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[[Category:Confident Readers|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Confident Readers]]==Confident readers==__NOTOC__{{newreview|author=Josh Lacey|title=Island of Thieves|rating=3.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=While Tom's parents have their first childless holiday in decades, our hero is supposed to be staying at his uncle Harvey's flat. Unfortunately his uncle is a roustabout adventurer, and with a clue to a treasure's location is himself going to Peru to seek the rest of the map. When Tom invites himself along he has no idea Harvey is already wanted by Peru's biggest criminal, nor what this impetuous decision will lead too...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849392455</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Kjartan Poskitt and David Tazzyman|title=Agatha Parrot and the Floating Head as Typed Out Neatly by Kjartan Poskitt|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Agatha Parrot lives on Odd Street, which is appropriate since her story is rather an odd one. Part school drama, part slapstick farce this is a funny, ridiculous romp of a story!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>140525596X</amazonuk-- Remove -->}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Salman RushdieMax Boucherat|title=Luka and the Fire of The Last Life|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Back in 1990, Salman Rushdie followed up his controversial 'Satanic Verses' with a book dedicated to his then nine year old son, Zafar, called 'Haroun and the Sea of Stories'. Now, his second son, Milan, finally gets a book of his own, although he had to wait until he was 13 for his father to get around to it. 'Luka and the Fire of Life' is very much a follow up to 'Haroun' and it is certainly helpful, although not necessary, if you have read that book as many of the events in the first book are referred to here.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555328</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Catherine Bruton|title=We Can Be HeroesLori Mills
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Ben We meet Lori on the first evening she's got the house to herself – no neighbour to pop in, babysitter poorly, mother at work, just an avidly rule-breaking eleven year old, on her lonesome. What could possibly go wrong? Snuggled in a blanket fort, she has one main intention, and that is spending to log on to Voxminer, the summer with his grandparents because his mother world-building, critter-collecting game that is ill againa hit in Lori's world. She won But first Lori has a tiny inkling that this stormy night doesn't stop going out for runs find herself entirely on her own, and is not eating properlythen she finds something even more spooky. She's gone back to stressing out about having For the "right" cutlery server she and worrying about technology her bestie and health hazardsnobody else should be able to enter shows signs of tampering. And When malevolent eyes spark up on her beautiful hair has started falling out. Ben's father was killed phone screen, and her safe place in the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and with his mother incommunicadogame has been doctored – well, he's feeling very lonely indeed. where is a girl to turn?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405256524</amazonuk>0008666482
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rachel Renee RussellKieran Larwood and Joe Todd-Stanton|title=Dork DiariesDungeon Runners: Pop StarHero Trial
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=When I saw that both Meet Kit. Like most of the [[Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell|first]] and [[Dork Diaries: Party Time by Rachel Renee Russell|second]] books people in this series had already been put into [[Double Dork Diaries: Two Tales from his world, it seems, he is an avid fan of Dungeon Running – the sport where a Notteam of warrior, mage and healer enter specially prepared, century-so-fabulous Life by Rachel Renee Russell|one compendium]]old, magical mazes, and race to the exit, I wondered quite whyperhaps bothering with the treasure or the big bad and the points they grant you along the way. Were they not selling quite as I expected they wouldUnfortunately for Kit, the only thing he's seen of the latest race on the inn TV equivalent is that one team has been retired, eaten, despite their breeziness and simple charms a new trio of questors is needed. Possibly very unfortunately indeed for Kit, he has taken to the beginner reader? Would goading from the third book prove to be token bully of his world and stumbled into declaring he'll enter as a major change in formatteam. What chance does this friendless, hence an early wrappingmuscle-free-up? Well, the answers are zone have in here - as are all those assetsactually managing that, and no real surprises or alterations.how could he possibly hope to succeed?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857071181</amazonuk>1839945184
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Andy BriggsJames Sherwood Metts|title=Tarzan: The Greystoke LegacyPlanet Storyland
