Review: Already Dead by Charlie Huston

I came across this in the search for 'something different' in vampire books, and boy, is this different, so if you want a traditional or even semi-traditional vampire story then find another book.

Huston blows away many of the ideas we hold about vampires and sets them up in clans, societies and hoods, with all the rivalries and turf wars seen in human society, but Joe belongs to none. Set in New York (Manhattan) where vampyres live and work, their secret known only to the select few in ‘normal’ society, the clans support and protect their members, and ensure that so vital blood supply.

Joe Pitt is a tough talking Private Investigator who has no loyalties to any clan but has a current problem with one, The Coalition. He’s also trying to find a carrier of the zombie bacteria, and is obsessing about whether or not to cure his girlfriend Evie who is HIV positive and terrified of passing it on. Joe isn’t sure the consequences for her are worth it.

When Joe is summoned by the Head of The Coalition, his life just gets worse. To put things right between them, he has to find the missing daughter of a prominent New York family who know about their vampyre existence. With rivals hampering him, the clans upset with him, Joe is in a very precarious position. Getting a rough ride on all fronts, he sets about his work in what is one of the most unusual vampyre books I’ve read to date.

There is a gritty realism to the characters and setting, and the hard-hitting, wise-cracking style gives more than a passing nod to the detective novels of Chandler, et al. except our 'hero' is infected by the Vyrus - Joe Pitt is a vampire. I was quite a few pages in before I realised there were no chapters which was a little disconcerting at first, as were the dialogue markers, but I was so absorbed by the story that eventually I didn’t notice.

Huston has produced a hard-edged story that is cleverly plotted, fast paced and tenacious. It is an almost perfect genre mix of Horror and Crime that kept me glued to every page as the plot twisted and turned, with the inevitable body count, through a dark-world of vampire and human politics and power-brokerage to an edge-of-your-seat climax.

A great read - and yes, I will read more in the series.

Shortlist for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2010

The shortlist for the 2010 awards have been announced by IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People),

The authors are:

David Almond (UK)
Bartolomeu Campos de Queiros (Brazil)
Louis Jensen (Denmark)
Ahmad Reza Ahmadi (Iran)
Lennart Hellsing (Sweden)

The illustrators are:

Carll Cneut (Belgium)
Roger Mello (Brazil)
Svjetlan Junakovic (Croatia)
Jutta Bauer (Germany)
Etienne Delessert (Switzerland)

The Hans Christian Andersen Award is considered one of the most prestigious in international children’s literature and is given every two years to a living author and illustrator whose complete works have made lasting contributions to children's literature.

The 2008 Jurg Schubiger won the Author Award and Roberto Innocenti won the Illustrators Award. Previous winners have included authors Eleanor Farjeon, Astrid Lingren, Scott O'Dell and Aidan Chambers, and illustrators Maurice Sendak, Robert Ingpen, Anthony Browne, and Quentin Blake.

The 2010 winners will be announced on Tuesday 23rd March at the Bologna Children's Book Fair.

Shock and Awe? Or Shocking and Awful?

I have always been astounded at people who go to a foreign land and never learn anything about the place they're visiting. What better way of getting to know our fellow men than by looking at their history and culture. Like most families I'm sure, our holidays were fun to plan with the children as we negotiated 'days of culture' and 'days of lazing'. My children (now adults) aren't cultural philistines, nor I anti-seaside, it was just a question of balance; a morning in the museum, an afternoon at the beach, and so forth. So when I came across this short film, I was deeply shocked. The cultural rape of a nation is a loss to us all whatever our nationality. As one commenator says, if you want to destroy a people, destroy their history, their culture.

WATCH VIDEO

So it begs the question, why were the museums and archives of Iraq not protected against looters? Surely someone in authority must have at least thought about it? Looking at some of the scenes and listening to what has been destroyed - its heartbreaking.

During the Second World War, the Allies had the foresight to create a special group, attached to the British and American armies, to ensure the protection of cultural heritage (as much as war would allow). They were also to track down and restore stolen artworks. This was the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section, nicknamed the 'Monuments Men' . The group of about 350 (mostly men and some women) were museum directors, curators, art historians, and educators from thirteen countries, and their work was utterly remarkable.

Before everyone jumps up and starts talking about places like Monte Cassino, I know there were many places destroyed. My point is that at least there was thought given to the protection and reclamation of Europe's cultural heritage. Why not in Iraq?

If you are interested in reading more on either of these topics there are two books.

The Destruction of Cultural Heritage in Iraq

by Peter G Stone & Joanne Farchakh Bajjaly
(click above for an interesting Times Online article)

Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves,

and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History

by Robert Edsel

Review: The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

Waterstone's Children's Book Prize

Piper McCloud isn’t like any other girl her age; actually she isn’t like any other girl of any age. Piper can fly. In the farming community of Lowland County this is not a good thing, so it seemed like the best idea all round for her to go to a top secret school for children with unusual abilities just like hers, abilities such as x-ray vision and telekinesis. At INSANE Piper soon settles in and makes friends, but she soon realises that not everything is as it seems and this might be the most dangerous place to be.

