#BlogTour #YAReview: The Party by Ben Tomlinson

Cover image by Elen Jones, published by Andersen Press, 02 July 2026, ISBN: 978-1839137020

The Party is a Young Adult novel which explores themes of friendship, first romance and finding your place, through the story of Noah as he approaches and celebrates his 17th birthday.

Noah has made his way through secondary school as part of a tight friendship group with Woody and Caitlin; working hard at school and playing games at Tabletop Tavern in their free time. However, now that he’s in the sixth form, he’s developed a major crush on cool and popular, Saskia, who seems to take her English Literature classes far less seriously than he does. In an attempt to impress her, and perhaps get the opportunity to ask her out, he is determined to throw a birthday party during half-term. Unfortunately for Noah he faces two huge barriers to this plan; firstly his mum says that he is far too immature to handle a party and she does not want her newly refurbished home trashed by teenagers; secondly, he is supposed to be spending half-term with mum, dad and younger sister Ruby, clearing out his recently deceased granny’s house. Somehow, he manages to persuade his parents to let him return home to London alone, and thanks to the secret planning he has been doing with his mates, the party is on…but will Noah, his parents’ house, and his friendships survive the triple threat of teenagers, alcohol and drugs?

Author Ben Tomlinson presents a holistic view of teenage life in this novel, opening a window into the conflicting pressures which lead some teenagers to behave in ways in which adults will disapprove; he also shows that adults do not always live up to the behaviour that they demand from their children. In Noah, we are shown a believable teenage boy; generally a ‘good kid’ who is polite, shows concern for his younger sister and his friends, but who also acts impulsively, irresponsibly and selfishly at times – all very natural during the teenage years when hormones are surging and the brain has not fully matured. Through Saskia, readers can empathise with the pressures put upon a young carer and understand how the anxieties of an unstable lifestyle can manifest in behaviour that presents a false image of how the individual truly feels. We also see how social media can magnify mistakes, in this case through uninvited guests showing up to the party and the consequences of drink- and drug-fuelled teenage behaviour being recorded and disseminated widely.

I think that many teenagers, aged 15+, will find the characters and situations in The Party relatable, and will enjoy reading a fictionalised version of how easily a party can descend into chaos, and how relationships can subsequently be repaired. I find that most of the Young Adult fiction that I am sent to review is presented from a female perspective, thus it was refreshing to read about contemporary teen culture from a male point of view. As a note for teachers and school librarians, this story depicts drug dealing of cannabis, but the legal consequences of this are also portrayed. The negative consequences of underage alcohol consumption are also clear in the storyline. It is not a preachy, ‘issues’ book but these aspects appear as a natural consequence of the story arc.

Disclaimer: I was provided with a copy of The Party by publicist Jade at Andersen Press and invited to join the blog tour. All opinions are my own. Do check out the reviews written by other bloggers on the tour, as shown in the schedule below.

#GuestPost from Hannah Rix at Little Reads

Screenshot of Adventure Books from Little Reads App, image credit Hannah Rix

Today I am delighted to welcome Hannah Rix to my blog. We recently connected over a shared belief that children should be allowed to read for pleasure, and if that means that they choose a book deemed ‘too easy’ for them, this should not be discouraged. Please check out her blogpost below:

In defence of letting a child read books that are ‘too easy’

Written by Hannah Rix, co-founder of Little Reads.

Little Reads is a curated library of 3,000+ hand-picked children’s books, ages 5 to 11, on iOS and Android. It’s for children who already love reading (and the grown-ups keeping them supplied), not a learn-to-read tool. More library than classroom.

I’ve got to be honest about something I held back for years when I was teaching.

It’s how much I hated watching a child with a pile of books they actually want to read, and having to steer them off it. Onto the book that will ‘move them on’. Onto the book that has to be studied. Onto the next level up.

I should explain how I ended up caring so much about this.

