Schools & Libraries Book Reviews

Name: Eileen Armstrong
04 September 2024;

Genre: Dystopian

Novels which use the future to explore the present are not a new invention but in Songlight, Buffini puts her own unique spin on the post-apocalyptic dystopian story, sitting comfortably alongside greats such as Wyndham, Orwell, Le Guin and Atwood. The...

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Name: Jane Rew
04 September 2024;

Genre: Non Fiction

From the bright, stylish cover and end papers to the informative content within, this is an attractive hardback. Playful illustrations, combining clarity and realism with humorous captions, add extra appeal. Author Fran is a scientist, but clearly a great team is behind...

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Name: Eileen Armstrong
03 September 2024;

Genre: Friends and family

Exactly one year after her mum's death and the night before she goes back to school, Suzy Button makes three wishes in the light of the supermoon in her garden at midnight, desperate for things to change, but not at all believing that they can or will. What Suzy definitely hadn'’t bargained fo...

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Name: Cathy
03 September 2024;

Genre: Friends and family

I loved meeting Geoff the less than ordinary dog in Ged Adamson's Be Normal!, a wonderful story about friendship and difference, all wrapped up in a heartwarming story about a new dog who isn't quite what his young owner expected. When Theo gets a new dog, he's thrilled...

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Name: Jacqueline Harris
02 September 2024;

Genre: Historical Fiction

In Circus Maximus: Return of the Champion, Dido is back in her fourth and final adventure in this action-packed historical series.  Dido is living in North Africa, training horses and keeping her head down.  A slave boy from Rome, Damon, is thrown into her path, with their dei...

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Name: Amanda Shipton
02 September 2024;

Genre: Fantasy

Highly illustrated, this fourth book in the Ivy Newt series, Ivy Newt and the Vampixies, continues the amazing work of Derek Keilty. In this adventure we are introduced to new characters in the form of the Vampixie Queen and her daughter as well as Captain Hec...

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Name: Margaret Pemberton
02 September 2024;

Genre: Adventure

When Joey and her friends were chosen to represent the school at a competition in the local Museum, she did not bargain on seeing Harry, an ex-pupil and her nemesis. But then something strange happens and she and Harry find themselves being kidnapped by what appear to be Imps. Soon, they find...

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Name: Alice
02 September 2024;

Genre: Poetry

Matt Goodfellow's new poetry collection, Tomorrow We Begin, displays the same deep understanding and love of schools, their students and staff as his verse novel The Final Year did, with standalone poems covering uncomfortable blazers, so-c...

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Name: Katie
02 September 2024;

Genre: Fantasy

Dream Hunters is a fast-paced fantasy adventure for any child who loves their adventures with a magical edge. In this story, the magic is provided by child 'dream hunters' - children are taught to follow dreams and to catch them with their special needles, bottling them to hel...

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Name: Jenny Caddick
01 September 2024;

Genre: Supernatural

Gruesome, gothic and so, so good. This horrifyingly dark-humoured tale is hilarious and heart thumpingly entertaining and enthralling. Author Martin Howard and illustrator Pete Williamson have created a masterpiece of creepy illustrations and a narrative that tests the nerves...

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