Written by Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Scholastic (R) £12.99
ISBN: 978-1407130234
Young children will be
immediately drawn to the embedded snow-dome on the festive cover of the new
edition of this picture book. Stick Man is an engaging character who is on an
exciting and sometimes perilous journey to be reunited with his stick family.
His adventures are beautifully realised in the colourful, animated illustrations,
and the rhyme and rhythmic repetition has established Stick Man as a story to
be read aloud. The Christmas themed ending, with its warm final spread to
resolve the worries of the story, makes this a lovely seasonal gift.
Elaine Chant
Written by Inkeri Karvonen
Illustrated by Hannu Taina
Floris £10.99
ISBN: 978-1782500162
An outstanding book truly
reflecting the Christmas spirit. Little Tomte anxiously watches the seasons
until the snow begins to fall. He is feeling lonely all on his own and worries
that Christmas may never come. He has a great idea and, making a special wish,
begins to make lots of sweet-smelling candles to help his wish to come true.
Christmas arrives and so do all his friends! A magical tale, beautifully
illustrated – a perfect gift.
Val Bierman
Written by Jeanne Willis
Illustrated by Nathan Reed
HarperCollins (eB) £5.99
ISBN: 978-0007521944
Part of the Awesome Animals
series, this is the fourth title concerning the wacky penguins at the City Zoo.
Christmas is coming and the penguins decide to celebrate in a big way with all
the trimmings. The witty, action-packed story is carried along by the cheery
black and white line drawings. A welcome stocking-filler.
Martin & Sinead Kromer
Written by Michael Morpurgo
Egmont (R) £9.99
ISBN: 978-1405268950
Four very different Christmas
tales from the master story-teller, Michael Morpurgo. Three are reproductions
of earlier publications, complete with their original wonderful illustrations
by the renowned artists, Quentin Blake, Michael Foreman and Emma
Chichester-Clark. However, one has been specially written for this edition and
illustrated by Sophie Allsopp. A beautiful gift that will be treasured.
Martin & Sinead Kromer
Written
by Samantha Meredith
Scholastic £4.99
ISBN:
978-1407137940
Packed
full of festive activities, games and stickers, focussing on Britain
David Chant
Let’s Talk About Big Beds
and Bedtime
Written by Stella Gurney
Illustrated by Fiona Freund
ISBN: 978-0230764323
This title is a great tool for
tackling a ‘trickier bit of toddlerhood’! This busy book follows Layla through
her bedtime routine and her first night in her ‘Big Girl Bed’. It supports the
transition and rite of passage that all toddlers go through when transferring
from a cot to a big bed. The combination of photographs and illustrations,
accompanied with different fonts and speech bubbles makes for an interesting
read. There are also many questions to engage your toddler and words of wisdom
from parents who have already made the transition with their toddlers. The book
provides some great ideas on how to get children involved, including buying a
new set of pyjamas before the big event!
Louise Mundford
Written and illustrated by
Catherine and Laurence Anholt
Orchard Books £6.99
ISBN: 978-1408314364
A conversation starter for you
and your baby about all things baby! With its sections on animals, clothes,
food and more, this book acts almost as a picture dictionary for your little
one. It introduces new words, actions and adjectives that children will learn
and add to their already expanding vocabulary. Its labels and captions are
clear and the accompanying illustrations are timeless. Parents will have a
lovely time sharing this book with their children. This book is one that you
can read in sections and keep coming back to again and again.
Louise Mundford
Written and illustrated by Lara
Jones
ISBN: 978-0230754034
A brightly coloured and vibrant
story about a birthday adventure to the Mystery Jungle. It is Poppy Cat’s
birthday and her friends give her a treasure map. She follows it in search for
treasure but comes across the best treasure of all, a surprise party with all
of her friends. This adventure story is fun-packed and will really capture
children’s imaginations. The text is lively and almost jumps out at you from
the page. All of these elements make the text exciting to the young eye. There
are many animals in the story to talk about and it also has familiar stories
from the other Poppy Cat stories in the series.
Louise Mundford
Up and Down
Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
HarperCollins (eB)
£5.99
ISBN978-0007476824
A story of friendship between a
little boy and a penguin. They do everything together until the penguin decides
that there is something he needs to do alone ….. fly! Penguin leaves without a
trace and the little boy goes in search for him, worrying about his friend. The
pair reunites when the penguin needs his friend the most ….. to catch him when
he is falling! This heartfelt story makes you consider your own friendships and
how, you too, can be a good friend.
Louise Mundford
Mabel and Me: Best of Friends
Written by Mark Sperring
Illustrated by Sarah Warburton
HarperCollins £6.99
ISBN: 978-0007468355
A delightful picture book with an
unpredictable and amusing storyline which is complemented by witty, animated
illustrations. Mabel and her best friend, Me, a mouse, set about discovering
the answer to “a hugely harrowing and diabolically difficult question” as to
why they are the best of friends. The story introduces two wonderfully
conceived characters – a famous French photographer and Senora Prima Ballerina,
who introduce some new and exciting words into the text. The fun effectively
conveys the true qualities of friendship.
