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[[Category:Confident Readers|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Confident Readers]]==Confident readers==__NOTOC__{{newreview|author=Eva Ibbotson and Sharon Rentta|title=One Dog And His Boy|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=All Hal had ever wanted was a dog. Other presents never mattered, expensive though they were: he wanted a dog. But – his mother wouldn't entertain the idea. She was far too busy (shopping) and neurotic about the possibility of dirt, puddles or ''hairs''. His father was busy too. He worked hard to fund their lavish lifestyle and was away so much that he spent more time in the air than he did at home. It wasn't as though Hal had many friends either. He'd just been moved from a school where he had friends (because he wasn't doing well enough) to another where he'd made no friends. All he wanted was a dog.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407124234</amazonuk!-- Remove -->}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joan LennonMax Boucherat|title=Slightly Jones Mystery: The Case Last Life of the Glasgow GhoulLori Mills
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=There are spooks and ghouls aplenty in this story: readers avid for a delicious shiver or two will be pleased to know they appear right from We meet Lori on the very first chapter. And evening she's got the house to herself – no neighbour to pop in keeping with the wonderfully Victorian flavour of the book, it is bodybabysitter poorly, mother at work, just an avidly rule-snatchersbreaking eleven year old, digging up on her lonesome. What could possibly go wrong? Snuggled in a corpse blanket fort, she has one main intention, and that is to sell log on to a local doctorVoxminer, who encounter the terrifying spectresworld-building, critter-collecting game that is a hit in Lori's world. This is not But first Lori has a horror storytiny inkling that this stormy night doesn't find herself entirely on her own, however, despite and then she finds something even more spooky. For the scary setting server she and her bestie and nobody else should be able to enter shows signs of its opening pages: tampering. When malevolent eyes spark up on her phone screen, and her safe place in the haunted cemetery game has been doctored – well, where is simply one element in the complicated case of the disappearing treasures.a girl to turn?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846471141</amazonuk>0008666482
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chris Van AllsburgKieran Larwood and Joe Todd-Stanton|title=The Mysteries of Harris BurdickDungeon Runners: Hero Trial
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Thirty years agoMeet Kit. Like most of the people in his world, Harris Burdick walked into it seems, he is an avid fan of Dungeon Running – the sport where a book publisher's office team of warrior, mage and healer enter specially prepared, century-old, magical mazes, and race to the exit, perhaps bothering with samples of his workthe treasure or the big bad and the points they grant you along the way. He had fourteen stories ready Unfortunately for publicationKit, but just brought the only thing he's seen of the latest race on the inn TV equivalent is that one picture team has been retired, eaten, and caption from each. Burdick was never heard a new trio of againquestors is needed. The publisher spent many years trying Possibly very unfortunately indeed for Kit, he has taken to track down Burdick, showing the pictures to people - many goading from the token bully of whom were inspired to write their own stories. (Shh about his world and stumbled into declaring he''The rights of Chris Van Allsburg to be identified ll enter asa team...''). What chance does this friendless, muscle-free-zone have in actually managing that, and how could he possibly hope to succeed?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184939279X</amazonuk>1839945184
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Diana Wynne JonesJames Sherwood Metts|title=Power of ThreePlanet Storyland
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Gair's father is Things have been a bit sticky for the chief of their mount. Gair's mother is famous for being incredibly wiseEarthlings. His brother AI and sister, Ceri and Ayna, both automation have special giftsbeen proceeding apace, and so it is just Gair who is left feeling ordinary and out of place. However, when a powerful curse begins often replacing jobs they're paid to affect the livelihoods not just of his people but also their enemies, the Dorig, do and the Giants, it is up other tasks that took time to Gair to find a way for them all to survive..accomplish.