Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Favourite Book Picks: Children's/Teens - March 2016 - UK Post One

Paul Durham - The Luck Uglies #3: Rise of the Ragged Clover - Published by HarperCollins Children's (Mar. 2016)

The exhilarating conclusion to the critically acclaimed THE LUCK UGLIES series.

“The Luck Uglies has it all: a feisty heroine, monstrous creatures, and a brimful of humor, and horror, to keep the readers turning the pages.” Joseph Delaney, Author of the Spook’s Apprentice series

Rye feared her father, Harmless, might be lost forever after he was driven into the forest Beyond the Shale by his deadly enemy Slinister Varlet. Now Slinister is making moves to claim leadership over the Luck Uglies. Can Rye find her father, save her village and put an end to the fighting for good?

Anna Wilson - The Parent Problem - Published by Macmillan Children's Books (24 Mar. 2016)

Skye Green's mum is driving her insane! When she's not posting EMBARRASSING pictures of Skye online or experimenting with BIZARRE clothing, she's forever taking up new hobbies - and her latest obsession is ballroom dancing! It's only a matter of time until she waltzes down the street in spandex and sequins - and to make matters worse, Skye's younger brother is wildly (and irritatingly) enthusiastic about Mum's new hobby, and about wearing Mum's sparkly new outfits!

As if this wasn't HORRIFIC enough, Skye's mum has also enlisted the new neighbour's son to come and 'babysit' when she's at dance class, and he's only a year older than Skye! Talk about MORTIFYING in the EXTREME! At least Skye's best friend, Aubrey is there to help Skye cope with her family's madness. They've been friends since before they can remember, and nothing will ever, EVER change that . . . right?

Curtis Jobling - The Tower of Trials (World of Warriors Bk 2) - Published by Puffin (3 Mar. 2016)

The second book in a new fiction series by Curtis Jobling, based on bestselling global game sensation, World of Warriors!

After the events of A New Hero, Trick and his team of warriors must continue their quest to bring down Boneshaker. The journey resumes through the mystical Wildlands, a place where the greatest warriors throughout history have been summoned to fight in a battle for survival - from Romans and Vikings to Knights and Samurai!

They pass a village terrorised by an evil necromancer - the heroes jump in to the rescue, but Mungo is badly wounded. To save his friend, Trick must fight through the Tower of Trials and defeat the mysterious Gatekeeper.

But there's more at stake than they realised. The Gatekeeper holds a key with the power to travel between realms. A key that Boneshaker wants. 

And if it falls into Boneshaker's hands, his reign of terror could spread far beyond the Wildlands...

Wesley King - Dragons vs Drones - Published by Razorbill (15 Mar. 2016)

A young computer genius is chased by sleek, high-tech drones into a land populated by Godzilla-size dragons, setting off a war that only he can stop. Part Eragon, part Transformers, with a magical beating heart at its centre.
Marcus Brimley was just four years old when his CIA analyst father went missing and the world branded him a traitor. Eight years later, searching for clues to find his father and prove his innocence, Marcus breaks a complex code that sends him shooting through a storm into an alternate realm . . . but he didn't travel alone. When Marcus lands in this new world, Dracone, he finds that he has been followed by government drones. And they're out to destroy Marcus and all of Dracone. 
 
While fleeing the drones, Marcus meets Dree, a 12-year-old Draconian girl who comes from a family of dragon riders. Dree explains to Marcus that while humans and dragons used to be friends, Dracone's new prime minister has turned them into enemies, with humans hunting dragons for sport and dragon-riding families like Dree's pushed to the poorer outskirts of the city. 

But the drones are firing on both the dragons and the people of Dracone. Soon, Marcus and Dree discover that they must get help from the dragons if they want to stop an all-out war that will leave the incredible realm of Dracone decimated.

Stripes Publishing: I’ll be Home for Christmas YA Anthology in Support of Homeless Charity

Little Tiger fiction imprint of Stripes is launching an anthology of Short stories by UK Young Adult authors. Crisis is to benefit from the publication of a new anthology around the theme 'home'. Published by Stripes, an imprint of the independent children's publisher Little Tiger, I'll Be Home for Christmas will include a range of short stories and poems for Young Adults.

