FCBG Children’s Book Award

This ‘out of this world’ graphic novel has lots to like and is a strong first offering from a brand new series of young graphic novels.

The story follows Nova, who is from a family of scientists and creative geniuses. Influenced by an environmental problem she sees on the news, Nova rushes to her secret lab to try to find a solution. After a few attempts, she succeeds, and all seems well until things get out of control and she is in a race against time to stop Chomp on his path of destruction. Nova soon realises that she cannot do this on her own and needs to enlist the help of her sister Cassi.

This short and easy-to-read graphic novel is fast-paced, fun and the perfect read for budding inventors or scientists. With bright colours, energetic characters and important themes like plastic pollution, girls in STEM and environmental problem-solving, this is pitched for 7-9 year olds and will surely appeal across primary schools.

This story makes you rethink the simple game from your childhood (even adulthood) of ‘Hide and Seek’- who knew it could be so frightening?

You are greeted immediately with the suspense in this book with the sharing of the category ratings for the Fear Files. The one you are about to read is deemed as a Level 4 Rated File-which is a ‘Beyond Fear’ category. This is enough to make you realise that you are in for a thrill. The layout of the book is a mixture of written case notes and short chapters. You will find phrases circled and notes made for evidence, making it feel like you are investigating this case yourself.

Who thought the phrase ‘Ready or not, here I come.’ would instil such terror in someone? This is a book that I did not dare to read at bedtime, yet I loved being terrified by the storyline. In particular, a statue is found with its hands covering its eyes, which reminded me of an episode of Doctor Who, in which statues move when you are not looking-a shiver certainly went down my spine! I cannot wait for the next instalment…

This split narrative story – dividing time between Samim’s current situation in foster care awaiting his asylum decision, and his narrated past of how he came to Britain from Afghanistan – is both moving and pacey, standing out as a powerful refugee story.

Pathos is built through Samim’s narrative of his horrific journey and those he lost along the way, but also through the present tense story in which he is bullied at school, and the guilt he feels that he has let down and lost his best friend, Zayn. Throughout the present tense narrative, Zayn appears to him as a ghost, giving witty insights into his situation at school and his endeavours in chess club.

When Samim narrates his journey to his caseworker, Zayn is both alive and a lively character – Samim’s best friend and the closest thing he has to family. Both boys are superbly rendered, their personalities clear and engaging, which invokes empathy and understanding.

This book deals with many topical issues, not just refugees, but also the importance of cultural heritage, hobbies, friendships and an understanding of identity and rights.

This is not just an ‘issue’ book, but an engaging read. The story contains references to medication, fighting, and gender identity, and also portrays death and a graphic journey across water. Most suitable for the very oldest in primary or KS3, and is compelling and powerful, sitting alongside Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird or Boy Everywhere by AM Dassu.

Perhaps best known for his science fiction and fantasy novels for young adults, Scott Reintgen has successfully expanded his writing into middle grade fiction and The Last Dragon on Mars is no exception.

Set on Mars at some point in a not too distant parallel future, we find a barren, stormy planet populated by an increasingly desperate people scavenging for an existence as help from Earth, the planet from which their forefathers originated, is being withdrawn. Everyone knows that each planet, moon and star is powered by a dragon and that transport between the planets is powered by dragons and their dragonship crew, but Lunar’s schooling has been limited as, orphaned as a baby, he has crafted a life supporting his makeshift family of fellow orphans by scavenging and selling scrap from the desert lands outside of the place they loosely call home. They are surviving, rather than living, with hard work and keeping their wits about them.

Until, one day, a scavenging mission goes wrong and Lunar is forced to hide underground, discovering a hidden military bunker where his life is threatened before being saved by a most unlikely ally –  a dragon called Dread. Why did the dragon choose him and what does that mean for him and his fellow crew of scavengers from the Harvest?

A brilliant tale of trust and betrayal, set against a background of mythology and science fiction, the Last Dragon on Mars twists and turns as the character of Lunar and his relationship to Dread and his crew mates develops, before spinning off in another unexpected direction and finally concluding, or rather finishing, on a cliff hanger leaving you crying out for more. Everything that a work of fantasy and science fiction should contain and a brilliant stepping stone on to the world of young adult fiction. Perfect for engaging the more able KS2 reader.