Format: Chapter book

Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop

Chapter book

This is an intriguing twist on the time travel genre. The main protagonists are genius twelve-year-old twins – Pearl and Patrick – who are about as far from being ‘normal’ children as possible, although they hide their abilities well from their peers. Pearl is an engineering whizz with a host of mind-blowing inventions to her name, and Patrick has an unsurpassed knowledge of the whole of history. They have engaged in a variety of illegal behaviours using Pearl’s inventions, for example, stealing a diamond from the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London or removing part of a stealth plane from Area 51, and are being watched by MI5!

Then Pearl invents a time machine which relies upon the acquisition of historical items that are originally from the era to which you wish to travel. Despite believing that they have made a successful initial jump back to Ancient Egypt, there is a nasty surprise in store from a secret society which shows just how much damage their little jaunt has done.

There are many interesting themes woven in: the twins’ family has Sri Lankan heritage, which becomes inextricably linked to the storyline further on; Pearl is a fierce advocate for women’s contributions to science to be recognised; and school dynamics where friendship needs to transcend race, culture and ability. Bullying is an issue too and Pearl’s sometimes self-aggrandising motives could provoke interesting discussions.

You can tell that the author has previously written YA books as some of the twins’ achievements may require some explanation to younger readers e.g. breaking into Fort Knox or trying to win the Nobel Prize, and Pearl’s inventions would be ground-breaking sci-fi concepts for this age group. It all makes for an exciting and fast-paced read with likeable characters – I’d love to read more in this series.

Hotel Flamingo: Frosty Fiesta

Alex Milway

Chapter book

This early chapter book is part of the wonderful Hotel Flamingo series. The gorgeous colours and shimmery snowflakes on the front cover are enough to draw anyone’s attention.

The workers at the hotel are preparing for a quiet winter, the temperatures are dropping, and Mrs Turpington – the hotel’s resident tortoise – needs to hibernate. Then, it snows more than anyone could have imagined, and the hotel becomes overrun with guests. What follows is how the hotel’s community comes together to help many of its guests in so many different ways at a time when the hotel is full to the brim. First, a party (Frosty Fiesta) with some very wise words from Mrs T the tortoise (‘We are nothing without each other) and the White-Out Games with bunnies performing record-breaking stunts. Then, the birth of a polar bear cub and an external ice hotel for some guests.

This truly is a fiesta of fun, and who could resist a stay at Hotel Flamingo, even if Madame Le Pig seems terrifying?

The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good

Kirsty Applebaum

Chapter book

A hidden garden. An ancient tale. A missing child. This is an addictive mystery with crossing narratives that’s impossible to put down.

Fran doesn’t want to stay with her aunt and uncle and her annoying cousin, Imogen. Imogen is rude and unfriendly and, it turns out, missing… But her parents don’t seem to know who Fran means – don’t be silly, we don’t have a daughter, you know that. So it’s up to Fran, and Imogen’s best friend, Bex, to find out what’s happened to her.

Except Bex doesn’t know who Imogen is either. All Fran knows is that it’s got something to do with the hidden garden at Stillness Hall and the twelve statues that belong there. Could a mysterious old tale, a story of enchantment and death, hold the answers?

Unicorns in Uniforms: The Yeti’s Sneeze

Steve Wood & Tracy Curran

Chapter book

The Yeti’s Sneeze is playful, bright, and full of energy — but it also quietly champions empathy, inclusion and emotional understanding.

This is one of those books that feels delightfully silly on the surface but has a surprising amount of emotional and curriculum – friendly depth underneath. It follows the Unicorn School crew as they deal with a gigantic, chaotic sneeze from a very anxious yeti — and everything that sneeze sets off.

As both a primary teacher and a parent of an SEN child, it hits that sweet spot where fun, feelings and learning all sit together comfortably.

A Stocking Full of Spies

Robin Stevens

Chapter book

‘It’s hard to know where to start. There’s so much to say – about the murders, and the codes, and the spy, that I’m getting tangled up in the story already…’

It’s December 1941, and almost Christmas, when a bomb falls on Deepdean School for Girls. May and Nuala are whisked away from the chaos and sent to stay with May’s big sister, Hazel Wong, who is working at Bletchley Park.

