Showing posts with label jUNE 2025. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jUNE 2025. Show all posts

Monday, 2 June 2025

The Best Children's Book Picks: JUNE 2025 US POST Edition - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

Lauren Magaziner - The Incorruptibles - Publisher ‏: Aladdin - Publication date : ‎June 10, 2025 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎978-1665968669 - Hardback - Age: 9+ 

A girl joins the human resistance against sorcerer tyranny in this “breathless” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) first book in the exciting upper middle grade fantasy series The Incorruptibles that’s Keeper of the Lost Cities meets The Marvellers.

Fiora Barrowling lives in a world where sorcerers rule over humans. After surviving an encounter with The Radiance—the very worst of the sorcerers—she’s whisked away to the incredible Incorruptibles (“Inc”) Academy, a school for resistance fighters in training. But most of the other students think Fiora hasn’t earned her place there, and when things start to go wrong and it seems the sorcerers have a spy in the academy, all eyes are on Fiora. With all odds stacked against her, can Fiora prove that she belongs?

Amber Chen - The Blood Phoenix - Publisher:  Viking Books for Young Readers - Publication date ‏: ‎June 17, 2025 - ISBN-13 ‏: ‎ 978-0593622780 - Hardback - Age: 10+

The sequel to Of Jade and Dragons, a thrilling and epic silkpunk fantasy inspired by the legendary Qing dynasty. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Lim and Xiran Jay Zhao.

Two years after Ying leaves the Engineer’s Guild and the ghost of her father’s unjust death behind, life seems to regain a semblance of normalcy. But the winds of unrest continue to stir within the Nine Isles, and the aftermath of a horrific pirate attack by the mysterious Blood Phoenix fleet forces Ying back into the tense political world of the new High Commander, Ye-yang. And soon, Ying, Ye-yang and her former friends from the guild must work together to find a way to outsmart the cunning pirates who terrorize the straits—and the elusive mastermind who’s controlling them.

Meanwhile, Ying’s sister, Nian, now lives in the capital, awaiting the day she will finally marry the High Commander. While her relationship with Ye-yang remains distant, she finds company in her friendship with the fourteenth prince, Ye-kan, and discovers her unexpected affinity for governance and strategy. But the capital is more dangerous than she expects, and when a dark conspiracy arises, Nian and Ye-kan must unravel the mystery in time to prevent the High Command from collapsing from within.

New dangers arise at every moment, threatening to tear the Nine Isles apart. In order to sail through this storm, Ying and her loved ones must make difficult choices amidst terrible betrayals. With the world on the brink of destruction, will they find a way to defeat their enemies and survive? And will it be worth the cost?

  • Rosalyn Ransaw - Smoke & Mirrors Publisher : ‎Amulet Books - Publication date ‏: ‎June 10, 2025 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎978-1419770135 - Hardback - Age: 8+ 

An exciting and twisty middle-grade debut mystery novel—perfect for fans of From the Desk of Zoe Washington and The Parker Inheritance—about the disappearance of a famous magician, and one boy’s quest to find the truth

Spending the summer with his aunt as the only Black kid in a small Midwestern town was bad enough, but now Andy Carter’s summer has been effectively ruined.

His dad’s parole hearing is postponed, he misses his friends, and—when an old barn burns down—he’s stuck taking the blame. Andy is sentenced with helping the barn’s owner, a cantankerous old man, renovate his crumbling mansion—a mansion that hides a mystery.

It was once owned by the famous magician the Red Knave. In 1954, the Knave was a wanted suspect in the town’s most infamous murder before disappearing without a trace.

The whole town is sure the Red Knave is guilty, but to Andy, things just don’t add up. Investigating a mystery from the ’50s isn’t the same as spending time with his dad, but Andy can’t help but be drawn into the Red Knave’s exciting world of magic and illusion. To solve the Knave’s final vanishing act, Andy teams up with another boy he doesn’t quite trust. Secret by secret, they try to uncover the Red Knave’s identity and learn why his last performance came to such a tragic end.

With a gripping combination of hidden doors, shocking twists, and deep emotional heart, 
Smoke & Mirrors asks the question: How much of the truth is what you can get people to believe?

Rachel Hartman - Among Ghosts - Publisher ‏: ‎Random House Books for Young Readers - Publication date : June 24, 2025 - ISBN-13 : 978-0593813720 - Hardback - Age: 10+ 

A few things to know about the town of St. Muckle’s: It’s too out-of-the-way to interest greedy lords, and too damp and muddy for marauding dragons to burn. And anyone, from a humble serf to a runaway nun, may earn their freedom by living for a year and a day within the town walls. Seven years ago, Charl and his mother fled to St. Muckle’s and made it their safe-haven, building a new life in this so called Peasant’s Paradise. But when Charl sees something impossible—a ghost—soon the embers of his past are threatening to engulf his world in flame. A tragic accident is quickly followed by murder, a deadly plague, and a mercenary dragon.

Charl manages to escape to an abandoned abbey outside of town, but finds no safety within those ruined walls. A treacherous nun, a chorus of murdered girls, and the fearsome Battle Bishop await, ready to ensnare him in a complex web of history, magic and fate. For some things should never be forgotten, however much they haunt us, and Charl will need all his wisdom and resiliency if he is to fight for the world he knows…and the people he calls home.

