Invisible Fiends: The Darkest Corners by Barry Hutchison

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One very quiet night in the library, two years ago, I was looking for something interesting to read when I came across a new series, called Invisible Fiends.  Mr Mumbles, a story about a boy’s childhood invisible friend who came back and tried to kill him sounded like my kind of book, and I was hooked within the first few pages.  I love stories that send a chill down my spine and Mr Mumbles did exactly that, while also making me laugh.  Now, with the final book in Barry Hutchison’s fantastic series, The Darkest Corners, being released, one of my all-time favourite series has come to an end.  And what an end it is!

Kyle′s dad is everywhere. Really everywhere. In windows, through doors, on advertising billboards. Kyle just can′t escape him – and maybe he′s tired of running, anyway.

It′s time to fight.

But Kyle′s dad is one of the most powerful invisible fiends, and he does nothing without thinking it through. Just as Kyle learns to control his powers, he′s faced with the worst possibility of all. What if the thing that′s needed to open the gate between worlds, and destroy the world, is nothing other than… himself?

The Darkest Corners is an absolutely perfect end to a series that I wish could go on forever.  I admit I had a tear in my eye as I read the last couple of chapters, because I didn’t want to say goodbye to Barry’s characters.  We do get to see each of the Fiends again (if only briefly) and one of my favourite Fiends has a big part to play in this story.  Joseph is a character that shows up in each of the books and Barry’s been keeping us in the dark about who he actually is all the way through.  In The Darkest Corners his true identity is revealed (even though you may have already figured it out like me).  I still found this reveal satisfying though because you finish the book feeling that all the loose ends have been tied up and all the characters are in their right place.  At the end of The Beast, Kyle’s dad revealed something shocking about Ameena and in The Darkest Corners, Ameena continues to shock us.  I won’t tell you how so you’ll just have to read the book.

The thing that I liked most about this book is the reappearance of one of my favourite Fiends.  His relationships with a couple of the other characters provide some of the funniest moments of this book, and we find out why he acted the way he did when Kyle first met him.

As with the other books in the Invisible Fiends series, Barry can creep you out one moment, then make you laugh the next.  He keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen to Kyle and his friends.

Thank you Barry for introducing us to Kyle, Ameena, Mr Mumbles and all the other Invisible Fiends.  If you haven’t read the Invisible Fiends series I highly recommend it, especially for fans of horror/scary stories for children.

5 out of 5 stars

The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket by John Boyne

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John Boyne is an incredibly talented and versatile writer.  He writes for both adults and children, and he can write incredibly moving stories that punch you in the gut or magical stories that make you laugh.  John’s latest book for younger readers is a wonderful, whimsical tale of an unusual little boy, called The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket.

There’s nothing unusual about the Brockets. Boring, respectable and fiercely proud to be as normal as normal can be, Alistair and Eleanor Brocket turn up their noses at anyone strange or different. But from the moment Barnaby Brocket comes into the world, it’s clear he’s anything but normal. To the horror and shame of his parents, Barnaby appears to defy the laws of gravity – and floats. Little Barnaby is a lonely child – after all, it’s hard to make friends when you’re pressed against the ceiling all day. Desperate to please his parents, he does his best to stop floating, but he simply can’t do it. It’s just not who he is. Then, one fateful day, Barnaby’s mother decides enough is enough. She never asked for a weird, abnormal, floating child. She’s sick and tired of the newspapers prying and the neighbours gossiping. Barnaby has to go. Betrayed, frightened and alone, Barnaby floats into the path of a very special hot air balloon. And so begins a magical journey around the world; from South America to New York, Canada to Ireland, and even a trip into space, Barnaby meets a cast of truly extraordinary new friends and realises that nothing can make you happier than just being yourself.

The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket is one of my favourite books of 2012.  John Boyne has crafted a magical, imaginative tale that celebrates difference and takes us around the world, introducing us to an interesting cast of characters along the way.  Whenever I’ve been asked to recommend books similar to Roald Dahl I’ve always struggled because his writing is so unique, but Barnaby Brocket is a perfect example (as is John’s previous book, Noah Barleywater Runs Away).  The characters in Barnaby Brocket are very Dahl-esque, especially Barnaby’s horrible, selfish parents.  As soon as he is born, Barnaby is the bane of his parent’s life.  They are normal people who want a normal life, but Barnaby is anything but.  A son who floats and gets a lot of attention threatens their normal lives, so his mother does the unthinkable.  The worst thing is that they don’t even regret what they did!  We discover why they behave the way that they do, but it doesn’t excuse their actions.

