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[[Category:New Reviews|Confident Readers]]__NOTOC__ <!-- Remove -->{{Frontpage|author=Max Boucherat|title=The Last Life of Lori Mills|rating=4.5|genre=Confident readersReaders|summary=We meet Lori on the first evening she's got the house to herself – no neighbour to pop in, babysitter poorly, mother at work, just an avidly rule-breaking eleven year old, on her lonesome. What could possibly go wrong? Snuggled in a blanket fort, she has one main intention, and that is to log on to Voxminer, the world-building, critter-collecting game that is a hit in Lori's world. But first Lori has a tiny inkling that this stormy night doesn't find herself entirely on her own, and then she finds something even more spooky. For the server she and her bestie and nobody else should be able to enter shows signs of tampering. When malevolent eyes spark up on her phone screen, and her safe place in the game has been doctored – well, where is a girl to turn?|isbn=0008666482__NOTOC__}}{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ruth Wickings Kieran Larwood and Frances CastleJoe Todd-Stanton|title=PopDungeon Runners: Hero Trial|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Meet Kit. Like 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 points they grant you along the way. Unfortunately for Kit, the only thing he's seen of the latest race on the inn TV equivalent is that one team has been retired, eaten, and a new trio of questors is needed. Possibly very unfortunately indeed for Kit, he has taken to the goading from the token bully of his world and stumbled into declaring he'll enter as a team. What chance does this friendless, muscle-free-Up: A Paper Engineering Masterclasszone have in actually managing that, and how could he possibly hope to succeed?|isbn=1839945184}}{{Frontpage|author=James Sherwood Metts|title=Planet Storyland

|genre=Children's Non-FictionConfident Readers|summary=With its subtitle of ''A Paper Engineering Masterclass''Things have been a bit sticky for the Earthlings. AI and automation have been proceeding apace, you know exactly what youoften replacing jobs they're getting from ''Pop-Up''paid to do and other tasks that took time to accomplish. You'll see how pop-up books are madeJust as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and starting to think of other, learn the tips of the tradenew ways to spend time, along came an awful pandemic. Life was pretty much shut down and make four elaborate 3D models yourself. If you're not rushing out to buy , along with it immediately, there's something wrong with you!all the many daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>140633085X</amazonuk>1736128426

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Faye DurstonTom Percival|title=The Wychwood FairiesWrong Shoes

|summary=There are some books that manage to be something more than Will's life is difficult, in a story and become, instead, an experiencemultitude of ways. Sometimes theyHe is bullied because he has 'the wrong shoes're pop-up stories, sometimes theyhe has the wrong shoes because his dad can't work and doesn're simple lift t have enough money for even the flap books most basic of things like [[Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell|Dear Zoo]] (which I have read to my daughter again food, and again 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 again!) had an accident. Then there Throw into that mix the fact that his mum and dad are extra special books like The Jolly Postman by Janet separated, and Allan Ahlberg which, if you havenWill't read s life seems bleak in every direction. And yet then you really ought , he still has a tiny amount of hope. He is good at art, and clings tothe moments of joy when he is drawing, but I have now discovered that feel like a light at the delightful Wychwood Fairies which is another utterly delightful reading experienceend of a long, dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>023071496X</amazonuk>1398527122

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Angela McAllister1805141872|title=The Double Life of Cora ParryTeacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Rob Keeley

|summary=When ''Seventeen banks and a jeweller’s have been raided. The police are baffled, but only Ben knows the meantruth – his Maths teacher, controlling woman who Cora has been living with diesMiss Judson, Cora thinks she is finally free to live as she choosesreally a safecracker! With police and her gangster boyfriend Al on their trail, Miss Judson and Ben go on the run. But Al needs them for one last job... However'' Goodness me, fate that Miss Judson is against a terror! How on earth did a nice teacher like her and she ends manage to get mixed up abandonedwith a bad 'un like Al? We'll find out. Luckily for Miss Judson, alone, on the streets of Victorian London. Desperate not to go back to the workhouse where pupil who discovers her mother died she finds herself drawn into terrible secret is Ben, the world son of Fletch, a street kid famous magician who teaches Cora how to survive by thieving and confidence tricks. Although this goes against Cora's conscience she has ambitions to find a way to survivebe as good as his father some day, and as a coping strategy she imagines another persona for herself, Carrie, who carries out all the illegal activities leaving Cora free from guilt.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842556037</amazonuk>thinks Miss Judson is worth saving

