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[[Category:New Reviews|Confident Readers]]==Confident readers==__NOTOC__{{newreview|author=Ian Beck|title=The Hidden Kingdom|rating=5|genre=Teens|summary=Prince Osamu is a pampered, spoiled young orphan who has never known friends his own age or been told what to do. He spends his life surrounded by beauty and riches in a world where most people do not even dare to raise their eyes to his face, collecting the exquisite pots made by Master Masumi and writing poems. His tutors have told him about the demons of Hades which try, every few centuries, to break through the barrier and take over this world, and that it is his responsibility to repel them, but he dismisses all this as old wives' tales. And then one night the forces of the Emissary attack the palace, and every certainty he had is gone in a flash.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192755633</amazonuk!-- Remove -->}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Martin KingMax Boucherat|title=Jack Hunter - Secret The Last Life of the KingLori Mills|rating=34.5

|summary=Jack Hunter was not impressed by We meet Lori on the idea of moving from Southend first evening she's got the house to herself – no neighbour to Barnoldswickpop in, babysitter poorly, mother at work, just an avidly rule-breaking eleven year old, on her lonesome. It was What could possibly go wrong? Snuggled in a long journeyblanket fort, she has one main intention, he'd left all his friends behind and that is to log on to cap it all Voxminer, the rather sassy girl next door announced world-building, critter-collecting game that his bedroom was hauntedis a hit in Lori's world. The family had moved north because his Mum's father was getting But first Lori has a bit frail and needed looking after, but when Jack goes to see Grandad he realises tiny inkling that therethis stormy night doesn's a lot t find herself entirely on her own, and then she finds something even more to the old man than meets the eyespooky. He has a secret to share with Jack – For the server she and her bestie and a gold coin which does seem nobody else should be able to show that what Grandad says about buried treasure is trueenter shows signs of tampering. He hunted for it for years When malevolent eyes spark up on her phone screen, and now he's handed her safe place in the quest on game has been doctored – well, where is a girl to Jack.turn?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>B005EIQ3ZE</amazonuk>0008666482

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jana OliverKieran Larwood and Joe Todd-Stanton|title=The Demon TrappersDungeon Runners: ForbiddenHero Trial

|summary=After Meet Kit. Like most of the demon attack on people in his world, it seems, he is an avid fan of Dungeon Running – the Tabernaclesport where a team of warrior, mage and healer enter specially prepared, century-old, magical mazes, Riley Blackthorne has got a lot to think about. Her (dead) Father turned up and race to warn her about the impending attackexit, but just made him perhaps bothering with the treasure or the big bad and Riley look guilty in the processpoints they grant you along the way. Riley doesn Unfortunately for Kit, the only thing he't care about s seen of the latest race on the inn TV equivalent is thatone team has been retired, eaten, she wants to know who reanimated her Father and stole his bodya new trio of questors is needed. Her bet is on Ozymandias Possibly very unfortunately indeed for Kit, he has taken to the goading from the creepiest token bully of all the necromancers – plus she did tick him offhis world and stumbled into declaring he'll enter as a team. What chance does this friendless, muscle-free-zone have in actually managing that, and how could he possibly hope to succeed?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330519484</amazonuk>1839945184

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Gareth P JonesJames Sherwood Metts|title=The Considine CursePlanet Storyland|rating=34.5

|summary=Fourteen-year-old Mariel and her mother emigrated to Australia when she was very small. It's just the two of them, apart from her mother's succession of boyfriends, and Mariel has always believed they Things have no family and are alone in been a bit sticky for the worldEarthlings. Then one day her mother tells her that her maternal grandmother has died AI and that automation have been proceeding apace, often replacing jobs they're going back paid to England for the funeral. And what's more, when she gets there she will meet her five uncles do and six cousins for the first other tasks that took time since she was a babyto accomplish. Mariel is both angry Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and mystified. Why did her mother keep the information about the family a secret? What right did she have starting to deny Mariel the opportunity think of other, new ways to belong to a big loving family group? And what spend time, along came an awful pandemic. Life was it about Grandma that made her mother hate her so pretty much? But Mariel's mothershut down and, true to form, won't answer any of her questionsalong with it, and relations between them remained strained throughout all the bookmany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408811510</amazonuk>1736128426

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rob StevensTom Percival|title=S.T.I.N.K.B.O.M.B.: Secret Team of Intrepid-Natured Kids Battling Odious Masterminds, BasicallyThe Wrong Shoes|rating=45

|summary=Archie loves planesWill's life is difficult, and in a multitude of ways. He is never happier than when bullied because he has 'the wrong shoes', he has the wrong shoes because his pilot father lets him take dad can't work and doesn't have enough money for even the controls most basic of things like food, and his Dragonfly 600 jet aircraft, with its ability to hover, move dad can't work because he lost his job at five times the speed of college, was working a cash-in-hand job on a helicopter and land building site and take off verticallyhad an accident. But in Throw into that mix the honourable tradition of the hidden hero, fact that his slightly nerdy preoccupation with flyingmum and dad are separated, not to mention going round with chocolate-guzzling Barney who lives and Will's life seems bleak in every direction. And yet, he still has a dream-world tiny amount of spieshope. He is good at art, conspiracies and enemy agentsclings to the moments of joy when he is drawing, gets him bullied that feel like a light at school and nagged at by his teachersthe end of a long, dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330530240</amazonuk>1398527122

