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[[Category:Confident Readers|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Confident Readers]]==Confident readers==__NOTOC__ {{newreview|author=Simon Mayo|title=Itch|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=Itchingham Lofte - cool name, cool guy, but he's Itch to you and me <!- is an element-hunter. Like many kids, he's a collectorRemove -magpie, but football stickers and manga-style cards aren't his thing. Itch is a science geek and he is trying to collect a sample of all 118 elements. Itch lives in Cornwall, where he has recently arrived from London, and his element-hunting doesn't carry much kudos at his school, where he spends most time dodging the bullies. At home, Itch has a tendency to formulate disastrous experiments and the latest explosion not only removed his eyebrows but also got his collection banished to the shed. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857531301</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Janet FoxleyMax Boucherat|title=Muncle Trogg|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Muncle Trogg is the smallest giant in the world. He's fed up of being upside-downed by his bigger, but younger, brother, Gritt. At school, he always falls foul of the other pupils. The teachers don't treat him too much better. He simply doesn't fit in at all. With his school-leaving exams coming up, Muncle doesn't know what he's going to do with himself. However, Sir Biblos, the King's wise man, sees a spark in Muncle, and Muncle embarks on adventures that dabble in the edges Last Life of the Smalling world.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1906427038</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Elizabeth Laird|title=The Prince Who Walked with LionsLori Mills
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=This book is closely based We meet Lori on the story of 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 real boyblanket fort, Prince Alamayu of Abyssiniashe has one main intention, whose short life was divided between his beloved African home and Britainthat is to log on to Voxminer, the country of the people who conquered his father's kingdom. In factworld-building, his grave can still be seen at St Georgecritter-collecting game that is a hit in Lori's Chapel, Windsorworld. For his But first few years he was brought up surrounded by servantsLori has a tiny inkling that this stormy night doesn't find herself entirely on her own, luxury and power, with a loving mother and a fierce but adored warrior fatherthen she finds something even more spooky. But For the king, a despotic server she and her bestie and, some would say, reckless man, challenged the might nobody else should be able to enter shows signs of the British Army by chaining tampering. When malevolent eyes spark up on her phone screen, and imprisoning her safe place in the European envoys sent to negotiate with himgame has been doctored – well, simply because he found them irritating. This action led where is a girl to the attack on his lands and consequently the downfall of the Abyssinian monarchy.turn?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0230752438</amazonuk>0008666482
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=David LucasKieran Larwood and Joe Todd-Stanton|title=The Lying CarpetDungeon Runners: Hero Trial
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=There is a room in a big old house where nothing moves but the insectsMeet Kit. An empty chair sits to one sideLike most of the people in his world, it seems, he is an avid fan of Dungeon Running – the sport where a stone statue team of a girl calledwarrior, mage and representinghealer enter specially prepared, century-old, magical mazes, Faithand race to the exit, perhaps bothering with the treasure or the big bad and the points they grant you along the otherway. In between Unfortunately for Kit, the only thing he's seen of the latest race on the inn TV equivalent is that one team has been retired, eaten, and a tiger rugnew trio of questors is needed. What potential is in that Possibly very unfortunately indeed for Kit, he has taken to the goading from the setting token bully of his world and stumbled into declaring he'll enter as a charming book? team. What potential indeed...chance does this friendless, muscle-free-zone have in actually managing that, and how could he possibly hope to succeed?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849390177</amazonuk>1839945184
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Liz PichonJames Sherwood Metts|title=The Brilliant World of Tom GatesPlanet Storyland
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Tom Gates is your typical year 5 lad: frequently late Things have been a bit sticky for school the Earthlings. AI and fond of reading comics automation have been proceeding apace, often replacing jobs they're paid to do and doodling in school when he should be paying attentionother tasks that took time to accomplish. Things Just as they were beginning to get used to all this technological change slightly when he's moved and starting to sit at the front of the class between Amy - a clever girl - and Marcus who's a bit think of other, new ways to spend time, along came an idiotawful pandemic. Tom tells us the story of his daily lifeLife was pretty much shut down and, his attempts to impress Amy Porteralong with it, his favourite band and all the excuses he uses to get our of doing homework - or PE - or swimming - or for being late. He puts many daily social interactions on which they depend so much effort into doing all this that you really wonder why he doesn't just ''do'' the schoolwork. But then that would be too simple, wouldn't it? And we wouldn't have such a great book to readheavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1407120697</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joshua DoderTom Percival|title=Grk and the Phoney MacaroniThe Wrong Shoes|rating=45
