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[[Category:Confident Readers|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Confident Readers]]==Confident readers==__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Helen MossMax Boucherat|title=Adventure Island: The Mystery Last Life of the Whistling CavesLori Mills|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=There must be many a parent around who grew up devouring Famous Five adventure storiesWe 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. I certainly didWhat could possibly go wrong? Snuggled in a blanket fort, she has one main intention, so I was excited and that is to read log on to Voxminer, the world-building, critter-collecting game that is a hit in Lori's world. But first in a new series of stories by Helen Moss which bring Lori has a flavour of Blytontiny inkling that this stormy night doesn's famous books into t find herself entirely on her own, and then she finds something even more spooky. For the present dayserver 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?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444003283</amazonuk>0008666482
}}
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=What happened when Meet Kit. Like most of the people in his world, it seems, he is an avid fan of Dungeon Running – the sport where a dragon moved into 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 town's library? way. Or when Cowgirl KatieUnfortunately for Kit, the only thing he's horse went shopping and rode seen of the latest race on the escalator? inn TV equivalent is that one team has been retired, eaten, and a new trio of questors is needed. This fun collection Possibly very unfortunately indeed for Kit, he has taken to the goading from the token bully of short stories is unusualhis world and stumbled into declaring he'll enter as a team. What chance does this friendless, muscle-free-zone have in actually managing that, odd and very entertaining!how could he possibly hope to succeed?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1877467677</amazonuk>1839945184
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chris Van AllsburgJames Sherwood Metts|title=Queen of the FallsPlanet Storyland
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Follyfoot Home of Rest Things have been a bit sticky for Horses is owned by the ColonelEarthlings. AI and automation have been proceeding apace, but heoften replacing jobs they's been very ill in hospital re paid to do and now he has other tasks that took time to go away to a warm climate to recuperateaccomplish. It's not ''quite '' certain who is in charge of the farm in his absence. It might be Dora or it might be Steve – but there's one thing that is quite clear: Just as they're both under strict instructions not were beginning to get used to buy any horses. What's Dora all this technological change and starting to do thoughthink of other, when she realises that unless she buys the cream-colourednew ways to spend time, lame horse, Amigoalong came an awful pandemic. Life was pretty much shut down and, along with it will end its days pulling a log cart? Well, obviously she ''has'' to buy all the horse with money she borrows from the shady Ron Strykermany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily. How's she to pay it back though?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849393265</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreview|title=Candle Man: Society of DreadFrontpage|author=Glenn DakinTom Percival|rating=4|genretitle=Teens|summary=We left Theo after he had discovered his true identity as the Candle Man and defeated his evil ex-guardian, Dr Saint. The young boy is still ambivalent about his superhero status and conflicted over his ability to use tripudon energy to melt his - and London's - enemies. But the fight against evil pays no attention to inexperience or moral ambiguity and Theo is about to find himself down in the Network again. This time, his attempts to return The Society of Good Works to its original benevolence are thwarted by the renaissance of an old, and even more terrifying, villain - Dr Pyre. With his friends abducted and enslaved, Theo must use his Candle Man abilities once again... |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405246774</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=My Name is Rose|author=Sally Grindley|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Rosa comes from a Romany gypsy community. She travels around Eastern Europe with her family, only stopping occasionally for school. Her father says her education comes from her family's connection with the land and the Roma traditions. And Rose agrees. She is happy and never happier than when her parents are playing music and there is noise and laughter and gaiety. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408814021</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Asylum|author=Rachel Anderson|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Sunday arrived in the UK at Lowestoft. He'd have preferred Iceland, ''which, so he'd heard, was cold and treeless but democratic and respectful of human life''. Sent from a refugee camp by his Auntie Pru, Sunday is very religious and very respectful of human life, unlike the militia who destroyed his village. So it's difficult for Sunday to become a Muslim. But that's what he has to do. His papers confiscated by a shady people trafficker, Sunday finds himself the unpaid caretaker at Hawk Rise, a condemned London tower block. And his name isn't Sunday any more; it's Piet Ali. