We weren't supposed to be going to the pictures that night. We weren't even meant to be outside, not in a blackout, and definitely not when German bombs had been falling on London all month like pennies from a jar.
February, 1941. After months of bombing raids in London, twelve-year-old Olive Bradshaw and her little brother Cliff are evacuated to the Devon coast. The only person with two spare beds is Mr Ephraim, the local lighthouse keeper. But he's not used to company and he certainly doesn't want any evacuees.
Desperate to be helpful, Olive becomes his post-girl, carrying secret messages (as she likes to think of the letters) to the villagers. But Olive has a secret of her own. Her older sister Sukie went missing in an air raid, and she's desperate to discover what happened to her. And when a sneaky peek at a letter reveals a clue, she knows she'll have to break all the rules to find her.
Five-year-old Sophie finds that going to school and making friends is more difficult than running a farm! The ups and downs of Dick King-Smith's stoic, determined heroine will appeal to children and parents alike.A classic story for young readers by the beloved author of Babe.
Darby loves summer on her family's strawberry farm - but is the weather about to turn?
A UK nomination for IBBY's List of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 2019
Darby is twelve and has Down's syndrome. Her favourite things are music, chocolate, and her big sister Kaydee. It's nearly time for the annual chocolate hunt, the highlight of Darby's year, but Kaydee has brought a friend home for the weekend. Suddenly both the chocolate hunt and her favourite person are in danger of slipping away... and to make things worse, the family's strawberry farm is hit by a tornado.
When the storm clears, what will be left? And can Darby mend what's been broken when nobody will listen to her?
A warm, thoughtful and empathetic novel from acclaimed author Jo Cotterill.
The first book in a thrilling, magical, and action-packed new fantasy series, illustrated throughout and perfect for 7 - 9 year olds!
In the land of Draconis, there are no dragons.
Once, there were. Once, humans and dragons were friends, and created the great city of Rivven together.
But then came the Dragon Storm, and the dragons retreated from the world of humans.
To the men and women of Draconis, they became legends and myth.
Tomas has always been told that now, dragons are extinct, and so he can't believe it when a mysterious stranger invites him to join a secret society, the Dragonseer Guild - and tells him that not only do dragons still exist, but also that Tomas has a very special power... he can summon his very own dragon!
But Tomas faces a difficult choice, and he and his dragon, Ironskin, must learn to trust each other - and together, they have to save their home from a deadly threat.
An exciting new fantasy series from the highly acclaimed author of Orion Lost, brilliantly illustrated throughout, and perfect for fans of Beast Quest and How to Train Your Dragon.
The unmissable follow-up to the phenomenal bestselling and award-winning The Last Bear. Beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold and perfect for readers 8+
April Wood has returned home from her adventure on Bear Island. But, over a year later, she can’t stop thinking about Bear.
When April hears that a polar bear has been shot and injured in Svalbard, she’s convinced it’s her friend and persuades her dad to travel with her to the northernmost reaches of the Arctic. So begins an unforgettable journey across frozen tundra and icy glaciers.
But along the way, she discovers much more than she bargained for – a tiny polar bear cub, desperately in need of her help. In freezing temperatures, April must navigate the dangerous Arctic terrain and face her deepest fears if she’s to save him.
Beautifully illustrated by Levi Pinfold, Finding Bear is a stunning story of survival and a heartwarming tale of love that shows us how hope is born from the smallest of beginnings.
‘A beautifully written and illustrated story of determination, courage and hope’ The Sun
‘Magically inspiring’ Daily Mail
GROWING UP. FALLING IN LOVE. COMING OUT.
Frankie is nearly fourteen and teenage life certainly comes with its ups and downs. Her mum is seriously ill with MS and Frankie can feel herself growing up quickly, no thanks to Sally and her gang of bullies at school.
When Sally turns out to be not-so-mean after all, they strike up a friendship and are suddenly spending all of their time together. But soon Frankie starts to wonder about the feelings she has for Sally. She doesn't want Sally to just be her friend. She wants her to be her girlfriend. But does Sally feel the same?
The must-have novel about falling in love for the first time from bestselling, much-loved children's author, Jacqueline Wilson.
A hilarious story of everyone’s favourite bear, Paddington – now a major movie star!
When Mr Gruber takes Paddington to Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard, there are so many people in the way he can’t see a thing. Luckily, a mysterious someone ‘on high’ appears to like small bears…
The moving, funny, thrilling and adventured-filled new novel for readers of 10 and up from bestselling author Ross Welford.
When twelve-year-olds Willa and Manny hear of a mysterious animal prowling their town, they are determined to prove it is real. Following the creature into a cave one full moon, they are swept into an alternate, ideal, world – one where pollution and conflict have been conquered decades ago and even their own families seem happier.
But when they return, no one believes them. So, with a global war looming in their own world, their quest for proof of the Sideways World becomes ever-more urgent, in a nail-biting race against time.
And Willa and Manny will have to make an impossible decision: because once you find a perfect world, can you ever leave it behind …?
The ninth hilarious title in the award-winning, laugh-out-loud series, The World of Norm. Perfect for fans of Tom Gates and Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Norm knew it was going to be one of those days when he was grounded before he'd even got up...
But that's what happens when you run up a phone bill the size of a flipping bus. The trouble is Norm has no idea how it happened! All he knows is that he has to somehow pay it off if he's to go biking with Mikey. Even if that does mean going into business with the world's most annoying next door neighbour...
With brilliantly funny illustrations throughout from Donough O'Malley.
Praise for Jonathan Meres:
'Hilarious stuff from one of my comic heroes!' - Harry Hill
'Jonathan Meres is flipping funny!' - Eddie Izzard
Rafe Khatchadorian is getting the Hollywood treatment in a film version of Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life starring Griffin Gluck, Lauren Graham, Rob Riggle and Thomas Barbusca.
After a rough summer, Rafe is heading back to the dreaded Hills Village Middle School, the site of the very worst years of his life. And as if that's not bad enough, Rafe's learned that he's going to be held back a year unless he can prove himself on an outdoor survival excursion – complete with dangerous white-water rafting, dizzying rock climbing and military style counsellors. Rafe and the rest of the pack of 'delinquent' trainees are forced to cooperate as they prepare for the final test: a solo excursion in the deep woods.
Can Rafe come out of the experience in one piece? And if he does, will anyone recognise him as the kid they once knew?
Six-year-old Sophie faces home and school life in her unique, stoic fashion, which will draw a smile from both the young, empathetic reader and the most wearied parent. A classic story by the beloved author of Babe.
Matilda wants to find treasure but her dad keeps getting distracted in this funny, adventure-packed story about family from the author of the best-selling There's a Tiger in the Garden.
