Format: Chapter book

The Ocean and the Bones

Chapter book

Friendship is tough in the Stone Age, especially when your best friend is part-Water Spirit…

A storm is coming…

Ever since Little Meg became Sunhealer’s Shadow, she’s been learning to understand the ways of the Spirits. So when a storm sweeps through her village, she knows they are angry. Worse still, they are angry with her for keeping back the bones she was meant to offer up to them. The bones of her dead parents.

As the rain clears, Meg discovers a girl washed up on the seashore. She speaks in a strange language and scratches pictures of distant lands in the sand. Despite the suspicious mutterings of the villagers, the pair forge an unlikely friendship. But if Meg wants to appease the Spirits and save her people, she must return the girl to her home.

Their journey will take them across the wild sea, to a place that exists only in legends. But will Meg survive to tell the tale?

The Library of Lost Stories

Eloise Williams

Chapter book

Set in Aberglas, a small Welsh community close to Aberfan, The Library of Lost Stories is a poignant and hopeful story of family, friendship and community. Set in Christmas 1976, ten years after the Aberfan disaster (in which a landslide of a colliery spoil tip that engulfed a Welsh village), the novel follows Noni and her father as they struggle to cope with the loss of Noni’s mother. Her father is depressed, unable to work and facing mounting financial difficulties, while Noni quietly takes on more responsibility at home.Determined to bring her father back to life, Noni decides to restore the old mobile library van where her parents first met. Along the way, this isolated and likeable girl begins to form new friendships, gradually discovering the strength that comes from connection and community.

Noni is a wonderfully written protagonist: plucky, resourceful and believable, but also a child carrying responsibilities that should not be hers alone. She can be viewed as a young carer, although, as the story makes clear, this is neither recognised by those around her nor understood as such in 1976. This provides an interesting opportunity for readers to consider how our understanding of childhood, caring and mental health has changed.

The novel is proudly Welsh, with Welsh phrases, dialect and a strong sense of place woven throughout. The Aberfan disaster is an important presence, shaping the community and its characters, although younger readers may need support to understand what happened and why its effects continued to be felt a decade later.

This is a lovely story full of hope, resilience and warmth. Its satisfying Christmas-time resolution beautifully captures the spirit of community, kindness and new beginnings.

The Common Criminals Club: Death Before Detention

Alison Weatherby

Chapter book

Death before detention is Alison Weatherby’s second murder mystery novel and the first aimed at a younger tween market. Set in a rural Irish Catholic boarding school, Mae, founding member of The Common Criminals Club, documents the incidents of the murders they uncover while trying to solve the case and save their school alongside her fellow club members Shonda, Beck and Aoife.

With the first murder reported to the Garda, Mae cannot believe that Sister Mary-Margaret is acting like it never happened but very soon, things take an even more bizarre and terrifying turn…

Written in the first person, Death before Detention is a gentle introduction into the murder mystery genre. Are there murders? Yes. Does the reader (and the main character) struggle to know who to trust. Yes – but then isn’t that the thrill of every good mystery novel?

Light hearted and entertaining, playing on the juxtaposition of tweens stuck in that first age of wanting to be treated as a grown up, but conversely wanting a hug from their mum (too young to realise that this battle continues throughout your life!) readers will see themselves in each of the characters. The storyline lends itself to talking about what makes us different or the same and moral dilemmas, with themes of gender identity also covered.

Readers will find themselves fully invested in solving the mystery and saving the school and a good job too as the next one in the series is due to follow in early 2027.

Monster Diaries: The Cyclops and the Worst Party Ever

Anne Miller & Sam Caldwell

Chapter book

Did you know the collective noun for a group of cyclops is cyclopes?

This engaging and hilarirous story is a fantastic way to introduce KS2 children to Greek gods and mythology. Featuring one of the most famous ‘monsters’ of all time – the Cyclops – it brings ancient myths to life through fun, adventure and laughter.

Odysseus tells of how awful Cyclops is but really, he was just trying to make some friends and throw a good old party. This book shows that there really are two sides to every story! At the back of the book, you’ll find extra pages of monster fun for example, jokes, spot the difference, a quiz and much more.

Two is a Crowd

Cath Howe

Chapter book

Cath Howe has delivered another compelling book that will strongly resonate with pupils who have siblings and close family relationships. The story thoughtfully weaves together the themes of family dynamics, friendship and jealousy, offering a sensitive exploration of the ‘green-eyed monster’. The engaging narrative style draws readers in effortlessly, making this a highly immersive and difficult-to-put-down read. It is likely to connect with any child who has experienced feelings of jealousy or self-doubt, making it a valuable addition to classroom and library collections.

