Review: The Cursed Queen

The Cursed Queen by Sarah Fine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A great companion novel to The Impostor Queen, expanding on a race that were only 'savages' in that book. Ansa's struggles and race were fascinating. I do wish she hadn't gone back and forth quite so many times, as it makes her look weak and indecisive, but I wouldn't have any idea who to trust in that situation either!

Now I just have to wait for The True Queen to find out what happens!

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Review: Witch Born

Witch Born by Nicholas Bowling
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A great look at a slightly alternate England. Alyce is a great character, and the changes to history have been cleverly woven into and through the history we know. I'd love to read more and see what becomes of the witch queen's daughter, and just how far she manages to alter things.


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Review: KILLER T: A near-future dystopian thriller from the bestselling author of CHERUB

KILLER T: A near-future dystopian thriller from the bestselling author of CHERUB by Robert Muchamore
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Muchamore can write action.There's no doubt about that. And he knows how to choose a compelling plot; the idea of back street gene enhancers holding the world to ransom is very intriguing and throws up a lot of questions around morality and ethics. Unfortunately, the execution leaves something to be desired in this case.

The first time skip kind of makes sense; nothing much was going to happen in the interim anyway. The second surprised me. After that they were just jarring. I couldn't connect to the characters, because every time I got to know them we skipped some time and they'd changed in the interim. The events we'd missed were always neatly filled in, the plot didn't suffer, but the emotions did. There was no real connecting story, unless you count Charlie's sister, who barely featured in several of the sections. Instead there was The Prologue - Now SNor Is Around - Now It's Killer T - Psych, It's Something Else - Now Everything's Over Very Abruptly.

It's not a bad book by any means; I kept reading to see what happened next, and I'd read more set in this world. But from Muchamore, I expect a lot better.


Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.

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Review: Sanctuary

Sanctuary by Caryn Lix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

X Men meets Prison Break in this fantastic sci fi novel, set on an orbiting space prison full of super powered teen criminals...Or maybe not criminals. Maybe this seeming utopia is something very different...

Action, twists and excitement make for a brilliant read. I don't know if there'll be more, but I really hope so. I'll be looking out for it.


Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.

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Review: That's Not What Happened

That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've seen other novels by Kody Keplinger; The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend, Shut Out. I've always thought they looked interesting, but I've never gotten around to reading them. I'll be changing that at my first opportunity. Kody is amazing.

It's a sadly current book, the story of a school shooting from the point of view of the survivors. As I write this, the Texas shooting is still in the news. By the time the book publishes, it'll be some other shooting.

The book is mostly from the POV of Lee, a teenager who was shot at, but not physically injured, during a shooting rampage in her school. A legend has built up around one particular victim, Lee's best friend, causing townsfolk to harass and abuse another survivor who tried to correct it. Lee knows the truth and is finally ready to come forward, but it's not going to be as simple as she thinks.

I started crying within a few chapters and never really stopped. This is an incredible book, heartfelt and real, showing a range of coping mechanisms used by the six survivors - forgetting, faith, happiness, ignoring, medication and alcohol. Each choice is treated and right for that person, although the alcohol user stops during the course of the novel, and no one is demonised for how they cope.

My only tiny problem, and it's very common across a lot of media, is that while initially a couple of the survivors were against Lee's plan, in the end they all came around and agreed it was for the best. Why couldn't they have dissenting opinions that were right for them? However, I see this a lot and it's not by any means a deal breaker.

I also loved that Lee is asexual. It's comparatively rare still, but gaining ground and it's nice to see. It's great to have books to recommend to people, especially like this when it's not a major focus, just a part of who she is.

A fantastic read. I'll definitely be trying more by this author.


Receiving an ARC did not affect my review in any way.

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Review: Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings

Princesses Behaving Badly: Real Stories from History Without the Fairy-Tale Endings by Linda Rodríguez McRobbie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A more grown up version of the 'Rebels Girls' books that are growing in popularity, this well laid out book has divided its girls into loose categories. Each category has one or two detailed stories, and a couple of less in depth ones. All in all a fantastic read, probably not one that I'll read cover to cover again but I'll definitely dip in and out of it.

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Review: Hav3n, by Tom Easton

Hav3n, a mix of avian and human flu, is spreading across the world. It's deadly. It's 100% contagious. There's no escape.


One tiny village in England is spared, through the last minute discovery of a vaccine. 82 people left; as far as they can tell, the only people left in the world. Now the danger really begins.


Hav3n starts right in the thick of the outbreak and never lets up. The village of Little Sheen, isolated and often overlooked, sets up barricades to keep everyone out, though the disease finds its way in anyway. Only the timely intervention of a virologist who works in the village saves them. Alone in the world, the villagers start making plans for the future. But why do so many of the plans revolve around the village's four teenagers? Why are they more and more restricted? As the village splits into factions, the children are caught in the middle – and the danger didn't end with the virus...


The tension never lets up in this fascinating story. It's a stand alone, but I'd be happy to read more stories set in this world. Maybe there really were other survivors out there somewhere? Tom Easton has obviously done his research and every detail of life After The End rings true.


Parental warning; some relatively detailed descriptions of symptoms of the plague; discussions of marriage for procreation purposes. Some very mild cursing. Some descriptions of gun injuries and wild dog attacks.