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340997680</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author= Glenda Millard|title=A Small Free Kiss in the Dark|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Skip is a runaway. Shipped around from one foster family to another, he finally plans an escape. Ending up homeless on the streets, he befriends an elderly homeless man called Billy. Just as Skip seems to be finding an unusual kind of stability in his life the city he lives in is suddenly bombed, and overnight his life changes again. Billy and Skip find themselves responsible for three more people: Max, Tia and the baby. Soon they're running away again, but this time to try to save their lives.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848770278</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Karen McCombie|title=Six Words and a WishWrong Shoes|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Jem has a dad whoWill's a clownlife is difficult, in a best friend whomultitude of ways. He is bullied because he has 'the wrong shoes's a hypochondriac, a house where ithe has the wrong shoes because his dad can't work and doesn's always Christmast have enough money for even the most basic of things like food, and a sister whohis dad can's missing – or is she? Gracie left home after something Jem saidt work because he lost his job at the college, was working a cash-in-hand job on a building site and had an accident. Throw into that mix the younger girl has always wondered whether she's to blame for her big sisterfact that his mum and dad are separated, and Will's disappearancelife seems bleak in every direction. When her mother receives And yet, he still has a present from Gracie on her birthdaytiny amount of hope. He is good at art, she thinks she might finally be able and clings to ask her. As well as hoping her sister returnsthe moments of joy when he is drawing, Jem also tries to form that feel like a light at the end of a bandlong, helps her dad do his clown shows, and may even have found a cute boy she likes…dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1407107887</amazonuk>1398527122
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Patrick Ness1805141872|title=A Monster CallsThe Teacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Rob Keeley
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Conor wakes up from his nightmare at 12.07am. To''Seventeen banks and a jeweller’s have been raided. The yew tree from police are baffled, but only Ben knows the churchyard has uprooted itself, transformed into a huge monster and is waiting at truth – his window, full of threat. ConorMaths teacher, thoughMiss Judson, is unimpressed. Nothing could be as frightening as his nightmare. Nothing could be as frightening as his waking lifereally a safecracker! With police and her gangster boyfriend Al on their trail, for that matter. So he snorts in contemptMiss Judson and Ben go on the run. But the monster shrugs off this reaction and tells Conor he must listen to three stories and then tell Al needs them for one of his ownlast job.. And that fourth story must be The Truth. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1406311529</amazonuk>}}''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Elyne MitchellChristopher Edge|title=The Silver BrumbyBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=When Bel Bel's foal was born she called him ThowraLucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, which meant a place that has the nickname of 'windThe Black Hole'. Like her he was a creamy All big movie fans, silver brumby. Theythey're the wild horses looking forward to lots of Southern Australia exciting films, and Bel Bel knew many, many snacks! However, as the movie starts, they very quickly realise that her foal would not have something about this new film format is very different, and they are swept up into an easy lifeadventure they couldn't even imagine. As a stallion he would have But as they lurch from one film genre to fight the next, can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to keep his own herd of mares and foals but his main enemy would be man. The brumbies were regularly captured and herded away but the creamycinema, silver brumbies were the biggest prizes of all. 'The Silver Brumby' is Thowra's story as he matures from young foal and to adult stallion.their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007425201</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sally GardnerAdam Stower|title=CinderellaMurray and Bun
|rating=4.5
|genre=For SharingConfident Readers |summary=Most little girls must surely know the story of Cinderella by heart. My little girl likes nothing better than putting on her princess dress Murray is supposed to be a humble, tidy and friendly cat, one who is able to sleep and eat and eat and parading around the house talking about pumpkins sleep and lost shoes. This version , well, whatever takes his fancy next of the familiar story is written specifically for early readers and manages to capture the magic of this wonderful fairy taletwo. I once got to be CinderellaBut he's a bad magician's cat, in my very last year at school before I left for University (surely just on the verge of being too old!) It is so his favourite bun has been turned into a wonderfulhyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, magical story and I never get tired the catflap they both use can chuck them out, not into the regular back garden, but into a world of hearing it frightening adventure and whiffs. This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter isexpected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, fortunatelyto be honest, my daughterbut he's favourite too so we both sat down eagerly turned up and he'll have to try out this new retelling by Sally Gardner.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444002414</amazonuk>0008561249
