The Boy I Am review book cover
Book Reviews

The Boy I Am | Young Adult Book Review

By K.L. Kettle (published by Little Tiger)

No. Focus on the Chancellor. I bow, full charm turned up, squeezing down the fear in my gut. This is about you, Vik.

The Chancellor’s sweet, slow tones offer her reserve. “One merit,” she says.

The silence is loud enough: no one’s going to outbid her.

I think the woman I’m meant to kill may have just saved my life.

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March 2021 review round-up book covers
Book Reviews

Libraries 4 Schools 2021 Review Round-Up 1

So many brilliant books have been published in the last six months, and a lot by new and exciting authors, which is always great to see!

We’ve decided that the best way for us to keep you up to date is to do a round-up of titles we’ve recently read, so you can get a quick idea of what you might like to add to your school or home library.

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A Secret of Birds and Bone review cover
Book Reviews

A Secret of Birds and Bone | Review

By Kiran Millwood Hargrave (published by Chicken House)

She checked her neck again, feeling for the clasp. She searched the front of her tunic, down her trouser legs, all the way to her shoes. Then she felt her neck again.

But she was not mistaken. There was no sign of the locket. It was gone.

It matters, Sofia. Keep it safe, always.

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Night Bus Hero cover review
Book Reviews

The Night Bus Hero | Book Review

By Onjali Q. Raúf (published by Orion Children’s Books, an imprint of Hachette Children’s Group)

I waited for him to shout and scream. But he didn’t. Instead, he took off his yellow hat and his shoulders began to shake. That was how I knew that he was crying.

‘How could you do that?’ asked a voice from behind me.

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Christmas carol picture book
Book Reviews

A Christmas Carol | Picture Book Review

Retold by Kristina Stephenson and illustrated by Hoang Giang (published by Puffin Books)

“I bring you a warning,” replied Marley. “Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits. Listen to what they tell you, Ebenezer, for each of them means to help you.”

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Valley of Lost Secrets review
Book Reviews

The Valley of Lost Secrets | Book Review

By Lesley Parr (published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

‘One boy, I believe,’ Mr Bevan says.

One.

I think I might be really sick, properly sick, all over my shoes sick. I just want to go home.

I’m gripping Ronnie’s shoulder so tight I must be hurting him but he’s just watching her. Then the woman called Mrs Thomas looks at me and I get the same smile.

‘I’ve changed my mind, Ceri,’ she says. ‘We can make room for two.’

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October October book review
Book Reviews

October, October | Book Review

By Katya Balen, with illustrations by Angela Harding (published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books)

She wanted me to go to school and spend my weekends with her far away, but then when would I ever be wild and free and climb trees and scavenge for treasure and tell stories by a fire?

I don’t want her.

She’s not wild like we are.

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Book Reviews

The Closest Thing to Flying | Book Review

By Gill Lewis (published by Oxford University Press)

Semira looked behind her as if she felt someone was watching her. A diary was personal wasn’t it? Private?

But surely if it had been written over a hundred years ago, the writer of the diary would be dead by now.

It wouldn’t matter if she read some of it.

Would it?

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Wonderscape book review
Book Reviews

Wonderscape | Book Review

By Jennifer Bell (Walker Books)

She swallowed and marched up to a crewwoman polishing one of the brass telescopes. Arthur noticed a glowing V tattooed on her chin, instead of a T, like the male crew members. “Excuse me, can we please leave this Wonderscape game? We don’t want to take part; we just want to go home.”

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lockdown children's book reviews
Book Reviews

Lynda’s Lockdown Library 3 | Picture Book Reviews

Welcome to the third entry into our Lockdown Library series! Although some children are back in school, we know that there are plenty who are still at home. So we’ve gone through our collection and found some wonderful picture books that are great for keeping the spirits up!

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