Schoolbk blog

Katy Willacott is frustrated by everyone’s Victorian expectations that she will follow in her mother’s footsteps and take on the role of botanical taxonomist at Kew Gardens. Instead she dreams of travelling the world, following the stars and researching meteorites and plant specimens. When she meets Fran Brocklehurst, journalist and international explorer, she realises that there are ‘extraordinary women doing extraordinary things’. Impulsively she runs away to sea, dressed as a cabin boy, and joins the crew of the SS Alerte, a ship transporting naturalist Sir Thomas Derby (her fathers’ boss at the British Museum) and his team to retrieve a meteorite which has been observed landing somewhere in Brazil.

But all is not as it seems. Sir Thomas is a thoroughly unpleasant man, with no interest in the care and welfare of other people, but only in pleasing himself. Fearful that he will recognise her, Katy stays out of his way and works hard enough on ship to earn the liking and respect of her crew members. When they arrive in Salvador, the Captain allows Katy to disembark, warning her that they will sail without her if she is not back in time. Katy sets off on her own expedition, making friends with some local children who take her to their village in the rain forest, where she is distressed to learn there have been hunters destroying the wildlife and rubber plantation owners using local people as slaves.

How can Katy help her new friends, find the meteorite she left home to seek and discover what the disreputable Sir Thomas Derby is up to without revealing her own disguise or putting the welfare of the crew and herself at risk?

The reaction of Katy’s family and her friend Edie, to her expressed desire to travel and explore, is very typical of Victorian attitudes to women and particular to daughters in the families with sons. The reader is transported by Katy’s enthusiasm and passion for her subject and her determination to follow her dreams no matter what, despite the almost implausibility of her dressing as a boy. It seems incredible that she manages to cross the Atlantic without either crew or passengers discovering her identity, but having done so, she is extraordinarily self assured in using her wit and common sense to locate someone who can help her find the meteorite. The discovery of Sir Thomas Derby’s sinister activities puts the return journey on edge, despite the brief appearance of her hero Fran Brocklehurst, sent by Katy’s family to find her and return her home. But worse, and in keeping with the times in which this story is set, when she returns home her father grounds her and refuses to even discuss her journey or the reasons behind her behaviour, in fear for his job and their livelihood after threats from Sir Thomas Derby. This is heartbreaking for Katy and it seems as if the story will end in despair, with Katy and her mother writing up the samples Katy brought back with her in a journal as the only compensation. But then a command from her father to attend the opening of the new Natural History Museum by Sir Thomas reveals all the lies, with help from the friends she has made on her travels and Fran Brockenhurst herself. It seems her father had read her own journal of her time in Brazil, realised he was making a mistake in punishing her and with everyone’s help, set expose Sir Thomas Derby for the charlatan that he is and have the meteorite which lies in pride of place in the new museum accredited as being found by Katy Willacott.

But that’s not all, In addition to all the main characters in the story, from journalist Fran Brocklehurst to Dr Whitaker the naturalist accompanying Sir Thomas to Captain Roberts and the loyal crew of the Alerte to the orphan children of the Bahia rainforest..the one character that steals the show is Shadow. Fed and cared for by Katy when she rescues the children from the wrath of a stall holder, Shadow grows from a tiny underfed kitten to a large black jaguar! It is Shadow who, at the beginning of the story, saves the children from being shot by hunters by leading them to the secret place where Katy also discovers the meteorite. The childrens grandfather calls him ‘the spirit of the rainforest’.

Totally devoted to Katy, despite being told to stay with the children in the rainforest, Shadow follows Katy back onto the boat and accompanies her on her return home to England. The crew save the big cat’s life, when Sir Thomas discovers her and insists she is thrown overboard, but it is a struggle for Katy to keep poor Shadow constrained to her cabin when the big cat is used to having the run of the whole rainforest. She is unfortunately discovered by Sir Thomas’s secretary Mazarin, and in order to bribe him to keep quiet, Katy offers the meteorite in return for Shadow’s safe passage & assurance that the Captain and his crew will keep their jobs.