Written and illustrated by John
Burningham
Jonathan Cape (R) £19.99
ISBN: 978-0857550835
Originally published in 1963 and
winner of The Kate Greenaway Medal in 1964, this timeless classic is
reinvigorated by being republished in a Collectors’ Edition to mark its 50th
Anniversary. It is amazing to think that this was John Burningham’s first
picture book and yet its engaging, heart-warming, humorous story and luscious,
bold artwork displayed his tremendous talent and acted as an indication of what
was to come. Sub-titled The Adventures of
a Goose with No Feathers, it tells the tale of a gosling named Borka who
hatched out in the marshes with a beak, wings and webbed feet just like her
brothers and sisters but with no feathers. Her mother knitted her a grey
woollen jersey to keep her warm but that did not stop the other goslings making
fun of her, nor did it help her to fly when all the other geese migrated south
for the winter. The story tells of how Borka coped with being left behind and
how she managed to make new friends and find a new home. This classic is not
only a delightful story but it also shows the reader that being different is
not a barrier to friendship and even love. This is a must-have for every young
child’s library.
Sinead Kromer
Titles for the Confident Reader in Primary School
Too Many Hats
Written and illustrated by Hilda
Offen
Troika £4.99
ISBN: 978-0957301337
An engaging tale which sets a
fair pace as a princess, a cat and a large collection of hats come together in
a funny, confusing way. The rule is ‘No Pets Allowed’ at the palace where
Princess Paloma lives. So, when her secretly adopted cat, Hattie (Hat for
short), disappears, there’s quite a kafuffle as everyone is searching for the
lost Hat. Lavishly illustrated with amusing line drawings, this would be
perfect for a newly confident reader.
Elaine Chant
The Witching Hour
Written by Sara Grant
Illustrated by Erica-Jane Waters
Orion (eB) £4.99
ISBN: 978-1444007770
It’s as Trix’s cat clock strikes
midnight and her tenth birthday draws to a close that, by the light of the
witching hour’s full moon, she makes her first sighting of a real witch. From
then on life isn’t the same and nothing is as it seems. Lulu, the funky
librarian, turns out to be even more amazing and lessons at school become
literally magical. Trix is ecstatic to have a cat and it’s even more special
that Jinx chose her over the spiteful Stella who wanted him for herself. Not
only is Stella a show-off but she uses her developing magical powers selfishly
and negatively. This is the first in the Magic
Trix series which firmly establishes the characters and whets desire for
its sequel Flying High as well as for
future books chronicling the young witches’ development.
Gill Roberts
Maisie Hitchins: The
Case of the Vanishing Emerald
Written by Holly Webb
Stripes £4.99
ISBN: 978-1847153722
In the second book of the series,
Maisie’s actress friend Miss Lane
Tina Massey
The Tattoo Fox
Written by Alasdair Hutton
Illustrated by Stref (Steven
White)
Luath (eB) £5.99
ISBN: 978-1908373939
Inspired by a real-life encounter
one dark night on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, this warm-hearted story is about
a young, wild fox searching for a new home, Befriended by a cat - the
unofficial mascot of the regiment - she settles into the rocks beneath the
castle. Young rabbits provided easy hunting opportunities and plenty of
tourists ensure lots of adventures whilst the famous Tattoo creates a dramatic
finale to the story.
Jenny Blanch
My Super Sister
and the Birthday Party
Written by Gwyneth Rees
Illustrated by Ella Okstad and Lydia
Macmillan £7.99
ISBN: 978-0230767775
This sequel to My Super Sister is a lively novel with utterly
realistic family dynamics, but there is an equally convincing stream of
fantastic happenings, stemming from the super-powers possessed by some family
members. Emma, aged nine, is the sensible big sister, with Saffy being the
naughty young one. Both have the power to animate inanimate objects. Their
mother doesn’t have the power as it skips generations. When she sends the girls
to stay with Granny and learn how to hone and control their gift, a scary drama
ensues. There’s a lot of fun, too, as toys and other objects are brought to
life, but when Saffy disobeys Granny and animates the sinister doll,
Queenie-May, there’s real danger, and not just the spoiling of Grandpa’s
birthday party. Made reader-friendly with twelve chapters of large print and
plenty of jolly black and white drawings.
Julia Jarman
City Farm: Emily
and Patch
Written by Jessie Williams
Curious Fox (eB)
£4.99
ISBN: 978-1782020202
Emily is finding it difficult to
adjust after the death of her mother and the arrival of a new step-mother, so
she is introduced to the Harvest Hope project at the City Farm where children
with problems work them out while caring for the animals. Emily rebuffs the
other children’s attempts to include her, until an equally sad puppy arrives.
There is an element of adventure when Emily runs away and hides on the farm but
the main attraction of the story is the depiction of the farm animals, the life
of the farm and the interaction with the children. This is part of a series
where apparently every problem has an animal solution but the book is well-written
and will appeal to animal lovers.
Pat Thomson
Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse
Written and illustrated by Chris
Riddell
Macmillan (eB) £9.99
ISBN: 978-0230759800
You certainly cannot judge this
book by its cover. The beautifully presented exterior of this book gives no
indication of the ludicrously hysterical illustrations of creatures and
monsters galore and the zany story within. Ada
Martin Kromer
The Hobbit
Written by J. R. R. Tolkein
Illustrated by Jemima Catlin
HarperCollins (R) (eB)
£20.00
ISBN: 978-0007497904
A new luxurious edition of the
classic, well-loved tale. Bilbo Baggins is enjoying the peace and quiet of his
comfortable home when he is persuaded by the wizard, Gandalf, and a band of
dwarves to accompany them on a dangerous adventure to steal a dragon’s
treasure. With coloured images on almost every page, along with the many
atmospheric full-page illustrations, this edition will be cherished by younger
and older readers alike.