Publisher Jane Harris said the company wanted to celebrate its 10th anniversary “with a bang”, as well as build awareness of its Young Adult list. “We are known for our young illustrated fiction, but over the years we have moved up the age groups. We decided to focus on UK [contributors] because Crisis is a very UK-focused charity, but we also wanted to highlight the breadth of UK YA publishing at the moment and build links with the YA community.”

Katy Cannon, one of Stripes’ YA authors, is already confirmed as a contributor, as are fellow writers Holly Bourne, Sarah Crossan, Melvin Burgess, Julie Mayhew, Benjamin Zephaniah, Tom Becker, Non Pratt, Juno Dawson and Marcus Sedgwick.

Lauren Ace, Little Tiger’s brand director, said at least £1 from every book sold will go to Crisis, adding that Little Tiger was committed to giving the charity £10,000 through the proceeds from the anthology. “We wanted to raise awareness of the charity’s work among young adult readers,” she said. “Younger adults are at particular risk of homelessness: [according to Crisis figures] a staggering 8% of 16- to 24-year-olds recently reported being homeless. We will also be supporting Crisis in other ways. For example, an editor from the company will do a writing workshop as part of Crisis’ Skylight programme and Stripes staff will volunteer at Crisis at Christmas. Having said all that, we are keen for the anthology to represent our audience of young adult readers.”

The book’s endnotes will contain information about the Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC), including details about its formation. The endnotes will also include information about The Bookseller’s YA Book Prize and the authors shortlisted for the award in 2016. Little Tiger is also launching a competition, in conjunction with the YA Book Prize, to find an unpublished writer to contribute one of the 14 stories in I’ll be Home for Christmas. Entrants can submit their story, again on the theme of home, and the winner will be chosen by Harris and a number of the YA Book Prize 2016 judges.

The story will be published in the anthology and its author will also be invited to appear at this year’s YALC. Details of how to enter are on the YA Book Prize website. Entries close on 1st April.

I’ll be Home for Christmas will be published in paperback on 22nd September, priced £7.99.

Chris Callaghan - The Great Chocoplot - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books Book Review

Jelly and her family live in Chompton-on-de-Lyte, where everyone loves a Chocablocka bar or two. So when the end of chocolate is announced, she can't believe it. Determined to investigate, Jelly and her gran follow a trail of clues to a posh chocolate shop and its owner, the pompous Garibaldi Chocolati. Gari's suspiciously smug, despite his failing business and yucky chocolate. Is it really the chocopocalypse, or is there a chocoplot afoot?

The Great Chocoplot is a fantastic debut book that will hit bookshops across the chocolate landscape early March 2016. The book was written for the author's 8 year old daughter as a Christmas present, and what an amazing present to give her. The adventure was then entered into Chicken House's open coop, which is a one-day amnesty for unpublished writers and was immediately chomped up for publication.

This is a fantastic Easter treat for all the family to get their hands on. With the teasing shiny Dairy Milk-like cover (other brands are available) produced by the amazing Steve Wells, it will certainly get your literary tastebuds going and enhance your low calorie diet. You will also find some fantastic illustrations by the talented Lalalimola, so check out more of her great work here: http://www.lalalimola.com 

The plot is like dipping your hands into a tub of Quality Street, as you never know what is going to happen from page to page. It is a brilliantly fast paced and funny rampage of chocolate madness. Just think about a world without chocolate, can you imagine that?  If it all was to disappear - NO MORE CHOCOLATE - what would you do .....? Would you grab a bag of cheese and onion crisps instead?

The story is so infectious that everybody and everyone will fall in love with this book, regardless of their age. It's very quirky and so immersive that it will make you smile and laugh out loud. Jelly is a plucky heroine - she's very well written and can be related to. Jelly and her crazy grandmother, who lives in a caravan on the families front driveway, take on an evil villain. Can they foil a devilish plan filled with a cataclysmic cocoa catastrophe? You'll have to buy a copy and read it, as I'm certainly not going to tell you. 

