Attention (Short Story Book 13)

I averaged a book every days. Perfect if you love Game of Thrones but a PG version of it. I read books , but are coming out later this year. You can check out the whole series here. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper: I read this in December and it was the sweetest way to end my year.

Great Books for Boys

A lovely heartwarming book with just a smidge of mystery. The Language of Flowers: Even during my most broken years, I read a few books. This was one that kept my attention and stuck with me for a long time. I read this book in about 24 hours. Romantic, magical, and lovely. It began a very deep love for all things Sarah Addison Allen. For historical fiction lovers and people who miss challenging their brains just a little.

This was an overwhelming favorite from our book club last fall and for good reason. I count it among my best books from My very favorite book from , this is perfect for foodies and lovers of New York. I love how whimsical the tale is. Another Sarah Addison Allen book I flew through last spring. This would make an excellent beach read. Quirky and intriguing—our book club loved the unique format of this book written via emails and letters between the characters.

Perfect for short attention spans! The One that Got Away: The steamiest of stories on this list but still a PG Life As We Knew It: Sometimes when you really struggle to get back into reading, a little young adult fiction is just the thing you need. My real life book club chose this when I still had babies in the house and was at the peak of my distraction. My husband actually recommended this one to me.

The two, of course, get into all sorts of trouble, and to the surprise of everyone, unearth some real villains in the process. Words and illustrations are both very funny and surprisingly touching. A great new series for young readers. Rachel Renee Russell Format: The story will satisfy its readers thoroughly and Max looks set to give Dork diarist Nikki a run for her money.

Finding out just what leads up to this is very funny indeed and readers will be pleased to hear that Rafe still returns home something of a hero. As usual, life at home complicates things: In the words of the great Bill Shankly: It's much more serious than that. From Hillsborough to Munich and the Heysel Stadium, Alan Gibbons examines the worst events in football in a way that enables young fans to understand what happened and why.

Against the Attention Economy: Short Stories Are Not Quick Literary Fixes

A fan himself, his book still celebrates the best of football too as a way to bring people together. Mak seems an unlikely survival hero: Like Mowgli, he forms friendships with a bear and panther, and is attacked by a pack of vicious monkeys but comes up against poachers too. There are more adventures for Mak promised, good news for readers. March Book of the Month A touching and amusing story about belonging and the search for an heroic identity. Adam has always known that he was adopted and it never seemed to matter.

After all, he loves his mum and dad and even his sisters Minnie and Velvet. But when he overhears his mum talking about a secret he jumps to the wrong conclusion and begins to feel left out. Determined to take matters into his own hands Adam dreams of finding his real mother and of making himself more special by becoming a superhero. To save them he and his twin sister Pandora team up with a couple of unscrupulous if well-equipped tomb robbers.

After years of academic failure Jake can finally use his true talents, dodging explosions, outthinking the bad guys, even wrestling a giant snake. This is definitely one to recommend to fans of the Alex Rider books, and readers would also enjoy Defender of the Realm by Nick Ostler and Mark Huckerby. Mr P is a huge polar bear with small black eyes, and long sharp teeth.

Fortunately for Arthur and his family Mr P is polite and friendly and his stay as a guest brings about all sorts of changes for the better. This is all mixed up in a funny, often surreal story about the challenges of managing a polar bear at school, and with a sub-plot concerning a tense football match. Described as Metamorphosis for young readers, this story by Ted Hughes is indeed filled with a sense of transformation, visceral and almost terrifying in its vitality.

There's nothing out of the ordinary about Fred, except that he seems to have a particularly acute relationship with the universe, super-aware of himself as a living being. While his ability to think himself into other heads helps at school, a tiger prowls through his dreams which become ever more real and frightening. Inventive, spare, tough and beautifully told, this demands to be read aloud. Striking illustrations by Joe McLaren add to its special appeal.

