Many titles have full reviews that can be accessed by clicking on the book covers.
That Time I Got Kidnapped
When 14-year-old Jacob wins an all expenses paid trip to Hollywood, Los Angeles, to star as an extra in the latest Marvel movie, all his dreams have come true. But after missing his connecting flight he finds himself on a bus sat next to Jennifer. Jennifer is on the run and after a hasty kerbside exit Jacob finds himself on the run too. Can they make it to Hollywood in time…
Page Count: 320
Genre: Adventure, mystery, crime Themes: Humour, friendship, family 'a word about books' says…”Mitchell writes with a great awareness of his target audience and is ‘down with the youth of today’. References to emojis, YouTube, Marvel, Snapchat, Twitter, Netflix, Instagram and GIF’s will convince the most reluctant reader that this is a ‘lit’ book.”
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This Was Our Pact
Every year on the Autumn Equinox the villagers drop lanterns into the river. The legend goes that after drifting out of sight the lanterns float up into the Milky Way and turn into stars. But this seems completely impossible. Ben and his friends are determined to follow the lanterns further than they have ever done before and have agreed that they won’t stop until they know the truth. But will everyone be able to stick to the pact and will they get the answers they are looking for…
Page Count: 336
Genre: Graphic novel, adventure, fantasy Themes: Friendship, perseverance, loyalty 'a word about books' says…”Imaginative, creative and sometimes rather weird, Ryan Andrews takes readers on a fantastical journey of friendship, adventure and wonder."
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Tom's Midnight Garden: The Graphic Novel
Tom is totally unimpressed when he finds himself shipped off to stay with his Aunt and Uncle at the start of the summer holidays because his brother, Peter, has measles. Trapped inside for two weeks incase he is infectious, he finds himself going stir crazy and bored out of his mind. That is until Mrs. Bartholomew’s old clock strikes thirteen and Tom opens the door to a secret world…
Page Count: 100
Genre: Graphic novel, fantasy, adventure, mystery Themes: Friendship, loneliness 'a word about books' says…”An utterly enchanting tale sprinkled with magic and mystery. Just as Tom wanted to stay in the secret world in which he was able to walk into during the night, readers will want to stay in the world that Edith has imagined and drawn. Simply wonderful."
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Track #1: Ghost
World record loving Castle Cranshaw, aka Ghost, discovered his talent for running the night his dad pulled a gun on him and his mum. His dad has been in prison ever since and with troubles at school, life for Ghost is heading in only one direction. Then he meets Coach, someone who sees something unfamiliar in Ghost…promise. Ghost has no interest in track and field but could running be the thing that he needs to help get his life back on track in every sense of the word…
Page Count: 208
Genre: Adventure, everyday life, life lesson Themes: Growing-up, family, friendship, fear, school, feelings, sport, diversity, BAME 'a word about books' says…”Reynolds combines school, sport and life lessons into a read that will have readers racing through the pages quicker than Ghost can sprint."
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Twitch
Twitch is excited for the start of the summer holidays as he will be able to spend his days at his secret birdwatching hideout. But his plans are quickly scuppered by a hive of activity in the nature reserve. A bank robber has escaped from prison and is hiding in Aves Wood and Twitch soon finds himself at the heart of a mystery where lives and millions of pounds are at stake…
Page Count: 304
Genre: Mystery, crime Themes: Friendship, nature, birds, bullying 'a word about books' says…”A wonderful adventure of unexpected friendships, a love of nature, finding the joy in the simplest of things - the best things in life really are free, the beauty of birds and of enjoying the outdoors and connecting with nature. A brilliant read."
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Uki and the Outcasts
Uki never fitted in with his tribe. He was born with half-black, half-white fur and had mismatched eyes. After being forced to flee his village and on the brink of death, Uki is visited by a spirt who gives him a mission. Uki must capture dangerous escaped spirits to save the rabbit world. The fate, freedom and safety of all of rabbit kind lies in Uki’s small paws...
Page Count: 400
Genre: Adventure, fantasy Themes: Animals, family, friendship, war, fear, friendship, magic, inclusive, bullying, myths, legends 'a word about books' says…”Kieran Larwood has done it again with another fantasy adventure of epic proportions. A tale of a dangerous journey that only the bravest of rabbits will survive.”
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Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything
Uma’s life hasn’t been the same since her mum died. She has a dad who won't speak and a head full of questions. Then she stumbles upon Athena, an advanced artificial intelligence whose creator will do anything to get back. Athena knows absolutely everything and if Uma can keep her for long enough then she might be able to get the answers to her questions and save her dad...
