Schools & Libraries Book Reviews

Name: Melissa Chard
16 July 2014;

Genre: Myths & Legends

It's always a thrill to find a new writer who can deliver a story with panache and integrity. In Tim Hall's debut, a retelling of the Robin Hood myth (published by David Fickling Books), you also have a talent for writing that is sure to see this book on plenty of award shortlists in the comin...

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Name: Alice Hill
16 July 2014;

Genre: Adventure

Charlie Fletcher - who is behind the Stoneheart books - has delivered an exciting and enthralling adventure story about a London where time stops for humans while its statues come to life. At the centre of the action are siblings Will and Jo, who have their own unresolved issues around an accide...

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Name: Elizabeth Harris
16 July 2014;

Genre: Adventure

This is the first in a new series for Steve Cole. The aptly named Niall Rivers gets more than he bargained for when he accompanies his mum on a house visit to collect items for the school fete. Amongst the peculiar items they collect from the house's strange owner, Niall discovers a shabtis that...

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Name: June Hughes
16 July 2014;

Genre: Adventure

This is another of Pushkin Childrens Books beautifully presented works of fiction for children originally written in other languages. The book was first published in Dutch in 1970 . Tibble is a reporter on a local newspaper who, rather than write about all the nasty things that go on, has taken...

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Name: Fiona Collins
16 July 2014;

Genre: Adventure

Zoe and Beans Pirate Treasure is one of the series of picturebooks which feature Zoe and her dog Beans. In this tale the two are joined by Oscar and his little sister Evie. The four are playing on the beach when Evie discovers a gold coin; hence the link with pirate treasure. They then start to s...

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Name: Fiona Collins
16 July 2014;

Genre: Adventure

The Big Blue Thing in the Hill is an intriguing picturebook which focuses on the lives and fears of a group of animals who live companionably in a great forest. During the day everything is quiet in the forest but at night all the animals come out: the wolves howl, the bears growl and other creat...

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Name: Eleanor Smith
15 July 2014;

Genre: Adventure

Jenny McLachlan is a great new voice for young teenage readers. Her debut, like its title, fairly breezes along while she also takes the time to really explore what makes her main character, Bea, tick. This is the first in four planned titles in which McLachlan will explore how four one-time fri...

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Name: Carol Hall
15 July 2014;

Genre: Real life

Night Runner is a pacey psychological thriller with a believable and likeable central character who, step by step, finds himself embroiled in crime and a life-threatening situation through no fault of his own. Like most teenagers, Zinny wants his home life to be smooth and his family to stick...

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Name: Cosmas Age 9
14 July 2014;

Genre: Friends and family

Harry wants to make a zombie movie to save his family because his dad lost his job, but he doesn't have the money to do it. So he writes to famous people including the Queen and Harry Styles to ask for money. The writing is different - the story includes text messages, emails, letters and web cha...

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Name: Joy Court
14 July 2014;

Genre: Adventure

I must admit to a real soft spot for animal adventures, but at the same time I also have an abhorrence of anthropomorphic animals living in houses and wearing clothes! But here we have the real thing, in absolutely the very best tradition of Watership Down and Duncton Wood. Debut author Tom Moo...

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