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007113706</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Elena Pasquali and Sophie Windham|title=The Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale|rating=4|genre=For Sharing|summary=There are three trees standing side by side on a hill. They dream together of what Just as they hope were beginning to become in the future; one wishes get used to become a chest for the finest treasures, one wishes to be a ship carrying a mighty King, all this technological change and the last wants starting to stay on the hillside quietly pointing up to heaven. The first is cut down and made into a troughthink of other, but then it turns out it is a trough in the stable where Mary gives birth new ways to Jesus, so it becomes the manger for him. The second is made into a simple fishing boatspend time, but then it is the boat which Jesus goes in when there is a big storm and he calms the wavesalong came an awful pandemic. The third tree is cut Life was pretty much shut down and forgotten in a yard until one day , along with it is made into a cross. It is, of course, all the cross Jesus is crucified many daily social interactions on and becomes the symbol of hope, forever pointing to heavenwhich they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0745961703</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Claude Will's life is difficult, in a sweet little dog who wears a beret and whose best friend is a sock called Sir Bobblysockmultitude of ways. They live with Mr He is bullied because he has 'the wrong shoes', he has the wrong shoes because his dad can't work and Mrs Shinyshoesdoesn't have enough money for even the most basic of things like food, and when Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes go outhis dad can't work because he lost his job at the college, Claude was working a cash-in-hand job on a building site and Sir Bobblysock go out had an accident. Throw into that mix the fact that his mum and have their own adventures whichdad are separated, and Will's life seems bleak in this bookevery direction. And yet, involve capturing he still has a thief in an tiny amount of hope. He is good at art gallery , and solving a medical mystery in clings to the local hospital. Claudemoments of joy when he is drawing, who reminds me that feel like a little bit light at the end of Snoopya long, is very endearing and it's amazing how much personality an old sock can have!dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0340998997</amazonuk>1398527122
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Pippa Funnell1805141872|title=Tilly's Pony Tails: Moonshadow the Derby Winner|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=We've met Tilly Redbrow before. She's of native American Indian descent but living with her adoptive family in the UK. To say that she is mad on horses is something of an understatement – just about everything she does revolves around them. This time she and her friends are having a sleepover at the Silver Shoe Stables, where – although no one is supposed to know about it – a famous racehorse is staying incognito because his history as a Derby winner means that horse thieves are after him.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444000918</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewThe Teacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Ali Sparkes|title=S.W.I.T.C.H: Ant Attack|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=It seems that Josh and Danny are about to meet their match. Despite being almost eaten by cats, birds, spiders and more when they've turned into creepy crawlies before in this series, they have a far worse foe this time - Tarquin, the snooty posh brat from up the road. How they survive him turning them into ants, and his misguided attempts to kill them, while all the time the next door neighbour's scientific research which is allowing all this transformation has to be kept a top secret, are all elements of this fourth book in the series.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192729357</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Charlotte Haptie|title=Ice Angel|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Rockscar City is controlled by the Scarspring family – or at least, its water supply is, which comes to the same thing. And the water which the citizens receive is stale and unpleasant, especially in the summer months. City authorities are obliged to spend vast amounts of money looking for new wells, but for some reason each excavation is sabotaged as soon as it is begun. So when Zack and Clovis decide to use the pure, sweet water from a secret spring high in the mountains to make and sell delicious ices, they run into all kinds of danger. Unless they're very careful, they will be made to disappear, just as their father did twelve years before.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340894180</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ali Sparkes|title=S.W.I.T.C.H: Grasshopper GlitchRob Keeley
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=One minute Mrs Potts is an innocent old biddy living next door to Josh and Danny, the next she's horrifying them by turning them into spiders, then bluebottle flies. But now they're working for her, trying to complete her bizarre body-swapping research. She's paying them back by driving them to school. Luckily there's not a chance that they might SWITCH while at school, or have to suffer a bully while in the shape Seventeen banks and form of a grasshopper. Oops...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192729349</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ali Sparkes|title=S.W.I.T.C.H: Fly Frenzy|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Josh and Danny jeweller’s have only recently recovered from being turned into spiders by the peculiar scientist woman next doorbeen raided. But however adamant they The police are it'll never happen againbaffled, they don't foresee a time when they're willingly taking a repeat dose of but only Ben knows the SWITCH serumtruth – his Maths teacher, Miss Judson, becoming tiny flying detectivesis really a safecracker! With police and her gangster boyfriend Al on their trail, Miss Judson and almost drinking up spills from Ben go on the toilet rimrun.But Al needs them for one last job..