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Robbie Canler is on Things have been a bit sticky for the runEarthlings. From whatAI and automation have been proceeding apace, it takes us a while often replacing jobs they're paid to find out, but it's clear do and other tasks that it's something bad when the alternative is working for an illegal logging team in the jungle of the Congotook time to accomplish. The work is tough at the best Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and starting to think of timesother, new ways to spend time, along came an awful pandemic. Life was pretty much shut down and when things start going wrong for the team, along with it's definitely not the best of times. And then Jane Porter, his boss's daughter, disappears... Can she be found? And why do all these strange things keep happening to the loggers? It's almost as if there was a weird presence in the junglemany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>057127238X</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=E D BakerTom Percival|title=The Wide-Awake PrincessWrong Shoes|rating=45
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Princess Annie is Sleeping BeautyWill's younger sisterlife is difficult, in a multitude of ways. Her sisterHe is bullied because he has 'the wrong shoes', Gwendolynhe has the wrong shoes because his dad can't work and doesn't have enough money for even the most basic of things like food, was given various magical gifts and his dad can't work because he lost his job at her birth making her graceful and beautifulthe college, but then was working a bad fairy created the spell that Gwendolyn would prick her finger cash-in-hand job on a spinning wheel before she turned 16 building site and sleep for one hundred yearshad an accident. So far, so familiar. All of Throw into that mix the upset over Gwendolyn's christening led to the King fact that his mum and Queen being very scared when their second daughter, Annabelledad are separated, was born. They invited only one fairy along and asked her adviceWill's life seems bleak in every direction. She cast And yet, he still has a spell on Princess Annie that made her impervious to all magictiny amount of hope. Although this seemed like a He is good idea it means that none of her family like to be too near her because her spell tends to affect their own magical enchantmentsat art, making them less beautiful, more wrinkled and aged. Annie does her best clings to please her parents and to try and protect her sisterthe moments of joy when he is drawing, but in that feel like a light at the end the wicked fairy's magic spell comes true and Gwendolyn and everyone in the castle falls asleep. Everyone, that isof a long, except for Annie..dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408807572</amazonuk>1398527122
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David Almond1805141872|title=My Name Is MinaThe Teacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Rob Keeley
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Jack, Ruby, Lauren ''Seventeen banks and Billy live in a seaside townjeweller’s have been raided. Jack helps out at The police are baffled, but only Ben knows the crazy golf course and he's got a mean shot or two up truth – his sleeve. Lauren likes boysMaths teacher, Miss Judson, ''Teen Thing'' magazine is really a safecracker! With police and looking down her nose at her younger siblings. Ruby's world revolves around winning a teddy gangster boyfriend Al on their trail, Miss Judson and Ben go on the grab-a-bear machine in the amusement arcaderun. But Al needs them for one last job... Billy is just a baby so he doesn't do very much if it doesn't involve cuddling Teddy Volvo.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408805731</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Helen MossChristopher Edge|title=Adventure Island: The Mystery of the Whistling CavesBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=There must be many Lucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a parent around who grew up devouring Famous Five adventure storiesplace that has the nickname of 'The Black Hole'. I certainly didAll big movie fans, so I was excited they're looking forward to read lots of exciting films, and many, many snacks! However, as the first in a movie starts, they very quickly realise that something about this new series of stories by Helen Moss which bring a flavour of Blytonfilm format is very different, and they are swept up into an adventure they couldn's famous books into t even imagine. But as they lurch from one film genre to the next, can they figure out what on earth is going on? Will they ever get back to the present day.cinema, and to their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444003283</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Neal ShustermanAdam Stower|title=EverfoundMurray and Bun|rating=4.5|genre=TeensConfident Readers |summary=We rejoin Murray 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 limbo world of two. But he''Everlost'' for this final volume in Neal Shustermans a bad magician's ''Skinjacker'' trilogy with Mary Hightower asleep cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and encased in a glass coffinthe catflap they both use can chuck them out, Allie tied to not into the front regular back garden, but into a world of frightening adventure and whiffs. This time round it drops them into a trainViking land, and Nick still amnesiac and still puddling chocolate wherever he goes. Milos where a troll hunter is trying to continue with Mary's demonic plan expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, to end the living worldbe honest, but he lacks her charisma 's turned up and the vapour of Afterlights is getting smaller as a steady trickle decamps. he'll have to do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857071823</amazonuk>0008561249
