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