Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's Book Picks - March 2026 US

Matteo L. Cerilli - Fathom Fall - Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books (March 3, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1547616527 - Hardback - Age: 12+ 

The Maze Runner meets Fortnite in this action-packed young YA about a boy who finds out the monsters from his favorite video game are real.

They came for our water, but they'll settle for your blood.

On Fathom Fall's leaderboard, player Wyatt “DoctorDoctor” Docherty ranks at number three. In real life, he's seen only as the privileged kid of head engineers at Hydrexo, the company that supplies 75% of North America's water. He has easy access, while others must line up to pay exorbitant prices at public water taps, and he feels totally useless. 

To prove he's more than a spoiled Water Baby, Wyatt wants to win the upcoming Fathom Fall competition and finally make a name for himself. But when he starts seeing Bluddites – the water-guzzling monsters from the game – in real life, Wyatt suspects that the tournament is about more than just prize money.

Wyatt wants to win, but as the tournament approaches, he starts to worry: Why won't anyone tell them what's really going on? Why would the game – the military, even – be training kids to hunt monsters for them? And how far is he willing to go to prove himself?

Set in a near-future, water-scarce Toronto, Fathom Fall is a high-octane speculative thrill ride that questions the ethics of new technology and how it defines our very reality.

Micah Johnson (Author), Durk van der Meer (Illustrator) - Aku: Journey to Ibra - Published by Random House Books for Young Readers (March 3, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593811788 - Hardback - Age: 7+

Aku has always dreamed of becoming an astronaut. It’s easier to picture life among the stars than deal with the bully at school—or the pain of his grandfather’s mysterious disappearance. But when a strange space helmet shows up in his basement, Aku is pulled into something far bigger than he ever imagined.

The space helmet doesn’t just look cool—it teleports him to Ibra, a distant planet under siege. There, precious Lunaberries are being stolen by a ruthless space militia, and Aku’s grandfather may be the key to stopping them. With the help of his best friends and a few unlikely allies, Aku must dream bigger than ever before, find the courage to lead, and discover that bravery isn’t about having no fear—it’s about rising above it.

Ross Montgomery - Small Wonder - Published by Candlewick (March 3, 2026) - ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1536252468 - Paperback - Age: 8+ 

Remember everything I taught you, Small Wonder. Take care of Leaf. Take care of Pebble. I’ve done all I can. The rest is up to you . . .
Tick, called Small Wonder by his grandfather, lives peacefully at the edge of Ellia, along with his little brother and faithful horse. But then a deadly assassin and an invading army arrive. The kingdom is in danger and Tick has six moons to get to King’s Keep and warn their ruler. Traveling through forests and over mountains, encountering bandits and rogue knights, Tick is determined to honor his grandfather’s last words of advice . . . Make it count. Can Tick warn the kingdom in time and protect his little brother from the dangers they encounter? As they make their treacherous journey through Ellia, Tick starts to uncover a long-buried history that will change everything he thought he knew.

Christina Uss - Midnight Mayhem - Published by Holiday House (March 3, 2026) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0823456352 - Hardback - Age: 8+  

Kaz Jakobsen can’t sleep.

Ever again.

Kaz Jakobsen knows things will never be the same after his family’s sudden move to Philadelphia. He’ll have to make new friends, which isn’t his strong suit. But an even bigger change arrives at a restaurant where he orders a bagel sandwich. Kaz eats a potent combo of the world’s greenest mustard and rootiest rootbeer and loses his ability to sleep.

Scientifically, brain + no sleep = kablammo. The longest a human insomniac has gone without sleep is eleven days. What will happen to Kaz without sleep for more than seventy years? How will he survive the lonely boredom?

Kaz luckily meets Floyd, a fellow non-sleeping kid, at a sleep study lab. Floyd thinks being sleepless is a super-power, a chance to try a million new things. He takes Kaz on madcap midnight adventures, introducing him to all the things kids are allowed to do at night in Philadelphia. And a few things they aren’t. The bad news: his ideas always seem to lead to mayhem.

