#MG Christmas Fiction: A Stocking Full of Spies by Robin Stevens

Published by Puffin Books, 11 September 2025, ISBN: 978-0241429952

A Stocking Full of Spies is the third middle grade novel in The Ministry of Unladylike Activity by Robin Stevens. It is set during December 1941, with most of the action taking place at Bletchley Park, and for those readers like me who love to settle down with a cosy crime mystery during the Christmas season, it is a perfect seasonal entertainment.

As with all of her previous novels (I will include some links to my reviews at the end of this post), Robin Stevens combines meticulously researched historical detail with a brilliantly plotted murder mystery that makes the book almost impossible to put down. I have seen this author often described as the ‘Agatha Christie’ of the middle grade market, in my opinion, she has certainly heralded a golden age of MG cosy crime, and in this novel I detect the influence of Patricia Highsmith. I suspect that many young readers will smile in recognition later in their reading journeys when they read some of the adult golden age crime mysteries. This story is recounted through the diary entries and case notes of the three tween protagonists, May Wong, Fionnuala O’Malley and Eric Schlossbauer, who find themselves working a messengers at Bletchley Park as cover for their latest WOE mission. There has been a suspicious death at the Park and there are indications that Bertie Wells the older brother of Daisy Wells (from the Murder Most Unladylike series which predated this series) has been framed for murder. When a second death occurs and all clues point to Bertie, their mission to detect the real murderer becomes even more urgent.

For fear of giving away spoilers, or ruining anyone’s enjoyment of the sophisticated plot, I will not discuss too many details here. There is a lovely map of Bletchley Park, created by Sophia Watts, at the front of the book, to help young readers track the locations as the action unfolds. I enjoyed the way that the local environment of the main mystery was placed in the wider geographical context of the Second World War, and the impact that world events had on different characters in the novel. This is literally the first time that I have read a book about WWII that mentions the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong (the home of May and Hazel Wong). I am hoping that my reading of the ending of the book means that a subsequent story might provide more insight into the war time experiences of Hong Kong residents.

At the end of the book there is an interesting essay by the author providing details about her inspiration for this novel and some analysis of the workforce at Bletchley Park through the lens of modern-day understanding of neurodiversity. I applaud the way that Robin Stevens always ensures that her books display kind understanding of minoritised groups and encourage inclusive behaviour. A Stocking Full of Spies is an essential book to add to primary and secondary school library collections, and one that I would recommend to any adults seeking to buy a book that youngsters aged 10+ will want to read for pleasure.

This book was my own purchase, not only do I have the sprayed edge edition, but I was also fortunate that Robin Stevens visited a local bookshop on her publication tour, so I was able to get a dedicated and signed copy to add to the ‘Bookshelves’ collection!

My roundup of the Murder Most Unladylike series can be found here.

My review of the final book in the MMU series, Death Sets Sail can be found here.

MG Fiction Review: The Feathered Book by Charlie Nutbrown, illustrated by Ewa Beniak-Haremska

Cover image by Holly Ovenden, published September 2025 by Everything With Words, ISBN:978-1911427476

The Feathered Book is a magnificent middle grade debut by author Charlie Nutbrown, with internal illustrations by Ewa Beniak-Haremska. I fear that my words will not be able to do justice to the genius of this book, so I will start by saying that it is one of the best books I have read this year, it deserves to be a future classic, and if I had to deliver an elevator pitch I would describe it as The Wind in the Willows meets The Name of the Rose.

Regular readers of my blog will know that I adore detective fiction, and as a professional librarian, I also love books which feature a library. So, imagine my delight in discovering that the opening chapter is titled ‘The Impossible Crime’ and that it begins with two cloaked figures moving quietly through a silent, dark library. I was hooked from page one, and as the story of the intricately planned theft of the ancient and dangerous ‘Feathered Book’ and the subsequent unconventional detective work unfolded, I was torn between racing to turn the pages and wanting to read slowly to fully appreciated the author’s beautiful writing. For alongside a wonderfully plotted detective novel, Charlie Nutbrown has also created a fully-formed natural location amongst the islands and waterways of The Lake, and a gloriously labyrinthine library with its own legendary backstory, both of which are described in vibrant detail. Some of the descriptions of the landscape left me breathless, and metaphorically reaching for the dictionary; this is a definitely a book which can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter their age.

