Told with humour, empathy and a whole lot of heart, Runaways by E.L Norry is a story that will stay with you. Honest, authentic and powerful, it challenges readers to think about how two people with very different lives can feel so similar. July has recently returned from foster care to live with her young… Continue reading Runaways by E.L. Norry
It's my stop on the blog tour for the first book in a delightful new mystery series, The Lucky House Detective Agency. Perfect for Year 3 onwards, this fun who-dunnit would be fantastic as a class read aloud to learn about the mystery genre. Full of cases, clues, suspects and evidence, there's everything children need… Continue reading The Lucky House Detective Agency by Scarlett Li ~ Blog Tour
September 2025 Hero the Highway Girl is the kind of book that wraps around you, drawing you deep into the story and its unforgettable characters. From the very first page, I was completely captivated, each exciting chapter carrying me further into Hero and Jack's adventure. Set in the Georgian world of highwaymen, the lineage of… Continue reading Hero the Highway Girl by Penny Chrimes
The Bletchley Riddle is a richly layered story of spies, code breaking and strangers. Peril and intrigue fills every chapter as brother and sister Jakob and Lizzie try to work out who they can trust. As if the danger of working at Bletchley Park during the second world war wasn't enough, Jakob and Lizzie face… Continue reading The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin
It's such a delight to return to Whistledown Farm and join Ava on a whole new set of adventures as she learns more about life in the countryside and how to care for animals. She and her parents have moved to Whistledown Cottage on the edge of the farm which means they're there to stay!… Continue reading Meeting Meg: A Whistledown Farm Adventure by Nicola Baker ~ Blog Tour
Three ordinary teens with an extraordinary story - People Like Stars explores telling the truth, forming relationships and understanding what makes us who we are. As each teen tells their story, readers are challenged to think about how individuals are connected and how much our actions impact others. Aryton, Stanley and Senna take turns to… Continue reading People Like Stars by Patrice Lawrence
Barrington Stoke can always be relied on to create entertaining, meaningful, empathy-filled stories that are accessible and empowering for readers. With dyslexia-friendly font, spacing and page tint, everyone can enjoy these books. The manageable length and carefully chosen vocabulary encourages success and brings children back for more. These four books, by top UK middle grade… Continue reading Middle Grade Gems from Barrington Stoke
Jenny Peckles Lays Eggs with Speckles by Rachel Emily & Paul Delaney (Farshore) Jenny Peckles Lays Eggs with Speckles is an absolutely brilliant rhyming story about a group of chickens who will do anything to get into a book. Whether it's Chuckleston Barclay who added her own "sparkly" to her eggs or Featherly Botts who… Continue reading Fantastic Picture Books for the Summer Term
The Beck is a beautiful story of finding peace and purpose in the noise of the world. Kyle hasn't spent much time with his grandad so when his parents drop him off in a run-down neighbourhood on the east side of Leeds, he isn't happy. Grandad's eccentricities and his three-legged dog called "Rude Word" make… Continue reading The Beck by Anthony McGowen
May 2025 Shrapnel Boys is Jenny Pearson's first historical novel. Led by authentic characters with her trademark spark, this is a funny, heartwarming story with an additional layer of dilemma and emotional depth. It will challenge readers to think about everyone's role in the Second World War and how it affected ordinary people in extraordinary… Continue reading Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson
Scope for Imagination 