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Adam Gidwitz1805141872|title=A Tale Dark and GrimmThe Teacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Rob Keeley|rating=4.5

|summary=Not many books begin with the hero ''Seventeen banks and heroine losing their heads (literally) before page thirtya jeweller’s have been raided. And that's not The police are baffled, but only Ben knows the only misfortune to befall Hansel and truth – his sister. No sooner are their heads and necks reunitedMaths teacher, Miss Judson, is really a safecracker! With police and they've fled her gangster boyfriend Al on their murderous parentstrail, than Miss Judson and Ben go on the two children find themselves in front of an edible houserun. But Al needs them for one last job... And we all know what happens if you eat people's homes, don't we? Well, maybe.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849393702</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Sam Osman|title=Serpent's Gold|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Most children probably know more about Hindu gods and Creation myths than they do about ley linesGoodness me, so there that Miss Judson is a whole wealth of new information and ideas terror! How on earth did a nice teacher like her manage to be found in this series of books about the adventures of Wolfie, Tala and Ziget mixed up with a bad 'un like Al? We'ibll find out. Ancient beliefs about stone circles and megaliths, magic circlesLuckily for Miss Judson, the Great Pyramid at Giza and the Knights Templar are linked through these mysterious lines with modern sites like Battersea Power Station and the Tate Modern as our three heroes battle the forces of wickedness.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407105760</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Lucinda Hare|title=Dragon Whisperer: Flight to Dragon Isle|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Quenelda DeWinter pupil who discovers her terrible secret is the twelve year old daughter of Earl Rufus DeWinterBen, the commander son of the Stealth Dragon Services. As a member of the nobility, Quenelda should famous magician who has ambitions to be at Grimalkin's College for Young Ladies and learning how to curtsey properly, like her jealous brother Darcy's fiancee, the ladylike Armelia. However, Quenelda is a dragon whisperer, and can communicate both telepathically and through dreams with dragonsas good as his father some day, and her ambition who thinks Miss Judson is to enrol at the Stealth Dragon Services Battle Academy at Dragon Isle.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0552560235</amazonuk>worth saving

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Albert Uderzo and Renee GoscinnyChristopher Edge|title=Where's Asterix?Black Hole Cinema Club

|summary=Following Lucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a place that has the tradition nickname of 'WhereThe Black Hole's Wally. All big movie fans, they' books here we have 'Where's Asterix?' There are 12 different scenes from the Asterix stories where you have re looking forward to find not just Asterix but a whole range lots of other characters hidden throughout exciting films, and many, many snacks! However, as wellthe movie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is very different, and they are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. Turn it into a competition But as you win a laurel wreath for each character you find!they lurch from one film genre to the next, can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to the cinema, and to their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444004441</amazonuk>1839942738

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Emily BearnAdam Stower|title=Tumtum Murray and Nutmeg: Trouble at Rose CottageBun

|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Mysterious things are afoot in Rose CottageMurray is supposed to be a humble, tidy and friendly cat, one who is able to sleep and eat and eat and sleep and, well, whatever takes his fancy next of the two. It appears that some new miceBut he's a bad magician's cat, one with golden teethso his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, have moved into the kitchen and are threatening the tranquil lives of Tumtum and Nutmeg who live in Nutmouse Hall. After some investigation catflap they discover both use can chuck them out, not into the new mice are town miceregular back garden, intent on causing troublebut into a world of frightening adventure and whiffs. Will the children discover who has been stealing their thingsThis time round it drops them into a Viking land, or discover where a way troll hunter is expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, to stop their father from selling Rose Cottage before itbe honest, but he's too late turned up and their lives, as well as Tumtum and Nutmeghe's, are changed forever?ll have to do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405256559</amazonuk>0008561249

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=David BenedictusAlex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=Return to the Hundred Acre WoodThe Glorious Race of Magical Beasts|rating=54

|summary=Christopher Robin Eli is back! At least that's what a busy lad – by day an apprentice in the wondrous library we start by visiting with him, and in the Rumour spreading like wild fire through evening a helper at the Hundred Acre Wood saysdessert cafe his gran owns and runs. He's returning Eli lives with his lovely gran, too – for more adventures with Pooh and Piglet and Rabbit and Owl and Kanga and Roo and Tigger and Eeyore andthere is a generation missing in the family. A few short years ago, as IEli'm sure you'll agrees parents were both lost to the titular race, that is a Very Good Thingglobe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the world in the company of a magical beast. From exciting new friends (Lottie This has made the Otter giving Kanga some welcome female company) race anathema to adventures and competitions, with water slides the pair – but when a bad incident at the eatery leads to locatea confession from gran, bees Eli knows his only hope is to relocate, books dare to write and schools to foundenter what he most hates, this book picks up where with the sole aim the previous one left off, and really does read like an organic 3rd part prize of a trilogy (poetry books excepted) rather than a tag on that comes some 80-plus years after magic at the original and from end – the pen of anotheronly thing to possibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405251603</amazonuk>0571382231

