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[[Category:Confident Readers|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Confident Readers]]==Confident readers==__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ulf StarkMax Boucherat|title=Fruitloops and DipsticksThe Last Life of Lori Mills
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Simone is not happy. Her We meet Lori on the first evening she's got the house to herself – no neighbour to pop in, babysitter poorly, motherat work, just an avidly rule-breaking eleven year old, on her lonesome. What could possibly go wrong? Snuggled in a flaky artist with a peculiar sartorial bentblanket fort, she has forgotten her daughter's twelfth birthday one main intention, and Simone has had to make her own cake. And that's only the beginning. They've also had is to move away from school and friends log on to a house outside town. Hmph. The house belongs to IngvarVoxminer, Simone's mother's nerdy and hypochondriac new boyfriend. He's a pain. In the confusion of the moveworld-building, Kilroy, Simonecritter-collecting game that is a hit in Lori's beloved dog, world. But first Lori has been left behind. Nobody can find him. And as if all a tiny inkling that this werenstormy night doesn't enoughfind herself entirely on her own, Grandpa has run away from and then she finds something even more spooky. For the care home server she and her bestie and turned nobody else should be able to enter shows signs of tampering. When malevolent eyes spark up at on her phone screen, and her safe place in the doorgame has been doctored – well, wearing high-heeled boots and not where is a lot else. girl to turn?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1877467588</amazonuk>0008666482
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jeff KinneyKieran Larwood and Joe Todd-Stanton|title=Diary of a Wimpy KidDungeon Runners: The Ugly TruthHero Trial
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=It's all change for the wimpy kidMeet Kit. He's still as flummoxed by school lifeLike most of the people in his world, it seems, he is an avid fan of Dungeon Running – the sport where a team of warrior, mage and healer enter specially prepared, century-old, magical mazes, and race to the exit, perhaps bothering with the treasure or the big bad and the social kudos gained by certain second hand textbookspoints they grant you along the way. He's still not sure why Unfortunately for Kit, the only thing he's not getting seen of the attention at home that's now being delivered latest race on his younger brother. He's not certain what to do now his mother's gone back to work and the menfolk have to do the catering and cleaning - but there's nothing odd about inn TV equivalent is thatone team has been retired, for none eaten, and a new trio of the males have a clue. So what questors is changing? Well lots of things - inside and outneeded. Just as Possibly very unfortunately indeed for Kit, he and his friends are gaining muscles, deeper voices and zits, and interest in mixed-sex partying, so has taken to the school are segregating goading from the genders, token bully of his world and showing educational videos you need parental permission to watchstumbled into declaring he'll enter as a team. Who is going to guide him through What chance does this time friendless, muscle-free-zone have in life - especially as actually managing that, and how could he's dumped his best buddypossibly hope to succeed?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0141331984</amazonuk>1839945184
}}
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=It just takes one action, one smallThings have been a bit sticky for the Earthlings. AI and automation have been proceeding apace, apparently insignificant word or deed often replacing jobs they're paid to change your world forever. You miss a plane do and it crashesother tasks that took time to accomplish. You Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change your usual numbers and win the lottery. You miss a party because you have a spotstarting to think of other, and never get new ways to meet your soul-matespend time, along came an awful pandemic. For JenniLife was pretty much shut down and, things are even worse because somehow she ends up a year in the futurealong with it, when the damage is done and the fallout is already destroying all the safe, happy life she knewmany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1842555863</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sonya HartnettTom Percival|title=The Midnight ZooWrong Shoes
|rating=5
|genre=TeensConfident Readers|summary=ItWill's Eastern Europe during World War II and orphaned Roma brothers Andrej and Tomas are journeying through war-ravaged countryside carrying life is difficult, in a precious and secret bundlemultitude of ways. It He is bullied because he has 's an odd kind of journey the wrong shoes', he has the wrong shoes because they really donhis dad can't work and doesn't have anywhere to go. They have a great deal to avoidenough money for even the most basic of things like food, however, such as soldiers with rifles, bombsand his dad can't work because he lost his job at the college, was working a cash-in-hand job on a building site and villagers who would decry them on sighthad an accident. As Andrej trudges on Throw into that mix the fact that his mum and dad are separated, worrying about Tomas, he is thinking itand Will's just another night, just another village life seems bleak in ruinsevery direction. But And yet, he's wrong. The boys stumble across still has a zootiny amount of hope. The cages are still standing He is good at art, intact and locked. And clings to the moments of joy when he is drawing, that feel like a light at the animals have no food and water. But they are alive. And they can talkend of a long, dark tunnel. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>140633149X</amazonuk>1398527122
