Nancy Parker's Diary of Detection by Julia Lee - Review!

 I was really pleased to receive a proof copy of this book  from OUP for review as I am always on the lookout for something a bit different and this is certainly a hugely original book!

Our introduction to Nancy comes through the form of her journal which begins as she turns fourteen years old and leaves school to find work. It's an immediately appealing voice, honest and engaging and we follow Nancy being hired as a house maid by the intriguing Mrs Bryce and their subsequent move to a seaside resort for the summer.

We're introduced to two further characters - curious, clever Ella Otter and daydreaming, bumbling Quentin Ives - and the book revolves around their three inter linking storylines.

It's an utterly charming read and I loved never knowing exactly what was going to happen next! It kept me guessing throughout as there are several possible mysteries that our protagonists are investigating and the plot moves along at a cracking pace.

I really enjoyed the historical aspect and setting the book in the 1920's adds a real charm to the storyline without ever being heavy handed or overdone.

All of the characters are very well drawn and despite several storylines, voices and storytelling devices I never felt confused. Julia Lee holds the reins of this tale in expert hands and there's a real confidence in the mystery genre on show.

It's a perfect read for any children who enjoy mysteries and adventure and it steers clear from anything too disturbing or gory. Budding detectives will love this tale and I'm sure be entirely captivated by it's rousing heroine Nancy Parker.

I felt this could do really well as a series and I hope we see much more of these engaging characters in further tales.

Why I think 'Here Be Monsters' by Alan Snow is Mid-Grade perfection

I discovered a mammoth of a book called Here Be Monsters by Alan Snow a few years ago and couldn't believe that it wasn't more known.  I wrote a rave review about it on my own blog and since then, as if by magic, it's been reissued and a film was made based on the story in the form of Boxtrolls.  I was even lucky enough to get an author interview with Alan Snow and was left all flustered afterwards.

I've pushed this book onto as many people as I can and will gladly shout about it as much as possible because it's an amazing mid-grade book that needs to be discovered by more people.  I could continue to gush about it but I think I should explain a little about it first.

Here Be Monsters was first published in 2005 and was released in the form of the first volume of The Ratbridge Chronicles (Ratbridge being the location for story).  It's a kooky world made up of human beings, trolls that wear boxes like clothes,  cheese that roam the countryside, rats that run a dry-cleaning service from a pirate ship, cabbage-headed underground beings and women that love to live their lives dressed up and existing as bunnies.  With a collection of characters like that, you can imagine just how wonderfully nuts the plot is.  

This books isn't just a brilliantly written book; it's also gorgeously illustrated by Alan Snow himself and is filled with lovely doodles and sketches within the story to add comedy and delight to each chapter.  I loved turning each new page and finding a little Boxtroll strolling around amongst the words before me.

I would recommend this book to fans of Roald Dahl; especially the manic worlds of The Twits and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as well as those who loved the Harry Potter books and want something a bit lighter and with a real British sense of humour.  If you've seen the film The Boxtrolls, I urge you to go an by the book.  There is a new abridged edition in bookshops right now or try and seek out the large tome and enjoy every ounce of it.  This book is beautiful in it's simplicity but sublime for its ridiculousness.

Step into Ratbridge and become a kid again completely guilt-free.