In primary school, Year 6 residential is a rite of passage. Every child waits for this very special adventure with anticipation, excitement and a little bit of fear. There is always a ghost story to go with it – a frightening tale passed on by older children who have been there and lived to tell… Continue reading Crater Lake by Jennifer Killick
It’s the summer of 1914 and there is news of assassinations and potential war coming from far away. For the children at Longbarrow House, it’s incredibly exciting but also incredibly frightening. They dread the thought of their fathers having to go away to war but every sign seems to say it’s going to happen. When… Continue reading The Ghost Garden by Emma Carroll
Monster Slayer: A Beowulf Tale, written by Brian Patten and illustrated by Chris Riddell, is a wonderfully horrible retelling of the classic tale of Anglo Saxon hero, Beowulf, and the gruesome monsters he defeats. When Grendel attacks the village, it seems like there is nothing the people can do to stop him. Then, one day, the… Continue reading Monster Slayer: A Beowulf Tale by Brian Patten
Orphans of the Tide is absolutely stunning. Struan Murray invites readers to dive into layers and layers of meaning and be swallowed up by the rich symbolism of the story. Surrounded by the sea, “The City” (the last in the world) is at the mercy of the tides and the power of the water. The… Continue reading Orphans of the Tide by Struan Murray
The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell is a living, breathing story of colourful imagery and magnificent language set on the beautiful island of Papua New Guinea. It is a story of respect and responsibility, the conflict of traditions versus what is perceived to be progress, and a personal search for truth, forgiveness and finding oneself.… Continue reading The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell
My twelve-year-old daughter is currently completely immersed in the Scarlet & Ivy series by Sophie Cleverly. Recommended by a like-minded friend, she is thoroughly enjoying these stories and is reading faster than she ever has before - she can't get enough! Recently, someone asked if I had a review of the series. I didn't so… Continue reading Scarlet & Ivy by Sophie Cleverly
I loved this Robin Hood style story in which an unlikely hero steals from the rich (including the tyrannical king) to help those who are struggling in the community. Is this right? Is this wrong? Will good win in the end? Chaya, Noor and Neel have to be true to themselves to find the answers.… Continue reading The Girl Who Stole an Elephant by Nizrana Farook
Sequin and Stitch, written by Laura Dockrill and illustrated by Sara Ogilvie, is a wonderfully crafted story of family, dreams and home. It is overflowing with empathy for the struggles and joys faced by so many children. The layers of meaning are stitched together beautifully to create a story that is enjoyable to read yet… Continue reading Sequin and Stitch by Laura Dockrill
From the very first chapter, The Highland Falcon Thief felt like home. Full of suspense and anticipation, the familiarity of the trains I love mixed with mystery and history carried me away. Once I started, I couldn’t stop and read the book in a day – what a lovely day it was! Eleven-year-old Hal Beck… Continue reading The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman
The Last Spell Breather by Julie Pike is a unique, spell-binding story of love, family and truth. Eleven-year-old Rayne lives with her mother in their quiet village. Bound by the magic of her family’s past, she is destined to become a spell breather, just like her mother. However, Rayne would much rather be out with… Continue reading The Last Spell Breather by Julie Pike
Scope for Imagination 