Our Sister, again by Sophie Cameron

"Welcome to Project Homecoming and exclusive trial by Second Chances Ltd.

You are part of one of the most ambitious and pioneering projects ever carried out in the field of Artificial Intelligence. 

One that, if successful will change how we think about 

and experience life and death forever."

Life is a mystery and so is death but we do know that when someone dies we cannot see them again. In books there is an unwritten rule that death is never reversed or so it seems to me. In this book a young girl is 'brought' back and this has huge implications. This book will most certainly make readers think deeply about grief, death, what it means to be human and also the implications of technology in our lives.

Isla's sister has died. Mum is wrapped up in grief and so when she reads about a way to bring Flora back to 'life' she readily agrees. What does this mean? What are the implications for the family of agreeing to the Second Chances Homecoming Project. What are the implications for the community who have all signed confidentially agreements? And what about the other teenagers who were friends with Flora? They have grieved and attended her funeral and now she is back. But they are older because three years have passed. If this version of Flora is frozen in time and only has the memories. possibly unreliable memories, collected by Second Chances, is she a real person? Mum does not want to see the truth and dad is sure this is totally wrong, so he has left the family and moved away from their island home. Now that Flora is back should she go back to school? Is there any point in sitting exams? And of course, the kids in her class from before have left the school and are at college.

Is Flora person or a robot? "As Flora turns towards the harbour steps her hair falls to the side and shows the back of her pale neck. ... Carved into her skin, only just visible above her jacket, is a small square."

Is this Flora, really Flora? "The returnee has been created using vast amounts of data, in addition to photos, videos and extensive interviews with your loved one's friends and family."

"Our returnees look entirely human ... We are confident that this new arrival will be an extremely close match to the person you remember. However, please be aware that there are some differences. Returnees do not need to sleep, they cannot be fully submerged in water, (they do not need to eat), and they don't fall sick with human illnesses."

The food part about the returnee made my stomach squirm. In the first few days Flora does eat with the family but the food goes into a food compartment in her body and she has to regularly empty it. Eventually she just gives up this charade of eating. 

"Losing Flora so young made me realise that growing old is a gift not everyone gets."

Dad "doesn't think she's human ... He says you can't rebuild a soul and you can't be a human without a soul."

Exploring a number of ethical questions, Our Sister, Again is simultaneously an intriguing mystery and a moving story of grief, family bonds, and what it means to be human.  Book Trust

It's an emotional story, and heartwarming too. The Book Bag (read this full review - it is very thoughtful)

This is an incredibly powerful, compelling and absorbing read that raises issues around personhood, ethics and social media.  ... And, that ending – it brought tears and smiles – and was exquisite! Book Craic

The Rise of Wolves by Kerr Thomson

"I, Innis Munro, a native of the island of Nin, do hereby proclaim and declare that I will endeavor to traverse the chasm known as Bonnie's Laddies Leap ... Upon successful execution of this challenge I will claim the rewards offered, to wit Lairdship of Nin and all accompanying lands and titles."

Why is Innis prepared to risk his life? He wants to stay on the island but his grandfather is unwell and if he is taken away Innis will have to move to Skye too. Innis also wants to preserve the wild areas of his island home and stop the building of a huge wind farm.

But there is something else going on here. Innis sees a wolf. Wolves have been extinct in Scotland for hundreds of years. And who is the mysterious boy who seems to be wandering around the island what is going on at this so-called wildlife sanctuary? 

The setting for this book is the part that really appealed to me - a small Scottish island. I have visited a few of these and I do understand High School aged children do have to travel to larger islands for their education and they do stay in hostel style accommodation so it made sense when Innis and his friend Kat went to school during the week on the island of Skye. I also enjoyed exploring the wild areas of this island of Nin especially the cliffs, caves and barrens.

Innis hears it first – a bloodcurdling howl that stops him dead in his tracks. And then he sees it. Silhouetted against the sky, head raised: unmistakeably, a wolf. Living on a remote Scottish island, Innis is no stranger to nature in its rawest form. But a wolf? Wolves became extinct in Scotland centuries ago. And Innis has other, more pressing things to worry about: his grandfather’s failing health and the threat of his unspoilt island being desecrated by the construction of a wind farm. If Innis has the courage to rise to an ancient challenge, it might just solve all his problems at once but, if it all goes horribly wrong, he could be paying with his life. This tale of conflict between ancient traditions and contemporary technology features a gripping plot, stunning setting, great characters, and an underlying theme of loyalty to family and friends. A multi-layered mystery adventure. Book Trust

Here is a sample of the story. 