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joy Cowley Alex Bell and Gavin BishopTim McDonagh|title=Just One MoreThe Glorious Race of Magical Beasts
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=What happened when Eli is a dragon moved into busy lad – by day an apprentice in the town's wondrous library? we start by visiting with him, 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 generation missing in the family. Or when Cowgirl KatieA few short years ago, Eli's horse went shopping and rode on parents were both lost to the titular race, a globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the world in the escalator? company of a magical beast. This fun collection of short stories has made the race anathema to the pair – but when a bad incident at the eatery leads to a confession from gran, Eli knows his only hope is unusualto dare to enter what he most hates, odd and very entertaining!with the sole aim the prize of magic at the end – the only thing to possibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1877467677</amazonuk>0571382231
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chris Van AllsburgHelen Cooper|title=Queen The Taming of the FallsCat|rating=43.5|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=Annie Edson Taylor was sixty-two years old and a widow. She didn't have very much money saved and she was worried about her future - until she had an inspiration. She would have a barrel made - a very stout and water-tight barrel - and she would be the first person to brave the thundering waters of Niagra Falls in this barrel. Chris Van Allsburgh tells us her story from the moment of inspiration right through to the times after the epic trip, but in truth the words are simpy there to eleborate on his wonderful drawings. They're so good that you could be forgiven for thinking that they're black and white photographs on occasions.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849392722</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Monica Dickens|title=Dora at Follyfoot|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Follyfoot Home of Rest for Horses is owned by Once again, mice are pitched against cat. In this case, principally, we have Brie the Colonelmouse, but heup against Gorgonzola the cat – and in case you's been very ill re seeing a connection, they live in hospital a cheese shop and now he has therefore all the names used here seem to go away to a warm climate to recuperatebe the names of cheeses. It's not ''quite '' certain who Anyway, Brie is in charge of shunned, scorned and, if you must, mous-tracised, for the farm in way his absencehabits don't match the other mice he lives with. It might be Dora or They nibble up paper wrapping from the cheese for bedding – he displays it as art and makes stories based on the visuals on it might be Steve – but there's . And that story-telling will come in handy one thing that is quite clear: they're both under strict instructions not to buy any horsesnight, when he feels all alone and cast out. WhatIt's Dora almost as if there were another character from fable who had had to do tell stories to keep themselves alive. This makes Brie the top dog in the mouse community, though, when she realises that unless she buys as all the others had the creamchance to half-coloured, lame horse, Amigo, it inch some cheese while the cat was distracted. But will end its days pulling a log cart? Well, obviously she ''has'' to buy the horse with money she borrows from story have the shady Ron Stryker. How's she to pay successful sequel it back thoughneeds when that cheese runs out?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849393265</amazonuk>0571376010
}}
{{newreview|title=Candle Man: Society of DreadFrontpage|author=Glenn Dakin|rating=4|genre=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>}} {{newreviewLauren St John|title=My Name is Rose|author=Sally GrindleyFinding Wonder
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Rosa comes from Roo's life has become almost impossibly difficult. 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 Romany gypsy communitylottery ticket. She travels around Eastern Europe with her When asked what other familyshe has, she can only stopping occasionally for school. Her father says name her education comes from aunt, Joni, who she knows her familydad didn's connection t think very highly of. But she has no one else, and so off she goes to live with the land and the Roma traditionsher unreliable aunt. And Rose agrees. She is happy and never happier than Things continue to get worse for Roo, as when her parents are playing music she and there is noise Joni leave London in Joni's old campervan, it breaks down in the middle of nowhere and laughter and gaiety. then bursts into flames! Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408814021</amazonuk>0571376169
