Crone

Keith Rosson 

By guest reviewer
Nicholas Litchfield, 
editor of the Lowestoft Chronicle

A TEENAGE girl’s disappearance on a rain-soaked Oregon highway casts a long shadow over Salt Point, a coastal town where secrets cling as tightly as the fog.

Keith Rosson (pictured below) – a Shirley Jackson Award-winner who has garnered widespread acclaim for his genre-defying fiction from the likes of Stephen King – plunges readers into a world where the boundary between the living and the dead often vanishes in his electrifying new novel Crone. Released next month, the story blends rural noir and supernatural horror, and is rooted in the isolation and decay of a town marked by grief and addiction.

Set in the fictional town of Salt Point, Crone opens with fifteen-year-old Hannah Lamp and her best friend, Avery Bryant, caught in a torrential rainstorm as they walk home at night after a party. Nearly blind from birth, Hannah is fiercely independent but isolated, her mother gone and her father troubled. Exhausted and frustrated by her limited vision, Hannah insists they accept a ride from a blue van. Avery is wary, but ultimately Hannah approaches the van alone and vanishes, leaving Avery burdened by guilt.

Thirteen years later, Hannah’s father, Eli Lamp, is desperate and broken. Once a respected detective, now a recovering addict, Eli works as an enforcer for Dave Novak’s Crooked Wheel, a biker gang that controls the local trade in ‘wire,’ a hallucinogenic street drug that rots its users. Guilt, debt, and the unsolved mystery of Hannah’s fate haunt his every move.

Salt Point is further unsettled when Vicki Stubbs, the eccentric town witch, discovers a human heart on the beach, bound with blackthorn and amaranth and pierced with ritual objects. Alarmed, Vicki investigates, quietly convinced something darker is at work. Meanwhile, Eli’s violent enforcement of Novak’s rules deepens his self-loathing, even as he is sent to intimidate a low-level dealer selling wire without approval. Soon after, Eli is summoned by Novak’s right-hand man to examine the mutilated body of Novak’s son, Anton, at a local creek. Forced to investigate discreetly, Eli suspects the murder is more than Novak’s claim that he is a victim of rival gang Brother Night. Consumed by grief, Novak demands personal vengeance and refuses to involve the police. Desperate for answers, Eli is offered a deal… if he finds Anton’s killer, Novak will clear his debt.

Meanwhile, Hannah’s friend Avery returns to Salt Point after years away, compelled by dreams of the missing girl. Arrested for having drug paraphernalia and reunited with Eli, Avery finds old wounds reopened. Alone and desperate, she slips back into addiction and is drawn deeper into Salt Point’s shadows, pursued by her abusive boyfriend and hunted by men from Brother Night.

A violent confrontation leaves her wounded and alone, until a harrowing encounter with a monstrous, witch-like figure in the woods sets her on a collision course with the town’s darkest secrets...

Rosson expertly ratchets up the tension, drawing vivid, empathetic characters in taut, immersive prose. Salt Point emerges as both the setting and a leading player in Crone, its secrets as much a part of the landscape as the towering firs and restless sea. Full of menace and heartbreak, Crone is a lyrical meditation on loss and resilience, a story where the past refuses to stay buried and the price of truth is nothing less than a transformation.
(Black Crow Books, hardback, £19.99)

⬛Nicholas Litchfield is an English-born author and journalist who lives in Western New York. He established the Lowestoft Chronicle, a quarterly online magazine, in 2009. It  publishes short stories, flash fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, interviews, and artwork.(lowestoftchronicle.com)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Fabulous fables, magical dreams and a deadly eye

Immerse yourself in a bright and beautiful new collection of Aesop’s legendary fables, return to the thrilling world of Pixie Hollow where a dangerous magic is at play, meet a teenager whose angst is served with a stony Gorgon side-eye, and travel to an ordinary town where strangeness is a way of life in an eclectic mix of new children’s books

Age 7 plus
Aesop’s Fables
Katie Haworth
and Lara Hawthorne

FIRST told as oral stories between the years 620 and 564BC, Aesop’s Fables still speak truth to power with the same resonance today as they did all those centuries ago. These engaging short stories – by the legendary Ancient Greek storyteller – often use animal characters to teach cautionary human lessons about vices like hypocrisy, greed and pride, and the rewards of virtues such as honesty, patience and diligence. And now this stunning collection of the best-loved Aesop fables – imaginatively retold for a young audience by editor and writer Katie Haworth and beautifully illustrated by CILIP Greenaway nominee Lara Hawthorne – is set to inform and inspire a new generation of children. There are many stories about who exactly Aesop was – the favourite being a man enslaved by a philosopher who won his freedom by interpreting omens – but, as the introduction to the book points out, these motivational stories of survival, each with a thought-provoking moral, are now larger than Aesop the man and have become a perfect invitation to reflect on human behaviour. So meet mice and men, foxes and frogs, beasts and birds, and even mythical gods, and enjoy wild and wonderful retellings of over twenty traditional tales, including classics like The Hare and the Tortoise, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse, The Goose Who Laid the Golden Egg, The Lion and the Mouse, and The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. This breathtaking gift edition gives the ancient fables new life, vigour and colour, and comes complete with a dazzling foil cover making it a must-have addition to any child's bookshelf.
(Templar Books, hardback, £16.99, published on August 27)

