The Secret Shore

Liz Fenwick

WHEN your home nestles near Frenchman’s Creek – the enchanting cove on Cornwall’s Helford River made famous by renowned novelist Daphne du Maurier – then inspiration for your own writing cannot ever be far away.

But award-winning author Liz Fenwick (pictured below), dubbed queen of the contemporary Cornish novel, digs beyond the beauty of her local landscape to unearth a moving tale of danger, daring and romance starring the wartime map girls... those unsung female cartographers who played vital roles in land surveying, meteorology and intelligence.

Mapping was vital to secret operations on the coasts of both Cornwall and occupied Brittany, with extensive, pre-D Day small boat flotilla runs taking place in the Helford area, but the work of women from the Ordnance Survey Department was never officially rewarded in England or France, and has almost been lost. And so The Secret Shore is Fenwick’s tribute to the first female cartographers of the Second World War, and an unmissable opportunity to celebrate their achievements in helping to chart out a path to victory... all set against the alluring backdrop of the rugged Cornish coast.

In May of 1942, brilliant geographer and mapmaker, Dr Meredith (Merry) Tremayne has left her teaching post at Oxford University and become one of the Navy’s most skilled cartographers, working in the Admiralty in London under Commander Ian Fleming, the smooth-talking ‘fixer’ of the intelligence service.

As a 27-year-old woman noted for her beauty, Merry is a mystery to her male colleagues who can’t understand how she can devote her life to mapmaking knowing that as a female worker in a professional service, she is forbidden to marry. But Merry is all too aware that the lives of men fighting in faraway locations depend on her work in the War Office and, as a native of Cornwall and a fluent French and German speaker, her added skills are

Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown

Alison Weir

‘There would be a bloodbath if I died without an heir...’  

WHEN tall, handsome teenager King Henry VIII inherits the throne and heralds a new Golden Age in 1509, he is crowned with the words of his royal father ringing loudly in his ears. It’s a warning that the ambitious young king will carry with him down the years and echo through a turbulent reign in which the man once hailed as a saviour prince becomes a symbol of monarchical tyranny and spawns one of the most compelling and notorious slices of English history.

After the outstanding success of her groundbreaking Six Tudor Queens sequence of novels, author and historian Alison Weir returns with the second book of her thrilling Tudor Rose trilogy charting three generations of the Tudor dynasty.

It’s a fittingly spectacular and enthralling story which began with Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose – the tumultuous tale of the first Tudor queen – and now moves into the author’s most ambitious project yet... the captivating and utterly compelling story of her brilliant, passionate and ruthless son Henry who changed England and the established Church forever.

Henry VIII: The Heart and the Crown was always going to be Weir’s most challenging novel yet but after penning six books from the point of view of Henry’s six wives, this consummate author decided it was ‘time Henry VIII had a say in a novel all to himself.’ Written entirely from Henry’s viewpoint, Weir (pictured below) has employed her vast historical knowledge to filter the many political and religious controversies of the day and focus on both the man and the issues which exercised the early 16th century, and Henry in particular.

And it is through her in-depth research, spellbinding storytelling talents, gift for authenticity, and a tantalising slice of artistic licence, that we enjoy a stunning portrait of Henry as we have never before seen him... human, flawed, charismatic, dogged by what he sees as his failures, and now very much the star of his own story.

When his brother and Tudor heir, Prince Arthur, died aged fifteen in 1502, eleven-year-old second son, Prince Henry (Harry), suddenly had it all. Even though he had grown up dreaming of knights and chivalry, Harry was not born to rule and was always resentful of the future glory mapped out for his older brother.

Now he is the Prince of Wales, heir to the throne and betrothed to Katherine of Aragon, his brother’s enchanting Spanish widow, a woman he gave his heart to when he welcomed her to London and escorted her to her marriage to Arthur at St Paul’s Cathedral. Although five-and-a-half years older than Harry, Katherine seems to him to be ‘a princess out of a legend’ and will make a ‘perfect queen like his mother.’ The loss of his mother in childbirth when Harry was aged twelve hit him hard... he had loved, revered and adored her. She had been everything a queen should be... ‘beautiful, kind, fruitful, charitable, open-handed and devout’ and it was her Plantagenet blood that made him heir to the rightful royal line of England.

When Harry takes the throne, he already knows that treason, the most serious of crimes, must always be ‘punished harshly, for the example and terror of others.’ This was the one thing on

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: A magical comedy, staying safe online and ghostly goings-on

Get ready for comical chaos in a fantastic new fantasy adventure, discover the hazards that can await on the web, have your spine well and truly tingled by a thrilling ghost story, meet a girl hell-bent on saving the world and share fun with a traveller who accidentally swaps suitcases with a witch in a super collection of new children’s books

Age 9 plus
Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency
Chris Smith and Kenneth Anderson

PREPARE for mystery, magic and mayhem as bestselling author Chris Smith digs deep into his incredible imagination for a hilarious new fantasy adventure set in the great and unforgettable city of Meandermart. Billed as Cressida Cowell meets Robin Stevens with a dash of Pixar gold, Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency is full of humour, adventure, marvellous magic and the kind of comical chaos that is guaranteed to have youngsters laughing out loud as every page turns. Taking starring role is strangely wonderful Clarity Jones, M.I. (that’s Magical Investigator to those who don’t yet know) and her Sherlock-esque motto is ‘Never, ever eliminate the impossible.’ Thus, when lonely orphan and newly appointed (accidental) apprentice detective Mutt gets a job at the leading detective agency at Meandermart, the easternmost city of the kingdom of Rillia, he’s not expecting to work with ex-princesses, snow gnoblins and the most notorious assassin of the White Hand Clan. Meandermart is a very peculiar place, with its castle set on a hill and its high walls overlooking the Truly Terrifying Forest which is packed with strange and frightening creatures like grabbits, umlauts and the deadly nyterra. And poor Mutt is also definitely not expecting to be thrown in at the deep end (with the help of ace detective Clarity Jones of course!) on the agency’s toughest and most dangerous job yet... the Mysterious Case of the Vanishing Jester. Packed with the perfectly matched, anarchic illustrations of Kenneth Anderson, Clarity Jones and the Magical Detective Agency is outrageously entertaining from start to finish with a cast of gorgeously grotesque characters and an exuberant, child-friendly plot brimming with adventure, mystery and an addictive sense of fun.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 13 plus
Clicks – How to Be Your Best Self Online
Natasha Devon

