SOUTH WALES EVENING POST HALLOWEEN CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW COLUMN OCT 29-30

This week for Halloween my book column reviews a seductively dark teen fantasy, a wickedly wizardly sticker book, a young witch trying to break a curse and a futuristic adventure that will ensnare you with its evilly good plot!

BOOK OF THE WEEK
THREE DARK CROWNS BY KENDARE BLAKE
YOUNG ADULT 13+
Three triplet sisters, all heirs to a crown, each possessing a particular talent. Katherine, the poisoner, Arsinoe, the naturalist and Mirabella, controller of the elements and the most powerful. One must murder the others to rule. As each girl finds out who she can trust and what they will do to win which one will lure you under their spell? Seductively dark and deliciously decadent the fast paced and intricate plot builds up to an spine tingling climax.
ISBN 9781509804559 Pan Macmillan PB £7.99

WITCHES AND WIZARDS STICKER BOOK BY SEB BURNETT AND KIRSTEEN ROBSON
CHILDRENS 4+
Another excellent addition to this series, this spooky sticker book is full of entertainingly creepy scenes that children will love to decorate. Fill the air with cackling witches and stock the shelves of Master Mistletoe’s magic store with gruesome potion ingredients such as pickled mice and vampire bats. Add very scary guests to The Pickled Pumpkin Tavern to discuss their shady business. The hours will spookily slip away before you know it!
ISBN 9781409598527 PB Usborne £6.99

HOW TO CATCH A WITCH BY ABIE LONGSTAFF
CHILDRENS 9+
Charlie is a witch but doesn't know it yet. When she moves to a village with her family to a creepy cottage her stutter returns to her dismay. After a series of strange events involving one of the villagers 'glowing' Charlie discovers Agatha, a retired witch troubled by an ancient curse which must be broken. Is Charlie strong enough to break it? A bewitching new series that is a cauldron of friendship, family and potions.
ISBN 9781407162515 Scholastic PB £5.99.

THE DIABOLIC BY S.J. KINDCAID
YOUNG ADULT 13+
Nemesis is a Diabolic, a futuristic warrior who 's sole task is to protect her mistress Sidonia. Caught up in the Emperor's machinations and a ruthless, backstabbing court will Nemesis be the lamb to the slaughter or is she really a Trojan Horse? A potent mix of Star Wars and The Hunger Games, this high octane epic stand alone will ensnare you in its web of intrigue right up to the nail biting finale.
ISBN HB Simon and Schuster £10.99


ALL BOOKS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER OR IF YOU WISH TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOPS ONLINE ALSO GO TO WWW.HIVE.CO.UK

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SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW COLUMN OCTOBER 22ND-23RD

Its the week before Halloween and books are getting a little more spooky!
My book of the week is one of my favourite reads this year, a surprisingly 'angelic' road trip full of adventure. My picks also include an hilarious retelling of Jekyll and Hyde, two ghost busting dogs and a young monster slayer who could put Buffy to shame! Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

THE ROAD TO EVER AFTER BY MOIRA YOUNG
CHILDREN 10+
A surprisingly moving and humorous tale of an orphaned, homeless boy called Davy who likes drawing angels. When he meets Miss Flint, an elderly lady going home to die, he finds a true kindred spirit. A mix of 'It's a Wonderful Life' and 'Benjamin Button', this extraordinary adventure will make you laugh and cry. Visually arresting prose and empathetic observations. Life is about those moments that take your breath away and this certainly took mine. A classic.
ISBN 9781509832583 HB Macmillans Childrens Books £9.99

HYDEAND SQUEAK BY FIONA ROSS
PICTURE BOOK 3+
This wildly creative retelling of Jekyll and Hyde, first published one hundred and forty years ago, will introduce a younger generation to this spooky classic. Roar with laughter as Squeak transforms into something rather scary after eating rotten green jelly. Giggle as Granny battles to rescue her precious 'Squeaky Pie' from becoming the Hyde monster mouse. Gasp at the evil machine changing everything in its path to food! A comic book style story perfect for Halloween!
ISBN 9781848692671 HB Little Tiger Group £12.99

