Praise for Sarah Ann Juckes’ STORM SEAL in the Lancashire Post

“Age 8 plus:

Storm Seal

Sarah Ann Juckes and Sharon King-Chai

Coping with the challenges that come from change is explored with exquisite sensitivity in this inspirational seaside story of family and hope from Sarah Ann Juckes whose YA debut, Outside, was nominated for the Carnegie Medal Award in 2020.

In a critically acclaimed partnership, Juckes’ heartfelt novel is illustrated by award-winning Sharon King-Chai and stars a young girl trying to protect her family and her community, and learning that not all changes are bad.

Martha was raised on her nana’s stories. Even if no one else believes them, Martha knows that they’re magic. Now those stories are helping Martha hold things together when everything around her is falling apart… out-of-towners moving into her family’s old house, her nana’s mysterious illness, and the tourists flooding the town who don’t seem to care about the sea or the animals that it is home to. But Martha has found one creature who understands… a black seal pup that seems to appear whenever Martha needs it most. Could she be the key to fixing everything that’s wrong, or will Martha need to fight her way through the storm by herself?

Juckes’ beautifully created and imagined novel gently explores the dilemma of Martha who is struggling with grief and the changes around her, but finds both courage and her voice beneath the waves. Brimming with emotion, hope and tenderness… a joy to read.

(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)”