Tag: family

Book cover for review: image shows four children - a black girl with blue hair on the front left, a blond-haired boy on the front right, a ginger girl in the back left, and a brown-haired boy back right - running in fear towards the camera through broken branches and vines. Behind them, chasing them, is a giant lizard surrounded by flames. The title 'Sin Bin Island' is at the top in bright blue; the A of Island has clawed feet, and the hole is shaped like a skull.
Book Reviews

Sin Bin Island | Book Review

Kim

By Doug Naylor (pub. David Fickling Books, 2025)

‘Read it out loud, then,’ Mr Menton prompted. Digs began.

‘My dear Digs, it’s very important you don’t read this note out loud.’

‘Ah, best not to read it out loud, then,’ Mr Menton chortled.
Digs read the rest of the note to himself.

You’re about to embark on an incredible adventure. An enterprise so petrifyingly terrifying it would make most boys your age quake in terror if they knew what was ahead of them. Thankfully, you don’t, which is a HUGE bonus.

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Covers for book recommendations August 2025
Book Reviews

Monthly Book Recommendations: August 2025

Lynda

Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for August! We’re making our way into cooler weather now, but we still did a lot of reading over the last summery month. So check out what books we enjoyed during August below!

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A Box Full of Murders book cover for review: two worried-looking children stand in the open; a girl on the left holds a cardboard box, the slightly smaller boy on the right holds a torch. In the background there is a campsite, with tents on both sides and a campfire on the left. Behind this there are trees, then yellowish clouds. Above that is the night sky, over which the title 'A Box Full of Murders' is written in orange. There is a red pin on each side with red string wrapped around them. Above this is the author's name, Janice Hallett.
Book Reviews

A Box Full of Murders | Book Review

Kim

By Janice Hallett (pub. Puffin Books, 2025)

1983. A hot summer. Bright sunshine. Starry nights. No parents. A happy group of children enjoying a camping trip together. The perfect summer…

Except…

A terrible crime was committed and no one knows who did it.

Not then. Not now.

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Covers for book recommendations July 2025
Book Reviews

Monthly Book Recommendations: July 2025

Lynda

Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for July! We may be a little late this month, but it certainly doesn’t mean that we’ve skimped on our reading. So check out what books we enjoyed last month below!

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Covers for book recommendations June 2025
Book Reviews

Monthly Book Recommendations: June 2025

Lynda

Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for June! We checked out a nice range of books over the past month, including a number of new graphic novels that we simply adored. Have a look at our reads for June below!

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Wolf Siren cover for book review. Image shows a small girl in a red coat standing amongst tall trees. She is facing a large wolf with yellow eyes. Behind her there are two more large wolves. Above them is written the title 'Wolf Siren' in red.
Book Reviews

Wolf Siren | Book Review

Kim

By Beth O’Brien (pub. HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2025)

I felt rebellious saying it, like I was swearing. It felt wrong, dangerous, and Grandmother seemed to sense my discomfort.

‘When nature shows her strength, men will go to great lengths to call it evil,’ she said. ‘Magic is everywhere, Red. And while I do think it’s better that you keep these wolves a secret – from your mother and even Aerona – I want you to remember, no matter what happens, that this magic is much, much older than the fear of it, you hear me?’

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Covers for book recommendations May 2025
Book Reviews

Monthly Book Recommendations: May 2025

Lynda

Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for May! Who knows what the weather might do next, which is why it’s always best to have a book (or three!) to hand. Check out what we were reading over the previous month below, and see what you want to add to your TBR pile!

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Songs for Ghosts book cover for review - image shows a young Japanese woman in a kimono holding a biwa. She has a blue filter over her. The landscape around her is puffy like clouds, a pale pink colour, with large blue flowers growing from it. White butterflies fill the red sky above.
Book Reviews

Songs for Ghosts | YA Book Review

Kim

By Clara Kumagai (Zephyr, 2025)

‘Who are you?’ I burst out. ‘How did you—’

She raised her head slowly. Her hair was long and dark and straight, half-covering her face, a pale oval. Her lips moved, but I couldn’t hear what she said. Benny quietened. Her eyes were like mine.

There was a noise from another room – my room – and I half-turned towards the sound, then remembered, caught myself and whirled back to the crib. There was nobody there, no woman, nothing. Only Benny, blinking his eyes, clenching and unclenching his little hands.

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Covers for book recommendations April 2025
Book Reviews

Monthly Book Recommendations: April 2025

Lynda

Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for April! Both health and house have improved, which means we’re back to our regular recommendations. Take a look below at what we were reading over the previous month!

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Covers for book recommendations March 2025
Book Reviews

Monthly Book Recommendations: March 2025

Lynda

Welcome to our monthly book recommendations post for March! Unfortunately, due to ill health on one side and a house move on the other, we’ve been unable to do our regular level of detail for this month. But we haven’t stopped reading, and it doesn’t stop us recommending those books!

So if you’re looking for a book to pick up, or perhaps give as an Easter gift, here are some to look out for.

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