'Where's Kitty?' Sam asked, changing the subject.

'She's in her room, where she'll be for the next week.'

Sam rolled his eyes. 'Oh, right. Her too. What's she done? Sneezed without using a tissue? Laughed on a Sunday?'

'Rather more serious than that,' Monica replied frostily. 'Adultery.'

'Eh? Who with?'

'Joshua Pirbright.'

'What?' Sam said, brow furrowed. It felt like a demon was sitting in his brain, stabbing at the back of his eyes with a pitchfork. 'Neither of them are married – however much you've tried to force it.'

'She's engaged, Sam,' Monica said through pursed lips.

'OK, I officially pronounce you as insane as Michael,' Sam said. 'I'm off.'

'Where are you going?' she snapped as he stepped gingerly down the stairs. 'We should have dinner first and then we'll go together. We'll face this as a family.'

'Actually, I'd rather go on my own,' Sam said. 'Don't worry, I will go to the town meeting like a good little citizen. But first I'm going to go see Reg to find out if he has any sodding aspirin.'

Review: Shadows on the Moon, by Zoë Marriott

Suzume lives a life of pleasure and comfort - when her mother's not around to scold her, anyway - until the day the Prince's men come to her home. Branded a traitor, her father is killed, along with her cousin and their household. Suzume survives through the kindness of an old servant, Youta, and and her own unknown shadow weaving powers. Suzume can weave shadows into any shapes she wants; she can literally become anyone she wishes to be.

But this power does not help her. Hounded from her stepfather's house, she drudges in his kitchen, unknown to him, hiding among the shadows. An act of revenge takes even that small shelter from her and she is forced to run into the city. Only one man in the country can save her; the Moon Prince. Only by becoming his consort can she lift the label of traitor from her family name.

There's only one obstacle. Otieno. The shadow weaving boy whose life seems intertwined with hers. To gain her revenge, to reclaim her name, Suzume must reject him. And time is running out...



First of all; this book is for older teens. It is a retelling of Cinderella, loosely, but this is no children's fairy tale. It covers, among other things, murder, self harm and becoming a courtesan.

With that out of the way, this is also a beautiful, lyrical story. It's deeply embedded in Japan's feudal past, but not so much that it becomes impenetrable. Suzume is a fascinating character - a heroine whose deepest desire is to commit murder in the name of revenge? But it works here. You really want Suzume to succeed. Her allies are fascinating - Youta was my favourite, as you can never quite tell what his intentions are.

A fascinating, beautiful book, one I'll happily reread for many years to come.



     An overwhelming surge of anger crashed through me, bursting in my head and chest and limbs until I stood up straight, vibrating with it. My body still trembled, but the fear  – that fear which had choked me for so long – was gone. 

      They had done this to me. They were liars. Traitors, cowards and murderers, and yet I was running from them. They had killed my father. They had killed my cousin, the sister of my heart. They had taken everything – everything – from me.

     Why had I run?

     What did I have left to lose?

     I knew then that I would die that night. I did not care. I would die, but I would make them suffer first. I dropped to my knees, scrabbling in the dirt of the herb garden for the sharp fragments of stone that edged the borders. I would have used anything. Any weapon was good enough. I felt as if I could tear out my enemy's throat with my teeth, if only I could get close enough.

     I would wait, here in the dark, hidden from everyone. The only one who could see me was Terayama–san. He would find me, and when he did, I would not run. I would not give him the satisfaction. I would let my weaving fall, and I would scream out the truth fopr everyone to hear. When he reached me I would put out his eyes.

     For my father. For Aimi. For myself. For all of us. 

Review: Little Manfred, by Michael Morpurgo

Charley has never really understood why her mother is so fond of the toy dog, Little Manfred. She doesn't know why her mother cries when the toy is broken. But in 1966, just after the World Cup, she and her brother Alex meet two strangers on the beach below their house. Strangers with a story to tell...


Little Manfred was written for the Imperial War Museum. It's a (slightly) fictionalized account of a true story; Little Manfred was made by a German POW for the children of the family he was lodged with. Morpurgo's beautiful account captures the futility of war, and how even in extra ordinary circumstances, people can make ordinary lives.

Illustrations by Michael Foreman.

"The ship was already turning and steaming away. We had to stand there and watch. We left nearly 2,000 men to drown, not the enemy to us anymore, who had sunk the Hood, but fellow sailors. For one sailor to leave another to drown, no matter what uniform he wears, cries out against all he believes in, against all traditions of the sea. To leave one would be bad enough. To leave 2,000...I still see those men in the water every day of my life."

"But you did pick up nearly a hundred of us, Marty," said Walter. "I have told you often that you must never forget this. On the Hood, they never got a chance - only three survived."

For a while, neither of them spoke, but looked out to sea, each lost in his own thoughts. The silence was broken by a pair of gulls, screeching and swooping overhead.

I said the first thing that came into my head. "My dad says that every gull you hear is the ghost of a dead sailor, letting you know he's still alive."

...

"I also do not believe in ghosts," Walter told him, "but I like this idea of your father's  very much. "

Review: rot and Ruin, by Jonathon Maberry

Benny Imura is fifteen. Fourteen years ago, on First Night, he saw his parents killed by zombies. He's always kind of resented his older brother, who ran with him instead of trying to save their parents.

