Top 10 books of 2017 (Sort of!)

It is that time of year when we start to reflect on the year that has passed, Sky Sports show 100 greatest goals and Sunday supplements run their Top 10 list of stuff! 

I am going to share my Top 10 books of 2017; however, not all of these books were first published in 2017, but I first read them this year. Some people would have called this blog Top 10 Children's books of the year, but these books are not just for children. I have enjoyed them as much as I have 'books for adults.'  If I was to add an 'adult book' to this list, then it would be A column of fire by Ken Follett. 

The list below is in no particular order.  (Click the book covers for additional details) 

Wild Boy by Rob Lloyd Jones (2013) - grabs you from the opening and leads you through the grimy streets of Victorian London in an exciting 'whodunit'. WIld Boy is a 'circus freak,' a boy covered all over in hair who escapes from his master, is accused of murder and has to solve the crime in order to absolve himself.  

He is helped along the way by his acrobatic friends, a mysterious group called 'The Gentlemen' and even Queen Victoria herself. 

The second book is a stunning sequel in the same vein: another rip-roaring crime caper. 

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I read Pullman's 'Northern Lights' trilogies back in around 1996-1998 whilst still at secondary school.  I enjoyed the first two but enjoyed the final installment less and for that reason I have not picked them up since.  I thought I should read La Belle Sauvage after it was recommended by so many trusted book people on twitter. 

I am only three-quarters of the way through the book and it has not disappointed.  Malcolm, our accidental hero, takes to being a spy like a grebe to water.  Familiar names appear like Mrs Coulter, Lord Asriel and a baby Lyra, who Malcolm swears to protect from the malevolent forces who are quickly becoming powerful in this strangely familiar yet unfamiliar Oxford. 

I will be going back to finish it off when I reach the end of this blog! 

​Alas, not a book for primary children though.  Even the more able ones.  There are a number of swear words, sexual scenes and other adult themes in there.  Probably suitable from age 14+ 

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I read both book one and book two this year and they are very well written.  If you are a fan of The Nowhere Emporium, then you will enjoy these too. 

I thought the book trailer would do a better job of explaining the book than me: 

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Gunnar Bjornsson, a Viking, lives with his parents on their farmstead - an idyllic place to grow up.  Gunnar had a happy childhood but everything changed the night the Wolf Men came.  They killed his father and Gunnar escaped after watching Valkyries descend from the sky and take the body of his father to the halls of Valhalla. 

Gunnar vowed to avenge this act by travelling to Valhalla to bring back his father so they could kill the leader of the Wolf Men.  
On his journey, Gunnar was met by setbacks.  Being kidnapped and sold into slavery was not part of his plan.  However, with the help of some loyal friends he makes his way to the Land of Ice and Fire, across The Rainbow Bridge to Asgard and enters the Hall of Valhalla. ​

Read more in my Viking Boy Blog here

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The first picture book on the list is Grandad's Secret Giant by David Litchfield - author of 'The Bear and The Piano' It is a wonderful picture book about acceptance that can be enjoyed by children of all ages. 
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A giant lives in Billy's town and, according to Billy's Grandad, the giant spends his days doing good deeds for the people that live there. 

"He has hands the size of tables," Grandad continued, "legs as long as drainpipes, and feet as big as rowing boats.  Do you know who I mean?" 

"The secret giant," Billy sighed, "You've told me about him a thousand times, Grandad.  You're making it up!"

The giant doesn't want people to know about him "Because people are scared of things that are different."  Grandad tells Billy. 
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This is the main theme of the story.  Prejudice against things that we are afraid of and the acceptance of such things. In the story, we see how Billy reacts when he first sees the giant and how his Grandad's words makes him react differently to the other people in the town. 

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The first time I saw this book it was being read on Cbeebies story time and at the end my little boy asked why my eyes were wet.  Syd and his Grandad are best friends. Their houses face each other and they go on adventures in Grandad's attic.  One day they go to a magical island but this time Syd returns home alone and his Grandad stays there.  The next day, Syd returns to his Grandad's attic alone and feels lonely until a bird arrives, tapping on his window with a message from his Grandad.  Younger children will take the story at face value but older children will understand the allegorical message.

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I first came across Robert Muchamore whilst reading his action packed Cherub series which is about a modern-day secret-agent network made up almost exclusively of children.  They are high-octane adrenaline filled yarns which are suitable for UKS2 and KS3 children - fans of Alex Rider will definitely enjoy the Cherub series. 

'Henderson's Boys' tells the story of how the Cherub organisation began during WW2.  Charles Henderson is a British Spy behind enemy lines who helps the children of an old friend and recruits other youngsters to help him in his quest.  These recruits became the first Cherub agents and went on to help the resistance in France.  

The subject matter is, at times, challenging, with some of the main characters getting killed, but the first book is fine for the end of KS2 and could definitely get children interested in WW2 if they weren't already. 

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Erin Pike lives by the sea and she longed to go out to sea on her mum's fishing boat.  Unfortunately, even though Erin tries to stowaway on the boat, she never gets chance to go out onto the ocean.  She is not allowed.  The sea is too dangerous.  There are legends and tales told in the fishing village about 'The Black Rock.'  The Black Rock appears from nowhere and destroys boats; their crew are never seen again! 

One day Erin sneaks onto her mother's boat and sails out to sea.  She comes face to face with The Black Rock and ends up finding out the real secret.  Erin lives to tell the tale even if the grown ups of the town do not want to believe all that she tells.  

This modern folk tale tells us a story of people and their relationship with things that they do not understand. It reminds me a little of the story of 'The Iron Man' by Ted Hughes and has themes that echo in this book for older children: 'The Island' by Armin Greder ​

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This was an impulse buy in Tesco to keep the minion quiet in the trolley (we often get books this way).  It has become a firm favourite in our house. 

​The wildebeest, warthog, vulture, hyena and marabou stork are the ugliest creatures on the savannah (think Timon and Pumbaa in The Lion King), but not everyone thinks that they are ugly -their children think they are just perfect.

A delight to read aloud to the whole of the primary age range.  

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I love Jackie Morris's illustrations of animals so much I have bought a full set of Robin Hobb books with Jackie's cover illustrations, even though I already had the original set. 

The illustrations in here did not disappoint. From the first page until the last they are an absolute delight. 

This giant book opens: 
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Once upon a time, words began to vanish from the language of children.
They disappeared so quietly that at first almost no one noticed - until one day, they were gone.
But there is an old kind of magic for finding what is missing, and for summoning what has vanished. If the right spells are spoken, the lost words might return...

The book consists of 'spell poems'  which, when read aloud, will summon the missing language for children.  The copy in our house has been pored over again and again and again by a 'nature mad' 7- year-old. 

The Observer sums it up quite eloquently "Sumptuous...a book combining meticulous wordcraft with exquisite illustrations deftly restores language describing the natural world to the children's lexicon... The Lost Words is a beautiful book and an important one." 

Do you have a favourite book that you have read for the first time in 2017?  Please share them in the comments below. 

As always, thanks for reading! Rob