I do love a wee bit of historical fiction, particularly tales set against Scotland’s rich, vibrant and often tempestuous past.   As a child, I was hooked on novels about the Jacobite uprising, the Highland Clearances and Mary Queen of Scots. I loved to read fictional stories set against a backdrop of reality, a reality that was close to home.  These books brought the past to life and gave me a chance to imagine real tales and real people.  I have no doubt that it set me on the way to a life long love of learning about the past and the people who lived it.  For me, this is the power of historical fiction.

Fast forward to today and I have had the pure joy of discovering Barbara Henderson’s novels over the last couple of years.   Novels such as Fir For Luck, Punch and Black Water have brought time periods to life through stories of passion, adventure and courage.  So, it probably comes as no surprise that  I was delighted to be asked to be part of the blog tour of Barbara’s latest book, The Siege of Caerlaverock, which is set in the midst of the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Read on to hear about why Barbara thinks readers are so drawn to stories set during the Middle Ages, followed by my review of this staggeringly brilliant historical adventure.

The Medieval Appeal by Barbara Henderon

When I read that the Middle Ages were Kirsty Crommie’s favourite period of Scottish history, I had to smile. I have long been fascinated by the Middle Ages. I have written about the Victorians and 18^th century smugglers in previous books, but The Siege of Caerlaverock goes back the furthest  of all my published and unpublished work.

The idea had appealed for some time. Where better to set a tale than a mysterious castle? Surprisingly, when I gathered material for research, I did not find an abundance of comparable titles. Plenty fantasy worlds with semi-medieval settings, but full of dragons and beasts and magic. While I love those stories (I really do!), mine was going to be rooted in reality, I decided.

But it set me thinking – why do we love the Middle Ages? Why does that period appeal so much that it is constantly revived in new fantasy reincarnations?

Here are some of my guesses:

1.       Weapons: Huge stones hurled through the air, catapults and trebuchets, halberds, swords and bows and arrows – the medieval period has it all, and many more besides. Let’s face it, who doesn’t love a good sword fight.

2.       Dungeons: I think prisoners and captures often feature in stories, but there is something particularly evocative about a castle dungeon. The cold stone, the darkness, the torches and heavy iron grates. There is something romantically hopeless about that. I knew early on that I would need a prisoner in my castle story!

3.       Horses: There is something so impressive and elegant about a horse galloping across a drawbridge, through the castle gates and into the courtyard. I have loved horses since I was young and even though I could never afford to own one, I love the sense of freedom and adventure they bring to stories.

4.       Beauty: From Knights’ armour to the long-sleeved velvet dresses of the Lady of the Castle, there is something so sumptuous about that period. Even the horses were clad in the colourful heraldic symbols of the clan. Gorgeous tapestries adorned the castle walls and the floor of any great hall was strewn with rushes and sweet-smelling herbs and blossoms. There was candle-light everywhere! We all know that everyone looks good in candlelight 😊. It was first and foremost, a world of beauty.

5.       Risk: This is the lifeblood of so many great stories – we need real, believable jeopardy in a story. The Middle Ages had this is spades, with their movable borders, feuding families, constant invasions and intrigues, even murders. Children were given real and meaningful tasks from an early age, and knights began their training aged around seven, making this period perfect for children’s books.

6.       Religion, myth and folklore: The Middle Ages were steeped in the other world (perhaps this is another reason why so many medieval stories are hijacked for fantasy).  Religion and the church play a pivotal part in the Siege of Caerlaverock, and thoughts of heaven and hell were never far away. Medieval Europe was also fertile ground for the ballads and stories of oral tradition. Bards and musicians were highly esteemed and all of this adds colour to the medieval world which is sometimes lacking in our secular mindset.

7.        Kings and Wars: We may still retain a Royal family, but the sort of kings and queens who lived and died by their decisions, granted mercy or put to death with unquestioned authority are, thankfully, a thing of the past. Still, they unquestioningly make for good story material.

8.       Buildings: Be they castles, burghs, humble huts or knights’ tents, the medieval dwellings evoke a sense of simplicity and strength.

