun Books/ Comic Book
Summary: This book is an adventure about a robot learning about life from a group of woodland animals with special powers. Lots of things go wrong, it’s very funny and easy to read.
My Thoughts: This book was really funny. My Favourite characters where Monkey and Skunkey because they invent cool electronic gadgets like the “all seeing eye”. The chapters are quite short and the pictures are very bright. I would recommend this book to children aged between 6-9 years. It was adventurous and funny.
Today’s review is courtesy of Jon Lewin who is studying Maths, History and Music A Levels. Jon says he reads tons, such as historical adventure, Simon Scarrow and stuff. He works on his grandma’s allotments to earn money which he spends on his guitar collection and going to concerts.
I really enjoyed this book, much to my surprise as I don’t normally read LGBTQ books.
The cover just caught my eye on the shelf at Bingley Library. However, this story is about kids about to leave school and head out into the big wide world of university, college or work and also how they cope with friendship issues and deal with parents who are afraid to let go of children who have become adults.
There is a lot of underlying humour and the personalities involved are empathetic and engaging. I guess it’s all about self discovery and trusting in your real friends.
I see the author has published a new book this year and hope the library will buy a copy!
Today’s reviewer is Sakinah, who loves reading, walking in the woods and gardening. She also loves catching up with friends or family over a cup of tea and cake. Her favourite cake is lemon drizzle.
Title: Hidden Fires
Author: Saarish Hussain
Genre: Adult Fiction
Summary: Ruby is a teenage girl struggling with anxiety, body image and self harm. Her father, an over- worked social worker and carer of his wife, who suffers from a long term illness, does not have much time to spare for his only child, Ruby.
When Ruby’s grandmother passes away in Spain her father decides to leave her in the care of her paternal grandfather Yusuf, in another city. Ruby is perturbed by the idea of living away from home with her elderly grandfather who she barely knows. His religious rituals and old fashioned ideas are enough to drive her to the edge.
However, over time, she comes to realise that she is not the only one facing internal struggles. Her grandfather, she discovers is battling with deep seated trauma and horrific memories of his own.
During the short time they spend together, Ruby and Yusuf establish a wonderful bond that leads to emotional healing for the pair of them.
Verdict: I enjoyed this book because the author covered a variety of different themes that are current issues of contention in today’s society, such as over-worked parents, stretched social services, self- harm, anxiety and bullying amongst teenagers and loneliness and isolation amongst the elderly.
I particularly enjoyed the author’s coverage of Yusuf’s traumatic memories of living through the partition of India and Pakistan in a sensitive yet informative manner.
I felt that the author also broke many of the age-old stereotypes of British Muslim families, which was refreshing and encouraging to read.
“ Water” is the first book in the series” Elements” written by John Boyne. It is a short novel which sets the scene for “ Earth” “ “ Fire” and, finally “ Air.” The characters are linked throughout the four books.
We meet Willow as she gets off the boat on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland. The author tantalises us from the outset as we know this is not her real name plus she has cut off her hair. So we want to know why.
Thus begins the story behind her escape from a controlling marriage and the consequences of her husband’s behaviour. We meet the islanders who have their own histories, dreams and aspirations. Willow has experienced unimaginable loss and this island is there to give her back an identity.
The link to “ Water” is excellent in that it peels back the waves of disgust at what her husband had done. However, it also envelops her and sustains her recovery “ like a body emerging from near drowning , reaching the surface and gasping for air”.
Despite being short, it packed a punch and drew me into island life. I was totally drawn and could imagine being there. This book made me consider how I would have reacted if faced with a similar dilemma. The tides kept throwing things at her but I liked how the islanders kept their council and did not judge her.
Boyne’s observation of people never fails to impress me and this story left a lasting effect. I have read the other three in the series and could not put them down. Interestingly, the title of each book is linked to the main character W for Water and for Willow! I totally recommend this book to anybody who enjoys a well written , well constructed book which draws you in from the first sentence.
John Boyne is one of my favourite authors . He never fails to impress me with his use of language.
Sue Hewitson is a retired teacher who has loved books since she could turn a page.
She says: My mum took me to the library in Brighton ( where I grew up ) at least twice a week as I devoured everything so quickly. I am now a volunteer at Baildon library and try to share my passion with other borrowers. In my view, a house is not a home without books hence I champion The Book Trust and The Imagination Library . All children should have books to read, peruse, enjoy. You should see my daughter’s house !
