A career as a detective, a strange being in a cave, and a whale and a boy in need of rescuing – childtasticbooks
Today’s reviews feature a non-fiction book about detecting, a crafty wolf and a mysterious being in a cave, and a boy and a whale who rescue each other.
How to Be a Detective and Other Crime-Fighting Jobs, by DC Alexandra Beever and Sol Linero, published by Nosy Crow
How I wish this book was around when I was young. From an early age I wanted to be a detective thanks to the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books, as well as Enid Blyton’s various crime series featuring children solving crimes while merrily begging for food off of kind-hearted farmers. This book talks you through what a detective does, why they are needed, and jobs that are related to the field like dog handlers, handwriting analysts and forensic artists. It also is packed with information on what kind of clues help a detective (eg DNA) and the history behind detectives. Because, while there have been crimes since we first walked the earth there weren’t always detectives to solve them (unless there were but they didn’t have the recognition). I didn’t know that it is a relatively recent job – the first private detective agency is believed to be the one run by former criminal Eugene Francois Vidocq. There is also a useful section on how to become a detective (normally via the police force for a couple of years before specialising). I am off to search for more clues!
The Cave, by Rob Hodgson, published by Frances Lincoln
There is a cave, and inside this cave lives a mysterious creature who only makes itself known by its two worried eyes staring out at the world. A wolf spies an opportunity and tries every trick in the book to lure the potential ‘meal’ out. But he is in for a very big surprise! I love reading this book to the children as they engage very well with the story and the illustrations, guessing who might be in the cave, wondering if the wolf will be successful (are they ever in stories) and delighting in the ending. The illustrations are a treat, too – full of character and fun.
The Lost Whale, by Hannah Gold, illustrations by Levi Pinfold, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books
I enjoyed Hannah Gold’s debut book The Last Bear and was keen to get my hands on her second; I found this story to be equally captivating. This time we hear the story of Rio, who is sent to live with his maternal grandmother in the USA while his mother is receiving medical treatment. We soon discover that this is for mental-health issues, and learn that Rio has, till this point, been her carer. He is forced to give up this responsibility and does so reluctantly, accustomed as he is to trying to ‘cure’ his mother, albeit temporarily. Therefore, Rio keeps himself to himself and his grandmother, fearful of overstepping boundaries, also puts barriers up.
One day, Rio discovers the magnificent grey whales that swim off the Californian coast and one in particular, White Beak, who his mother adored as a child. He also finds he has a gift for hearing the grey whales – something that is impossible for most people. His love for the whale is all-encompassing and so, when she goes missing on her migration to the Mexican lagoons, he is determined to find her.
As with The Last Bear, The Lost Whale is not only an engrossing read but also an emotional one. Several themes tug at the heartstrings – the plight of the whales and other ocean creatures whose fate is tied to humankind’s damaging activities, and Rio’s own fragile wellbeing as he becomes frantic to see his mother again. Hannah Gold has a real talent for marrying empathetic stories about sensitive children with endangered animals, forging a lifelong friendship between two beings who are at the mercy of situations beyond their control. Levi Penfold’s illustrations are incredibly moving, making theirs a perfect partnership of words and images. I am looking forward to reading her next book – Finding Bear – the sequel to The Last Bear, and I will make sure I keep some tissues at the ready!
