The Secret of Golden Island is an absolute peach of a book. While at its heart this is a classic adventure story of friendship, daring and bravery it is also so much more. The subject of war, separation and illness are handled with sensitivity and empathy. I read this book with a thumping heart, racing through yet at the same time hardly daring to turn the pages. When the climax came it was huge and satisfying and the ending full of hope. I absolutely adored it and will be buying a copy the second it publishes.

Skylar: 'I'm not crying.'
Yakov: 'I know.'
These are the first words the two children ever exchange. It doesn't seem like much but, somehow they lead them to a friendship like no other, and a quest very definitely like no other.
Both children are grieving - Skylar for the grandfather she had before his stroke, Yakov for his home, ravaged by war. When an island just off the coast is up to be won, they both feel its call and their slavation. But how can two children can, in secret from their families, win an actual island? How can they compete with adults? How can they keep each other safe...

Being a big fan of Natasha Farrant's writing, when the Netgalley link to The Secret of Golden Island dropped in my inbox I could not have clicked it fast enough! And I devoured the book in a day. Once again, the author gives us a place of magic - nothing supernatural but rather the magic of her words, evoking the feeling that you're in the presence of something special. Her writing is exquisite, authentic, without affectation. Her characters - drawn with authenticity and tenderness - are going through some extremely difficult situations but where the story could be at times really sad, there is always hope shining close by.
And most of all, The Secret of Golden Island, is an incredubly exciting adventure! With legends, secret tunnels, some very bad people (d0n't want to reveal too much) but some very good ones too. It's a book that sweeps you off with wonder and makes you root absolutely for its heroes to succeed. One I will read again for sure.

A new Natasha Farrant story is always something to look forward to; her stories have a wonderful charm about them mixing a traditional children’s adventure tale whilst giving a nod to life in current times and this new book is no exception

Skylar is struggling with the recent stroke of her grandfather and after a school bullying finds herself suspended ; Yakov has had to leave his family in a war torn country and stay with relatives - finding himself struggling to fit in and deal with being away from those he loves.

Through family friendships, the two children’s paths cross as they find comfort from the sea and in particular The Golden Island which they discover is to be given away in a competition.

And so begins their adventure as they compete against an array of characters to win the island- there is a race against time, dark deeds at night and a quest to solve.

This is a wonderfully bighearted book that explores friendship and the desire to make a change for the better sensitively acknowledging the plight of many in war zones.

Fast- paced, gripping and ideal read for any 9-12 year old

Highly recommended as a book to escape into or a great KS2 class read
Another winner 😊