132,585
edits
Changes
no edit summary
[[Category:Confident Readers|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Confident Readers]]==Confident readers==__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Robin PriceMax Boucherat|title=I Am SpartapussThe Last Life of Lori Mills|rating=34.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=This is a slightly strange book. ItWe meet Lori on the first evening she's history, disguised as got the diary of a slave-cat house to herself – no neighbour to pop in Ancient Rome, and full of groanworthy puns. As I read it, I found myself unsurebabysitter poorly, mother at timeswork, whether it was really very cleverjust an avidly rule-breaking eleven year old, or just irritatingly sillyon her lonesome. It somehow managed to be both. What could possibly go wrong? The blurb on the back describes it as Snuggled in a 'witty Roman romp'blanket fort, she has one main intention, which and that is exactly what it is. It's Ancient Rome to log on to Voxminer, the world- approximately building, critter- in collecting game that is a universe where cats rather than humans are hit in chargeLori's world. Indeed, humans donBut first Lori has a tiny inkling that this stormy night doesn't seem to exist at allfind herself entirely on her own, although other animals and some birds feature in then she finds something even more spooky. For the bookserver she and her bestie and nobody else should be able to enter shows signs of tampering. There's plenty of rompingWhen malevolent eyes spark up on her phone screen, and it's certainly witty. her safe place in the game has been doctored – well, where is a girl to turn?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0954657608</amazonuk>0008666482
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Colin BatemanKieran Larwood and Joe Todd-Stanton|title=SOS AdventureDungeon Runners: Fire StormHero Trial
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=This book opens with Meet Kit. Like most of the people in his world, it seems, he is an avid fan of Dungeon Running – the sport where a breathteam of warrior, mage and healer enter specially prepared, century-taking chase as a young local boyold, magical mazes, Joeand race to the exit, flees perhaps bothering with the treasure or the bandits who have just murdered his father; big bad and the points they intend to kill him too so they can take over grant you along the land owned by his villageway. The plight Unfortunately for Kit, the only thing he's seen of the Joe and latest race on the villagersinn TV equivalent is that one team has been retired, eaten, who have to choose between keeping their land and risking death, or selling it a new trio of questors is needed. Possibly very unfortunately indeed for a few dollarsKit, continues as a theme right through he has taken to the book and provides a nice counterpoint to goading from the exploits token bully of Michael his world and Katyastumbled 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>0340998873</amazonuk>1839945184
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ann Turnbull and Sarah YoungJames Sherwood Metts|title=Greek MythsPlanet Storyland|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=One word keeps coming to mind when looking at this book: lavishThings have been a bit sticky for the Earthlings. Sixteen well-known stories are presented hereAI and automation have been proceeding apace, in a book positively overflowing with brightly coloured illustrationsoften replacing jobs they're paid to do and other tasks that took time to accomplish. Generous use Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and starting to think of gold makes the book feel even more specialother, new ways to spend time, along came an awful pandemic. Life was pretty much shut down and the only danger, if you buy along with it for a child, is that you may not be able to bring yourself to give it awayall the many daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406300837</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Bob Hartman and JagoTom Percival|title=Mr Aesop's Story ShopThe Wrong Shoes|rating=45
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=AesopWill's fables have been known for centuries all around the worldlife is difficult, and here is in a new edition where a selection multitude of the fables have been given some new embellishmentsways. Aesop features in He is bullied because he has 'the stories himselfwrong shoes', as a teller he has the wrong shoes because his dad can't work and doesn't have enough money for even the most basic of tales himself with things like food, and his dad can't work because he lost his job at the college, was working a stall cash-in the market where people, especially children, gather to listen -hand job on a building site and hear himhad an accident. His stories Throw into that mix the fact that his mum and dad are often set within the context of an understandable situationseparated, making it easier for children to see parallels between the animals in the tales and the real Will's life actionseems bleak in every direction.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0745969151</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Shirley Hughes|title=The Christmas Eve Ghost|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Bronwen and Dylan live in the poor part And yet, he still has a tiny amount of 1930s Liverpoolhope. Their mam takes in washing to make ends meet He is good at art, and often has clings to leave them alone whilst she's pushing the big old pram full moments of washing to joy when he is drawing, that feel like a light at the part end of the city where the well-off people live. They're under strict instructions to have nothing to do with their neighbours, the O'Rileys. Then, on Christmas Eve, when they're alone, Bronwen and Dylan hear a plonklong, plonk, plonk and are sure it's a ghost..dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406320633</amazonuk>1398527122
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ruth Wickings and Frances Castle1805141872|title=Pop-Up: A Paper Engineering MasterclassThe Teacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Rob Keeley
