Tom Palmer tells a heart-wrenching story of strength, courage and sacrifice in a time when Nazis took everything. The reality of war-time life in German-occupied Netherlands is described with details that really mean something to young readers - family, friendships, giving up passions like dance and music, giving up a childhood to risk everything to… Continue reading Resist by Tom Palmer
We Sang Across the Sea: The Empire Windrush and Me by Benjamin Zephaniah and illustrated by Onyinye Iwu is the inspiring story of Mona Baptiste - a singer and actress born in Trinidad in 1928. At the age of 20, she travelled to England on the Empire Windrush wanting nothing more than to sing. She… Continue reading We Sang Across the Sea by Benjamin Zephaniah & Onyinye Iwu
Already a huge Karen McCombie fan, I couldn't wait to read Fagin's Girl. With Barrington Stoke's manageable length, accessible print and vocab, and incredibly high quality stories, this Victorian adventure is a must-have for Key Stage Two classrooms and libraries. Ettie's life has never been easy, especially since her father died, but on her tenth… Continue reading Fagin’s Girl by Karen McCombie
Phil Earle has done it again, firmly cementing his place as one of the foremost authors of historical fiction for children. His powerful stories are destined to become classics with their honesty and relatable characters who portray the heart of everyday people in the uncertainty of war. While the Storm Rages is an emotion-driven story,… Continue reading While the Storm Rages by Phil Earle
It's my absolute privilege to kick off the blog tour for Circus Maximus: Rivals on Track, the thrilling sequel to Race to the Death, with an exclusive interview with author Annelise Gray. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions about the second book in your absolutely fantastic Circus Maximus series,… Continue reading Circus Maximus: Rivals on the Track by Annelise Gray ~ Blog Tour
The Secrets Act by Alison Weatherby takes readers right into the heart of codebreaking, spies and mystery at top-secret Bletchley Park during the second World War. Having visited Bletchley Park in 2019, being able to picture the mansion, cabins and even the back entrance for the motorcyclist couriers took me even deeper into the story.… Continue reading The Secrets Act by Alison Weatherby
It’s April 1832 and Nico has had enough of being told she can’t do anything because she’s a girl. Her love of science and reading aren’t appreciated by her parents who think she just doesn’t understand her place in the world and has no right to an opinion. Nico’s parents also think it’s ridiculous that… Continue reading The Ship of Cloud and Stars by Amy Raphael
The In Time series by Sally Nicholls is one of my favourite historical fiction series for younger readers. Written for age 7+, it is fast-paced, exciting and so accessible. Alex and Ruby are trying on their new school uniforms at their Aunt Joanna’s house. Glancing at the large, eighteenth century mirror in her hallway, they… Continue reading A Secret in Time by Sally Nicholls
Since reading the first Violet Veil mystery back in early 2021, my daughter and I have been eagerly awaiting this sequel. It is just as fantastic as the first! With twists and turns, dark secrets and a brilliant cast of characters, it’s a super mystery to get caught up in. Violet is the daughter of… Continue reading The Violet Veil Mysteries: A Case of Misfortune by Sophie Cleverly
The story of 11 year-old Bruno Beck and his dog, Frida, stopped me in my tracks. Honest and powerful, it is an emotional portrayal of life in East Germany in 1945. Russian troops are moving in and people are being forced from their homes. Essentially, millions of people become refugees in an instant. Bruno and… Continue reading Bruno and Frida by Tony Bradman & illustrated by Tania Rex
Scope for Imagination 