BECOMING a teenager is an exciting time on the journey to growing up, and in the modern world that often means finally stepping into the worldwide web and discovering the hazards that can await unsuspecting youngsters. But the internet is awash with false information and various groups use social media platforms as a tool to influence the way we behave and what we believe so this could be the perfect time to help your teens navigate the digital world with the invaluable guidance of Natasha Devon, a writer, campaigner and broadcaster, who travels to schools and colleges throughout the UK and the world, delivering classes and conducting research with teenagers, teachers and parents on mental health, body image and social equality. There are three billion people online and each of those people has their own biases, agendas and issues, she tells us. It’s little wonder then that when young people use the internet for the first time and are bombarded with ‘hot takes’, calls to cancel ‘problematic’ individuals, trolls, fake news, and celebrity sales pitches, they are likely to find it overwhelming and confusing. Clicks – How to Be Your Best Self Online aims to change that. It will teach young people how to stay mindful of the internet’s challenges, see and evaluate all sides of an argument , spot fake news, recognise radicalisation attempts, explain their ‘take’ persuasively,  use the internet to campaign for a fairer world, seek mental health support, get the most out of their online role models, and show allyship to marginalised groups. Devon encourages readers to consider how tech manipulates and messes with minds and then offers tips and tricks that empower them to make conscious and informed decisions. With advice and opinions from leading experts throughout, plus entertaining anecdotes and commentary from the author, this is must-read, coming-of-age guide for all young people using social media.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
Jodie
Hilary McKay and Keith Robinson

PREPARE to have your spine well and truly tingled in this haunting and superbly atmospheric modern ghost story from multi-award-winning author Hilary McKay. Starring a girl on a school residential trip who finds herself trapped and alone on the salt marshes, and troubled by a haunting presence, there are chills galore for young mystery fans to enjoy. Jodie never wanted to come on the residential trip to the field centre. A loner at school, she’s forced into a dormitory with other girls from her class who don’t understand her and talk about her behind her back. Even though they’re not trying to be mean, Jodie feels excluded and miserable, and eventually escapes out on to the salt marshes in search of a little dog she can hear barking in the distance. But the salt marshes are dangerous and Jodie gets trapped by the incoming tide. Stuck in the sucking mud, will anyone even notice that she’s gone? And where is the little dog that keeps barking so mournfully? McKay is now one of Britain’s best-loved children’s authors and has won countless accolades, and it’s easy to see why. Written with her trademark insight and lyricism, the story is set against a dazzlingly dark backdrop brought to life by Keith Robinson’s evocative illustrations. As we learn the reason for Jodie’s isolation, insecurity and loneliness, the hardships of her troubled home and family life are slowly uncovered, but McKay also gives us a redemptive, emotional and unexpected denouement, one that speaks loudly to youngsters about the power of hope and the importance of kindness and friendship.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Ministry of Unladylike Activity
Robin Stevens

WHO knew spying could be dead funny? Robin Stevens, the multi-award-winning author of the Murder Most Unladylike series, gathers up her murder-mystery loving fans and sweeps them away to wartime and into the life of a feisty ten-year-old girl who is hell-bent on saving the world. And with spills, thrills and laughter all the way, this all-action new series looks set to be an all-round, hands-down, dead-cert winner. In 1940, Britain is at war and a secret arm of the British government called the Ministry of Unladylike Activity is training up spies. Enter May Wong (soon to be eleven)... she’s courageous, stubborn, and desperate to help end the war so that she can go home to Hong Kong (and leave her annoying school, Deepdean, behind forever). May knows that she would make the perfect spy. After all, grown-ups always underestimate children like her. When May and her friend Eric (who is kind and sensible, and usually right about everything) are turned away by the Ministry, they take matters into their own hands. Masquerading as evacuees, they travel to Elysium Hall, home to the wealthy Verey family, and that includes snobby, dramatic Nuala. They suspect that one of the Vereys is passing information to Germany. If they can prove it, the Ministry will have to take them on. But there are more secrets at Elysium Hall than May or Eric could ever have imagined. And then someone is murdered... California-born Stevens is the best thing since Agatha Christie when it comes to murder mysteries for young readers. Packed with a dazzling cast of goodies and baddies, rich in seductive period detail and exciting backdrops, and with a plotline that includes bags of intrigue, some deft detective work and a gang of the canniest kids in town, this series looks set to be another Robin Stevens classic.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
An Alien Stole My Planet
Pooja Puri and Allen Fatimaharan

TOP team Esha and Broccoli return with an amazing new invention… so what could possibly go wrong? Everything it seems! Welcome back to the wild, wacky and wonderful world of genius inventor extraordinaire Esha Verma, the hilarious creation of author Pooja Puri and her brilliant illustrator team-mate Allen Fatimaharan. In this all-action, laugh-out-loud third book in the A Dinosaur Ate My Sister series, which introduced readers to Esha, her snotty apprentice Broccoli and his secretly cunning pet tortoise, the trio are on an inter-galactic mission to stop an alien from stealing their planet. When Esha invents the Inviz-Whiz, a device designed to make the user invisible, she does not expect it to open a portal to outer space! And things go from bad to worse when Esha, Broccoli, Archibald and Broccoli’s annoying cousin Bean are immediately abducted by Goospa, an alien with an evil plan. With the help of a surly alien called Nix, Esha and the gang must race across the galaxy, navigate a Lava Marsh, fight vicious Ice Bats and prevent Bean getting into too much trouble. But can they stop Goospa’s plan before it’s too late? Puri and Fatimaharan work their special magic on this madcap adventure which also features a devious shape shifter and a deadly cobra. A hilarious chapter of accidents that no mischief-maker would want to miss!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Suitcase S(witch)
Aisha Bushby and Coralie Muce