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=There ''Seventeen banks and a jeweller’s have been raided. The police are some books that manage to be something more than a story and becomebaffled, insteadbut only Ben knows the truth – his Maths teacher, an experience. Sometimes they're pop-up storiesMiss Judson, sometimes they're simple lift the flap books like [[Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell|Dear Zoo]] (which I have read to my daughter again and again and againis really a safecracker!) Then there are extra special books like The Jolly Postman by Janet With police and Allan Ahlberg whichher gangster boyfriend Al on their trail, if you haven't read yet then you really ought to, but I have now discovered Miss Judson and Ben go on the delightful Wychwood Fairies which is another utterly delightful reading experiencerun. But Al needs them for one last job...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>023071496X</amazonuk>}}''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Philip CaveneyChristopher Edge|title=Sebastian Darke: A Buffalope's TaleBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|rating=4.5
|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
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|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: no one else, and so off she dusn't spell verry welll' or Princess Anne Phibian who is obsessed goes to live with frogsher unreliable aunt. Things continue to get worse for Roo, is convinced her Prince Charming is disguised as one, when she and Joni leave London in Joni'spends most s old campervan, it breaks down in the middle of her time standing in ponds kissing every green creature she encounters.'nowhere and then bursts into flames! Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444902032</amazonuk>0571376169
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John Foster|title=See You Later, Escalator|rating=4.5|genre=Children's Rhymes and Verse|summary=Always a sucker for a good poetry anthology here at Bookbag, we've enjoyed two previous collections from John Foster. ''See You Later, Escalator'' continues in the same vein, with poems from the likes of Tony Mitton, Michael Rosen, Michelle Magorian Adam Baron and Brian Patten.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192731831</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Elizabeth BeresfordBenji Davies|title=The Wombles|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=A scruffy, shaggy, slightly overweight, furry creature is riding around part of South London, barely in control of his bicycle. No, not the political memoirs of the incumbent Mayor of London. Better. Far better. ItOscar's Orinoco Womble and the gang are back!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408808374</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Emily Bearn|title=Tumtum and Nutmeg: A Circus AdventureLion|rating=4.53
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=I'm We start incredibly bluntly, with Oscar hoping to have his mother – or father, but mother is more likely – read him his very favourite book a big fan couple of the Tumtum and Nutmeg storiestimes before he has to be ready for school. They always remind me of Mary Norton's ''The BorrowersBut when he enters his parents'bedroom, all he sees is a mahoosive male lion on their bed, looking sheepish, and admitting that he won', with the t be hungry for another two little mice scurrying secretly days. But there are benefits to having a lion around – it can be shown as an unspoken threat to the bully that ruined a birthday party for Oscar the humanother month. And it can shapeshift, so he can take it to school and it can get him out of a problem. And it's wonderful to have around the house– not limiting his biscuit intake, helping being much more lax about the children when possible rules, and trying to avoid being seenso on. So I was excited to read their latest adventureOK, it can't work a dimmer switch but it can give Oscar a wonderful time.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405254440</amazonuk>0008596751
}}
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|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 depressionthe five major victors in said earlier war.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007326289</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kenneth Steven and Jane Ray|title=Stories for a Fragile Planet: Traditional Tales About Caring for Being trained in the magic that only five people can use would definitely change the Earth|rating=4.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Stories for a Fragile Planet is a wonderful anthology status of stories from long ago and also from the presentwhole family. The stories come from far and wide But in finding something oddly magical, Juniper might just be able to gain some power of her own – from China to Alaska. They all seem to involve brave characters 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 good, 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 can easily be read in a single sitting and would make ideal bedtime stories for slightly older children., very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0745961576</amazonuk>0241586143
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jonathan Stroud024162343X|title=The Ring 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 about. But just in case you don't, Bartimaeus is a sarcastic, wisecracking djinni and the star of a wonderful and best-selling series by Jonathan Stroud. Whilst tied to various enslaving magicians, Bartimaeus has had a finger in many pies of world history, particularly that of London. In fact, 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. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0385619154</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewStolen History|author=Martin Waddell and Emma Chichester Clark|title=The Orchard Book Of Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy TalesSathnam Sanghera
|rating=5
