What happens when a foolish dragon falls into a cauldron and makes it too misshapen for it to function normally? What happens when the bottle of frogspell that you thought you were carrying turns out to be blueberries mixed with porridge? What happens when a young girl sets out to become a squire?Cauldron Spells was delightful, full of bubbles of laughter and fun. Accompanied by the dragon Adolphus and the rat Ferocious, Max and Olivia are set to turn the Arthurian world upside down. Fortunately, Caradoc the bard (who turns out to be someone quite special at the end) and Merlin are looking out for them.Cauldron Spells was full of magic - in the story and its telling. It filled me up with warmth and smiles, and a longing to read the other two in the series. Or more, if there are more.Title Cauldron SpellsAuthor C.J. BusbyGenre Arthurian FantasyRating (out of … [Read more...]

I picked up The Indian in the Cupboard full of apprehension. For a long time, I have intended to read this book. Yet, I have realised of late that I have read so much modern writing that older writing seems dry and slow. 1980 is rather a long time ago, and I was not sure how much I would enjoy the book. I was scared I would be offended by the term 'Indian'. I wondered if the part of my mind that studied English literature and critical theory would find the book racist or offensive.It did not. The Indian in the Cupboard was so charming that the part of my mind that could have judged it as racist dozed off just for a little while. I was not offended by the broken English the "Indian" spoke, or by the simple mind Little Bull seemed to have. I enjoyed the book tremendously.When Patrick gives Omri the plastic figure of an "Indian" for his birthday, Omri is unimpressed. Yet, the collection … [Read more...]

The cover illustration of Sea of Tears was just lovely. The wake of a boat curving into a big 'S', a little girl looking out at the sea ... It was a cover I could keep looking at.The book could have been better, though. I enjoyed much of it, but there were parts that left me cold. In many places, Jasmine's emotions were sudden and unexpected, leaving the reader far behind. I realise over and over again that the difference between fact and fiction is that fiction needs to be believable.Jasmine is a twelve-year-old whose parents decide to move from London to Barbados because they are increasingly alarmed at the things happening in London. Jasmine's cultural identity is beautifully portrayed as a mixture between her racial roots and upbringing, and London life around her. Jasmine's father speaks out of the pages of the book, emerging as a traditional father, who would not think of … [Read more...]

I picked up Berlin Olympics assuming it was about a real person. Sure, I expected historical fiction, but my knowledge of Olympic swimmers is not good enough to have known that Eleanor Rhys Davies is not a real person.In the beginning, I was disappointed. I don't know why; I don't know what I expected. Yet, as I read on, the story grew on me. What I enjoyed most of all is how natural the whole story feels, echoing classics like The Diary of a Young Girl. Eleanor, like Anne Frank, spoke to me through the pages of the book, making me believe in her and understand her.Written as a series of diary entries, Berlin Olympics is the story of a young swimmer growing up in the 1930s. With Mosley and Hitler rising to power, Eleanor almost feels guilty that she does not experience the fear and hardships her Jewish friend Sarah does. The 1936 Olympics make all her questions rise to the fore. … [Read more...]