Book review: Frostheart by Jamie Littler
I really, really, really wanted to love Frostheart by Jamie Littler.
How could you not love a book about a boy with magical powers on a quest to find his family in a weird and wild place?
The Blurb
Way out in the furthest part of the known world, a tiny stronghold exists all on its own, cut off from the rest of human-kin by monsters that lurk beneath the Snow Sea.
There, a boy called Ash waits for the return of his parents, singing a forbidden lullaby to remind him of them… and doing his best to avoid his very, VERY grumpy yeti guardian, Tobu.
But life is about to get a whole lot more crazy-adventurous for Ash.
When a brave rescue attempt reveals he has amazing magical powers, he’s whisked aboard the Frostheart, a sleigh packed full of daring explorers who could use his help. But can they help him find his family . . . ?
The cover
Oh my! Frostheart has a beautiful cover!
Sorry to go all Fan Girl here, but there’s a cutout on the front, there’s gold embossed writing, there’s cute and stylish artwork.
I love it! I want it!
I would pick up the book on the cover alone.
The artwork
The awesome illustrations don’t stop with the cover. Just to show what a talented chappie Jamie Littler really is, there are black and white line drawings throughout the book, which, along with some clever typesetting makes Frostheart a very special book.
Characters and writing
The writing style is lyrical and the descriptions vivid. Littler’s imagination has run wild with the world-building. It’s gorgeous prose.
There are a cast of colourful characters and the protagonist, Ash, goes on the ‘hero’s journey’ to discover, use and ultimately come to terms with his powers.
To love, or not to love, that is the question.
So, why did I keep reading a few chapters and then putting the book down?
Did I not care whether the boy with the song-weaving powers found his parents or not?
Well… kind of.
Was I not on the edge of my seat to find out if he would survive exile from the only home he’d ever known with his mentor?
Umm…
Even if the mentor is a warrior-yeti?
OK, a bit.
Seriously, it took me weeks to get through this book. I finally figured out the problem.
Pacing
The book starts off pacy enough with Ash using his song-weaving power for the first time to save his friend, but then the whole thing slows down while the villagers get freaked about the song-weaving, reject him and the Frostheart arrives. Then he has to decide to go on the Frostheart, and it just seems to take f.o.r.e.v.e.r.
No spoilers, but things do speed up for Ash to save the day, but on the whole, the pace was slower than I would have liked.
My verdict
Frostheart is aimed at the 8 – 12 year old audience, the one’s who enjoy ‘How to Train your Dragon’ and ‘Frozen.’ It’s lovely writing, really imaginative, and don’t forget that to-die-for cover. I was really sad that I didn’t love it. It was a just bit too slow for me.
Have you read Frostheart? Do you agree with my verdict?
Let me know in the comments.
Suzie xx
Book review: Ghosters by Diana Corbitt
Kicking off the 2020 book reviews here on my blog is Ghosters, a middle-grade novel, by Diana Corbitt.
The Blurb
Filled with scares, mystery, and plenty of humor, Ghosters tells what happens to twelve-year-old Theresa Martinez and her autistic brother, Joey, when their mom suddenly dies and money problems force the family to move into a creepy old mansion.
Her dead grandmother’s creepy old mansion.
Enter Theresa’s new ghost-obsessed friend, Kerry. Eager to use her ghost-hunting technology, Kerry suggests they enter a reality TV show’s video contest. “If we win, we both get what we want,” she tells Theresa. “You earn money for your family. I record an actual ghost.”
And why not try? The place is definitely haunted.
Hey, what could happen?
My random thoughts on Ghosters.
Ghosters was a surprising story in many ways.
This is not a book about silly children chasing what they think is a ghost and it turns out to be shadows at the window, or something equally boring. Ghosters turned out to be an actual ghost story.
As this is a ghost story, there are some spine-tingling scary passages, although there are some funny bits too. However, it is the cast of well-rounded characters dealing with very real issues of grief and living with Asperger’s syndrome that makes this book stand apart from others: it wasn’t really what I was expecting.
I also didn’t see the twist at the end coming, and this added another (unexpected) layer to the story.
