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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=Esme Kerr1836285493|title=Mischief at MidnightThe Double Life of a Wheelchair User|author=Rob Keeley|rating=35
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary= At the Will is a keen player of video games, a conscientious student, a slightly strange school annoying brother and a supportive friend. But most of Knight's Haddonall, there's always something intriguing going onhe is an aspiring writer. New girl JanetEnglish is his favourite lesson at his school, Marlowe Park, cool and confident even when arguing with the teacherone at which he excels. This hasn'st gone unnoticed by his headteacher, is the big surprise for Edie this termMrs Howarth, and they become friends - but Anastasia feels forced out by the newer student's presenceshe has suggested to Will and his mum that he spends a couple of afternoons a week at a different school, Station Road, where his ability might be better extended. Then some things happen which make Edie start to wonder if Janet is hiding something - can she solve another mystery?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>190948900X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gareth P Jones1836282028|title=Attack of the Giant Sea Spiders (Adventures of the Steampunk Pirates)The Fighting Spirit|author=Rob Keeley
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=It's 'Would you like to adopt a three-way battle in the Slurring Mariner pub. On the one handghost?'' ''Young spirit, four Steampunk Pirates – a fine mix of viciousborn 1887, nefarious seeks kind home to haunt. Gentleman by birth. Good company. Gets on well with other children. Jokes and metallic mariners who would make any passing human gulp (which is more than you could ever say of the beer)shocks a speciality. On another'' ''If interested, place outside your home three twigs, in the Dread Captain Inkybeardshape of an arrow, who pointing to your front door...'' Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is married to celebrating a squid who lives on decade of his head wonderfully entertaining [[Rob Keeley's ''Spirits'' series in Chronological Order|Spirits]] series with a new adventure that is both a reboot and keeps his facial hair darka continuation. On the thirdJust like Doctor Who, Edward Fitzberranger, a ridiculously richour incorrigible Victorian ghost boy, ridiculously French has some new companions. Ruby and ridiculously successful recruiter – but Jayden respond to just what is he taking so many seamen? Whatever it isthis intriguing advertisement and Edward, it's enough to get who has broken the Pirates rules as usual and absconded from his manor house home, is adopted by them and Inkybeard working together (ish) to solve the problem – but someone else might just be controlling the whole farrago…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847155995</amazonuk>takes up residence in.... a wardrobe!
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Liz PichonRob Keeley|title=Yes! No (Maybe...) (Tom Gates)Childish Spirits: 10th anniversary special edition|rating=3.54
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary= Work. ItAround here, we's not something Tom Gates has been guilty re big fans of much before now – unless itchildren's to work out how and where to hide his favourite caramel wafers, or how to deflect the evil grin of his slightly goth older sisterauthor Rob Keeley. But itHe's on the cards this time round – not only does his mother have the inspired idea a ball of clearing the house out happy positivity, he understands children, and he writes for a car boot sale (which causes disasters) the school is having an enterprise competitiontheir pleasure and enjoyment, where groups of students have not to create something to sell on to their peers at a profitlecture or hector. But it The ''Childish Spirits''s not like Tom wants much – series is one of course, hehis greatest achievements. It's a simple ladsequence of ghost stories centring on Ellie, a stalwart young girl who can cope with no real desires as such – he's never going to want to go hell for leather to get anythingthe spirit world throws at her, is he?and Edward, a spoiled lordling and the first spirit Ellie encounters|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1407143190</amazonuk>1783064617
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Linda Chapman and Kate HindleyMax Boucherat|title=Best Friends’ Bakery: Birthdays and BiscuitsThe Last Life of Lori Mills
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=In thisWe 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, the fourth story on her lonesome. What could possibly go wrong? Snuggled in a blanket fort, she has one main intention, and that is to log on to Voxminer, the Best Friends’ Bakery seriesworld-building, Hannah critter-collecting game that is recovering from a hit in Lori's world. But first Lori has a tiny inkling that this stormy night doesn't find herself entirely on her sadness at being thrown off own, and then she finds something even more spooky. For the Junior Baker show on TVserver she and her bestie and nobody else should be able to enter shows signs of tampering. Fortunately there’s plenty going When malevolent eyes spark up on in her town phone screen, and at her mum’s bakery safe place in the game has been doctored – well, where is a girl to keep her busyturn?