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Darren ShanAlex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=Ocean of Blood (The Saga Glorious Race of Larten Crepsley)|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=In book two of this prequel series about the beloved orange-haired vampire from Darren Shan's Cirque du Freak series, we find Larten Crepsley and his friend Wester Flack finally free of the restrictions and privations imposed upon them by their master, Seba Nile. The young vampires have joined the Cubs, and are wandering the world enjoying all the "pleasures" human life can give them - wine, women, song, and a ringside seat at as many bloody wars as they could shake a stick at (plus a good supply of fresh blood in the aftermath of battle). |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007315880</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Gennifer Choldenko|title=No Passengers Beyond This PointMagical Beasts
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=India Eli is fourteen and, like many teenagersa busy lad – by day an apprentice in the wondrous library we start by visiting with him, doesn't see much outside her own narrow sphere of interest. She's spiky and defensive in the evening a helper at the dessert cafe his gran owns and reacts to any setbacks runs. Eli lives with anger and aggressionhis lovely gran, usually turned against her too – for there is a generation missing in the family. But inside A few short years ago, like many teenagers, sheEli's rather lonely and parents were both lost. Finn is twelve and not as good at basketball as he'd like. He's not as popular as he'd like either. But he is honest and loyalto the titular race, and he longs for a chance globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to prove it. Mouse is six and navigate the world in the company of a bit of an odditymagical beast. She This has an imaginary friend and made the race anathema to the pair – but when a brain bad incident at the size of eatery leads to a planet. This doesn't always make her easy confession from gran, Eli knows his only hope is to dare to get along enter what he most hates, withthe sole aim the prize of magic at the end – the only thing to possibly save his gran. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408815729</amazonuk>0571382231
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jackie French and Bruce WhatleyHelen Cooper|title=Queen Victoria's Knickers|rating=4|genre=For Sharing|summary=A message from the palace has arrived! It's from Queen Victoria, and as mum reads it she cries out 'The Queen wants my knickers!' Queen Victoria, ruler Taming of the British Empire, has riches galore, but she has no knickers, so the dressmaker's family set about making her some.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007418310</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Philip Caveney|title=Night on Terror IslandCat|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Kip is a real film buffOnce again, and because his dad runs the local independent cinema he gets to see all the latest films as a reward for making the popcorn and generally helping out each eveningmice are pitched against cat. But In this happy state cannot continue for much longer: case, principally, we have Brie the big multiplexes on mouse, up against Gorgonzola the edge of town are taking all their clientscat – and in case you're seeing a connection, they live in a cheese shop and therefore all the Paramount Picture Palace may soon have names used here seem to close for goodbe the names of cheeses. Things start to look up when the eccentric Mr Lazarus arrives Anyway, but Kip Brie is suspicious: the new projectionist may have a gift shunned, scorned and, if you must, mous-tracised, for raising the quality of way his habits don't match the films other mice he shows to enviable standards, but lives with. They nibble up paper wrapping from the cheese for bedding – he knows far more than he should about everyone who works at displays it as art and makes stories based on the cinemavisuals on it. And that story-telling will come in handy one night, when he talks about stars, films feels all alone and cinemas of cast out. It's almost as if there were another character from fable who had had to tell stories to keep themselves alive. This makes Brie the top dog in the past mouse community, though, as if he all the others had actually been therethe 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>1849392706</amazonuk>0571376010
}}