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=The [[Grk Down Under by Joshua Doder|last time]] we met Grk (Will's life is difficult, in a multitude of ways. He is bullied because hehas 's the dogwrong shoes', by he has the way) he was in Australia, but donwrong shoes because his dad can't worry if you havenwork and doesn't read any have enough money for even the most basic of the seven earlier books in this series - they all read well as stand-alones. This time it might seem as though it's going to be a very local adventure with Mrs Malt taking Timthings like food, Natasha and Max to his dad can't work because he lost his job at the Natural Science Museum whilst Grk says in the car. Things are not as they lookcollege, though was working a cash- for Grk is going to be dogin-napped from the local park hand job on a building site and whisked off to Italy with Tim in pursuithad an accident. On Throw into that mix the way he's going to encounter Giovanni Mascarpone, the thirteenth Duke of Macaroni, fact that his vicious bodyguards mum and quite a lot of people whose names dad are going to put you in mind of Italian food.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842709321</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Charlotte Middleton|title=Christopherseparated, and Will's Caterpillars|rating=4life seems bleak in every direction.5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Christopher Nibble And yet, he still has a charming little guinea pigtiny amount of hope. He is good at art, loves gardening with his friend Posie. When they find six munching caterpillars on their plants though they decide that they cannot stay and choose clings to keep them as pets instead. They make a list the moments of the things that they think joy when he is drawing, that feel like a light at the caterpillars will need such as woolly socks and mini hairbrushes. When they visit Mr Rosetti, who runs the local café, he puts them straight and suggests that they get some clean jars, juicy leaves, twigsend of a long, and make lids with holes in them instead. They now know exactly what to do in order to look after their new pets and they do – very carefullydark tunnel. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192732315</amazonuk>1398527122
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Michael Rosen1805141872|title=Burping BerthaThe Teacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Rob Keeley
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=It all began very innocently ''Seventeen banks anda jeweller’s have been raided. The police are baffled, wellbut only Ben knows the truth – his Maths teacher, quite accidentally. Bertha was lying in bed looking at TigerMiss Judson, is really a safecracker! With police and her cuddly toygangster boyfriend Al on their trail, when she burped - Miss Judson and Tiger fell over. It was Ben go on the precursor of a series of events which, at their peak, would make Bertha a 'multi-multi-mega-billionaire superstar' and all as a result of what was nothing more than a lot of hot airrun. But itAl needs them for one last job...'s not what happens when she gets there that matters - it's the story of how she did it and it's a brilliant tale told with all the ingenuity of Michael Rosen and accompanied by the wonderful illustrations of Tony Ross.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849394067</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jean UreChristopher Edge|title=Pumpkin PieBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=There Lucas and his friends are three children all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a place that has the Penny familynickname of 'The Black Hole'. Petal is the eldest and she is gorgeous - long legsAll big movie fans, long blond hair and pretty with it. Pip is the youngest and hethey's the one with brains re looking forward to lots of exciting films, and has to be surgically separated from his computer. many, many snacks! In However, as the middle is Pumpkin - wellmovie starts, her real name they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is Jennyvery different, but she's Pumpkin to the family - and shethey are swept up into an adventure they couldn's ''cuddly'' with curly hairt even imagine. Mum's the breadwinner in the family, with Dad being at home during the day But as house husband and working as a chef of an evening. He's got a relaxed attitude they lurch from one film genre to the home and to next, can they figure out what the kids do: his obsession on earth is food. going on? He loves making it - Will they ever get back to the cinema, and Pumpkin loves eating it. She's conscious about her weight but it still comes as a shock when her father starts to call her ''Plumpkin''.their real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007424841</amazonuk>1839942738