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Philip CaveneyChristopher Edge|title=Sebastian Darke: A Buffalope's TaleBlack Hole Cinema Club

|summary=DonLucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a place that has the nickname of 't be too worried by what is said on The Black Hole'. All big movie fans, they're looking forward to lots of exciting films, and many, many snacks! However, as the front cover: movie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this book may purport to be buffalope Max's life story in his own miserable words, but it new film format isvery different, in fact, a warm and funny talethey are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. Max is a larger-than-life character in every sense of But as they lurch from one film genre to the word: a brilliant thinker and a gifted linguistnext, he can they figure out what on earth is quickly able going on? Will they ever get back to pick up the human tongue. And he is always ready cinema, and to give his opinion or a piece of advice — whether it's wanted or not.their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184624563X</amazonuk>1839942738

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Georgie AdamsAdam Stower|title=The Railway Rabbits: Wisher Murray and the Runaway PigletBun

|genre=For SharingConfident Readers |summary=Wisher and the Runaway Piglet Murray is the first book in supposed to be a charming series about the Railway Rabbits. The little family of rabbits are delightful creatures humble, tidy and friendly cat, one who enjoy life is able to sleep and eat and eat and sleep and exploring the big wide world. Lots of dangers lurk, but they always seem to come through unscathed. Howeverwell, when they hear rumours whatever takes his fancy next of the two. But he's a fierce dog chasing bad magician's cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a runaway pighyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, even and the catflap they are a little daunted. All except Wisher that isboth use can chuck them out, who feels not into the need to go regular back garden, but into a world of frightening adventure and warn her friend Violet Volewhiffs. Along the way she This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter is almost trapped by the buzzard and trampled over by the Red Dragon. Somehow thoughexpected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, she escapes major disaster and even manages to save the day. Maybe such narrow escapes be honest, but he's turned up and her parentshe' obvious relief on her return may lead her to be more cautious in the future but that remains ll have to be seen. Somehow, I doubt it!do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444001566</amazonuk>0008561249

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=L J SmithAlex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=The Night of the Solstice: Heart Glorious Race of ValourMagical Beasts

|summary='Heart of Valour' Eli is a busy lad – by day an apprentice in the sequel to [[The Night of the Solstice wondrous library we start by L J Smith|The Night of the Solstice]]visiting with him, where Alys, Janie, Charles and Claudia discover in the evening a strange, enchanting helper at the dessert cafe his gran owns and terrifying worldruns. The Guardian of Eli lives with his lovely gran, too – for there is a generation missing in the mirror-gate between family. A few short years ago, Eli's parents were both lost to the worldstitular race, Morgana Shee, had been imprisoned by a globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the evil Cadel Forge, and world in the siblings were called to rescue her. 'Heart company of Valour' picks up the story a year latermagical beast. Morgana This has made the race anathema to leave the children pair – but when a bad incident at the eatery leads to cope alone as she travels north a confession from gran, Eli knows his only hope is to battle her arch-rival Thia Pendrieldare to enter what he most hates, but dangers nearer home send them off on a quest with the sole aim the prize of magic at the end – the only thing to find herpossibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857070525</amazonuk>0571382231

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Catherine Helen Cooper|title=The Golden Acorn - The Adventures Taming of Jack Breninthe Cat

|summary=Determined as 'The OneOnce again, mice are pitched against cat. In this case, principally, we have Brie the mouse, up against Gorgonzola the cat – and in case you' when he insouciantly picks up re seeing a golden acornconnection, Jack Brenin is thrust into they live in a world cheese shop and therefore all the names used here seem to be the names of adventure cheeses. Anyway, Brie is shunned, scorned and magic , if you must, mous-tracised, for the way his habits don't match the other mice he 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. And that story-telling will come in handy one night, when he is given the heavy responsibility of saving 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 diminishing magical population of top dog in the village of Glasruhenmouse community, along with Camelinthough, as all the talking raven who provides welcome flair through his humorous dialogueothers had the chance to half-inch some cheese while the cat was distracted. But will the story have the successful sequel it needs when that cheese runs out?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906821658</amazonuk>0571376010

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Philippe Lechermeier and Rebecca DautremerLauren St John|title=The Secret Lives of PrincessesFinding Wonder

