It’s Arjan’s sixteenth birthday and he’s celebrating with his mates – going to see a film and then get a Nando’s. He’s looking forward to some good banter and wondering what might happen with Jem, who’s been looking at him differently these days … But the night comes to a dramatic and violent end when Arjan is targeted by a group of racist thugs, who single him out due to the colour of his skin and the turban that he wears, a symbol of his commitment to his faith and culture. Is the life of a good friend and beloved son really worth so little?

New boy Smithy can't understand why everyone is so excited about a player on the football team called "Bengo." He's been absent for the first few games of the season and starts the next game on the bench, so surely he can't be that special? But when their coach pulls Smithy off and sends Bengo on in his place, Smithy gets a chance to see him in action. Bengo is easily the best player Smithy's ever seen, putting in perfect crosses and generally running the opposition ragged. So why is Bengo left on the bench so often, and why does he seem to bottle it when any strong tackles come his way? An engaging football story accompanied by fascinating facts about famous substitutes, from reluctant-reader favourite Alan Gibbons.

The Peachey family enjoy fine meals each night now that everyone takes turns cooking. Everyone, that is, except grumbling Pa Peachey - until some unsatisfactory bread pushes him to try baking. Convinced that he has found his true calling, Pa sets his sights on winning the town Bake Off. Unfortunately, his great ideas far surpass his skills, and soon Pa's ambitions are crumbling under the weight of 3,784 pieces of gingerbread ... McTavish smells disaster in the making, and it looks like he's going to have to save the day - again.

Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned professional, Presenting Magically will provide you with masterful tips and techniques to transform your presenting skills. Uncovering the secrets of the world's top presenters, and explaining the beliefs and attitudes of master presenters, this book will teach you to connect with your audience; structure your language; handle hecklers; use metaphor; own the stage; structure presentations to fit everyone's learning style; grab the audience's attention--and keep it.

Everyone is freaked out when circles of scorched earth start appearing in Halifax - on the moors, the parks and even the football pitches. Seth is most disturbed of all - he sees the shadows of the past. But when he looks into a Viking's murderous eyes and smells the stink of burning flesh, Seth knows he must stop this cycle of supernatural suffering. With his friend Nadiya, can he discover the dark history behind the forces attacking their town?

First title in a rugby trilogy. Borderlands is no ordinary school - all of the students boarding there have parents in the armed forces, and the UK is drawing perilously close to war in the Middle East. New boy Woody is desperate to escape the school and find his way to his dad's military base, but his dad has been mobilised. He's gone. Worried and unhappy, Woody turns to the only thing that could help get him through - rugby. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Borderlands First XV have their sights set on becoming the best school rugby team in the world. But while the boys focus on their matches, many of their parents are serving overseas in the armed forces, and everyone is worried as conflict grows in the Central Asian Republic. New pupil Woody is a footballer by nature and must decide if he's prepared to give rugby his all. Rory feels like he's losing his focus, distracted by thoughts of his parents in danger. And Owen finds himself a t the centre when conflict breaks out within the team. With so many hurdles to face along the way, how far will they get in the rigorous schools' tournament?

A tense Seth is waiting to hear if his mum's got the 'all-clear'. But instead of relaxing in Cornwall, Seth is haunted by visions. Heads on spikes - bloodied and rotten, eyes pecked out - surrounding an Iron Age hill fort to keep intruders away. When Seth meets two football-crazy brothers from Aleppo their stories offer him a new sense of courage. Can he look death in the face and restore calm to the present? Exciting finale to the Defenders trilogy.

In 1921, Inupait seamstress Ada Blackjack joined a a group of four white men who wanted to establish a trading post on Wrangel Island in the freezing Arctic Ocean. The explorers were stranded on the island when their return ship was forced to turn back due to ice. Facing harsh conditions and dwindling food supplies, the men died one by one, but Ada remained. Find out how she alone managed to survive the disastrous expedition.

In 1921, Inupait seamstress Ada Blackjack joined a a group of four white men who wanted to establish a trading post on Wrangel Island in the freezing Arctic Ocean. The explorers were stranded on the island when their return ship was forced to turn back due to ice. Facing harsh conditions and dwindling food supplies, the men died one by one, but Ada remained. Find out how she alone managed to survive the disastrous expedition.

Whether you are a newcomer or a seasoned professional, Presenting Magically will provide you with masterful tips and techniques to transform your presenting skills. Uncovering the secrets, beliefs and attitudes of the world's top presenters, this book will teach you to: Connect with your audience Structure your language Handle hecklers Use metaphor Own the stage Structured presentations to fit everyone's learning style. This book will teach you how to grab the audience's attention - and keep it. The hardback edition, ISBN 9781899836529.

Greg is only happy when he's active - on the pitch or on his phone, it doesn't matter. But as soon as training's over or his host parent Steve takes the phone away, he's on edge. Steve suggests that Greg do something quiet with him, like making one of Steve's beloved Airfix kits. And the next thing Greg knows, he's in the cockpit of a Spitfire, being forced out of the sky by a German pilot! Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Sisters Maddie and Jess are new to the football school. They bicker all the time, they never agree and they constantly try to score points against one another. Steve and Esther are keen to get the girls working together, and it's an uphill struggle. But the airfield has other ideas...Maddie and Jess wake up in twin Typhoon fighters and must learn to cover each other's backs. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Jatinder seems to be living his dream - he's training for his team's youth squad, and his host parents Steve and Esther are really great. But something's holding Jatinder back from being a really great footballer - himself. Steve reckons it's OK to take risks - look at his own hero, Hardit Singh Malik. That night Jatinder wakes up in a seriously surprising situation - flying Hardit's WWI fighter plane into enemy airspace. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

It's time for the school show. Ivy and Pedro want to swap instruments. Will they get their wish? Using the world's largest known database of writing for and by children, our experts have defined 300 ambitious words to help children succeed at school. We've combined these with finelly levelled books that help you develop support comprehension and fluency, while inspiring and engaging your young readers.