There is a lot which could be explored in this story with complimentary texts, the first one that comes to mind is the quite old(1994) but vivid picture book by Paul Geraghty ‘The Great Green Forest’, if only to give a sense of the colour, movement and sounds of the rainforest provided by the wildlife that lives there. Books on Victorian leisure and scientific developments will link directly with the storyline of the development of the Natural History Museum and the common practice in Victorian times of taxidermy, with all the conservation and appropriation issues this holds. Examples of Victorian botanical drawings will also be directly relevant to the text (though finding books for children on this topic could be challenging, however most adult publications, being annotated illustrations in the most part, may be equally applicable).

Obviously any childrens book on the Victorian era covering botanists, naturalists and explorers, (particularly female ones such as Mary Kingsley), Charles Darwin, Alfred Russell Wallace(Darwin’s Rival by Christian’s Dorian) and Joseph Hooker (Kew:Darwin and Hooker by Alexandra Stewart) would be perfect supportive texts, as would anything on the deforestation of the rainforests, in particular in the Amazon, though the principles are the same the world over. The whole issue of appropriation which is covered in this story book, and neatly summarised by the grandfather as: ‘not everything is for you, even if you think it is.’ segues into issues around colonisation and the slave trade. A good example text on this topic would be ‘Slavery’ by Catherine Chambers. There are many childrens books in the environment and conservation which cover the perils of destroying habitats for short term gain(the National Geographic and Eyewitness guides look at this in greater depth but for a simpler guide try ‘All the way down’ by Alex Woolf and there are books on the people of the rainforests (‘The Vanishing Rainforest’ by Richard Platt though old is still relevant today), whose livelihoods and the amazing wealth of knowledge about the properties of their native species (try ‘Rainforest Warrior’ by Anita Ganeri) is being eroded by the demand for palm oil and other food and energy sources.

I’ve just watched a film which I have never seen before but bought a tear to my eye and compelled and engaged me with its storyline despite very little happening in it. The film is Alpha, directed by Albert Hughes and released in 2018. I’d not heard of it before but was glad to have watched it. It moved me and left me thinking.

One of the things I thought was that there are several books which would make great accompanying films to this. Hatchett by Gary Paulsen is the first book that sprang to mind. I read this a long time ago when I was looking for books to recommend to reluctant teenage boys. It has stayed with me ever since. As a story of survival it is immersive, but it is also an emotional challenge giving an insight into the teenage boy’s mind as he struggles to survive in the harsh sub-Arctic environment after a plane crash. I love this book and would recommend it to anyone 12 and above.

The next one I thought of is a much more recent publication though set in the Stone Age, Tanya Landman’s Horse Boy. This is the story of a boy who, like the boy in Alpha, is separated from his clan and has to learn to survive alone. He befriends a horse, something that no clan member has ever done before, and for which he knows he would be treated with suspicion by his own and other clans. This too is a compelling read though the tale of survival is set in a more ancient time than that of Hatchett. The focus is very much on the traditions and lifestyle of the clans and the gradually acceptance of change amongst Hunter-Gatherer tribes, combined with the developing mutual trust between Horse Boy and his horse. This too made me pause and think after reading. I’d recommend this to anyone who likes unusual, thoughtful reads about survival in the wild. It has less challenging emotional content than Hatchett so could be read and enjoyed by younger readers (10+)

Then thinking of Horse Boy reminded me of a series set in the Stone Age period of history which has been ongoing for several titles in the series without failing to engage and provide new content for the characters and plot. Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver studies the relationship of a boy who is separated from his family and builds a relationship with a wolf while pursuing a mission to avenge his fathers death. While there are strong elements of survival in this story there is a also a recurring theme of the supernatural and the spirit world woven into the plot. The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series consists of 8 titles in total, the most recent having just been published: Skin Taker. I have not yet read Skin Taker but I have enjoyed the other stories in this epic series set in the Stone Age, and found the supernatural aspect slightly unsettling yet believable. Definitely a series I would recommend for fans of historical fiction and plots driven stories with an overarching plot (11+).