THERE'S fun coming down the line and you wouldn’t want to miss the ride! The magic begins with a train journey in award-winning children’s author Aisha Bushby and illustrator Coralie Muce’s charming fantasy adventure which has a twist reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio known for its lovable characters and whimsical stories. When Zahra accidentally swaps suitcases with a witch, it’s the beginning of a whole series of magical mishaps. Her feet take on a dancing life of their own when she puts on a pair of enchanted boots (mortifying!), while her first flying adventure in a charmed cloak nearly ends in disaster... terrifying! But it’s not all bad. She learns a spell that can transform her dad’s worst cooking into a gourmet delight and makes a new best friend in the form of a talking cat. When she finds the witch again, will Zahra even want to get her own suitcase back? Packed with fun and fantasy, all brought to vibrant life by Muce’s beautiful artwork, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, Suitcase S(witch) is top-class storytelling with an important message finding your confidence gently wrapped inside. Truly spellbinding!
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
The Worries: Leo Says Goodbye
Jion Sheibani

WHEN there is a death in the family, it’s not always easy for young children to understand the concept of bereavement and grief. So if you too are lost for words, guide youngsters through this emotional time with the fourth book in Jion Sheibani’s gentle and reassuring illustrated series which aims to help children talk about their different worries.    In this story we meet Leo who has always been a happy little boy but when his beloved Nana dies, he feels very sad and very worried. What if something happens to him, or his mum and dad? And what if he begins to forget Nana? Mum and Dad say Leo’s feelings are normal... but they don’t feel very normal to Leo. The last thing Leo thinks he needs is a bunch of fretful furry monsters causing chaos... it’s the Worries! But sometimes, Worries are good. Sometimes, they show us that our feelings might be sad and strange but by paying attention to them, they can help us heal. Leo Says Goodbye has been written with input from Winston’s Wish, a leading child bereavement charity and includes guides on talking to children about death, grief and living with loss as well as activities for children. Matched by her simple, child-focused artwork in a beautiful, two-colour format, Sheibani’s thoughtful text balances fun storytelling with a gently important message, making it ideal to read and share with bereaved youngsters.
(Puffin, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Dream Sticker Dress-Up:
Dogs & Puppies
Noodle Fuel and Lucy Zhang

SUMMER is almost here and it’s time to pick the perfect outfit for a day out in the sunshine with a host of cute puppies! Hours of hands-on fun are guaranteed with the new Dream Sticker Dress-Up book from Usborne Publishing whose various sticker doll series have proved popular with all little fashion lovers. And with over 200 stickers to enjoy, this delightfully dreamy sticker book is perfect for little animal lovers! Meet adorable puppies on every spread as you bring their world to life. From the park and the dog cafe to the vets and the dog groomer, there are so many fun settings to explore with your new fluffy friends. With lots of dolls and perfect pups to accessorise, and the vast array of stickers, children won’t be stuck for something to do with this beautiful activity book. And with so many reusable stickers to choose from, this is a paw-fect book that no young fashionista will want to miss!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 4 plus
I Am, You Are: Let’s Talk About Disability, Individuality and Empowerment
Ashley Harris Whaley, Ananya
Rao-Middleton and Hannah Wood

SOME people have disabilities you CAN see and others have disabilities you CAN’T see. Ashley Harris Whaley, a writer, speaker, speech-language pathologist and disability activist, has used her knowledge and experiences to bring youngsters a resonant book which aims to support children, parents, teachers and carers by explaining what disability is and why it should be celebrated. Diversity means we are all different and we can learn so much from each other’s differences. I Am, You Are is a powerful, practical book which helps children and adults have meaningful discussions about disability and ableism. Most importantly, it encourages children to feel empowered, to embrace individuality, to look out for one another and to celebrate disability as diversity. Fully-illustrated throughout by talented disability activist and advocacy campaigner Ananya Rao-Middleton, and children’s illustrator Hannah Wood, I Am, You Are is aimed at children aged four and above. Containing explanations on key words and concepts, written in child-friendly, accessible language, and with relatable examples, the book supports children’s understanding in building an anti-ableist stance from an early age, and is perfect to read at home or in classrooms to support children’s lifelong learning journey.
(Ladybird, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
More Peas Please!
Tom McLaughlin

IF you dream about your fussy little eater saying more peas please, then tuck into this tasty picture book and give the greens a chance to shine! Author and illustrator Tom McLaughlin gives vegetables centre stage in his funny, fantastical, action-packed picture book which aims to help despairing parents – who we know always have a lot on their plate – encourage their picky or reluctant young diners to eat up.  ‘I can’t eat peas!’ exclaims Milo. ‘They’re too GREEN! Greener than a stinky, swampy pond, greener than a giant dragon, greener than a fleet of space-sick aliens.’ It’s fair to say that Milo doesn't like peas but is it possible that his wise and inventive sister Molly could help him change his mind by showing him how cool they can be? McLaughlin’s gallery of bold, vibrant illustrations provides extra gusto to a clever, comical and hopefully enlightening story which is guaranteed to provide plenty of food for thought!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Bugs
Patricia Hegarty and Britta Teckentrup

‘If you look down towards the ground, A world of
wildlife can be found. And now that spring is in the air,
New life is blooming everywhere.’ 