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Katherine RobertsAdam Stower|title=Pendragon Legacy: Sword of LightMurray and Bun
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=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 two. But he's a bad magician's cat, so his favourite bun has been turned into a hyperactive sticky rabbit called Bun, and the catflap they both use can chuck them out, not into the regular back garden, but into a world of frightening adventure and whiffs. This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter is expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, to be honest, but he's turned up and he'll have to do…
|isbn=0008561249
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Alex Bell and Tim McDonagh
|title=The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=From Eli is a busy lad – by day an apprentice in the very first pages of this book wondrous library we are left start by visiting with him, and in no doubt about the character of Rhianna Pendragon, daughter of King Arthur. As we watch her in evening a horse race through helper at the woods dessert cafe his gran owns and runs. Eli lives with her elfin companions we see that she his lovely gran, too – for there is brave a generation missing in the family. A few short years ago, Eli's parents were both lost to the point of foolhardinesstitular race, stoic a globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the world in pain and an excellent riderthe company of a magical beast. Furthermore This has made the race anathema to the pair – but when a bad incident at the eatery leads to a confession from gran, as the Eli knows his only human on Avalon she has had hope is to endure teasing and even pity her whole life long for her inability dare to perform magicenter what he most hates, not to mention her large size and clumsiness when compared with the slight, delicate Avalonians. The experience has not made her bitter or resentful, however, but rather a determined young woman who can stand up for herself and make her own decisionssole aim the prize of magic at the end – the only thing to possibly save his gran. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848773900</amazonuk>0571382231
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Caroline LawrenceHelen Cooper|title=The Sewer Demon: The Roman Mystery ScrollsTaming of the Cat|rating=43.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Fans of Caroline LawrenceOnce 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 earlier series of mysteries set re seeing a connection, they live in Ancient Rome have enjoyed both a cheese shop and therefore all the names used here seem to be the thrilling adventures names of the four young friendscheeses. Anyway, Brie is shunned, scorned and , if you must, mous-tracised, for the way his habits don't match the other mice he lives with. They nibble up paper wrapping from the authentic detail which brought those cheese for bedding – he displays it as art and makes stories so vividly to lifebased on the visuals on it. And nowthat story-telling will come in handy one night, with when he feels all alone and cast out. It's almost as if there were another character from fable who had had to tell stories to keep themselves alive. This makes Brie the top dog in the adventures of Threptusmouse community, though, readers from about six or seven years of age can enjoy as all the others had the chance to half-inch some cheese while the same delightscat was distracted. But will the story have the successful sequel it needs when that cheese runs out?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444004557</amazonuk>0571376010
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Anna WilsonLauren St John|title=The Poodle ProblemFinding Wonder
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Mrs Fudge had a big house and Roo's life has become almost impossibly difficult. Her mum died when she was rather lonelyyoung, so and now she decided finds herself awoken in the middle of the night by the police banging on her door to tell her that she would turn part of it into a hairdressing salon where people were encouraged her dad has dropped dead on his way to bring their dogs and the corner shop to sample her rather delicious home bakingbuy a lottery ticket. She met Pippa PeppercornWhen asked what other family she has, aged ten and a quarter and a she can only name her aunt, Joni, who she knows her dad didn't think very self-sufficient young lady who was perfectly capable highly of helping Mrs Fudge by taking coats. But she has no one else, making tea and looking after the dogs, but not by being on the operating end of the scissors, much so off she goes to live with her disappointmentunreliable aunt. All was going well until a newcomer Things continue to get worse for Roo, as when she and Joni leave London in Joni's old campervan, it breaks down in the village middle of Crumbly-under-Edge opened a beauty parlour nowhere and it wasn't long before the competition became, well, just a little bit ''unfair''.then bursts into flames! Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330545272</amazonuk>0571376169
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Victoria EveleighAdam Baron and Benji Davies|title=KatyOscar's Champion PonyLion|rating=43
