I have given each of my recommendations for children an age suggestion. These are of course approximate. Please also have a look at younger or older categories.
An entertaining page-turner of a read which explored themes of fitting in, difference, AI and what it is to be human. It's aimed at readers aged 9-12 years
Review date: 22.04.22
Age recommendation: 7+
Funny, clever and gripping adventure where Amari will do anything to try to find her missing brother.
Review date: 15.02.21
Age recommendation: 9+
A beautiful, thoughtful and inventive read with owls and mudlarking, city and countryside, love and conflict. Brilliant!
Review date: 25.11.22
Age recommendation: 8+
Peanut's father has gone missing but when she discovers a box of pencils he left her, she finds that she can draw images which come to life, including a door to the world in which her father has disappeared.
Review date: 17.05.21
Age recommendation: 9+
The book is a funny, magical modern fairy tale, and while there is a little bit of sadness, it is a story of hope.
Review date: 19.03.12
Age recommendation: 9+
All about life and death, friendship and culture - lots to unpeel!
Review date: 30.12.22
Age recommendation: 9+
Bringing humour and adventure to a story which encompasses loyalty, the importance of keeping your word and bereavement.
Review date: 28.03.13
Age recommendation: 8+
Silly and quirky, packed with useful and useless information about football, this is another gem from the children's comedian turned author.
Review date: 15.08.22
Age recommendation: 7+
A feminist reworking of the Hans Christian Anderson classic, this is brilliantly and sensitively done. Fantastic!
Review date: 30.11.22
Age recommendation: 7+
A wonderful nostalgic adventure in the Amazon rainforest, inspired by Eva Ibbotson's glorious book 'Journey to the River Sea'.
Review date: 04.06.22
Age recommendation: 8+
A fun adventure set in Wales, inspired by real events during World War II when paintings held by the National Gallery were hidden in the mountains to keep them safe. Brilliant!
Review date: 17.08.20
Age recommendation: 7+
A group of children win a prize to go on a trip into space - but this is no theme park ride...
Age recommendation: 7+
A family's dilemmas when they discover they have stumbled across millions of pounds.
Age recommendation: 7+
A sequel to the classic story written by Ian Fleming and turned into a film by Roald Dahl.
Review date: 11.10.11
Age recommendation: 8+
Another funny adventure from this brilliant author, inspired by real events!
Review date: 18.05.15
Age recommendation: 9+
Stuck on an island with no mobile phones and when the internet is broken, they've run out of food and they've discovered treasure. What an adventure!
Review date: 13.05.21
Age recommendation: 8+
Louis has to care for a sick baby donkey, and learns lessons about love, loss, friendship and kindness.
Review date: 28.02.23
Age recommendation: 7+
A teenage girl loves baking and plans to enter a national competition, but her illness looks set to get in the way.
Review date: 15.09.14
Age recommendation: 9+
Feel good, fun and magical story for girls
Age recommendation: 7+
A powerful message with engaging, resourceful characters. Loved it!
Review date: 05.07.20
Age recommendation: 9+