9.        Physical environment: The Middle ages are, first and foremost, a physical environment. Land had to be ploughed, honour had to be won in honest combat, butter had to be churned by hand, garments had to be stitched, horses groomed and armour polished. No machines and certainly no digital aspect – and in today’s overload of the latter, that is very appealing in a story.

10.   Morality: In the Middle Ages, knights were bound by chivalry and the divisions between good and evil, holy and hellish, upright and base were stark. Crime was punished by revenge. People listened to the church with unquestioning trust and lived their lives dependent on charms, relics, confession and pilgrimage. Despite the fact that many of us would not want to live like this, there is an attractive clarity to that worldview. We can understand it and relate to it.

For my own medieval book, The Siege of Caerlaverock, I have tapped into many of these aspects without being conscious of it. It turns out that I was already hooked on the Middle Ages and I could not be happier that, now, if someone looks for medieval books for children, they may stumble across mine.

 

Review of The Siege of Caerlaverock by Barbara Henderson

I love children’s historical fiction. I believe that it is not only important in passing on an understanding of the past, but that it brings history to life for children.  It is also an opportunity for authors to write some brilliant adventures set around real events.

When it comes to history and Scottish history, in particular, I get a bit geeky and, without a doubt, my favourite time period surrounds the Scottish Wars of Independence. It is exciting and gruesome. It is passionate and gritty.  It is full of conflict and big decisions. For a children’s novel, it is just perfect.

You cannot imagine my delight when I heard that Barbara had written a book set in the year 1300, with the real life siege of Caerlaverock castle at its heart.

The story is centred around Caerlaverock Castle, a stunning moated triangular castle near Dumfries.  (As an aside, I hear it is well worth a visit and is now on my list of places to see!)  We are treated to a feast of information about the residents of the castle and their lives and daily routines are brilliantly and accurately described.

12 year old Ada is a laundress in the castle. Her days are pretty mundane and she would appear fairly insignificant.  However, when she starts to help a young prisoner being held captive in the castle she changes her destiny for good.  Together with her young friend, Godfrey, they build a story of friendship, trust, kindness and loyalty.

When the King of England, Edward Longshanks, marches towards the castle with his 3000 strong army, everyone’s life is suddenly in jeopardy.  With the castle being defended by only 60 men, things look bleak.  How can the castle inhabitants survive such an onslaught?

I’m not going to lie, this is probably one of my favourite books ever.  Barbara Henderson tells the story with such detail and description that you get utterly drawn in and you will not want to put this book down.  Although set in a time of war, where fear was prevalent, I loved the personal stories and interactions.  There are beautiful elements that demonstrate humanity’s essential nature, where empathy, understanding and kindness persist.

I adored the central character of Ada.  A strong young female who is courageous enough to follow her own path and do what she believes is right. At times she is scared, but she is determined and brave and has the strength to follow her heart.

The Seige of Caerlaverock is nothing short of a majestic and monumental piece of brilliance. It is full of emotion, determination and excitement against the backdrop of one of the most fascinating periods of Scottish history.  I absolutely loved it and I hope children and adults alike will fall in love with it as much as I did.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so excited that Benny is back!  If you are not familiar with One Button Benny, the first book introduces us to a little robot called Benny who has a big red button on his tummy which states it must only be pressed in an emergency.  Wee Benny is desperate to press his button but must wait for the right time. It has been a definite favourite in our house and now Benny has returned in another brilliant adventure, written by Alan Windram and beautifully illustrated by Chloe Holwill-Hunter.

This time the story is centred around the Cool Cat Competition and, in preparation, all the robots need to busily shine up their cats ready to compete.  But, disaster strikes and all the cats are kidnapped before the competition.  Luckily our little hero is on hand to press his big red button and, once again, save the day.

Benny is an utterly loveable little character who is given an opportunity to use his unique talent.  I love the wonderfully detailed illustrations by Chloe Holwill-Hunter. There is so much that can be taken from the pictures alone.

One Button Benny and the Gigantic Catastrophe is a story of the underdog becoming the hero, a story of recognising everybody’s individual talents and skills and, when we meet aliens, it is a tale of empathy and understanding.

I love One Button Benny and I am delighted to have read his new adventure. It is another fun, heart-warming adventure that children will adore.