The final layer, which makes this book whimsical for adult readers and likely to be hugely engaging for child readers is that all of the characters are anthropomorphised animals. Now I must admit that this would not usually be my personal favourite genre, but here, the characterisation is so deftly drawn and the characters and situations so entertaining, that I absolutely loved it. The head librarian, Pecksniff is a wonderfully crotchety ancient squirrel, while the assistant librarian, Ticklepenny is a self-effacing dormouse. Monty the Fox, a debonair creature who we learn is prone to changing his occupation on a regular basis, has decided that he wants to follow in the detecting footsteps of his fictional idol, Professor Meerschaum, and enlists his long-suffering but loyal best friend, Nettle the rabbit, as his ‘Watson”. Together, their instinctive and serendipitous style of clue-chasing, will take the reader on a chase around The Lake, featuring daring encounters with pirates, master criminals and avaricious collectors of stolen treasures. Every chapter heading is lavishly decorated with a pencil sketch of the oak tree library, and there are gorgeous illustrations of the main characters throughout the book. I certainly hope that Monty decides to continue his detective work, and that this is the start of a series!

I cannot recommend The Feathered Book highly enough to school librarians, or to parents, carers or relatives who want to put a book into the hands of middle grade readers that will make their imaginations take flight. Suggested reading age 9+ but I would have read this to my own children as a bedtime story probably from age 7.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publisher Everything With Words for sending me a copy of The Feathered Book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#NNFN: Tina The Dog Who Changed the World by Niall Harbison

Cover image by Happy Doggo and Shutterstock, Published by Farshore,
6 November 2025, ISBN: 978-0008798864

Tina The Dog Who Changed the World is a book which I am sure will delight many readers aged 9-years-old and above; it is a new child-friendly publication of a book, which was previously published for adults, to celebrate during National Non-fiction November. It provides a wonderful example of how one person’s passion and activism can make big change, which is a great message for children who can sometimes feel helpless in the face of the many challenges that the world currently faces.

The book combines the story of Niall Harbison, an Irish street dog rescuer who lives in Thailand, with the short biographical tales of some of the remarkably resilient street dogs that he has saved through his “Happy Doggo Land” organisation. There are both colour and black and white photos of Niall and the dogs whose stories are featured. The details of the conditions that lead Niall and his team to their rescues are quite harrowing and heart-breaking; some of the dogs have been kept on very short chains for years, some have been starved, some injured and all suffer from skin conditions, parasites etc. However, many of the dogs make full recoveries once they have received veterinary treatment and then been nursed back to full health at Happy Doggo Land. Some of the canines are adopted by people from all corners of the world and many of their stories can be followed on various social media platforms. Even those dogs who sadly don’t make it are given the love, dignity and care that they need to die in peaceful circumstances. The story of Tina, a golden retriever, who was found in a condition where she was close to death and carefully nursed so that she enjoyed 6 months of happy life with Niall, captured the hearts of many when shared online. After Tina died, Niall began raising funds to build a veterinary hospital at Happy Doggo Land, in her name. By the end of this book, the plans for the dog hospital have been drawn up for free by a New York architect, and the foundations have been laid.

It would appear that Tina the golden retriever really has melted hearts around the world, and through donations to Niall’s charity the lives of many, many street dogs in Thailand will be changed for the better. This is an inspirational and hopeful book for all readers, but I imagine it will hold special appeal for all who have a pet pooch at home.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Hannah Penney and Farshore books for sending me a copy of Tina The Dog Who Changed the World. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#YA Review: A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once by Lucas Maxwell

Proof copy, to be published on 9 April 2026, Chicken House Books, ISBN: 978-1917171397

A Million Tiny Missiles All At Once is the debut novel written by award-winning school librarian Lucas Maxwell, it was the winner of the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction competition 2024, and is due for publication in spring 2026. For transparency, I should state that I have been in contact with the author via social media for the past 6 years because his generous sharing of school library ideas and resources provided inspiration to me in my previous library role. However, this prior contact has not biased my review for his extraordinary book.