|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192729330</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Peter Millett|title=The Curse of the Catastrophic Cupcakes (Boy Zero Wannabe Hero)|rating=3.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Boy Zero Wannabe Hero has defeated General Pandemonium twice before, but as with all supervillains, he's relentless. This time, the General has come up with a wicked plan to conquer the world by making everyone float off into space by feeding them catastrophic cupcakes. Will Boy Zero be able to save the world yet again?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0571253261</amazonuk>}}'
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ali Sparkes and Ross CollinsChristopher Edge|title=S.W.I.T.C.H: Spider StampedeBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Meet Josh Lucas and Dannyhis friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a place that has the nickname of 'The Black Hole'. Eight year old twinsAll big movie fans, both think they are taller than their brother're looking forward to lots of exciting films, and both think many, many snacks! However, as the other movie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is weird - Danny because Josh loves creepy crawliesvery different, bugs and insects, and Josh because Danny doesnthey are swept up into an adventure they couldn'teven imagine. But as they lurch from one film genre to the next, can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they're about ever get back to the cinema, and to be joined in equal amounts of terror when a mad scientific experiment turns them into spiders.their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192729322</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Christopher Russell and Christine RussellAdam Stower|title=The Warrior Sheep Go WestMurray and Bun
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers|summary=I like these Warrior SheepMurray 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 scrapes they get in by following their ancient prophecies and in trying to save their worldtwo. [[The Quest of But he's a bad magician's cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and the Warrior Sheep by Christopher Russell and Christine Russell|Last time]] catflap they thought a mobile phone was itself a call from both use can chuck them out, not into the godsregular back garden, but still did have to save the dayinto a world of frightening adventure and whiffs. Here they misread This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a page on the Internet - troll hunter is expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, to be honest, but he's turned up and if you canhe't accept Internet-using sheep, your children surely will - and decide ll have to go to America to save their whole species.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405243775</amazonuk>0008561249
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jana OliverAlex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=The Demon Trappers: ForsakenGlorious Race of Magical Beasts|rating=54
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=You know that old sayingEli is a busy lad – by day an apprentice in the wondrous library we start by visiting with him, 'never judge and in the evening a helper at the dessert cafe his gran owns and runs. Eli lives with his lovely gran, too – for there is a book by its covergeneration missing in the family. A few short years ago, Eli's parents were both lost to the titular race, I'm guilty a globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the world in the company of ita magical beast. I always fall into This has made the race anathema to the trap pair – if but when a bad incident at the cover isn't amazing I pre-judge. And that's exactly eatery leads to a confession from gran, Eli knows his only hope is to dare to enter what I did when this book landed on my doorstep – I took one look he most hates, with the sole aim the prize of magic at the broody vamp looking girl on end – the cover and thought 'emo'. How wrong I wasonly thing to possibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330519476</amazonuk>0571382231
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Robert Arley and Marisa LewisHelen Cooper|title=Big Big SecretsThe Taming of the Cat
|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=When JakeOnce again, mice are pitched against cat. In this case, principally, we have Brie the mouse, up against Gorgonzola the cat – and in case you's science experiment goes wrong he isn't faced with re seeing a connection, they live in a room full cheese shop and therefore all the names used here seem to be the names of bad-smelling chemicals cheeses. Anyway, Brie is shunned, scorned and a D grade as most students would be , if you must, mous- instead tracised, for the way his habits don't match the other mice he discovers that lives with. They nibble up paper wrapping from the cheese for bedding – he has shrunk his teacher to displays it as art and makes stories based on the size of a Barbie doll! visuals on it. His friend, Annie, gets roped And that story-telling will come in to help him take care of his newly miniaturised teacherhandy one night, keeping it a secret when he feels all alone and tryingcast out. It's almost as if there were another character from fable who had had to tell stories to keep themselves alive. This makes Brie the top dog in the mouse community, desperatelythough, as all the others had the chance to find a way to reverse half-inch some cheese while the process..cat was distracted. But will the story have the successful sequel it needs when that cheese runs out?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0954540263</amazonuk>0571376010
