Publisher: Chicken House Ltd

Cleopatra’s Amulet

Chapter book

An epic adventure in Ancient Egypt from the bestselling author of Darwin’s Dragons! Twelve-year-old Cleopatra has led a charmed life as Princess of Egypt.

But when her father is kidnapped and she is forced into exile, she must investigate who wants the throne enough to kill for it.

Using a precious amulet and an enchanted board game, Cleo races through a world of gods and monsters to discover the truth …

An epic Ancient Egyptian adventure, starring young Cleopatra, from the bestselling author of Darwin’s Dragons, Call of the Titanic and The Great Phoenix of London

Perfect for mythology fans – discover Ancient Egypt as you’ve never seen it before!

Packed full of adventure, magic and real history for ages 9 and up

For readers of Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll and M.G. Leonard’s Time Keys series

The Notwitches

Dotty Sutton & Gary Panton

Chapter book

Perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Laura Ellen Anderson!

While lots of children have one or two problems, Melanda Notwitch has three: her horrible aunts. They really are the absolute WORST!

Luckily, Melanda meets Mitch, a young witch who knows of a magic spell that might make everything better.

All they have to do is find one special ingredient.

How hard can it be?

Book 1 in a big-hearted and funny adventure series in the spirit of Roald Dahl, perfect for ages 7–11

Brimming with loathsome villains, unexpected heroes, extraordinary set pieces and an almost-talking cat!

With laugh-out-loud funny illustrations from Dotty Sutton

The adventure continues in book 2, The Notwitches: Prison Break!

This is a stunning story for horse lovers and wildlife enthusiasts alike – perfect for 9-12 year olds. Merryn lives what should be a charmed life in a cosy cottage near the woods and a secret beach all her own – but the loss of her dad in an accident at sea hangs over her heart and her family and sadness seems inescapable….until, that is, an unexpected encounter with an enchanted horse breaks through her loneliness and makes joy possible again.

This is a story that explores the highs and the lows of life, the power of imagination and the treasure to be found in friendships that are true. Holly Surplice writes in a style that feels effortless and beautiful, with a gentleness and lightness of touch. Despite the heaviness of grief and depression hanging over Merryn’s small family, it still feels like it would be suitable to put this book in the hands of a nine year old.

Holly Surplice is also an outstanding artist, and her work illustrating her story brings it to life in a magical way, making it an easier read for more reluctant readers. I loved the writing, I adored the illustrations, I loved the characters, I loved the hope Merryn finds at the end of the story. It’s just a beautiful book!

Love on Sight

Asli Jensen

Chapter book

A universal story that will resonate far and wide, Love on Sight captures the heat and hope of the city, and the magic of falling in love for the first time…

Sabrina has her life planned out – she’s going to pass her A levels and go to university. But then she meets Jalaal, a boy trapped on the wrong path, desperate for a way out.

An English Jamaican girl and a Somali Muslim boy being together isn’t straightforward, with cultural expectations, disapproving family and religious differences to overcome.

But is that the struggle you face when you fall in love on sight?

The outstanding debut novel from the Lime New Storyteller 2023 award winner, Asli Jensen.
An uplifting contemporary YA romance, which draws on the author’s experience of growing up in inner-city London.
A modern dual narrative Romeo-and-Juliet story, perfect for fans of Danielle Jawando and Candice Carty-Williams.
Explores themes of family, culture, friendship, redemption, class, faith and different forms of love in a fresh and authentic style, which will resonate universally.

The Shell Keepers

Truly Johnston

Chapter book

An enchanting and sunny seaside adventure – a perfect gift for children aged 7 and up!

When Corrine picks up a shell on the beach, she doesn’t expect to see a tiny girl inside it.

Kauri lives below the sand and sea, travelling with her family on the tides.

But now their miniature world is in danger, and they need a shell keeper to keep them safe …

A cosy middle-grade debut from Truly Johnston, winner of the Bath Children’s Novel Award 2022.

A heart-warming tale about a family of miniature people cast adrift in the human world.

Shades of The Borrowers in a coastal seaside setting.

Themes of belonging, identity, environment and activism, wrapped up in a sunny adventure and treasure hunt.

Tin by Padraig Kenny

Pádraig Kenny

Chapter book

Christopher is ‘Proper’: a real boy with a real soul, orphaned in a fire.

He works for an engineer, a maker of the eccentric, loyal and totally individual mechanicals who are Christopher’s best friends.

But after a devastating accident, a secret is revealed and Christopher’s world is changed for ever …

What follows is a remarkable adventure, as Christopher discovers who he really is, and what it means to be human.

