Chris Wooding - Havoc - Book Review

Book Review

Here is the next slice of book action in the world of Malice, where kids are trapped inside the real comic-book world, living in fear and fighting for away out. However someone is watching every step they take and will stop at nothing to keep them from escaping back to the real world . The story finds Seth trying to find his way back into the comic book world, even though he'd managed to escape the twisted and evil clutches of Tall Jake. However after leaving his best friend Kady, he now wants to go back and save her. But Kady has her own mission in this book, to find and join the group Havoc (a rebel group of kids), who want to take a stand against Tall Jake. This dual storyline provides the opportunity for a great split plot, as well as a chance to be introduced to a new character - Alicia, who uncovers some of the darkest secrets from the creation of Malice. The plot is told wonderfully, and draws you into the nasty world with its ghastly creations. The world of Malice leaks into the real world; there's no telling as to what might come through which is how the story keeps you on tender hooks. A unique aspect about this book comes from the use of graphic novel images and extracts, which are beautifully illustrated by the talented Dan Chernett. They certainly plunge you deeper into the depths of the story, which I totally loved; it adds another dimension and layer to the plot. The second book has a lot more going on than the first. I was engaged and completely hooked through every page. This series is rapidly becoming one of my personal favourites; Chris is a very skillful writer and has one of the greatest imaginations in the book world, in my humble opinion.  Book published by Scholastic Children's - May 3 2010 Other sites of interest to visit are.malicecomic.co.uk and danchernett.moonfruit.com

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - New Books On The Blog - U.S

Marianne Malone - The Sixty-Eight Rooms - Published By Random House - Feb 23

Book Synopsis:

Almost everybody who has grown up in Chicago knows about the Thorne Rooms. Housed in the Children’s Galleries of the Chicago Art Institute, they are a collection of 68 exquisitely crafted miniature rooms made in the 1930s by Mrs. James Ward Thorne. Each of the 68 rooms is designed in the style of a different historic period, and every detail is perfect, from the knobs on the doors to the candles in the candlesticks. Some might even say, the rooms are magic.
Imagine—what if you discovered a key that allowed you to shrink so that you were small enough to sneak inside and explore the rooms’ secrets? What if you discovered that others had done so before you? And that someone had left something important behind?

Fans of Chasing Vermeer, The Doll People, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler will be swept up in the magic of this exciting art adventure!

Laura Manivong - Escaping the Tiger - Published By HarperCollins - March 9

Book Synopsis:

When you're so skinny people call you Skeleton Boy, how do you find strength for the fight of your life?
Twelve-year-old Vonlai knows that soldiers who guard the Mekong River shoot at anything that moves, but in oppressive Communist Laos, there's nothing left for him, his spirited sister, Dalah, and his desperate parents. Their only hope is a refugee camp in Thailand—on the other side of the river.
When they reach the camp, their struggles are far from over. Na Pho is a forgotten place where life consists of squalid huts, stifling heat, and rationed food. Still, Vonlai tries to carry on as if everything is normal. He pays attention in school, a dusty barrack overcrowded with kids too hungry to learn. And, to forget his empty stomach, he plays soccer in a field full of rocks. But when someone inside the camp threatens his family, Vonlai calls on a forbidden skill to protect their future—a future he's sure is full of promise, if only they can make it out of Na Pho alive

Brandon Mull -Fablehaven, Keys to the Demon Prison -Published By Shadow Mountain -23 March
Book Synopsis:
Since ancient times, the great demon prison Zzyzx has protected the world from the most dangerous servants of darkness, including Gorgrog, the Demon King. After centuries of plotting, the Sphinx is on the verge of recovering the five artifacts necessary to open the legendary prison. Facing the potential of a world-ending calamity, all friends of light must unite in a final effort to thwart the Sphinx s designs and find a safe home for the five artifacts. To this end, Kendra, Seth, and the Knights of the Dawn will venture far beyond the walls of Fablehaven to strange and exotic magical preserves across the globe, where the end of every quest becomes the beginning of another. In this explosive series finale, allegiances will be confirmed and secrets revealed as the forces of light and darkness collide in a desperate struggle to control the keys to the demon prison.

Rick Riordan - The Kane Chronicles:The Red Pyramid - Published By Hyperion Books - May 4
Book Synopsis:
Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them--Set--has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

Sherrilyn Kenyon - Infinity:Chronicles of Nick - Published By St Martin's Griffin - June 8
Book Synopsis:
At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him, until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity. Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one. A world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead. But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu. Like starting high school isn’t hard enough. Now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, hide his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended! How in the world is he supposed to do that?