|summary=Ah, the French! TheyRoo're so good at being funny in eccentric wayss life has become almost impossibly difficult. This book is Her mum died when she was young, 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 corner shop to buy a perfect examplelottery ticket. Although princesses such as Cinderella are mentioned in passingWhen asked what other family she has, she can only name her aunt, Joni, here we are being introduced to less commonly known princesses like Princess Alli Fabette who is she knows her dad didn'verry pritty butt t think very highly of. But she 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 no oneelse, and 'spends most of so off she goes to live with her time standing in ponds kissing every green creature she encountersunreliable aunt.'|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444902032</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=John Foster|title=See You Later, Escalator|rating=4.5|genre=Children's Rhymes and Verse|summary=Always a sucker Things continue to get worse for a good poetry anthology here at BookbagRoo, we've enjoyed two previous collections from John Foster. ''See You Later, Escalator'' continues in the same vein, with poems from the likes of Tony Mitton, Michael Rosen, Michelle Magorian as when she and Brian Patten.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192731831</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Elizabeth Beresford|title=The Wombles|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=A scruffy, shaggy, slightly overweight, furry creature is riding around part of South Joni leave Londonin Joni's old campervan, barely it breaks down in control of his bicycle. No, not the political memoirs of the incumbent Mayor middle of London. Better. Far better. It's Orinoco Womble nowhere and the gang are backthen bursts into flames!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408808374</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Emily Bearn|title=Tumtum and Nutmeg: A Circus Adventure|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=I'm a big fan of the Tumtum and Nutmeg stories. They always remind me of Mary Norton's ''The Borrowers'', with the two little mice scurrying secretly around the human's house, helping the children when possible and trying to avoid being seen. So I was excited to read their latest adventure.Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405254440</amazonuk>0571376169

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Tony DiTerlizziAdam Baron and Benji Davies|title=The Search for WondLaOscar's Lion|rating=53

|summary=Tony DiTerlizziWe 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. 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's name will t be familiar hungry for another two days. But there are benefits to many readers having a lion around – it can be shown as an unspoken threat to the co-creator of bully that ruined a birthday party for Oscar the [[A Giant Problem (Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles) by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi|Spiderwick Chronicles]]other month. And it can shapeshift, so he can take it to school and it is entirely possible that this new trilogy will become just as popular. It is a charming tale can get him out of a young girl who has never seen another human being and who has been brought up by a kindly robot in an underground homeproblem. Right from And it's wonderful to have around the very first pages we suspect things are house – not going well: lights flicker and malfunctionlimiting his biscuit intake, machinery and furniture is chipped and scratchedbeing much more lax about the rules, and even the wheel Eva's robot mother moves around so on is tread-worn. Eva is being trained to go up into the outside world to meet other humans OK, it can't work a dimmer switch but there has been no contact from other Sanctuaries, as the underground homes are called, for it can give Oscar a long wonderful time. Eva will very soon need to go out and discover for herself if there are any other humans on this strange and colourful planet.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184738966X</amazonuk>0008596751

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alan James BrownJudith Eagle|title=The Tolpuddle Boy: Transported to Hell and BackStolen Songbird

|summary=In 1834Caro's mother, six men a world-famous whistler, has failed to return home from the Dorset village her recent work trip abroad and is now missing. Her other mother, Ronnie, is having to go up North to take care of Tolpuddle were deported her sister who is unwell. So who is going to Australia for their trade union activitieslook after Caro? Sent to stay with Gam, someone Caro has heard her mother despises, she feels frustrated and confused and worried. This book All her summer holiday plans of building herself some equipment to practise her gymnastics are brought to a halt whilst she is stuck inside this staid old Victorian lady's house, written along with an orphan boy, Albie, who is living there too. But she soon finds herself caught up in a very simple style for childrenmystery, tells the true story as she discovers a painting of what happened to thema bird hidden away inside her mum's old suitcase, and all across London a fearsome gang called the politics of their arrest and deportation Snakes are thieving artworks and terrorising people. Is the painting somehow linked to the campaign by trade unionists and other supporters of trade union rights gang? And what has happened to overturn their convictions.Caro's mother? Is she somehow involved in the mystery too?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1905512775</amazonuk>0571363148

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Marcus SedgwickTania Unsworth|title=Raven Mysteries: Vampires and VoltsNowhere Island

|summary=It's October at Castle OtherhandMeet Gil. That can only mean one thing - a return Just twelve, he is so determined to escape the traditional annual pumpkin huntcare system – the system that constantly puts him in futureless places that are not homes – and find a home for himself. Shame they're so damned elusiveHe is en route to yet another fosterer, when he jumps into an anonymous car, and lets it ride him to his future. But That future seems to be in jeopardy when, courtesy someone steals his one bag of belongings – but that someone lives with his brother in a bit camp on an island between the two directions of unsubtle arsona motorway, a Hallowe'en Ball is redirected place inaccessible and definitely ignored enough to be held at the Castleprovide for their safety and seclusion. Them, and things that do a mute girl also finding a home there, albeit so much more than go bump in the night gatecrash - why, they're even harder to catchsuccessfully. Unless, of course, you're Over a wryfew weeks we see if their oddball destinies can combine, arch, droll, antiquated old raven called Edgar.or if this is one place where life as we would want it just would not work…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1842556967</amazonuk>1804540080

