#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.

#Non-fiction Review: Ultimate Football Heroes 2026 by Matt Oldfield, Seth Burkett, Emily Stead and John Murray

Cover image by Dan Leyton, published by Bonnier Books, 9 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1789469028

As the red smoke clears from the celebrations in North London and the football world catches a breath before the World Cup kicks off, I have taken the opportunity to read Ultimate Football Heroes 2026, a book which I won in an Advent giveaway organised by lovely Heather at Reading Rocks.

I remember the Ultimate Football series being hugely popular when I ran a school library, there was always a waiting list which often included the children who might be considered ‘reluctant readers’ so I was pre-disposed to like this book. The first noticeable change in this title compared to the collection that I built up six years ago, is the inclusion of the women’s game in this new addition, which I am sure will extend the prospective readership even further. The first two main sections of the book summarise the 2024-2025 season in the English Premiership and the Women’s Super League title races through the lens of the key strikers in each of those competitions. The narrative non-fiction style chapters, which provide mini commentaries on the matches played by the main title contenders are filled with action and facts. This style will keep children who love a good story hooked, and provide ample data for those children who love to absorb facts.

The book also includes a number of shorter sections, featuring the stars, managers and key moments from both the men’s and the women’s games:

A multitude of ‘Top 5’ features
Reviews of the season in the major European leagues
Reviews of the different European club cup competitions
A summary of the Women’s Euros 2025, which saw England successfully defend their title
A quiz and other activities at the end of the book

Personally, I was delighted to see that super striker Alessia Russo and ‘Starboy’ Bukayo Saka featured heavily throughout, but I am sure that supporters of all teams will find plenty to enjoy in this book. I would highly recommend it to all young football fans, it is a guaranteed hit for school library collections and a great title to encourage sporty children to ‘Go All In’ with reading. I will be adding my copy of Ultimate Football Heroes 2026 to a pre-summer-holiday book giveaway that I am organising at the hospital library where I work, and I hope the young recipeint will enjoy it as much as I did.

Disclaimer: Once again, my thanks to Heather at Reading Rocks for picking my name from a giveaway competition for this book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Non-fiction Review: How to Build a Chocolate Bridge: Extraordinary Builds Using Everyday Things by Roma Agrawal, illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

I am a great believer in learning by doing, and this fantastic STEM-themed book not only has a title that will capture children’s attention, but is filled with practical ideas to engage the learning of engineering principles. This is the second children’s non-fiction title that I have read which has been authored by Roma Agrawal, and I love the way that this prize-winning structural engineer is able to make complex engineering accessible for anyone.

The book begins by describing why specific materials need to be chosen for manufacturing different products or for building certain structures. The author then explains the physics concepts behind engineering in child-friendly language, starting with bridge building. There is then a fascinating challenge set – to build a bridge with a chocolate bar, and after testing the strength of the bridge, children are then encouraged to reinforce melted chocolate with gummy laces, reflecting the way that concrete is reinforced with steel. I know that when my children were at primary school they worked on a bridge-building project as part of the science curriculum, and I imagine that this book will give teachers an exciting new perspective on teaching this topic. The engineering does not stop with bridges. Rockets, insulation, trumpets, pianos, bubbles, plastic and skyscrapers are all explored, both with facts and practical experiments which can be performed at school or in the home. There are also spreads covering scientists and engineers who made surprising or accidental discoveries and a look at materials being developed now to tackle challenges of the future, such as degradable plastics.

There are so many aspects of this book that I loved. Firstly, the information is presented in small accessible panels on full colour pages (where there is always a good contrast between text and background colours) and therefore easily digestible. The illustrations by Robert Sae-Heng are distinctive and always add to the understanding of the facts or principles being described. I loved the emphasis on learning from mistakes, which helps children to feel able to experiment freely, without the anxiety that they might get it wrong. I think that Roma Agrawal has an amazing ability to explain the principles of her complex profession in terms and with examples that can be understood by anyone.

How to Build a Chocolate Bridge is a book which I would recommend to teachers, librarians, parents and caregivers of all primary school children. With the long summer holidays approaching, there are ideas here for activities that could entertain and educate young brains, and perhaps inspire future scientists and engineers.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Damilola Akinkunmi at Hachette Children’s Books for sending me a free copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#BlogTour: SuperQuesters Mission: Desert Danger by Paul Ian Cross, illustrated by Katarina Gasko

Cover image Katarina Gasko, published by QuestFriendz, 7 May 2026,
ISBN: 9789083294346

Mission: Desert Danger is the third book in the SuperQuesters series, and maintains the high quality of the previous titles, serving a perfect blend of excitement and STEM content to a primary school readership.

