A medical fact: after six days of absolute sleep deprivation, psychosis sets in. After four weeks, the body dies. And so begins Adrian Barnes’ incredibly luring novel, Nod. As dawn breaks over Vancouver no one in the world has slept the night before. Or almost no one. A few people, perhaps one in ten thousand can still sleep, and they’ve all shared the same mysterious dream. As sleep deprivation and psychosis sets in, global panic ensues. A bizarre and dangerous new world arises and swallows the old one whole. A world called Nod. I was utterly captivated by this concept of an insomnia epidemic, having never read anything along this line before, and Adrian Barnes successfully delivered a very captivating dystopian novel. But be aware that this novel is definitely more literary than sci-fi/fantasy, as the narrator, a self-confessed misanthrope and writer, Paul, logs a timeline narrative rich with religious, ethic and philosophical dichotomies. The ending initially threw me as a lot of the mysterious are essentially left unravelled, however when I took a step back and reflected on the novel I found myself I awe of Barnes’ talent. I was left with so many unanswered questions that I missed the point where I had become one of the characters who had no idea what was going on and why this was happening. However the author also raises some very interesting concepts and questions surrounding human nature, its relationship with catastrophe and chaos, manipulation and leadership. Overall, why parts of this novel may seem frustrating for a lot of readers, as I was at first, if you read this book with a mindset of what I’ve mentioned then underneath the slightly disappointing story of destruction and breakdown of civilisation there lies a much richer, cleverer and interesting narrative. The book ends with an acclaimed essay by the author, My Cancer is as Strange as my Fiction, in which the author shares moments from his diagnosis of cancer. Written around the same time Nod was published, Barnes draws on a lot of parallels between what happened to him during his treatment and issues addressed in the book. Knowing that the author didn’t know that a year after writing Nod that his life would take a turn that throws these issues into such a sharp focus gives Nod a terrifyingly realistic tone. You can read Barnes' essay My Cancer is as Strange as my Fiction here, and shop the book via Waterstones here. © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

Seamus Heaney, Carol Ann Duffy, T.S. Eliot, Slyvia Plath, Homer and John Keats are just a few of amazing poets that we have been so lucky to read from, and it doesn't stop there. With National Poetry Day on the 4th October, poetry is more alive than ever, and constantly new talent is coming to the surface of the poetry pool. With poetry showing a constant rise in the book trade market, here's a round up of my top poetry picks from the 21st century. Rupi Kaur In 2015 Rupi Kaur self-published a collected volume, Milk and Honey, made up of poems originally started on Instagram, which quickly went onto become a New York Times bestseller. With an Instagram following of over three million and her own current sold out American tour, Kaur has been called the 'voice of her generation'. Milk and Honey takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life but effortlessly find the sweetness in them. Divided into four chapters, each chapter serves a different purpose; deals with a different pain; heals a different heartache. Kaur's work is powerfully and emotionally expressed and viscerally captures both universal human experience and the particular struggles of a young woman today. Her words are honest, relatable and grounded making this a poetry collection that every woman needs. And now comes Rupi Kaur's long-awaited second collection of poetry, The Sun and Her Flowers. Now Kaur takes us on a journey of wilting, falling, rooting, rising and blooming in a beautiful celebration of love in all its forms. Teaching My Mother How to Give Birth by Warsan Shire What elevates 'teaching my mother how to give birth', what gives the poems their disturbing brilliance, is Warsan Shire's ability to give simple, beautiful eloquence to the veiled world where sensuality lives in the dominant narrative of Islam; reclaiming the more nuanced truths of earlier times - as in Tayeb Salih's work - and translating to the realm of lyric the work of the likes of Nawal El Saadawi. As Rumi said, "Love will find its way through all languages on its own"; in 'teaching my mother how to give birth', Warsan's debut pamphlet, we witness the unearthing of a poet who finds her way through all preconceptions to strike the heart directly. Warsan Shire is a Kenyan-born Somali poet and writer who is based in London. Born in 1988, she is an artist and activist who uses her work to document narratives of journey and trauma. Warsan has read her work internationally, including recent readings in South Africa, Italy and Germany, and her poetry has been translated into Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. Born to Love, Cursed to Feel by Samantha King Samantha King's recent, raw and relatable poetry beautifully celebrates love and mourns the human "curse to feel." King effortlessly stresses that when emotions are involved it's not as black and white as it appears on the surface. Through the literal and metaphorical depth King touches on the emotions and morals surrounding falling in love, bad decisions, and ultimately growth. I read this book in one sitting and it has stayed with me ever since. King has a creative ability to reassure us through her words that no matter how far one falls all the mistakes don't have to be what defines them. I'm excited to see the next poetic collection Samantha King has up her sleeve. She Must be Mad by Charly Cox In this powerful new collection of poetry and prose, Charly Cox effortlessly explores the issues surrounding coming-of-age: the pain and beauty of love, the relief and the agony of turning from a girl to a woman, the isolation of an untethered mind and the power and subjugation of the body. Charly