I have given each of my recommendations for children an age suggestion. These are of course approximate. Please also have a look at younger or older categories.
A wartime story inspired by the early life of Audrey Hepburn. Excellent!
Review date: 20.10.22
Age recommendation: 10+
A stunning book for young readers. Powerful, challenging and incredibly sad, as this explores racism in the US.
Review date: 10.02.18
Age recommendation: 9-13
A young girl and an elderly lady find a friendship, after they've overcome their preconceptions of each other.
Review date: 14.06.25
Age recommendation: 9+
Marcus seems destined to follow his father and brothers into a life of crime. How can he take his own path in life?
Review date: 27.11.24
Age recommendation: 9+
A wonderfully nostalgic adventure, with the miners strikes of the 1970s as a backdrop.
Review date: 16.01.23
Age recommendation: 9+
Humour, action and inventiveness with feisty and engaging characters, in a scientific, interplanetary, futuristic adventure.
Review date: 09.09.21
Age recommendation: 9+
A fabulous adventure in Scotland searching for Loch Ness with a young boy whose dealing with the monsters in his own tragic story. Amazingly funny and uplifting while also dealing with grief, loss and uncertainty.
Review date: 29.03.23
Age recommendation: 9+
An exciting and thought-provoking ecological adventure set in the Arctic.
Review date: 30.12.22
Age recommendation: 11
A wonderful story of family and friendship, individuality and difference, beautifully and authentically told.
Review date: 04.09.24
Age recommendation: 9+
A nostalgic story of boarding school capers, ghostly goings-on in a wartime setting, based on real events. Brilliant!
Review date: 06.07.23
Age recommendation: 9+
James has just moved to the Lake District with his dad and his older sister, Jasmine. It is meant to be a fresh start for them all.
Age recommendation: 11+
An exciting new adventure series begins as Flo and Joseph search for their explorer Mum and discover climate crimes.
Review date: 31.03.24
Age recommendation: 9+
A beautifully told story of believing in a star, but with the backdrop of domestic abuse, grief and foster care.
Review date: 16.05.20
Age recommendation: 9+
We are introduced to Celia as she comes to realise that her life has been built on a lie.
Review date: 29.05.11
Age recommendation: 12+
A girl befriends a pit pony in 1950s Yorkshire, overcoming isolation, loneliness, racism and bullying. A beautiful book.
Review date: 05.01.25
Age recommendation: 9+
A massive explosion destroys the south of England, but one boy is saved and his damaged body is rebuilt.
Age recommendation: 9+
Beautifully written adventure of a seriously ill 13-year-old girl - her coming of age as she faces death, with a twist.
Review date: 14.11.15
Age recommendation: 11+
When Priya wears the bangle left to her by her grandmother, she has to tell the truth. But it won't come off!
Review date: 09.09.24
Age recommendation: 9+
A wonderful sequel to E. Nesbit's 'Five Children and It', set on the eve of the First World War.
Review date: 29.04.24
Age recommendation: 9+
Four children audition for parts in a new film - clearly inspired by 'The Sound of Music'! Wonderfully warm, uplifting and joyful!
Review date: 07.04.24
Age recommendation: 9+