A COLOURFUL array of amazing bugs and minibeasts take starring roles in this striking peep-through book from children’s author Patricia Hegarty and award-winning illustrator Britta Teckentrup. Little ones will love turning the pages of this gorgeously produced book to watch the wonders of nature’s insect world unfold. Hegarty’s lyrical, rhyming text helps little ones to understand the magical activities and busy lives of creatures like caterpillars, ladybirds, moths and butterflies throughout the year while Teckentrup’s colourful and expressive artwork brings the teeniest, tiniest bugs to life. Don’t miss this visual and verbal trip to a wild and wonderful world of creepy crawlies!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Wellington’s Big Day Out
Steve Small

LET your little ones learn how to think big in this irresistibly funny and heartwarming picture book from BAFTA-nominated animation director Steve Small. Guaranteed to win the hearts of elephant lovers – and little boys – everywhere, Wellington’s Big Day Out is a wonderfully whimsical tale about the all-too-familiar worries of growing up. When Wellington is given a new jacket exactly like Dad’s for his birthday, at first he’s delighted. But his delight turns to disappointment when he tries it on and it’s far too big. And what if, even worse, Wellington thinks, it’s not that the jacket is too big but that he’s too small? Well, Wellington’s dad has a plan, and on an exciting day out that takes in a ride on the bus, a super-size strawberry sundae, a toot on a tuba and a visit to his grandad, Wellington learns that he’s growing up exactly as fast as he should be… and just like his dad. Small’s colourful gallery of pictures is a joy to behold… both children and parents will feast on this beguiling blend of heart-melting illustrations and a story that reaches out far beyond the pages. Picture book perfection!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £7.99)

Bridget’s War

Shirley Mann

WHEN a young London policewoman is posted back to her roots in the Isle of Man in the midst of the Second World War, she finds that the island she remembers as a rural idyll has become a cauldron of resentment and fear.

Bridget’s War is the fourth story celebrating the role of women on the home front in a fascinating saga series from Derbyshire-based journalist Shirley Mann (pictured below) who follows up her compelling sagas, Lily’s War, Bobby’s War and Hannah’s War, with another exciting, emotion-filled story starring a wartime female police officer.

Mann’s first novel, Lily’s War, was inspired by her mother who was a WAAF and her father who was in the Eighth Army. Her second book, Bobby’s War, features a young ATA pilot, and Hannah’s War has a wartime Land Army girl at its heart.

Here we meet Manx born and bred Bridget Harrison who loves the island and knows every inch of it like the back of her hand. But that doesn’t mean she wants to be there now in 1942 as war rages around the world. A newly-trained police officer, living in the vibrant and bustling city of London, she thought she had it all... a budding career, celebrity status as one of only a few female officers, and a busy social life.

Then the war strengthened its grip and she found herself posted back to the island, a stark contrast to the exciting streets of the capital. But, tasked with managing Rushen Camp, a women's internment camp where Jews have to rub shoulders with Nazi Germans, she unearths a cauldron of resentment and fear that brings a dangerous war right to the shores of the island.

Bridget realises the barbed wire around the camp is keeping in secrets that will test her training to the limit and what seems like a simple arrest leads her down a path that puts her and the island's security at risk.

And then there are the two brothers... one she has adored since childhood who has become a war hero, and the other a brave lifeboatman and farmer. Bridget finds she is torn between being the adult she wants to be and the tomboy from her childhood... the girl who roamed the cliffs in the days when there were no boundaries.

Mann plunges readers into the challenges faced by a woman tackling not just a pioneering job but the dilemmas and dangers of policing under the extraordinary circumstances of wartime on a small, isolated island. Set against a backdrop full of wartime period detail, including the perils of working in the restless confines an internment camp, a compelling layer of nostalgia, intrigue, romance and life in a little-known corner of the home front, Bridget’s War is a saga full of real history, heart and heritage.
(Zaffre, paperback, £8.99)

The Sixpenny Orphan

Glenda Young

THE rollercoaster tale of two young orphaned sisters cruelly torn apart after the death of their parents is set to pull at readers’ heartstrings in an emotion-packed tale from one of today’s most exciting new saga writers.

The Sixpenny Orphan is the work of Glenda Young (pictured below) who says that long bike rides along the coast near Sunderland have provided fertile ‘thinking’ territory for her gripping and gritty sagas set in the tough North East mining community. 

This emotionally powerful new story opens in 1909 in Ryhope – a coastal village south of Sunderland where Young grew up and which she puts at the heart of her stories – and unfolds amidst tragic events in a farming community.

‘Please, sir, take us both. We only have each other. We don't know how to live apart.’

After the death of their parents, sisters ten-year-old Poppy and nine-year-old Rose are taken in by widow and local knocker-upper Nellie Harper at her home in an old cow barn. But whilst they have a roof over their heads, the girls are unloved, unwanted, and always hungry, with only one pair of boots between them.

Keen to make money, Nellie hatches a plan to sell the girls to the mysterious Mr Scurrfield. But when the day comes for them to leave, Scurrfield reveals he will take only one of the sisters... and he will decide which it will be on the turn of a sixpence. Ten years later, Poppy is married with three children. Not a day goes by when she doesn’t think about Rose but, after many years of searching, Poppy has accepted that her sister is lost to her. That is until a letter suddenly arrives, revealing Rose’s fate and breaking Poppy’s heart. Determined to be reunited with her beloved sister, Poppy sets out to bring Rose home. Using her local knowledge and her eye for life in a small, close-knit community, Young creates a believable and richly colourful world in this moving and dramatic story full of hardship, struggle and family love, and with a cast of beautifully drawn characters. An unmissable saga...
(Headline, paperback, £7.99)

The Poacher’s Daughter

Margaret Dickinson

MUCH-LOVED author Margaret Dickinson – a writer who had her first novel published at the age of 25 and has since gone on to pen a raft of bestselling sagas – explores a forbidden love affair between two young people born on opposite sides of the tracks in a heartwarming new story set in the years before the First World War.

Dickinson (pictured below) is a born storyteller who knows how to immerse her readers in the past and a forgotten way of life, and in her thirtieth saga, she sweeps us away to the Lincolnshire Wolds in 1910 where we meet Rosie Waterhouse who lives with her father Sam, well known as the local poacher, in a cottage on the Thornsby estate.

The land is owned by William Ramsey, a harsh and heartless man who is determined that his only son, Byron, should marry well and produce an heir. Rosie is quick to learn the tricks of her father’s trade and it’s when she’s poaching fish from the estate’s stream that she meets Byron.

They continue to meet in secret over the coming months and, as their friendship blossoms, they recognise that, despite their vastly different backgrounds, they are destined to be together.

But when William learns of their bond, he stops at nothing to ensure that they never meet again. As the years pass and the threat of war becomes a reality, Sam is involved in a tragic incident that will affect both his and Rosie’s lives more than they could ever have imagined. Life will never be the same in Thornsby, but will Rosie find the happiness she yearns for?

