Looking through my reading diary for this year, I came across some of the books I have read and really enjoyed for one reason or another. This is not a list of newly published books, nor are all of these available in the school library (obviously!), just what I would highlight from the last three months of my own reading. So, we are a quarter of the way through the year and these are my top picks so far.
The Black House by Peter May. This is an adult crime novel set on the island of Lewis, the policeman hero is an islander who left to go to university and is sent to help with a particularly grisly murder. I found it a very atmospheric, almost claustrophobic read, with a shocking ending which I didn't see coming.
Longitude by Dana Sobel. This has been around for many years and I finally got round to it. The book gives the story behind the discovery of longitude and the importance of this discovery for navigation, the measurement of time and the making of clocks and watches. Fascinating stuff.
Far Rockaway by Charlie Fletcher. I had read and enjoyed the StoneHeart Trilogy so I was interested to see how Charlie Fletcher would move on to something new. This book is about the power of story to help come to terms with what life throws at us, the power of stories to help us grow up, to help us understand each other, and to heal. The main character is a teenage girl in a coma after being hit by a truck, most of the novel gives her point of view but there are also a lot of other viewpoints to keep track of, which makes it a bit complicated to read. A passing knowledge of The Last of the Mohicans, Treasure Island and The Three Musketeers is helpful too.
Dead Boy Talking by Linda Strachan. Not a comfortable read this one, cleverly structured round the 25 minutes it takes the average person to bleed to death. Teenage Josh has been stabbed and left to die, the book shows how he got to be where he is. All the reasons and decisions by Josh, and others, that led up to this moment. Thought-provoking, but not for the squeamish.
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. This was an incredibly moving story about how a teenage boy begins to come to terms with the illness and death of his mother from cancer. Grief and fear of the unknown are the main themes of this book, the fear of abandonment - what will happen to me, the one left behind. The illustrations are dark and scary, adding to the atmosphere of the story. This is totally different from Patrick Ness' other work, came from an idea by Siobhan Dowds, and I'm not sure how much is whose, but I thought it was brilliant, and yes, I cried at several points in the story.
Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick. Another illustrated novel, this time by the author of The Invention of Hugo Cabret (the film Hugo). The story is told from two points of view, in words by the boy, in pictures by the girl, and eventually the two stories come together as the two people meet. This book repays an almost immediate second reading as you go back to see how closely the stories are intertwined. Gorgeous illustrations and well worth a very detailed read and look.
The Robodog by Frank Rodgers. A classic for younger children from Frank Rodgers, author of The Witch's Dog series. The robodog desperately wants to be a real dog, with hair and everything, so that his family will love him more. What he doesn't realise, is that Dad is allergic to dog hair! However, Robodog learns that you can be a real dog without having hair - as long as your nose works properly!
Animal Antics: The Singing Sheep by Lucy Courtenay. When a new sheep comes to live on the farm, she finds it difficult to fit in, especially when her idea of music is not the same as everyone else. I loved the idea of a secret competition to find the best flock of singing sheep at the local show. At the same time, the sheepdog is trying not to be last in his competition. Very silly and great fun.
