#YA AudioBook Review: Cut Him Out In Little Stars by Lucy Strange

Screenshot from Borrowbox app, audiobook published by Bolinda Audio, 12 August 2026, ISBN: 978-1038058393

Cut Him Out In Little Stars is a desperately romantic, coming of age story combined with murder mystery, set against the background of the early years of World War II. I absolutely adored the audio version, read by the author Lucy Strange, which I was lucky enough to borrow from my local public library through the Borrowbox app.

The story is narrated in the first person voice of eighteen-year-old Juliet and the prologue begins “I have been waiting to fall in love for some time…” This being 1940, and the object of love being a handsome, young RAF pilot, tragedy strikes quickly, leaving Juliet bereft. Unable to cope with his daughter’s misery, her widowed father takes Juliet to stay with her twenty-year-old sister Frances at Samphire House, the coastal cottage on Fairlight Bay, which the sisters have inherited from their mother. Juliet loses herself in novels and romantic poetry, and her reflections on her heartbreak are deliciously melodramatic and clearly influenced by her literary intake. The early part of the book gave me major I Capture the Castle vibes, which I consider to be high praise.

The sisters have had a slightly distant relationship during the two years that Frances has been living at Samphire House to pursue her career as a landscape artist, and they initially seem to circle each other’s inner lives with an unsisterly degree of formality. However, as Juliet begins to get acquainted with Alex, another young painter that her sister is very friendly with, she realises the nature of their relationship, and once Frances is able to be open about her sexuality, the sisters are able to restore their strong bond. All three girls become allies in trying to solve the mystery of how another young woman from the village met her death on the shoreline, and who is behind the black market operation in which the dead girl’s brother is clearly an active participant.

There is so much going on in this novel, and all the plot lines are woven together with extraordinary panache. With an airforce base on the edge of the village, the fear of death is ever-present, and Juliet’s flashbacks to her mother’s drowning and her subsequent fear of the sea, add to the heightened state of alert throughout the narrative. A developing romance with another young airman, family secrets, the need to assist the local lifeboat crew and a malevolent presence in the village all provide the threads that Juliet recounts in dramatic fashion. I found this a hugely enjoyable audiobook and I am sure that the intended audience aged 13+ will find it an absolute pleasure to either read or listen to. I would definitely recommend that secondary school and sixth form librarians add Cut Him Out in Little Stars to their fiction collections.

#YA Review: Give Me ‘Til Midnight by Oran Doyle

Published by Everything With Words, 10 September 2026,
ISBN: 978- 1911427537

Ulysses meets Groundhog Day in this contemporary, YA, fantasy novel from Oran Doyle! Set across a single day in Dublin, this tale of two sixteen-year-olds, each seeking a fundamental loss kept me enraptured from beginning to end.

Harmony, or as she prefers to be called, Harmie, works in her mum’s old-fashioned cafe, serving no-nonsense food to the same roster of loyal customers and spending a great deal of time looking longingly out of the window. The reader is immediately given the impression that Harmie is searching for someone or something as she recounts the details of everything that she notices going on outside. On the particular day that this story takes place, she notices a teenage boy strutting along the pavement and appearing to anticipate every obstacle before it moves into his path. He subsequently enters Laura’s Cafe, compliments Harmie on her cooking after she serves him an unexpectedly good lunch, and when he leaves she feels compelled to follow him.

Thus begins a magical 12 hours exploring Dublin as two teens from opposite ends of the social spectrum gradually gain each other’s trust and open up about their deepest anxieties. Harmony has guessed that Liam (or as he refers to himself, ‘the King of Dublin’) is stuck in a time-loop, and he soon realises that she possesses many qualities that in his customary attitude of arrogance he would not have recognised. As he sets out to impress her with visits to what would usually be off-limits private rooftop bars and high end restaurants, she refuses to behave in the same way as previous guests on his repeating day. Coming from a far less privileged position in society, she does not like the way that he uses his unique knowledge of the day to manipulate people into getting what he wants, and articulates her position forcefully. Their conversation varies from questioning the nature of the multiverse, to bickering, to finally expressing their vulnerabilities. It is so authentically written and tenderly portrays two teens who are lost in different ways, each trying to figure out what the future holds for them.

Running alongside the developing inter-personal relationship, the author takes us on a fast-paced tour of Dublin, which made me realise that visiting this city has been on my bucket list for far too long! I was not surprised to learn that Oran Doyle has been a screenwriter, because I found that the story definitely had a filmic quality. I think this writing style will certainly engage teen readers, who I am sure will enjoy the time-loop mystery and perhaps recognise some of their own uncertainties in Harmony and Liam’s story. And as for the ending…

I would definitely recommend Give Me ‘Til Midnight to readers of 14 years and above, it will be a great addition to secondary school and sixth form library collections.