Visit the website for more info at www.littledoorbooks.co.uk

Follow on twitter at @akwindram  @littledoorbooks @Clos_Line_UK

 

 

 

I was delighted to have the chance to read a copy of this absolutely stunning book, The Story of Babushka by Catherine Flores before it is officially released on August 1st.

It is a simply-told, beautiful story which tells the tale of a Babuskha doll, otherwise known as a matryoshka or a Russian nesting doll.  This Babushka has five bodies which nest inside each other to make one Babushka, each body representing a unique strength.

The outermost body is Antonia who represents Babushka’s beautiful appearance.  Underneath is Loretta who is rich.  Next comes Paula who represents Babushka’s talents.  Beneath Paula, we find Viola who is the body of wisdom and finally, the smallest body of all, is Mary who is full of love.

Although Babushka lives a happy and contented life, she starts to wonder what her purpose is.  What, she ponders, is the meaning of life?   Babushka’s bodies proceed to follow their own separate paths in search of their destinies.  For each it is a journey of discovery and enlightenment on the way to Babushka discovering what it really means to exist.

The first thing that struck me about this book are the gorgeous illustrations by Ana Beatriz Marques.   It is a beautifully engaging work of art that entices you in.  Catherine Flores then proceeds to tell this story in the most delightful manner.

However, this tale is far from simplistic. It has a deep and thought-provoking message about what we value in our lives.  It forces the reader to consider the importance of love and friendship, of working together, of appreciating our own special qualities and to treat others with respect.   I love how Babushka discovers that all her layers are what make her who she is.  It reminds us that we are all multi-dimensional individuals who have many different attributes.

This would be a fantastic book to use in an upper primary class with so many themes and ideas to discuss, but would be a lovely book to read with all ages. There is also a really lovely website to accompany the book. (thestoryofbabushka.com)

This is one of the most beautiful, engaging and thought-provoking books I have read this year. I really loved it and it would be an exquisite addition to any bookshelf.

The Story of Babushka is released August 1st.

Find out more at:  thestoryofbabushka.com

Follow the author on twitter at:  @AuthorFlores

 

 

 

 

Young Adult

Published by Penguin Books

Cover illustration by Manjit Thapp

Next up on my exploration of Young Adult novels is the absolutely tremendous, powerful and beautiful book, Run, Rebel by Manjeet Mann, a story of rebellion and about finding your voice.

Run, Rebel is a novel written in verse that tells the story of Amber, a teenage girl trapped by the expectations placed upon her, her father’s controlling and bullying behaviour and by her own insecurities.

Amber Rai lives at home with her parents, her sister having moved out to marry a man chosen for her as part of an arranged marriage.  Due to their illiteracy, Amber’s parents rely on her to help them with day to day tasks that involve reading and writing. Her father is an abusive and controlling alcoholic who has very strict expectations of Amber. She is desperate to live the way that she wants, yet terrified of what her father is capable of if she disobeys him.

Amber’s escape, her freedom, comes from her passion and talent for running. On the track is where she can be herself and when an opportunity arises to take her running to the next level she is determined to embrace it.

There are so many themes that Run, Rebel explores.  As well as confronting domestic abuse and alcoholism, it explores issues of bullying, teenage relationships, jealousy and poverty but at its heart it is about feminism, freedom, empowerment, equality and rebellion.

I loved the depth of each character. Everyone was important and I would love to see each of their stories explored and expanded.  Every piece of poetry in this book is so well-written, so powerful and so emotive that it could stand alone as an excellent piece of writing.  Put together to tell a story it becomes something else altogether, something immense.

Run, Rebel is a beautifully written lyrical joy.  Often heart-wrenching, but ultimately powerful and uplifting, it is a truly stunning book about discovering your truth and having the courage to fight for it.

 

Published by Hachette Children’s Group 

Young Adult

I have been venturing into the world of Young Adult literature of late and have read some stunningly powerful books over the last couple of weeks.

First up, The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta.   I am going to be honest, I chose it purely on the basis of the exquisite front cover by Anshika Khullar. It is simply beautiful and it sets the stage for what is an absolutely incredible novel that I loved to bits. I genuinely could not put it down.

The Black Flamingo is a coming of age story told in verse.  It is the story of Michael, a mixed race gay teen, who lives in London.  Coming from a Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican background he is never quite sure where he fits and what it means to be him.