This is a hilarious story of dead fish, gorillas with bananas in their ears, poetry, cunning plans and highly legal documents kind of. Oh and iPads, iPhones and vlogging of course. Oh the horror, the indignity! The days when people would sit around the fire playing board games, take long walks and do jigsaw puzzles — all the time. Will Louis convince his parents that social media and technology are good things after all? Or will Louis have to find another way to make his voice heard? In an age where the issue of technology and social media addiction is becoming ever more topical and debated, How to Update Your Parents provides a fresh outlook on the subject and shows both sides of the argument in a thoroughly entertaining, non-judgmental, and hilarious way.

The juxtaposition of monsters and the mundane is very funny, and the action scenes everything they should be — monstrous fun! Fans of Artemis Fowl will enjoy visiting Darkmouth. Arthur is a rather special voice in fiction for young people: It makes for varied, refreshing reading and feels both real and true. As well as the usual issues of friendships and first romances, Arthur is also mourning the loss of his mother, and this too is sensitively handled.

Julia Eccleshare's Pick of the Month, June Debut author Francesca Armour-Chelu has created a desperate flooded dystopian world in this fast-paced story of one boy's survival. When Fenn's parents are killed by the vicious Terra Ferma who are determined to wipe out all Seaborns, Fenn survives thanks to Halflin who does everything he can to keep Fenn safe. But Fenn is a child with a special destiny and Chilstone, the heartless leader of Terra Firma, is determined to get him.

Can Fenn stay one step ahead of his pursuers? James Patterson continues to do sterling work turning reluctant readers onto books, and this latest instalment in the ongoing trials of Rafe Khatchadorian will more than satisfy his young fans. The only person showing any enthusiasm for his return is his least favourite person in the world, Miller, aka the Killer.

But as readers know, Raffe is nothing less than resilient, and things might not turn out as badly as he expects. Short action-packed chapters, snappy dialogue, lots of humour, cartoons and extra graphics, they all contribute to make these some of the most accessible page-turners around.

Anthony Horowitz, Antony Johnston Format: A bold and stylish reissue of the groundbreaking and hugely popular graphic adaptation of Alex Rider's very first mission. Brilliantly visualised, these graphic novel versions of the best-selling stories of boy spy Alex Rider add a fantastic new dimension to the original and terrific for getting even the most reluctant of readers to enjoy the experience of reading.

Following the death of his guardian, Alex is forcibly recruited into MI6 and so finds himself off on some seriously hair raising missions in which he faces terrible danger and the real risk of death. In Stormbreaker, the first in the series, he pits his wits against a sinister organisation run by arch crook Darrius Sayle. Alex Rider is a perfect hero. Instead of being trainee wizards however, these young people are at shapeshifter school learning to turn themselves into animals. As strife between the shapeshifters and the different factions of the animal kingdom grows, this is a great opener to a new series that will satisfy readers who like their adventures action- and animal-packed.

But times are hard. The fish are all being eaten by seals. But can Bobby kill a seal? Especially, can he kill his pet seal? The choice he makes will mark him adult or child. Peter Jay Black Format: Another dose of terrific escapist fiction from an author who excels at this kind of gadget-packed high action drama.

This is another brilliantly funny survival guide, the kind of book readers carry around so that they can read favourite passages out loud to friends and family. Huge fun and great for dipping into. Chris and I, via the delusions of the world's premier only dangerologist Docter Noel Zone, are delighted to get this opportunity from Puffin to terrify children with tales of awful made-up things that could happen.

I mean, are you completely sure that your cat isn't a baby dinosaur? Meet Finn, shrunk to 9mm tall by his uncle in order to save mankind by stopping a killing machine from wreaking havoc. Full of humour and high action adventure even if its characters are very small. Charlie is the captain of the local youth team, North Star Galaxy. He eats, sleeps, and breathes football.

