This wonderful anthology features top names in YA and is an enjoyable, if sometimes uncomfortable, read. The book will help raise money for Crisis at Christmas and the stories are all on the theme of 'home' . The very word conjures up feelings of cosines and comfort but not everyone's home is like this of course and the stories give very different viewpoints. I feel very grateful to have been able to read this snuggled up under a blanket whilst cooking a family roast dinner and it hurts my heart to think that there are young people living in circumstances similar to those described by the fantastic authors featured. Choosing a favourite tale is just impossible but look out for Juno Dawson's Homo for Christmas and Holly Bourne's The After School Club that has a heartbreaking sting in the tale. Every story is a gem and this book deserves a place on every reader's wish list.
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Shirley Hughes' books are always so wonderfully evocative and nostalgic and this seasonal gem is no exception. The story is set in Liverpool where Shirley herself grew up and it's all the little details of day to day life that make the story come alive, the eating your dinner under a rack of drying clothes and all of the processes that had to be gone through just to clean them. The ghost referred to in the title is naturally not a ghost at all but the two children hear a series of thuds whilst their mother has popped out and are convinced that they are hearing a spirit. Luckily their kindly neighbour takes them into her house and they discover it is just the sound of darts being thrown at a board on the other side of the wall! The story has much to teach us all about getting on with our neighbours , now matter what religion they are or how different from ourselves they seem.
My hardback copy has gorgeous bronze embossing on the jacket as befits such a lovely book. The pencil and watercolour illustrations are just exquisite and the personal note from the author at the back of the book is wonderful. A treasure in book form. A young adult title today as a change from picture books. This is the first time I have met Dash and Lily but now I am determined to go back and read their story up to now. Lily usually loves Christmas but this year worries about her grandfather who has had a heart attack and a potential house move have dashed her festive spirits before they've had a chance to take hold. Her brother and boyfriend are determined to bring back her sparkle and the way they do this is touching, funny and full of love, despite the fact that they really don't get along. Some lovely festive scenes and descriptions of New York made me smile, I loved the ice skating scene. A few tears fell in the course of the story too but there is a warm happy ending to look forward to. A great, family orientated read , with mishaps, misunderstandings and touching moments along the way.
The Ice Bear is a beautiful, mystical story from author and illustrator Jackie Morris. I think she is probably my favourite illustrator, her animal paintings are just gorgeous. In this story we meet a young boy who was found in the snow by a hunter and brought up by him and his wife. He is no ordinary child however, for he was born of a large white bear and is a shapeshifter who can change from boy to bear. The raven that stole him from his bear mother leads him back to her when he is seven and his human father tracks him to the bears home. He is torn between his two families and decides to spend winters as a bear and summers with his human parents.
I would happily hang any of the pictures from this book on my wall, they are quite breathtaking but the words are lyrical and engaging too - 'The bear wept when she found that her cub had gone. Her ice tears formed scars on her cheeks' - any mother would empathise with this feeling of loss. All of Jackie Morris' books shine with her obvious love of the animal world and are sure to become treasureed possessions. This book is an absolute delight, after A Boy Named Christmas I wasn't sure if the magic could be created again but Matt Haig has smashed it out of the park! Delightful, heartwarming fairy tale suffused with the joy and spirit of Christmas, after having read it in ebook form I just had to buy myself a physical copy to treasure. Young Amelia has an awful time after her mother dies and she is sent to the strictest workhouse in London and her hope is all but extinguished for a while. Meanwhile there are problems in Elfhelm and Father Christmas has his work cut out sorting them but when he and Amelia meet for the second time the magic truly begins and builds to an extremely happy ending.
The Girl Who Saved Christmas would be perfect as a book to share with your children or pupils to be read aloud to enjoy tegether. I found it enchanting and it really put a smile on my face - it deserves to be on everyone's Christmas list this year! |
AuthorMy blog is a collection of thoughts and I hope you will learn something about me from the ramblings as well as finding some useful links. I'm Bev Humphrey and I'm a Literacy, School Libraries and Technology Consultant. I am self employed so views expressed are solely my own. CategoriesAll Android Apps Authors Bett Book Giving Day Books Cats Childrens Books Christmas Christmas Challenge Conferences Dickens Dyslexia English Games Geography Graphic Novels Images Inspiration International Women's Day Ipad Ipad For Education Libraries London Mfl Picture Books Podcasts Poetry Poetry Day Primaries Reading Resources Revision Twitter Urls Video Visits Wbd Wordcloud Wordle Workshops Write Path Writers Writing YA Youtube |