You will fly through this plot like a trolley dash in a sweet shop. It is an amazingly imaginative story, which is told with the heart and emotions of daily life struggles whilst still instilling a large slice of realism  You will hurtle head first into a chocolate fountain of mayhem and ride the non stop nightmare.  

This is another cracking book from Chicken House - the home of good stories told with creative ability. It is my recommended enchanted read this Easter... so go and grab yourself a copy.

Congratulations: LONGLISTS CILIP CARNEGIE/KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS ANNOUNCED 2016

The longlists for both the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the UK’s oldest and most prestigious children’s book awards, are revealed. The 20-strong CILIP Carnegie Medal longlist sees the late Terry Pratchett’s final novel up against books by fellow previous winners Sally Gardner, Patrick Ness and David Almond as well as Frances Hardinge’s recent Costa Book of the Year winner, The Lie Tree.

In the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal longlist, former Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne could win a second Medal nearly a quarter of a century after his previous triumph with the return of his much loved chimpanzee hero in Willy’s Stories. He faces stiff competition from a powerhouse longlist including fellow former winners Chris Riddell, Helen Oxenbury and Emily Gravett. The Imaginary, for which Gravett is longlisted, is also in the running for this year’s Carnegie Medal. In an unusual twist, both Chris Riddell and Oliver Jeffers will be competing against themselves with each being listed twice.

All of those longlisted will be vying to join the pantheon of past winners of the world respected Medals, including legendary authors Arthur Ransome and C.S Lewis and renowned illustrators Quentin Blake and Shirley Hughes. The Carnegie Medal and the Kate Greenaway Medal are awarded for outstanding writing and illustration, respectively, in books for children and young people. Judged by a panel of expert librarians, the Medals are unique and are known as the awards that children’s book authors and illustrators say they ‘most want to win’. 

Sioned Jacques, Chair of the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals judging panel for 2016, said:

“It is a real honour to take on the mantle of chairing the judging panel for this year’s Medals.  The longlists for 2016 are outstanding and perfectly reflect the vibrancy of children’s books in the UK today. This is a real golden age of writing and illustrating for children and the range of skills and storytelling on display in the longlists are proof of the incredibly high standards of this ever-growing area of publishing – every book is a potential winner. These are all fantastic books and every one of them deserves a wide audience.”

Dawn Finch, President of CILIP, said:

"The Medals play a hugely important role in recommending good books to children, parents and teachers and illustrate the key role that librarians play in introducing readers to new books and to fantastic new storytellers and artists. The images and stories in both longlists leap off the page and the whole gamut of human life and experience is reflected, with books that cover family and friendship, love and loyalty and secrets and lies. There are books that explore war, slavery, civil rights and equality, others that re-imagine ancient myths, stories of coming of age and tales that span time and space, firing imaginations with every page that is read.”

The shortlists for both the CILIP Carnegie Medal and the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2016 will be announced on Tuesday 15^th March, with the winners being announced on Monday 20^th June at a special daytime event at the British Library. The winners will each receive £500 worth of books to donate to their local library and a specially commissioned golden medal. Since 2000, the winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal has also been awarded the £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize. In 2016, for the first time, the Carnegie Medal winner will also be awarded an equal amount of prize money from the Colin Mears Award. Also new for 2016, one title from each shortlist will be named the recipient of the Amnesty CILIP Honour, a new commendation for a book that most distinctively illuminates, upholds or celebrates freedoms. The two titles receiving the commendation will be able to carry an Amnesty CILIP Honour logo. On shortlist announcement day, Tuesday 15^th March, Amnesty will host a drinks reception in London to celebrate the shortlists for both Medals. 

The books longlisted for the 2016 CILIP Carnegie Medal are:

Book by John Agard (Walker Books)

A Song For Ella Grey by David Almond (Hodder)

One by Sarah Crossan (Bloomsbury)

The Earth Is Singing by Vanessa Curtis (Usborne)

The Door That Led To Where by Sally Gardner (Hot Key Books)

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge (Macmillan)

The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold (Bloomsbury)

There Will Be Lies by Nick Lake (Bloomsbury)

We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Neilsen (Andersen Press)

The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness (Walker Books)

Jessica's Ghost by Andrew Norriss (David Fickling Books)