Best friends Leo, Lilli and Bea are enjoying a trip to the beach, where sandcastle-building turns into a mini engineering opportunity for Lilli! After finding a message in a bottle, which combines hieroglyphics with a plea for help, the trio are rapidly whisked away to Questland and transform into their alter-egos; Leo Zoom, Lillicorn and Bea Bumble. They find themselves on the bank of a dried up river where they meet Arid, a desert sprite, whose brother Rainveil the water sprite has gone missing. The mystery of Rainveil’s disappearance is explained by Skitter, a scarab beetle, who witnessed the kidnap by a treasure-seeking archaeologist, Professor Vivienne Vortec. It appears that she is ruthless in her pursuit of a cursed treasure which has been hidden away in a sunken temple, and is happy to destroy the local ecological system in her greedy quest. The SuperQuesters have a clear mission ahead, but can they use their STEM skills to save the ecosystem in this corner of Questland?

I think that children will love the interactive nature of this story, where they can join the SuperQuesters in trying to decode messages, debug algorithms to find the most efficient route whilst learning about ecosystems, gears and chemistry. There are four brilliantly engaging STEM activities at the end of the book, which only require resources that can be found at home or in a classroom. The highly engaging illustrated style of this book, and the smart, likeable main characters who transform into the kind of protagonists that might be found in a video game, all add to the appeal for a primary school readership. As someone who studied for a science degree many, many years ago, I love the fact that Dr Paul Ian Cross has produced this brilliant series to encourage the next generation of scientists. I cannot wait to see which corner of QuestLand the SuperQuesters will visit in their next adventure.

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book and invited to join the blog tour by publisher QuestFriendz. All opinions are my own.

Do check out the thoughts of other librarians and teachers who have written reviews for the blog tour.

#MG Review: Sammy Versus the Smartphone by Victoria Williamson

Cover design by Elise Carmichael, published by Tiny Tree, 26 March 2026,
ISBN: 978-0722360026

Sammy Versus the Smartphone could not be a more timely publication as the debate around children’s access to smartphones takes centre stage in national and international conversations. This new fictional title from award-winning author, Victoria Williamson, paints a vivid picture of the way that smartphone use can insinuate its way into every aspect of family life, with negative consequences.

Sammy is in her final year at primary school, and like many other children, has been promised a smartphone for her 11th birthday in preparation for the move to secondary school. Her parents have also been persuaded to buy the holographic interface upgrade (Hollis), so that Sammy’s phone features a ‘cooler’, airbrushed, glamorous image of Sammy, who until this point has been a star footballer, happy to live in sports clothing with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Now, she wants to fit in with the on-trend girls at school, and learn to post the selfies that they all believe will make them popular when they move onto secondary school. When a mean comment from JayBoy5 about her thighs appears under one of her photos, this is the message she obsesses over, rather than the many positive reactions that her photos receive. We see the change in Sammy’s life as she decides to start cutting back on food, thus losing the energy, focus and passion that she previously had for football and subsequently losing good friendships along the way. When her two step-siblings move in with Sammy’s family we witness the breakdown of personal communication as another upgrade is purchased to supposedly make family communications more streamlined by taking everything online and basically handing control to a virtual assistant.

I really liked the way that the author showed that despite starting out on a smartphone journey with the best intentions, it can be very easy to become totally distracted by the constant alerts pinging on our smart devices. She cleverly incorporates entries into Sammy’s secret (paper-based) diary to show that Sammy herself is aware of the negative impact of the new phone on her life, even as she is swept up in its messaging and craving the instant gratification from likes and comments. Issues such as online bullying, peer pressure and the danger of online predators are dealt with in an age-appropriate manner, as is the way that the tech companies subtly encourage constant upgrades which many families feel pressured to buy even when they struggle to afford them. As with every book that I’ve read by Victoria Williamson, the characterisation and portrayal of both home and school life is spot-on; I think that many young readers will find situations that they recognise in this story. I hope that reading and discussing the story might encourage constructive discussion of how to use smartphones for their many positive purposes, and how to regulate some of the more addictive behaviour that they can encourage. In my opinion, this is a book that needs to be in every school and I would also recommend it to parents of children at the top end of primary school to perhaps share as a joint read.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Victoria Williamson and publisher Tiny Tree who sent me a copy of Sammy Versus the Smartphone. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MG Review: Birdlands by Anthony McGowan, illustrated by Keith Robinson

Cover image by Keith Robinson, published by Rock the Boat, 14 May 2026, ISBN: 978-1836431800

Three birds, an adventure fraught with danger, one very special book!

