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Welcome to Young Writers - Young Writer's Recommended Reads

Each month we’ll bring you our recommendations of books that we hope will be of interest to you. If you would like to provide a review, as a reader, for any of these titles please email us at info@youngwriters.co.uk with 'Online Book Review' in the subject line.


September 2010

Ruby Nettleship and the Ice Lolly Adventure by Thomas Docherty Ruby Nettleship and the Ice Lolly Adventure by Thomas Docherty Published by Templar Publishing Published August 2010 RRP £10.99 (large hardback) ISBN 978-1848774032 Ruby Nettleship is a magical little girl with a dream and with the help of her ice-lolly stick she makes her dream come true. (Reviewed for you by Lilly, aged 2 along with her mum) Lilly loved the bright, glittery front cover and liked that she recognised the animals, flower, ice-lolly, star and girl on it. Although the story is too old for her in readership terms, the pictures were great for her age. They are clear, bright and there’s a lot to discuss picture-wise on each page. She listened to the whole story and really enjoyed talking about the ice-cream van and the magic park. Her favourite picture was ‘elephant on slide’, which made her giggle a lot! Once we’d finished reading it, Lilly asked to go to the park and have an ice-lolly too! It’s a brilliant book, with a subject that appeals to toddlers and as she grows the book won’t become redundant like several of her baby books, as it will still hold its appeal in a couple of years’ time. Author Tour Thomas is appearing at The Cheltenham Literary Festival on 16th October 2010 1pm to 1.45pm. For ticket information click here (please note this link will take you to a third party’s website). All details are correct at the time of publishing but are subject to change. We advise you always check with the venue beforehand. Recommended for pre-school readers

Foxly’s Feast by Owen Davey Foxly’s Feast by Owen Davey Published by Templar Publishing Published September 2010 RRP £10.99 (large hardback) ISBN 978-1848771253 Debut picture book from Owen Davey, who recently graduated from University College Falmouth with a first in Illustration. Foxly’s Feast is a wordless story of a vegetarian fox, which shows you shouldn’t judge by appearance. (Reviewed for you by Lilly, aged 2 along with her mum) Lilly really liked the pictures, especially the scenes with a lot going on in them. She had fun naming all the animals and food and she understood that the fox and owl were hungry and the start and full up after their picnic. Lilly loved the fox so much she kissed him! We found this to be an engaging book and no words meant we discussed the pictures and talked about what could happen, for example, would Foxly eat an animal? Why had he got a backpack? Lilly enjoyed the book and although it’s a large book it’s not bulky so it was ideal for her to hold on her lap and ‘read’. The fact that Foxly’s adventure was one a human could have made it much easier for Lilly to relate to the story, and having a vegetarian in the family also helped! I recommend this book as a great family read, you can let your imaginations create alternative story lines for Foxly meaning Foxly’s Feast won’t grow old. Recommended for pre-school readers

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler Published by Macmillian Children’s Books Published 27th August 1999 RRP £5.99 ISBN 978-0333710937 Little mouse goes for a walk in a dangerous forest. To scare off his enemies he invents tales of a fantastical creature called the Gruffalo. He describes the Gruffalo in rhymes, but the Gruffalo is only a figment of Little Mouse’s imagination, we all know there is no such thing as a Gruffalo … is there? Recommended for readers aged 5+

Dear Whiskers by Ann Whitehead Nagda Dear Whiskers by Ann Whitehead Nagda Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Published 1st October 2006 RRP £4.99 ISBN 978-1845075637 (Reviewed for you by Lynsey Evans, Marketing) When Jenny’s class are asked to be imaginary mice pen friends for the Year 2 class, all the kids get involved and letters fly back and forth. Except for Jenny, her pen friend is Sameera, she’s from Saudi Arabia and doesn’t speak much English. After a lot of hard work Jenny finally finds a way for Sameera to understand the project and learns about Sameera’s culture too. This book is a wonderful way of approaching differences in culture in a friendly and easy to understand manner. I enjoyed Jenny’s journey and the successful outcome of her efforts was a satisfying ending, giving not only a feel-good factor but knowledge that hard work will pay off eventually. Recommended for readers 7+

Madame Pamplemousse and the Time-Travelling Café by Rupert Kingfisher (illustrated by Sue Hellard) Madame Pamplemousse and the Time-Travelling Café by Rupert Kingfisher (illustrated by Sue Hellard) Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Published 2nd August 2010 RRP £4.99 ISBN 978-1408800539 (Reviewed for you by Lynsey Evans, Marketing) The Café of Lost Time is a charming place that has a secret … the expresso maker is in fact a time-travelling machine created by Monsieur Montarde, a scientist. To time travel it needs a recipe of secret food ingredients created by culinary genius Madame Pamplemousse. Madame Pamplemousse, her cat Camembert and their child friend Madeleine are sent on an important mission, time travelling to save Paris from an evil government who want to modernise the city and stop people eating, relaxing, falling in love and all their lazy ways. ‘Madame Pamplemousse and the Time-Travelling Café’ is a delightful modern adventure. It’s fast-paced, with characters you grow fond of and bad guys you just know will get their comeuppance – and not in the way you’d expect. This is the second book in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone story too. To finish the book a great cupcake recipe is included too! I recommend this book and think it’s a perfect way to spend a rainy day! The third instalment of the series ‘Madame Pamplemousse and the Enchanted Sweetshop’ is available in mini hardback from the 6th September 2010. Look out for our interview with Rupert Kingfisher online shortly. Recommended for readers 7+