But when Colts steal all of North Star's best players, it's up to Charlie and his friends to save the team Told in Charlie's own words and doodles - this book will make you laugh, groan, and cheer! Other authors creating addictive and irresistible page-turners for young readers include Steve Cole, Liz Pichon and Jim Smith. Dan Hope may be an ordinary boy, in an ordinary home, in an ordinary town but he has an extraordinary amount of hope in his heart particularly when it comes to his dad who has left the family home. A Piece of Passon from the Publisher: This is a book about a boy, Dan Hope.

A story about his dreams and wishes, his fears and worries, and his search for hope. Because in life sometimes things are complicated and messy, not everyone is perfect, things can surprise us, they can make us laugh but they can also make us cry. This is Dan's story, about what makes the world go round, what brings people and families together, and most of all, how hope helps you dream. It's a book that we all loved and we couldn't be more proud to share the wonder that is A Boy called Hope with you. But can he win over Miss Vowel, who seems to care more for her growing collection of school pets than any of her pupils?

Guy hascreated a wonderfully grotesque cast of characters, headed up of course by awful Aidan, for whom I have a ridiculous soft spot, horrid creature though he is. Invisible to all but Hatty, a lonely little girl, Tom enjoys the most wonderful adventures with her including skating through the night to Ely. The rich imagination of the original is portrayed in a new and also stimulating way. Stories give us so much delight, so many characters to get to know, so many places to explore — and so much sheer entertainment.

Really great stories deserve to be shared with as many different people as possible, in many different ways — as we have seen with Harry Potter in film, Matilda in musical form, Tracy Beaker on TV, and so many others.

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The power of the story shines through in each case, brought to life in different ways by different forms. So it is incredibly exciting to have a brand new way of sharing this story — in this beautiful graphic novel, adapted and illustrated by French graphic novelist Edith. No-one expected that the dinosaurs would also bring a disease deadly to mankind.

One of these hiding humans is twelve-year-old Sky. Her search takes her up against not just the man-eating dinosaurs, but devious grown-ups too. Sky is a tough, appealing central character and the thrills come fast and furious. The background is vividly described, and fascinating, whether you know your nunchaku from your shuriken or not, and Chris Bradford is an expert at keeping the tension high.

With a great twist to it, this is a witty story of growing up and all the complications and unfairness of family and friends that go with it. Adam Meltzer is on an unusual mission. He wants to find out the mystery of his own death. Although Adam looks just like his old self and still has his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder he is actually — a zombie. Not the typical crazed, flesh-eating kind but the living dead nonetheless. So, what was going on? A brilliantly funny story about a boy who makes a very rash wish! And it starts with his terrible name.

He goes on to blame them for being so boring, being so mean to him about letting him play out and, above all, for never giving him an exciting birthday party! Parenting is far harder than Barry had ever imagined! That means Martin is always in trouble of one kind or another. What would you do? When Martin asks his friend Padraic for advice about changing the gender balance in the Moone family home, Padraic suggest finding a IF — imaginary friend. Martin is hilarious as he tells of his search for a suitable choice.

Just what a kind of a person should he pick? Kenny Wright is smart, polite, and really good at chess, none of which does anything to impress the kids at his new Middle School, which is one tough place. As ever with Patterson, this is sharp and funny, first-rate page-turning fiction.

He makes serious points about the importance of ensuring everyone in society gets a proper education, but without it every feeling preachy. Cartoons of Kenny in his would-be superhero guise of Stainlezz Steel add an extra layer to the plot and are great fun too. While Demolition Dad unashamedly plugs the many delights of wrestling - and could well inspire a whole new army of fans - it is really a book about love, in particular the love between a boy and his dad. A warm, funny and genuinely touching story of family relationships, in a lycra wrapping.

Chevie can use her time travel to save the past and change the future. Chevie has been back into the past before. This time she is trying to save the past from an attack with weapons using lethal technology from the future. Can Chevie save the day? Eleven year old Danny, with his new found link to an ancient and dangerous magic is understandably scared and confused, this makes him feel alive and so very real. This is a book that encourages imaginations to run riot for a while, at times scary and sad it also has an undercurrent of reassurance and strength running throughout.