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=AsylumAdam Baron and Benji Davies|authortitle=Rachel AndersonOscar's Lion|rating=43
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Sunday arrived in the UK at Lowestoft. He'd We start incredibly bluntly, with Oscar hoping to have preferred Icelandhis mother – or father, but mother is more likely – read him his very favourite book a couple of times before he has to be ready for school. But when he enters his parents''whichbedroom, so all he'd heardsees is a mahoosive male lion on their bed, looking sheepish, was cold and treeless but democratic and respectful of human life'admitting that he won't be hungry for another two days. Sent from But there are benefits to having a refugee camp by his Auntie Pru, Sunday is very religious and very respectful of human life, unlike lion around – it can be shown as an unspoken threat to the bully that ruined a birthday party for Oscar the militia who destroyed his villageother month. So And it can shapeshift, so he can take it's difficult for Sunday to become school and it can get him out of a Muslimproblem. But that And it's what he has wonderful to do. His papers confiscated by a shady people traffickerhave around the house – not limiting his biscuit intake, Sunday finds himself being much more lax about the unpaid caretaker at Hawk Riserules, a condemned London tower blockand so on. And his name isn OK, it can't Sunday any more; work a dimmer switch but it's Piet Alican give Oscar a wonderful time. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0340997680</amazonuk>0008596751
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Glenda MillardJudith Eagle|title=A Small Free Kiss in the DarkThe Stolen Songbird
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Skip Caro's mother, a world-famous whistler, has failed to return home from her recent work trip abroad and is a runawaynow missing. Her other mother, Ronnie, is having to go up North to take care of her sister who is unwell. Shipped around from one foster family So who is going to look after Caro? Sent to anotherstay with Gam, he finally someone Caro has heard her mother despises, she feels frustrated and confused and worried. 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, along with an escapeorphan boy, Albie, who is living there too. Ending But she soon finds herself caught up homeless on the streetsin a mystery, he befriends an elderly homeless man called Billy. Just as Skip seems to be finding an unusual kind she discovers a painting of stability in his life a bird hidden away inside her mum's old suitcase, and all across London a fearsome gang called the city he lives in is suddenly bombed, Snakes are thieving artworks and overnight his life changes againterrorising people. Billy and Skip find themselves responsible for three more people: Max, Tia and Is the baby. Soon they're running away again, but this time painting somehow linked to try the gang? And what has happened to save their lives.Caro's mother? Is she somehow involved in the mystery too?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848770278</amazonuk>0571363148
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Karen McCombieTania Unsworth|title=Six Words and a WishNowhere Island
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Jem has a dad who's a clown, a best friend who's a hypochondriac, a house where it's always ChristmasMeet Gil. Just twelve, he is so determined to escape the care system – the system that constantly puts him in futureless places that are not homes – and find a sister who's missing – or home for himself. He is she? Gracie left home after something Jem saiden route to yet another fosterer, when he jumps into an anonymous car, and the younger girl has always wondered whether she's lets it ride him to blame for her big sister's disappearancehis future. When her mother receives That future seems to be in jeopardy when someone steals his one bag of belongings – but that someone lives with his brother in a present from Gracie camp on her birthdayan island between the two directions of a motorway, she thinks she might finally be able a place inaccessible and definitely ignored enough to ask herprovide for their safety and seclusion. As well as hoping her sister returns Them, Jem and a mute girl also tries to form finding a bandhome there, helps her dad do his clown showsalbeit so much more successfully. Over a few weeks we see if their oddball destinies can combine, and may even have found a cute boy she likes…or if this is one place where life as we would want it just would not work…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1407107887</amazonuk>1804540080
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Patrick NessHelen Peters|title=A Monster CallsFriends and Traitors|rating=4.53
