‘Mission: Microraptor’ by Philip Kavvadias

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Finn is on a school trip in the French Alps with his friend Milo (the ‘Professor’) when he falls into a glacier and discovers a mysterious egg. Later that night the egg begins to hatch, Finn thinks this could be his big break into becoming a YouTuber, so he films it. But he could never have anticipated what actually emerges – an extinct, 65 million-year-old, flying dinosaur called a microraptor.

Arty (Artemis) the microraptor immediately imprints on Finn but they hardly have any time to bond before their hotel room is under siege by mercenaries trying to steal the microraptor, and Finn, Milo and Arty only narrowly escape by abseiling out of the window with the help of secret agent Lara, of the special branch of the Natural History Museum. The four of them go on the run together to keep Arty out of the hands of the evil scientists and get her safely back to England.

Finn is a character that a lot of children will be able to relate to. He is not keen on hiking or any other kind of physical activity – he only likes three things: video games, takeaway food and a large couch. But as soon as Arty hatches he is astonished to discover that he will do anything to protect her, including hiking through the Black Forest, building their own shelter and foraging for food. 

There are plenty of children’s books that claim to be funny but the humour is often limited to fart jokes – Philip’s writing is genuinely laugh-out-loud hilarious. This madcap adventure is crammed with non-stop action, survival skills, witty quips, and impossible creatures – perfect for fans of Rick Riordan, Maz Evans and Katie & Kevin Tsang’s ‘Dragon Realm’ books. This story would be particularly great for reluctant readers as it is relatively short and illustrated throughout by Euan Cook, in addition to being fun and fast-paced. And who doesn’t love a dinosaur? 

‘Mission: Microraptor’ is also the first of a series and Finn and Milo will be back for their second adventure soon.

Thanks to Chicken House for the ARC.

‘King of Nothing’ by Nathanael Lessore

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An author’s second novel is always a tricky proposition, particularly when their debut has been widely celebrated and shortlisted for the Carnegie medal. But I am pleased to report that ‘King of Nothing’ is just as funny, heartwarming and authentic as ‘Steady for This’. 

Anton is not a particularly likeable character at first. He is a self-proclaimed ‘King’ of Year 9 and, together with his group of friends, he intimidates the rest of the pupils and staff of their school. Anton’s scary reputation is boosted by the fact that his Dad is in prison and he’ll do anything to maintain that reputation, apart from going up against his mum – particularly as she controls the wifi code. So when Anton gets into trouble at school, his Mum drafts him into her community project and a local group called the ‘Happy Campers’ which includes Matthew who has been relentlessly bullied by Anton and his friends. But after Matthew saves his life, they make a deal. If Matthew never talks to him in public, Anton will help Matthew win over his crush, Fernanda. 

But as Anton starts to spend more time with Matthew and less time with his other friends, he finds that he begins to like himself more and feel more hopeful about his future. But when his dad is released from prison, Anton’s loyalty is pulled in a different direction.

‘King of Nothing’ is a fantastic portrayal of the toxic masculinity culture so many teenage boys are exposed to these days through YouTubers like Andrew Tate, and it clearly explores Anton’s thought process as he becomes disillusioned with the ideas his dad and his friends are expressing – particularly with regards to women and relationships.

If it sounds a little worthy, the style is not like that at all. Anton’s interactions with Matthew are particularly hilarious, and the jokes make the book a lot more engaging than the gritty subject matter would suggest. 

By the end of the book Anton had thoroughly won me over – I almost liked him as much as the delightfully whimsical Matthew. Another captivating read from Nathanael Lessore – perfect for the tricky ‘teen’ age category. Loved it!

‘Countdown to Yesterday’ by Shirley Marr

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When James’ mum announces she is finally going to participate in the annual Summerlake Primary School Cake Competition, he is thrilled. But also suspicious since she has never participated before. Then James finds out that his mum is moving out and his parents are getting a divorce. He doesn’t understand how this has happened and why they can’t just work things out. He remembers all the good times they had together as a family, and wishes he could go back in time to when everything used to be perfect. And then he meets Yan who claims to have a time machine. 

While James is obsessed with David Bowie, Yan is fascinated by obsolete technology. Her ‘time machine’ is a way of looking back at the history of web pages, but as the book is structured like a countdown, it seems that Yan and James will find a way to actually go back in time. Yan is a brilliantly self-sufficient character, although she clearly struggles to make friends as much as James – who spends his lunches in the front office with the receptionist.

