The List by Keith Gray is the final installment in a loose thematic trilogy examining the highs and lows of growing up. The Climbers explored becoming friends, The Den dealt with struggling to remain friends while The List looks at just how hard it is to say good-bye. Written for age 11+ (with a reading level of 8+), this story is incredibly… Continue reading The List by Keith Gray
Bird Boy by Catherine Bruton is one of the stand out books of 2024. Heartfelt and honest, it is a beautiful celebration of the natural world combined with a story of healing and hope. The power of the relationship between an osprey chick and a heart-broken child will captivate and challenge readers in equal measure.… Continue reading Bird Boy by Catherine Bruton
15-year-old Kateryno and her family live in Kharkiv. Their lives are shattered when on February 24th 2022 the Russian army invades. Their apartment block is struck by a missile. After weeks living in their basement, Kateryno, her mother, and brother, decide to leave, joining seven million Ukrainian refugees. They come to England and meet their… Continue reading Seven Million Sunflowers by Malcom Duffy ~ Blog Tour
Tony Bradman and Sally Nicholls write fantastically honest and real stories for children. When Saturday Comes & Too Nice help readers understand the challenges of families splitting up and trying to balance the needs of two parents. When Saturday Comes by Tony Bradman & Tania Rex Daniel loves football! His team, the Haybrook Rockets, are… Continue reading Stories of Family from Barrington Stoke
September 2024 The Boy in the Suit is an incredibly moving and powerful novel for readers age 9+ (and the adults who care for them). So compelling and real, I struggled to put it down. I wanted to step into the story and look after ten-year-old Solo who is so funny and charming but also… Continue reading The Boy in the Suit by James Fox
Teen - Age 10+ Like a Girl is an honest exploration of the impact of peer pressure and cyber-bullying through social media. Readers will see true reflections of typical teen experiences and the brutality of group chats but will also come away empowered to stand up for themselves and choose a postive way forward. 14-year-old… Continue reading Like a Girl by Rebecca Westcott
Echostar is Always Listening is a terrifyingly realistic thriller for teens. Warning readers of the dangers of new technology and giving out personal information on-line, it's a gripping story that is frighteningly possible. Ruby and Deva are desperate to attend the Ash Tree Foundation Performing Arts Camp. Their parents have said they can go as… Continue reading Echostar is Always Listening by Melinda Salisbury
There will be storms in everyone's life. It's how we deal with them that reveals their true impact. Storm Child by Ele Fountain challenges readers to reflect on the storms in their own lives and what is truly important to them. With short chapters, high-stakes action and a clear voice, readers are right in the… Continue reading Storm Child by Ele Fountain
May 2024 The Girl Who Couldn't Lie is the thought-provoking and ever-so engaging debut children's book by Radhika Sanghani. Targeted at age 9+, it reaches across Middle Grade into the Teen category with important issues for adolescents. Readers will identify with first crushes, puberty, managing responsbilities and independence, friendships, bullies, teachers and homework. This is… Continue reading The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie by Radhika Sanghani
May 2024 There is no question The Wrong Shoes will be one of the most highly regarded and widely discussed books of the year - perhaps even of the decade. It is an incredibly powerful story of childhood poverty in the UK. It explores the pressures of finanacial hardship and family struggles through the eyes… Continue reading The Wrong Shoes by Tom Percival
Scope for Imagination 