Kaz wants to keep Floyd’s friendship but lose the mayhem. When he learns there’s an antidote to a lifetime awake, he has a tough choice to make. If Kaz cures his sleeplessness, will he lose the best friend he’s ever had?

K. L. Kettle - The Boy I Am - Interview (Q&A) - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books #11

Welcome to another fantastic interview. This time it is with debut author K.L. Kettle who had The Boy I Am published at the start of the year. This book really delivers a story that is both detailed and structured; producing an unusual story with high levels of realism that has some relevance in today's world. The book cover has been creatively illustrated by Thomas Truong. In fact, it was a strong contender in last year's book cover wars (please check out this year's competition if you haven't already). We hope you find this interview interesting and if you haven't already read this story then I recommend you purchase a copy today. Have a great day and stay safe. 
 

• The Boy I Am is a dystopian fantasy Young Adult novel. What makes this book stand out from all the other books in this genre and why should we read it?

I love playing with genre and tropes, because ultimately, Iit’s a lot of fun to subvert the expectations we’ve been trained to expect as readers, and consumers of media in general. We don’t realise often how story literate we are, because we’re fed stories on a daily basis, until these expectations are twisted. YA Dystopia is a genre with a lot of tropes that are fun to play with. I’m hoping that this subversion of expectations makes The Boy I am stand out, particularly by gender-flipping a traditional feminist narrative. I hope that it’s enjoyable to read because it’ll catch you off guard, both with the big twists, and in the small moments. 

• What are the main themes used in this book and how do you ensure they are balanced within the narrative?

When first drafting I always intended that gender equity would be a key theme in the story, but this certainly evolved over time in a way to cover social power dynamics in general, and the challenges of self-identification, self-understanding and definition when faced with social expectations. As these themes are so intertwined in the real world it didn’t feel hard to balance them in the narrative, but it was a challenge balancing them with other elements I wanted to build into the story (the thriller element for example.) 

• Did you have a Eureka moment where everything came together or did you chop and change the story many times to become the version that you were happy with?

There was the early moment when I hit upon the idea to gender flip the narrative, having not seen it done before, it really unlocked the story. Though the story began as a dual narrative, the next eureka moment was at the point I committed to a single narrative, focussing on Jude. I was afraid of it at first, the idea of writing a feminist themed story with a biological male as the main protagonist felt foolish and wrong, but at the same time unavoidable given the voice of Jude was so Strong. The third Eureka moment came near the end, when the last few pages final fell into place, and were the result of my editor pushing me to a better ending, one I’m supremely proud of.  

• Jude is the main character in the book, does he have any of your attributes/characteristics? Which traits do you think he could further develop or work on to make him a better person in the story?

It’s probably inevitable that all of the characters in The Boy I Am are are bound to carry some of my attributes, possibly a load I don’t even recognise. There are certainly traits Jude has, heightened for sure, that I drew on from myself, particularly his negative thinking, routed in his desperation to please and fear of failure. It would be nice if some of his positive traits come from me too, his loyalty and tenacity, for example. If I develop The Boy I Am into a series or write a sequel I really would love to develop his self-confidence as well as his activist side, which only really start to emerge in the last few chapters, as well as show the challenges that come when you develop those traits in a society that pushes such things down.

• How do you start to write about a fantasy world that the readers can relate to and escape into? 

At University I studied Politics and Economics, so as the world in the novel developed I would constantly develop a sort of supporting ‘wiki’ covering the financial system, legal, governmental and social structures which provide the scaffolding. All of the systems are built on present day, evolutions of present day structures, or even historical ones. I felt it was really important to ground this world in ours, to make it as clear as I could (given it’s told through the eyes of someone who is taught about the world in a limited way) that the world in the story has our own present as a foundation. It made it easier for me to imagine the world, so I hope it works for the reader to. 

• Reflecting on the writing process, is there anything that you disliked or would change if you could?

Probably just the time it took to reach the final story but I love the collaboration process and working with multiple editors, both before and after signing with Little Tiger, was a wonderful journey of discovery. 

• Your book has been published for nearly a year now, do you think positive and/or any valid critical comments are useful to you as a writer? If so, in what ways?