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Marcus SedgwickHelen Peters|title=Raven Mysteries: Flood Friends and FangTraitors|rating=43

|summary=Otherhand CastleEngland, and WW2. Two young girls are new at the country pile called Stanbrook. One is Nancy, destined to be in service all in her life itseems, like the female generations before her. The other is under threatSidney, and only Edgar can save the daya girl from a hoity-toity Sussex boarding school that has been removed there away from bomber flight-paths. Pity, perhapsThe girls are chalk and cheese, and if we hadn't guessed that then, that Edgar is their behaviour with each other over their first encounters would only a ravenprove it so. But he's not your typical raven, for not only something is he centuries oldamiss, and our narratorfirst separately and then in combination they realise the Lord Evesham must be a rum 'un. Midnight deliveries are received under cover of secrecy, but he talk is the only one who can see the connections betweenmade of meetings with Germans, and the danger involved innot only that, a cellar full of rising floodwater, a horrific tail glimpsed in local Spitfire factory has been attacked. But surely the vegetable gardengirls are wrong, and some missing maids.the upper class could never be so underhand?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1842556932</amazonuk>1788004647

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kate MaryonJamie Littler|title=GlitterArkspire

|summary=You'd thinkTwo sisters, seeing Liberty Parfitt's life from the outsideJuniper and Elodie, born fifteen minutes apart, that she'd are growing to be blissfully happy. She has everything money can buy, she loves life at her expensive boarding school chalk and she has a wonderfully close friendcheese. But she Juniper is not content. Her academic grades are not good, an eager hunter and her father clearly prefers her hard-working and successful older brother Sebastiantrader in illicit magic, who including relics from prior major wars left out in the Badlands. Elodie is at intent on getting closer to power in one of the same school. He wins all manner religious districts of prizesArkspire, but perhaps even to become the only area child in which she shows any talent is music, a subject her father will not allow her line to study. Her mother died when she was only nine months oldinherit the power of the Watcher, and Liberty imagines her life would be very different if she had a loving mother to balance her father's criticisms. And then utter disaster: the family loses every penny they own, she is whisked away from school without warning and taken closest to a dreary little flat where she ruler the district has to cope not only with her own sadness , and sense one of loss but also with a father sinking deeper and deeper into depression.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007326289</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kenneth Steven and Jane Ray|title=Stories for a Fragile Planet: Traditional Tales About Caring for the Earth|rating=4five major victors in said earlier war.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Stories for a Fragile Planet is a wonderful anthology of stories from long ago and also from Being trained in the present. The stories come from far and wide – from China to Alaska. They all seem to involve brave characters magic that care greatly about their environment and who are prepared to do things differently whether it is looking after a blackbird's nest for days until the eggs hatch or caring for a young lion cub who would otherwise die. There are ten stories in total and each one is short but self contained with a very satisfying conclusion. Each one only five people can easily be read in a single sitting and use would make ideal bedtime stories for slightly older children.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0745961576</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jonathan Stroud|title=The Ring definitely change the status of Solomon (Bartimaeus)|rating=4.5|genre=Teens|summary=Barty is back! Well, he isn't actually back. But we do get to revisit him. Which is good. I'm sure you know who I'm talking aboutthe whole family. But just in case you don'tfinding something oddly magical, Bartimaeus is a sarcastic, wisecracking djinni and the star of a wonderful and best-selling series by Jonathan Stroud. Whilst tied Juniper might just be able to various enslaving magicians, Bartimaeus has had a finger in many pies gain some power of world historyher own – for good, particularly that of London. In factor for very, he's saved the day almost as many times as Doctor Who has. But Bartimaeus is no Doctor Who. He's a rude, sarcastic egomaniac and unselfish behaviour isn't his byword. But he cracks an irresistible one liner. And he usually comes through in the end. very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0385619154</amazonuk>0241586143

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Martin Waddell and Emma Chichester Clark024162343X|title=The Orchard Book Of Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy TalesStolen History|author=Sathnam Sanghera

|genre=AnthologiesChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=With 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 'god'The Princess and . Where was the Pea''proof? In history lessons, ''The Ugly Duckling''it was probably worse still. Not too long after the end of WWII, I didn''The Tinderbox'', ''The Little Match Girl'', ''The Emperort so much want to learn about the British army's New Clothes''successes (and occasional failures, but we didn't dwell on those) in what came to be called 'The Tin Soldier'the colonies'as want to dispute what right the army had to be there in the first place. Looking back, I still believe I was right - but I regret that I lacked the maturity to approach 'the problem'The Swineherdpolitely. I wish I'd had Sathnam Sanghera', s ''The NightingaleStolen History'' and ''The Little Mermaid'', this is a must-have compendium of classic fairy tales. You can't really go wrong with Hans Christian Andersen's best, can you? Martin Waddell and Emma Chichester Clark have not just churned out the old classics, but they've given them an amazing freshness and vibrancy.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846169380</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Carl HiaasenThiago de Moraes|title=ScatOld Gods New Tricks