A heartfelt tale of humanity, adventure and belonging, from the bestselling author of Pog and The Monsters of Rookhaven.

Pinocchio meets The Wizard of Oz with a hint of Northern Lights as a boy and his mechanical friends discover the truth about his past.

A thought-provoking and timely novel, with strong themes of friendship, war and what it really means to be human.

Death by Chocolate

Anna Brooke

Chapter book

Death by Chocolate is a deliciously entertaining mystery that combines ghostly intrigue, friendship and plenty of chocolatey treats into one sweet and satisfying adventure!

When Coco Bean’s family move from England to a crumbling French hotel, she is far from thrilled. Things become much more interesting, however, when she discovers the hotel is haunted by Monsieur Framboise, the ghost of a chocolatier who wants Coco and her new friend Louis to solve the mystery of his murder. In exchange, he shares his legendary chocolate recipes.

The rural French setting is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Filled with charming villages, French phrases and mouth-watering descriptions of food and chocolate, it is easy to savour every chapter. The mystery is cleverly plotted, with hidden rooms, secret clues and enough twists to keep young readers guessing without becoming too complicated.

Coco is a determined and likeable heroine who gradually embraces her new life, while Louis, Belle the dog and the grumpy-but-lovable Monsieur Framboise make excellent companions. Their teamwork, bravery and humour give the story a warm heart beneath its spooky premise.Anna Brooke strikes the perfect balance between mystery, comedy and adventure, creating a story that is exciting without being frightening. The bonus chocolate recipe makes it especially appealing!

Death by Chocolate is an absolute treat of a book. Rich with mystery, sprinkled with humour and topped with a generous helping of charm, I think this will be a sweet success that will leave readers hungry for Coco’s next adventure

Wishbound

Clemency Brown

Chapter book

What if the price of magic was your best friend?

Leonie can make wishes come true, a rare gift on her tiny island of Onske.

But when she finds out that her magic will cost her freedom, she runs away to our world.

Here, she finds a new life, a new family and a best friend, Cress.

However, danger is lurking.

As Leonie’s enemies close in, is her only hope of keeping her friend safe a wish that will tie them together for ever…?

A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once

Lucas Maxwell

Chapter book

Set in the freezing Nova Scotia winter, A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once draws on Lucas Maxwell’s upbringing to set the scene for his breath taking debut novel.

Dropping back ten years as an introduction Maxwell deftly utilises an incident from Elias’s early childhood to give a meaningful insight into who Elias is and how autism affects him. Back then, Elias knows his brother Bo would go to the ends of the earth to look after him but Bo has grown more distant and barely grunts at him nowadays, his parents are arguing and he knows he needs to do something about it. A talent show at the school could just be the key to helping but will it be too little too late?

Beautifully eloquent, heart-breaking yet uplifting, Maxwell doesn’t hide from the, at times, harsh reality of life. Dealing with a life spiralling due to addiction and associated debts, neurodiversity, poverty and the physical and mental strains that can put on families. This is also a story of hope, of the kindness of friends and strangers, of the power of human strength and determination in the face of adversity when powered by love. If that all seems to heavy for some, Maxwell also peppers the story with a series of puns, from Elias in preparation for his comedy sketch at the talent show, which you can’t help but chuckle at, confusing anyone who happens to observe you reading it. Quite how so much can be squeezed into such a relatively concise text is somewhat baffling, but it unequivocally works.

The Galaxy World Cup

Alan Joyce

Chapter book

This is a hilarious book about daydreamer, Nick who gets a detention for well, daydreaming along with his friend Eddie, who thinks he saw a spaceship land in the woods. They join Phil, angry Mia and tech-savvy Sanjay in detention.

The PE teacher, Mr Barton wants them to play against talented Lucas and his team in the Community Centre. If that’s not bad enough they have to wear unwashed kit. The names on the back of the T-shirts are: Ronaldo, Messi, Mbappe, Morgan and Haaland. When they lose miserably, they are made to run laps around the park but they hear strange noises coming from the woods. When they see a green light they go in and are kidnapped by alien, Gaux and robot, Nauton who mistake them for the names on the back of their T-shirts to play in the Galaxy World Cup on the planet Bigpu!

Back on Earth, friends, families and teachers watch them as they play match after match. This was a gripping read with so many funny parts. Mia is always shouting, Phil is always vomiting and Sanjay can’t stop sneezing. This book would be perfect for football fans and fans of funny books alike. Although they seem like misfits who have nothing in common they actually work well together and learn they have ther own strengths.