captures the formative experiences of today's young women from the poignant to the prosaic in writing that is at once witty, wry and heartfelt. Wayward nights out that don't go as planned; the righteous anger at those men with no talent or skill or smarts who occupy the most powerful positions in the world; the strange banality of madness and, of course, the hurt and indecision of unrequited love. This book is for every woman surviving and thriving in today's world, for every girl who feels too much. Cox has captured an urgent call for communion, and a reminder that you are never alone. Other of my personal favorites include the this beautiful Faber & Faber edition of Sylvia Plath's Ariel. Yes I know it's not exactly a 21st century book but Ariel is a great artistic purity. Plath's poems are original, daring and gifted making this one of my top picks. A new comer is Nikita Gill's Fierce Fairytales & Other Stories to Stir Your Soul and all you need to know is: feminist fairytales for the young and old. Reimagining traditional tales, this empowering collection of stories, poems and beautiful hand-drawn illustrations gives Once Upon a Time a much-needed modern makeover. Gone are the gender stereotypes of obliging lovers, violent men and girls that need rescuing. Instead, lines blur between heroes and villains and you'll meet brave princesses, a new kind of wolf lurking in the concrete jungle and a courageous Gretel who can bring down monsters on her own. Happy National Poetry Day Bluebirds! © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

It's National Poetry Day on the 4th October and this year children's poetry has taken the market by an absolute storm. Today poetry is more alive than ever, it's side-splittingly funny, beautifully illustrated and very enjoyable. To The Lost Words winning the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year 2018, to the first ever official National Poetry Day Anthology, Poetry for a Change, hitting the shelves, children's poetry is on a rise. To celebrate National Poetry Day here is a round up of my top poetry picks! The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children. They disappeared so quietly that at first almost no one noticed - until one day, they were gone. But there is an old kind of magic for finding what is missing, and for summoning what has vanished. If the right spells are spoken, the lost words might return... Winner of the British Book Awards Children's Book of the Year 2018, plus shortlisted for the 2017 Waterstones Book of the Year and the 2018 Wainwright Golden Beer Book Prize, The Lost Words is a beautifully breathtaking illustrated collection of spell-poems to re-wild the language of children. All over the country, there are words disappearing from children's lives. These are the words of the natural world - Dandelion, Otter, Bramble and Acorn, all gone. The rich landscape of wild imagination and wild play is rapidly fading from our children's minds. The Lost Words stands against the disappearance of wild childhood. It is a joyful celebration of nature words and the natural world they invoke. With acrostic spell-poems by award-winning writer Robert Macfarlane and hand-painted illustration by Jackie Morris, this enchanting book captures the irreplaceable magic of language and nature for all ages. This is a magically striking picture book of the year and a very important one at that. It's a book that conjures lost words and species back into our everyday lives. Words that have been replaced by the modern child's vocabulary of 'wifi', 'tv' and 'phone'. To bring back these lost words in such an enchanting and beautiful way will appeal to children and adults alike. The poems and illustrations ignite curiosity and wonder of the natural world. This is a book to read, share and remember. You can watch an exclusive Waterstones interview with Robert Mcfarlane about The Lost Words including Robert reading aloud of some of the book's magical nature spells here, and you can shop the book here. A Poem for Every Day AND Night of the Year, edited by Allie Esiri Compiled by Allie Esiri, and strikingly illustrated by Zanna Goldhawk, comes a magnificent collection of 366 poems in each book for day and night. Reflecting on the changing seasons and linking to events and key dates comes poems that are praised as 'thoughtful, inspiring, humbling, informative, quiet, loud, small, epic, peaceful, energetic, upbeat, motivating, and empowering!' Containing a full spectrum of poetry from familiar favourites to exciting contemporary voices here Shakespeare celebrates midsummer night, Maya Angelou honors International Women's Day and Lewis Carroll hilariously captures April Fool's day. Poems to Live Your Life By by Chris Riddell Published just last month comes political cartoonist for the Observer, Chris Riddell's gorgeously illustrated collection of forty-six poems of his favourite classic and modern poems about life, death and everything in between. Riddell has created the ultimate collection with classic verses from William Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, W. B. Yeats and Christina Rossetti, alongside Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, Carol Ann Duffy, Neil Gaiman and Roger McGough. Divided into sections covering: musings, youth, family, love, imaginings, nature, war and endings, this is a perfect gift for young and old. I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree: A Nature Poem For Every Day Of The Year by Frann Preston-Gannon Named after the first line of Judith Nicholls' poem Windsong, comes this lavishly illustrated collection of 366 nature poems - one for every day of the year, including leap years. With captivating and playful illustrations, this beautiful hardback, having only come out in September, has gone to the top of my children's poetry list. Filled with familiar favourites and new discoveries, Preston-Gannon has thoughtfully gathered poems from all around the world whilst suitably structured to fit each individual day of the year. British nature has beautifully been brought to life on each page, enough to make children and adults alike stop in their tracks. Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake I bet you think you know this story. You don't. The real one's much more gory. A classic! There's nothing more to say. Six classic fairy tales with a gruesome, hilarious twist. With clever writing and rhyming and quirky illustrations by Quentin Blake this is a must have for any child's poetry collection. I'm a massive fan of Roald Dahl and remember reading this obsessively when I was younger. Every line is an utter treat and these poems have stayed with me forever. When the BBC put together an animated version of this I was beyond thrilled! Cleverly weaved together, the adaptation is a must watch as much as the book is a must read. Other personal favourites include T. S. Elliot's classically whimsical Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. In this stunning new gift edition of this much-loved classic, with the celebrated black-and-white illustrations by Edward Gorey, these lovable cat poems are a delight for children's and adults alike. A Poetry for Change by Chie Hosaka is the first special anthology featuring poems by the National Poetry Day Ambassadors, a top team of fantastic poets who bring poetry alive all year round. Reaching the Stars: Poems about Extraordinary Women and Girls is a brilliantly feisty collection of brand-new poems in a celebration of the achievements of women and girls throughout history, perfect for the Rebel Girl Generation. With poems about Malala Yousafzai, Rosa Parks, Margaret Hamilton, Ada Lovelace, Helen Keller, Mary Shelley, Edith Cavell and many more, this is an inspiring, motivational, informative poetic collection. From extraordinary women to extraordinary animals comes Apes to Zebras: An A-Z of Shape Poems. A gorgeous collection of animal poems, featuring a full alphabet of animals, birds, and insects, with the odd extinct or imaginary creature thrown in. The imaginative construction with a gentle simplicity to the text there is something to inform and delight children of all ages in this beautifully produced book. Happy National Poetry Day Bluebirds! © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

September has been a fantastic, very busy month for children's publishing. Led by the paperback release of Philip Pullman's La Belle Sauvage, the return of Kes Gray and Jim Field in the ever-growing Oi! series, and not to mention the release of my personal favourite The Restless Girl by Jessie Burton. All this with Halloween on the horizon, a moment that is fast becoming my favourite in the children's bookselling calendar. Here's a round up of some of my favourites out this month! Picture Books Picture books have taken the stage this September, and these are only a few that have come out! My September highlight was definitely from the bestselling author and illustrator Francesa Sanna's and her follow up picture book to The Journey - Me and my Fear. Here we see the young girl from The Journey in a new country and a new school and the power and impact that 'fear' has on her. Fear itself takes on the form of a creature, which can be small enough to fit in a pocket, or big enough to overwhelm a page. This is a relevant, compassionate and heart-warming story, with distinctive and beautiful illustrations. The Dam by David Almond, illustrated by Levi Pinfold, is also an exceptionally captivating and soulful picture book, that tells the tale of musicians playing for the last time at a valley that is slowly flooded by a great dam. Almond beautifully pays homage to all musicians, showing the ancient and unstoppable power of creativity. On the other side of the spectrum comes the fourth hilarious tale from the award-winning creator of The Queen's Hat, The Queen's Handbag and The Queen's Present, Steve Antony, in The Queen's Lift-Off. A perfect tie in with the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing in 2019, Antony takes us on witty and wonderful whirlwind royal tour of space. Daddy's Hairdo was also a personal favourite of mine this September. I'm a big fan of Claire Powell's illustrations and it was a joy to see Powell besides a debut children's author Francis Martin in this hilarious and innovative story. Perfect for anyone who has ever had to tangle with a head full of hair! Fiction 5-8 Special hardbacks. Gift editions. Beautiful covers. Don't these books just make you so excited for Christmas! Especially the new, winter special, Isadora Moon! I'm a massive fan of the half vampire, half fairy, totally unique Isadora Moon series and it was a joy to join her on another adventure. A beautiful, charming, and funny book, with irresistible pink and black artwork throughout. Also, blue-haired heroine Hilda has gone to the top of my list this September with the upcoming Netflix series (which I'm very excited about)! Hilda is an explorer, adventurer and friend to almost very creature in a valley inhabited by giants, elves and trolls. Originally graphic novels, this is Hilda's first foray into novels with fresh content and new illustrations. A perfect book for 6 plus reluctant readers to get lost in. Fiction 9-12 The children's middle grade sector has seen a lot of sequels this September - the second instalment of A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan has hit our shelves with a stunning autumnal cover; Twice Magic by Cressida Cowell follows the Blue Peter Book Award winner The Wizards of Once; The Beasts of Grimheart is the third instalment of Podkin One-Ear's epic battles and adventures; and Jacob Sager Weinstein's historical adventure books continue in The City of Guardian Stones. But with sequels also comes debuts and Anna James' Pages & Co: Tilly and the Bookwanders is a perfectly charming one. Hooked around the stuff of booklovers' dreams, Tilly finds that she can wander into the pages of stories, including Alice in Wonderland's and Anne of Green Gabel's stories. Determined to find the truth behind her mother's disappearance, Tilly is about to embark of one unforgettable journey. As I mentioned though, Jessie Burton's The Restless Girls was my highlight this