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jackie MartinHelen Cooper|title=Burglar BoyThe Taming of the Cat

|summary=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''Burglar Boy'' opens with re seeing a big scene - Dean is halfway though robbing connection, they live in a house when cheese shop and therefore all the names used here seem to be the owner returnsnames of cheeses. Chased by an irate man with a good aim Anyway, Brie is shunned, scorned and a golf club, if you must, mous-tracised, for the way his habits don't match the other mice he barely lives with. They nibble up paper wrapping from the cheese for bedding – he displays it as art and makes stories based on the visuals on it out . And that story-telling will come in handy one piece. But night, when he dutifully returns home feels all alone and divvies up a pile of ill-gotten goods cast out. It's almost as if there were another character from fable who had had to tell stories to Callumkeep themselves alive. This makes Brie the top dog in the mouse community, his older brotherthough, who rewards him for as all the others had the risk and chance to half-inch some cheese while the bruises with a paltry fivercat was distracted. Still, But will the story have the successful sequel it's more pocket money than Dean is likely to see from his mother, who has lapsed further and further into a bottle of vodka since her most recent boyfriend left. needs when that cheese runs out?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1907552146</amazonuk>0571376010

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Emma KennedyLauren St John|title=Wilma Tenderfoot and the Case of the Rascal's RevengeFinding Wonder|rating=4.5

|summary=Wilma TenderfootRoo's life has become almost impossibly difficult. Her mum died when she was young, assistant and now she finds herself awoken in the middle of the night by the police banging on her door to tell her that her dad has dropped dead on his way to the great Detective Theodore Pcorner shop to buy a lottery ticket. When asked what other family she has, she can only name her aunt, Joni, who she knows her dad didn't think very highly of. Goodman But she has no one else, is and so off she goes to solve another case live with the help of her loving dog, Pickleunreliable aunt. The future of Copper Island hangs in the balanceThings continue to get worse for Roo, as when she and Wilma thinks itJoni leave London in Joni's possible that she may just yet discover who her parents really are...make sure you're sitting comfortablyold campervan, you won't want to put this one it breaks downin the middle of nowhere and then bursts into flames! Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330535234</amazonuk>0571376169

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kay WoodwardAdam Baron and Benji Davies|title=Wuthering HeartsOscar's Lion|rating=3.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=book a real pain, she still wants to be Cathy in the school production - who wouldn't, especially with the utterly gorgeous new boy Robert as leading man? Robert, though, resembles Wuthering Heights' moody Heathcliff in more ways than just being good-looking, and Emily finds it very hard to get to know him properly, even after a development which means they're spending much more time together. Can two people find romance on the Yorkshire moors?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849392994</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Anne-Marie Conway|title=Star Makers Club: Polly Plays Her Part|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Polly Conway is having to deal with rather a lot at the moment. Her mum has got a fabulous new job – but it’s in Spain! That leaves Polly to live with her dad, her new stepmother who she can’t stand, and her baby brother who’s just annoying. Depressed by the problems in her life, she ignores her dad’s rules and turns to the friend2friend website to find comfort. As she gets increasingly addicted to thesite, she starts to lose focus on the important things in her life – including her family and the Star Makers’ new production.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1409520919</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Elliott Skell|title=Neversuch House: Mask of the Evergones|rating=5

|summary=The Halibuts are an extraordinary familyWe start incredibly bluntly, with Oscar hoping to have his mother – or father, but mother is more likely – read him his very favourite book a couple of times before he has to be ready for school. Almost But when he enters his parents' bedroom, all he sees is a mahoosive male lion on their bed, looking sheepish, and admitting that he won't be hungry for another two centuries ago the Captain used his immense wealth days. But there are benefits to buy up land and surround having a lion around – it by can be shown as an unspoken threat to the bully that ruined a high wallbirthday party for Oscar the other month. He took a wife And it can shapeshift, so he can take it to school and employed families it can get him out of servants a problem. And it's wonderful to serve have around the house – not limiting his every need. Money was no objectbiscuit intake, being much more lax about the rules, and subsequent generations of Halibuts had anything they desired so on one condition: if they ever left the grounds of the House. OK, they could never returnit can't work a dimmer switch but it can give Oscar a wonderful time.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847387446</amazonuk>0008596751

