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The Rothley Review termly book reviews and recommendations

This is the spring/summer edition of The Rothley Review!

The aims of the Rothley Review are: to promote reading for pleasure, to help parents/carers with buying/borrowing books for their children, to share what the teachers are reading, and to recommend new and exciting literature!

In this edition, we have recommendations for all ages, a couple of eco-awareness books and a focus on graphic novels.

Rather than putting the books in the school office, I will be buying copies of the books to put in the classrooms and library areas to make them more accessible.

Adult recommendations

Reading should be a shared experience and something people of all ages enjoy. In a bid to build more of a reading community, there will be a book recommendation for the adults in each Rothley Review. This edition's review comes courtesy of my wife - Mrs Mac!

Rothley Community Library

The Rothley Review has teamed up with the Rothley Community Library! This means that all the books recommended in the review will be available to borrow from the Rothley Community Library as well as classrooms and school library areas. The library have created a dedicated area for the Rothley Review, which should make the books easier to find. If you do have any questions, please get in touch with one of the library volunteers.

Pictures from the Rothley Community Library

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One of the buttons under each photo labelled 'Read The First Chapter Now!' will take you to a website called lovereading4kids.co.uk (if the chapter is available). It is free to sign-up and will allow you to download the first chapter of most children's books for free.

Also included are buttons labelled 'Waterstones' and 'Amazon' (dependent on availability) which, when pressed, will take you directly to the website page of the book recommended, just in case you would like to purchase it!

Alternatively, you could try and borrow the book from the Rothley Community Library or from classrooms.

9+ recommendation By Mr Mac

Spark by Mitch Johnson

I first discovered Mitch Johnson through his brilliant debut novel 'Kick', and I was delighted that 'Spark' lived up to my expectations of his work.

The story begins with our protagonist, Ash, who is the servant to the priestess of Last Village - the southern-most point of a world parched of water, apart from a solitary stream that serves the village. That is until an outsider arrives and the pond dries up. Has the newcomer brought a curse with her? Or is it a sign from the Four Fathers that the years of suffering are nearly over?

Either way, Ash doesn't have time to find out, as after a vicious storm leaves Last Village deserted, he is set on a course to discover whether his faith in the Four Fathers is enough to save his village, and possibly the world.

This book has strong environmental themes, leaving the reader pondering the question: what would happen if all the water in the world did disappear?

An excellent, action-packed book that will keep the reader engaged throughout.

Mr Mac's rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

6+ recommendation by mr mac

Agent Weasel and the Fiendish Fox Gang by Nick East

Introducing Special Agent Weasel: woodland super spy! Alongside his assistant Doorkins, an adorable dormouse, our slender protagonist is set on the trail of the fiendish fox gang after a series of unfortunate events have happened in the woodland.

Their mission becomes instantly harder when they are captured by the gang itself! Agent Weasel must rely on his special set of skills (but mainly the skills of his colleagues whilst he thinks about massages and cups of tea!) to survive.

Will they be able to defeat the fiendish fox gang and their leader Vixen von Fluff before it's too late?

Cue lots of silliness, close shaves and toilet humour, making it the perfect book for this age group.

Mr Mac's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4+ recommendation by mr mac

Don't Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton

A lovely, heart-warming story about overcoming fears (particularly ones we can't control) and trusting your loved ones.

Little Crab and Big Crab are going for a dip in the ocean, but when they get there, Little Crab is scared of the huge waves!

Can Big Crab convince Little Crab to 'dive in at the deep end' and experience the sea for the first time?

This would be a great read-aloud book as there is lots of onomatopoeia to say together! The crab is cute too!

Mr Mac's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eco Corner

A selection of books with the theme of protecting the environment.

Perfect for ages 4 and up

The Last Tree by Emily Haworth-Booth

From the author of the phenomenally successful The King Who Banned the Dark comes a new tale about community and our relationship with the environment and nature.

Once upon a time a group of friends were seeking a place to call home. The desert was too hot, the valley was too wet and the mountain was too windy.

Then they found the forest. It was perfect. The leaves gave shelter from the sun and rain, and a gentle breeze wound through the branches.