I finished reading Birdlands, the new novel from Carnegie-winning author Anthony McGowan, a week ago. Despite trying to pull my thoughts into order since then, I really do not think that my words can do it justice. Below the surface of this pacy animal adventure, there is a story so profound that it brings a lump to my throat each time I think about it. I am many years older than the intended middle grade readership and I suspect that this is a book which will be enjoyed by many young readers who will initially delight in the thrilling and perilous journey, and perhaps as they grow older, revisit the book and appreciate the deeper themes. It is one of those books that lodges so deeply in your heart that you want to encourage everyone to read it and to see it passed down through generations.

The story begins with a young boy, Jordie, throwing his cheese sandwich towards three scrawny birds on a station platform and from that moment we fully enter the lives of the bird protagonists. Herman was once a leader of crows, and maintains an air of authority despite his broken wing. Beaky is a jackdaw who finds it difficult to feed due to his twisted beak, leaving him half-starved and with no muscle strength for flying. Pidge is afraid to fly after experiencing a traumatic event in the air, and now hobbles around on badly damaged and painful feet. When their prize of bread and cheese is cruelly snatched away by more agile birds, Herman tells Beaky and Pidge of the paradise known as ‘dump’ where food is plentiful and birds are watched over by angels. Despite scepticism from Beaky and Pidge, the three birds set off walking towards the setting sun in search of this haven and their journey is recounted with wry humour, beautiful descriptions of the landscape and pinpoint detail of the fine balance between predator and prey.

I cannot do justice in this review to the exquisitely written quest that unfolds. Not only is the story infused with a real love of the natural world and acute observation of bird behaviour, but the developing bond of comradeship between the three birds is a joy to read. It is a story that reminds us that all life, no matter how small, or how damaged, is precious, and that courage and togetherness are essential to overcoming difficulties. There are also occasional greyscale illustrations by Keith Robinson and every chapter is headed by his artwork. This is a short book, just under 200 pages in length, and not a single word is wasted. I loved the circularity of the story and the way that the emotional impact never became sentimental. As I said at the start, I think this is a very special book indeed. I think that it would be a wonderful book to read aloud to Year 6/Year 7 children, and I would strongly encourage all school librarians to add it to their collections.

Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of Birdlands by publicist Dannie Price and Rock The Boat ahead of publication on 14 May 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#Review: Mabel and Merryglow – The Spark by Anne Montel, Loïc Clément & Julien Arnal, translated by Charis Ainslie

Artwork by Julien Arnal, published by Post Wave, 30 April 2026, ISBN: 978-1836271208

Mabel and Merryglow: The Spark is an astonishingly beautiful, graphic-novel style picture book, originally published in French and now translated by Charis Ainslie and published by PostWave in English. I have to describe this book as an absolute work of art, every single panel contains gorgeously detailed illustrations of the forest habitat and the colour choices bring to life the emotion which is described in the sparse text. The end papers alone express the level of careful thought that has been applied to this story, although they both contain the map of the story’s landscape, the different colour palettes and names of the locations visually summarise the story arc.

Mabel is a tortoise who suffers from nyctophobia – extreme fear of the dark. She is so terrified that she cannot even bring herself to hide inside her shell because it is dark in there! Sadly for Mabel, she is made to feel even worse by her family’s lack of empathy, and plods through every day simply dreading the night ahead. The night time scenes are rendered in purples and blues with clever use of silhouettes to portray Mabel’s fears. Then one day a travelling firefly appears in the forest, introducing itself as Merryglow and sparking a friendship that leads to a rapid improvement in Mabel’s quality of life.