Disclaimer: I was sent an electronic proof of Give Me ‘Til Midnight by Oran Doyle ahead of publication on 10 September 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Non-Fiction Review: Cosmic Cruise A Solar System Adventure by Owen Davey

Cover art by Owen Davey, published by Post Wave, 03 September 2026,
ISBN: 978-1836270652

Cosmic Cruise, written and illustrated by Owen Davey, really is a launchpad to the solar system for curious minds. This author/illustrator has created a host of immersive non-fiction books for children, and his bold, graphic illustrating style is incredibly enticing. The stunning cover of the Cosmic Cruise hardback demands attention, the artwork gave me a 1960s vibe, making me think of the early days of space exploration, while the embossed title in pale yellow made me think of the uneven surface of the moon.

Once I had opened the book and looked at the contents, what stood out for me was the inclusion of the moons which orbit planets other than Earth, as these are sometimes missing from children’s non-fiction. There is also detail of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, as well as the Kuiper Belt at the outer reaches of our solar system. The Sun and each of the planets are each investigated over double page spreads in which Owen Davey’s incredible art is annotated with bold headings and short blocks of text in which concise explanations are provided. The attention to design is superb, the text is always easy to read against the coloured backgrounds, which I have not always found to be the case in other non-fiction picture books. I also think that children will enjoy the warm, inviting tone of the language. The book begins “This is your captain speaking…” and throughout the book, you do feel as if you are being taken on a space tour by the friendliest and most knowledgeable astronaut ever. I certainly gained a wealth of new knowledge about near space and expect that children will love to absorb the information which is so accessibly provided here.

I would highly recommend Cosmic Cruise to primary school librarians and to any class teachers who are covering the space topic; it would also make a fabulous gift for any child aged 7 years and above who is fascinated by the topic of space.

Disclaimer: I was sent a free copy of Cosmic Cruise by publicist Antonia Wilkinson and publisher Post Wave ahead of publication on 3 September 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

National Year of Reading: My August 2026 Round-up

Audiobooks, e-books and physical books read during August 2026

Links in this post will take you to reviews that I have posted on the blog during August 2026.

This month, I have listened to four audiobooks, all borrowed from my public library via the Borrowbox app. Two of these have been adult murder mystery novels, both of which I enjoyed: Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz is the final book in the Magpie Murders series which is set within the publishing industry, while The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham is a golden age murder mystery which has some problematic attitudes and language due to the time during which it was written. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Shipwrecked a funny and warm-hearted middle grade story from Jenny Pearson. Parachutes by Kelly Yang is a brilliant and eye-opening YA novel, like many of her novels based on some of her own lived experience.

The ten physical books that I have read range from a non-fiction picture book aimed at primary school children, Marvellous Poo written and illustrated by Mathis, through books aimed at middle grade and young adult readers, as well as adult books read with my two book clubs.

Huxley and Flapjack Recipe for Disaster is a delightful, full-colour, early chapter books for children who are beginning to read independently. The Dragon Mountain will also be illustrated throughout in full colour when it is published in September, and is a story translated from the original French version. Will Shakespeare Mysteries The Pearly Pants is the second book in this funny, journal-format, illustrated series which features the bard during his early detective career! It is ideal for key stage 2 children. For those upper key stage 2 children who enjoy a scary story, The Haunting of Old Splinter is a thoroughly creepy tale to read in the approach to Halloween.

The three YA novels that I have read as physical books were excellent. As a lifelong Jane Austen fan, I adored Kitty and Mary written by joint authors Imogen Russell-Williams and Julia Gray, and think that it will be a wonderful ‘gateway’ novel for teens and those who have not yet read the original classics. All the Queens’ Curses by Alyssa Hollingsworth is a sweeping romantasy set in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and based on an Orkney fairytale. Marionetta by Míriam Bonastre Tur is a manga-style graphic novel with a creepy circus narrative.

Finally, my book group reads this month were Hostage by Clare Mackintosh, a well-written, twisty and gripping thriller, which raised plenty of topics for discussion; and The Correspondent by Virginia Evans, an epistolary novel which I thought told its story brilliantly and is certainly one of my most enjoyable reads of the last 5 years.

Until next month, happy #YearOfReading2026!

