The Mousehunter by Alex Milway

Pirates, sea monsters, submarines and winged mice – all the ingredients are here for a rip-roaring, swashbuckling adventure – and Alex Milway's debut novel certainly delivers. In his imagined fantasy world, mice in all their weird and wonderful incarnations are highly collectible commodities that grown men will go to extreme lengths to acquire. Young Emiline is a professional mousekeeper in the employ of a wealthy collector, Isiah Lovelock. But seeking more intrepid exploits, she joins the crew of a ship in pursuit of the notorious and fearsome pirate, Mousebeard - so called because of the mice who live inside his unkempt facial hair. Leaping head first into a dangerous world of pirate politics and maritime menaces, Emiline soon finds she has bitten off more than she can chew, and has to keep her wits about her to survive.

The story is interspersed with amusingly illustrated entries from the 'Mousekeeper's Almanac', which provides collectors with intricate details and care instructions for every kind of mouse known to man - from the semi-mythical Methuselah Mouse to the highly coveted Golden Mouse. The colourful cast of human characters are equally well painted during a series of nail-biting capers, which include some surprising twists and revelations. As with all the best adventure stories, things are not always as black and white as they first appear, and Milway does a good job of keeping you guessing up until the very last pages.

Lifegame by Alison Allen-Gray

Alison Allen-Gray’s first novel Unique, published back in 2004, received widespread praise and several well-deserved award nominations, including a spot on the coveted Booktrust Teenage Prize shortlist. An edgy and provocative thriller, it tackled the controversial theme of cloning from the perspective of a boy who finds out he is a clone.

Five years later, Gray returns with another hard-hitting, action-packed teenage novel that lives up to, and even exceeds her excellent debut. In the tradition of Brave New World and 1984, Lifegame imagines a future dystopia in which people are constantly under surveillance, can no longer write with a pen and paper, and live in a strictly controlled class structure.

The book begins on a cloistered island that is believed by its inhabitants to be the last bastion of humanity following some kind of global chemical disaster. Fella is an orphan in this isolated world and knows nothing about his family other than that his mother supposedly died in a car crash when he was a baby. Along with his best friend Grebe, Fella begins to question the stories he’s been fed by the Powers that Be and with the help of a journal left by his mother, starts to unravel the truth about his background - which in turn leads to some shocking revelations about the island.

Utterly compelling in terms of both subject matter and plot, Lifegame poses some uncompromising political and philosophical questions about the nature of society, the possibilities of science, and how the two can dramatically impact on each other. The development of the two (very likable) central characters - from subjugated, frustrated teenagers to revolutionary young adults, and the gradual blossoming of the romance that accompanies it - is truly enchanting. Unputdownable.

Soul Eater by Michelle Paver

The third title in this much-hyped prehistoric adventure series plunges its protagonists sharply into turmoil once again, as the hero Torak's beloved Wolf is kidnapped in a dramatic opening scene, by a ring of villains with an evil plan to take over the forest. Torak is understandably distraught at this turn of events, and sets out to rescue his pack brother, with little idea as to the scale of his undertaking. He and Renn must venture into the far north, an unfamiliar world of ice and other unknown dangers. Helped by the White Fox clan, they endure horrific ordeals to find Wolf, soon realising that saving him is the least of their worries, when unimaginable evil is now at large.

Into her carefully crafted narrative, Paver weaves subtle character development, particularly with Wolf, who is changing from playful cub to world-wise warrior. As they see each other through numerous close-shaves, Torak and Renn's bond grows deeper, and they too are growing up fast. Following a frantically tense climax in which the looming evil is for the time being forestalled, Torak mulls the future, tainted by his dark experiences. Elegantly written and imaginatively executed, Soul Eater is darker and edgier than the first two books, stepping up the pace of this excellent series, and promising plenty more adventure to come.

Tanglewreck by Jeanette Winterson

The return of Doctor Who to our TV screens in 2005 gave rise once again to the vast possibilities of using time-travel as the central premise of a storyline. Jumping on the time-travel bandwagon, Jeanette Winterson has seized upon its potential with a spirited originality in her first children’s novel, a gripping and provocative fantasy-thriller.