Whilst not wanting to give spoilers, I did wonder whether it would have been possible for the protagonist’s father to have kept the ‘secret’ without her suspecting, but I’m considerably older than the 9 – 12 years target audiences, so they probably wouldn’t be as skeptical as me.
All the characters were flawed and believable. Theresa was especially well-written. One minute she was taking on the role of care-taker for the family, the next she was doing things that made you remember she was actually only 12 years old. Good stuff.
Final notes
This is a great ghost story that I enjoyed. Diana Corbitt has three other books in the series too, so young readers can follow Theresa, Kerry and Joey on their adventures.
Happy Ghosting!
Suzie xx
“Mog” May Giveaway
Regular readers of my blog will know that Judith Kerr’s ‘Mog’ series has a special place in my heart (and on my bookshelf). I’ve read the stories of the lovable, and just a little bit naughty, cat to my children and now to my grandchildren. And they love them just as much as I do. So, here’s your chance to win 4 ‘Mog’ books in my May Giveaway.
Titles up for grabs this month include:
Mog the Fogetful Cat
Mog always seems to be in trouble. She forgets that she has a cat flap and she forgets that she has already eaten her supper. But, one night, Mog’s forgetfulness comes in very handy…
Mog in the Dark
One night Mog’s imagination takes her on a hilarious twilight adventure to a land of fantastical creatures, but true to form, all Mog really wants is her supper!
Mog on Fox Night
One evening Mog refuses to eat her food and Mr Thomas decides he’s had enough and outside she must go. In the snow Mog feels cold and alone until she wakes from a snooze to find some young foxes are playing with the rubbish bags.
Mog and the V.E.T 
One day Mog was chasing a butterfly when something happened to her paw. “She’ll have to go to the vee ee tee,” said Mrs Thomas. But Mog hates going to the vet and before her paw can be made better, she causes great confusion in the vet’s surgery…
Every child deserves to read ‘Mog’ so if you’d like to win these four stories, just enter on the form below.
The winner will be drawn on 1st June.
Good luck.
Suzie xx
Free-to-enter UK competitions at Competition Database – Find more competitions at http://www.competitiondatabase.co.uk
Rachel Bustin
Children’s Easter Book Bonanza
A very quick post today from a wet and windy Wales. I’ve teamed up with ten authors to bring you the Children’s Easter Book Bonanza. Yay!
Go to the Children’s Easter Book Bonanza
There are books for children between 0 and 12 years… and they are awesome. So, head over to the giveaway and download yourself a bargain. But be quick as this is a Four Day Event and the discounts end on the 2nd of April.
Even if the weather is as bad with you as it is with me, you’ll have your Easter reading sorted 🙂
Happy reading.
Suzie xx
I’ve been a bit quiet on my blog recently but I thought you might like to look at some of the books I’ve been reading. I’m starting with Ten Sheep to Sleep by Nidhi Kamra.
The Blurb
Sammy Jo counts ten sheep to put her to sleep, but tonight, ten more sheep appear. The new sheep are creating a ruckus. Sammy Jo has to find a way to calm the sheep down, count twenty sheep, and ensure everyone is happy so they can get a good night’s sleep.
The Story
There was a lot I liked in Ten Sheep to Sleep. For a start, the title is wonderful and the grandkids ran about chanting it after we’d read it.
I liked that Sammy-Jo was pro-active in problem solving to help the sheep and it was fun seeing the things that the other people in the story counted to help them fall asleep.
I’m not an artist but the illustrations have a painted-in-watercolour effect that adds to the dream-like feel. I did worry that my grandson might complain the book was a bit ‘pink’ but it didn’t seem to offend him.
What the grandchildren thought.
At 3 and almost 5 years old, my grandchildren are below the suggested age range for this book of 5 – 8 years. The idea of counting sheep when you couldn’t get to sleep was not one that they’d encountered so we had to discuss this. Grandson promised he’d try it at bedtime.
They had no problem counting to ten with Sammy-Jo, however they’d not tried counting in two’s. The concept went over the head of the 3 year old but the older one was very interested and we had to try out the idea with his Lego blocks. Older children would probably understand the maths already but the book was a nice way to introduce them to little ones.
The final verdict.