Within seconds, they’re thrown straight into their most dangerous case yet. A codebreaker has been shot in what appears to be a tragic accident – until a suspicious and top-secret message is discovered in his pocket. Was he a spy, working for the other side? Was the message planted on him? Most importantly – was this murder?

Worst of all, Daisy’s big brother, Bertie Wells, is being blamed. It’s up to May, Nuala and their friend Eric to prove Bertie’s innocence and solve the mystery. But Bletchley is a strange and secretive place, full of Britain’s most ingenious minds. They’ll need to watch, listen, and puzzle out the incredible, unthinkable truth…

The thrilling brand-new mystery from the million-copy-bestselling author of Murder Most Unladylike.

War Horse

Michael Morpurgo

Chapter book

Before the Steven Spielberg film, before the National Theatre production, there was the classic children’s novel – War Horse. From the nation’s favourite storyteller, Michael Morpurgo.

In the deadly chaos of the First World War, one horse witnesses the reality of battle from both sides of the trenches. Bombarded by artillery, with bullets knocking riders from his back, Joey tells a powerful story of the truest friendships surviving in terrible times. One horse has seen the best and the worst of humanity. The power of war and the beauty of peace. This is his story.

War Horse was adapted by Steven Spielberg as a major motion picture with Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, and Benedict Cumberbatch. The National Theatre production opened in 2007 and has enjoyed successful runs in the West End and on Broadway.

A great way of introducing young readers to the realities of WWI. Look out for Morpurgo’s other war fiction including Friend or Foe, Waiting for Anya, King of the Cloud Forests and An Eagle in the Snow.

War Horse is a story of universal suffering for a universal audience by a writer who ‘has the happy knack of speaking to both child and adult readers’ (The Guardian).

Michael Morpurgo has written more than one hundred books for children and won the Whitbread Award, the Smarties Award, the Circle of Gold Award, the Children’s Book Award and has been short-listed for the Carnegie Medal four times.

Stitched Up!

Oriol Vidal & Steve Cole

Chapter book

The horrific real-life cost of fast fashion is exposed in this gripping tale of survival from bestselling author Steve Cole.

When twelve-year-old Hanh is offered a job as a shop assistant in Hanoi, she sees it as a chance to earn money to send back to her family living in poverty in rural Vietnam. But on her arrival in the city, she soon learns that the job offer was a lie and finds herself working in virtual slavery in an illegal garment factory.

Life in this sweatshop is a daily hell of long hours, little rest, poor food and regular violence. Hanh is desperate to escape, but when an opportunity arises will she be able to find the courage to take a dangerous chance?

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8. Please note that this book contains mature content.

Rugby Warrior

Gerard Siggins

Chapter book

It’s a new school term and Eoin Madden has new responsibilities. He’s now captain of the Under 14s team and has to deal with friction between his friend Rory and new boy Dylan as they thrash it out for a place as scrum-half.

And away from the pitch Eoin has his hands full. He starts work on a project about Irish-born All Black Dave Gallaher who died in World War I. Then history becomes reality when an old book brings Eoin a lot closer to the rugby legend than he ever thought possible …

Fast-paced action, mysterious spirits and feuding friends – it’s a season to remember!

Striking Out by Ian Wright

Ian Wright & Musa Okwonga

Chapter book

Thirteen-year-old Jerome Jackson dreams of becoming a world-class footballer. But with a difficult home life, Jerome can’t see how he’ll ever make this dream come true … until he meets a mentor figure who can hopefully put him on the right track.

“The best strikers aren’t the most skilful ones. They are the ones who never give up.”

Perfect for fans of real-life drama

Readers will love Ian Wright’s cameo role in the story

With phenomenal cover art from Benjamin Wachenje.

Lu (Run)

Jason Reynolds

Chapter book

Lu must learn to leave his ego on the sidelines if he wants to finally connect with others in the finale to the New York Times bestselling and award-winning RUN series from Jason Reynolds.

Lu was born to be co-captain of the Defenders. Well, actually, he was born albino, but that’s got nothing to do with being a track star. Lu has swagger, plus the talent to back it up, and no-one’s gonna outshine him.

Lu knows he can lead Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and the team to victory at the championships, but it might not be as easy as it seems. Suddenly, there are hurdles in Lu’s way – literally and not-so-literally – and Lu needs to figure out, fast, what winning the gold really means.

Expect the unexpected in the final event in Jason Reynold’s award-winning and bestselling RUN series.