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ted Hughes1805141872|title=The Iron ManTeacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Rob Keeley
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=I first read this book many years ago at Primary school, ''Seventeen banks and it hasn't lost any of its charm over the yearsa jeweller’s have been raided. At times it feels like science fiction; this strange, enormous metal man who falls off a cliff, breaking into pieces and then slowly puts himself back togetherThe police are baffled, but only Ben knows the truth – his hand crawling around looking for his eyeMaths teacher, then searching for the rest of his body piece by piece. At other times it feels like some sort of folklore fairytaleMiss Judson, with the space-bat-angel-dragon threatening the worldis really a safecracker! With police and her gangster boyfriend Al on their trail, Miss Judson and the people of the world relying Ben go on the Iron Man's bravery and intelligence in thwarting himrun. I love how poetic the language feels, But Al needs them for example as Hughes describes the Iron Man falling apart 'His great iron ears fell off and his eyes fell outone last job.. His great iron head fell off. All the separate pieces tumbled'' Goodness me, scattered, crashing, bumping, clanging, down that Miss Judson is a terror! How on earth did a nice teacher like her manage to the rocky beach far below. A few rocks tumbled get mixed up with hima bad 'un like Al? We'll find out. Then silence.' The language makes it a joy to read aloudLuckily for Miss Judson, the pupil who discovers her terrible secret is Ben, but it also works perfectly as the son of a story famous magician who has ambitions to be read alone by a confident reader.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406324671</amazonuk>as good as his father some day, and who thinks Miss Judson is worth saving
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Andy StantonChristopher Edge|title=Mr Gum and the Secret HideoutBlack Hole Cinema Club|rating=54
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Mr Gum is out Lucas and his friends are all booked in for revengea movie marathon at their local cinema, a place that has the nickname of 'The Black Hole'. So often has he tried All big movie fans, they're looking forward to get the best lots of Lamonic Bibber, the town our heroes live inexciting films, and so often he has failed. This timemany, however, he is well prepared. many snacks! He has a secret hideout (the clue was in the title)However, he has Billy William as the Third with him - his accomplice who's stupid and evil enough to laugh at a person getting their eyebrows burnt offmovie starts, before realising said person they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is himselfvery different, and he has a ready-made supply of stinky, rotting meat and animal parts to help in his vengeancethey are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. Just But as they lurch from one film genre to the next, can they figure out what all this adds up on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to is well worth the wait in the eighth entry in this expanding series of books.cinema, and to their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405253274</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Robin PriceAdam Stower|title=I Am SpartapussMurray and Bun|rating=34.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=This Murray is supposed to be a slightly strange book. It's historyhumble, disguised as the diary of a slave-tidy and friendly cat in Ancient Rome, one who is able to sleep and full eat and eat and sleep and, well, whatever takes his fancy next of groanworthy punsthe two. As I read itBut he's a bad magician's cat, I found myself unsureso his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, at timesand the catflap they both use can chuck them out, whether it was really very clevernot into the regular back garden, or just irritatingly sillybut into a world of frightening adventure and whiffs. It somehow managed to be both. The blurb on the back describes This time round it as drops them into a 'witty Roman romp'Viking land, which where a troll hunter is exactly what it is. It's Ancient Rome - approximately - in a universe where cats rather expected – well, one much bigger than humans are in charge. IndeedMurray was, humans don't seem to exist at allbe honest, although other animals and some birds feature in the book. Therebut he's plenty of romping, turned up and ithe's certainly witty. ll have to do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0954657608</amazonuk>0008561249
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Colin BatemanAlex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=SOS Adventure: Fire StormThe Glorious Race of Magical Beasts
