Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Lu Hersey - Deep Water - Book Review

As you plunge deep into the blue cover, it will set you off on a journey of discovery. This is a debut novel that will tantalise you with a story primarily set in a tiny Cornish fishing village. You will take a slow stroll into the history of the characters and be thrust into a spectacular mystery that has a dark feeling of foreboding. All in all this is a brilliant read full of twists, turns and a hatful of discoveries. 

Danni comes home one day to find that her mum has vanished and there appears to be a strange feeling in the house. No one has any idea what has happened to her; this leaves a mystery that will need unravelling. Danni soon finds herself living with her dad in a strange and remote village with a dark and disturbing past. Some of the locals treat Danni like a monster. However, she soon discovers a family past that will have the reader breathing in the salty air of the briny sea. 

I was fully immersed in the plot; a beautiful tale of the sea where the hidden dangerous depths of the ocean are fully explored through some wondrous encounters. The writing will make you feel like you are seeing it and experiencing it first-hand, through the eyes of nature itself, leading the reader to an exciting and imaginative place. 

The only way for Danni to save her family from the bitter curse is to embrace her incredible new gift. With the help of her best friend Levi, who is undeniably a character that has been written really well, she embarks on a journey of discovery. Levi's personality intensifies the feelings in the story and draws the plot together like a magnet. He makes this story work for me. 

I also liked Danni's new age hippy dad, who is brought to life through his interesting taste in t-shirts. In our first encounter with him, he is wearing a ripped Sex Pistols t-shirt. He is not your typical character in a book, but he works really well and adds an element of cool.  

The author has really stamped this book with her own personality and interests. The charm of Celtic myth and folklore is wrapped up tightly in the narrative through Lu's take on the ancient Celtic selkie myth, which has been inspired by belief and tradition for many generations. This to me gives the story an air of magic and surrealness that is enchanting.

This is a story of family secrets and teenage life, with a slight romantic angle running through the plot, which is subtle and not off putting for male readers. It is a great young adult experience which is reminiscent of Helen Dunmore's Ingo adventure books. Lu is a great new voice - I will be looking forward to reading more stories. 

Don’t judge too quickly or fear something just because you don’t understand it.

Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (1st July 2015)

Unofficial Gamer's Adventures by Winter Morgan -The Endermen Invasion/ Treasure Hunters in Trouble (Minecraft) Bloomsbury 2015

Winter Morgan is not a real person, it's the pen name for an author of numerous books. The author has a Minecraft-addicted son, who inspired the story, and a daughter who is very accommodating since her little brother monopolizes the computer creating mods and mining for diamonds.

Experience all the action beyond the game in this exciting Minecrafters series for the young. Search temples filled with treasure, battle against Griefers, Creepers and skeletons, and protect your buildings from invasion. These stories are a brilliant way to enjoy the world of Minecraft from the computer screen.

The Endermen Invasion
Steve is invited to compete in an elite building competition on Mushroom Island, much to the joy - or jealousy - of his neighbours. His dream house is about to be judged when events are disrupted by an Endermen invasion. Who is their leader, why have they come and will they succeed in destroying the competition?

Treasure Hunters in Trouble
During Steve's journey he must encounter spiders in a cave, face hostile chicken jockeys, and get stuck at sea. If he rescues them they will all be rewarded with treasure. But if he doesn't.

Published by Bloomsbury in Paperback on 2nd July 2015, £4.99 each.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Interview with Lu Hersey - Deep Water

Welcome all. Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Lu Hersey, who is the author of the debut book Deep Water. Many thanks to Lu for taking the time to answer the below questions. I'm sure that you'll find this post really interesting and will want to read Deep Water because of this. 

Next week I'll be sharing my book review for Deep Water, so please visit again to find out my thoughts. I look forward to your return.

Tell us a little bit about Deep Water?

