Book Tour: War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson

Rating: 4/5

Genre: Middle Grade, Young adult, mystery

Length: 250 pages

Published: September 2023

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62027879-war-of-the-wind

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/War-Wind-Victoria-Williamson/dp/191110750X/

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It’s my turn on The Write Reads book tour for War of the Wind by Victoria Williamson. An eco-thriller that looks into scientific experimentation on a remote island, with disability rep and a group of children that prove that nothing is too hard or difficult to put your mind to when you have a great group of friends and a common goal!

AN ADVENTUROUS ECO-THRILLER FROM AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN’S AUTHOR VICTORIA WILLIAMSON

On a remote Scottish island, fourteen-year-old Max’s life changes forever when he loses his hearing in a boating accident. Struggling to make sense of his new life and finding it hard to adapt in school, he begins to notice other — even stranger — changes taking place when a new wind farm appears off the island’s coast.

With the help of three school friends with additional support needs, Max discovers that a sinister scientist, Doctor Ashwood, is using wind turbines to experiment on the islanders. They must find a way to shut down the government’s secret test before it spins out of control…

This is a middle grade book that needs to be in the libraries of every school, a sci-fi thriller with an environmental twist, perfect for middle grade readers (but one I would recommend to all!) With themes of family, disabilities, advanced technology and the classic battle of good vs evil, this book follows a group of incredible children who work together to try and protect their island and the ones they love.

I found myself rooting for Max’s group, and it was wonderful how the author displayed through Max’s personal development and increased open-mindedness that his classmates were more capable than he had initially realised and allowed him to not only save his island, but build amazing new friendships.

The British Sign Language Alphabet at the front of the book was a brilliant touch which added to the reader experience and overall theme of the book, providing readers with a further understanding of the language used by Max, his parents and his friends.

A wonderful middle grade read, with a vivid remote setting, disability rep and characters that stick with you, exploring experiences and themes that should be read by all. Thank you The Write Reads and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review and for having me on this tour.

Victoria Williamson is an award-winning author who grew up in Scotland surrounded by hills, books, and an historical farm estate which inspired many of her early adventure stories and spooky tales. After studying Physics at the University of Glasgow, she set out on her own real-life adventures, which included teaching maths and science in Cameroon, training teachers in Malawi, teaching English in China and working with children with additional support needs in the UK. Victoria currently works part time writing KS2 books for the education company Twinkl and spends the rest of her time writing novels, and visiting schools, libraries and literary festivals to give author talks and run creative writing workshops.

Victoria’s previous novels include The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, The Boy with the Butterfly Mind, Hag Storm, and War of the Wind. She has won the Bolton Children’s Fiction Award 2020/2021, The YA-aldi Glasgow Secondary School Libraries Book Award 2023, and has been shortlisted for the Week Junior Book Awards 2023, The Leeds Book Awards 2023, the Red Book Award 2023, the James Reckitt Hull Book Awards 2021, The Trinity School Book Awards 2021, and longlisted for the ABA South Coast Book Awards 2023, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2020, and the Branford Boase Award 2019.

Her latest novel, The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams, is a middle grade fantasy inspired by classic folklore. Twenty percent of the author royalties for this book are donated to CharChar Literacy, an organisation working to improve children’s literacy levels in Malawi.

You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com