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=This book opens Eli is a busy lad – by day an apprentice in the wondrous library we start by visiting with him, and in the evening a breath-taking chase as a young local boy, Joe, flees helper at the bandits who have just murdered dessert cafe his gran owns and runs. Eli lives with his father; they intend to kill him lovely gran, too so they can take over – for there is a generation missing in the land owned by his villagefamily. The plight of A few short years ago, Eli's parents were both lost to the Joe and the villagerstitular race, who a globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to choose between keeping their land and risking death, or selling it for navigate the world in the company of a few dollars, continues as magical beast. This has made the race anathema to the pair – but when a theme right through bad incident at the book and provides eatery leads to a nice counterpoint confession from gran, Eli knows his only hope is to dare to enter what he most hates, with the sole aim the exploits prize of Michael and Katyamagic at the end – the only thing to possibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0340998873</amazonuk>0571382231
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ann Turnbull and Sarah YoungHelen Cooper|title=Greek MythsThe Taming of the Cat|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=One word keeps coming Once again, mice are pitched against cat. In this case, principally, we have Brie the mouse, up against Gorgonzola the cat – and in case you're seeing a connection, they live in a cheese shop and therefore all the names used here seem to mind when looking at this book: lavishbe the names of cheeses. Sixteen well Anyway, Brie is shunned, scorned and, if you must, mous-known stories are presented heretracised, in a book positively overflowing for the way his habits don't match the other mice he lives with brightly coloured illustrations. Generous use of gold They nibble up paper wrapping from the cheese for bedding – he displays it as art and makes stories based on the book feel even more specialvisuals on it. And that story-telling will come in handy one night, when he feels all alone and cast out. It's almost as if there were another character from fable who had had to tell stories to keep themselves alive. This makes Brie the top dog in the only dangermouse community, if you buy it for a childthough, is that you may not be able as all the others had the chance to bring yourself to give half-inch some cheese while the cat was distracted. But will the story have the successful sequel it away.needs when that cheese runs out?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406300837</amazonuk>0571376010
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Bob Hartman and JagoLauren St John|title=Mr Aesop's Story ShopFinding Wonder
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=AesopRoo's fables have been known for centuries all around the world, and here is a new edition where a selection of the fables have been given some new embellishmentslife has become almost impossibly difficult. Aesop features in the stories himselfHer mum died when she was young, as a teller of tales himself with a stall and now she finds herself awoken in the market where people, especially children, gather to listen and hear him. His stories are often set within the context middle of an understandable situation, making it easier for children to see parallels between the animals in night by the tales and the real life action.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0745969151</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Shirley Hughes|title=The Christmas Eve Ghost|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Bronwen and Dylan live in the poor part of 1930s Liverpool. Their mam takes in washing police banging on her door to make ends meet, and often tell her that her dad has dropped dead on his way to leave them alone whilst she's pushing the big old pram full of washing corner shop to the part of the city where the well-off people livebuy a lottery ticket. They're under strict instructions to have nothing to do with their neighbours When asked what other family she has, the O'Rileys. Thenshe can only name her aunt, on Christmas EveJoni, when theywho she knows her dad didn're alone, Bronwen and Dylan hear a plonk, plonk, plonk and are sure it's a ghost...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406320633</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ruth Wickings and Frances Castle|title=Pop-Up: A Paper Engineering Masterclass|rating=4.5|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=With its subtitle t think very highly of ''A Paper Engineering Masterclass'', you know exactly what you're getting from ''Pop-Up''. You'll see how pop-up books are made, learn the tips of the trade But she has no one else, and make four elaborate 3D models yourselfso off she goes to live with her unreliable aunt. If you're not rushing out Things continue to buy it immediatelyget worse for Roo, thereas when she and Joni leave London in Joni's something wrong with you!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140633085X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Faye Durston|title=The Wychwood Fairies|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=There are some books that manage to be something more than a story and becomeold campervan, instead, an experience. Sometimes they're pop-up stories, sometimes they're simple lift it breaks down in the flap books like [[Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell|Dear Zoo]] (which I have read to my daughter again middle of nowhere and again and againthen bursts into flames!) Then there are extra special books like The Jolly Postman by Janet and Allan Ahlberg which, if you haven't read yet then you really ought to, but I have now discovered the delightful Wychwood Fairies which is another utterly delightful reading experience.Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>023071496X</amazonuk>0571376169
