Cover art by Emma Reynolds, published by Simon & Schuster, 2021, ISBN: 978-1665903271
Amara and the Bats is a charming and enabling story, written and illustrated by Emma Reynolds. The cover gives you an indication of Emma’s unique illustration style and the inclusivity demonstrated in this book. Commencing with the story of Amara, a primary school child who is obsessed with bats, the book also contains a wealth of bat facts, information about how to build bat-friendly environments, and details of the circumstances which endanger the survival of this fascinating species. This blend of fiction and facts presents an engaging and enjoyable way of embedding learning.
The story of young activist Amara, who misses her nocturnal visitors when she moves from the countryside into a town, is very engaging for youngsters aged 4-8 years-of-age. Amara’s supportive family and friends help her to raise awareness and subsequently participate in an environmental project to develop a bat-friendly sanctuary in the local park. I loved that she was inspired to take action after reading about other young eco-activists; something that I expect this book will also promote. I imagine that this book would be an excellent addition to primary school classroom and library collections, to support curriculum learning about habitats, nocturnal animals and forest school activities. I would also encourage teachers, librarians and parents/carers to perhaps add it to their Halloween displays, as a choice for those children who do not enjoy spooky stories but would perhaps appreciate the chance to learn more about a creature which has been adopted as one of the Halloween cliches.
This book was my own purchase (bought as a gift for a young relative) but I realised that I hadn’t written a review when I originally read it, so I am making up for that oversight now!
Cover image by Pete Williamson, published by Nosy Crow, 25 September 2025, ISBN: 978-1805132261
The second adventure for necromancer-in-training, Mallory Vayle, and her wise-cracking skull Maggoty is every bit as spooky, intriguing and downright hilarious as the first book in the series. There is sufficient backstory provided that this book can be enjoyed as a standalone, something that I always think is important for children who rely on school or public libraries for their books and therefore cannot always read a series in the correct order. However, if you have read the first title in the series, Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull (my review is here) then you are in for a (trick or) treat with this sequel!
Life at Carrion Castle for Mallory continues to be a weird experience. As if having a cursed skull for a best friend wasn’t enough, her days are punctuated with frequent encounters and conversations with ghostly apparitions. Meanwhile, her guardian, Aunt Lilith continues to pretend that she is also psychic and is somewhat envious of Mallory’s unwanted ‘talents’. Maggoty Skull maintains a constant, irreverent, commentary on everyone and everything, human and paranormal, that he and Mallory encounter, providing the comic relief to the spookier elements of the story. At first it seems that Mallory’s biggest challenge will be to raise the seventy-nine pounds, six shillings and sixpence required to purchase ‘The Eleganza’ a wig that has become Maggoty’s obsession, that is until Aunt Lilith releases a nightmare! In her desire to gain the power of necromancy, the elderly relative has conjured up a spell from Hellysh Spatz’s evil diary, and now her very existence is under threat.
Mallory is infuriated by her aunt’s stupidity, but determined to do whatever it takes to release her carer from the grip of the evil that is consuming her. She and Maggoty are pulled deeper and deeper into the depths of the castle by an inexplicable force which also seems to care about the future of a foolish old mortal. The darkness of the horrors encountered is dispelled by Maggoty’s rude jokes and sharp talking each time you think that Mallory will be overwhelmed by the dark side of necromancy; keeping the creepiness at the right level for middle grade readers who enjoy the horror genre. Being quite the scaredy-cat myself, I have to admit to only reading The Beast from Beneath during daylight hours! I really loved the way that Mallory fought back against the evil element of her powers, letting her love for Aunt, and her promise to release the trapped spirit from Maggoty’s skull, determine her actions. Her strength of character and her bond with Maggoty Skull drive the story to an epic and satisfyingly hilarious conclusion. Pete Williamson’s illustrations throughout the book add atmosphere and an added layer of interest for young readers.