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=You could be forgiven for thinking that the Jackson family was unimaginativeRoo's life has become almost impossibly difficult. Jack JacksonHer mum died when she was young, and now she finds herself awoken in the head middle of the household was generally known as Pa, even before he had any children night by the police banging on her door to call him by tell her that nameher dad has dropped dead on his way to the corner shop to buy a lottery ticket. His wifeWhen asked what other family she has, she can only name her aunt, JacquelineJoni, was known as Mawho she knows her dad didn't think very highly of. You could put all this down But she has no one else, and so off she goes to accident but naming their first child Jackie (after a comic which Ma had enjoyed in live with her youth) and their second child Jacques might confirm your fearsunreliable aunt. It was a few years before they acquired a petThings continue to get worse for Roo, as when she and Joni leave London in Joni's old campervan, but it breaks down in the cat was to be called Jackson middle of nowhere and the Dutch Hamster Sjaak. Guess what their house was called? then bursts into flames! Yup – it was Jacksonville.Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0955431433</amazonuk>0571376169
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sabbithry PersadAdam Baron and Benji Davies|title=Garbology Kids: Where Do Recyclable Materials Go?Oscar's Lion|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=I was once told that 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 lot of children think that milk comes out couple of times before he has to be ready for school. But when he enters his parents' bedroom, all he sees is a bottle or a carton mahoosive male lion on their bed, looking sheepish, and admitting that he won't be hungry for another two days. But there are disconcerted benefits to having a lion around – it can be shown as an unspoken threat to find the bully that ruined a birthday party for Oscar the other month. And it can shapeshift, so he can take it to school and it actually comes can get him out of a cowproblem. The thinking has been reversed in Sabbithry PersadAnd it's book 'Where Do Recyclable Materials Go?' wonderful to have around the house – not limiting his biscuit intake, being much more lax about the rules, and so on. It's all very well dividing up your waste but OK, it doesncan't make work a lot of sense unless you actually know what happens to dimmer switch but it after you put it out at the kerb. And it all started when Tiana and Peter went looking for their dog Bubbles who ''loved'' to go running after the recycle truckcan give Oscar a wonderful time.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0981243908</amazonuk>0008596751
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Mark WaldenJudith Eagle|title=H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villanous EducationThe Stolen Songbird
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Otto Malpense Caro's mother, a world-famous whistler, has failed to return home from her recent work trip abroad and is one now missing. Her other mother, Ronnie, is having to go up North to take care of the newest students at the Higher Institute of Villainous Education, better known as HIVEher sister who is unwell. So who is his new friend Winggoing to look after Caro? Sent to stay with Gam, someone Caro has heard her mother despises, she feels frustrated and confused and worried. As you'd expect, neither All her summer holiday plans of them building herself some equipment to practise her gymnastics are keen brought to stay there – although a halt whilst she is stuck inside this staid old Victorian lady's house, along with an orphan boy, Albie, who is less to do with moral scruples than with the thought living there too. But she soon finds herself caught up in a mystery, as she discovers a painting of wasting six years studying how to be evil when they consider theya bird hidden away inside her mum're rather good at it alreadys old suitcase, thank you very muchand all across London a fearsome gang called the Snakes are thieving artworks and terrorising people. A plot Is the painting somehow linked to the gang? And what has happened to escape is hatched…Caro's mother? Is she somehow involved in the mystery too?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0747597219</amazonuk>0571363148
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lauren St JohnTania Unsworth|title=Laura Marlin Mysteries: Kidnap in the CaribbeanNowhere Island
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=ideal guardian for the crime-and-detection-obsessed young girlMeet Gil. Just twelve, because his job he is swathed so determined to escape the care system – the system that constantly puts him in secrecy futureless places that are not homes – and involves find a great deal of creeping out of the house late at night home for himself. He is en route to yet another fosterer, when he jumps into an anonymous car, and lets it ride him to meet mysterious strangershis future. But for now they can both relax: Laura has won That future seems to be in jeopardy when someone steals his one bag of belongings – but that someone lives with his brother in a holiday for camp on an island between the two in the Caribbeandirections of a motorway, a place inaccessible and all she and Calvin have definitely ignored enough to do is sunbathe provide for their safety and swimseclusion. Needless to say Them, and a mute girl also finding a home there, that isn't how things turn outalbeit so much more successfully. Over a few weeks we see if their oddball destinies can combine, or if this is one place where life as we would want it just would not work…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444000217</amazonuk>1804540080
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lissa EvansHelen Peters|title=Small Change for StuartFriends and Traitors|rating=4.53
