BooksforTopics Reading for Pleasure Recommendations
Book Title: Harsu and the Werestoat (available here)
Author/Illustrator: Barbara Else
Publisher: Gecko Press
Publication Date: March 2019
Most Suitable for: KS2
Reviewed By: Lisa Davies, deputy head & class teacher
A really original story which is part fairy tale and part time-travel adventure.
Harsu’s mother is behaving very strangely; she’s started kidnapping children and occasionally she turns into a horrible stoat. It’s not easy for Harsu to live with a mother who is the daughter of the Wind God and who is determined to get revenge on Harsu’s warrior-physician human father. All he has is five drops of God’s blood and his father’s treasured cloak and, to make matters worse, now that he is twelve he may also be turning into a were-animal!
By travelling through a time gate, Harsu and his mother end up in modern-day New Zealand, where he must learn to control his power and stop his mother’s plans.
Harsu and the Werestoat is an enjoyable read which has some lovely descriptions. Harsu is a very strong character with a clear set of principles and I’m hopeful that this book is the first in a series. I plan to read this to my class as soon as possible!
——————–
You can order Harsu & The Werestoat online or from your local bookshop or library.
Many thanks to the publisher for sending us a review copy of this book and to review panel member Lisa for reviewing it.