Category Archives: Book Reviews
Perfectly Norman by Tom Percival – Blog Tour
Synopsis
Norman had always been perfectly normal. That was until the day he grew a pair of wings!
Norman is very surprised to have wings suddenly – and he has the most fun ever trying them out high in the sky. But then he has to go in for dinner. What will his parents think? What will everyone else think? Norman feels the safest plan is to cover his wings with a big coat.
But hiding the thing that makes you different proves tricky and upsetting. Can Norman ever truly be himself?
A poignant yet uplifting story about individuality, with stunning artwork in a striking minimal palette from the author/illustrator of Herman’s Letter. Fans of Oliver Jeffers and Benj Davies will love it.
Add it to your Library on Goodreads
Author & Illustrator Information
Tom Percival writes and illustrates picture books and has also produced covers and internal illustrations for the Skulduggery Pleasant series. Tom has written and illustrated three books for Bloomsbury: HERMAN’S LETTER, BUBBLE TROUBLE and the forthcoming HERMAN’S HOLIDAY. He grew up in a remote and beautiful part of South Shropshire. He now lives in a far more conventional building (a house), with his girlfriend and their young sons.
What I Thought
Ok. So as a nearly 40 yr old (1 week and 3 days to go!) I guess Picture Books aren’t directed at me. But, whatever your age you can appreciate a good story and good art and Perectly Norman has both.
The art style is adorable and I love that the focus is on Norman throughout by having him in colour and the rest in monochrome.
The theme of the story is so important and the fact that Norman’s ‘difference’ is that he has wings could be used as a metaphor for so many things. His fear of being seen as abnormal leads him to wear a big coat. Another metaphor for hiding. Norman finds he struggles to engage in everyday life, he gets bullied and he gets depressed. But when he is encouraged to be himself his heart and body soar and life is colourful again. He also finds out that he wasn’t quite so alone in being different after all.
What a brilliant message told in a beautiful way.
What it’s like to have wings
When I was asked to take part in the blog tour it seemed like fate was playing a part. This weekend has been the New Forest Fairy Festival and I have sprouted my own wings.
On Saturday I went as a Book Fairy with my homemade Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows wings. I also gave out free books and loved to see the joy of reading in the recipients’ eyes.
Today I’m wearing wings made by Mabin Rhys Wings (headpiece by me).
It’s so important to have safe spaces for people to let their personality, loves and passions shine. You aren’t alone, there are others who have wings too.
Please read this book with your children, and let them know it’s ok to be Perfectly Them.
Today is the last stop on the blog tour but do go check out the previous blogs.
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Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Maloy – Blog Tour
Do Not Become Alarmed by Maile Meloy is a tightly paced thriller from Penguin Viking which is out now.
Set on a Christmas cruise in Central America it follows three families and their search for their missing children after a day trip goes very awry.
At the start, the book reads as a domestic drama, with two of the families being long term friends that clearly have more than their holiday packaging as baggage.
Clearly some inspiration has been taken from real cases, and where to place the blame when something like this happens, is explored.
We are not limited to the points of view of a few characters but instead hear from most of them over the course of the story, including the children and a few added extra characters who I thought perhaps muddied the waters slightly and complicated an already intricate plot. I think my usual Young Adult reading material means I get much more involved in a first person or limited third person narrative and is purely a personal preference. I enjoyed hearing from the children the most and have to admit that my lack of empathy with the parents did perhaps distance me from them.
This isn’t a classic light summer read and I can’t promise that you won’t become alarmed. I know there were a few incidences where I was more panicked than the characters.
Definitely worth your time and I can see this being filmed or made into a tense radio play.
Thanks to Josie at Penguin for the review copy. Opinions as ever are all mine.
Do check out what other bloggers thought at the other stops on the tour.
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More Than One Way to Be a Girl by Dyan Sheldon – character and author interview
Synopsis
“Face it, Zizi. You’d be lost without your make-up and your girly clothes.”
“And you think ‘feminine’ is a dirty word. You’re the one who’s never going to change, Loretta.”
“You want to bet?”
When Loretta and her best friend Zizi make a life-changing bet, one thing’a for sure: the summer is about to be turned upside down.
Character Interviews
Before you two were friends how would you have defined feminism?
Loretta: I would have defined it like this: Feminism is self-defense.
ZiZi: You see what I mean about Loretta, right? Everything gets exaggerated! How I would’ve defined it is: Wannabe guys with a limited sense of humour and not a lot of patience.
Describe your style.
Loretta: Immune to the pressures of a fashion industry that wants you to buy something new every week so it can make more money. And immune to the pressures of a society that thinks it has the right to tell you how to dress. Utilitarian and comfortable, but with colourful socks.
ZiZi: Fashionable and feminine, but (now) with practical shoes. When I look in the mirror I want to smile.
What do you admire most about the other?
Loretta: ZiZi’s unique. She may look like Miss Congeniality, but she’s opinionated, stubborn and for definite has a mind of her own. And she makes me laugh.
ZiZi: With Loretta, what you see is pretty much what you get. And what you get’s a real friend. Plus she has a great sense of humour, and if you get a flat tyre on a lonely road, she’s the girl you want next to you.
What do you think would be the hardest part of being a boy?
Loretta: In some ways, there are as many restrictions on guys as there are on girls – they’re just different restrictions. All that competition and pressure to Be a Man. And, as ZiZi would say, you can’t even go shopping or put on your favourite dress and those outrageous earrings to cheer yourself up.
ZiZi: Having to wear boring clothes. Plus having to be tough and strong when really all you want to do is going under the duvet and cry.
Author Interview
Are you more like Loretta or ZiZi? In what ways?
I’m probably more like Loretta. I often have the impression when a contentious topic comes up and I clear my throat that my friends are all wishing I wouldn’t say anything.
Describe your writing style.
That’s a question I’ve never been asked before. But, judging from editor and copy-editor comments I’ve had over the years, I’d say it’s idiosyncratic.
How many ways of being a girl do you have?
I don’t do the stilettos or the makeup, but otherwise I think I cover the range. I own both a food processor and a drill.
What I thought?
This was such a fun read and I loved the characters of Loretta and Zizi and especially their friendship.
I found this a really accessible way to look at gender and feminist issues through the set up of a bet.
More Than One Way to Be a Girl takes a slightly lighter hearted view of similar themes to that in Holly Bourne’s Spinster Club series and is perfect for the 13+ age group it’s aimed at. Relationships with boys feature, and believe me I shared Loretta’s annoyance when her relationship with her colleagues changed.
MTOWTBAG is out now.
I also had fun recreating the cover for #bookstagram, and below is a picture of me after checking my tyre pressures. Let’s just hope I never manage to put oil in the brake fluid ever again?! *disclaimer – this happened a long time ago.
Huge thanks to Dyan for answering the questions and channelling Loretta and Zizi again and to Kirsten Cozens at Walker Books for the review copy. Opinions on the book are as ever are entirely mine.
kirstyes 