It's the summer of 1941 in Germany, and 11 year old Karl Friedmann is training to be a soldier for the Fürher in the Deutsches Jungvolk. He believes in Hitler, in the war and in being a good German. He will follow in his Papa’s footsteps and fight the enemy as soon as he's old … Continue reading My Brother’s Secret by Dan Smith
Tag: middle grade books
See You In The Cosmos by Jack Cheng
Publication date: 2nd March 2017 This is the story of 11 year old Alex (13 in responsibility years) told through his audio recordings made on his golden iPod in the hope it will, one day, be heard by extraterrestrials. Obsessed by rockets, he has built his own and planned his trip to SHARF. His dad … Continue reading See You In The Cosmos by Jack Cheng
Varjak Paw by S.F. Said
This is a re-read of a book I first enjoyed over 10 years ago, and am about to use with a group of my Year 5’s for Key Skills, and with my Year 3&4 Telling Tales Book Club, just because I can! Well, if I'm being totally honest, it's also because Scholastic asked me if … Continue reading Varjak Paw by S.F. Said
Who Let The Gods Out? by Maz Evans
Elliot’s problems are getting worse. Mr Boil is desperate to expel him from school, his mum is sick and he has no idea how to make her better, his nosey neighbour is snooping around their farm again, and there's the Really Scary Letter that arrived three weeks ago. And if all that wasn't bad enough, … Continue reading Who Let The Gods Out? by Maz Evans
The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
A deeply moving story of life in an Australian detention facility for refugees and asylum seekers, where hope comes from powerful imagination and stories. Subhi has never stepped foot Outside. He was born in the detention centre. It's red dust, gritty food, family tent and fences are the only life he has ever known. His … Continue reading The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon
Strange Star by Emma Carroll
Felix is desperate to serve the guests upstairs so he can listen to the ghost stories they share, but the honour goes to the housekeepers daughter, until she can bear them no longer. But when he gets his chance, Lord Byron has finished his tale and Mrs Shelley is out of stories. But this night … Continue reading Strange Star by Emma Carroll
Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford
Al Chaudhury gets a letter from his father (who died when Al was 8) on his 12th birthday, that sets him off on adventure through time with Alan Shearer - the hamster, not the footballer - in a bath tub. Ross Welford skilfully guides us on Al's trips to 1984 and back again while he … Continue reading Time Travelling with a Hamster by Ross Welford
Boy X by Dan Smith
Boy X is on the shortlist for the Coventry Inspiration Book Awards 2017 in the Hooked on Books category, so was instantly added to my summer reads pile to get ahead of the game, ready for the release of the shortlist in October. I settled down on my sunbed and was thrown straight into the … Continue reading Boy X by Dan Smith
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