|isbn=0008666482}}{{Frontpage|author=Kieran Larwood and Joe Todd-Stanton|title=Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial|rating=4|genre=Confident Readers|summary=Meet Kit. There’s Like most of the people in his world, it seems, he is an avid fan of Dungeon Running – the sport where a new beauty shop opening team of warrior, mage and healer enter specially prepared, century-old, magical mazes, and race to bake the exit, perhaps bothering with the treasure or the big bad and the points they grant you along the way. Unfortunately forKit, a doggy rescue centre in troublethe only thing he's seen of the latest race on the inn TV equivalent is that one team has been retired, eaten, and a new girl who seems intent on stopping anyone trio of questors is needed. Possibly very unfortunately indeed for Kit, he has taken to the goading from befriending herthe token bully of his world and stumbled into declaring he'll enter as a team. How will Hannah get on with these new challenges What chance does this friendless, muscle-free-zone have in her lifeactually managing that, and how could he possibly hope to succeed?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444011944</amazonuk>1839945184
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Frances HardingeJames Sherwood Metts|title=Cuckoo SongPlanet Storyland
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Marketed as Things have been a twisted fairy talebit sticky for the Earthlings. AI and automation have been proceeding apace, often replacing jobs they''Cuckoo Song'' is so much more. Hardinge’s lyrical style sets it apart from re paid to do and other fantasy readstasks that took time to accomplish. Such phrases Just as ''she was weeping spider silk'' lend it a melody they were beginning to get used to all this technological change and starting to think of its own. At the story’s heart is the sense of wanting other, new ways to belong and connect with others. It revolves around Piers Crescent’s daughter Triss who wakes up after spend time, along came an accident to find that her world has changedawful pandemic. She doesn’t feel that she is herself Life was pretty much shut down and starts to exhibit extremely peculiar behaviour. She is ravenous and inexplicably binge eats. For some reason her little sister Pen appears to hate her, scissors act strangely around her and her parents are anxious for her to remain ill and cosseted. She has memories from along with it, all the time before she nearly drowned but she can’t visualise the actual incidentmany daily social interactions on which they depend so heavily.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0330519735</amazonuk>1736128426
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Phil Earle and Sara OgilvieTom Percival|title=Demolition DadThe Wrong Shoes|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=JakeWill's dad life is difficult, in a wrestlermultitude of ways. Nobody knows however, He is bullied because Jakehe has 'the wrong shoes's dad also insists that Jake keeps it a secret, so that no one realises that come the weekend he leaves behind has the demolition sites that he works on, puts on wrong shoes because his spandex suit dad can't work and enters doesn't have enough money for even the ring as 'Demolition Man'! But Jake is so proud most basic of things like food, and his dad that his alter ego can't remain work because he lost his job at the college, was working a secret for long, cash-in-hand job on a building site and he sets about trying to change had an accident. Throw into that mix the fact that his mum and dadare separated, and Will's life through seems bleak in every direction. And yet, he still has a tiny amount of hope. He is good at art, and clings to the world moments of wrestlingjoy when he is drawing, that feel like a light at the end of a long, dark tunnel.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444013866</amazonuk>1398527122
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Meg Cabot1805141872|title=Notebooks of a Middle-School PrincessThe Teacher Who Knew Too Much|author=Rob Keeley|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=''Seventeen banks and a jeweller’s have been raided. The author of police are baffled, but only Ben knows the truth – his Maths teacher, Miss Judson, is really a safecracker! With police and her gangster boyfriend Al on their trail, Miss Judson and Ben go on the hugely successful run. But Al needs them for one last job...''Princess Diaries Goodness me, that Miss Judson is a terror! How on earth did a nice teacher like her manage to get mixed up with a bad 'un like Al? We' has written a brand-new series ll find out. Luckily for younger girlsMiss Judson, telling the story of awkward middle-school student Olivia Grace. She pupil who discovers that her father terrible secret is actually Ben, the Prince son of Genovia, making her...a princess! Not everyone responds well famous magician who has ambitions to the news, howeverbe as good as his father some day, and poor Olivia who thinks Miss Judson is soon thrown into a world of jealous bullies, intrusive paparazzi, disgruntled relatives and a whole new family she never knew existed.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447280652</amazonuk>worth saving