Martin Howard has a fine talent for writing humour that will hugely appeal to middle grade readers. He cleverly blends the outrageous joking of Maggoty Skull, with genuinely spine tingling drama, and a touching tale of found-family love in this comic horror novel. It’s a book that is perfect for spooky season for those children, aged 10 to early teens, who like a scary but funny read. So instead of buying yet more of the Halloween merchandise that is taking over just about every retail space at present, consider buying a copy of Mallory Vayle and Maggoty Skull in The Beast from Beneath, and spending a few October hours being entertained and scared in equal measure. I think that all school librarians will want to add this book to their Halloween collections.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to Nosy Crow for sending me a copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Cover art by Elisa Paganelli, published by Nosy Crow, 16 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1805132240
Murder at Christmas ticked all of the boxes that make a book a thoroughly enjoyable reading experience for me:
Murder Mystery ✅
Empathetic characters ✅
Pacy writing ✅
The setting being integral to the story ✅
Fleur Hitchcock is a superb author of children’s books and this latest edition of her wintery, murder mystery titles is perhaps her finest yet (a hard choice in an absolutely top quality collection). Set in the beautiful city of Bath, made even more atmospheric during a snowy December, the story is told in the first person voice of Grace who is reunited with her family to celebrate Christmas after spending an unhappy term at boarding school. She joins her diplomat mother and younger brother Billy, who have just flown in from Australia, to stay at the elegant hotel owned by their mum’s identical twin sister Mollie. They plan to spend a happy family Christmas in this luxury accommodation once their Dad has completed his digital detox in Spain. (I love this last detail, which provides an excellent reason for lack of mobile phone communication at a crucial stage in the mystery). However, on their first morning, not only is the hotel manager found dead on the staircase, but mum fails to return from a visit to Granny’s nursing home!
Suddenly for Grace, her dream of a relaxed holiday basking in the warmth of her family, log fires and Christmas cheer has vanished, and she has to take on the mantle of looking after her little brother. She rises to the challenge magnificently, trying to hide her worst fears from Billy whilst investigating mum’s disappearance, trying to find an explanation for aunt Mollie’s strange behaviour, and befriending two local siblings, Olive and Doug. The four children rapidly find themselves wrapped up in an investigation which involves mistaken identity and organised crime, all played out against an increasingly frantic countdown to Christmas.
Fleur Hitchcock and Alex Cotter at their dual book launch in Waterstones Bath 8 Oct 2025
I am sure that this story will provide a thrillingly entertaining read for children aged 9 years and above. Fleur Hitchcock writes with a rhythm that just makes reading her stories effortless, and her familiarity with the city in which the story is based will pull young readers through the crowded streets alongside the young protagonists. As with the best cosy crime mysteries, there are plenty of red herrings alongside the trail of clues, so the little grey cells will need to be on top form to spot the criminals before the final denouement. Chapters are short and the book is printed in a larger than usual font size, which will help readers who are building their reading stamina, and I am convinced that this is a book that adults will enjoy as a shared read with their children or pupils. At the very Christmassy book launch, which I was fortunate to attend, Fleur spoke about the enduring appeal of cosy crime murder mysteries, and I am certain that she is contributing to the development of a new generation of fans of this genre. I would highly recommend Murder at Christmas to school librarians, upper KS2 teachers and to parents or carers as a great choice for their young readers.
Disclaimer: I was gifted a free copy of Murder at Christmas by Sîan at Nosy Crow ahead of publication day. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Cover art by Rory Walker, published by Everything With Words, 25 September 2025, ISBN: 978-1911427469
Unidentified extra-terrestrial objects are falling from the sky in the small town of Bilgeley! The first spacecraft to arrive crushes the vintage Ford Anglia owned by Hillman Patel’s dad, and as he recovers from the shock, Hillman finds himself confronted by Galactic Princess Cassiopeia and her bloodthirsty android, Silver. Meanwhile, across town at the Bilgeley dump, Roz rescues Galactic Prince Perseus and his android, Bronze from certain death as their spacecraft sinks towards a huge methane bubble under the trash mountain in which they have landed. The two extra-terrestrial visitors are arch-enemies, vying with each other for control of the galaxy and their arrival could spell toast for planet earth! The fate of the planet is in the hands of two eleven-year-olds and a Grandad who “can barely negotiate a sausage roll”!
This is one of those deliciously bonkers books that is so appealing to lower Key Stage 2 readers. The humorous exchanges and misunderstandings between Hillman and Roz and their associated alien visitors will have young readers hooting with laughter, while the race against time to save planet earth will ensure that readers are gripped by the story. Who could have predicted that custard held so much power? There is a super sub-plot concerning a cohort of venal businessmen who want to close down the Sunny View Day Care Centre attended by Roz’s grandad and his friends, which adds an extra layer of humour as well as providing so much human heart to the story, that even a megalomaniac space warrior begins to feel emotion! It is a mark of the quality of David Macphail’s writing that he seamlessly blends humour and a page-turning plot with the warmth of human relationships.