Panther by David Owen (Little, Brown Book Group)

Shepherd's Crown by Terry Pratchett (Penguin Random House)

Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders (Faber)

The Ghosts of Heaven by Marcus Sedgwick (Indigo)

Thirteen Chairs by Dave Shelton (David Fickling Books)

Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley (MiraInk, HarperCollins)

Fire Colour One by Jenny Valentine (HarperCollins)

My Name's Not Friday by Jon Walter (David Fickling Books)

Liccle Bit by Alex Wheatle (Atom Books)

The books longlisted for the 2016 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal are: 

Please Mr Panda illustrated and written by Steve Anthony (Hodder Children’s Books)

Where’s the Elephant? illustrated and written by Barroux (Egmont Books)

Willy’s Stories illustrated and written by Anthony Browne (Walker Books)

This Book Just Ate My Dog! illustrated and written by Richard Byrne (Oxford University Press)

Wall illustrated and written by Tom Clohosy Cole (Templar)

There’s a Bear on My Chair illustrated and written by Ross Collins (Nosy Crow)

Grandad’s Island illustrated and written by Benji Davies (Simon & Schuster)

How the Sun Got to Coco's House illustrated and written by Bob Graham (Walker Books)

The Imaginary illustrated by Emily Gravett, written by A.F Harrold (Bloomsbury)

Once Upon an Alphabet illustrated and written by Oliver Jeffers (HarperCollins)

The Day the Crayons Came Home illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, written by Drew Daywalt (HarperCollins)

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett (Walker Books)

Something About a Bear illustrated and written by Jackie Morris (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books)

Captain Jack and the Pirates illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, written by Peter Bently (Puffin)

Goth Girl and the Fete Worse Than Death illustrated and written by Chris Riddell (Macmillan)

The Sleeper and the Spindle illustrated by Chris Riddell, written by Neil Gaiman (Bloomsbury)

The Bolds illustrated by David Roberts, written by Julian Clary (Andersen Press) 

Animalium illustrated by Katie Scott, written by Jenny Broom (Big Picture Press)

Footpath Flowers illustrated by Sydney Smith, written by JonArno Lawson (Walker Books)

Lili illustrated and written by Wen Dee Tan (Fat Fox)

About the CILIP Carnegie Medal   

The Carnegie Medal, awarded annually, was established in 1936 in memory of the Scottish-born philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie (1835 - 1919). A self-made industrialist who made his fortune in steel in the USA, Carnegie’s experience of using a library as a child led him to resolve that “If ever wealth came to me that it should be used to establish free libraries.” He set up more than 2,800 libraries across the English speaking world and by the time of his death over half the library authorities in Great Britain had Carnegie libraries. 

About the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal

The Kate Greenaway Medal was established in 1955 for distinguished illustration in a book for children. Named after the popular nineteenth century artist, known for her beautiful children's illustrations and designs, the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal is awarded annually for an outstanding book in terms of illustration for children and young people. 

About the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)

CILIP is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers. CILIP’s vision is a fair and economically prosperous society underpinned by literacy, access to information and the transfer of knowledge. CILIP is a registered charity, no. 313014. The Youth Libraries Group (YLG) of CILIP works in a ‘pressure group’ role to preserve and influence the provision of quality literature and library services for children and young people, both in public libraries and school library services. Visit www.cilip.org.uk

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's Graphic/Comic Novel Goodness - Book Picks February 2016

Alex Marlowe - The Last Immortal 01- Published by  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (11 Feb. 2016)

Percy Jackson meets The League of Extraordinary Gentleman meets Sherlock

In Victorian London, 13-year-old Luke Frankenstein dreams of joining The Immortals - a supernatural crime-fighting squad, founded by his father Victor. But when Luke secretly follows the Immortals on a mission against the Dark Pharaoh Sanakhte, he is killed.

Luke's body is preserved for 160 years before he is reanimated in the modern day, his body bestowed with superhuman powers and fitted with modern upgrades. Sanakhte has returned and Luke must reunite the scattered Immortals. But to destroy Sanakhte, Luke must uncover a terrible secret hidden in his past....

Inside cover printing features a comic strip detailing more of the Last Immortals' adventures! 

