May 13

Special Features

Author Interviews
This month we speak to teen authors Mary Hooper about her new historical fiction adventure, The Disgrace of Kitty Grey, and Michael Grant about BZRK Reloaded. Picture book author and illustrator Kara Lebihan and Deborah Allwright tell us about the creation of Mrs Vickers Knickers, and you can find out how Jules Verne inspired Jon Mayhews new adventure series, Monster Odyssey (8+).

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Free books, new titles, author interviews

Bookbuzz titles announced

Schools that register to participate in the Bookbuzz programme by Friday 7 June will receive an extra selection of Bookbuzz titles for their library; all schools must register to take part in the scheme providing free books to Year 7s by 24th July.

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Picture Book Competition

The winners of the ReadingZone Picture Book Competition will be announced in early June. Visit Facebook to find out what schools have been sending us!

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Radical children's winner announced

The winner of the inaugural Little Rebels Children's Book Award is Sarah Garland for her book, Azzi In Between (Frances Lincoln). The award was announced today during the first London Radical Bookfair held in London.

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Branford Boase Shortlist announced

The shortlist for the Branford Boase Award 2013, which recognises debut talent, has been announced. The award is given to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children, and his or her editor.

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Ofsted report on Secondary literacy

A report from Ofsted recommends the 'effective use of the librarian and library' as one of the tools in promoting pupils' literacy at secondary level.

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Free Booktime titles announced

A free copy of But Excuse Me, This is Your Book, a Charlie and Lola title celebrating reading and libraries, will be given to every child starting school in September as part of their Booktime pack.

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Geraldine McCaughrean joins ReadingZone Live

Award-winning author Geraldine McCaughrean will join ReadingZone Live for a free live streamed event on 2nd July. Any school can watch the event taking place and send their questions in advance to the author.

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Setting up an author event?

Chris Bradford, Bruce Ingman, Anne Cassidy and Chris Wormell are among the authors listed in our Setting Up Author Events section, including their fees and contact information, to help you organise your own school events.

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Draws for free books

We have some great competitions and offers for new books including this months highlighted books, a picture book goody bag and the entire Septimus Heap series. Follow the link to find out how to enter the free draws.

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Special Feature


Author Interviews

This month we speak to teen authors Mary Hooper about her new historical fiction adventure, The Disgrace of Kitty Grey, and Michael Grant about BZRK Reloaded. Picture book author and illustrator Kara Lebihan and Deborah Allwright tell us about the creation of Mrs Vickers Knickers, and you can find out how Jules Verne inspired Jon Mayhews new adventure series, Monster Odyssey (8+).

Mrs Vickers' Knickers: Picture Book and Gift (KS1)
By Kara Lebihan

Debut author Kara Lebihan and Deborah Allwright, illustrator of The Night Pirates, have collaborated on a new picture book called Mrs Vickers' Knickers, about a pair of pants that gets whisked off the washing line and taken on a frenetic aerial adventure before landing back where it started.We talked to Lebihan and Allwright about the collaborative process in creating Mrs Vickers' Knickers.

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The Disgrace of Kitty Grey ()
By Mary Hooper

Hooper's story follows Kitty Grey, a dairy maid working in a large country house in the early 1800's. Daisy volunteers to travel to London on an errand for her master's daughter, but on arrival her bag and money are stolen and she and the child she is travelling with are left to fend for themselves.

A series of unfortunate events lead to Kitty being accused of arson and a sentence of transportation to Australia. The ship she briefly sails in is based on a factual record of a transportation ship that had only women and children as passengers.

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BZRK: Reloaded ()
By Michael Grant

The second BZRK story takes us back into the world of the nano as two opposing groups battle for control of the minds of the world's leaders through the use of nano technology.The fanatical Armstrong Twins have developed remarkable nano technology that will help them control how humans think and behave; their first goal is to take control of the mind of the US president. Opposing them is BZRK, although the aims of this group aren't spelled out. Both groups rely on a handful of trained 'twitchers' to manage the tiny nanobots and biots that do the work of altering how people think and feel.

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Monster Odyssey: The Eye of Neptune ()
By Jon Mayhew

In this tale of daring and adventure, a young Indian prince, Prince Dakkar, travels to England to learn how to become a ruler. When his tutor his tutor is kidnapped, Dakkar decides to give chase to the kidnappers in a newly-invented submarine.In doing so, Prince Dakkar enters a dangerous world of spies and intrigue - as well as giant creatures of the deep!

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Watch out for...
Bookclub Highlights

We have free copies to give away for reviews. Please email your school details to info@readingzone.com for the chance to win a copy.


A Day with the Animal Builders
By Sharon Rentta
It is always a struggle to find early years resources to support Homes &Buildings topics but, on just one double page spread and set out in clear cartoon strip formation, we have the best ten step explanation of the stages of building a house that I have seen. Reviewed by Joy Court.

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A Twist of Fortune
By Barbara Mitchelhill
This is an evocative portrayal of what it is really like to be a poor child in Victorian Times; which makes it invaluable from a curriculum point of view. We have a really engaging trio of siblings, left to fend for themselves by their hapless aunt and unscrupulous uncle. Reviewed by Joy Court.

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The Originals
By Cat Patrick
Bestselling author Cat Patrick (Forgotten, Revived)explores what happens when triplet girls are raised as one person with only one of them allowed out of the house at any time. It all works fine, until one of the girls falls in love. Read author interview, download an extract.

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