I went into teaching because I loved books. I loved reading them, I loved talking about them, and most of all I loved talking to other people who loved them too. In my whimsical, Miss Honey-influenced daydream of a childhood, I genuinely thought that mayyybe, just maybe, I could pass that on. That I’d press the right book into an eager little reader’s hands and watch them fall for it the way I had.

Funnily enough, it didn’t quite go like that. (My story is probably the same as a lot of English teachers, past and present.)

Now, I could climb right up on my soapbox here about how the curriculum doesn’t make room for reading for pleasure, how it can stifle the very thing it’s meant to grow. But I’ll save that for another day. Because before any of that, I want to talk about something simpler. Letting kids read.

Not read because it’s on the timetable. Not read because they’re ‘ready’ for the next stage up. Just read. Let them read the book that’s too easy. Let them read the one they’ve already read three times. Let them read the one that’s mostly drawings and silly jokes. Because it’s still reading. It might not be the version of reading some grown-ups are comfortable with, but it counts.

Reading for pleasure and learning to read are two different things, and I wish more people said so out loud. One is a skill. The other is a love affair. Schools are so stretched, so utterly on their knees, that the two end up tangled together, and reading for pleasure is almost always the first thing to go.

So my case is a small one. Let them read the easy books. (Yes, pinched straight from ‘let them eat cake’, a sentiment I’m also fully behind. But I digress.)

Why? Because the easy book is the one that keeps them reading.

I’ve always believed that reading for pleasure grows out of one thing, and that’s the freedom to choose. The moment we tut at a child for picking something ‘too easy’, we’re telling them their kind of reading doesn’t count. And a child who feels that doesn’t happily trade up to harder books. They go off the idea completely.

I saw the flip side of this when I was teaching in a complex needs school. For once, I got to focus on what the children genuinely enjoyed, rather than what a curriculum said they ought to be reading. These were children with so much else going on that dragging them through reading levels and comprehension tests would have been, frankly, a waste of everyone’s time. So instead I’d reach for Andy Stanton. I’d put on the silly voices for David Walliams. I’d let a child read, and re-read, the same Horrid Henry month after month after month. Not because of their needs, but because that reading gave them real pleasure. And pleasure, it turns out, is the whole point.

The reassuring part (the bit I clung to)? The harder books don’t go anywhere. They wait. A child who’s allowed to read for the love of it, with nobody hovering over their choices, tends to reach for them on their own in the end. The trading-up happens best when nobody’s forcing it.

So if there’s a child in your life on their tenth go of the same battered paperback, or buried in a comic, or giggling at a book three years ‘below’ them, my advice is to leave them be. Keep topping them up with more of what they love. They’re not behind. They’re exactly where a happy reader should be.

That, more than anything, is pretty much why I co-founded Little Reads. A library of 3,000+ books I’ve hand-picked for ages 5 to 11, the easy ones and the chunky ones side by side, with no levels, no quizzes and nobody keeping score. A child can choose the comfort read or the doorstopper, and both are absolutely fine by me.

No ads either. Just the books. £7.99 a month after a 7-day free trial, and you can cancel anytime. Readers of this post can get 30 days free with the code VSVIEW30. The LittleReads app can be downloaded from either the Apple App Store or Google Play stores.

One honest note before you go. It’s built for children who already love reading. If a child is still finding their feet, a different app will serve them better.

#Non-fiction review: We Need to Talk About Cancer written by Dr Sanjay Juneja, illustrated by Anna Shepeta

Cover art by Anna Shepeta, published by Neon Squid, April 2026,
ISBN: 978-1916745186

We Need to Talk About Cancer is a clear and compassionate guide to a difficult subject, written in language that is accessible to primary school children. The author, Dr Sanjay Juneja, is a haematologist and oncologist (known on social media as theOncDoc) who brings his wealth of clinical knowledge to communicate a comprehensive range of information about all aspects of cancer. Throughout the book, this information is presented in bite-sized chunks of concise text, beautifully illustrated in calm, pastel colours by Anna Shepeta, the artwork complementing the explanations.