Deep Water is a Celtic myth-based story, placed in a contemporary setting. When Danni’s mother goes missing, she has to go and live with her dad in some remote part of Cornwall. Strangely, people in the area seem to recognise her…and she finds herself in increasing danger. She needs to find out who (and what) she is, and save her mother before it’s too late…


Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Things are rarely as they seem, so be open to possibilities. Don’t judge too quickly or fear something just because you don’t understand it.


What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I write myth based fiction in a kitchen sink paranormal style.


Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your book?
Elle Fanning was my first choice, but then I thought of Maisie Williams, who’s a really talented British actress and is amazing in Game of Thrones. She has an elfin quality, which is what I had in mind for Danni.


Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
When I get an idea, I immediately see it visually, a bit like the way you draw a caterpillar life cycle diagram – egg, caterpillar, cocoon, butterfly. When it comes to writing, I find the egg and the butterfly (ie beginning and end) are usually pretty clear from the start, but the caterpillar and cocoon stages are open to massive amounts of variation (in other words, they’re really hazy!)…I’ve tried to write plans, and they do help a lot, but unfortunately the characters have a life of their own and decide to do something completely different half the time.


What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?
Starting something has never been the problem – I’ve started lots of things! The problem has been finishing them – and having the confidence to keep going. So to solve this, I did the MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. It was a way of giving myself a really expensive deadline with a lot of encouragement to get to the finish line – and it worked. I’m enormously grateful to all on the course – fellow students and course-leaders – and would recommend this path to anyone who is serious about honing their skills.

In fact I’d say being part of a supportive network is invaluable as a writer – whether it’s a writing group, an organisation like the Golden Egg Academy, or simply a network of writer friends on social media. You need all the encouragement you can get.


Can you pass on any tips regarding the writing process to other budding writers?
Put simply, just write! But also, read your work aloud when you think you’ve finished your draft. People always tell you to do it, but lots of writers don’t bother. It really helps to iron out the clunky, awkward bits, because when you read aloud you have a natural rhythm which you want to try and get into your writing. It also helps you spot sections where you need to vary the sentence length, as well as the inevitable bits where you skip through loads of unnecessary description or slip out of a character’s voice and so on.


Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying/reading process?
I think the cover is tremendously important – and interestingly, the writer generally gets very little real say in it at all! Fortunately I think Usborne have done a great job with mine. I love the cover of Deep Water and think it really fits the book – yet avoids being too much of a plot spoiler.


As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I always wanted to write books – it just took me a really long time to get there!


Is there anything else that you would like to tell us?
According to Kurt Vonnegut, ‘We have to be continually jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.’ I’ve found this to be as true as anything else I’ve read about being a writer.

Website: https://luwrites.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @LuWrites 

Press Release: Bello to Publish the Forgotten Adult Novels of Richmal Crompton, Celebrated Author of Just William Series

‘. . . for many years I looked on William as “my character”.
He was my puppet. I pulled the strings. But gradually the tables have been turned. I am his puppet.’
– Richmal Crompton, 1958

Lancashire-born Richmal Crompton is best known for her thirty-eight-strong Just William children’s series, which shot her to global fame. Yet it is little known that the incredibly prolific writer expressed deep regret over William dominating her work, most notably her forty-one adult novels and nine collections of short stories. On 27th August 2015, eleven of those adult novels will be brought to a new readership by Bello, Pan Macmillan’s digital imprint.

Despite the popularity of the Just Williams series, Crompton
remains widely misunderstood and many readers assume the children’s adventure series was written by a man. It is Crompton’s perceptive adult novels which offer readers the best insight into her psyche and life. Largely realist, they are centred around family, social and village life, sadness and dissatisfaction, and explore the strains of family life, a woman’s place in society and the lives of older widowed men.

These novels include Marriage of Hermione, The Old Man’s Birthday and There are Four Seasons, each every bit as charming as her beloved Just William series.

Marriage of Hermione, first published in 1932, tells the story of the married life of Charles and Hermione Dereham from their first meeting in 1882 to their golden wedding in 1932, an ordinary and overtly honest depiction of a marriage without sensation. Marriage of Hermione contains much comedy, tragedy and drama, all universal facets of family life, in its Bello to publish the forgotten adult novels of Richmal Crompton, celebrated author of

Just William series

‘. . . for many years I looked on William as “my character”.

