As 2024 draws to a close, I have been reflecting on the books that I’ve enjoyed reading this year (118, according to Goodreads). I must thank the book publicists who have sent me so many lovely titles to read and review, and apologise that I haven’t managed to read all that I have been sent – my day job has been quite intense this year so some evenings I have just been too tired to read even the most exciting of novels.
During 2024 some of my favourite series have ended; some series-opening titles have emerged which promise to develop into compelling series; and in Everything With Words I have discovered an independent publisher from whom I have received three of my favourite books of the year: The Others by Sarah Merrett, a fantastic sci-fi mystery which gave me the same vibes as my childhood reading of The War of the Worlds; Black Gables by Eibhlís Carcione, a darkly spooky MG horror novel and The World Between the Rain by Susan Cahill, a lyrical, portal fantasy.
Picture Book Highlights
The Great Expedition written and illustrated by Peter Carnavas is a delightful story to share with young adventurers.
Kind Little Hands written by Kathy Urban and illustrated by Sally Garland is an excellent introduction to achievable activism and the need to create bee-friendly environments, perfectly pitched for young children.
Body Detective written by Janet Krauthamer and illustrated by Christiane Engel is a fantastic, interactive, early STEM book for pre-school and early years children.
Illustrated Fiction Highlights
The first book in a new series written and illustrated by Laura Ellen Anderson was published in February: Marnie Midnight and the Moon Mystery. The combination of world-building, STEM content and a focus on mini-beasts and ecology delivered with this author’s charming and stylish illustrations made this one of my favourite books of the year. I was delighted that the second book in the series, Marnie Midnight and the Great Critter Contest was released in August, and look forward to many more!
Pirate Academy: New Kid on Deck by Justin Somper was the opening title in a new series from UCLan Publishing and was a highly enjoyable, futuristic, action adventure where pirates roam a world of risen sea-levels.
Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial by Kieran Larwood, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton is the first in a new series which is brilliantly designed to appeal to young gamers, with fast-paced action and graphics reminiscent of a platform game.
Written for an audience at the top end of primary school or lower end of secondary school, the Bigg School stories written by Lisa Williamson and illustrated by Jess Bradley are presented in a thoroughly engaging doodled, annotated, journal format. Two new titles, Double Drama and The Secret Crush were published this year, exploring issues including being a young carer, dealing with rejection, facing fears and demonstrating resilience.
Middle Grade Highlights
Pinch Perkins and the Midsummer Curse by Cathy Fitzgerald a debut novel bursting with magical charm, set in a parallel version of London and featuring a wonderful complementary partnership of exuberant Pinch Perkins and her charmingly old-fashioned neighbour Henry de Sallowe. The secondary characters are a riot of imagination and I thoroughly recommend this novel to confident readers aged 9 and above, or as a shared bedtime read.
The Pirate’s Dragon by Liz Flanagan completed the thrilling Rise of the Dragons trilogy with an epic adventure, beautifully paced to enthral a middle grade readership.
Shadow Creatures written by Chris Vick is a compelling and immersive WWII story of life under occupation, told from the perspective of two Norwegian sisters. It shed a new light on a much written about period of history and I am sure will be a great addition to classroom collections for children studying this topic.
Hide and Seek by Rhian Tracy also explored a different WWII issue, that of the removal of artworks from London galleries, to safe storage in disused Welsh mines. Woven into the thrilling adventure is a subtle sub-plot concerning domestic abuse, written sensitively for an upper middle-grade readership.
Jennifer Killick’s hugely popular Dread Wood comedy-horror series came to an end in Terror Tower, which tied up all the loose ends perfectly and saw Club Loser safely to a concluding hot choccie!
A new comedy-horror, future classic emerged in the form of Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull, written by Martin Howard and illustrated by Pete Williamson. A wise-cracking, wig-wearing skull is the perfect sidekick and this book had me shaking in fright and with laughter in equal measure!
As a child, I loved an engrossing crime mystery and would have loved the MG-appropriate murder mysteries written by Fleur Hitchcock. I think that her latest novel, Murder at Wintertide, is her best yet.
Midnight Treasure by Piers Torday is an elegant fright-quest featuring werwolves and vampirs and a competitive hunt for a treasure more precious than gold. Mesmerising writing transports the reader into a beautifully crafted gothic fantasy.
YA HIghlights
My three YA highlights were all published by small independents ( Guppy Books, Rock the Boat and Old Barn Books) and stood out for their brilliant writing and from my perspective as a health librarian, their exploration of mental health issues.
Handle with Care by Louisa Reid was a story which broke my heart as it explored the many ways that young people can be let down by the adults who should be guiding, comforting and helping them. Although written for the upper teen demographic, I feel that this is a book which should be read by parents, carers and any adults who work with young people. A tale of teenage pregnancy, online bullying and post-natal depression, beautifully written in both prose and verse.
Dead Happy by Josh Silver concluded the story of Seb and Finn in a tense, dramatic fight for survival on a mental wellness programme run along cult-like principles on the isolated island of Elmhallow.
Eddy, Eddy by Kate de Goldi was a complex exploration of relationships and the questioning and disruption of previously accepted certainties set against the aftermath of the New Zealand earthquakes.
Non-fiction Highlights
She Speaks: The Women of Greek Mythology in their Own Words by Honor Cargill-Martin a beautifully produced anthology of Ancient Greek myths re-told by the often overlooked female protagonists.
Ayo’s Adventure: Across the African Diaspora from Afro to Zulu by Ayn Heath Drew, illustrated by Erin K Robinson opened my eyes to the cultural influences of the African diaspora on food, fashion, music, art and much more, across the globe. Presented in imaginative fashion, this is a valuable work of narrative non-fiction which is sure to educate and entertain both children and the adults who share the book with them.
Finally, a non-fiction title for adults, which has been my most frequently gifted book this year: The Golden Rule by Dr Lucy Pollock. Dr Lucy truly embodies the art of medicine, a geriatrician who values every patient’s story and presents her manifesto for aging with clarity, wisdom and a real story-teller’s craft.
Finally, a massive thank you to everyone who has spent time reading my blogposts and commenting on them, I do appreciate your interactions. I have taken a look at my stats for this year, and for anyone interested, these are the top ten most viewed posts that I’ve written in 2024.
- Children’s Fiction books featuring characters with physical health conditions
- Children’s Books with a Mental Wellbeing or Mental Health Theme
- Review – The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow
- Graphic Novel Review – Always Anthony by Terri Libenson
- YA Review – Dead Happy by Josh Silver
- Non-fiction Review – Why Your Parents Are Hung-up on Your Phone and What to do About It by Dean Burnett
- MG Review – Evenfall: The Golden Linnet by Alexander Armstrong
- YA Review – Eddy, Eddy by Kate De Goldi
- YA Review – Granny Was a Buffer Girl by Berlie Doherty
- MG Anthology Review – She Speaks: The Women of Greek Mythology in Their Own Words by Honor Cargill-Martin
One of my aims for 2025 is to continue adding recommendations to the health-related blogposts because I feel that these combine my dual interests in children’s books and health literacy.
I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!