There are questions left unanswered and as this is the first in a trilogy, the door is left wide open for another exciting tale.

Great Books for Boys

Quirky, original and hugely entertaining, this is a debut novel of fantastical proportions. The first in a secretive series, The Name of this Book is SECRET is accompanied by a website, part of which is in code so important information is only given to the brave or foolhardy. It provides even more insight into the twisted villains and their lair. Frank Cottrell Boyce Format: When a bag stuffed full of money falls out of a train and into their camp, Damian and Anthony are suddenly rich. Very, very rich, to be precise. But, there is a problem.

They only have a few days in which to spend the money. The bestselling novel from Frank Cottrell Boyce - screenwriter and writer of the London Olympics Opening Ceremony - now with a fantastic new cover to celebrate its ten year anniversary. Saving the rain forest! The precious forest is being cleared by loggers leaving the wild life at risk. The orang-utans will be especially vulnerable if their precious habit is destroyed.

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Using all their cunning, skill and intimate knowledge of the forest, Saker and Sinter and their friends dare to challenge the loggers despite the enormous dangers they face as they do so. A page turning adventure that will inspire young readers to care about their environment. Operation Sting is the first book in an exciting, fast-paced and action-packed new series, SWARM full of spying and military action. Granny Samurai is back for a second hilarious and thrilling adventure. And she is still not to be messed with! As before, Samuel Johnson tells the story of his unusual next door neighbour who drives a truck and keeps a top secret nano-thruster hidden in her wooden leg.

Will they be able to bring Philip back safely? It all looks very dangerous! Beanie is being treated for leukaemia but, when he comes across a young chimpanzee in a deserted house, he knows he must do everything he can to keep him safe from those who want to exploit him. Luckily, Beanie is very tenacious — and he has a lot of support from family and friends. Thanks to him, both he and his monkey friend are safe. Zoe is a lovely little girl with a terrible life; she is bullied at school and her stepmother treats her like a slave. Zoe has adopted Armitage, a pet rat.

Dripping with atmosphere and gothic gore, Wild Boy will appeal to fans of Sherlock Holmes, gothic horror and all things murderous and mysterious. You can vote in your local library or at www. Voting closes on Friday 25th April and the winners will be announced on Tuesday 20th May.

See below for the entire shortlist. The boy at the centre of the story — we never learn his name — is poor, lonely and bullied by other children because of his selective mutism. The dog he rescues from a car crash that has killed its owner is subject to its own set of painful compulsions, finding out why is one of the surprises and rewards of the story. This will absorb readers, from the opening page to its warm, uplifting final line. His life is quite literally an uphill struggle, but his instinct to help others leads him to a healing bond with an extraordinary little dog and ultimately to find his voice again.

He doggedly persists until he achieves his goals — working hard to understand what the little dog is trying to communicate to him. The final twist of the story highlights the lightness of touch and humour throughout. I have had a number of different occupations over the last fifty years: A Different Dog draws on many experiences in these fields. And of course, it also draws on my own childhood. It was a matter of putting my hand into the lucky dip of my own mind. One of the influences on a writer would have to be the books that he or she has read themselves.

But somewhere in the back of our minds are tucked the stories we have enjoyed in the past. Of the books that I loved when I was aged between thirteen and fifteen I can think of three which I turn back to and read again and again. They are still readily available more than fifty years later. Teenagers and adults love these stories. I still have my old copies and like to look at their torn and worn covers which beckon me from years gone by. Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

Reluctant Reads - Ages 5+

A boy and a runaway slave on the Mississippi River. How I wished I was on that raft. And little did I know that I would still be amazed by their wonderful adventures all these years later. The Snow Goose by Paul Gallico. A girl, a bird and disabled man feature in this moving story. When you finish it you just know that there is an untold truth hinted at within the main story and it makes you think for weeks after you have read it.

