Small Wonder

Tick lives in a secluded cabin at the edge of Ellia with his little brother, Leaf, and their horse, Pebble. Since their Grandfather died, Tick has taken on the responsibility for looking after them all and is trying to prepare for the approaching winter, when they see thousands of warships coming across the water from the Kingdom of Drene, their deadly enemy. Tick knows that he has only six moons to get them to the safety of King's Keep, a mighty fortress built by the previous ruler of Ellia, Good King Avery. Pursued by a ruthless Hunter, a deadly Drene assassin, they set off on an incredible journey, full of peril, to reach safety.

Small Wonder is an outstanding adventure story. Pace perfect, it will keep readers on the edge of their seat whilst cheering on Tick, his brother, Leaf, and, of course, the incredible Pebble. Told from Tick's perspective, it is very easy to empathise with this young lad as he grieves for the loss of his grandfather and tries to honour his last words. He questions himself, worrying that he is not good enough, not strong enough and yet, at every turn the reader sees him make kind, thoughtful decisions and constantly strive to do his best.

Initially, although he loves Leaf, Tick feels the burden of responsibility, but as the story progresses their brotherly bond, their love for one another, deepens and is a joy. Each character is skilfully developed so much so that even though their Grandfather dies before the book begins, he feels like a real presence, a significant personality in the story.

Despite meeting with some unpleasant and evil characters on the way, Tick remains honourable, true to his grandfather's wishes and so deserving of the fate which awaits him. There is plenty of tension as the story romps along, but there are also tender moments and touches of humour as well. I love Ross Montgomery's writing, but this might just be my new favourite of his books! It would make an excellent class story - except I can't see any class letting the teacher stop reading!

288 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 9+

Tick is ten years old and lives in a remote cabin on the coast of Ellia. Following the death of his beloved grandfather, Tick is looking after his younger brother, Leaf, aged four. When Ellia is invaded by the Drenian army, a Hunter comes to the cabin and seems to be searching for something. Tick and Leaf escape on their horse, Pebble, and head for King's Keep, an impregnable castle in the mountains where Tick believes that they will be safe.

With only six days to get there, and with the Hunter and his hawk on their trail, they travel through Ellia, meeting bandits and rogue knights along the way. Can Tick fulfil the promise he made to his grandfather and keep both Leaf and Pebble safe?

Small Wonder is a wonderful book, full of adventure, danger - and brimming with love. Set over six days, the story is fast-paced and beautifully written. Tick is a true hero, he finds his little brother annoying at first but his underlying love for his sibling never wavers. Although his grandfather has passed away, he is a constant source of advice and encouragement to Tick throughout the novel. Pebble is also a character in her own right; indeed, she is the third member of Tick's family and she and Tick share an extremely close bond. The reader is swept into Tick's world, and we root for him every step of the way as he strives to reach King's Keep.

Not a word is wasted in this glorious story, its short chapters encourage the reader to keep turning the pages and the conclusion is heartwarming and satisfying. I loved Ross Montgomery's last novel, I Am Rebel, and Small Wonder is another triumph for this very talented author.

I can see this book becoming extremely popular, both with the individual reader and in the classroom. Exciting, moving and with strong themes of family and making every chance count, this is a book to read, share and treasure. Highly recommended!

288 pages / Reviewed by Beverley Somerset, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 9+