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Diana Wynne JonesJudith Eagle|title=Earwig and the WitchThe Stolen Songbird

|summary=Earwig lives at St Morwald's childrenCaro's mother, a world-famous whistler, has failed to return homefrom 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. Unlike All her summer holiday plans of building herself some orphans in literature equipment to practise her gymnastics are brought to a halt whilst sheis stuck inside this staid old Victorian lady's perfectly happy there since she seems to have everyone answering her every whimhouse, and she loves spending time along with her best friend Custardan orphan boy, Albie, who is living there too. Things are But she soon to change though finds herself caught up in a mystery, as one day she discovers a rather strange couplepainting of a bird hidden away inside her mum's old suitcase, Bella Yaga and all across London a fearsome gang called the Snakes are thieving artworks and terrorising people. Is the Mandrake, come painting somehow linked to look for a child the gang? And what has happened to foster and Caro's mother? Is she somehow involved in the one they pick is Earwig!mystery too?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007416857</amazonuk>0571363148

 {{newreview|author=Francesca Simon and Pete Williamson|title=The Parent Swap Shop|rating=4.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Ava's parents like to nag. They nag her about her spelling, about eating with her knife and fork, or sitting straight on her chair, or going to bed on time...nag, nag, nag! But then one day she finds a card advertising 'The Parent Swap Shop' and when her parents nag her one more time she packs them off and sets out to find herself a new set of parents!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444002678</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Philip ArdaghTania Unsworth|title=The Eddie Dickens TrilogyNowhere Island

|summary=Meet Eddie DickensGil. Aged eleven years oldJust twelve, he's only been allowed is so determined to be away from escape the care system – the system that constantly puts him in futureless places that are not homes – and find a home twice in his life - once for about eight years on a boathimself. He is en route to yet another fosterer, when a crate of luggage went he jumps into an anonymous car, and lets it ride him to school in his place, and once for about three yearsfuture. Now though he is being forced That future seems to move be in jeopardy when someone steals his one bag of belongings – but that someone lives with Mad Uncle Jack his brother in a camp on an island between the two directions of a motorway, a place inaccessible and definitely ignored enough to provide for their safety and Even Madder Aunt Maud, as his parents are very illseclusion. But they're so deliriously bonkersThem, and a mute girl also finding a home there's very little chance of him getting to actually move in with them, albeit so much more successfully. Who knows - he might even end up stuck in an orphanage instead?Over a few weeks we see if their oddball destinies can combine, or if this is one place where life as we would want it just would not work…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0571274692</amazonuk>1804540080

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alexander McCall SmithHelen Peters|title=Precious and the Monkeys|rating=4.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Someone has been stealing food at Precious' school. There are suspicions about who it might be, but no one is sure so Precious sets out to try Friends and discover the truth as to just where all those snacks are disappearing off to... |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846972043</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Suzanne LaFleur|title=Eight KeysTraitors|rating=53

|summary=On moving to middle schoolEngland, eleven year old Elise's life takes a turn for WW2. Two young girls are new at the worsecountry pile called Stanbrook. She's bullied by One is Nancy, destined to be in service all her cool and popular locker-buddy Amandalife it seems, and embarrassed by like the female generations before her best friend Franklin – who's decidedly uncool . The other is Sidney, a girl from a hoity-toity Sussex boarding school that has been removed there away from bomber flight-paths. The girls are chalk and certainly not popular – she's alsostruggling to cope with the new arrivals at her homecheese, Aunt Bessie's younger sister Annie and her baby daughter Ava. Just when she doesnif we hadn't know how she can cope guessed that then their behaviour with everythingeach other over their first encounters would only prove it so. But something is amiss, help arrives and first separately and then in combination they realise the form Lord Evesham must be a rum 'un. Midnight deliveries are received under cover of a strange key secrecy, talk is made of meetings with her name on it. As she opens a door to find out about her pastGermans, Elise starts to realise and not only that she can take control of her future, a local Spitfire factory has been attacked. But surely the girls are wrong, and the upper class could never be so underhand?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0141336064</amazonuk>1788004647

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Morris GleitzmanJamie Littler|title=Too Small to FailArkspire

|summary=Oliver's parents own an investment bank. They Two sisters, Juniper and Elodie, born fifteen minutes apart, are very rich growing to be chalk and also very busy cheese. Juniper is an eager hunter and they need to be trader in illicit magic, including relics from prior major wars left out in the city for their workBadlands. This means that Oliver lives Elodie is intent on getting closer to power in a penthouse flatone of the religious districts of Arkspire, largely perhaps even to become the child in line to inherit the company power of the Watcher, the closest to a succession of housekeepersruler the district has, and he one of the five major victors in said earlier war. Being trained in the magic that only five people can't have a petuse would definitely change the status of the whole family. Of late, Oliver has been spending a lot of time with his nose pressed up against a pet shop window But in finding something oddly magical, falling in love with a black-and-white dog that he knows he'll never Juniper might just be able to take home.gain some power of her own – for good, or for very, very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0241955203</amazonuk>0241586143