Age 12 plus
Disney Wings of Reverie
Anna Bright

IN a realm without dreams, one fairy’s magic could unravel it all! Return to the thrilling world of Pixie Hollow with the enchanting companion title to Allison Saft’s bewitching Wings of Starlight. Centuries after the events of the TikTok sensation bestseller, Wings of Starlight, this lush new romantasy, written by Anna Bright, stars two fairies who must battle a dangerous magic – and their growing feelings for each other – in order to save their home in the Winter Woods. When Pixie Hollow frost-fairy Periwinkle travels too close to the forbidden border where Spring meets the Winter Woods, she unknowingly discovers a thread of a lost magic and, for the first time, begins to dream. While Periwinkle’s initial dreams are sweet, they slowly morph into more disastrous visions of the Pixie Dust Tree destroyed. One night, deep in the Winter Woods, after waking from sleepwalking, Periwinkle is confronted by a sparrow man who says he knows two secrets… one that Peri has been dreaming and two that the Winter Woods is in terrible danger. Weaver claims to be a dream-talent, the last of his kind in Pixie Hollow, and with Periwinkle’s help he says he can spin her dreams into dream-thread which can save the dying Pixie Dust Tree. But first, they will need to embark on a quest to find a magic spindle and scissors in the legendary lost fairy workshops of dream-talents past. And so Peri begins a reluctant journey with Weaver, the infuriatingly handsome stranger. Together they will face obstacles, monsters, and an unspeakable danger, but Peri will also begin to question everything she thought she knew. Because in Winter, even beautiful things can hurt you, and Weaver is no exception. With its ethereal brand of magic, hidden secrets, powerful emotions like grief, and a sweet romance centred on two charismatic sparring lovers, this new visit to Pixie Hollow will have teen readers swooning with delight!
(Studio Press, paperback, £9.99)

Age 9 plus
Medusa Gorgon’s Deadly Side-Eye
Bethany Walker and Katie Abey

IF you haven’t yet met Meddy Gordon then you need to know something that is very important… she isn’t just an ordinary twelve-year-old schoolgirl with some pre-teen angst issues but is actually Medusa, the mortal Gorgon from the thrilling realms of ancient Greek mythology whose hair transformed into snakes, her gaze turned onlookers to stone… and was famously slain by Perseus! Medusa Gorgon’s Deadly Side-Eye is the second book in a laugh-out-loud and thoroughly relatable series from children’s author Bethany Walker and illustrator Katie Abey. Ideal for helping youngsters dealing with friendship issues and school troubles, these brilliant stories are related through Meddy’s diaries, the perfect vehicle for letting out her anger and keeping her emotions in check. Meddy G is back for a new term at school, and unlike last time, everything it TOTALLY fine. She has finally settled into the 21^st century life and everything is going well… apart from her stress levels which are worse than ever, so much so that she accidentally turns one of her teachers to stone! Another problem is that her teenage angst comes served with a stony side-eye. 

To make matters worse, when new boy Percy shows up, she seems to go into a very strange daze. Meddy can’t understand why her words get muddled and her cheeks heat up every time she’s around him. But little does she know that Percy has been send by Athena to cause yet more chaos in Medusa’s new life. Because Percy is actually Perseus, and he has been sent on a mission to take Meddy G down for good... Meddy may have her origins in the myths and legends of ancient Greece but her stresses and strains are very human and very much 21^st century. Packed with chaos, comedy and contemporary concerns, and given extra appeal by some fascinating facts and Abey’s anarchic illustrations, these stories are perfectly pitched for your disgruntled tweenies!
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)

Age 9 plus
Serial Chillers: Horror in Hazard
Jennifer Killick

WELCOME back to Hazard, an ordinary town where strangeness is a way of life...  a place where nothing is what it seems and where things really DO go bump in the night! Queen of chills-and-thrills Jennifer Killick – author of the spine-chilling Dread Wood and Crater Lake series – makes a welcome return with all those super-spooky sci-fi vibes that kids love... horrors galore, a delicious dollop of black comedy and a bunch of spiky classmates with a killer mystery to solve. Horror stories are what Killick does best and this spine-tingling Serial Chiller series delivers horror and humour in perfect harmony. To Travis and his classmates, Zayd, Seline and Danielle, Hazard is home and they are looking forward to visiting Apocoland, the theme park at the heart of Hazard. It’s going to be FUN… or is it, because this is a trip with added danger. The teenagers are closing in on the weird goings-on in Hazard, and they are about to face the powers that run the town. But first they have got to get through the different theme park zones. Each one comes with its own horrors and the friends must be prepared for anything – and everything! – to happen. Killick is a slick and sassy storyteller… she knows just how far to take her heart-stopping tales of cool comedy and scary horror as she pumps up the action and lets loose her rich imagination. Expect big dollops of menace, malevolence and mystery… and be prepared to read this gorgeous, gigglesome and unputdownable chiller-thriller in one sitting!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99, published on August 27)

Age 7 plus
Trouble in Ogreville
Vivian French and Pauline Gregory

TROUBLE is brewing in Ogreville where one ogre is planning to steal the king’s throne, another destroys everything he touches… and one is about to throw an ALMIGHT tantrum. Who is going to save the kingdom? Join two plucky youngsters as they battle to foil a dastardly plot in author Vivian French and illustrator Pauline Gregory’s hilarious fairy-tale adventure packed with capers, chaos and plenty of chocolate cake! When Monny the ogre accidentally destroys the village bakery, the Pepper family’s business is left in ruins. To say sorry, Monny offers to take them to Ogreville, where he’s sure that Good King Ogle will grant them a new bakery if they make him a chocolate cake. Because all ogres love chocolate cake. But when Jimmy, Maudie, Gran and Monny arrive in Ogreville, they find the palace in disarray. Good King Ogle has been removed from the throne, and his heir – Prince Pomlet – is throwing an almighty tantrum about becoming king. At the centre of the chaos is an ogre named Hogspittle who is determined to take power for himself. Can Jimmy, Maudie, Gran and Monny restore King Ogle to the throne before it’s too late? Laughter all the way to Ogreville with this tasty reading treat!
(Walker Books, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Peng and Spanners: Doctor Biscuits!
Steve Webb