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rachel HamiltonChristopher Edge|title=The Case of the Exploding BrainsBlack Hole Cinema Club
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary= YouLucas 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'd thinkre looking forward to lots of exciting films, with one parent in prison and many, many snacks! However, as the other movie starts, 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 hardly ever moving from film genre to the sofanext, that middle school student Noelle Hawkins would have far too many problems can they figure out what on earth is going on her hands already ? Will they ever get back to start worrying about the occasional little explosion at the Science Museum. After allcinema, that's the kind of thing that's bound and to happen in a place littered with heaps of seriously wacky inventions, righttheir real lives?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>147112133X</amazonuk>1839942738
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Dave LoweAdam Stower|title= Squirrel Boy vs the Squirrel Hunter Murray and Bun|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary= Ten year old Walter Kettle Murray is an ordinary boy until he eats a nut. Then he transforms into unlikely superhero Squirrel Boy whose only superpowers seem supposed to be a large bushy tailhumble, an ability tidy and friendly cat, one who is able to climb trees sleep and eat and eat and sleep and run very fast, and a sudden understanding well, whatever takes his fancy next of ‘Squirrelish’ (the language used by squirrels)two. In But he's a bad magician's cat, so his second 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 adventureand whiffs. This time round it drops them into a Viking land, where a troll hunter is expected – well, one much bigger than Murray was, we join Walter to find out whether these unusual powers will be enough honest, but he's turned up and he'll have to defeat the determined Squirrel Hunter and save the squirrel population in the local park.do…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1907912738</amazonuk>0008561249
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lewis CarrollAlex Bell and Tim McDonagh|title=Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (150th Anniversary Edition with Dame Vivienne Westwood)The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Somewhere the book reviewing gods have Eli is a list of those classic titles that you cannot deny or begrudge their place busy lad – by day an apprentice in literary historythe wondrous library we start by visiting with him, that are soon to have and in the evening a 150th birthday party with my name on an invitehelper at the dessert cafe his gran owns and runs. That means littleEli lives with his lovely gran, as I too – and for there is a generation missing in fact most people – will of course be reading them on their unbirthday, but the list does include the current recipient of that honourfamily. A few short years ago, ''AliceEli's Adventures parents were both lost to the titular race, a globe-trotting adventure where all entrants have to navigate the world in Wonderland''the company of a magical beast. It being long out of copyright anyone can put together This has made the race anathema to the pair – but when a bad incident at the eatery leads to a 150th birthday edition for itconfession from gran, but this Eli knows his only hope is one of the more distinctive effortsto dare to enter what he most hates, for it comes with the help sole aim the prize of Dame Vivienne Westwood. And even though I have [[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (150th Anniversary Edition) by Lewis Carroll and Anthony Browne|spoken before]] of how I don't take to magic at the book, I can hereby declare this party was made all end – the better for being twice as long, all courtesy of the presence of Lewis Carrollonly thing to possibly save his gran.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>178487017X</amazonuk>0571382231
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alexander McCall SmithHelen Cooper|title=Akimbo AdventuresThe Taming of the Cat|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=I amOnce again, it must be said, something of an Alexander McCall Smith addictmice are pitched against cat. I In this case, principally, we have handed out free copies of his books for World Book NightBrie the mouse, I met him up against Gorgonzola the cat – and in Oxford at case you're seeing a literary festivalconnection, they live in a cheese shop and I read pretty much everything therefore all the names used here seem to 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 writes lives with. They nibble up paper wrapping from the cheese for bedding – he displays it as he writes art and makes stories based on the visuals on it! . This time it’s a children’s book, with three stories And that story-telling will come in handy one volume night, when he feels all about a boy called Akimboalone and cast out. It's almost as if there were another character from fable who had had to tell stories to keep themselves alive. He lives on This makes Brie the edge of a game reserve top dog in Africathe mouse community, and these stories are though, as all about his rather amazing adventures with the animals who also share his homeothers had the chance to half-inch some cheese while the cat was distracted. But will the story have the successful sequel it needs when that cheese runs out?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405265345</amazonuk>0571376010
