In the tone of The Hobbit, comes the first thrilling story in an epic fantasy adventure, from a major new voice.
Fourteen-year-old Oland Born lives in dark times, in a world ruled by evil tyrant, Vilius Ren. Vilius and his fearsome, bloodthirsty army have wrecked the prosperous kingdom of Decresian, once ruled by good King Micah. Oland himself has been kept as Vilius’s servant in grim Castle Derrington, and he knows little about his past – or why Vilius keeps such a sharp, close eye on him.
One night, Oland finds a letter addressed to him, from the long-dead king. No sooner has he read the message than a mysterious stranger tries to kidnap him. Oland runs, the dead king’s warning ringing in his ears…
If Oland is to live he must restore the shattered kingdom. This is his quest. This is his curse. Let the trials of Oland Born begin. . .
The setting is a hugely atmospheric fantasy world of medieval castles, Romanesque games arenas, supernatural forests and harsh seas. Terrifying hybrid creatures and monsters abound – and Oland’s greatest ally is a girl called Delphi who has dark secrets of her own.
Discover the intricate detail of a medival knight's armour from the ""exploded views"" of this book. This guide also explains how a page learned to become a knight, how a knight's horse was armed, how a castle was attacked and defended, and what happened to the role of the knight.
The Normans invaded countries across Europe and played an important role in the history of England. Find out how the Normans beat the Anglo-Saxons, why William the Conqueror made the Domesday Book, and how they changed the English language.
Inside you can read about:
invasions and battles
how to make a shield
the story of the Battle of Hastings
castles and cathedrals
lords and peasants
A beautiful piece of historical fiction told with great heart and humanity, winner of the prestigious Carnegie Medal.
Winner of the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2015. ""What kind of a girl steals the clothes from a dead man's back and runs off to join the army? A desperate one. That's who."" At the end of the American Civil War, Charley – a young African-American slave from the deep south – is ostensibly freed. But then her adopted mother is raped and lynched at the hands of a mob and Charley is left alone. In a terrifyingly lawless land, where the colour of a person's skin can bring violent death, Charley disguises herself as a man and joins the army. Soon she's being sent to the prairies to fight a whole new war against the ""savage Indians"". Trapped in a world of injustice and inequality, it's only when Charley is posted to Apache territory that she begins to learn what it is to be truly free.
Tells the story of the gunpowder plot, seen through the eyes of Guy Fawkes. This work describes the tunnelling under Parliament, the storing of the gunpowder, the discovery of the secret room, and Guy's capture and imprisonment.
From the wilds of the Amazon rain forest to the busy streets of Sao Paulo; from C is for carnival to J is for Jangada; from football to Zebu cattle, this book presents an alphabet tour of Brazil.
A picture alphabet in which the author, a press photographer, focuses her lens on people carrying on their traditional crafts and tribal customs, but also having fun in ways which echo family life the world over. The book introduces children to African crafts and customs.
