Wintour's Game

Wintour's Game is one of the best Young Adult books I have read in a while! This fast-paced, all-action read is certainly one to get young readers hooked. An excellent tale of friendship, loss and resilience.

Alex Wintour is an orphan and a thief. She's survived this long thanks to her quick thinking and ability to see glimpses of the future. When a supposedly straightforward robbery goes wrong, Alex finds herself 'whisked away' by teen millionaire Colman Reece who, like Alex, can manipulate time. The relationship between Alex and Cole is a rocky one; they both find it difficult to trust others, while the presence of Tana, a 'chauffeur come bodyguard', prevents Alex from settling into a life of apparent luxury easily.  Cole has plans; he needs Alex's help to pull off a heist unlike any she's been part of before.

Wintour's Game is a great read, although its complex plot makes it rather difficult to follow in places, so perhaps not an ideal read for a newly independent reader. There are several episodes of violence and a couple of the characters 'meet their maker' along the way, so it's certainly not for the more timid readers. That said, I have no doubt that this would certainly be a superb, shared read, where the adult or confident supporting reader was able to step in effectively to allow the storyline to flow at an appropriate, 'all action' pace.

There are also several scenes where the reader can easily visualise the action as it happens; I'm no film buff, but I could certainly imagine a 007 or Mission Impossible-style production easily for this book: fast paced, all action, good versus evil.

As a current lower schoolteacher of English, I recognise how many KS3 children begin to see reading as a chore rather than a pleasure.  Wintour's Game not only provides numerous opportunities for discussion about family, loyalty, right and wrong, but it is also a truly great YA read. Just the kind of 'reading hook' most teens and their teachers need after a long summer break.

This is the first in an action-packed new series, a perfect read for fans of Alex Rider or Artemis Fowl.

320 pages / Reviewed by Sam, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 11+

Arriving with a bang, as a thrilling chase round London ensues, arch thief Alex Wintour is clearly not a girl to be messed with. She and seemingly smug rich-boy Cole are temporals - Oracles with the ability to see into the future but - certainly in uninitiated Alex's case - not the ability to control it.

Part of a secret network of Oracles hidden in plain sight in London, Alex and Cole form an unlikely alliance to stop the evil Thaddeus Lynch from synchronising Oracle powers into a single dominant force - with himself at the helm. As the sinister Temple close in on them, the heist is on.

This thrilling novel cracks along at great pace, and if some of the time slip elements and backstory are slightly hard to fathom, intriguing, well-crafted characters more than make up for it. There's an a on-going thread of 'who do I trust?' that keeps the reader guessing and almost non-stop action leading to a pulsating and revealing finale.

The start of a new series, there is plenty of room here for further Oracle adventures. Tech savvy teens, mind-boggling gadgetry and a sharp, stylish tone - this is ideal further reading for fans of H.I.V.E, Artemis fowl and other slightly criminal teens!

320 pages / Reviewed by Clare Wilkins, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+