I’ve reached the point where reading reviews is no longer helpful, both the kind and positive ones and those for whom the story, for whatever reason, has not resonated. All reviews have fuelled imposter syndrome as I work on my follow-up novel. In the early months they were great, as particularly during the pandemic it was so hard to connect with readers and understand what really connected and what didn’t.  

• Do you think there are many similarities between the pandemic we are going through and the book you have written? 

The book was written pre-pandemic but I certainly think that entrenched social groupings, segregated living and the ‘othering’ that can occur in entrenched and trapped communities is present, and was fascinating to see happen in the real world during the pandemic. 

• You describe yourself as a general nerd wrangler. What are your favourite nerdy things to wrangle with?

Nerds themselves, mostly. I love people who are passionate about what they do, particularly when it comes to technology. Coders and application builders are as creative and driven as any writer, and the way that the things we use on a daily basis are built are created with much the same way books are created. I have a very evenly split left/right brain, so can marry my logical and creative thinking in ways that some people can’t – I love bringing logical to the creative process and creativity to the logical. 

Children's Books Published May 2020 - Twitter Round Up Post - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books

Hello Everybody, I hope you are all safe and well. I thought we would do a post to help support authors, illustrators, publishers, and hardworking bookshops who are currently facing extraordinary times. With everybody turning to social media and online sites to promote their books or businesses, it can be a whirlwind of noise. At times like this, some books may go unseen by people (including me!) which is the inspiration for this post. A recent @Enchantedbooks tweet post as highlighted some of the fantastic books that are weathering the fantasy storm this month (May 2020). 


We've put a collection of the books from this tweet that covers a diverse range of books for children which can be loved by adults, especially the ones I have missed mentioning previously.  We will also try and put in Independent books sellers links with each selection which might help small or independent businesses at a time like this.  We have a graphic novel, picture book, and an assortment of books that we thought you might be interested in reading and buying. I would like to thank you all who responded on twitter it was fantastic to hear from.  I'm also happy to put other book shop links if any of you come forward. I did best to put them all on here and it might be a feature we will do regularly again. Stay safe and well and happy reading. 



Metaphrog - Bluebeard - Published by Papercutz (19 May 2020) - Graphic Novel Hardback - Age: 8+ Buy Here From Page 45
The award-winning duo, Metaphrog, transform the classic folktale into a feminist fairy tale, about the blossoming of a young child to womanhood striving for independence. Eve spends an idyllic childhood of long summer days with her sweetheart Tom, and together they dream of exploring the world. But that dream is soon shattered as she comes of age. The mysterious Bluebeard is looking for a new bride and has his sights set on Eve, and rumor has it that his former wives have all disappeared. What will Eve find in the castle beyond the enchanted forest? A forbidden chamber, a golden key, and the most terrifying secret take on a new life in this gothic graphic novel.

Tim Allman (Author), Nick Shepherd (Illustrator) - Max Takes a Stand - Published by OUP Oxford (7 May 2020) - Paperback - Age: 7+ Buy From Blackwells Here

This fun, anarchic series revolves around a boy called Max and his mission to make the world a better place. In each book in the series, Max tries to save the planet through positive direct action, with hilarious results but real heart too. Unfortunately, not everyone reacts so positively to Max's methods-but nothing can dampen his passion!

Josh Lacey (Author), Beatriz Castro (Illustrator) - Hope Jones Saves the World - Published by Andersen Press (7 May 2020) - Paperback - Age: 8+  Buy Here From Hive (Read Extract Here)
My name is Hope Jones. I am ten years old. I am going to save the world. 
Hope Jones New Year s resolution is to give up plastic, and she s inspiring others to do the same with her website hopejonessavestheworld.com. When she realises her local supermarket seems to stock more unnecessary plastic than food, she makes it her mission to do something about it. She may be just one ten-year-old with a homemade banner, but with enough determination, maybe Hope Jones really can save the world.

