Early one summer morning in 935 A.D., Malcolm the Jarl's home in northern Scotland is attacked by Viking raiders led by Heidrek the Seafarer. Struck down during the brief battle that follows, Malcolm is taken captive and imprisoned on what was once his own ship. Refusing to join the murderous Vikings, he manages to escape with two of the other prisoners, only to end up lost at sea. Through a strange series of events, the three young men come upon the young queen, Gerda, who is alone and desperately in need of help. Together, the three friends, Scottish jarl, Irish prince and English thane, pledge themselves to protect Gerda and seek to restore her kingdom which has been usurped by her evil cousin Arnkel. But first they must escape from Heidrek who is pursuing them across the northern seas. Adventure and danger abound in this exciting tale of brave manly men fighting to uphold the honor of a woman.

_______________ A STIRRING HISTORICAL MYSTERY SET IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE VALLEY OF LOST SECRETS The First World War has ended, but it hasn't gone away. When Natty has to move to a new village, she meets two young soldiers who are still battling the effects of war. Huw can't forget the terrible things he's seen, but Johnny doesn't even remember who he is. As Natty tries to keep a secret and unravel a mystery, she finds her own way to fight for what she believes in - and learns that some things should never be forgotten ... This mesmerising historical mystery includes an interactive clue so readers can unravel the mystery alongside the characters. _______________ 'A heartfelt, hopeful tale of the human spirit's incredible ability to recover' - Emma Carroll

The days were filled with boating, fishing and exploring. The nights were bonfires and ghost stories, chase games, and night swimming. Parents usually gathered to mix drinks and play cards well into the night. That made it easier for us to play on the large lawn in front of Harman's cabins, usually until late in the cooled night when the dew started to gather and the stars seemed to be so large and bright you could jump and reach them. This is where we usually had bonfires and told ghost stories. Some of my early childhood crushes were sparked with young girls from far away places vacationing at the lake. Some barely knew my name and the rest I only knew as a passing friend and a face across a fire that mesmerized a young heart for a few days during the summer. Those nights and faces are a distant memory now, but will remain a part of me forever. Sometimes while talking with friends about my childhood, I describe how fun-filled mine were and most of it revolved around those special times.

Kathleen Fidler's classic story is set in the ancient Stone Age village of Skara Brae on Orkney. This is a fascinating and vividly portrayed story of life nearly 3,000 years ago. Kali and Brockan are in trouble. They have been using their stone axes to chip limpets off the rocks, but they've gone too far out and find themselves trapped by the tides. Then, an unexpected rescuer appears, a strange boy in a strange boat, carrying a strangely sharp axe of a type they have never seen before. Conflict arises as the village of Skara must decide what to do with the new ideas and practices that the boy brings. As a deadly storm threatens, the very survival of the village is in doubt. Step back into the Stone Age and learn about the daily life and rituals of the ancient village of Skara Brae in this compelling, fictional account of the famous Orkney settlement. Vivid descriptions and accurate historical details bring the village to life and make this an ideal choice for those studying the Stone Age curriculum.

Vienna, 1714: Late in life, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, the universal genius of his time, puts down his pen and declares his description of the universe to be complete. In the evening, he sits in his study room among letters, books, and manuscripts as his young friend Theodor comes for a visit. Theodor is bothered by one question: Why is there evil? And why do people commit crimes? With an example from ancient Greek mythology, Leibniz develops his theory about the best of all possible worlds. With this vivid "story within a story" Jean Paul Mongin successfully imparts the complex philosophical ideas of Leibniz to young readers. At its most basic, philosophy is about learning how to think about the world around us. It should come as no surprise, then, that children make excellent philosophers! Naturally inquisitive, pint-size scholars need little prompting before being willing to consider life's "big questions," however strange or impractical. Plato & Co. introduces children--and curious grown-ups--to the lives and work of famous philosophers, from Socrates to Descartes, Einstein, Marx, and Wittgenstein. Each book in the series features an engaging--and often funny--story that presents basic tenets of philosophical thought alongside vibrant color illustrations.

When multiple women are found murdered in their London homes during World War II, seventeen-year-old Mary Churchill vows to uncover the identity of the Blackout Ripper – even if it puts her own life at risk.

Seventeen-year-old Mary Churchill feels helpless as London is ravaged by air raids and mandatory blackouts during the seemingly endless war. On a rare night out, she connects with a stranger named Evelyn and, after becoming fast friends, makes plans to meet her again the next day. Except Evelyn never shows up. When Mary searches for her, she finds her new friend has been brutally murdered.

Horrified, Mary goes to the police. But there’s a war happening, and they don’t have enough resources to dedicate themselves to the crime. So, Mary takes it upon herself to investigate. And as she gets further into the case, she discovers more shocking murders. All women, all strangled and mutilated…all connected.

If Mary doesn’t figure out who is killing these women, she could be next.

Against the backdrop of bombings, Mary searches London for any clues as to who this serial murderer could be, and finds herself in a game of cat and mouse with the Blackout Ripper. If only one of them can make it out alive, does Mary have what it takes to make sure it’s her?

Perfect for murder mystery readers and fans of Enola Holmes, Death in the Dark is a chilling young adult crime thriller that will keep you guessing until the riveting conclusion.

A gripping tale of conflict and survival that has inspired millions of young readers and adults alike

It’s 1985, and southern Sudan is ravaged by war. Eleven-year-old Salva is forced to flee on foot when his village is attacked. Braving every imaginable hardship – including killer lions and hungry crocodiles – Salva becomes one of the 'lost boys' of Sudan, travelling the African continent on foot in search of his family and a safe place to stay.

Years later, a girl named Nya walks for hours each day to fetch water for her family. The walk is gruelling and leaves no time for school. But there is unexpected hope, as Salva’s story goes on to intersect with Nya’s in an astonishing and moving way.

Winner of the John Newbery Medal Winner of the Coretta Scott King Author Award An Indiebound Bestseller A New York Times Bestseller Under the cover of night, twelve-year-old Homer flees Southerland Plantation with his little sister Ada, unwillingly leaving their beloved mother behind. Much as he adores her and fears for her life, Homer knows there's no turning back, not with the overseer on their trail. Through tangled vines, secret doorways, and over a sky bridge, the two find a secret community called Freewater, deep in the swamp. In this society created by formerly enslaved people and some freeborn children, Homer finds new friends, almost forgetting where he came from. But when he learns of a threat that could destroy Freewater, he crafts a plan to find his mother and help his new home. Deeply inspiring and loosely based on the history of maroon communities in the South, this is a striking tale of survival, adventure, friendship, and courage.

Moses is found as an infant next to his dying mother, an escaped slave, and is brought to Boston and raised with a baker's family. He grows to be a willful teenager, and after his uncle enlists in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment -- the first and most famous black Civil War regiment -- Moses is keen on following him to war, hoping to serve his country and find out about his father.

Aggie needs to get a present for her Mum's birthday and Gron has a piece of amber that would be perfect! But getting the amber may be harder than Aggie thought, especially when a wild boar appears...

This prehistoric adventure from well-loved author Abie Longstaff is perfect for children who are learning to read by themselves are for Key Stage 1. It features engaging illustrations from Shane Crampton and fun characters young readers will find hard to resist.

Bloomsbury Young Readers are the perfect way to get children reading, with book-banded stories by brilliant authors like Julia Donaldson. They are packed with gorgeous colour illustrations and include inside cover notes to help adults reading with children, as well as ideas for activities related to the stories.

Book Band: Turquoise
Ideal for ages 6+