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Text © DJWilliams 2018
Bookstore
Those that like danger and excitement will be overjoyed with
this selection -even the bunnies are monsters! Don’t worry,
there are plenty oflaughs for those who prefer light hearted
stories. If you like both, you are really in luck!
Something Fishy
Polly Dunbar (Two Hoots Hb, £11.99)
Cat loves fish, he loves his family too, mainly because they
give him lots of fish. But lately something fishy is going on -
they seem to have forgotten his fish and produce odd things
instead like tiny clothes. At last they go off, probably fishing,
but what they bring is nothing like fish, in fact it is enough
to make cat leave home. What could induce him to return?
Can you guess? Atouching and very funny story about
coming to terms with anew arrival, full of expressive pictures that
add details to the simple story told in afew words.
Cyril and Pat -
The Accidental President S
Tom McLaughlin (Oxford, £6.99)
Being aclose friend of
Joe, the first child Prime
Minister, has its advantages
as Ajay knows. Despite
being given positions of
importance, he makes
mistakes, some of which
are nearly disastrous. As a
last chance, Ajay is sent to
America as the Ambassador
ready to welcome the new president when
he is chosen. Due to aseries of hilarious
misunderstandings Ajay actually becomes
the American president. He beats coffee
millionaire Hank Jones who is far from pleased
and, determined to get revenge, turns his
attention to taking over ‘Great England’. Will
Joe and Ajay come up with aplan to thwart
his ambitions, or will it all go horribly wrong?
There are plenty of laugh aloud moments in
this latest title in the ‘Accidental’ series. Some
pictures and fair size print encourages readers
onto medium length novels.
Debbie
Emily Gravett (Two Hoots Hb, £12.99)
Poor Cyril. As the only squirrel living in Lake Park he was lonely
and sad, until he met what he thought was another squirrel, Pat,
who became his new best friend. They spent all day inventing new
games and having lots of fun. All the other animals tried to tell Cyril
something, but he was too busy having fun to listen, until asmall
child pointed out what had been obvious to everyone else, Pat was arat and squirrels can’t
be friends with rats. Poor Cyril tried to play their games alone, but it wasn’t fun and put him in
great danger. If only Pat had been there to protect him... you will have to read this poignant
picture book to see what happens. It might make you think how you look at people and what is
important in afriendship. With just afew sentences on each page, the colourful pictures add to
the story,making it perfect for new readers and great to share.
The Princess in Black and
the Hungry Bunny Horde
Shannon &Dean Hale (Walker, £6.99)
Princess Magnolia
and her unicorn,
Frimplepants’ trip
to abrunch date
was cut short
when her monster
alarm went off.
Dashing into her
secret cave, they
emerged as the Princess in
Black and her pony, Blackie, ready to
fight any monster, but all she found were
lots of cute bunnies. However, as their
numbers increased they didn’t seem so
cute especially when they started to eat
EVERYTHING in sight, even the Princess
herself was at risk. It seemed more than
brute strength might be needed to save
the day. Find out what happened in this
amusing adventure story. With large print
and lots of pictures it is aperfect bridge
from picture books to short novels.
Grandma Dangerous and the Dog of Destiny
Kita Mitchell (Orchard, £6.99)
Oliver doesn’t mind being left behind when his mum goes off
as he is left with his dangerous Grandma, not the boring one. As
usual, Grandma is full of surprises, the first one being the unusual
looking dog she arrives with that she definitely didn’t steal (despite
what the strange men say). Then she keeps Oliver off school and
announces they are off to Australia to search for his missing dad,
which (third surprise) is where his usually very cautious mum
really is. Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is their most unusual
mode of transport. The surprises, or should that be shocks, continue when they reach
Australia. Starting with their unexpected travelling companions and continuing with the
(over?) friendly hotel owner -isheall he seems? This is alaugh aloud adventure with
entertaining larger than life characters and enough plot twists to make you as giddy as
Oliver sometimes feels. Large print, medium length novel.
Star
Read
Will Mabbitt (Orion, £6.99)
Read It was an ordinary day when
Jake took ashort cut down
adark alley and was mistakenly handed a
parcel. Of course he had to take apeek inside.
The shock he got from the macabre contents
—and realisation he had just seen aghost —
was nothing compared to the one he’d get
when he discovered this act had sentenced
him to the Eternal Void and agrim reaper
was out to get him. Luckily he makes some spectral friends
who set out to help him avoid the inevitable, but it is arace
against time, with no guarantee of ahappy ending. This is a
very enjoyable first book in anew series with an entertaining
mix of spooky characters, gruesome deeds and very funny
moments. It is atotally absorbing full length novel.
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Indicates abook is part of aseries
Embassy of the Dead
The Boy at the Back of the Class
Onjali Q. Rauf (Orion £6.99)
Anew boy in class always creates interest.
Never talking or smiling and keeping apart
from the others, Ahmet causes more than
most. Asmall group of friends who set out
to befriend him learn he is arefugee who
has escaped from awar. Ashis English
improves, they find out more about him
and are shocked to hear what he and his
lost family have been through. They want
to help him and are horrified at the negative reactions he
gets from some people. Determined to help reunite his
family, they come up with adesperate plan that nearly
turns into adisaster, but raises awareness of their quest.
With the police, media and even royalty involved will there
be ahappy ending? This is an incredibly powerful story
that will really make you think about how you and others
react to anyone who is different. Seen through the eyes of
aclassmate you live every moment with them, completely
involved, sharing every emotion. Ariveting read with much
to discuss. Full length novel for older juniors.
Jungle Curse
S
Tamsin Cooke (Oxford £6.99)
If Finn is hoping his second film appearance as a
stunt double is going to be less traumatic than the
first, he’s going to be disappointed. Finding anew,
unpleasant member of the team is bad enough,
but the arrival of afurry monster, which no one
else seems to be able to see, is far worse. A
series of accidents, fairly harmless at first, cause
rumours that the film is cursed. As stunt after stunt goes
wrong the accidents become ever more dangerous until
potentially fatal. It seems Finn is the target, can he work
out what is going on and stop it before anyone actually dies
whilst dealing with shocking personal issues? This second in
the Stunt Double series loses none of the adrenalin fuelled
action of the first. It is aroller coaster ride of emotions for
Finn and the readers, full of drama to keep you gripped to
the very end. Full length novel.
What Manor of Murder?
Christopher William Hill (Orchard £6.99)
As usual, Horatio and Eustace Bleakley are off to
Bleakley Manor for the Michaelmas weekend celebrations
accompanied by their cousin Loveday and an orphan
called Oliver. Unlike the family members, Oliver finds
the blackness of the manor and the odd behaviour of
its inhabitants surprising and is slightly horrified by the legend
of Old Bramble Head who is supposed to claim avictim from the household
this time of year. What surprises the brothers is the new butler and hasty
disappearance of the old one. They are soon diverted by the discovery of a
body and arrival of asurly and seemingly incompetent police inspector. Being
keen crime busters, the brothers are determined to be the ones to find the
murderer, although it seems they may have been pipped to the post. This
inventive detective mystery has more than ahint ofthe macabre and enough
shocks to keep you guessing. Medium length novel for older juniors.
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