This is a lovely story about a boy, an old man and a fish. I can tell you how I think A Different Dog came into being. When I was eight years old, I had to bury a dead dog. This unpleasant memory was the starting point for my new book. I began writing about how I felt while I was digging the grave for the poor animal. But as the story developed I dropped this bit out altogether and came up with a dog named Chase that was alive but very strange indeed.

As the wrapping paper came off, something else revealed itself and the story changed completely. It was not about death any more but had ended up being about … Well, what do you think? Evacuees Bill and his sister have returned to London from the countryside, much to his anger, arriving home just as the Blitz begins.

Nights are spent cowering in the shelter, before they emerge into a frightening world of rubble and destruction. Chris Priestley knows just how to tell horror stories and this super-readable novella will have readers checking nervously over their shoulder in the dark. What if a teenage boy washed up on the banks of the River Thames, soaked to the skin and unable to explain who he is?

What if the only clue to the boy's identity is a sketch he made of a strange symbol? Who would help him? Who would hunt him? Who is River Boy? Unable to communicate, the River Boy is given paper and a pencil and begins to scribble. Soon a symbol emerges, but the boy has no idea why he has drawn it even thought it's the only clue to the mystery of his identity As the boy begins to build a new life under a new name, the hunt for his real identity begins. In this stylish re-issue, Horowitz's world-renowned teen super-spy Alex Rider's fourth mission is turned into a slick, thrilling, fast-paced and stylish graphic adaptation.

It brings to life all the adventure, thrills and spills of this bestselling story. Following the triumphant, international publication of Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel, the whole graphic novel series has gained wide recognition among reviewers, fans and literacy experts. Recent government initiatives encourage us to examine the reading habits of boys - with literacy levels among children in the UK lower than ever.

This is a series of books that may offer an accessible and compelling alternative for otherwise reluctant readers. A spine-tingling collection of fearful stories, cleverly framed by an equally chilling storytelling device. Twelve story tellers sit around the table leaving one chair empty and one story still to be told. Each lit only by a single candle, one by one the storytellers deliver their sometimes bloodthirsty, sometimes mysterious and always creepy stories.

When finished they each blow their candle out. As the room gets darker the atmosphere gets more terrifying. Who will tell the last story? A brilliant collection for those who love shivery stories. We love the fact that the focus of the book is on story-telling itself - a clever trick that layers on the chilling irony of the plot as it unfolds. Dave Shelton is an extraordinarily versatile and clever author and his second book with DFB is such a tour de force.

Tense, and creepy, there are real thrills in this absorbing story. Noah has a strange and unsettling talent — gift or curse? Moving to a new place to start a new life gives him the chance to reinvent himself, particularly when he makes friends with a girl, Beth, but the past seems to haunt him.

It begins in the Arctic when Cabin Boy Mel finds something strange trapped in the ice: The unscrupulous crew of the Albatross take the pair of them to London to sell to Queen Victoria, who has developed an obsession with monsters. Mel and co make a great gang, and their adventures are rip-roaring stuff. This exciting new series is based on an original idea from Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson. Our hero is Ben Cameron, sixteen years old. His father has been killed in a climbing accident, and the book opens at the funeral, with an impressive fly-past organised as part of the commemorations.

When something goes wrong, two of the pilots are left dangling from their parachutes thousands of feet up and first his mother, and then Ben goes to their rescue. The technology is up to date, but the ingenuity and action-based plotlines that made Thunderbirds so distinctive is the same. Great fun for fans of Young Bond. You need all of your creative wits about you to imagine the essential and fantastical machinery and transportation at the teams disposal. Ben Carrington, the new kid on the adventure block isn't perfect, he makes mistakes and a few rash decisions along the way but he's immensely likeable and a great addition to the fascinating crew of Gemini Force, this feels like the perfect introduction to an exciting new series.

Such people, Ferals, are in danger though, the sinister and terrifying Spinning Man is coming after them. Caw shares characteristics with superheroes and makes an appealing central character for young readers, boys in particular. This high-octane adventures ticks lots of boxes for fans of fantasy action. One of Our Books of the Year In a nutshell: Chief amongst them is Kit Wagstaffe, adopted son of the Ravenmaster at the Tower of London, a boy with a rare gift: With flocks of feathered spies to help, Kit discovers a plot against the young Princess Elizabeth, one he is determined to foil out of his loyalty to and affection for Anne.