September. I've been awaiting a long time to get my hands on this book and now it's finally here! Illustrated by the one and only Angela Barrett, The Restless Girls is a dazzlingly beautiful feminist fairy-tale retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Burton takes on a charmingly modern twist to the classic tale and forefronts family, sisterhood, imagination and bravery to this unforgettable tale. YA A Winter's Promise by Christelle Dabos was an exciting title to encounter this September. A huge bestseller in France, Hildegarde Serle has done a brilliant job in translating this fantasy YA tale to English. The first volume in 'The Mirror Visitor Quartet, A Winter's Promise is a highly original, and intricately imagined fantasy novel, where objects are read like books, people can travel through mirrors and where the world in shattered into many floating celestial islands. In an enchanting hardback edition this will make a perfect gift this Christmas for any young adult reader. This book has been well reviewed by many critics and is reminiscent of Philip Pullman's Northern Lights. Speaking of Philip Pullman, if you've been living under a rock and haven't read volume one of The Book of Dust yet then it's out now in paperback! Philip Pullman - The Lord of Dust, creator of daemons and spinner of the finest fairy tales - is one of the world’s greatest and most influential storytellers, and I cannot even begin in recommending his books enough. In this Rebel Girl Generation, Nevertheless She Persisted by Jon Walter is a must read. This poignant and interesting story looks at the Suffragette struggle from the point of view of two sisters on opposing sides of the movement. Praised from the Sunday Times as an 'epic, vivid, emotionally involving, thought-provoking novel from a writer of distinction,' this is a book that will leave you lost for words. Gift and Poetry It's National Poetry Day on the 4th October and children's poetry has never looked better. Poetry is booming at the moment and children's poetry in particularly has seen a considerate growth. And that's not surprising from the recent poetry collections that have been published this month. Fiona Waters I Am The Seed That Grew a Tree is an outstanding poetry anthology and praised as a 'real hymn to nature'. Award winning Waters has selected a nature poem for everyday of the year in this beautiful hardback book. With full colour illustrations by rising star Frann Preston-Gannon this is a book to share, educate, entertain and treasure. #poetryforchange Another highlight in this sector for me this September was from the wonderful Katherine Rundell. Rundell has already transported us to the snow-laden forests of a Russian winter, to the rooftops of Victorian Paris, and most recently to the depths of the Amazon rainforest. Now, Rundell takes us to the Indian jungle for a collection of origin stories from Rudyard Kipling's best loved characters from The Jungle Book. Perfect for children aged seven plus, these are unforgettable tales of friendship, bravery and jungle lore. The lush and captivating bold illustrations from Kristjana Williams, best known for Wide-Eyed Editions' The Wonder Garden, makes this an exceptional gift book. Non-Fiction Peace, mindfulness and the good guys, with a side of beetles! Children's non-fiction is booming in this rebel girls age and these are just a few of the September non-fiction releases. Peace and Me is a beautiful collection of ideas on the topic of peace inspired by the achievements of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, including Malala Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa. Endorsed by Amnesty International this is a very relevant and important book of our time. In Happy by Nicola Edwards comes a gentle and accessible picture book style introduction to the concept of mindfulness for children. This subject is getting a lot more attention in the children's book market, particularly in schools, and this book makes for a perfect starter to learn about calmness and mindfulness, but above all, happiness. M G Leonard is back with her very famous beetles in this stunning collector's handbook. A non-fiction introduction to all things entomological with links to the original fiction books, Leonard goes from scary to weird to beautiful with over 60 notes and annotations on jaw-droppingly gorgeous species. From science to space, Welcome to the Museum is back with another spectacular addition to this bestselling series in Planetarium. This visually stunning book explores the wonders of space, from our own Solar System to the Milky Way and beyond. I hope you enjoyed my September book round-up. Happy reading Bluebirds! © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

With the exciting upcoming release of Julia Golding’s new middle grade children’s fiction book, The Curious Crime, published by Lion Children’s Books, I’ve decided to make it Julia Golding Book Week! Over the course of this week I’ll be rereading and reviewing my all time favourite series by Julia Golding - Cat Royal’s Adventures! Kicking off with the first in the series, The Diamond of Drury Lane. The Diamond of Drury Lane is the first book that kicks of the Cat Royal Adventures series and it’s a brilliant start to a brilliant series. Set in 1790s Covent Garden, London, The Diamond of Drury Lane tells the tale and adventures of Cat Royal - a red headed, curious, clever and cocky orphan, who lives in the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. When Cat overhears the whispers that a diamond is hidden within the theatre she is given the job to protect it from any villains and dangers that lurk, particularly from the ruthless and nasty gang leader Billy Shepard. But, how can Cat keep the diamond safe when she doesn’t know what it is, or where it is. Together with the help of Pedro, a former slave boy, and her new aristocratic friends, Cat must use her grit, wit and intelligence to protect the diamond, even if it means putting her life in danger! Golding writes from the narrative perspective of Cat and does such a fantastic job of expressing the