Martin Kromer
Titles for readers Moving On from Primary to High School
A Lily, A Rose
Written by Sally Nicholls
Illustrated by Sarah Dennis
ISBN: 978-1781121962
Lady Elinor, at 14, loves chess,
riding, hawking and Dan, a young knight in training with her father. It’s a
heady, rose-tinted first love which sweeps her up and enhances her whole world.
But her father is coldly furious when he discovers them kissing, as Elinor must
marry for position. The prospective husband chosen by her father is 50, grey-haired,
limping but no-one’s fool. When Elinor defeats him soundly at chess and tells
him she won’t marry him, he mentions that his son Adam, 16, also plays, and much
better. Adam soon arrives; a tall, attractive and stylish young man who enjoys
chess, hunting and hawking too. He speaks several languages, is an avid reader
with an easy humour and eyes that warm to Elinor. Elinor is intrigued but
confused and Dan is furious. Can it be that she loves both of them? Beautifully
taut, spare writing which is very accessible but never at the cost of style or
subtlety. Sally Nicholls creates a very credible medieval society with problems
of the period and perennial ones too; especially the unexpected ferocity of
first love, which both overwhelms and threatens. Dyslexia friendly, but still a
book for anyone to enjoy.
Tina Massey
Shadows of the Silver Screen
Written by Christopher Edge
Nosy Crow (eB) £6.99
ISBN: 978-0857630520
Penny Tredwell, 13-year-old
heiress of the best-selling literary magazine “The Penny Dreadful”, returns in
her second adventure. This mysterious tale is set in 1900, at the beginning of
the era of silent films. Initially, Penny is excited and intrigued when a film
maker starts to film one of the Penny Dreadful’s best known and scariest
stories. However, as the malevolent past begins to influence filming, and fact
and fiction begin to blur, Penny finds herself caught up in one of her own
terrifying tales. Shadows of the Silver
Screen is a thrilling read for pre-teens. This paranormal tale is full of
thrills and excitement, mystery and danger, all of which our heroine battles
with her bravery and intelligence. The descriptions are vivid, whether of
Victorian London or the excitement generated by the first glimpse of moving
pictures. Penny’s associate Montgomery Finch brings humour to the tale, while
sinister film-maker Mr Gold adds revenge and villainy. This thrilling and fun=filled
gothic tale is a must read for horror-loving tweenies.
Jane Hall
An Angel for May
Written by Melvin Burgess
Andersen £5.99
ISBN: 978-1849395342
This original story uses the
common timeslip device, but, in a way, that heightens the emotional tone of the
novel. When he travels through an invisible portal to a World War II farm, Tam
encounters a makeshift family group that brook no nonsense but show a depth of
warmth, understanding and selflessness that Tam appreciates. The young girl,
May, orphaned and traumatised by the bombing, is cared for in an understanding
way by farmer, Mr Nutter, who in turn is helped by widowed Mrs Pickles. Few
questions are asked about Tam with his clothes of unfamiliar fabrics. Like May
before him he is simply accepted. He is expected to pull his weight on the farm
but welcome to stay. A homeless woman seems to exist between both times, but
only Tam can see her in both. Melvin Burgess is adept at telling a story
without over explaining or tying up too many loose ends. He trusts the reader’s
intelligence and in the process has created a vivid, touching story.
Annalise Taylor
Geekhood: Mission
Impossible
Written by Andy Robb
Stripes (eB) £6.99
ISBN: 978-1847153647
Here’s a book that announces its
credentials from the get-go. It is a book by a geek, about geeks and for geeks,
and everyone else who loves a clever, witty read. The story follows the
adventures of a group of four geeky teenage boys. It’s all here: Star Wars,
Lord of the Rings, Super Heroes, Dungeons and Dragons, and, most of all, Live
Action Role Play (LARPing). Archie is in love with Sarah, the most beautiful
girl in the world. However, she just wants to be friends. Enter Clare, a girl
who is also suffering from unrequited love. She hatches a plan for the two of
them to start a fake romance to makes their respective loves jealous.
Everything goes to plan, except Archie doesn’t really feel OK about lying to
Sarah and his best friends. Complications emerge as it becomes apparent that he
might not be the only one who has a crush on Sarah. With monsters, elves,
dwarves and wizards in the mix, what could go wrong? The story touches on many
quite serious topics such as the emergence of sexual feelings, bullying, family
break-up, reconstituted families, peer group rivalry. It does so lightly, but
with sympathy. Archie is a rather wise and very likeable narrator, and the book
ends with a heartening vision of friendships re-forged in the heat of
role-played battle.
Stella Maden
The Book of Doom
Written by Barry Hutchison
HarperCollins (eB) £6.99
ISBN: 978-0007440917
The Book of Doom is the second in Barry Hutchison’s Afterworlds series. Here we meet
fifteen-year-old Zac, who lives with his infirm grandfather. They survive by
Zac’s talent for stealing. However, these nefarious activities have brought him
to the attention of the Angel Gabriel. Heaven has lost the Book of Doom, which
contains everything there is to know. Gabriel is convinced that Satan has the
book, and makes Zac an offer he cannot refuse; to steal the book back to save
his grandfather’s life. Zac is accompanied by the permanently cheerful and
positive Angelo, a half angel, and half something else? This is a hilarious
adventure story with true baddies, and real heroes. There is great chemistry
between cool, loner Zac, and the innocent Star Wars loving Angelo who just
wants to help his new friend; their banter is hilarious. On their journey, they
encounter such unusual things as a Viking Conga at Valhalla, and an unsettling
nightclub in Limbo, as well as favourite characters from the first book. There
are plot twists throughout, but the one at the end is jaw-dropping, while also
making perfect sense. Highly recommended!