He was my puppet. I pulled the strings. But gradually the tables have been turned. I am his puppet.’

– Richmal Crompton, 1958

Lancashire-born Richmal Crompton is best known for her thirty-eight-strong Just William children’s series, which shot her to global fame. Yet it is little known that the incredibly prolific writer expressed deep regret over William dominating her work, most notably her forty-one adult novels and nine collections of short stories. On 27th August 2015, eleven of those adult novels will be brought to a new readership by Bello, Pan Macmillan’s digital imprint.

Despite the popularity of the Just Williams series, Crompton

remains widely misunderstood and many readers assume the children’s adventure series was written by a man. It is Crompton’s perceptive adult novels which offer readers the best insight into her psyche and life. Largely realist, they are centred around family, social and village life, sadness and dissatisfaction, and explore the strains of family life, a woman’s place in society and the lives of older widowed men.

These novels include Marriage of Hermione, The Old Man’s Birthday and There are Four Seasons, each every bit as charming as her beloved Just William series.

Marriage of Hermione, first published in 1932, tells the story of the married life of Charles and Hermione Dereham from their first meeting in 1882 to their golden wedding in 1932, an ordinary and overtly honest depiction of a marriage without sensation. Marriage of Hermione contains much comedy, tragedy and drama, all universal facets of family life, in its analysis of a marriage marred by monotony.

First published in 1936, The Old Man’s Birthday, is a thoroughly entertaining book offering a dry satire of British village life and a nostalgic treat for fans of the gentler brand of interwar fiction. It is the story of old Matthew Royston’s 95th birthday. A day which, from breakfast to the family dinner party, precipitates climaxes for each member of his assembled family. Teaming beneath the calm surface of village and family life, readers will find a whole world of secrets, desires, hopes and dreams.

In There are Four Seasons, first published in 1937, a young girl Vicki’s faces resentment from her father for resembling the wife who ran away and left him for another man. Following Vicki from her childhood to old age, Crompton explores how this childhood trauma stays with Vicki throughout her life, through marriage and motherhood.

Bello will also reissue Chedsy Place, Narcissa, Merlin Bay, Caroline, The Holiday, Steffan Green, Portrait of a Family, and Journeying Wave.

Richmal Crompton was born in 1890 in Lancashire. She won a scholarship to Royal Holloway in London, where she took part in the Women’s Suffrage movement and studied Classics. She trained as a schoolteacher, before turning to write full time. Richmal Crompton died in 1969 at the age of seventy-nine, having written thirty-eight books featuring William Brown, forty-one novels for adults and nine collections of short stories.

Elizabeth Campbell, Editorial Executive at Bello, comments,

‘Richmal Crompton’s adult works truly are a remarkable testimony to the breadth of her talent as a writer. We are delighted to have unearthed them and to be finally giving recognition to her largely forgotten adult work.’ of a marriage marred by monotony.

First published in 1936, The Old Man’s Birthday, is a thoroughly entertaining book offering a dry satire of British village life and a nostalgic treat for fans of the gentler brand of interwar fiction. It is the story of old Matthew Royston’s 95th birthday. A day which, from breakfast to the family dinner party, precipitates climaxes for each member of his assembled family. Teaming beneath the calm surface of village and family life, readers will find a whole world of secrets, desires, hopes and dreams.

In There are Four Seasons, first published in 1937, a young girl Vicki’s faces resentment from her father for resembling the wife who ran away and left him for another man. Following Vicki from her childhood to old age, Crompton explores how this childhood trauma stays with Vicki throughout her life, through marriage and motherhood.

Bello will also reissue Chedsy Place, Narcissa, Merlin Bay, Caroline, The Holiday, Steffan Green, Portrait of a Family, and Journeying Wave.

