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Publisher: Guppy Publishing Ltd

evie and maryams family tree

Evie and Maryam’s Family Tree

Chapter book

Evie and Maryam are in the same class at school, uneasily thrown together at the start of a new term as they start a project together looking into their family trees.

The two girls don’t think they have much in common – Maryam feels like an outsider, and Evie thinks Maryam is a bit odd.

But when the two girls each find the same mysterious folder containing documents in a secret language that belong to their grandmothers, they discover their ties go back two generations, all the way to India, to partition, and to two best friends who inspired each other more than they ever know.

A beautifully told historical family-based exploration of identity, inheritance, difference and friendship.

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tsunami girl

Tsunami Girl

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Chapter book

Fifteen-year-old Yuki is struggling at school with her confidence, and goes to Japan to stay with her grandfather, a well-known manga artist and to whom she is very close. But during her visit, a calamitous event occurs – the March 2011 East Coast Earthquake and Tsunami – and her beloved Grandpa is lost.

Yuki and her friend Taka must make sense of the terrible situation and come to terms with the loss of their life as they knew it – and see that through renewal and with resilience, they can emerge from this tragedy with optimism for the future. Interwoven with Japanese folk tales, modern-day ghost stories, and the creation of her very own vibrant manga hero, Yuki finds the courage to overcome extraordinary odds, and take her first steps into the world that lies beyond catastrophe.

Told through both prose and manga, this story for young adults will touch the heart of any reader.

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apocalypse cow

Apocalypse Cow

Chapter book

Mel loves Sasha and dreams of a day that Sasha might reciprocate her feelings (even though she’s straight) – so the fact that it’s thirty degrees outside in January and hasn’t rained for a year simply passes her by.

Mel is just about coping with being the only ‘out’ lesbian in school and all the sniping that Janis and Ella aim her way, as well as her dreary Saturday job with the stupidly posh Dorian… But when domestic animals suddenly lethally turn on the human race, and Mel finds herself stuck in a mansion with Dorian and Ella, her love-life suddenly turns on its head in the most extraordinary way.

A screamingly funny LGTBQ+ love story from a brilliant new talent.

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mexikid

Mexikid

Graphic novel
resources-available

Mexikid is a wonderfully illustrated graphic memoir.

Through the book, the author, Pedro Martin, provides readers with a unique, entertaining insight into his world – the world of children born in America to Mexican parents. The book is set in 1977 when superhero-loving Pedro is 10 years old. Pedro is part of a large family – he has 8 siblings some of whom were born in Mexico before their parents moved to the family to America – and he thinks his home is too crowded. Pedro does not feel connected to his Mexican heritage, so when he finds out that his Abualito, who lives in Mexico, is coming to live with them, he is concerned about how it will impact his life.

The whole family set out on what turns out to be a rather adventure-filled road trip to go and collect Pedro’s Abualito. What follows is a journey of discovery, unity and personal growth all wrapped up in plenty of humour. This is a great book to encourage conversation about heritage and culture.

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bigg school best friends forever

Bigg School: Best Friends Forever

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Chapter book

A new contemporary series from Lisa Williamson about an ordinary class of kids with extraordinary stories – teamed up with the hilarious and award-winning illustrator, Jess Bradley. The first book follows Lola going from primary to secondary school with her best friend.

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pizza pete and the perilous potions

Pizza Pete and the Perilous Potions

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Chapter book

Meet Pete… a pizza-loving boy who has a couple of obstacles in his life. Firstly, Pete and his Dad will be evicted from their pizza shop in 4 days and secondly, Peter can’t leave the house. When Peter and his best friend Anna find a dusty old suitcase full of potions, the chaos starts – exploding headteachers, shrinking dogs and magical pizzas.

This book is a hilarious adventure through friendships, tough times and pizza, and would make a fun class reader for Lower KS2.

 

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The Billow Maiden

Chapter book
book-of-the-month

The Billow Maiden is a hauntingly beautiful story, set in the wild countryside of a North English coastal village. The main character, Aisla, has briefly moved there to live with her Aunt and Uncle Nod while her mum is sick. When she arrives, she quickly makes friends with the daughter of an infamous family, Camilla. Ailsa also makes a discovery in one of the caves which leads to the pair learning more about the island, its history and themselves.

The book shares the complex backgrounds of the main characters wonderfully well. Ailsa’s struggles with her mum’s ongoing mental health needs contrast with Camilla’s own family challenges. These two girls appear to have lives which are polar opposites but find sanctuary together; with Ailsa’s Aunt and Uncle providing both with much needed stability and comfort. The author also uses Norse legends to add further layers of mystery and intrigue throughout.

There is so much that could be used within the book to inspire learning in the primary classroom; the descriptions of the wild English coastland and caves would be perfect when looking at Geographical features. Camilla’s passion for Norse Gods compliment topics on myths and legends and, of course, there is the ongoing PSHE topic which weaves the characters together. It’s rare that a book tackles parental mental health so honestly; with each character sharing their confusion and compassion in different ways.

It is a thoroughly wonderful book and highly recommended for children in Upper Key Stage Two, due to the mature themes discussed.

Reviewer: Claire C

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Saving Winslow

Chapter book

Written by Carnegie medal winner Sharon Creech, this is an endearing and heart-warming story, reminiscent of Charlotte’s Web.

The story is set in America and opens, much like Charlotte’s Web, with the father of the household bringing home to Louie, his son, a small bundle. This bundle is not the runt of the pig litter, as in Charlotte’s Web, but a very poorly new-born baby donkey. Louie names the donkey Winslow and is determined to keep him alive. Woven through the story are stories of friendship and love: of Louie and Winslow; Louie and his brother, Gus who is a soldier away in the army; Louie and his older friend Mack; Mack and Claudine, the girl he is smitten by; Louie and Nora, Claudine’s younger sister, who lives life with a glass half empty view of the world. Nora lost her baby brother when he was a new-born and then her pet dog and these events make it hard for her to let herself attach to anyone or anything including Winslow, despite her overwhelming curiosity about the tiny donkey.

As the story progresses, Winslow manages to work his donkey magic and Nora builds a real bond with Winslow. Sharon Creech, who uses the donkey’s different noises and braying to convey his mood, along with the way he nuzzles and uses his long ears to show his care for Louie and Nora, skilfully constructs Winslow’s character. Clearly, a donkey isn’t loved by everyone, particularly when he makes as much noise as Winslow does. In this great story though, even Mrs Tooley, a very grumpy neighbour who really thinks that a donkey should not be living in the neighbourhood, is won around when Winslow’s braying alerts the family to a fire.

This story is crafted perfectly, with moments of reflection on the big life questions: of loss; fear; death; friendship; courage and the power of hope. It is a wonderful story that could provide a class with a wealth of deep discussion alongside some laughs and warmth.

Reviewer: Jane Carter

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The Animal Lighthouse

&
Chapter book

Brought up by a wonderful group of animals on a hidden island somewhere deep in the Caribbean, Jim knows no other life or who his real parents are. He washed up on the island as a baby in a barrel of rum and treasure, and has been helping run its special lighthouse with the animals ever since. But now, trouble is brewing…

Someone, or something, has stolen the lighthouse bulb filaments. If Jim, Oscar and the rest of the animals can’t get the lighthouse beams working again, the hidden island will no longer be a secret. And with a pirate ship on the horizon, danger is about to smash their tranquil island apart…

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

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yes

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