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Holly WebbLauren St John|title=Rose and the Silver GhostFinding Wonder
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=This is the fourth volume in the Roo''Rose'' seriess life has become almost impossibly difficult. Her mum died when she was young, and its blend now she finds herself awoken in the middle of magic, peril and excitement the night by the police banging on her door to tell her that her dad has proved dropped dead on his way to the corner shop to buy a winning formulalottery ticket. Rose herself is a delightful character When asked what other family she has, she can only name her aunt, combining the down-to-earthJoni, practical qualities who she knows her dad didn't think very highly of. But she has no one would hope for in a housemaid with growing magical powers else, and a mysterious past. In this story, so off she discovers there may be a way goes to find out what happened live with her unreliable aunt. Things continue to her mother a decade before, but her path isget worse for Roo, as usualwhen she and Joni leave London in Joni's old campervan, fraught with danger it breaks down in the middle of nowhere and thrills.then bursts into flames! Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408304503</amazonuk>0571376169
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Garth Nix Adam Baron and Sean WilliamsBenji Davies|title=Troubletwisters|rating=4.5|genre=Teens|summary=Jack and Jaide Shield, twins, are living perfectly normal lives until a brief visit from their elusive father sparks an unexplainable, chaotic, reality-bending storm that destroys their home and introduces them to the mysterious world of the Wardens, a group gifted with diverse powers, and their perpetual struggle against a force known only as The Evil. As young Wardens, or Troubletwisters, just growing into their Gifts, the pair struggle to make sense of the chaos that surrounds them and discover the true nature of their heritage.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405258578</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Adam Blade|title=The Chronicles of Avantia: Call to War|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Our three heroes and their magical giant beasts are still trying to snatch the quarters of an ancient, power-giving mask from the clutches of their realmOscar's enemy. They're not doing too well in the chase, for he has two of the bits, and even his assistant they thought dead at the end of [[First Hero (The Chronicles Of Avantia) by Adam Blade|book one]] is still around. Can they have any luck this third time of asking, even when their country is being ravaged, turning once-helpful villagers against their quest, and their enemies are getting stronger by the battle?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408307499</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Dan Jerris|title=The Deathless Pirate King (Dragon Blood Pirates)Lion|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=WellWe start incredibly bluntly, after with Oscar hoping to have his mother – or father, but mother is more likely – read him his very favourite book a six-book seriescouple of times before he has to be ready for school. But when he enters his parents' bedroom, Al and Jack the 21st-Century boys found an ancientall he sees is a mahoosive male lion on their bed, treasured sword and scabbardlooking sheepish, but they and their magic are incompleteadmitting that he won't be hungry for another two days. Four special diamonds But there are who-knows-where, but the first just might benefits to having a lion around – it can be found when they try shown as an unspoken threat to reunite the bully that ruined a lovelybirthday party for Oscar the other month. And it can shapeshift, kidnapped princess with her freedom so he can take it to school and her family jewelsit can get him out of a problem. Standing in And it's wonderful to have around the wayhouse – not limiting his biscuit intake, a near-undead pirate with sharp blades at being much more lax about the toes of his shoes.rules, and so on. OK, it can't work a dimmer switch but it can give Oscar a wonderful time.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408308231</amazonuk>0008596751
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Katie Davies and Hannah ShawJudith Eagle|title=The Great Cat Conspiracy|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Meet the new cat. A vicious thing, it's fond of having a go at any passing human feet, and is even able to stand its ground against the neighbourhood dogs. It also has a great habit of making a mess with its kills, which comes to a head (literally) when the front end of what was the vicar's prize carp ends up on Tom's pillow. After that the cat vanishes. Has it finally met a match? Has it been catnapped - and if so, who is seeking revenge by doing so?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847385974</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Judith Viorst and Lane Smith|title=Lulu and the BrontosaurusStolen Songbird
