Kat The Dog by Jo Allen is an entertaining YA novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is the first book in The Seventh Pup series which promises to be fabulous.
The story is seen through the eyes of Kat the dog. We hear about her relationship with other dogs and with her two favourite humans who run the rescue centre.
All the dogs have differing personalities which complement each other. The dialogue is light-hearted and fun as the verbal volleys fly between the characters.
The leading humans are a grandfather and his granddaughter. She lives with him after her parents were killed (before the book opened.) A necklace belonging to her mother has been passed down. This has magic powers, enabling her to see what others cannot.
Unscrupulous relatives try to cheat the grandfather out of his property. The dogs spring to the rescue.
This was an enjoyable read that grabs the reader’s attention from the start. All the characters were well drawn.
We see that life is a battle between good and evil. We recognise the goodness of those who want to do no harm.
To Find My Mother by Mary Wood is a powerful historical novel that consumed me from the start.
The novel follows a Czech Jewish girl through World War II and beyond. It is a heartbreaking and horrifying read as Mary Wood captures the atmosphere of terror with her words.
Two young girls are separated from their mothers who are thrown into the ghetto. Both girls are rescued by a stranger who places them on a farm for safety. However, both girls are determined to seek out their mothers, whatever the consequences. And what happens next is truly awful. The Nazis had black hearts as they carried out despicable acts.
It was understandable to wonder “why Elohim had abandoned them.” In the darkest times, it is all to easy to think we have been abandoned.
We see that bravery is not necessarily about feeling brave. “I don’t feel brave. I just feel compelled to do something about the injustice of it all.” Some could not stand idly by. They could not do nothing.
What Fools We Have Been by Hank Williams is a bittersweet contemporary novel that examines a life – what was, and what might have been.
We see that decisions in life ripple down the generations. It is not just physical looks that are passed on, but family traits too.
A life imagines what life is like as he ‘meets’ the living and the dead in his mind. We see that a mother’s love remains, not even death can separate her from her children.
We witness the detrimental affect a father has as he rules his children with a rod of iron. He drives them away, never to return.
Stikki The Squirrel: Tree Spirits by Jane H Wood is a very charming children’s novel and perfect for the over eights.
The reader joins a family of squirrels just before Christmas. With snow on the ground, the daddy squirrel hunts further afield for food. He meets some vicious foxes. His mate is determined to save him. Together the pair are caught up in an unwanted adventure.
The reader sees the kindness of a young girl and her father to the squirrels. And we hear of the chaos caused by the family cat!
All the woodland animals work together to support the young squirrel family. We see that together we are stronger.
Stikki The Squirrel: Tree Spirits is a very delightful novel to be enjoyed all year round.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
Stikki the Squirrel: Tree Spirits.
Join Stikki and his mate Rella on their second exciting adventure—full of mystery, danger, and the wonders of magic found in the most unexpected places.
Winter has arrived in Hazy Hills Wood, covering everything in a blanket of snow. Food is hard to find, and the animals are getting hungry. To make things worse, there is a scary food thief on the prowl.
Stikki heads out into the cold to find his secret stash, but when he doesn’t come home, Rella goes searching for him. A frightening journey looms ahead as Stikki and Rella are forced to confront their enemies and the dreaded longlegs.
Deep in the heart of the ancient wood stands the animals’ sacred ash tree. When Brodboar the badger spots something strange high on the tree’s branches, he is shocked by the discovery and begins to worry. Is it a warning?
With Stikki and Rella still missing—can the woodland animals work together to find their friends before it’s too late?
Jane H. Wood is a multi-award-winning author who enjoys writing stories for children and young adults. Jane’s wonderful animal adventure books have captivated readers of all ages, earning her acclaim for her vivid storytelling and enchanting illustrations that feature in her Stikki the Squirrel books.
Jane lives in the sunny seaside town of Worthing on the south coast of England, with her husband, Peter. She has two grown-up sons and is a proud grandmother as well. Jane enjoys art, photography, hand crafting activities, and writing children’s stories. Jane is an animal rights advocate and environmentalist, and she supports a few animal welfare charities.