Angela Woolfe - Roxy & Jones: The Great Fairytale Cover-Up - Published by Walker Books (7 May 2020) - Paperback - Age: 8+ Buy Here From Waterstones

A hilarious modern fairy-tale mash-up set in a world in which witches are real, magic is real and fairy tales are not only real ... but recent history.

Once Upon a Modern Time, in the city of Rexopolis, in the Kingdom of Illustria, lived twelve-year-old Roxy Humperdinck, half-sister to Hansel and Gretel (yes, THE Hansel and Gretel, not that she knows it). Enter Cinderella ("Call me Jones") Jones, who most definitely does NOT want to marry ghastly Prince Charming and is far too busy hunting for lost relics of the Cursed Kingdom. But now she needs Roxy's help. And Roxy's about to discover the truth about her world and her family: that witches are real, magic is real and fairy tales are not only real ... but recent history.

Sylvia Hehir - Deleted - Published by Garmoran Publishing (28 May 2020)  - Paperback - Age: 12+ - Check Out The Publisher Here

How much worse can Dee's life get? Having already suffered a traumatic break up with her boyfriend, her best friend is now warning her off the handsome new boy in the village. So what if his dad is a traveller? And that's without all the problems she's having with her mobile phone. A young adult romance with a hint of mystery.

Julia Rawlinson (Author), Tiphanie Beeke (Illustrator) - Fletcher and the Summer Show Published by Graffeg Limited (10 May 2020) -  Hardback Picture Book - Buy Here From Publisher

Combining emotive, lyrical storytelling with an engagement with nature, the adventures of Fletcher coincide with the characteristics of the four seasons, inspired directly by author Julia Rawlinson's experiences with her own children and their inquisitiveness about nature.

The character and book series have been widely used in educational settings as a springboard for exploration of language, illustration, storytelling, friendship and the natural world.

As summer begins, the wood comes alive with new sounds, but without a distinctive one of her own to join in with, Rabbit feels left out. With the help of his friends, Fletcher decides to put on a show where everyone's talents can shine. The second of four Fletcher titles themed around the passing seasons.

William Sutcliffe - The Gifted, the Talented and Me - Book Review - Mr. Ripley's Enchanted Books

The Gifted, the Talented and Me is the latest YA book by William Sutcliffe to find its way onto the bookshelves this May. Published by Bloomsbury, this will be William's third YA novel and it is very different from his previous books. When I received this book for review, I scanned the synopsis and thought this is not my cup of tea. One of the lines on the press release was "you think Adrian Mole had problems?" I knew at this point that I'd got problems as this was not a book I thought I was going to remotely enjoy. So, you can see that my expectations were set really quite low.

I started to read this book but then, to be honest, the preface left me slightly intrigued. Dad got rich and his mum moved the family to London. Sam, the main character, then takes us on a teenage journey of mixed emotions that actually feel like you are reading an actual account from a real person. The author has really skillfully achieved this in his writing.

Sam and his brothers find themselves moving to a new school, but not any ordinary school. It's the North London Academy for the Gifted and Talented. At this point, the idea slowly reeled me in like a little worm looking for some fantasy gold. I actually started to find the story interesting and before I knew it, with a grumpy teenage strop here and an Instagram update there, I found this book to be really brilliant.

I felt like I was sitting on a fantasy fence watching how some families when elevated with wealth, change their lives and their outlook on the world. The Mum in the family suddenly embraces the arts and is laughed at. I also like the blogger side of Mum in the plot - a very neat touch and, for me, particularly relatable to.  Dad is aloof but brings a sense of realism to some of the situations, alongside his many rounds of golf. This book really explores the lives of the three siblings adapting to their new school life. It's brilliantly warm and very comical. It will make you laugh and possibly choke on your tears at the same time.

The story is essentially about adapting and finding your own place; playing the LIFE game and dealing with emotions. It has a great message for the reader about staying true to yourself. This, for me, was five-star entertainment from a book that I thought I was going to struggle with. HOW wrong was I? I loved it. A delight and an absolute joy to read from the very first page. It will keep you on your toes with crazy capers until the very last page has been turned and only then will you be able to breathe easily again!

Synopsis: Laugh-out-loud funny and instantly recognisable - not since The Inbetweeners has a coming of age story been so irreverent and relatable. 