I love all the interesting characters that Barnaby meets on his travels.  There’s Liam (the boy with hooks for hands), Joshua Pruitt (the window cleaner with a hidden talent) and the imprisoned members of Freakitude.  They’re all different in their own ways and they not only help Barnaby get back home, but also help him to realise that nothing can make you happier than just being yourself.

Oliver Jeffers’ illustrations are fantastic as always and they perfectly match the style and tone of the story.  Oliver’s illustrations are spread throughout the book and they really bring John’s cast of characters alive.  I especially like the Oliver’s illustration of ‘An odd collection of friends.’  I hope we see more collaborations between John and Oliver.

Grab The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket from your library or bookshop now and share it with the children in your life.

5 out of 5 stars

If you like The 39 Clues, you’ll love The Infinity Ring

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The Infinity Ring is a new interactive series like The 39 Clues.  It’s one of those books that comes with extra bits and pieces so that you can find out more about the story and the characters.  The Infinity Ring series is all about time travel so you follow the characters through different time periods.  Each book comes with a Hystorian’s Guide, which is your key to unlocking the next adventure in the online game.

Book 1 is called A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner and it’s out at the end of the month.

History is broken, and three kids must travel back in time to set it right!

When best friends Dak Smyth and Sera Froste stumble upon the secret of time travel — a hand-held device known as the Infinity Ring — they’re swept up in a centuries-long secret war for the fate of mankind. Recruited by the Hystorians, a secret society that dates back to Aristotle, the kids learn that history has gone disastrously off course.

Now it’s up to Dak, Sera, and teenage Hystorian-in-training Riq to travel back in time to fix the Great Breaks . . . and to save Dak’s missing parents while they’re at it. First stop: Spain, 1492, where a sailor named Christopher Columbus is about to be thrown overboard in a deadly mutiny!

Reserve your copy of The Infinity Ring: A Mutiny in Time at your library now or grab a copy from your bookshop from 28 August. I’ll also have 2 copies to give away when the book is released.

Scholastic NZ are running a really cool competition to celebrate the release of the series.  All you have to do is register and play the Infinity Ring game on www.infinityring.com and you go in the draw to win iPods and iPads.

Win Kingdom of the Wicked signed by Derek Landy

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Skulduggery Pleasant creator, Derek Landy, was in NZ last week and you might have been one of the lucky people to meet him and get your books signed.  For those Skulduggery Pleasant fans who didn’t get the chance to meet Derek I have a very cool prize for you.

I have 2 copies of the latest Skulduggery Pleasant book, Kingdom of the Wicked, signed by Derek Landy to give away.  All you have to do to get in the draw is enter your name and email address in the form below.

Competition closes Wednesday 22 August (NZ only).

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Thank you for your response. ✨

Takeshita Demons by Cristy Burne

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Rick Riordan brought Greek and Egyptian mythology into the present day in his Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles series.  In her Takeshita Demons series, Cristy Burne, brings Japanese fairy tales and folklore into modern day England, and introduces us to some creepy Japanese demons, called Yokai.

Miku Takashita always had a close relationship with her grandmother, Baba, who taught her all about the yokai all around us.  When Miku and her family move from Japan to England, she has no idea about the trouble that follows her family.  She knows she’s in trouble when her releaving teacher turns out to be a nukekubi, then mysterious strangers turn up at her home, and Japanese demons kidnap her baby brother.  It’s up to her and her best friend Cait to break into their snow-blocked school and get him back.

Takeshita Demons is an exciting and creepy story that young readers will gobble up.  There is something for everyone, with plenty of action, mystery and chills, all wrapped up in Japanese folklore. Children will relate well to Miku because she’s just an ordinary girl who gets caught up in a battle with with Japanese demons who believe that her family is special.  Miku doesn’t believe that she is special but does what she needs to to protect her family.  Cristy Burne introduces us to some creepy yokai (demons) like the Noppera-bo who can look like anyone they choose, and Nukekubi whose head can fly off when its body is sleeping.  Cristy even gives you some extra information about the yokai in Takeshita Demons at the end of the book, and you can learn more about them on her website.

I really like Takeshita Demons because it’s short but scary.  It’s a perfect introduction to myth and folklore, and would be especially good for those girls who’ve outgrown fairies and want more of a challenge.  I think it would also be a great stepping stone to the Percy Jackson series, or even a series to recommend to those who have already read them.  I certainly can’t wait to read more in the Takeshita Demons series.

The next book in the series is The Filth Licker and you can learn more about it later this week.