Stuart Webb - Lyme Hall - Book Review

Book Review 
Before I became an avid reader, I just collected books and very rarely read them. Instead they sat on dusty shelves, calling out to be loved and read, however they were rarely looked at.

Then I started reading an eclectic mix of articles in a publication called the "Book and Magazine Collector". Stuart, who is the author of this book, had a writing column which I really loved. He would on a monthly basis write about new 'up and coming' authors, as well as collectible books to look out for - I really miss reading his articles.

Anyway this is the second book that Stuart Webb has written, the first being "Aurora's Tears," which sold out as soon as it was published. The question has to be asked, did it fall into the hands of the book collectors or book readers, and will his second book follow likewise? On this occasion, I would like it to fall into the hands of the readers who will cherish it, due to its fantastic content and not monetary value.

I must admit, I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, and had no idea that I would end up enjoying it so much. The book has lots of charm and character that I instantly fell for, from the very first page to the last, as it is beautifully written with lots of great detail. It's a story that leaves you feeling it was well worth the journey that you take as a reader.

Rose is happy with her life: an expensive house in the city, loving parents and a best friend she can trust. She wants for nothing and lives life to the full. Then, without warning, her perfect world is torn in two. Forced to move to a country house she hates with a father she no longer understands, Rose is lost and alone. And when she begins to hear things that aren't there, see things that can't be real, her father doesn't want to know; all he cares about are the deer that are disappearing from the estate. Maybe, just maybe, if she can solve the mysteries herself, she can finally make him listen.

It's a classic ghost story with mystery that is wrapped up in Lyme Hall. Its past is both intriguing and captivating with notes of sadness, but when you get to the end it finishes on an upbeat tone. Stuart has drawn on lots of emotions including everyday issues such as bullying, bereavement - from the loss of a parent and difficult family circumstances, which gives depth to the story.

I love the part when William shows Rose around Lyme Hall, explaining the associated detailed history and folklore, as part of the tour around the great house. The unique characters are well written, they have roles which develop extensively through the story to create an interesting plot.


So the only thing I can really say is that this book needs to be read. I can highly recommend it, you will not be disappointed, so grab a copy (once it is published) but before they sell out. I have a feeling that this book may have a small print run and will disappear very speedily.

Book Published by Matador 1 March 2010 - For more details: http://www.troubador.co.uk

Book cover artwork by Chris Odgers - For more details: http://www.sawhorse.co.uk/

Dutton to Publish First John Grisham Series for Kids

Dutton to Publish First John Grisham Series for Kids: "PenguinYoung Readers Group in the U.S.and Hodder & Stoughton in the U..."

Andrew Newbound - Demon Strike - Book Review

Book Review
My attention was first drawn to this book from a 'new publications release list,' which was sent to me by the publisher. The synopsis was particularly intriguing and certainly enticed my curiosity, and so I was particularly pleased when I managed to get my hands unexpectedly on a copy last week.  

From the very start, I found myself galloping through the pages. Even when I could not see the type, due to night setting in when I was a recent passenger in a car, I still wanted to read on. The first thing that you find as a reader, is how well the story unfolds with ease. The particularly strong characters in the book make way for an entertaing read, with some feisty girl hero action against some nasty creatures, and a multi-layered plot which keeps you on your toes. 

The story unfolds as the Demons from the Dark Dimension pour through a portal to reek havoc on earth. Unfortunately the chaos then follows the two children - twelve-year old Ghost- Busters, in the way of Alannah Malarra and her sidekick Wortley. They find themselves in a whole lot of trouble when they entangle with the A.N.G.E.L,  an acronym for Attack-ready Network of Global Evanescent Law-enforcers whose job is to protect everybody from any Demon attack.

The children encounter some of the best monsters you're ever going to bump into in this book -  as well as a Winged Angel, who has a passion for breaking all the rules and treading a tight rope of sudden death. The book flows with great wit and some of the best character banter that I have read for a long time.

I enjoyed the many analogies that the author referred to throughout the book, they're absolutely brilliant and had me chuckling to myself. 

The book is aimed at a 9-12 year old audience but will have everyone wanting more,,just like me. We now have a start, to a fresh new series of books, with a great voice for the future. More adventures please but just wait until I clean the ectoplasm off my keyboard and straighten my wings in the cupboard ready for the next adventure!

