Audiobook Review: Living at the Edge of the World - Spring (Papala Island Adventure, #2) by S.J. Barratt

Living at the Edge of the World - Spring by S.J. Barratt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Viking history and modern-day treasure hunters clash on a small, isolated island.

Living at the Edge of the World – Spring is the second book in author S.J. Barratt's Papala Island Adventure series and, once again, excitement visits the tiny, remote island in the Scottish Shetlands. When tween twins Timothy and Tabitha Brown and their friends uncover what may be the most perfectly preserved Viking helmet ever found, their excitement draws unscrupulous thieves to their remote community, and they will stop at nothing to get their hands on the valuable ancient artifact!

Readers are returned to Papala Island, a small island on the far reaches of Scotland's Shetland Islands, where Tim and Tabitha are nearing the end of their stay with their Great-uncle Tamhas. With only a few weeks left before their departure and return to their London home, mother, and father, the twins are sad to leave their newfound friends and the close-knit community that made them so welcome. While Tim will miss all the opportunities still available to expand his knowledge of life and the island, Tabitha has really grown up during her sojourn, and the place and its people have become her new life. Her innocent announcement of their discovery of the Viking helmet on her social media accounts, though, has unexpected consequences.

The plot is exciting and full of local lore and nature. Readers who enjoy stories with a lot of interaction with animals will find themselves right at home among the pages. I was glad their leave-taking was gentle, with a proper plan for returning during their upcoming summer break from school. No tearful scenes or traumatic incidents to delay their departure.

Gill Mills narrates the audiobook, and her performance really brings the twins, their friends, and their family to life. While it took me a little while to connect with Mills's accent (so very different from the voices in my part of the world), once I did, I clearly imagined all the characters and the story's excitement and emotions.

I recommend LIVING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD – SPRING to middle-grade readers and listeners, and for reading aloud at home, in the classroom, or at after-school programs.

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Children's Book Review: Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens (Fanny Fitzpatrick, #3) by Dana Hammer

Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens by Dana Hammer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fun, mysterious, and suspenseful tale of gods, goddesses, sirens, and friendships.

Fanny Fitzpatrick and the Sirens is the third book in author Dana Hammer’s middle-grade adventure series featuring Fanny Fitzpatrick and her unusual group of friends. In this adventure, Fanny is invited to a summer music camp run by famous pop star Mara Fry, who heard Fanny sing at her cousin’s funeral. Against the advice of her friends —Athena, Gemma, and Danial —and despite their worry and the revelation that Mara and the women who run the camp are sirens, as in the mythological sirens of old, Fanny decides to attend. However, things at the beautiful tropical island camp aren’t exactly what they appear, and she soon realizes there’s more going on than vocal training.

Fanny is a sweet, helpful girl, and she especially looks forward to being a great big sister to her new baby brother, Damon. While a summer hanging out with her friends would be wonderful, the opportunity to spend time with a superstar and get some professional vocal training proves impossible to pass up. In fairness to Fanny, she considers her decision long and hard, with the deciding factor being her tired mother’s desire for her to be out from underfoot as she adjusts to life with a cranky newborn. Athena and Gemma, in their distress, are a little heavy-handed in their attempts to dissuade Fanny, too, ordering her around and getting angry rather than maintaining a cool head and offering proof of their accusations that the sirens are still up to no good.

The plot is fun and quirky, with Fanny trying to keep Athena’s bed-bound brother, Dion, out of trouble, but the suspense quickly takes center stage when she and the three other girls get to the island. The formerly overly friendly adult leaders have secrets they’re not ready to share with the campers and use questionable tactics to get the girls to do what they want. The story is absolutely absorbing, and I didn’t want to take a break until almost halfway through the book, and then it was hard to find an appropriate stopping point! Fanny and her friends are bright, engaging, and so easy to root for. Although this is the third book in the series, adequate backstory is provided so it can be read as a standalone.

I recommend FANNY FITZPATRICK AND THE SIRENS to readers of middle-grade fiction, especially those who enjoy a mythological theme.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

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