No time for simpering or smelling salts - there's a scoundral to catch. Her Majesty's League of Remarkable Young Ladies is delightful right from the start. With an Enola Holmes feel of clever young women who refuse to conform to society's expectations, readers will quickly become great friends with 14 year-old Winnifred as she takes… Continue reading Her Majesty’s League of Remarkable Young Ladies by Alison D. Stegert ~ Blog Tour
Code Name Kingfisher is a powerful story of secrets, family and friendship. Spanning 80 years, it follows three girls on their quest to stay true to themselves and where their family has come from while searching for a happy future. In present day England, Liv is struggling with changing friendships and her grandmother's dementia. When… Continue reading Code Name Kingfisher by Liz Kessler
Summer is the perfect time to escape with something really different. This collection of books for readers age 8 through 13+ is sure to engage your older readers this holiday. Eurospies by Lindsay Littleson (Cranachan Books) ~ 8+ (MG) What better way to get a taste of Europe than through an exciting mystery story? Fans… Continue reading Super Summer Reads (age 8 – 13+)
Based on a true story, Silver River Shadow by Jane Thomas & Rochelle Lamm, illustrated by Sarah Docker is a fascinating story of family legacy and uncovering the truth of the past. Lizzie's mother passed away twelve years ago and her father is often busy with work. When she's given a school assignment to discover… Continue reading Silver River Shadow by Jane Thomas with Rochelle Lamm
The appeal of a classic boarding school story combined with upstairs/downstairs Downton Abbey-esk class divide and an intriguing wartime mystery, Helen Peters' Friends and Traitors brings a refreshing and engaging twist to middle grade historical fiction. It's summer 1940. Hitler has reached the French coast and the entire country is worried about invasion. Sidney's "posh"… Continue reading Friends and Traitors by Helen Peters
August 2023 Secrets and sabotage, danger and deception: Peril on the Atlantic is the first in a gripping new Mysteries at Sea series by historical fiction master A.M. Howell. Join Alice onboard the Queen Mary for the adventure of a lifetime. It's 1936 and she's spending part of her summer holiday with her father, Staff… Continue reading Peril on the Atlantic by A.M. Howell
The Wall Between Us is even more engaging and powerful than I ever expected. I loved Dan Smith’s last middle grade war story, Nisha’s War, with its unique perspective on those affected by conflict so I knew this would be something special. Told through newspaper articles, journal entries, letters and secret messages, The Wall Between… Continue reading The Wall Between Us by Dan Smith ~ Blog Tour
Call of the Titanic may be Lindsay Galvin's best novel yet - which is saying A LOT given how much I love Darwin's Dragons and My Friend the Octopus. The two points of view are expertly woven together through witness accounts of the Titanic diaster, telegrams, letters, menus and gripping first-hand narrative. Initially, I wondered… Continue reading Call of the Titanic by Lindsay Galvin ~ Blog Tour
The Wall Between Us is even more engaging and powerful than I ever expected. I loved Dan Smith’s last middle grade war story, Nisha’s War, with its unique perspective on those affected by conflict so I knew this would be something special. Told through newspaper articles, journal entries, letters and secret messages, The Wall Between… Continue reading The Wall Between Us by Dan Smith
Midwinter Burning is everything I love about children's literature: a powerful historical story, a hero who has much to learn about life, adults who recognise and support a child in need, devoted friendship, and a wonderfully magical time-slip adventure. Tanya Landman is a master at weaving an engaging and heart-warming story that holds readers fast.… Continue reading Midwinter Burning by Tanya Landman
Scope for Imagination 