Book Published By Chicken House - March 13 2010 

Philip Reeve - A Web Of Air (Mortal Engines) - Book Review

Book Review

It's always a pleasure to read any book by Philip Reeve, and even more so when it's the sixth novel in the amazing Mortal Engines series - a stunning sequel to Fever Crumb. I'd like to say a big thank you to the lovely people at Scholastic for sending me this book. I felt incredibly privileged to have been able to read this book so early on in it's publishing life.

The book certainly lived up to my expectation, and even exceeded it. However, I don't want to give too much away regarding the story, as I definitely wouldn't want to spoil your enjoyment of reading it first hand. 

The story contains all of the non-stop action and detail that you would expect. Elements of SteamPunk are still evident throughout this book,but not as much as the other books.

The book is beautifully written and has a slightly different approach to that of the other five books. It has a poetic feel which places more emphasis on the different character relationships, an aspect that hasn't really been explored previously.

I love the incredibly detailed writing that Phillip uses to describe the funiculars. These are whole neighbourhoods which slide up and down crater walls - mansions which rise each evening into sunlight and clear air, before descending once more (at dawn) back into the city's heart. What a great idea.

The story is written against the breathtaking backdrop of Mayda, a place steeped in culture and tradition, making the foundations for a great epic slice of fantasy. The story unfolds with ease - but I wouldn't expect anything less from one of the finest writers at the moment in children's literature. I was gripped by every page until the very end, as this is an amazing book and one I shall visit again and again. I  recommend this book to everyone, even if you have not read any other of the books, as it will still work as a stand alone. All that I need now is a new book in the Larklight series - that will make my year!

Published by Scholastic Children's book April 2010

Meet The Gadget Show's - Jason Bradbury Event This Half Term - Atomic Swarm

Hi I have just been asked to mention this great event for all the family this half term.

He is doing a special half-term kids event at the South Bank - The Dot Robot Roadshow - an exciting one-hour author event with loads of cool robots, gadgets, a robot race and an awesome robot one of the audience can win. It's all part of the promotion around my 2nd Dot Robot Book Atomic Swarm. I'd love you to be there!!! Everything you need to know is below.

*** MEET The Gadget Show's JASON BRADBURY - THIS HALF-TERM -  18th FEBRUARY, LONDON, SOUTH BANK ****

Thursday 18^th Feb (11.30am) South Bank Centre, Purcell Room, London (1 min walk from Waterloo station)

Tickets are selling fast for THE event of this half-term - the Dot Robot Roadshow 2010 - at London’s South Bank Centre.

Meet Jason from The Gadget Show - see actual robots in action and witness a reading from Jason's latest book Atomic Swarm (published this week, by Puffin)

This unique author event is part of the Imagine Children’s Festival at London's South Bank Centre. Billed as ‘the UK’s brightest children’s festival’ Jason will be bouncing around the Purcell Room with robots, readings, gadgets and an amazing robot prize!

For MORE INFO and to BUY TICKETS to the one-hour show featuring a live robot race go to: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/literature-spoken-word/tickets/jason-bradbury-50560 OR call 0844 847 9910

The Dot Robot Roadshow is this half-term's main event - but Jason is also doing some smaller signings during half-term (18th, 19th, 20th Feb) at Waterstones in Milton Keynes, Basingstoke, Reading & Thurrock. For more info about these and to learn more about Jason's books check his blog: http://www.jasonbradbury.com

Suzanne Collins - Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)

This finished copy now has a title, publishing date and front cover artwork. All that is needed is the synopsis to the most anticipated book of the year. Here is a sneaky preview of the book cover artwork.

Sam Wilding - The Second Gateway (Book 2 of the Denthan Series) - Book Review

 I read the first book in this series after finding it in a bookshop in Scotland; I was definitely looking forward to reading the second installment. However after three more trips back to Scotland, I still couldn't find a copy! I finally had to resort to the Internet, in order to obtain a copy of this book. On reflection . . . . it's such a shame that the book is hard to obtain in bookshops, as it is definitely worth tracking down a copy.

Anyway on with the review.....and if any one asks, the story is all about custard and meteors, which you will come to love with a passion.

The book starts with a great opening, that carries you on a mesmerising journey into the world of amazingly detailed creatures, against a stunning backdrop of Artilis. The book starts one year on with the zany villagers of Drumfintley, who are yet again, all that stand between a peaceful world and certain disaster. 