|summary=Nick and his friend Marta are ordinary kidsMeet Trixie. They don't look for trouble Forever getting into scrapes, larks and they don't cause itadventures involving flooding the school aircon with fart powder, she could almost be thought a young goddess of nuisance. But just when an unpopular teacher punishes a difficult classmate she's being told that by making him write an essay about his pimplesher one-last-chance-giving headteacher, then trouble can't be far awaythe world changes. The teacher goes missing during Suddenly, practically everything electronic stops working – a wildfirepower-out, and Duane (nicknamed Smokeeven of electric cars, because he has a reputation for setting fires) gets hits not just the blame. But town the evidence doesnschool't add ups in but the entire planet (apart from mobile phones, and all that powers the Internet, just for our young heroes decide itconvenience's up to them to discover sake). Trixie, luckily, realises what has happened – the ancient Gods have taken the truth.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444000594</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Astrid Lindgren|title=Pippi Longstocking|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=A true classic power of children's literature? Checkpower from us. Illustrations And so she begins her epic quest, to gather all the people that can steal it back – namely the characters from myth that have past form in stealing from a modern star with her own unique and delightful style? Check. If you're not already gurgling with delight at the prospect of a Lauren ChildGods, ie the semi-illustrated version of Pippi Longstockingdeities, thengiants, quite frankly, what are you doing at a book review website? Buy it. Buy it now. Buy it for yourself half-gods and everyone you knowso on known as the tricksters.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>019278241X</amazonuk>178845295X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Adam Epstein Hannah Gold and Andrew JacobsonLevi Pinfold|title=The Familiars: Animal WizardryFinding Bear

|summary=Meet Aldwyn[[The Last Bear by Hannah Gold|Last time]], Skylar and Gilbert, three familiars to three wizards in training. Aldwyn the cat is something of an impostor however, since unlike SkylarApril had been on Bear Island, a vision-casting birdlot further north than many people would venture, and Gilbert, finding a ridiculously unexpected but delightful friendship with a prophesying frog, he doesn't have any magical powerspolar bear – that she called Bear. He is just a cat-about-townBack home, sneaking things on the domestic and family front are a fish herebit advanced, dodging a meat cleaver therebut not perfect for her, and he fell into so can easily be ignored when word comes through from the role of familiar quite by accident whilst running into islands Bear was last left on. For a pet shop to escape a bounty hunterbear doing very Bear-y things has been shot and wounded. Still, when the boy wizard Desperate to make sure he works for, Jack, is kidnapped along with his friends's OK, Aldwyn she and her father return to the other familiars must Arctic and hope that in a world of very white and very dangerous things, she can find a way to track them down one specific white and dangerous thing – and rescue them before they are all killedthat the friendship can continue.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007371772</amazonuk>0008582017

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Penny DolanSimon Fox|title=A Boy Called M.O.U.S.EDeadlock

|summary=There seem to be Late one night Graham Blake is late back from his shift on the force, and then suddenly rings Archie, demanding he fetch something from a lot of Victorian adventures around at secret place, and join him on the moment: run. They get together, but barely begin to smell the combination whiff of neglectSouthern trains when the father is arrested, poverty and fiercely-protected social divisions typical of leaving Archie on the age allows evil and greed late express to Brighton, toting a tin his father was determined to flourishkeep away from his colleagues, and creates wonderful situations for adventure. And this book is an excellent example of the genre, with its wide range bearer of characters both good and bad, and its child hero who must suffer and struggle as he travels through a multitude whole heap of colourful settings before reaching his goalquestions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408801388</amazonuk>1839944420

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Simon CheshireCath Howe|title=Saxby Smart: Private Detective: The Secrets of the SkullMy Life on Fire|rating=4.5

|summary=Saxby Smart solves mysteries brought to his office Ren's family home is destroyed in the garden shed by friends a fire. She, her parents, and neighboursher little brother lose everything. So far so good She doesn't have any of her clothes, but nothing really new. What is so attractive about this series or any of stories is the fact that it her special little knick-knacks from her cupboard, and now she is the reader who acts as Saxbyliving at her grandmother's side-kickhouse where they can't touch anything, or do anything, playing or even eat the role of sounding-board for the young detectivefoods they normally eat. Add When she goes back to this excitingschool she discovers that the class are doing a special art project, creating boxes of their lives, complex plots to display things that are important to them and show who they are as a person. But Ren has nothing to put in a protagonist who is warm box, and funny and you so she finds herself starting to steal things. Small things, things that people might not really miss, not when they have a winning formulaso much already. But what will happen to her if someone finds out what she is doing?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848120559</amazonuk>1839942835