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Poor Stuart Horten is rather small for his ageEngland, WW2. Two young girls are new at the country pile called Stanbrook. Unfortunately for himOne is Nancy, if you put his initial with his surname destined to be in service all her life it becomes 'shorten'seems, which like the female generations before her. The other is just asking for troubleSidney, a girl from a hoity-toity Sussex boarding school that has been removed there away from bomber flight-paths. StillThe girls are chalk and cheese, heand if we hadn's happy and has lots of friendst guessed that then their behaviour with each other over their first encounters would only prove it so. OrBut something is amiss, at least, he does until his parents move house and he finds himself living first separately and then in combination they realise the Lord Evesham must be a strange town (his fatherrum 's hometown) in the school holidaysun. Midnight deliveries are received under cover of secrecy, looking at the prospect talk is made of a longmeetings with Germans, boring and lonely summer ahead of himnot only that, a local Spitfire factory has been attacked. He soon discovers, however, that there is a mystery surrounding his family's history in But surely the towngirls are wrong, and it looks as though Stuart might just the upper class could never be the one to uncover what really happened...so underhand?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>038561800X</amazonuk>1788004647
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ruth EasthamJamie Littler|title=The Memory CageArkspire
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Alex is worried about Grandad. So is the rest of the family. It started with a lot of small thingsTwo sisters, things that Alex can help him withJuniper and Elodie, like lost keys and glasses. Last night thoughborn fifteen minutes apart, Grandad set fire are growing to his pillowbe chalk and cheese. Alex has hidden it, but knows that this Juniper is dangerous, an eager hunter and it can't stay a secret for long. Grandad has Alzheimerstrader in illicit magic, and Mum and Dad are thinking of putting him including relics from prior major wars left out in an old people's homethe Badlands. He Elodie is also worried that 'big brother' Leonard knows what has happened and will give them both away.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407120522</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Philip Ardagh|title=Grubtown Tales: When Bunnies Turn Bad|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=This book is a lesson intent on getting closer to power in never assuming anything you shouldn't. Just because Jilly Cheeter and Mango Claptrap are on one of the coverreligious districts of Arkspire, don't assume it isn't about a lad called Failing Toucan instead - because if you did, you'd be wrong. While on perhaps even to become the child in line to inherit the subject power of the noteworthy names used throughout GrubtownWatcher, never assume the closest to know a ruler the gender district has, and one of someone called Asphalt Nosegaythe five major victors in said earlier war. And just because it's called When Bunnies Turn Bad, and has lots of rabbits on Being trained in the cover and throughout, don't assume it isn't about magic that only five people can use would definitely change the dangerous and tangled task status of taking a chimp back to the old folks' home where he liveswhole family. But in finding something oddly magical, Juniper might just be able to gain some power of her own – for good, or for very, very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0571272363</amazonuk>0241586143
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Moira Young024162343X|title=Blood Red RoadStolen History|author=Sathnam Sanghera
|rating=5
|genre=TeensChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=Saba has lived 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'. Where was the desolation surrounding proof? In history lessons, it was probably worse still. Not too long after the dried-up Silverlake for all end of her eighteen years. The family has just one neighbour - a chaal addictWWII, I didn't so not exactly sociable - so Sabamuch want to learn about the British army's only companions are her father, her twin brother Lugh, successes (and younger sister Emmi. Saba worships Lughoccasional failures, resents Emmi for their motherbut we didn't dwell on those) in what came to be called 'the colonies's death as want to dispute what right the army had to be there in childbirththe first place. Looking back, and is confused by her father, who believes he can read I still believe I was right - but I regret that I lacked the future in maturity to approach 'the starsproblem' politely. But it I wish I'd had Sathnam Sanghera's all she knows and as long as Lugh is close, she's happy enough'Stolen History''. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407124250</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Gill LewisThiago de Moraes|title=Sky HawkOld Gods New Tricks
