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Newest Confident Readers Reviews (view source)
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[[Category:Confident Readers|*]]
[[Category:New Reviews|Confident Readers]] __NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=W Awdry1836285493|title=Thomas the Tank Engine 70th Anniversary SlipcaseThe Double Life of a Wheelchair User|author=Rob Keeley
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Thomas, if you don't knowWill is a keen player of video games, is a little Tank Engineconscientious student, who is very quick to build up a head of steam slightly annoying brother and move his coaches and trucks around the train yards and networks he works ona supportive friend. That does mean that he has to be shown up by the largerBut most of all, slower engines when he continually blows is an aspiring writer. English is his whistle to disturb their restfavourite lesson at his school, Marlowe Park, and can even forget to bring any carriages with him when he's pulling a train, but one at which he does mean wellexcels. HeThis hasn's a warmt gone unnoticed by his headteacher, feisty little characterMrs Howarth, and was probably always bound she has suggested to become Will and his mum that he spends a bit couple of afternoons a week at a favourite with warmdifferent school, feisty young readersStation Road, especially those brought up with an eye to the romance of the railways. But he wasn't the first we met in the series that in public shorthand at least bears where his nameability might be better extended.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405277270</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Cathy Hopkins1836282028|title=Mum Never Did Learn to KnockThe Fighting Spirit|author=Rob Keeley
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary= Everybody knows if ''Would you have a special gift like seeing through walls or the ability to speak giraffe you have adopt a ghost?'' ''Young spirit, born 1887, seeks kind home to keep it secrethaunt. Gentleman by birth. Good company. Gets on well with other children. Jokes and shocks a speciality. '' ''If you don'tinterested, place outside your home three twigs, men in dark suits and wrap-around shades take you away the shape of an arrow, pointing to experiment on youyour front door... (And if it'' Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is celebrating a decade of his wonderfully entertaining [[Rob Keeley's ''Spirits'' series in Chronological Order|Spirits]] series with a new adventure that is both a reboot and a continuation. Just like Doctor Who, Edward Fitzberranger, our incorrigible Victorian ghost boy, has some new companions. Ruby and Jayden respond to this intriguing advertisement and Edward, who has broken the wall thingrules as usual and absconded from his manor house home, girls will assume you're spying on is adopted by them when they get changed for PE and beat you takes upresidence in.) |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407148753</amazonuk>... a wardrobe!
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Eric ColossalRob Keeley|title=Rutabaga the Adventure ChefChildish Spirits: Book 110th anniversary special edition
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Meet the latest adventurer to scour the landAround here, we're big fans of children's author Rob Keeley. He has 's a talent ball of happy positivity, he understands children, and he writes for finding the obscure their pleasure and seeking out the rareenjoyment, and surviving all the undignified fates the world has in storenot to lecture or hector. The ''Childish Spirits'' series is one of his greatest achievements. He even has It's a magical companion. He will be open to any challenge set upon himsequence of ghost stories centring on Ellie, from locating dragon-smiting swords to besting a stalwart young girl who can cope with anything the largest, most locally loved, rival. He is Rutabagaspirit world throws at her, and he is, of courseEdward, a chef.spoiled lordling and the first spirit Ellie encounters|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1419715976</amazonuk>1783064617
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Tom McLaughlin Max Boucherat|title=The Accidental Prime Minister Last Life of Lori Mills|rating=34.5|genre=Confident Readers |summary=What would happen if a shyWe meet Lori on the first evening she's got the house to herself – no neighbour to pop in, babysitter poorly, slightly clumsymother at work, 12 just an avidly rule-breaking eleven year old boy accidently found himself , on her lonesome. What could possibly go wrong? Snuggled in the top joba blanket fort, she has one main intention, living in Number Ten and making decisions for the country as Prime Minister? This that is to log on to Voxminer, the premise behind Tom McLaughlin’s debut middle grade novel and the answer world-building, critter-collecting game that is simple – there’d be national ‘Fancy Dress Friday’ every week (a hit in Lori's world. But first Lori has a tiny inkling that this stormy night doesn't find herself entirely on a Thursday)her own, high fives would and then she finds something even more spooky. For the server she and her bestie and nobody else should be used instead able to enter shows signs of handshakes, jelly would be available tampering. When malevolent eyes spark up on the NHSher phone screen, and one day every month her safe place in the pupils would get game has been doctored – well, where is a girl to be the teachers. turn?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192737740</amazonuk>0008666482
