Cover image for ARC, published by Rock the Boat, 8 May 2025
TraumaLand is the third #YA novel written by Josh Silver, he writes books that I cannot put down once I start them. This is a gripping psychological thriller with a touching story of first love at its heart. It is told in the first person voice of seventeen year old Elias (Eli) who we immediately discover is receiving psychotherapy after experiencing significant trauma. Eli breaks the fourth wall and reveals his inner thoughts to the reader, thoughts which are often the opposite to those he conveys to his therapist and family. This is such a clever device, gaining the reader’s sympathy for the main character, whilst also making you question the reliability of his narration, especially once you learn that he cannot remember the traumatic event or the months that followed it. I found his voice utterly compelling throughout the twists and turns of the narrative. I am not going to describe the plot in any detail because it is revealed so inventively that I do not want to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of discovering it for themselves.
As in his first two books, Josh Silver writes about mental health with the clarity of his professional experience as a mental health nurse, whilst subjecting his characters to unethical treatment by sinister characters who manipulate futuristic treatment regimes for their own nefarious purposes. This novel deals with some hard-hitting themes including self-harm, restraint, loss of a sibling and attempted suicide, all of which are written about with understanding and sympathy. At its centre, and driving the narrative is Eli, a lost boy, trying to reconnect with his feelings, desperately seeking the answers to his missing months, whilst looking for connection, truth and love. It’s a beautifully written story, with a fantastic final twist and I think it will be as popular with older readers like myself as it will be with readers aged 15+.
Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Liz Scott and Rock the Boat for sending me an ARC of TraumaLand ahead of publication on 8 May 2025. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Cover art by Amy Jeffs, published by Wren & Rook an imprint of Hachette Children’s Books, 6 March 2025, ISBN: 978-1526367402
This beautifully produced book is an adaptation of the author/illustrator’s original work, this time in a format suitable for readers of about 9/10+. Many children (and adults) are familiar with Greek and Norse mythology, but not so well informed about the mythology of the British Isles. In Storyland, historian Amy Jeffs presents a collection of the myths behind the history of Britain. She writes in clear, accessible language and has illustrated the book throughout with her striking linocut prints. These add to the manuscript-like feel of the book and are in keeping with the author telling us that these myths and legends would have been first written down during the middle ages, although they had of course originated many centuries earlier.
I loved the introduction in which Amy Jeffs describes the thrill of studying ancient manuscripts and the detective work involved in the work of a historian. After each of the myths or legends, which cover the geographical area from Cornwall to the Orkney Islands, and content about giants, dragons, heroes and villains, she provides a few pages of commentary on the historical facts as we understand them from the evidence. She frequently points out the overlap between myth and historical writing, guiding readers to the understanding that the historical record can be shaped by those who were responsible for writing it down originally. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the legends and early history of Britain and this is a book which I will dip into frequently. I think that teachers will find it a very useful resource – for literacy, history and art ideas – and I would encourage school librarians at both primary and secondary school to add it to their collections for readers aged 9/10 and above.
Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Karis at Hachette Children’s Books for sending me a copy of Storyland. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Cover image by Honie Beam, published by Little Tiger Press, 03 April 2025, ISBN: 978-1788957502
I absolutely loved meeting Clem Fatale, the youngest crook in 1950s London, in this cracking crime caper written for a middle grade audience. I would have loved it as a 9 year-old-kid who was just starting to watch the film noir movies that were shown on a Saturday afternoon back in the days when we only had 3 TV channels, and I’m certain that today’s young readers will find this a thoroughly enjoyable choice to read for pleasure.
Eve Wersocki-Morris brilliantly conjures up a past version of London that was still recovering from war-time damage. A London of seedy night clubs, where glamorous socialites and the criminal underworld mixed at the cocktail bar. In this space, Jimmy Fatale operates as the leader of the notorious Spider Gang, the most successful jewel thieves in the business of relieving the supremely wealthy of their most expensive baubles. However, as Jimmy executes his meticulous plan to steal the Fool’s Canary, a rare yellow diamond from Lord Weatherdale, Clem witnesses the plan going awry, her dad disappearing and then gets embroiled in an accidental kidnap! Feeling abandoned by the other gang members, Twizzler, Screw and Monty, Clem sets out to find her Dad with only Gilbert, the terribly polite and unadventurous son of Lord Weatherdale for company.
