The first two Bletchley Park Mysteries have been some of my favourite books in recent years. Full of action, mystery and dedication to what is right, they follow a group of children based at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Uncertain of what their futures hold, they do all they can to support the… Continue reading Wink, Murder: A Bletchley Park Mystery by Rhian Tracey
It has been wonderful to read and review the three books in the Toby Bean series over the past four years. Sally Doherty has created a young hero who is funny, brave and incredibly caring. Looking after his mum who is chronically ill, he shows resilience in the face of so many challenges yet still… Continue reading Toby and the Siege of Sky City by Sally Doherty
Swop is back in his second epic adventure! This absolutely adorable, teeny tiny pup will leap into your heart as he helps his owner Ernie solve a huge mystery! Ernie is really looking forward to his school trip to the Natural History Museum. It was always his favourite place to visit with his dad before… Continue reading Swop: The Daring Dinosaur Detective by Lucy Noguera & illustrated by James Cottell
The Great Theatre Rescue is a wonderful story of embracing our passions, standing up for what we believe in and finding out exactly where we call 'home'. It's pre-war 1930's London. Charley loves spending all her time at The Wren Theatre with her dad and the other performers. Every night, she's spellbound by the The… Continue reading The Great Theatre Rescue by Judith Eagle
Me and My Brian is another entertaining and enriching story from Helen Rutter. Exploring the impact of family stress on relationships and mental health, it provides readers with very real strategies for dealing with an overactive brain that threatens to get the better of them. Josh has always had a mixed relationship with his brain… Continue reading Me and My Brian by Helen Rutter
Cuddle up under a blanket and keep the curtains closed! The queen of gothic tales, Lucy Strange, has done it again with a story that will send shivers down your spine. The Boy at the Window is a hauntingly gothic book inspired by dark stories of the 18th century. It will make a perfect addition… Continue reading The Boy at the Window by Lucy Strange & illustrated by Rohan Eason
The Forbidden Atlas is the thrilling sequel to Sam Sedgman's The Clockwork Conspiracy - one of my favourite books published in 2024. Readers are transported to the intrigue and beauty of Paris as they race with Isaac, Hattie and Leon through dark streets and even darker catacombs in search of the key to an incredible… Continue reading The Forbidden Atlas by Sam Sedgman
The Diary of Anne Frank is a book I'll always remember reading for the first time. Anne's voice poured off the page and she felt like a friend. Her heartbreaking journey has stayed with me for nearly forty years. Anne Frank is an incredibly well-known heroine and role model. Ask anyone to name a holocaust… Continue reading When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary by Alice Hoffman
February 2025 Journey back to the incredible Land of Roar with the highly-anticipated Dragon Riders of Roar. This fourth book in the Land of Roar series is an imaginatively soaring adventure through a new region of one of our favourite worlds. Of course Win, Arthur's wizard ninja pal, and Mitch, Rose's mermaid witch best friend,… Continue reading Dragon Riders of Roar by Jenny McLachlan
The Time Travellers series by Sufiya Ahmed continues to take an honest look at history, celebrating the people and cultures who have been ignored in the Western perspective. Readers are encouraged to think about what empire and trade actually meant for those whose lands were being invaded and the lasting impact of this exploitation. In… Continue reading Time Travellers: Secrets and Spies by Sufiya Ahmed
Scope for Imagination 