Soldier Dog
by Sam Angus
Definitely an older read than The Great Escape (see above), both verbally and emotionally. This is the heart-wrenching story of young Stanley. He lies about his age to join the army and serve in the First World War to escape his mean father, but also to seek out his older brother Tom who is also a soldier. He trains as a dog-handler, and the dogs are used as messengers between dug out posts and the front line. Dogs are trained to run through bomb blasts and gunfire without flinching to return back to their trainer owner - even if their life depends upon it.
A real tear-jerker of a story, with one use of bad language.
Kentucky Thriller
by Lauren St John
Another brilliant Laura Marlin mystery. On a par with the first book, Dead Man's Cove, and better than the second, Kidnap in the Caribbean. This one takes Laura and her best friend Tariq to Kentucky and the world famous Kentucky Derby, a huge racehorse event. An attempt has been made to kidnap Gold Rush, aka Goldie, an American racehorse and an attempt to extort ransom money has been made. But Laura thwarts the attempt but is then involved with another mystery concerning another of the racehorse owner's horses, Noble Warrior. Yet again, the infamous gang, The Straight A's, turn out to be involved, and Laura and Tariq try to save the day.
Look out for the next in the series Rendezvous in Russia, published 1st August 2013.
Also check out Lauren St John's other fantastic fiction for children - The White Giraffe series, and The One Dollar Horse series. Lauren is definitely one of my favourite authors.
The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket
by John Boyne
Barnaby was born with a peculiar ability - to float! His parents were understandably shocked at this, but being normal people with normal lives and normal other children, they were angry with Barnaby for not being normal. They take drastic action. They cut a hole in the sandbags that Barnaby wears to keep him on the ground, and off he floats. One adventure after another comes his way, often starting out badly, but he always encounters people who, like hime, have been cast aside by their family for not being normal. Regardless of the terrible thing his parents have done to him, Barnaby still loves them and aches to return home. But when his wish comes true and it is discovered he may be able to be cured of his peculiar ability, he starts to wonder whether it is better to be yourself than something someone else wants you to be.
A beautiful and heartbreaking story of what 'being normal' actually means.
The Butterfly Clues
by Kate Ellison
I have been reading far too many young adult dystopian novels - it was time for a change. And here it was. A superb thriller which sucks you in until you can't put it down. I filled up in a few places, and then felt a warmth of happiness and a smile on my face during the romantic parts. I was slightly irritated at the beginning by the main character's obsessive compulsive behaviour - all her little routines, words and actions she had to carry out - but as I continued through the book, it was accepted that was part of her behaviour, part of her coping, and it didn't bother me after that.
While trying to find out her late brother's last whereabouts, Penelope becomes involved in an incident which draws her into the world of Neverland - a place of homelessness, drug addicts, strip joints, and the charming Flynt. Yet Penelope is learning to trust nobody, not even the police. When she is hunted down and threatened by murderers, Penelope resolves to solve the mystery herself - with terrifying results.
A hard-hitting thriller, with language and themes to suit the higher end of teenage - I'd recommend 14/15yrs.
If you like this, try The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant.
Sleuth On Skates
by Clementine Beauvais
This was so funny - I actually laughed out loud in a few places. I just loved the way Sesame talks to her parents, and how exasperated they are with her and her quirkiness. I totally understood the mobile phone situation - the parents don't want Sesame to have a phone because of internet dangers, so they buy her one of those child-friendly phones with 3 main buttons - M for Mum, D for Dad, and a picture of a police car for police emergencies! A while back I had actually considered this for my own daughter!!
Sesame lives in Cambridge, more specifically in the grounds of the university, as her mother is a professor there and her father a parson. She rollerskates everywhere. She is absolutely thrilled when she hears that one of the students has gone missing, because this means she can put her detective skills to the test. But is she getting herself into something a bit too sinister for an 11-yr-old?
Great for 7-10yr olds who enjoy a bit of comedy and mystery rolled into one.
A Monster Callsby Patrick Ness
Wow, what an incredible book. The story is moving, the illustrations are powerful - I can see why it won so many awards. Warning - you will blub at many points whilst reading this book. It's all the more poignant and heartbreaking when you know that the author who started to write the book (and to whom the book is dedicated) - Siobhan Dowd - died of cancer whilst writing it, so Patrick Ness bravely and wonderfully carried on and finished it.
Conor's mother is dying of cancer, but he refuses to accept that her life is due to end and will not let her go. The 'monster' of his dreams (an old yew tree in the churchyard behind their house) comes to life to help him through the pain, anger and acceptance.
Truly exceptional.
Race The Wind
by Lauren St John
This is the sequel to The One Dollar Horse, and it's just as good! Lauren has such a natural ability to bring to life action and feelings, so you really do feel part of the story. She has a detailed knowledge of horse racing and showjumping, and her love for all things horsey comes across on every page. I've already read her Laura Marlin mystery Kentucky Thriller, and she returns to the Kentucky Derby in Race the Wind.
Casey has won at Badminton with her beloved horse Storm, and next stop is the Kentucky Three Day Event. But evil forces are out to block her path. Arrests, blackmail, troubled relationships - can Casey put everything to the back of her mind to become mentally strong to win the hardest horse championship so far? I hope another Casey and Storm story will be along soon - the Burghley Horse Trials beckons!