#Picture Book Review: Marvellous Poo by Mathis

Marvellous Poo is a non-fiction title that is bound to appeal to primary school aged children, and is the latest translated picture book from the publisher Post Wave. I found the artwork in this book distinctive and engaging, and was interested to find out that author/illustrator Jean-Marc Mathis (known as Mathis) was initially a draftsman before devoting himself to comics and children’s books. The clean lines of his drawing style lend themselves particularly well to the subject of this book: a wealth of facts about poo!

The diagrams of the digestive system which start the book are really clear, showing each stage of the process by which food becomes poo. Next there are lots of facts about poo itself, including a child-friendly version of the Bristol Stool chart. This is followed by several pages presented as cartoon-style panels, with diagrams of the way that poo is disposed of; whether through the sewerage system, or in the wild by animals or plants. I can imagine young children being intrigued to learn which animal produces cube-shaped droppings, and about some enormous poo producers!

Overall, this is a fun and interesting non-fiction book, which I am sure will be very popular in primary school classrooms and school library collections. I would also recommend it to parents/caregivers of children, aged 5 years and above, who show an interest in science. From a health literacy perspective, it is good to see concise explanations with clear illustrations of the digestive system. The only aspect that I felt was missing from the book was an explanation accompanied by clear diagrams of good handwashing technique, which I feel would have gone well alongside the main subject matter.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Susan and Post Wave Children’s Books for sending me a copy of Marvellous Poo. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Audiobook Review: Shipwrecked by Jenny Pearson, read by Colin Ryan

Screenshot from Borrowbox app, published by Bolinda audio, 31 May 2025,
ISBN: 978-1038013910

All aboard for sun, adventure and laughs!

Ever since I read Five on a Treasure Island, well over 50 years ago, I have loved books set on islands, and was delighted to find Shipwrecked by Jenny Pearson available as an audiobook on the Borrowbox app. Before I get started on the story, I must say a few words about the brilliance of Colin Ryan’s reading; this story has six main child characters as well as a few adults, and he manages to give them each a distinct voice, really bringing the story alive and making it easy to follow.

Jenny Pearson has built a reputation in recent years as an author who can combine hilarious comedy that genuinely makes readers (or in this case listeners) laugh-out-loud, with real heart-felt emotional content. I think that Shipwrecked has jumped to the top of the list to become my favourite of her middle grade stories. It is narrated by Sebastian Sunrise, in a journal format, with chapter headings written as Survival Tips, and plunges you into his shipwrecked state from the first chapter. Alongside his two best friends, Lina and Étienne, Sebastian has been swept away to a Pacific island after a rash rowing race dare with some older teens at their Climate Avengers summer camp in Tonga. The three youngsters have to combine their efforts and talents very quickly to survive and hope for rescue.

Determined, smart Lina declares herself the leader, and armed with her pre-GCSE copy of The Lord of the Flies, is determined to keep the boys in order, make sure that they realise the importance of maintaining the fire, and try not to get too exasperated by Sebastian’s erratic behaviour. Sebastian has had a reputation at their international school in Singapore for being a bit of a trouble-maker. We gradually learn the emotional toll that his parents’ separation has taken on him, begin to understand his behaviour, and see him grow into a trustworthy, brave and loyal friend as the story unfolds. My favourite character was kind, hopeful, animal-loving Étienne, who names every animal that they find, in order to prevent Lina deciding to add them to the menu! The island goat that Étienne befriends, and names Guiseppe Garibaldi, plays a major comic role throughout the novel, and Tarquin Tarantino, a turtle who lays her eggs on the beach provides the heart of the narrative.

When their teenage rivals, Benedict, Francesca and Lucas come ashore, soon followed by a gang of turtle-smuggling pirates, it looks as if the island idyll might be destined for a sticky end. Can the children outwit a bunch of greedy thugs and earn their Climate Avenger credentials? I think that middle grade readers will absolutely love reading (or listening to) this fun-filled adventure to discover the answer. An absolute essential addition to any primary school library collection, key stage 2 classroom book corner, or child’s own book collection. Now that I have finally caught up with this publication from last year, I will certainly be buying copies as gifts for young relatives.

I borrowed this audiobook from my public library via the Borrowbox app.

#YA Romantasy Review: All the Queens’ Curses by Alyssa Hollingsworth

Image of front cover of proof copy of All the Queens’ Curses, published by Rock the Boat, 27 August 2026, ISBN: 978-1836432876.
Background: own photo of the Ring of Brodgar, Orkney

All the Queen’s Curses is an accomplished, debut, YA romantasy written by Alyssa Hollingsworth, which I found to be an immersive and enjoyable read. According to the author’s note at the end of the novel, the story derives its inspiration from an Orkney folk fairy tale “Kate Crackernuts” and I have to say that the author conjures an incredible sense of place in her fictional island setting of Skyare, with wild coastlines, steep cliffs, huge skies and a red brick cathedral used to great effect in the narrative.