Jane Hall
Written by Derek Landy
HarperCollins (eB) £12.99
ISBN: 978-0007500925
At last, one of the most exciting
of Derek Landy’s characters gets her own story. The Maleficent Seven is a one-off novel from the world of Skulduggery Pleasant, starring the
wonderful Tanith Low. As faithful readers will already know, Tanith is now
officially one of the bad guys as she is possessed by a remnant. In this story,
she recruits a team of villains to find and steal the four God-killer weapons. However,
as these are the weapons that the Sanctuary needs to fight Darquesse when she
arrives, there is also a team of good guys hunting for them. There are familiar
characters to entertain readers, as well a few new ones. There are plenty of
Landy’s trademark action sequences, double crossing galore, hilarious banter
between the characters and a thrilling, intriguing storyline. The highlights of
the book, for me, were the flashbacks to Tanith’s childhood; a dark but
delightful insight into her mind. Hopefully, Landy may allow more favourite
characters their own adventures. Tanith Low is a new high in bad guys!
Jane Hall
Written by Simon Mayo
Doubleday (eB)
£10.99
ISBN: 978-0857531322
In his time as a film reviewer,
Simon Mayo must have seen many high-octane action adventure movies and this
book is right out of that mould. The action is explosive and May certainly
knows how to keep that roaring along. His story is a sequel to his successful
book, Itch, in which Itchingham
Lofte, a teenager fascinated by the Periodic Table, discovered Element 126,
some highly radioactive rocks. In the first book, he was pursued by sinister
forces desperate to get their hands on the rocks, and, in this book, the
sinister forces are still desperate to get their hands on the rocks! Despite
M15 agents giving him 24 hour protection, Itch is soon on the run and plunged
into all kinds of perilous situations which will keep readers on the edge of
their seats. The scenes of chase and carnage are very well done and there are
some stomach-churning descriptions of pain and injury to please the blood-thirsty.
Mayo’s many fans will be hoping that perhaps sinister forces will again be
pursuing our hero in a third book.
Nigel Hinton
Itch Rocks is the explosive sequel to Simon Mayo’s excellent debut
novel, Itch, and continues the story
of Itchingham Lofte and friends, and their protection of the valuable Element
126. Itch’s life seems to have returned to normal after the events of the last
book, but that soon changes. Itch learns that not only have MI5 Agents moved next
door in the hope that they will find out where he has hidden his valuable
discovery, but also a sinister group of villains are still relentlessly hunting
for the radioactive element and they won’t stop until they uncover where it is
hidden. Itch Rocks is a highly
enjoyable read for all children aged 10 years and above. It’s filled with
action and adventure on almost every page and will keep even the most reluctant
reader hooked to the very end. The author brings to life a group of dynamic
young protagonists and a group of sinister villains, led by the evil Dr.
Flowerdew, with their own nefarious agenda. Although a sequel, this is a great
read in its own right.
Davy Hall
Terra
Written by Mitch Benn
Gollancz (eB) £12.99
ISBN: 978-0575132085
A science fiction story with more
than a touch of humanity to its central theme. Abducted from earth as a baby,
Terra, now “eight orbits old”, is about to start school on the planet Fnrr.
Although excited by the prospect, Terra is still an outsider who is about to
discover how being different gives her a unique perspective on life. The lively
and distinctive narrative voice adds to the enjoyment of the tale.
Elaine Chant
Titles for Young Teenage Readers
Invisible Girl
Written
by Kate Maryon
HarperCollins
(eB) £6.99
ISBN:
978-0007466900
Gabriella Midwinter hasn’t had an easy life. At
five years old, her abusive mother left, taking her older brother with her, but
Gabriella stayed to look after her dad. Now aged 12, her father marries again
to Amy, a woman who makes it clear that she doesn’t want Gabriella around. One
day, Gabriella comes home from school, to find all her belongings in a backpack
and a note from her dad, telling her that he and Amy have gone to live in Spain
and that she should get a train to Manchester and go live with her Mum, who she
hasn’t seen since she left. Suddenly, Gabriella slips through the cracks,
becoming invisible and finding herself vulnerable and living on the streets,
facing all the dangers and hardship that can bring. A carefully woven plot
sensitively handled and beautifully told. Gabriella is a really well drawn
character with whom the reader completely empathises. I was shocked at the
statistics that in the UK a child runs away every five minutes and that every
year there are 100,000 children under 16 living on the streets!