This is a gorgeous tale about the importance of friendship to light up a life, which I think will appeal to children throughout primary school and which contains so much to enjoy in the artwork that it will likely be read repeatedly. Apparently, this is the first book in a series; I will certainly look forward to reading further adventures of this adorable duo.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Post Wave Publishing for sending me a copy of this lovely hardback book ahead of publication on 30 April 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MG Review: The Ocean and the Bones by Genevieve Carver

cover art by Richard Johnson, published by Rock the Boat, 4 June 2026, ISBN: 978-1836433095

The Ocean and the Bones is the debut middle grade adventure from Genevieve Carver, whose background in archaeology inspires and shapes this impressive, lyrical, and thought-provoking novel. Set during the Neolithic era (approximately 6000 years ago) this story is told in the first person voice of Meg, an orphan, haunted by her fear of water ever since both her parents drowned. Meg has been chosen as the Sunhealer’s Shadow, and is being trained to learn the ways of the Spirits on which her tribe depend for the success of their crops and their livestock. However, their settlement of Chalk Howe has been beset by storms and rain, and the inhabitants are filled with suspicion that something or someone has upset the Water Spirits.

Into this cauldron of discontent arrives Kalø, a girl of roughly the same age as Meg, who speaks a different language, and who has washed up on the beach during a storm which has wrecked the Midsummer Eve celebrations. Meg is assigned the tasks of looking after Kalø and additionally finding out where she has come from, and the reason for her appearance at Chalk Howe. Their friendship develops as they learn to communicate with each other. However, rivalries, jealousies and suspicion of difference lead to Kalø being scapegoated for the climatic events affecting the settlement and Meg needs to vercome her deepest fear to accompany her friend in a quest to seek her island home.

This is a beautifully crafted adventure, with plenty of high-stakes drama, threaded through with lyrical reflective passages, particularly as we enter Kalø’s memories of her family. I found that the descriptions of the food and drink, the knapping of flint tools and the boat-building process all firmly rooted the story in its time period. Like all the best stories written for children, the author brings her scholarship to life through an engaging story, so that readers (young, and significantly older in my case) learn by literary osmosis. Although set in a period of pre-history, I think that the story will make many middle grade readers reflect on the climate changes which are causing migration in our present time. Furthermore, the blaming of a stranger for the misfortunes of a local population also bears some parallels to scenes that we witness in society.

I highly recommend The Ocean and the Bones to librarians, teachers and parents who want to put an intriguing story into the hands of readers aged 9 years and above. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Dannie Price and publisher Rock the Boat for sending me a proof copy of The Ocean and the Bones ahead of publication on 4 June 2026.

#MG Sci-Fi Review: We Are Dragon by Alastair Chisholm

Cover image by Karítas Gunnarsdóttìr, published by Nosy Crow,
9 April 2026, ISBN: 978-1805131274

We Are Dragon is the final title in the I Am Wolf trilogy, and brings the series to a thrilling and satisfying conclusion. This is a truly remarkable work of science fiction which I think will appeal to sci-fi fans of any age, although it is primarily aimed for a middle grade readership. It probably could be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel, but I think that readers will get far more out of it if they have read I Am Wolf and I Am Raven beforehand.

In the land where Constructs (mechanical creatures fabricated from a massive variety of materials and powered by the thought energy of the humans who inhabit them) have battled each other for territory throughout the lifetimes of the young main protagonists, new battle lines have been drawn. Now the remaining free constructs need to work together to fight the massed ranks of Dragons which have been created by Queenie, an AI program. With the odds very definitely not in their favour, it will take original thinking and technological brilliance to outwit Queenie’s army. Fortunately, among the four inhabitants of Cub, Rieka is uniquely equipped for this challenge. She has always considered herself to be a uniquely gifted Tock, has always felt more at home communicating with machines rather than humans, and is fiercely ambitious to receive the approval of Ander, the leader of Lion clan. When she devises a plan and manufactures the technology to control and use the Wild Ants to fight against the mighty Dragon contructs, she is convinced that she alone can bring down Queenie’s military superiority.

At first the crew members of Cub, Coll, Brann, Fillan and Kevin (a small Ant construct who is devoted to Fillan) are happy to support and follow their fellow crew member. However, as her victories mount up and Rieka’s power grows, she begins to feel increasingly isolated and unable to communicate with those who love her, and fear for her.

In my opinion, this is a brilliantly written story, which ratchets up the tension to a supremely impressive final conclusion. It can be read as an all-action, thrilling, battle for supremacy between two intelligent foes who will stop at nothing to defeat their enemy. For any reader who wishes to reflect more deeply, it is a wonderful exploration of what it means to be human, to have free will, and to overcome the barriers which divide us. For any teachers or librarians who run book clubs for readers aged 9+, this would be an excellent book to include in your book club choices and the author has provided some great questions for discussion at the end of the novel.

Disclaimer: I am grateful to Sian at Nosy Crow for sending me a copy of We Are Dragon ahead of publication on 9th April 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.