The book begins by explaining the biology of cancer, some of the risk factors and how diagnosis is made. The range of clinical professions who support cancer patients are explored, different treatments and their side effects are discussed and the progress and outcomes of treatment are presented. Towards the end of the book, the emotional impacts of receiving a cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment – on both the patient and their loved ones – is gently and honestly written about. The prospect of a patient’s death is not glossed over, but dealt with in the same kind tone used throughout this book. The age-appropriate way that information is presented with comparisons that children will understand makes this book a valuable and reassuring resource, either for children who have been diagnosed with cancer themselves, or who have family members or friends who are being treated for cancer. The book is supportive in itself, but also encourages readers to ask for help from those around them.

I think that this is a book that needs to be in every school library collection as well as health and wellbeing collections in public libraries. I also think that it will be a valuable resource for health professionals who are treating young cancer patients, or mental health professionals and family practitioners who are supporting children or families impacted by cancer. I will be passing this copy on to clinicians in the hospital where I am employed and encourage other health librarians to consider it.

I am very grateful to children’s books expert and former school librarian Anne Thompson who kindly gave me this copy of We Need to Talk About Cancer. You can read Anne’s review at this link.

#MG Review: The Neverfear by Katherine Rundell

Cover art by Daniel Egnéus, published by Bloomsbury Children”s Books, 27 July 2026, ISBN: 978-1408897515

The Neverfear is a spectacular marriage of heart-pounding, blood-shedding action with soul-touching truths, written with all the intelligence, insights and virtuosity that I have come to expect from Katherine Rundell. I was fortunate to listen to her reading the first chapter aloud to a rapt audience at a recent Waterstones Children’s Festival event, and feel privileged to have been able to read the rest of the novel via an e-ARC from NetGalley. This third book in the Impossible Creatures series carries readers deeper into the mythology of the Glimouria Archipelago, plunging us into a dark plot which gradually reveals its dastardly nature leading to a climactic battle, and leaving readers hyperventilating in desperation for book four.

The story opens with the birth of a unicorn and Christopher Forrester’s realisation that his previously observed connection with animals is now taking on an even more powerful metaphysical form, with the manifestation of a blinding green-yellow light arcing between him and any creature with which he connects. He has become able to communicate mind-to-mind with the impossible creatures living in the Archipelago. This ability becomes a key plot point as Christopher and Princess-warrior Anya Argen, accompanied by Ratwin the ratatoska and Jacques the dragon journey between the islands of the Archipelago aboard Fidens Nighthand’s boat, The Neverfear, to complete three impossible tasks to save the life of a beloved friend. They willingly face fearsome opponents, defy death at every turn and display unconditional love as they race against time, unknowingly manipulated by a deeply ruthless villain.

I do not want to give away any more plot details than strictly necessary because the story is so beautifully plotted and so exquisitely written that I do not want to spoil any reader’s enjoyment of discovering its joys for themselves. Katherine Rundell treats her readership with the utmost respect, presenting them with jokes (including the statutory Belgian one), a magnificently immersive plot and vocabulary and philosophy to challenge their imaginations. There is so much scholarship behind this novel that it virtually pulsates with thought-provoking themes, which I think will grip readers, aged 10 years and above, every bit as much as the thrilling plot and richly imagined fantasy world. I am not supposed to directly quote from an ARC, so cannot directly reference the sentences that halted my reading and brought a lump to my throat, but a line late on about angels laughing is one that is seared into my heart.

The Neverfear will be published in late July 2026, so if you have not already read Impossible Creatures or The Poisoned King (links to my reviews), then I advise you to do so before picking up a copy of The Neverfear.

Disclaimer: I requested and was granted access to an e-ARC of this book on NetGalley and I am grateful to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for granting my request. It was my choice to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MG Review: Twinkl Originals – books that support the English primary school curriculum

I know that many schools have subscriptions to the online resource provider Twinkl, but did you know that they have also started publishing original stories linked to curriculum topics? I have been sent a few of these books to review, they are all printed in an accessible font, have quizzes or interactive sections at the end and links to further online resources.

