Thursday, 5 February 2015
Release Date: 9th November 2014
Publisher: New Generation Publishing
Genres: Children's Fantasy, Children's fiction
Dragons, knights and a boy who slips through a tear in the fabric of the
universe into a fantasy medieval world
Gavin is an ordinary boy with problems like everyone else, when he finds
himself in an extraordinary situation and facing the fight of his life. People are calling him Gawain and sending him
on a medieval quest. How has he found
himself on a horse when he has never ridden one before? How come he has a sword
in his hand and terrifying creatures bearing down upon him? He seems to have
slipped through into another universe. But can he win the battle of Good
against Evil, and can he save the land of Unor
̶ and more importantly, can he
save himself?
PLEASE NOTE: This is a children’s
novel. Aged 10-14.
When I was an older child and then a young teenager I absolutely adored this type of novel. My love for fantasy novels has never left me and although S.C.A.R.S is primarily a children's novel, I found that I absolutely loved it and think that children and adults alike will enjoy this book. If you like dragons, knights and quests then S.C.A.R.S has it all. It reminded me a little of a Lord of the Rings type adventure.
Our hero Gavin is an unhappy kid. Dad is gone and poor Gavin worries about his mum. As if that wasn't enough to contend with, he only has a few close friends and is bullied. Life however is about to get a whole lot more complicated for poor Gavin when he suddenly finds himself slipping through time and becoming the hero he thought he could never be!
S.C.A.R.S is not only a fantastic fantasy novel but it also explores issues pertinent to young readers - divorce, bullying and loneliness. However, Gavin will take readers, young and old on an amazing adventure. The book is very cleverly written, slipping between Gavin's quest as he becomes the brave knight Gawain, to Gavin the schoolboy who must overcome his own difficulties and deal with the quests that real life throws at him.
I really hope that S.C.A.R.S is going to be the first book in a series as I'd love to see our hero and his friends on more exciting adventures. Highly recommended! Just brilliant!
ABOUT JULIA IBBOTSON
Julia Ibbotson is an author and
academic, and lives in the middle of the English countryside in a renovated
Victorian rectory with her husband, an orchard, a kitchen garden and far too
many moles. Her four children are now grown up and she has four grandchildren.
She was a school teacher for many years, teaching English and Drama, and trying
to get kids to read lots and to write stories. She especially enjoyed reading
out to her classes books that she loved herself. Then she became a senior university
lecturer, researcher and writer. She loves travelling, choral singing, walking,
sailing and swimming.
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Fabulous review, JB! Thank you. Made my day! x