Inspired by the author’s own childhood, growing up as a neurodivergent child in Nova Scotia, the fictional story of fourteen-year-old Elias is utterly heart-wrenching, completely compelling and ultimately hopeful. The immediacy of the writing transported me into a life which was so different to my own, providing real insight into the experience of a neurodivergent child living in an environment where everything is harsh; from the weather conditions to the attitudes and insults of the townsfolk. From the opening page, where Elias’s first person narrative tells you that his own father describes him as not being ‘all there in the head’, you realise that this boy is sadly misunderstood; his high intelligence is only recognised by those characters who care to take the time to get to know the unique way that his brain works.

Set during a winter when the snow and ice storms extend right through to April, Elias provides a unique perspective on a family which is being shattered like icicles hit with a baseball bat. Deep crevasses are being driven into the family unit by older brother Bo’s aggressive behaviour, caused by his descent into the local drug culture. Their parents are constantly arguing over how to deal with the wayward teenager, and Dad’s long hours at work and his profession as a policeman in a small town is not helpful to the family’s situation. Elias cannot fully grasp what is going on with the older brother that he adores, but knows that things need to be fixed and feels that it is his responsibility to bring his fractured family back together. His solution is to win the school talent contest with his repertoire of clever jokes, thinking that the free Pizza Hut meal, awarded to the winner, will glue his family back together.

In a short novel of just over 200 pages, Lucas Maxwell deftly explores human relationships, presenting his readers with a fascinating cast of characters each of whom are navigating their way through the missiles that life hurls at them. Elias is a character who will live long in my heart, with his single-minded determination to save his brother, regardless of the consequences for himself, and his ferocious and precise wit. Some of his snarky ripostes to those who belittled him made me laugh out loud, providing welcome relief during some of the tenser episodes of the story. I also loved the depiction of the extreme weather, which seemed to emphasise the ice-cold hearts of some of the unsavoury inhabitants of the town.

In my opinion, this YA novel is an essential for secondary school library collections and is also likely to appeal to many adult readers when it is published in April 2026.

I am very grateful to Lucas Maxwell and to Chicken House Books for sending me an uncorrected proof ahead of publication. It was my choice to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Blog Tour – Super Questers Mission: Rainforest Magic by Paul Ian Cross, illustrator Katarina Gasko

Front cover artwork by Katarina Gasko, published by QuestFriendz, 6 November 2025, ISBN: 978-9083294377

I am so thrilled to be invited to join the blog tour for the second SuperQuesters adventure, Mission: Rainforest Magic, written by Dr Paul Ian Cross and illustrated by Katarina Gasko. This book perfectly blends a fantasy adventure with a multiplicity of STEM content to excite primary school children about scientific learning.

The three friends, Bea, Leo and Lilli are pitching a tent in Auntie Bumble’s garden when they discover a distressed guinea pig, which seems to be suffering from an allergic reaction and possibly an infection. Before they have a chance to find out how their Aunt will treat the unwell animal, their SuperQuester amulets carry them away on a wave of magic, placing them in the exotic surroundings of Questland’s rainforest. Now in their superhero guises, Bea Bumble, Leo Zoom and Lillicorn meet Jamac, a magnificent jaguar, and take on a quest to find a cure for Puddle Waddle, a capybara who seems to be exhibiting the same symptoms as Popcorn the guinea pig. As their mission leads them through the rainforest, the SuperQuesters become aware of the healing properties of the diverse selection of plants, solve logic problems and learn to navigate like the jungle animals.