Fifteen-year-old Sam is not a famous vlogger, he's never gone viral, and he doesn't want to be the Next Big Thing. In fact, he's ordinary and proud of it.

None of which was a problem until Dad got rich and Mum made the whole family move to London. Now Sam's off to the North London Academy for the Gifted and Talented, where everyone's busy planning Hollywood domination or starting alt-metal psychedelica crossover bands. Sam knows he'll never belong, even if he wanted to. And that's before he ends up on stage wearing nothing but a fur onesie ...

A brilliantly funny look at fitting in, falling out and staying true to your own averageness.

Waterstones Children’s Book Prize shortlists 2018 (Appetite for new Imaginary Worlds)

Children’s Book Prize shortlists reflect readers’ appetite for new imaginary worlds

Stories depicting the fantastical are highlighted in the shortlists for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2018, announced today, Wednesday 7^th February. 

In previous years, real-life topics were prominent in the shortlists, but this year it is notable that the majority of shortlisted fiction titles are fantastical adventures. Many of the authors, representing the best in new children’s writing, have chosen to provide escapism from the boundaries of reality by setting their stories in imagined realms, or by infusing real-world settings with magical elements.

Florentyna Martin, Waterstones Children’s Buyer says:

“Whilst we still see exceptional real-life stories, this year’s shortlists indicate a renewed interest in the publishing and purchasing of fantastical adventure stories. Children have always been eager to experience worlds beyond our own, whether it’s in books, films or technology, but our booksellers’ shortlist choices show that a resurgence of nostalgic fantastical adventures is creating a hunger for new magical stories. We’ve been treated recently to bestselling revisits to the Wizarding World, with both Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts, and our booksellers crowned Philip Pullman’s new adventure La Belle Sauvageas Book of the Year 2017, ultimately championing the wide-reaching magic of children’s books. The books chosen by our booksellers on this year’s list are classics of the future, and will be inspiring children for generations to come.”

A selection of more traditional adventure stories set in imaginary worlds, exemplified by Kieran Larwood’s The Five Realms: The Legend of Podkin One Ear, is highlighted in the ‘younger fiction’ shortlists. The first book in a new series, The Legend of Podkin One Ear is inspired by the author’s joy of reading The Hobbit as a child, and comparable to beloved childhood classics, such as Watership Down and Redwall. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend, another first book in a new series, is a story in the tradition of Harry Potter, creating a “wundrous” world full of adventures. Helena Duggan’s A Place Called Perfect is a fantastical mystery, reminiscent of Neil Gaiman and Roald Dahl stories.

‘Fiction for older readers’ showcases fantastical story telling in its various forms, from speculative fiction to a magical coming of age story, and all protagonists are strong young women. Ink by Alice Broadway imagines a world where everyone’s actions and significant moments are tattooed on their skin for ever. Emily Bain Murphy’s The Disappearances is a story thick with secrets and follows a teenage girl whose family history could hold the key to a town’s mystery. Alternating between wordless graphic novel and written journal entries, Thornhill by Pam Smy tells the story of two girls and one house, evoking the atmosphere of a gothic ghost novel.

Themes of fantasy and nature have merged in several of the illustrated books. In surreal adventure story The Secret of Black Rock by Joe Todd-Stanton a young girl discovers the truth behind a mysterious legend about the deepest sea and protects a peaceful creature from human harm. In The Night Box, Louise Greig and Ashling Lindsay tell a lyrical story about the magical nature of night-time. Sandra Dieckmann’s beautifully illustrated book Leaf introduces the youngest readers to the effects of global warming by telling  the story of a lost polar bear, who floats away from home on an ice floe and tries to find his way back.

James Daunt, Waterstones Managing Director says:

“The track record of our Children’s Prize is a source of great pride. Year after year, the Prize launches the enduring careers of a succession of brilliant writers. Our bookshops revel in the vibrant creativity of children’s publishing, with growing sales propelled to a significant extent by new discoveries. This is proving to be a golden age for children’s books in which we are delighted to play our part.”

