Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Best Children's Book Picks October 2023

 

Here is our post introducing the enchanting world of children's literature for October 2023! Let's embark on a delightful journey through my favorite book picks, where imagination knows no bounds and adventures await at every turn of the page. From whimsical tales of magic and friendship to heartwarming stories that teach valuable lessons. 

Alex Bell (Author), Beatriz Castro (Illustrator) - The Train of Dark Wonders - Published by Rock the Boat (5 Oct. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0861545964 - Paperback - Age: 8+

Bess has always loved her grandfather’s collection of curiosities. So she’s delighted when she’s handed the keys to his Odditorium. But unless she finds a way to draw in the crowds, she’ll have to close its doors for good.

When a mysterious train pulls into town, bound for The Land of Halloween Sweets, Bess hatches a plan and sneaks onboard. She is soon discovered by Beau the puppeteer, Louis the violinist and Maria the fire witch. Eager to join their adventure, Bess sets out to search for the rarest sweet of all – the ghostly gobstopper.    But the land is ruled by the fearsome Candymaker. And beneath the sugary surface, things are more dangerous than they first appear...

Guy Bass (Author), Alessia Trunfio (Illustrated) - SCRAP|:1 - Published by Little Tiger (12 Oct. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1788955973 - Paperback - Age: 7+ 

The year was Something Something. Humans had spread like peanut butter across the galaxy, looking for new planets to call Somewhere.
One of those planets was Somewhere Five One Three.

When the humans arrive on Somewhere 513, they discover that the robots sent to prepare the planet for Humanity’s arrival have chosen to keep it for themselves. Only one robot remains loyal – K1-NG, aka King of the Robots. But even with the most powerful robot on their side, the outlawed humans don’t stand a chance.

Ten years on, Gnat and her sister Paige are the only humans left and have spent their lives hidden underground. Now they must venture out in search of the one robot that stood by the humans. There’s just one problem – the once mighty K1-NG has vowed never to help another human for as long as he lives…

Anna Kemp (Author), David Wyatt (Illustrator) - The Hollow Hills (Vol 2) - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (26 Oct. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1398503892 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

Nobody knows what lies inside the Knoll nor what form the Fae have taken after all these years . . . join a quest of a lifetime to rescue Goblyn Wood from the fae, with a sequel to Into Goblyn Wood for fans of Nevermoor and Podkin One-Ear! Are you ready to enter Goblyn Wood . . . ?

When Hazel ventured into Goblyn Wood, she discovered that she was part fairy and the Fae have been hoarding magic. Now, on a mission to help the other fairies and rescue her friend Pete, she needs to travel to the Fae Dominion. No one has been inside for years but Hazel arrives there, it’s a glorious paradise and Pete is happy. Hazel is sure that something is wrong but soon begins to forget about her mission. And in the world outside, the threat to Goblyn Wood is increasing…

Can Hazel complete her mission and help bring balance back to Goblyn Wood?

Loretta Schauer - The Legend of Ghastly Jack Crowheart - Published by Andersen Press (5 Oct. 2023) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1839133091 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

For Lil, life at the Squawking Mackerel Inn couldn’t be more miserable. She's tasked with the sloppiest, grottiest jobs and picked on at every turn. Her only friend is Augustus Scratchy, a cantankerous crow with a habit of stealing. When the dread villain Rotten Bob Hatchet and his gang of cut-throat highwaymen begin attacking travellers on the road, things get really dire.

Joining forces with a new servant boy, Ned, and armed with the contents of the inn’s lost property cupboard, a pocket full of revolting dumplings and some knicker elastic, Lil comes up with a plot to scare off Rotten Bob. And so the legend of Ghastly Jack Crowheart the Demon Highwayman is born!

Dangerous highwaymen, furious crows, ludicrous underwear, and a turnip apocalypse - stand and deliver!

Alex Bell - The Haunting (Red Eye) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Book Review

Some curses grow stronger with time...People say that all Cornish inns are haunted, but the Waterwitch's history is particularly chilling. Built from the salvaged timber of a cursed ship, the guest house's dark secrets go further back than anyone can remember. Emma is permanently confined to a wheelchair after an accident at the Waterwitch which took place when she was ten. Seven years later, she decides to return to the place where the awful event occurred. But the ancient inn still has its ghosts, and one particular spirit is more vengeful than ever...



Back in 2014, the Red Eye series by Stripes Publishing was born. This is a new home for horror genre with a fantastic contemporary makeover for a young adult audience. I've very much enjoyed ever book in this series and always look forward to the next read. This is the second outing for Alex Bell - the previous release was FROZEN CHARLOTTE, which kicked of the series. The Haunting will be the sixth title to be published 11th Feb 2016 and is another fantastic read.

