Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Island Vet: Rescue at Seal Bay by Gill Lewis

I absolutely adored the first The Island Vet adventure, Pirates and Sea Monsters, in which Tia and her mum move to Gull Haven Island and discover a wonderful community of people and animals waiting for them. Tia realises the importance of her mum's job as a vet and is able to help during a storm.… Continue reading The Island Vet: Rescue at Seal Bay by Gill Lewis

Blog Tour, Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Dream Hunters by Nazima Pathan

"Open your eyes, For this world is only a dream." ~ Rumi. Fans of Vashti Hardy's epic traveling adventures will be swept away by Dream Hunters. In a complex world of stunning settings, bottled dreams and apprentices who learn to retrieve them in the night, Mimi and Rafi strive to prevent treason and bring true… Continue reading Dream Hunters by Nazima Pathan

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Stitched Up by Joanne O’Connell

In Stitched Up, vintage fashion-lover Cassie desperately wants to fit in with her Year 7 friends but disaster strikes when she forgets it's non-uniform day. Things get worse when she finds herself on a team competing to redesign the school uniform with fashion-obsessed Azra and eco-conscious Fern. Balancing personal values with friends' expectations is difficult… Continue reading Stitched Up by Joanne O’Connell

Book Review, Picture Books

Worry Boots by Lisa Thompson & Aysha Awwad

Lisa Thompson has such a gift for writing about feelings in a way that resonates with young readers. Honest, relatable and fun, her stories are perfect for PSHE lessons, class reading time or for sharing at home. Worry Boots, charmingly illustrated by Aysha Awwad, helps children navigate the feelings they might encounter on their first… Continue reading Worry Boots by Lisa Thompson & Aysha Awwad

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Hero Wanted by Mark Powers & illlustrated by Coralie Muce

Grace wasn't expecting to be woken in the middle of the night by the sound of a horse. Grace wasn't expecting a strange girl in a suit of armour (who looked surprisingly like her) to tell her she was the final "Grace" tasked with leading the People of the Day to victory in the Worthy… Continue reading Hero Wanted by Mark Powers & illlustrated by Coralie Muce

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Evenfall: The Golden Linnet by Alexander Armstrong

I've been looking forward to Evenfall: The Golden Linnet since I first heard Alexander Arnstrong was writing a book for children. Intelligent and packed full of peril with one twist after another, it is everything I hoped for and more. This is a book to be savoured - giving yourself time to take in every… Continue reading Evenfall: The Golden Linnet by Alexander Armstrong

Book Review

Lockett & Wilde’s Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries: The Ghosts of the Manor by Lucy Strange & Pam Smy

September 2024 Anything by Lucy Strange is guaranteed to be deliciously creepy and completely unputdownable. Combine her gothic style with Pam Smy's brilliant chracterisations and you have a wonderfully delightful, illustrated mystery that will pull readers age 9+ under its spell. With the most charming laugh-out-loud moments and gentle teasing of the most earnest characters,… Continue reading Lockett & Wilde’s Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries: The Ghosts of the Manor by Lucy Strange & Pam Smy

Book Review, Teen

The List by Keith Gray

The List by Keith Gray is the final installment in a loose thematic trilogy examining the highs and lows of growing up. The Climbers explored becoming friends, The Den dealt with struggling to remain friends while The List looks at just how hard it is to say good-bye.  Written for age 11+ (with a reading level of 8+), this story is incredibly… Continue reading The List by Keith Gray

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery

I Am Rebel is a timeless story of friendship, loyalty and the freedom that comes with true love. Charming and insightful, it’s a story of laughter and tears – of peril, loss and unwavering hope. Rebel is Tom’s dog and Tom is his boy. With an unbreakable bond, they spend every moment together on Tom’s family… Continue reading I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Witchspark by Dominique Valente

October 2024 Witchspark is the absolutely charming new series from the master of magical story-telling Dominique Valente. A step up from the lovely Starfell series, Witchspark challenges slightly older readers to be true to themselves and never give up on their dreams. With messages of embracing your unique self, striving to be a force for… Continue reading Witchspark by Dominique Valente