Filled with romance, heartache and page-turning drama, The Poacher’s Daughter is written with saga queen Dickinson’s signature warmth and insight, and delivers the kind of rich period detail that brings the past to life so vividly. A delight for all saga fans!
(Pan, paperback, £7.99)

The Orphanage Girls Come Home

Mary Wood

A GROUP of girls who met when they were trapped by circumstances in the cruel confines of notorious London orphanage take centre stage again in the heartbreaking conclusion of an emotion-packed trilogy from favourite saga writer Mary Wood.

Inspired by her own childhood in the East End of London, Wood sweeps us back to the early years of the 20^th century and into the trials, tribulations and hard-fought victories of three friends who helped each other to survive the privations of a Bethnal Green orphanage.

These heartbreaking but also inspirational tales are full of the grit and hardship that have become hallmarks of a storyteller who writes straight from the heart. Wood (pictured below) worked in the probation service in both Lancaster and Blackpool, and her hard-hitting and moving historical sagas reflect her own experiences with people from all walks of life, helping her to bring a rich authenticity to her writing.

Here, we meet up again with Ellen and Ruth who fear that they may never again find their good friend Amy after she was taken from the orphanage and put on a boat to Canada with the promise of a new and better life across the ocean.

In London in 1910, Amy was chosen to be a part of a programme to resettle displaced children in Canada but her great sadness was saying goodbye to Ruth and Ellen, the friends who became family to her during the dark days at the orphanage. As she stepped aboard the ship to Montreal, the promise of a new life lay ahead but during the long crossing, Amy discovered a terrifying secret.

In Canada, as the years pass, Amy’s Canadian experience is far from the life she imagined. She always kept Ruth’s address to hand – longing to return to London and reunite with her dear friends. But it’s 1919 and after the world has been ravaged by war, it seems an impossible dream. Separated by oceans, will Amy the orphanage girl ever come home? Wood ratchets up the emotional temperature in this final, gripping tale of the orphanage girls which comes packed with heartbreak, drama, rich period detail, and the harsh realities of life in the early 20^th century and during the years of the First World War. Written with insight, warmth and the empathy gained from her years working with a cross-section of society, Wood’s story is a moving and enthralling rollercoaster from first page to last, and a thrilling final chapter in the lives of three memorable friends.   
(Pan, paperback, £7.99)

The Strawberry Field Girls

Karen Dickson

AS three young women prepare for a summer season of strawberry picking in 1913, they little suspect that love may soon be knocking on their door... just as the drums of war start to slowly beat across Europe. 

The Strawberry Field Girls comes from the pen of Karen Dickson, (pictured below) an author who started writing stories when she was just a child and has always been interested in social history. Her heartwarming sagas may be set in the south of England where she now lives but are inspired by the stories of her grandparents who lived in the North and grew up in the early part of the 20th century.

And this new rollercoaster tale, set amidst the glorious strawberry fields of Hampshire, recalls the county’s reputation as the ‘Strawberry Coast,’ harvesting high quality, flavourful strawberries  which would be picked every day and over 20,000 berries loaded on to a daily train bound for Covent Garden and top hotels in London.

The strawberry harvest is finally ready. The delicious fruit makes up the main source of income for the small hamlet of Strawbridge in Hampshire. Good friends Leah Hopwood, Alice Russell and Dora Webb are ready to spend their summer months working as strawberry pickers on Isaac Whitworth’s farm. 

But when Leah takes a fancy to young seasonal farm hand Harry White from London, and Alice catches the eye of the handsome new curate Samuel Roberts, the two girls find themselves falling fast.

This leaves Dora on the outside, struggling with the weight of being her family’s sole breadwinner and caring for her sickly father. But the summer months are long and the surprises are far from over. Away from the fields, a war is brewing which risks everything the girls can dare to dream about. Beautifully written with what is fast becoming her signature warmth and empathy, Dickson’s new page-turner brings us three resourceful, determined and inspirational young women in a gripping story packed with emotion, drama and romance.

Featuring a cast of vibrant and authentic characters, the evocative backdrop of a country heading into war, and the charms of a forgotten rural world, this is a compelling and ultimately uplifting tale with friendship, family and love at its core.
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £8.99)

The Nursemaid’s Journey

Sheila Newberry

WHEN high-spirited, unconventional girl Molly Sparkes leaves her convent school in the heart of rural Kent in 1906, she is eager to embark on the journey of a lifetime to Australia... but what does the future hold for a girl who can turn her hand to anything?

Sheila Newberry (pictured below), the Suffolk-born author who died in 2020, knew a thing or two about the ups and downs of family life. A mother of nine children, and with twenty-two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, this much-loved writer has left a legacy of beautiful sagas – including The East End Nurse and The Winter Baby – which have enthralled readers across the decades.

In The Nursemaid’s Journey, we join the irrepressible, 18-year-old Molly on her big adventure as she accompanies the formidable Mrs Alexa Nagel on a tour of Australia, acting as her companion and nursemaid to Alexa’s motherless granddaughter, Fay.

After a long voyage at sea, they finally arrive in New South Wales but living in rural Australia, and far away from everything she knows, Molly is forced to do some rapid growing up. Fascinated by cool, laconic stockman Henny Rasmussen – a man who, like many others, has come to Australia to lose himself and to forget – Molly is heartbroken when he tells her he is about to return to his native Denmark.

