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Jump to navigationJump to searchStrong Winds Trilogy: Ghosting Home by Julia Jones and Claudia Myatt (view source)
Revision as of 15:18, 12 June 2012
, 15:18, 12 June 2012no edit summary
First - you could read this book without having read either of the first two books: you'd catch up eventually but it wouldn't be half as much fun as starting at [[Strong Winds Trilogy: The Salt-Stained Book by Julia Jones and Claudia Myatt|the beginning]]. It's a rich, multi-faceted story and it would be a pity to miss out on any of it. Primarily it's a thriller, but the series has never fought shy of taking on the big issues. This time it's people-trafficking and Julia Jones doesn't patronise her readers. Descriptions and events are not gratuitously violent, but she doesn't pull any punches about the evils of this trade. It's likely to provoke a lot of discussion.
It's a real talent to be able to develop a character, particularly of a boy in his early teens, over a trilogy but Donny comes off the page brilliantly. He's growing up and becoming more responsible. He's capable of working out what's to be done in a logical manner and he the childish tantrums are a thing of the past. Well But - when he does get into a strop he's quite capable of doing something unbelievably stupid and life threatening. It's not just Donny who shines out either - I can't think of a single character, old or young, male or female whom I failed to connect with.
Although Donny is the centre of the book it doesn't mean that it will only appeal to boys. There are strong female characters and the nature of the story means it's likely to appeal to boys and girls. If they've an interest in boats then it's likely they'll read the print off the page as the book is spot on about all things marine, but even if they're complete landlubbers they'll still enjoy the story and even learn quite a bit into the bargain. Add in illustrations by the brilliant [[:Category:Claudia Myatt|Claudia Myatt]] and you've got a gem of a book.