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=We first met Katy in [[Katystart incredibly bluntly, with Oscar hoping to have his mother – or father, but mother is more likely – read him his very favourite book a couple of times before he has to be ready for school. But when he enters his parents's Wild Foal by Victoria Eveleigh|Katy's Wild Foal]] when she found bedroom, all he sees is a newborn foal mahoosive male lion on her birthdaytheir bed, looking sheepish, and admitting that he won't be hungry for another two days. A real bond formed between the two and the foal is now about three years old and ready But there are benefits to having a lion around – it can be 'backed' - or shown as an unspoken threat to have the bully that ruined a rider on his backbirthday party for Oscar the other month. Away from the ponies Katy is learning that even friends And it can be a bit thoughtless at timesshapeshift, that old people are not necessarily past so he can take it to school and she finds that she has reserves it can get him out of strength a problem. And it's wonderful to have around the house – not limiting his biscuit intake, being much more lax about the rules, and determination when so on. OK, it can't work a dimmer switch but it really is can give Oscar a matter of life and deathwonderful time.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444005421</amazonuk>0008596751
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kjartan Poskitt and David TazzymanJudith Eagle|title=Agatha Parrot and the Mushroom BoyThe Stolen Songbird
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Agatha Parrot Caro's mother, a world-famous whistler, has problems with failed to return home from her elder brother, Jamesrecent work trip abroad and is now missing. And this Her other mother, Ronnie, is not just normal 'problems with elder brother' which ''every'' girl knows about. This having to go up North to take care of her sister who is serious troubleunwell. Just as Agatha So who is settling down going to look after Caro? Sent to watch the final stay with Gam, 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 second favourite television programmegymnastics are brought to a halt whilst she is stuck inside this staid old Victorian lady's house, ''Singalong with an orphan boy, Wiggle and Shine''Albie, James snatches the television remote control and switches channels to the adverts which come on before his football programmewho is living there too. Without going into too much detail (Agatha will fill you But she soon finds herself caught up ina mystery, don't worry) the results as she discovers a painting of his actions involve a large bird hidden away inside her mum's old suitcase, and highly decorated cake, all across London a fearsome gang called the school fete, a birthday party Snakes are thieving artworks and James dressing up as a mushroomterrorising people. When Agatha goes for revenge Is the painting somehow linked to the gang? And what has happened to Caro's mother? Is she doesn't hold back.somehow involved in the mystery too?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405257776</amazonuk>0571363148
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Michelle LovricTania Unsworth|title=Talina in the TowerNowhere Island
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Nineteenth century Venice can seem a sinister placeMeet Gil. Just twelve, full of secrets, misty forgotten islands he is so determined to escape the care system – the system that constantly puts him in futureless places that are not homes – and magic, both good and 'baddened'find a home for himself. It does, however He is en route to yet another fosterer, have its brighterwhen he jumps into an anonymous car, warmer side, with cosy, comforting grannies and delicious recipes, and Talina loves lets it dearlyride him to his future. But then 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 mangytwo directions of a motorway, rabid Ravageurs arrive, creatures part-way between wolves a place inaccessible and hyenas, definitely ignored enough to provide for their safety and claim the city as their ancestral homeseclusion. Men Them, women and children are stolen away in the nighta mute girl also finding a home there, as are cats and ratsalbeit so much more successfully. Over a few weeks we see if their oddball destinies can combine, but the inhabitants refuse to believe the full horror of what or if this is happening, preferring instead to blame a neighbouring town.one place where life as we would want it just would not work…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444003380</amazonuk>1804540080
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Melvin BurgessHelen Peters|title=Burning IssyFriends and Traitors|rating=53|genre=TeensConfident Readers|summary=It's England, WW2. Two young girls are new at the early 17th century and Issy country pile called Stanbrook. One is living Nancy, destined to be in Lancashire with service all her life it seems, like the female generations before her foster father Nat and foster brother Ghyll. Nat The other is Sidney, a girl from a cunning man hoity- a herbalist and healer toity Sussex boarding school that has been removed there away from bomber flight- paths. The girls are chalk and Issy keeps house while Nat plies his trade cheese, and teaches Ghyll how to follow in his footstepsif we hadn't guessed that then their behaviour with each other over their first encounters would only prove it so. It's a hard life and there But something is little to spare. And the family live on the edge of suspicion. Convinced he's being plotted against by Scottish witchesamiss, and first separately and then in combination they realise the King has unleashed witch-hunts on Lord Evesham must be a deeply superstitious and fearful countryrum 'un. Healers like Nat Midnight deliveries are working in the grey areas received under cover of secrecy, talk is made of persecution meetings with Germans, and not only that, a local Spitfire factory has been attacked. But surely the girls are only ever an accusation away from torture and trialwrong, while time is running out for self-professed witches like Demdyke and her family. the upper class could never be so underhand?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849393974</amazonuk>1788004647
