The Best Children's Book Picks MAY 2024 UK Post - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Alastair Chisholm - I Am Wolf - Published by Nosy Crow (9 May 2024) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1839945311 - Paperback - Age: 9+ 

Coll is Wolf.

He lives with his clan on a Construct, a huge technological "creature" driven by the clan's combined willpower. Together they roam their world, fighting other clans and absorbing them into their own.

But when a new and dangerous Construct attacks them, Coll is thrown clear from Wolf and left behind. Now he must survive life on ground and get back to his clan. He is helped by Rieka, a "Tock" who makes the Constructs work. She promises Coll a way to return, but can she be trusted? And what is she really trying to do...?

When Coll uncovers the truth, it destroys everything he thought he knew about his clan, the world they live in, and even himself. In a world full of danger, and suddenly without meaning, can he find a way back?

Jennifer Bell - Magicalia: Race of Wonders - Published by Walker Books (2 May 2024) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1529506143 - Paperback - Age: 7+

From the internationally bestselling author of Wonderscapeand The Uncommoners, comes a spectacular new fantasy series for 9+ set in a world of magical creatures, ancient meteorites and secret organizations, irresistible to fans of Pokémon, Skandar and the Unicorn Thief and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

FEEL THE MAGIC. CONJURE THE IMPOSSIBLE.

When her dad is kidnapped by a woman with a giant hamstoceros, Bitsy and best friend Kosh are swept into a secret world of ancient meteorites and strange beasts called magicores, each conjured using a different emotion. Using a powerful bestiary called Magicalia, the friends must quickly become conjurors themselves, before following a trail of clues that will take them from London to India to Paris, in a race to rescue Bitsy’s dad from a mysterious villain…

Jasbinder Bilan - Nush and the Stolen Emerald - Published by Chicken House (9 May 2024) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1915947024 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

A stunning new historical children's novel from Costa Award-winning author of Asha & the Spirit Bird.

Anushka is furious. As princess of an Indian kingdom, she has watched the British East India Company take land and her family's most divine jewel – an emerald the size of an apple.

So when her father, the Maharaja, decides to visit Queen Victoria at Buckinham Palace, Nush goes too – determined to bring back the gem that can heal her country. 

• A fabulous new historical direction from Costa-winning and Waterstones-shortlisted author, Jasbinder Bilan.
• Themes of colonialism and identity, mixed with an action-packed royal mystery.

Alexandra Page - The Secret Society of Very Important Post - Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books (9 May 2024) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1526644336 - Paperback - Age: 7+ 

It's 1953, just days from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, and Penny Black can't get into the summer holiday spirit. Not when she's about to move to Scotland - and away from everything she knows - for good. 

But when Wishyouwas plops into the fireplace in a cloud of soot and chaos, with a summons from the Royal Postmistress herself, all of Penny's plans suddenly go up in smoke.

The intrepid pair are soon on the trail of a mysterious traitor and a potentially deadly plot to halt the coronation. Their investigation will take them across London's busy streets, high up in the air and deeper into danger than they've ever been before.

Barbara Henderson - The Boy, the Witch & The Queen of Scots - BOOK REVIEW - Blog Tour

Welcome to our book review for the third stop on The Boy, Witch & The Queen of Scots by Barbara Henderson's blog tour. Please say Hello at all the other stops (you can check out the list of stops below). We hope you enjoy this review and that it encourages you to read this wonderful book. 

Barbara Henderson's "The Boy, the Witch & The Queen of Scots" is a captivating journey through Scottish history and is published by Scottish independent Publisher Luath Press Ltd (11 April 2024). It's a story of espionage with hints of witchcraft and religion. The plot is full of both danger and peril as it takes a journey through the darker side of life with The Queen of Scots. 

The reader dives and soars into the world of 12-year-old Alexander Buchan as he navigates treachery, terror, and intrigue at the court of Mary, Queen of Scots. The author weaves a tale of moral dilemmas and bravery as Alexander faces the challenges of outwitting a murderous messenger and standing against his own treacherous Earl. With themes of friendship, loyalty, and majestic birds of prey we are faced with the impending turmoil of Reformation Scotland. This book is a must-read for young readers, armchair adventurers, and history enthusiasts alike. 

The author's storytelling talents shine in this engaging and thrilling adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their Arthur Seats until the very end. A true gem in children's literature, "The Boy, the Witch & The Queen of Scots" is a triumph that brings history to life in a way that both educates and entertains. It was such a joy to read and an absolute treat to go back in time and relive this historical Scottish event with all the great characters in a gripping immersive plot. 

www.barbarahenderson.co.uk/

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Onjali Q. Raúf - The Letter with the Golden Stamp - Children's Book Pick - April 2024

Published by Orion Children's Books (11 April 2024) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1510108929 - Paperback - Age: 9+ 

 'I can't remember how old I was when I first started collecting stamps. But I've got a whole shoebox full of them now.

Mam used to help me collect them ... Before she got so ill that she lost her job, her friends...everything.

Now it's my job to take care of her and protect her - and my little brother and sister too. But to do that, I have to make Mam a Secret. A secret no-one can ever find out about. Not even my best friends at school, or Mo, our postman. 

Or the stranger living in the house across the street. The one no-one has seen, but who I know is spying on us. 

The one I think might be Them...'

Deep in the heart of Swansea, Wales, lives a small girl with some big secrets to keep. Secrets that make her one of the best actresses on the planet - because no-one would ever think that, away from school, Audrey is the sole carer for her increasingly sick mam and her two younger siblings ... or a seasoned thief.

With her worlds threatened by the arrival of a mysterious, invisible neighbour, behind whose closed curtains and shut front door may lie a spy, Audrey must take matters into her own hands to save her family.

Inspired by her beloved collection of stamps, her friendly neighbourhood postman (and fellow stamp collector), and her two best friends, off Audrey must go: on an adventure that will lead her to places - and hearts - she never knew existed.

Celebrating the hidden army of Young Carers daily keeping their loved ones alive behind closed doors, and the everyday s/heroes that surround them, The Letter with the Golden Stamp delves into the fears and hopes of Young Carers everywhere, and the invisible sources of kindness knocking on all our doors.

Sam Sedgman - The Clockwork Conspiracy - Book Review - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Sam Sedgman's "The Clockwork Conspiracy" marks the start of a riveting new series, unveiled by Bloomsbury Children's Books in February 2024. The book's cover, masterfully illustrated by Tom Colohosy Cole, serves as a prelude to the enthralling narrative that awaits within. From the very first pages, readers are thrust into a captivating mystery teeming with rooftop pursuits, enigmatic codes, and scientific marvels. The resonance of Big Ben heralds the commencement of an adrenaline-fueled plot, brimming with danger and transformative potential, where time itself takes on new dimensions.

A perfect complement to Sedgman's collaborative series with MG Leonard, "Adventures on Trains," this tale follows young inventor Isaac Turner on a high-stakes mission to locate his vanished horologist father, unveiling a sinister governmental plot nestled within London's iconic landmarks, against the backdrop of the mesmerising Houses of Parliament.

Sedgman's seamless blend of mystery and breakneck adventure, interspersed with intriguing tidbits, ensures the book's triumph. With expert finesse, the author knits together suspense and innovation, ensnaring readers in a whirlwind of discovery with each twist and turn of the plot. The vivid tapestry of London that he paints breathes life into the city, endowing it with a character as vibrant as any protagonist.

"The Clockwork Conspiracy" beckons to young detectives hungry for pulse-pounding escapades and to thrill-seekers alike, offering a rich tapestry of history, enigma, politics, and exhilaration that will leave readers clamoring for the sequel. Thank you for such a great book!