The Waterstones Children’s book prize exists to reward and champion new and emerging talent in children’s books. Now in its fourteenth year, it is widely regarded as one of the most important prizes for children’s books.

Last year’s winner, The Girl Of Ink And Stars shot to the top of the bestseller charts after announcement and saw an increase in sales of over 1400% across the Waterstones estate.

The winners will be announced at an evening reception at Waterstones Piccadilly (London), Europe’s largest bookshop, on Thursday 22nd March 2018. Six books will compete within each category to be crowned category winner, with the three category winners then vying for the overall title of Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2018. The winner of each category will receive £2000, with the overall winner receiving an extra £3000. In the event that the prize is awarded to a partnership then the prize money will be split equally between the joint winners.

The winning authors and illustrators will also see a significant boost in sales, and the promise of an ongoing commitment to their writing career from all Waterstones shops nationwide.

The full lists of shortlisted titles (in alphabetical order by author) for the 2018 Prize are:

Illustrated Books:

Superbat by Matt Carr (Scholastic)

Leaf by Sandra Dieckmann (Flying Eye)

The Night Box by Louise Greig and Ashling Lindsay (Egmont)

I Really Want The Cake by Simon Philip and Lucia Gagiotti (Kings Road Publishing)

Fergal Is Fuming by Robert Starling (Andersen Press)

The Secret of Black Rock by Joe Todd-Stanton (Flying Eye)

Younger Fiction:

A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan (Usborne)

Who Let The Gods Out? by Maz Evans (Chicken House)

Kid Normal by Greg James, Chris Smith and Erica Salcedo, (Bloomsbury)

The Five Realms: The Legend of Podkin One–Ear by Kieran Larwood (with illustrations from renowned British artist David Wyatt), (Faber)

The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson (Scholastic)

Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend (Hachette Children’s)

Older Fiction:

The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy (Pushkin Children’s)

Troublemakers by Catherine Barter (Andersen Press)

Ink by Alice Broadway (Scholastic)

Thornhill by Pam Smy (David Fickling Books)

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada (Penguin Random House Children’s)

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (Walker)

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: First Look at Stephanie Garber's highly-anticipated YA novel, Caraval (Jan 2017)

This is the first look at Stephanie Garber’s YA debut, Caraval. This book is one of the most anticipated books to be released in January 2017. The book will be published in the U.K by Hodder & Stoughton and the US by Flatiron books, 31. Jan. 2017.  The film rights have already been snapped up by the producer of the Divergent series. Suffice it to say, you’re going to want to keep an eye on this one. A  stunningly imaginative debut novel, perfect for anyone who loved The Night Circus or Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

CARAVAL 

An original world. A legendary competition. A mesmerizing romance. An unbreakable bond between two sisters. 

Welcome to Caraval—the first book in a spell-casting fantasy series that’s perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles series and The Night Circus.

Before you enter the world of Caraval, you must remember that it’s all a game . . .

Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their ruthless father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the legendary, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

Then, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation to Caraval finally arrives. So, Tella enlists a mysterious sailor’s help to whisk Scarlett away to this year’s show. But as soon as the trio arrives, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nonetheless soon becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with her sister, with Legend, and with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Favourite Children's Book Picks US Published October 2016 - Post Two

Michael Dante DiMartino - Rebel Genius (Rebel Geniuses) - Published by Roaring Brook Press (October 4, 2016)

A new fantasy-adventure series from the co-creator of the hit animated shows Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra!

In twelve-year-old Giacomo's Renaissance-inspired world, art is powerful, dangerous, and outlawed. A few artists possess Geniuses, birdlike creatures that are the living embodiment of an artist's creative spirit. Those caught with one face a punishment akin to death, so when Giacomo discovers he has a Genius, he knows he's in serious trouble. 

Luckily, he finds safety in a secret studio where young artists and their Geniuses train in sacred geometry to channel their creative energies as weapons. But when a murderous artist goes after the three Sacred Tools--objects that would allow him to destroy the world and everyone in his path―Giacomo and his friends must risk their lives to stop him.