young heroines personality through her fiery tongue, use of slang and her ability to not be afraid to speak her mind. Her spirit, courage and determination is inspiring, and her loyalty to her friends, both royalty and street urchins alike is admiring. It was these characteristics that made Cat and this series so special to me as a child - I looked up to Cat and wanted nothing more than to join her on all her wild and wonderful adventures. Golding does such a fantastic job of capturing 18th century London. The story is full of nitty, gritty historical details and includes a slang term glossary and period map of London. Not to mention the authentic descriptions of London’s filthy alleyways and grimy marketplaces in contrast the luxury homes suited for the rich. Golding makes London our playground as much as Cat’s. Besides being a great adventure, the book also raises key issues of gender, class and race, which make for great discussion starters. The Cat Royal Adventures series is perfect for middle grade readers who aren’t yet ready to tackle the denser historical thrillers, like Philip Pullman’s Sally Lockhart Mysteries. Book two of Cat Royals Adventures and it comes with more mysteries, more disguises and an epic fight for freedom! In Cat Among the Pigeons young feisty Cat emerges from the theatre into the underbelly of London in a mission to save her friend Pedro, a former slave turned violin prodigy from the grips of his old slave master. From infiltrating an aristocratic boarding school one moment to surviving the gritty streets of London the next, Cat will do whatever it takes to save the day and secure the freedom of her friend. Like The Diamond of Drury Lane, Julia Golding uses historical events to create a backdrop for the story and in this book it’s the abolition of slavery that Golding further introduces us to. Golding does such a brilliant job of using dialogue and language to distinguish the different classes, genders and professions of her diverse and unique range of characters. Cat again is her same courageous, cocky and curious self and it’s wonderful to be able to grow alongside such an influential young protagonist. This is a great continuation to this fast-paced historical adventure series and is seasoned with the perfect amount of funny moments and suspenseful cliffhangers. In Cat Royal’s third thrilling adventure, the Theatre Royal is closed for renovation which leaves Cat homeless and alone. But Cat soon finds herself traveling from London to Paris when her guardian commissions her to act as his spy and infiltrate the front line of the French Revolution. Disguised as a ballerina, Cat faces danger head on as she braves suitors, traitors and revolutionaries all in the fight for the freedom and the power of the people! Cat remains her strong-willed, determined, stubborn self and in this book especially I formed such a strong emotional attachment to her. Julia captures the characteristics of Cat with such wit and wisdom that you can’t help but root, laugh and cry for Cat throughout the series. Cat’s a very special character and one I would definitely invite to my ‘imaginary’ dinner party if I could. Golding once again masters the setting, especially as she leaves the comfort and boundaries of London to explore the wonders of revolutionary Paris. Golding’s world building is so vivid and detailed that you can really imagine yourself being with Cat on her extraordinary adventures. A must read historical series for all! There’s never a dull moment in this series as Julia Golding returns with the fourth instalment of Cat Royal’s Adventures in Cat O’nine Tails. Previously, Cat found herself disguised as a spy of the French Revolution, now, she’s an unlikely recruit for the British Navy. Captured and bound for the New World on board HMS Courageous, Cat may finally be in over her head as she’s faced by the cruel and manic Captain ‘Barmy’ Barton, and some very treacherous sailers. In order to survive and protect her friends, Cat must keep her head down and learn the ropes until her opportunity of escape arises when the ship lands in Georgia, America, to repair a broken mast. Golding isn’t afraid to explore all corners of the world as she takes Cat from elegant 18th century Bath to the horrors of life on the high seas to the wilds and wonders of America. Golding captures her history, setting and characters with both detail and atmosphere and it is obvious of Golding’s thorough research. Golding delivers a sensitive portrayal of Native Americans whilst maintaining a fast and entertaining pace. I admire the worlds and adventures that Cat takes on even with danger constantly one step behind her but I can’t help and miss Cat’s original roots back in London and wonder how the rebuilding of Theatre Royal is going. Nevertheless it is charming and interesting to see the lessons and experiences Cat takes from each world and how this influences her growth and attitude. Once again another gripping, funny and reasonably more dramatic adventure for Cat Royal. I can only wonder where Julia Golding might take us next... We’re back with Cat Royal’s fifth adventure in the Black Heart of Jamaica. It’s 1792 and our heroine now finds herself sailing to Jamaica with a travelling theatre, turning pirate, undertaking a Caribbean Cruise, and getting mixed up in a slave revolt! Not to mention her run-in with Kingston Hawkins, Pedro’s former slave master. Hawkins is determined to make Cat pay and in doing so tricks her into becoming his ‘indentured servant’, thus forcing Cat to learn the hard way about the horrors of slavery. Golding definitely dives head first into this one - the issue of slavery is economically and emotionally complex but Golding gives an interesting and important interpretation of the slave rebellion. Whilst the plot was definitely one of Cat’s most outrageous adventure I did find the beginning a little slow and repetitive but Golding doesn’t fall short on her wit and wonder. Golding has done such a fantastic job of capturing her events and settings across this series - taking us from London to France, from America to Jamaica, all the while incorporating important messages and themes and issues throughout. This is truly a series that enables your mind to travel the world from the comfort of your home. New characters are introduced and old favourites return but our feisty and fearless Cat stays the same as always - in fact, Cat reveals a much deeper layer through her mistakes and misjudgments in this book, which only makes her that more realistic and relatable. Entertaining as always, with the perfect amount of humour and historical reference on the side. Julia Golding has done it again! Books published by Egmont. © 2018 Bluebird Reviews