Desperate to forget him, she turns her attentions to Rory Kelly, a circus acrobat. Will Molly flout convention and be tempted by the romance of a circus life and will her ultimate decision be one she comes to regret? The Nursemaid’s Journey is packed with emotion, warmth, a cast of vibrant characters, and an addictive sense of youthful charm as Newberry explores the unexpected twists and turns of Molly’s eventful life, and the struggles, separations, loves and friendships that she encounters along the way. With its rich period detail and nostalgia, and written with Newberry’s natural empathy and insight into what it meant to live through times of change and personal challenges, this uplifting story is a saga to savour.
(Zaffre, paperback, £8.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Not-so-dainty dishes, amazing maps and a lovable otter

Discover some of the weirdest and wackiest food in the world, explore a mapped-out planet as you’ve never before seen it, enjoy a rhyming tale from the riverbank with Oliver the Otter, immerse yourself in a gloriously atmospheric gothic fantasy adventure, and join a web-toed boy on a deep sea mission in a sunshine collection of May children’s books

Age 7 plus
Disgustingly Delicious
Soledad Romero Mariño and
Montse Galbany

FROG shake, fermented birds, wriggling live octopus, fried tarantula... if these gruesome dishes were spotted on a menu, many of us would turn tail and flee! But in a fascinating new book exploring some of the world’s most disgusting-sounding delicacies, author Soledad Romero Mariño and illustrator Montse Galbany invite youngsters to get a taste of how history and culture have shaped popular food items from different countries around the world, and why they might not be so gross after all. So if you think eating broccoli or anchovies sounds unappealing, just wait until you hear what’s on the dinner table in other countries... stewed cow’s intestines, jellied eels, gigantic tuna eyeballs, maggot cheese, poo coffee, blood soup, hairy caterpillars, and, this writer’s favourite, stinky tofu (a cross between rotten rubbish and smelly feet according to experts!) These might sound more like the ingredients to make witches’ potions, but no, they are, apparently, delicious and exclusive dishes served in countries as diverse as Cambodia, Tanzania, Greenland, Sweden, Japan and Southern Africa. Whilst every page might not make your mouth water, the aim of Disgustingly Delicious is to question what we consider disgusting and to show the incredible diversity and creativity of the world's cuisine. Dish by dish, readers also discover surprising stories and historical facts like the lucrative nature of the hairy caterpillar business in Africa, the very healthy nutrients that can be obtained from using blood as food, and the sheer expense of lashing out on a meal that includes ant larvae in Mexico. Filled with weird and wonderful food, fun discoveries, and giant helpings of the gross factor, this brilliantly offbeat book will help you keep an open mind – but maybe a closed mouth!
(Orange Mosquito, hardback, £12.99)

Age 8 plus
Marvellous Maps
Simon Kuestenmacher and
Margarida Esteves

DID you know that the Pacific Ocean is so big that you could fit all the countries in the world into it? Prepare to explore our world as you’ve never before seen it – and enjoy a veritable treasure trove of quirky facts – in a spectacular new book featuring amazing stories of planet Earth. Marvellous Maps, written by Australian Simon Kuestenmacher, a rising star in data animation and interpretation, and illustrated by London-based artist Margarida Esteves, contains a wealth of information and fabulous artwork, all laid out in a fun, fascinating and unique map form. Maps are a powerful, visual way of exploring information but, even so, Kuestenmacher reminds us, each of the maps in the book displays just ‘a small portion of the endlessly complex world we live in.’ From nature to history, and from mythology to technology, these beautifully illustrated maps bring all kinds of information to life. Find out why you need to travel the world to make a pepperoni pizza, how much of the moon Neil Armstrong explored, why the world looks like a cat playing with Australia, how Odysseus made his legendary journey and where to see the Northern Lights. Learn about the amazing travels of Marco Polo, and if you want to know where the world’s dog and cat breeds come from, what the Earth looked like 170 million years ago, where the best place in the world is to put up a solar panel, how to find the hidden scene in the map of the USA, who brings Christmas presents across Europe, and even what the Earth looks like to dolphins, then dive into this coruscating cornucopia of knowledge. Reading fun all magically mapped out...
(Welbeck Editions, hardback, £20)

Age 3 plus
I am Oliver the Otter
Pam Ayres and Nicola O’Byrne

‘I am Oliver the otter, and my fur is thick and glossy, I live
along the riverbank where rounded stones are mossy.’

POET writer, broadcaster, entertainer and nature lover Pam Ayres is back to win hearts and minds with an otterly beautiful new rhyming picture book which celebrates otters – one of the best-loved stars of the natural world – whilst highlighting the environmental challenges that these endearing creatures face. Brought to life by the outstanding and exquisite illustrations of artist Nicola O’Byrne, I am Oliver the Otter will enchant readers young and old as we follow Oliver from his days on the riverbank to his meeting with the adorable Ottilie and the birth of his family of little otters. Oliver spends his life pottering on the riverbank. He likes to chat and sometimes whistle like a bird, but like most otters, he is a solitary creature... until he meets a lady otter called Ottilie, the silkiest and nicest otter he’d ever seen. The rest, as they say, is history! Come on down to the riverbank, and discover a wild and wonderful world! Oliver, like most otters, is happy enough living alone, swimming, chatting, whistling like a bird, or scampering along the twisty-rooted waterways. Until one day, among the green rushes, he meets a lady otter called Ottilie, and his life changes forever! With a serious environmental message lovingly and gently imparted in Ayres’ beautiful verse, items for youngsters to spot, a sprinkling of fascinating facts about otters and a fuller end section with more detail about their way of life, how to spot them  and the threat to their habitats from pollution, this glorious book acts as both entertainment and education. Add on O’Byrne enchanting illustrations of the natural world, and a gorgeous foiled jacket, and you have the perfect picture book!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 9 plus
Lily Grim and The City of Undone
Andy Ruffell