Rachel Hawkins - Journey's End - Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (October 25, 2016) 

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins brings us a riveting middle grade fantasy-adventure, perfect for fans of Lisa Graff.

The town of Journey's End may not literally be at the end of the world, but it sure feels like it to Nolie Stanhope. Spending the summer with her scientist father in the tiny Scottish village isn't exactly Nolie's idea of a good time, but she soon finds a friend: native Journey's Ender Bel McKissick. 

While Nolie's father came to Journey's End to study the Boundary--a mysterious fog bank offshore--Bel's family  can’t afford to consider it a threat.  The McKissick’s livelihood depends on the tourists drawn by legends of a curse. Still, whether you believe in magic or science, going into the Boundary means you'll never come back. 

…Unless you do. Albert Etheridge, a boy who disappeared into the Boundary in 1914, suddenly returns--without having aged a day and with no memory of the past hundred years. Then the Boundary starts creeping closer to the town, threatening to consume everyone within.

While Nolie's father wants to have the village evacuated, Bel's parents lead the charge to stay in Journey's End. Meanwhile, Albert and the girls look for ways to stop the encroaching boundary, coming across an ancient Scottish spell that requires magic, a quest, and a sacrifice.

Ron McGee -  Ryan Quinn and the Rebel's Escape - Published by HarperCollins (October 25, 2016)

Ryan Quinn and the Rebel’s Escape is the first fast-paced, sensational novel in a trilogy about a New York City teenager who could give James Bond and Jason Bourne a run for their money. Fans of Alex Rider and the Spy School series will be completely enthralled.

Ryan Quinn hopes his traveling days are over. The son of a United Nations worker, he’s grown up in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa—everywhere but home. He’s finally settled at a great school in New York and is making friends when, suddenly, his world is turned upside down.

Ryan is blindsided when his father disappears and his mother is abducted. Left with nothing but questions, he soon discovers his parents have been leading a double life. They actually work with the Emergency Rescue Committee, an underground organisation that has performed dangerous rescue missions since World War II, and they’ve been secretly training Ryan to follow in their footsteps.

With his parents’ lives in the balance and more at stake than he knows, Ryan dives into a mission of international intrigue that sends him around the globe. To survive, he must trust his training and perform his own daring rescue mission in a thrilling race for freedom.

Don't miss this first book in Ron McGee’s high-stakes trilogy about Ryan Quinn.

Dan Jolley - Five Elements #1: The Emerald Tablet - Published by HarperCollins (October 18, 2016)

Five elements. Four friends. One city—and its sinister shadow. This epic new middle grade series is filled with awesome elemental powers, nightmarish creatures, and nonstop adventure that will thrill fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Rick Riordan, and Brandon Mull.

When Gabe Conway and his friends find a strange old map in his uncle’s office and follow it to a crumbling secret chamber beneath San Francisco, they think they’re just having one last adventure before Gabe moves away. 

They don’t expect to end up bound to the magic of the elements, or to set off a chain of events that none of them can explain. But they’re about to get more of an adventure than they bargained for.

For the last century, a power-hungry cult has been plotting to merge our world with a twisted parallel realm. Gabe’s bloodline holds the key to the barrier between the worlds—and now it’s up to Gabe, his friends, and their new elemental powers to save San Francisco from utter destruction.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Favourite Children's Book Picks US Published October 2016 - Post One

E. K. Johnstone - Star Wars Ahsoka - Published by  Disney Lucasfilm Press (October 11, 2016)

Fans have long wondered what happened to Ahsoka after she left the Jedi Order near the end of the Clone Wars, and before she re-appeared as the mysterious Rebel operative Fulcrum in Rebels. Finally, her story will begin to be told. Following her experiences with the Jedi and the devastation of Order 66, Ahsoka is unsure she can be part of a larger whole ever again. But her desire to fight the evils of the Empire and protect those who need it will lead her right to Bail Organa, and the Rebel Alliance .

