Magic, fantasy, fairies, Halloween, kidnap, quest, personal development
The Chime Seekers
by Ross Montgomery
Key information
Author: Ross Montgomery
Illustrator: David Dean
Release Date: 4th November 2021
Book type: Chapter, 384 pages, paperback
Star rating: ★★★★★
Reader level: Confident reader (8+) / Shared read (7+)
Age: Year 3+
Overview
The book begins with Yanni, a young boy who has recently moved houses with his parents and little sister Ari, resenting his family for uprooting them from his old home. During this time, he begins to notice odd things about his new village (Fallow Hall) and thing get even more confusing when his estranged cousin, Amy, tells him of a local boy who disappeared a few years before. Little does Yanni know that this story is to become his reality, when one night he finds his sister Ari climbing the walls and hissing from the lampshades - she has been kidnapped and replaced with a "changeling", or magical pixie-like creature from the parallel universe that exists on the other side of his fireplace. Together, Amy and Yanni overcome their fear and begin their mission to find baby Ari and return her home safely before his parents find out.
In order to find Ari, Yanni must find his way through the fireplace an into the magical world of Hallow Fall where he sees his new village in a new light - it looks the same, but dark magic has taken over the landscape and those who live there. During his time in this world, Yanni comes face to face with the evil ruler, Lord Renwin, who is determined to take Ari for his own. Despite the warnings from his cousin, Yanni strikes a deal with Lord Renwin and must complete 3 impossible tasks in order to free his sister, or face the music by returning to his parents empty handed.
The story follows Yanni and Amy through the world of fae and contains plenty of suspense, dark magic and determination in order to beat the clock and stop Lord Renwin from gaining any more power over the land. We see personal development in each of the protagonists, witnessing how differences can be put aside in order to achieve a shared goal. Yanni learns a lot about himself during his quest, reflecting on his relationships with those he cares about most, as well as the person he longs to be.
Key concepts/themes
Considerations
Kidnap
Dark magic/magic
Mystery
Fantasy
Moving house
Family
Bravery and determination
Personal development
Kidnap
Dark magic/magic
Moving house
Ghosts
Additional teaching opportunities
1. Writing opportunities
- Newspaper report (Ari missing)
- Nonchronological report (changelings)
- Character description (Lord Renwin)
- Setting description (Hallow Fall/Fallow Hall)
- Comparing settings (Hallow Fall/Fallow Hall)
- Character profile (Lord Renwin, Yanni, Amy)
2. RSHE
- Moving house
- Relationships with siblings
- Personal development
- Challenging stereotypes (strong female deuteragonist)
Vocabulary
The Chime Seekers is incredibly rich in Tier 2 vocabulary, making it an excellent way to develop pupils' language.
| Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|
| Wearily, hulking, writhing, barren, startled, bearing, contemplate, discordant, forlornly | Mati, Dolmen, Greek, Neolithic, incantation, loukomathes, rowan garland |
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