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Ally Sherrick Books

rebel heart

Rebel Heart

Chapter book
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A rip-roaring historical adventure from bestselling author Ally Sherrick. England, 1645.

Merriweather Pryce is the daughter of a nobleman fighting for King Charles I in a war that divides the country. When her family home is besieged by Cromwell’s army, Merri sets out to get help. But in a land filled with enemy soldiers, turncoats and spies, who can she really trust?

Another beautifully written life-and-death quest, packed with history and adventure from bestselling author of Black Powder. Set during the English Civil War before the pivotal Battle of Naseby and exploring themes of family, loyalty, friendship and courage.

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vita and the gladiator

Vita & the Gladiator

Chapter book
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Utterly compelling, totally immersive, and completely inspired, Ally Sherrick’s historical novel is unputdownable. Set in Britain under Roman occupation, the story stars Vita, the daughter of a Roman magistrate. When tragedy strikes her family, she is confronted with a different world from the one she has known, as she experiences what life is like for those who are conquered, rather than the conquerors.

As Vita struggles to solve the mystery of who murdered her father, she must also decide where her allegiances lie. Through her journey, she discovers that people, like Brea, her gladiator friend, are not always what they seem at first and that there is often more that unites us than divides us from our enemies.

‘Vita and the Gladiator’ is a perfect book to complement a study of Roman Britain for stronger readers in KS2, exposing them to a thrilling and gripping taste of what life under occupation might have been like. Pupils will recognise and enjoy the depiction of the gladiator arena, as well as the references to Boudica and her revolt against the empire. All in all, this read is highly recommended.

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Black Powder

Chapter book
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An action-packed historical adventure that transports the reader back to England at the time of the Gunpowder Plot. Black Powder tells the story of a boy called Tom, who finds himself at the service of an intriguing stranger called ‘The Falcon’. The stranger seems to be the only person who can help Tom to save his father from being hanged, but as Tom journeys towards London he discovers that the Falcon has his own, somewhat explosive, mission in mind. Suddenly Tom is faced with the choice of freeing his father or saving the king from an assassination plot. This gripping adventure will capture imaginations and is likely to resonate with anybody who has ever felt like knowing which people and beliefs to trust can sometimes be extremely difficult.

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The Queen’s Fool

Chapter book
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Cat Sparrow lives in Tudor England during the reign of King Henry VIII. When her sister Meg is taken away by a strange figure, Cat sets out on a quest to find her. Living with a learning difficulty in a Tudor world means that Cat is often perceived by others as a ‘half-wit’. With the help of a young actor, called Jacques, who has his own quest to complete, Cat embarks upon her quest and ends up joining a travelling troupe before joining Katherine of Aragon’s court as the queen’s fool. With plenty of historical details as well as everything you’d hope for in a Tudor adventure, from plots and perils to tournaments and feasts, this story offers fresh perspective into life during the Tudor period. Free chapter-by-chapter reading resources are also available to download from the publisher.

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The Buried Crown

Chapter book
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A gripping historical adventure featuring the Anglo-Saxon hoard that was unearthed at Sutton Hoo during WW2.

The story centres on a young Londoner called George, who has been evacuated to the countryside near Sutton Hoo and is intrigued to find out about the Anglo-Saxon treasures discovered nearby. The most interesting of the treasures is a mysterious Anglo-Saxon crown, carrying with it an ancient legend. Before long, George finds himself involved in an exhilarating plot to save the crown from falling into the hands of Nazi invaders.

This is a gripping read that is recommended for upper KS2 – and is especially useful for helping children to make links between different periods of history.

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