Shaun Tan - The Singing Bones - Published by Arthur A. Levine Books (October 11, 2016)  

Wicked stepmothers, traitorous brothers, cunning foxes, lonely princesses: There is no mistaking the world of the Brothers Grimm and the beloved fairy tales that have captured generations of readers. Now internationally acclaimed artist Shaun Tan shows us the beautiful, terrifying, amusing, and downright peculiar heart of these tales as never before seen.

With a foreword by Neil Gaiman and an introduction by renowned fairy-tale expert Jack Zipes, this stunning gallery of sculptural works will thrill and delight art lovers and fairy-tale aficionados alike.

Diana Wagman - Extraordinary October - Published by Ig Publishing (October 18, 2016)  

October is an ordinary girl. From her plain looks to her average grades, there seems to be nothing special about her. Then, three days before her eighteenth birthday, she develops a strange itch that won't go away, and her life is turned upside down. Suddenly, she can hear dogs talk, make crows fly, and two new and very handsome boys at school are vying for her affections. After she starts "transplanting" herself through solid rock, October learns that she is not ordinary at all, but the daughter of a troll princess and a fairy prince, and a pawn in a deadly war between the trolls and the fairies. Now October will have to use all of her growing powers to save her family, and stop a mysterious evil that threatens to destroy the fairy world.

Anna-Marie McLemore - When the Moon was Ours: A Novel - Published by A Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Griffin (October 4, 2016)

Anna-Marie McLemore’s debut novel The Weight of Feathers was greeted with rave reviews, a YALSA Morris Award nomination, and spots on multiple “Best YA Novels” lists. Now, McLemore delivers a second stunning and utterly romantic novel, again tinged with magic.

To everyone who knows them, best friends Miel and Sam are as strange as they are inseparable. Roses grow out of Miel’s wrist, and rumors say that she spilled out of a water tower when she was five. Sam is known for the moons he paints and hangs in the trees and for how little anyone knows about his life before he and his mother moved to town. But as odd as everyone considers Miel and Sam, even they stay away from the Bonner girls, four beautiful sisters rumored to be witches. Now they want the roses that grow from Miel’s skin, convinced that their scent can make anyone fall in love. And they’re willing to use every secret Miel has fought to protect to make sure she gives them up. 

Atmospheric, dynamic, and packed with gorgeous prose, When the Moon was Ours is another winner from this talented author.

Now Open for Submissions: YA Book Prize 2017 (27th September - 1st December 2017)

We have come to the time of year when we are opening submissions for the YA Book Prize again. It’s amazing to think that we are already planning the third award, as it seems like it’s only been five minutes since we excitedly launched the prize because we wanted to support UKYA and the fantastic books being published in the UK and Ireland.

In such a short amount of time the prize has come so far. We’ve given the award to two fantastic books so far – Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill (Quercus), which was given the inaugural prize in 2015, and One by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury Children’s), which won this year.
Both authors are hugely successful within the YA field – O’Neill has since winning the YA Book Prize signed a big US film deal and a new publishing deal with Hachettte, and Crossan, already a huge name in children’s publishing, won the Carnegie Medal.

We really can’t wait to see which books publishers enter for the YA Book Prize 2017.
To be eligible, entries must be:
- Published either in hardback or paperback for the first time between 1^st January and 31^st December 2016
- A novel aimed at YA readers (16 and over)
- Written by an author resident in the UK or Ireland who was resident for at least six months prior to publication
This year, as with every year, we are looking for the books that YA readers are most likely to want to (A) read and (B) recommend to their friends. We also want a shortlist that is as diverse as possible – so please do send in a mix of genres and types of stories. We love contemporary YA but want to showcase different types of books, so if you have a horror or sci-fi YA, send it in!

To enter, all you have to do is fill in the form here with all the relevant details.
You will also need to send 10 copies of every book entered to The Bookseller, Crowne House, 56-58 Southwark Street,London, SE1 1UN.

The deadline for entries is 1^st December 2016.
Full terms and conditions are on the YA Book Prize website, including marketing and publicity financial commitments for shortlisted books. If you have any queries please get in touch by emailing charlotte.eyre@thebookseller.com. 
The shortlist will be announced in the spring, and the winner will be revealed at the Hay Festival 2017.