Richmal Crompton was born in 1890 in Lancashire. She won a scholarship to Royal Holloway in London, where she took part in the Women’s Suffrage movement and studied Classics. She trained as a schoolteacher, before turning to write full time. Richmal Crompton died in 1969 at the age of seventy-nine, having written thirty-eight books featuring William Brown, forty-one novels for adults and nine collections of short stories.

Elizabeth Campbell, Editorial Executive at Bello, comments,
‘Richmal Crompton’s adult works truly are a remarkable testimony to the breadth of her talent as a writer. We are delighted to have unearthed them and to be finally giving recognition to her largely forgotten adult work.’

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Middle Grade Children's Book Picks - July 2015 - US Post Two

S . A. Bodeen - Lost (Shipwreck Island) - Published by Feiwel & Friends  - Hardback (July 28, 2015)
Sarah Robinson and her family are shipwrecked on a remote and mysterious island. Their food is running out, and their fear is escalating-there is no sign of rescue. The mysterious girl they found unconscious at the beach is healing, and what she tells them about the strange island and especially about someone called the Keeper has the family on edge. When Sarah's dad and Marco's younger brother go missing, the mystery becomes dangerous. Now, it's a matter of life and death. Now, the family is truly lost.

Kersten Hamilton & James Hamilton - The Ire of Iron Claw: Gadgets and Gears 2 - Published by Clarion Books (July 7, 2015)
Someone is smuggling secrets out of the Kennewicketts' lab and sabotaging their experiments, putting everyone at the Amazing Automated Inn at risk. In pursuit of the villains, the family of scientific geniuses board their dirigible and take to the skies. Together with their robotic staff and the inventor Nikola Tesla, they must face murderous sky pirates, cross the Alps in a giant mechanical spider, and defy the perilous pigeon Iron Claw and the malevolent magician Madini once more. Will boy inventor Wally and his daring dog, Noodles, be able to defeat the evil Mesmers and their minions a second time? History and technology collide in this fast-paced series narrated by a daring dachshund and brimming with mad science.

James Dashner - A Mutiny in Time (Infinity Ring 1)  - Published by Scholastic Inc. (July 28, 2015)
Time travel is real... and it's our only hope! When best friends Dak and Sera are recruited by the secret society of Hystorians, they learn that nothing in their world is as it should be. Now it's up to them and their new ally, Riq, to visit the past and fix the Great Breaks in history. Their first stop: Spain, 1492, where a sailor named Christopher Columbus is about to be thrown overboard in a deadly mutiny.

Emma Trevayne - The Accidental Afterlife of Thomas Marsden - Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (July 28, 2015)
What if you found your own grave—and it wasn’t empty? Discover the dark delights of faeries and fortune-tellers in this gently spooky book from the author of Flights and Chimes and Mysterious Times, sure to appeal to fans of Coraline.

Grave robbing is a messy business.

A bad business. And for Thomas Marsden, on what was previously an unremarkable spring night in London, it becomes a very spooky business. For lying in an unmarked grave and half covered with dirt is a boy the spitting image of Thomas himself. This is only the first clue that something very strange is happening. Others follow, but it is a fortune-teller’s frightened screams that lead Thomas into a strange world of spiritualists, death, and faery folk. Faery folk with whom Thomas’s life is bizarrely linked. Faery folk who need his help.

Desperate to unearth the truth about himself and where he comes from, Thomas is about to discover magic, ritual, and the uncanny truth that sometimes the things that make a boy ordinary are what make him extraordinary.

Tamara Ellis Smith - Another Kind of Hurricane - Published Schwartz & Wade (July 14, 2015)
In this stunning debut novel, two very different characters—a black boy who loses his home in Hurricane Katrina and a white boy in Vermont who loses his best friend in a tragic accident—come together to find healing. 
 
A hurricane, a tragic death, two boys, one marble. How they intertwine is at the heart of this beautiful, poignant book. When ten-year-old Zavion loses his home in Hurricane Katrina, he and his father are forced to flee to Baton Rouge. And when Henry, a ten-year-old boy in northern Vermont, tragically loses his best friend, Wayne, he flees to ravaged New Orleans to help with hurricane relief efforts—and to search for a marble that was in the pocket of a pair of jeans donated to the Red Cross. 

