Blog Tour, Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Mummy’s Curse: The Butterfly Club by M.A. Bennett ~ Blog Tour

The Mummy's Curse is the second book in an incredible time-travelling adventure series. M.A. Bennett plays liberally with time, taking readers from 1894 London forward to 1922 Egypt and back again. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb on 4th November 2022, this book is even more timely. The… Continue reading The Mummy’s Curse: The Butterfly Club by M.A. Bennett ~ Blog Tour

Blog Tour, Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Chestnut Roaster by Eve McDonnell ~ Blog Tour

My Review: The Chestnut Roaster is a uniquely captivating story - atmospheric Parisian history mixed with a healthy dose of fantasy runs through the mysterious catacombs of this engaging city. The villain is truly evil and the children who are determined to stop him are clever, creative and feisty. The adults are unable to help… Continue reading The Chestnut Roaster by Eve McDonnell ~ Blog Tour

Middle Grade Fiction

The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll & Lauren Child

Historical fiction from Emma Carroll is guaranteed to be outstanding but The Little Match Girl Strikes Back is something truly special. I have memories of reading the original Hans Christian Andersen story of The Little Match Girl as a child. I have also used it with Year 6 classes near Christmas to help children think… Continue reading The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll & Lauren Child

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Marvellous Middle Grade from Summer 2022

The Mystery of the Missing Mum by Frances Moloney (Pushkin Children's) Told from the charmingly intense point of view of Jake, The Mystery of the Missing Mum, addresses parents' mental illness and how children cope in a gentle, funny way. Jake wakes up one morning to find his mother is missing. He makes a list… Continue reading Marvellous Middle Grade from Summer 2022

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

Super Summer Reads You Might Have Missed

Summer 2022 has been so jam-packed with brilliant children's books that it would be very easy to miss some real gems. Game Changer by Tom Palmer (Rebellion) Tom Palmer is an author with so many incredible talents. From his stunning historical fiction to his action-fuelled football adventures, his books are must-haves for school libraries. Timed… Continue reading Super Summer Reads You Might Have Missed

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Tale of Truthwater Lake by Emma Carroll

Emma Carroll's storytelling is consistently outstanding. Whenever I pick up one of her books, I know I can count on becoming completely lost in a wonderful adventure - the kind of reading experience that takes you away from everything else, shutting out the world and all its worries entirely. The Tale of Truthwater Lake is… Continue reading The Tale of Truthwater Lake by Emma Carroll

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott by Sharon Gosling

The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott celebrates extraordinary women doing extraordinary things. Constantly underestimated by her father and told she can't do things just because she's a girl, Katy dreams of a life where she isn't treated differently than her older brother and is able to explore, discover and make a real difference in the… Continue reading The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott by Sharon Gosling

Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

The Clockwork Queen by Peter Bunzl

I love how Barrington Stoke historical fiction whisks readers away on wonderful journeys into the past. Without a wasted word, we find ourselves right at the centre of a new time and place. Peter Bunzl's The Clockwork Queen is another of these masterpieces. Eighteenth century Russia, Catherine the Great, high-stakes chess and Trojan horse style… Continue reading The Clockwork Queen by Peter Bunzl

Blog Tour, Book Review, Middle Grade Fiction

My Friend the Octopus by Lindsay Galvin ~ Blog Tour

"I wished I had three hearts like an octopus. Then maybe it wouldn't hurt so much if one got broken." Following on from the hugely successful Darwin's Dragons, Lindsay Galvin has done it again - a gripping Victorian mystery filled with natural history, art and the essential connection between animals and humans. My Friend the… Continue reading My Friend the Octopus by Lindsay Galvin ~ Blog Tour