A thrilling World War II adventure set in occupied France, featuring an Indian RAF pilot. Great for fans of Michael Morpurgo and John Boyne, and those who want diverse historical fiction. Thirteen-year-old Joelle Breton stumbles across Indian-born RAF pilot Mohinder Singh when his plane crashes in occupied France and it's up to her and her parents to hide him from the Nazis. After all, her parents are brave members of the French Resistance and will do everything they can to help get Mohinder back to Britain. But when they are betrayed and tragedy strikes, Joelle and Mohinder will have to act fast if they are ever to evade the enemy. Flashbacks offer dramatic stories set in key moments of history, perfect for introducing children to historical topics. Book Band: Dark Red Ideal for ages 10+

Discoveries

Amedeo Kaplan dreams of discovering something -- some treasure no one realizes is there until he finds it. And he would like to discover a true friend to share this with.

Improbably, he finds the friend in aloof, edgy William Wilcox. And even more improbably, he finds his treasure among the memorabilia in the house of his eccentric neighbor, Mrs. Zender. But Amedeo and William find more than treasure -- they find a story that links a sketch, a young boy's life, an old man's reminiscence, and a painful secret dating back to the outrages of Nazi Germany. And they discover unexpected truths about art, friendship, history, heroism, and the mysteries of the human heart.

Book Band: Dark Blue (Ideal for ages 9+) An exciting time-travel adventure by Emma Shevah, ideal for fans of Horrible Histories. The librarian at Ariella and Yosef's school loves History. She even has a collection of historical objects in the library. When she starts acting strangely, Ariella and Yosef can't resist investigating. Transported back to Georgian London, how will they get back home? This thrilling story features beautiful black-and-white illustrations by Laura Catalan. The Bloomsbury Readers series is packed with book-banded stories to get children reading independently in Key Stage 2 by award-winning authors like double Carnegie Medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean and Waterstones Prize winner Patrice Lawrence. With engaging illustrations and online guided reading notes written by the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE), this series is ideal for home and school. For more information visit www.bloomsburyreaders.com. 'Any list that brings together such a quality line up of authors is going to be welcomed ... Bloomsbury Readers are aimed squarely at children in Key Stage 2 and designed to support them as they start reading independently and while they continue to gain confidence and understanding.' Books for Keeps

The daring and dramatic conclusion to Kat Dunn's epic C18th French Revolution YA trilogy 'with lashings of lust, love, sacrifice, betrayal and horror'. Robespierre is dead. The Reign of Terror is over. As Royalist strength grows, the Duc de L'Aubespine plots a coup that will consign the revolution to history. With Olympe in his clutches, he believes nothing can stop him. But he's reckoned without the intrepid Battalion of the Dead! Reunited in Paris, Ada is poised for action - but if she plays her hand too soon, everything she's sacrificed to gain his trust will be lost. Meanwhile, an unlikely alliance with an old enemy might be Camille's only option to save Olympe and stop the duc in his tracks. The glittering and macabre bals des victimes and the eerie catacombs make the perfect backdrop for the final episode of the Battalion's tale. Reviews for Dangerous Remedy: 'Your new YA obsession. Vivid, dark, and complex - I fell under Dangerous Remedy's spell from the very first page' Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of A Secret of Birds and Bone 'A swashbuckling thrill ride of a debut with protagonists who'll have you on the edge of your seat. This is life or death stuff!' Catherine Johnson, author of Freedom 'Heart-pounding romance, wit, trickery, danger and a uniquely brilliant kind of magic' Kesia Lupo, author of We Are Bound by Stars

Would you break the rules or break your promise? On the outskirts of Edinburgh, just before the outbreak of WW2, Charlie finds a starving German boy called Josef hiding in the woods near his home. Josef can't speak English and is desperately afraid, especially of anyone in uniform. Charlie promises to help Josef find his Jewish relatives in the city. It's a journey that will force them to face their fears, testing their new-found friendship, and Charlie's promise, to the limit.

The early Mormon Church was forced out of several states and finally blazed a trail across unknown territory to Utah to form their own theocracy. In addition to this westward movement, converts in Europe were admonished to "gather to Zion" and build up the Church in the Salt Lake Valley. 85,000 Mormon emigrants came to America by sailing ships between the years of 1840 and 1890. Seven Sisters takes place on one of these ships--the Amazon. Carrying 800 Latter-day Saints, it had a send off from Charles Dickens at the London Docks and landed in New York City a couple of days after the deadliest riot in American History-the Draft Riots of 1863. During the 44 day crossing, there are births, deaths, storms, sea-sickness, accidents, drama, comedy, romance, and pure religion. All of this is seen through the eyes of seven single young women who start out the voyage individually and are soon placed together as a "family" by Church leaders. Although, they aren't related--as such--they are "sisters" in the Gospel, and together they face the adventures, hardships, and dangers of an ocean voyage.

Age range 6 to 10 This gripping diary, written from the perspective of the young Alfred (with the help of his scribe Godric), will take readers through the major events in his action-packed childhood. Find out how Alfred became the last noble standing in this ripping royal read.

