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bigbeardedbookseller's reviews
479 reviews
The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
5.0
In ‘The Girl of Ink & Stars’, Kiran creates a believable world inhabited by believable characters.
The story starts as though it is going to be historical fiction set on an island in an imaginary tropical ocean, but as it progresses the mystical side of the island and their inhabitants start to develop.
A convincing mythology develops as the book grows on you, gently and from under your skin, until you’re immersed in Isabella’s world. The magic feels real in the same way that Philip Pullman developed his magic in ‘His Dark Materials’, not overbearing and flashy but part of the world that you are reading about, normal.
The book is about Isabella’s journey to find her lost friend in a forbidden jungle, not only exploring the jungle but her islands past and coming to some fascinating discoveries.
Chicken House have again excelled in producing a beautiful product, with a wonderful cover by Helen Crawford-White, maps and small illustrations on each page, all which add to the reading experience.
The story starts as though it is going to be historical fiction set on an island in an imaginary tropical ocean, but as it progresses the mystical side of the island and their inhabitants start to develop.
A convincing mythology develops as the book grows on you, gently and from under your skin, until you’re immersed in Isabella’s world. The magic feels real in the same way that Philip Pullman developed his magic in ‘His Dark Materials’, not overbearing and flashy but part of the world that you are reading about, normal.
The book is about Isabella’s journey to find her lost friend in a forbidden jungle, not only exploring the jungle but her islands past and coming to some fascinating discoveries.
Chicken House have again excelled in producing a beautiful product, with a wonderful cover by Helen Crawford-White, maps and small illustrations on each page, all which add to the reading experience.
Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard
4.0
Follow the adventures of Darkus and his friends, Virginia and Bertolt, as they search for his dad who has gone missing from a locked room in the Natural History Museum.
They are joined along the way by Darkus’ Uncle Max and some even more amazing friends, that help in the fight against the evil Lucretia Cutter, (mad? evil?)scientist and fashion designer.
The story is fast paced and exciting, lightened every now and again with touches of humour, especially from the cousins, Pickering and Humphrey, evil and stupid in equal measures.
M.G. Leonard exhibits a real knowledge and love of beetles throughout the book which is peppered with great facts and bits of information.
This is part of a trilogy that includes ‘Beetle Queen’ and the upcoming ‘The Battle of the Beetles’.
The physical book is another beautiful object from Chicken House Publishing and the special edition has beetles on the fore edge (as has the special edition of ‘Beetle Queen’).
This was a well-deserved addition to the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2017 shortlist and is another book that though it is aimed at the Middle Grade reading groups I would highly recommend to everyone to read as it is so well written.
They are joined along the way by Darkus’ Uncle Max and some even more amazing friends, that help in the fight against the evil Lucretia Cutter, (mad? evil?)scientist and fashion designer.
The story is fast paced and exciting, lightened every now and again with touches of humour, especially from the cousins, Pickering and Humphrey, evil and stupid in equal measures.
M.G. Leonard exhibits a real knowledge and love of beetles throughout the book which is peppered with great facts and bits of information.
This is part of a trilogy that includes ‘Beetle Queen’ and the upcoming ‘The Battle of the Beetles’.
The physical book is another beautiful object from Chicken House Publishing and the special edition has beetles on the fore edge (as has the special edition of ‘Beetle Queen’).
This was a well-deserved addition to the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2017 shortlist and is another book that though it is aimed at the Middle Grade reading groups I would highly recommend to everyone to read as it is so well written.
Nữ Hoàng Bọ Cánh Cứng by M.G. Leonard
4.0
Continuing the adventures of Darkus, Victoria and Bertolt, ‘Beetle Queen’ is another wonderfully crafted book. Written by M.G. Leonard, illustrated by Elisabet Portabella and published by Chichen House Publishing, and as with ‘Beetle Boy’ the special edition has a decorated fore edge.
Lucretia Cutter has got away at the end of ‘Beetle Boy’ to continue here evil, dastardly plans and Darkus’ dad is concerned for the children’s safety and forbids them to investigate Lucretia further and wants them to stay away from their beetle friends. Circumstances unfold which makes this impossible and Uncle Max helps once the children and their beetle friends once more.
Humphry and Pickering were imprisoned and have become even fouler and more desperate, still adding to the danger that the children face, but they’re also fast becoming two of my favourite characters for their comic relief.
The story goes deeper into the motives of Lucretia and her plans for the world and how she uses beetles to achieve this. Novak, Lucretia’s daughter has a larger and intriguing role to play in this book, and Darkus’ dad gets to have a much bigger part in the story also.
Wonderfully written, well-paced throughout another great book by M.G. Leonard and I am so looking forward to the story’s conclusion with ‘The Battle of the Beetles’.