}}
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=I'd like you to meet Max Two sisters, Juniper and Molly Pesker of Laburnum Avenue, Trull. They're twinsElodie, with red hair and brightborn fifteen minutes apart, fun-loving natures are growing to match be chalk and this time they have a real problem on their handscheese. Laburnum Avenue Juniper is snowed an eager hunter and trader in illicit magic, including relics from prior major wars left out in and Mum can't get to the supermarketBadlands. Until Elodie is intent on getting closer to power in one of the road is cleared they're going religious districts of Arkspire, perhaps even to have become the child in line to live on inherit the supply power of EMERGENCY BEANS which their father the Watcher, the closest to a ruler the district has been storing , and one of the five major victors in the cellarsaid earlier war. There's also a humanitarian aspect to their problemsBeing trained in the magic that only five people can use would definitely change the status of the whole family. The Goodley children (could children ever have had a more appropriate surname?) from across the street eat tofu but have never tasted toffee! That can't But in finding something oddly magical, Juniper might just be allowed able to continuegain some power of her own – for good, now can it?or for very, very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408305216</amazonuk>0241586143
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tony Ross024162343X|title=A Fairy Tale|rating=4.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=In Balaclava Street Bessie was bored. Even her book wasn't helping. It was about fairies and she didn't believe in them, ''obviously''. And even if they did exist they'd have more sense than to live in the gloomy streets around the mill, wouldn't they? Playing with her ball in the back yard she encountered her next-door neighbour, Mrs Leaf and a strange friendship developed between the old woman and the young girl. It was difficult for Bessie to work out if Mrs Leaf actually believed in fairies, but it seemed strange that as Bessie got older, Mrs Leaf seemed to get younger. And who ''exactly'' was Mrs Leaf?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849393559</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewStolen History|author=Jonathan Auxier|title=Peter Nimble and His Fantastic EyesSathnam Sanghera
|rating=5
|genre=Confident ReadersChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=From I was the very beginning 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 proof? In history lessons, it was probably worse still. Not too long after the end of this delightful book you are left in no doubt WWII, I didn't so much want to learn about the extraordinary British army's successes (and magical adventures you will experience with Peter Nimble and his friends. As a baby Peter is found floating occasional failures, but we didn't dwell on those) in a basket across what came to be called 'the sea. The magistrates give him a name, colonies' as want to dispute what right the law requires, then leave him army had to fend for himselfbe there in the first place. He is raised for a while by a cat Looking back, then adopted by Mr Seamus, a beggarmonger who trains him I still believe I was right - but I regret that I lacked the maturity to steal and beats him regularly to ensure he learns his lessons wellapproach 'the problem' politely. I wish I'd had Sathnam Sanghera's ''Stolen History''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407120646</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Derek KeiltyThiago de Moraes|title=Will Gallows and the Thunder Dragon's RoarOld Gods New Tricks
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Because this series revisits traditional western genre storiesMeet Trixie. Forever getting into scrapes, this volume concerns the problems caused by settlers muscling in larks and making demands on adventures involving flooding the land and resources school 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, the nativesworld changes. Because it is also Suddenly, practically everything electronic stops working – a fantasy seriespower-out, even of electric cars, hits not just the settlers are humans fleeing an earthquake-raddled territory for new lives where elves livetown the school's in but the entire planet (apart from mobile phones, and if all that powers the cavalry are summonsed to take sides theyInternet, just for our convenience'll do it on flying horsess sake). Trixie, luckily, realises what has happened – the ancient Gods have taken the power of power from us. And because this is a very enjoyable seriesso 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 Gods, ie the fix halfsemi-humandeities, giants, half-elf Will Gallows - who could also qualify gods and so on known as a young member of the sky cavalry - finds himself in is a most compelling plottricksters.