Schools & Libraries Book Reviews

Name: Jacqueline Harris
07 May 2024;

Genre: Friends and family

Estie is sent to stay with her aunt in Scotland after being expelled from school. She is furious as no one wants to listen to her side of the story. Her aunt Ru is not what she was expecting; clearly estranged from her sister, she turns out to be lovely. With a newfound friend, Idris, Estie st...

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Name: Sam
07 May 2024;

Genre: Personal Growth

Girl on the Fly by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl is a heartfelt tale of family and friendship. Kamaria lives with her parents, who are originally from Tanzania, and when her Aunt Rose comes to stay, Kamaria's life is thrown into all sorts of turmoil. However, Kamaria slowly starts...

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Name: Emelia Helliwell
07 May 2024;

Genre: Suspense & Thrillers

Murder, mystery and one amazing, never expected twist at the end... It All Started with a Lie follows Pearl and her three friends on a journey to find the truth. Pearl unexpectedly uncovers a family secret during a game of hide and seek with her twin brothers. Pearl shows her...

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Name: Jacqueline Harris
07 May 2024;

Genre: Representation & Inclusion

Will has the wrong shoes, they are wrong in every way because Will lives in grinding poverty and has no money for basics, let alone new shoes. Will is at secondary school and nothing seems to be going right at the moment. He feels different from everyone else because of his home life and lack...

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Name: Lauren Maidman
07 May 2024;

Genre: Animals

A Llama Called Lightning is the new instalment from Helen Peters and Ellie Snowdon. Jasmine's family owns a farm and are very busy with all the animals and drama going on. When Jasmine walks home one day she is followed by an unlikely guest, a Llama called Lightning! Jasmine i...

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Name: Ruth Cornish
06 May 2024;

Genre: Family & Home

For a slim book, Too Nice packs a big emotional punch as the main character, Abby, negotiates the changes her Dad's relationship with serious girlfriend, Jen, bring. Sally Nicholls engages the reader from the beginning, as Abby struggles with her feelings after Jen moves in to...

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Name: Ruth Cornish
06 May 2024;

Genre: Environment & Nature

Rewild - Can Nature Heal our World is an excellent book from the new David Fickling 'Explodapedia' series. It is equally interesting for older children and young adults and approaches the issues of climate change through the solution of nature. The chapters explore diff...

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Name: Ruth Cornish
06 May 2024;

Genre: Suspense & Thrillers

EchoStar: is always listening is an excellent thriller that builds the tension until the very end and (spoiler coming…) with a great final twist! For a book of only 129 pages, Melinda Salisbury manages to create an elaborate narrative full of suspense and foreboding yet centre...

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Name: Ruth Cornish
06 May 2024;

Genre: Environment & Nature

Drowning In My Bedroom is a fast-paced disaster story set in Manila. The author, Steve Cole, uses a torrential flood to throw light on a number of issues within this survival story: disability, poverty, inequality, modern slavery and climate change. Using the chance mee...

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Name: Jacqueline Harris
06 May 2024;

Genre: Supernatural

Lily Halfmoon is actually a witch and is keeping it a secret from her family.  It is almost Samhain when magic is at its strongest and witches from across the world are gathering at Lily's school. A mysterious person, however, is after Lily's powerful moonstone and wants to steal her magic. Li...

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