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Derek Keilty Kieran Larwood and Jonny DuddleJoe Todd-Stanton|title= Will Gallows and the Wolfer's Deadly MagicDungeon Runners: Hero Trial
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Will Gallows Meet Kit. Like most of the people in his world, it seems, he is just an avid fan of Dungeon Running – the sport where a week away from being a fullyteam of warrior, mage and healer enter specially prepared, century-fledged member of old, magical mazes, and race to the exit, perhaps bothering with the treasure or the Sky Cavalry – big bad and his talking, winged horse is even more keen on hitting the passing out ceremony on points they grant you along the noseway. But things arenUnfortunately for Kit, the only thing he't all going to go their way – Mid-Rock City s seen of the latest race on the inn TV equivalent is that one team has received a blackmail notebeen retired, eaten, extorting the town out of and a lot new trio of gold questors is needed. Possibly very unfortunately indeed for threat of a 'death mace'Kit, of which nobody he has ever heard. Certain factors all point taken to Will being the best cadet to take part in nixing the handover to goading from the criminal, not least token bully of which is his half-hidden secret magic skill due to being part-elf – but as soon world and stumbled into declaring he'll enter as it's realised who the baddy is, things immediately step up a gearteam. And if What chance does this friendless, muscle-free-zone have in actually managing that isn't bad enough, Will's grandma and great-uncle have just turned up for a pleasant trip based around his graduation…how could he possibly hope to succeed?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1783440597</amazonuk>1839945184
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kate PankhurstJames Sherwood Metts|title= Mariella Mystery Investigates: A Kitty Calamity Planet Storyland|rating=4|genre= Confident Readers |summary= When Mariella Mystery (amazing girl detective, aged nine and a bit) and the other Mystery Girls – Violet and Poppy – start to investigate the disappearance of their neighbour’s cat they think it’s going to be an easy case. Aren’t missing cats usually just stuck up a tree or off visiting a house where there’s tastier food? But the girls’ views begin to change when more and more cats start to disappear. Soon everyone in Puddleford is worried. The situation is suddenly serious and it’s up to the Mystery Girls to put an end to the catnapping. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444012320</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=R D Shanks|title=Merlin and Guinevere: A Happenstance Meeting: Volume 1|rating=45
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Merlin is both ordinary and special. He is living Things have been a quiet, ordinary life with his father in his quiet, ordinary villagebit sticky for the Earthlings. Murrow is a fisherman and he AI and his son automation have a great relationshipbeen proceeding apace, supportive often replacing jobs they're paid to do and loving. So far, so ordinary, right? But Merlin isn't like the other boystasks that took time to accomplish. While Just as they are raucous were beginning to get used to all this technological change and socialstarting to think of other, Merlin is quiet and contemplative. His best friend isn't another boy; it's Happenstancenew ways to spend time, his catalong came an awful pandemic. Murrow Life was pretty much shut down and Merlin might not realise , along with it but , all the reader will - there's something special about Merlinmany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1505689740</amazonuk>1736128426
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=BarrouxTom Percival|title=Where's the Elephant?The Wrong Shoes
|rating=5
|genre=For SharingConfident Readers|summary=We've all had great fun with books such as ''WhereWill's Wallylife is difficult, in a multitude of ways. He is bullied because he has 'the wrong shoes', havenhe has the wrong shoes because his dad can't we? They appeal to children work and adults doesn't have enough money for even the most basic of things like food, and everyone who has seen his dad can''Where's t work because he lost his job at the Elephant?'' has jumped in with great enthusiasmcollege, keen to show just how observant they are. We start off with was working a forest cash- actually it's the Amazon Rainforest in- full of glorious colours hand job on a building site and our three friends, who are hiding in therehad an accident. Elephant is probably Throw into that mix the easiest to spotfact that his mum and dad are separated, but Snake and Parrot are Will's life seems bleak in there too and with every direction. And yet, he still has a little concentration you'll find themtiny amount of hope. When you turn He is good at art, and clings to the page you'll scan moments of joy when he is drawing, that feel like a light at the trees again and discover their hiding places. You even wonder if it might get end of a little ''boring'' if it goes on like thislong, dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405271388</amazonuk>1398527122