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Here in this tale we find ourselves back in Meet Trixie. Forever getting into scrapes, larks and adventures involving flooding the year 221BCschool aircon with fart powder, she could almost be thought a young goddess of nuisance. But just when she's being told that by her one-last-chance-giving headteacher, and the Emperor Qin Shi Huang is having some rodent issuesworld changes. As this is from Suddenly, practically everything electronic stops working – a series power-out, even of books called electric cars, hits not just the town the school''The Chinese Calendar Tales'' I think I was expecting s in but the story to relate more to the Chinese zodiac entire planet (apart from mobile phones, and all that powers the rabbitInternet, just for our convenience's place within itsake). HoweverTrixie, this is really just a story about a very naughty rabbit who keeps eating luckily, realises what has happened – the ancient Gods have taken the Emperor's vegetablespower of power from us. And so she begins her epic quest, his mission to capture and kill hergather 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 unfortunate conclusion to this romp of a tale..tricksters.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>9881888255</amazonuk>178845295X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kevin Crossley-HollandHannah Gold and Levi Pinfold|title=Bracelet of Bones (Viking Sagas)Finding Bear|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=It's 1036 in Trondheim[[The Last Bear by Hannah Gold|Last time]], April had been on Bear Island, Norway. Solveig lives with her fathera lot further north than many people would venture, stepmother and stepbrothersfinding a ridiculously unexpected but delightful friendship with a polar bear – that she called Bear. Her mother died many years ago Back home, things on the domestic and neither Solveig nor family front are a bit advanced, but not perfect for her father Halfdan have ever truly recovered. Before his injury, Halfdan and so can easily be ignored when word comes through from the islands Bear was last left on. For a Viking mercenary bear doing very Bear-y things has been shot and his dearest wish is wounded. Desperate to rejoin his old commandermake sure he's OK, Harald Hardrada she and her father return to the Arctic and hope that in Miklagard (Constantinople). He promises Solveig a world of very white and very dangerous things, she can find one specific white and dangerous thing – and that, should the call ever come, he will take her with him..friendship can continue. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847249396</amazonuk>0008582017
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kaye UmanskySimon Fox|title=Tales From Witchway Wood: Crash 'n' BangDeadlock|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=The Whichway Rhythm Boys Late one night Graham Blake is a band made up of Filth (who is Witch Sludgegooey's fiend) late back from his shift on drumsthe force, and then suddenly rings Archie, Arthur the Dragon on piano (demanding he lives with his mum and likes fetch something from a nice hot curry) secret place, and O'Brian join him on the run. They get together, but barely begin to smell the whiff of Southern trains when the Leprechaun father is arrested, leaving Archie on penny whistle who is often mistaken for the late express to Brighton, toting a Pixie, much tin his father was determined to keep away from his disgust. Together they play gigs in the woodscolleagues, for Zombie balls and suchlike, but the music they really love to play is Crash 'n' Bang!bearer of a whole heap of questions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408801884</amazonuk>1839944420
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Wolfren RiverstickCath Howe|title=A Cat Called IanMy Life on Fire|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=The lad was troubleRen's family home is destroyed in a fire. He was a bullyShe, her parents, a thief and a liarher little brother lose everything. We've all known someone like him – the company into which you hope that your own child She doesn't fall. Hehave any of her clothes, or any of her special little knick-knacks from her cupboard, and now she is living at her grandmother's cocky with it toohouse where they can't touch anything, convinced that he can or do whatever he likes and get away with it – and anything, or even eat the foods they normally eat. When she goes back to school she discovers that's when we meet him on his way to climb the great white oak at the top class are doing a special art project, creating boxes of Sunrise Hilltheir lives, despite the fact to display things that his mother has told him he's not are important tothem and show who they are as a person. It was But Ren has nothing to put in a difficult climb box, and it wasn't long before he remembered the old story so she finds herself starting to steal things. Small things, things that some people climbed might not really miss, not when they have so far up the tree and then were never seen againmuch already. But what will happen to her if someone finds out what she is doing?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0955431409</amazonuk>1839942835
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Patricia LeitchRob Keeley|title=Jinny at Finmory: The Summer RidersBoy Who Disappeared and Other Stories