Annie
Everall
The Bone Dragon
Written by Alexia Casale
Faber and Faber (eB)
£9.99
ISBN: 978-0571295616
This strong story mixes fantasy
and real life in a captivating way. Evie has been living happily with her
loving adopted parents, Paul and Amy, for four years but it takes this long
before Evie tells them about her painful ribs – which they discover have been
broken. The physical sign of her troubled past mends and the pain eases but the
emotional baggage takes longer to resolve. Evie is given a fragment of her bone
and when Uncle Ben carves a tiny dragon for her it becomes more than just a
talisman. Evie returns to school, her girl friends have saved a desk for her
but Sonny Rawlins is as mean as ever. Ms Winter visits to help her catch up
with her school work and to give her a chance to talk. Gradually, Evie
rationalises her past – the weak mother who abandoned her and the grandparents
who hated her. When it comes to unresolved events and present fears, the bone
dragon comes to life at night and takes Evie on a journey of resolution and
revenge. The descriptions of their nocturnal journeys through the fens are
atmospheric and haunting. Evie’s story is heart-warming. The mystery of her
past is treated with delicacy and compassion and events are referred to rather
than explained which gives this book a haunting sensitivity. The characters are
strong and immensely likeable and Evie’s courage is to be admired. The themes
of this well-rounded story last well beyond the last page.
Louise Stothard
Castle Waiting
Written and Illustrated by Linda Medley
Fantagraphics (eB)
£17.99
ISBN: 978-1606996027
Don't let the phrases graphic
novel or fairytale put you off. Castle
Waiting is an enthralling, beautifully crafted and unexpected delight. The
strong resemblance to Sleeping Beauty
at the start is quickly subverted down a much more twisted and winding path to
something far more satisfying and enchanting. With the fairytale princess gone,
the castle becomes a refuge for an assortment of odd, but appealing,
characters, from the bird-man Rackham to the bearded nun Peace from the
Solicitine Order. Witty dialogue, subversive themes and shrewd nuns create a
compelling story brought to life by carefully drawn and detailed
black-and-white pictures. With meandering storylines, there are plenty of
challenges for growing readers and this handsome volume is going to be
treasured by many. I can't wait to read the next volume.
Benjamin Scott
The Last Wild
Written by Piers Torday
Quercus (eB) £9.99
ISBN: 978-1780878287
Imagine a world where all the
animals are dead or culled because of a disease called ‘red-eye’. Imagine a
world where most of the land is forbidden territory and where the population is
confined to specific, regulated locations. Because there are no animals or
access to real food, the population can only eat manufactured food that all
looks the same but is given different flavours. Against this background there
is Kester, who is locked away in an institution for challenging children,
because he has lost the power of speech. However, Kester has the gift of
talking to the animals. He is rescued by a flock of pigeons and a swarm of
cockroaches and taken to a place where some animals still survive. Here, he is
given the task of finding his father who may have a cure for the ‘red-eye’. His
journey, in the company of a strange group of animals and one human, is fraught
with danger, betrayal and tragedy. The story is fast-paced as the group face
one crisis after another, trying to discover what has really happened to the
world. The truth is shocking and has some resonance today as it concerns the
manipulation of public opinion by business interests. Certainly it is very
thought provoking and should provide opportunities for discussion and for
developing a critical appraisal of what is happening in the world today.
Patricia Thompson
Diary of a Mall
Girl
Written by Luisa Plaja
Curious Fox (eB)
£6.99
ISBN: 978-1782020127
Malls, best friends, boys,
snogging and texting ….. Hmmm! But wait, even post-teen reviewers can warm to
fifteen year old Molly who is dealing with teen life and still remaining
excellently Molly. The family live in the ‘affordable housing’ which is attached
to the new shopping mall. She is involved in the familiar game of intertwined
support and exploitation with her two best friends, a situation which is
complicated by the arrival of the cool and mysterious twins, Jasper and Jewel. The
introduction of the rock star family adds some glamour but the story is
underpinned by a warm family dynamic and the lively and engaging character of
Molly herself. Not as ‘pink’ as the title might suggest. Much more fun!
Pat Thomson
Through Dead Eyes
Written by Chris Priestley
Bloomsbury (eB)
£10.99
ISBN: 978-1408811061
Alex is in Amsterdam with his
father who is there to meet his Dutch publisher to discuss the possibility of a
TV documentary based on his book about World War II. Beautiful Angelien, the
daughter of the publisher, is asked to show Alex around the city. They visit an
antiques market where he buys a Japanese mask which seems to have supernatural
powers. Soon Alex is sucked into the strange story of a girl in 17th
Century Amsterdam called Hanna Van Kampen whose portrait, wearing the mask,
hangs in the Rijksmuseum. The spooky elements of the story are not particularly
creepy but the book’s real interest lies in Alex’s confused emotional life: his
fraught relationship with his father, the mixed signals he is getting from
Angelien, the bitterness he feels towards his absent mother, and the struggle with
his own rather dark recent history. There is, however, an excellent
supernatural frisson right at the end of the story.
Nigel Hinton
Written by Rachel Hartman
Corgi (eB) £6.99
ISBN: 978-0552566001
The beautifully illustrated cover
of Seraphina hints at the joys
awaiting the reader. In the Kingdom of Goredd humans and dragons live side by
side in fragile peace. When the Queen’s son is murdered, suspicion falls on the
dragons and the peace treaty is threatened. Seraphina, a court musician, gets
drawn into the murder investigation, due to her friendship with the dragons.
However, she struggles with her desire to uncover the truth about the murder,
and her need to keep her own secrets hidden. Rachel Hartman has created an
amazing fantasy world in her stunning debut novel. Her descriptions are vivid,
creating clear visions of the places and people as you read. Her portrayal of
dragons as totally logical and unemotional creatures, able to transform into
human form is exquisite. Seraphina is a vibrant lead character, full of
self-doubt, but very brave and loyal. Written from her point of view, the
reader is privy to her, sometimes hilarious, thoughts. As well as being a tense
‘who-dunnit’, the book also has a very strong anti-discrimination message,
along with a hint of love. Seraphina
is a beautiful book inside and out, and one of the best books I have read in a
long time.