Hattie is ready for a summer of fun, including a trip to France with her family and the anticipation of starting secondary school with her bestie. Then Seren arrives! It ought to be everything she’s ever wanted, yet it feels entirely the opposite. Why is she so hard to talk to and be around? Everyone else seems to love her, so what is Hattie missing? Then school starts and Seren has to join too and everything falls apart.

This is a narrative that uses emotive language to allow the reader to fully empathise and understand the characters: ‘I was a patch of wintry snow in a sunny field.’ Hattie is a character many readers will recognise from their own school experiences. This is perfect for ages 8 through to pre-teens. Cath Howe is superb at writing about such prevalent topics within current school and home settings, understanding what children feel and go through as they navigate childhood, their families, friends and school. Utterly wonderful!

The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia

Leia Ham

Chapter book

Welcome to a world that depends on magic – but where each person’s magic fades away before they reach adulthood.

The pressure is on for Sparrow Xia to develop her pitifully limited fire mage abilities at Zenith Academy. It doesn’t help that expectations are extra high for her because her older brother Ainsley’s magic is exceptionally powerful – the burn scar on Sparrow’s cheek is proof of that. Sparrow can only hope that her studies will help her discover her fire and finally make her family proud; after all, the academy is famed for turning out young mages gifted enough to work for the elite guilds, which make the most of the few years teens can power the world before they lose their magic as adults.

At Zenith, Sparrow does indeed gain magical strength – and new friends – but her life at school raises more questions than answers. Should she risk her own future in order to help others? And is Sparrow’s magic the most important thing about her?

Then a mysterious illness breaks out at school, draining students of their powers. Sparrow and her friends are drawn into the search for the cause, but they need to be careful: in a world where magic means everything, some people will go to terrible lengths to try to keep it…

Fearless by Lauren Roberts

Lauren Roberts

Chapter book

THE SIZZLING FINALE TO THE NO 1 BESTSELLING* ROMANTASY TRILOGY PHENOMENON!

Paedyn Gray and Kai Azer return to the Kingdom of Ilya…

And Paedyn has a life-altering choice to make. Whatever she decides will determine her fate – and the fate of those around her – forever.

In the ultimate battle of love and loyalty, who wins?

Be swept away by the conclusion to the smash hit, romantasy trilogy that has taken the world by storm.

Powerless, Powerful, Reckless and Fearful available now.

Lottie Brooks vs the Ultra Mean Girls

Katie Kirby

Chapter book

From hilarious MEGA bestselling author, Katie Kirby, comes a brand-new diary in the phenomenal Lottie Brooks series!

Today we brainstormed strategies to #GETAMBERBACK. Our top ideas are:

Send her flowers
Hypnotise her
Kidnap her
Tell everyone she smells like lasagne
Emotionally blackmail her by making a BFF photo montage

Just when Lottie thought life might be going back to normal, everything goes wrong again! Amber’s hanging out with the Ultra Mean Girl Gang at school and is completely ignoring the Queens of Eight Green. Mum’s gone back to work and expects Lottie to ‘help around the house more’, Bella keeps biting everyone and Pot Noodle will not stop sniffing every dog’s bum. DISASTER!

Now Lottie has to come up with a foolproof plan to get Amber back before her friendship group is destroyed forever. What could go wrong???

Join Lottie as she battles the mean girls, takes on school injections (apparently they can go through your arm!) and even more extremely embarrassing moments.

Skandar and the Spirit War

A. F. Steadman

Chapter book

BLOODTHIRSTY UNICORNS. UNLIKELY HEROES. A MORTAL ENEMY.

Don’t miss this epic final adventure in the number 1 bestselling SKANDAR series, for fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Impossible Creatures.
Pre-order THE FIRST UNICORN RIDER now to be one of the first to read an unmissable new magical adventure set in the incredible WORLD OF SKANDAR

Skandar is in hiding after the Chaos Cup where Rex Manning revealed a game-changing secret. But as Rex prepares to invade the Mainland, the Islanders are not sure who to trust.

With one of Skandar’s closest friends now fighting for the enemy, Skandar must build new alliances – including an uneasy truce with Kenna. To defeat Rex, Skandar and his friends will need to look back to the origins of the Island, and harness the full power of their elemental magic.

Can Skandar become the leader he needs to be – to save the Mainland and the heart of the Island itself?

Get ready for unlikely heroes, elemental magic, sky battles, ancient secrets and ferocious unicorns in this highly anticipated adventure that will keep you reading after lights out!

Sunrise on the Reaping

Suzanne Collins

Chapter book

When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem.

This year, in honour of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances.

All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break.

He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town.

As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail.

But there’s something in him that wants to fight… and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

Four books, five films and one worldwide phenomenon, The Hunger Games original trilogy changed the face of global YA and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was an instant number one bestseller (Nielsen Bookscan, May 2020).

All four of the Hunger Games novels have been made into major feature films, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth and Peter Dinklage.