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Daren King and David RobertsRob Keeley|title=Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: Ghostly Holler-dayThe Boy Who Disappeared and Other Stories

|summary=After scaring all the still-alives from their house we're Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is back with the frightfully friendly ghosties who, since it's winter, have decided that they need a holler-day. After an argument over their destination (will it be Frighten-on-Sea or Scare-borough?) they receive a postcard from their friend, Headless Leslie. He is in Frighten and has forgotten how return to get back homethe short story format! SoThe Boy Who Disappeared treats us to eleven new tales, off they go to Frighten to enjoy the delights of a haunted pier and each as fun fair and to try and rescue Headless Leslie from whatever trouble he has landed himself inread as his previous offerings.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857380451</amazonuk>B0BVW69N1G

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Nadia AguiarLaura Noakes|title=Secrets of TamarindCosima Unfortunate Steals a Star

|summary=Meet Number One. Or rather, Cosima Unfortunate. Or rather, just Cos to her friends. The Island of Tamarind practice in the home she lives in is once again under threat, from for the evils of girls to just be named by the Red Coralnumber they correspond to in the ledger, and they're all Unfortunates – young people with disabilities, uncommon mentalities or suchlike that Victorian society frowns greatly upon. Once more Simon and his sisters Maya and Penny (but mostly Simon) must save But Cosima bears the island that only they can reachtag as a surname because nothing else seems to be known about where she came from, as it lies the first ever inmate, and unique in having no known family in some exotic Bermuda Trianglethe outside world. For During a second book running they must breach daring escapade to steal some posh cakes from the barrierskitchen one afternoon, solve mysteries surrounding their native friend Helix's legacy, and she discovers a plan involving said outside world – a devilish Lord Fitzroy seems to want to adopt all the native magical element ophallagirls for his Institute. But why, and put what does that body entail? And could it possibly bring Cos closer to the island to rights.past she has so little link with?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0141384336</amazonuk>0008579059

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Francesca Simon and Tony Alice M Ross|title=Horrid Henry RocksThe Nowhere Thief

|summary=''Horrid Henry Rocks'' brings us four more stories At last there is new stock in the impoverished yet over-full antiques shop Elsbeth and her mother run in a seaside town. Elsbeth knows this because she has stolen it. She also knows she should be free from worries about being found out, because she has the delightfully horrid little boyability to leave this world, and use an unworldly portal of kaleidoscope colours to enter other worlds, Henrywhere the sea levels are rising dramatically and the buildings are generally empty of humans and ripe for plunder. Here we see him battle with his sappy little brother PeterWith eviction imminent, sabotage his neighbourcan Elsbeth nab anything to actually generate custom at the shop? Well yes, Moody Margaret'sis the answer, sleepover, write his autobiography and finally he's evicted by security but the fact a mysterious man knows exactly which items come from the Dancing Daisies children's stage show where he stands on stage singing songs by The Killer Boy Rats!these different Somewheres only raises more questions…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1842551345</amazonuk>1839943769

 {{newreview|author=John Boyne|title=Noah Barleywater Runs Away|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Noah Barleywater gets up very early one morning. He's eight years old and he's decided to leave home in search of adventure. Off he goes through the forest and villages until he sees a marvellous tree. As he gazes at it, he meets a friendly dachshund and a (very) hungry donkey who tell him all about the toyshop behind the marvellous tree. And so Noah opens the door and goes in. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0385618956</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Chris Priestley|title=The Dead of Winter|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Michael Vyner's father died when Michael was just a baby. He was a hero, sacrificing himself to save the life of Sir Stephen Clarendon whilst fighting for the British Empire in Afghanistan. This was precious little comfort to Michael and his mother, who resented the rich man's largesse over the years, wishing for the man they lost and not the charity of the man he saved. So, when Michael's mother dies too and he finds himself all alone in the world, he is not entirely overjoyed to discover that Sir Stephen is now his guardian and has invited him to spend Christmas at Hawton Mere. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408800136</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Natasha NarayanFarrant|title=The Book Rescue of Bones: A Kit Salter AdventureRavenwood|rating=4.5