|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
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|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 sake). Trixie, luckily, realises what has happened – the ancient Gods have taken the power of power from us. And so she begins her epic quest, to them to discover 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 semi-deities, giants, half-gods and so on known as the truthtricksters.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444000594</amazonuk>178845295X
}}
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|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
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=John BoyneNatasha Farrant|title=Noah Barleywater Runs AwayThe Rescue of Ravenwood|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Noah Barleywater gets up very early one morning. HeThis story is another excellent adventure from the author of 's eight years old and he's decided to leave home in search Voyage of adventurethe Sparrowhawk''. Off he goes through Ravenwood is an old house, in the forest North of England, where Bea and villages until he sees Raffy have been living for most of their lives. They are part of a marvellous tree. As he gazes at itcomplex, extended family arrangement, as Bea is there with her Uncle Leo, and Raffy is there with his mum, he meets a friendly dachshund and they are living together as a (very) hungry donkey who tell him family. They have grown up swimming in the cove, roaming through the trees, completely at one with all about of the nature around the toyshop behind house and loving every inch of the marvellous treeplace. And so Noah opens But now the door house is under threat, as Leo is under pressure from his other two brothers to sell the property to a developer as it's becoming more and more expensive to maintain. The children find themselves worrying not only about where they're going to live, but if they'll even be together, and goes inif Ravenwood itself will be torn down. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0385618956</amazonuk>0571348785
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chris PriestleyRobin Birch and Jobe Anderson|title=Secret Beast Club: The Dead Unicorns of WinterSilver Street|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Michael VynerJayden's father died when Michael was just nose is forever in a baby. He was book, which means he knows a herolot about mythological creatures – the phoenixes and unicorns of the world, sacrificing himself for example. Aisha is addicted to save her new tablet, where she can see videos of anything that might be out there. The problem, as their mothers see it, is that they are never 'out there' themselves, exploring the life outside world of Sir Stephen Clarendon whilst fighting for the British Empire in AfghanistanHackney, London. This was precious little comfort to Michael But when a narrowboat turns up carrying a science-minded, educational purpose, and his motherwith a past involving Jayden's cousin, who resented they find a magical world they never knew existed. For many of those mythological creatures are real, including the rich manone Aisha thinks she's largesse over seen on a bit of local footage. The crew of the yearsboat, wishing for including a living gargoyle, are tasked with saving the man they lost rare critters – and not the charity of kids unknowingly have the man he savedmagical sight needed to join in. So Dare they side with Leila, the woman on board, when Michael's mother dies too and he finds himself all alone her relative who lives as a figure in the worlda painting, he is not entirely overjoyed to discover that Sir Stephen is now his guardian and has invited him to spend Christmas at Hawton Mere. become saviours of the unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408800136</amazonuk>0241573483
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=B09XWSXSKY
|title=Maestro Orpheus and the World Clock
|author=Robert Penee and Joanne Grodzinski
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Frederick (or Fred, but never Freddy, please) couldn't sleep. A tune, rather like the ticking of a clock 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 ten now and all those old clocks don't appeal to him anymore.
''Who needs old clocks anyway? All they do is tell the time. And time isn't good for anything...'' And that was why he was looking at the clock beside the bed. It was nearly twelve o'clock but at midnight the clock chimed only six times. There was nothing for it but to go and find grandad - but where was he? And why had all the clocks stopped at twelve o'clock?}}{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Natasha NarayanNigel Baines|title=The Book A Tricky Kind of Bones: A Kit Salter AdventureMagic
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Emerging Readers|summary=I thoroughly enjoyed Kit Salter's previous two adventures, [[The Mummy Snatcher of Memphis: A Kit Salter Adventure by Natasha Narayan|The Mummy Snatcher of Memphis]] and [[The Maharajah's Monkey: A Kit Salter Adventure by Natasha Narayan|The Maharajah's Monkey]], so I was looking forward Cooper loves to her latest outingperform magic tricks. Here in ''The Book of Bones'' I read anxiously as Kit His father was a magician, and her friends were kidnapped by their arch enemies, The Baker Brothersnamed Cooper after the great Tommy Cooper. The Baker Brothers tell them that one of the friends has been poisoned, but not which oneBut sadly Cooper's father died suddenly, and the only way now Cooper doesn't quite know who to save themselves is if they undertake a dangerous journey be, or how to China in search of an ancient book about martial arts, the Book of Bonesbe. En route the children do battle with pirates, doctors of phrenology as well as the EmperorAnd when his dad's army. Will they discover which of them has been poisonedprop rabbit starts talking to him, or find the magical book, before ithe ''really'' doesn't know what's too late...?going on anymore!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849162417</amazonuk>1444960261
}}
Move on to [[Newest Cookery Reviews]]