If you choose one new book for Remembrance Day this year, make it this one. War Dog, written by master of children's historical fiction, Tom Palmer, and illustrated by the incredibly talented Carolina Rabei, is a beautiful account of the true story of Judy the dog. Published just ahead of the 80th anniversary of VJ… Continue reading War Dog by Tom Palmer & Carolina Rabei
The Bletchley Riddle is a richly layered story of spies, code breaking and strangers. Peril and intrigue fills every chapter as brother and sister Jakob and Lizzie try to work out who they can trust. As if the danger of working at Bletchley Park during the second world war wasn't enough, Jakob and Lizzie face… Continue reading The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys & Steve Sheinkin
May 2025 Shrapnel Boys is Jenny Pearson's first historical novel. Led by authentic characters with her trademark spark, this is a funny, heartwarming story with an additional layer of dilemma and emotional depth. It will challenge readers to think about everyone's role in the Second World War and how it affected ordinary people in extraordinary… Continue reading Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson
The first two Bletchley Park Mysteries have been some of my favourite books in recent years. Full of action, mystery and dedication to what is right, they follow a group of children based at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. Uncertain of what their futures hold, they do all they can to support the… Continue reading Wink, Murder: A Bletchley Park Mystery by Rhian Tracey
The Diary of Anne Frank is a book I'll always remember reading for the first time. Anne's voice poured off the page and she felt like a friend. Her heartbreaking journey has stayed with me for nearly forty years. Anne Frank is an incredibly well-known heroine and role model. Ask anyone to name a holocaust… Continue reading When We Flew Away: A Novel of Anne Frank Before the Diary by Alice Hoffman
Shadow Creatures is an inspiring story of strength and resistance in the face of adversary. Based on real life events, family memoirs and all the incredible people who stood up to the Nazis as they tried to take over Europe, it gives readers a glimpse into another aspect of war. This dual point-of-view adventure opens… Continue reading Shadow Creatures by Chris Vick ~ Blog Tour
I'm thrilled to welcome author Liz Kessler to Scope for Imagination with a special guest post! Bringing Yesterday to Life in Code Name Kingfisher by Liz Kessler In 2020, I wrote a book that had been close to my heart for many years. When The World Was Ours was inspired by a childhood experience of… Continue reading Code Name Kingfisher by Liz Kessler ~ Blog Tour
July 1940 – as Tarn struggles to come to terms with the loss of her beloved brother in the chaos of the British retreat at Dunkirk, she and her friends scour the hills around their Lake District home, watching for any signs of the long-dreaded Nazi invasion. But as the war drags on, with little… Continue reading Angel of Grasmere by Tom Palmer ~ Blog Tour Interview
The Angel of Grasmere is a beautiful dual point of view story about the reality of the Dunkirk retreat during the second world war - the impact on the soldiers who survived and the families who lost those they love. It is another must-read from historical master, Tom Palmer and the ever-accessible publisher, Barrington Stoke.… Continue reading Angel of Grasmere by Tom Palmer
The Enigma Girls is a fascinating look at the young women who worked at Bletchley Park during the second world war. Often not knowing what they were agreeing too, these women signed the Official Secrets Act and told no one about their responsibilities for many years. Intelligent, quick-witted and dedicated, they played a key part… Continue reading The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming
Scope for Imagination 