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Lulu is every parentCaro's worst nightmare. She alwaysmother, ''always'' gets what she wantsa world-famous whistler, quite often by rolling around on the floor screaming until the light bulbs pophas failed to return home from her recent work trip abroad and is now missing. She isHer other mother, quite simplyRonnie, a child in desperate need is having to go up North to take care of Supernanny! For her birthday Lulu decides she would like a Brontosaurussister who is unwell. Her parentsSo who is going to look after Caro? Sent to stay with Gam, for once, say nosomeone Caro has heard her mother despises, she feels frustrated and confused and no amount of screaming makes them change their mindworried. So Lulu sets off into the forest All her summer holiday plans of building herself some equipment to practise her gymnastics are brought to find a brontosaurus by herselfhalt whilst she is stuck inside this staid old Victorian lady's house, along with an orphan boy, Albie, who is living there too. The trouble isBut she soon finds herself caught up in a mystery, when as she finally does find one he isndiscovers a painting of a bird hidden away inside her mum't too keen on s old suitcase, and all across London a fearsome gang called the idea of being her pet Snakes are thieving artworks and actually would much prefer that terrorising people. Is the painting somehow linked to the gang? And what has happened to Caro's mother? Is she became his pet!somehow involved in the mystery too?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857071475</amazonuk>0571363148
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alan SilberbergTania Unsworth|title=Milo and the Restart ButtonNowhere Island
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary='Starting over Meet Gil. Just twelve, he is like pressing so determined to escape the care system – the reset button on a game system that constantly puts him in futureless places that makes you lose all your points are not homes – and wipes out any of the good stuff you've spent hundreds of hours learningfind a home for himself. He is en route to yet another fosterer, when he jumps into an anonymous car, and lets it ride him to his future..' Milo's restart button was pressed by That future seems to be in jeopardy when someone steals his one bag of belongings – but that someone lives with his brother in a camp on an island between the death two directions of his mothera motorway, a place inaccessible and definitely ignored enough to provide for their safety and seclusion. Since that awful day Them, and a mute girl also finding a home there, life has not been goodalbeit so much more successfully. His father has retreated inwards Over a few weeks we see if their oddball destinies can combine, his sister or if this is always angry, and they've moved house several times. one place where life as we would want it just would not work…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857071904</amazonuk>1804540080
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sharon King and Rose KingHelen Peters|title=The Daily Journal of Arabella CrumblestoneFriends and Traitors|rating=43
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Arabella Crumblestone was making her way along a dry-stone wall in NorthumbriaEngland, courtesy of a sheep named Leroy, when she met WW2. Two young girls are new at the two human children, Faith and Georgecountry pile called Stanbrook. George gave One is Nancy, destined to be in service all her a piece of chocolate (although she didn't know that's what life it was) and she was gratefulseems, like the female generations before her. The boy had no wordsother is Sidney, but he hummeda girl from a hoity-toity Sussex boarding school that has been removed there away from bomber flight-paths. The next day he returned to the wall girls are chalk and cheese, and if we hadn't guessed that then their behaviour with his sister who never seemed to stop talkingeach other over their first encounters would only prove it so. Arabella was lonely – but could she trust Faith But something is amiss, and first separately and George? then in combination they realise the Lord Evesham must be a rum 'un. HungerMidnight deliveries are received under cover of secrecy, cold and loneliness talk is made her decision for her of meetings with Germans, and before long she had not only that, a bed in Faith's warm pocketlocal Spitfire factory has been attacked. But surely the girls are wrong, and the upper class could never be so underhand?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0956741304</amazonuk>1788004647
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Derek KeiltyJamie Littler|title=Will Gallows and the Snake-bellied TrollArkspire