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=James Rollins024162343X|title=Jake Ransom and the Howling SphinxStolen History|author=Sathnam Sanghera

|genre=Confident ReadersChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=James Rollins has hit upon I was the bad company other people got into at school. I was disruptive in religious education classes because I disputed the existence of a truly brilliant premise in this series'god'. People and creatures from our world have been transported at various times to a savage Where was the proof? In history lessons, prehistoric place called Calypsos, and in it was probably worse still. Not too long after the first volumeend of WWII, [[Jake Ransom and I didn't so much want to learn about the Skull KingBritish army's Shadow by James Rollins|Jake Ransom successes (and the Skull Kingoccasional failures, but we didn's Shadow]] Jake and his sister find themselves suddenly whisked t dwell on those) in what came to a city where Romans, Mayans, Neanderthals and groups from many other societies, places and eras live more or less peaceably side by side. Their archaeologist parents disappeared three years before, and be called 'the two young peoplecolonies's struggles as want to survive, and dispute what right the army had to defeat Kalverum Rex, the Skull King, go side by side with their hope of finding a trace be there of their mother and father.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444000853</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Geraldine McCaughrean|title=King Arthur and a World of Other Stories|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=The prolific, award winning author Geraldine McCaughrean has collected together twenty four stories from around in the world in this highly impressive collection, garnered from four earlier collectionsfirst place. It includes the familiar from the Western tradition (Wilhelm Tell, Pygmalion Looking back, King Arthur) to those I still believe I was right - but I regret that are completely new I lacked the maturity to me, from Bolivia, Togo, Japan, approach 'the Middle Eastproblem' politely. The stories are no more than five pages long, making them ideal for bedtime reading (or hometime reading in a school) I wish I'd had Sathnam Sanghera's ''Stolen History''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444002376</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=Julia Jones and Claudia Myatt|title=Strong Winds Trilogy: The Salt-Stained Book|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Donny and his mother left their bungalow on the outskirts of Leeds and headed off to Suffolk to meet Donny's great aunt. It was never going to be easy as Skye, Donny's mother, was deaf and just about mute. She and Donny communicated by signing and usually they managed quite well, but when Skye had a breakdown in a car park in Colchester, their camper van was towed away and fourteen-year-old Donny was taken into care. He couldn't understand why none of the officials would believe him – in fact, were they all that they seemed? And why will no one let him see his mother?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1899262040</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kallie George and Abigail HalpinThiago de Moraes|title=The Melancholic MermaidOld Gods New Tricks

|summary=Maude is a mermaid who was born with two tailsMeet Trixie. Her parents tell her it makes her specialForever getting into scrapes, stronger larks and faster, but amongst adventures involving flooding the other mermaid children it makes her an outcast. She is lonelyschool aircon with fart powder, and she longs for could almost be thought a friendyoung goddess of nuisance. Feeling sorry for herself one day But just when she isn't paying attention and she is captured s being told that by a fisherman who sells her to a circusone-last-chance-giving headteacher, the world changes. On Suddenly, practically everything electronic stops working – a power-out, even of electric cars, hits not just the same day town the school's in but the entire planet (apart from mobile phones, and all that Maude was bornpowers the Internet, Tony was born in a cottage by the seajust for our convenience's sake). He has webbed hands andTrixie, like Maudeluckily, is teased at school and left lonely and sadrealises what has happened – the ancient Gods have taken the power of power from us. His parents send him And so she begins her epic quest, to live with gather all the people that can steal it back – namely the characters from myth that have past form in stealing from the Gods, ie the circussemi-deities, believing he will be accepted giants, half-gods and happy there but Tony is still lonely and he misses the sea. But then one day he is put in charge of a new attraction for so on known as the circus. A mermaid with two tails..tricksters.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1897476531</amazonuk>178845295X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joanna Philbin|title=Celebriteens: In the Spotlight|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=Girls usually get together because they've got something in common and for Lizzie, Carina Hannah Gold and Hudson it's their famous parents. Lizzie's mother is a supermodel and even in her thirties she's still one of the most beautiful women in the world. Lizzie's – not. Well, she's not exactly ugly but compared to her mother (and she always is) she just doesn't come up to scratch. Carina's dad is a rich (''very'' rich) businessman and he's determined that C (as she's known) is going to join the company and eventually take over. Carina has other ideas. Hudson wants to make music and you might think that having a pop diva for a mother is a good start, but Hudson's style is different and her mother can't accept that.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407121200</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Helen Grant|title=Wish Me Dead|rating=4.5|genre=Teens|summary=Rural Germany, in modern times. Steffi and her five friends lark about in a deserted building to summon a witch and get her to kill a local celebrity - who does indeed die. When a repeat attempt gifts a decent amount of cash to Steffi it becomes clear she is alone in having her wishes granted. So what will happen when she wishes for the town hunk - hasn't Steffi heard to be careful what you wish for? But how on earth can things get so bad she feels her story deserves *that* title?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141337702</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Caro KingLevi Pinfold|title=Kill Fish JonesFinding Bear