But now Benny's fifteen, and the rules of their enclosed little town say he has to get a job. And the only job he can find is working with his brother as a zombie killer.

It's not how he imagined it.

It's much, much worse.



rot and Ruin is unique among the zombie genre; the zombies aren't the bad guys. Sure, they'll eat you if they can, but there's no malice in it, any more than there is in the mosquito that bites you. Zombies are people who caught a disease, were bitten by zombies or died of other causes.

Of course, not all the characters share this view. Benny doesn't. But he grows and learns through the novel, and watching him is fascinating. Apart from a couple of speeches from his older brother, Benny is left to come to his own decisions, and through entirely natural growth his entire worldview has flipped by the end of the book.

This is the first of either a two or four book series, depending on who you believe. Either way, I'll be looking forward to the next book.




Benny shook his head. 'Doing this over and over again would drive me crazy. How do you do it?'

Tom turned to him as if that was the question he'd been waiting for all day. 'It keeps me sane,' he said. 'Do you understand?'

Benny thought about it for a long moment. Birds sang in the trees and the cicadas buzzed continually. 'Is it because you knew what the world was before?'

Tom nodded.

'Is it because if you didn't...then maybe no one would?'

Tom nodded again.

'It must be lonely.'

'It is.' Tom glanced at him. 'But I always hoped you'd want to join me. To help me do what I do.'

'I...don't know if I can.'

'That's always going to be your choice.'

Review: Flip, by Martyn Bedford

Alex wakes up one morning in someone else's room, in someone else's home, in someone else's
life. Philip - Flip - is his age almost to the minute, but that's the only thing they have in common. Except that Alex is now stuck in his life with no way out - and Flip is stuck in Alex's.


There's an odd creepiness underlaying this story. I have to say I was very relieved to find I'm past the age where PE - psychic evacuation - might be an issue. Imagine waking to find yourself in a country where you don't speak the language? The book is clear that while muscle memory may carry over, memories don't. Alex finds himself hurled into a new world without warning and with no map along the way. With only one person on his side, the weight on his shoulders is sometimes overwhelming, and the way he deals with it is very realistic.

The story touches on some moral issues - what is the soul, what is the mind, what's the difference, can your soul really be dragged from body to body - but thankfully keeps them in the background instead of preaching about them. Flip is a fantastic debut from Mr Bedford and I'll be looking forward to his next novel.

And I love the cover - the back cover is a mirror of the front, bar Flip's eyes being open - and the way the chapter headers are mirrored. It's a nice touch.

Parents be warned; there are direct and indirect references to suicide, and some kissing and drunkeness by teens.


The typical, all-too-familiar mood swings of the new PE was how Rob saw it.

"One day you feel great, like you've got a whole new lease of life; the next day you're so far down you could top yourself." Rob ran his fingers through his fake yellow hair, causing it to spike up even more than usual.

"Did you ever think about that?" Alex asked. "Topping yourself?"

Rob held his gaze. "Alex, there isn't a psychic evacuee who hasn't."

That shut them both up for a while.

Event: Valentine's Competition

Win a beautiful Valentine's hamper, stuffed with goodies to enjoy alone or with that special someone.

Come in store and sign up for our reward card, and you're automatically entered in the Valentine's Draw. Present the card when you shop and earn rewards for everything you buy! It's that simple. Reward card holders gain extra benefits; ask in store.

There are two hampers, one for adults, one for young adults. Sign up today.

Review: Avalon High, by Meg Cabot

Ellie is used to new schools. Her professor parents have been dragging her around the world for years. But this time is different. This time, she's going to fit in.

Avalon High isn't like other schools. On the surface it's all the same; jocks, cheerleaders, that one kid who's always angry about something and takes it out on everything around him. Ellie doesn't mind, though, because she's met Will, the most perfect guy ever.

Too bad he has a girlfriend. {Although she is seeing his best friend on the side.} And his step brother seems to hate his guts. {Although they're actually half brothers, not steps.} And the mystical Order of the Bear, ancient protectors of King Arthur, seem to think he's about to rise again. {Unless the Dark Side gets to him first...}



The recent Disney movie took a lot of liberties with this, one of Meg Cabot's best novels. The book is a fun read, and it's interesting trying to figure out exactly who everyone is. The samples from The Lady of Shalott at the top of each chapter give a hint to what's going to happen, which is a nice touch. Will is a genuinely nice guy, and Ellie a fascinating narrator.

I've heard that Meg Cabot's history is not very accurate, but that doesn't detract from the novel at all. My personal favourite of hers, and her best selling.



As often thro' the purple night,
Below the starry clusters bright,
Some bearded meteor, burning bright,
Moves over Shalott.



'Oh, hey, Elle,' Will said when he saw me.

It was a sign of how freaked I truly was by what I'd just seen that my heartstrings didn't so much as quiver at hearing him call me Elle.

'Hi,' I said faintly.

'Have you seen Jen?' Will wanted to know. 'Someone said they saw her come up here.'

'Jen?' I echoed. My gaze, though I tried not to let it, strayed towards the closed door to the spare bedroom. 'Um...'