Elen Caldecott - Crowns and Codebreakers (Marsh Road Mysteries 2) Book Review

• 
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's (2 July 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1408852713
• ISBN-13: 978-1408852712

This is the second book to be published in the fantastic series 'The Marsh Road Mysteries'. At the time of reading this book, it soon became evident that I had not actually read the first book in the series, which really surprised me. However, I had no problem in picking up the story from page one and really engaging with it; you can jump straight into this contemporary detective mystery and let your imagination run away with you. 

At a time when we have many more books being published in this vein, the thought to be considered is whether this series is worth reading. I would definitely say yes, as the book is centered around the classic elements of a good detective story; the plot contains many influences and topics which are very engaging. 

The narrative is based around five likeable children: Piotr, Minnie, Andrew, Flora and Sylvie. Each character represents the British population rather than the average stereotypical portrayal in books over time.  Through these brilliant characters, friendships and family life are explored. Each aspect is well written and instills a good sense of reality and humour to the adventure. 

When Minnie's gran comes to stay, we are introduced to a character that is more colourful and larger than life. She is much brighter than the book cover itself. The infusion of Nigerian culture, through Minnie's gran, makes the heart of a good story humming with warmth, feeling and depth which makes it standout from the crowd. 

The story has an intriguing start as Minnie's Gran notices that she's picked up the wrong suitcase at the airport. This one is full of boy's clothes, and not her favourite tea. But when their house is burgled and the only thing that is taken is the suitcase, Minnie realises there'll be much more trouble than she bargained for. This is a real page turner as you follow the gang's teamwork and detective skills to solve this imaginative story. 

Classically loaded with plenty of red herring moments, this story is set in an urban environment which mystery lovers will relate to and fall in love with. It's cool, well plotted and full of sleuthing and action. The book explores current topics and issues like art smuggling and child exploitation that make you really think as you follow the investigations. It's a more think outside the box plot which makes it different to the rest. 

This is a very engaging read with some hand-in-your-mouth moments. It is a mystery aimed at the middle-grade audience that will be a sure fire winner and is a great complement to the first instalment 'Diamonds and Daggers'. Hopefully the third book in the series will be out early 2016 - I'm really looking forward to that.  In the meantime, I am going to start by reading the first book for myself. 

    

Twitter: @ElenCaldecott  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elen-Caldecott-Childrens-Author Website: http://www.elencaldecott.com/

Sophie McKenzie - All My Secrets - Book Review (Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books)

We have a brand new title from the bestselling, award-winning author, Sophie McKenzie. This book will intrigue you as a reader and deliver a hatful of surprises, as always. Sophie entertains us with a different tale and writing, but in her trademark style, which is fantastic. However, I don't feel that this is her best book to date. As always though, I never know what to expect from Sophie as she is such a diverse writer encompassing all ages. 

What I do expect is a great story and here is another......
The preface for this book is a 10 million pound inheritance from a woman called Irina Galloway. Evie wants to know who Irina is, and why she has been given this money. However, the discovery soon turns Evie Brown's world on its head. This is the start of a mysterious ride of self discovery when Evie finds out some hard hitting truths from her parents. 

Turning detective, she uncovers the mystery benefactor, a bucket load of unanswered questions and finds herself on the Scottish Island of Lightsea searching for answers. Catapulted into danger - the story brings a crashing wave of tension and suspense which, in my opinion, is what the author does best. 

A thrilling storm is whipped up full of mystery and a dark edge tone, which will have you riding the wave of ghostly appearances and spooky mayhem. This is fantastically clever, well constructed, very engaging and is probably the best part of the book. 

The early part of the setting connected with me in a special way. It really brought back my time staying on Rose Street (Edinburgh) making the plot feel very realistic. I could see and smell the flat, as well as hear the pedestrians slapping up and down the busy street. It brought back a vibe and so many happy memories. The book explores some emotionally charged topics which will make you think and help you to relate to modern teenage life. 