The events of May — the days of the fall of the Boleyn regime — are still cloudy and mysterious, and it is possible that the birds of the air know as much as the rest of us about what really happened and why. November Book of the Month In a Nutshell: Without it, the Nine Worlds will be powerless against the onslaught of an army of giants. Someone Had to Say It being particular personal favourites. Gosh, this is a full on adventurous tale about hope and survival!

Sam tells his own tale, after the small plane he and his dad were in crashes in an Amazonian jungle river, miles from anywhere. The first sentence seizes your attention, and the book doesn't let it go until the last page. Brazier has created a jungle that bites, it is scary, and powerful and made me wince and cringe as I read. The story just races along, there are brushes with death, but then there are also moments of quiet, where a beautiful sunrise sears the pages. Young Jatinder is at a football camp located next to an old airfield used by pilots in World War One.

Based on the true stories of three airmen - Indian, American and German — this gives readers a sense of what bravery really entails, and puts the spotlight on the extraordinary Malik, the first ever Sikh pilot to fly a plane of war. Click here to read more. In Holes, best-selling author Louis Sachar showed his understanding and compassion for a group of boys who have got outside the system. Bradley seems unable to change but then Carla arrives.

Carla believes in Bradley; gradually Bradley begins to believe in himself. Without preaching and with his familiar humour, Sachar tells a heartwarming story. Gripping, scary and unputdownable from the first page of the first book in this brilliantly plotted series right through to the last word in this the sixth and final heart-stopping instalment in the bestselling GONE series that really put dystopia back on the map in the 21st century. It is an exceptional page-turner. Escapism just doesn't get better than this.

At the start of the series it was seen as The Lord of the Flies for the Heroes generation and that very much still holds true now we've come to the end of a series that will in time become a classic. The complete list of books in this epic series is We have discovered a better series than The Hunger Games. Click here to read what they thought. Gregorovich is ruthless and calculating; he is a contract killer who will do the business. But how did he get to be in that position? And what is his link to Alex Rider? In a story of trickery, cruelty, ruthlessness and all out violence, Anthony Horowitz shows how some terrible choices are made.

An absolute must-read after finishing the Alex Rider series rather than before the series. Anthony Horowitz discussed Russian Roulette in a special live event that was streamed into schools. For more information go to www. The harsh realities of 18th century life, of slavery, of prejudice, of tragedy, of corruption, of the haves and the have-nots are woven together incredibly intricately and yet quite simply told too. Rest assured this book will have significant impact on a teenager, just as it will an adult and I do urge you the parent to read it as well for it won't disappoint, in fact you'll find it wonderfully exciting and totally unputdownable.

A whopping adventure with some thrilling chases, heart-racing paranormal moments, unexplained criminal activity, a robot with the unlikely name of Gustav Klimt, a secret enterprise called Unicorne and Michael, a great schoolboy hero, at its heart. Did his father have special powers?

No question — and thank goodness some people have powers that can alter stuff so we can at least get a twist on reality to stay ahead. This is your chance to play a crime solving sleuth alongside one of the greatest fictional detectives of all time, because the clues are there, ready for you to unravel them. Even if you haven't come across Young Sherlock before, this works really well as a standalone novel despite it, technically, being the 7th in the series.

Enter Oxford and a fascinating world of body part snatchers, houses that move position overnight and a particularly vicious weapon wielding monkey. Sherlock is at his best with an accomplice alongside and Matty is particularly adept at the more crooked side of life. The author allows you to work alongside the Young Sherlock, to observe as he learns his craft, to meet the intriguing people who shape his life. This is a hugely enjoyable cracker of a read. Where once misery was just on a domestic scale, Zinny is caught up in doing delivery jobs for a bunch of crooks.