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Angela McAllisterAdam Baron and Benji Davies|title=The Double Life of Cora ParryOscar's Lion|rating=4.53
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=When the meanWe start incredibly bluntly, controlling woman who Cora has been living with diesOscar hoping to have his mother – or father, Cora thinks she but mother is finally free more likely – read him his very favourite book a couple of times before he has to live as she choosesbe ready for school. HoweverBut when he enters his parents' bedroom, fate all he sees is against her and she ends up abandoneda mahoosive male lion on their bed, alonelooking sheepish, on the streets of Victorian Londonand admitting that he won't be hungry for another two days. Desperate not But there are benefits to go back having a lion around – it can be shown as an unspoken threat to the workhouse where her mother died she finds herself drawn into bully that ruined a birthday party for Oscar the world of Fletchother month. And it can shapeshift, a street kid who teaches Cora how so he can take it to survive by thieving school and confidence tricksit can get him out of a problem. Although this goes against CoraAnd it's conscience she has wonderful to find a way to survivehave around the house – not limiting his biscuit intake, being much more lax about the rules, and as so on. OK, it can't work a dimmer switch but it can give Oscar a coping strategy she imagines another persona for herself, Carrie, who carries out all the illegal activities leaving Cora free from guiltwonderful time.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1842556037</amazonuk>0008596751
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Philip CaveneyJudith Eagle|title=Sebastian Darke: A Buffalope's TaleThe Stolen Songbird
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=DonCaro't be too s mother, a world-famous whistler, has failed to return home from her recent work trip abroad and is now missing. Her other mother, Ronnie, is having to go up North to take care of her sister who is unwell. So who is going to look after Caro? Sent to stay with Gam, someone Caro has heard her mother despises, she feels frustrated and confused and worried by what . All her summer holiday plans of building herself some equipment to practise her gymnastics are brought to a halt whilst she is said on the front cover: stuck inside this book may purport to be buffalope Maxstaid old Victorian lady's life story in his own miserable wordshouse, along with an orphan boy, Albie, but it who is, living there too. But she soon finds herself caught up in facta mystery, as she discovers a painting of a warm bird hidden away inside her mum's old suitcase, and funny tale. Max is all across London a larger-than-life character in every sense of fearsome gang called the word: a brilliant thinker Snakes are thieving artworks and a gifted linguist, he is quickly able terrorising people. Is the painting somehow linked to pick up the human tongue. gang? And he is always ready what has happened to give his opinion or a piece of advice — whether itCaro's wanted or not.mother? Is she somehow involved in the mystery too?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184624563X</amazonuk>0571363148
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Georgie AdamsTania Unsworth|title=The Railway Rabbits: Wisher and the Runaway PigletNowhere Island
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary='Heart of Valour' Meet Gil. Just twelve, he is the sequel so determined to [[The Night of escape the Solstice by L J Smith|The Night of care system – the Solstice]], where Alys, Janie, Charles system that constantly puts him in futureless places that are not homes – and Claudia discover find a strangehome for himself. He is en route to yet another fosterer, when he jumps into an anonymous car, enchanting and terrifying worldlets it ride him to his future. The Guardian That future seems to be in jeopardy when someone steals his one bag of the mirror-gate belongings – but that someone lives with his brother in a camp on an island between the worlds, Morgana Shee, had been imprisoned by the evil Cadel Forgetwo directions of a motorway, a place inaccessible and the siblings were called definitely ignored enough to rescue herprovide for their safety and seclusion. 'Heart of Valour' picks up the story Them, and a mute girl also finding a year laterhome there, albeit so much more successfully. Morgana has to leave the children to cope alone Over a few weeks we see if their oddball destinies can combine, or if this is one place where life as she travels north to battle her arch-rival Thia Pendriel, but dangers nearer home send them off on a quest to find her.we would want it just would not work…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857070525</amazonuk>1804540080