The trail of clues will take them on hair-raising adventures in nightclubs, greasy spoon cafes, safe houses and the back alleys of London where fences, rival gang leaders and henchmen operate. Helped by Konrad, the son of Clem’s parents’ Polish cook and Winnie, a cab driver who has arrived in London from the West Indies, Clem discovers a secret side to her Dad’s criminal operation and encounters some of the racism faced by immigrants to England. The action is fast-paced and thrilling, the dialogue is totally engaging and the characters are sharply drawn. I think that children will enjoy the partnership formed between Clem and Gilbert as they bravely take on mobsters, sift through red herrings and enjoy some comic moments in their search for Jimmy.
The plotting contains just the right level of complexity to keep readers aged 9+ guessing the identity of the double-crossing gang member right up to the costumed ball finale. Additionally, the stylish illustrations by Honie Beam which are dotted throughout the book, will add to readers’ enjoyment of this story. I would highly recommend Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed for children aged 9+ who enjoy an exciting adventure. It’s a definite “must have” title for primary school library collections.
Disclaimer: I am very grateful to Little Tiger Press for sending me a review copy of this book. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Cover image by Ryan Hammond & Ricardo Bessa, publisher Farshore Books, 27 March 2025, ISBN: 978-0008720256
Jennifer Killick cements her position as the Queen of Middle Grade Horror with this first book in the new Serial Chillers series: The Witch in the Woods! The cleverness of the word play in the title gives you an insight of what awaits inside the covers: whip-smart dialogue, hugely engaging storylines and a presence in the woods that will send an Arctic blast down your spine!
Set in the small town of Hazard (there’s a fabulous map included), which has become a tourist attraction for those in search of the macabre, the story is recounted in the first person voice of 12-year-old Travis. This puts the reader right into the path of every jump scare and ghoulish experience; for a wimp like me this had to be a broad-daylight-hours-only reading experience! However, part of Jennifer Killick’s genius is her ability to mix heart-pounding drama with laugh-out-loud comedy, and the wise-cracking banter between Travis and his upbeat, lovable best friend Zayd, lightens even the darkest moments in the story. When the two boys are assigned to work on a class history project with golden-girl Seline, and the mayor’s daughter Danielle, they seem set up to fail. Travis clearly has some history with Danielle which has resulted in a strained relationship, and nobody but Seline really wants to investigate the history of town legend Blood-Eyed Mary. Forced to venture to the woods known locally as Mary’s Cauldron on a Friday evening, what begins as an evening of pranks swiftly descends into a fight for survival which will bring the four tweens into a close bond as they fight to escape their terrifying pursuer.
It becomes obvious that in a town which boasts the world’s largest sink hole, accountable for multiple disappearances over the years, there is human as well as geological danger lurking below the surface. Clues are unearthed pointing to the sinister historical activities of Danielle’s ancestors, the powerful Da Santos family, and I assume (and hope) that these will be explored further as the series develops. I am sure that I will not be alone in wishing to get my hands on book 2 The Monster in the Mines as soon as possible.
I know from. my school librarian and teacher friends that this author’s DreadWood series has been hugely popular with children aged 9/10 and above, so I highly recommend adding The Witch in the Woods to your library collections, it will fly off the shelves.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to Sarah Sleath at Farshore for sending me a review copy of Serial Chillers: The Witch in the Woods. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
Published in the UK by Guppy Books, 05 June 2025, ISBN:978-1916558458
Best of all Worlds is an outstanding YA dystopian speculative novel written by prize-winning Canadian author Kenneth Oppel. This novel combines themes of climate emergency, pandemic, survival, politics, racism and teen passion in the claustrophobic melting pot of a strictly enclosed environment. The prologue announces a death the opening page and then plunges the teenage narrator Xavier Oak into an alien landscape from where the novel builds tension throughout its 240 pages to an explosive conclusion. This is a novel which requires the reader to continually question their understanding of events, both fictional and in the real world. It is a work of the highest quality, which I (considerably older than the target audience of 14/15+) immensely enjoyed reading.
