Imagination and originality
Sometimes truly original and imaginative fantasies seems easier to find for teenagers (and even 'tweenagers') than for children. Fantasy writing for 7-11s too often falls into somewhat tired cliché* and, even though young readers often enjoy this well enough, they still deserve writing that is fresh and vibrant. Fortunately, then, there seems to have been a quite a spate of new and exciting children's fantasy recently. For example, Jennifer Bell in The Uncommoners, has created a hugely imaginative sub-London of magical objects and their 'traders' which is as exciting as it is entertaining. A writer who can conjure a world where a toilet brush convincingly presents a menacing threat, is clearly very clever, and very original. Peter Bunzl's Cogheart is also innovative and engaging. He brings a version of steam-punk fantasy to a younger readership and his 'clockwork' Victorian adventure ticks along thrillingly. Its sequel is newly out, and The Uncimmoners has one due very soon, so I am eager to write about both in more detail as soon as I have caught up with their latest incarnations.
A fine trilogy completed
Meanwhile we now have the final book of Abi Elphinstone's trilogy (started in The Dream Snatcher) - and very welcome it is too. I rated the first two books very highly (see my post from March '16. ) and this conclusion fully supports my view that the series is an outstanding 'entry level' to magic fiction for younger readers. The Night Spinner expands even further the world of the previous instalments, and, indeed, the wonderful sense of adventure at which this author excels. It also has the advantage of one of the strongest girl protagonists around, supported by loyal friends both male and animal, a delightful combination that makes the books appealing and accessible to a wide readership. Its evil threat is spine-tinglingly sinister, without ever quite descending into the disturbingly macabre, and its climaxes are truly exciting.
The importance of adventure
Adventure and imagination are two companions which can make an enormous potential contribution to child development. In fact I would call them essential components of truly healthy growth. Sadly many contemporary children seem to have too little adventure in their lives. Overprotectivenes and so-called 'health and safety' have tended to suffocate it, as has the stranglehold of the mobile phone. Children don't need literally to canoe the Amazon to experience adventure. Our own children benefitted considerably from roaming the fields, woods and farm behind our Lancashire home. They thrived, despite all too often arriving back at teatime stinking of cow muck. So did we grow through our day-long bike expeditions to the 'Yellow Hills' outside industrial Blackburn; our parents through their childhood marauding down back alleys and scavenging on the bomb sires. Enormously valuable though the learning of a musical instrument may prove, being chauffeured from one after-school class or club to the next is no substitute for adventure. And actual adventure is the best. But the vicarious adventure to be found in books is an excellent supplement, and, for those children denied real adventure by our contemporary society, far, far better than nothing. Abi Elphinstone is an adventurer herself and shares the spirit and experience of adventure better than almost any other contemporary children's writer. All power to her and her adventurous Moll.
'Run with wild horses. Stand tall on the highest mountains. Swim beneath thundering waterfalls.'
Our children can - and perhaps one day they will.
Note:
* I must say I have become very jaded (and indeed put off) by the many book titles which blatantly mimick the Harry Potter formula. You know 'Somebody Somebody and the Something of Something.'; 'Tommy Cup and the Saucer of Gloom' and the like. They may sell books, but I can think of few such copycat titles that belong to outstanding works in their own right.