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sarah Forbes1805141872|title=Elspeth Hart and the School for Show-offsThe Teacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Rob Keeley|rating=34.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Imagine''Seventeen banks and a jeweller’s have been raided. The police are baffled, dear readerbut only Ben knows the truth – his Maths teacher, Miss Judson, is really a poor girl who safecracker! With police and her gangster boyfriend Al on their trail, Miss Judson and Ben go on the run. But Al needs them for one last job...'' Goodness me, that Miss Judson is never allowed a terror! How on earth did a nice teacher like her manage to play outside get mixed up with a bad 'un like the other childrenAl? We'll find out. InsteadLuckily for Miss Judson, she has to spend the pupil who discovers her day performing horrid chores, like sweeping up mouse-droppings in the creepyterrible secret is Ben, dark cellar and shooing away the cockroaches in the kitchen. So begins son of a long list of woes for shy Elspeth Hart, famous magician who toils tirelessly during the has ambitions to be as good as his father some day , and spends her nights sleeping in a dusty, cramped wardrobe.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847155952</amazonuk>who thinks Miss Judson is worth saving
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sophie CleverlyChristopher Edge|title=Scarlet and Ivy The Lost TwinBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=IvyLucas and his friends are all booked in for a movie marathon at their local cinema, a place that has the nickname of 'The Black Hole'. All big movie fans, they's twin sister Scarlet had been re looking forward to lots of exciting films, and many, many snacks! However, as the strong willedmovie starts, fearless they very quickly realise that something about this new film format is very different, and they are swept up into an adventure they couldn't even imagine. But as they lurch from one whilst Ivyfilm genre to the next, can they figure out what on earth is going on ? Will they ever get back to the other handcinema, was timid and shyto their real lives?|isbn=1839942738}}{{Frontpage|author=Adam Stower|title=Murray 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. Following Scarlet But he's sudden death Ivy is forced to take her twina bad magician's place at 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 sinister Rockwood Boarding School for girls regular back garden, but into a world of frightening adventure and once there she finds herself thrust whiffs. This time round it drops them into a mystery she struggles to solve. Her only hope Viking land, where a troll hunter is to behave as Scarlet would have doneexpected – well, so with the help of her new friendone much bigger than Murray was, Ariadneto be honest, Ivy attempts to conquer her fears and stand but he's turned up to the wicked Miss Fox and discover what really happened he'll have to her sister.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007589182</amazonuk>0008561249
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sam WatkinsAlex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=Creature TeacherThe Glorious Race of Magical Beasts
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Jake’s nervous about starting Eli is a busy lad – by day an apprentice in the wondrous library we start by visiting with him, and in the evening a helper at the dessert cafe his new schoolgran owns and runs. His class teacher, Mr Hyde Eli lives with his lovely gran, too – for there is new too buta generation missing in the family. A few short years ago, unlike JakeEli's parents were both lost to the titular race, he has a reason globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to be worriednavigate the world in the company of a magical beast. Although class 5b quickly decide that Mr Hyde is This has made the race anathema to the best teacher they’ve ever had, they also discover a problem pair – whenever he experiences but when a strong emotion Mr Hyde starts bad incident at the eatery leads to glow and transforms into a naughtyconfession from gran, farting, biscuit-loving creature. Suddenly their teacher Eli knows his only hope is wrecking the classroom and they need to work together dare to find a way enter what he most hates, with the sole aim the prize of magic at the end – the only thing to turn the creature back into their teacher before their evil headmistress finds outpossibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192742655</amazonuk>0571382231
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kris HumphreyHelen Cooper|title=A Whisper The Taming of Wolvesthe Cat|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Alice is Once again, mice are pitched against cat. In this case, principally, we have Brie the mouse, up against Gorgonzola the cat – and in case you're seeing a Whispererconnection, able they live in a cheese shop and therefore all the names used here seem to communicate be the names of cheeses. 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 her animal companion. They nibble up paper wrapping from the cheese for bedding – he displays it as art and makes stories based on the visuals on it. And that story-telling will come in handy one night, Storm the wolfwhen he feels all alone and cast out. It's a gift that inspires awe and fear 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 villagers she serves. A Whisperer is a guardian of the wildsmouse community, protector of naturethough, and as all the others had the only ones able chance to fight back against half-inch some cheese while the demonic Narlawcat was distracted. But will the story have the successful sequel it needs when that cheese runs out?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847155960</amazonuk>0571376010