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Will Gallows is not your average boyTwo sisters, Juniper and Elodie, born fifteen minutes apart, are growing to be chalk and cheese. Finding Juniper is an eager hunter and trader in illicit magic, including relics from prior major wars left out in the name Badlands. Elodie is intent on getting closer to power in one of the baddie who gunned down his policeman fatherreligious districts of Arkspire, he takes it upon himself perhaps even to become the child in line to get revengeinherit the power of the Watcher, by bringing him in - even though he's the nastiest gunslinger around. Ohclosest to a ruler the district has, and a troll with snakes coming from his bellyone of the five major victors in said earlier war. Will, being not your average boy, is half-elf, however, and Being trained in the magic that only five people can talk to his flying horse to help him on his wayuse would definitely change the status of the whole family. But is there more in finding something oddly magical, Juniper might just be able to the story gain some power of his father's death than he thinksher own – for good, or for very, and just what is it with all the earthquakes his town is suffering?very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849392366</amazonuk>0241586143
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Elliot Skell024162343X|title=Neversuch HouseStolen History|author=Sathnam Sanghera
|rating=5
|genre=Confident ReadersChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=Omnia is 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 girl who likes 'god'. Where was the proof? In history lessons, it was probably worse still. Not too long after the end of WWII, I didn't so much want to know thingslearn about the British army's successes (and occasional failures, and when she sees something unusual she sets out but we didn't dwell on those) in what came to be called 'the colonies' as want to find out dispute what is happeningright the army had to be there in the first place. It is a decision which almost kills her. Something is not Looking back, I still believe I was right at - but I regret that I lacked the heart of Neversuch House, and at least one person is determined maturity to stop her finding out what it isapproach 'the problem' politely. I wish I'd had Sathnam Sanghera's ''Stolen History''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847387438</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ruthie Knapp and Jill McElmurryThiago de Moraes|title=Who Stole Mona Lisa?Old Gods New Tricks|rating=34.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Taking in Meet Trixie. Forever getting into scrapes, larks and adventures involving flooding the school aircon with fart powder, she could almost be thought a history young goddess of its productionnuisance. But just when she's being told that by her one-last-chance-giving headteacher, as well as its theftthe world changes. Suddenly, practically everything electronic stops working – a power-out, even of electric cars, hits not just the town the school's in but the entire planet (apart from mobile phones, and all that powers the Internet, just for our convenience'Who Stole Mona Lisa?'' is an intriguing look at La Giocondas sake). Trixie, luckily, realises what has happened – the ancient Gods have taken the power of power from us. The story is told 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 the point of view of Leonardo da Vinci's painting herselfGods, ie the semi-deities, giants, half-gods and will strike a chord with any intelligent and curious youngstersso on known as the tricksters.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408811588</amazonuk>178845295X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chris MouldHannah Gold and Levi Pinfold|title=Spindlewood: Pip and the Wood Witch CurseFinding Bear
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Pip doesn't want to be sold to Captain Snarks as [[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 pirate's cabin boypolar bear – that she called Bear. He is sure he'll get sea-sick Back home, things on the domestic and family front are a bit advanced, but not perfect for her, and he would far rather continue to work at so can easily be ignored when word comes through from the stable yardislands Bear was last left on. But the foul For a bear doing very Bear-breathed drunkard who runs the orphanage refuses y things has been shot and wounded. Desperate to listen: make sure he will receive more money for the lad if he sends him 's OK, she and her father return to sea. On the way to the docks Pip manages to escape, Arctic and he stows away hope that in the rear carriage a world of the Stage Fright Theatre Companyvery white and very dangerous things, charmingly described as 'dancing masters of the macabre'. Our hero remains there for many days, hidden from everyone she can find one specific white and dangerous thing – and only occasionally sneaking out to find a bone to gnaw, until that the travelling troupe arrives at its destination, Hangman's Hollow. And then Pip's troubles begin in earnestfriendship can continue.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0340970693</amazonuk>0008582017