WHAT do you get when you pair an acerbically sarcastic and silly penguin with a cunningly clever (but chatty) cat? The answer is double act Peng and Spanners, the dynamic superheroes of a laughter-packed graphic novel series from animator Steve Webb. A children’s author as well as a freelance graphic designer, Webb delivers another full-on, fast and furious adventure as Peng, aka super ninja penguin fantastic, teams up again with Spanners (the only cat with a tool belt) for the Invention Convention with Spanners’ latest and greatest invention, the Crust-Away! What they don’t yet know is that rival inventor, Dr Biscuits, and his boss Magnificent are there too… to steal the Convention's best invention. And when they see the Crust-Away in action, they realise they could use it to steal anything from anywhere without even leaving their secret hideout! Can Peng and Spanners stop them before it’s too late, will security guards Bosh and Tickle use the Concrete Banana of Justice, and what the flippers does all of this have to do with Mavis Onions and her cat, Mr Stinky Pants? Expect paintball pens, invisibility hats, that mighty Banana of Justice, and a story so silly that you’ll be laughing all the way to the final pages where there are, incidentally, some nifty drawing lessons to enjoy with Dr Biscuits and his sidekick Magnificent. A romping riot of farcical fun!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99, published on August 27)

Age 6 plus
Arthur and the Wild Griffin
Luke Marchant and Mark Beech

IMAGINE visiting a zoo and instead of lions, tigers, gorillas and elephants, you discover mythical monsters, legendary beasts and a ferocious wild griffin! Meet schoolboy and hapless dreamer Arthur Kingsley who breaks the number one rule of the Fantasy Zoo… ‘Absolutely, positively…NO HUMANS!’ What happens to him is positively eye-popping and you can read all about it in author Luke Marchant and illustrator Mark Beech’s wildly entertaining and hilariously illustrated Arthur and the Wild Griffin, a race-against-time adventure full of high-stakes hazards and out-of-this-world creatures. When Arthur is given a free ticket to the Fantasy Zoo by a misguided garden gnome, he is mistaken for an elf and finds himself tending to warring Scandinavian trolls, a fierce Wild Griffin, wailing banshees and an eight-legged horse… all whilst trying to hide his true identity from his fellow keepers. But when devious sorceress Morgana Le Fay plots to close the zoo once and for all, it’s up to Arthur to save the day... but only if one of the creatures doesn’t eat him first! Monster laughs and an up-close-and-personal date with the craziest creatures are guaranteed for youngsters who dare to follow Arthur into the amazing magical zoo. Packed with Marchant’s fun characters and Beech’s quirky illustrations, this is a must-visit adventure for your reluctant readers!
(Everything with Words, paperback, £8.99, published on August 27)

Age 5 plus
Behind the Scenes
Illustrated by Åsa Gilland

MOST of us have visited a zoo at some time in our lives… but how many have had the privilege of an access-all-areas tour? Well here’s your chance to explore where no visitors have gone before… and venture behind the scenes of two leading zoos! In collaboration with the Zoological Society of London, Behind the Scenes – edited by Rebecca Kealy and lavishly illustrated by Swedish artist Åsa Gilland – uncovers a fascinating world of animal care and conservation at London and Whipsnade Zoos. For 200 years, the Zoological Society of London has been dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and through their important work, carried out both across the world and in their zoos, they aim to create change, protect species, restore global habitats and help people and wildlife live better together. From the quiet corners of the reptile house to the vet hospitals, and even the kitchens where meals are prepared, youngsters can explore where no visitors have gone before. Lounge with the Sumatran tigers in the outdoor pool at London Zoo, the world’s first scientific zoo where Sir David Attenborough began his broadcasting career. Walk among the Asian elephants at Whipsnade’s unique 600-acre site, and even experience a day in the life of a zookeeper and meet the teams of experts that dedicate their lives to working with and caring for the animals. Every page of this colourful guide is packed with awesome and roarsome discoveries and fascinating facts about the two world-leading conservation centres which protect wildlife across the globe. A wild and wonderful reading adventure!
(Templar Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Luna Grace: Monster Mix Up
Julie Sykes and Emily Jones

ARRIVING from a planet in outer space was a BIG step for a girl called Luna Grace and now she is finding her feet on planet Earth! Monster Mix Up is the second book of a delightfully engaging series for young readers from Julie Sykes, bestselling author of more than 100 books for children, and Cardiff-based illustrator Emily Jones. Luna and her family are from Starbright, a colourful planet in another galaxy, and they have come to Earth to study its wonderful wildlife. The mission is simple… Luna and her family need to fit in with their new neighbours down on Earth. But fitting in is hard when your hair changes colour depending how you feel, you can move things with your mind and you have a mischievous moon cat called Twizzle! But now Luna is so excited because her grandparents are coming to visit from Starbright. She wants to prove how grown-up she has become since moving to Earth by showing them around the Halloween fair at her school. But in her efforts to prove herself, Luna ends up making some monster mistakes… Can she make up for her mix-ups before it all goes too wrong? This astronomical and warm-hearted series explores being yourself, dealing with very human and down-to-earth emotions, and learning to celebrate your differences. Filled with Jones’ colourful illustrations, this is ideal early reading for fun-loving youngsters!
(Piccadilly Press, paperback, £7.99, published on August 27)

Age 4 plus
The Cow in the Dark at Night
Jess Hannigan

IT'S night time and one naughty cow is determined to discover the secrets of the dark! Canadian author and illustrator Jess Hannigan – a self-declared lover of all things silly and pointless nonsense – sets free the wild side of her imagination on this offbeat, out-of-this-world picture book. Follow a naïve and curious cow – and her exasperated guardian cat – as she sets out to find new friends and uncover what goes on when the sun goes down. Tonight, she will discover it all… adventures, nocturnal friends, every exciting thing waiting out there in the dark new world. But these night people may have other things in mind. It’s a good thing that the moon is very bright tonight! Curiosity leads to some very strange and colourful encounters as the cow discovers what exactly goes on when the sun goes down. It’s enough to make a cow jump over the moon! The Cow in the Dark at Night is a terrific tall tale told with Hannigan’s tongue-in-cheek humour, and awash in bold graphics and a stand-out palette of colour. Perfect for youngsters who love things that go bump in the night!
(Quill Tree Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
You Choose Party Time
Pippa Goodhart and Nick Sharratt