Page Count: 352
Genre: Adventure, humour Themes: Family, friendship, feelings, loss, bereavement 'a word about books' says…”Sam Copeland takes another big issue - the bereavement of a loved one and the aftermath - and explores the consequences on the family unit in this brilliant story. Hilarious and heart-warming, laugh-out-loud and touching, marvellous and moving."
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The Umbrella Mouse
1944. When Pip Hanway’s peaceful world inside the umbrella and her entire family are destroyed by a Nazi bomb she must find a new home. To do so she will have to join Noah's Ark, a brave gang of animals secretly fighting with the resistance in France. On the battlefield and amongst the feet of soldiers, Pip must risk everything to save friends and to accomplish her own mission...
Page Count: 288
Genre: Adventure, mystery Themes: Family, friendship, bravery, resourcefulness, animals 'a word about books' says…”Anna Fargher’s debut book is simply beautiful. I was an emotional mess after reading this, but as Bernard Booth says, “Above all, we must be brave.” Hopefully the tears dry up in time for the next Umbrella Mouse adventure.”
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The Unadoptables
Milou and her friends have only known life at the Little Tulip Orphanage. For twelve years they have carried out back-breaking chores and survived on watery cabbage soup. When a menacing gentleman arrives at the orphanage looking for children to adopt, Milou knows that they cannot stay any longer. It is time to escape and to search for the answers she so desperately craves...
Page Count: 400
Genre: Adventure, mystery, crime Themes: Family, friendship, personal & social issues 'a word about books' says…”Family and friendship sparkle in this high stakes game of cat-and-mouse. Hana Tooke's exciting and un-ordinary read about a ragtag bunch of orphans on a wild and eventful search for family truths is perfect for curling up with on a cold winter’s night."
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The Valley of Lost Secrets
Twelve year old Jimmy and his brother Ronnie have been evacuated from London and sent to the Welsh hills. Struggling to fit in, Jimmy is desperate to go home. But when he discovers a skull hidden in a tree he feels the urge to find out its story. Uncovering the truth may help Jimmy feel like he belongs in the village but what he discovers will change the lives of the locals forever…
Page Count: 304
Genre: Adventure, historical, mystery Themes: Family, friendship, war, bereavement, bullying 'a word about books' says…”Lesley Parr’s historical fiction debut catapults her straight into the same league as the Queen of the genre, Emma Carroll. The Valley of Lost Secrets is a beautifully told story of wartime Wales with friendship and mystery at its heart."
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The Vanishing Trick
Desperate for a better life, orphan Leander thinks he has found the answer to his problems when he meets the mysterious Madame Pinchbeck. But Leander finds himself bewitched by some powerful magic and trapped in his dead mother’s locket. Along with two other trapped children, Leander must put an end to Pinchbeck’s terrible spell or one of them may vanish forever…
Page Count: 304
Genre: Fantasy, mystery, adventure Themes: Family, friendship, magic, ghosts 'a word about books' says…”Jenni Spangler’s debut fizzes with dark magic, strange goings-on, folklore and trickery. It is a deliciously dark and spooky Victorian adventure full of mystery and suspense that gives you all the spine-tingles right from the get-go."
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The Way to Impossible Island
When Dara learns that his heart operation has been delayed he snaps and runs away and that’s when he meets Mothgirl. Dressed in animal skin and accompanied by a wolf, Mothgirl seems impossible. How is a girl from the Stone Age in his life and what is she seeking on Lathrin Island? Together they venture on a journey of self-discovery but will they find what they are looking for…
Page Count: 320
Genre: Fantasy, adventure Themes: Family, friendship, illness, growing-up 'a word about books' says…”Sophie Kirtley delivers a cracking time-slip adventure. Beautiful story-telling, exciting action, characters to root for and a narrative that quickly draws you in and doesn’t let you out until the last word will have readers racing through the pages."
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Welcome to Trashland
Thirteen year old Theo lives by the dump where he spends his days searching the piles of unwanted electronics for ‘treasures’ that he can exchange for cash to buy food. He longs for a better life and a chance to go to school. When the mysterious Emanuel turns up with a map and claims of buried treasure it appears that Theo may have found his ticket out. But dangerous people are on the hunt too and Theo is hiding a secret that could ruin everything…
Page Count: 128
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Adventure, friendship, environment, technology 'a word about books' says…”In a world driven by consumerism, this is an eye-opening story that needs to be shared as it raises awareness of the issues surrounding electronic waste."