GET ready to be transported into a dark and dazzling mystery set in a dystopian world where a terrifying villain stalks a girl with a powerful gift... and danger lurks at every turn. Born and raised in Kent, Andy Ruffell studied English Literature at Sheffield University and stayed on in Yorkshire to work as a teacher and head teacher for nearly 18 years. And now this honorary Northerner has won the Hachette New Writing North Prize for his scintillating middle grade debut novel Lily Grim and The City of Undone. A gloriously atmospheric gothic fantasy adventure, with friendship at its heart, this tale of a girl abandoned on a doorstep in the eerie city of Undone when she was a baby, and now battling to discover just who she really is, is packed with chills, thrills and a sense of menace that will enthral young readers. Lily Grim's life is a mystery. She has lived with her elderly guardian Gabriel in their rundown, second-hand shop in the City of Undone for as long as she can remember. For years, the city dwellers have lived in uneasy discord with The Others, a community of wanderers forced to shelter within the city walls after years of severe floods drove them from their nomadic camps in the wilderness. But Undone is a dark and dangerous place to live, especially if you’re an Other. Feared for their special gifts, they are persecuted by the cruel Master of the City, and taken to the Ring... a prison from which few ever return. When the Master captures Gabriel and throws him into the Ring, Lily is saved by a young Other boy called Dekka. He introduces her to a whole Otherworld that exists beneath the City of Undone. To her astonishment, Lily discovers she is an Other too – with powerful gifts – and is now in grave danger because the Master wants her dead. But why? Can Lily find answers about who she is, and where she’s from, and can her new friends rescue Gabriel... before it’s too late? Ruffell packs in all those ingredients that children love... fast-paced adventure, breathtaking world building, compulsive storytelling, more twists and turns than a snakes and ladders board, and a cast of amazing creatures and characters that will stay long in the memory. Don’t miss it!
(Hodder Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Son of the Sea
Richard Pickard

YOUNGSTERS are set to fall hook, line and sinker for this marvellous and magical tale of a mysterious web-toed boy from the talented Richard Pickard whose debut novel, The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy, won the inaugural Times/Chicken House Chairman’s Choice Award in 2019 and was longlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2022. In this second whimsical, wondrous novel, set in a mysterious and atmospheric seaside town, we are plunged not just into the ocean, but into the life of Casper Delmare who (though he doesn’t yet know it) was born to swim. His feet were the first clue... Casper dreams of swimming the Channel. Surely, he was born to use his webbed toes but instead, he is strictly forbidden to go near water... not even in the neighbour’s pond. But when his parents have an unlucky accident, Casper is sent to stay with a grandmother he’s never met... and it’s there that he discovers his special tie to the sea. Once again, Pickard impresses with his ability to conjure up a unique and magical storyline powered by the might of the sea, the endless attraction of a dark and seemingly impenetrable mystery, and the heartwarming dynamics of family life. Overflowing with its sense of adventure, warm wit, LGBTQ+ representation and a message of acceptance, Son of the Sea is guaranteed to float the boat of all young adventurers!
(Chicken House, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh’s Lunch
Karen McCombie and Anneli Bray

A NAUGHTY school prankster finds himself transported back in time to Ancient Egypt in a fun (and cleverly educational!) adventure from Karen McCombie, bestselling author of over 90 books for children, and illustrator Anneli Bray. While awaiting punishment in the headmaster’s office for his latest piece of mischief, prankster Seth picks up an Egyptian amulet from the desk and is whisked back in time to Ancient Egypt. In a village by the Nile, Seth finds a place for himself, working for the local tradesmen and playing with the local children. One of his new friends, Mery, has a pet hyena that Seth grows to love, so when he hears that the hyena is going to be roasted as part of a feast for the visiting pharaoh, Seth decides to save him. But what consequences will Seth have to face from angry villagers and for stealing the pharaoh’s lunch? And will he ever be able to escape and find his way back to his own time? McCombie’s all-action and highly imaginative time-slip romp speaks volumes to children about the importance of character building and addressing learning challenges. With its strong curriculum links, and the clever balance of fascinating facts about Egypt with McCombie’s rich and engrossing storytelling, The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh’s Lunch is published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format and ideal for use in the classroom.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)

Age 8 plus
Surprisingly Sarah
Terri Libenson 

SCHOOL is full of challenges and choices… just ask Sarah! She has to decide if she’s brave enough to ask out her crush, or set to lose her nerve and miss out on her big chance. Youngsters can make their own choices on this weighty matter in the brilliantly empathetic new book in the bestselling Emmie & Friends graphic novel series from bestselling US author and cartoonist Terri Libenson. In her much-loved, trademark style, Libenson’s latest look at middle school life is packed full of her lively illustrations and is perfectly pitched at the eight-plus age group who are just starting to learn the ways of the world. Here young readers can decide for themselves between two choices, two storylines, and one surprise ending as Sarah faces her ‘to do or not to do’ dilemma. Sarah and Leo have been BFFs since they were little. They share everything... until Sarah starts getting a crush on Leo’s friend Ben. And one day Sarah is suddenly faced with her big moment and big choice... ask Ben to the school dance OR chicken out! Either way, Sarah and Leo’s friendship will be put to the test. Which one would you choose? Libenson’s funny, tender and heartfelt story, which lets youngsters choose between one storyline in which Sarah finds the courage to approach Leo, and one in which she can’t face it, is full of relatable incidents, dialogue and friendship issues which are guaranteed to appeal to young readers.
(HarperCollins, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Max Magic: The Greatest Show on Earth
Stephen Mulhern, Tom Easton and Begoña Fernández Corbalán

PUT extra magic into your life with the second marvellous mystery in the amazingly good Max Magic series from TV presenter and magician, Stephen Mulhern. Inspired by Mulhern’s own incredible story of his journey to becoming a magician, performer and TV star, and written with well-known children’s author Tom Easton, these fun-packed adventures celebrate friendship, family, never giving up... and magic, of course! Here we meet up again with Max as he gets ready to win the national talent show, The Greatest Show on Earth. Max Mullers knows he’s got what it takes to impress the show’s judges – Willow Holloughby, Fox Blackshaw and Shussy D – and to wow the audiences with his illusions and magic tricks. And he’s not going to use his mysterious new magical abilities to do it, either... Max will compete fair and square! But not everyone is happy about Max’s moment in the spotlight. When masked magician Mr Mysterio enters the competition, Max suspects that something strange is going on. How is Mr Mysterio doing his tricks and why is a reporter sniffing around at Gran’s shop and asking questions about Max? With the help of his friends and his trusty dog Lucky, Max is going to give The Greatest Show on Earth everything he’s got. Packed with Begoña Fernández Corbalán’s lively black-and-white illustrations, and with a dyslexic-friendly layout, this rip-roaring romp is not just an exhilarating ride through some terrific tricks, but a book that is ideal for every child to read and enjoy.
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Boats! (and other things that float)
Bryony Davies and Maria Brzozowska

