These titles are longer chapter books often with more challenging themes and plotlines. Best-suited to more confident readers aged 9+
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.
Today is my stop on the ‘Frostfire’ blog tour and I have a special post by Jamie Smith about Programming vs. Writing. Sabira is honoured to have been chosen to travel high up the dangerous mountain trail to bond with a frostsliver (a sentient fragment of the living glacier which looms over her home.) … Continue reading ‘Frostfire,’ by Jamie Smith, cover by Karl James Mountford.
I finished this poignant title just in time for Remembrance Sunday so wanted to share it beforehand incase any of you were looking for some books set in the time of the First World War. As Evie’s parents struggle to come to terms with the death of their youngest son, Alecky, his older (but underage) … Continue reading ‘Evie’s War,’ by Holly Webb.
I recently had the pleasure (!?) of a five-hour train journey with my family and thought that the second novel from Australian author Matilda Woods, would be the perfect story to escape into. Was I right, you ask? Yes! Oona Britt is the very much unwanted seventh of seven daughters. A fortune-teller had foretold that … Continue reading ‘The Girl, The Cat and The Navigator,’ by Matilda Woods, illustrated by Anuska Allepuz.
Everyone’s favourite vampire is back in another wickedly funny installment of Laura Ellen Anderson’s brilliant series. Amelia is busily planning for her big birthnight party at the Pumpkin Patch (one of Amelia’s favourite places as she wants to be a pumpkinologist when she’s older.) Her pet pumpkin, Squashy, has a swanky new outfit to wear … Continue reading ‘Amelia Fang and the Memory Thief,’ by Laura Ellen Anderson.
Today I am bringing you another brilliant collaboration between author-extraordinaire, Tom Palmer and dyslexia-friendly publisher Barrington Stoke. Ahead of the First World War armistice centenary, ‘Armistace Runner’ pays tribute to some of the war’s forgotten heroes. This beautiful story focusses on the lives of two runners whose lives are connected across time through memories. Lily … Continue reading ‘Armistice Runner,’ by Tom Palmer, cover illustration by Tom Clohosy Cole.
You all know the story of the race to the North Pole, right? Wrong! I bet you’ve never heard the remarkable tale of Matthew Henson, part of a team of men who reached the North Pole on a dog sled AHEAD of Dr. Cook! This new super-readable title from Barrington Stoke tells the unbelievable bit … Continue reading ‘Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story,’ by Catherine Johnson, illustrated by Katie Hickey.
If you’re searching for a read packed with just the right balance of laughs and scares, look no further than ‘Witch Girl.’ Twelve-year-old Evangeline and her gran form a witchy ghost-busting duo (although Evangeline is still just an apprentice.) Together, they hunt down all manner of creatures that go bump in the night, magically ridding … Continue reading ‘Witch Girl,’ by Jan Eldredge with an exclusive post about why we like being scared! Illustrations by Risa Rodil.
Book Boy and I are huge fans of this highly engaging series of books which look at the weird and wonderful side of football, so we thrilled to be sent the latest title to review and to be able to host a special blog post by the writers about girls and football. AND we have … Continue reading ‘Football School Season 3: Where Football Tackles the World,’ with guest post on girls and football by Alex Bellos and Ben Lyttleton, illustrated by Spike Gerrell.
Have you ever imagined what it might be like if you could only tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? No? Well spare a thought for the Truth Pixie who can only do just that. One of the fantastic characters from the ‘A Boy Called Christmas’ trilogy by Maths Haig, the … Continue reading ‘The Truth Pixie,’ by Matt Haig, illustrated by Chris Mould.
If you’re looking for a suitably spooky Halloween read, take a peek at one of these. If you dare.... Vlad The World’s Worst Vampire: Midnight Fright by Anna Wilson, illustrated by Kathryn Durst (Stripes Books) Vlad’s back in another adventure and this time his very annoying cousin Lupus is visiting. Poor old Vlad has never … Continue reading Halloween Howlers
I am very honoured to be kicking off the blog tour for the Lollies 2018 - a celebration of some of the funniest children’s reads out there! I have always believed in the power of funny books to help transform children into readers and to address tricky issues in an accessible way. Unfortunately, some people … Continue reading Welcome to the Lollies 2018 – being a judge & introducing the short-list.
Any of you who follow this blog (or my twitter account) will know that I am a huge fan of the amazing illustrations and books created by ex-Children’s Laureate, Chris Riddell. That is why I am so please to introduce to the final paperback in this hilarious pun-filled series: Goth Girl and the Sinister Symphony. … Continue reading ‘Goth Girl and the Sinister Symphony,’ by Chris Riddell.
If you’re looking for a brooding magic-soaked read, look no further... Welcome to the ‘Snowglobe’ blog tour. Prepare to enter a thousand worlds. Clementine lives alone with her Pa in a red brick terrace house. She has always known that she’s different and has learnt to suppress the flashes of magic which sometimes rise up … Continue reading ‘Snowglobe’ by Amy Wilson, cover by Rachel Vale.
I’ve just finished this epic Viking adventure from notes historian and author Janina Ramirez, and it was brilliant. Alva has the heart of a shield maiden and wants to follow in the footsteps of her father who has gone a-Viking over the sea. She’s desperate to be allowed to help her uncle, Magnus, solve mysteries … Continue reading ‘Riddle of the Runes,’ by Janina Ramirez, illustrated by David Wyatt.
The Spiderwick Chronicles series is now fifteen years old and has just been re-released by Simon and Schuster. I was lucky enough to be sent the first three titles in their gorgeous new hardback editions. Book One - The Field Guide When Mallory, Jared, and Simon Grace move into the dilapidated Spiderwick Mansion, they are … Continue reading ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles,’ by Tony Diterlizzi & Holly Black.
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.
I was thrilled to be asked to participate in the blog tour for ‘Drone Racer’ because I knew that it was just the kind of book that Book Boy would love, and because I knew that Andy Briggs really is a master of science fiction writing. His ‘The Inventory’ series was some of the first … Continue reading ‘Drone Racer,’ by Andy Briggs, cover illustration by Matteo Cuccato.
Book Boy is a huge fan of Top Gear, Formula One racing (and any other type of motor racing for that fact!) so he was especially excited when this new Stig-based adventure dropped through the letterbox, ready for its blog tour. “Some say he is merely a phantom - a figment of our imaginations. And … Continue reading ‘The Stig: Playing a Dangerous Game,’ by Jon Claydon & Tim Lawler, illustrated by Kanako & Yuzuru.
Library Girl and Book Boy 