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=On the first day of the summer holidays Jinny was looking forward to riding her horse, a beautiful Arab mare called Shantih, over the moors for the summer and life seems just about perfect when she meets a girl of her own age who's camping on the beach Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is back with her family and her pony. What could spoil that? Well, Jinny's father used to be a probation officer and he's agreed return to take a boy and a girl from the city to give them a holiday for a couple of weeks. short story format! The boy has been in trouble with the police for stealing and the girl walks with a limp. Just having them around is going Boy Who Disappeared treats us to be bad enough, but there's worse to come.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846471125</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ali Sparkes|title=Unleashed : A Life and Death Job|rating=3.5|genre=Teens|summary=A eleven new series about what happens when Britain's most important and secret assets - teenagers with paranormal abilities - get a week's holiday. In book onetales, Lisa gets involved with kidnapping and assassination attempts. And she only wanted each as fun to go shopping at Harvey Nicks!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192756060</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Michelle Magorian|title=Goodnight Mister Tom|rating=5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=It's been a long time since I read 'Goodnight Mister Tom' at school. Picking it up again twenty five years later I wondered how good I would find it. I needn't have worried. This wonderful story captured my attention from the very beginning and I became so caught up in Tom and Will's lives that I didn't want it to end. Set during World War Two, William Beech has been evacuated from London and is placed with Tom Oakley, thanks mainly to as his proximity to the local church, as Willie's God-fearing mother requested he be close to a church. They seem an unlikely match, the gruff old man who keeps himself to himself and the thin, timid young boy, but there lies the joy of the story, in watching their relationship grow.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141332255</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Barbara Mitchelhill|title=Run Rabbit Run|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=dad in Rochdale, Lancashire. Two months ago their mum was killed by a bomb which fell on her shop. Lizzie is being bullied and taunted at school and on the way home, because her dad won't join the army. He is a conscientious objector who doesn't believe it's right to kill people. As conscription has been introduced making nearly all men aged 18-51 liable to be called up for military service (and therefore required to fight), this means he is breaking the law and may well be treated as a criminal. Dad has decided they are going to move to Whiteway, a Colony (a sort of alternative community), for people who don't believe in war, in Gloucestershireprevious offerings.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849392498</amazonuk>B0BVW69N1G
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Annette HartLaura Noakes|title=Blood and AllegianceCosima Unfortunate Steals a Star
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Bryony was orphaned when Meet Number One. Or rather, Cosima Unfortunate. Or rather, just Cos to her friends. The practice in the home she was very young and since then has lived lives in is for the girls to just be named by the number they correspond to in the Abbey at Ambletonledger, but once she reached her fourteenth birthday her cousin, Unwin, King of Athlandiaand they're all Unfortunates – young people with disabilities, required uncommon mentalities or suchlike that she join him at courtVictorian society frowns greatly upon. She lost But Cosima bears the only friends tag as a surname because nothing else seems to be known about where she had knowncame from, as the first ever inmate, her clothes were replaced with much grander garments and she became a part of unique in having no known family in the inner circle of the courtoutside world. It wasn't long before During a daring escapade to steal some posh cakes from the kitchen one afternoon, she realised that her cousin was far from benevolent discovers a plan involving said outside world – but he was fighting an uprising and perhaps what he was doing was necessarya devilish Lord Fitzroy seems to want to adopt all the girls for his Institute. Then MillyBut why, her maid, is punished for stepping slightly out of line and Bryony realises how what does that body entail? And could it possibly bring Cos closer to the past she has so little she knows of other people in Kynbury and even of the history of her own family.link with?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1903491797</amazonuk>0008579059
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jenny NimmoAlice M Ross|title=The Secret KingdomNowhere Thief
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Protected by At last there is new stock in the impoverished yet over-full antiques shop Elsbeth and her mother run in a moon cloakseaside town. Elsbeth knows this because she has stolen it. She also knows she should be free from worries about being found out, a ringbecause she has the ability to leave this world, and three mysteriously powerful leopardsuse an unworldly portal of kaleidoscope colours to enter other worlds, Timoken where the magician sea levels are rising dramatically and his camel Gabar seek a new home after the boy is forced buildings are generally empty of humans and ripe for plunder. With eviction imminent, can Elsbeth nab anything to flee actually generate custom at the secret kingdom. But will they ever find peace with the vicious viradees on their trailshop? This prequel to Well yes, is the Charlie Bone series contains new and old charactersanswer, including but the fact a couple of brief cameos mysterious man knows exactly which items come from Charlie himself, but is well worth reading as a stand-alone or introduction to the series if you've never heard of it.these different Somewheres only raises more questions…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405257326</amazonuk>1839943769