About the author Kerr Thomson:

My first children's novel The Sound of Whales won the 2014 Times Children's Fiction Prize. My children's fiction, as well as being adventurous and relevant, has landscape and nature at its heart. My first novel was set on the fictitious Scottish island of Nin. It concerned the themes of place and identity and being different, as well as being a good old-fashioned adventure story with a big mystery and a hint of the supernatural. And there were whales! My second novel The Rise of Wolves is also set on Nin but with a different set of characters - other young islanders with their own adventures to be had and mysteries to solve. In this book it is wolves, long thought extinct from Scotland, that play an important role in the story. The Rise of Wolves was shortlisted for the Scottish Teen Book Award 2019.

Aspects of this story that are based on facts:

Rewilding 

• Providing the space and conditions for dynamic natural processes to shape and govern Scotland’s land and seas.
• Recognising the critical role of all species – including missing native species – in sustaining functioning food webs and other ecological interactions.
• Nurturing nature recovery at different scales and accepting that approaches to rewilding can look and feel quite different and still offer valuable benefits.
• Improving connectivity across fragmented habitats to give species more freedom to roam, supporting biodiversity recovery and climate resilience.
• Helping communities to prosper in a diverse, nature-based economy that works in tandem with ecological recovery.

Re-introducing Wolves

Advocates for the reintroduction of large carnivores to Scotland argue that they would bring ecological and economical benefits to Scotland and address some of the ecological imbalances affecting the country. In particular, it is argued that carnivores would exert top-down pressures on the overabundant deer population through directly killing and eating deer and create a landscape of fear, thereby helping habitats recover.

Read more here. 

Lairds in Scotland

In contemporary Scotland, anyone can become a Laird, Lord, or Lady of the Glen by participating in land ownership initiatives. These initiatives allow individuals to legally own a small plot of land and adopt a corresponding title. Becoming a Laird or Lady is a symbolic gesture, signifying your connection to Scottish heritage and commitment to preserving its traditions.

The Wolves of Greycoat Hall by Lucinda Gifford

Having travelled to Scotland I found this book just a delight. The kilts, the tartan, the "weird" language, and the castles. Boris Greycoat and his dad Randall and mum Leonora hear that wolves are to be reintroduced into Scotland so they decide to take a holiday to the land of their ancestors. 

Source: Lucinda Gifford on Twitter

"Since 1680, there have been no wolves in Scotland. But now The Scottish Royal Conservation Society wishes to welcome us back. Wolves will be reintroduced, starting with the Highland and Islands. Perhaps one day soon, we wolves ca go about our daily lives in Scottish cities without shrieks of terror from the local population."

So begins the story which feels like an old fashioned melodrama with dastardly baddies and clever heroes (Boris) and an outcome (in the castle) that feels just right! The family board their train in Morovia (Czech Republic) to the coast, then catch an overnight ferry to England and finally they board the train for Scotland - specifically to Inverness. They have a booking at the Highland Hotel. 

Don't read this book if you are feeling slightly hungry because it is filled with delicious food. It is important for wolves to eat consistently throughout the day. "As all respectable wolves know, the best way to get on in society is to not get very, very hungry. A hungry wolf is not a dignified wolf ... As a precaution, a wolf must not appear in society when hungry - as this hunger may result in Undignified Situations and Embarrassing Incidents." Luckily Inverness has cake shops, a fishmonger, restaurants and of course the hotel dining room. 

"The cafe sold nine different kinds of cake: coffee, vanilla, jam, strawberry, chocolate, lemon, caramel, fruitcake and carrot." You do need to know wolves do not eat carrots and so when they leave the cafe they leave plenty of (carrot) cake for the other customers.

