In September of 1777, General Washington and his troops are encamped just north of Philadelphia. The war is not going well for the Continental Army, the British are closing in fast and, worst of all, there is no money to pay the discouraged troops. Twins Sally and Roger are asked by their father, General Priestly, to help their mother hide a shipment of gold which will be used to pay the American soldiers. Unfortunately, British spies have also learned about the gold and will stop at nothing to prevent it from reaching General Washington. Mrs. Priestly and her children must act quickly to keep the gold hidden and deliver it safely to the waiting army. Based on a true story, this is a thrilling episode from our nation's history!

A historical time-slip adventure for middle grade readers, from the Carnegie Medal-winning author of Apache and Buffalo Soldier. Alfie Wright? Alfie Wrong, more like. Alfie has never really fitted in anywhere - he doesn't have any friends, and even his mum seems embarrassed of him. So when he's evacuated to a farm in rural Devon run by kind old Aunt Bell and her gentle giant of a son, Alfie can't believe his luck. The War seems a long way off, and among the cows and pigs and geese Alfie's happier than he's ever been - especially when he makes friends with one of the local boys, Snidge. But Snidge, for all his friendliness, is not all he appears. And the mystery that surrounds him seems to be connected to the Midwinter Burning, an annual ritual held at the Standing Stones, high up on the cliffs. Aunt Bell says it's all just a bit of harmless superstition, but when Snidge goes missing, Alfie finally discovers who his friend really is - and relives the true horror of the legend...

The Golden Butterfly danced in the air, beautiful and impossible, yet there before their eyes. Then the Magnificent Marko flicked his wand again. There was a shower of sparks, a bang and ... the Golden Butterfly vanished. It's 1897 and since the Magnificent Marko dramatically departed the stage, no magician has come close to performing a trick as spectacular as the Golden Butterfly. With her grandfather gone, Luciana feels that the world has lost its wonder. Then the imposing leader of the Grand Society of Magicians appears, searching for something belonging to Marko, and Luciana is drawn into a world of danger and deception. As she battles to protect her grandfather's greatest legacy, can she distinguish reality from illusion? NOMINATED FOR THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2020 A dazzling tale of bravery and friendship in this fast-paced historical adventure for fans of Katherine Woodfine, COGHEART and THE NOWHERE EMPORIUM. "A perfectly paced and wonderfully written tale of mystery and magic... I'm sure this is a book I'll return to with great enjoyment. A fantastic read!" - Sinead O'Hart, author of THE EYE OF THE NORTH and THE STAR-SPUN WEB

London, 1922.

A discovery from ancient Egypt . . .

A cursed package . . .

The untold story of a young pharaoh . . .

When Lilian Kaye finds a parcel on her grandad's doorstep, she is shocked to see who sent it: a famous Egyptologist, found dead that very morning, according to every newspaper in England!

The mysterious package holds the key to a story . . . about a king whose tomb archaeologists are desperately hunting for.

Lil and her friends must embark on an incredible journey - to return the package to its resting place, to protect those they love, and to break the deadly pharaoh's curse . . .

I WAS JANE AUSTEN'S BEST FRIEND is the secret diary of Jenny Cooper, Jane Austen's teenage friend and confidante. Their evenings are a blur of beautiful dresses, balls, gossip and romance; their days are spent writing about them - Jenny in her diary, Jane in her first attempts at fiction. When Jenny falls utterly in love with a handsome naval officer, obstacles stand in their way. Who better to help her than Jane herself, who already considers herself an expert in love and relationships?

In her 1916 ghost story, Kerfol, Edith Wharton tells of Anne de Barrigan, a young woman convicted of murdering her jealous husband. The elderly lord was found on the stairs, apparently savaged by a pack of dogs, though there were no dogs - no live dogs - at Kerfol that day. In these remarkable intertwining stories, Deborah Noyes returns to the manor to tell de Barrigan's story through the sympathetic eyes of her servant girl. Four more tales slip forward in time, following characters haunted by the ghosts of Kerfol - the dead dogs; the sensual, uneasy relationships; and the bitter taste of revenge.

