Pull back the curtain and enter a world where mystery and magic take centre stage in a gloriously gothic adventure from Jenni Spangler, illustrated by Chris Mould. Twelve-year-old Tig works at Manchester's Theatre Royale, cleaning, selling tickets and doing anything else that is asked of her by her tyrannical boss, Mr Snell. Tig will do whatever it takes to get closer to her dream - to become a Stage Manager and spend her days inventing new ways to imagine and build the intricate machinery and props that bring the exciting productions to life! But when a strange new act - a talking machine - arrives at the Theatre Royale, it moves and behaves in a way that Tig just can't work out. It's as though it's alive somehow . . . And when the machine appears to be hiding a dangerous secret, Tig must race against time to solve the mystery, before everything and everyone she cares about is lost forever. A Victorian adventure full of ghost, gadgets and shifty villains, from the critically-acclaimed Jenni Spangler, who's debut The Vanishing Trick, was selected as Waterstones Book of the Month. Praise for THE VANISHING TRICK: A thrilling, original, evocative and eerie tale - I adored it!' Michelle Harrison, author of A Pinch of Magic 'A thrilling page-turner. Madame Pinchbeck is a gloriously Dickensian villain' Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song 'Ghosts, gadgets, likeable villains and unlikely heroes: The Vanishing Trick is a dark and dazzling adventure' Emma Carroll, author of Letters from the Lighthouse 'A completely enthralling tale, oozing with atmosphere and originality' Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island

It's not always easy being Death: a witty and gloriously gothic tale of friendship and discovery from bestselling Jenni Spangler. Twelve-year-old Valentine Crow has lived his entire life at the Foundling Hospital. Now, he and his best friend Philomena are leaving to begin their new lives as apprentices - but Valentine has been assigned to Death himself. Valentine finds himself in an impossible situation when his best friend's name appears on the list of souls to take. Can he fight Death to save her soul, or does fate have other ideas? Distinctive, warm and funny, the highly-acclaimed Jenni Spangler returns with a richly imagined world perfect for readers of The Beast and the Bethany and Lemony Snickett.

Step into a world of secrets, folklore and illusions, where nothing is as it seems and magic is at play…

Madame Augustina Pinchbeck, travels the country conjuring the spirits of dearly departed loved ones... for a price. Whilst her ability to contact ghosts is a game of smoke and mirrors, there is real magic behind her tricks too - if you know where to look.

Through a magical trade, she persuades children to part with precious objects, promising to use her powers to help them. But Pinchbeck is a deceiver, instead turning their items into enchanted Cabinets that bind the children to her and into which she can vanish and summon them at will.

When Pinchbeck captures orphan Leander, events are set into motion that see him and his new friends Charlotte and Felix, in a race against time to break Pinchbeck’s spell, before one of them vanishes forever…

#TheVanishingTrick

A historical adventure with a magical twist from an outstanding debut talent. Perfect for fans of Michelle Harrison, Sophie Anderson and Emma Carroll.

When urban explorer, Raheem, is arrested for trespass, he panics about being locked in a cell - he hates small spaces. But something far worse is happening beyond the police station walls, and the cell might be the only thing keeping him alive. Between the Lines II is a series of eight brand new titles that will capture the interest and imaginations of teenage readers. These texts have a range of settings - from sports clubs and schools to unfamiliar and chilling visions of the future - and they have been written by experienced authors who are experts in developing stories for struggling readers. Mature themes are covered and include the dangers of internet chat rooms, crime, grief, female empowerment, friendship, bullying and dystopian futures. With eye-catching covers and the look and feel of a real novel, these books perfectly combine visual appeal with carefully chosen content that is both compelling and relevant for teenagers and young adults.

Ryan has always wanted to be a police officer. When he's picked to go on a real undercover operation, it's his chance to prove he's got what it takes. But on the way home, something happens and his life is changed forever. The Two Sides series has an innovative structure, where each book contains two parallel narratives, featuring differing perspectives on the same situation, and illustrating the dangers of someone making a judgement about a situation they know very little about. These thought-provoking stories follow a linear timeline and read almost as diary entries. The voice alternates each chapter, enabling the reader to keep up with events whilst gaining a multi-dimensional insight at the same time. Penned by experienced authors, these captivating narratives cover serious themes faced by many young people in today's world - family breakdown, identity, domestic abuse, racism and being a young carer. With around 4,000 words and a reading age of 8-9, these books will appeal to struggling readers aged 13+. They would also make perfect quick reads for more able readers.

Leo is rich, popular and sporty. His life is perfect. When his parents and friends start acting strangely, Leo begins to wonder if everything is a little TOO perfect. That's when the messages start coming. Who are they from? What do they mean? Papercuts II is a modern, eerie series written by respected authors specifically to appeal to students aged 13+. The books have a reading age of 8-9 and a manageable word count of 5,000-6,000. They are positively brimming with twists, turns, thrills, chills and toe-curling frights; perfect for keeping your readers satisfied until the very end. These eye-catching titles are ideal for struggling readers or more able readers who enjoy a quick read. But be warned, not suitable for those only partial to a happy ending.