Harklights suffers from being a lite version of this better book, but it's not the only book it draws on. Follow his adventures as he overcomes his fear of heights and grows in confidence thanks to Papa Herne’s encouragement. In some ways it's the refinement of this wave of admirable novels tackling environmental themes over the past decade. Now he’s roused at daybreak before a meal of porridge and a day packing matchsticks, overseen by the brutal Ma Bogey.

When Wick first starts to explore his new environment, it is a joy to see him finding so much beauty around him. It’s filled with adventure, found family, strong friendships and lots of charming animal friends throughout. Candy Gourlay introduces Wild Song, her companion novel to Bone Talk, in which Luki and Samkad leave their home in the Philippines for America. Yet there have always been books like this - way back to the Little Grey Men, through Watership Down and The Animals of Farthing Wood - so this new explosion is sometimes more stylistic than thematic. Wick is an orphan boy, who has spent his life (as far as he can remember), working at the Harklights match factory and orphanage.

The story is a captivating contrast between the two environments and author Tim Tilley's knowledge of the intricacies of nature and his attention to the smallest details of forest life are fascinating. I haven't charted out my visits for the summer term, but I'm sure there are several in the south) and thanks so much for being so fantastic!

After being released, they sprout trees beneath the circus causing it to be rise to the canopies, never to be used again. This would be a wonderful way to bring the story’s events to life in the classroom by challenging learners to get involved in their own Wildlife Watch. It seems there is no life or future beyond the walls of the matchstick factory; certainly nobody every escaped. It would have been great had Petal or Bottletop escaped with Wick into the forest to meet the Hobbs. Although Nox is suspicious of Wick, saying that humans cannot be trusted, Pa Herne finds something in our hero.

However, the reader soon learns that there is more than meets the eye at this dark, dreary and lifeless institution.

Grateful for the kindness shown to their stolen child, they offer Wick the chance of a lifetime – escape from Harklights and begin a new life with them in the wild… Winner of the Joan Aiken Future Classics Prize, Harklights is a magical story celebrating family, friendship and the natural world, filled with a message of hope for our times. This review was written by Kelly Ashley With over 20 years of education experience in both the US and the UK, Kelly Ashley currently works as an independent consultant, providing training and support for primary schools across the UK. In a grim, grey orphanage (surrounded by a forest full of unseen life and tiny magical creatures ) lives mistreated orphan Wick, who seeks an escape from the cruelty of his life. The world of the little people isn't described well enough and it becomes hard to imagine and believe - compared to the meticulous setting of the Wild Robot and the way Brown describes the adaptation of the robot to the wild world, Tilley seems unconcerned with details and eager to rush on with the plot.Like so many I've read (The Silver Arrow, The Lost Wild, The Wild Robot, to name a few), Harklights comes sumptuously packaged with golden trim. One of the greatest gifts, as a child growing up, is to be able to experience the wonder of the natural world.