Schools & Libraries Book Reviews

Name: Jo Clarke
09 June 2023;

Genre: Fantasy

Having read and enjoyed Gabriela Houston's The Wind Child, I was eagerly awaiting the sequel. The wait was worth it. Readers who have not yet read and enjoyed The Wind Child may like to indulge themselves so that they have knowledge of Mara's mythical origi...

More

Name: Jennifer Caddick
09 June 2023;

Genre: Non Fiction

Live Like a Roman is another fantastic non-fiction offering by publisher GMC books. First impressions count and GMC books are always fresh, appealing and excellent value for the quality and wealth of knowledge they contain. The cover itself is brightly bold and visually eye ca...

More

Name: Lucy Hopkins
09 June 2023;

Genre: Funny Stories

A child-friendly chapter book! This is a story all about Lenny Lemmon and his pet rat. Lenny turns up to school for a day learning all about 'the olden days' with a mysterious box which is making even more mysterious noises. He thinks it's the perfect opportunity to take his rat to school as t...

More

Name: Linda Brown
09 June 2023;

Genre: Fairy Tales & Folk Tales

Bitterthorn, by the wonderful author Kat Dunn, is a must read of 2023. Dunn has spun a tale of a beautiful dark romance that will capture your heart and linger long after you have finished the last page... Mina is a princess in the town of Blumwald, but the town is over...

More

Name: Jessica Bunney
09 June 2023;

Genre: Baby & Toddler Books

Are you ready to see fruit as you've never seen it before? Imagine If… Fruits! appeals wonderfully to a child's imaginative mind as they see fruit become all kinds of exciting things. Did you know that kiwis make great eye masks? Did you know that a banana is the perfect shape for a slide? Did...

More

Name: Elen Green
09 June 2023;

Genre: Environment

The striking cover of Into the Wild, where we see a boy surrounded by nature and wildlife against a city skyline backdrop, gives a very clear idea of what Into the Wild is about. This is a really lovely story to share with young children to remind them that, although we might...

More

Name: Jacqueline Harris
08 June 2023;

Genre: Representation & Inclusion

Heather is in care and has been put in many children's homes, all of which she has run away from. Now she has been sent to Fablehouse, specifically for children of black GIs who had come over during WW2 and had left the so called 'brown babies' behind. Heather feels she does not fit in anywher...

More

Name: Beverley Somerset
08 June 2023;

Genre: Representation & Inclusion

Heather has already lived in several children’s homes before she comes to Fablehouse. Here, she is living with other 'Brown Babies' - children born as a result of relationships between American Black GIs and white British women. When she is befriended by Lloyd, Arlene and Nat, Heather finally...

More

Name: Louisa Farrow
08 June 2023;

Genre: Historical Fiction

Adventure, heroism, suspense, pathos, humour: Until the Road Ends has them all. I was gripped from the first line: 'Beau's life started one second before it almost ended'. Who wouldn’t want to read on after that? Beau turns out to be a stray dog, who is saved from under...

More

Name: Sue Wilsher
08 June 2023;

Genre: Historical Fiction

After the success of their French mission, Rosie Raja is keen to avoid being sent to boarding school by her dad. However, a new mission to Cairo with her father posing as an Egyptologist sees Rosie back in action on the trail of a British traitor. But with the stakes higher than ever, everyone...

More