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Simon NicholsonLauren St John|title=Young Houdini: The Magician's FireFinding Wonder
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary= As it happensRoo's life has become almost impossibly difficult. Her mum died when she was young, several facts about and now she finds herself awoken in the childhood middle of the man who became world famous for night by the police banging on her door to tell her that her dad has dropped dead on his daring stunts and death-defying shows have been recordedway to the corner shop to buy a lottery ticket. But fiction is the world of When asked what-ifother family she has, where anything she can be imaginedonly name her aunt, Joni, anything can happenwho she knows her dad didn't think very highly of. So what if all those 'facts' were actually a cover But she has no one else, made up and so off she goes to live with her unreliable aunt. Things continue to conceal Houdini's earliest exploits? What ifget worse for Roo, as a boy, he ended up far away from his family and his native Hungary when she and all alone Joni leave London in New YorkJoni's old campervan, having to earn a few meagre pennies each day by shining shoes? And what if his fascination with theatre life led him it breaks down in the middle of nowhere and then bursts into dangers even greater than anything he was able to create in his later stage act?flames! Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192734741</amazonuk>0571376169
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=M G HarrisAdam Baron and Benji Davies|title=Gerry AndersonOscar's Gemini Force One, Black HorizonLion|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Life We start incredibly bluntly, with Oscar hoping to have his mother – or father, but mother is changing more likely – read him his very fast favourite book a couple of times before he has to be ready for Ben Carringtonschool. He is at the opening of a huge skyscraper hotel his late father founded in Abu Dhabi But when disaster strikes – the chap is hardly cold in he enters his grave when Benparents's mum bedroom, all he sees is a mahoosive male lion on their bed, looking sheepish, and the lad have to prove how adept they are at her old job, of mountain rescueadmitting that he won't be hungry for another two days. She feels like setting up But there are benefits to having a new rescue agency with her nous and the family fortunes, but someone who lion around – it can just amble into be shown as an unspoken threat to the opening/memorial ceremony is Jason Truby, bully that ruined a monumentally rich Internet magnate, who actually has a modern-day ''Thunderbirds'' entity already, birthday party for Oscar the top secret Gemini Forceother month. Truby starts And it can shapeshift, so he can take it to school and it can get close him out of a problem. And it's wonderful to have around the family of twohouse – not limiting his biscuit intake, but being much more lax about the school-aged Ben isnrules, and so on. OK, it can't going to be allowed to learn just what dramatic escapades the agency has to cover – is he?work a dimmer switch but it can give Oscar a wonderful time.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444014064</amazonuk>0008596751
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Geoff RodkeyJudith Eagle|title=The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other)Stolen Songbird
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=There are two kinds of children in this Caro's mother, a world-famous whistler, those who are repulsed by farts, has failed to return home from her recent work trip abroad and those who delight in letting them rip, or regale their friends for their efforts – or wilfully accuse the innocent of dropping oneis now missing. You can argue til the cows come home as Her other mother, Ronnie, is having to go up North to what the ratio take care of those two camps her sister who is – which unwell. So who is pretty much what Claudia and Reesegoing to look after Caro? Sent to stay with Gam, two 12-year old siblings in New York Citysomeone Caro has heard her mother despises, do – argueshe feels frustrated and confused and worried. This time the problem is that Reese loudly announced his sister All her summer holiday plans of building herself some equipment to practise her gymnastics are brought to have a windy arse right halt whilst she is stuck inside this staid old Victorian lady's house, along with an orphan boy, Albie, who is living there too. But she soon finds herself caught up in the middle a mystery, as she discovers a painting of the school canteena bird hidden away inside her mum's old suitcase, which led her to retaliate with and all across London a means fearsome gang called the Snakes are thieving artworks and terrorising people. Is the painting somehow linked to make him embarrassingly smelly, which led him the gang? And what has happened to – well, letCaro's just say that when Claudia defines mother? Is she somehow involved in the result as war, she's not far off.mystery too?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444014978</amazonuk>0571363148
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jennifer Gray and Hannah GeorgeTania Unsworth|title=Chicken Mission: The Curse of Fogsham FarmNowhere Island