This is a bittersweet coming-of-age story as James realises that his golden memories of his family are not the perfect moments he recalls, but this does help him come to terms with his parent’s divorce and this story would be of particular interest to any children whose parents are divorced – as was the case for a couple of the pupils in my Year 5 book club. 

As soon as the author mentioned the Australian Women’s Weekly Children’s Birthday Cake Book, I remembered my mum telling me about it when I was a child (its fame extended to South Africa, where I grew up) and she made the rabbit cake with the green coconut grass for one of my sister’s birthdays. I ordered a secondhand copy of the original 1980 publication and the pupils were fascinated to see the cakes mentioned in the book, although somewhat horrified at the stereotyped ‘cakes for boys’ and ‘cakes for girls’ sections.

Generally this book was hugely popular with the book club – the pupils really enjoyed the time travel element in particular, as well as the characters of James, Yan and Tiger the cat! 

Thanks to Usborne and the Reading Agency for the ARC and the book group copies.

‘The Doll Twin’ by Janine Beacham

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Eleven-year-old Una has lived in a children’s home for two years since her parents died and she had to leave her beloved lighthouse. When the Smiths arrive and decide to adopt her, she is thrilled, and excited to live next to the sea once again, but their grand old house, Copperlins, is a little strange. No one else in the village will go near it, it used to be the home of a dollmaker and so the house is full of antique dolls and parts and, in the middle of the night, Una hears creaking noises from the unused second story of the house.

But there are plenty of positive things to distract her, like her kind new parents, the old carousel in the cellar that Mr Smith is restoring, and her new friend, Mary. But then one night Una comes face-to-face with a life-size clockwork doll who looks exactly like her…

This book caught my eye immediately because of the striking cover design and the wonderfully sinister and evocative title, and the story lived up to my first impression. It was full of things that I love: lighthouses, steampunk, artificial intelligence and gothic horror. It is also a book about friendship, family, bravery and resilience. And of course, the only thing creepier than lifelike dolls, is human-sized lifelike dolls, and this book is full of those uncanny valley moments.

So many pupils in my primary and secondary library are asking for scary books these days, so it is fantastic to have another thrillingly spine-chilling read to recommend to them. ‘The Doll Twin’ is a dark and twisty MG horror, perfect for fans of Coraline and Phil Hickes. I absolutely adored it!

Thanks to Firefly for the ARC.

‘Secrets of the Snakestone’ by Piu DasGupta

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Inspired by the same legends that informed Wilkie Collins’s ‘The Moonstone’, ‘Secrets of the Snakestone’ is a thrilling, pitch-perfect middle grade adventure set in the streets and the sewers of Paris at the end of the nineteenth century.

Zélie has been sent away from her family in India to live in Paris and work as a maid. But when a boy appears out of the sewers with a mysterious locket belonging to her father, the two children are swept up in a breathtaking mystery involving a cursed stone, a dark secret society and a vibrant cast of circus performers. There is also, very importantly, a baby sloth.

Zélie is a brilliantly bold and audacious narrator, balanced by the more careful and considered character of Jules. I particularly loved the little pep talks that she gives herself throughout the book, whenever she’s feeling nervous or uncertain:

Zélie Dutta, she told herself, you can hold your breath underwater for three minutes, thirteen and three-quarter seconds. You can peel a banana with your toes. You can recite the preface of Les Miserables by heart and you can lick your elbow. You are more than a match for the rubbish Malaises.”

Though it has a historical setting, this story combines a classic feel with contemporary pacing. The action is fast and furious and I read it in one sitting, engaged all the way though.

I also have to mention the thoroughly eye-catching and enticing cover design – what an absolute triumph! Designed by Elisabetta Barbazza and illustrated by Helen Crawford-White.

This engaging, evocative adventure is perfect for fans of Sophie Anderson, Kiran Millwood Hargrave and Katherine Rundell’s ‘Rooftoppers’. I know it’s going to be popular in the library!

Thanks to Netgalley and Nosy Crow for the digital ARC.

‘Cross My Heart and Never Lie’ by Nora Dåsnes, translated by Matt Bagguley

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When Tuva comes back to school after the summer holidays, she’s dismayed to realise that some things have changed in her friendship group. Now she is in seventh grade they are allowed to go into the woods behind the school at lunch and Tuva and her friend Bao are really excited to build dens and enjoy themselves, but their other friend, Linnea, has a new boyfriend and is not interested in joining them. The girls in Tuva’s class seem to have split into two groups, Tuva thinks she’d like to fall in love and have a boyfriend but she also loves building dens and playing in the woods – she feels torn between her two best friends. And just to make everything even more confusing, Tuva can’t stop thinking about the new girl, Mariam.

