Blog and Book Reviews | Libraries 4 Schools

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'.

The Others | Book Review

January 24, 2025January 24, 2025 Kim

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

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

December 20, 2024December 20, 2024 Kim

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

December 1, 2024December 1, 2024 Lynda

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

November 25, 2024November 25, 2024 Kim

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

November 8, 2024November 8, 2024 Lynda

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

October 24, 2024October 24, 2024 Kim

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

October 11, 2024October 11, 2024 Lynda

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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Book cover for review shows a dark-haired girl with her hood up and wearing a dark green cloak riding a pale horse. Behind her sits another young girl with long blond curls and a red cape flowing behind them. She's looking back over her shoulder, with her arms clasped around the girl in front. The background is green with floating leaves, the title 'Not for the Faint of Heart' written above them in gold.

Book Reviews

Not for the Faint of Heart | Young Adult Book Review

September 25, 2024September 25, 2024 Kim

By Lex Croucher (Bloomsbury, 2024)

‘It wasn’t meant to be violent,’ Mariel said reluctantly.
‘What?’
‘The kidnapping,’ Mariel snapped. ‘I may have been overzealous with my instructions. It was just meant to be…fast.’
‘Ah, yes. A nice clean abduction, with proper attention paid to the procedures.’
‘Stop being so dramatic. You’re just on loan.’
‘You shouldn’t kidnap innocent people, Captain,’ Clem said sharply. ‘People might get the wrong idea about you and your merry mates.’

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Book recommendations covers for August 2024

Book Reviews

August 2024 Book Recommendations

September 6, 2024September 6, 2024 Lynda

August has been a busy month, what with travelling (and maybe seeing a few bookshops on the way!), as well as prepping for our next big giveaway. We always find time to fit in a few books here and there though!

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