The book is illustrated throughout by Rory Walker, and his drawings convey the humour and personalities of the characters brilliantly. The chapters are short and pacy, and the plot is intriguing from beginning to end. If you’re a primary school librarian or a parent/carer, I recommend this book for any children of 8+ years as a highly entertaining read.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to Mikka at Everything With Words who sent me a copy of Aliens Made Me Do It! It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Cover art by Pauliina Hannuniemi, published by Magic Cat Publishing, 25 September 2025, ISBN:978-1917044813
Cover art by Jaimee Andrews, published by Hachette Children’s Books, 23 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1444934700
Honor Cargill-Martin has quickly become my favourite author of non-fiction for children. She has an amazing ability to transfer her own knowledge of the classical and cultural world into easily accessible text that brings stories and characters from mythology, history and the literary world, alive on the page for young readers. I do think that her books are truly inclusive because they open up ideas and culture to children who may not encounter such material otherwise. I speak as someone who followed the science route through school and university; it does concern me that currently the arts, classics and some humanities seem to be dismissed in favour of STEM subjects, when there should be acknowledgement of the value of both arts and sciences and opportunities for all children to experience both. I am therefore delighted to be able share my thoughts on the two latest titles which will engage curious minds and perhaps inspire future classicists and historians.
Shakespeare’s Heroines: A Guide to the Plays’ Leading Ladies
After a brief introduction which tells the reader that Shakespeare created a wide range of powerful female characters in his plays (although these roles could only be played by men during the Tudor era), the subsequent chapters are arranged according the character type. Thus we meet, queens, star-crossed lovers, supernatural beings, loyal friends, women in disguise and independent women. Within each chapter, there are introductory panels and fact files about the plays and characters, followed by a graphic-novel-style excerpt featuring one of the characters. All pages are vibrantly illustrated by Jaimee Andrews. As well as providing historical context for some of the characters throughout the main chapters, there are some further historical facts about Shakespeare and some of the real-life notable women from the late Tudor/early Stuart eras, as well as a fun quiz, at the end of the book.
She Speaks: The Women of Norse Myths in Their Own Words
The primary school curriculum in England includes studying the Vikings, but as the author points out, this usually focusses on male warriors sailing the seas and coming ashore to raid villages. This book seeks to give a broader view of the Vikings by telling the stories of some of the women from the Norse myths, which were an important element of Viking culture. The particular mythological females featured here are: Freyja, Idunn, Skadi, Hervor, Gefion, Frigg, Gridr and Brynhildr. The stories of each of these women are told briefly across six pages, and then at the end of the book there is some interesting analysis of how these stories provide us with insights into Norse culture. The entire book is beautifully illustrated by Pauliina Hannuniemi. I love the way that the bibliography is divided into primary and secondary sources, marking this important distinction for your readers. As well as providing rich context for primary school history lessons, I also think that this book would be extremely interesting for tween and teen fans of the Thor films in the Marvel universe who will recognise Asgard, Midgard, Niflheim and the other realms.
Both of these books will be brilliant additions to school library and classroom collections, and the beautifully produced hardback editions would make enticing Christmas presents for curious minds from age 9/10 and upwards.
Disclaimer: I am extremely grateful to Honor Cargill-Martin for sending me copies of these books. It was my decision to review them, and all opinions are my own.
I have previously reviewed other non-fiction titles written by Honor Cargill-Martin, you can read my reviews at the links below:
Cover illustration by Stacey Thomas, published by Little Tiger, 2 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1838917203
Endpapers with Quantock acorns!
I realise that I haven’t reviewed a picture book for a while, so today I’m delighted to highlight Squirrel and Bird, written by Laura Baker and illustrated by Stacey Thomas. It was published yesterday by Little Tiger and is a beautifully produced, hardback book to share with toddlers and young children at this time of year. I hope that the cover picture gives you a good idea of the quality of the illustrations to be found within. They are beautifully detailed depictions of woodland flora and fauna, all rendered in a gorgeous autumnal palette, which offer so much scope for conversations between adult and child readers about the natural environment and seasonal changes. I could even pore over the endpapers for ages!
The story of Squirrel and Bird is lovely and conveys a message of taking a holistic view of others rather than defining personalities with just one label. As Squirrel and Bird prepare for a concert, their forest friends are too quick to define them as ‘loud’ Squirrel and ‘quiet’ Bird. When concert time arrives, Bird shows the audience just how many attributes can be assigned to each of the friends, helping youngsters understand that everyone is made up of a unique blend of personality traits.
I absolutely recommend Squirrel and Bird to parents, carers, nursery/preschools and Key Stage 1 teachers as a thoroughly engaging story to share with young children. I can imagine that it will work very well in educational settings as a book to accompany learning about seasons, and in homes it will be a perfect book to snuggle up with after a bracing autumn walk.
Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Jasmin at Little Tiger for sending me a copy of Squirrel and Bird. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Cover design by Thy Bui, cover illustration by Hazem Asif, published by Knights Of, 3 July 2025, ISBN: 978-1915820068
When the Storm Comes is a truly immersive read, in all senses of the word! Author Polly Ho-Yen cleverly explores the very real threat of climate emergencies in a setting that will be familiar to the target readership, through a tense thriller of a story.
The meteorological storm is juxtaposed against the internal storms raging within the inner lives of the young protagonists: Mali, Petey, Jonesey and Fara. These four tween characters are each facing their own challenges, and have been specially chosen by heavily pregnant teacher Ms Devine, to attend a special after-school book club. However, a month of heavy rain reaches a crescendo with a spectacular storm on the afternoon and evening of the book club meeting. Suddenly the lights go out, all electrical devices fail – including the automatic doors to the library – and the children along with their teacher are trapped in the library with flood waters rising outside and inside the school building and no way of communicating with the outside world.
While their heroic teacher tries to keep the children calm, they all react to the situation in different ways, their personalities and personal circumstances dictating their behaviour towards the situation and each other. As the tension escalates and Ms Devine goes into early labour, and then one of the children gets seriously injured, the young protagonists have to work as a team and dig deep into every reservoir of resilience and resourcefulness that they possess to formulate an escape plan.
This story packs a great deal of action into less than 230 pages and will make a compelling read for children who are fans of tense thrillers as well as those interested in eco-fiction. It is likely to provoke thoughts and conversations about how to deal with an emergency situation and the importance of collaboration and teamwork when faced with difficult circumstances. As you would expect from a novel published by Knights Of, the story is inclusive, and I feel helps to develop empathy for communities that suffer the consequences of serious flooding. I think that it will be an excellent addition to both primary school collections for year 6 children, and secondary school library collections.
This book was my own purchase, all opinions are my own.
Cover image from proof copy, publisher David Fickling Books, 9 October 2025, ISBN: 978-1788453684
A Beautiful, Terrible Thing is the winning submission for the inaugural Search for a Storyteller competition run by publisher David Fickling Books and the Arvon Foundation. As the title suggests, it is a tale of contrasts; happiness and grief, life and death, love and hate. I found it to be a deeply emotional story, opening with a powerful and shocking first chapter and gripping me in the resulting turmoil of the dual narrators until the very end.
I am fairly certain that in my many years of reading I have never before encountered a story which begins with a teenage driver, just finished with school and exams, who kills a younger teen in a road accident. This is the shocking and heart-breaking incident which triggers a deep exploration of the emotional and physical destruction that a few seconds of inattention can cause. Debut novellist, Miranda Moore, delivers a story which frankly and empathetically examines the unimaginable grief suffered by 13-year-old Si’s family, in particular his loving older sister Cara, who now finds herself alone with their parents, trying to support them in their anguish whilst feeling that her own heart has been ripped out.
In balance, we are also provided with the voice of Nathan, who is consumed by guilt and sorrow that his carelessness has resulted in the ultimate tragedy. We witness the nightmare-infested sleepless nights, the depression, the guilt at the damage he has caused to his own mother and brother, as well as the knowledge that he has destroyed another family. We see the inability to accept help from a loyal best friend and the realisation that hopes and dreams have been swept aside.
When the two teens run into each other by chance in a cafe and feel an instant attraction, which subsequently develops into a fledgling relationship, they both find moments of joy and escape from their painful realities. How can Nathan even begin to explain that he is waiting to stand trial for causing death by dangerous driving? And how can Cara explain to Nathan that she is not an only child, but actually spends most of the time she is apart from him mourning the death of a beautiful younger brother? The complexity and conflict of their situations is written with depth and sympathy, Miranda Moore is clearly an author of great talent.
This novel does not pull any punches in describing the raw emotions felt by its protagonists and I am sure will prompt soul-searching thoughts and discussions about the nature of love, loss and grief. There is also thought-provoking content on perceptions of the justice system, from the perspective of victims or the person on trial. Due to the emotional nature and mature themes of this book, it is one which I would recommend for a readership of 16+. I think that secondary school or sixth form librarians should be aware that the story does include some content of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Whilst YA readers will relate to the two main teenage protagonists, I think that many adults will find this book engrossing too. My heart went out to all of the young characters as well as the parents in this nuanced tale.
