This colour doesn’t technically feature in the rainbow in its own right there were too many beautiful TURQUOISE covers not to give them their own post.

Mixed: Explore and Celebrate Your Mixed Indentity

“In Mixed:

– Celebrate what it means to be YOU
– Explore connections to all parts of your heritage
– Discover the history of mixed-race people across the world
– Talk to people about what being mixed-race means to you

Featuring inspirational letters by mixed-race people from a range of cultural backgrounds and filled with practical advice and engaging activities, this is the essential guide for mixed-race children and their families to explore the different parts of their heritage.”

Written by the co-host of the award-winning ‘Mixed Up’ podcast, this inspirational book encourages children to celebrate and embrace all parts of their heritage. Aimed at readers aged 9+ with a mix of formats within to keep interest high.

Toby and the Pixies: How to be Cool

“Accidental King of the Pixies, Toby Cauldwell, has decided it’s time to improve his street cred. But the pixies have other ideas . . .

Cue much calamitous and cringeworthy madcap pixie mayhem!

Toby is trying his best to reinvent himself as ‘T-train’, the coolest boy in school, and the pixies are keen to help . . . but every time they do, things go very wrong. From giving Toby a ‘fresh start’ at school by erasing everyone’s memories – including his Dad’s and his best friend Mo’s – to mixing up their magical size-changing powder on Toby’s spot causing it to grow GIGANTIC, the pixies seem to wreak havoc wherever they go!”

This graphic novel gives crazy chaotic energy in pixie form! Hilarious from start to finish and enough to put anyone off the idea of trying to be ‘cool’!

The Unfamous Diaries of Daisy Brewster: The Drama Queens

“Daisy is back at school, but her super-celebrity cousin Maxxy is STILL sharing her room while filming for a new TV show. And it’s all anyone can talk about! Daisy’s mum is always at the film set with Maxxy, her dad is always busy with work, and her brother Leo is being a teenage tyrant. The only thing keeping Daisy calm are her drama club rehearsals. With only a few weeks to go before the big opening night, Daisy is pouring everything into her performance.

But with Maxxy being a total DIVA, sudden strange feelings towards her floppy-haired co-star Olivier, a HUGE SPOT appearing on her chin, and gossiping girls desperate for Maxxy’s attention, Daisy will have to channel her inner method actor to keep the show on the road.”

A diary series is always going to be popular – nothing captures the terrible anguish (and hilarity) of growing up quite as well. Daisy Brewster’s diaries are guaranteed to be full of drama, divas, and plenty of laughs.

Always Angel

“Angel finds school hard.

She talks back to teachers, she storms out of lessons, and she’s had more detentions than any other Year 8 student…ever. But really, Angel wants to be good. She wants to fit in, she wants to make friends, and she even wants to win the school baking contest.

But it’s hard to be good when everyone expects the worst. And with her mum not well enough to look after her, and Angel making more and more bad choices, she’s starting to run out of chances…”

It is so good to see high quality novels being published which cater to the interests of that tricky group of individuals hovering between the middle grade and young adult categories. So many teen readers are going to empathise with Angel and her struggle to break free of the label she’s been stuck with.

The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Sleepover Sabotage

“A sleepover challenge is being held at Rutherford School! Teams of four have to build a tent from sustainable materials and stay overnight in the school grounds. Everyone is excited but Marcus is feeling worried because he’s never spent the night away from his mum.

As the night of the sleepover draws closer, a strange creature is spotted roaming the school and challenge participants start to drop out putting the sleepover at risk of being cancelled! Can Marcus face his fears with the help of his friends and save the sleepover?”

Inspired by Marcus Rashford’s childhood, written by Abiola Bello. Spooky fun with plenty for readers developing in confidence to enjoy.

The Misadventures of Mina Mahmood: School Inspectors

“Mina and her friends have just finished their primary school exams, and it’s finally time to CELEBRATE. Miss Khan has promised the Year 6 children at Western Primary a week of games, parties and snacks. But everything comes to a crashing halt when Mr Aku gets THAT phone call:

A SCHOOL INSPECTION! 

Gone are the plans for a fun week, the kids all have to be on their best behaviour and if everything goes well, Year 6 will get to go on a trip to the new circus in town!

Mina and her best friends Mobeen and Reema are chosen to show the inspectors around, and everything seems to be going REALLY WELL! Until a pet tarantula goes missing …”

Another great, diverse series for readers aged 8+. Anyone who has been in a school over the past few years will almost certainly have encountered Ofsted on some guise or another, so will almost certainly appreciate the humour in the situation Mina and her friends find themselves in!

Velda the Awesomest Viking and the Wild Unicorn Chase

“Velda is a tiny warrior with a big axe and an even bigger attitude. Some people don’t think girls can be proper Vikings. Velda doesn’t agree!

When Velda’s beloved axe is taken hostage by a troublesome (and extremely stinky) troll, Velda and her misfit crew discover there’s only one way to defeat him: a special potion made of unicorn horn. Except, unicorns are extinct, aren’t they…?

Legend says that a herd of the mindreading, magical and frankly fabulous-smelling creatures may still exist in remote Pictland. But Velda’s not the only one looking for them, and this enemy wants more than just their horns. Can Velda and her chaotic crew save both her axe and the unicorns, before it’s too late?”

I was part of the blog tour for this laugh-a-minute romp; you can look at my full post HERE.

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I wonder which of these might tickle your fancy?

Jo.

*Many thanks to the publishers who sent me these titles to review*