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sarah GarlandLauren St John|title=Azzi in BetweenFinding Wonder|rating=54|genre=For SharingConfident Readers|summary=Our story begins 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 country at warlottery ticket. Unfortunately you could probably put a When asked what other family she has, she can only name to it (although it isnher aunt, Joni, who she knows her dad didn't named) as it happens all too regularlythink very highly of. Our heroine is Azzi, a young girl whose life was not ''too'' affected by the warBut she has no one else, but every day it came a little closer. Her father still worked as a doctor and so off she goes to live with her mother made beautiful clothes. Her grandmother wove warm blanketsunreliable aunt. Then the day came when they had Things continue to run, get worse for their livesRoo, as when she and escape was by boat and they became refugees. The three of them - for Grandma had been left behind - had been luckier than most for they were accepted on a temporary basis into another country (again itJoni leave London in Joni's not named) and they had a homeold campervan, although it was just one room.breaks down in the middle of nowhere and then bursts into flames! Poor Roo!|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847806511</amazonuk>0571376169
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sarah GarlandAdam Baron and Benji Davies|title=Eddie's Tent and How to go Camping|rating=5|genre=For Sharing|summary=Mum, Tom, Tilly, Lily and Eddie wanted to go on holiday and camping seemed like the ideal way to go. Lily and Tilly thought it was a brilliant idea and they had some experience, although their 'tent' did look just a little bit like a duvet over a chair. ItOscar's surprising what you need for a holiday, but Lily and Tilly had to be told to start again when Mum saw what they'd packed! But finally, Tom began to load the car and off they went.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184780408X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=W Awdry|title=Thomas the Tank Engine 70th Anniversary SlipcaseLion|rating=53
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=ThomasWe start incredibly bluntly, if you don't knowwith Oscar hoping to have his mother – or father, but mother is more likely – read him his very favourite book a little Tank Enginecouple of times before he has to be ready for school. But when he enters his parents' bedroom, who all he sees is very quick to build up a head of steam mahoosive male lion on their bed, looking sheepish, and move his coaches and trucks around the train yards and networks admitting that he works onwon't be hungry for another two days. That does mean that he has But there are benefits to having a lion around – it can be shown up by as an unspoken threat to the largerbully that ruined a birthday party for Oscar the other month. And it can shapeshift, slower engines when so he continually blows his whistle can take it to disturb their rest, school and it can even forget to bring any carriages with get him when he's pulling out of a train, but he does mean wellproblem. HeAnd it's a warmwonderful to have around the house – not limiting his biscuit intake, feisty little characterbeing much more lax about the rules, and was probably always bound to become a bit of a favourite with warm, feisty young readers, especially those brought up with an eye to the romance of the railwaysso on. But he wasnOK, it can't the first we met in the series that in public shorthand at least bears his namework a dimmer switch but it can give Oscar a wonderful time.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1405277270</amazonuk>0008596751
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Cathy HopkinsJudith Eagle|title=Mum Never Did Learn to KnockThe Stolen Songbird
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary= Everybody knows if you have Caro's mother, a special gift like seeing through walls or the ability world-famous whistler, has failed to return home from her recent work trip abroad and is now missing. Her other mother, Ronnie, is having to go up North to take care of her sister who is unwell. So who is going to speak giraffe you have look after Caro? Sent to keep it secretstay with Gam, someone Caro has heard her mother despises, she feels frustrated and confused and worried. If you don 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'ts house, along with an orphan boy, men Albie, who is living there too. But she soon finds herself caught up in dark suits a mystery, as she discovers a painting of a bird hidden away inside her mum's old suitcase, and all across London a fearsome gang called the Snakes are thieving artworks and wrap-around shades take you away terrorising people. Is the painting somehow linked to experiment on you. (the gang? And if itwhat has happened to Caro's mother? Is she somehow involved in the wall thing, girls will assume you're spying on them when they get changed for PE and beat you up.) mystery too?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1407148753</amazonuk>0571363148