What was I supposed to say? I mean, really?

Christmas Hours

Our hours are the same as always up to the 21st. On Wednesday 22nd we are open until 9pm. Thursday 24th is normal hours, 8.30am to 9pm. On the 24th, Friday, we will close at 5pm. We reopen on Monday the 27th at 10am. All these hours are weather permitting and may be changed.

Barker and Jones would like to wish all our customers a very happy Christmas and a great New Year.

Review: Matched, by Ally Condie

Matched is the newest in the wave of dystopian fiction sweeping the teen market. On Cassia's seventeenth birthday, Society chooses her perfect match for her. This will ensure her offspring are as healthy as possible. Cassia is lucky; out of everyone in her age group, she's the only one Matched to someone she already knows. Not only someone she knows, but her best friend, Xander.

But when she looks at the data, his picture disappears and another flashes on the screen for just a moment. Another boy she knows. One who is destined never to be Matched. Cassia is told this was a cruel prank and to forget it, to prepare for her life with Xander. But the more she tries, the more she thinks of her second Match. Until finally she is forced into a choice between everything she's ever known, and something she never could have imagined...


Matched is a fascinating read for all the little details spread through it. Cassia causally mentions that the Society only has 100 of most cultural things; 100 poems, 100 novels, 100 songs. There are a few Artifacts floating around, too; Cassia has an old powder compact, and her brother has a pocket watch. Most of the Officials seem friendly and helpful, until something goes wrong. Then they can literally be terrifying. The three pills issued to each citizen are troubling, as well; if the Cities are so safe, why does anyone need a nutrition pill designed to keep them alive for several days? Why are pills designed to calm your nerves handed out in such a blase way? And what is the purpose of the mysterious red pill?

Cassia's gradual realisation is perfectly handled. It's difficult to know which boy to root for; Ky is more interesting, but Xander is sweet and funny and genuinely cares for Cassia. This first of a trilogy will leave you desperate for more.

Whatever I've been feeling for Ky must stop. Now. I am Matched with Xander. It does not matter that Ky has been places I've never been or that he wept during the showing when he thought no one could see. It does not matter that he knows about the beautiful words I read in the woods. Following the rules, staying safe. Those are the things that matter. Those are the ways I have to be strong.

I will try to forget that Ky said 'Home' when he looked into my eyes.

Boys Don't Cry, by Malorie Blackman

Malorie Blackman's new books tackles teenage pregnancy from an unusual perspective - that of the father.

Dante is a good boy, mostly. He studies hard, he's nice to his girlfriend. Ok, so he fooled around once at a party with his then-girlfriend Melanie, but that was almost two years ago and they were both drunk. It didn't mean anything, and she moved away afterwards anyway.

On the day his A level results are due, Dante answers the door to Melanie, holding a baby. She tells him that this is his child, conceived during that party. She asks him to babysit, just for a little while, just while she goes shopping.

And then she calls to tell him she can't cope any more, that she wants him to look after Emma for a while.

At first Dante completely fails to deal with it. But he gradually begins to step up and take responsibility, and the evolution of his feelings makes for fascinating reading. Emma impacts not only his life but that of his father and brother, and watching the effect she has on this family of near-strangers is the best part of the novel. Each member is battling his own demons, but Emma manages to bring them all together.

This is a lovely read.


I woke up to the sound of plaintive mewling, like next door's cat was upset or something. Eyes closed, I mentally swatted away the noise. Then I remembered. When I managed to will my eyes open, Emma was standing up, holding onto the sides of her cot, watching me. Throwing back my duvet, I stumbled out of bed. The closer I got to her, the more the smell hit me. And the smell was appalling. I mean really, really bad in a throat-catching, nose-blistering way. I didn't need to be a rocket scientist to know I was about to be hip-deep in baby poo.

Damn it, I didn't sign up for this.

Of Thee I Sing, by Barack Obama

Barack Obama has chosen thirteen of America's most famous sons and daughters, from George Washington and Abraham Lincoln right up to Martin Luthor King Jr. and Cesar Chavez. Using simple language he shows how today's children can be inspired by these heroes, to do or to be anything that they want. The beautiful illustrations are a perfect complement to this fabolous tribute. As President Obama's two daughters walk through the pages, they are joined by other children representing these famous Americans. As they journey through the book they begin to share, so that by the end, Sitting Bull is holding Georgia O'Keeffe's paint palate and Neil Armstrong's toy rocket is in the hands of Helen Keller. It's a fabulous way of showing how connected we all are, even today.

Of Thee I Sing was originally written as a letter to Barack Obama's two daughters and was completed in 2008, before he was voted in as the forty fourth president.


Have I told you that you are smart?

That you braid great ideas with imagination?
A man named Albert Einstein turned pictures in his mind into giant advances in science, changing the world with energy and light.


Have I told you that you don't give up?

When violence erupted in our nation a man named Martin Luthor King Jr. taught us unyielding compassion. He gave us a dream that all races and all creeds would walk hand in hand. He marched and he prayed and, one at a time, opened hearts and saw the birth of his dream in us.

Review: Harry Potter Film Wizardry

The end of an era is upon us. The last Harry Potter film hits our screens this weekend. To celebrate, Bantam have released this beautiful book.