The Chocolate Choice (ISBN: 978-1837575671, published in paperback 2026) Written by Jenny Clerc, illustrated by Shannon Girvan.

Ten-year-old Orla spots a writing competition organised by her favourite blogger, River Moore, with the prize being the chance to write a guest post on the ‘River’s Daily Rocket’ blog. All she has to do is think of an important story that needs to be told, investigate it, write it and email it into the blog and she’ll be on the road to her ambition to become a reporter. Inspired by a headline about cocoa beans on a discarded newspaper in her mum’s tearoom, Orla starts to investigate the difficulties faced by cocoa farmers and the way that the chocolate production industry works. She is shocked to realise that she has never before considered whether her favourite chocolate is produced ethically and writes to the owner of the local chocolate factory to find out more. Furthermore, she realises that changing people’s attitudes and behaviours is not a straightforward task, and nudging them to change will be assisted if she can find a way of helping her local community to understand their connections with the cocoa farmers.

I think that many children will enjoy this book and relate to the idea of undertaking research for a school project, and probably find some helpful guidance in the way that Orla goes about organising her project. I think that the format of the book, with extracts from Orla’s notebook, copies of emails, newspaper extracts, blog and website pages, will also appeal to young readers. For teachers, this book provides a useful overview of fair trade, sustainability and the effects of climate change on farming and food production and contains great examples of different writing styles that fit with the primary school curriculum. Further resources related to the book can be found on the Twinkl website.

How to Skin a Bear (ISBN; 978-1837575558, published in paperback 2025) Written by Victoria Williamson.

Bee is the youngest member of her Stone Age tribe and the daughter of one of the tribe elders. Her lowly place in the tribe consigns her to plucking the feathers from the ducks that the hunters bring back to their camp each day. Bee would rather be a hunter, she wishes that she had a fierce name like other members of the tribe, and she wishes that they did not spend all summer moving their camp from place to place while they collect food in preparation for winter.

When a red sun is seen by the tribe, this is interpreted as a bad omen. Despite the elders performing a ritual dance to keep the Sky Spirits happy, a huge storm blows up and flattens the communal tent where the tribe sleeps. Instead of following her tribe to a nearby cave, Bee chases after Dog who is her best friend. Finding herself alone apart from her loyal canine companion, Bee now has the opportunity to put into practice the skiils that she has observed the rest of her tribe demonstrating…but how will she cope when confronted by a wild bear?

How to Skin a Bear is an entertaining story, 100 pages in length, aimed at children aged 7+, of courage and rising to unexpected challenges. Within the story, young readers will earn a multitude of facts about the Stone Age era. There is a quiz at the end of the book and a QR code to further resources on the Twinkl website.

Wildcat Summer (ISBN: 978-1837575718, published in paperback 2026) Written by Victoria Williamson.

Wildcat Summer is an eco-fiction title aimed at children aged 9-11 and is filled with facts about rewilding, genetic diversity and protection of wildlife. Eleven-year-old Molly is unhappy about being sent to stay with her aunt for the summer holidays because her parents cannot afford to take time off from their jobs. She does not want to leave her friends and bustling city life in Newcastle, for the quiet of Aunt Isla’s caravan and camp site in the Highlands of Scotland. What’s more her stay does not get off to a great start when Aunt Isla forgets to face her when she’s talking, which is important to Molly because she needs to lip read as well as relying on her hearing aids, to allow her to participate in conversations. However, once Aunt Isla realises her mistake and begins to communicate carefully, Molly soon settles in to helping her aunt with chores around the holiday park. She makes friends with two local children, Skye and Lewis, as well as old Mr McFarlane who has moved into a caravan after retiring from his job at the Highland Wildlife Park.