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Life is hard for a chickenMeet Gil. Threat comes from anywhere you look Just twelve, he is so determined to escape the care system – which is where the Elite Chicken Squad comes system that constantly puts him infutureless places that are not homes – and find a home for himself. [[Chicken Mission: Danger in the Deep Dark Woods by Jennifer Gray|Last time]] they had a nasty fox and his friends He is en route to counteryet another fosterer, when he jumps into an anonymous car, but this time they've got and lets it worseride him to his future. A local legend speaks That future seems to be in jeopardy when someone steals his one bag of belongings – but that someone lives with his brother in a vampire mink, concerned only with draining all fowl camp on an island between the two directions of their blooda motorway, a place inaccessible and all indications suggest the legend is actually a lot more real definitely ignored enough to provide for their safety and worryingseclusion. Even the barman – sorryThem, bar-chickenand a mute girl also finding a home there, Ichabod Comb, has vanished after an attack on his juice baralbeit so much more successfully. What's moreOver a few weeks we see if their oddball destinies can combine, or if this is one place where life as we would want it seems the mink's victim becomes a zombie soldier, fighting for her cause. Can the three plucky stalwarts of the Squad – Amy, Boo and Ruth – prove themselves a match for such evil?just would not work…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>057129829X</amazonuk>1804540080
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Elen CaldecottHelen Peters|title=Diamonds Friends and Daggers - The Marsh Street MysteriesTraitors|rating=4.53
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Group of pre-teens get together England, WW2. Two young girls are new at the country pile called Stanbrook. One is Nancy, destined to solve be in service all her life it seems, like the female generations before her. The other is Sidney, a girl from a mystery? Been hoity-toity Sussex boarding school that has been removed thereaway from bomber flight-paths. The girls are chalk and cheese, done and if we hadn't guessed thatthen their behaviour with each other over their first encounters would only prove it so. But donsomething is amiss, and first separately and then in combination they realise the Lord Evesham must be a rum 't be fooledun. This book stands out from the crowd Midnight deliveries are received under cover of secrecy, talk is made of meetings with Germans, even though it has to be said and not only that many of those detective stories are really very good, for a local Spitfire factory has been attacked. But surely the way it incorporates utterly contemporary issues like economic migrationgirls are wrong, celebrity and prejudice, while remaining both funny and thrilling.the upper class could never be so underhand?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408847523</amazonuk>1788004647
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Aby King and Sam UsherJamie Littler|title=Lupo and the Secret of Windsor CastleArkspire
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Based on the Duke Two sisters, Juniper and Duchess of Cambridge's real dogElodie, born fifteen minutes apart, this are growing to be chalk and cheese. Juniper is Lupo's storyan eager hunter and trader in illicit magic, and although it uses including relics from prior major wars left out in the real Royals it Badlands. Elodie isintent on getting closer to power in one of the religious districts of Arkspire, perhaps even to become the child in line to inherit the power of coursethe Watcher, the closest to a fictional story as you soon realise with ruler the talking mice from MI5 district has, and one of the evil villain five major victors in said earlier war. Being trained in the form of one magic that only five people can use would definitely change the status of the Queen's Dorgi's (a cross between a corgi and a Dachshund)whole family. If you're looking But in finding something oddly magical, Juniper might just be able to gain some power of her own – for a fantasy animal adventuregood, with plenty of actionor for very, then look no further.very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444921444</amazonuk>0241586143
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Linda Chapman and Kate Hindley024162343X|title=Best Friends' Bakery: Cupcakes and ContestsStolen History|author=Sathnam Sanghera|rating=45|genre=Confident ReadersChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=HannahI 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's favourite TV show is Junior Brilliant Baker. Where was the proof? In history lessons, and when she hears that they are auditioning for new contestants for it was probably worse still. Not too long after the show she simply canend of WWII, I didn't wait so much want to apply. She rushes to tell her best friend, Mia, learn about the competition as sheBritish army's also a fansuccesses (and occasional failures, but then we didn't dwell on those) in what will happen if only one of them gets on came to be called 'the show? And colonies' as want to dispute what would they bake for right the auditions? army had to be there in the first place. And would Looking back, I still believe I was right - but I regret that I lacked the show live up maturity to everything theyapproach 'the problem' politely. I wish I'd had Sathnam Sanghera's 've imagined?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444011928</amazonuk>'Stolen History''.