Jane Hall
Chasing the Dark
Written by Sam Hepburn
Chicken House (eB)
£6.99
ISBN: 978-1908435682
The nightmare of his Mum’s death,
in a hit and run incident, keeps coming back to Joe, and it makes no sense. Who
would want to murder her, and what did her last words mean? But taking his dog
for a late-night walk begins a sequence of events which may lead him to
discover what really happened that night, and why. Unravelling this puzzle
takes Joe into a dangerous world of KGB operatives, blackmailers and murderers,
but he knows he can never rest until he learns the truth. Joe’s coming of age
under such stressful circumstances will appeal to thoughtful readers, while the
page-turning pace of the novel adds to its broad appeal.
Marianne Adey
The Oathbreaker’s
Shadow
Written by Amy McCulloch
Random House (eB)
£12.99
ISBN: 978-0857531810
The world portrayed in this
complex and absorbing novel is peopled by a rich variety of characters from
diverse cultures. Raim and his people are nomads, travelling the plains of
Darhan. As Raim nears his sixteenth year he is ready to join the Yun, the elite
guard of fighters. Khareh, the Crown Prince is his best friend and Raim looks
forward to promising to be his protector when Khareh becomes Khan. In this
society making a promise or oath is not done lightly. It is marked by a simple
knot around your wrist and if you break that promise you are not only scarred
for life but outlawed too. Raim has always worn a promise thread but has never
known what it represents. When Khareh persuades him to make his promise of
allegiance, to Raim’s horror, the knot bursts into flames and scars his wrist.
Raim has to flee for his life and escapes into the inhospitable desert where he
struggles to stay alive. He is found by the Alashan tribe, seasoned desert
dwellers who know the secrets of survival in a land without water. When they
discover that he is an oath-breaker they resolve to take him to Lazar, a place
of exile for all outlawed oathbreakers. The pace of the story as Raim
endeavours to find out the meaning of his promise thread is swift and exciting.
The characters are interesting and the ideas behind the different tribes
fascinating. As the beginning of a series it will be fascinating to see how the
adventures unfold in future titles.
Louise Stothard
Sun Catcher
Written by Sheila Rance
Orion (eB) £9.99
ISBN: 978-1444006209
Maia is an outsider in her
village. Her father weaves silk that sings a story but he is silent about their
past. It is when the Wulf Kin comes to hunt Maia down that her destiny as the
Sun Catcher is revealed. This densely written story will please fantasy fans,
reflecting so may of the elements they love: the outsider who discovers her
power, glamorous animal companions and a whole variety of human groups from
Amazon-like women to Scythian-like Eagle People who gallop with their eagles on
their wrists. The story strides on, full of colourful detail and the many
groups are well handled. Those who like a combination of adventure, magic and
animals, set against romantic backgrounds, will quickly become absorbed and
will be waiting for the second book.
Pat Thomson
Written by Matt Whyman
Hot Key (eB) £6.99
ISBN: 978-1471400384
Matt Whyman’s books are always
worth looking out for and this present novel is certainly something different.
Written with the very darkest of wit, it describes a close contemporary family
who every now and again feast on the human flesh provided for them following an
opportunistic murder. Details of their banquets may be too much for some
readers’ stomachs, sounding a bit like a run-through of Hannibal Lecter’s
favourite recipes. But for those who can stick it out there are plenty of
rewards as the author mocks both meat-eaters and vegetarians as the
cannibalistic family heads for its long overdue comeuppance. Readers must
decide for themselves whether in the end it was all worth it and why such a
talented author should have landed himself with such a very distasteful (sic)
plot.
Nicholas Tucker
Written by Graham McNamee
Hodder (eB) £6.99
ISBN: 978-1444912784
The rather ambiguous title of
this supernatural thriller does not really do justice to the taut, intriguing
and exciting story. Jane and Lexi are best friends but the bond between them is
more than sharing secrets and hanging out together. Lexi knows why Jane is
different from everyone else and why she is in danger – from herself. Her
parents consider her as accident-prone but Jane has faced the improbable fact
that it is her own shadow which literally drags her into harms way. Set in a
small town on Canada’s West Coast, the atmosphere of The Rain Coast adds to the
building tension. The latest incident was a very close call and since this
near-death experience Jane has been sleepwalking and catching glimpses of a
past life that was not her own. Lexi is determined to help her friend and to
see if there is a pattern to the events. When a landslide reveals the skeleton
of a young boy more details become clear and life for Jane spirals out of
control. The two girls are in a race against time to save not only Jane but
another youngster too. This well-written mystery keeps the reader guessing and
involved until the last page. The characters are interesting and well portrayed
from Lexi who sees life through a camera lens to Jane’s bewildered policeman
father and Ryan the potential love interest in her life – that is if she can
stay alive.