Nora Dasnes is a Judy Blume for a new generation. ‘Cross My Heart and Never Lie’ is a wonderfully authentic, thoughtful and engaging graphic novel about friendship, growing up and first crushes – perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier. I adored this story and the graphic diary style and can highly recommended it for upper KS2 and Year 7 pupils in particular – I know my Year 6 Book Club is going to love this one!

Thanks to The Reading Agency and Farshore for the book group copies.

‘Shadowhall Academy: The Whispering Walls’ by Phil Hickes

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Lilian’s first night at her new boarding school is interrupted by a sinister tapping on the walls and her roommates tell her the story of ‘Cold Mary’ (a brilliantly spine-chilling invention!) – the ghost of a former student who haunts their dormitory. But this is not the only strange thing going on at Shadowhall Academy. With the help of her new friends, Angela, Marian and Serena, Lilian must investigate the mysterious happenings and solve a centuries-old curse. 

This is a fantastically fun and creepy ghost story, from the author of the ‘Haunting of Aveline Jones’ series, perfect for those who love scary books. I had the ARC on my desk at school and it generated a lot of interest so I know it will be popular in the library!

Thanks to Usborne for the ARC.

‘The Starling’s Song’ by Octavie Wolters (translated by Michele Hutchison)

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The starling observes how lovely the landscape is as he flies above and decides to sing a song about it. But when he tells the other birds, they urge him not to forget other elements of natural beauty in the world like the trees, the water and life itself. Together they look closely and see it all. 

The book is gorgeously illustrated with striking woodcut images in black and white with pops of yellow for the starling’s beak and feet. 

‘The Starling’s Song’ is a celebration of nature and a lyrical exhortation to look around us and appreciate the natural world, perfect for fans of Charlie Mackesy’s ‘The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse’.

Thanks to Pushkin Children’s for the ARC.

‘Legendary Creatures’ by Adam Auerbach

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This beautiful picture book for older children is a menagerie of bizarre and mysterious beasts from mythologies all over the world. It explains the origins of some creatures you have heard of (the phoenix, the mermaid, the dragon) as well as some that might be new to you like the Japanese elephant-tusked Baku who eats your bad dreams, the giant crocodile Cipactli with mouths on all of its joints, and the terrifying swallowing monster from Lesotho – the Khodumodumo. 

In addition to the fascinating information, compelling ink and watercolour illustrations create ethereal and yet vivid manifestations of each imagined creature. This book would be a perfect companion-read to Katherine Rundell’s ‘Impossible Creatures’ – for those who want to delve a little deeper into the world of mythical beasts.

Thanks to Pushkin Children’s for the ARC.

‘Thieves Gambit’ by Kayvion Lewis

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Seventeen-year-old Rosalyn Quest is the youngest member of the notorious Quest Crime family and she has been trained in the criminal arts since she was a small child by her ruthless mother.

When she receives a mysterious email inviting her to compete in the Thieves Gambit, she ignores it at first. But when she finds herself in an impossible situation, she signs up and is whisked away on a private plan to an undisclosed location to join up with several other criminal teens to compete in a winner-takes-all heist competition. The winner gets a wish – something that Rosalyn desperately needs. But when she arrives she finds an unwelcome addition – her arch-nemesis, Noelia Boschert, daughter of a rival crime family based in Europe.

Ross has been conditioned her whole life never to trust anyone, but when the other contestants team up on the first challenge and she is almost eliminated, she realises that she will have to work with her fellow competitors, even if she doesn’t fully trust them. And then there is the magnetic Devroe, who seems determined to win her over. But nothing is as it seems and the stakes are even higher than Ross realises.

Ross has a brilliantly devious mind and I particularly enjoyed the clever ways she outwits the other competitors as well as the organisers. This is an excellent heist novel, full of twists, turns and surprises. A cover quote describes it as ‘high octane’ a phrase Ross also used to describe her own family, and this is definitely accurate – the action is relentless and thrilling.

‘Thieves Gambit’ is a welcome addition to the usually male-dominated action-thriller category and is perfect for fans of ‘Alex Rider’, ‘Six of Crows’ and the ‘Oceans 11’ movie franchise.