Piccadilly Press ISBN 9781848129153 £6.99 Based on Filipino folklore, this is a powerful and challenging book for experienced readers. The author has previously won the Newbery Medal and certainly the quality of her writing shines through in this gripping tale. It is set on the fictional island of Sanalgita where life is treacherous, the future…
Chicken House Books ISBN 9781912626106 £6.99 This is a fantasy story set in a real place – Venice. You won’t learn very much about Venice, other than gondolas and canals; but you will read a cracking good story that gallops along, almost leaving you breathless. Aribella is just turned thirteen, daughter of a penniless lace-maker,…
Piccadilly Press ISBN 9781848128477 £6.99 Alex and Dinu are off on their time travels again – to Athens in 415BC in search of Socrates. This time they reluctantly take Dinu’s little sister, Crina, with them. All in aid of making sure the details in a new computer game are accurate. Needless to say, all kinds…
Orion ISBN978151007564 £7.99 Fly has never known a life other than the orphanage and being a chimney sweep’s assistant, but one day she decides to escape by climbing down a chimney. Unfortunately what she discovers seems even worse than her previous life, because she ends up in a room with a rather large tiger. From…
Everything with Words ISBN: 9781911427179 £8.99 This is all about two twelve year olds, Gloria and Needle, who live 50 years apart, yet meet up and share lots of adventures. Gloria, an orphan, lives with her 16 year old sister and they both need to work to pay the rent. Gloria aspires to be a…
Zephyr ISBN 9781786 695222 £10.99 In the foreword to Invisible in a Bright Light, author Sally Gardner admits it took her a long time to “work out how a theatre, a ghost ship and a crystal chandelier might be connected” but in this rich, evocative story, she has managed to do this with aplomb. Readers…
Quercus Children’s Books ISBN 9781540997 £9.99 A delightful story that will entertain and engage readers. Two best friends, Oleg and Emma, are bored in class so invent a boy called Sebastian Cole who arrives along with a host of mysterious happenings. Brooks has created a fun story with some nicely observed characters and lively realistic…
Orchard Books ISBN 9781408355480 £6.99 Alice MacAlister is a ‘pre transformation’ werewolf who has been nominated for The Bravest Monster award despite only recently receiving her welcome pack from the Ministry of Monsters. When celebrity monster vlogger Kiki grabs hold of her hands at a press conference Alice experiences a strange draining sensation. Soon after…
Wayland ISBN 9781526311627 £12.99 This is one in the series of books ‘ A Question of Science’ and is an excellent addition. Fun illustration enhance each double spread are educational. The text is clear and very good specific illustrations are integrated well to make the book an inspirational learning volume for primary aged children. Older…