Starting with The Philosopher's Stone, now ten years old, this book traces the work that went into each movie. Talking to stars, producers, directors, and every department from location scouts right down to props and costumes, this book is a fascinating account of a piece of movie history. It's also very amusing to look back at the stars in the first movie and compare them to their current selves...

However, it's also more than that. Attached to certain pages are reproductions of certain props. Early in the discussion of Philosopher's Stone is a copy of Harry's acceptance letter to Hogwarts. On a page about Hogsmeade, there are tiny sweet boxes to push out and make. A description of Dolores Umbridge has copies of her Educational Decrees in a pocket, and hidden in a section about the Prisoner of Azkaban is an actual copy of the Marauder's Map. This is a fabulous work of art and the perfect present for the Harry Potter fan in your household.

Christmas Gift Ideas

Classic Poetry Selected by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Paul Howard, this collection showcases some of the best poetry of the last 450 years.






Illustrated Shakespeare Shakespeare's most popular plays, simplified for a young audience.





Fairy Tale Treasury This beautiful hardback treasury features all your favourite fairy tales, and some you've never heard of. A surefire winner.



By Sun and Candlelight Shirley Hughes' soft illustrations accompany poems and excerpts from famous novels. A great selection.



Illustrated Alice A simplified version of the classic series, complete with some of Lewis Carroll's famous nonsense poetry.




Illustrated Classics for Boys Moonfleet, Robin Hood and the Canterville Ghost are among the classic boy's stories rewritten for this collection.



Illustrated Classics for Girls classic tales such as Little Women, Heidi and the Secret Garden are beautifully rewritten in this collection.



Illustrated Stories for Boys A mix of stories for boys age 5 to 95.





Illustrated Stories for Girls A mix of stories for girls to share.

Some Christmas titles

Drawing, Doodling and Colouring for Christmas Spend your Christmas afternoon with this wonderful array of puzzles and game.



Christmas Baking for Children Leave Santa some perfect treats with this beautiful, sturdy children's cookbook.




Baby's First Christmas with music CD Teach Baby some classic carols while enjoying the festive scenes in this sturdy board book.



1000 Christmas Stickers Decorate the scenes or your presents with these pretty stickers.






Christmas Doodles 50 cards and a wipe clean pen. Practise your Christmas art over and over again.

Event: Author Visit

The Author a Month for November was Brian Gallagher. Brian is well known in Ireland's theatre community as well as in RTE where he worked as a writer on Fair City for twelve years.








Brian's newest book, Across the Divide, is set in Dublin in 1913 during the Lockout. Nora and Liam come from opposite sides of Dublin's social divide, but their love of Feis Ceoil brings them together. When Larkin's strikes start gaining power, their friendship is threatened...

Brian visited with two groups of children from a local school and explained a little about writing and about the historical background to the novel. We'd like to thank him for traveling to be with us today.

Review: Billionaire Boy, by David Walliams

Billionaire Boy is the third novel from David Walliams, illustrated by Tony Ross. Joe Spud is the richest twelve year old in the world, after his father invents toilet paper that's wet on one side and dry on the other. Joe has his own cinema, race track, butler (he used to have an orangutan butler, but that worked out rather messily.) He's got eight billion in trust for when he gets older, but to keep him going until then his father gives him a million every now and then. The only thing he doesn't have is a friend.

Joe switches from his posh school (tights and Elizabethan ruffs, and lessons like 'Learning to step over the homeless person as you leave the opera' and 'History of wearing corduroy') to the local comp, where no one will know who he is. He quickly makes a friend, but thanks to his father's well meaning interference his secret soon comes out. Can Joe ever be happy?


Aimed at eight or nine year olds, this book pokes gentle fun at the 'Oh, if I won the lotto everything would be perfect!' school of thought. Joe has more money than he can possibly spend, but it doesn't make him happy – just friendless and vaguely overweight. Walliams has a deft touch and the comedy and drama never overwhelm each other.

And the moment where Joe picks his favourite books – The Boy in the Dress and Mr Stink – made me laugh. Both, of course, are written by David Walliams.


"Sit down!" said Grubb Two, as he or she put his or her hand on Lauren's shoulder to force her down onto the bench. Lauren, however, grabbed his or her hand and twisted it behind his or her back, and then pushed him or her to the ground. The other Grubb charged her, so Lauren leaped into the air and kung fu kicked him or her to the ground. Then the other one leaped up and tried to grab her, but she karate chopped him or her on his or her shoulder and he or she raced off screaming in pain.

It really is quite hard writing this when you don't know someone's gender.

Review: Illustrated Stories for Bedtime, published by Usborne

The newest in Usborne's Illustrated Story Collections is a beautiful hardback aimed at children just beginning to read. The eight stories span from the well known - King Donkey Ears, The Enormous Turnip - to the slightly more obscure - The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Danny the Dragon. Each is beautifully illustrated. Your child will love reading the stories with you. A real treasure.


There was once a poor man named Wilf. He would travel from town to town looking for work, with only his dog, Scruff, and a very special stone.

One day, he came to a small cream cottage with a thatched roof. "Let's try here," he said to Scruff and rapped on the door.