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Frank Cottrell BoyceThiago de Moraes|title=The Astounding Broccoli BoyOld Gods New Tricks
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Rory Rooney is a boy who likes to be preparedMeet Trixie. His mum owns a book titled ''Don't Be Scared Forever getting into scrapes, Be Prepared'' larks and he knows every page of it. Rory is adventures involving flooding the type school aircon with fart powder, she could almost be thought a young goddess of boy who knows how to survive a hippo attacknuisance. Then But just when she's being told that by her one day on a school trip Rory turns green-last-chance-giving headteacher, the world changes. Not pale Suddenly, feeling practically everything electronic stops working – a bit queasy green power-out, even of electric cars, hits not just the town the school's in but bright broccoli green the entire planet (apart from mobile phones, and all overthat powers the Internet, just for our convenience's sake). Even Rory isn't prepared for this Trixie, luckily, realises what has happened – the ancient Gods have taken the power of power from us. And so she begins her epic quest, to gather all the people that can steal it back – namely the characters from myth that have past form in stealing from the Gods, ie the semi-deities, giants, half-gods and so on known as the tricksters.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405054670</amazonuk>178845295X
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Meg CabotHannah Gold and Levi Pinfold|title=Notebooks of a Middle-School PrincessFinding Bear|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=[[The author of Last Bear by Hannah Gold|Last time]], April had been on Bear Island, a lot further north than many people would venture, and finding a ridiculously unexpected but delightful friendship with a polar bear – that she called Bear. Back home, things on the hugely successful ''Princess Diaries'' has written domestic and family front are a brand-new series bit advanced, but not perfect for younger girlsher, telling and so can easily be ignored when word comes through from the story of awkward middleislands Bear was last left on. For a bear doing very Bear-school student Olivia Gracey things has been shot and wounded. She discovers that Desperate to make sure he's OK, she and her father is actually the Prince of Genovia, making her...a princess! Not everyone responds well return to the news, however, Arctic and poor Olivia is soon thrown into hope that in a world of jealous bulliesvery white and very dangerous things, intrusive paparazzi, disgruntled relatives she can find one specific white and dangerous thing – and a whole new family she never knew existedthat the friendship can continue.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1447280652</amazonuk>0008582017
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Heidi SchulzSimon Fox|title=Hook's DaughterDeadlock|rating=34.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Captain Hook's daughterLate one night Graham Blake is late back from his shift on the force, Jocelynand then suddenly rings Archie, dreams of being demanding he fetch something from a pirate like her infamous fathersecret place, and join him on the run. They get together, but instead gets sent to finishing school. Sailing barely begin to Neverland after escaping, she swears revenge on smell the crocodile that killed whiff of Southern trains when the notorious piratefather is arrested, but is saddled with a crew who perhaps aren't the most bloodthirsty pirates leaving Archie on the seven seaslate express to Brighton, then meets up with several characters who'll be familiar toting a tin his father was determined to readers keep away from his colleagues, and the bearer of a whole heap of ''Peter Pan''questions. Can she fulfil her quest?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1910002216</amazonuk>1839944420
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo Cath Howe|title=Asterix Omnibus 9 My Life on Fire|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=If I had to pinpoint when my obsession with reading startedRen'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, I would say it was when I discovered the adventures or any of Asterix her special little knick-knacks from her cupboard, and his rotund pal Obelixnow 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. I would walk down When she goes back to my local village Library after school and pick up 8 adventuresshe discovers that the class are doing a special art project, creating boxes of their lives, only to read display things that are important to them overnight and set off the next day for moreshow who they are as a person. The fun visualsBut Ren has nothing to put in a box, bright colours and daft characters really appealed so she finds herself starting to me then, but what about the children of today? steal things. Is there enough in theSmall things, up tothings that people might not really miss, 60 year old adventures not when they have so much already. But what will happen to appealher if someone finds out what she is doing?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444009664</amazonuk>1839942835
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ulf Nilsson and Gitte SpeeRob Keeley|title=Detective Gordon: The First CaseBoy Who Disappeared and Other Stories
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Vladimir Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is not happy. Someone has been at his nuts. Yes, out of his stores of several thousand nuts, Vladimir the squirrel has been robbed of back with a couple hundred, and if the truth be known he's not the first in return to the forest. But at least he's gone for the help of Detective Gordonshort story format! The Boy Who Disappeared treats us to eleven new tales, the police authority throughout the woodland. Tasked with making sure it was a crime of note, and of solving it if necessary, Gordon has got serious, and staked out Vladimir's pantry until he's frozen solideach as fun to read as his previous offerings. Which is not good when you're a toad. But even with his many years of experience behind him, Gordon could never predict what happens after he sees someone steal a further nut from the stash…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1927271509</amazonuk>B0BVW69N1G
