This book was the chaotic reading I needed this wintry season. It covers a lot of important topics with lightning speed, mixed with mysterious events which kept me guessing. And, of course, I spend enough time on the internet to immediately be intrigued by a Moth Man. I enjoyed this read, it was easy and fun and perfect for it's target audience of 9-11 yr olds.

I listened to the audiobook version for free (courtesy of NetGalley) as the cover really caught my attention. There are many interesting aspects to this story, ranging from the mysterious weather and equally mysterious Whizzy which entertains whilst also having serious undertones involving racism, eating disorders, bullying, the justice system and various ways that people are viewed simply for being different. I have seen this novel compared to Skellig, which I believe to be an apt comparison. A thoroughly enjoyable read and definitely one I’d like to use within my teacher training.

The cover art of #TheLighteningCatcher by #ClareWeze was instantly appealing. The blurb was interesting, and I was expecting a lot…. The journal style of this worked and did show the lack of understanding of the bigger picture from the main character Alfie. I think it was this lack of understanding of the peripheral issues of bullying, racism, an eating disorder that made me not love this story – there were missed opportunities to develop these themes further in my opinion. The journal style also made this more of a list of events rather than a coherent story. Although I loved the scientific weather elements which alluded to magic and mystery. Thank you to #NetGalley for gifting me this #ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks #netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook. After a rather slow start the book did improve. The main character was somewhat annoying in the mistakes he kept making. The science in the story was interesting and the strange creature very intriguing. The relationships in the story were what really made it good and relatable to 10 and over. The breakdown in friendship and the main characters view that it wasn’t his fault all the time was a realistic portrayal if how friendships break down.
The understanding that grows between Alfie and his sister and how they mend their relationship through shared understanding of being wrongly accused of something.
I was however left frustrated as I wanted to know whether the creature was real or fantasy and how it would be best cared for, which also left me wondering whether it was all just a fantastical tale that was made to explain the various bit of trouble Alfie got in to.
For middle grade children I think this will make a good read and some good comprehension questions could be developed through this.

Thank you for NETGALLEY for a copy of this book for an honest review
This is a strange book which at times was hard to follow and I was shocked that being aimed at children and there was a swear word in the opening chapter
There is an intriguing SIFI story but it did not work for me with Bullying and eating disorders and racism is touched on also a family member having a stroke
The SIFI section is interesting with strange weather patterns and solid science
Not something that I was able to enjoy unfortunately

There are very creepy things happening in Alfie's new town, Folding Ford. There's a weird giant moth man and weather that appears out of nowhere and disappears just as fast. Probably even weirder is the fact that no one else seems to find it quite as weird as Alfie does!
The descriptions of the fizzy, electrical creature Alfie discovers sound amazing but I did feel bad for his friend Sam, who pretty much gets dragged into all Alfie's mad impulsive plans.
This is written as a journal which I'm not usually that keen on but it is actually incorporated into the story and it does work as an audiobook.

This is a Middle Grade Book. I have to say this book a found so confusing and very hard to follow. I think the writing style in this book was not for me. The characters where not developed. I feel this book is driven by the storyline. I just really wanted to understand this book, but I just could not keep going. I ended DNFing this book at the 40% mark. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

I had really been enjoying this book up until the last third - that's where it lost me. I was enjoying the supernatural occurrences, Alfie's very funny and insightful journal entries (love a good mystery and the Summer adventure vibe is one every child can relate to!) and the relationship he built with the other characters. I wanted to know more about his sister, or about the powerful creature he built that wonderful bond with. And the 'Moth Man' figure was so interesting and mysterious and exciting! Who was he? How did he get into this line of business? How many more weird creatures is he hiding or helping?

But then suddenly the plot loses itself. Alfie going to a correction house with literally no evidence that he committed a crime? And a 'psychologist' insisting he did it and interrogating him without a parent or a lawyer present? Bothered me. I also thought it was a missed opportunity there - a mixed race boy accused of a crime he didn't commit, sent to a boy's home unfairly? Accused, in fact, by a racist white old man while the white boy who could prove his innocence is too scared and legs it? I feel like at the very least there should've been a mention of racial profiling. Especially since his sister had also been accused of a crime she didn't commit (but that reveal fell somehow flat - I was expecting something worse? The bullying seemed quite mild, considering. I might've been more interested in exploring her anorexia).

I can see myself recommending this title and in fact we did order a few in - I certainly enjoyed most of it and I think it could be a shop's bestseller. But I wish the author could revisit it and make the ending a little less rushed and a little bit more magical!