Louise Stothard
Written by C. J. Flood
Simon and Schuster (eB)
£9.99
ISBN: 978-0857078025
Travellers are often in the
headlines! They arrive in either large groups or small, but for the majority of
local residents they are always bad news. Such is the case when a family group
settle on land on of Iris’ family farm. For Iris’ Dad, this is a second major
problem that he must cope with. Iris’ Mother has left, leaving Dad responsible
for Iris and her brother Sam, who has already gone “off the rails” and joined a
gang. Although Iris gets to know one of the travellers, the story progresses in
an almost predictable manner; and then, tragedy strikes. The book is immensely
enjoyable in a very sombre way. It explores the two themes of family breakdown
and the response of a community to the arrival of a group in their midst, a
group who do not share their lifestyle nor recognise the commonly accepted
rules of society. In this book, this latter group include both the travellers
and the local gang. It is an excellent book; the issues raised could be a
springboard for much thought and discussion.
Patricia Thompson
The Boy from
France
Written by Hilary Freeman
Piccadilly (eB)
£6.99
ISBN: 978-1848123014
Part of the Camen Town Tales
series. French exchange students, some of them boys, cause a stir amongst Vix’s
classmates. Vix is a teenager who carries the great responsibility of caring
for her mother who suffers from a degenerative illness, but who is also very
reluctant to let the world know that her illness is incurable. Vix is allocated
one of the boy students and as well as having to deal with the jealousy of her classmates, she has
to keep not only the secret of her Mother’s illness, but also how much
responsibility for running the home falls on her shoulders. The necessary lies
and evasions of the truth that are needed to keep these secrets, very nearly
destroy the developing relationship between Vix and Xavier, the student. It
explores the relationships within groups of young people, with all their
different characters having an influence on the group dynamics. It also
explores the relationships within families and as such, it will strike a chord
with many readers.
Patricia Thompson
A Face Like Glass
Written by Frances
Hardinge
Macmillan (eB) £7.99
ISBN: 978-0330519700
The
muscles in a human face are capable of rendering a whole gamut of emotions
making it hard to lie. But imagine a world where expressions are learnt from
birth and worn on the face like masks. This is Caverna, Frances Hardinge’s
underground fantasy world, a dystopian city hidden in a network of tunnels
chiselled out of rock. Here, master craftsmen, the bourgeoisie, skilled at
creating rare treasures - miraculous cheeses, intoxicating perfumes and
dangerous wines - live at the expense of the drudges, the proletariat,
condemned to the darkness where they must work for the good of the community. Enter
Neverfell, a little girl with a face unlike anything seen below ground, with no
recollection of where she has come from, and a desire to break free of her
oppressors and escape to the overground. But she soon finds herself drawn into
a deadly game, which involves nothing less than a plot against the Grand
Steward, an omnipresent tyrant who rules over this ‘communist’ state. With its
rich, dense language and intricately mapped storyline, this is a challenging
read. Admirers of Frances Hardinge’s previous books will not be disappointed.
Richard Monte
Written by Megan Miranda
Bloomsbury (eB) £6.99
ISBN: 978-1408834848
Mallory has killed her boyfriend,
allegedly in self-defence. However, she cannot remember what happened that
night, and has been plagued by horrifying nightmares ever since. To give
Mallory a fresh start, her parents send her away to boarding school.
Unfortunately, her reputation has preceded her and, when a student is found
dead, she once again finds herself a murder suspect. Hysteria is a thrilling psychological read. Told from Mallory’s
perspective, with her vivid nightmares and possible hallucinations, you are
never entirely sure what is real and what she is imagining. Author Megan
Miranda makes effective use of flashbacks, slowly revealing to Mallory and the
reader what actually happened on that fateful night. The tension builds
constantly, as Mallory’s fear increases, at times becoming claustrophobic. Like
many teen books, this has friendship and romance at its heart, with Colleen
risking everything to prove her best friend’s innocence, and Reid believing in
Mallory when no one else would, including herself. A suspenseful edge of your
seat teen murder mystery, with a touch of romance.
Jane Hall
Skylark
Written by Megan Spooner
Corgi (eB) £6.99
ISBN: 978-0552565561
Lark has never seen the sky,
living in a post-apocalyptic Dome city whose energy field protects its citizens
from a despoiled, dangerous land outside with its shadow people, zombies and
cannibals. At sixteen, she is due to be Harvested, a coming of age ceremony
where her future will be decided for her – and unknown to her, her ‘magic’ will
be extracted to fuel the Dome. Lark’s agonisingly painful Harvesting causes
consternation in the ruling elite, as she is a Renewable, extremely rare, who
can replenish her own magic energy. Before she is harnessed to become a virtual
engine for the Dome, she escapes outside accompanied by a mechanical Pixie.
Pixies are secret police who spy on the Dome’s citizens, so can this one be
trusted? In the waste land Lark is shadowed, protected and fed by Oren on her
journey to the Iron Wood, where she hopes her brother and some answers may be found.
Much is revealed as we knit together revelations with unexplained events from
earlier in the story to build fuller understanding. Lark is a distinctive
heroine in a dark, despoiled future, which is full of danger. A thoughtful read!
Tina Massey
Finding Cherokee
Brown
Written by Siobhan Curham
Electric Monkey (eB)
£6.99
ISBN: 978-1405260381
After her best friend moves away
and the bullying starts, Clare Weeks decides to write a novel to help her cope.
Following the advice of the irrefutable Agatha Dashwood’s So You Want to Write a Novel? Clare sets off to create the heroine
she aspires to be. However, it's the arrival of a birthday card addressed to
Cherokee Brown that leads Clare to discover more about herself and her true
biological father, musician Steve. Rather than needing to step into a fictional
world, Clare discovers she's been Cherokee all along and that she has the
strength to stand up for herself. Although this is a tender portrait of a girl
finding her own identity and re-evaluating her relationship with her parents
(mum, dad and stepdad), it’s not without a bit of rock 'n' roll. There is an
emotional journey that will keep readers hooked until the very end and a
reassuring message that things really can get better.
