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.
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+
A brilliant adventure exploring time, power and politics, set in London, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament!
Review date: 07.04.24
Age recommendation: 9+
A fabulous, clever and mature story for young readers about the wartime efforts at Bletchley Park.
Review date: 15.11.24
Age recommendation: 10+
The vivid and powerful diary of 12-year-old Yeva as she experiences the first twelve days of war in the Ukraine.
Review date: 16.01.23
Age recommendation: 11+
A fabulous African adventure for older children from the master storyteller, Wilbur Smith, with Chris Wakling.
Review date: 28.05.20
Age recommendation: 11+
A feel-good story about overcoming the odds for a girl whose dream is to ride in the Badminton Horse Trials.
Review date: 21.05.13
Age recommendation: 11+
A funny but challenging story of climate change, activism and family.
Review date: 25.01.22
Age recommendation: 9+
Todd and Laurie are on holiday with their Dad. The hotel is rundown and Dad isn't well, and then there are mysterious goings on!
Review date: 16.03.22
Age recommendation: 9+
A quirky, charming adventure following five children who have been abandoned, left in the hands of the cruel staff at the Little Tulip Orphanage.
Review date: 19.07.20
Age recommendation: 9+
Reading just one section of the book at a time for each week's discussion was tough. There was tension, humour and great characterisation in this imagined future of a corrupted world.
Review date: 31.01.18
Age recommendation: 9+
A beautiful cover and a fabulous setting of Bletchley Park, this is a mystery adventure set at the start of World War II which is inspired by real events.
Review date: 22.05.23
Age recommendation: 9+
A brilliant adventure about survival and what it means to be family.
Review date: 27.07.24
Age recommendation: 9+
A YA novel about troubled relationships, love, loyalty, deception and revenge, and art. Published in July.
Review date: 06.04.15
Age recommendation: 12+
Tess wants to get to know her father and has arranged a summer not to be forgotten, and Sam has come along too.
Review date: 15.08.24
Age recommendation: 9+