Xavier has reluctantly accompanied his dad (Caleb) and heavily pregnant step-mum (Nia) for a decompressing break at their lakeside holiday cottage, whilst his older teenage brother and mum have remained in the city. Missing his family, gaming fan Xavier just wants to listen to the music that his brother Sam has downloaded to his phone whilst working on the latest escape strategy for the Dungeons & Dragons game he and his city mates are engaged in. He is not impressed on the first morning to find that the Wi-Fi is down, thinking that this is part of Nia‘s plan for a tech-free getaway. Imagine his shock when he realises that the familiar lakeside scenery has been replaced by farmland, crops, chickens and goats and that all three inhabitants of the cottage have a strange triangular pattern of puncture wounds along their spines! After detailed exploration it becomes apparent that the family are trapped inside a dome from which their attempts to escape are fruitless. What’s more they appear to be overseen by an invisible benevolent force with the power to intervene when necessary; this becomes apparent following the traumatic birth of baby Noah.
… Fast forward three years, Xavier desperately misses his mum and Sam and constantly worries about what has befallen them. However, he has adapted to the self-sufficient lifestyle and the family have assumed that they have been kidnapped by aliens, and have given up attempts to escape. They are settled farming their crops, preserving food for the winters and tending their animals. Then without warning a new family are dropped into the dome. A family from the opposite side of the political divide, a family who own guns and a crossbow, a family who believe in deep-government conspiracy theories. The father, Riley Jackson, is convinced that the dome is some kind of deep state experiment, thinks that the Oaks have taken a cowardly and submissive approach to their captivity and is determined that he will lead his family out of the dome and back to their home in the deep south of America.
Tensions build at multiple levels as the families become acquainted. Firstly there is updated news about the climate emergency and pandemic status on Erf (as Noah refers to the planet he has never seen) and the measures being taken to prevent climate refugees from entering North America. Then there is the sexual tension between teens Xavier and Mackenzie (who is pining for the boyfriend she has left behind). Finally, the shifting levels of trust and distrust between the adults who represent different ends of the political spectrum bring a sense of foreboding and menace to the previously peaceful dome.
This is such a clever book which can be enjoyed purely as a compelling dystopian thriller, or can act as a prompt to conversation about the many issues contained within the narrative. I think that it is likely to spark many interpretations, ideas and questions. I saw the dome as a metaphor for the barriers being constructed between different sections of society and the tendency to interact mainly with others within one’s own particular thought bubble rather than engaging in dialogue to understand the views of others. Without any doubt I can state that this will be one of my choices for top books published and read during 2025.
I highly recommend this to secondary school librarians and readers aged 14/15+ who want a thought-provoking, enthralling read.
Disclaimer: I am very grateful to publicist Liz Scott and Guppy Books who sent me a proof copy of Best of All Worlds ahead of simultaneous publication in the UK, Canada and the US in June 2025. It was my decision to publish a review, and all opinions are my own.
Cover art by Alexis Snell, published by Red Shed/Farshore, 27 February 2025, ISBN: 978-0008725075
This edition of Normal Women: Making History for 900 Years has been adapted from the original adult version to be accessible for a teenage or Young Adult readership. It packs a huge amount of information into under 300 pages, broken up into easily digestible chunks with bold headings and cleverly annotated in a style that looks like handwritten notes. The writing style is quite chatty, so that you feel that you are being guided through history by an enthusiastic and expert teacher. There are illustrations throughout by Alexis Snell, whose linocut prints complement the historical content and add another layer of appeal to this publication. The information spans the dates 1066 to 1994 and can be read in chronological order, but it is also a book which can be dipped into, to explore particular periods of history or themes.
In the introduction the author, Philippa Gregory, tells us that the vast majority of historical records and books throughout the centuries have been written by men, therefore it is unsurprising that women’s stories have been omitted from the narrative. She has carried out meticulous research to unearth the stories of normal women, and here provides accounts of named women who were engaged in every type of activity throughout the span of nine centuries. I found the book to be utterly fascinating and hugely educational, it has certainly filled a lot of gaps in my historical knowledge. It made me reflect that had such a book been available when I was 13/14, it might well have encouraged me to choose history as an O-level subject. I would highly recommend it to secondary school librarians as I feel that it could inspire teen readers to pursue their own interest in history. I also suggest that adult readers who perhaps do not have time to read the full-length adult version of this title, will also find this a very satisfying read. There are trigger warnings before the introduction, as the content does include some examples of abuse of women, so I would advise librarians, parents and care givers to take heed of this.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to Chris at Farshore Books for sending me a copy of Normal Women: Making History for 900 years. It was my decision to write a review and all opinions are my own.
I am delighted to be joining the #BlogTour for I Don’t Do Mountains and absolutely honoured to host the following guest post written by author Barbara Henderson:
Author Barbara Henderson
Enjoy the Great Outdoors – but responsibly!