Disclaimer: I was sent a proof copy of A Beautiful, Terrible Thing by publisher David Fickling Books. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
eAudiobook from Piccadilly Press, released 11 Jun 2025, ISBN: 978-1867567721
Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past is a book which thoroughly hooked me with its combination of first person narrative, humour, contemporary setting, and creative method of historical education. The audiobook, which I accessed via Borrowbox from my public library, is brilliantly narrated by Eric Mok. I think that author, Maisie Chan, has expertly crafted a story that will hook middle grade readers, entertaining them as well as providing some themes to educate and induce empathy. It also contains a magical element, in that a ghost from WWI appears to the main character, Nate. This is a brilliant device through which readers are given an insight into a little known aspect of WWI.
Nate Yu Riley has recently moved house with his two mums, away from the small village in which he grew up, to Liverpool, which his mums have chosen due to the city’s long established Chinese community. They have adopted Nate and have the best intentions of helping him explore his Chinese identity, although Nate himself is very reluctant to do so. (I have read that Maisie Chan was herself trans-racially adopted, and therefore this aspect of the story is written with understanding and empathy). Early on in the story hints are dropped that Nate is a solitary child, his best friend being Betsy (or Queen Elizabeth III) the queen of his ant colony which is his most treasured possession, and that an incident at his old school has also contributed to the move.
On the first day in his new and intimidatingly large school, Nate is befriended by Ryan and Missy. These two contrasting characters are brilliantly realised and I am sure that their interactions will be relatable to many young readers. Missy is smart and brimming with enthusiasm to excel in all school activities. She is of Chinese heritage, and although her passion for her ethnic identity is at first overwhelming for Nate, their developing friendship and the kindness of her family gradually help him to take an interest in his background. Ryan is also a kind child who has sadly been ostracised by other children, and even judged by some adults, due to the aggressive and racist behaviour of other members of his family. He and Nate develop a supportive and empathetic friendship over the course of the story.
When the three children are grouped together to work on a history project, Nate becomes so fascinated by an engraved shell-case that has been brought into the school by a museum curator, that he keeps it when all the other artefacts are returned at the end of the lesson. In an extra-ordinary twist, a ghost appears to him from the shell case, setting him and his friends on a mission to put right a historical wrong. Through this element of the story, readers are provided with a great deal of information about the role of the Chinese Labour Corp (CLC) in the First World War and some of the history of Chinese immigrants in Liverpool. I think this is a brilliant example of fiction providing a route into a little known aspect of history (I must admit that despite my advanced years, I first read about the CLC very recently in an adult fiction book Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, it was certainly not taught during my school history lessons and I suspect that it is still omitted from the curriculum).
In my opinion, Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past should be included in recommended reading lists for children aged 10+, as a “read for pleasure” title, as a supplementary text when studying WWI as a history topic and on “read for empathy” lists. I think it will be enjoyed by children at both the top end of primary school and the lower end of secondary school. It is a unique title which defies categorisation but delivers so many lessons in a thoroughly entertaining package. It will certainly be on my list as one of my favourite books published in 2025.
Today I am delighted to be joining the blog tour for The Brightest Star by Meg Grehan. This quiet, kind, novel written in free verse explores issues of identity and belonging through the characters of Stevie, Chloe and Andrew as they navigate emerging relationships, identities and the new setting of secondary school. I recently posted a review of the book, which you can read here, and today I am happy to share with you an extract from the book, to give you a glimpse of the tone and style of this novel:
Chloe stays a little later than Andrew And we talk about
Tomorrow
About the Rainbow Club
Which we’ve learned it’s called And which we love
Love love love
How lucky we feel
To be part of a rainbow
To be part of something
So lovely
We sit on the sofa
And we put on a movie
And instead of watching
We are focused
So focused
On our hands
On how close they are to each other On how they’re getting
Closer
Inch by inch
Until
Wow
Our fingers tangle
And wow
Her hand is in mine
And wow
I feel
So warm
In a good way
In a nice way
In a
Sweet way
Warm and safe
Warm and safe
Warm and safe
I wake an hour later
And Chloe is looking at me
Hey
She says
My dad is here
I have to go
And I pout before I realise what I’m doing
And she laughs
And I laugh
And she lets go of my hand
And I hold it in my other hand
To keep her warmth there
Cling to the feeling of being held
I smile at her
And she smiles at me
And she says
Tomorrow!
And I say
Tomorrow!
And she leaves
And I feel
Lonely and excited and sleepy and
Ready
For another
Day
Please do read the blog posts from all of the fabulous book bloggers on the schedule below to gain more insights into this lovely book.
I am grateful to publicist Antonia Wilkinson and Little Island Books for inviting me to join the blog tour, all opinions are my own and the extract above is shared with permission from the publisher.
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