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Melissa WarehamSimon Fox|title=Take Me Home: Tales of Battersea DogsDeadlock|rating=4|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=Melissa Wareham always wanted a dog but her parents would never allow it and she didn't get good enough exam results for her next option – becoming a vet. Not one to be deterred she joined the staff at Battersea Dogs Home, first as a kennel maid and eventually as the head of rehoming. 'Take Me Home' is the story of some of the highlights of her life at the home and some of the dogs which she met whilst she was there.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849413924</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Betty G Birney|title=School According to Humphrey|rating=45
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=After six near-perfect books' worth of adventures in Room 26Late one night Graham Blake is late back from his shift on the force, and then suddenly rings Archie, the class pet Humphrey the hamster faces demanding he fetch something from a nightmare at secret place, and join him on the start of termrun. The entire pupil population has changedThey get together, and all his friends he's got but barely begin to know and love (and be loved by) have been replaced by a new intake. Here are smell the absurdly tall and whiff of Southern trains when the unfortunately shortfather is arrested, both with leaving Archie on the same first name; here is the girl in late express to Brighton, toting a wheelchair pestered by an over-attentive helper. Can Humphrey solve all their problems - as he usually does - tin his father was determined to keep away from his colleagues, and, is the biggest problem bearer of all the fact that his old friends no longer have a classroom pet?whole heap of questions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0571255418</amazonuk>1839944420
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Morris GleitzmanCath Howe|title=GraceMy Life on Fire
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Ren'In the beginning there was me s family home is destroyed in a fire. She, her parents, and Mum and Dad her little brother lose everything. She doesn't have any of her clothes, or any of her special little knick-knacks from her cupboard, and now she is living at her grandmother's house where they can't touch anything, or do anything, or even eat the twinsfoods they normally eat. And talk about happy families, we were bountiful. But it came When she goes back to pass school she discovers that I started the class are doing sins. And loa special art project, creating boxes of their lives, to display things that's when all our problems began.' This is exactly how Grace talks because she lives with her family are important to them and show who they are as part of a separatist fundamental Christian sectperson. She goes But Ren has nothing to put in a church school. The school bus driver is a church Elder because box, and so she mustn't talk finds herself starting to or touch an outsider as outsiders are uncleansteal things. She can't eat outsider food without purifying it first - even ice cream must be microwaved Small things, things that people might not really miss, not when they have so much already. She wears But what will happen to her unruly, curly hair in a bun and woe if someone finds out what she is upon her when wisps free themselves from her hairpins. doing?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>014133603X</amazonuk>1839942835
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sorrel AndersonRob Keeley|title=The Clumsies Make A Mess of the Big ShowBoy Who Disappeared and Other Stories|rating=3.54
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=This Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is back with a return to the third book about The Clumsies, two small mice who live in Howard Armitage's office, and manage, whatever the situation, to make a messshort story format! A big show is being put on at work, and Howard's boss wants Howard to sing. The Clumsies decide Boy Who Disappeared treats us to interveneeleven new tales, in order each as fun to help out Howard, and chaos ensues..read as his previous offerings.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007339364</amazonuk>B0BVW69N1G
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=David PetersenLaura Noakes|title=Mouse Guard: Legends of The GuardCosima Unfortunate Steals a Star
|rating=4
|genre=Graphic NovelsConfident Readers|summary=To start withMeet Number One. Or rather, I have never heard of Mr Petersen and his Mouse Guard franchiseCosima Unfortunate. But I'm often up for an introduction to a fantasy cycleOr rather, and I always relish being welcomed just Cos to an author by the most esoteric, unusual, quirky and short routeher friends. My first entry The practice in the home she lives in is for the girls to just be named by the His Dark Materials world was [[Once Upon a Time number they correspond to in the North by Philip Pullman|a collector's spin-off]]ledger, and Ithey'm just re all Unfortunates – young people with disabilities, uncommon mentalities or suchlike that Victorian society frowns greatly upon. But Cosima bears the tag as likely a surname because nothing else seems to start be known about where she came from, as the Twilight series, if first everinmate, with and unique in having no known family in the latest brief whimsyoutside world. And for those of During a similar mind-set, this collection of tales daring escapade to steal some posh cakes from the pens of guest writers and illustratorskitchen one afternoon, serves as an odd-shaped doorway on she discovers a plan involving said outside world – a devilish Lord Fitzroy seems to want to this particular universeadopt all the girls for his Institute. But why, and what does that body entail? And could it possibly bring Cos closer to the past she has so little link with?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857681427</amazonuk>0008579059
