MARTIN BERRY- GLOW WORMS - REVIEW
Martin Berry is a children’s author who has already made a name for himself, having won the LoveReading4Kids’ - ‘Indie Books We Love’ award for two of his novels. His stories combine science fiction, fantasy, lashings of drama, and no end of adventure, ensuring that readers young and old stay fully glued until the final page. With his catalogue of books continuing to expand, youngsters looking for some literary excitement are encouraged to check out his work A.S.A.P.
Glow Worms is a thrilling action mystery which tells the tale of young Jack Burrows, an adventurous boy living in a small Cornish seaside village with his Aunt and Uncle. After discovering some strange glowing creatures at the bottom of a well, Jack soon finds himself at the heart of a dangerous alien visitation, and must uncover the secrets and choose his allies carefully in order to protect himself and those closest to him. Guiding him along this quest is his excitable dog Cody, his best pal Ryan, and their new inquisitive friend Kerra. Though that isn’t to say that they don’t meet some additional and somewhat otherworldly acquaintances along the way.
As the book progresses, readers get the pleasure of learning how the young heroes of this story peel back the layers of mystery, as their quest grows ever-riskier. In the latter act, the detective-work subsides to action, resulting in a thrilling and explosive ride where the imagination is set loose. Martin Berry has no hang-ups in maximising the levels of fun and adventure in every way possible, leaving zero room for boredom in any of his pages. Kids reading this are guaranteed a hearty course of enjoyment, delivered through the eyes of three-dimensional characters who are a joy to take the journey with.
The conception of the alien forces depicted in this story are themselves a staggering addition to the world of Glow Worms. The author has clearly taken inspiration from some solid conventions of sci-fi, both family and adult, to create a group of entities that feel truly unique and not of this planet. Without giving too much away, the opposing forces of extraterrestrial creatures have powers, rules and talents of their own that make them a little more interesting than the bog-standard UFO-bound visitor. In the case of the biggest alien threat and its ability to alter shape and survive more than the average knock, the humans of the story are driven to think outside the box and persevere in order to outwit these perilous life-forms.
Describing alien beings can often be a fun but daunting task. One has to strike the balance between unleashing wanders unbound, whilst giving them a consistent set of rules that allow them to be plausible. At the same time, all of these factors must be conveyed to the reader, so that they nestle properly within the imagination. Martin Berry does a marvellous job of all of the above, using colour, texture, and the right amount of descriptive tone to give his creatures credence and a thrilling sense of unpredictability. The aliens of Glow Worms are truly wondrous and deadly creations that keep the protagonists and audiences alike guessing at every turn.
However this talent for weaving the fantastical is not the only thing that makes this book such a rich experience. The Cornish village that our characters occupy is swiftly made to feel like a real place which can be seen, heard and smelt, particularly through the senses of the main character Jack, who in himself is a superbly crafted central protagonist. From the outset, the life-experience of Jack is a somewhat chiselled one, having tragically lost both his parents in a car crash. He now lives with his Aunt and Uncle, and doesn’t always fully see eye to eye with the former… But the wild inventive antics of his Uncle Fred means that life is never dull, or devoid of positivity within the sleepy coastal village where adventure is soon to be found.
Likewise, the village is occupied with a goodly assortment of characters, including disgruntled police officers, inept bullies and hardened fishermen, all of whom ensure that Jack’s quest has no shortage of turbulence and drama. Ultimately, it’s these supporting elements which really give the book its teeth, and provide excitable readers with something to relate to while the alien-based antics get underway. Combine this with Uncle Fred’s appetite for invention and you have the right mix of grounded and quirky, with all the heart needed to ensure we care about the people involved in the story. These elements are important, and as any proficient writer will know, are fully necessary for the sci-fi components to land with substance, as and when they do.
Glow Worms ticks just about every box needed for a good kid’s sci-fi adventure book. Martin Berry masterfully fuses the familiar with the impossible and goes the extra mile to keep his readers hooked all the way until the book's conclusion. Whether you are invested in the drama of the characters or intrigued by the ever-mysterious alien visitors, there is a level of interest to every chapter and a depth that can’t be underappreciated. Glow Worms is children’s science fiction done right, from an author who clearly cares about the satisfaction of his readers. Containing no end of heart and coolness, Glow Worms is recommended to anyone looking for a thrilling read that nudges itself playfully outside of the norm. Here’s hoping for more books by Martin Berry in the future.
You can order Glow Worms and check out Martin Berry’s other novels at his website.
