Branching Out: Books for Fans of Skandar

An exciting novel set in the snowy northern forests of a prehistoric world. This fantastic adventure story is an exciting read and could be a great hook into a new series for children who love fantasy and adventure!

Twelve is a fierce hunter, and she has given up her name to train in the art of fighting monsters, and she won’t choose a new one until she has earned it. As her friend is taken, Twelve sets off on a dangerous journey to rescue her. Teaming up with Dog, the stone Guardian of the Hunting Lodge, Twelve ends up on an epic adventure that will change her life, her name – and her entire world.

There is something about a magical world that is not too far removed from our own, that is so captivating.

Set in an alternative London and New London (the magical version), this is world-building at its brightest. A bit like a crazy dream, the story takes the reader into a place that is vivid and frantic like a fever dream. Metty is a wonderful heroine, stubborn and determined, full of energy and excitement. The other characters are also easy to imagine and imaginatively written. This story is fast paced and perhaps the most interesting aspect is the idea of whether a person’s fate is set in stone or whether one is capable of changing what one is or will become.

It is always nice to find a new author with a debut book that you just know you will want to read more from.

A lovely book to use at storytime or to include in the book areas. Magicalia is a fiction novel, with a fantasy theme, interwoven in the storyline that holds your attention and creates that want to read more attitude.

The story becomes even more interesting with a flair of magic that happens when you are least expecting. It’s a fast-paced story of ordinary children plunged into a fantasy setting, a tale of kidnapping and bravery.

Fans of Katherine Rundell‘s previous books will have high hopes for this, and dare I say it may be her best yet.

Full of adventure, mythical creatures and character growth, it is perfect for a school library. The story follows a boy’s adventures when he discovers a cluster of magical islands on which all sorts of mythical creatures are really alive. He teams up with a local girl on a magical quest to save the islands.

The two main characters have a lot of grit, and their adventure would be appealing to a lot of readers. It is an emotional journey, but one I think children would enjoy.

The world-building is exceptional, with detailed descriptions of the different creatures and exciting descriptions of the places along the journey,  allowing you to picture the settings in your mind. This is the kind of book that feeds children’s imaginations with wonderful and exciting ideas in a way that only the best children’s stories can do.

Pari Thomson’s debut novel takes the reader into an imaginary world of nature, mystery and magic.

This gripping tale weaves through the many adventures and challenges of Daisy Thistledown, who discovers the spellbinding world of Greenwild, following the strange disappearance of her mother. When entering a hidden doorway, Daisy is faced with a mysterious, yet magical setting, where she is acquainted with milk chocolate trees, zither roots and a rare, but deadly, ghost-moth orchid. Here, while grieving from a terrible loss, she creates precious friendships which go on to change the world she thought she knew to a different place entirely.

While juggling solving the mystery of her mother’s disappearance, Daisy attempts to learn green magic and navigate the land of Greenwild as much larger, darker mysteries begin to unfold. Not all is as it first seems in Greenwild, and the author has seamlessly created a tale brimming with twists and turns.

This book will leave the reader scratching their head with curiosity, on the edge of their seat with shock and sobbing with heartbreak by the end of their journey through ‘The World Behind the Door’. Thomson creates an incredible balance between the luscious, botanical beauty described, and that of deep evil and darkness; her imagination is truly commendable. Readers of Greenwild will not be left disappointed as they experience a journey of friendship, growth and good vs evil. I would highly recommend this for Upper KS2 readers and adults alike, in a book that teaches us that ‘Nature is wilder and stranger than you know, more miraculous than you can imagine’.

This is the start of a new gothic adventure series, in which three cousins who are descendants of Dracula form a vampire healing company.

In true Emma Carroll fashion, this story has the reader on tenterhooks throughout, with chases through the dark streets of Temstown, the spine-tingling threat of attack from vengeful creatures and the need for the three brave heroines to complete their dangerous mission before the new moon deadline.

It’s all the more gripping because the identity of trustworthy good guys and shifty villains is obscured. What’s more, as the plot thickens, the readers’ perception only gradually clears, spotting connections between different characters. The way Carroll weaves numerous strands together is extremely satisfying: there’s the scene-setting, which has the reader picturing London in the late 19th Century; the kinship felt by the main characters; the power plays of ambitious, dangerous men; and the knowledge that might lead to both cure and restoration for the wronged.

This is a book that will be devoured by those with an appetite for gruesome fantasy with a historical flavour. Librarians will not need to recommend it for copies to quickly fly off the ‘horror’ shelf.

Onyeka and her best friend, Cheyenne, are both Nigerian and live in London. One day, Onyeka’s hair glows blue and crackles with electricity when Cheyenne is in trouble. Onyeka’s mum is forced to tell her that she is ‘Solari’ and has inherited this trait from her dad. When Onyeka struggles to control her power and it starts to make her sick, her mum decides it’s finally time to return to Nigeria and try and locate Onyeka’s dad and learn to control her powers. Despite being surrounded by other Solari, Onyeka still feels like she doesn’t belong. The other children have lived with their powers for years, but Onyeka has only just discovered hers. If only her mum could find her dad, and maybe she could get some answers!

This exciting, edge-of-your-seat adventure story would make a fantastic read for Upper Key Stage 2 children, particularly for those who are fans of superhero stories and films. Tola Okogwu says in the author’s note in the book that she hopes it will “act as both a mirror and a window” in terms of representation, and I think lots of people will agree that it does. What a wonderful book.

Perfect for lovers of books such as Percy Jackson, Harry Potter and Skandar, this new fantasy adventure is bound to be a hit with children.

Shadow Thieves follows the adventure of Tom Morgan, an orphan surviving on the streets of an alternative London with other children who are homeless. Set in an alternative timeline where the French Empire has expanded to include Britain, it provides an interesting backdrop to the story. Set at a school for thieves, con artists and criminals alike, children are able to follow Tom as he undertakes missions or challenges and begins his training.

Tom is a likeable character that children will root for, especially as he is often driven by looking after and protecting those he cares about. An exciting book to share with children.