But the friends soon wanted to build shelters. The shelters became houses, then the houses got bigger. All too soon they wanted to control the environment and built a huge wooden wall around the community.

As they cut down the trees, the forest becomes thinner, until there is just one last tree standing.

It is down to the children to find a solution.

*review from Waterstones

Perfect for ages 9+

Saving Celeste by Timothée de Fombelle

In this incredibly moving and powerful story about climate change by one of France's greatest writers for children, the world is run by industry and the only thing that matters is to buy, buy, buy.People live in crowded cities where cars are stacked vertically and shopping centres run miles into the sky.

On the day Celeste starts school on the 110th floor of a tower block, she meets a lonely, young boy. The next day she doesn't return. Her blood has become as polluted as the seas and rivers. On a mission to save her, the boy battles the forces of industry and takes her far, far away. Will the world realise the truth of Celeste's disease? Will there be time for her, and the planet, to recover?

*review from Waterstones

Graphic Novels

The Rema Chronicles: Realm of the Blue Mist by Amy Kim Kibuishi (9+)

Perfect for fans of the Amulet graphic novel series (written and illustrated by Amy's husband, Kazu!).

Enter the rich and fantastical world of Rema in the first instalment of this middle-grade graphic novel series with sweeping adventure and light romance!

Tabby Simon is determined to learn what happened to her father, who was found dead after researching a tree that leaks a mysterious mist in her neighbourhood. She is unexpectedly led to Rema, a distant world of magic and beauty that is periodically invaded by a nearby planet desperate for resources.

While Tabby searches for the truth surrounding her father's death, she meets a handsome blue-haired boy named Philip. He has his own dangerous secrets, but he has promised to help Tabby get home. As Tabby learns more about this strange world, she discovers that she is destined for something far greater than she ever could have imagined.

Mr Mac's rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*review from Waterstones

Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey (7+)

The perfect book for DOG MAN fans!

Welcome to the Cat Kid Comic Club, where Li'l Petey (LP), Flippy, and Molly introduce twenty-one rambunctious, funny, and talented baby frogs to the art of comic making.

As the story unwinds with mishaps and hilarity, readers get to see the progress, mistakes, and improvements that come with practice and persistence.

Squid Kid and Katydid, Baby Frog Squad, Gorilla Cheese Sandwich, and Birds Flowers Tree: A Haiku Photo Comic are just some of the mini-comics that are included as stories-within-the-story, each done in a different style, utilizing humour and drama, prose and poetry, illustrated in different media including acrylics, pastels, coloured pencils, felt-tip markers, clay, hand-made cardboard sculptures, photographs, pipe cleaners, construction paper collages, and cookies.

*review from Waterstones

Adults Only...

Parent/carer recommendaton by Mrs mac

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

I must admit that this author and book was unknown to me until it kept appearing on my TikTok feed (or BookTok). Once I succumbed to the social media pressure, I can now see why it was recommended, and it has become my firm favourite of 2022.

This page-turner follows Lily’s life, from her lowest points in her life to some of the best, making her a relatable and likeable character.

Although it is mainly a romance, there are other powerful themes running throughout. Colleen Hoover’s writing is so powerful that each chapter takes through a rollercoaster of emotions. I won’t be ashamed to confess that I cried on many occasions, particularly when the handsome neurosurgeon, Ryle, became a love interest of Lily’s.

Like most of my favourite books, It Ends With Us has relatively short chapters and is written with a dual narrative. This sheds light to the young Lily’s relationship with her parents and her first love, Atlas. I always love when authors do this as I think we gain a much deeper insight into the character and your empathy grows the more you read.

The sequel to the book, written from the perspective of another main character, is due to be released in autumn 2022, so now would be the perfect opportunity to read this beautiful book. If you love it as much I did, then I highly recommend her other novels which I have been devouring since.

Mrs Mac's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If your child (or you!) would like more books recommending in between the termly Rothley Reviews, then please come and see me: my door is always open!

Mr Mclugash

Created By
Alex Mclugash
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Credits:

Created with an image by Jonas Jacobsson - "untitled image"