Children
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Middle Grades Faves 2024 – Part 1
I’m very excited to be sharing some of my favourite Middle Grade reads from the first half (ish) of 2024. This year has actually been quite a quiet year for me on the Middle Grade reads, I haven’t been reaching for them quite as much as I normally do. However I have definitely found some new favourites! Paws by Kate Foster I discovered this novel due to strong recommendations from a colleague at work! I would trust her word for everything now, this book is incredible. A lovely sweet story of a boy and his dog, featuring friendship and excellent autism representation! Buy from Waterstones or Bookshop.org Starminster by Megan…
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Book Review | Stitch
Title: Stitch Author: Padraig Kenny Published: 4th January 2024 Publisher: Walker Books Genre: Middle grade, Fantasy Rating: 4/5 stars A compelling, atmospheric and gothic Frankenstein-inspired adventure by an award-winning Irish author. Stitch is not a monster – he’s a creation. He and his friend Henry Oaf were brought to life by the genius Professor Hardacre, and have spent all their days in a castle deep in the woods, far from humankind. But when the Professor dies and his pompous nephew comes to take over the laboratory, they soon find out that his sights are set not on scientific discovery, but personal glory. And Henry is his next experiment. Can Stitch and…
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Book Review | The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts
Title: The Glorious Race of Magical Beasts Author: Alex Bell Published: 1st February 2024 Publisher: Faber & Faber Genre: Middle grade, adventure, fantasy Rating: 4/5 stars An out of this world magical adventure with talking animals, risk-taking and friendship aplenty! A new standalone magical story from the best-selling author of the Explorers’ Club series. Twelve-year-old Eli is an apprentice librarian at the largest library in the world. But when his grandmother falls ill, he enters the Glorious Race of Magical Beasts to raise money for her treatment. This annual race is always held in the most perilous places and is full of spiky dangers. Most participants seek out unicorns and…
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Blog Tour | The Whistlers in the Dark
Hello, welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Whistlers in the Dark, hosted by The Write Reads. Title: The Whistlers in the Dark Author: Victoria Williamson Published: 21st September 2023 Publisher: Scotland Street Press Genre: Middle grade, Historical Scotland, 158 AD, is a divided country. On one side of the Antonine Wall, thirteen-year-old Felix is trying to become a good Roman soldier like his father. On the other, twelve-year old Jinny is vowing revenge on the ‘metal men’ who have invaded her Damnonii tribe’s homeland. At the Damnonii’s sacred circle of standing stones, her planned attack on Felix goes badly wrong, awakening a legend that threatens to…
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Blog Tour | Scareground
Hello, and welcome to my stop on the Scareground blog tour, published by Neem Tree Press and organised by The Write Reads. This is a middle grade horror novel, read on to hear my thoughts! Title: Scareground Author: Angela Kecojevic Published: 7th September 2023 Publisher: Neem Tree Press Genre: Middle grade, Historical, Horror Roll up, roll up, the Scareground is in town! Twelve-year-old Nancy Crumpet lives above a bakery and her life is a delightful mix of flour, salt, and love. Yet her mind is brimming with questions no one can answer: Why did her birth parents disappear? Why can she speak with the sky? And why must she keep…