The story drew me in from the first page with its portrayal of two Highland Princesses, step-sisters Catharine and Kit, awaiting the arrival of Princes Idris and Abram from the northern isles. Catharine’s father, King Byrne is angling for an alliance between Idris and his beautiful daughter Catharine. Kit, the daughter of his second wife suffers from a ‘wasting’ disease and is clearly not considered to be marriageable by either King Byrne or her mother, however, her lively spirit, intellect and empathy capture the attention of Idris. Darker themes emerge with the arrival of Speir, one of the fae Hidden Ones, who confronts Idris with the curse that the Hidden Queen has put on every generation of his family and the challenge for Idris to atone for his ancestor’s cruelty. Kit’s ambitious mother meanwhile, seizes the opportunity to make a magical bargain with Speir, and the two princesses find themselves the unwitting victims of a body swap curse. Kit and Catharine’s love for each other becomes clear when Kit insists that they must leave their castle home immediately because she does not want her sister, now inhabiting her body, to suffer the abuse which she has endured from King Byrne, and Catharine – despite now suffering horrible joint pain – agrees to the plan. They head for the island kingdom of Skyare, where their destiny will depend on the shelter of strangers and their efforts to find a way to break a series of magical curses.

For me, this was an engrossing story which wove many elements of fantasy with an exploration of sibling love and support, as well as themes of identity, all within a wild landscape that I hope many readers will enjoy exploring, either literally or through the pages of this book. The abuse that Kit has suffered at the hands of her stepfather, and her subsequent trauma is written sensitively and appropriately for a teenage readership. Additionally, the author’s own experience of living with autoimmune conditions has clearly informed her depiction of a character living with constant pain, bringing a real sense of authenticity to the protagonist. The story delivers characters that really engage the emotions, a twisty plot, fae magic, and delightfully, a wonderful dog named True. I would definitely recommend All the Queens’ Curses to anyone of 14+ who enjoys the romantasy genre.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Dannie Price and Rock the Boat for sending me an ARC ahead of publication on 27th August 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Illustrated Fiction Review: Huxley and Flapjack Recipe for Disaster by Alan MacDonald and Francesca Gambatesa

Cover art by Francesca Gambatesa, published by Little Tiger, 6 August 2026, ISBN: 978-1788957601

Huxley and Flapjack Recipe for Disaster is the fourth book in this series, but the first one that I have read. I thought that it was utterly delightful and am sorry that I have not discovered this series sooner. It is a perfect book to give to children aged 5-7 as they begin to read independently and want a gentle, charming, funny story which will engage their full attention. The book is beautifully designed for this age group, the wonderful illustrations by Francesca Gambatesa are published in full colour throughout the book, and there is plenty of white space around the text to make reading easier for young children. There is also a gorgeous map of the town of Wibbleton at the start of the book, always a huge positive in my opinion.

I know that many children love stories with animals as main characters, and you could not ask for two cuter protagonists than Huxley and Flapjack. They are best friends who share a treehouse in the town of Wibbleton. Adventurous, bold-thinking koala Huxley lives in the top section, whilst the slightly nervous but sensible penguin Flapjack lives on the ground floor. In this story the two friends are determined to help Sammy the café owner retrieve his customers, who have been flocking to the recently arrived burger van owned by Jazzy. Flapjack who, we have already seen, is not exactly a dab hand in the kitchen, decides that baking the world’s largest pizza will lure the customers back to Sammy’s…cue a series of major mishaps!

Will friendship, kindness and teamwork save the evening? Put this book into the hands of a young reader and let them enjoy discovering the answer!

I highly recommend Huxley and Flapjack Recipe for Disaster to all primary school librarians; for Key Stage 1 and Year 3 classroom reading corners; and to parents/caregivers looking for a lovely story to share with young readers.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Finn at Little Tiger for sending me a review copy of Huxley and Flapjack Recipe for Disaster. It was my choice to write a review and all mopinions are my own.

#MG Horror Review: The Haunting of Old Splinter by Jack Mackay

Cover art by Thy Bui, published by Rock the Boat, 3 September 2026, ISBN: 978-1836432319

Not to be read after dark…unless you are very much braver than me! This second title from Jack Mackay enhances his reputation as a masterful author of spine-chilling, middle grade horror, following his astonishing debut Gloam last year (you can read my review here). The Haunting of Old Splinter brilliantly combines horror tropes; a haunted house, ancient relics and ratcheting tension, with a family story full of heart. What’s more, it is written with such flair and rhythm that I found myself turning pages at a heart-racing pace.

