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.
Amari and the Night Brothers
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+
Peanut Jones and the Illustrated City
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+
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+
Noah's Gold
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+
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+
Mort the Meek and the Raven's Revenge
The first in a new series of very funny stories about the pacifist, vegetarian Mort the Meek who has to survive in a brutal and violent kingdom.
Review date: 02.04.21
Age recommendation: 8+
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+