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Eric ColossalTania Unsworth|title=Rutabaga the Adventure Chef: Book 1Nowhere Island|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Meet the latest adventurer to scour the landGil. He has a talent for finding the obscure and seeking out the rareJust twelve, and surviving all he is so determined to escape the undignified fates care system – the world has system that constantly puts him in store. He even has futureless places that are not homes – and find a magical companionhome for himself. He will be open is en route to any challenge set upon yet another fosterer, when he jumps into an anonymous car, and lets it ride him, from locating dragon-smiting swords to besting his future. 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 largesttwo directions of a motorway, most locally loved, rivala place inaccessible and definitely ignored enough to provide for their safety and seclusion. He is RutabagaThem, and he isa mute girl also finding a home there, of coursealbeit so much more successfully. Over a few weeks we see if their oddball destinies can combine, a chef.or if this is one place where life as we would want it just would not work…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1419715976</amazonuk>1804540080
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Tom McLaughlin Helen Peters|title=The Accidental Prime Minister Friends and Traitors
|rating=3
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Will Gallows is just a week away from being a fully-fledged member of the Sky Cavalry – and his talkingEngland, winged horse is even more keen on hitting the passing out ceremony on the noseWW2. But things aren't all going to go their way – Mid-Rock City has received a blackmail note, extorting Two young girls are new at the town out of a lot of gold for threat of a 'death mace', of which nobody has ever heardcountry pile called Stanbrook. Certain factors all point One is Nancy, destined to Will being the best cadet to take part be in nixing the handover to the criminalservice all her life it seems, not least of which is his half-hidden secret magic skill due to being part-elf – but as soon as it's realised who like the baddy female generations before her. The other isSidney, things immediately step up a geargirl from a hoity-toity Sussex boarding school that has been removed there away from bomber flight-paths. And The girls are chalk and cheese, and if that isnwe hadn't bad enoughguessed that then their behaviour with each other over their first encounters would only prove it so. But something is amiss, Will's grandma and great-uncle have just turned up for first separately and then in combination they realise the Lord Evesham must be a pleasant trip based around his graduation…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1783440597</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Kate Pankhurst|title= Mariella Mystery Investigates: A Kitty Calamity |rating=4|genre= Confident Readers |summary= When Mariella Mystery (amazing girl detectiverum 'un. Midnight deliveries are received under cover of secrecy, talk is made of meetings with Germans, aged nine and not only that, a bit) and local Spitfire factory has been attacked. But surely the other Mystery Girls – Violet girls are wrong, and Poppy – start to investigate the disappearance of their neighbour’s cat they think it’s going to upper class could never be an easy case. Aren’t missing cats usually just stuck up a tree or off visiting a house where there’s tastier foodso underhand? 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. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444012320</amazonuk>1788004647
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=R D ShanksJamie Littler|title=Merlin and Guinevere: A Happenstance Meeting: Volume 1Arkspire
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Merlin is both ordinary Two sisters, Juniper and special. He is living a quietElodie, ordinary life with his father in his quietborn fifteen minutes apart, ordinary villageare growing to be chalk and cheese. Murrow Juniper is a fisherman an eager hunter and he and his son have a great relationshiptrader in illicit magic, supportive and lovingincluding relics from prior major wars left out in the Badlands. So far Elodie is intent on getting closer to power in one of the religious districts of Arkspire, so ordinaryperhaps even to become the child in line to inherit the power of the Watcher, right? But Merlin isn't like the other boys. While they are raucous and socialclosest to a ruler the district has, Merlin is quiet and contemplativeone of the five major victors in said earlier war. His best friend isn't another boy; it's Happenstance Being trained in the magic that only five people can use would definitely change the status of the whole family. But in finding something oddly magical, his cat. Murrow and Merlin Juniper might not realise it but the reader will - there's something special about Merlin.just be able to gain some power of her own – for good, or for very, very bad…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1505689740</amazonuk>0241586143
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Barroux024162343X|title=Where's the Elephant?Stolen History|author=Sathnam Sanghera
|rating=5