This year mermaids have been big! We've had mermaid hair, mermaid crowns, mermaid tails (even the knitted mermaid tail blankets!) Not to mention the extraordinary flood of mermaid inspired young readers, middle grade and teen book there are out there. Myths and folktales about mermaids have been part of storytelling for centuries and with no two stories the same it is clear to see how varied and unique these creatures are. Get ready to dive into the most popular and bestselling children mermaid books out there with a few of my favourites: The Mermaid Atlas: Merfolk of the World by Anna Claybourne Illustrated by Miren Asiain Lora From the beautiful Selkies of the Scottish seas, to the mighty river Syrenka protecting to the city of Warsaw and the fearful Ningyo of Japan, The Mermaid Atlas is swimming with mythology, magic and mystery. Absolutely enchanting, a must for all mermaid fans. Board Books Picture Books Young Readers Bad Mermaids by Sibeal Pounder Illustrated by Jason Cockcroft From the author of the brilliantly funny Witch Wars comes a fantastically enchanting new series to dive straight into! Set in an whimsical underwater shell-studded metropolis with a snappier than average transport system, Bad Mermaids features a whole array of magical mysteries, fabulous fashion and some very feisty mermaids. Sibeal Pounder brings a whole new twist to the underwater world of mermaids making this an absolute must read. Prepare to laugh your tail off! Middle Grade Teen/YA The Secret Deep by Lindsay Galvin The Secret Deep is an intelligent, compelling page-turner and I can wholeheartedly say that I’ve never read a book quite like this. Galvin effortlessly weaves together science and magic to create a truly original and bold thriller. For a debut novel Galvin’s language was enchanting. I was completely absorbed by her vivid and evoking descriptions of the ocean and it’s marine life. The ocean became a place that was both inviting but unsettling. Galvin confidently tackles a lot of timely issues, including medical research, evolution, diversity, anxiety and consent and brings them together to make a surprising and magical end. I cannot wait to see what else Lindsay Galvin has up her sleeve.

This year mermaids have been big! We've had mermaid hair, mermaid crowns, mermaid tails (even the knitted blanket mermaid tails!) Not to mention the extraordinary flood of mermaid novels. This year I've seen so many mermaid inspired books hitting the shelves, for young and old alike - I'm not surprised as myths and folktales about mermaids and sirens and water spirits have been part of storytelling for centuries. With no two stories the same it is clear to see how varied and unique these creatures are. More recently adult and teen fiction has taken this trend to its very limit and has brought us more nuanced and complex mermaids then ever before. Here are some of my favourites: The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar It begins on an autumn night in 1785. Merchant Jonah Hancock waits anxiously for news of his ship, but a knocking at the door brings him instead a curio beyond his imagining: a sea goblin, a monster, a mermaid. As the whisper of his find spreads across London, Jonah finds himself swept into an ambitious, topsy-turvy world of collectors, voyeurs, brothels and courtesans and into the path of Angelica Neal, the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2018 Longlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize 2018 Published by Vintage. You can shop this book via Waterstones here. The Pisces by Melissa Broder Lucy has been writing her dissertation on Sappho for nine years when she and her boyfriend have a dramatic break up. After she hits rock bottom in Phoenix, her sister in Los Angeles insists Lucy dog-sit for the summer. Annika's home is a gorgeous glass cube on Venice Beach, but Lucy can find little relief from her anxiety - not in the Greek chorus of women in her love addiction therapy group, not in her frequent Tinder excursions, not even in Dominic the foxhound's easy affection. Everything changes when Lucy becomes entranced by an eerily attractive swimmer while sitting alone on the beach rocks one night. But when Lucy learns the truth about his identity, their relationship, and Lucy's understanding of what love should look like, take a very unexpected turn. A masterful blend of vivid realism and giddy fantasy, pairing hilarious frankness with pulse-racing eroticism, The Pisces is a story about falling in obsessive love with a merman: a figure of Sirenic fantasy whose very existence pushes Lucy to question everything she thought she knew about love, lust, and meaning in the one life we have. Published by Bloomsbury. You can shop this book via Waterstones here. The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan A bewitching tale of first love, shattering grief, and the dangerous magic that draws us home. Mara's island is one of stories and magic, but every story ends in the same way. She will finish her days on the cliff, turned to stone and gazing out at the horizon like all the islanders before her. Mara's parents - a boxer and a ballerina - chose this enchanted place as a refuge from the turbulence of their previous lives; they wanted to bring up their children somewhere special and safe. But the island and the sea don't care what people want, and when they claim a price from her family, Mara's world unravels. It takes the arrival of Pearl, mysterious and irresistible, to light a spark