So there you have it, three titles inspired by a brief yet moving short film about a Stone Age boy and his relationship with a rescued wolf. Teachers are often looking for accompanying quality texts with rich vocabulary to use with the Stone Age topic in the Primary curriculum. The obvious choice is the modern classic Stig of the Dump by Clive King. But many of the cultural references and home life of Barney may seem quite dated and old fashioned for the current generation. The alternative is Sophie Kirtley’s The Wild Way Home which is a kind of time-slip story with elements of family discord and vulnerability that reminded me of David Almond’s Skellig. An interesting but not really suitable read for the usual year 3 classes of 7 and 8 year olds who study this topic in school. My top favourite for now is Stone Age Boy by Satoshi Kitamura, a simply told tale that covers all the aspects require of the year 3 curriculum in a comprehensive way with entertaining illustrations and without a overly complex plot for this age group. Perhaps it’s time for someone new to reinterpret a fiction story for 7 year olds, set in the Stone Age and tapping in to that special relationship between the clan members and the animals they lived alongside of?

“I want to be able to call the sharks. Teach me the magic and show me the ways.”

Blue Wing is desperate to become a shark caller, but instead she must befriend infuriating newcomer Maple, who arrives unexpectedly on Blue Wing’s island.

At first, the girls are too angry to share their secrets and become friends. But when the tide breathes the promise of treasure, they must journey together to the bottom of the ocean to brave the deadliest shark of them all.

I believed this would be a story about the deadly white shark and how people learned to live along side it rather than just fearing it and killing it. I knew from reading The Extraordinary Colours of Auden Dare and Whisper of Horses that it would have more depth to it than just another shark story, but I hadn’t realised just how far off the mark I was. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the proof from Usborne, so even though it is not due for publication til February , I have the advantage of having read it in advance.

I was torn apart by this story. So many threads or strands or strings to this simple tale of love, loss and letting go that I hardly know where to start. I confess, I had a feeling Blue Wing was a little more than just your average island girl when the story begins, but I have read a lot of children’s fiction so that is no surprise. I think a child reader would recognise some of the clues the author slowly releases as the story progresses and not realise who exactly Blue Wing is until at least half way through the book. But when you discover the great reveal really doesn’t matter because the beautiful essence of this story is the relationships between Blue Wing and her Waspapi, Blue Wing and Maple, Maple and her father and Blue Wing and Xok.

Once you have read the language for a couple of chapters it is fairly easy to guess the English from the English based creole that Blue Wing uses. I recognised some of the words as being quite close to English when sounded out and found it did not detract from my understanding at all, and the context of the story helps with that. If you have read the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness and that is your bar for translating other English based languages then this will be a walk in the park. Even more so if you have visited any country where creole English is spoken or where any derivative of the native Papua New Guinea languages is spoken.

The atmospheric scene setting is similarly familiar and yet not familiar: a tropical paradise which is also portrayed as somebody’s home. Bethell does not stint from presenting both sides of the story when it comes to modernisation. While the village leader Bigman wishes to modernise and welcomes the tourists with open arms, Blue Wing and her Waspapi are not so keen to sacrifice all the old ways. Despite this, Blue Wing is frustrated by her Waspapi Siringen’s refusal to teach her the skills of a Shark Caller, since it is a skill which traditionally is only passed down to the male generation. As Siringen has no male children of his own to pass the skill on to, the talents of the village Shark Caller are in danger of being lost to the tides of history.

Bigman is keen for Siringen to use his Shark Calling skills to respond to the requests of visiting tourists who most often wish to see a shark lured, caught and killed. But Siringen has learned to respect the sharks and believes they too respect him, something he tries to teach Blue Wing. He is therefore apprehensive when an American academic and his daughter visit the village on the island and Bigman insists Siringen take the American out to sea on his boat to study the reefs.

Meanwhile Blue Wing has been instructed by Siringen to befriend Maple, the academic’s daughter. Maple has been left to her own devices on the island and is sullen and surly, and as much against befriending Blue Wing as Blue Wing is to her. Slowly Bethell reveals the reasons to the reader as to why these two belligerent girls, who seem so different from each other, cannot get along. They are both struggling to deal with the blows life has dealt them. The reasons why they initially clash become the same reasons that bring them together. At first they are united in exploring the environment around them and following their curiosity about the secrets the adults appear to be keeping from them. But soon, they grow a greater bond, one that is emotionally strong and supportive in a way that can transcend death and bring healing for them all.

This is a compelling emotionally challenging read, which has great depths and requires persistence initially but will reap great rewards. I would recommend this as a good class read, with preparation prior to reading, and as an individual read for any confident emotionally mature reader from year 5 upwards.

