Schools & Libraries Book Reviews

Name: Beverley Somerset
15 July 2024;

Genre: Fantasy

12-year-old Amir lives a privileged life; his father runs a prestigious brick-making company in Lahore, Pakistan. The youngest of three siblings, Amir has no desire to inherit the company. His mother mysteriously disappeared a year ago and since then, Amir's behaviour has deteriorated. When he...

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Name: Rachel Bolton
12 July 2024;

Genre: Historical Fiction

I absolutely loved The Houdini Inheritance! What's not to like in a book that has magic, adventure, and trans-Atlantic travel? It's 1926 and Glory and her best friend Dennis are enthralled by the infamous escape artist, Harry Houdini. When his show comes to their hometo...

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Name: Ruth Cornish
12 July 2024;

Genre: Bullying

Back of the Net is a joyous book which, ultimately, celebrates the value of true friendship. Eva, the main character, is a skilled football player who is forced to change schools due to her father's job but this has advantages for her too, as it means she can escape the bullie...

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Name: Jane Rew
12 July 2024;

Genre: Non Fiction

This slim paperback is bursting with interesting facts, presented in easy-to-read clear typeface (some emboldened, allowing readers to skim and scan with ease), pleasing blocks of colour delineating different chunks of text, and cartoon illustrations (some with speech bubbles), which make unfa...

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Name: Hayley Summerfield
11 July 2024;

Genre: Historical Fiction

Roman Boy is the brilliant new book by Tony Bradman. This story is full of thrilling historical action and adventure.  Lucius is a 15-year-old Roman boy who wants to feel like he belongs. His mother has recently been widowed and then remarried, and Lucius does not really feel...

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Name: Rebecca GREEN
10 July 2024;

Genre: Non Fiction

As a teacher committed to preparing students for the ever-evolving job market, I found Michelle You's How to Launch a Tech Start-Up: Robotics, Gaming and Other Tech Jobs, to be an invaluable resource. The book offers a thorough, engaging, and practical guide that helps enlight...

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Name: Jenny Caddick
08 July 2024;

Genre: Myths & Legends

The Boy to Beat the Gods is a richly evocative and fascinating adventure taking inspiration from, and rooted in, the culture of African storytelling. Tales of the Yoruba spirits form the backbone and history of this epic, exciting and entertaining story and are part of a wonde...

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Name: Jenny Caddick
08 July 2024;

Genre: Science Fiction

Kyan Green Battles the Multiverse is the second in the series of this cool, contemporary and futuristic adventure featuring Kyan Green and his crew of multiverse hopping gamers. Think Jumanji with a sci-fi , techno twist. After the discovery of a battered old racetrack...

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Name: Louisa Farrow
05 July 2024;

Genre: Personal Growth

Lacey Layton exasperates her teachers. There is no doubt that she is clever, but she struggles to control her tongue and actually prefers the isolation room to lessons. As she puts it, 'family's more important, and having a laugh, than algebra'. When she is sent to lunch-time music lessons to...

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Name: Louisa Farrow
02 July 2024;

Genre: Historical Fiction

The Houdini Inheritance is a thrill-tingler of a read! Emma Carroll captures all the fun of the rackety world of variety entertainment a hundred years ago. With a rambunctious cast of characters and brimming with surprises, the narrative has all the energy of a vaudeville show...

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