Newsletter 5 - 20th June 2025

Tidemagic: Ista Flit and the Impossible Key

By Clare Harlow

‘Ista Flit and the Impossible Key’ is the sequel to ‘The Many Faces of Ista Flit’. In the first book Ista used her tide-blessing, the ability to adopt other people’s appearances and gifts, to save Shelwich from the sinister grilks and return all the missing people. Unfortunately her father is still missing and her only clue to his whereabouts is a mysterious key.

Book 2 opens when Ista uses the key to open a magical doorway to Glass Island, across the estuary from Shelwich. In addition to the human villagers, it is home to the marsh-spinners - dangerous shapeshifting creatures who can appear as humans or insects. Ista has always believed that the marsh spinners were just a bedtime story - luring humans with music to join their revel, but as soon as you taste the food or start to dance you would be trapped there forever. Ista’s quest takes her, and her friends Nat and Ruby, on a perilous journey into the heart of the Marsh Queen’s enchanted court to finally rescue her father.

‘Ista Flit and the Impossible Key’ is another captivating fantasy adventure, beautifully imagined and masterfully written, with lovely lyrical illustrations by Kristina Kister.

The First Year

By Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton

'The First Year' is the sequel to Matt Goodfellow's verse-novel, 'The Final Year', which was the winner of the 2024 Spark! Book Award. It begins with Nate's last day of Year 6 and covers his first year of high school. His little brother, Dylan, has recovered from his operation and is in good health but Nate is dealing with his old school bully from Year 6, an unsympathetic form tutor, and a new arrival who is upending his life.

Like 'The First Year', the text is organised in short, readable stanzas so, even though it is a longer book, it is still a very quick and engaging read. Once again, Matt Goodfellow beautifully captures Nate's conflicted emotions and the angry beast that threatens to burst out of him when he's under pressure, as well as the loving and supportive relationships between Nate, his Mum and his younger brothers. Nate's new friend, Muna, is also a great addition to their friend group. Another poignant and authentic read, perfect for upper KS2 pupils.

Many of Sarah Ziman’s poems are playing with words. From the increasingly muddled ‘Packed Lunch’ to riddles, misunderstandings, poems that can be read forward and backwards, and puzzle poems. Despite the whimsical tone, there are plenty of moments of sincere emotion - she beautifully captures the difficulties of navigating friendships at school, from the wonderful positive experiences in ‘Opposites’ and ‘Anticipation’ to the negative interactions we can all relate to in ‘One-Upper’ and ‘Copycat’. I also loved the inclusion of Welsh language, from the experience of learning Welsh as the new girl at school to ‘Tadcu’s Lemons’ - an entirely translated poem. 

A playful, profound and authentic collection of poems - perfect for primary-aged children.