Following on from Jennifer Bell’s Wonderscape friends Arthur, Ren and Cecily are now transported to the year 2493, where the secretive villain Deadlock has uncovered powerful time-travelling technology. To stop Deadlock, the friends must enter Legendarium ‘s dangerous Irontide Tournament, where one wrong move could [...]
June 5, 2022
Featuring two non-binary protagonists ‘Alice Austen Lived Here’ by Alex Gino is a powerful story that will encourage kids to consider the history they are traditionally taught and what it means to be included. Our young reviewer was inspired to consider his own community’s history [...]
May 15, 2022
From Lily Bailey is a story about a 12 year old boy who suffers with O.C.D. The author has experience of living with Obsessive-compulsive Disorder and writes with first-hand knowledge about its impact on a young person. Her hope is that this fictional story [...]
Wow! says our 15 year reviewer, who would not usually choose to read autobiographies. Newly abridged and updated for a young adult readership with a colour insert of never-before-seen photos, this is a revealing portrait of a young Black man asking questions about self-discovery and [...]
April 24, 2022
From writer Sue Wallman is a thriller for YA readers set on a remote island of luxury with a storm brewing. Seventeen-year-old Lydia Cornwallis has arrived on a remote island populated only by wealthy families and their staff. She quickly finds acceptance, even adoration, from [...]
Furthermoor is the imaginary place Bren escapes too when reality gets too much. The real world is a hostile place for twelve-year-old Bren, his schooldays stalked by vicious bully, Shaun, and his family life fractured at home. Ever since his sister Evie died in [...]
How to make a classic literature accessible to readers who are challenged by dyslexia? The publisher Barrington Stoke has commissioned a number of ‘retellings’ including Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Of Mice and Men so that more readers can enjoy these books whose characters and [...]
April 19, 2022
Hotel Magnifique is about Jani, a seventeen year old girl who has to care of her younger sister Zosa as their parents are dead. They live in a poor orphanage, dreaming of adventure. This book follows Jani as she and her sister manage to get [...]
The Burning Swift is the epic conclusion to the critically acclaimed Shadow Skye series, a rich fantasy adventure trilogy set in a mythical Scotland written by Joseph Elliott. Jimmy, who reviewed this book for us had not read the first two books in the [...]
“They’re the best years of your life!” – allegedly. But for even for the most robust and resilient teenager there are days that feel tricky. Decisions to make with conflicting information and advice from peers, parents, teachers and Siri, not forgetting Hormones throwing some [...]
April 12, 2022
This is a feel-good story with a scenic coastal setting written by Lou Abercrombie. When Coco moves to the seaside town where her mum grew up, she’s excited to make friends and find out more about the family her mum has kept from her. What [...]
March 28, 2022
When I Was the Greatest is a novel set in a troubled borough of Brooklyn, New York. The story is seen through the eyes of the main character, Ali who is an avid boxer. He lives with his sister Jazz and his mother Doris [...]
March 21, 2022
This Woven Kingdom is Tahereh Mafi’s first novel in this epic, romantic fantasy series inspired by Persian mythology. To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight. The crown prince, Kamran, [...]
March 16, 2022
In this empowering non-fiction book, award-winning podcaster Alexis Caught sets out to help queer and curious teenagers explore their LGBTQ+ identity and understanding as allies. It is published by Walker Books who have designed it with imagination so the content is accessible and easy [...]
March 14, 2022
In May readers will get the chance to meet Ellie Pillai. This debut novel by Christine Pillainayagam is described as ‘a classic high school romance about a 15-year-old girl just trying to work out who she is, like every other 15-year-old the world over – [...]
January 19, 2022
From Mitch Johnson, the author of the the acclaimed book Kick is an exciting and thought-provoking story for children aged 10-13 years. This story is set in an apocalyptic world where the characters Ash and Bronwyn are fighting to survive. Our young reviewer’s favourite character [...]
January 18, 2022
This is a new spy series for readers who love fast-paced plots, cutting-edge tech and exciting action adventures. Two teen spies called Swift and Hawk are experts in AI and robotics, are recruited by the top-secret Moebius Programme when their families mysteriously disappear. Plunged into a life-and-death [...]
Addy is haunted by the tragic fire that killed her parents, leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. Now, years later, Addy’s grandmother has enrolled her in a summer wilderness programme. There, Addy joins five other Black city kids – each with their [...]
January 14, 2022
Edited by Melissa Meyer this book is an anthology of ten short stories about love in all its guises from ten award-winning writers of YA fiction. Taking the theme of love the collection includes stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises and love [...]
January 10, 2022
For readers who enjoy thrilling stories here is spine-chilling page-turning new YA novel from Cynthia Murphy. Another year has begun at a girls’ school called Morton Academy. Liz is back from a summer full of hospital visits after a tragic last few days of school [...]
January 4, 2022