SHIFTYMCGIFTY AND SLIPPERY SAM: THE SPOOKY SCHOOL BY TRACEY CORDEROY
CHILDRENS 6+
Two adorable robber-dogs-turned-bakers, who solve wacky mysteries, have made the jump from picture books to young readers with these three bite sized stories. When they throw a super scary Halloween Party they don't expect a real ghost to turn up! A power hungry red panda and some very naughty raccoons add to the fun. Perfect for reading alone or out aloud with a light sprinkle of spookiness and lively two tone illustrations throughout by Steven Lenton.
ISBN 9780857637017 PB Nosy Crow £5.99

ROBYNSILVER AND THE MIDNIGHT CHIMES BY PAULA HARRISON
CHILDRENS 8+
When ten year old Robyn starts seeing scary creatures no one else can see she discovers she has special monster hunting powers. But can Robyn save her little sister from their clutches? This feisty heroine combined with her relateable family dynamic and endearing friends, plus the charming illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, really makes for a fun and exciting read. Reminiscent of a young Buffy the Vampire Slayer for a new, younger generation.
ISBN 9781407170589 PB Scholastic £6.99

ALL BOOKS AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BOOKSELLER OR IF YOU WISH TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT BOOKSHOPS ONLINE ALSO GO TO WWW.HIVE.CO.UK

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK COLUMN OCT 15-16

In my children's book column this week in The South Wales Evening Post I feature a dark and gripping thriller, a not so clever cat, a book of bizarre facts and a gambler looking for a better life. 

Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

DARKNESS FOLLOWS BY L.A.WEATHERLY
YOUNG ADULT 13+
Welcome to Harmony 5: A secure prison camp in a distorted version of 1940's America. The rules are simple here: obedience or death and former peace fighter Amity is their newest inmate. What will she risk for her freedom in a world where war is banned and harmony rules?A gripping high octane thriller full of captivating characters, revenge and romance. Old style glamour merges with futuristic menace in the second instalment of the 'Broken Trilogy series.
ISBN 9781409572039 PB Usborne £8.99

I AM A VERY CLEVER CAT BY KASIA MATYJASZEK
PICTURE BOOK 3+
This is about a cat who thinks he knows it all! Stockton is extremely clever and very good at everything, especially knitting. Or is he? Follow the florescent pink wool throughout the pages as he gets himself into a bit of a tangle. While dropping stitches Stockton finds new friends. Children will love the bold and energetic illustrations while adults will appreciate the cautionary tale about showing off and pretending you know it all.
ISBN 9781783705900 PB Templar Books £6.99

ATLAS OF ODDITIES BY CLIVE GIFFORD
CHILDREN 7+
A beautiful gift atlas full of brilliantly bizarre facts and figures of the natural and not so natural world we live in. Did you know in Ninotaria, Japan you can bath in a giant pool of red wine, green tea, coffee or noodle soup! Wales is also included with mentions of Port Talbot’s Baked Beans Museum and Llanwrtyd Well’s World Bog Snorkelling Championship! Accompanied by Tracy Worrall's bold punchy illustrations this will entertain and inform the whole family.
ISBN 9781405281362 HB Egmont UK £16.99

SAINT DEATH BY MARCUS SEDGWICK
YOUNG ADULT 13+
Arturo must help his friend Faustino by winning big in a card game of Calavera. Dicing with death in a gang ridden wasteland of poverty and corruption will they be able to escape? Are the cards stacked against them or does Arturo have an ace up his sleeve? Will Saint Death show them mercy? Exploring themes of migration, capitalism and social mobility this taut thriller, laced with Mexican folklore, will have you holding your breath until the shocking climax.
ISBN 9781444000528 HB Orion Books £10.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW OCTOBER 8-9 TH

In my children's book column this week I feature a little pig who saves the day, a beautiful picture book full of dragons,  a touching family drama that has a touch of fantasy and a haunting contemporary romance. 

Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

A PIGLET CALLED TRUFFLE BY HELEN PETERS
CHILDREN 6+
Jasmine secretly saves an unloved piglet from death but their growing bond is put under pressure when Truffle is discovered and her future questioned as a suitable pet. A terrible storm allows Truffle to return the favour and maybe even save her own bacon! Accompanied by the charming illustrations of Swansea born illustrator Ellie Snowdon this warm and authentic story about life on the farm has huge appeal for Dick King-Smith fans and animal lovers alike.
ISBN 9780857637734 PB Nosy Crow £6.99

TELL ME A DRAGON BY JACKIE MORRIS
PICTURE BOOK 3+
There are many types of dragons. From Sea dragons who play with dolphins to Fire dragons or Ice Dragons, large and small. You are invited to discover every species and maybe even find your own. This new special edition is a treasure trove of jewelled illustrations adorning the lyrical text from this renowned Pembrokeshire artist. A modern day classic, great for sharing and igniting the imagination, with extra field notes about these mythical beasts lives and habitats.
ISBN 9781847802422 HB Frances Lincoln £11.99

THERE MAY BE A CASTLE BY PIERS TORDAY
CHILDRENS 9+

It's Christmas Eve and Mouse, an eleven year old boy, and his family are involved in a car accident in the middle of nowhere. Only Mouse can help but to do so he must enter a magical world and fulfil a quest. A whimsical adventure that straddles fantasy and reality full of knights, monsters and a sheep called Bar. A tale of bravery, loss and life and ultimately hope with a touch of Dahl and Lewis Carroll.
ISBN 9781848668621 HB Quercus £12.99

HAUNT ME BY LIZ KESSLER
YOUNG ADULT 13+
Troubled teen Erin is looking for a new beginning in a new town and new school. Finding a boyfriend, Joe, whose is also a ghost might not be the best start. Fighting for her affections is his brother Olly, who's very much alive and hiding a guilty burden. This darkly romantic novel deals with loss, bullying and mental health issues. With raw emotion and hard hitting truths this will pluck your heartstrings whilst appreciating living in the moment.
ISBN 9781444009187 PB Orion Books £7.99

SOUTH WALES EVENING POST CHILDRENS BOOK REVIEW OCTOBER 1ST-2ND

In my childrens book column this week I feature an explosive horse for younger readers, a sad monkey who begins to understand his dark moods, a giant award winning pumpkin and an uplifting coming of age drama with some sharp twists. Enjoy!

BOOK OF THE WEEK

COLIN THE CART HORSE BY GAVIN PUCKETT
CHILDRENS 5+
An hilarious rhyming tale about a cart horse who's bored with his usual hay so decides to try out the other farm animals food with some rather explosive results! At first the farmer is delighted with Colin's 'super manure' but when it becomes rather toxic the army have to step in. Wonderful for reading out loud with funny illustrations that will have kids and adults roaring with laughter. A sure fire hit from this talented Welsh author.
ISBN 9780571315437 PB Faber & Faber £6.99

WILLY AND THE CLOUD BY ANTHONY BROWNE
PICTURE BOOK 3+
Willy the chimp is being followed by a cloud and its making him very sad. It's ruining his day and getting bigger but how can he get rid of it? This brilliant portrayal of what it feels like to have depression or anxiety shows a young mind how their 'cloud of sorrow' can hold them captive until they realise that it will go by learning to face their fears. A great book to share in the classroom.
ISBN 9781406366969 HB Walker Books £12.99

THE PUMPKIN PROJECT BY KATIE SMITH
CHILDRENS 5+
Lottie is determined to win the school project entitled Big and Small with some specialist help from her beloved Grandpa. Will her efforts be worth it or will the spoilt school bully Penelope outwit her again? Winner of Lorraine's Top Tales 2016 this is a heart warming story about family , friendship and never giving up. Peppered with charming line illustrations this is perfect for early readers and fans of Walliams, Dahl or Jacqueline Wilson.
ISBN 9781444936919 PB Hodder Childrens £6.99

HOLDING UP THE UNIVERSE BY JENNIFER NIVEN
YOUNG ADULT 14+
Libby was once known as 'America's Fattest Teen' after she was literally cut out of her home. Jack is the cool guy in class hiding a secret, face blindness. Back in school, after a prank goes wrong they both find they are not so different after all. This is a coming of age story with a sharp twist boasting a vibrant cast of characters that will inspire us not to judge a book by its cover. Great for book clubs.

ISBN: 9780141357058 PB Penguin Books Ltd £7.99