by Ele Fountain
Cover Art by Thy Bui
Published by Pushkin Children's
Pushkin Press
A Sarah Odedina Book
From day one I've been a huge fan of Ele Fountain. Her writing style quietly invites you into the story & gently wraps you up in the pages. The characters hold you in there & the short chapters keep the perfectly paced action flowing.
The reading miniClub members are so excited that Storm Child is heading their way. The time spent reading to each other has increased significantly over the past few years with many titles from Pushkin Press.
One of our favourite things is that each of Ele's 6 books is a stand-alone adventure with its own interesting & unique cast. To be able to recommend an author & new book even before it's out in the world is a very special thing.
As a child, we experience the world through young eyes but Maya has to balance real-life issues with school & her passion for the sea. It isn't easy. In some ways she's mature for her age - maybe she's had to grow up quickly, with two busy working parents.
An unexpected incident leaves Maya's father missing & there's an intense wait to find out what happened to him, his fishing buddy & boat.
She loves living at Penrose Cove by the coast, with lots of space, great friends & surfing. But Maya's world is about to change in a BIG way.
Moving is always a major challenge for anyone & Maya did her best to find a way through the inevitable sadness with the help of a new friend. But new friends can also come with their own challenges.
Island life sounds fun but is it really going to be paradise?
Technology & 'phones bridge the gap, but the huge time difference is tricky & frustrating. Maya misses her friends back at the Cove.
With dramatic action & recognition of individuality, family dynamics & the importance of friendship, this story touches on elements of many people's lives.
Once again Ele Fountain has managed to carefully weave difficult human & environmental topics through a completely engaging story punctuated with jeopardy & adventure. Even in all the storms of life, there's always a route to find empathy & understanding.
It's such a great feeling when you can 100% recommend a book. Then you hear about the next one & the reading miniClub members (junior chemo patients) + parents KNOW it is one they will enjoy. It's a great bonus!
It's also rare that an author's full list can be recommended for use in schools. All of these books offer numerous topics for classroom discussion & activities.
Along with a fantastic reading experience they cover a wide range of environmental, cultural & humanitarian elements.
Thank you for having me on this tour.
Pushkin Press brings such an excellent, diverse collection of authors & books to adults & children worldwide. We're looking forward to the next one.
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