It was opened by a woman who gave him a suspicious look. "Who are you?" she snapped. "What do you want?"

"Good morning ma'am," said Wilf. "I was wondering if you had any small jobs I could do, in return for some lunch?"

"I'm sorry, I don't have any jobs," said the woman, starting to close the door.

"I can make soup from a stone," Wilf said, quickly.

"Really?" said the woman. "That I'd like to see," and she invited him in.

Review: Illustrated Stories for Christmas, published by Usborne

Usborne's Christmas books are always beautiful and this one is no exception. Part of the Young Reading range, the stories range from classic Christams tales – 'Twas the Night before Christmas and The Snow Queen – to more modern stories – The Elf and the Toymaker and Santa's Day Off – to classic tales – East o'the Sun, West o'the Moon. Each is beautifully illustrated and written to appeal to children. Perfect to share with your young children on a snowy afternoon.


Wandering home that night, Kay gazed at the sparkling snowflakes drifitng down. As he stared, he noticed one that seemed to be growing. He gasped. The snowflake grew larger...

...until it became a beautiful woman. She was astonishing. Her shimmering white clothes were coated in snow and she herself was made entirely of ice.

'The Snow Queen!'

The woman turned her bright, cold eyes on Kay. He shook his head and she vanished. 'I must have imagined her,' he thought.

Review: More Bloody Horowitz, by Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz is best known for his Alex Rider series, but he also has a wicked sense of humour and it's fully on display here. Right from the first story, The Man who Killed Darren Shan, to the 'Editor's note' at the end, these stories never stop surprising you. Even when you know there must be a twist coming, it's hard to see them ahead of time.

The book itself is beautifully printed in an old fashioned style and the cover is vivid and eye catching. This is sure to be a bestseller.


"Are you really a machine?" Cameron asked.

"I am. But you don't need to think of me that way, dear. I'd like to be your friend."

"What's your name?"

"Tamsin."

"Tamsin? Tamsin?" Cameron played with the name for a moment. "If you're really made of metal, I'm going to call you Tin Sam," he announced.

And that was the name that stuck.

Event: Author Visit

This month's Author was Aubrey Flegg, Author of the Louise trilogy, Katie's War and The Cinnamon Tree, and the newly published Fugitives! a story of the Flight of the Earls. Aubrey met two groups of children from a local school and talked a little about his life and some of the experiences that later became novels.




We'd like to thank Aubrey for traveling to visit with us today.

Review: Illustrated Grimm's Fairy Tales, published by Usborne

The Young Reading collections are always beautiful and the newest in the series is no exception. The fifteen stories are a mix between the well known - Snow White, The Elves and the Shoemaker - and the lesser known - The Bear and the Wren, King Thrushbeard. Each story is illustrated in a slightly different style, making for easy identification. The book is satisfyingly chunky, but the stories are simple enough for even the youngest children.

A perfect bedtime treat.

One winter's morning, the queen was sitting beside her window sewing when it began to snow. The snowflakes drifted like feathers down from the sky and settled on the window ledge.

As the queen watched them, her needle slipped and pricked her finger. Three drops of blood fell onto the snow.

'I wish I had a child,' she sighed, 'with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as the ebony wood of the window frame.'

Nine months later the queen's wish came true and she gave birth to a baby girl. The king was delighted. 'Let's call her Snow White,' he suggested.

But the king's happiness didn't last long. The queen became very ill and within a week she died. He and Snow White were all alone.

Review: Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, illustrated by Axel Sheffler

Last year's best seller returns in a new paperback format. This is the 70th anniversary of the book's publication, and the bright new pictures are a fantastic way to celebrate. A beautiful book from the illustrator of The Gruffalo and Tabby McTat. Everyone knows at least a few lines from these poems. Treat yourself to the book and see the story unfold.


His manner is vague and aloof,
You would think there is nobody shyer.
But his voice has been heard on the roof,
While he was curled up by the fire.
And he's sometimes been heard by the fire,
While he was about on the roof.
(At least, we all heard that somebody purred!)
Which is incontestable proof
Of his singular magical powers;
And I've known the family to call
Him in from the garden for hours
While he was asleep in the hall.
And not long ago this phenomenal cat
Prduced seven kittens right out of a hat!
And we all say, Oh! Well, I never! Was there ever
A cat so clever as
Magical Mr Mistoffelees?

Review: Lies, by Michael Grant

Lies is the third in the 'Gone' series.

In Gone everyone over 15 vanished in an instant, leaving the kids to struggle with what had happened. In Hunger, the monstrous gaiaphage revealed itself in the nearby mine. Now in Lies, everything the town has built is threatening to come down around them.

The Council have taken some of the pressure off Sam, but he still holds himself responsible for everything that happens in the town. When Zil, part of the Human Crew, starts stirring up trouble, Sam wants to deal with him once and for all. The Council refuse.

Meanwhile Orsay has become known as the Prophetess. The children believe she's in touch with the world outside the FAYZ, their sealed little bubble. The messages she relays seem to say that the kids who vanish on their fifteenth birthday – take the poof, as the kids call it – have all reappeared in the real world. More and more kids are contemplating taking the poof.

When Zil finally attacks the consequences are tragic. But through the smoke and flames of Zil's rampage an old enemy is spotted. Someone everyone believed to be dead...


