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Book cover for review: image shows a tall, dark, residential building at night, leaning away from the viewer. There are large billows of smoke around it, and a helicopter is flying to the left of it. The helicopter's spotlight rests on two children standing looking up at the building, their backs to the viewer, an older boy and a younger girl. Overlaid at the top of the image is the title in white, The Deadsoul Project; the series name, 'The Night House Files', is on a pink band between the second and third words.
Book Reviews

The Deadsoul Project | Book Review

Written by Dan Smith and illustrated by Luke Brookes (pub. Barrington Stoke)

“What’s wrong with you?” Mam insisted. “Give him a hug.”
“I don’t want to.” Lauren’s voice started to crack as she fought back tears.
“Just leave her,” Kyle said, putting a hand on his mam’s arm. “She’s scared.”
“Scared of what?” Mam glared at him. “There’s nothing to be –”
“Stay away from me.”
Connor’s words were quiet and menacing.
He was staring right at Lauren with a dark and hungry look. An ugly sound rattled deep in his throat, and his pupils were so large that his eyes seemed completely black.

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Covers for book recommendations Jan 2025
Book Reviews

Monthly Book Recommendations: January 2025

Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for January! We read some fantastic books over the past month, with adventure, information, and a lot of fun. What a great way to start the new year!

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Image shows book cover for review; an observatory is silhouetted at the bottom in a green field, with an orange glow above and behind it. Above is a dark blue sky, with lighter lines whirling across it. In the middle at the top, a bright orb shoots across. Between this and the observatory is the title 'The Others'.
Book Reviews

The Others | Book Review

Written by Sarah Merrett, illustrated by Ewa Beniak-Haremska (pub. Everything With Words, 2024)

‘There!’ Grandma’s face lit up. ‘Tell me you heard that!’ She ran to the machine and flung herself in the chair.

Reuben’s limbs locked tight. He stared, his mind running wild. The machine had never made a sound like it. He knew it wasn’t from this world.

He listened, waiting, holding his breath.

The machine remained silent, but he knew those few strange sounds had changed everything.

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Book Reviews

Our Top 5 Books of 2024

We read some absolutely fantastic books over the past year, and we’ve enjoyed sharing them all with you! Some books didn’t make it into our recommended lists however (there were some crackers released at the end of the year!), and they were some of the best – so here we’re sharing with you our top 5 books from 2024.

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Book cover for review: image shows a grand old manor house with a red front door and long windows. The windows directly above the door are lit up, while one on the bottom right is boarded up. The manor is surrounded by snow, and a line of shadowy tress stands behind it. Above the manor rises a full moon in a starry sky. This is all flanked by two leafless trees, one on each side, close to the viewer. In the branch of the left tree lies a white squirrel. Across the snow in front of the house is the title "The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor", and underneath the subtitle "A Christmas Mystery".
Book Reviews

The Secret of Helmersbruk Manor: A Christmas Mystery | Review

Written by Eva Frantz, illustrated by Elin Sandström (pub. Pushkin Press, 2023)

‘It’s her!’

The white thing disappeared too quickly for Flora to see what it was, but for a few horrible moments she thought she had seen a pale face peering in at her and whispering.

But the room was on the first floor, so surely no one could be peeking in up there?

Flora lingered in the doorway, dead still.

Did she dare go over to the window and look?

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Blog

Book Gifts Advent Calendar 2024

Welcome to our advent calendar for 2024! We read some wonderful books throughout the year that we think would make great gifts for young readers, so we’ve hidden them behind our advent doors. From fiction to nonfiction, poetry to picture books, as well as a few bookish treats, there’s something for everyone!

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Book cover for review: image shows a young girl dressed in furs and wearing a deer skull on her head, carrying a bow. She has one hand on a large white reindeer walking beside her. It has packed bags strapped to it. They're walking through the snow in a dark forest. The title "Fia and the Last Snow Deer" is inscribed in gold above them.
Book Reviews

Fia and the Last Snow Deer | Book Review

Written by Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn (pub. Puffin Books, 2024)

Suddenly I know what I have to do
to keep Solas safe.
The prophecy says the sacrifice must be given
freely,
              gladly,
                             with hope.
Nothing about
blood                  sadness              despair.

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Book recommendations covers for Oct 2024
Book Reviews

Monthly Book Recommendations: October 2024

Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for October! There are still a few spooky titles in our list from last month, but we were also looking forward to non-fiction November.

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Book cover for review shows a young boy in a shabby black suit standing amongst a crowd of people against a light blue background. The people are silhouetted in blue, green, and white, with no facial details, causing the boy to stand out. Above is the title 'The Boy in the Suit' in large letters.
Book Reviews

The Boy in the Suit | Book Review

By James Fox (Scholastic, 2024)

I pulled again on Morag’s wrist, so hard I felt my veins popping out of my forehead. Why couldn’t they just let her go? I wished Morag and I had the power to turn invisible. I wanted us to run away and forget all about this stupid funeral.

That’s when the camera flashed. Bright white, right in our faces. “Oh dear,” a man’s voice sneered. It was the newspaper photographer from earlier. “What’s going on here, then?”

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Book recommendations covers for Sep 2024
Book Reviews

Monthly Book Recommendations: September 2024

Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for September! Last month we read some very spooky books, some not-so-spooky books, and some that aren’t really spooky at all. And we enjoyed each and every one of them!

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