The unforgettable Newbery Medal-winning novel from Lois Lowry. As the German troops begin their campaign to "relocate" all the Jews of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen's family takes in Annemarie's best friend, Ellen Rosen, and conceals her as part of the family. Through the eyes of ten-year-old Annemarie, we watch as the Danish Resistance smuggles almost the entire Jewish population of Denmark, nearly seven thousand people, across the sea to Sweden. The heroism of an entire nation reminds us that there was pride and human decency in the world even during a time of terror and war. A modern classic of historical fiction, Number the Stars has won generations of fans and continues to speak to today's readers. Jessica Grose wrote in a November 2022 New York Times essay entitled "This Perfect Mother-Daughter Read Holds a Powerful Lesson for Fighting Antisemitism" "Number the Stars is particularly relevant to our family, and to this moment." As School Library Journal put it: "Readers are taken to the very heart of Annemarie's experience, and, through her eyes, come to understand the true meaning of bravery."

In 1949, Ruthie is a skinny, flat-chested, twelve-year-old tomboy with a metal front tooth living in the Washington Heights section of New York City. It's the most important year of her life; she's about to turn thirteen and move from her sheltered elementary school to a large metropolitan high school. She is frightened about leaving her tomboy life and frightened about confronting the world outside of the only places and friends she has ever known.

Ruthie decides to start a diary that covers one year of her life and shares her innermost thoughts, feelings, hopes, and dreams. With humor and sensitivity, "Spaghetti Rain" speaks in the voice of a girl in that place and at that time. The reader is carried into the era through the songs, movies, radio broadcasts, and the daily lives of people. We dine in a famous night club, ice-skate at Rockefeller Center on Christmas Day, and experience the neighborhood shops, delicatessens, and movie palaces. The author describes Ruthie's explosive father, her glamorous former showgirl aunt, her gossipy neighbors, and her loving mother. Secrets are revealed - her girlfriends' escapes from Hitler's Europe, her grandmother's struggles - and at the end of her journey, Ruthie experiences both good and bad during a car trip to Miami. She and her family are turned away from an hotel because they are Jewish, she witnesses racial discrimination, but she also meets a boy on the beach and discovers first love.

Finally, Ruthie realizes she has within her the courage to face whatever life has in store.

The fourth book in the ancient Greek Mysteries series is a mix of Sherlock Holmes and ancient Greece from bestselling author Saviour Pirotta, with stunning illustrations from up-and-coming illustrator Freya Hartas. This exciting adventure will have readers gripped from start to finish. Scribe Nico and his perceptive friend Thrax are back in Athens and Nico is looking forward to the spooky festival of Anthesteria and the lavish feasting at Master Lykos's house. But when the boys suspect a plot to assassinate the general of Athens, they must put the fun aside and infiltrate the Society of Centaurs. Will they discover the true identity of the society's leader, and will they stop the assassination? This dramatic and mysterious tale is packed with wonderful characters and insight into the daily life of the ancient Greeks, a required topic in the Key Stage 2 History curriculum. Perfect for fans of the Roman Mysteries, or anyone interest in ancient Greece.

A thrilling mystery adventure set in Bletchley Park at the start of World War II, based on true historical events. Twelve-year-old Robyn has grown up in Bletchley Park, where her father works as a driver. When she's not at school, there's nothing she likes more than helping her dad in the garages. Then the war begins and everything at Bletchley changes. Robyn is assigned to help with the carrier pigeons that take messages to the Allies. But first, she must sign the Official Secrets Act and is ordered not to leave the grounds of the park. While Bletchley is buzzing with people recruited for the war effort and all eyes are on the skies, Robyn becomes convinced that there's something sinister going on within Bletchley Park itself. Together with her friends Mary and Ned, Robyn resolves to uncover the enemy in their midst . . . A gripping wartime story, perfect for fans of Phil Earle, Robin Stevens, Lesley Parr and Hilary McKay.