Ten Sheep to Sleep is an unusual book which created some interesting talking points and learning opportunities with my grandchildren. It would be equally useful for early readers or as a picture book.
Love Suzie xx
PS Don’t forget about my March giveaway. Enter below.
Announcing my March giveaway, 5x Guy Parker-Rees Picture Books.
If you’ve been reading my blog, you will have noticed that I often wish I could draw. OK, I can do stick people and things with straight lines, like houses, aren’t too shoddy, but anything more? Forget it. One of my favourite book illustrators is Guy Parker-Rees. I love his bright, bold artwork… and kids do too. So, I’m excited to have five of his picture books up for grabs in my March giveaway.
Here are the books you can win.
Come to Tea on Planet Zum-Zee
If you take your rocket to the outer edge of space, you’ll come across a funny little alien place. The alien peoples call it Planet Zum-Zee, and they’re meeting here today for a special picnic tea. Join the space party on Planet Zum-Zee! Meet the crazy creatures and share their deliciously funny food.
The Jungle Run
Here come the animals, one by one.
They’re all getting ready for the Jungle Run.
Cub turns up to take her place
but the others say, ‘You’re to small to race . . . ‘
Cub may be little compared to the other animals, but she’s quick and clever and she knows just how to show the rest of the jungle what a winner she is.
Spookyrumpus
Bong! Goes the bell in the rickety tower, Twelve times…that means it’s Spooky Hour.
Listen! Hush! Oooh, what’s that sound? The midnight spooks are coming round.
The creepy countdown has begun, so get ready to giggle at funny, floaty ghosts, clickety-clackety skeletons and terrific tromping trolls! A real rollicking, romping, rhyming story with hilarious illustrations.
Jolly Olly Octopus
When Jolly Olly Octopus gets the giggles, it isn’t long before the waves of bubbly laughter have spread to all his friends and the whole sea bed is awash with sea creatures chuckling away. But, oh no! Here comes Shark! Suddenly things aren’t quite so funny any more.
K is for Kissing a cool Kangaroo
From juicy jellybeans to kissing kangaroos, children will love learning and remembering the letters of the alphabet in this fun-packed ABC book with vibrant illustrations
If you’d like to be the proud owner of these great books, enter the competition below.
Good luck peeps.
Love Suzie xx
Free-to-enter UK competitions at Competition Database – Find more competitions at http://www.competitiondatabase.co.uk
5x Mog Picture Books Giveaway
February is the month of love and Judith Kerr’s stories of ’Mog’ the naughty but very lovable cat will always hold a special place in my heart. I have many happy memories of reading about ’Mog’ with my children and now I am sharing the books with my grandchildren. So, I’m excited to announce that February will be my 5x Mog Picture Books Giveaway.
Up for grabs this month are five books in the ’Mog’ series.
Titles included are:
-
Mog and Bunny
Bunny is Mog’s best thing. But one day Mrs Thomas says she is going to throw Bunny in the dustbin…
Awww.
-
Mog and the Baby
Mog’s peaceful day is shattered when a baby comes to visit. All Mog wants to do and sleep and play but there is no chance of that with a little baby around!”Mog loves babies,” says Mrs Thomas but suddenly Mog isn’t quite so sure…
This was my children’s all time favourite bedtime story. You have to know how Mog saves the baby.
-
Mog’s Bad Thing
When Mog’s garden disappears under an enormous white flappy thing, Mog is very unhappy and does A Bad Thing. But inside the white flappy thing a Cat Show is taking place, the perfect setting for Mog to make her family very proud indeed.
All kids love it when ‘bad things’ are done lol!
-
Mog and the Granny
When the Thomas family go on holiday, Mog stays with Granny. It seems safe enough…until she meets Tibbles.
Oh dear. More trouble for Mog.
-
Mog’s ABC
On the day of Debbie’s birthday party, Mog sets off on an adventure through the alphabet. Along the way she meets the dragons in the dark and the jaguar with a jug of jelly. M is for Mog, but to her surprise, it is also for the mad mouse monster of her dream.
An ABC book with a difference 🙂
So, there you have it. Five fantastic books that should be on every child’s bookshelf.
I’ll be drawing the winner the 2nd of March.