Molly is intrigued when she hears a local legend about the ghost cat, which is rumoured to appear to warn of danger. Convinced that she has seen a huge cat in the tree-line at the edge of the holiday park, Molly is determined to find out more about the legend. She has an ally in Mr McFarlane, who claims to have seen the ghost cat many years earlier, which led him to a wildcat caught in a gin-trap. Has Molly actually witnessed the ghost cat? And if so, what danger is it foretelling? This is aa exciting and entertaining story for children at the top of primary school, which combines ecological and inclusivity themes. The portrayal of a main character with hearing loss and the behaviours required from those around her to ensure that she can participate in conversations is sensitively written by Victoria Williamson.

#Illustrated Fiction Review: Help! Aliens Stole My Grandad by Hannah Moffatt, illustrated by Rory Walker

Cover art by Rory Walker, published by Everything With Words, 28 May 2026, ISBN: 978-1911427506

It takes a hugely talented writer to create a story which combines a poignant undercurrent of dealing with loss of a loved one with a laugh-a-minute alien pirate adventure, but that is exactly what Hannah Moffat has achieved in Help! Aliens Stole My Grandad.

The story begins with Harrison’s family fulfilling Grandpa Alf’s final wish by blasting his ashes into space, strapped to a firework. Unfortunately, the firework is not a very good one and does not provide the anticipated explosion and ash scattering that the family require. Later that night, the house is engulfed in a thick fog and Harrison unexpectedly finds himself confronted by an alien pirate crew outside his bedroom window. Seizing his opportunity for a trip into space to look for Grandpa’s ashes, Harrison informs First Mate Mozzarella that he is indeed the Prime Minister of Earth and accompanies her across the plank to board the Jolly Ricotta. It transpires that Captain Gorgonzola’s lucky pink parrot has disappeared after a missile was launched from Harrison’s back garden, and if Harrison cannot find the parrot he faces a gruesome fate! On the voyage to the Cheese Moon, he meets Red, daughter of Leicester who will become his friend and ally for the rest of this zany adventure.

I think that the wildly imaginative plot, cheesy jokes and word play, larger than life characters and best of all, space cows that produce raspberry ripple milkshake, will all appeal hugely to a readership aged 7-9 years. Harrison is an endearing character with his endless optimism and willingness to take on any challenge to complete his quest. Similarly, Red is not just there as a convenient sidekick, but has her own mission to prove that she is worthy of becoming a space pirate rather than following her Dad into the ship’s kitchen which is all that is expected of her. Hannah Moffat’s glorious story is further enhanced by Rory Walker’s quirky illustrations throughout the book. Below the laughs there are quiet moments when Harrison thinks about his Gramps, and that same yearning for someone beloved and missed is echoed in the pirate crew’s sense of loss for Pecorino Parrot. This is a super book for many children to read for pure fun and entertainment and I think also for primary school teachers, librarians, parents and CYP therapists to be aware of, to potentially help children who are bereaved to identify and talk about their own feelings.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Mikka at Everything With Words for sending me a copy of Help! Aliens Stole My Grandad. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#PictureBookReview: Home is a Hug by Cindy Wume

Cover art by Cindy Wume, published by Post Wave, 9 April 2026, ISBN: 978-183627100

Home is a Hug is a delightful interactive book, containing cutouts and flaps to lift, which asks the question “what does it take to make a home?” and then explores many types of home to provide answers.

With sparse text, Cindy Wume’s distinctive illustrations are responsible for much of the story-telling, providing many human and animal homes to explore. The artwork contains lots of detail to provide opportunities for conversation between adults and young children looking at the book together and of course little fingers will love opening the flaps to discover what is hiding underneath. I absolutely loved a double page spread which revealed a full sized cross section of a worm’s home inside an apple. The use of colour and pattern make this book a visual treat, and the depiction of multicultural characters means that all children can recognise themselves or their favourite animals on the pages. At its heart the book reminds us all that whatever our home looks like, it is the place where we feel loved.