Reading any of the Gone books always poses a dilemma. You're not going to want to put it down for any reason. So far three books in the projected six-book series have been published, one about every six months. It's not fast enough. These books are heartstopping, breathtaking thrillers and they never let up.

Gone, the first book, takes place over the course of twelve and a half days, with an epilogue a few days later. Hunger, set three months later, covers only five days, again with an epilogue three days later. Four months on, Lies covers almost three days. The intervals are getting shorter, but the books themselves are not and it makes for a much more intense story.

I loved the brief glimpse of life outside the FAYZ, though Grant cleverly doesn't tell us whether it's real or an illusion provided to Orsay by the Darkness. The new kids are a nice touch as well; in an enclosed environment, it should be hard to introduce new characters, but Grant pulls it off so well that they never feel shoehorned in. At the same time the regular characters are not neglected; several have breakdowns of one kind or another in the course of the story, and it's painful watching them wrestle their way back to something approaching normalcy.

Can't wait for the next book, Plague, or indeed the final two – Darkness and Light.

Parents be warned; there is violence in this book, some quite severe.


'You ok, man?'

Sam didn't answer. He peered into the darkness. Searched the shadows. Clenched. Ready.

Finally, he forced hims fists to relax. Forced himself to take a breath. 'I've never set out to hurt anyone,' Sam said.

Edilio waited.

'I never set out thinking I'm going to kill someone. I go into a fight and I think, maybe I'll have to hurt someone. Yeah. I think that. And I have. You know; you've been there.'

'Yeah, I've been there,' Edilio said.

'If it's him, though, if Drake is somehow back...it's not going to be about just doing what I have to do. You know?'

Edilio did not answer.

'I've done what I had to do. To save people. Or to save myself. This won't be like that. If it's him, I mean.'

'Dude, it's Zil. Zil and the Human Crew did this.'

Sam shook his head. 'Yeah. Zil. But I know he's out there, Edilio. I Know Drake is out there. I feel it.'

'Sam...'

'If I see him, I'll kill him,' Sam said. 'Not self defence. I'm not waiting until he attacks. I see him, I burn him.'

Edilio grabbed him by both shoulders and got in his face. 'Hey! Listen to me, Sam. You're getting freaked out here. The problem is Zil. Ok? We have real problems, we don't need nightmares. And anyway, we don't do cold blooded murder. Not even if it is Drake.'

Sam firmly pried Edilio's hands off his shoulders. 'If it's Drake, I'm burning him down. If you and Astrid and the rest of the council want to arrest me for doing it, fine. But I'm not sharing my life with Drake Merwin.'

'Well, you do what you got to do, Sam, and I will too. Right now what we got to do is figure out what Zil is up to. So, I'm going to go and do that. You want to come? Or do you want to stand here in the dark talking about murder?'

Edilio stomped away, swinging his machine pistol down into firing position.

For the first time, Sam followed Edilio.

Review: Eva's Journey, by Judi Curtin

Eva's Journey is the newest offering from Judi Curtin, author of the well loved Alice and Megan series.

Eva's father is a rich and powerful builder. Eva is used to only the best of everything; yearly trips to New York for a new wardrobe, private school, all the latest gadgets. But the building market is collapsing, and Eva's treats and luxuries have to go. Soon they're selling their beautiful house and moving into a fixer upper, and Eva's posh private school has become the local public.

Desperate to regain her former glory, Eva visits a fortune teller who tells her to do good deeds. Eva begins watching the people around her and, in the process, learns that she's not as badly off as she thought...



A modern day fairy tale, Eva's Journey charts Eva's progress as she learns that stuff, while nice, is not what makes life worthwhile. The friendship she begins with the odd girl in her class makes her new life more bearable, and the steadfast friend from her old life makes it more fun. Watching out for other people distracts her from her own troubles, and before she knows it she's enjoying herself in her run down house, last year's clothes and no gadgets.

A timely story and one I enjoyed a lot.




Victoria looked around approvingly.

'The house is looking lovely,' she said to my dad. 'You've got a talent for home improvement.'

I wondered how Dad would take that. Up to recently he'd had a talent for running one of the biggest businesses in town.

But Dad looked at Victoria like she was his best friend in the whole world.

'Thanks,' he said, beaming so much that he accidentally thumped his finger with the hammer.

Victoria and I giggled, and fled upstairs.

Review: The Enemy, by Charlie Higson

The first in Charlie Higson's new series starts with a bang, catapulting you straight into a nightmare world.

A year ago something happened. Everyone over the age of fourteen caught a mysterious new illness. The lucky ones died. The rest? Well, they're still around, hunting down the surviving kids in a desperate search for food.

The children who are left have come together to form gangs to help protect each other. But the adults – mothers and fathers, the children call them – are growing smarter, and the children's safehouses are being overrun. Rumours of a safe haven couldn't come at a better time...


The first scene – an attack by adults on a supermarket where children have been staying – is the perfect opener. All the important information is slipped in perfectly naturally; adults are bad, they hunt children, it's been like this for about the year, the kids aren't as safe as they used to be. It also starts one of the plotlines, as a captured child fights desperately to get back to his friends.

