Category: New books

Emily watched, in a trance of astonishment, as the bear opened the picnic basket, took out a tartan rug and spread it on Holly’s bed. 
And then the penguin spoke. 
Actually spoke. 
‘What’s going on? This isn’t Pointed End!’
The bear said, ‘It looks like a human bedroom. We must’ve come through the wrong door.’
‘But there aren’t any doors to the hard world in Deep Smockeroon! And we don’t have a human bedroom any more. We’re in a box in the attic.’

 

What if there exists a world powered by imagination?

A world of silliness, where humans and their toys live on long after they’ve left the Hard World . . . and what if the door between that world and this one was broken?

Welcome to the Land of Neverendings.

Moving, raw and funny in all the right ways, The Land of Neverendings is a rip-roaring adventure, but it also gives an honest portrayal of grief for young readers, and shows us that whilst sadness does exist in the world, it doesn’t have to cancel out happiness, or silliness, even when you lose someone you love.

From multi-award-winning Irish author Celine Kiernan comes a dark fantasy adventure about witches

“Ireland’s answer to JK Rowling.” Sunday Independent 

A middle-grade fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge, Katherine Rundell and Sally Gardner. On the night that Aunty dies the Raggedy Witches come for Mup’s mam. Pale, cold, relentless, they will do anything to coax Mam back to Witches Borough. When they kidnap Mup’s dad, Mup and her mam must leave the mundane world to rescue him. But Mam is strange on this side of the border – striding, powerful, and distant. Even if they can save Dad, Mup is not sure anything will ever be the same again…

Imagine living on an alien planet!

But to really do that you’ll need to apply a fair bit of science.

This book has twelve scientific investigations to help you understand how force fields help us, why taking a shower is space is tricky and how tiny specs of space dust can be deadly. Discover why insulation is important and what would happen if you went out into space without a spacesuit – and lots, lots more!

Space Science is the ultimate series for the astronomers and astronauts of the future. It delves into loads of intriguing ‘how’, ‘what’, and ‘why’ facts about the night sky. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and use readily-available materials that won’t break the bank! Authored by Mark Thompson – a brilliant astronomer and television and radio presenter – who brings a fresh approach to the exploration and understanding of the Solar System … and beyond!

This book is part of the Space Science series, which covers key areas of the science curriculum, such as forces, materials and matter, light, rocks, chemical reactions, recycling and waste, magnets, solar power, gravity, distance, maps and constellations.

This essential guide covers a multitude of worries and anxieties that a young person may face while growing up – from peer pressure to puberty and all the worries in between. This friendly and funny book aims to reassure tweens that their worries and fears are normal and offers practical tips for managing anxiety and stress, such as practicing mindfulness and meditation. 

Children over 10 often have to deal with a bigger, scarier school, and increased pressure to study and get good grades while making and maintaining friendships. Add to that the non-stop nature of social media and the added pressure that it brings, and it’s no surprise anxiety and depression is on the increase. From problems at school to relationship woes, body image issues to troubles at home, all worries are recognised and case studies and questions from ‘real-life’ anonymous readers offer positive tips and advice to help young people survive angst and stress that can bring them down.

Among the other topics covered:

• Bullying
• Drugs and alcohol
• Separation and divorce
• Sex and sexuality
• Unrequited love and being dumped

Focusing on the emotional wellbeing and mental health of tweens, this survival guide to help young people cope with the worries and anxieties of growing up is full of thoughtful and humorous illustrations and provides sensitive treatment of difficult issues.

Max is used to being called Stupid. And he is used to everyone being scared of him. On account of his size and looking like his dad.

Kevin is used to being called Dwarf. On account of his size and being some cripple kid.

But greatness comes in all sizes, and together Max and Kevin become Freak The Mighty and walk high above the world.

An inspiring, heartbreaking, multi-award winning international bestseller.

Meet thirteen-year-old Agatha Oddly – a bold, determined heroine, and the star of a stylish new detective series.