in Mara again, and allow her to consider a different story for herself. The Gloaming is a gorgeous tale of love and grief, and the gap between fairy tales and real life. Published by Vintage Publishing. You shop this book via Waterstones here. The Mermaid by Christina Henry Once there was a fisherman who lived on a cold and rocky coast and was never able to convince any woman to come away and live in that forbidding place with him. One evening he pulled up his net and found a woman in it. A woman with black hair and eyes as grey as a stormy sea and a gleaming fish's tail instead of legs. The storm in her eyes rolled into his heart. She stopped her thrashing and crashing at his voice, though she did not understand his words. But her eyes had seen inside of him, and his loneliness caught her more surely than the net. So she stayed with him, and loved him, though he grew old, and she did not. Remarks of this strange and unusual woman travelled from village to village and town to town, until they reached the ears of a man whose business was in the selling of the strange and unusual. His name was P.T. Barnum, and he'd been looking for a mermaid. Published by Titan Books. Shop this book via Waterstones here. The Surface Breaks by Louise O'Neill Deep beneath the sea, off the cold Irish coast, Gaia is a young mermaid who dreams of freedom from her controlling father. On her first swim to the surface, she is drawn towards a human boy. She longs to join his carefree world, but how much will she have to sacrifice? What will it take for the little mermaid to find her voice? The Little Mermaid is reimagined through a searing feminist lens, featuring the stunning, scalpel-sharp writing and world building that has won Louise her legions of devoted fans. Published by Scholastic. Shop this book via Waterstones here. All the book synopsis included have been used from Waterstones with all links to the books provided. © 2018 Blackbird Reviews

Praised as one of France’s most ingenious crime writers, Michel Bussi has written a truly thrilling and inventive story in Don't Let Go. Set in an idyllic resort on the paradise island of Réunion, Liane Bellion goes up to the hotel room she is sharing with her husband and young daughter and never returns. All the police find is a locked empty room and witnesses who claim that they never saw her leave. But what really happened to Liane Bellion? And why is her husband now on the run after originally claiming his innocence? What else does he have to hide? When I first read the plot to this book I was immediately gripped. Even before the first page I was already trying to work out the fate of Liane Bellion and the meaning behind the husband's erratic behaviour of his innocence vs. his guilt. The suspense was already heightened but, unfortunately for me, it didn't last. The plot ended up dragging, the thriller aspect fell flat, and the writing at times felt staggered and stilted. The ending was cleverly thought through and I probably would have appreciated it a lot more if I was more connected to the story throughout. The unfolding story is told from the perspective of several characters and Bussi really masters capturing the different characters voices, manners and thoughts. But this character changing point of narrative technique is truly a hit and miss with me - sometimes I like, sometimes I don't, and this generally has a lot to do with the plot and writing as well. I didn't really engage with any of Bussi's characters, perhaps because their narratives were constantly stopping and starting. They lacked depth and at times originality and this left me unable to form a connection with them. Needless to say, there were some aspect I did like. I liked how Bussi used chronological time stamps with each new chapter or point of narrative. Whilst this technique is something I usually glance over in other books, in Don't Let Go it really added an additional level of reality and suspense. I was constantly aware of the sense of time and it really got me thinking about how dangerous lost time can be to investigations of this nature. This idea of the 'every minute counts' concept really enabled Bussi to maintain this constantly flowing story format, even with the constant changing of point of narrative and the drag of the cat-and-mouse chase scenes. Also, Bussi did a fantastic job of setting the scene, so much so that I felt the tranquility of Réunion's palm trees and beaches but also the concealed ruin of the lava and ash covered outskirts from the surrounding volcano. This is the first Michel Bussi novel I've read and although it wasn't as thrilling as what the plot made it out to be I'm still very keen to read other novels by Michel Bussi, particularly 'Thriller of the Year' After the Crash, which, according to Lisa Gardner, #1 New York Times-bestselling author is a book worth clearing your schedule for. Needless to say I've scheduled it in! You can buy Don't Let Go and Michel Bussi's other novels via Waterstones website here. Published by Orion Publishing Co © 2018 Blackbird Reviews

I was given this book by my sister a few months back now and have read it every day since. It is honestly one of the most important, moving and encouraging portraits of depression I have ever read. With very few words, Debi Gliori leaves the haunting charcoal illustrations and powerful messages to skillfully convey her personal experiences with depression. Gliroi’s choice to portray her depression as a cloud of black smoke that is born into a dragon was elegantly constructed. This unique and creative interpretation highlights how powerful, engulfing and scary depression can be, but at the end stresses through the symbol of a feather that there is hope and light on the other side. This pocket sized picture book is beautifully formatted in a rich cloth bound cover and is perfect for anyone, young and old, willing to discuss, understand and share their experience. This is a very brave and significant picture book and I want to personally thank Debi Gliori for sharing her experiences with us. IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY...