Kazu Kibuishi - Firelight (Amulet #7) - Published by Graphix (23 Feb. 2016)

Emily, Trellis, and Vigo visit Algos Island, where they can access and enter lost memories. They're hoping to uncover the events of Trellis's mysterious childhood -- knowledge they can use against the Elf King. What they discover is a dark secret that changes everything. Meanwhile, the voice of Emily's Amulet is getting stronger, and threatens to overtake her completely.

Selina’s Station - On the way to Cielis the crew stops at Selina’s Station to refuel. Selina Figgins is the owner of the fueling station and she and Captain Enzo have a past.

Scorpia Graphic Novel (Alex Rider) Paperback – 4 Feb 2016

by Anthony Horowitz (Author), Antony Johnston (Author), Emma Vieceli (Illustrator) In the fifth book in the number one bestselling Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, teenage spy Alex travels to Venice to discover the truth about his past. But the truth lies with a criminal organization known as Scorpia, and Alex must make a choice . work for MI6 once more, or betray! 

Tamsin and the Deep (The Phoenix Presents) Paperback – 4 Feb 2016 by Neill Cameron (Author), Kate Brown (Author) - David Fickling Books (4 Feb. 2016) - Book Review Here

Tamsin knew that she shouldn't have gone into the water. After wiping out on her board, she is dragged down, into the deep...Into a long-forgotten world of ancient magic. Mermaid magic, dark and unforgiving. Her family is in grave danger - and only she has the power to save them.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Most Wanted Read 2016 - Tahereh Mafi - Furthermore (Penguin)

I think that this is a cracking book cover, but what do you think? From what I have read about this book, it sounds like a fantastic story and one that I'm very much looking forward to reading. The wife of Ransom Riggs and bestselling author of the Shatter Me series has written this middle-grade-like fairytale, where magic is a must, adventure is inevitable and friendship is found in the most unexpected places. Just like the book cover, it sounds like a very colourful plot; it might radiate like a rainbow once under the cover.

There are only three things that matter to twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; magic and color, which seem to elude her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him. But it’s been almost three years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’s about to embark on one to find the other.

But bringing Father home is no small matter. In order to find him she’ll have to travel through the mythical, dangerous land of Furthermore, where down can be up, paper is alive, and left can be both right and very, very wrong. Her only companion is a boy named Oliver whose own magical ability is based in lies and deceit—and with a liar by her side in land where nothing is as it seems, it will take all of Alice's wits (and every limb she's got) to find Father and return home to Ferenwood in one piece. On her quest to find Father Alice must first find herself—and hold fast to the magic of love in the face of loss.

Twelve-year-old Alice Alexis Queensmeadow has only three things in the world that matter: Mother, who wouldn’t miss her; triplet brothers, who never knew her; and Father, who always loved her. The day Father disappears from Ferenwood he takes nothing but a ruler with him, so some said he’d gone to measure the sea. Others said the sky. The moon. Maybe he’d learned to fly and had forgotten how to come back down. But it’s been almost six years since then, and Alice is determined to find him. She loves her father even more than she loves adventure, and she’s about to embark on one to find the other. No matter the cost.

• Hardcover
 
• ISBN 9781101994764
 
• 416 Pages
 
• 30 Aug 2016
 
• Dutton Books for Young Readers
 
• 9-12 years

Tahereh Mafi is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Shatter Me series. She can usually be found over-caffeinated and stuck in a book. You can find her online just about anywhere at @TaherehMafi or on her website, www.taherehbooks.com.

Favourite Book Picks: Children's/Teens - February 2016 - UK Published (Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books)

Steve Feasey - Mutant Rising - Published by Bloomsbury Children's (25 Feb. 2016)         

The world has changed for Rush since he discovered that he wasn't the only one. A Mutant with powers that the Pure government would kill for, there are five kids like him on Scorched Earth, hidden from the world until now. Rush: telekinetic; Anya: shapeshifter; Jax: mind reader; Flea: time-stopper; Brick: healer.