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Catherine CooperHelen Peters|title=The Golden Acorn - The Adventures of Jack BreninFriends and Traitors|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Determined as 'The England, WW2. Two young girls are new at the country pile called Stanbrook. One' when he insouciantly picks up a golden acornis Nancy, destined to be in service all her life it seems, Jack Brenin like the female generations before her. The other is thrust into Sidney, a girl from a world of adventure hoity-toity Sussex boarding school that has been removed there away from bomber flight-paths. The girls are chalk and cheese, and magic as he if we hadn't guessed that then their behaviour with each other over their first encounters would only prove it so. But something is given amiss, and first separately and then in combination they realise the heavy responsibility Lord Evesham must be a rum 'un. Midnight deliveries are received under cover of saving the diminishing magical population secrecy, talk is made of meetings with Germans, and not only that, a local Spitfire factory has been attacked. But surely the village of Glasruhen, along with Camelingirls are wrong, and the talking raven who provides welcome flair through his humorous dialogue.upper class could never be so underhand?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906821658</amazonuk>1788004647
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Philippe Lechermeier and Rebecca DautremerJamie Littler|title=The Secret Lives of PrincessesArkspire
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=AhTwo sisters, the French! Juniper and Elodie, born fifteen minutes apart, are growing to be chalk and cheese. They're so good at being funny Juniper is an eager hunter and trader in illicit magic, including relics from prior major wars left out in eccentric waysthe Badlands. This book Elodie is a perfect example. Although princesses such as Cinderella are mentioned intent on getting closer to power in one of the religious districts of Arkspire, perhaps even to become the child in passingline to inherit the power of the Watcher, here we are being introduced the closest to less commonly known princesses like Princess Alli Fabette who is 'verry pritty butt she a ruler the district has a huje problim: she dusn't spell verry welll' or Princess Anne Phibian who is obsessed with frogs, is convinced her Prince Charming is disguised as and one, and 'spends most of her time standing the five major victors in ponds kissing every green creature she encounterssaid earlier war.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444902032</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=John Foster|title=See You Later, Escalator|rating=4 Being trained in the magic that only five people can use would definitely change the status of the whole family.5|genre=Children's Rhymes and Verse|summary=Always a sucker for a good poetry anthology here at Bookbag, we've enjoyed two previous collections from John Foster. ''See You Later, Escalator'' continues But in the same veinfinding something oddly magical, with poems from the likes Juniper might just be able to gain some power of Tony Mittonher own – for good, Michael Rosenor for very, Michelle Magorian and Brian Patten.very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192731831</amazonuk>0241586143
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Elizabeth Beresford024162343X|title=The WomblesStolen History|author=Sathnam Sanghera
|rating=5
|genre=For SharingChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=A scruffy, shaggy, slightly overweight, furry creature is riding around part of South London, barely I was the bad company other people got into at school. I was disruptive in control religious education classes because I disputed the existence of his bicyclea 'god'. No Where was the proof? In history lessons, not it was probably worse still. Not too long after the political memoirs end of WWII, I didn't so much want to learn about the incumbent Mayor of London. Better. Far better. ItBritish army's Orinoco Womble successes (and occasional failures, but we didn't dwell on those) in what came to be called 'the colonies' as want to dispute what right the army had to be there in the gang are first place. Looking back!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408808374</amazonuk>, I still believe I was right - but I regret that I lacked the maturity to approach 'the problem' politely. I wish I'd had Sathnam Sanghera's ''Stolen History''.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Emily BearnThiago de Moraes|title=Tumtum and Nutmeg: A Circus AdventureOld Gods New Tricks
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=I'm Meet Trixie. Forever getting into scrapes, larks and adventures involving flooding the school aircon with fart powder, she could almost be thought a big fan young goddess of nuisance. But just when she's being told that by her one-last-chance-giving headteacher, the Tumtum and Nutmeg storiesworld changes. They always remind me Suddenly, practically everything electronic stops working – a power-out, even of Mary Nortonelectric cars, hits not just the town the school's ''The Borrowers''in but the entire planet (apart from mobile phones, with and all that powers the two little mice scurrying secretly around the humanInternet, just for our convenience's housesake). Trixie, helping luckily, realises what has happened – the ancient Gods have taken the children when possible and trying to avoid being seenpower of power from us. So I was excited And so she begins her epic quest, to read their latest adventuregather all the people that can steal it back – namely the characters from myth that have past form in stealing from the Gods, ie the semi-deities, giants, half-gods and so on known as the tricksters.