Lucretia Cutter has got away at the end of ‘Beetle Boy’ to continue here evil, dastardly plans and Darkus’ dad is concerned for the children’s safety and forbids them to investigate Lucretia further and wants them to stay away from their beetle friends. Circumstances unfold which makes this impossible and Uncle Max helps once the children and their beetle friends once more.
Humphry and Pickering were imprisoned and have become even fouler and more desperate, still adding to the danger that the children face, but they’re also fast becoming two of my favourite characters for their comic relief.
The story goes deeper into the motives of Lucretia and her plans for the world and how she uses beetles to achieve this. Novak, Lucretia’s daughter has a larger and intriguing role to play in this book, and Darkus’ dad gets to have a much bigger part in the story also.
Wonderfully written, well-paced throughout another great book by M.G. Leonard and I am so looking forward to the story’s conclusion with ‘The Battle of the Beetles’.
Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood
4.0
It’s a bit cliched and I don’t often say it, so here goes. This is an instant classic and will be read for decades as a favourite of adults and children who will go on to introduce it to their children.
From the moment I started reading this I was in love, so much so it was finished in one sitting; exciting, frightening, magical and intriguing, though this book has been compared to many books I think that's a bit unkind to do as it stands proudly as Kieran’s creation and I'm sure in the future books will be compared to this.
In a land of good and evil, humanoid rabbits are the dominant species, the story obscures whether or not this is our future, an alternative future or a distant planet. Goddesses and magic are woven throughout the story of Podkin’s early adventures.
This is another series I will have to read as soon as the new books are released, Kieran has created a wonderful land and characters that live vividly in your imagination.
From the moment I started reading this I was in love, so much so it was finished in one sitting; exciting, frightening, magical and intriguing, though this book has been compared to many books I think that's a bit unkind to do as it stands proudly as Kieran’s creation and I'm sure in the future books will be compared to this.
In a land of good and evil, humanoid rabbits are the dominant species, the story obscures whether or not this is our future, an alternative future or a distant planet. Goddesses and magic are woven throughout the story of Podkin’s early adventures.
This is another series I will have to read as soon as the new books are released, Kieran has created a wonderful land and characters that live vividly in your imagination.
100 Ideas That Changed Photography by Mary Warner Marien
4.0
A comprehensive overview of one hundred ideas that ‘changed’ photography.
Though not exhaustive, this is a good look at various ideas that have been developed in the lifetime of the science and art of photography.
Each entry is well thought out and formatted to make the information easy to get through and is a good initial starting point for anyone that wants to explore this further.
Not an essential to a comprehensive photography book collection, but not a waste either as it is fun and informative.
Though not exhaustive, this is a good look at various ideas that have been developed in the lifetime of the science and art of photography.
Each entry is well thought out and formatted to make the information easy to get through and is a good initial starting point for anyone that wants to explore this further.
Not an essential to a comprehensive photography book collection, but not a waste either as it is fun and informative.
The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell
5.0
A girl with a red cape, a boy soldier, a boy with an axe and, of course, wolves. This magnificent re-imagining of a classic tale written by Katherine Rundell and gloriously illustrated by Gelrev Ongbico is set in the snows of revolutionary Russia.
This is the story of Feo (Feodora) who is a wolf wilder, as is her mother. Wolf wilders take wolves who were raised as pets in Tsarist Russia but are no longer wanted for one reason or another and help them to be wild once more.
A story about a young girls adventures against the cruelty and fears of people, especially people in power who want to control others through fear they instill.
Along the way Feo meets several companions and friends who help her as much as she helps them and they grow together throughout the story.
There is both humour and loss which Feo and her friends have to contend with, though the peril is set at a level to help the story line it is never so much that it overwhelms the reader.
I found the book well written and set at a pace that kept me reading until the very last page, where I was disappointed that the story had ended as I wanted to know more.
The Wolf Wilder is Waterstones Children's Book of the Month this September (2016) and I would recommend this to anyone between 8 and 80 as it is a refreshing read and has something for everyone.
This is the story of Feo (Feodora) who is a wolf wilder, as is her mother. Wolf wilders take wolves who were raised as pets in Tsarist Russia but are no longer wanted for one reason or another and help them to be wild once more.
A story about a young girls adventures against the cruelty and fears of people, especially people in power who want to control others through fear they instill.
Along the way Feo meets several companions and friends who help her as much as she helps them and they grow together throughout the story.
There is both humour and loss which Feo and her friends have to contend with, though the peril is set at a level to help the story line it is never so much that it overwhelms the reader.
I found the book well written and set at a pace that kept me reading until the very last page, where I was disappointed that the story had ended as I wanted to know more.
The Wolf Wilder is Waterstones Children's Book of the Month this September (2016) and I would recommend this to anyone between 8 and 80 as it is a refreshing read and has something for everyone.