Children Book Reviews

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  • Runaways: An irresistible story about finding your true home

    Runaways: An irresistible story about finding your true home

    Name: Sue Wilsher
    04 July 2025;

    Genre: Family & Home

    Jamie and July are both 11 and both live in London, but their lives are very different. Both are desperate to get away from home - Jamie to escape something he has done and July to find help for her mother. Each is wary and suspicious of others, but somehow the two form a partnership as they h...

  • Supersized Squirrel: Attack of the Zombears

    Supersized Squirrel: Attack of the Zombears

    Name: Amanda Shipton
    03 July 2025;

    Genre: Comics & Graphic Novels

    What's not to love? The very first thing that you are greeted by is the heroes page and the FART (villains) page! Well if children were in any doubt that they wanted to read on, they are clear at this point that this is the book for them! The giggles that you hear the moment that child...

  • Running My Own Race

    Running My Own Race

    Name: Rachel Bolton
    02 July 2025;

    Genre: Representation & Inclusion

    There is so much to unpick in this novel: it's about running, which makes a change from football; it's about family relationships that aren't often written about (a pushy but adoring mother), and it's about fitting into a new school where racism rears its ugly head. It's edgy and at times make...

  • Wigglesbottom Primary: The Popcorn Puppy

    Wigglesbottom Primary: The Popcorn Puppy

    Name: Amanda Shipton
    02 July 2025;

    Genre: Funny Stories

    The latest creation from the Blue Peter Best Story Award writers does not disappoint. Wigglesbottom Primary is clearly the school that every young chapter book reader will want to go to! There is never a dull day, literally anything can happen. Wigglesbottom Pr...

  • Rosa By Starlight

    Rosa by Starlight

    Name: Lorraine ansell
    01 July 2025;

    Genre: Magical Realism

    Rosa's life is turned upside down when her parents are lost in an accident. A strange aunt and uncle arrive and take over her home and her life. As she grows, Rosa struggles to remember her real parents and a life full of love and laughter. With only a magical cat named Balthazar to keep her c...

  • The Girl with Gills

    The Girl with Gills

    Name: Jacqueline Harris
    01 July 2025;

    Genre: Fantasy

    Effra is a Larker, people who live on the river and have gills. For obvious reasons they keep away from people who live on land, who they call Lubbers. One day, the Rivermun snatches Effra's little brother and, to keep him safe, she is forced into a terrifying series of encounters to save not...

  • Shoot for the Stars

    Shoot For The Stars

    Name: Emma Urbonas
    01 July 2025;

    Genre: Personal Growth

    "A kickass guide to finding confidence in sport", indeed!! Shoot for the Stars is as creative as it is inspiring and I love how it contains biographies of real athletes and stories of them overcoming challenges to achieve their dreams. This book is a lesson in resilien...

  • The Invisibles

    The Invisibles

    Name: Jacqueline Harris
    01 July 2025;

    Genre: Fantasy

    Four children live on a magical island. They have everything they need and only one rule; never go to the Island of Darkness. But one child breaks the rule and catapults his friends into a world called Wasteland, where there are no children and it is unbearably bleak. Grace wakes up with no me...

  • Running My Own Race

    Running My Own Race

    Name: Beverley Somerset
    24 June 2025;

    Genre: Representation & Inclusion

    Kofi's talent for running has helped him win a scholarship to a prominent private school. When he is selected for the athletics team, he begins to believe that his dream of one day becoming a professional athlete may actually come true. However, as the only Black pupil in his year, he soon rea...

  • Riverskin: A pacy and atmospheric tale

    Riverskin: A pacy and atmospheric tale

    Name: Sue Wilsher
    23 June 2025;

    Genre: Myths & Legends

    Tess lives with her Aunt Peg in the turns under the River Tees, their home furnished with the waste discarded by the dry-folk who live out of the water. Chained in a pit is Unkle Darkwater, a malevolent and dangerous presence, a constant threat to their safety. When Unkle breaks free and it se...