It's hard to put this book down once you've picked it up. The pressure almost never lets up, our heroes scrambling from one problem to the next. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but several of them die during the course of the story – no one is safe here, not the heroes, not the villains, not that new character who was just introduced or the one you've been reading about for two hundred pages.

Luckily the sequel is already out, but you'll have to wait a while for the third.

Ollie was walking alone by the lake. There were ducks on it, probably fish swimming down below. He felt neither happy nor sad. He was thoughtful. This all looked fantastic on the surface.

Franny had given him a small lettuce to try. It had tasted delicious, but when he'd pulled off one of the leaves he'd found a small slug on it.

There was always a slug on the lettuce.

This was too good to be true.

He had never trusted Jester, and he didn't trust David.

He wasn't going to let his guard down just yet.

Being careful had kept him alive this far.

There was no reason to stop being careful now.

Review: The Dead, Charlie Higson

The sequel to The Enemy is set a year before it, making it a prequel. Sort of.

Only a few weeks before the book begins, adults began falling prey to a strange new disease. Most of them died outright. The ones who are left are desperate for human flesh, and the only source left is children. Anyone over fourteen is dead or changed.

When the book begins the kids have been on their own for only a couple of weeks. Their new reality hasn't really sunk in yet. Most haven't realised how drastically the world has altered. It's not until a group holed up in a school dorm are attacked by the people who used to be their teachers that it really begins to sink in.

Abandoning the school, the group head for the countryside but are rapidly cut off and forced to retreat towards London. They're rescued by by a man driving a coach, the only uninfected adult they've seen in a long time. the roads of London are clogged with zombies, though, and it takes a long time before they find somewhere they can call home.


This book, if anything, is even more gory than the last. There are several loving descriptions of the zombies, including Greg and the one they nickname Pez. There's also a horrific sequence set in the Oval Cricket Ground. The protaganists aren't any safer in this one than they were in The Enemy, either, and it's an entirely new group this time around. There are fewer characters to keep track of this time, and most of the action comes from two specific characters, making it easier to keep track of who's doing what where for what reason.

The ending does provide two very clever links with The Enemy, though; one I saw coming and one I didn't, though I should have. From the way this one ends, I'm guessing the third will bring all our characters together.

The Dead is just as fast paced as The Enemy, events rolling together with few breaks. It's a hard book to put down, as just as one problem is almost solved another rears its' head. The final chase through London was almost unbearable. Once I'd reached the end and figured out who some of the people were, it was fascinating to see them now, weeks into the apocalypse. I also really loved the quiet nod to another recent series of all-the-adults-are-dead books, one that I'm guessing few people will notice.

One of the better books I've read this year.

Jack lifted out the sword. It was clean and gleaming, the edge still sharp. The curators at the museum had obviously looked after everything very well. He smiled. The blade was perfectly balanced in his hand, a good weight. He sliced a long curve through the air.

Perfect.

'Jack?'

He took the scabbard and belt from the dummy torso they were fixed to and fastened them round his waist. It was a good fit. The scabbard hung well.

'You coming, Jack?'

'Yeah. I'm ready.'

Event: Author Visit

The second in our Author a Month program sees Aubrey Flegg visiting on Thursday 14th October. Aubrey will be talking about his newest book, Fugitives! a novel about the Flight of the Earls.

Again we'll have two sessions, one at 10am, one at 11.30am.

Author a Month: Marilyn Taylor

Our Author a Month program got off to a great start this morning, as Marilyn Taylor met with two groups of children from local schools. Marilyn discussed her two historical novels, Faraway Home and 17 Martin Street. The groups had an opportunity to ask questions, and Marilyn signed several copies of each book for our stock.


We'd like to thank Marilyn for travelling from Dublin to visit us today.

Event: Author Visit

Tuesday 14th Spetember, Marilyn Taylor will be visiting the store. There'll be two sessions, one at 10, one at 11.30. Come along and meet her.

Customer Review: The Secret Seven, by Enid Blyton

I love the Enid Blyton books of the Secret Seven. The books are about a group of seven children that solve mysteries. Go Ahead Secret Seven is my favourite because it is very exciting. My favourite character is Scamper because he's a bit funny.


Saidhbh Farrell age 7

Review: The Chosen One, by Carol Lynch Williams

One of the reviews on Amazon said that this book is unlikely to do very well in the UK or Ireland, as we don't have the same connection to religious cults as the USA. I disagree; we may not have the same background, but the story is just as gripping.

Thirteen year old Kyra has grown up in a polygamous cult called The Chosen Ones. When she was younger life wasn't so bad. But when the Prophet died his son took his place and things have gotten very bad. Only Kyra's two secrets — the books she sneaks out of the local bookmobile, and the boy she meets when no one is watching — make her life bearable. But then the Prophet ordains that she must marry her uncle, a man fifty years her elder. Kyra's desperate search for freedom will mean endangering everyone she cares about and leaving everything she's ever known...

It's not a long book, just over 200 pages, but it's fast paced and gripping. This is a book you'll read in one sitting and find yourself thinking about for weeks afterwards.


When I look at Laura, she's crying. "Don't go," she says, but she kisses me goodbye. Again and again.

"I love you," she says.

"I love you, too," I say.

She stands on the porch and watches me go.