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Eve Furnari and Alison Entrekin (translator)Laura Noakes|title=Fuzz McFlopsCosima Unfortunate Steals a Star|rating=3.54
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Meet Fuzz McFlopsNumber One. He's Or rather, Cosima Unfortunate. Or rather, just Cos to her friends. The practice in the most famous, reclusive rabbit author there home she lives in is – reclusive due for the girls to just be named by the number they correspond to one ear being much shorter than in the other. He's been miserable for that reason so longledger, it takes one of his fans to point out how much brighter his poems and stories could be they're all Unfortunates – young people with an injection of warmth and fundisabilities, uncommon mentalities or suchlike that Victorian society frowns greatly upon. But just Cosima bears the tag as a surname because nothing else seems to be known about where she came from, as some people are 'happy being sad'the first ever inmate, so Fuzz's life and temperament will be forced unique in having no known family in the outside world. During a daring escapade to change with steal some posh cakes from the arrival of heartkitchen one afternoon, humour and loveshe discovers a plan involving said outside world – a devilish Lord Fitzroy seems to want to adopt all the girls for his Institute. But first he would have why, and what does that body entail? And could it possibly bring Cos closer to welcome that arrival…the past she has so little link with?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1782690751</amazonuk>0008579059
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Berlie DohertyAlice M Ross|title=Far From HomeThe Nowhere Thief
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Lizzie and Emily Jarvis can no longer be At last there is new stock in the care of their impoverished yet over-full antiques shop Elsbeth and her mother as run in a seaside town. Elsbeth knows this because she has become severely illstolen it. She leaves them in also knows she should be free from worries about being found out, because she has the care ability to leave this world, and use an unworldly portal of her best friendkaleidoscope colours to enter other worlds, a cook, but when things go wrong, the girls are sent to where the Victorian mills where they are worked each day till they sea levels are beyond exhausted rising dramatically and the only thing that keeps them going is counting down the days till they buildings are able to leave.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007578822</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Sally Nicholls|title=An Island generally empty of Our Own|rating=3.5|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Meet Holly. She lives, with her older brother humans and, er, shall we say demanding younger brother, in a flat above a London chippyripe for plunder. That's right – no parents aroundWith eviction imminent, as all three are orphans. Older brother Jonathan sacrificed uni can Elsbeth nab anything to be their legal guardian, so is ostensibly their carer as well as sibling, which means that welfare and what he earns being a grease monkey in a corner café is all they live on. actually generate custom at the shop? TimesWell yes, therefore, are hard. But twelve year old Holly does have a straw to clutch on to – their eccentric aunt may have bequeathed them her antique jewellery collection. But what is going to make that a search for one exact straw in a haystack is that nobody knows where it may be…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1407124331</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Lincoln Peirce|title=Big Nate: Laugh-O-Rama (Big Nate Activity Book 4)|rating=4.5|genre=Children's Non-Fiction|summary=This seems to be a firmly established publishing practise now – the enhanced readership experience offered to fans of a franchise by a tie-in activity book. This is yet another example – looking like a genuine entry in an on-going series, it instead offers the fan of the characters the chance to interact with them in new waysanswer, as well as looking back through but the shelves of their collection, and inwardly as well, at their own thoughts and tastes. Note I say it's for fact a fan – this example will alienate anyone else mysterious man knows exactly which items come from the first page – but for the right audience it’s generally a good thing. And in this instance it's a very, very good thing indeed.these different Somewheres only raises more questions…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007569076</amazonuk>1839943769
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ronald WelchNatasha Farrant|title=The GauntletRescue of Ravenwood
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=This story is another excellent adventure from the author of ''The GauntletVoyage of the Sparrowhawk'' was . Ravenwood is an old house, in the North of England, where Bea and Raffy have been living for most of their lives. 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 family. They have grown up swimming in the cove, roaming through the trees, completely at one with all of the iconic books nature around the house and loving every inch of my childhoodthe place. Why iconic? It But now the house is under threat, as Leo is under pressure from his other two brothers to sell the property to a developer as it's an over-used wordbecoming more and more expensive to maintain. Why The children find themselves worrying not say 'most memorableonly about where they're going to live, but if they'outstanding'll even be together, 'most magical and exciting', -- or simply 'best'? Any of those would do but I think I'll allow myself iconic. The gauntlet of the title justifies that wordif Ravenwood itself will be torn down.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192738593</amazonuk>0571348785