MAKING choices is all part of growing up... and sometimes those decisions can be positively exciting! The long-running You Choose series has sold over 2.5 million books and comes from the creative minds of author Pippa Goodhart and award-winning illustrator Nick Sharratt. The colourful and beautifully presented books offer the youngest children a simple text, a collection of inspirational word ideas, and the power to not just create their own stories but to let their imaginations run wild. And in this new edition, with its dazzling foiled cover, party time is here and readers can choose what happens! What kind of party will it be, who will you invite, how will your face be painted, which cake would you like to eat and will you dance to a steel pan band or bagpipes? And don’t forget to find the decorated egg hidden on every page. Entertaining interactive tasks help to develop thinking, and word and sentence forming, as well as unlocking creative abilities and encouraging decision-making. In fact, the possibilities are endless in this magical storytelling toolkit which sets children free to tell their own stories and make their own adventures over and over again. The perfect choice for busy little hands and minds!
(Puffin, hardback, £12.99)

Secret Dinner

Raphael Montes

IF any hint of cannibalism is OFF your reading menu, then the thought of devouring this deliciously dark and twisted tongue-in-cheek comedy thriller – set in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro’s famous holiday mecca – might well not tickle your taste buds.

But you would be missing a treat because Secret Dinner, from the internationally acclaimed and bestselling Brazilian author Raphael Montes, established him as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary crime fiction… and now, thanks to a brilliant translation by Zoë Perry, it is available for the first time in English.

Employing a wickedly clever and insanely imaginative mixing bowl of gallows humour, good, old-fashioned filmic horror, and a satirical exploration of ‘foodie’ culture and its accompanying monetary excesses, Montes (pictured below) brings us four childhood friends who have swapped rural Brazil for an apartment in Copacabana and cook up a devilish plan to pay for their expensive new lives. After two years of cramming for a university in Rio, Dante and his three best friends, Piglet, Miguel and Hugo, decide the time has come to swap their small town in rural Brazil – mostly known for its religious tourism – for a shared apartment in Copacabana.

The pals are just your average students, thinking of the endless possibilities, excited about the bright future now at their fingertips, and trying to make ends meet with part-time jobs. But Rio de Janeiro is not the easiest place to live and when their rent skyrockets, they struggle to keep their new lives and big dreams afloat.

They soon realise that to keep their apartment, they need to make money however they can. And when a kind gesture turns rotten, it becomes urgent that Dante and his crew figure out a way to make money… and make it fast.

The answer would seem to lie in a new website offering authentic dinners to foreign travellers and Rio’s filthy rich. That surely can’t be too difficult but, sucked into a dark web of secret dinner parties catering to twisted fantasies, their joke addition to one of the menus sees them make all the money they need in one night.

And what starts as a culinary prank quickly spirals out of control as the stakes get higher, the consequences become deadlier, and the twisted depths that lurk within each of them are brutally exposed. And when the criminal underworld closes around them, and threatens not only their friendship but also their lives, Dante is faced with a question he never thought possible… how much money is enough to stop cooking human flesh?

Montes is not afraid to flesh out his own suspense-packed, blood-and-guts thriller with some truly stomach-churning and macabre scenes, but it is all served with up with a dry smirk and leavened by undeniably hilarious laugh-out-loud moments as we track the four friends in some of Rio’s shadiest corners. Much of the fast-moving story’s momentum comes from the almost inevitable fraying of the four men’s friendship and discovering whether their increasingly bold and bloody menu, along with their ultimate descent into human depravity, will finally be the death knell for both them and their money-making venture.

But the journey to the book’s final course is paved with some fascinating moral conundrums and social dilemmas as Montes explores the characters, consciences and motivations of the men, revealing the lengths that some – even those who are not inherently villainous – are prepared to take in pursuit of money and the fulfilment of longed-for dreams and desires.

There is betrayal here, greed, ambition, desperation and deceit, and plenty of weighty emotional questions to conjure with, but it is surely the mind-blowing twist in the tail that finally knocks the reader for six with much the same power as the author’s bone-crunching satire. Food for thought in every sense of the word!
(Zaffre, paperback, £14.99)

Faith’s War

Shirley Mann

A YOUNG nurse must face bombs, bullets and the ruins of an island in the dark days of war as she works to not just save the lives of wounded Maltese residents, but to dig out the mysterious beginnings of her own early life.

Faith’s War is the sixth story celebrating the role of women during wartime 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, Hannah’s War, Bridget’s War and Maggie’s War, with another exciting, revealing and emotion-filled story.

Featured this time is a story honouring the Second World War endurance and courage of the people of Malta, the small, seventeen-mile-long  island which was famously described by Winston Churchill as ‘an unsinkable aircraft carrier’ and which became the vital key to dominance in the Mediterranean. As a result of its strategic importance, the island was under siege and subjected to 15,000 tons of bombs during the war, making it one of the most intensely bombed places in the world. In 1941 and 1942, there were 3,000 raids and only one 24-hour period without a raid between January and July of 1942.

When nurse Faith Simcock arrives in Malta in 1941, the tiny island at the heart of the Mediterranean is at the tipping point of the Second World War. As bombs rain down and danger is ever present, Faith tends the wounded in the darkness beneath the ancient stone of Valletta’s fortifications.

But Faith has a deeper connection to Malta than just her medical posting. Before she left her home in Manchester, her parents dropped their own bombshell when they revealed that she was adopted and that her birth mother is Maltese. Angry that her mother and father had never told her she was adopted, armed only with a rusty old tin of photographs from an unknown great aunt, and dreading discovering what ‘monsters’ were lurking in her past, Faith is drawn into a search for a family history she never knew existed.

Torn between a growing attraction to the brusque and withdrawn doctor, Major David Taylor, and her longing to uncover the truth of her origins, Faith navigates a world under siege. And as the island is relentlessly blasted by bombs and the residents face starvation, Faith must find the courage to fight on and survive… and find out where, on this island, she truly belongs.

