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The Last Leopard by Lauren St John

Feb6

A Strange Type Of Heaven

The Last Leopard by Lauren St John is a powerful contemporary children’s novel that I loved. It is perfect for those aged ten years and over. It is the fourth book in The White Giraffe series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading the books in numerical order for the continuity of story and for character development.

Once more we ‘travel’ to Africa to join eleven-year-old Martine and her friend Ben, and her grandmother on the Sawubona animal sanctuary. The three travel to Zimbabwe, a journey of over two thousand kilometres, to help a friend in distress.

Martine hates to leave her white giraffe, Jemmy but is excited to learn about the last leopard, Khan.

Once more, it is Martine and Ben’s love of animals that makes them put personal safety aside, in order to stop the animal poachers. The pair are brave and wise beyond their years. Both have unique gifts. Ben’s is tracking. Martine has the gift of healing. Before they leave Sawubona, Grace, an African healer says: “We don’t always get to choose the paths of our lives, chile… Trust in your gift. Trust your gift will keep you safe.” Martine will be called on to use her gift. She can trust the recipient, and he can trust her. Whether human or animal, the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Our planet needs to be preserved. We need to look after the animals and their habitats because once they are gone, they are gone forever. “Ben always came alive in nature.” Both Ben and Martine care deeply for the environment. They were both “kids from the suburbs, delivered by fate to Sawubona, where they’d fallen totally in love with nature.” They both recognised the great value of the natural and its’ need for preservation.

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The Girl Who Raced The World by Nat Harrison

Jan26

Just One Tick

The Girl Who Raced The World by Nat Harrison is a fabulous debut children’s historical novel. It is perfect for the eights and over. Whatever your age, this novel will entertain you. It is a re-telling of Around The World In Eighty Days but with a young orphan girl at the centre.

The year is 1872 as we join young Maggie delivering a letter from her late mother to a stranger called Monsieur Passepartout. This is to be the start of an adventure of racing around the world in eighty days following a bet from Mr Fogg at his gentleman’s club in London.

The trio race across stormy seas and continents, having adventures and meeting new people whilst trying to dodge an inspector from Scotland Yard who believes Mr Fogg to be guilty of theft.

Along the way there are words of wisdom and kindness. “Family is them what cares for you.” For Maggie, alone in the world, this is priceless.

New friends give help and guidance. “There is no debt among friends.” People do what they do for love, expecting nothing back. “There is nothing we cannot do if we do it together.” We are stronger together.

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Five & The Smuggler’s Code by Chris Smith

Jan25

Solving The Code

Five & The Smuggler’s Code by Chris Smith is a marvellous contemporary children’s adventure that is perfect for the over eights. Whatever your age, if you remember the original famous five, this book will entertain you. It is the second book in the New Famous Five series. This book can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the books in numerical order as the first book sets the scene.

As with the previous book, this one is simply and effectively illustrated by James Lancett.

All the characters were well drawn. The reader meets up with the three new children and their dog, as well as grandad Dick, great aunt Anne and Professor George – all part of the original famous five.

As the children set about solving a new crime, it is seamlessly woven into a crime from fifty-four years ago.

The locations spring to life. I recognised the setting of the Mermaid Inn at Rye as I visited there as a child, more than fifty-five years ago.

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Five & The Forgotten Treasure by Chris Smith

Jan25

A Fabulous New Series

Five & The Forgotten Treasure by Chris Smith is a marvellous children’s book and just perfect for eight years and older. It is the first book in a brand-new series called The New Famous Five which promises to be fabulous.

I grew up on Enid Blyton’s original Famous Five books so I was excited to read this new version. Of the original famous five, we meet George who is now a professor. Just like her father.

The book is set fifty-five-years after the original. We meet three new children and their dog who go to stay with George. She is the cousin of their grandpa Dick who was in the original series.

A new adventure awaits but it is linked to an old one, fifty-five-years ago. Blending old and new, Chris Smith has created the perfect tale for old and new readers alike.

There is a feeling of familiarity to the book as locations, as well as characters, are familiar. There are picnics and lashings of ginger beer – a nod to the originals.

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