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Caroline LawrenceNatasha Farrant|title=The Western Mysteries: The Case Rescue of the Deadly DesperadosRavenwood|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=It This story is always a little worrying when an another excellent adventure from the author finishes a popular and well-loved series to start something newof ''Voyage of the Sparrowhawk''. Will the new characters be as interesting as the Ravenwood is an oldhouse, familiar ones? Will in the books just be a pale retelling North of the plots in a new context? But fans England, where Bea and Raffy have been living for most of Ms Lawrence's [[The Prophet from Ephesus (The Roman Mysteries) by Caroline Lawrence|Roman Mysteries]] need not worrytheir lives. What we have here They are part of a complex, extended family arrangement, as Bea is there with her Uncle Leo, and Raffy is there with his mum, and they are living together as a rip-roaring tale of family. They have grown up swimming in the cove, roaming through the Wild Westtrees, completely at one with tons all of the nature around the house and loving every inch of credible local colourthe place. But now the house is under threat, as Leo is under pressure from his other two brothers to sell the property to a bunch of villains every bit developer as wicked as those 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 found in Ancient Rometogether, and a likeable lead characterif Ravenwood itself will be torn down.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444001698</amazonuk>0571348785
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Marcus SedgwickRobin Birch and Jobe Anderson|title=Raven MysteriesSecret Beast Club: Magic and MayhemThe Unicorns of Silver Street|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Life Jayden's nose is forever in a book, which means he knows a lot about mythological creatures – the phoenixes and 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 never completely dull at Castle Otherhand'out there' themselves, exploring the outside world of Hackney, London. Edgar the resident raven may get bored But when a narrowboat turns up carrying a littlescience-minded, educational purpose, and end up pecking and plucking at things he shouldnwith a past involving Jayden'ts cousin, but that at least keeps they find a magical world they never knew existed. For many of those mythological creatures are real, including the humans there one Aisha thinks she's seen on their toesa bit of local footage. And even Edgar must admit The crew of the boat, including a living gargoyle, are tasked with saving the rare critters – and the kids unknowingly have the magical sight needed to being rushed off his talons when he has to save join in. Dare they side with Leila, the day yet againwoman on board, this time from death by cabbageand her relative who lives as a figure in a painting, and things that go quack in become saviours of the night.unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1842556975</amazonuk>0241573483
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John StephensB09XWSXSKY|title=The Emerald Atlas: The Books of BeginningMaestro Orpheus and the World Clock|author=Robert Penee and Joanne Grodzinski
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Whisked away from their parents in Frederick (or Fred, but never Freddy, please) couldn't sleep. A tune, rather like the dead ticking of night ten years ago, Kate, Michael a clock was playing over and Emma have seen more than their fair share of orphanagesover in his mind. It happened every time he came to visit his grandfather. Nobody wants He hadn't really wanted to adopt three children together - least of come; after all when the youngest has a strong penchant for using her fists whenever she can - , he's ten now and so when we meet them, theyall those old clocks don're on their way t appeal to yet anotherhim anymore. But the orphanage at Cambridge Falls is unlike any other. They ''re the only children in residence, the housekeeper seems to think Who needs old clocks anyway? All they are members of the French royal family, and the town do is in tell the middle of a barren wasteland and is bereft of childrentime. And time isn't good for anything... |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857530186</amazonuk>}}''
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joan LennonNigel Baines|title=Slightly Jones Mystery: The Case A Tricky Kind of the Glasgow GhoulMagic
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Emerging Readers|summary=There are spooks and ghouls aplenty in this story: readers avid for a delicious shiver or two will be pleased Cooper loves to know they appear right from the very first chapterperform magic tricks. And in keeping with the wonderfully Victorian flavour of the book, it is body-snatchers, digging up a corpse to sell to His father was a local doctormagician, who encounter and named Cooper after the terrifying spectresgreat Tommy Cooper. This is not a horror story But sadly Cooper's father died suddenly, howeverand now Cooper doesn't quite know who to be, despite the scary setting of its opening pages: the haunted cemetery is simply one element in the complicated case of the disappearing treasuresor how to be. And when his dad's prop rabbit starts talking to him, he ''really'' doesn't know what's going on anymore!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846471141</amazonuk>1444960261
}}