Cindy Wume, the author and illustrator is a freelance illustrator from Taiwan. After earning a bachelor’s degree in foreign languages and literatures, she pursued an MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art in 2014. She primarily works with gouache, marker, ink, dip-pen and coloured pencils. I am really impressed with the artwork in this book and highly recommend this to any teachers, librarians, parents/caregivers who are looking for a charming book to share with a child aged 3-5 years.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Antonia Wilkinson and Post Wave Publishing for sending me a copy of Home is a Hug. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MG Audiobook Review: Poppy Pym and the Pharaoh’s Curse by Laura Wood, read by Amy Enticknap

Audiobook read by Amy Enticknap, published by Bolinda Audio, 1 December 2016, ISBN: 978-1489383426

Poppy Pym and the Pharaoh’s Curse is the first book in the Poppy Pym series, in which we are introduced to Poppy, a child who has been brought up in Madam Pym’s circus after being abandoned there as a baby. When she reaches the age of eleven, her circus guardians decide that she ought to receive a more conventional education than they can provide and send her to St Smithen’s where she quickly makes two excellent friends. Ingrid is supremely intelligent and Kip is unfailingly determined, and the three of them form strong bonds of friendship. The boarding school set-up will appeal to children who enjoy a school-based story. There are a cast of slightly eccentric but believable teachers, an unusually incompetent headteacher’s assistant and a snooty, rich girl who looks down her nose at Poppy. Generally life at the school is fun, and the entire story includes a great deal of humour.

Poppy is a great fan of the Dougie Valentine detective mysteries and has ambitions to become a famous detective herself. She soon gets the opportunity to indulge in some sleuthing when the school hosts an exhibition of Egyptian Treasures prior to them being donated to the British Museum (this has been a bequest in the will of former St Smithen’s pupil Sir Percival van Bothing). On the opening night of the exhibition, Madam Pym’s circus is invited to provide the entertainment and magician Marvin the Magnificent finds himself arrested for the theft of the priceless Ruby Scarab Beetle. Poppy knows that her dear friend has been framed, and alongside Ingrid and Kip, sets out to discover the real thief. Could there really be an expert jewel thief hiding in plain sight in a respectable boarding school?

Although this book was first published ten years ago, I did not find it at all dated, but thoroughly enjoyed listening to the audio version which was expertly narrated by Amy Enticknap. Poppy is a brilliant main protagonist, endlessly curious, enthusiastic and energetic. I also loved the way that she talks directly to the reader throughout the story and I think that the structure of telephone conversations in the physical book will appeal to independent readers of 9+. The book would also make a good shared bedtime story for children of 7/8-years-of-age. It is a great introduction to the tropes and structure of detective fiction and contains some lovely Easter eggs, such as Miss Baxter, the kind and empathetic headteacher, referring to a ‘three humbug’ conversation. The author does an amazing job of providing a light-hearted, thoroughly entertaining mystery which also contains a lovely undercurrent of found family and the importance of friendship and kindness. I have been a lifelong fan of detective fiction, since discovering The Famous Five more than 50 years ago; I know that I would have loved Poppy Pym when I was a child, and I thoroughly recommend this story to parents, caregivers and librarians seeking to put an entertaining and enjoyable story into the hands of a middle grade reader.

As part of my Year Of Reading 2026 challenge to catch up on series that I have previously missed, I borrowed this book from my local public library via the Bolinda App. I will certainly be lining up the remainder of the series when they become available to borrow.

#MG Review: Shadow Thieves Island of Skulls by Peter Burns

Cover image by Manuel Sumberac, published by Farshore, 4 June 2026,
ISBN: 978-0008667849

Literary treasure for middle grade readers! The second book in the Shadow Thieves series, Island of Skulls, delivers explosively rich booty for young reader’s entertainment.

If you have not already read the first instalment of Shadow Thieves, my review here, will give you some idea of the set up. I tried very hard in that review to not reveal plot details and I will try to reveal as little as possible again. Honestly, these adventures are so richly plotted, and written with such verve, that you really just need to sit down for a few hours and immerse yourself in the brilliantly imagined world. If you are looking for a book to engage a reader aged 9-13 this summer, please place a copy of Shadow Thieves Island of Skulls into their hands.