The descriptive writing gives a sense of character and place and although some of the vocabulary is challenging, the support of the illustrations makes it suitable for children developing their reading skills.Full of historic castles and mystery, this book is perfect for a 7+ readership and fans of Chris Riddell’s ‘Ottoline’ series. Books and Publishing

If you need more plot details listen to this podcast by Middle Grade Maverns.

Fir for luck by Barbara Harrison

This story switches between Strathnaver in 1814 and Ceannabeinne in 1841. While travelling in Scotland I chanced upon Fir for Luck. This is a story about the Highland Clearances and I found it was a good way to gain some understanding of these events. It is 1841and Janet is desperate to join the men and boys who will spend the day gathering thatch. This event is called Bent Day and girls are not allowed to be involved. What Janet does not know is that on this day a man will arrive with a writ.  Janet and the women know it is vital no one touch this writ - it is an eviction writ. The women bravely wrestle the messenger to the ground, they light a fire and force his hand and the writ into the fire.

"You'll regret this. Leave me be! He'll only send it again.' ... I grit my teeth as I pull his arm over the fire, clawing my nails into his skin so hard he yelps in pain. ... The writ fights the greedy flames; contorts and doges, but it is no use. The fire devours it. There is nothing left but ash."

This is, of course, only the beginning. Mr Anderson, the land owner, is determined to evict these people and claim the land for grazing sheep. The violence escalates and yet the people of the village really want a peaceful solution. This seems impossible. Janet observes the adults on both sides and bravely devises ways to thwart Mr Anderson and his accomplices.

The title refers to a small sprig of fir which Janet's Grandmother has requested. "Fir for luck, all the way from the woods of Strathmore. It's supposed to be wound into each new hearth chain."  Janet and her family, including her precious Granna will need to leave their village but perhaps the luck from this piece of fir is why this process will be delayed and not filled with violence and destruction as happened in Granna's childhood back in 1814.

Here is the author web site.

This is a pleasant read and children living in, visiting or interested in the Highland Clearances will no doubt gobble it up as the action just keeps on coming and new tensions built up; exactly what young people look for in a novel. The Wee Review

Wild Wings by Gill Lewis

It is thanks to one of my younger students that I took the time to read Wild Wings.  I did start this book months ago but did not get past the first few chapters.  My student in Grade 2 renewed this book several times and, when she finished, it was clear she really enjoyed it.  I did think this book looked a little beyond a Grade 2 level so I was curious to read it for myself.

This book does require some reading stamina.  The first section is quite slow then everything changes in chapter 18. Callum and Iona  become close friends.  Iona shows Callum the nest of an osprey, which is an endangered bird, living on Callum's farm in a remote part of Scotland.  They watch these birds every day for months as the nest is built, the female osprey they name Iris arrives and eventually the eggs hatch into chicks which rapidly grow into independent adults.  Sadly Iona becomes suddenly very ill.  Callum is determined to keep his promise to care for Iris but how can he do this when she flies away to The Gambia in Africa. Luckily, with the help of a local wildlife ranger, they attach a tracking device to Iris.  As they track her migration the signal suddenly stops.  Callum is desperate to find Iris so he sends off a series of emails to strangers in The Gambia near where the signal was last transmitted.  He is contacted by Jeneba, a young girl who has been hospitalized following a bad accident.  Jeneba finds Iris but she herself needs urgent medical attention and so Callum enlists the help of everyone in his Scottish village to the raise the funds to support this young girl.  In the final scenes Jeneba arrives in Scotland and Callum takes her to see the osprey which have once again migrated to this remote part of Scotland.

"And suddenly it was as if Iona were with us, there on the mountain.  It was as if she had always been there.  I curled my fingers around the locket and held it in my hand.  My eyes burned hot with tears that wanted to come.  'Here,' I said.  I put the locket into Jeneba's palm. 'My friend would have wanted you to have this."

I have now discovered this book has a different title (Sky Hawke) in the UK so I have put both covers here.  I do hope the title and cover picture is all that has been changed as we have the US edition.  This book has won five awards including one from Kirkus - see the quote below.  If you enjoy this book you might also enjoy Hoot by Carl Hiaasen.

Here is the author web site.

With universal themes of life and death, friendship and respect for the natural world, this is still quite particular, a powerfully memorable story of a boy’s grief and determination to keep a promise.