by Jenny Nimmo

The Snow Spider is an unsettling story of grief and magic, based on Welsh mythology. It is set on a remote farm in Wales during a bleak winter.

Gwyn is a boy whose life changed forever on his 5th birthday when his sister was lost on the mountainside in a blizzard without a trace.

Ever since, Gwyn’s family has been overcome with grief and each of them has reacted differently. Gwyn’s father blames him for Bethan’s disappearance and shows him no love or affection. His mother can’t accept the fact that her daughter has gone. His Grandma, Nain, stops telling him stories of the Welsh wizards, even though she is bent on believing that the family is related to the legendary magician, Gwydion.  

Four years later, on Gwyn’s 9th birthday, Nain gives him five magical gifts to see if he had inherited his ancestor’s magical powers. 

Not only is he facing troubles in his school life and has to deal with the loneliness of becoming a magician, but he also unleashes dark magic from the depths of Celtic mythology, which endangers his family and friends. 

 With the help of the mysterious snow spider, Gwyn releases his inner magician and does things he never thought possible including achieving his heart’s desire. 

I thought this was an inspiring, sad and dark tale that brought shivers up my spine.

It kept me thinking long after I finished the book as things are not what they may seem….

by Claire Barker

Review by wellreadboy

Picklewitch and Jack is an amazing tale of an unlikely friendship.
Jack is an ordinary boy who has moved to St. Immaculates School for the gifted as he was meanly treated at his other school, for being a goody two shoes. Jack is hoping to find a friend just like him.
Instead, he meets a mysterious, mischievous figure who turns out to be a nature witch named Picklewitch, whose grammar and spelling is atrocious. Her behaviour is the exact opposite of Jack’s and for most of the story he dislikes her because she always manages to get him into trouble yet is still popular with everybody because she brings some fun into their lives. Picklewitch bathes in the attention but wants a proper friend, just like Jack.
Eventually, Jack learns to appreciate Picklewitch’s friendship as she helps him when he needs her most. They both meet obstacles along the way but eventually they become good friends.
I really enjoyed reading this fantastic, funny, touching story of friends who stick together in all circumstances. The way Picklewitch speaks is really funny and made me laugh out loud. 
The message of this story is that you can find friendship in the most unlikely of people. 
I think this is a great book and I can’t wait for the sequel!

I am a year 6 pupil living in London. I love books and I am often found reading at night under the duvet! Shhh… Don’t tell my parents!!

My favourite bookshop is The Alligator’s Mouth, hidden away in a mysterious alleyway in Richmond, because it is a magical place filled with books. I can ‘talk books’ with the lovely and knowledgeable Tony and Margaret.

There I met author Claire Barker a couple of weeks ago and she is the one who suggested that I should start a blog and review some of the books I read. I hope I can share my love of books with other children.