As their powers grow, Rush knows that they have a mission that means more than their own survival. Together, they're like the ultimate weapon - they might just beat the evil government of President Melk. But someone will stop at nothing to break them up. And as Melk threatens to destroy the entire Mutant city, Rush's feelings for Tia, one of the Pure, threaten to complicate everything 

Will McIntosh - Burning Midnight - Macmillan Children's Books (11 Feb. 2016)

Sully is a sphere dealer at a flea market. It doesn't pay much - Alex Holliday's stores have muscled out most of the independent sellers - but it helps him and his mum make the rent. No one knows where the brilliant-coloured spheres came from. One day they were just there, hidden all over the earth like huge gemstones. Burn a pair and they make you a little better: an inch taller, skilled at maths, better-looking. The rarer the sphere, the greater the improvement - and the more expensive the sphere.

When Sully meets Hunter, a girl with a natural talent for finding spheres, the two start searching together. What they find will change more than just their lives . . . Because the entire world fights over spheres, but no one knows why they're here or what their powers are . . . until now.

Jo Cotterill (Author) Cathy Brett (Illustrator) Electrigirl - OUP Oxford (4 Feb. 2016)

Holly Sparkes is just your average 12-year-old, that is, until she's hit by a bolt of lightning. Now Holly is EXTRAordinary.  
Like a human battery Holly can generate a massive amount of electricity in seconds, which could come in handy if she's ever going to solve the mystery of her best friend's disappearance. Because when you're dealing with the likes of Professor Macavity and her mysterious CyberSky corporation, you need all the help you can get! 
This exciting story includes black and white graphic novel style illustrations.

Dan Smith - Boy X - Published by Chicken House Ltd (4 Feb. 2016) Book Review Here

Kidnapped and drugged, Ash wakes up on a remote tropical island. His mum - a genetic scientist - has been imprisoned and infected with a deadly virus. Where is he, and what's he doing there? He sets out to cross the jungle to find out and rescue his mother. Soon he realises he's quicker and sharper than before. But there's something else ...why are the animals watching him, and how can he use the jungle to his advantage?

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Dave Rudden - The Knights of the Borrowed Dark - Book Review

The first book in a new series about an orphan boy who discovers he is part of a secret army that protects the world from a race of shadowy monsters.

Grey placed his finger in the middle of the shadow.
'What's this?' he asked.
Denizen frowned. 'It's a shadow.'
'No, it isn't,' Grey said. 'It's a door.'

Denizen Hardwick doesn't believe in magic - until he's ambushed by a monster created from shadows and sees it destroyed by a word made of sunlight.

That kind of thing can really change your perspective.

Now Denizen is about to discover that there's a world beyond the one he knows. A world of living darkness where an unseen enemy awaits.

Fortunately for humanity, between us and the shadows stand the Knights of the Borrowed Dark.

Unfortunately for Denizen, he's one of them . . .

Sorry for the early review. I know that I'm very naughty, but I really wanted to share this book with you .....

What can you expect from this debut Irish author? Well, come a little closer and I will tell you my dear reader. Let's turn the opening pages to this Irish fantasy and walk the thrilling tight rope of The Knights of the Borrowed Dark. This first instalment is an epic 11+ fantasy adventure trilogy based around a boy called Denizen Hardwick. It will be published by the mighty Puffin books in the UK on the 7th April 2016 and much later in the US by Random House Books (16th August 2016). Make sure that you check out the brilliant book cover by Owen Freeman. 

If you put all your favourite Irish childrens' authors into a bowl and give it a mighty whisk, then this is the type of story that I would expect to unfold. There are many trademark features of fantastic authors all under the cover of this great book.The first amazing ingredient is a fantasy plot brimming with great imagination. The likes of such that we would often associate with the great Eoin Colfer. Then there is the creative art of making up the scary monsters - ones that are not your normal mundane type that you may find in some books. I am talking about real monsters that appear on the edges of your subconscious mind leaving you feeling very unsettled. In my opinion, Darren Shan does it better than anyone else, especially within The Demonata series which will always be one of my favourite series and the monsters in this book match up to this quality. Then we mix in a big dollop of dark magic which is topped off with a chilling and skittish atmosphere. Again, resonant of the great Derek Landy, who is a master of this and is incorporated very well into this plot. 