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Conor wakes up from his nightmare England, WW2. Two young girls are new at 12the country pile called Stanbrook.07am. To One is Nancy, destined to be in service all her life it seems, like the female generations before her. The yew tree other is Sidney, a girl from the churchyard a hoity-toity Sussex boarding school that has uprooted itselfbeen removed there away from bomber flight-paths. The girls are chalk and cheese, transformed into a huge monster and if we hadn't guessed that then their behaviour with each other over their first encounters would only prove it so. But something is waiting at his windowamiss, full and first separately and then in combination they realise the Lord Evesham must be a rum 'un. Midnight deliveries are received under cover of threat. Conor, thoughsecrecy, talk is unimpressed. Nothing could be as frightening as his nightmare. Nothing could be as frightening as his waking lifemade of meetings with Germans, for and not only that matter. So he snorts in contempt, a local Spitfire factory has been attacked. But surely the monster shrugs off this reaction girls are wrong, and tells Conor he must listen to three stories and then tell one of his own. And that fourth story must the upper class could never be The Truth. so underhand?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1406311529</amazonuk>1788004647
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Fiona DunbarJamie Littler|title=Divine FreaksArkspire
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Unless you really love scienceTwo sisters, Mr Wesley's Biology lessons can occasionally seem a little dull. StillJuniper and Elodie, a spot of boredom might have been betterborn fifteen minutes apart, are growing to be chalk and cheese. Juniper is an eager hunter and trader in Kitty Slade's opinionillicit magic, than including relics from prior major wars left out in the mean grey-faced man who turned upBadlands. Elodie is intent on getting closer to power in one of the religious districts of Arkspire, began perhaps even to become the child in line to dissect a rat, then just as suddenly disappeared again. Leaving her, inherit the power of coursethe Watcher, the closest to explain to her mystified teacher just why she had leapt from her seata ruler the district has, shoved him aside and lunged at thin airone of the five major victors in said earlier war. The rest Being trained in the magic that only five people can use would definitely change the status of the class didn't mind: watching Kitty dash about the room screaming was way more fun than anything Mr Wesley could dowhole family. Things got a little heated after that But in finding something oddly magical, howeverJuniper might just be able to gain some power of her own – for good, and Kitty stormed out of schoolor for very, convinced she was losing her mind.very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408309289</amazonuk>0241586143
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Elyne Mitchell024162343X|title=The Silver BrumbyStolen History|author=Sathnam Sanghera|rating=45|genre=Confident ReadersChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=When Bel Bel's foal I was the bad company other people got into at school. I was born she called him Thowra, which meant disruptive in religious education classes because I disputed the existence of a 'windgod'. Like her he Where was a creamythe proof? In history lessons, silver brumbyit was probably worse still. They Not too long after the end of WWII, I didn're t so much want to learn about the wild horses of Southern Australia British army's successes (and Bel Bel knew that her foal would not have an easy life. As a stallion he would have occasional failures, but we didn't dwell on those) in what came to be called 'the colonies' as want to fight dispute what right the army had to keep his own herd of mares and foals but his main enemy would be manthere in the first place. The brumbies were regularly captured and herded away Looking back, I still believe I was right - but I regret that I lacked the creamy, silver brumbies were maturity to approach 'the biggest prizes of allproblem' politely. I wish I'd had Sathnam Sanghera's ''The Silver BrumbyStolen History' is Thowra's story as he matures from young foal to adult stallion.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007425201</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sally GardnerThiago de Moraes|title=CinderellaOld Gods New Tricks
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=India is fourteen Meet Trixie. Forever getting into scrapes, larks andadventures involving flooding the school aircon with fart powder, like many teenagers, doesn't see much outside her own narrow sphere she could almost be thought a young goddess of interestnuisance. She But just when she's spiky and defensive and reacts to any setbacks with anger and aggressionbeing told that by her one-last-chance-giving headteacher, usually turned against her familythe world changes. But inside Suddenly, like many teenagerspractically everything electronic stops working – a power-out, sheeven of electric cars, hits not just the town the school's rather lonely in but the entire planet (apart from mobile phones, and lost. Finn is twelve and not as good at basketball as he'd like. Heall that powers the Internet, just for our convenience's not as popular as he'd like eithersake). But he is honest and loyal Trixie, luckily, and he longs for a chance to prove it. Mouse is six and a bit of an oddity. She realises what has an imaginary friend and a brain happened – the ancient Gods have taken the size power of a planetpower from us. This doesn't always make And so she begins her easy epic quest, to get along withgather 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 tricksters. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408815729</amazonuk>178845295X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jackie French Hannah Gold and Bruce WhatleyLevi Pinfold|title=Queen Victoria's KnickersFinding Bear|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 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 Island|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Kip is [[The Last Bear by Hannah Gold|Last time]], April had been on Bear Island, a real film bufflot further north than many people would venture, and because his dad runs the local independent cinema he gets to see all the latest films as finding a ridiculously unexpected but delightful friendship with a reward for making the popcorn and generally helping out each eveningpolar bear – that she called Bear. But this happy state cannot continue for much longer: the big multiplexes Back home, things on the edge of town domestic and family front are taking all their clientsa bit advanced, but not perfect for her, and so can easily be ignored when word comes through from the Paramount Picture Palace may soon have to close for goodislands Bear was last left on. For a bear doing very Bear-y things has been shot and wounded. Things start Desperate to look up when the eccentric Mr Lazarus arrivesmake sure he's OK, but Kip is suspicious: she and her father return to the new projectionist may have Arctic and hope that in a gift for raising the quality world of the films he shows to enviable standardsvery white and very dangerous things, but he knows far more than he should about everyone who works at the cinema. And he talks about stars, films she can find one specific white and dangerous thing – and cinemas of that the past as if he had actually been therefriendship can continue.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849392706</amazonuk>0008582017
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ellie IrvingSimon Fox|title=For the RecordDeadlock
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Luke Late one night Graham Blake is obsessed with records. He's so busy planning late back from his shift on breaking world records when he grows upthe force, and playing world records DVD gamesthen suddenly rings Archie, that demanding he doesn't take much of an interest in what's going fetch something from a secret place, and join him on around himthe run. But that's about They get together, but barely begin to change, because smell the whiff of Southern trains when the village of Port Bren father is chosen arrested, leaving Archie on the late express to host Brighton, toting a waste-incinerator plant tin his house will be demolished father was determined to keep away from his colleagues, and the graveyard where his dad's buried will be destroyed – unless the village is too historically important for this to happenbearer of a whole heap of questions. How can they put themselves on the map in one week? Luke comes up with the idea to break 50 world records… but why won't his mum let him take part?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0370331982</amazonuk>1839944420
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Wolfren RiverstickCath Howe|title=While We Sleep... the Dream Snatchers Cometh!My Life on Fire|rating=45
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=You could be forgiven for thinking that the Jackson Ren's family was unimaginativehome is destroyed in a fire. She, her parents, and her little brother lose everything. Jack JacksonShe doesn't have any of her clothes, the head or any of the household was generally known as Paher 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 before he had any children eat the foods they normally eat. When she goes back to call him by school she discovers that name. His wifethe class are doing a special art project, Jacquelinecreating boxes of their lives, was known to display things that are important to them and show who they are as Maa person. You could But Ren has nothing to put all this down to accident but naming their first child Jackie (after in a comic which Ma had enjoyed in her youth) box, and their second child Jacques might confirm your fearsso she finds herself starting to steal things. It was a few years before Small things, things that people might not really miss, not when they acquired a pet, but the cat was to be called Jackson and the Dutch Hamster Sjaakhave so much already. Guess But what will happen to her if someone finds out what their house was calledshe is doing? Yup – it was Jacksonville.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0955431433</amazonuk>1839942835
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sabbithry PersadRob Keeley|title=Garbology Kids: Where Do Recyclable Materials Go?|rating=3.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=I was once told that a lot of children think that milk comes out of a bottle or a carton and are disconcerted to find that it actually comes out of a cow. The thinking has been reversed in Sabbithry Persad's book 'Where Do Recyclable Materials Go?' It's all very well dividing up your waste but it doesn't make a lot of sense unless you actually know what happens to it after you put it out at the kerb. And it all started when Tiana Boy Who Disappeared and Peter went looking for their dog Bubbles who ''loved'' to go running after the recycle truck.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0981243908</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Mark Walden|title=H.I.V.E.: Higher Institute of Villanous EducationOther Stories