It takes you into a  wonderful adventure; a fantasy tale that has you hooked and captivated as you follow the main characters on their mission to find Craig. Sudden events lead to a range of climatic and varied action scenes.

This book has many great moments in it for me - the humour which is laced throughout had me in stitches many times. However one of my favourite parts, involved the encounter with the flying Centide, when the wizard performed his magic and the Centide ended up totally wrecking Mr Fyffe's Mondeo car. Unfortunately Mr Fyffe finds his car totally devastated, with the children and local vicar hastily fleeing from the scene. A classic moment in fiction - interpreted exceptionally well!

In my view this book is equally as good as the first, which is not always the case. The chaos and mayhem, within a fantasy world, is written very well. It has an orginal feel that leaves you wanting more. I'm desperate to see what happens in book three and hope there are many more to come. 

About the Author

BORN IN HELENSBURGH and educated at Glasgow University, Sam studied Zoology, working his way through his uni-years by playing in various rock bands in the UK, America and Holland. He began writing songs in the late 70s, poetry in the early 90s and eventually his first novel - 'The Magic Scales'. Sam currently writing book three in the Denthan series and continues to perform his 'Just Imagine' workshops. These sessions explore story forming and let children explore their own imagination. Sam works closely with the charity Asthma UK to raise awareness of the condition through his work.

New Children's Book - Picks For The Month Of March 2010

We have lots of great and varied reads to offer in the month of March, there is a good selection of  interesting books. There are some particularly strong titles being published by Chicken House and Hodder Children's within this month. Interestingly, all the books mentioned are being published in paperback and no hardbacks - this is a first. I hope you manage to find a few books that entice you to read them. Love to hear any comments you may have. Thanks and enjoy.


Andrew Newbound - Demon Strike - Published By Chicken House - 1 March - (Book Pick)
Book Synopsis:
Demons from the Dark Dimension pour through a portal in the wall of Pittingham Manor, the mid-point for an attack on high. They're planning an assault. Into this chaos stumbles 12-year-old ghostbusting psychic Alannah Malarra and burglar Worley Flint. Up until now they've only ever faced tame treasure-hording ghosts, but this is something else. Their only hope is a plucky angel police patrol on a routine earth-monitoring mission. Enter Inspectre Flhi Swift and officers Yell and Gloom

Emily Diamand - Flood and Fire - Published By Chicken House -  1 March
Book Synopsis:
Flooded England, 2216 - Lilly Melkun has outwitted the bloodthirsty Reavers, who prowl the waters that cover most of England - and escaped to Cambridge. But Lilly is far from safe, because stil in her keeping is PSAI, the last hand-held computer in existence - a now malfunctioning treasure from the past. Inside the jewellike computer, is a sinister looking chip with an unknown purpose. Worse follows, when the professors of Cambridge plug it into an ancient mainframe computer setting in motion a fiery chain of events.

C.J Skuse - Pretty Bad Things - Published By Chicken House - 1 March
Book Synopsis:
SIXTEEN-YEAR OLD TWINS IN CANDY-STORE CRIME SPREE Twins, Paisley and Beau Argent are in the headlines again. Last time, they were the 'wonder twins', when as six-year-olds they were found alive in woods after three days missing following their mother's death - three days spent looking for their dad. Now at sixteen, life's not so wonderful. Out-cast and exploited by their money-grabbing grandmother they're still clueless about their dad's whereabouts. Until they discover an old letter from him. That's when they decide to hit the road - and make headlines again. Holding up fast-food joints might seem extreme but if they can get on the news, and tell their dad they need him, they might get the dream reunion they thought could happen.

Catherine Banner - Voices in the Dark - Published By Corgi Children's - 4 March
Book Synopsis:
Anselm Andros has always thought he had a normal life - confidante to his mother, Maria, confessor to his stepfather, Leo, a man haunted by the secrets of his past, and support to his sister Jasmine. But when the political landscape of Malonia starts to shift, this unassuming family begin to unravel. Even though they have spent the past fifteen years leading a quiet life, Maria and Leo's actions are forever linked to the turbulent history of Malonia and its parallel world, modern-day England. The voices from the past still echo in the present and Anselm must pull all the pieces together - whatever the cost.