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405254440</amazonuk>178845295X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Tony DiTerlizziHannah Gold and Levi Pinfold|title=The Search for WondLaFinding Bear|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Tony DiTerlizzi's name will be familiar to many readers as the co-creator of the [[A Giant Problem (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles) The Last Bear by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizziHannah Gold|Spiderwick ChroniclesLast time]], April had been on Bear Island, a lot further north than many people would venture, and it is entirely possible finding a ridiculously unexpected but delightful friendship with a polar bear – that this new trilogy will become just as popularshe called Bear. It is a charming tale of a young girl who has never seen another human being and who has been brought up by a kindly robot in an underground Back home. Right from , things on the very first pages we suspect things domestic and family front are a bit advanced, but not going well: lights flicker and malfunctionperfect for her, machinery and furniture is chipped and scratched, and even so can easily be ignored when word comes through from the wheel Eva's robot mother moves around islands Bear was last left on is tread. For a bear doing very Bear-worny things has been shot and wounded. Eva is being trained Desperate to go up into the outside world make sure he's OK, she and her father return to meet other humans, but there has been no contact from other Sanctuaries, as the underground homes are called, for Arctic and hope that in a long time. Eva will world of very white and very soon need to go out dangerous things, she can find one specific white and discover for herself if there are any other humans on this strange dangerous thing – and colourful planetthat the friendship can continue.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184738966X</amazonuk>0008582017
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alan James BrownSimon Fox|title=The Tolpuddle Boy: Transported to Hell and BackDeadlock|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=In 1834Late one night Graham Blake is late back from his shift on the force, and then suddenly rings Archie, six men demanding he fetch something from a secret place, and join him on the Dorset village run. They get together, but barely begin to smell the whiff of Tolpuddle were deported Southern trains when the father is arrested, leaving Archie on the late express to Australia for their trade union activities. This bookBrighton, written in toting a very simple style for children, tells the true story of what happened tin his father was determined to themkeep away from his colleagues, and the politics bearer of their arrest and deportation and the campaign by trade unionists and other supporters a whole heap of trade union rights to overturn their convictionsquestions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1905512775</amazonuk>1839944420
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Marcus SedgwickCath Howe|title=Raven Mysteries: Vampires and VoltsMy Life on Fire|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=ItRen's October at Castle Otherhandfamily home is destroyed in a fire. That can only mean one thing - a return to the traditional annual pumpkin huntShe, her parents, and her little brother lose everything. Shame theyShe doesn're so damned elusive. But whent have any of her clothes, courtesy or any of a bit of unsubtle arsonher special little knick-knacks from her cupboard, a Hallowe'en Ball and now she is redirected to be held living at the Castleher grandmother's house where they can't touch anything, and things that or do more than go bump in anything, or even eat the night gatecrash - why, foods they're even harder to catchnormally eat. UnlessWhen she goes back to school she discovers that the class are doing a special art project, creating boxes of coursetheir lives, you're to display things that are important to them and show who they are as a person. But Ren has nothing to put in a wrybox, archand so she finds herself starting to steal things. Small things, drollthings that people might not really miss, antiquated old raven called Edgarnot when they have so much already. But what will happen to her if someone finds out what she is doing?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1842556967</amazonuk>1839942835
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Marcus SedgwickRob Keeley|title=Raven Mysteries: Flood The Boy Who Disappeared and FangOther Stories
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Otherhand Castle, and all in it, is under threat, and only Edgar can save the day. Pity, perhaps, then, that Edgar Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is only a raven. But he's not your typical raven, for not only is he centuries old, and our narrator, but he is the only one who can see the connections between, and the danger involved in, a cellar full of rising floodwater, back with a horrific tail glimpsed in return to the vegetable gardenshort story format! The Boy Who Disappeared treats us to eleven new tales, and some missing maidseach as fun to read as his previous offerings.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1842556932</amazonuk>B0BVW69N1G