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Otto Malpense Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is one of the newest students at the Higher Institute of Villainous Education, better known as HIVE. So is his new friend Wing. As you'd expect, neither of them are keen back with a return to stay there – although this is less to do with moral scruples than with the thought of wasting six years studying how short story format! The Boy Who Disappeared treats us to be evil when they consider they're rather good at it alreadyeleven new tales, thank you very much. A plot each as fun to escape is hatched…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747597219</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Lauren St John|title=Laura Marlin Mysteries: Kidnap in the Caribbean|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=ideal guardian for the crime-and-detection-obsessed young girl, because read as his job is swathed in secrecy and involves a great deal of creeping out of the house late at night to meet mysterious strangers. But for now they can both relax: Laura has won a holiday for two in the Caribbean, and all she and Calvin have to do is sunbathe and swim. Needless to say, that isn't how things turn outprevious offerings.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444000217</amazonuk>B0BVW69N1G
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lissa EvansLaura Noakes|title=Small Change for Stuart|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Poor Stuart Horten is rather small for his age. Unfortunately for him, if you put his initial with his surname it becomes 'shorten', which is just asking for trouble. Still, he's happy and has lots of friends. Or, at least, he does until his parents move house and he finds himself living in Cosima Unfortunate Steals a strange town (his father's hometown) in the school holidays, looking at the prospect of a long, boring and lonely summer ahead of him. He soon discovers, however, that there is a mystery surrounding his family's history in the town, and it looks as though Stuart might just be the one to uncover what really happened...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>038561800X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ruth Eastham|title=The Memory CageStar
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Alex is worried about GrandadMeet Number One. Or rather, Cosima Unfortunate. Or rather, just Cos to her friends. So The practice in the home she lives in is for the rest of girls to just be named by the familynumber 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. It started with But Cosima bears the tag as a lot of small thingssurname because nothing else seems to be known about where she came from, things that Alex can help him withas the first ever inmate, like lost keys and glassesunique in having no known family in the outside world. Last night though, Grandad set fire During a daring escapade to his pillow. Alex has hidden itsteal some posh cakes from the kitchen one afternoon, but knows that this is dangerous, and it can't stay she discovers a plan involving said outside world – a secret devilish Lord Fitzroy seems to want to adopt all the girls for longhis Institute. Grandad has Alzheimers But why, and Mum and Dad are thinking of putting him in an old people's home. He is also worried what does that 'big brother' Leonard knows what body entail? And could it possibly bring Cos closer to the past she has happened and will give them both away.so little link with?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1407120522</amazonuk>0008579059
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Philip ArdaghAlice M Ross|title=Grubtown Tales: When Bunnies Turn BadThe Nowhere Thief
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=This book At last there is new stock in the impoverished yet over-full antiques shop Elsbeth and her mother run in a lesson in never assuming anything you shouldn'tseaside town. Just Elsbeth knows this because Jilly Cheeter and Mango Claptrap are on the cover, don't assume she has stolen it isn't . She also knows she should be free from worries about a lad called Failing Toucan instead - being found out, because if you didshe has the ability to leave this world, and use an unworldly portal of kaleidoscope colours to enter other worlds, you'd be wrongwhere the sea levels are rising dramatically and the buildings are generally empty of humans and ripe for plunder. While on the subject of the noteworthy names used throughout GrubtownWith eviction imminent, never assume can Elsbeth nab anything to know actually generate custom at the gender of someone called Asphalt Nosegay. shop? And just because it's called When Bunnies Turn BadWell yes, and has lots of rabbits on is the cover and throughoutanswer, don't assume it isn't about but the dangerous and tangled task of taking fact a chimp back to the old folks' home where he lives.mysterious man knows exactly which items come from these different Somewheres only raises more questions…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0571272363</amazonuk>1839943769
