Sky Song

In the snowy kingdom of Erkenwald, whales glide between icebergs, wolves hunt on the tundra and polar bears roam the glaciers. But the people of this land aren’t so easy to find. Because Erkenwald is ruled by a cruel Ice Queen and you must stay hidden or risk becoming another of her prisoners.  

Join Eska, a girl who breaks free from a cursed music box, and Flint, a boy whose inventions could change the fate of Erkenwald forever, as they journey together in search of an ancient, almost forgotten, song with the power to force the Ice Queen back.

This is a story about an eagle huntress, an inventor and an organ made of icicles. But it is also a story about belonging, even at the very edges of our world... {goodreads summary}

This MG adventure story was beautiful. This is the first of Elphinstone's novels that I've read (although I love the Snow Dragon) and it definitely won't be the last. Her writing is wonderful, her stories magic. Here are three things I really loved about Sky Song:

1) Sky Song was packed with action. Something exciting happens in every chapter. I read Sky Song while studying for my MA and there's so much to learn from Elphinstone's story craft. She packs magic and adventure onto every page, so young readers will never lose interest. 

2) It had wonderful characters. Eska, Flint and Blu were superb characters I was rooting for from the beginning to the end. Children will love them and want them to succeed. 

3) This story has so much heart. It has lovely messages about hope, courage and being yourself which I think lots of readers will enjoy and relate to.