Win Blue Gnu by Kyle Mewburn

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Blue Gnu is a delightful, tongue-twister of a book about friendship and being different, written by one of our best children’s writers, Kyle Mewburn and illustrated by new talent Daron Parton.  If you’re not already hooked on Kyle Mewburn’s books, you will be once you read Blue Gnu.

Thanks to Scholastic NZ I have 2 copies of Blue Gnu to give away.  All you have to do to get in the draw is enter your name and email address in the form below.  Competition closes Wednesday 15 August (NZ only)

This competition is now closed.  Thanks to everyone who entered.  The winners are Christine and Gabrielle.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2012 LIANZA Children’s Book Awards

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The winners of the 2012 LIANZA Children’s Book Awards were announced in Wellington last night.  The LIANZA Children’s Book Awards are awarded each year by Children’s Librarians for outstanding books for children and young people.  Here are the winners in each category:

LIANZA Junior Fiction Award – Esther Glen Medal
The Travelling Restaurant by Barbara Else, (GECKO Press).

LIANZA Young Adult Fiction Award
Pyre of Queens by David Hair, (Penguin NZ)

LIANZA Illustration Award – Russell Clark Award
Rāhui  by Chris Szekely and Malcolm Ross, (Huia).

LIANZA Non Fiction Award – Elsie Locke Medal
Nice Day for a War by Chris Slane and Matt Elliott, illustrated by Chris Slane (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd).

Te Kura Pounamu (te reo Māori)
Ngā Taniwha i te-Whanga-nui-a-Tara by Moira Wairama and Bruce Potter, (Penguin NZ).

The winner of each category was awarded a medal or taonga and $1,000.

Librarians’ Choice Award
Rāhui  by Chris Szekely and Malcolm Ross, (Huia).

For more information about the awards see the LIANZA website.

 

Skulduggery Pleasant: Kingdom of the Wicked

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Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant series keeps getting better and better (as well as each book getting bigger and bigger).  We find out more about our favourite characters with each new adventure and get introduced to new weird and wonderful ones.  Skulduggery Pleasant: Kingdom of the Wicked is Derek Landy’s latest and greatest Skulduggery book and he sure doesn’t let his army of minions down.

Magic is a disease.

Across the land, normal people are suddenly developing wild and unstable powers. Somehow infected by a rare strain of magic, they are unwittingly endangering their own lives and the lives of the people around them. Terrified and confused, their only hope lies with the Sanctuary, which is having problems of its own. Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain are needed now more than ever – not only to find out what is causing the infection, but also to prevent the take-over of the Sanctuary by a consortium of international sorcerers.

And then there’s the small matter of Kitana. A normal teenage girl who, along with her normal teenage friends, becomes infected. Becomes powerful. Becomes corrupted. Wielding the magic of gods, they’re set to tear the city apart unless someone stands up against them.

Looks like it’s going to be another one of those days …

CAUTION: While I do my best not to mention any spoilers, if you don’t want to know anything about Kingdom of the Wicked, please don’t read on.  You have been warned!

Kingdom of the Wicked delivers everything I’ve come to expect from a Skulduggery Pleasant book – brilliant characters with the best names around, witty dialogue, magic creating havoc, and violence aplenty.  This book could almost be titled, Valkyrie Cain: Kingdom of the Wicked, as the story focuses mainly on her, with Skulduggery popping up every now and again to help save the day.  Valkyrie has grown in confidence and can now handle situations by herself, and in this book, she doesn’t have much choice as Skulduggery often isn’t around to help.

Many of Derek’s best characters are back, including Scapegrace and Thrasher, who were real highlights in this book for me as they provide some hilarious comic relief in amongst the death and destruction.  We meet some new characters (with awesome names) and some old characters that have only been mentioned in other books in the series.

Derek Landy doesn’t just write a good story, he’s also fantastic with dialogue.  The interaction between characters, particularly the banter between Skulduggery and Valkyrie, is one of the reasons why I love the Skulduggery books so much.  You can always rely on Skulduggery and Valkyrie to see the humour in a situation, even if they may be facing death.

Kingdom of the Wicked is probably the most violent, and at times revolting, book in the series so far.  There were several parts that made me cringe, especially towards the end.  When Derek describes a tendon ripping in someone’s neck of someone’s ribs shattering you almost feel it yourself.

The shocking conclusion to Kingdom of the Wicked made me desperately want to read the next book.  However, with only two more books left in the Skulduggery Pleasant series, I’m willing to wait because I don’t want to say goodbye to Derek’s fantastic creation.

5 out of 5 stars