If you like seriously creepy tales of ghouls and ghosties mixed with an inept Nancy Drew-style lead, look no further than ‘The Ghouls Of Howlfair’! Make sure you read Nick’s spooktacular piece about how his main character Molly Thompson came about - the geeks and the weirdos will prevail! Howlfair is a town built on … Continue reading Blog Tour: ‘The Ghouls Of Howlfair,’ by Nick Tomlinson, illustrated by Kim Geyer.
“A boy. A drone. And the danger below.” Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for ‘Spylark,’ with a special piece by Danny Rurlander about the beautiful Lake District setting for his book. Since his accident, Tom’s not only struggling with the loss of his father but also loss of mobility. Retreating into the … Continue reading Blog Tour: ‘Spylark,’ by Danny Rurlander, cover by Doaly.
Having recently heard a lot of good things about ‘Lori and Max,’ I decided to make it my next read. I am pleased to report back that I wasn’t disappointed. Lori Mason wants to be a detective, but she keeps this very quiet at school because it’s not a good idea to be different. She’d … Continue reading ‘Lori and Max,’ by Catherine O’Flynn, cover by Jennifer Hall.
Today I’m bringing you the lowdown on Scoop McLaren: Detective Editor with an exclusive Q&A with Scoop herself! Scoop is a 13-year-old reporter and investigator who runs online newspaper, Click!, so she is not pleased when Sonny Fink, evil reporter extraordinaire, starts uploading the most terrible news reports on his online newspaper at one minute … Continue reading Blog Tour: ‘Scoop McLaren: Detective Editor,’ by Helen Castles, illustrations by Beatriz Castro.
Jennifer is best known for her ear-fartingly funny ‘Alex Sparrow’ series but ‘Mo, Lottie and the Junkers’ is something a little bit different... Mo Appleby is the kind of boy who appreciates routine and order in his life, so he is understandably put out when things are turned upside down by he and his mum … Continue reading ‘Mo, Lottie and the Junkers,’ by Jennifer Killick, illustrated by Gareth Conway.
For those of you who think back wistfully to your own childhood days of devouring book-upon-book of The Secret Seven or The Famous Five but are perhaps looking for alternatives more in line with contemporary views, then the new Cliff Toppers series by Fleur Hitchcock could be just the thing you’re after. For cousins Aiden, … Continue reading ‘Cliff Toppers: The Arrowhead Moor Adventure,’ by Fleur Hitchcock, cover by Tom Clohosy Cole.
Today my blog is the port of call for the Malamander blog tour. Get ready to set sail for the quaint seaside town of Eerie-on-Sea. At first glance, Eerie-on-Sea appears to be just like any other seaside town. But this is a town shrouded in legend and mystery - when night falls and the mist … Continue reading ‘Malamander,’ by Thomas Taylor, cover by George Ermos.
Having loved Lucy’s first book, I was very excited to see that she had written a new title set on the Kent coast during the Second World War. I couldn’t wait to dive in... ‘Our Castle by the Sea’ is about a family being torn apart amid rumours of espionage whilst enemy planes fly overhead. … Continue reading ‘Our Castle by the Sea,’ by Lucy Strange, design by Helen Crawford-White.
You may think that life as the owner of a Chocolate Factory is all toffee-tasting and jellybean sampling, but you’d be wrong! Archie McBudge is delighted (and slightly shocked) to have inherited a chocolate factory (as well as a huge house and fortune) from his Great-Uncle Archibald. Surely that will be the end to all … Continue reading ‘The Chocolate Factory Ghost,’ by David O’Connell, illustrated by Claire Powell.
This title arrived just in time to sneak into my suitcase and I was delighted because I’m always looking for spooky titles which are suitable for slightly younger readers. This one would definitely be fine for anyone aged 7+ Polly is excited to be heading back to Penhallow Hall for half-term and Halloween. … Continue reading Holiday Read #4: ‘The Hounds Of Penhallow Hall – The Secrets Tree,’ by Holly Webb, illustrations by Jason Cockcroft.
