The Last Pebble by Alex Horne

For almost eleven-year-old Trader, school is a trial and friends are something that other people have. Trader is happiest on the beach with his beloved Grandpa who has taught him so much. Just like his Grandpa, Trader is a beachcomber, searching for the treasures which the beach has to offer and seeking out their secrets…

Rebel Heart by Ally Sherrick

June 1645: Roundheads and Cavaliers clash. The country is in the grip of the English Civil War. Born of noble blood, Merriweather Pryce finds her beloved home, the manor of Compton Blaize, under siege. Cromwell’s army looks set to strip the pride of the Pryce family name. It appears that her stepmother is intent upon…

Murder at Christmas by Fleur Hitchcock

Grace would rather not go to boarding school: the food is awful and some of the girls are mean. The nature of her parents’ work leaves her with little choice, however, and so, with the autumn term at an end, she is excited to see her mum and little brother Billy. The hotel in Bath…

Ice Dancer by Alex Cotter

Dina resents going to stay with Aunt JJ in Sheffield. She resents being the ‘Eldest’, the one expected to look out for her two younger brothers. She wants to be at home, amongst the trees and below the mountains, skating on the frozen surface of Mill Pond. But life often takes us in directions we…

Becoming Grace by Hilary McKay

From Barrington Stoke comes a tale of courage, a tale of hope, of battling enormous odds. . . Grace Darling is the daughter of a lighthouse keeper, and she simply cannot imagine a different way of life. She loves the small green island that is home, the cottage with the flower patch by the door,…

The Laughing Lynx (Zoe’s Rescue Zoo) by Amelia Cobb

Move over Dr Doolittle and meet Zoe who can understand and talk to the animals. Zoe wants to be a Zookeeper and helps at her local zoo. Sparking the imagination, this story is great fun and could be used to introduce different animals from around the world. A pair of kitten lynx arrive, Zoe helps…

Super Questers Mission: River Crest Rescue by Paul Ian Cross

Who does not love a magical adventure, especially when it links science facts and maths puzzles? Meet Leo, Lilli and Bea, a group of friends who crack codes and solve puzzles in Questland. This would be a great class reader, to reinforce teamwork and friendship, with opportunities for discussions on fun science facts and to…