Heading into THE GREAT OUTDOORS in Scotland? Here are some tips for keeping yourself, others and the environment safe:
You should always:
Respect the interests of other people.
Care for the environment.
Take responsibility for your own actions.
Here are some good principles:
If camping, use small tents and camp well away from buildings, roads and farmland – and have a backup plan to go somewhere else if it’s busy.
Do not light an open fire, including in fire bowls or BBQs, during times of high fire risk (prolonged periods of dry weather) or near forests, farmland, peaty ground, or close to buildings or historic sites. Always pay attention to fire danger warnings and report any out-of-control fires you find by calling 999 immediately.
If you need to, use a camping stove to cook your food. Place it on a level, non-flammable surface away from dry grass and vegetation (and your tent!) and keep a close watch while using it.
Take away all belongings and litter and leave no trace of your visit. When cleaning up, pick up any pieces of broken glass with the rest of your rubbish, as these act as a magnifying glass for the sun and can start fires.
Remember that deadwood provides a home and food for many creatures and is vital for the ecosystem. So, leave the wood on the ground and never cut down or damage trees.
Prepare for the call of nature. If there aren’t public toilets nearby, pack a trowel, toilet paper, hand sanitiser, and sealable bags for your litter to make it easy to clean up. Wash your hands with water or use hand sanitiser afterwards.
If you are interested in finding out more, my sources for this post are a brilliant place to start:
Barbara Henderson is the award-winning author of a dozen books. Her historical and eco-fiction for children is widely studied in schools, and she has won two Young Quills Awards from the Historical Association. She was the inaugural Forth Bridge Writer-in-Residence. Barbara is based in the Scottish Highlands where she still teaches Drama – but she loves to travel and spread the story-love in schools. When she gets the chance, she likes to head to a coffee shop, a museum, a ruin or to the nearby hills. Her latest novel for children, contemporary mountain adventure I Don’t Do Mountains, is out now from Scottish Mountaineering Press.
I am very grateful to Scottish Mountaineering Press and Antonia Wilkinson PR for inviting me to host this blog post and for sending me a copy of I Don’t Do Mountains. You can read my review for the book here.
Cover image by Victoria di Meo, published by Scottish Mountaineering Press, 17 March 2025, ISBN: 978-1907233548
Eleven-year-old Kenzie does not do: mountains, or strangers, and barely does friends! Therefore she is horrified when her teacher Miss Cuthbertson announces an “exciting”project to aid the transition to high school – an outward bound expedition in the Scottish mountains with children from another feeder school. Her first person narrative clearly conveys her worst fears when she discovers that the only person from her current class allocated to her group is all round superstar Sorley Mackay.
Kenzie’s mother is convinced that the experience will be good for her daughter, can see through Kenzie’s plans to duck out of the trip, and greets her arrival home with a huge pile of outdoor clothing and equipment. The day of departure arrives and Sorley and Kenzie are paired up with Rupert and Mariam, and their adult guide Bairdy, along with his dog Drookit. Fully expecting two days of rough walking and overnight camping in the Cairngorms, little do the children realise the levels of resilience, bravery and teamwork that will be required when Bairdy disappears. Each of them find hidden depths and manage to overcome their fears as they inadvertently stumble into the path of wildlife criminals and an unethical commercial landowner. The first person narrative expresses the tension that steadily builds throughout this story in such a compelling manner that I finished the book in one sitting.
Barbara Henderson does an amazing job of rolling out a tense eco-thriller over the space of 150 pages. I have greatly admired previous books by this author she has a fantastic ability to locate the reader in a particular setting with sparse use of words; in this case I think she does an incredible job of transporting the reader to the harsh and beautiful Scottish Highlands. Additionally, she incorporates Scottish history seamlessly into the narrative, here we learn that the landscape has been formed by the Highland clearances and the private ownership which has managed the land to accommodate human activity rather than the natural biome. On top of all of this, Barbara writes characters that are totally authentic, revealing their strengths and weaknesses as the plot unfolds, and building relationships which will be totally relatable for middle grade readers.
I think that the fast paced adventure, short chapters, occasional black and white illustrations and short overall length will make this book hugely appealing to readers aged 8/9+. Hopefully it will encourage a desire to participate in outdoor activities. I am going to pass my copy onto a friend who teaches Year 4, who I know will enjoy using it as a class read-aloud to accompany her topic work on hills and mountains. I Don’t Do Mountains is published by the Scottish Small Press of the Year 2023, Scottish Mountaineering Press, and the end notes contain advice for exploring and staying safe in the Scottish wilderness as well as information about raptor persecution from the RSPB.