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What Lives in the Woods
Ginny is not impressed when her father whisks the family away for a month long summer vacation at Woodmoor Manor in Saugatuck on the shore of Lake Michigan. The 1930’s mansion is famous amongst the local residents for all the wrong reasons and it isn’t long before Ginny is experiencing strange happenings. There's an unhappy ghostly presence in the house and things are getting bad. Ginny needs to solve this chilling mystery before something terrible happens…
Page Count: 320
Genre: Ghost, horror, thriller Themes: Mystery, friendship, family 'a word about books' says…”Full of suspense, What Lives in the Woods is an atmospheric slow-burning thriller that haunted from me start to finish. A nightmare of a summer vacation."
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What's New Harper Drew
All Harper Drew wants is a normal life with a normal family. Instead she has got an incredibly excitable dad, a mum addicted to supermarkets, and a brother obsessed with his hair. Even with this crazy family there’s still lots to look forward to in the summer holidays including the annual vacation to France and Maisie Felix’s birthday party. But where there’s a Drew there is drama…
Page Count: 256
Genre: Humour, diary Themes: Everyday life, friendship, family, disability 'a word about books' says…”All too relatable with lots of eye-rolls and even more head-screams, Harper Drew’s observations of family life are hilarious. It scores an 11/10 on the ‘Drew Dial of Bizarre Behaviour’ from me. More of Harper Drew’s crazy family life soon please Kathy Weeks!"
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Who Let The Gods Out
Elliot Hooper is struggling. Troubles at school, his mum is unwell, his neighbour wants to buy his home and the bills are mounting up. Then divine intervention (aka Virgo) comes crashing into his life. Together they free the Daemon of Death and now have to save the world…
Page Count: 384
Genre: Adventure, fantasy, thriller Themes: Humour, myths, legends, family, friendship, mental health 'a word about books' says…"Coming soon..."
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Wild Boy
Wild Boy leads a grim life as part of a travelling freak show. But Wild Boy is no ordinary freak, underneath his hair-covered body he has a sixth sense - an incredible eye for detail. And when he finds himself accused of murder he is determined to clear his names and find the true culprit...
Page Count: 304
Genre: Thriller, mystery Themes: Friendship, human rights, personal & social issues 'a word about books' says…"A dark and thrilling mystery that is throughly engrossing from first page to last. It has one of my favourite opening scenes to a book...ever..."That night, the night the showman came, the moon was the colour of mud." And then the showman utters the words, "I'm here for the boy.""
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WildSpark
When a stranger turns up at Haywood Farm seeking a new craftsman to help with the development of mechanical animals that can harness dead spirits, Prue seizes on the opportunity. For the stranger could provide the key to finding her deceased brother, Francis…
Page Count: 448
Genre: Adventure, fantasy, science-fiction Themes: Bereavement, family, human rights, school, personal & social issues 'a word about books' says…"Coming soon..."
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Wishyouwas: The Tiny Guardian of Lost Letters
London, 1952. With her mum away, Penny Black is staying with her postmaster uncle. It’s a boring and lonely existence in the post office until Penny spots a surprise visitor. Wishyouwas is part of a secret underground service who rescue lost letters. When Penny learns that Wishyouwas and his friends are in danger, she is determined to protect them. But with Stanley Crawl on the prowl, will Penny be able to protect her new friends and make sure the Christmas post is safely delivered…
Page Count: 288
Genre: Adventure Themes: Friendship, animals 'a word about books' says…"There’s nothing second class about Alexandra Page’s debut. This is ‘special delivery’ from first page to last! A timeless, magical and feel-good story."
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Wonder
10-year-old August wishes he was ordinary. When he joins a new school he just wants to make friends. He won’t be the only new kid starting but he will be the only new kid who looks like him and it’s not easy fitting in when you were born to stand out…
Page Count: 320
Genre: Everyday life Themes: Disability, family, friendship, emotions, kindness, empathy 'a word about books' says…"Coming soon..."
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The Yark
The Yark likes nothing more than the taste and crunch of a well-behaved child. Unfortunately, such children are becoming increasingly harder to find. The world is rife with naughty children but the Yark knows of an ultimate guide to the children he so desperately seeks…Santa’s nice list. The list leads the Yark to the perfectly behaved Madeleine. Will he be able to gobble her up…
Page Count: 80
Genre: Fantasy, horror Themes: Monsters, friendship 'a word about books' says…"Deliciously dark and wickedly funny, this twisted and sinister read makes for a brilliant fairy-tale-esque story for readers who like their books to be slightly on the macabre side and with plenty of bite."
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