Mann plunges readers into the maelstrom of Malta in wartime and pays a special tribute to the few old Gladiator planes there which took to the skies as the only defence against Italian bombers and were affectionately known to the island’s 75,000 residents as Faith, Hope and Charity.

Against this compelling and dramatic backdrop of wartime privations and constant danger, nurse Faith’s story – and her search for a birth mother she never knew existed – becomes a tale of self-discovery, family, unexpected romance, impossible choices, and survival against the odds. 

And as a final reminder of Malta’s immense courage and sacrifice in keeping the island from being completely overwhelmed, and to the 9,000 people who died during the years of struggle, Mann recalls the fact that every man, woman and child on Malta was awarded the George Cross. The perfect blend of history, mystery, hardship and hope…
(Zaffre, paperback, £9.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Wartime love, kindred spirits and pirate problems

Meet a teenager mourning the loss of her daring and dashing fighter pilot fiancé in the shadows of war, find friendship, compassion and your kindred spirits as the Sad Ghosts Club reconvenes, join a seasick trainee pirate as he sets sail on a swashbuckling adventure, and share fun with a sneaky squirrel thief who just can’t stop getting caught in a sunshine holiday selection of new children’s books

Age 12 plus
Cut Him Out in Little Stars
Lucy Strange

WHEN the title of a book is plucked from perhaps one of the most soaringly romantic lines in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, then you know you’re on to a winner. And bestselling author Lucy Strange – whose books have included of Sisters of the Lost Marsh, The Ghost of Gosswater and Our Castle by the Sea – doesn’t disappoint with this devastatingly beautiful clean tween romance set against a dazzling seaside backdrop and tingling with the long shadows of wartime and a mysterious murder. Left heartbroken in the early summer of 1940 after the death in France of her daring and dashing fighter pilot fiancé Xander – her Heathcliff, Mr Darcy and Rhett Butler rolled into one – 18-year-old Juliet Bell is sent by her widower father to stay with her artist sister Frances at Samphire House, their late mother’s family home in the coastal fishing village of Fairlight Bay, now littered with wartime warning signs and a barbed wire barricade. Unhappy at leaving home and still grieving for Xander, Juliet’s quiet retreat at Samphire Bay changes when she discovers the body of local girl Minnie Munday washed up on the beach and past mysteries come flooding back. Under the darkening skies of wartime England, Juliet is thrown together with a handsome stranger. Can she find the courage to confront her deepest fears, put right a terrible injustice, and – even as the world burns around her – risk falling in love once more?

Strange is on her finest form in this bewitching, coming-of-age story starring a teenager facing lessons in life, love and loss amidst the dark, menacing days of wartime. With betrayal, heartbreak, new hope, and the thrills and chills of a murder played out alongside the heady summertime vibes of sunrise picnics and starlit assignations, this gloriously and dangerously romantic novel is destined to be every teen’s favourite beach read.  
(Chicken House, paperback, £8.99, published on August 27)

Age 12 plus
The Sad Ghost Club 5:
Find Your Kindred Spirits
Lize Meddings

EVERYBODY has to ask for help sometimes! Welcome back to the Sad Ghost Club... a club for anyone who has ever felt sad or lost. We can all feel anxious and alone sometimes... like you’re almost invisible. But at the Sad Ghost Club, you can find friendship, compassion and your kindred spirits, and know you’re not alone. It’s a club that began when a sad ghost, alone at a crowded party, spied another sad ghost across the room. What happened next changed everything because they left the party and started the Sad Ghost Club… a secret society for the anxious and lonely, a club for people who think they don't belong. And in the final volume of this fully accessible, heart-warming graphic novel series – written by Lize Meddings, creator of the online Sad Ghost Club – we find the club organising a fundraiser. But one of its founding members is suspiciously absent. Can the rest of the team rally together to take on the challenge, and find a way to support their missing member? Beautifully illustrated and filled with empathy and understanding, this is an endearing conclusion to this stunning series. And if you like what you read here, you can join the community of ghosties on Instagram @theofficialsadghostclub.
(Tempest, paperback, 12.99)

Age 11 plus
The Stranger’s Gift
Tanya Landman and Cinthya Álvarez

OLDER children and reluctant teens, who are seriously struggling with their reading, will love getting their hands on four titles in this superb series of quick, gripping and age-appropriate books which fill a crucial gap for EAL (English as an additional language) learners. Particularly suitable for readers aged eleven plus with a reading age of six, and published in Barrington Stoke’s trademark dyslexia-friendly format, the stories feature short, sharp plots and accessible language, and are designed to build confidence in independent reading. In The Stranger’s Gift, written by Carnegie Medal winning author Tanya Landman and illustrated by Cinthya Álvarez, one man’s cunning ruse transforms stone into soup. 

Approaching a distant village on market day, a hungry man hopes to find food and a place to rest. But he’s an unwelcome arrival and the villagers refuse to help. Armed with just a single bowl and a stone he found along the road, he must rely on his resourcefulness and quick wit. Will the stranger be able to win the locals over with his cunning plan? Also new in the series is Landman’s refreshing and truly accessible retelling of Charles Dickens’ beloved classic A Christmas Carol. It’s Christmas Eve and everyone is in the holiday spirit… all except miserly old Ebenezer Scrooge who despises the holiday season. But when he’s visited by the ghost of his former business partner, who tells him he’ll soon encounter the three spirits of Christmas – Past, Present and Yet to Come – Scrooge is forced to confront his selfishness and embrace compassion, generosity and the true meaning of Christmas.

And Shelter, by another award-winning author, Steve Cole, delivers a poignant quick-read for struggling teens, expertly capturing resilience and hope amidst the devastating impact of war.  Danylo watches fearfully as war edges ever closer to his peaceful life on a Ukrainian farm. To prepare for the worst, he and his mother build a shelter for protection. But when the missiles eventually drop, they’re unprepared for the devastating impact and must cling to all they have left in order to survive. Beautifully and carefully created, Cole’s heartfelt tale is brought to life by Leo Trinidad’s illustrations which break up the text and help story comprehension. 