The writing is concise uncovering revelations and some dark secrets that will rock you to the core.  I really loved Evie as she is a normal and realistic teenage girl. Although, I would have perhaps liked to have seen more teenage angst pumped into the character's personality. Nevertheless she is very strong willed and a natural born fighter which I really took to in a big way.  

I had no problem following this story; pure escapism for me. Whilst this story is specifically aimed at teenagers, I feel a younger audience (10 years+) would especially devour and love this book, in my opinion. The book ties together all of the loose knots in a satisfactory and climatic way, which suggests that it is a standalone book with no other book to follow.    

I would definitely recommend The Medusa Project series by Sophie McKenzie; these are some of my all time personal favourite books. 

Published by Simon & Schuster Children's Books (2 July 2015)

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Middle Grade Children's Book Picks - July 2015 - US Post One

Robert Beatty - Serafina and the Black Cloak - Published by Disney-Hyperion - Hardcover (July 14, 2015)
"Never go into the forest, for there are many dangers there, and they will ensnare your soul."

Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There's plenty to explore in her grand home, but she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate's maintenance man, have lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember. She has learned to sneak and hide.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore's corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore's owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak's true identity before all of the children vanish one by one.

Serafina's hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past.

Jessica Day George - Silver in the Blood - Published by Bloomsbury USA Children's, Hardcover (July 7, 2015)

As spoiled society girls from New York City circa 1890, Dacia and Lou never desired to know more about their lineage, instead preferring to gossip about their mysterious Romanian relatives, the Florescus. But upon turning seventeen, the girls must return to their homeland to meet their family, find proper husbands, and-most terrifyingly-learn the secrets of The Claw, The Wing, and The Smoke. 

The Florescus, after all, are shape-shifters, bound by a centuries-old tradition to do the bidding of the royal Dracula family and it is time for Dacia and Lou to take their place among the ranks. But when the devilish heir, Mihai Dracula sets his sights on Dacia as part of his plan to secure power over all of Europe, the girls choose to fight against this cruel inheritance with all their might. Only the dashing Lord Johnny Hardcastle and the mysterious Theophilus Arkady- members of a secret society charged with ridding the world of monsters-can help Dacia and Lou, but breaking the shackles of their upbringing will require more courage than the girls ever imagined.

The thrilling start to a richly drawn, romance-filled series, this epic adventure of two girls in a battle for their lives will have readers coming back for more.

Guillermo Del Toro & Daniel Kraus - Trollhunters -  Published by Disney-Hyperion, Hardcover (July 7, 2015)

"You are food. Those muscles you flex to walk, lift, and talk? They're patties of meat topped with chewy tendon. That skin you've paid so much attention to in mirrors? It's delicious to the right tongues, a casserole of succulent tissue. And those bones that give you the strength to make your way in the world? They rattle between teeth as the marrow is sucked down slobbering throats. These facts are unpleasant but useful. There are things out there, you see, that don't cower in holes to be captured by us and cooked over our fires. These things have their own ways of trapping their kills, their own fires, their own appetites."

Jim Sturges is your typical teen in suburban San Bernardino-one with an embarrassingly overprotective dad, a best friend named "Tubby" who shares his hatred of all things torturous (like gym class), and a crush on a girl who doesn't know he exists. But everything changes for Jim when a 45-year old mystery resurfaces, threatening the lives of everyone in his seemingly sleepy town. Soon Jim has to team up with a band of unlikely (and some un-human) heroes to battle the monsters he never knew existed.

From the minds of Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus comes a new illustrated novel about the fears that move in unseen places.

Mark Alpert - The Six - Published by Sourcebooks Fire, Hardcover (July 7, 2015)

To save humanity, they must give up their own.

Adam's muscular dystrophy has stolen his mobility, his friends, and in a few short years, it will take his life. Virtual reality games are Adam's only escape from his wheelchair. In his alternate world, he can defeat anyone. Running, jumping, scoring touchdowns: Adam is always the hero.