|genre=For SharingChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=We've all had great fun with books such as I was the bad company other people got into at school. I was disruptive in religious education classes because I disputed the existence of a 'god'. Where's Wally''was the proof? In history lessons, it was probably worse still. havenNot too long after the end of WWII, I didn't we? They appeal so much want to children and adults and everyone who has seen ''Wherelearn about the British army's the Elephant?successes (and occasional failures, but we didn'' has jumped t dwell on those) in with great enthusiasm, keen what came to show just how observant they are. We start off with a forest - actually itbe called 's the Amazon Rainforest - full of glorious colours and our three friends, who are hiding in there. Elephant is probably colonies' as want to dispute what right the easiest army had to spot, but Snake and Parrot are be there in there too and with a little concentration you'll find themthe first place. When you turn Looking back, I still believe I was right - but I regret that I lacked the page youmaturity to approach 'll scan the trees again and discover their hiding placesproblem' politely. You even wonder if it might get a little I wish I'd had Sathnam Sanghera's ''boringStolen History'' if it goes on like this.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405271388</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sarah ForbesThiago de Moraes|title=Elspeth Hart and the School for Show-offsOld Gods New Tricks|rating=34.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=ImagineMeet Trixie. Forever getting into scrapes, dear readerlarks and adventures involving flooding the school aircon with fart powder, she could almost be thought a poor girl who is never allowed to play outside like the other childrenyoung goddess of nuisance. Instead, But just when she has to spend 's being told that by her day performing horrid choresone-last-chance-giving headteacher, like sweeping up mousethe world changes. Suddenly, practically everything electronic stops working – a power-droppings out, even of electric cars, hits not just the town the school's in but the creepyentire planet (apart from mobile phones, dark cellar and shooing away all that powers the cockroaches in Internet, just for our convenience's sake). Trixie, luckily, realises what has happened – the ancient Gods have taken the kitchenpower of power from us. So And so she begins a long list of woes for shy Elspeth Harther epic quest, who toils tirelessly during to gather all the people that can steal it back – namely the day and spends her nights sleeping characters from myth that have past form in a dustystealing from the Gods, ie the semi-deities, giants, cramped wardrobehalf-gods and so on known as the tricksters.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847155952</amazonuk>178845295X
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sophie CleverlyHannah Gold and Levi Pinfold|title=Scarlet and Ivy The Lost TwinFinding Bear|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Ivy's twin sister Scarlet [[The Last Bear by Hannah Gold|Last time]], April had been the strong willedon Bear Island, a lot further north than many people would venture, fearless one whilst Ivyand finding a ridiculously unexpected but delightful friendship with a polar bear – that she called Bear. Back home, things on the other handdomestic and family front are a bit advanced, but not perfect for her, and so can easily be ignored when word comes through from the islands Bear was timid last left on. For a bear doing very Bear-y things has been shot and shywounded. Following Scarlet Desperate to make sure he's sudden death Ivy is forced OK, she and her father return to take her twin's place at the sinister Rockwood Boarding School for girls Arctic and once there she finds herself thrust into hope that in a mystery she struggles to solve. Her only hope is to behave as Scarlet would have done, so with the help world of her new friendvery white and very dangerous things, Ariadne, Ivy attempts to conquer her fears she can find one specific white and dangerous thing – and stand up to that the wicked Miss Fox and discover what really happened to her sisterfriendship can continue.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007589182</amazonuk>0008582017
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sam WatkinsSimon Fox|title=Creature TeacherDeadlock|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Jake’s nervous about starting Late one night Graham Blake is late back from his new school. His class teachershift on the force, Mr Hydeand then suddenly rings Archie, is new too butdemanding he fetch something from a secret place, unlike Jakeand join him on the run. They get together, he has a reason but barely begin to be worried. Although class 5b quickly decide that Mr Hyde smell the whiff of Southern trains when the father is arrested, leaving Archie on the best teacher they’ve ever hadlate express to Brighton, they also discover toting a problem – whenever he experiences a strong emotion Mr Hyde starts tin his father was determined to glow keep away from his colleagues, and transforms into a naughty, farting, biscuit-loving creature. Suddenly their teacher is wrecking the classroom and they need to work together to find bearer of a way to turn the creature back into their teacher before their evil headmistress finds outwhole heap of questions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192742655</amazonuk>1839944420