Denizen is an orphan boy, who finds himself caught up in an ancient and secret battle between an order of magic-wielding humans. A shadowy race of monsters, known as the Tenebrous, and their powerful master, the Endless King, are locked in battle with the humans as they try to wreak havoc over the human world. Denizen is not a natural hero; he is very much a loner - he reads far too many books, questions everything and lacks confidence in the real world. 

On a particularly dark night, the electric energy flows and the gates of Crosscaper Orphanage open. A car growls with power into the driveway of the Orphanage and the mysterious adventure begins. The car and the man in it retrieve Denizen with the promise of introducing him to a long-lost aunt. But on the ride into the city, they are attacked. Denizen soon learns that wicked angelic-like monsters can grow out of the shadows. Once you start to read this exceedingly good adventure, you will soon be compelled to turn the pages. Like a maelstrom, you will be swirled and sucked into a vortex of monsters, a magical world and a secret order that might change your perspective.           

This book is very cool. It has a very effective plot which is blended with humour and memorable monsters playing havoc in an atmospheric world of darkness. I loved the aloofness of some of the characters. This leaves you never really knowing them or what they are thinking or doing, which makes you guess what's coming next. This book will have you running from your shadow and fleeing from the darkness of your imagination. It is a story to read at your peril and a fantastic start to a trilogy. Can you keep this high standard and amazing story writing flowing, Dave? I am sure that you can and I look forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.

Mr Ripley's Children's/Teenage UK Book Picks For February 2016 - Post Two

Aimée Carter - Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den (Simon Thorn 1) - Published by Bloomsbury Children's (11 Feb. 2016)

Twelve-year-old Simon Thorn's life has never been easy, but being bullied at school and living in a cramped Manhattan apartment with his Uncle Darrell is nothing compared to his biggest secret: he can talk to animals. When his mum is kidnapped by a herd of terrifying rats, Simon finds out that he, his mum and his uncle are all Animalgams - people who can change into an animal at will. In search of his mother he discovers the Animalgam Academy located underneath Central Park Zoo. There he learns about the fractured five kingdoms that make up this secret world - Mammals, Birds, Insects, Reptiles and Underwater. And Simon Thorn is the only one who can save them.

Imaginative and vivid with themes of bravery, loyalty, and finding one's true self, this exciting, five-book adventure series is perfect for fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and Beast Quest.

Elen Caldecott - Spooks and Scooters (Marsh Road Mysteries 3) - Published by  Bloomsbury Children's (11 Feb. 2016)

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

Flora and Sylvie are going on the holiday of a lifetime with their dad. But - WHAT? - Dad cancels the trip only hours before the flight because - OH MY GOODNESS - someone has stolen precious blueprints of Dad's latest invention: an amazing new scooter. But who? And why? Time to call on the only five people who can possibly solve the crime!

Phil Earle (Author) Sara Ogilvie (Illustrator) - Superhero Street (Storey Street) - Published by Orion Children's Books (25 Feb. 2016)

Mouse is desperate to be a superhero. To find that power that will make him stand out in the crowd. 
But his every attempt ends in failure. He can't even get any attention at home as his five brothers (triplets AND twins) take every second of mum and dad's attention. When mum foils a bank robbery while on duty as a lollipop lady, she and Mouse are lauded as superheroes. Joining forces with Mouse are The Z List - a group of unlikely crime-fighters. But in their midst is a traitor hell-bent on revenge. 

Will Mouse be super enough to spot this danger, and is he brave enough to do anything about it?

The second laugh-out-loud Storey Street novel from award-winning author of DEMOLITION DAD, Phil Earle, with each book focusing on a different character living on the same street.

Danny Wallace (Author) Jamie Littler (Illustrator) - Hamish and the Neverpeople - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (11 Feb. 2016)

Nobody knows it yet, but the people of Earth are in big, big trouble.

Like - HUGE trouble. Oh, come on, where's your imagination? Double what you're thinking!
And it's all got to do with a shadowy figure, an enormous tower, some sinister monsters, huge clanking and thundering metal oddballs, and people who are just like you… but not like you at all.
Luckily Hamish and the PDF are around to help save the day! Aren't they??