|summary=There are plenty of books around where the main character has to escape the murderous clutches of [[The Last Bear by Hannah Gold|Last time]], April had been on Bear Island, a lot further north than many people would venture, and finding a ridiculously unexpected but delightful friendship with a magical or supernatural beingpolar bear – that she called Bear. There Back home, things on the domestic and family front are even a few which look at things bit advanced, but not perfect for her, and so can easily be ignored when word comes through from the demon's point of viewislands Bear was last left on. For a bear doing very Bear-y things has been shot and wounded. But it Desperate to make sure he's rare OK, she and her father return to find a book which not only recounts the adventures of the intended victim, but also presents the demon as a complex Arctic and sympathetic personality hope that in his own right. And which, as a bonus, allows the demon to grow as a character during the course world of the story. A difficult challenge for any writervery white and very dangerous things, but 'Kill Fish Jones' by Caro King manages to pull it off with panache she can find one specific white and dangerous thing – and humourthat the friendship can continue.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857381466</amazonuk>0008582017

 {{newreview|author=Jean Ure|title=Skinny Melon and Me|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=After Mrs James at school suggests writing a diary is a healthy and cathartic activity, Cherry decides to chronicle her own life. She's of the view that her mental cupboard is in definite need of a good clear out. This is not an entirely surprising view: Cherry's parents went through an acrimonious divorce and things were just getting back to normal when Slimey Roland appeared. Can you believe it, but Cherry's mother only went and married this chinless wonder! And then she moved him in. And then she reneged on her promise to buy Cherry a dog because Roly had ''allergies''! |amazonuk=<amazonuk>000742485X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kate CostelloeSimon Fox|title=The Breakfast ClubDeadlock

|summary=Billie Late one night Graham Blake is late back from his shift on the force, and her three best friends have grown to love then suddenly rings Archie, demanding he fetch something from a secret place, and join him on the breakfast club they've formedrun. They get together, meeting every Saturday morning but barely begin to pass smell the time and discuss whiff of Southern trains when the week they've had. Mario's father is the perfect venue for it - so it's a huge shock when they find it's closing down! In additionarrested, Billie's mother is adamant that she shouldn't pursue leaving Archie on the career in music she wants more than anythinglate express to Brighton, and Billie can't understand why. Can the girls find somewhere else toting a tin his father was determined to spend Saturday morningskeep away from his colleagues, and can they persuade Billie's mum that music is what really matters to her?the bearer of a whole heap of questions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444902857</amazonuk>1839944420

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Paula LeydenCath Howe|title=The Butterfly HeartMy Life on Fire

|summary=Ren'The Butterfly Heart' takes place s family home is destroyed in Zambiaa fire. She, the beautiful 'butterfly hearther parents, and her little brother lose everything. She doesn' t have any of her clothes, or any of Africa. The story is told through two voices: Bulher special little knick-Booknacks from her cupboard, a young girl who lives with and now she is living at her family and twin sister Madillograndmother's house where they can't touch anything, and Ifwafwaor do anything, or even eat the Snake Manfoods they normally eat. He is old and wise and has When she goes back to school she discovers that the unique ability class are doing a special art project, creating boxes of their lives, to display things that are important to communicate with snakes. The twins' lovely them and gentle friend Winifred is in troubleshow who they are as a person. Her father But Ren has diednothing to put in a box, and his brother has arranged for her so she finds herself starting to marry his friendsteal things. Small things, a man old enough to be Winifred's grandfatherthings that people might not really miss, not when they have so much already. Winifred seems resigned But what will happen to her fate, but Bul-Boo if someone finds out what she is determined to do something, and in desperation, the twins turn to Ifwafwa.doing?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406327921</amazonuk>1839942835

 {{newreview|author=Josh Lacey|title=Island of Thieves|rating=3.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=While Tom's parents have their first childless holiday in decades, our hero is supposed to be staying at his uncle Harvey's flat. Unfortunately his uncle is a roustabout adventurer, and with a clue to a treasure's location is himself going to Peru to seek the rest of the map. When Tom invites himself along he has no idea Harvey is already wanted by Peru's biggest criminal, nor what this impetuous decision will lead too...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849392455</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kjartan Poskitt and David TazzymanRob Keeley|title=Agatha Parrot The Boy Who Disappeared and the Floating Head as Typed Out Neatly by Kjartan PoskittOther Stories

|summary=Agatha Parrot lives on Odd Street, which is appropriate since her story is rather an odd one. Part school drama, part slapstick farce this Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is back with a funny, ridiculous romp of a return to the short storyformat!The Boy Who Disappeared treats us to eleven new tales, each as fun to read as his previous offerings.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>140525596X</amazonuk>B0BVW69N1G