Why do I think this? Well firstly, the adventure takes place on a small island in the Mediterranean and you can feel the heat, the sting of salty sea spray and smell the wild herbs crushed underfoot as the teenage protagonists search the island for lost treasure. The island once belonged to the Duke of Nimes, a former member of the Shadow League who went rogue in his quest for power. It is dotted with ruins, booby traps and other dangers and rumoured to still hide a vast treasure, although whether this is of financial or military value is one of the mysteries that Tom and his fellow pupils from Guile House at Beaufort’s School for Deceptive Arts need to solve. Adding to their peril, the followers of the deceased Duke, The Chevaliers, are also on the treasure trail, and are ruthless in their pursuit. Whether your child is lucky enough to be holidaying in the Med, or having a staycation, this thrilling mission with its adrenaline-spiked dangers in almost every chapter serves up a bounty of imaginative action.

The trainee thieves have been brought to the island by their house master, known as The Corsair. However, he appears to be on a quest of his own, leaving his pupils to rely on the skills they have developed at Beaufort’s, complemented with Tom’s survival skills which he developed on the streets of an alternative, historical London, where his only protector was Morris, a former member of the Shadow League. As this story unfolds, we learn more Shadow League lore and some of Morris and The Corsair’s joint history.

The teen and tween characters are superbly drawn, each possessing distinct personalities, and interacting in ways that the intended readership will immediately recognise. We are given the greatest insight into Tom’s character and feel his frustrations, insecurities and desire to do the right thing throughout the story. However, it must be said that the other characters, especially his tight-knit group of friends; Jericho, Enzo, Maxine, Mitch and Connie all leap fully-formed from the page. This brings me on to the quality of Peter Burns’ writing; it is masterful! Not only is there a perfect blend of character and plot, but the rhythm and tempo of the writing just propelled me through the story. I know it’s a cliché, but this is a book that it is very hard to put down and now I am desperate for book 3!

For my school librarian friends, I’d advise you to stock up with multiple copies if possible, this is going to be hugely popular with pupils at the upper end of primary and also with children at the lower end of secondary schools. If you are a parent or care-giver, this is great entertainment for your middle-grade reader, and if you share the reading perhaps as a bedtime story, you’ll likely enjoy it too!

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Chris at Farshore Books for sending me a copy of Shadow Thieves Island of Skulls ahead of publication. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

National Year of Reading: My May 2026 Round-up

After a pretty disastrous reading effort in April (for which I still need to write a post) I managed to get my reading back on track despite May being almost as busy at work and at home.

My one adult book was the 700-page The Heart’s Invisible Furies, which was my bookclub title. I found this book quite heart-breaking on many levels, but it was also filled with humour and unexpected acts of kindness.

A Flood of Memories by Nadia Mikhail is a wonderful YA novel, which I have actually added to the international author collection that we are building at the hospital library where I work. I think that the mental health themes explored, as well as the insights into another culture, will make it a popular choice.

Sammy Versus the Smartphone by Victoria Williamson and Birdlands by Anthony McGowan are brilliant middle grade novels for the Year 6/Year 7 transition, very different in content but both written by authors who are at the top of their craft.

SuperQuesters Mission: Desert Danger by Paul Ian Cross is an excellent STEM-themed, illustrated story for primary school children, covering many aspects of the STEM curriculum in an engaging manner.

Extending my STEM reading this month, the brilliant non-fiction title How to Build a Chocolate Bridge by Roma Agrawal provides clear explanations of engineering concepts alongside practical experiments which can be tried out at home or in the classroom.

Finally, I was sent a super-cute picture book, The Mole and the Mound (and the House Underground) by Will Hamilton-Davis and Kasia Fryza, which I adored.

I am super grateful to the publicists and publishers who sent me all of the children’s books covered in this post (they are all acknowledged in the reviews which you will find through the links). These books will all be included in a pre-summer-holiday giveaway that I am organising at work, so that hospital colleagues can come and collect a book for their child to read over the summer.