Benjamin Scott
Titles for More Mature readers
Written by Candy Gourlay
David Fickling (eB) £10.99
ISBN: 978-0385619202
Forced to hide herself away from
the superstitious community of Mirasol, thirteen-year-old Rosa seeks solace
online. There she meets Anse195, and as their friendship moves from virtual to
reality Rosa discovers she is not the only one with something to hide... Not a
ghost story, but there are plenty of ghosts! Not a horror story, but some
readers may be horrified! This is an original, moving tale that combines myths
and ghosts into a contemporary setting that will make you laugh and cry.
Jenny Blanch
If You Find Me
Written by Emily Murdoch
Indigo (eB) £9.99
ISBN: 978-1780621524
Carey, and her young sister
Jenessa, live deep in the forest in a decrepit camper van with a drug-addicted,
abusive and neglectful mother. When she disappears, Carey has somehow to keep
herself and her sister alive. Then out of the blue, her estranged father shows
up and the girls are whisked out of the forest and transplanted into a life
they don’t understand. This debut novel is a gripping and mysterious tale,
confidently spun into a complex web as details of what Carey had to do to
survive in the forest are gradually revealed. It is a haunting but beautiful
narrative of how the human spirit can triumph against impossible odds.
Yvonne Coppard
Winter Damage
Written by Natasha Carthew
Bloomsbury (eB) £10.99
ISBN: 978-1408835838
Society and the economy are
breaking down. Fourteen year old Ennor Carne lives in a broken-down trailer
with her dying father and young brother. A few days before Christmas, with a
snowstorm setting in, she decides to go in search of the mother who deserted
them years earlier. Little does she realise what faces her! When nothing can be
guaranteed friendship, loyalty and love are all that remain.
Martin Kromer
Written by Sara Grant
Indigo (eB) £9.99
ISBN: 978-1780620381
After being sent to a never-used
nuclear waste storage facility in a top secret mountain bunker outside Los Vega
by her parents, Icie find herself living with three strangers, as the rest of
the world crumbles from a biological terror attack. Hundreds of years later,
Beckett is the Cheer Captain of this same small community of survivors who now
follow the strange faith of the Mountain and the Great I AM. Their stories,
though separated in time, are cleverly intertwined. This is a tightly written
and layered story which asks big questions about the nature of religion and
faith as well as the fate of our nuclear waste problem. Sara Grant has a
natural love of language, using it with great precision, but she also knows how
to have fun with it. The new religion of Forreal adapts and changes current
social-media and teen language to create something new and slightly surreal,
replacing “Amen” with “Whatever”, but ties the present and the future clearly
together.
Benjamin Scott
Out of the Easy
Written
by Ruta Sepetys
Puffin
(eB) £7.99
ISBN:
978-0141347332
Between
Shades of Grey was an excellent debut novel. This second title is completely
different and is a rattling good story. As the 1940s become the 1950s Josie,
the daughter of a brothel prostitute in one of the sleazier areas of New
Orleans, dreams of heading north to study at one of the country’s more
prestigious colleges. Her grades are good enough to be accepted but her
background is likely to be a problem. Josie has always been shamefully
neglected by her selfish mother, but the brothel madam, a shrewd business woman
called Willie Woodley, and the various other employees at the brothel, care for
her and are prepared to help her in her search for a better life, even though
they can’t understand why she would ever want to leave New Orleans. Inevitably
in a story set in a brothel there are many references to sex and violence, but
this is, at heart, an uplifting and engaging story about a girl’s ambition to
escape the sleaze and corruption of her surroundings and get an education.
There is a cast of colourful and lovable characters, as well as some more
sinister ones, and the lively New Orleans of the early 1950s is wonderfully
evoked.
Jan Lennon
Written by Lisa McMann
Scholastic (eB)
£6.99
ISBN: 978-1407137230
Sixteen year old Ethan, abducted
at the age of seven, returns to his family. What should have been a joyous and
happy occasion turns sour when Ethan’s younger brother poses a serious
question. Ethan struggles to regain his formative memories and adapt to living
as part of a family again. The family struggle to adjust to having Ethan around
and desperately want everything to be “normal” but there are nine missing years
and Ethan cannot remember anything prior to his abduction. This book is a real
page-turner, full of drama, mystery and intrigue. The ending is abrupt and
unexpected but I was hooked until the last page.
Ingrid Fox
The Bunker Diary
Written by Kevin Brooks
Penguin (eB) £7.99
ISBN: 978-0141326122
Linus, sixteen, is drugged and
abducted and wakes up in an old bunker underground. There are six bedrooms, a
kitchen, bathroom and a lift with hidden cameras and microphones in every room
– yes even the bathroom! Soon, he is joined by five more people – all from
completely different walks of life and varying ages. There is neither rhyme nor
reason why they have been taken and Linus records their coping mechanisms and
outcomes in diary form. How different people cope is interesting, bleak and
harrowing. It is very thought provoking – how would you cope in this situation?
This book is reminiscent of Room by
Emma Donaghue, but in some ways more disturbing. The concept is brutal and
chilling and Kevin Brooks delivers a dark and gritty read. This book will
easily cross over into adult fiction.
Ingrid Fox