Like the earlier book in the series, Mission: Rainforest Magic has been very carefully researched and designed to be enjoyable, interactive and educational. It covers many STEM concepts which are taught in the primary school curriculum; I was very impressed this time, with a storyline that will make children think about how medicines can be developed from plants. Additionally, I was excited to find a page displaying a directional algorithm which all teachers or teaching assistants who deliver computing lessons using Bee-Bots will be familiar with. Reading this book adjacent to computing lessons would provide great consolidation of learning. Biological concepts are explained in child-friendly language, and the necessity of protecting the environment which might be capable of providing solutions to health challenges is made clear.

The illustrations throughout the book by Katarina Gasko, add greatly to its appeal and I am delighted that I have permission to share some of them with you in this post. A comprehensive glossary is provided, giving accessible explanations of scientific vocabulary. Finally, there are four activity suggestions at the end of the book, which could be performed at school or home to engage children in scientific experimentation. I highly recommend SuperQuesters Mission: Rainforest Magic to primary school librarians, teachers, parents and carers as a brilliant book to explore with young readers.

My thanks to the publishers, QuestFriendz, for sending me a review copy of this book. Do check out the other posts on the tour schedule.

#MGReview: Spy Fox and Agent Feathers by Dermot O’Leary, illustrated by Claire Powell

Cover art by Claire Powell, published by Hachette Children’s books,
12 September 2024, ISBN: 9781444976465

A wartime espionage thriller with a difference: join Charles Redfearn (master spy fox) and Gertrude Featherhorn (genius code-breaking chicken) on a secret rescue mission. Beware: with so many laugh-out-loud moments, you might not be able to read this middle grade novel without being detected by the enemy!

The action begins in June 1940, with Charles who has been working as a special agent for the British Special Animal Executive and his cousin Emmanuel (working as a saboteur for the French Animal Army) finding themselves on the beach at Dunkirk in the midst of the chaotic British military evacuation. After failing to get Emmanuel and his French animal colleagues away on board an evacuation ship, and disillusioned by the apparent might of the German army, Charles drops out of the war effort. However, three years later, he agrees to the animal prime minister’s request to take part in a highly dangerous mission in occupied France, which might give him the opportunity to rescue his cousin. But just how will he manage when his accomplice is a chicken? Is the greatest threat to a successful decoding of a top secret document going to be the fearsome German army, or a fox with a particular fondness for roast fowl with all the trimmings?

Young readers are likely to enjoy the thrilling exploits which combine peril with humour, while the animal characters enable some of the realities of war to be presented in an age-appropriate manner. The story is beautifully illustrated throughout with Claire Powell’s distinctive pen and ink style artwork, which captures the characters and the action perfectly. The illustrated format, alongside the short chapters, large font and overall length of under 150 pages, all combine to make this a book that children will be motivated to read independently. It will make an excellent addition to fictional reading choices to present to primary school children who are studying WWII topics; appealing to readers aged 7/8 and upwards. There are a few pages providing factual insights into some of the topics covered in the story including the Dunkirk evacuation and the wartime code-breaking activities at Bletchley Park.

Children who enjoy this anthropomorphic WWII spy adventure might also like The Umbrella Mouse by Anna Fargher (review here), or Mickey and the Animal Spies by Anne Miller (review here).

Disclaimer: I am grateful to publicist Lucy Clayton and Hachette Children’s Books for my review copy of Spy Fox and Agent Feathers. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames by Jenny Moore

Cover image by David Dean, publisher – Maverick Books, 3 March 2026, ISBN: 978-1835110836

All the best stories and adventures start with a knock at the door…

So begins this witty, fantasy adventure which will sweep young readers away on a thrilling quest with Emba Oak and Odolf Bravebuckle when it is published in March 2026. It is a tale of dragons, magic and courage and I really enjoyed the authorial voice, which injected a playful humorous tone throughout the plot and occasionally dropped asides about story structure.