|summary=I thoroughly enjoyed Kit SalterThis story is another excellent adventure from the author of 's previous two adventures, [[The Mummy Snatcher 'Voyage of Memphis: A Kit Salter Adventure by Natasha Narayan|The Mummy Snatcher of Memphis]] and [[The Maharajahthe Sparrowhawk's Monkey: A Kit Salter Adventure by Natasha Narayan|The Maharajah's Monkey]], so I was looking forward to her latest outing. Here Ravenwood is an old house, in ''The Book the North of Bones'' I read anxiously as Kit England, where Bea and her friends were kidnapped by Raffy have been living for most of their arch enemies, The Baker Brotherslives. The Baker Brothers tell them that one They are part of the friends has been poisoneda complex, extended family arrangement, but not which oneas Bea is there with her Uncle Leo, and the only way to save themselves Raffy is if there with his mum, and they undertake are living together as a dangerous journey to China family. They have grown up swimming in search the cove, roaming through the trees, completely at one with all of an ancient book about martial arts, the Book nature around the house and loving every inch of Bonesthe place. En route But now the children do battle with pirateshouse is under threat, doctors of phrenology as well Leo is under pressure from his other two brothers to sell the property to a developer as the Emperorit's armybecoming more and more expensive to maintain. Will The children find themselves worrying not only about where they discover which of them has been poisoned're going to live, or find the magical bookbut if they'll even be together, before it's too late..and if Ravenwood itself will be torn down.?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849162417</amazonuk>0571348785

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Pippa FunnellRobin Birch and Jobe Anderson|title=Tilly's Pony TailsSecret Beast Club: Parkview Pickle, the Naughty Show PonyThe Unicorns of Silver Street

|summary=Here at Bookbag Towers we first met Tilly Redbrow in [[TillyJayden's Pony Tails: Neptune nose is forever in a book, which means he knows a lot about mythological creatures – the Heroic Horse by Pippa Funnell|Neptune phoenixes and unicorns of the Heroic Horse]]world, for example. Tilly's back home from Aisha is addicted to her holiday in Cornwall and back at the Silver Shoe Riding Stables as often as new tablet, where she can see videos of anything that might be – which out there. The problem, as their mothers see it, is before schoolthat they are never 'out there' themselves, after school and every minute she can be at weekends and in exploring the holidaysoutside world of Hackney, London. ThereBut when a narrowboat turns up carrying a science-minded, educational purpose, and with a past involving Jayden's a lot of excitement at the stables when cousin, they find out that a new show pony is moving inmagical world they never knew existed. Parkview Pickle is a For many of those mythological creatures are real beauty, although perhaps including the one Aisha thinks she's seen on a little bit on the plump side and with a rather nervous rider and the ultimate pushy parentof local footage.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444000837</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=David Whitley|title= The Children crew of the Lost|rating=3.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Mark and Lily have left Agora and they have no idea what to expect from the land beyond the city walls. They have been brought up within a rigid system based on barter in boat, including a city where everything can be traded: goods, services, peopleliving gargoyle, even emotions are up for sale. They tasked with saving the rare critters – and the kids unknowingly have also been taught that outside the city walls is a wilderness, with no civilised life. Do bear magical sight needed to join in mind here that their idea of civilisation is Agora…They are ill equipped to survive, and immediately make things worse by arguing with one another. Mark is furious Dare they side with Lily for her part in their banishment and his actions lead to Lily being placed in great danger.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141330120</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=AesopLeila, the woman on board, Fiona Waters and Fulvio Testa|title=Aesop's Fables|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Everyone knows and loves ''Aesop's Fables''. They're part of our literary tapestry and our everyday her relative who lives. We know sour grapesas a figure in a painting, we know [[Tortoise vs. Hare - The Rematch! by Preston Rutt and Ben Redlich|the tortoise and the hare]], the boy who cried wolf and so many more. Fiona Waters has retold 60 become saviours of the most famous fables in this delightful anthology.unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849390495</amazonuk>0241573483

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sara StarbuckB09XWSXSKY|title=Dread Pirate Fleur Maestro Orpheus and the Hangman's NooseWorld Clock|author=Robert Penee and Joanne Grodzinski