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kris HumphreyCath Howe|title=A Whisper of WolvesMy Life on Fire|rating=35
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Alice Ren's family home is destroyed in a Whispererfire. She, able to communicate with her animal companionparents, Storm the wolfand her little brother lose everything. It She doesn't have any of her clothes, or any of her special little knick-knacks from her cupboard, and now she is living at her grandmother's house where they can't touch anything, or do anything, or even eat the foods they normally eat. When she goes back to school she discovers that the class are doing a gift special art project, creating boxes of their lives, to display things that inspires awe are important to them and fear show who they are as a person. But Ren has nothing to put in the villagers a box, and so she servesfinds herself starting to steal things. A Whisperer is a guardian of the wilds Small things, protector of naturethings that people might not really miss, and the only ones able not when they have so much already. But what will happen to fight back against the demonic Narlaw.her if someone finds out what she is doing?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847155960</amazonuk>1839942835
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Simon NicholsonRob Keeley|title=Young Houdini: The Magician's FireBoy Who Disappeared and Other Stories
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary= As it happens, several facts about the childhood of the man who became world famous for his daring stunts and death-defying shows have been recorded. But fiction Hooray! Bookbag favourite Rob Keeley is back with a return to the world of what-if, where anything can be imagined, anything can happen. So what if all those 'facts' were actually a cover, made up short story format! The Boy Who Disappeared treats us to conceal Houdini's earliest exploits? What ifeleven new tales, each as a boy, he ended up far away from his family and his native Hungary and all alone in New York, having fun to earn a few meagre pennies each day by shining shoes? And what if read as his fascination with theatre life led him into dangers even greater than anything he was able to create in his later stage act?previous offerings.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0192734741</amazonuk>B0BVW69N1G
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=M G HarrisLaura Noakes|title=Gerry Anderson's Gemini Force One, Black HorizonCosima Unfortunate Steals a Star|rating=3.54
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Life is changing very fast for Ben CarringtonMeet Number One. Or rather, Cosima Unfortunate. Or rather, just Cos to her friends. He The practice in the home she lives in is at for the girls to just be named by the opening of a huge skyscraper hotel his late father founded number they correspond to in Abu Dhabi when disaster strikes – the chap is hardly cold in his grave when Ben's mum ledger, and the lad have to prove how adept they are at her old job're all Unfortunates – young people with disabilities, of mountain rescueuncommon mentalities or suchlike that Victorian society frowns greatly upon. She feels like setting up But Cosima bears the tag as a new rescue agency with her nous and the family fortunessurname because nothing else seems to be known about where she came from, but someone who can just amble into as the opening/memorial ceremony is Jason Truby, a monumentally rich Internet magnate, who actually has a modern-day ''Thunderbirds'' entity alreadyfirst ever inmate, and unique in having no known family in the top secret Gemini Forceoutside world. Truby starts to get close During a daring escapade to steal some posh cakes from the family of twokitchen one afternoon, but the school-aged Ben isn't going she discovers a plan involving said outside world – a devilish Lord Fitzroy seems to be allowed want to learn just adopt all the girls for his Institute. But why, and what dramatic escapades does that body entail? And could it possibly bring Cos closer to the agency past she has to cover – is heso little link with?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444014064</amazonuk>0008579059
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Geoff RodkeyAlice M Ross|title=The Tapper Twins Go to War (With Each Other)Nowhere Thief|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=There are two kinds of children At last there is new stock in the impoverished yet over-full antiques shop Elsbeth and her mother run in a seaside town. Elsbeth knows this because she has stolen it. She also knows she should be free from worries about being found out, because she has the ability to leave this world, those who and use an unworldly portal of kaleidoscope colours to enter other worlds, where the sea levels are repulsed by farts, rising dramatically and those who delight in letting them rip, or regale their friends for their efforts – or wilfully accuse the innocent buildings are generally empty of dropping onehumans and ripe for plunder. You With eviction imminent, can argue til the cows come home as Elsbeth nab anything to what actually generate custom at the ratio of those two camps is – which is pretty much what Claudia and Reese, two 12-year old siblings in New York Cityshop? Well yes, do – argue. This time the problem is that Reese loudly announced his sister to have a windy arse right in the middle of answer, but the school canteen, which led her to retaliate with fact a means to make him embarrassingly smelly, mysterious man knows exactly which led him to – well, let's just say that when Claudia defines the result as war, she's not far off.items come from these different Somewheres only raises more questions…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444014978</amazonuk>1839943769