Rick has just started secondary school along with his friend Jeff; they are assigned to separate form rooms. Diversity is a hot topic in his class and there is an LGBTQIAP+ group called Rainbow Spectrum which invites newcomers to attend and learn more about diversity. Rick is curious and would like to attend but Jeff belittles the group and defaces the posters advertising the meetings. So Rick feels compelled to invent an Origami class after school (seems even more unusual than going to diversity club to me!) in order to attend the Rainbow Spectrum meeting without Jeff finding out.

The more Rick thinks about his friendship with Jeff, the more uncomfortable he feels remaining friends with someone who holds such opposing views to him. His curiosity about his own sexuality is something he doesn’t feel he can discuss with Jeff or with his parents. Fortunately he discovers that he can talk to his grandfather, who gives him sage advice and shares a little about his life when he was younger. Like his now deceased grandmother, Rick also shares a love of old SciFi tv series with his grandfather and learns of his grandparents’ forays into the world of comicons. As Rick gets to know his grandfather better he also learns to accept himself more and to stand up for what he believes in, both at school and at home.

This is a moving, sensitively handled account of one boy’s curiosity about sexuality and what it means to him. It provides a clear and simple explanation of the meaning of LGBTQIAP+ and uses the voices of characters in the story to explain what each means to them. However, the main plot tells the story of the breakdown of Rick and Jeff’s friendship, Rick’s newly discovered kinship with his grandfather and the progress of the fundraising cabaret planned by his new friends in the Rainbow Spectrum group.

This would be a useful complimentary text to use with year 6 alongside a topic on puberty, transition to secondary school and growing up. It is a pacy, easy read which would encourage lots of book chat and class discussion about diversity. It is also an enjoyable easy read for anyone 10 years old and above. While the terms used in the book may change over time, the sentiment of accepting people for who they are and how to handle judgmental attitudes is universal and will never date.

Neoma and Jag and their small community are ‘living gentle lives’ on high ground surrounded by the risen sea. When strangers from the Valley of the Sun arrive unannounced, the two friends find themselves drawn into a web of secrecy and lies that endangers their whole way of life. Soon daring, loyal Neoma must set off on a solo mission across the risen sea, determined to rescue her best friend and find the truth that will save her village.

Just like MacDibble’s previous two novels ( How to Bee and The Dog Runner) this is a combination of distopian and science fiction writing with an admirable lead character who grows, learns and develops as the story progresses. Neoma is a kick-ass troublemaker with a fearless reckless personality that I couldn’t help admiring despite her rash behaviour. She tackles a crocodile, a shark and a pirate in her attempts to rescue her best friend, and in doing so makes a new friend and learns more about the world around her.

There are lessons, as in all MacDibble’s books, to be learned in the plot and the vision of a futuristic life where the human race has had to adapt to the impact of climate change. Both sides of the argument are put forward though it is fairly obvious which side the author is on. Both the concept and the characters are perfect launch points for book chat and debate. There are plenty of opportunities to speculate ‘what if?’ and suggest alternative outcomes for the characters in the story. The subject matter is also a good launching point to discuss the broader curriculum of the environment, climate change and the impact the human race has on the earth and how this can be mitigated.

Aside from the wider issues of the environment, this is a hugely enjoyable, page-turning thriller which readers of genre fiction and ordinary adventure stories will revel in. Ideal for 10+

When a ghostly figure is sighted in the murky tunnels beneath Edinburgh, Zinnie and her sisters suddenly find their underground home filled with curious visitors. Amongst them is the owner of a new museum – the House of Wonders- who seems to know more about the ‘ghost’ than he should.

This is a thrilling, page-turning murder mystery full of daring, danger and death-defying escapades. Featuring well-known characters based on real people including a young Conan Doyle & the first female practising Dr in Scotland Sophia Jex-Blake. Cleverly interwoven into the plot are historical features of the early 19th century and specific geographical features of Edinburgh, giving the story a strong sense of place. The breaking down of stereotypes in the form of women’s emancipation s not the only challenge to the norm, Downs Syndrome & BAME characters all have their part to play in the authentic setting that is the Victorian underclass of Edinburgh city. A thoroughly enjoyable read for 10+