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kate MaryonLaura Noakes|title=GlitterCosima Unfortunate Steals a Star
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=You'd thinkMeet Number One. Or rather, seeing Liberty Parfitt's life from the outside, that she'd be blissfully happyCosima Unfortunate. She has everything money can buy Or rather, she loves life at just Cos to her expensive boarding school and she has a wonderfully close friendfriends. But The practice in the home she lives in is not content. Her academic grades are not goodfor the girls to just be named by the number they correspond to in the ledger, and her father clearly prefers her hard-working and successful older brother Sebastianthey're all Unfortunates – young people with disabilities, who is at uncommon mentalities or suchlike that Victorian society frowns greatly upon. But Cosima bears the same school. He wins all manner of prizestag as a surname because nothing else seems to be known about where she came from, but as the only area first ever inmate, and unique in which she shows any talent is music, having no known family in the outside world. During a subject her father will not allow her daring escapade to study. Her mother died when she was only nine months oldsteal some posh cakes from the kitchen one afternoon, and Liberty imagines her life would be very different if she had discovers a plan involving said outside world – a loving mother devilish Lord Fitzroy seems to want to balance her father's criticismsadopt all the girls for his Institute. And then utter disaster: the family loses every penny they own But why, she is whisked away from school without warning and taken what does that body entail? And could it possibly bring Cos closer to a dreary little flat where the past she has to cope not only with her own sadness and sense of loss but also so little link with a father sinking deeper and deeper into depression.?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007326289</amazonuk>0008579059
}}
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Nick At last there is new stock in the impoverished yet over-full antiques shop Elsbeth and his friend Marta are ordinary kidsher mother run in a seaside town. They don't look for trouble, and they don't cause Elsbeth knows this because she has stolen it. But when an unpopular teacher punishes a difficult classmate by making him write an essay She also knows she should be free from worries about his pimplesbeing found out, then trouble can't be far away. The teacher goes missing during a wildfirebecause she has the ability to leave this world, and Duane (nicknamed Smokeuse an unworldly portal of kaleidoscope colours to enter other worlds, because he has a reputation where the sea levels are rising dramatically and the buildings are generally empty of humans and ripe for setting fires) gets plunder. With eviction imminent, can Elsbeth nab anything to actually generate custom at the blame. But shop? Well yes, is the evidence doesn't add upanswer, and our young heroes decide it's up to them to discover but the truth.fact a mysterious man knows exactly which items come from these different Somewheres only raises more questions…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444000594</amazonuk>1839943769
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Astrid LindgrenNatasha Farrant|title=Pippi LongstockingThe Rescue of Ravenwood
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=A true classic This story is another excellent adventure from the author of children's literature? Check'Voyage of the Sparrowhawk''. Ravenwood is an old house, in the North of England, where Bea and Raffy have been living for most of their lives. Illustrations from They are part of a modern star complex, extended family arrangement, as Bea is there with her own unique Uncle Leo, and Raffy is there with his mum, and delightful style? Checkthey are living together as a family. If you're not already gurgling They have grown up swimming in the cove, roaming through the trees, completely at one with delight at all of the nature around the prospect house and loving every inch of a Lauren Child-illustrated version of Pippi Longstockingthe place. But now the house is under threat, then, quite frankly, what are you doing at as Leo is under pressure from his other two brothers to sell the property to a book review website? Buy developer as it's becoming more and more expensive to maintain. Buy it now. Buy it for yourself The children find themselves worrying not only about where they're going to live, but if they'll even be together, and everyone you knowif Ravenwood itself will be torn down.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>019278241X</amazonuk>0571348785