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lance Rubin|title=Denton Little's Deathdate|rating=4.5|genre=Teens|summary=''Tomorrow is the day I'm going to die. I don't mean to get all dramatic about it. I've known that tomorrow is the day I will die since I was born.. Just like almost everyone else in the world knows their deathdate. But do I need to get movie-preview-voice-over-guy intense about it? Probably not.'' Oh! I think I would want to get intense about impending death. Don't you think you would, too? But imagine what it's like to live in a world where everyone knows the day they will die. Rituals Robin Birch and conventions spring up. You get to go to your own funeral. You could even get to make the most of your life if you know when it ends. You won't pass up so many opportunities, perhaps?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1471124231</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Elizabeth WeinJobe Anderson|title=Black Dove, White Raven|rating=5|genre=Teens|summary=Secret Beast Club: The essential role of aviators in the success or failure of modern war is a given, and fiction is full of the derring-do and dog-fight exploits of moustachioed heroes waving their trade-mark silk scarves as they land their frail and battered craft at a friendly airstrip. But what if the enemy planes outnumber those of your country by hundreds, if not thousands, and you, the pilot, are barely out Unicorns of your childhood?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405271361</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Chris Priestley and Vladimir Stankovic |title=The Wickford DoomSilver Street|rating=54
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Following Harry’s father’s death Jayden's nose is forever in the wara book, which means he knows a lot about mythological creatures – the phoenixes and his mother learn 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’ve inherited they are never 'out there' themselves, exploring the outside world of Hackney, London. But when a bequest from narrowboat turns up carrying a relative. When they arrive to claim itscience-minded, educational purpose, thoughand with a past involving Jayden's cousin, they find that they’ve been the victims of a dying man’s last cruel prankmagical world they never knew existed. But there For many of those mythological creatures are real, including the one Aisha thinks she's seen on a bit of local tales footage. The crew of missing children the boat, including a living gargoyle, are tasked with saving the rare critters – and the kids unknowingly have the magical sight needed to join in. Dare they side with Leila, the woman on board, and her relative who lives as a figure in a strange painting called the Doom, and Harry quickly learns that there may be something far more evil than a nasty joke to worry about. Can he fight back against itbecome saviours of the unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1781124094</amazonuk>0241573483
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jeanne WillisB09XWSXSKY|title=Supercat vs Maestro Orpheus and the Pesky Pirate (Supercat, Book 3)World Clock|author=Robert Penee and Joanne Grodzinski
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=We all know the storyFrederick (or Fred, but never Freddy, you’re a cat and you wake up one dayplease) couldn't sleep. A tune, lick rather like the ticking of a toxic sock clock was playing over and end up as a crime fighting cat, right? Well SuperCat is back over in this rip roaring (or should that be meowing?) adventure, SuperCat vs The Pesky Piratehis mind.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007518676</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Lauren St John|title=The Glory|rating=4 It happened every time he came to visit his grandfather.5|genre=Teens|summary=Alex is what you might call a disruptive teenager. She He hadn't really wanted to come; after all, he's always getting into trouble but the latest trouble is the worst yet ten now and her mum and step-dad have had enough. Even her father, far away in Australia with his new family, thinks something must be done. So Alex is sent all the way out those old clocks don't appeal to the States to a teenage boot camphim anymore. But even naughty teenagers have their plus points, and Alex ''s Who needs old clocks anyway? All they do is her love of horsestell the time. She And time isn'll do t good for anything to save the mustang scout from the slaughterhouse.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444012754</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Dan Gemeinhart|title=The Honest Truth|rating=4.5.''|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Mark has been battling cancer for more than half his lifeAnd that was why he was looking at the clock beside the bed. For It was nearly twelve o'clock but at midnight the last seven years he has missed school, been through treatments, and come close to death time and againclock chimed only six times. With the call that once again the cancer is back, he just can't face going through There was nothing for it again and so he takes his dog Beau and they run away but to go and climb a mountain, with find grandad - but where was he? And why had all the intention that he will never return.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1910002135</amazonuk>clocks stopped at twelve o'clock?
}}
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