Emba and Odolf have both been taken under the wing of Winnifred (known as Fred), The Wise Hermit of Witchingford Wood and keeper of the Tome of Terrible Tomorrows an ancient book of prophecies. Their harmonious life is disrupted, first by a dragon which only Emba can see and then by the news that a dragon-obsessed villain, the hilariously named Necromalcolm, is hunting for a mysterious dragon girl. It would appear that Emba, with her scaled limbs and dragon-egg-beginnings, is his prey…and that Odolf, in trying to be helpful to a stranger in the woods, has given away her location! When Fred is kidnapped from their cave, the two young friends have no hesitation in setting off for the distant Gravethorn Castle on a rescue mission. Armed with a pointy stick, a scaring-off stone, a magical belt buckle and a talisman filled with revolting toenails, Emba will need all of her inner-fire and Odolf will need all of his hero-training, to face the perils ahead.

The adventure is hugely entertaining, written in short chapters with plentiful action and jokes; perfect for a readership aged 8 and above. According to the blurb on my proof copy, the story is in development as a live-action TV series; I hope this indicates that there will be further adventures in the series because I sense that this is a book that children will choose to read for pleasure.

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Dannie Price and Maverick Books for sending me a proof copy of Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames ahead of publication in March 2026. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

#MGReview: A Girl’s Guide to Spying by Holly Webb

Proof cover image, to be published by Rock the Boat on 12th February 2026, ISBN: 978-1836432128

I have updated my original post for publication day on 12 February 2026.

I can offer no higher praise to a book than to say that once I started it, I just could not put it down! A Girl’s Guide to Spying has a thrilling plot, offers an insight into a fascinating aspect of WWI history, and is populated with characters that spring to life from the page. Author, Holly Webb, is already hugely popular with many young readers who enjoy her animal-themed stories, and I think that this middle-grade, spy novel will enthral her fans, young and old alike!

The novel is set in London during 1914, a time of enforced change and social upheaval for the population. Thirteen-year-old Phyllis Dean and her younger sister Annie are initially agape at the sight of a group of Girl Guides marching through their neighbourhood, with their shockingly short skirts and wide-brimmed hats. However, they are soon encouraged to join their local group where they become members of Rose Patrol, and are quickly engaged in games and activities which stretch their imaginations, intellects and team-working abilities. When the Guide Leader, Miss Lynley, recognises Phyl’s intellectual capabilities and recommends her for a messenger position at MO5, the new Military Operations department based at Watergate House, the young protagonist’s courage and problem-solving skills will be called into action!

The gripping plot which encompasses espionage, murder and a traitor at the heart of the British spy service, plays out against a backdrop of a working class family coping with everyday life during wartime. The portrayal of the Dean family is really authentic as they cope with running their grocer’s shop, dealing with the uncertainty of hearing that Phyl and Annie’s older brother has been injured in Belgium, and subsequently the shock of a son returning from war with physical and mental injuries. The contrasting personalities of Phyl and Annie are beautifully drawn, leading to some bickering and rivalry, but always coming back to close sisterly love and support. The strong undercurrent of different forms of sisterhood is skilfully woven throughout the novel. There is a subplot in which Mrs Dean shows her compassion for a fellow shop-keeper, courageously standing up to the anger of a mob to rescue a mother and child in distress. The mixing of different social classes adds another layer of interest to the historical context, Phyl and Annie find themselves interacting with titled individuals through Guides and Phyl’s work at MO5, and are surprised to find that their wealthy, upper class guide leader had been imprisoned for her suffragette activities before the war broke out.

Despite reading many books about the spy services during wartime, this is the first time I have encountered the recruitment of Girl Guides as messengers during WWI and I love the way that Holly Webb blended this historical fact into such a dramatic plot. I predict that A Girl’s Guide to Spying will be hugely popular, and I certainly hope that there will be further Rose Patrol mysteries to enjoy. I can see it appealing to all fans of series where smart girls solve crimes such as Murder Most Unladylike, The Ministry of Unladylike Activities, The Taylor and Rose Mysteries and Ruby Redfort. If you are a primary or secondary school librarian, you need to add this to your library collections.