With seemingly no one to turn to, Zinny is soon in fear of his life! Egmont UK Ltd Format: There's nothing that can't be built in Minecraft, but with so many possibilities, where do you start? And how will you ever match the creative style of the experts? This title is packed with tips and step-by-step instructions from master build team FyreUK. Our books are unique because they are created in partnership with Mojang and Minecraft superfans. Fans from the Minecraft community tell us that our books are every bit as awesome as the game itself, and that makes us immensely proud.

And if you're new to Minecraft check out the Official Beginner's Handbook. Always one step ahead of catastrophe, Skulduggery Pleasant must now make new alliances if he is to save the world from total destruction as foes of all kinds forge new and deadly alliances. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Skulduggery Pleasant: Last Stand of Dead Men a small number of children were lucky enough to be invited to review this title.

All I can say now is you've GOT to buy this book!!!!!!!!!!!!! See below for links to all the series books: Playing with Fire 3. The Faceless Ones 4. Kingdom of the Wicked 8. Last Stand of Dead Men 9. The Dying of the Light. A dynamic slam-dunk of a book in which a boy lost in grief begins to find his feet on the basketball court. It's and Charlie Bell Chuck to his Granddaddy feels utterly isolated by grief after losing his dad. There Chuck discovers an affinity with basketball through his cousin Roxie, but when a friend from back home says he can help Chuck get hold of a pair of genuine Jordan sneakers at a discount, the ensuing chain of events could land him in serious trouble.

This is a joyous parade of poetry that packs incredible emotional depth. The language soars and sings, and the vibrant interspersed comic strips by Dawud Anyabile enhance the immersive experience with panache. Joe being Joe of course, things are bound to go awry. Tom Ward is now a fully-fledged Spook and, as such, his life is dedicated to protecting the County from all manner of terrors, among them beastly boggarts, scuttling skelts and wild witches.

He now also has charge of his own apprentice, Jenny, who claims to be the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, as he was the seventh son of a seventh son. As ever, the writing is as elegantly incisive as it is chilling. In fact, the entire Spooks saga has a real sense of classic timelessness and glorious inter-generational appeal. While their underground tunnel location and identities must remain secret, each fight is broadcast, with proceeds going to a homeless charity and the fighters being given a sum of money to help them get back on their feet once the last match has been fought.

But this tension turns out to be the least of their problems. When Kai and Raven leave the tunnels on a recce for Spartacus, they spot someone - Bird Girl - spying on the entrance to their secret subterranean world while searching for her missing sister. With an outsider in their midst and heightened risk of exposure to the authorities, tension mounts as the group gears up for the last stages of the tournament.

September Book of the Month In a Nutshell: Historical haunting Eerie intrigue Sinister secrets Chilling historical novel in which an orphan becomes entangled in a web of supernatural goings-on and family secrets. While William tries to settle into these unfamiliar, unfriendly circumstances his uncle is arrogant, ill-humoured and makes William work as a valet to his stepson, Toby , he witnesses a series of unsettling occurrences - the sound of a woman sobbing for help, the sight of a cloaked figure near the cliffs, words written in frost on his window.

Could these haunting happenings be the work of the Hag of the Mist, as claimed by Rhiannon, the superstitious scullery maid? William is unconvinced, but the home truths turn out to be even more terrifying than local folklore. Alongside the thrilling unfolding of the mystery, this truly gripping tale also features a strong strand about seeing the good in people and acting nobly.

Perceptive, good-natured and empathetic, William is a character you really do root for he even finds it in his heart to understand how Toby came to be such an idle brat, and he even risks his own life to protect him , and his action-packed story would surely make an enthralling screen adaptation. Imagine his surprise and excitement therefore when he develops special powers including telekinesis.

Could this be his chance to get his own back on the bullies, impress the gorgeous Indira and even join super-heroes unlimited the Vigils? Well, yes and no. The story that follows is a sharply-observed comedy of teen life, with a serious undertone. Amongst the comic-book action Burstein shows what heroism - the kind that calls for real courage — really is, and reminds readers that heroes and villains too are often those we least expect them to be.

Shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize A bombing campaign and invasion by their neighbours in the Old Country makes things even worse. Somehow though Charlie remains positive. He makes friends with Pav, a refugee from the Old Country, and together they turn an old shed into a homely refuge until circumstances leave Charlie owing favours to the terrifying Big Man, and facing an awful choice. Decent, determined and brighter than he makes out, Charlie finds a solution. Hugely entertaining and highly original. An adventurous rescue attempt out on the north face of Everest, sits alongside the tale of a Tibetan family as they flee for their lives.

The two separate stories blend into each other until they beat with one heart. Everest sits brooding, occasionally rumbling and roaring, ever present, ever mysterious. With evocative chapter heading illustrations, this is a simply told, yet dark tale that doesn't shy away from desperate deeds. Set in the mid-nineteenth century, war has broken out between France and England as the two mighty powers struggle for global supremacy.

With steam driven automatons, warships and hidden floating cities you are transported into a wonderfully created new world. The beautifully drawn and explained pull out diagrams and plans of the steam entities pull you further into this sensational alternative reality. The adventures undertaken are tense, and the characters need grit and guts galore to try to complete their mission. Each has suffered heartache and each has experienced loss, yet dealt with it in very different ways.

They meet in unusual circumstances and soon find themselves battling for their lives. The introduction set me on high alert, it took me a few seconds to understand what I was looking at, it was certainly intriguing and I immediately wanted to know more. Matt Dickinson doesn't shy away from difficult subjects, he exposes pain, corruption, loss, fear and meets them head on, yet with undeniable sensitivity. Yes, probably I am best known for my Everest adventures, but I have plenty of other themes that I want to explore. In my previous series Mortal Chaos, I based the stories around chaos theory and the chain reactions that cause disasters.

With Lie Kill Walk Away I wanted to create a very different form of adventure, a thriller environment in which two teenage protagonists are trying, quite literally, to save the world. We think this is great book for reluctant readers and Matt agrees.. Reluctant readers are often boys with short attention spans. I am the same in my reading habits; I strongly dislike books that are overwritten or just way too slow. I can promise readers of Lie Kill Walk Away that they will be in for a very fast read.

This is painful, often uncomfortable, yet utterly fascinating… this is quite simply a novel to bury yourself in. Mara finds herself in a frightening new world, with the Messenger of Fear acting as her mentor she struggles to understand her role and the terrors that surround her. Mara has lessons to learn, memories to grasp and truth to recognise. This is not a story about an answer, this is a story about a totally gripping and compelling journey. First published in the United States in and described perfectly as a novel-in-verse, this is a story about basketball playing twins, Josh and Jordan.

I initially wondered, as I looked at the visual impact of the first page, how easy it would be to read, as the words themselves slant and grow and fill the page with attitude. The answer is that this is a remarkably beautiful and accessible read, at times I even read out loud, the sounds resonating and rolling from the page. This style really encourages feeling and understanding to grow, and before I knew it I was fully immersed in the story and letting the words ebb and flow through my mind.

Department 19 is utterly addictive. Packed with great characters and brilliantly plotted, the series sets a new benchmark for YA thrillers. This is book four in the explosive series from bestselling author, Will Hill. This stunning debut novel by acclaimed spoken-word artist Steven Camden tells two stories which take place twenty years apart but which are connected by one old cassette tape. Ryan and Ameliah each tell their story. Both are suffering unhappiness following the death of their mothers. It is a powerful story and Steve Camden unravels it with a delicacy and subtly that adds much to its impact.

One of our Books of the Year In a world in which everyone over fourteen is struck down by a hideous illness which ravages their bodies and turns them into frenzied, blood craving zombies, a group of children must do everything they can to survive. With the cities in ruins and full of hidden dangers, Ella believes what she is told — that the countryside is safer.