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Topic: Books of the Month - Mar 2019

Chapter book

A vivid adventure filled with danger and heroism from the author of Murder in Midwinter.

Athan Wilde dreams of flight. When his friend, Mr Chen, is murdered, Athan must rescue the flying machine they were building together and stop it falling into the wrong hands. But keeping the machine safe puts his family in terrible danger. What will Athan choose – flight or family?

From the acclaimed author of Murder In Midwinter, Fleur Hitchcock’s The Boy Who Flew is a thrilling, murderous tale set among the steep rooftops and slippery characters of Athan’s intricately imagined world. Perfect for fans of Philip Pullman, Peter Bunzl and Philip Reeve.

Non-fiction

From exploding violets to swimming water lilies, from bouncing conkers to hitch-hiking burdock, plants go on amazing journeys! Discover the many wonderful ways that seeds can travel and watch as they grow into brand new plants.

Chapter book

Past and present are woven into this novel set in contemporary times and WWII Poland. Based on a real life story about friendship and endurance in the darkest situation. Ewa’s debut novel The Mystery of the Colour Thief was shortlisted for the Waterstone’s Childrens Prize 2019 and longlisted for the Branford Boase Award.

Kat is a 12-year-old girl who loves working on her super-heroine comic, Girl 38 – the girl she longs to be like. But she’s not brave, or fearless. At school, Gem is no longer her ‘best friend’. And at home Kat is lonely while her parents are busy working long hours. She’s even a bit afraid of her elderly neighbour, Ania. But when Ania has an accident Kat surprises herself by rushing to the rescue – just like Girl 38. Their unlikely friendship blossoms, and with it Kat’s determination, as Ania reveals the haunting story behind the portrait of a girl she’s left unfinished.

Inspired by Ania – her daring leap to freedom and her search for her lost friend, Mila, who was taken away by soldiers to a ‘walled village’ at the outbreak of WWII – Kat unravels the mystery of the girl in the painting and finds a happy ending for Girl 38.

Chapter book

“I was special. I was a hero. I lost the best friend I ever had.”

Eleven-year-old Maggie lives in Fennis Wick, enclosed and protected from the outside world by a boundary, beyond which the Quiet War rages and the dirty, dangerous wanderers roam.

Her brother Jed is an eldest, revered and special. A hero. Her younger brother is Trig – everyone loves Trig. But Maggie’s just a middler; invisible and left behind. Then, one hot September day, she meets Una, a hungry wanderer girl in need of help, and everything Maggie has ever known gets turned on its head.

Narrated expertly and often hilariously by Maggie, we experience the trials and frustrations of being the forgotten middle child, the child with no voice, even in her own family.

This gripping story of forbidden friendship, loyalty and betrayal is perfect for fans of Malorie Blackman, Meg Rosoff, Frances Hardinge and Margaret Atwood.

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