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Salman RushdieLaura Noakes|title=Luka and the Fire of LifeCosima Unfortunate Steals a Star

|summary=Back Meet Number One. Or rather, Cosima Unfortunate. Or rather, just Cos to her friends. The practice in the home she lives in is for the girls to just be named by the number they correspond to in 1990the ledger, Salman Rushdie followed up his controversial 'Satanic Versesand they' re all Unfortunates – young people with disabilities, uncommon mentalities or suchlike that Victorian society frowns greatly upon. But Cosima bears the tag as a book dedicated surname because nothing else seems to his then nine year old sonbe known about where she came from, Zafaras the first ever inmate, called 'Haroun and unique in having no known family in the Sea of Stories'outside world. Now During a daring escapade to steal some posh cakes from the kitchen one afternoon, his second son, Milan, finally gets she discovers a plan involving said outside world – a book of his own, although he had devilish Lord Fitzroy seems to want to wait until he was 13 adopt all the girls for his father to get around to itInstitute. 'Luka But why, and the Fire of Life' is very much a follow up what does that body entail? And could it possibly bring Cos closer to 'Haroun' and it is certainly helpful, although not necessary, if you have read that book as many of the events in the first book are referred to here.past she has so little link with?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099555328</amazonuk>0008579059

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Catherine BrutonAlice M Ross|title=We Can Be HeroesThe Nowhere Thief

|summary=Ben At last there is spending new stock in the summer with his grandparents impoverished yet over-full antiques shop Elsbeth and her mother run in a seaside town. Elsbeth knows this because his mother is ill againshe has stolen it. She won't stop going also knows she should be free from worries about being found out for runs , because she has the ability to leave this world, and is not eating properly. She's gone back use an unworldly portal of kaleidoscope colours to stressing out about having enter other worlds, where the "right" cutlery sea levels are rising dramatically and worrying about technology the buildings are generally empty of humans and health hazardsripe for plunder. And her beautiful hair has started falling out. Ben's father was killed in With eviction imminent, can Elsbeth nab anything to actually generate custom at the 9/11 terrorist attack on shop? Well yes, is the World Trade Center and with his mother incommunicadoanswer, he's feeling very lonely indeed. but the fact a mysterious man knows exactly which items come from these different Somewheres only raises more questions…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405256524</amazonuk>1839943769

 {{newreview|author=Rachel Renee Russell|title=Dork Diaries: Pop Star|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=When I saw that both the [[Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell|first]] and [[Dork Diaries: Party Time by Rachel Renee Russell|second]] books in this series had already been put into [[Double Dork Diaries: Two Tales from a Not-so-fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell|one compendium]], I wondered quite why. Were they not selling quite as I expected they would, despite their breeziness and simple charms for the beginner reader? Would the third book prove to be a major change in format, hence an early wrapping-up? Well, the answers are in here - as are all those assets, and no real surprises or alterations.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857071181</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Andy BriggsNatasha Farrant|title=Tarzan: The Greystoke LegacyRescue of Ravenwood|rating=4.5

|summary=Robbie Canler This story is on another excellent adventure from the run. From what, it takes us a while to find out, but itauthor of 's clear that it's something bad when Voyage of the alternative Sparrowhawk''. Ravenwood is working for an illegal logging team old house, in the jungle of the Congo. The work is tough at the best North of timesEngland, where Bea and when things start going wrong Raffy have been living for the team, it's definitely not the best most of timestheir lives. And then Jane Porter They are part of a complex, his boss's daughterextended family arrangement, disappears... Can she be found? And why do all these strange things keep happening to the loggers? It's almost as if Bea is there was a weird presence in the jungle.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>057127238X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=E D Baker|title=The Wide-Awake Princess|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Princess Annie with her Uncle Leo, and Raffy is Sleeping Beauty's younger sister. Her sister, Gwendolynthere with his mum, was given various magical gifts at her birth making her graceful and beautiful, but then they are living together as a bad fairy created the spell that Gwendolyn would prick her finger on a spinning wheel before she turned 16 and sleep for one hundred yearsfamily. So farThey have grown up swimming in the cove, so familiar. All of the upset over Gwendolyn's christening led to roaming through the King and Queen being very scared when their second daughtertrees, Annabelle, was born. They invited only completely at one fairy along and asked her advice. She cast a spell on Princess Annie that made her impervious to with all magic. Although this seemed like a good idea it means that none of her family like to be too near her because her spell tends to affect their own magical enchantments, making them less beautiful, more wrinkled the nature around the house and agedloving every inch of the place. Annie does her best But now the house is under threat, as Leo is under pressure from his other two brothers to please her parents and sell the property to try and protect her sister, but in the end the wicked fairya developer as it's magic spell comes true becoming more and Gwendolyn and everyone in the castle falls asleepmore expensive to maintain. Everyone, that is, except for Annie...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408807572</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=David Almond|title=My Name Is Mina|rating=4.5|genre=Teens|summary=We first Mina in Skellig. A homeschooled, William Blake-loving, slightly precious child, she arrived in Michael's life with The children find themselves worrying not a little whiff of the culture shock only about her. Now, we can find out what really makes Mina tick as we read through her journal. Mina is full of contradictions. She likes where they're going to be different, individuallive, but she doesnif they't like being a misfit. She wants friends but she doesn't know how to make them or to keep them. She is both reflective ll even be together, and impulsiveif Ravenwood itself will be torn down. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0340997265</amazonuk>0571348785