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{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jennifer Gray and Hannah GeorgeNatasha Farrant|title=Chicken Mission: The Curse Rescue of Fogsham FarmRavenwood|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Life This story is hard for a chicken. Threat comes another excellent adventure from anywhere you look – which is where the Elite Chicken Squad comes inauthor of ''Voyage of the Sparrowhawk''. [[Chicken Mission: Danger Ravenwood is an old house, in the Deep Dark Woods by Jennifer Gray|Last time]] they had a nasty fox North of England, where Bea and his friends to counter, but this time they've got it worseRaffy have been living for most of their lives. A local legend speaks They are part of a vampire minkcomplex, concerned only extended family arrangement, as Bea is there with draining all fowl of their bloodher Uncle Leo, and all indications suggest the legend Raffy is actually there with his mum, and they are living together as a lot more real and worryingfamily. Even They have grown up swimming in the barman – sorrycove, bar-chickenroaming through the trees, Ichabod Comb, has vanished after an attack on his juice barcompletely at one with all of the nature around the house and loving every inch of the place. What's moreBut 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 seems the mink's victim becomes a zombie soldier, fighting for her causebecoming more and more expensive to maintain. Can the three plucky stalwarts of the Squad – AmyThe children find themselves worrying not only about where they're going to live, but if they'll even be together, Boo and Ruth – prove themselves a match for such evil?if Ravenwood itself will be torn down.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>057129829X</amazonuk>0571348785
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Elen CaldecottRobin Birch and Jobe Anderson|title=Diamonds and Daggers - Secret Beast Club: The Marsh Unicorns of Silver Street Mysteries|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Group Jayden's nose is forever in a book, which means he knows a lot about mythological creatures – the phoenixes and unicorns of pre-teens get together the world, for example. Aisha is addicted to solve a mystery? Been her new tablet, where she can see videos of anything that might be out there. The problem, done as their mothers see it, is thatthey are never 'out there' themselves, exploring the outside world of Hackney, London. But donwhen a narrowboat turns up carrying a science-minded, educational purpose, and with a past involving Jayden't be fooleds cousin, they find a magical world they never knew existed. This book stands out from the crowd, even though it has to be said that For many of those detective stories mythological creatures are really very goodreal, including the one Aisha thinks she's seen on a bit of local footage. The crew of the boat, including a living gargoyle, are tasked with saving the rare critters – and the kids unknowingly have the magical sight needed to join in. Dare they side with Leila, for the way it incorporates utterly contemporary issues like economic migrationwoman on board, celebrity and prejudiceher relative who lives as a figure in a painting, while remaining both funny and thrilling.become saviours of the unseen?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1408847523</amazonuk>0241573483
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Aby King and Sam UsherB09XWSXSKY|title=Lupo Maestro Orpheus and the Secret of Windsor CastleWorld Clock|author=Robert Penee and Joanne Grodzinski
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Based on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's real dogFrederick (or Fred, but never Freddy, this is Lupoplease) couldn's storyt sleep. A tune, and although it uses rather like the real Royals it is, ticking of course, a fictional story as you soon realise with the talking mice from MI5 clock was playing over and the evil villain over in the form of one of the Queenhis mind. It happened every time he came to visit his grandfather. He hadn's Dorgit really wanted to come; after all, he's (a cross between a corgi ten now and a Dachshund)all those old clocks don't appeal to him anymore. ''Who needs old clocks anyway? All they do is tell the time. If youAnd time isn're looking t good for a fantasy animal adventure, with plenty of action, then look no furtheranything...''|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444921444</amazonuk>And that was why he was looking at the clock beside the bed. It was nearly twelve o'clock but at midnight the clock chimed only six times. There was nothing for it but to go and find grandad - but where was he? And why had all the clocks stopped at twelve o'clock?
}}
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