Old Splinter is an ancient mansion which has stood abandoned and decaying at the top of a hill on the outskirts of Barghest-on-the-Moor for many years. The local folk, especially a homeless man named Alfie who camps out in a clothes-recycling bin, tell spooky tales of the previous owner; a mysterious magician who it is reported, collected magical artefacts, and owned a severed hand said to grant wishes. The two main protagonists, half-brothers Peter and Adrian, live in the gardener’s cottage below Old Splinter with their mum and George (Adrian’s father and Peter’s step-dad). George is being employed by his wealthy, younger brother Lawrence, to renovate the house. However, there are constant delays to the building work and the shocking discovery of a partially mummified body, missing one hand, bricked up in a wall cavity, precipitates a sequence of increasingly creepy events. I have to admit that I was enjoyably spooked by the ‘wishing claw’ and I think that fans of the horror genre aged 10+ will love this story.

The underlying family story is every bit as engrossing as the nail-biting tale of terror. I have not often seen brother-brother relationships and father-son relationships portrayed so well in children’s literature (in fact the last that I can remember that match this, were Millions and Cosmic by Frank Cottrell-Boyce). The depiction of the deep bond between Peter and Adrian at the start of the novel, and the ways that trust can be lost are written subtlety and convincingly. In contrast George’s relationship with Lawrence is clearly not built on trust but entirely on George’s ability to shoulder all the burdens and make excuses for his brother’s poor behaviour. We are also treated to a portrayal of what it really means to be a father, in the contrasting behaviours of George and Robert (Peter’s biological father). This is a story in which individuals are haunted by past behaviours and attitudes, every bit as much as the house is haunted by supernatural relics. It is a brilliant combination.

With the approach of Halloween, I would highly recommend The Haunting of Old Splinter to school librarians, with just a note of caution to give it to the children who genuinely enjoy Goosebumps and Jennifer Killick’s middle grade horror stories. I would not recommend it for sensitive children – to be honest, when I was a child I would not have read something this spooky until I was 12/13!

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Liz Scott and Rock the Boat for sending me a review copy of The Haunting of Old Splinter ahead of publication on 3 September 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Illustrated Fiction Review: Will Shakespeare Mysteries: The Pearly Pants by Kaz Penney, illustrated by Sammy Elgie

Cover art by Sammy Elgie, published by Andersen Press, 27 August 2026, ISBN: 978-1839137600

The Pearly Pants is the second book in the Will Shakespeare Mysteries series and lives up to all of the hilarious promise of the first (for which you can read my review here: Will Shakespeare Mysteries The Stinky Stolen Toenails).

As an adult reading this book, I love the way that author Kaz Penney has woven so many elements from Macbeth into a thoroughly entertaining story for 8-10 year olds, planting some seeds into their brains that they might recall when they find themselves studying Shakespeare’s plays at secondary school. For its intended audience of primary school pupils, it is packed with toilet humour, revolting food (haggis made from the ingredients of a certain coven of witches’ cauldron anyone?) and of course young Will Shakespeare aided by his best friend Tybalt in his quest to become the pre-eminent ‘Person-who-solves-crimes’ in the world! Adding to its reader-appeal are the brilliant drawings by Sammy Elgie which illustrate every page; the journal style format which is annotated by Tybalt, covered in ink blots and which makes great use of different font effects; and the short, pacey, chapters.

I don’t want to give away too many plot details, so in very brief summary, Will and Tybalt have been taken to Scotland as servants to their school’s archery team (which includes Will’s annoyingly superior younger brother Gilbert). The team has been invited to compete in a Halloween tournament hosted at Lord and Lady Macdeath’s castle, Dunsinane. After a banquet on the night of their arrival, Lord Gracious Dunkin and the magnificent pearly pants that he was planning to gift to King James, have both disappeared leaving behind a blood-soaked room. The English archery team and their teacher Master Hobson are arrested on suspicion of murder, leaving Will and Tybalt in a race against time to save them from death by thistle! Can our budding detective use his genius-level skills to navigate a plot containing a ferocious Were-squirrel, villains bristling with pointy weapons and the foulest escape route imaginable? Put this book into the hands of a key stage 2 pupil and listen to them howling with laughter as they try to find out!

I would definitely recommend this book to primary school librarians and key stage 2 teachers looking to expand their reading for pleasure collections; it is a great introduction to detective fiction, with loads of laughs, which also delivers some Shakespeare by stealth!

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Jade at Andersen Press for sending me a review copy of Will Shakespeare Mysteries The Pearly Pants ahead of publication on 27 August 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.