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Moira YoungNatasha Farrant|title=Blood Red RoadThe Rescue of Ravenwood
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Here in this tale we find ourselves back This story is another excellent adventure from the author of ''Voyage of the Sparrowhawk''. Ravenwood is an old house, in the year 221BCNorth of England, where Bea and the Emperor Qin Shi Huang is having some rodent issuesRaffy have been living for most of their lives. As this They are part of a complex, extended family arrangement, as Bea is from there with her Uncle Leo, and Raffy is there with his mum, and they are living together as a series family. They have grown up swimming in the cove, roaming through the trees, completely at one with all of books called ''The Chinese Calendar Tales'' I think I was expecting the story to relate more to nature around the Chinese zodiac house and loving every inch of the rabbit's place within it. HoweverBut now the house is under threat, this as Leo is really just under pressure from his other two brothers to sell the property to a story developer as it's becoming more and more expensive to maintain. The children find themselves worrying not only about a very naughty rabbit who keeps eating the Emperorwhere they's vegetablesre going to live, his mission to capture and kill herbut if they'll even be together, and the unfortunate conclusion to this romp of a tale..if Ravenwood itself will be torn down.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>9881888255</amazonuk>0571348785
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kevin Crossley-HollandRobin Birch and Jobe Anderson|title=Bracelet Secret Beast Club: The Unicorns of Bones (Viking Sagas)Silver Street
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=ItJayden's 1036 nose is forever in Trondheima book, Norwaywhich means he knows a lot about mythological creatures – the phoenixes and unicorns of the world, for example. Solveig lives with Aisha is addicted to her fathernew 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 outside world of Hackney, London. But when a narrowboat turns up carrying a science-minded, educational purpose, stepmother and stepbrotherswith a past involving Jayden's cousin, they find a magical world they never knew existed. Her mother died For many years ago and neither Solveig nor her father Halfdan have ever truly recoveredof those mythological creatures are real, including the one Aisha thinks she's seen on a bit of local footage. Before his injury The crew of the boat, Halfdan was including a Viking mercenary living gargoyle, are tasked with saving the rare critters – and his dearest wish is the kids unknowingly have the magical sight needed to rejoin his old commander, Harald Hardrada join in Miklagard (Constantinople). He promises Solveig that Dare they side with Leila, should the call ever comewoman on board, he will take and her with him... relative who lives as a figure in a painting, and become saviours of the unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847249396</amazonuk>0241573483
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Kaye UmanskyB09XWSXSKY|title=Tales From Witchway Wood: Crash 'n' BangMaestro Orpheus and the World Clock|author=Robert Penee and Joanne Grodzinski
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=The Whichway Rhythm Boys is a band made up of Filth Frederick (who is Witch Sludgegooeyor Fred, but never Freddy, please) couldn's fiend) on drumst sleep. A tune, Arthur rather like the Dragon on piano (ticking of a clock was playing over and over in his mind. It happened every time he lives with came to visit his mum and likes a nice hot curry) grandfather. He hadn't really wanted to come; after all, he's ten now and Oall those old clocks don'Brian the Leprechaun on penny whistle who is often mistaken for a Pixie, much t appeal to his disgusthim anymore. ''Who needs old clocks anyway? Together All they play gigs in do is tell the woods, time. And time isn't good for Zombie balls and suchlike, but the music they really love to play is Crash anything...'n' Bang!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408801884</amazonuk>}}
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Patricia LeitchNigel Baines|title=Jinny at Finmory: The Summer RidersA Tricky Kind of Magic|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Emerging Readers|summary=On the first day of the summer holidays Jinny Cooper loves to perform magic tricks. His father was looking forward to riding her horse, a beautiful Arab mare called Shantihmagician, 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 named Cooper after the beach with her family and her ponygreat Tommy Cooper. What could spoil that? Well, JinnyBut sadly Cooper's father used to be a probation officer died suddenly, and henow Cooper doesn's agreed t quite know who to take a boy and a girl from the city be, or how to give them a holiday for a couple of weeksbe. The boy has been in trouble with the police for stealing and the girl walks with a limp. Just having them around is going And when his dad's prop rabbit starts talking to be bad enoughhim, but therehe ''really'' doesn't know what's worse to come.going on anymore!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846471125</amazonuk>1444960261
}}