Garth Nix - Lord Sunday( The Keys to the Kingdom) - Published By HarperCollins - 4 March
Book Synopsis:
In this seventh and last book of THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM, the mysteries of the House, the Architect, the Trustees, the Keys and the Will are revealed, and the fate of Arthur, our Earth, and the entire Universe is finally decided. Arthur has wrested the Sixth Key from Superior Saturday, but has fallen from the Incomparable Gardens; fallen not to the Upper House but to somewhere completely unexpected. Alone in enemy territory, as his mind and body are further transformed by the power of the Keys, Arthur must struggle with himself as much as with his many enemies. Meanwhile, Arthur's friend Suzy Blue plots an escape from her prison in Saturday's tower, as battle rages above and below. Saturday's elite force is pressing on into the Incomparable Gardens, while her massed sorcerers fight a desperate rear-guard action against the Piper and his Newnith army. On earth, Leaf has to cope with the aftermath of a nuclear strike. Responsible for all the Sleepers in Friday's private hospital, she needs all the help she can get, particularly as Leaf herself has become a target for intruders from the House. And the tide of Nothing continues to rise, destroying everything in its path ...

Chris Bradford - The Way of the Dragon(Young Samurai) - Published By Puffin - 4 March
Book Synopsis:
June 1613. Japan is threatened with war and Jack is facing his greatest battle yet. Samurai are taking sides and, as the blood begins to flow, Jack’s warrior training is put to the ultimate test. His survival – and that of his friends – depends upon him mastering the Two Heavens, the secret sword technique of the legendary samurai Masamoto Takeshi. But first Jack must recover his father’s prize possession from the deadly ninja Dragon Eye. Can Jack defeat his ruthless enemy? Or will the ninja complete his mission to kill the young samurai . . .

William Hussey - Witchfinder:Dawn of the Demontide -(Witchfinders) - Published By OUP - 4 March
Book Synopsis - See Book Review 
The first in a terrifying trilogy, read on if you dare: Jake could now see the demon fully. Its body was a mass of steely sinew, its arms roped with muscle. Six fingers sprouted from its hands, each ending in lethal talons. The thing did not possess a nose; instead a large hole, bubbling with green mucus, occupied the middle of its face. Mr Pinch's tongue flickered between his teeth and slurped across his fat lips. He was hungry. When a violent storm rages around the little village of Hobarron's Hollow, a young boy is sacrificed 'for the greater good'. His blood is used to seal a mystical doorway and prevent an apocalyptic disaster known only as the Demontide. Twenty-five years later, another boy, Jake Harker, is about to be drawn into the nightmare of the Demontide. Witches and their demon familiars stalk his every move, and his dreams are plagued by visions of a 17th Century figure known only as the Witchfinder. When his father is abducted, Jake must face the terrible secrets kept by those closest to him and a shocking truth that will change his life 
forever . . .

Malinda Lo - Ash -  Published By Hodder Children's Books - 4 March  -  (Book Pick)
Book Synopsis:
In the world of ASH, fairies are an older race of people who walk the line between life and death, reality and magic. As orphaned Ash grows up, a servant in her stepmother’s home, she begans to realise that her beloved mother, Elinor was very much in tune with these underworld folk, and that she herself has the power to see them too. Against the sheer misery of her stepmother's cruelty, greed and ambition in preparing her two charrmless daughters for presentation at court, and hopefully Royal or aristocratic marriage, Ash  befriends one of these fairies–a mysterious, handsome man–who grants her wishes and restores hope to Ash's existence, even though she knows there will be a price to pay. But most important of all, she also meets Kaisa, a huntress employed by the king, and it is Kaisa who truly awakens Ash’s desires for both love and self-respect...Ash escapes a life with her grim and self-serving stepmother and finds her beloved one...
ASH is a fairy tale about possibility and recognizing the opportunities for change. From the deepest grief comes the chance for transformation.

Robert Williams - Luke and John - Published By Faber and Faber - 18 March

Book Synopsis:

Luke's mum is dead. He finds himself in a small, scruffy northern hill town, with a near silent father, who he fears might be trying to drink himself to death. Then he meets Jon. Jon is massively strange. He wears 1950s clothes, has a side-parting and a twitch. The kids at school call him 'Slackjaw'. When Luke discovers his secret, Jon changes his life in more ways than he can imagine. Luke and Jon is a coming of age novel about family, bereavement and how lives can change forever in a single second. Written with great power, warmth and humour, it signals a hugely engaging and original new voice. Compelling and emotionally acute, it is a unique debut.