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849393281</amazonuk>178845295X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Victoria EveleighHannah Gold and Levi Pinfold|title=Katy's Wild FoalFinding Bear|rating=34.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=It snowed [[The Last Bear by Hannah Gold|Last time]], April had been on Katy's birthday Bear Island, a lot further north than many people would venture, and finding a ridiculously unexpected but something even more magical was going to happen delightful friendship with a polar bear – that dayshe called Bear. When she went out onto Exmoor she discovered Back home, things on the domestic and family front are a tiny newborn foal bit advanced, but not perfect for her, and its damso can easily be ignored when word comes through from the islands Bear was last left on. With wobbly steps the foal walked right up to her For a bear doing very Bear-y things has been shot and she was spellboundwounded. It wasnDesperate to make sure he't easy but s OK, she persuaded and her father that return to the mare Arctic and foal needed help hope that in a world of very white and he got them some hay. Katy couldn't ride but very dangerous things, she still longed for can find one specific white and dangerous thing – and that foal. ''Katy's Wild Foal'' is the story of the next year in Katy's life - and the life of the foal - and what a roller coaster it was going to befriendship can continue.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444005413</amazonuk>0008582017
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Anthony McGowanSimon Fox|title=The Donut Diaries: Revenge is Sweet: Book TwoDeadlock
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Only Late one night Graham Blake is late back from his shift on the other week I was reviewing force, and enjoying then suddenly rings Archie, demanding he fetch something from a book styled as a young lad's diarysecret place, where and join him on the greatest insult was to call someone a doughnutrun. HereThey get together, but barely begin to smell the hero whiff of a book styled as a young lad's diarySouthern trains when the father is arrested, leaving Archie on the late express to Brighton, calls himself Donut. He does eat toting a lot of them, for onetin his father was determined to keep away from his colleagues, and as a result has a bit of a muffin-top going on. His schoolfriends call him Donut too - those few friends he could gather together into a gang of outcasts and oddments in the first book bearer of this series. In this first sequel, covering a couple whole heap of months in his second term, there is a very nasty problem, as Donut is framed for leaving unsavoury messages about the schoolquestions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0552564397</amazonuk>1839944420
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Matt HaigCath Howe|title=To Be A CatMy Life on Fire|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Be careful what you wish for Ren's family home is destroyed in a fire. She, her parents, and her little brother lose everything. She doesn't have any of her clothes, or any of her special little knick- it might actually come true! If someone had said this 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 foods they normally eat. When she goes back to school she discovers that the class are doing a special art project, creating boxes of their lives, to display things that are important to Barney Willow before he wished them and show who they are as a person. But Ren has nothing to be put in a catbox, if someone had made him believe itand so she finds herself starting to steal things. Small things, then he things that people might not really miss, not when they have avoided a great deal of troubleso much already. But what will happen to her if you want to find someone finds out what he'd also have missed out on, then you'll need to read this lively and tragi-comic body swap story. she is doing?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0370332067</amazonuk>1839942835
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Francesca Simon and Tony RossRob Keeley|title=A Horrid Factbook: Horrid Henry's Sports|rating=4|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=Horrid Henry is back with another book of freaky facts and random trivia. We loved his book about [[A Horrid Factbook: Horrid Henry's Bodies by Francesca Simon and Tony Ross|Bodies]] and this time the lovable lad (well, I'm sure that's what his mother said...) is back with a book about sport. And in the year of the London Olympic Games, what could be more suitable? It's not just a crammer for [[How to Watch the Olympics: Scores and laws, heroes and zeros – an instant initiation to every sport by David Goldblatt and Johnny Acton|every sport in the Games]] or [[The Story of the Olympics by Richard Brassey|the background to the Games]] themselves. This is the book which swoops into the World Cow Poo Throwing Contest Boy Who Disappeared and delves into the Bog Snorkling Championships.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444001647</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ivan Brett|title=Casper Candlewacks in the Claws of Crime!Other Stories
