Everest is the world's highest mountain, towering like an icy giant over the Himalayas. For the millions of people living nearby, it has always been a magical place, known as "Goddess Mother of the World" or the "Peak of Heaven". To explorers and adventurers, it represents a perilous but thrilling challenge to be conquered. In this exhilarating account by award-winning author David Long, he looks back at the first attempts by international mountaineers to reach the fabled summit, many of which ended in death and disaster.

On 10 April 1912, RMS Titanic set sail from Southampton on her maiden voyage to New York. This “Ship of Dreams” was the largest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world. It was claimed she was unsinkable. But four days later, when the ship struck an iceberg, the loss of Titanic and over 1,500 passengers would become one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

In this fact-filled retelling of its construction and doomed maiden voyage, David Long brings Titanic’s tragic tale to life.

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level Discover these two creepy, ghostly stories originally written by Charles Dickens, retold here by Penny Dolan. In ‘The Signalman’ messages warn of horrors to come, but will they be understood before it’s too late? And in ‘The Face on the Train’ a chance meeting inspires an artist to draw a portrait, but was the encounter chance after all? Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction. This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

Fascinating historical fiction. Five strangers meet in the crowds to watch Dick Turpin hang. Each has a fascinating story to tell about the famous highwayman...but which are true and which are lies? Follow Terry Deary into the enthralling history of one man and his legend. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Who were the Romans and how did this small tribe come to dominate Italy before establishing the largest empire the world has ever seen? Why were the Romans such brilliant innovators, responsible for inventions including newspapers, concrete, surgeon’s tools and even an efficient postal system? What made their army invincible and their buildings so remarkable? And why, eventually, did the whole empire come crashing down? David Long explains what life was actually like for ordinary Romans as well as their famous emperors, while also looking at the lingering influence of Roman civilisation throughout the world.

April 1970: Apollo 13 was launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It should have been the third manned Apollo mission to land on the moon. But when an explosion on board damaged the spacecraft, it became a perilous and near-impossible fight for survival. The crew on board travelled further into space than any other humans before them ... In this gripping retelling of the astonishing Apollo 13 mission, David Long shows how courage, determination and teamwork succeeded in beating all odds to bring the spacecraft home. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+

Esther and George have never met but both their lives have been touched by war. Will they be forced to give up their beloved sports, or will sport be the very thing that gets them through? Touching stories of cricket and football set during World War II. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers of 8+

The Vikings were a terrifying force that changed history across the globe - from Canada all the way to Iraq. But they were merchants as well as marauders, explorers as well as adventurers. The greatest seafarers and shipbuilders of their age, they were also skilled metalworkers and artists, farmers and fishermen, healers and herders. They were even democrats who established the world's oldest surviving parliament. Award-winning writer David Long's concise but wide-ranging account brings their fascinating civilisation into focus, explaining what Viking life was actually like as well as considering their lingering influence throughout the world.

Adventure story, packed with facts about Vikings. When Emma spies the Viking ships on the horizon, she runs to warn her village but no one will believe her! Not even her monk brother Symeon, until it's too late. Worse, the village has been betrayed by one of its own - Will the siblings be able to stop the Viking invaders form destroying the village? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Build your child’s reading confidence at home with books at the right level Follow the life of Pip, a poor lonely orphan in Victorian England. Everything changes when he becomes friends with the wealthy Estella. But can Pip leave his past behind? Written to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens’ birth, this inspired retelling is written by Whitbread award-winning author Hilary McKay. Emerald/Band 15 books provide a widening range of genres including science fiction and biography, prompting more ways to respond to texts. Text type: A retelling of a story by a significant author Curriculum links: History; Citizenship This book has been quizzed for Accelerated Reader.

On 4 November 1922, a young Egyptian boy working on Howard Carter's archaeological dig in the Valley of the Kings stumbled across a strange piece of rock. On closer inspection it turned out to be a stone step that would lead Carter to a long-lost tomb - and to treasures beyond his wildest dreams. The tomb belonged to boy pharaoh Tutankhamun and was packed full of priceless artefacts. It had been largely untouched for over 3,000 years and remains one of the most important archaeological discoveries of all time. But did the opening of the tomb trigger a deadly curse? David Long's fact-filled account shows how Carter's amazing discoveries told us so much about life in Ancient Egypt.

A curse involving a spindle goes terribly wrong for poor old Grimbleshanks. The Queen decides it's time for silly, soppy Snow White to go. Lardine and Angula aren't at all happy about having Ella for a stepsister. Old Maggit just wants to win the Wickedest Witch Contest with her house made of sweets. This is Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel, re-told like you've never seen them before!

A wardrobe causes all manner of mayhem in this great fun ghost story! When Mr and Mrs Rundle buy a haunted wardrobe to attract more customers to their inn, there are some unexpected results. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 7+