|summary=When a mysterious young girl in a barrel is fished from the sea and rescued by the pirate ship belonging to FleurFrederick (or Fred, but never Freddy, please) couldn's uncle William, it seems bad news might be on the wayt sleep. The girl turns out to have psychic abilities - and they're just about to hit landfall at SalemA tune, right in time for rather like the witch-hunts. But worse is to come. William gets captured there, ticking of a clock was playing over and someone Fleur thought long dead starts to take over in his place on board insteadmind. Fleur then has It happened every time he came to skipper the craft herself, on a rescue mission, in a very tense domestic situationvisit his grandfather. ThatHe hadn's hard enough when you're a mere teenaged girl, against ruffians and pirates, but when the ship has secrets of her own t really wanted to be revealed...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1862307296</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Rupert Kingfisher|title=Madame Pamplemousse and the Enchanted Sweet Shop|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=This is not a stereotypical fantasy. Madeleine, the heroine, is not required to find mystical items or defeat evil beings in order to save the world. And although she lives in a world where magic exists, she does not have any other-worldly powers herself. She is quite simply, despite her young age, an extremely good cook. Mind you, this quaint little book is set in the centre of Paris, so to be gifted in ''la gastronomie'' probably does count as magic - the French see these things differently, come; after all. No, she is just a little girl who is bullied at school by someone who seems determined to humiliate and hurt her by preying on her natural shyness. The bullying is skilfully done, by emphasising Madeleinehe's gift for creating wonderful meals ten now and turning it into a reason all those old clocks don't appeal to pity her. Fortunately for our heroine, she is noticed crying in Notre-Dame Cathedral, and is comforted by a kindly sweet-shop owner, Madame Bonbonhim anymore. But is this woman really so kind? And doesn't Madeleine know she shouldn't take sweets from strangers?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408805057</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Holly Webb|title=Rose and the Magician's Mask|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=The cover of this book has lots of pretty gold stars and a girl with a cute round face, but don't be fooled: while young girls will love all the magic and adventure, there Who needs old clocks anyway? All they do is a fair amount of darkness in this third book in tell the Rose seriestime. And time isn't good for anything. A magical mask has been stolen by an evil magician, and if he wears it in Venice, on the first Sunday of the New Year, he will gain enormous power. Needless to say, Rose and the other members of the household set off to prevent this.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140830449X</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=L J Smith|title=The Night of And that was why he was looking at the Solstice|rating=3clock beside the bed.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Claudia knew she wasn It was nearly twelve o't really supposed to follow clock but at midnight the fox - not on her own, to the old, forbidden house on the hill. But she did. And it will change everything. The fox is the familiar of Morgana Shee, powerful sorceress and clock chimed only guardian of the passageway to another universe, Wildworldsix times. But Morgana has gone missing and she must be found before the solstice, There was nothing for then the gateway will be open to all, including Cadal Forge, an evil magician dedicated it but to conquering Earth. Claudia, and her siblings, Charles, Jane go and leader Alys, must find her. grandad - but where was he? And find her quickly, for everything hangs in why had all the balance on the night of the Winter Solstice.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857070509</amazonuk>clocks stopped at twelve o'clock?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Cathy CassidyNigel Baines|title=Cherry Crush: The Chocolate Box GirlsA Tricky Kind of Magic

|genre=Confident Emerging Readers|summary=When Cherry Costello told her teachers that she was leaving Glasgow and moving Cooper loves to live in a cliff-top house in Somerset where her father would make organic chocolates everyone thought that it was just another of her tall talesperform magic tricks. But this one His father was true. Not only was Cherry moving to Somerset the Costellosa magician, father and daughter, were going to live with his girlfriend and her four daughters. From it just being named Cooper after the two of them there would be seven altogethergreat Tommy Cooper. How will Cherry cope? And how will the Tanberry family cope with two new members?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141384794</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kelly McKain|title=Half a Sister|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=When HannahBut sadly Cooper's parents begin to have whisperedfather died suddenly, but obviously heated discussions about something her immediate thought is that theyand now Cooper doesn're splitting up. There's t quite a bit of that at school and Hannah would hate it know who to happen be, or how to herbe. But And when it all comes out the reality is rather different. Sam has just discovered that he has a fifteen year old daughter living in Paris and that her mother has been in a serious car accident. Sam sees no alternative but to bring Ellie his dad's prop rabbit starts talking to live with themhim, but Charlotte is worried about how this will affect their daughter. When ithe ''really'' doesn's put to Hannah she has visions of long girly chats and swopping clothes and makeup and agrees without further thought. To begin with itt know what's everything she hoped it would be but then a darker side of Ellie emerges and life turns into a nightmare for Hannah.going on anymore!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0746091249</amazonuk>1444960261

{{newreview|author=Jenny Nimmo|title=The Witch's Tears|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Theo and Dodie's cat is missing, it's snowing, their clock-mender dad is away, and Mr Oak from the village has warned Theo all about witches. It's almost impossible Move on to detect a witch, y'know, but if by some small miracle you can get them to cry, their tears turn to crystal. When Mrs Scarum turns up at Theo and Dodie's house, Theo is incredibly wary...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007364717</amazonuk>}}[[Newest Cookery Reviews]]