An eleven-year-old's world is upended by political turmoil in this "lyrically ambitious tale of exile and reunification" (Kirkus Reviews) from an award-winning poet, based on true events in Chile. Celeste Marconi is a dreamer. She lives peacefully among friends and neighbors and family in the idyllic town of Valparaiso, Chile--until one day when warships are spotted in the harbor and schoolmates start disappearing from class without a word. Celeste doesn't quite know what is happening, but one thing is clear: no one is safe, not anymore. The country has been taken over by a government that declares artists, protestors, and anyone who helps the needy to be considered "subversive" and dangerous to Chile's future. So Celeste's parents--her educated, generous, kind parents--must go into hiding before they, too, "disappear." Before they do, however, they send Celeste to America to protect her. As Celeste adapts to her new life in Maine, she never stops dreaming of Chile. But even after democracy is restored to her home country, questions remain: Will her parents reemerge from hiding? Will she ever be truly safe again? Accented with interior artwork, steeped in the history of Pinochet's catastrophic takeover of Chile, and based on many true events, this multicultural ode to the power of revolution, words, and love is both indelibly brave and heartwrenchingly graceful.

Set in the early industrial revolution and the great canal building age, a young Jane Austen takes on the role of detective as she seeks to solve the mysterious events at the Oxford canal terminus. Nearing completion, convicts work on completing the wharf overseen by the charming secretary Mr George, who shows Jane around. A rude convict Gardiner does not make a good impression though. When Gardiner goes missing and canal funds turn up short, an exciting manhunt ensues but Jane begins to expect something suspicious about the secretary and the reasons why Gardiner was in prison. Were Jane's first impressions very wrong about the relative merits of the convict and the secretary? With the ever-present Austen spirit, Jane with notebook in hand, boldly overcomes the obstacles to finding the truth and expose the secrets. Inspired by Austen's third novel Pride and Prejudice (working title First Impressions).

Steeped in the natural history of Mary Anning's Jurassic Coast, a powerful dual-timeline story about friendship, mental health and hidden stories. 1884. Emma Linden dreams of following in the footsteps of the famous fossil-hunter, Mary Anning on the Jurassic Coast. But Emma's world begins to spiral when her brother James becomes obsessed with a glassy-eyed tiger at the museum. More than a hundred years later, her descendant Rosie Linden goes missing, her mind full of prowling tigers. With her new friend Jude, Rosie uncovers family secrets buried like layer upon layer of rock. Together they must sift the past to find the truth and heal the present. Praise for Hannah Foley 'A great friendship story, fascinating, intricate and hopeful.' Hilary McKay author of The Skylarks' War '[An] expansive story about mental health, hidden stories and friendship.' The Bookseller One to Watch 'A bold, courageous and important book.' Sophie Kirtley author of The Wild Way Home

The adventures of the time-travelling Butterfly Club continue . . . When the Butterfly Club asks the time thieves to go to Paris and steal a little-known painting known as the Mona Lisa, Aidan can only think of one man who can make things disappear - Harry Houdini. The three children and Houdini travel to 1911 Paris where they face their most difficult mission yet. To add to the challenge they soon discover they are not the only ones planning to steal the Mona Lisa. A group of artists also seem intent on stealing the portrait, as it contains hidden clues to a much greater treasure, clues that were placed there in Renaissance times by the Mona Lisa's creator Leonardo Da Vinci himself.

Thirteen-year-old Matthew is miserable. His journalist dad is stuck overseas, and his mum has moved his great-grandmother in with them to ride out the pandemic, adding to his stress and isolation. But when Matthew finds a photo in his great-grandmother's belongings, he discovers a clue to a hidden chapter of her past, one that will reveal a life-shattering family secret. Set in alternating timelines that connect the present day to the 1930s and the US to the USSR, Katherine Marsh's latest novel sheds light on the Holodomor - the horrific famine that killed millions of Ukrainians.

1962, London during the Cuban Missile Crisis What would you do if there was a real possibility that the world might end? Ray, aware of his parents' building worry, decides to take matters into his own hands. He builds a shelter in the woods behind his house in the hope that he never has to use it. Only to discover that someone else needs it more than he does. An American girl, reported missing, has turned up there... Why is she hiding? And with neighbour turning against neighbour, will Ray be willing to help her? Set over the six days when the Cuban Missile Crisis became public knowledge, this tense, clever thriller might just be Emma Carroll's best book yet!

Christopher's homecoming takes a sinister turn when a murderous conspiracy is uncovered in this fifth novel of the award-winning Blackthorn Key series. Christopher, Tom, and Sally are back in London at last. Everyone is relieved at their return--the plague has ended, and the king, pleased with their service, offers a surprising reward. But trouble has followed them home... First, an old friend is ambushed and left for dead. Then an anonymous letter arrives at Blackthorn--a mysterious warning hidden inside a riddle and secret code. As Christopher and his friends begin to investigate, they soon discover they've stumbled upon a plot to kill the king...and anyone else who dares stand in the traitors' way.

Nazi Germany is a dangerous place for a girl with a stammer - and although her father tries to keep her safe, Ingrid can't help feeling like she's let him down. But in the air, soaring high as she pilots her beloved glider planes, Ingrid is free and incredibly talented. When she gets the chance to fly in a propaganda tour alongside her hero, Germany's daring female test pilot Hanna Reitsch, Ingrid leaps at the chance. But through Hanna, she will learn some dangerous truths about Germany's secret missions and the plans that could change the course of the war to secure victory for the Nazi regime. When everything is at stake, Ingrid must decide where her loyalties lie ...