Teenage Fiction

Once you're dead that's it, right? Not if you live in Claysville. Here the dead can walk unless they are guarded and tended to by the Graveminder - a woman whose sole job is to keep the dead in the ground where they belong, and seek out those who do wonder and return them to their rightful place. In turn she is protected by the Undertaker - a man whose role is to protect the Graveminder and help her escort the dead to their place of safety. This is the way it has been since the town made a pact with the keeper of the city of the dead, a curious fellow known as Charles, or 'Mr D.'

It was very strange reading Footloose by Rudy Josephs which is based on the 2011 film starring Julianne Hough and Andie McDowell. All I can recollect of the original film is Kevin Bacon dancing to Footloose! But this book actually gives us the whole story about the what's and why's. I'd had no idea that the film was about how the teenagers in Bomont deal with the tragic death of one of their own - Bobby the preacher's son. This is where Ren MacCormack comes in and challenges everyone, from Bobby's father Rev Shaw to Bobby's sister Ariel because he had banned dancing.

I have to say - I am a huge fan of Michelle Paver - whether she is writing adults or children's fiction and it all feels so effortless. With this book Gods and Warriors she's back in children mode taking us deep into the Mediterranean to Greece with 12 year old Hylas being our lead character and Pirra of the same age being the main female lead.

For this new 5 book series Hylas is desperate to find his missing sister Issi whilst running away from the mysterious black warriors who have also killed his dog.

John Flanagan is an extraordinary story teller - he drew me right back onto the Heron skippered by Hal and his crew including Thorn the only adult on the boat and a disabled one at that!

Having read most of John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series and been very impressed with both the story line, characters and style of writing, I was very much looking forward to reading this new series set in Skandia. I was not disappointed. It was everything I'd hoped it would be and more.

The Invaders carries on where The Outcasts finished, and what an adventure does John Flanagan take us on. This book is a real page turner with barely a chance to breath between pages and the action happening. It is full of vim and vigour and can Hal and the heron crew along with Thorn, who used to be a Wolfship crew member par excellence before losing an arm in a ship accident.

Will, Halt and Horace save Clonmel from a very nasty religious cult? A brilliant adventure that John Flanagan's very visual style of writing brings to life the characters and storyline. You feel as if you are watching a film with nothing else mattering whilst you are reading this book.

I was particularly impressed with the duel that Horace had with cult leader Tennyson's twin assassins Gerard and Killeen to save Halt - I really did wonder if Horace would come out of it allowed! We also discover that Halt has a twin brother which leads to some interesting situations!

This is a superb series with indepth characters, plots and scenery. It doesn't matter how many of these books you have read John Flanagan still has the ability to surprised us. Even as a TV writer of comedy drama, TV jingles and corporate videos it has to be said that he is a story teller par excel lance. John Flanagan is able to take you on a journey with Will, Halt and Horace - who we get to know deeper and deeper as we travel through the series. The action is phenomenal and whether the trio are working together or apart there is always a connection plus lots of humour. ..read more

The thing about a John Flanagan book is that it is so moreish, because once you start you can't stop no matter what, you just have to carry on reading. The stories are brilliant, with plenty of twists and turns and action, that incorporates details of what ever country or place our trio are in.

A natural story teller Flanagan has me reaching out for the next book at least a chapter of two before the end. Again a book to highly recommend

This time the action takes place in and around the Castle Macindaw following on From Sorcerer from the North where Alyss has been kidnapped/captured and Will Treaty is desperate to find a way to rescue Alyss from the tower where she has been put by fallen knight - Keren.

A fast paced adventure full of all the action you'd expect from a John Flanagan novel - the plot is superbly written with indepth characterization of all the characters that we've come to love and we are not disappointed in the adventure.

Again a book that I highly recommend for all age groups to read.