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=This Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is the second outing for Casper and his friend Lamp, who likes inventing things, but don't worry if you haven't read the first book: this one is fine as back with a stand-alone. Casper's village is chock-full of idiots, who spend their time doing such ridiculous things you wonder how most of them managed to survive return to adulthood. But the idiocy in these books does not encourage the reader, or indeed the author, short story format! The Boy Who Disappeared treats us to sneer: rathereleven new tales, it is a fond and glorious celebration of eccentricity taken to such extremes that it almost seems a different form of sanity. And it seems little lasting damage is done, either. People fall down, over and into things regularly, but never seem to suffer anything worse than a few cuts and bruises. A poor old lady in a wheelchair is thumped over the head, but the next time we see her she's grinning at the crowd and slapping her head to demonstrate what happened. And Casper's mum is such a bad cook she doesn't even take food out of the tin before cooking it, but no one starves. All in all, reading and enjoying the antics of the inhabitants of Corne-on-the-Kobb requires a major suspension of disbelief, which is of course not going to be a problem for the majority of the confident readers these books are written for. Indeed, the only difficulty such readers are going to have is to get through a whole paragraph of the book without dashing off to find someone each as fun to read a choice expression or joke toas his previous offerings.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>000741157X</amazonuk>B0BVW69N1G
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Stephen MackeyLaura Noakes|title=Pushka|rating=3.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=The circus train is coming to town and little Pushka is asleep in the last wagon. Unfortunately, he topples out and wakes up in fright amongst the enchanted trees of the forest. He is scared by enormous thuds on the ground but then he spies Cosima Unfortunate Steals a beautiful dancing girl and instantly falls in love. Little does he know that the lovely girl, Lulu, is a puppet and there is an evil giant controlling her strings and using her to lure Pushka to danger. He finds himself in a lot of trouble when he is enticed into the giant's oven with its fierce burning flames. Luckily, the giant does not reckon on the strength of the love that Lulu feels for her new friend, at it is the power of this that helps her to save him.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444901346</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Wendy Meddour|title=A Hen in the WardrobeStar
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=It was a quiet night in Cinnamon GroveMeet Number One. Or rather, with all its residents settled in for a peaceful night's sleepCosima Unfortunate. But all is not well with everyone Or rather, just Cos to her friends. At number 32, there is a sudden crash and Ramzis’ dad is on The practice in the move… looking for a hen home she lives in the wardrobe! But that isn’t all. So far, Dad has been chasing frogs across the pantry floor, searching is for a leopard in the back garden and sailing girls to just be named by the moon number they correspond to in the bathtub. Dad is sleep-walking againledger, and they're all Unfortunates – young people with disabilities, because he is homesickuncommon mentalities or suchlike that Victorian society frowns greatly upon. The only solution is for But Cosima bears the family tag as a surname because nothing else seems to take off for an extended visit to his homebe known about where she came from, as the first ever inmate, a Berber village and unique in having no known family in the mountains of Algeriaoutside world. While there, Ramzi encounters Boulelli ( During a giant spider in daring escapade to steal some posh cakes from the forest)kitchen one afternoon, she discovers a plan involving said outside world – a devilish Lord Fitzroy seems to want to adopt all the Wise Man of the mountains and the native Tuareq in the desert in an effort to solve Dad’s problem girls for goodhis Institute. But will any of it workwhy, and what does that body entail? Or will And could it be up to Ramzi and his secret plan possibly bring Cos closer to save the daypast she has so little link with?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847802257</amazonuk>0008579059
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=R J PalacioAlice M Ross|title=WonderThe Nowhere Thief