Annemarie Allan - Ushig - Published By Floris Books - 25 March

Book Synopsis:

 Ellen whistled again and repeated the old rhyme Aunt Marian had taught her. 'I call you once. I call you twice. I call you three times over'. Surely in a place as beautiful as this, anything that answered her call was bound to be friendly. While exploring a small loch above the village of Aldhammer with her brother Davie, Ellen repeats a childish rhyme to call something to her. What arrives is an ancient being with the ability to shapeshift and the power to destroy. Ushig is a kelpie, a water wraith, and his intentions are anything but pure. Dragged into a dark, parallel world, inhabited by the creatures of Scottish legend, Ellen must pitch her wits against primeval magic. Can she outsmart the predatory Queen of the Night? And what does Ushig stand to gain? Another unique and gripping tale from Annemarie Allan, presenting an innovative spin on characters from Scottish folklore in a very modern manner. If you thought you knew the story of the kelpie - think again!

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - Great Reads Of The Week!

This week I have had the chance to sit down and enjoy some quality reading time, as a result I've managed to read many great books. Unfortunately I just don't have the time to review them all. Therefore I have decided to list them, with a brief synopsis, in order for you to read and make up your own mind. Hopefully you'll be able to find a book that takes your eye - there's so much choice!


Here are the books as follows: 

Eoin McNamee - The Frost Child(Book 3 of The Navigator Trilogy) - Published By Wendy Lamb Books - U.S

Book Synopsis

Twice the Harsh have tried to destroy time, and twice Owen and the Resisters have banded together to stop them. In City of Time, Owen killed the Harsh king, and now the Harsh are hungry for revenge. Their massive fleet is ready to set sail on the sea of time and hunt down the wily Navigator. In this third and final adventure, the Navigator and his friends use every last ounce of bravery and endurance to fight the toughest battle ever. As Owen searches for a solution, he travels through time to meet his father and grandfather, and discovers that the mysterious Frost Child holds the key to the power of the Harsh.

Brandon Sanderson - Alcatraz Versus The Knights Of Crystallia - Published by Scholastic Press - U.S

Book Synopsis

When Alcatraz and Grandpa Smedry make a pilgrimage to the Free Kingdom city of Crystallia, the Smedry home base, Alcatraz is shocked to see that he is, in fact, a legend. When he was a baby he was stolen by the Evil Librarians, and his mother, a Librarian herself, was behind the whole scheme. Now, with his estranged father, who is acting indeed strange, Bastille, who has been stripped of her armor, and Grandpa Smedry, who is, as always, late to everything (that's his Talent), Alcatraz tries to save a city under siege. From who? Why, the Librarians of course!

Pierdomenico Baccalario - Ring Of Fire (Century Quartet Book 1) - Published by Random House - U.S
Book synopsis
Every hundred years, four kids from four cities must save the world.

Rome, December 29.

A mix-up with their reservations forces Harvey from New York, Mistral from Paris, and Sheng from Shanghai to share a room with the hotel owner’s daughter, Elettra. The four kids discover an amazing coincidence—they all have birthdays on February 29, Leap Day. That night, a strange man gives them a briefcase and asks them to take care of it until he returns. Soon afterward, the man is murdered.

The kids open the briefcase. In it they find a series of clues that take them all over Rome, through dusty libraries and dark catacombs, in search of the elusive Ring of Fire, an ancient object so powerful that legend says even a Roman emperor couldn’t control it.

In the first book of the Century quartet, Italian author P. D. Baccalario begins a mystery that will take four cities and four extraordinary kids to solve.

Jeremy Robinson - Pulse(Chess Team Adventure) - Published by Thomas Dunne Books - U.S
Book Synopsis
Imagine a world where soldiers regenerate and continue fighting without pause, and where suicide bombers live to strike again. This is the dream of Richard Ridley, founder of Manifold Genetics, and he has discovered the key to eternal life: an ancient artifact buried beneath a Greek inscribed stone in the Peruvian desert. When Manifold steals the artifact and abducts archaeologist Dr. George Pierce, the United States Special Forces Delta operative, Jack Sigler, callsign King, and his 'Chess Team' - Queen, Knight, Rook, Bishop and their handler, Deep Blue - give chase. They must save Pierce and stop Manifold before they change the face of genetics - and human history - forever.

Chris Priestley - Death and the Arrow(Tom Marlowe Adventure) - Published  by Corgi Children's - U.K
Book Synopsis 
Fifteen-year-old Tom helps his father run a print shop in London. When he and old Dr Harker hear of a curious murder in the City, with the victim pierced by an arrow and holding a card of 'Death and the Arrow', they are intrigued. And as more victims are discovered, the mystery closes more tightly.