Then an artificial intelligence program, Sigma, hacks into Adam's game. Created by Adam's computer-genius father, Sigma has gone rogue, threatening Adam's life-and world domination. Their one chance to stop Sigma is using technology Adam's dad developed to digitally preserve the mind of his dying son.

Along with a select group of other terminally ill teens, Adam becomes one of the Six who have forfeited their bodies to inhabit weaponized robots. But with time running short, the Six must learn to manipulate their new mechanical forms and work together to train for epic combat...before Sigma destroys humanity.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Recommended Children's Books - July 2015

Sophie McKenzie - All My Secrets - Published by Simon & Schuster Childrens Books (2 July 2015)
A brand new title from bestselling, award-winning author, Sophie McKenzie. The shocking reality behind a GBP10 million inheritance turns Evie Brown's world on its head. Unable to find out the truth from her parents, Evie ends up on the mysterious island of Lightsea, where her desire for answers leads her towards a series of revelations that threaten everything she holds dear ...including her life.

Huw Powell - The Lost Sword (SpaceJackers) - Published by Bloomsbury Children's (2 July 2015)

Star Wars meets Pirates of the Caribbean in this second swashbuckling quest for Jake Cutler and friends!

Jake Cutler - 13-year-old ruler of the secret planet Altus - is on the run from the Interstellar Navy. He and the crew of the pirate spaceship, the Dark Horse, are wanted over the disappearance of the ISS Colossus, the most powerful ship in the Navy's fleet.

But that's not the only reason Jake's being hunted. If he's found, he'll be forced to reveal the location of Altus, home to a fortune in crystals. With that much wealth, the Interstellar Navy plans to start an intergalactic war bigger than any seen before. It's up to Jake to stop them, but how will a teenager convince the rulers of the universe that they're in terrible danger?

Elen Caldecott - Crowns and Codebreakers (The Marsh Road Mysteries 2) - Published by Bloomsbury Children's (2 July 2015)

Meet Piotr, Minnie, Andrew, Flora and Sylvie - true friends and even better mystery-solvers!

When Minnie's gran comes to stay, all the way from Nigeria, Minnie KNOWS there will be trouble. And straight away Gran notices she's picked up the wrong suitcase at the airport. This one is full of boy's clothes, and she's not at all happy about it! But when their house is burgled and the only thing taken is the suitcase, Minnie realises there'll be much more trouble than she bargained for. Can the gang solve the crime or will the mystery of the little lost boy be forever unsolved?

The second in a fantastic new series filled with friendship, adventure and mystery!

Gillian Philip - Mysteries of Ravenstorm Island: The Ship of Ghosts - Published by Orchard Books (2 July 2015) 

Unlock the secrets of Ravenstorm Island...

Molly and Arthur already know that Ravenstorm Island is alive with magical secrets.

So they soon suspect that the appearance of a ghostly pirate ship might have something to do with the terrifying storms battering the island. What is the story behind the grudge between the pirates and Ravenstorm's gargoyle guardians?

And can the children break an ancient curse in time to save the island? 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's/Teens Book Picks - July 2015 - UK Post Two

Chris Wooding - Velocity - Published by Scholastic Press (2 July 2015)

Cassica and Shiara have grown up in an outback settlement far from anywhere. Life's hard where they live, but these two girls have a dream. They want to take on the Widowmaker: an off-road rally through some of the most dangerous places on Earth. It's their ticket to fame and fortune. But it just might be the death of them...

Kevin Brooks - The Snake Trap ( Travis Delaney Investigates ) Published by Macmillan Children's Books (2 July 2015)

Following a death-defying escape from the hands of a criminal overlord, young PI Travis Delaney thinks he might finally be getting closer to finding out who killed his parents, and why. But things are about to get a whole lot more deadly . . .

One moment Travis is trapped in an armed face-off in the offices of Delaney & Co, private investigators. The next terrorists have stormed the building and he's been abducted. Kept captive alongside Winston, the rogue security officer who Travis believes is responsible for his parents' death, Travis is quickly plagued by more questions than answers.