A strange mixture of Little House on the Prairie meets Heroes, with enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. From start to finish, this story of courage and defiance holds the reader and won’t let go. Piper is an irrepressible character, and her story is exciting, terrifying, and thoroughly enjoyable.

Review: The Seven Sorcerers by Caro King

Waterstone's Children's Book Prize

Ninevah is the only one who remembers her brother Toby, to everyone else its as if he never existed, and because she is the only one who remembers him, Nin knows she will be next. As Skerridge the Bogeyman removes all memory of Nin from her mother, she escapes to the Drift. Skerridge, who steals the children for the mysterious Mr Strood, has never lost a child before and he’s not going to let it happen now. Nin finds help in the form of Jonas who explains what is going on and helps her in this new world peopled by mudmen, tombfolk and the spirits of the once time rulers of this land, the Seven Sorcerers. Will they escape Skerridge and Strood? Can Nin find and rescue her brother Toby? What is the secret of the Seven Sorcerers?

In the best traditions of fairytales, this is a rich fantasy, sometimes dark and gruesome, populated with fabulous creatures and woven with mystery and magic. Its well-paced and gripping, told with humour and thoroughly enjoyable.

Review: Desperate Measures by Laura Summers

Waterstone's Children's Book Prize

The serious issues in this family drama are handled with warmth and humour. Twins Vicki and Rhianna, and their younger brother Jamie are in foster care. The twins are very different as Rhianna has been brain-damaged since birth. It’s their fourteenth birthday and they should be having fun, but foster parents Paul and Sarah can’t cope and decide to give the children up. Their fate lies in the hands of social worker Mrs Frankish, and it looks like the three will be split up and sent to different families and schools. They don’t want to go; they don’t want another foster family; something has to be done and Jamie has an idea…

This is an exciting, well-paced and moving family drama where serious issues such as loyalty, responsibility, and bullying are handled with warmth and humour. I felt for the three children: Vicki the fourteen year old who acts as mother to her brother and sister; Rhianna who knows that people treat her differently to her twin, Vicky; James who has problems with anger. Thought-provoking, and imaginative, this is a really good read.

Review: The Toymaker by Jeremy de Quidt

Waterstones Children's Book Prize

When Gustav, Mathias’ grandfather, is drunk he talks of a secret that men would kill for. Before Mathias can discover what the secret is, Gustav has an disagreement with a mysterious man then dies. Mathias is sold to and escapes from the menacing Dr Leiter. Then the hunt is on, for Mathias has a piece of paper his Grandfather had hidden in the lining of his coat. A piece of paper that might be the key to Gustav’s mysterious past and the secret he talked of. In a world of shadows and fear, Mathias is on a quest to stay alive and uncover the secret.

There is an eerie gothic quality to this novel. Yet while threaded through with scenes that are dark, terrifying, and violent, it is also exciting, atmospheric and intriguing. Well paced, with an inventive plot, it has a rather sudden ending.



Gary Blythe’s fabulous illustrations deserve a special mention. I first discovered his work some years ago in a picture book called Whale Song.

Review: Meteorite Strike by A.G. Taylor

Waterstones Children's Book Prize

A meteorite hits earth, unleashing an alien virus; its victims falling into a deep coma. On their way to join their father, Sara and Robert’s plane crashes in the Australian desert but they survive, and later begin to display some extraordinary powers. There is of course an unscrupulous agency (HIDRA) who capture, study, experiment and exploit those with new-found super-powers. Escape they must, but what awaits them in the world outside?

This is one of those adrenalin-rush, high impact books that teens love so much, but a great read nevertheless. With its dramatic start, high speed pace, and edge of the seat action, readers are hooked from the start and taken on a whirlwind flight to an ending that leaves you wanting more.

What a ride!

Reveiw: Flyaway by Lucy Christopher

Waterstones Children's Book Prize

When thirteen year old Isla’s father goes into hospital, she meets a boy there called Harry; the first to understands Isla and her love of the countryside. Although he is ill, they form a friendship, and together discover a swan detached from its flock. Isla is convinced that if she can help the swan, she will help Harry, and so the magic begins.

A little slow to start, but none the worse for that, with a good balance between the real and the fantasy. This lovely tale, laced with beautiful imagery, is about love and loyalty, friendship and family, and made a pleasant change from the usual fare of hormone, adrenalin charged teen stories.

Review: The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh

Waterstones Children's Book Prize

When a mysterious fire leaves Will an orphan, he is taken in by the monks at the abbey, but life there is hard work, and the monks are not particularly kind to him, apart from one or two. In the harsh winter, while gathering firewood, Will finds an injured hob which he rescues. The hob reveals a secret about an angel killed and buried in the woods, with the arrival of two strangers, and overheard conversations, Will’s curiosity is awakened. This is when the book starts to really take off.

With its wonderful mix of history and fantasy, a great mystery, and characters that endear, scare, and engage the reader by turns, the reader is gripped from the first page. I loved this story filled with dark foreboding and suspense.