Enter below.
Good luck!
Suzie xx
Free-to-enter UK competitions at Competition Database – Find more competitions at http://www.competitiondatabase.co.uk
Peep inside the Zoo
One of the new books we acquired over the summer was Peep inside the Zoo by Simona Dimitri. My two and a half year old grand-daughter claimed it right away.
I’m a big fan of Usborne books, and the quality of this book is no exception. It’s a chunky book with a lovely silky feel to the cover and the size is just right for grand-daughter. The illustrations are colourful and attractive, and there are lots of different shaped flaps to lift and interesting holes to peep through.
Whilst there isn’t a fictional story as such, there are lots of interesting facts about zoo animals and their families.
Penguins shuffle when they walk.
They’re birds that cannot fly.
But when they dive into the water…
and flap their wings like flippers…
they’re super speedy swimmers!
It would be a great book to read to prepare for an actual zoo visit.
One of grand-daughters favourite pages features a gorilla cradling a (sneakily concealed) baby in its arms. All say Aww 🙂
There isn’t really enough text to keep my 4 year old grandson interested for more than a few read-throughs but it’s a great book for the 2-3 year old age group – especially as it’s on offer on Amazon at £3.85 at the moment.
Peep Inside the Zoo is part of a fun series of books and are a must for all lift-the-flap fans.
Happy reading
Suzie xx
PS. Don’t forget this months Julia Donaldson giveaway. It ends on Sunday.
Book review: Where’s the Dragon by Richard and Jason Hook
We have a new favourite story in our house. Where’s the Dragon?
, written and illustrated by father and son duo Richard and Jason Hook, is a book with gorgeous pictures full of hidden dragons.
With over 70 dragons hiding in trees, mountains and lakes, this is the Where’s Wally of the dragon world. It has fantastic embossed pages and shiny spot laminations which makes the dragons really pop. My grand-daughter loves the ‘bumpy’ feel of this book. At £9.99 it was quite expensive but it is a hardback and doesn’t show any signs of wear after our many, many readings. I think it was well worth the money.
The story tells of George and his grandfather who go on a ‘dragon hunt.’ George can see dragons everywhere but grandfather doesn’t see any… even after they eat his boat. (Grand-daughter loves that part).
Where’s the Dragon has a quaint old-fashioned feel and the dragon is super cute.
The suggested age range for the book is 4 – 7 years but grand-daughter loves it and she’s only two.
Where’s the Dragon would make a great birthday or Christmas present.
Happy reading
Suzie xx
The Tale of Mummyhood
Billy has a Birthday
Billy has a Birthday is the first book in the eight book Billy Books series by English author, James Minter. Aimed at children between 7 and 9, they deal with the important issue of bullying.
Very often we see bullying in a school setting, but in this first book our hero, ten year old Billy has to deal with two older boys who demand money from him. Unsure how to handle the situation, Billy gives them the birthday money he has just received from his Grandad. Luckily, Billy’s friend Max tells Grandad what has happened. Together they hatch a plan to get the money back and stop the bully’s.
The characters.
Billy and his friends are great characters. The bullying incident comes relatively late in the book by which time we’ve got to know Billy well. He’s ten years old, trying to be grown-up but not really there yet: it’s a struggle we can probably all relate to.
My favourite character is Billy’s Grandad. He’s awesome; knowing just how to make Billy feel special. I especially liked that it was Grandad who foils the bully’s. It’s not often grandparents come out as the hero’s.
A special mention should go to the illustrator, Helen Rushworth. There is a picture at the start of each chapter and I thought they were just right for the narrative.
The story gives a clear message that you should always reach out and ask for help when facing bully’s. There is free activity book and some teaching notes to go with the book which will make talking about the issues raised easier either with your child individually or in a classroom setting.
Final thought
I’m going to leave you with the dedication from the book, which says it all.
To those who think bullying and aggression are the way to go through life; you are so wrong.
The British Books Challenge
I’m including Billy has a Birthday as my June book in the British Books Challenge.
Although James Minter has only been writing since 2009, he has already penned fourteen books.
This is a well-written story that deserves success.
Happy reading.
Suzie xx
The Tale of Mummyhood