We follow Michael as he navigates high school and university, as he comes out, as he makes friends, explores relationships and as he finally discovers a place he belongs at the university Drag Society where he becomes The Black Flamingo.

The verse style of writing works incredibly well as a means of telling Michael’s story.  The pace, the lyrics, the emotion and the language convey his journey perfectly.

This is a story of self-discovery, identity, finding what it means to be you and searching for a place where you belong.  It is about being free to be who and whatever you want to be.

It is an important book that every teen should read. One that is powerful, emotional, honest and beautifully written and it is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

Utterly brilliant.

 

 

Edited by Joan Haig, Illustrated by Darren Gate and Published by Cranachan 

This utterly brilliant anthology is being released today and I was over the moon to have the opportunity to have a wee early sneak preview!

40 well-known writers from across Scotland have contributed poems and stories all with a lockdown theme.   It is a collection dedicated to all the children who have shown amazing resilience and understanding over this challenging period, children whose lives have changed beyond recognition but who have demonstrated the determination and ability to adapt.

Each and every contribution is unique, each sharing a wee slice of the lockdown experience.  These are snippets of lockdown life that children will be able to relate to. Together with the gorgeous illustrations by Darren Gate, these are the tales that bring us together.

I am  sure lots of children will have gone through the same ordeal as the central character in Barbara Henderson’s ‘The Lockdown Haircut’.  I know mine have!

How many children have had lockdown birthdays like Ivy in Maisie Chan’s ‘The Worst Birthday Ever’?  And how many are using technology to keep in touch to continue to make special days special?   A lot of the contributions reflect on how things have to be different right now but also on how we have been able to adapt and keep in touch. Families across the country have been finding innovative ways to keep in touch like the family celebrating Eid in Roisah Ahmed’s ‘Can You See the Moon?’.

I’m sure there are many children out there who can identify with Billy Baxter  in Alan McClure’s absolutely fantastic Scots poem – children who have spent lockdown in the local ‘hub’, passing the time by checking Teams while their friends are at home.

There is everything you could want in this collection.  There is funny, there is sad, there is fear, there is hope.  It is a testament to our children who have demonstrated imagination, creativity, perseverance and optimism through this period. This is a stunning anthology, a work of absolute perfection that is an important, beautiful and powerful record of this moment in history.

Stay at Home! Poems and Prose for Children in Lockdown is available to read, for free, here:  https://www.cranachanpublishing.co.uk/stay-at-home-2/

 

 

 

This week we have been having great fun trying out a new reading and listening app called Fonetti!  The idea of Fonetti is that children choose a book and read aloud to the app, page by page.  As they read the words turn green when they read them correctly.  If they are unsure of a word they can click on the it and the app tells them how to say it. When a book is completed children will earn badges, fanfares and animations. There is also an option to track progress and to view the books the child has read, the amount of times they have spent reading on the app and the accuracy with which they did it.

My 5 and 7 year old absolutely loved Fonetti.  They enjoyed the challenge of successfully completing a book and found it very easy to use.  What Fonetti does very well is give children the opportunity to explore books for themselves.  It gives them a level of independence when they are starting to read that they may not otherwise get.  For children who may struggle with reading or do not enjoy reading, it makes it fun. For some children who may feel pressure when reading, Fonetti is a great way for them to practise without worrying about getting something wrong.

There is an excellent selection of books on the app, both fiction and non-fiction, with varying degrees of difficulty and topics. There is something there to suit every child’s taste and with more titles to be added in the future, there is always choice!

Although we loved the app, the voice recognition feature didn’t always correctly pick up what the kids were reading.  This didn’t take away from their enjoyment but hopefully as the app is developed this will be ironed out.

Fonetti is another tool to help children read and to find pleasure in reading.  It is a fantastic resource to add to the multitude of ways that we help children with their reading as parents and as teachers.  It is a brilliant way to encourage independence, confidence and motivation with reading and it is well worth taking a look.

Fonetti is free to access for the next 3 months.  For more information go to https://www.fonetti.com/

 

 

The Kelpie’s Pearls by Mollie Hunter is one of the books that I read as a child that never left me.  It is a stunning story written by an absolute master storytelling.  It is full of myth, superstition and magic and it is the story that started my fascination of the mystical kelpie.  The kelpie is a water spirit that inhabits Scotland’s lochs, a shape-shifting creature that can turn from human form into a dangerous and powerful black horse that lures its victims onto its back before dragging them into the watery depths.