And in Stay Too Long, also written by Cole, and illustrated by Berat Pekmezci, an ominous presence lurks in the shadows awaiting visitors who linger too long in a creepy old house. Everyone knows the abandoned house at the edge of the woods is haunted but one reckless boy steps inside for a dare. Creeping through the dust-covered rooms, he finds a strange message scrawled on the wall… Stay Too Long. Next, he finds letters scattered on the floor written by previous visitors. Still lingering there, he begins to feel the chill of a strange presence in the gloom… is it too late to run? Chills and thrills at every turn of the page! Whether it’s mystery, chills and thrills, or a brilliant Victorian classic, entertainment is guaranteed for readers of all abilities!(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £6.99 each)

Age 8 plus
How Not To Be a Pirate
Jenny Pearson and Paula Bowles

MEET Wilbur… he’s training to be a pirate! Could it get more exciting than that? The truth is that hoisting the anchor and setting sail on a swashbuckling adventure is not much fun when you hate heights, get seasick and are too scared to fire a cannon! Award-winning author Jenny Pearson brings her trademark warmth, wit and wisdom to the first book of a hilarious new sea-soaked, fun-filled adventure series brought to life by the fabulous two-tone illustrations of Paula Bowles. Wilbur doesn’t believe he is destined to be a great pirate but, together with his more daring shipmates Ellie and Gilbert, he’s taking Level One Pirate Grading. They are in a race to find the greatest treasure of one of the legendary Jewels of the Sea. How is he ever going to win? With cursed treasure, rival crews, cannon-blasting battles and booby-trapped islands, danger is never far away. Can Wilbur survive the storm and become the pirate he is meant to be? Wilbur and his pals are riding high on the waves of this salt-flavoured feast of pirate antics as the gang of three navigate familiar childhood challenges like friendship, self-belief and the many different ways in which you can nail your colours to the mast. Don’t miss the boat… and head for the crow’s nest to spy the second sailing from this talented duo!
(Usborne, paperback, £8.99)

Age 8 plus
Wilomina: The Land of Dreams and Nightmares
John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs

DO you dare to tumble into an unknown land where dreams and nightmares come from? For those brave enough to turn the pages of this all-action, fantastical, full-colour graphic novel, what awaits is an unforgettable world full of wild imagination, enchanting characters and hair-raising adventure. Wilomina is the magical creation of John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs, an award-winning graphic novel duo based in Scotland, and dishes up a fabulous feast of words and pictures guaranteed to tickle the taste buds of all young readers. On their way to visit Mum in hospital, Wilomina, her father and baby brother Kes get stuck in the middle of nowhere. Desperate, Wilomina leaps aboard a mysterious train… and away from the world she knows. On board, she meets Mephisto, a talking cat, and this is only the beginning of an absurd adventure. Soon, Wilomina is separated from her family, tumbling into Nocturna, a parallel land where dreams and nightmares come from. But something eerie is happening… the nightmares are taking over. With Mephisto’s help, Wilomina must find her family and seek the gate that will lead them home. On their journey, they meet spectres, dragons and spider-witches, crossing monster-infested waters and facing impossible puzzles at the maze-like Premonition Library. But worst of all: Nocturna is slowly transforming Wilomina into a ferocious 'werepire'. Can she fight the monster within... and find the way home? With its spooky, gothic slant, a brave heroine, an appealing thread of real pathos, and pages packed with vibrant, dynamic artwork, Wilomina has an irresistible classic feel and is perfect for youngsters ready to start exploring the thrilling world of magical fantasy.
(Scholastic, paperback, £9.99)

Age 7 plus
Squirrel Shady: The Golden Acorn
Nick East

FORGET heroes and meet Shady the sneaky squirrel thief… he’s the outlaw with paws, a peanut butter superfan and an aspiring criminal mastermind. He just has one BIG problem… he just can’t stop getting caught! Squirrel Shady is the brilliant new bad guy hero of a full-on-fun illustrated crime caper series from talented York-based author and illustrator Nick East. While normal squirrels are out stashing nuts for winter, Shady loves collecting treasure… the shiny kind, the kind that belongs to someone else! Yes, Shady is a shameless crook, and that’s exactly how he has landed back in Badun Island Prison. There’s only one way out... escape! Unfortunately, tortoise crime boss Naughty Tortie wants Shady for her latest job… stealing the Golden Acorn of Destiny from Big City Bank. And Shady can’t refuse. Reunited with his old partner in crime, Roxy 'the Paws' the raccoon – and a series of criminal critters who may be heroes or rivals – Shady is off on the mega-heist of his career. But will he actually get his paws on the loot? Squirrel supervillain Shady and a hilarious cast of unexpected animal crime lords – including Roxy the Paws, Dandy Pom-Pom and Tina Two-Hoots – are set to steal the show (and the hearts of young readers!) as East releases his creative magic and anarchic energy on this stunningly illustrated animal romp!
(Scholastic, paperback, (£7.99)

Age 7 plus
Supa Nova: Robot Takeover
Chanté Timothy

PUT some colour, fun, dynamism and oh yes, whisper it, a bit of scientific knowledge, into your youngsters’ reading with this graphic novel series from a rising star in children’s books. Chanté Timothy, an illustrator who loves experimenting with movement, vibrant colour, character design and storytelling, brings us Supa Nova, a young Black girl who is bold, got brains, and is soaring high with her fun-filled adventures. Nova is a scientist. Some people say she’s a genius. Some people even call her Supa Nova… get it? Like a supernova. Basically, she’s a huge star and in her second outing, Nova invents a robot and is convinced she will never have to do chores again. She can just do science! But she doesn't expect the robot to become cleverer than her, do all her experiments and takeover her lab! Can Nova find a way to outsmart him? It’s time for a robot takedown! Zinging with colour, fizzing with energy, and full of invention and creativity, the adventures and antics of Super Nova are making an explosive series.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £8.99)

