My six-year-old and I binged on author events at the weekend. OK, so I had my own agenda – I was already friends with all three of the authors we went to see – but having your own child to take along is a really good excuse! On the Saturday morning, we were treated to … More Fun Family weekend at Chiplitfest 2015
OK, so this is the winning piece from my workshop yesterday at Didcot Girls’ School. And picking it was REALLY hard. I had three I could hardly choose between. But I chose this one because I do like a good dystopian novel, and this one is SO promising. I would definitely pick it up! Congrats … More Winning piece LIBERATION by Megan Y7
Yesterday I spent the morning at Didcot Girls’ School and had a WHALE of a time. First, I did my talk to the whole of Y7 in the hall, and then I did a lot of signing and chatting in the library at breaktime, and then I did a workshop with a Y7 group and … More Young Writers of the Future at Didcot Girls’ School
Marianne Dreams by Catherine Storr was originally published in 1958, and it’s one of those books that demonstrates how much publishing for children has changed in the fifty-odd years since. There’s a strong adult tone to the narrator, which is something that is frowned upon these days, and yet the story itself is as strong … More Marianne Dreams – review
Love Bomb is the second in the Ladybird series by Jenny McLachlan (I reviewed the first, Flirty Dancing, here), and this one focuses on Betty Plum, who has fallen head over heels in love for the first time and doesn’t know what to do about it. It’s very obvious, of course, to practically anyone, that … More Love Bomb – review
I’ve been away on holiday. Just me. I have a husband and two children, all adorable, all wonderful, but I left them behind for four days on my own. It was bliss. I’ve had a rotten couple of months. One small crisis after another had left me feeling pretty battered and bruised, and my normal … More Finding myself again
I’ve been meaning to read Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens since it came out last July. I mean, just look at that cover. Stylish and retro and bright modern blue. And everyone kept saying how good it was, and I kept meaning to buy it and forgetting – and then last week I went round … More Murder Most Unladylike – review
OK, why hasn’t this won all the awards going? Or at least been shortlisted? I’ve googled it, and I can’t find a single shortlisting – or even a longlisting – for EDEN by Joanna Nadin. Which is, frankly, baffling, and only goes to show that getting on a list for any book award is a … More Eden – review
Jo Cotterill 