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.
Noah Barleywater Runs Away
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+
How Kirsty Jenkins Stole the Elephant
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+
Framed
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+
Cosmic
A group of children win a prize to go on a trip into space - but this is no theme park ride...
Age recommendation: 7+
Millions
A family's dilemmas when they discover they have stumbled across millions of pounds.
Age recommendation: 7+
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
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+
The Astounding Broccoli Boy
Another funny adventure from this brilliant author, inspired by real events!
Review date: 18.05.15
Age recommendation: 9+
The Baking Life of Amelie Day
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+
Magical Moon Cat: Moonbeams and the Dream Cafe
Feel good, fun and magical story for girls
Age recommendation: 7+
The Soup Movement
A powerful message with engaging, resourceful characters. Loved it!
Review date: 05.07.20
Age recommendation: 9+
That's Life, Lily
Disgruntled Lily imagines life without her parents, but what is real and what's not in her account of that summer?
Age recommendation: 7+
The London Eye Mystery
Ted and Kat are waiting for their cousin, Salim to come off the London Eye. They've seen him get in, and watched his pod on its entire rotation, but when the doors open, he doesn't come out.
Review date: 10.04.11
Age recommendation: 7+
Space Oddity
A fun adventure which introduces science - though robots and alien life - to young readers.
Review date: 22.01.21
Age recommendation: 8+
The Umbrella Mouse to the Rescue
Based on the true stories of heroic animals in the second world war, this is the sequel to The Umbrella Mouse. Beautiful illustrations and a powerful story for readers aged 8+.
Review date: 09.04.20
Age recommendation: 8+
The Umbrella Mouse
A beautifully written animal adventure set in World War II, with tragedy and heroism in equal measure.
Review date: 30.04.19
Age recommendation: 9+
Boy 87
Prompted by news reports of children fleeing war and poverty, this is a powerful story of hope and friendship in terrible, terrifying circumstances.
Review date: 18.05.18
Age recommendation: 8+
Ghost Knight
A beautifully illustrated but very sinister ghost story for children set around Salisbury Cathedral, published in October.
Age recommendation: 8+
The Last Bear
There aren't meant to be any bears on Bear Island, and the only people living in this remote Arctic Circle landscape are April with her father, a scientist researching climate change. But April discovers that one weak, lonely polar bear has been left behind.
Review date: 27.12.20
Age recommendation: 8+
Gravenhunger
A ghost story for children set in a house inspired by Sutton Hoo, near Woodbridge, Suffolk.
Review date: 26.04.11
Age recommendation: 9+
