The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke review book cover
Book Reviews

The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke | Book Review

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.

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Monsters of Rookhaven review book cover
Book Reviews

The Monsters of Rookhaven | Book Review

Written by Pádraig Kenny and illustrated by Edward Bettison (published by Macmillan Children’s Books)

She slowed down as she reached the yawning opening to her left that led down into the bowels of the house. She crept towards it, one eye on the incline that led deep into the dark. She fought the urge to whisper, ‘Piglet.’ She remembered the words Uncle Enoch and the others were so fond of using.

Piglet is dangerous.

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August 2021 review round-up book covers
Book Reviews

Libraries 4 Schools 2021 Review Round-Up 3

Looking for something to read this bank holiday weekend? We’ve got you covered, in our most recent review round-up! A great selection of books for older and younger readers, we’ve got something for everyone!

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When Life Gives You Mangoes review
Book Reviews

When Life Gives You Mangoes | Book Review

By Kereen Getten (published by Pushkin Children’s Books)

‘I get caught because you always make me go,’ I reply angrily.

‘How would you know? You don’t remember.’

‘I remember everything that happened yesterday and last week and last month.’

She faces me head-on, hands on hips. ‘Do you really not remember what happened last summer, Clara, or are you pretending for attention?’

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May 2021 review round-up book covers
Book Reviews

Libraries 4 Schools 2021 Review Round-Up 2

Welcome to our most recent review round-up, where we take a quick look at just some of the books you might like to add to your school or personal bookshelves. And what a great selection we have for you!

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The Boy I Am review book cover
Book Reviews

The Boy I Am | Young Adult Book Review

By K.L. Kettle (published by Little Tiger)

No. Focus on the Chancellor. I bow, full charm turned up, squeezing down the fear in my gut. This is about you, Vik.

The Chancellor’s sweet, slow tones offer her reserve. “One merit,” she says.

The silence is loud enough: no one’s going to outbid her.

I think the woman I’m meant to kill may have just saved my life.

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March 2021 review round-up book covers
Book Reviews

Libraries 4 Schools 2021 Review Round-Up 1

So many brilliant books have been published in the last six months, and a lot by new and exciting authors, which is always great to see!

We’ve decided that the best way for us to keep you up to date is to do a round-up of titles we’ve recently read, so you can get a quick idea of what you might like to add to your school or home library.

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Night Bus Hero cover review
Book Reviews

The Night Bus Hero | Book Review

By Onjali Q. Raúf (published by Orion Children’s Books, an imprint of Hachette Children’s Group)

I waited for him to shout and scream. But he didn’t. Instead, he took off his yellow hat and his shoulders began to shake. That was how I knew that he was crying.

‘How could you do that?’ asked a voice from behind me.

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Valley of Lost Secrets review
Book Reviews

The Valley of Lost Secrets | Book Review

By Lesley Parr (published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

‘One boy, I believe,’ Mr Bevan says.

One.

I think I might be really sick, properly sick, all over my shoes sick. I just want to go home.

I’m gripping Ronnie’s shoulder so tight I must be hurting him but he’s just watching her. Then the woman called Mrs Thomas looks at me and I get the same smile.

‘I’ve changed my mind, Ceri,’ she says. ‘We can make room for two.’

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Book Reviews

The Closest Thing to Flying | Book Review

By Gill Lewis (published by Oxford University Press)

Semira looked behind her as if she felt someone was watching her. A diary was personal wasn’t it? Private?

But surely if it had been written over a hundred years ago, the writer of the diary would be dead by now.

It wouldn’t matter if she read some of it.

Would it?

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