Yesterday a parent came over to tell me how impressed she was by the book fair and that you did a fabulous job of selling the books to the children first. Since I’m not an avid reader of steampunk, I may be complaining about something very common and very popular in the steampunk culture. Super-bright female captains and engineers, a young boy who doesn't allow his disability to define his life, and an older man who has amazing self-defence skills which belie his years, add a refreshing, modern edge to the tale. I received a copy of this book from the publisher Norton Young Readers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Arthur and Maudie Brightstorm are devastated to learn that their famous explorer father has died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris, the southernmost point in the world. You guys were so fab and Dawn was such a lovely presence in the schools - I will absolutely be in touch next time I'm in your neck of the woods. While it is a race-against-time adventure, it's not so pacey as to spoil the enjoyment of the book, so readers are able to take in the ever-changing landscape and the richly descriptive text. She's determined to beat Eudora in a second race to the polaris, and Maudie and Arthur are determined to all they can to help, partly for the large cash prize and the thrill of it, but in larger part, especially for Arthur, to find out what really happened to their father. Officially a middle-grade fantasy, Brightstorm was a fun, rousing adventure so long as I didn’t overanalyze it.

This is Vashti Hardy’s first book, but I can see a sequel on the horizon even without my scrying glass. I wish there was a map, like an unfinished map, to hint that it’ll be filled out once the explorers discover new places. Each character had such a unique personality and genuinely brought so much joy and character to the story--Hardy really crafts some strong characters.

Due to societal norms, most of the time the boy is the intellectual, engineer one and the girl is the more dreamy, book nerd.

Arthur and Maudie, the Brightstorm children embark on an epic journey to find out the truth behind their father’s mysterious disappearance and at the same time, be the first to reach South Polaris. Their father had been on an expedition to the South Polaris when his airship presumably crashed and the entire crew perished. Twelve-year-old twins Maudie and Arthur’s world comes crashing in when their explorer dad is reported dead in his mission to get to South Polaris.

The twins are devastated when they receive news that their father died in an attempt to reach South Polaris, the southernmost point in this imaginary world. Twins Arthur and Maudie receive word in Lontown that their famous explorer father died in a failed attempt to reach South Polaris. This intriguing book by Vashti Hardy engages with the reader and keeps you hooked whilst taking you on an amazing adventure. Arthur and Maudie are twins, their father an explorer who has died on an expedition - but they haven't been told the whole truth about what happened.

The main characters Maudie and Arthur, are told that their dad is dead and had tried to steal from his competitors before he died. Maudie is a serious-minded inventor (who would very probably be best friends with Lemony Snicket’s Violet in A Series of Unfortunate Events) and Arthur is a boy who doesn’t quite know who he is, with empathy so deep that he learns to speak with the wonderful "thought wolves", previously seen as vicious, wild beasts.

I have even talked the head into a little revamp of the library so that we can display them properly!

I also really enjoyed the secondary characters that Arthur and Maudie meet on their journey, such as their Captain, Harriet Culpepper, Felicity, and Welby.