Historical Fantasy Author, Author Elizabeth Hopkinson chooses three books from Bradford Libraries Collection she feels would be suited to three characters from her own Angelio series, Tammo, Carlo and Celestina… Have a read through and see if these are books that would interest you too…
IntroducingTammo. Tammo is a character in Elizabeth’s Angelio Series who plays flute. His heart’s desire is to be able to charm birds with his flute, and he forms an especially close bond with a crow named Coronis.Elizabeth thinks My Friend the Octopus would be a good read for Tammo and possibly you too! She writes…
I think Tammo would enjoy this middle grade novel set in 1893, about a girl called Vinnie who forms a bond with a giant octopus in Brighton Aquarium. The octopus – named Ghost – is initially billed as a dangerous monster, but is actually sensitive and nurturing.
The idea of being trapped in a beautiful cage – so central to my novel, Cage of Nightingales – is also central to My Friend the Octopus. Not only is Ghost imprisoned in the aquarium, but Vinnie finds freedom from the restrictive world of high fashion and her mother’s milliner’s shop, with her 1890s “new woman” aunt, who wears bloomers, rides a bicycle and runs a tea shop. And Vinnie’s new friend Temitayo – the African ward of an English gentleman – is determined to escape from being treated as a pet curiosity, and forge her own life (starting with being called by her real name).
I just know that spirit of freedom in this novel would appeal to Tammo. And he’d enjoy the fast-paced adventure and mystery of the plot – not to mention the illustrations, maps and newspaper articles!
My Friend the Octopus is children’s historical fiction which evokes the Victorian era. Fashion, attitudes to women, and the disparity between rich and poor are among the themes explored. It is suitable for readers aged 8+.
A Book for Carlo – The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Elizabeth has chosen The Black Flamingo as a read for Carlo- another character from her own series, who, she feels, would relate to this prose poetry autofiction about a young man finding his queer identity through performance.
In Angelio, Carlo is a castrato, a type of opera singer that was wildly popular in the 1720s and 30s. Boys were made into eunuchs to preserve their soprano voices and trained intensively in schools like the Cage of Nightingales. People loved their androgynous appearance onstage, where they took leading roles, both male and female. Offstage, they were both fêted and persecuted. They are iconic for many queer people today, including asexual, nonbinary and transgender.
Elizabeth thinks The Black Flamingo would really appeal to Carlo’s reading taste and here’s why…
The Black Flamingo is about a young man – Michael – a gay, British teen of Greek Cypriot-Jamaican heritage, struggling to find out where he fits in the world. He has a poor/non-existant relationship with his father (as does Carlo), although he has other family and friends with varying levels of understanding. One of his questions is, “Does being gay make me less Black?” Michael eventually finds his place at the university drag society, creating his alter-ego, the Black Flamingo.
Again, it’s short and easy to read, with illustrations and a beautiful cover. I think Carlo and Michael would enjoy exchanging outfits!
The Black Flamingo is suitable for youngsters aged 13+ interested in gay young adult fiction.
A Book for Celestina – The Psychology of Time Travel by Kate Mascarenhas
Born into a life of privilege yet excluded from certain aspects of high society due to her disability, Celestina, another of Elizabeth’s characters is a young lady who knows her own mind and is determined to forge her own path. Elizabeth thinks Celestina would love The Psycholoy of Time Travel – historical sci-fi, consisting almost wholly of strong, female characters working in science.
The book begins in 1967 in a Bletchley Park-like setting in which four women and a rabbit create the first time machine – but one of them (Bee) suffers a breakdown and is removed from the programme, her contributions erased. By the 2010s, time travel has become a vast organisation called the Conclave, headed by the controlling and emotionless Margaret. Meanwhile, both Bee’s granddaughter Ruby and a museum volunteer named Odette are attempting from different points in time to solve the mystery of an old woman killed in a sealed room. Could it be Bee?
Like many disabled people, Celestina from the Angelino series is an early adopter of technology (she has a self-propelled, clockwork wheelchair and a hand-cranked lift) so I think she would appreciate the scientific aspects of the story, but also the focus on how time travel affects emotions and relationships. And the controlling Margaret might remind her of her mother!
The Psychology of Time Travel is a blend of science fiction, historical drama and mystery suitable for readers aged 15+
About the Reviewer – Elizabeth Hopkinson is an avid reader and writer of the Angelio series, published by Deep Hearts YA. She/they are currently working on the third book of the series. Click below to see her titles.
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