Meet John - England's worst King. Notorious for his mean character, disgusting personal habits and fiery temper, he was loathed by everyone - including his own mother. There was nothing this right royal reprobate wouldn't stoop to in order to elbow his way to the English crown. Find out how it all started with this diary account of John's early life. This text is rich in vocabulary and will provide a page turning insight into the English King who put the 'evil' into medieval.

North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black folk have begun building a community of their own, a refuge from the shadow of the 'old life.' It is where the March family has finally been able to safely put down roots with four young daughters: Meg, a teacher who longs to find love and start a family of her own. Jo, a writer whose words are too powerful to be contained. Beth, a talented seamstress searching for a higher purpose. Amy, a dancer eager to explore life outside her family's home. As the four March sisters come into their own as independent young women, they will face first love, health struggles, heartbreak, and new horizons. But they will face it all together.

A gripping adventure in an exciting new series reflecting the authentic, unsung stories of our past! Now or Never brings a young soldier, Private Fazal Khan, from his home in India to the battlefields of the Second World War. Fazal's world is now focused on Company 32 and the animals he cares for in the midst of one of the most frightening times in history. And as he and his friends make their way to the beaches of Dunkirk, Fazal must deal with even more than the terrors of a dangerous trek to reach the evacuation zone. The Company's captain defends his troops in the face of a terrible betrayal at the point of rescue: not everyone has welcomed the help brought by the Royal Indian Army Service Corps. Now Fazal is forced to question why he is even there and why he is expected to be loyal to a king whose people don't all see him as their equal. VOICES: A thrilling new series showcasing some of the UK's finest writers for young people. VOICES reflects the authentic, unsung stories of our past. Each shows that, even in times of great upheaval, a myriad of people have arrived on this island and made a home for themselves - from Roman times to the present day.

In 1980s Washington state, USA, Mount St Helens is rumbling. Twelve-year-old Maribel isn't concerned at first, despite officials evacuating her neighbourhood. Her family is convinced it's just a precaution, even as the mountain continues to rumble. Maribel decides to disobey orders and return home for items she and her sister left behind - just as the volcano finally erupts. As ash rains down, Maribel realizes she must learn to focus if she's going to survive.

The greatest adventure of all begins here, in the epic new prehistoric children's novel from bestselling author, academic and broadcaster, Professor Alice Roberts. Tuuli is a prehistoric girl, travelling with her tribe through the seasons – making camp, hunting for food and protecting themselves against the many hazards that the climate throws at them. Tuuli knows there’s a bigger world out there, and when she spots a strange boy lurking outside their camp, she realises that he might hold the adventure she is looking for.  He is from another tribe, sent to find safer ground and as he and Tuuli strike up an unlikely friendship, they set out on a journey that will impact the rest of human history.  A vast adventure with a very human heart, full of wild animals, huge scenery and heart-stopping danger and inspired by real anthropological discoveries. For fans of His Dark Materials, Wolf Brother and The Last Bear, join Tuuli on the adventure of a lifetime and uncover the start of all our histories.

Every May Day, the Obby Oss dances through the streets of Padstow. Thirza and her brothers join in, with the whole village. But Thirza never sees her father on May Day. In this particular year, the men sail off to fight the King's war against the French. The town of Padstow is left to the women and children. Then one day Thirza sees a French warship coming to attack Padstow. Turnning to warn the others, she bumps into the frightening figure of Aunt Ursula Birdhood. Aunt Ursula tells the boys to grab musical instruments and the girls and women to put on their red Sunday cloaks. She puts on the Obby Oss skin and makes Thirza dance in front of her. Together they save the village and Thirza learns the secret of what her father does on May Day.