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.

Ten-year-old twins Kirsty and David Murray love their crofting life in the north of Scotland. They collect shellfish, milk the cows and help their father grow oats and vegetables. Then one day the Countess's men come and burn their house, saying they must leave. The family travel across Scotland to Glasgow. City life is dirty and overcrowded, and work in the mills is hard and dangerous. The chance comes to join a ship sailing for Hudson Bay in Canada, and once again they start a long, perilous journey. Will they survive the treacherous Atlantic crossing, and what will they find in the strange new land? Kathleen Fidler had a gift for bringing characters from history to life for today's children. The Desperate Journey is her best-known story, a true Scottish classic whose thrilling plot will keep children gripped from start to end.

After solving the case of Truly Devious, Stevie Bell investigates her first mystery outside of Ellingham Academy in this spine-chilling and hilarious stand-alone mystery from New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson, now available in paperback. Amateur sleuth Stevie Bell needs a good murder. After catching a killer at her high school, she's back at home for a normal (that means boring) summer. But then she gets a message from the owner of Sunny Pines, formerly known as Camp Wonder Falls-the site of the notorious unsolved case, the Box in the Woods Murders. Back in 1978, four camp counselors were killed in the woods outside of the town of Barlow Corners, their bodies left in a gruesome display. The new owner offers Stevie an invitation: Come to the camp and help him work on a true crime podcast about the case. Stevie agrees, as long as she can bring along her friends from Ellingham Academy. Nothing sounds better than a summer spent together, investigating old murders. But something evil still lurks in Barlow Corners. When Stevie opens the lid on this long-dormant case, she gets much more than she bargained for. The Box in the Woods will make room for more victims. This time, Stevie may not make it out alive. * Cosmopolitan Best YA Books of 2021 * People Magazine Best Books of Summer 2021*

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.

The remarkable story of Deborah Sampson, a woman who fought in the American Revolution disguised as a man-and who ends up finding her true identity and purpose in life. Deborah Sampson didn't like being told what to do, especially by the King of England. Fiercely independent, 18-year-old Deborah enlists as Robert Shurtliff in George Washington's Continental Army to fight for her country's independence. But being a soldier is hard, dangerous work. Can she fight for her country and keep her identity a secret? Can she also discover who she really is and find her true purpose? This unbelievable story from American history about a woman with a rebel spirit will inspire and enlighten young readers. "Cloaked in Courage is inspiring storytelling centering the life and actions of a brave woman and soldier, Deborah Sampson. Anderson's contribution brings to light a lesser-known hero in history and emphasizes the importance of historical investigation and research." -Lori Ann Terjesen, director of education, National Women's History Museum

Wag, an enterprising dog, is unique. He can talk. The family pet strives to keep his secret in a series of adventures with young twins Lucy and Tom during the summer in World War Two. It's Wag who discovers a German airman dangling by his parachute from a tree after his plane is shot down. And he helps recapture the flier following his escape. He and the twins make friends with two teenage French refugees - and later make a startling discovery. Wag comes face-to-face with Winston Churchill, Britain's wartime leader. Tense nights in the family air raid shelter. The drama of an unexploded bomb. Moments of comedy such as when Wag chases a cat into a prison during an outing. The year 1943 ends on a proud note when Wag is presented with a medal by the King in Buckingham Palace...for exposing a Nazi spy.

"Powerful and unsettling. . . . As memorable an introduction to the subject as The Diary of Anne Frank." --USA Today Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance. But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences. From the Hardcover edition.

'I seemed to be seeing double. I saw two Edies instead of one - but they weren't the same.' Edie is fascinated by Victorian times, and she's just desperate to be cast in the lead role of her drama club production of Oliver. When she's given a real Victorian notebook she's determined to write the best story ever, all about a girl in a workhouse. But when she starts writing, something strange happens. Edie finds herself in Victorian London. She feels the same, but everything around her is completely different to what she knows. Soon, she realises she's living the life of another Edie Trimmer - and is in danger of being sent to a real workhouse! Will she forget everything she knows about her other life - and will she ever be able to make it back to her family? A heart-warming time travel adventure about family and friendship from the much-loved, bestselling Jacqueline Wilson. Discover Jacqueline Wilson's other bestselling titles: Little Stars Emerald Star Hetty Feather Project Fairy The Runaway Girls

The Black Stallion meets Tamora Pierce in this adventure-filled middle grade novel about a young stable girl who discovers a secret that endangers her beloved horse and threatens her future.Sonnia loves horses more than anything. She works at her family's struggling pony ride business but dreams of the beautiful steeds in the royal stables, especially Ricochet, who she's been slowly saving money to buy--even though she knows people from her impoverished neighborhood are rarely so lucky. Then Ricochet is moved to the racetrack across town, and Sonnia lands a job there. Now, she can see Ricochet every day and earn enough money to buy him in no time--all while helping her family with her new wages! She even joins the junior racing cadre to train to become a jockey. But then she uncovers their secret pastime: competing in the Night Ride, a dangerous and highly illegal race in the darkest hours before dawn. Every race puts the horses at risk. Sonnia wants to protect the horses she's grown to care for, but she's only a kid from the poor side of town--considered expendable, just like the horses. If she just keeps her head down, soon she can buy Ricochet and get him out of there--and keep supporting her family. But would she be able to live with herself?

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!

Necessary for all of humankind, Under the Broken Sky is a breathtaking work of literature.--Booklist, starred review A beautifully told middle-grade novel-in-verse about a Japanese orphan's experience in occupied rural Manchuria during World War II. Twelve-year-old Natsu and her family live a quiet farm life in Manchuria, near the border of the Soviet Union. But the life they've known begins to unravel when her father is recruited to the Japanese army, and Natsu and her little sister, Cricket, are left orphaned and destitute. In a desperate move to keep her sister alive, Natsu sells Cricket to a Russian family following the 1945 Soviet occupation. The journey to redemption for Natsu's broken family is rife with struggles, but Natsu is tenacious and will stop at nothing to get her little sister back. Literary and historically insightful, this is one of the great untold stories of WWII. Much like the Newbery Honor book Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, Mariko Nagai's Under the Broken Sky is powerful, poignant, and ultimately hopeful. Christy Ottaviano Books

_______________ 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

Thrilling historical adventure set during the English peasants' revolt of 1381, by Paul Dowswell, the author of Auslander, and Wolf Children. It's 1381 and the king, Richard II, has imposed a new tax on the people. In the village of Aylesford, Tilda and her ploughman father were already struggling to make ends meet. As serfs they have no rights to move freely or earn wages for their work. Tilda is desperate for a better life than the village can offer, so when the villagers begin to rebel she is swept up in the excitement. Tilda and her father travel to London with the others to petition the king, but the peaceful rebellion they hoped for soon ignites into violence, mayhem and treachery. Tilda's fight for a better life is only just beginning... This page-turning adventure sheds new light on a period of history which is covered in the KS3 curriculum, and will have readers gripped from start to finish.