Disclaimer: I was sent a free copy of I Don’t Do Mountains by publicist Antonia Wilkinson and publisher Scottish Mountaineering Press, and invited to participate in a blog tour. The guest post written by Barbara Henderson can be read here.
Cover image Ella Okstad, published by Hachette Children’s Books, 13 March 2025, ISBN: 978-1804536407
Welcome back to the Island of Egg for the fourth adventure featuring young puffin Tiny and his friends who are training to be rescue puffins. Each evening, as the pufflings settle down to sleep in their underground burrows, Old Kintyre tells them a story, and this time he recounts the legend of ‘the wandering puffin’ who is said to haunt the labyrinth of caves under the island. Tiny is determined to never set foot in the caves!
However, when a young chick, Flotsam, goes missing during Puffin Power training (slippery log challenge, rock rolling, puffin pyramid building) and there is no sign of her on the beach, there is no choice but to search the caves. Tiny has to muster every drop of his courage to keep walking through the claustrophobic space, driven on by his concern for the fluffy chick. It looks as if the young puffin rescue team might have to put their training into practice sooner than expected! During their underground adventure the Puffin Rescue cadets learn how much power they can gain from working together and discover their beaks’ ability to glow in the dark. The end notes contain some factual information about puffins.
Like the previous three books in this series, Tiny and the Cave Ghost is perfectly pitched for newly independent readers of 6+. The book is exactly the right size for small hands to hold comfortably, the font is clear with lots of white space and the text is broken up with Ella Okstad’s cute and expressive black and white illustrations. In just over 100 pages, author Cath Howe has constructed an exciting adventure with just the right level of jeopardy for young readers; it will keep them enthralled without scaring them. A while ago I listened to the brilliant Australian teacher-librarian, Megan Daley, talk about the importance of book series for young readers because familiarity with recurring characters makes reading and comprehension less challenging (I’m afraid that I can’t remember which episode, but you can explore the Your Kid’s Next Read podcast here). I would highly recommend the Call the Puffins! series to all librarians, parents and caregivers who want to put a highly enjoyable and gentle adventure into the hands of a young, emerging reader.
Disclaimer: I was sent a review copy of Call the Puffins! Tiny and the Cave Ghost by publicist Antonia Wilkinson and publisher Hachette Children’s Books. It was my decsion to write a review and all opinions are my own (unless otherwise stated).
I have reviewed the previous titles in this series, you can read the reviews by clicking on the links below:
Cover image by Hugh Raine, published by Farshore, 27 March 2025, ISBN: 978-0008720926
With the recognition that comic books and graphic novels are a valid and enjoyable choice for children to choose to read for pleasure, I know that many schools are making efforts to build up their collection of books in this format. This recent publication (due for release on 27 March 20025) from Farshore books has a cover and title that will immediately appeal to many children aged 6/7+ who will find lots to enjoy inside. I believe that it is the first in a series featuring the Beano characters Betty and the Yeti, written and illustrated by Hugh Raine.
The book is divided into 4 sections, one for each season with appropriate seasonal short comic stories in each section. I liked the colour coded page borders which help children easily navigate between the segments. The stories are each one or two pages in length, which makes this an ideal choice for those times within the school day, or at home, when children have a short time to pick up a book and read for pleasure, in between other activities.
Betty is a smart talking, quick thinking character, who has the added bonus of parents who grew up in Nepal. This makes her the ideal candidate to re-home a stray Yeti that Dennis the Menace has discovered eating from the slops bins at school! After this short introduction featuring a few different characters familiar to readers of The Beano comic, the remainder of the book focusses on Betty and her constant challenge to keep a large and smelly Yeti at home without her parents noticing. As you might imagine, this leads to lots of escapades that children will find highly amusing. At the end of each section there is interactive content such as drawing guides, mazes, word searches and observation challenges.
I think that Betty and the Yeti: Friends at First Fart is likely to be a popular choice amongst lower and upper Key Stage 2 children; I shall be passing my copy on to a primary school librarian friend and will be interested to find out how quickly it is borrowed.
Disclaimer: I am grateful to Farshore for sending me a review copy of this book ahead of publication. It was my decision to publish a review and all opinions are my own.
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