We are indeed all in for another literary treat. Dare you read a Red Eye? It has all the fantastic trade mark characteristics of previous books and much more in my opinion.  Lovers of dark and scary books will enjoy flying down the path of this chilling plot. It will have you hooked on a fantasy path that teen readers will love. You'll find an original plot that explores the greater imagination and will transport you to the Waterwitch, and back, in the blink of a frog's eye.   

The book alternates between the three main characters perspective of Emma, Shell and Jem. It did take me a little time to warm to this type of narrative, after reading a lot of books told in first person. However, it was fantastic to follow Emma (and her narrative) and slightly refreshing to see how she struggled with daily life, and performing normal tasks that most abled bodied people take for granted. Having to cope with being confined to a wheelchair made this plot capture a great sense of realism and was really gripping. It will certainly pull at your heartstrings in an unpredictable way. 

This is a cracking bleak Cornish tale, which is based on a witches curse and traditional folklore. It will have you scared out of your whits, as you never really know what you are up against. It will pick you up and throw you head first into the spooky past and grizzly future. You'll have to be brave, or mad, to navigate the pages, as the chilling aura will morph around you unwittingly and suck you into a characters world. Unfortunately, this may not end in a traditionally happy way. 

The book will lead you to enter the Waterwitch building with it's dramatic history like no other. To me it is the biggest character in the book, as it takes on a mysterious nebulous persona of its own. I really loved visiting this spooky building and exploring its nooks and crannies. The author produced a really detailed account which was loosely inspired by a visit to Smugglers Cot Restaurant (an old historic building from 1420). This to me instilled an electric and foreboding energy that helped to develop a fantastic climatic and dramatic ending. This is another brilliant read that might just get you screaming for more....

Other Red Eye Books: 
Alex Bell - Frozen Charlotte -  5th Jan 2015
Lou Morgan - Sleepless - 5th Jan 2015
Simon Cheshire - Flesh and Blood - 2nd March 2015
Graham Marks - Bad Bones - 4th May 2015
Tom Becker - Dark Room - 10 Sept  2015
Alex Bell - The Haunting - 1st Feb 2016 

Alex Bell - Frozen Charlotte - Book Review (Red Eye)

Book Synopsis: Dunvegan School for Girls has been closed for many years. Converted into a family home, the teachers and students are long gone. But they left something behind… Sophie arrives at the old schoolhouse to spend the summer with her cousins. Brooding Cameron with his scarred hand, strange Lillias with a fear of bones and Piper, who seems just a bit too good to be true. And then there's her other cousin. The girl with a room full of antique dolls. The girl that shouldn't be there. The girl that died.

If you are looking for a supernatural horror read this January, then look no further then Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell. It's the first book to be rolled out under the Red Eye imprint, who are set to publish a series of exciting new contemporary YA horror titles in 2015. They feature well-known established authors as well as rising stars that are guaranteed to chill you and thrill you at the same time. 

This book was fantastically gripping - written in a true classic horror style. The narrative was beguiling as it sucked me through the 340 or so pages in a blink of a toad's eye. The start of the book is set in 1910 on the Isle of Skye and invites the mind to play. The intense dark horror unfolds and turns into a fantastic ride of emotions. 

Zipping in time to the present day, Jay and Sophie are playing on a downloaded Ooija-board app; I loved the modern twist to this. Inexplicable things and tragic events soon follow Sophie to her cousins' remote house which is known for its gruesome history. This brings about a terrifying tale that will leave you feeling frozen. The story is certainly not for the feint of heart; it will strike fear in you making you want to dive for cover. Evil antique-looking dolls and a remote stately house that oozes with malignant spirits will have you leaping out of your self-controlled pants!

This is the best spooky horror story that I have read for a teenage audience in some time. The book is not overly predictable, which is actually really hard to find at the moment. The characters are mysterious and have a hidden past, which keeps the reader guessing throughout the adventure. The main setting is very well written and brings a gothic surreal element that intensifies the reading experience. 

I had no expectations about this book before receiving it, so I'm really pleased to say that this is a cracking entertaining start to a new series. It will freeze you to the bone and give you a reading experience to be definitely recommend. If you love a good horror story, then this is the book for you. If you love a fantastically well written story, then this is the book for you. If you want suspense, mystery AND something different, then this is the book for you. 

Dare you read a RED EYE? Out 5 Jan 2015