AHOY there! Do you love lifeboats, would you like to dive deep into the ocean in a submarine, or would you fancy racing a dragon boat? Youngsters will be raring to jump aboard and discover hundreds of seafaring vessels in this visually exciting introduction to sailing which lets young boat enthusiasts discover a huge variety of fantastic ships from around the world. Written by Bryony Davies and colourfully illustrated by Maria Brzozowska, Boats! includes a gorgeous gallery of busy scenes with lots of rich detail to explore, large cut-away images, and spreads filled with different kinds of boats. Each double-page spread features a different group of boats and other watercraft, such as helpful lifeboats, racing dragon boats, and super submarines. Discover gigantic schooners, towering cruise ships, rowing, fishing and record-breaking boats from around the world, plus hard-working ships such as icebreakers, powerful tugboats and fireboats. There’s also a chance to explore inside a car ferry, visit a floating market and find out just how a boat floats in the first place. Filled with hundreds of different boats, ships, subs, and other wonderful watercraft, even the most avid young boat fanatic will discover new vessels they haven’t seen before. So what are you waiting for... hoist the sail and let’s go!
(Welbeck Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Sunny Side Up
Clare Helen Welsh and Ana Sanfelippo

WHEN you change the way you look at the world, the world you look at changes. Author Clare Helen Welsh and Argentinian illustrator Ana Sanfelippo combine their creative talents on a clever, novelty picture book which explores the power and strength that can come from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Using cut-outs and flaps to transform the world around us, this eye-catching book perfectly illustrates the impact that reframing your thoughts can have. When you put on your sunny-side specs, a bad mood can become a good mood, a goodbye can become a hello, and even the impossible can become possible! But sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the sunny side seems far away. And that’s OK. Sunny things will be there to discover whenever you are ready. Welsh’s warm, emotional book empowers readers to take control of their thoughts and choose how THEY see the world, showing young readers the beauty of changing your perspective. Cleverly designed peep-through pages and the innovative flaps allow children to transform each scene. The final cut-out even lets readers hold up the book to try on their own sunny-side specs! With an accessible, empathetic text and stylish illustrations, Sunny Side Up is the ideal book for exploring difficult emotions.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
This Girl Can Be a Bit Shy
Stephanie Stansbie and
Hazel Quintanilla

AFTER meeting rumbunctious Ruby in Stephanie Stansbie and Hazel Quintanilla’s empowering picture book, This Girl Can Do Anything, we know that this feisty little girl most definitely knows what she wants, and that NOTHING is going to stop her. But in the second book of the series, we discover that some days Ruby is brave, bouncy and chat-chat-chatty but on other days, she is not – and that’s OK! Author Stansbie, a children’s books editor, captures the very essence of a child’s psyche in this funny and heartwarming story which celebrates the power of listening to your emotions and speaking up. Brought to life by Quintanilla’s exquisitely characterful, retro illustrations, lovable Ruby is the ultimate feisty role model to show young girls how to harness their voice and inner strength, and be the heroines of their own story. With an underlying message about setting boundaries and consent, This Girl Can Be a Bit Shy is filled with important messages – and lots of fun – and is ideal to share with both girls and boys.
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Big
Vashti Harrison

‘Once there was a girl/with a big laugh
and a big heart/and very big dreams.’ 

THE opening lines of US award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Vashti Harrison’s picture book sets the scene for a moving story inspired by the author’s own experiences of growing up as a Black girl in a ‘big body’ in a world that celebrates small. Filled with bold but exquisite illustrations, Big is a beautiful book about body positivity and self-acceptance whilst reminding readers that words can both empower and cause a legacy of pain. The big baby girl who was loved and feted eventually grew and grew and grew. And it was good... until it wasn’t. Because when the girl grows big, the world begins to make her feel small. She feels out of place and invisible, and soon she isn’t herself at all. But with the girl’s size comes huge inner strength... and this helps her look past the hurtful words to see how perfect she really is. Accompanied by striking artwork and a fold-out flap, Harrison’s quietly reassuring and accessible story explores the experience of being big and, in her author’s note, she reminds us all that in the end, the girl’s body isn’t a problem that needs fixing, but ‘the implicit biases we all hold.’
(Puffin, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
My Brother is an Avocado
Tracy Darnton and Yasmeen Ismail

WHEN there’s a new baby on the way, it’s hard for little siblings to contain their curiosity, enthusiasm... and patience! So here’s the perfect picture book to guide them through all the stages – and sizes – of growing a baby... using natural food items as a parallel. My Brother is an Avocado has been created by the exciting new partnership of acclaimed YA author and now picture book writer Tracy Darnton and award-winning author, illustrator and animator Yasmeen Ismail. It’s hard to wait for a new baby to join the family, especially when it’s still growing inside Mum’s tummy. But when Dad describes the size of the baby at each stage, one little girl imagines, while she waits, all the fun she can have with her baby brother as a teeny-tiny poppy seed, then a grape, then a lemon. But she’s not quite sure how she feels about having an avocado for a brother, or an onion, or – gulp – a watermelon! With its warm and funny stage-by-stage tour through all the sizes of a growing baby, this joyful and imaginative picture book playfully explores the loooong waiting game for a much-anticipated new sibling – and has an adorable twist at the end!
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age one plus:
Grandads Are the Greatest
Ben Faulks and Nia Tudor

GRANDADS have a special relationship with their grandchildren and as Father’s Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to pay them a loving a tribute. Grandads Are the Greatest comes from the creative partnership of actor, presenter and children’s author Ben Faulks and illustrator Nia Tudor who loves filling her artwork with colour, texture and the small detail that keeps youngsters glued to the page. Every grandad is different ... but they’re ALL special! Is your grandad an adventurer or an explorer? Is he a builder, an inventor, or a magician? Whatever your grandad does, you can be sure he loves you! With a bouncy, irresistible rhyming text and wonderfully diverse range of grandads from many different backgrounds and professions to enjoy, Faulks brings us a joyous and playful celebration of wonderful grandads and the love they have for their grandchildren. Add on Tudor’s heartfelt and enchanting illustrations, and you have the perfect gift for all the generations.
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)