Welcome to our first monthly book recommendations post! We realised that we read SO many books that we simply don’t have time to fully review, but still want to share with the world. So going forward, we’re hoping to do a post at the start of each month, covering what we read last month. Here’s our books from March 2024!
Continue reading “Monthly Book Recommendations: March 2024”
By Maria Kuzniar, with illustrations by Nakul P. (published by Puffin Books, 2024)
Continue reading “The Girl Who Dreamed in Magic | Book Review”‘The girl will dream magic.’ Her lined face drooped. ‘And she holds the fate of the North in her hands.’
Written by Lora Senf, illustrations by Alfredo Cáceres (published by Atheneum Books, 2022)
Continue reading “The Clackity | Happy Halloween! Book Review”In the far corner of the abattoir, on the other side of the back wall below the shaft, the shadows were unnaturally dark. And they shifted and churned. Something was there. Something else was in the abattoir with my aunt.
“Des!” I screamed it. “Get out!”
I couldn’t see her face, but the terror in my aunt’s voice told me everything I needed to know. She didn’t scream at me, or even yell. Instead her voice came out as a wailing sort of moan.
“Baby. Run.”
By Nicola Davies (published by Firefly Press)
The sounds of hard breathing and the scrunch of footfalls enclose them as they run. There are shouts behind, voices yelling orders, more shots. Harlon gives Xeno and Ash a stream of small orders and encouragements to stop them thinking.
In Harlon’s head, her ma’s voice speaks.
When you are in danger, the most dangerous thing is to wish you weren’t. Accept the reality of danger, then you can survive it.
Climb, she tells herself. Get away.
Continue reading “The Song That Sings Us | Book Review for Older Readers”
We’re keeping it light this month with some fun reads featuring the first entries for a variety of new monsters and fantastic creatures, and all with the most eye-catching front covers!
Continue reading “Light-Hearted Reads | Review”
By Louie Stowell (published by Walker Books, 2022)
Continue reading “Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Being Good | Book Review”In which case I may as well be honest in these pages. There’s a first time for everything.
My tragedy began with a trick involving the goddess Sif, her long, golden locks, a pair of scissors and an ill-timed nap. I’ll spare you the details, but let’s just say that no one in Asgard can take a joke. Or a haircut.
Written by S.F. Said, illustrated by Dave McKean (published by David Fickling Books)
Continue reading “Tyger | Book Review”‘Nothing is ordinary,’ said the tyger. ‘Everything is extraordinary. In all of infinity and eternity, that flower exists only in this world; this precise position in space and time. Everywhere else, there is a different flower, or no flower at all. And the same is true of you. Nothing special? You are miraculous beyond measure, both of you.’
Edited by Matt Brown & Eloise Williams, illustrated by Max Low (published by Unbound, 2022)
But as well as being really, really old, the stories in The Mab are thrilling and funny and MAGIC. They speak of a time when the gates between the Real World and the Otherworld were occasionally left open. And sometimes, just sometimes, it was possible to step through. Trust me, you’re going to love them.
Continue reading “The Mab | Welsh Folklore Book Review”
Sorry that we’ve been a bit quiet – our editor had COVID, then moved house, but now we’re back! Recently, I’ve been looking for books that might entice reluctant readers, especially boys, to pick them up and have a go. We’re talking not too long, exciting covers, and titles that may really inspire them.
Continue reading “Reluctant Reader Recommendations Pt.1”
By Kirsty Applebaum (published by Nosy Crow, 2021)
But it was only a rabbit. It’ll shorten a few days from me, a week at the most. Talents like this don’t come free, you know. There’s always a price.
Give a bit of life, lose a bit of life.
That’s how it goes.
Continue reading “The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke | Book Review”