I am grateful to publicist Liz Scott and to Holly Webb for providing me with the following historical photographs which the author found during her research for this story:

Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Rock the Boat and publicists Liz Scott and Dannie Price for sending me a proof copy of A Girl’s Guide to Spying ahead of publication. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.

Halloween Treats – Children’s Books for Spooky Season

Halloween is fast approaching, so I thought I would update my selection of books which I have read and reviewed, and which I think would either make excellent half-term presents or stories that teachers and school librarians might like to share with classes during the autumn term. If you are a parent or carer, looking for a free half-term activity for your children during half-term, maybe consider a visit to your local public library, where these and many other titles are available to borrow.

Starting with the youngest children, Trick or Treat? by Catherine Emmett and Laura Brenlla (click for review) is a colourful and fun picture book with a fabulous twist at the end. Colin’s Castle by Holly Swain (click for review) is another superbly humorous picture book featuring a vampire whose castle is invaded by a pesky duck!

Children who are beginning to read independently will enjoy two illustrated short chapter books by author and illustrator Harriet Muncaster: Mirabelle and the Baby Dragons (click for review) and Isadora Moon makes a Wish (click for review). Both of these books are published in small hardback, with silver sprayed edges and are fully illustrated throughout in a purple palette, they make super gifts.

There are some children who really do not enjoy spooky books, but still want to find something ‘Halloween adjacent’ to read while everyone around them is enjoying tales of ghosts, witches and vampires. I would suggest that the gorgeous picture book Amara and the Bats (read my review here) by Emma Reynolds is a great title to add to Halloween choices for these children. It’s a delightful book which merges inspiring eco-fiction with a wealth of facts about bats and wildlife preservation.

The Diary of an Accidental Witch series (read a review here) by Perdita and Honor Cargill, illustrated by Katie Saunders, is another excellent choice for primary school children who want humour, a witch theme but nothing too spooky. All of the stories in this series are bursting with charm, fun and warmth; they are beautifully illustrated and perfect for newly confident independent readers aged 7-11.

Bursting onto bookshelves in October 2024 from Martin Howard, Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull (click for review), a story which is a perfect blend of horror and humour. It is illustrated throughout by Pete Williamson and is an enjoyably hair-raising read for children of 9 through to teens.

The sequel, Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull in the Beast from Beneath (click for review), was published in autumn 2025. The madcap, fast-talking humour of Maggoty Skull continues in a funny and spooky quest to uncover the deepest horror residing below Carrion Castle, and to cover Maggoty’s head with the most glorious wig to be found in the ‘Stabbings’ neighbourhood!

The final instalment of The Beast and the Bethany series by Jack Meggitt-Phillips – The Final Feast (click for review) was published just in time for spooky season 2024. This is another comedy-gothic story featuring found family and blood family themes and brings the anarchic series to a fine conclusion.

For zany, non-stop action and chaotic calamities caused by a mischievous fairy and an evil wizard, look no further than Fairy vs Wizard, written and illustrated by Jenny McLachlan (click for review). This book written in diary form with doodle artwork is a laugh-out-loud recommendation for those children who thoroughly enjoy a comedic read.

Taking terror to new heights, the Dreadwood series of comic-horror adventures by Jennifer Killick, reached its conclusion in Terror Tower (click for review). This story brings all the threads of the series to an enjoyable and satisfactory ending, the entire series is likely to provide pleasurable reading for anyone aged 9 though to teens.

For those who enjoyed the Dreadwood series and were sad to see it reach its conclusion, fear not, Jennifer Killick wasted no time in commencing the Serial Chillers series, with the first book The Witch in the Woods (click here for my review) appearing in April 2025. A town with secrets, four teenagers on a weekend adventure…what could possibly go wrong? Jump scares abound for readers of 9/10 years and above.