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Elen CaldecottRobin Birch and Jobe Anderson|title=Operation Eiffel TowerSecret Beast Club: The Unicorns of Silver Street

|summary=JackJayden's nose is forever in a book, Rubywhich means he knows a lot about mythological creatures – the phoenixes and unicorns of the world, Lauren and Billy live in a seaside townfor example. Jack helps Aisha is addicted to her new tablet, where she can see videos of anything that might be out at there. The problem, as their mothers see it, is that they are never 'out there' themselves, exploring the crazy golf course outside world of Hackney, London. But when a narrowboat turns up carrying a science-minded, educational purpose, and hewith a past involving Jayden's got cousin, they find a mean shot or two up his sleevemagical world they never knew existed. Lauren likes boys For many of those mythological creatures are real, ''Teen Thing'' magazine and looking down her nose at her younger siblings. Rubyincluding the one Aisha thinks she's world revolves around winning seen on a teddy on bit of local footage. The crew of the grab-boat, including a-bear machine living gargoyle, are tasked with saving the rare critters – and the kids unknowingly have the magical sight needed to join in . Dare they side with Leila, the amusement arcade. Billy is just woman on board, and her relative who lives as a figure in a baby so he doesn't do very much if it doesn't involve cuddling Teddy Volvo.painting, and become saviours of the unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408805731</amazonuk>0241573483

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kate MaryonB09XWSXSKY|title=A Million Angels|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=Mima's father is Maestro Orpheus and the light of her life. She loves him more than anything. But he's also an army officer and this story opens with him leaving for a six month tour of Afghanistan. Her mother is heavily pregnant and her grandmother is spending all her time thinking about her childhood sweetheart. Her friend Jess is busily trying to make friends at school - army brats are forever having to make new friends. So nobody really has time to pay attention to Mima, who can't get her fears about her father being killed and injured out of her mind... |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007326297</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewWorld Clock|author=Helen Moss|title=Adventure Island: The Mystery of the Whistling CavesRobert Penee and Joanne Grodzinski

|summary=There must be many a parent around who grew up devouring Famous Five adventure storiesFrederick (or Fred, but never Freddy, please) couldn't sleep. I certainly didA tune, so I was excited to read rather like the first in a new series ticking of stories by Helen Moss which bring a flavour of Blytonclock was playing over and over in his mind. It happened every time he came to visit his grandfather. He hadn't really wanted to come; after all, he's famous books into the present dayten now and all those old clocks don't appeal to him anymore.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444003283</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Neal Shusterman|title=Everfound|rating=5|genre=Teens|summary=We rejoin the limbo world of ''Everlost'Who needs old clocks anyway? All they do is tell the time. And time isn' t good for this final volume in Neal Shustermananything...'s ''Skinjacker'' trilogy with Mary Hightower asleep and encased in a glass coffin, Allie tied to the front of a train, and Nick still amnesiac and still puddling chocolate wherever he goes. Milos is trying to continue with Mary's demonic plan to end the living world, but he lacks her charisma and the vapour of Afterlights is getting smaller as a steady trickle decamps. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857071823</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop|title=Just One More|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=What happened when a dragon moved into And that was why he was looking at the clock beside the townbed. It was nearly twelve o's libraryclock but at midnight the clock chimed only six times. There was nothing for it but to go and find grandad - but where was he? Or when Cowgirl KatieAnd why had all the clocks stopped at twelve o's horse went shopping and rode on the escalatorclock? This fun collection of short stories is unusual, odd and very entertaining!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1877467677</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chris Van AllsburgNigel Baines|title=Queen A Tricky Kind of the FallsMagic

|genre=Children's Non-FictionEmerging Readers|summary=Annie Edson Taylor was sixty-two years old and a widowCooper loves to perform magic tricks. She didn't have very much money saved and she His father was worried about her future - until she had an inspiration. She would have a barrel made - a very stout magician, and water-tight barrel - and she would be the first person to brave named Cooper after the thundering waters of Niagra Falls in this barrelgreat Tommy Cooper. Chris Van Allsburgh tells us her story from the moment of inspiration right through But sadly Cooper's father died suddenly, and now Cooper doesn't quite know who to the times after the epic tripbe, but in truth the words are simpy there or how to eleborate on his wonderful drawingsbe. TheyAnd when his dad're so good that you could be forgiven for thinking that theys prop rabbit starts talking to him, he ''really'' doesn't know what're black and white photographs s going on occasions.anymore!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849392722</amazonuk>1444960261