Morag MacLeod lives a quiet, simple life near Loch Ness.  Everyone thinks that this old woman is a witch because of some strange things that happened on the shores of the Loch and she is content to keep out of folks way living her simple existence.  But things change when she meets and befriends a strange little man who, in fact, turns out to be a kelpie.  Quickly reporters and scientists arrive to find out the truth about Morag.  Young Torquil knows what has really happened because he has seen the Kelpie for himself and knows of the supernatural powers that they possess. Meanwhile, greedy Alisdair the Trapper, is determined to get hold of the kelpie’s pearls.

It is an utterly enchanting tale of magic, myth and folklore, told in Mollie Hunter’s stunning voice.  Set in the beautiful Highlands of Scotland, it has a gentle pace which makes you focus on every single word. I have reread The Kelpie’s Pearls many times in the last 30 years and it remains one of my absolute favourites. It is just perfect.

Mollie Hunter wrote more than 25 novels for children, regularly incorporating Scottish folklore and history into her work. She was an absolutely wonderful storyteller whose books are just fantastic.  If you are not familiar with her work, The Kelpie’s Pearls is as good a place as any to start.

 

 

 

One of my most anticipated reads of 2020, Tiger Skin Rug is a remarkable debut from author Joan Haig – a story full of adventure, excitement and magic that is hard to put down. It has a real mystical charm to it that ensures it is a book that stays with you long after you have finished the last page.

Lal and his brother Dilip have moved to Scotland from India with their family but they are finding it hard to adjust to the dreich weather and to their rather spooky new house.  They are homesick, they miss their friends and the normality of their old home in India. Everything is so different to what they are used to.

Everything changes, however, when the old tiger skin rug that they find in the house comes to life and needs their help.  In return it promises to help them return to India. We then set off on a fast-paced roller coaster of an adventure with Lal, Dilip and their new friend Jenny to help the tiger complete a mission that was cut short when he was killed.   This is an adventure that takes the reader from Scotland, to London, and all the way to India as the children try to help the tiger complete its goal.

I loved how the author moves the story from place to place, showering the reader in the vibrancy of  different cultures and locations.  The characters are so genuine and believable that you really want them to succeed.

Tiger Skin Rug is an enchanting, mesmerising and magical adventure full of vivid beautiful storytelling from Joan Haig.  It is full of twists and turns and keeps you guessing until the very end. I absolutely adored it. Another must read book from publishers Cranachan and a fabulous debut from author Joan Haig. I cannot wait to read her next books!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lari Don is one of the most enchanting and glorious storytellers that I have had the pleasure of meeting. During school visits, book launches and storytelling events Lari is an inspirational figure who holds your attention with every word.  Her novels and picture books are some of my favourites.  They are often based on wonderful myths, legends and folklore which I absolutely adore so as you can imagine I was absolutely delighted when a copy of Lari’s latest book, ‘Fierce, Fearless and Free’ dropped through my letterbox.

The first thing that struck me about this gorgeous book was the intricate and beautiful cover and, subsequently, the illustrations inside.  The very talented Eilidh Muldoon has creating a incredible series of work which complements and completes Lari’s words.

For her latest book, Lari has retold various traditional tales of girls from myths and legends from around the world.  These are stories of strong, empowered girls and women.  These are girls who take no nonsense. These are girls who don’t need a prince to complete their fairy tale.

I absolutely loved the range of stories that Lari has discovered and shared from so many different countries. These are tales to inspire, motivate and celebrate the creativity, courage and passion of females in all their glory.

In the Lithuanian legend of Neringa and the Sea Dragons Lari shares how Neringa stood her ground against the powerful dragon, demonstrating bravery, courage and ingenuity to overcome her foe.

The book is full of tales like this. It is an at utterly exquisite collection of traditional tales which celebrate the strength, power and independence of girls and women through myths and legends.  It is a collection that will inspire, excite and enchant everyone who reads it.

This is another absolutely gorgeous must read from a master storyteller.