Thursday, 29 May 2025

Christopher Edge - ESCAPE ROOM: Game Zero - Book Review - Mr Ripley’s Enchanted Books


Get ready to enter the Escape Room: Game Zero! This thrilling new vibrant middle-grade novel by Christopher Edge, author of the bestselling Escape Room series, is an absolute must-read for young adventurers and lovers of virtual reality games. 

When a swirling flock of birds plunges the sky into darkness, Eden finds herself transported to The Escape, a virtual world unlike anything she's ever imagined.  This is no ordinary game; it's a place where the impossible becomes possible and nothing is as it seems.  Teaming up with the enigmatic Ted, Eden must navigate treacherous landscapes, solve mind-bending puzzles, and overcome escalating challenges to unlock the secrets of this captivating and absorbing digital realm. Edge wonderfully crafts a world brimming with suspense, intrigue, and heart-pounding excitement.  The fast-paced plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats, while the richly detailed virtual landscapes pop and spark the imagination.  Eden and Ted's burgeoning friendship adds a touching layer of camaraderie to their perilous quest.

"Escape Room: Game Zero" is more than just an adventure; it's a celebration of the power of games to transport us to new worlds and unlock the hidden potential within ourselves.  A true testament to Edge's talent as a storyteller, this book is sure to be a massive hit with young readers and leave them craving more.  Don't miss out on this extraordinary escape room experience – it's a game-changer!

Published by Nosy Crow Books 5.Jun 2025. Book Cover Illustration by David Dean. Book Series Escape Room. 

Check out these other brilliant books from Christopher Edge:

  • Black Hole Cinema Club - Book Review HERE
  • Escape Room - Book Review -Book Review HERE
  • The Many Worlds of Albie Bright - Book Review HERE
  • The Jamie Drake Equation - Book Review HERE

Thursday, 22 May 2025

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Favourite Children's Book Picks - JUNE 2025 UK


Janice Hallett - A Box Full of Murders - Published by Puffin Children's Books 5. June 2025 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241636183. - Paperback - Age: 9+

The first children's murder mystery from number-one-bestselling author of The Appeal, Janice Hallett, perfect for fans of Robin Stevens and Rhian Tracey.

When Ava and Luke discover a mysterious box of papers in their attic they are instantly curious about secrets it might hold. As they read through letters, diary entries, newspaper cuttings and listen to secret recordings, they realize that a decades-old, still unsolved, murder mystery is unfolding right in front of them . . .
Ava and Luke decide to try and 
crack the case themselves. But as they work through the clues, it soon becomes clear that the mystery isn't something left in the past: the killer is still out there - and might be closer than they think...


Peter Burns - Shadow Thieves - Published by 
Farshore 5.June 2025 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0008667818 - Paperback - Age: 9+

SKANDAR MEETS OLIVER TWIST IN THIS BLOCKBUSTING NEW MIDDLE-GRADE ADVENTURE SERIES – PERFECT FOR FANS OF PERCY JACKSON!

13-year-old Tom Morgan and his friends live on the streets of an alternate London, shining shoes and picking pockets – until one day Tom’s friends are caught and sent to a brutal workhouse.

Frantic and without a way to save them, Tom bumps into the mysterious Corsair, who offers him an opportunity to train at an elite international boarding school for thieves. Seeing a glimmer of hope, Tom lets himself be whisked away to the snowy Alps in a zeppelin. Swept into a thrilling world of danger and intrigue, the more secrets he learns about the Shadow League, the harder it becomes for Tom to leave. But there are dark forces at work and real danger is coming…

Can Tom save his fellow pupils from disaster – and ever be able to get home again to rescue his friends?

Get ready for the stunning debut in what is guaranteed to become every reader’s favourite new series! Heart-pounding adventure, thrilling heists, remote boarding schools full of ancient secrets waiting to be discovered and much much more…


Corrina Clarke - TraeLoc The Search for the Societies - Published by 
Olympia Publishers 12. June 2025 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1800742703 - Paperback - Age: 9+
Imagine finding out you're an heir to the throne and destined to rule a kingdom... Well, that's exactly what happens to Iris. On her thirteenth birthday, her world gets turned upside down. A stranger, the elusive Ezlard reveals the life-changing secret; something her father has managed to shield her from up until now. Iris has a choice to make; leave her ordinary life behind or take on the biggest challenge she'll ever face... But is she ready to swap school books for a world filled with magic and uncertainty?


Emily Randall-Jones - 
The Scream of the Whistle - Published by Chicken House 5.June 2025 - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1915947147 - Paperback - Age: 8+

All aboard for a new middle-grade paranormal adventure from 2024 Branford Boase-longlisted author of The Witchstone Ghosts, Emily Randall-Jones.

Ruby is miserable. Her parents have split up, and now she’s stuck in a creepy village. At night, she decides to escape and follow the ancient train track home.

Her journey has barely begun when she hears the eerie scream of a whistle – and an old steam train appears out of the darkness . . .

Is Ruby ready for the ghost ride of her life?

READ THE FULL EXTRACT HERE

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Sophie Anderson - The House With Chicken Legs Runs Away - Book Review/Pre-order - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

Published by  Usborne Publishing Ltd,  9th of April 2026. Book Cover art by Melissa Castrillion and inside illustrations by Elisa Pagnelli. ...