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=August Pullman was born with At last there is new stock in the impoverished yet over-full antiques shop Elsbeth and her mother run in a rare genetic defect that has caused extreme facial disfigurationseaside town. He has undergone 27 surgeries since he was born and Elsbeth knows this because she has always been vulnerable to illnessstolen it. In order to deal with his medical needs and to shield him She also knows she should be free from worries about being found out, because she has the staring and cruelty of the ability to leave this world, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents for his entire life. But Auggie is stronger now and all use an unworldly portal of that is about to change. Auggie is about kaleidoscope colours to enter school for other worlds, where the first time – sea levels are rising dramatically and he’s petrified. ‘Wonder’ is the story buildings are generally empty of Auggie’s first year at Beecher Prep humans and his first journey alone into the outside worldripe for plunder. But With eviction imminent, can he confront Elsbeth nab anything to actually generate custom at the challenges that wait for him there and convince his classmatesshop? Well yes, new friendsis the answer, family and himself that, underneath his unusual appearance, he is just but the same as everybody else?fact a mysterious man knows exactly which items come from these different Somewheres only raises more questions…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0370332288</amazonuk>1839943769
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alex T SmithNatasha Farrant|title=Claude at the CircusThe Rescue of Ravenwood
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=ItThis story is another excellent adventure from the author of 's no secret that I am a big fan 'Voyage of Alex T Smiththe Sparrowhawk''. I first discovered him in Claude's first storyRavenwood is an old house, [[Claude in the City by Alex T Smith|Claude in the City]] North of England, where Bea and fell in love Raffy have been living for most of their lives. They are part of a complex, extended family arrangement, as Bea is there with the little dog in the red beret her Uncle Leo, and Raffy is there with his best friendmum, Sir Bobblysockand they are living together as a family. I knowThey have grown up swimming in the cove, roaming through the trees, I can already sense some completely at one with all of you rolling your eyes at the thought nature around the house and loving every inch of the place. But now the house is under threat, as Leo is under pressure from his other two brothers to sell the property to a story featuring a dog developer as it's becoming more and a sockmore expensive to maintain. The children find themselves worrying not only about where they're going to live, but really youif they'd ll even be doing yourself a favour to just stop being a grown up for fifteen minutes together, and let yourself revel in the pleasure of a highly enjoyable story!if Ravenwood itself will be torn down.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0340999039</amazonuk>0571348785
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ellie DainesRobin Birch and Jobe Anderson|title=Lolly LuckSecret Beast Club: The Unicorns of Silver Street
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Lolly really Jayden's nose is called 'Luck'forever in a book, which means he knows a lot about mythological creatures – the phoenixes and unicorns of the world, for example. Her first name Aisha is Lollyanna but everyone who knows addicted to her calls her Lolly ornew tablet, just occasionally, Lollipopwhere she can see videos of anything that might be out there. And she really The problem, as their mothers see it, is luckythat they are never 'out there' themselves, winning magazine competitionsexploring the outside world of Hackney, raffles and scratch card prizes - but all this changes on her eleventh birthday London. But when she goes home from school expecting that the family is going to have a great evening at narrowboat turns up carrying a local restaurant science-minded, educational purpose, and hat shewith a past involving Jayden'll be given s cousin, they find a magical world they never knew existed. For many of those mythological creatures are real, including the bike one Aisha thinks she's been dreaming aboutseen on a bit of local footage. She gets The crew of the bikeboat, including a living gargoyle, but her dad has bad news. He's been made redundant. At first it's not too bad but then are tasked with saving the reality of long-term unemployment kicks in rare critters – and the family lose their homekids unknowingly have the magical sight needed to join in. Then Lolly overhears an argument between Dare they side with Leila, the woman on board, and her parents relative who lives as a figure in a painting, and discovers something which will change her life.become saviours of the unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1849393966</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.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Melody JamesNigel Baines|title=Signs A Tricky Kind of Love: Love MatchMagic
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Emerging Readers|summary=Gemma Stone’s ambition in life is Cooper loves to be a famous journalist – so when perform magic tricks. His father was a school webzine is startedmagician, she jumps at and named Cooper after the chance to take partgreat Tommy Cooper. She quickly finds out But sadly Cooper's father died suddenly, though, that things aren’t as glamorous in the media as she’d imaginedand now Cooper doesn't quite know who to be, especially when she’s the youngest person involved and gets stuck with the job of writing horoscopes. Then a fluke prediction or two make her new column a must read, and she realises there’s the potential how to set up her firend Treacle with the boy she’s been watching from afar… will the path of true love be lit up by the stars?. And when his dad's prop rabbit starts talking to him, he ''really'' doesn't know what's going on anymore!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857073222</amazonuk>1444960261
}}