Age 7 plus
Cabin Head and Tree Head: Feeling Good!
Scott Campbell

HERE'S a heads up for you! If your youngsters are eager to branch out with their reading, introduce them to Cabin Head and Tree Head, the wacky and wonderful double act from the ever-inventive mind of author and illustrator Scott Campbell. Using an original concept, Campbell’s richly detailed and colourful artwork combines with his unique sense of humour to create six stories, all packed full of zany, laugh-out-loud adventures and hilariously endearing characters who readers can’t help but love. So jump back into the head-verse because best friends Cabin Head and Tree Head are ready for their next big adventure, and things are about to get seriously weird! From getting into strong shape (and then immediately breaking everything because they’re TOO strong) to giving out trophies for... everything (including showering and breathing), you never know what’s in store when Cabin Head and Tree Head are around. But you can always count on feeling good! Written in an accessible and easy-to-read graphic novel format, this seriously silly series is an alluring gateway for young readers, and perfect for those who struggle with reading.
(DK flip, flexibound, £12.99)

Age 6 plus
My Book of Jewish Festivals
Hannah Shafiroff

DISCOVER the joy of Jewish festivals and the rich history and traditions of Judaism in this beautiful and colourful book from talented illustrator and California native Hannah Shafiroff who has been raised in the Jewish faith. An illustrated treasury of Jewish celebrations, My Book of Jewish Festivals introduces young readers to the foundation of the faith in an inclusive, informative and accessible format. Celebrate and learn about ten Jewish celebrations – Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu Bi’Shvat, Purim, Pesach, and Shavuot – with this inviting and warm-hearted treasury. Perfect for reading together, this carefully curated collection explains when, why, how, and what Jewish people celebrate during special festivals throughout the year. With clear descriptions of Jewish history and traditions, easy-to-follow pronunciations of important Hebrew words, and packed with fun facts and vibrant, lively artwork, the book is the ideal showcase for the diversity of modern Judaism. Both appealing and practical, My Book of Jewish Festivals is perfect for children who are beginning to learn about the Jewish faith as well as for teachers, parents and carers looking for a resource to guide children through every meaningful Jewish celebration.
(Bloomsbury Education, paperback, £9.99)

Age 5 plus
The Waking Wood
Alexi Francis

IF you go down to the wood tonight… you’ll see a curious badger cub who is lost and far from his family. Will he ever find his way home again? Journey into The Waking Wood, a beautifully crafted and illustrated modern fable – complete with stunning papercut pages – from debut author and illustrator Alexi Francis who lives in West Sussex and has been involved in wildlife surveys both in the UK and abroad. Here, she brings youngsters an inspiring, lavishly illustrated, peep-through story about family, growth and adventure whilst inspiring a love of nature and outdoor exploration. In the heart of the wood stands an ancient oak, home to a badger family for generations. As night falls, the badgers roam the forest, following paths laid down by those who came before. But when one young badger loses his way in the darkness, how will he find the path back to his home? Featuring intricate papercut pages and stunning pen-and-ink illustrations of woodland creatures, the book invites readers to follow the badger’s journey through the woods, moving from shadow to light as dawn breaks and drawing readers into its immersive world.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
Princes Don’t Practise
Kathryn Simmonds and Becky Colvin

A POMPOUS young prince who believes he can do anything without ever needing to practise gets a much-needed lesson in patience and perseverance in a funny and cautionary rhyming romp from award-winning poet and writer, Kathryn Simmonds, and prize-winning illustrator Becky Colvin. Young Prince Lupin has jousted and feasted and now he’s BORED. But when he decides to spend the afternoon ‘helping’ the gardener and the palace cook, he leaves a trail of chaos and destruction behind him. After an embarrassing musical performance, Prince Lupin flees into the forest where he meets a retired witch with a passion for pottery. With her patience and friendship, Prince Lupin finally learns that practice makes magic… and that it helps to have manners too! Packed with funny – and relatable – messages for little ones who struggle with NOT being instantly perfect (ie nearly ALL children!) this playful picture book comes packed full of adorable artwork, miles of smiles, magic, marvels and mischief!
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Poo in the Zoo: Ready Set Poo
Steve Smallman and Ada Grey

BOTTOMS up as Steve Smallman and Ada Grey, the king and queen of splat, patter and plop, return with a shiny new foiled look and toot-tastic addition to their much-loved Poo in the Zoo series! Few children can resist sharing the fun of a poopy kind of adventure, and author Smallman and illustrator Grey’s gloriously funny rhyming picture book, featuring everyone’s favourite little zookeeper Bob McGrew and his inventor friend Hector Gloop, has it – literally – in enginefuls. It's the Super Pooper Road Race, and Bob, Hector, Poo Investigator Arabella Slater and the animals in the zoo are building the perfect poo-powered race cars. It’s going to be a poop-tastic adventure. But, oh no!, who is that making a stink at the starting line? This race course is becoming more doo-doo dangerous by the minute! Who will zoom to victory and who will be number two? Packed to the car roofs with poop, and given extra comedy power by Grey’s rib-tickling, action-packed illustrations, this is hold-your-nose adventure is definitely not to be sniffed at. Laughter guaranteed from first poo to last!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age 3 plus
The Sheep Who Came for Dinner
Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dreidemy

YOUNGSTERS will love getting their teeth into the eighth tasty picture book in Steve Smallman and Joëlle Dreidemy’s heartwarming and hilarious The Lamb Who Came for Dinner series. The Sheep Who Came for Dinner positively rolls and bounces with Smallman’s wit and warmth and French illustrator Dreidemy’s striking and characterful artwork as we meet up again with Wolf, Hotpot the lamb and their pet crocodile, Omelette, one summer holiday time afternoon. When a flock of sheep arrive in the woods, they can’t believe Hotpot lives all alone with a wolf. And a crocodile! How can a hungry wolf look after a cute, cuddly lamb? But when Hotpot and the flock of sheep get caught in a dangerous situation, it’s Wolf who comes to the rescue, and the sheep soon learn that true family is about much more than appearances. Smallman’s clever, comical and cautionary tale encourages young readers to challenge stereotypes and expectations, accept that someone who looks tough on the outside can sometimes be soft and vulnerable on the inside, and celebrate the idea that non-traditional families can make the happiest of homes. The perfect book to share with your own special family and friends!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Don’t Do It, Doug
Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Beedie