What a fantastic debut by Catherine Doyle! The Storm Keeper’s Island has by far been one my favourite books of the summer and I cannot recommend this book enough! The Storm Keeper’s Island follows the story of young Fionn as he and his sister Tara travel to the island of Arranmore to stay with their Grandfather, but Arranmore harbours great magic and secrets which Fionn is unknowingly already bound to by a fate yet to be discovered. Told in the narrative voice of eleven year old Fionn, Doyle beautifully captures the innocence and underestimated perceptiveness of childhood. Moments of nervousness, loneliness, frustration and sibling rivalry are deftly explored which make Fionn a really relatable protagonist for young readers. Despite the young voice, Doyle portrays complex and sensitive themes and emotions like overcoming your fears, grief and loss with great depth and realism. But underneath all of this is a story of the importance of family and the great bonds formed with your loved ones. The relationships between Fionn and his Grandfather and Fionn and his father broke my heart and put it back together again. Malachie Boyle will go down as one of the best grandfather characters I have ever read. Catherine’s writing is enchanting. Her choice of language is beautiful, lyrical and fresh and effortlessly weaves between the past, present and future. The setting of Arranmore is so visually vivid, that I felt like I was airlifted from my armchair and planted in the wild natural beauty of the island. Arranmore felt more than island, rather the island came across as a lovable, temperamental character. The ideas, relationships and magic that form this book are so beautifully thought-through and multilayered, especially the candles. Let's just talk about the candles for a second because the concept of candles as memory magic is just utterly genius! Profoundly beautiful and so original, I just loved it. I smiled, I cried and I just got lost in the magic of Arranmore. The Storm Keeper’s Island simply had me hooked from the first page - the short chapters and fast-paced plot made this un-put-downable! I honestly cannot wait for the second installment out in July 2019. Published by Bloomsbury. Support indie and buy The Storm Keeper's Island from your local bookshop. Search for your local bookshop here. IF YOU LIKED THIS, TRY...

The Secret Deep is Lindsay Galvin’s debut teen novel, and, it’s a thrilling one! It tells a story of two sisters who move to New Zealand to live with their aunt after their mother passes away from cancer. But the story is quick to take a dark turn when Aster wakes up to find herself stranded on a tropical island, with no idea how she got there or where her younger sister Poppy is. The truth of the disappearance and suspicious happenings begin to unravel through a clever dual narrative between Aster, and Sam, a teen New Zealander the sisters met on the plane. But the answers to these mysteries lie in the secret underwater world where the beautiful and the impossible collide... The Secret Deep is an intelligent, compelling page-turner and I can wholeheartedly say that I’ve never read a book just like this. Galvin effortlessly weaves together science and magic and has created a truly original and bold thriller. Galvin confidently tackles a lot of key issues of our time, including medical research, evolution, diversity, anxiety and consent and brings them together to make a surprising and magical end. For a debut novel Galvin’s language was enchanting. I was completely absorbed by her vivid and evoking descriptions of the ocean and it’s marine life. The ocean became a place that was both inviting but unsettling. Galvin has a brilliant power of creating suspense and tension and carefully used her settings of a remote tropical island to create an imminent sense of danger. I put my hands up to say that I went into this book not really knowing what to expect but being so enchanted and drawn to the cover. But I was beyond impressed. The twists and turns kept me on my toes, the character development left me not knowing who and what to trust, and the strong sisterly bond made me feel empowered. A remarkable, gripping debut. I cannot wait to see what else Lindsay Galvin has up her sleeve. Get your copy from Bookshop UK here. WHAT TO READ NEXT MORE FROM LINDSAY GALVIN

In the sky, the fire spirits dance and ripple. Grandma says they showed our Tribe that I’d be captain, before I was even born... A captivating and thrilling adventure about a young girl called Mouse who is destined to become captain of The Huntress one day. But when Mouse’s father disappears and the ship and Mouse’s existence becomes threatened by a traitor abroad the ship, Mouse will stop at nothing to unite her family and fulfill her destiny. Mouse is a very fiery and brave young heroine. Her spirit, confidence and compassion across her voyage is so empowering for all readers young and old, and it was a delight to see her grow throughout the book. The bonds and loyalty Mouse has with her friends and family gives her character a relatable depth that young girls will aspire to. Whilst I found the plot and feel of the book very close to that of Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights trilogy, there is no doubt that this is an epic adventure with such a colourful array of characters, both good and bad! Driver creates such a vivid watery world and really captures the excitement and danger onboard the ship. This book will give you the opportunity to soar with the hawks, swim with the whales, sail with the pirates and cheer for Mouse. I can’t wait to read the rest of The Huntress trilogy! Get your copy from Bookshop UK here. Read the epic trilogy WHAT TO READ NEXT