Monthly Archives: June 2019

The Starman and Me

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The Starman and Me by Sharon Cohen

Book of the Week: 30 June 2019

 

Cover artwork by Sam Kaldo

Shortly after Kofi thinks he sees a small, curled-up figure lying on the roundabout near Tesco, he gets a message on his computer: ‘I’s needin help. I’s Rorty Thrutch’. Thinking it’s some ‘raving nutter’ he blocks the person and logs off, but the next day, when Sumo and his mates take his bag and empty the contents everywhere and he sees his ruler, set square and protractor weave across the grass and pop back into his bag, he thinks there is more to the episode that he first thought. Once he meets the small, hominim (think Stig of the Dump) who  calls  himself Rorty, he decides to take him home and give him the help he needs. Where does Rorty come from and how is he going to get back there? Not only does Kofi need answers, he needs them fast because other people are looking for Rorty and they are far from friendly.

There is plenty of action and science content in this touching and amusing story which would be ideal for fans of books by Ross Welford and Christopher Edge.

Illustration by Edward Ardizzone.

The Poet X

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The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Book of the Week: 23 June 2019

Cover illustration by Gabriel Moreno

It was announced on Tuesday (18 June) that Elizabeth Acevedo had won the 2019 Carnegie Medal for The Poet X.

Xiomara lives in Harlem with Mami, Papi and her twin brother Xavier, whom she calls ‘Twin’. Her hard-working mother wants her to follow the rules, attend church, go to confirmation class and stay away from boys. Xiomara is questioning her faith and attracted to her new lab partner, Aman. She and her mother are set on a collision course. Xiomara’s teacher, Ms Galiano, sees that she is a talented writer and encourages her to attend poetry club, but it isn’t until events push her to breaking point that she finds her voice.

Xiomara’s story is told in free verse, so this is one to try if you enjoy coming-of-age stories and have enjoyed books by Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander or Sarah Crossan.

Pax

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Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Book of the Week: 16 June 2019

Illustrated by Jon Klaassen

Set in the USA during an un-named war, Pax is the story of the bond between Peter and Pax, his pet fox. Peter’s mother has died and his father has to leave to carry out cable-laying for the army. His father says Pax will be safer if returned to the wild so, on their way to Peter’s grandad’s where he is to stay whilst his father is away, they leave Pax by the roadside. Once Peter gets to his grandfather’s he decides this was the wrong thing to do and runs away to find Pax. Here, the story splits into two narratives: Pax’s and Peter’s. Pax has to negotiate the unfamiliar world of the wild which, having been a tame pet, he is unsuited for. Peter is similarly alone in war-torn and evacuated country, until he fractures his foot and has to take refuge in a woodland cabin with a reclusive woman called Vola. The odds against Pax and Peter ever being reunited seem stacked against them.

This is a gripping adventure and likely to be enjoyed not just by those who love animal stories. It is about love, friendship, the getting of wisdom and finding out where you belong in life.

Pay Attention, Carter Jones

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 Pay Attention, Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt

Book of the Week: 9 June 2019

Cover illustration by Laura Korzon

Carter Jones’ dad is a captain in the United States Army and posted in Germany, so Carter lives with his mum, his three sisters and a dachshund called Ned who is inclined to throw up at least once a day. The family are struggling, not only to cope with day-to-day life, but to deal with an absent father and something devastating that happened to their family a few years back. One frantic morning whilst they are getting ready for school, a gentleman’s gentleman called Mr Bowles-Fitzpatrick shows up at their door to say they have inherited him. He sets about trying to help everyone in the family in ways he thinks suit them best and is extremely particular about standards – rather like a male version of Mary Poppins. At first, Carter finds him a ‘pain in the glutes’ and cannot understand his love of tea, ballet, the opera and cricket, but gradually his influence begins to permeate the family and the community and Carter thinks there may be more to his advice to ‘keep the bails up’ than he first thought.

This is a lighthearted story that is deceptively simply written and yet uses rich language to put across themes of grief, loss, being responsible and true to yourself.

I was surprised to love a book that contained so much cricket. I have to agree with the author Bill Bryson (2000, p.111) when it comes to cricket:

After years of patient study (and with cricket there can be no other kind) I have decided that there is nothing wrong with the game that the introduction of golf carts wouldn’t fix in a hurry. It is not true that the English invented cricket as a way of making all other human endeavours look interesting and lively; that was merely an unintended side effect. I don’t wish to denigrate a sport that is enjoyed by millions, some of them awake and facing the right way, but it is an odd game. It is the only sport that incorporates meal breaks. It is the only sport that shares its name with an insect. It is the only sport in which spectators burn as many calories as players (more if they are moderately restless). It is the only competitive activity of any type, other than perhaps, baking, in which you can dress in white from head to toe and be as clean at the end of the day as you were at the beginning.

Bryson, B. (2000) Down Under. London: Doubleday.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

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A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

Cover design not credited

Pippa Fitz-Amobi decides to do her EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) on the 2012 investigation into the disappearance of schoolgirl Andie Bell in her home town of Little Kilton. The media and the local residents know who killed Andie, although her body has never been found. Her boyfriend, Sal Singh, caused his own death by suicide shortly afterwards and the evidence against him seemed overwhelming. Since then, his parents and younger brother Ravi have been gossiped about and ostracised. Pip starts by visiting the Singh family and telling Ravi that she doesn’t think that Sal murdered Andie and, what’s more, she is going to prove it.

There follows entries in Pip’s production log of telephone calls, Facebook snooping and interviews with Andie and Sal’s friends and a local journalist. The more Pip uncovers, the more complex the case for Sal’s innocence seems to be. But if he didn’t commit the crime, who did? And what actually happened to Andie Bell?

The dark and twisty story is plotted in great detail and keeps the reader guessing throughout. If you enjoyed One of Us is Lying, this is a must-read.

The mature content and occasional strong language make it more suited to older readers.

As someone who regularly teaches referencing, I had to agree with Pip’s note to herself: ‘Write your references in now so you don’t have to do it later!!!’ (Jackson, 2019, p.8).

References

Jackson, H. (2019) A good girl’s guide to murder. London: Egmont.