Welcome to the blog tour for the brilliant ‘A Chase In Time.’ Can a trip to the past save the future? Alex Pilgrim and his sister Ruby always spend a couple of weeks of the school holidays at Aunt Joanna’s house and by ‘house,’ I mean Applecott House: mansion/ Bed and Breakfast. But it may … Continue reading ‘A Chase in Time,’ by Sally Nicholls, illustrated by Brett Helquist.
I am very excited to have a copy of the new title in the brilliant Baker Street Academy series to give away to one lucky reader. Just comment below with the title of a new mystery for Sherlock and the gang to solve. Aimed at readers aged 8+, The Baker Street Academy series follows some … Continue reading ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Curse,’ by Sam Hearn.
Don’t be a quakebottom! Prepare to be bumbazed by maverick lexicographer, Professor Crystal-Bloomer in this delightful celebration of long-lost and forgotten words. Shona is a lover of words and has even started compiling her own thesaurus. She is dismayed to hear on the news that some languages are on the brink of dying out completely … Continue reading ‘Shona, Word Detective,’ by John Agard, illustrations by Michael Broad.
It was with much anticipation that I awaited the arrival of ‘The Light Jar’ - after the brilliance of ‘The Goldfish Boy,’ I knew that I was going to be in for a treat. My patience was rewarded when a copy was finally delivered by my friendly postlady. I'm also thrilled to be hosting an … Continue reading ‘The Light Jar,’ by Lisa Thompson, cover by Mike Lowery.
Strictly speaking, this isn't just a holiday read as it was actually started as my son's bedtime story back in England and we've just finished it tonight. But I think I can allow a little flexibility on the 'holiday read' point. It was the title of the book which first attracted me and the premise … Continue reading Holiday Read #2 ‘The Bookshop Girl,’ by Sylvia Bishop, illustrated by Ashley King.
Each year, I take a certain delight in spending all the loyalty points I have dutifully built up on my bookshop reward card in the preceding months with my many purchases. Hours can be whiled away as I contemplate how best to spend them. However, my first choice this year was an easy one. Featured … Continue reading Holiday Read #1: ‘A Place Called Perfect,’ by Helena Duggan, cover by Karl James Mountford.
Case: The Disappearing Diamond Detective: Sherlock Holmes Location: Baker Street Academy Status: Top Secret! Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the fabulous Sherlock Holmes! After arriving late, new boy, John Watson, was dreading his first day at Baker Street Academy. His fears soon disappeared as his buddy for the day, Martha, introduced … Continue reading ‘Sherlock Holmes and the Disappearing Diamond,’ by Sam Hearn.
'You are cordially invited to attend the grand opening of Sinclair's Department Store.' This is the first in a brilliant series of mystery books set around the magnificent Sinclair's Department Store. To enter Sinclair's is to enter a world of perfumed air, bonbons, elegant clothes and murder! Just before the grand opening of London's newest … Continue reading ‘The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow,by Katherine
We are thrilled to be kicking off the blog tour for the fabulous Karen McCombie's newest book, 'The Whispers of Wilderwood Hall,' with an awesome giveaway! **One lucky reader is in with the chance to win themselves a brand new copy of this brilliant book! To be in with a chance of winning, all you … Continue reading ‘The Whispers of Wilderwood Hall,’ By Karen McCombie
Andrew and Chris Judge are a dynamic duo of brothers who have been collaborating on a thrilling, action-packed spy adventure, 'Create your own Spy Mission.' We're very excited to be kicking off the blog tour of this brilliant book with a review and special guest post by the authors themselves, who'll be sharing their top 10 … Continue reading ‘Create Your Own Spy Mission’ by Andrew Judge and Chris Judge -Talking Their Top Ten Spies
Library Girl and Book Boy 