Six for Sunday: 2018 Books I Must Read
Ooh, this is a tricky one because I am terrible at remembering when a book was published and I have so many books on my to-be-read list that tracking down only those from 2018 might be hard…here are a few that I just know that I will love but I haven’t read yet, for one reason or another!
The Skylarks’ War by Hilary McKay
Clarry and her older brother Peter live for their summers in Cornwall, staying with their grandparents and running free with their charismatic cousin, Rupert. But normal life resumes each September – boarding school for Peter and Rupert, and a boring life for Clarry at home with her absent father, as the shadow of a terrible war looms ever closer. When Rupert goes off to fight at the front, Clarry feels their skylark summers are finally slipping away from them.
Can their family survive this fearful war? The Skylarks’ War is a beautiful story following the loves and losses of a family growing up against the harsh backdrop of World War One, from the award-winning Hilary McKay.
I actually have a copy of this already, so certain am I that I will love it! A lot of outr Year 6s have read and recommended it.
Brightstorm by Vashti Hardy
Twins Arthur and Maudie receive word in Lontown that their famous explorer father died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris. Not only that, but he has been accused of trying to steal fuel from his competitors before he died! The twins don’t believe the news, and they answer an ad to help crew a new exploration attempt in the hope of learning the truth and salvaging their family’s reputation. As the winged ship Aurora sets sail, the twins must keep their wits about them and prove themselves worthy of the rest of the crew. But will Arthur and Maudie find the answers they seek?
Everything about this makes me want to read it – I have bought a copy and it is just waiting for some uninterrupted reading time as I know that I will love it!
American Panda by Gloria Chao
At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents’ master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.
With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can’t bring herself to tell them the truth–that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.
But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?
I have been meaning to read this for a while, but it wasn’t initially easy to get a hold of in the U.K. I was lucky enough to win a copy in a giveaway on Twitter, but then the parcel never showed up and the person who ran the giveaway stopped answering my messages. ..I still see that account getting lots of followers for giveaways so I just hope that I was unlucky on this occasion and this isn’t someone promising giveaways but never following through. Oh well, I still really want to read this so will save up and get it at some point!
The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson
All 12-year-old Marinka wants is a friend. A real friend. Not like her house with chicken legs. Sure, the house can play games like tag and hide-and-seek, but Marinka longs for a human companion. Someone she can talk to and share secrets with.
But that’s tough when your grandmother is a Yaga, a guardian who guides the dead into the afterlife. It’s even harder when you live in a house that wanders all over the world . . . carrying you with it. Even worse, Marinka is being trained to be a Yaga. That means no school, no parties–and no playmates that stick around for more than a day.
So when Marinka stumbles across the chance to make a real friend, she breaks all the rules . . . with devastating consequences. Her beloved grandmother mysteriously disappears, and it’s up to Marinka to find her–even if it means making a dangerous journey to the afterlife.
With a mix of whimsy, humor, and adventure, this debut novel will wrap itself around your heart and never let go.
I know, I know, I know – how have I not read this yet?! I love stories based on folklore and stories about Baba Yaga so I just know that this will be a favourite.
Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll
It’s November, 1922. In a valley in Egypt the tomb of a long dead pharaoh is about to be discovered. The world watches and waits for news with baited breath. Thirteen-year-old Lilian Kaye is eagerly following the story. One morning the news takes a sinister turn: a man- a famous Egyptologist- disappears. All that remains of him are his feet. Then Lil’s grandfather is taken suddenly ill, and when a mysterious package turns up for him from the Egyptologist, Lil starts to believe there is truth to the rumours of a pharaoh’s curse.
I have loved everything else that Emma Carroll has written so I am sure that this will be no exception. I’m hoping to read this one with my Year 3 class when we’re studying the Ancient Egyptians.
Snowglobe by Amy Wilson
When daydreamer Clementine discovers a mysterious house standing in the middle of town that was never there before, she is pulled towards it by the powerful sense of a mother she never knew. The place is full of snowglobes, swirling with stars and snow and each containing a trapped magician, watched over by Gan, the bitter keeper of the house. One of these is Dylan, a boy who teases her in the real world but who is now desperate for her help.
So Clem ventures into the snowglobes, rescuing Dylan and discovering her own powerful connection to the magic of these thousand worlds. Vowing to release the magicians from the control of their enchantments, Clem unknowingly unleashes a struggle for power that will not only put her family, but the future of magic itself in danger.
I loved A Girl Called Owl and A Far Away Magic so I just know that this will be wonderful too…yet I haven’t read it yet because I feel like I need a suitably cold and frosty day for it! I will read it soon!
I own most of these already so definitely need to make an effort to get them read, especially as I am sure that they will be new favourites!
Have you read any of these?
Which should I read first?
Which 2018 books have you yet to read?
#SixforSunday is created by Steph from A Little But a Lot.
Check out some of my previous weeks of #SixforSunday here:
Books I would like to see as movies
Book characters I would like to stuck in a lift with
Animal companions in children’s books
Book characters I would like to be friends with
Favourite books of 2018 so far
Favourite snacks to eat while reading
Favourite books that nobody has heard of
Books that have made me want to shout
Books people are always telling me to read
Books that have been on the TBR pile forever
Authors who should collaborate
Characters I want to see together
2019 kidlit must-reads (so far!)
If you like, link your #SixforSunday posts below and I will check them out!
Find me on Twitter , Goodreads or Instagram
Thanks for reading!
Chrikaru Reads 
I have read 3 of these and they are all fantastic!! I would say read Snowglobe first for its contemporary yet timeless mythic feel and the wonderful imaginative scenes of jumping between Snowglobes.
Then House with Chicken Legs for its mythic qualities and the immersion in this earthy magic world with self doubt and coming of age. Almost set in this world but not quite, and characters not quite fitting in. Have PLENTY of tissues for this book: it’s glorious.
Then finish with Brightstorm for the cheering rip roaring adventure in a different world of engineering and transformations both physical and emotional as the children travel to discover the truth about their disgraced Explorer father leaving you breathless wanting to read Wildspark or hankering for Brightstorm 2 to publish!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish my reviews were even half as eloquent as this comment! I was already expecting to like these books, but you have completely sold me on them, thank you! I will let you know how I get on with them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re too kind 😊 and I certainly look forward to hearing your thoughts! Xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t recommend any of these since I haven’t read them yet but American Panda has been on my TBR since last year and I can’t wait for summer to give me more time to read it 🙂 Hope you love reading all these!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will let you know how I get on!
LikeLike
The House With Chicken Legs is one of my absolute favourites and I really love Snowglobe too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just know that I will love both of them, so I don’t know why I still haven’t read them! Must read them soon!
LikeLike