WE all know that little voice in your head… the one that says ‘Do NOT do that thing.’ Doug the hamster knows it but he ignores it… every single time! From shaking fizzy pop (uh-oh) to pressing oh-so-tempting red buttons and pulling forbidden levers, Doug just can’t help himself. Don’t do it, Doug! Will he ever learn to control himself? Little ones will adore sharing lovable Doug’s madcap misfortunes in this brilliantly funny picture from author Maudie Powell-Tuck and illustrator Duncan Beedie, the top creative team behind Hank Goes Honk. With subtle messages about the rewards of friendship and the unfortunate consequences of over-impulsive behaviour, brought to glorious life by Beedie’s vibrantly colourful and playful artwork, Don't Do It, Doug is guaranteed to be a favourite read with both mischievous tots and (only occasionally!) mischievous grown-ups.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £8.99)

Age one plus
Noisy Nursery Rhymes
Lauren Crisp

HERE'S a gorgeous touch-and-feel sound book that lets little ones touch, feel and hear classic nursery rhymes on every page! Enjoy watching little faces light up when they press the sounds button on each page in this interactive, chunky board book, packed with appealing photographs, tactile textures and the tunes of favourite nursery rhymes. Press on a fluffy Incy Wincy Spider, sing along to Wheels On The Bus, enjoy the much-loved Old MacDonald’s Farm, and wind down the day with Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Perfectly created to improve hand-eye co-ordination with exploration of each texture, encourage speech, and inspire a love of reading by sharing and enjoying a book with your little one, this is ideal for helping your child to observe and explore the world around them.
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £14.99)

The High Island

Lin Anderson

YOU only have to look at England’s prolonged and bitter War of the Roses to learn that the fall-out can be not just vicious, but deadly, when family feuds become more than domestic battles.

And when you live and work as a police detective in the small and tight-knit communities of Scotland’s wild and beautiful Orkney islands where you grew up, the warring, the accusations and the acts of revenge can become so close to home that secrets in your own past start to rise perilously to the surface.

Welcome back to Scotland’s rugged and most northerly coast where Lin Anderson (pictured below), one of the undisputed queens of Tartan Noir, has created a stunning crime-rich world on the remote Orkney archipelago… first, through her atmospheric and long-running murder mysteries starring forensic scientist Dr Rhona MacLeod, and now with this thrilling offshoot series.

Taking centre stage in these gritty Orcadia Mysteries is Detective Inspector Erling Flett, who has returned to Orkney following years away and, after rising through the ranks to a senior police detective role, finds himself as both an insider and an outsider among people who were once known to him… but now feel more like strangers.

At his side at work is Detectve Sergeant Jo Green, his strong and dependable sidekick who has been transferred to Kirkwall from Caithness and is proving to be the perfect yin to Flett’s yang. And The High Island, which begins with the nightmare discovery of the remains of a young mother and her baby on a building site on the island of Hoy, is a dark and dazzling opener.

It’s a big day on the ‘high’ island of Hoy – scene of the infamous sinking of the Royal Navy’s famous battleship HMS Royal Oak by a German submarine at Scapa Flow in 1939 – as islanders gather for the funeral of Ivor Mowat, one of its oldest residents.

But not everyone is in mourning for the loss of Ivor… there are many who disliked him and even members of his own family hold their grudges. Locals are well aware that Orkney has a long history of family feuds stretching back to their Viking ancestors and land ownership is often at the heart of these rifts.

And it turns out Ivor has inflamed old tensions by secretly selling the old family croft to Richard Webber Maitland, a wealthy architect with links to the island, who has already started clearing the area to build a contemporary eco-house. And to make matters worse, it is rumoured that Ivor has changed his will, in favour of his youngest grandson, Kris Mowat, who doesn’t now live in Orkney.

But the Maitland family’s dream of building a stunning eco-home becomes a waking nightmare when the peat yields a grisly secret… the remains of a young mother and her baby. For DI Erling Flett, the discovery raises spectres from the past. He spent years running from Orkney, only to be pulled back to the islands he once fled. As he fights to identify the nameless woman and child, the local community starts to push back… and his own troubled history begins to surface.

There is a lethal family feud at the heart of this case, one that involves abuse, a terrible revenge and blood-soaked soil. As Flett delves into some disturbing and heartbreaking secrets, can he finally face the ghosts of his own past… or will the island claim its next victim before the truth is told?

As always, Anderson wows readers with her powerful and descriptive gift for people and place, sweeping us away to the windswept islands she knows and loves, those remote clifftops, peat bogs and isolated crofts on the edge of the British Isles where residents are shaped by their isolation, their unforgiving landscape, their history, and even the legacies of their long-ago Viking invaders.

But The High Island is also a gripping page-turner which blends top class police procedural and a cast of superbly portrayed characters with an intriguing and emotive mystery steeped in the darkness, danger and emotional depth that have become the hallmarks of Anderson’s writing.

The discovery of the two bodies acts as portal into both old crimes and grudges, and more contemporary threats and law-breaking like drug running and organised crime. And for DI Flett and DS Jones, this tricky case opens up a Pandora’s box of family feuds, inheritance wars, fights over land, and callous acts of revenge.

For fans of Anderson’s Rhona MacLeod books, there will be a few familiar faces here, not least our main man Erling Flett who now takes on a much enhanced role, but readers only just discovering these top-notch Scottish mysteries, need not fear because new and old faces slip seamlessly into this classy and compelling reset for one of the crime world’s most gifted writers… and one of Tartan Noir’s most exhilarating locations. 
(Macmillan, hardback, £20)