A Really Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson A Really Short History Of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson Published by Corgi Children’s Books Published 2nd September 2010 RRP £9.99 ISBN 978-0552562966 Bill Bryson travels through time and space to bring the world, the universe and everything to a new audience. This edition is adapted from his global bestseller and is the perfect book for enquiring young minds. Complete with illustrations and photographs throughout, Bill’s story-telling skill makes the ‘How?’ and ‘Who?’ of scientific discovery entertaining and accessible for all ages. This edition covers time and space, scientists and their methods, the universe, and this wondrous plant we call home, to name a few topics! A must-read encyclopaedia of scientific wonders. Recommended for readers 9+

The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin The Blackhope Enigma by Teresa Flavin Published by Templar Publishing Published on 1st July 2010 RRP £6.99 ISBN 978- 1 84877 034 8 (Reviewed for you by Jacqueline Donnelly, Business Admin) Inside the Blackhope Tower in a windowless room hangs a painting ‘The Mariners return to Arcadia – 1582’ - on the floor a tiled labyrinth. Sir Innes Blackhope – had left instructions that the room should never be altered in anyway. Why? This was a question asked by our main characters Sunni and Blaise and one they would discover the answer to, particularly if they were to rescue Sunni’s step-brother Dean, who had vanished after walking the labyrinth only to appear moments later in the painting … The Blackhope Enigma is in essence an adventure, with the characters fighting pirates, monsters and villains, inside a world inside a painting. Who hasn’t looked at a painting and not wished that for a moment they could step inside to touch or smell and to be apart of the scene. Teresa Flavin has written a delightful debut novel, with characters that engage and worlds that come to life, with just the occasional reminder to the reader that the world is a painting. The book leaves you wanting to go on more adventures with our intrepid young explorers. Recommended for readers 11+

The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Series) by Michael Scott The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel (Series) by Michael Scott The Alchemyst (Book 1) ISBN 978-0552562522 £6.99 The Magician (Book 2) ISBN 978-0552557245 £6.99 The Sorceress (Book 3) ISBN 978-0552562539 £6.99 The Necromancer (Book 4) ISBN 978-0385619035 £10.99 Published by Corgi Children’s Books Available Now (Reviewed for you by Claire Tupholme, Wordsmith Editor) Welcome to the world of the immortal alchemyst Nicholas Flamel. A world where necromancy, magic and sorcery infiltrate the previously normal lives of teenage twins, Sophie and Josh Newman. In order to stop the Dark Elders from returning to Earth and ending the world as they know it, the twins must battle creatures that should only belong in myth and legend. To do this the alchemyst Nicholas Flamel must help them train in all the elemental magics. Not only must the twins deals with new and frightening powers and constant danger, Sophie and Josh must decide who they can really trust … Recommended for readers 11+

Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex by Eoin Colfer Published by Puffin Published on 20th July 2010 RRP £12.99 hardback ISBN 978-0141328027 (Reviewed for you by Lynsey Evans, Marketing) Artemis is back in the seventh installment of the series and … he’s nice! With a plan to save the world from global warming Artemis calls a summit in Iceland on his 15th birthday. However, the Atlantis Complex has taken grip of Artemis, a terrible affliction similar to OCD. With Artemis hallucinating and counting everything in patterns before slipping into multiple personalities, it tackles head-on the serious subject of mental illness without being patronising or glossing over it. Artemis also questions his motivations and his morality, meaning the story comes of age along with Artemis. All characters we’ve grown to love are back too, along with the wit, humour and charm Eoin Colfer appears to write so effortlessly with. If you’re a fan of Artemis Fowl, this book won’t disappoint and if you’ve never read an Artemis Fowl book, I urge you to as you are missing out on a cracking series! With book eight in the series set to be the last I can’t wait to see what Eoin Colfer has in store for the most loved teen mastermind criminal … Recommended for readers 12+

Children’s Classic

With the 13th September celebrating the fifth Roald Dahl Day, we have chosen one of our favourite Roald Dahl books as this month’s classic read. ‘The BFG’ (The Big Friendly Giant) by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. Originally published in 1982. This title is widely available through various publishers on the high street and online. Sophie is an orphan and one night when she can’t sleep in the witching hour she is snatched from her bed by a giant, who was out catching dreams. The giant takes Sophie to the far-off land known as Giant Country. Sophie is worried that the giant will eat her, but she has been taken by the only kind giant in the country – “I is THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT! I is the BFG." The BFG mixes up dreams to blow through a trumpet onto sleeping children, making sure they all have good dreams. However, all the other giants are mean, nasty beasts with terrible names. They like to eat ‘human beans’, which are children. The BFG lives on disgusting Snozcumbers as he won’t eat children. The BFG and Sophie have to stop the other giants from eating the children of the world and this means they even get the Queen and the RAF involved. ‘The BFG’ is a true modern classic, humour, adventure and good vs evil makes for a thrilling read that certainly doesn’t disappoint. With illustrations by Quentin Blake (did you know the BFG is based on a doodle of Roald Dahl Blake drew?) the dream team of fiction and illustration give us another gem of fiction. A must-read for everyone! For more info on Roald Dahl day please visit www.roalddahlday.info. – if you take part in the Reading Relay, why not read ‘The BFG’! (Please note this link will take you to a third party’s website.)

If you would like to provide a review, as a reader, for any of these titles please email us at youngwriters@forwardpress.co.uk with 'Online Book Review' in the subject line. Check out our previous Recommended Reads!

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