Gloam (click here for my review) is the spookily brilliant middle grade debut from Jack Mackay published in 2025. A tale featuring orphans, an ancient isolated house and a monstrous babysitter, this book is beautifully crafted and ramps up the tension towards a breath-taking conclusion. This one is genuinely scary, and I would say best for ages 10 years and above.

Kòkú Àkànbí and the Heart of Midnight (click here for my review) is a haunting adventure which weaves African mythology into a contemporary fantasy which transports the teen protagonist, Kòkú from London to the fictional land of his birth, Olórí. The author, Maria Motúnráyò Adébisi wanted to write a novel which would speak to children straddling British and African identities, and make them proud of both.

Midnight Treasure (click for review) written by Piers Torday is a beautifully written novel featuring vampirs and werwolves, with two youngsters on a quest to find a treasure more precious than gold. This is a complex adventure with sophisticated language, ideal for confident readers aged 9+ and would also be a lovely story for adults and children to share reading aloud.

I have been a fan of Emma Carroll’s middle grade historical fiction for more than 10 years now, and thus was delighted when she announced her first ever series would commence in 2025. Dracula & Daughters (click for review) is a gripping, gothic adventure with two sisters and their cousin at its core. It nods to all the elements of vampire lore and will leave readers of 10+ desperate for the next title in the series.

Black Gables (click for review) by Eibhlís Carcione is a creepily atmospheric gothic tale about the worst school in the world, where the teachers are so terrifying that they seem to hold the entire town under their spell! A truly spooky story for readers aged 9 and above.

Evenfall: The Golden Linnet (click for review) by Alexander Armstrong is the opening book in a contemporary-magical adventure series which has an epic feel. The atmosphere of ancient magic, the theme of the power of storytelling and the setting in the ancient buildings of Durham, make this a brilliant story to enjoy on a dark autumnal evening. Perfect for confident readers of 9 and above, or as a shared adult/child read.

Finally, a book which I bought from The Snug Bookshop in Langport, The Boy Who Cried Ghost (click for review) by Ian Eagleton is an inclusive, beautifully written and empathetic exploration of living with OCD. I would recommend for children aged 10 and above.

Happy Halloween and happy spooky reading!

Original post updated October 2025

Cover Reveal: Lianna and the Hombit by Valinora Troy

Today I am delighted to join the cover reveal for Lianna and the Hombit by Valinora Troy, due to be published on 29 January 2026.

A grieving girl in need of a friend. A magical creature with a secret task. Can they end the ancient curse threatening their new home?

13-year-old Lianna has lost everything: her home, her friends, and most devastatingly, her beloved Papa. Sent to live with her uncle, Lianna is certain he will be cruel and unkind, for why else would Papa have run away when he was young? Robbed on arrival of her precious keepsakes, Lianna receives a worse-than-expected welcome from her uncle. His servants are hostile and even her grandparents seem to glare at her from their portraits over the fire.

When a magical creature resembling a small glass bird bursts into her life in a mix of sparks and fire, Lianna is eager to assist the hombit with its secret mission if it helps her return home. Which leads to Lianna undertaking a risky dive near perilous sea stacks known as ‘living rocks’.

When her dive goes wrong, she awakens a creature that seeks to rob her of her humanity.

To survive, Lianna must uncover the dark secrets of her father’s past. Now she faces a stark decision: does she save herself or the town that rejects both her and her father?

A heart-warming story of the healing power of friendship when all seems lost.

For for information on pre-orders and/or ARCs, please follow this link: Lianna and the Hombit – Valinora Troy

Valinora Troy is a children’s fantasy writer from Ireland. She has a MA in Creative Writing Specialising in Writing for Children and Young Adults, and has served as a panellist for the CYBILS awards (elementary & middle grade speculative fiction category). Her short stories for adults have been in a number of publications. She is the author of ‘The Lucky Diamond’ trilogy, three middle grade children’s fantasy adventures. She has recently been shortlisted for the Staróg prize, and has served as a Reading Ambassador for Louth County Libraries.