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Adam Epstein Robin Birch and Andrew Jacobson|title=The Familiars: Animal Wizardry|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Meet Aldwyn, Skylar and Gilbert, three familiars to three wizards in training. Aldwyn the cat is something of an impostor however, since unlike Skylar, a vision-casting bird, and Gilbert, a prophesying frog, he doesn't have any magical powers. He is just a cat-about-town, sneaking a fish here, dodging a meat cleaver there, and he fell into the role of familiar quite by accident whilst running into a pet shop to escape a bounty hunter. Still, when the boy wizard he works for, Jack, is kidnapped along with his friends, Aldwyn and the other familiars must find a way to track them down and rescue them before they are all killed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007371772</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Penny DolanJobe Anderson|title=A Boy Called M.O.U.S.E|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=There seem to be a lot of Victorian adventures around at the moment: the combination of neglect, poverty and fiercely-protected social divisions typical of the age allows evil and greed to flourish, and creates wonderful situations for adventure. And this book is an excellent example of the genre, with its wide range of characters both good and bad, and its child hero who must suffer and struggle as he travels through a multitude of colourful settings before reaching his goal.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408801388</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Simon Cheshire|title=Saxby Smart: Private DetectiveSecret Beast Club: The Secrets Unicorns of the Skull|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Saxby Smart solves mysteries brought to his office in the garden shed by friends and neighbours. So far so good, but nothing really new. What is so attractive about this series of stories is the fact that it is the reader who acts as Saxby's side-kick, playing the role of sounding-board for the young detective. Add to this exciting, complex plots and a protagonist who is warm and funny and you have a winning formula.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848120559</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Daren King and David Roberts|title=Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: Ghostly Holler-daySilver Street
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=After scaring all Jayden's nose is forever in a book, which means he knows a lot about mythological creatures – the phoenixes and unicorns of the still-alives from world, for example. Aisha is addicted to her new tablet, where she can see videos of anything that might be out there. The problem, as their house wemothers see it, is that they are never 're back with out there' themselves, exploring the frightfully friendly ghosties whooutside world of Hackney, London. But when a narrowboat turns up carrying a science-minded, educational purpose, since itand with a past involving Jayden's wintercousin, have decided that they need find a holler-daymagical world they never knew existed. After an argument over their destination (will it be Frighten-For many of those mythological creatures are real, including the one Aisha thinks she's seen on-Sea or Scare-borough?) they receive a postcard from their friend, Headless Lesliebit of local footage. He is in Frighten The crew of the boat, including a living gargoyle, are tasked with saving the rare critters – and has forgotten how the kids unknowingly have the magical sight needed to get back home! join in. SoDare they side with Leila, off they go to Frighten to enjoy the delights of woman on board, and her relative who lives as a figure in a haunted pier painting, and fun fair and to try and rescue Headless Leslie from whatever trouble he has landed himself in.become saviours of the unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857380451</amazonuk>0241573483
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Nadia AguiarB09XWSXSKY|title=Secrets of TamarindMaestro Orpheus and the World Clock|author=Robert Penee and Joanne Grodzinski
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=The Island of Tamarind is once again under threatFrederick (or Fred, but never Freddy, please) couldn't sleep. A tune, from rather like the evils ticking of the Red Corala clock was playing over and over in his mind. Once more Simon and It happened every time he came to visit his sisters Maya and Penny (but mostly Simon) must save the island that only they can reach, as it lies in some exotic Bermuda Trianglegrandfather. For a second book running they must breach the barriersHe hadn't really wanted to come; after all, solve mysteries surrounding their native friend Helixhe's legacy, ten now and the native magical element ophalla, and put the island all those old clocks don't appeal to rightshim anymore.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141384336</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chris PriestleyNigel Baines|title=The Dead A Tricky Kind of WinterMagic
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Emerging Readers|summary=Michael Vyner's Cooper loves to perform magic tricks. His father died when Michael was just a baby. He was a heromagician, sacrificing himself to save and named Cooper after the life of Sir Stephen Clarendon whilst fighting for the British Empire in Afghanistangreat Tommy Cooper. This was precious little comfort to Michael and his mother, who resented the rich man But sadly Cooper's largesse over the yearsfather died suddenly, wishing for the man they lost and not the charity of the man he savednow Cooper doesn't quite know who to be, or how to be. So, And when Michaelhis dad's mother dies too and he finds himself all alone in the worldprop rabbit starts talking to him, he is not entirely overjoyed to discover that Sir Stephen is now his guardian and has invited him to spend Christmas at Hawton Mere. ''really'' doesn't know what's going on anymore!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408800136</amazonuk>1444960261
}}