As the truth begins to emerge, Travis is faced with the ultimate dilemma: how do you choose between saving your own life or saving the life of someone you love?

Lu Hersey - Deep Water - Published by Usborne Publishing Ltd (1 July 2015)

When her mum vanishes, Danni moves to a tiny Cornish fishing village with Dad - where the locals treat her like a monster. As the village's dark, disturbing past bubbles to the surface, Danni discovers that she's not who - or what - she thought she was. And the only way to save her family from a bitter curse is to embrace her incredible new gift.

David Hofmeyr - Stone Rider - Published by Penguin (16 July 2015)

Adam Stone wants freedom and peace. 

He wants a chance to escape Blackwater, the dust-bowl desert town he grew up in. Most of all, he wants the beautiful Sadie Blood.

Alongside Sadie and the dangerous outsider, Kane, Adam will ride the Blackwater Trail in a brutal race that will test them all, body and soul. Only the strongest will survive.

The prize? A one-way ticket to Sky-Base and unimaginable luxury.

And for a chance at this new life, Adam will risk everything . 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's/Teens Book Picks - July 2015 - UK Post One

Robin Stevens - First Class Murder: A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery - Published by Corgi Children's (30 July 2015)
This book is from the author of Murder Most Unladylike. Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are taking a holiday on the world-famous Orient Express. From the moment the girls step aboard, it's clear that each of their fellow first-class passengers has something to hide. Even more intriguing: rumour has it that there is a spy in their midst. Then, during dinner, there is a scream from inside one of the cabins. When the door is broken down, a passenger is found murdered, her stunning ruby necklace gone. But the killer is nowhere to be seen - as if they had vanished into thin air. Daisy and Hazel are faced with their first ever locked-room mystery - and with competition from several other sleuths, who are just as determined to crack the case.

Shane Hegarty - Worlds Explode: Darkmouth BK 2 - Published by HarperCollins Children's Books (30 July 2015)

The second book in the monstrously funny and action-packed new series: Darkmouth. It’s going to be legendary. The adventures of the most unfortunate Legend Hunter ever to don fighting armour and pick up a Dessicator continue…

On a list of things Finn never thought he'd wish for, a gateway bursting open in Darkmouth was right up there. But that's about his only hope for finding his missing father. He's searched for a map, he's followed Steve into dead ends, but found nothing. And he's still got homework to do.

But soon Finn and Emmie must face bizarre Legends, a ravenous world and a face from the past as they go where no Legend Hunter has gone before. Or, at least, where no legend Hunter has gone before and returned with their limbs in the correct order.

Emma Carroll - In Darkling Wood - Published by Faber & Faber (2 July 2015)

'You're telling me there are fairies in this wood?'

When Alice's brother gets a longed-for chance for a heart transplant, Alice is suddenly bundled off to her estranged grandmother's house. There's nothing good about staying with Nell, except for the beautiful Darkling Wood at the end of her garden - but Nell wants to have it cut down. Alice feels at home there, at peace, and even finds a friend, Flo. But Flo doesn't seem to go to the local school and no one in town has heard of a girl with that name. When Flo shows Alice the surprising secrets of Darkling Wood, Alice starts to wonder, what is real? And can she find out in time to save the wood from destruction?

Leo Hunt - 13 Days of Midnight - Published by Orchard Books (2 July 2015)

When Luke Manchett's estranged father dies suddenly, he leaves his son a dark inheritance. Luke has been left in charge of his father's ghost collection: eight restless spirits. They want revenge for their long enslavement, and in the absence of the father, they're more than happy to take his son. It isn't fair, but you try and reason with the vengeful dead.

Halloween, the night when the ghosts reach the height of their power, is fast approaching. With the help of school witchlet Elza Moss, and his cowardly dog Ham, Luke has just thirteen days to uncover the closely guarded secrets of black magic, and send the unquiet spirits to their eternal rest. The alternative doesn't bear thinking about.