Agatha Oddlow has been a detective for as long as she can remember – she’s just been waiting for her first big case. And nothing gets bigger than saving the City of London from some strange goings-on.

With a scholarship to the prestigious St Regis School, a cottage in the middle of Hyde Park, a room full of beloved sleuthing novels, and a secret key that gives her access to a whole hidden side of London, Agatha is perfectly poised to solve the mystery of what’s going on. But just who can she trust when no one is quite who they seem…

From the bestselling author of STRIKE BACK, Chris Ryan returns with a new action-packed series.

Tough enough? Smart enough? Max will require all his skills just to stay alive as a Special Forces Cadet…

A top-secret government programme needs a crack team of undercover military operators. They must have awesome levels of determination, endurance and fitness. They must be able to think on their feet. The recruits undergo the most rigorous and testing selection process the modern military can devise. And in order to operate in circumstances where adult forces would be compromised, the recruits must be under sixteen.

Only a few are tough enough and smart enough to make it . . . And once out in the field, they will require all their skills just to stay alive.

Which is what happens when Max Silver, Abby Asher, Lukas Channing and Sami Hakim are sent into an armed siege in an inner-city school . . .

Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2018

They’ve got their eyes on you: a quirky, creepy and unforgettable adventure, perfect for fans of Roald Dahl, Neil Gaiman and Tim Burton. Violet hates living in Perfect. Why does everyone have to wear special glasses to stop them going blind? What are the strange noises in the night and why is Mum acting so weird? Then Dad disappears and Violet is determined to uncover the truth with the help of the mysterious Boy. But returning normality to Perfect is a battle they never imagined…

The go-to mental health guide for kids!

Exam stress? Friendship issues? Panic attacks?

How Not to Lose It will help you be the boss of all of this, and more.

It’s not just your body that should be fit and healthy – your mind needs to be, too! How Not to Lose It is the go-to guide for achieving a balanced mind and strong emotional well-being.

With immediate, heart of the matter advice and a chatty yet honest tone, Anna Williamson addresses all of the key issues affecting children today.

‘A fabulous message for young people – believe in yourselves!’ Liz Rowe, Childline

TOPICS COVERED:

• anxiety
• depression
• stress
• friendship
• bullying
• relationships and sex
• family life and bereavement
• phobias
• peer pressure
• self-harm
• self-esteem and confidence.

Calling all teenagers—quit the moaning and start loving life!

Don’t be a cliché. Don’t stay in your bedroom grunting and grumbling. How about getting motivated, energized and start making a difference?! The Art of Being A Brilliant Teenager teaches you how to become your very best self—and how to figure out who that is, exactly. The bestselling authors of The Art of Being Brilliant and Be Brilliant Everyday are experts in the art of happiness and positive psychology and, with this new book, you’ll find your way to becoming brilliant at school, work, and life in general. Stay cool under all the pressures you’re facing, and plot a map for the future that takes you wherever it is you want to go. Become proactive, determined, successful and most importantly: happy!

Fact: your life span is about four thousand weeks. It seems like a lot, but it’s not. Complaining about life, homework, parents, and relationships may be normal now, but don’t let it become your defining trait. When you’re forty years old and still moaning, a big chunk of your four thousand weeks have slipped by, and you’re no closer to happiness than you were as a teen. This book is a guide to starting the journey to your ideal life now, instead of wasting time being a drip.

• Discover the real you, and what you want out of life
• Stop moaning and get moving now, while there’s plenty of time
• Lose your bad habits before they become your personality
• Figure out how you want to contribute, and find a way to do it

The bottom line is this: it’s easy to be the average version of yourself, but is that really all you want? Don’t you want to achieve something? Get started now. The Art of Being A Brilliant Teenager helps you figure out where you want to go, and how to get there. So, whether you’re an ambitious teenager, a parent or teacher desperate to turn a down-beat teenager into a ray of positivity and delight, How to Be a Brilliant Teenager is here to help.