Storm Bird Magic is the fifth book in The Island Vet series by Gill Lewis which celebrates wildlife, nature and community. Tia lives on Gull Haven Island with her mum who is the local vet. There's excitement in the air as the most impressive ships arrive for The Tall Ships Race. Incredibly old and powered… Continue reading The Island Vet: Storm Bird Magic by Gill Lewis & Irina Avgustinovich
The Runaway Tortoise is another delightful story about caring for pets from the Barrington Stoke Little Gems collection. Written by Holly Webb, it has the same gentle empathy as her other animal tales. Ava's family has inherited her grandad's tortoise, Albert. Tortoises are fascinating animals that can live up to 150 years but Ava thinks… Continue reading The Runaway Tortoise by Holly Webb & Ocean Hughes
Join Hana for her third exciting adventure with Ace, an amazing talking cat and her partner in the Moonlight Mystery Agency. After being told off by her dad for being too slow on one of their walks, Hana is glad to get away to the magical world of Moonlight and solve another case. It's the… Continue reading The Moonlight Mystery Agency: The Case of the Race by Vashti Hardy & Agnes Saccani
Tom Palmer, master of historical fiction for children, is back with another stunning story of real people facing the challenge and terror of war. If the Invader Comes takes readers to 1940s Cornwall. The threat of Nazi invasion looms over Britain as survivors return from the defeat at Dunkirk. Everyone is on high alert and… Continue reading If the Invader Comes (Allies series: Book One) by Tom Palmer
Big Words by Luke Palmer is one of the most powerful books you'll read this year. Exploring masculinity for teen boys and what it means to be strong, it unpicks layers of friendship, forgiveness and trust. Kiln, the local waste ground, is a forbidden place (which makes it all the more appealing for Sam and… Continue reading Big Words by Luke Palmer
Helen Rutter is back with her incredible talent for sensitively portraying very real adolescent dilemmas with humour and heart. Vinny's mum is a viral sensation with her blog "Ask Amanda Anything". With over one million followers on Instagram, she looks like she has everything all figured out but Vinny knows it isn't real. She portrays… Continue reading Advice from a 12-year-old Nobody by Helen Rutter
A trip to Jorvik Viking Centre in York is a museum visit you'll never forget. This fascinating historic site is the inspiration for The Accidental Vikings. Karen McCombie captures all the unique features of this amazing place. I first visited Jorvik when I was 9 years old and still remember travelling back in time in… Continue reading The Accidental Vikings by Karen McCombie & illustrated by Annell Bray
"I thought you wanted to be scared." Phil Hickes is an absolute legend when it comes to middle grade horror. His Aveline Jones and Shadowhall Academy series have had readers on the edge of their seats but The Last Day of October is next level. Overflowing with autumn vibes, the thrill of North American Hallowe'en,… Continue reading The Last Day of October by Phil Hickes ~ Blog Tour
The Fear is an absolutely brilliant book for helping young people recognise and cope with anxiety. Kian used to love playing football but an experience with a tough coach who delighted in making his players feel small created "the fear" inside him. When this anxiety takes over, Kian is terrified of doing something wrong and… Continue reading The Fear by Tom Palmer & illustrated by Robin Boyden
Game Over! is a fantastic story for children making the move to secondary school and trying to find themselves in the crowd. Jay has just started Year 7 and thinks he goes to the worst school in the world. He doesn't enjoy PE or team games of any kind, which is tricky when all his… Continue reading Game Over by Serena Patel & illustrated by Louise Forshaw
Scope for Imagination 