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Francesca Simon and Tony Alice M Ross|title=Horrid Henry's Thank You LetterThe Nowhere Thief|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=I'm sure most of us haveAt 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, at one time or anotherbecause she has the ability to leave this world, found ourselves being forced to write a huge pile and use an unworldly portal of thank you letters kaleidoscope colours to distant relativesenter other worlds, perhaps even where the sea levels are rising dramatically and the buildings are generally empty of humans and ripe for gifts that we weren't all that excited plunder. With eviction imminent, can Elsbeth nab anything to receive in actually generate custom at the first place! shop? This Well yes, is the predicament that Henry finds himself inanswer, and rather than knuckle down to get them over and done with he, of course, procrastinates as much as possible before coming up with an ingenious, money-making scheme!but the fact a mysterious man knows exactly which items come from these different Somewheres only raises more questions…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444001051</amazonuk>1839943769
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Richmal CromptonNatasha Farrant|title=Just WilliamThe Rescue of Ravenwood
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Whether itThis story is another excellent adventure from the author of ''Voyage of the Sparrowhawk''s a trip to . Ravenwood is an old house, in the cinemaNorth of England, babysitting where Bea and Raffy have been living for most of their lives. They are part of a youngstercomplex, extended family arrangement, as Bea is there with her Uncle Leo, being and Raffy is there with his mum, and they are living together as a page boy family. They have grown up swimming in the cove, roaming through the trees, completely at a weddingone with all of the nature around the house and loving every inch of the place. But now the house is under threat, or running away as Leo is under pressure from home his other two brothers to take a job below stairs, sell the 11-year old William Brown can always be relied on property to create chaos a developer as it's becoming more and havoc wherever he goesmore expensive to maintain. This short story collection (the first of 38 books) is a wonderful introduction The children find themselves worrying not only about where they're going to a classic characterlive, but if they'll even be together, and if Ravenwood itself will be torn down.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330507451</amazonuk>0571348785
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Hans Christian Andersen, Naomi Lewis Robin Birch and Christian BirminghamJobe Anderson|title=Secret Beast Club: The Snow QueenUnicorns of Silver Street
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Kay Jayden's nose is forever in a book, which means he knows a lot about mythological creatures – the phoenixes and Gerda unicorns of the world, for example. Aisha is addicted to her new tablet, where she can see videos of anything that might be out there. The problem, as their mothers see it, is that they are dearnever 'out there' themselves, dear friendsexploring the outside world of Hackney, London. However But when a narrowboat turns up carrying a science-minded, educational purpose, Kay gets splinters from the Deviland with a past involving Jayden's shattered magic mirror in his eye and heartcousin, they find a magical world they never knew existed. For many of those mythological creatures are real, changing his personality for including the worseone Aisha thinks she's seen on a bit of local footage. Shortly after The crew of the boat, including a living gargoyle, he is whisked away by are tasked with saving the rare critters – and the Snow Queen. Everyone assumes Kay must kids unknowingly have fallen the magical sight needed to join in . Dare they side with Leila, the river woman on board, and drowned, but Gerda is sure her friend is still aliverelative who lives as a figure in a painting, and embarks on a magical quest to bring him home again.become saviours of the unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406319708</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.
}}
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Emerging Readers|summary=Bloomsbury have re-issued another tranche of the original Womble booksCooper loves to perform magic tricks. His father was a magician, following the release of and named Cooper after the first titles in late 2010great Tommy Cooper. This brings the total But sadly Cooper's father died suddenly, and now Cooper doesn't quite know who to six available titles for you be, or how to have a Wombling good time withbe. And quite frankly, whatwhen his dad's not prop rabbit starts talking to love here? Any story featuring Elisabeth Beresfordhim, he ''really'' doesn't know what's environmentally-minded, charming characters is a delight, for young and old alike.going on anymore!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408808366</amazonuk>1444960261
}}