The central character, Silver, is an orphan forced to live with her selfish aunt Mrs Rockabye and her ferocious pet rabbits. Silver’s only comfort is the magical, sprawling house in which they live. When the mysterious Abel Darkwater arrives at Tanglewreck, seeking the legendary Timekeeper, Silver is dragged away from her beloved home and drawn into a sinister plot which sees her thrown through time and space, with the future of the universe on her shoulders. To give much more away would risk spoiling others’ delight in unravelling this juicy adventure story for themselves. Packed with colourful characters, and skillfully paced, Tanglewreck also throws up some weighty questions about the nature of existence. Rarely does one encounter a children’s novel which so succesfully combines pure entertainment with serious philosophical and scientific contemplation. A hugely satisfying and memorable read.

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

I've always secretly believed that my pets could understand everything I said, and that it was my own ignorance of their language which made meaningful communication a problem. It seems Gabrielle Zevin has a similar inkling, since her latest book (just published in paperback) opens with a moving account of a dog's reaction to her teenage owner's death, and its frustration at not being understood by the remaining members of the family. My heart was immediately won over by this touching prologue, which sets the tone for what becomes a magical, philosophical and tender interpretation of the Afterlife.

Following the post-death journey of a teenage girl, Liz, who is killed in a hit-and-run accident, Elsewhere's title refers to a kind of alternative heaven in which people age backwards and eventually start all over again, coming back to Earth as babies. On arriving in Elsewhere, Liz goes through the inevitable stages of denial, bitterness and desperation before coming to accept her new (non)life. She finds a niche as a dog warden (people in Elsewhere have 'Avocations' rather than jobs) and finds she has a natural gift for speaking canine. A far cry from other prescriptive and cliched (and often religiously weighted) metaphorical novels on death, Zevin has created an inspiring fantasy that encourages light-hearted contemplation on what would normally be a dark subject. Her airy, fluent prose conjures a dream-like, expectant atmosphere, and her engaging characters literally bring death to life. Elsewhere has all the ingredients of a classic teenage rites-of-passage, but with an elegant, original twist that sets it apart from the rest.

Mixed Magics (audiobook) by Diana Wynne Jones, read by Anthony Head

Originally published in 2000, this collection of magical short stories is being published as a CD audiobook for the first time. Not having previously read any of the other Chrestomanci books, I admit to being tempted into starting with this one purely on the basis of it being read by Anthony Head. I was not disappointed - his mellifluous tones are easily absorbed and his subtle delivery perfectly complements Wynne-Jones's lively prose. I discovered that the stories work fine as a stand-alone collection and you need not have read the others in the series in order to appreciate them. Each of the four tales is linked by the mercurial and often unpredictable presence of Chrestomanci, an enigmatic enchanter who presides over many worlds, intervening when needed to maintain harmony and balance.

The first story, Warlock at the Wheel is a farcical romp, featuring a hapless warlock who has lost his magic powers and gets himself transported to another world in order to find them again. There follows a catalogue of disasters as he steals a car and in doing so accidentally kidnaps a demanding young girl and her aggressively protective dog. Stealer of Souls is an altogether darker yarn, in which two young enchanters are kidnapped by a wicked soul-stealer and have to use all their wits, without the use of magic, to overpower him. I found Carol Oneir's Hundredth Dream hugely entertaining, with echoes of 'The BFG'. Young Carol has the unusual gift of being able to control and record her dreams, but needs Chrestomanci's help when her characters go on strike. The final story, The Sage of Theare is the most complex and atmospheric of the four. It deftly confronts weighty issues through the eyes of the unwitting 'sage' Thasper, who threatens the supremecy of the gods with his incessant questions. Each story varies in tone, and as a collection, Mixed Magics strikes a satisfying balance between humour, intrigue, fantasy and philosophy. This (unabridged) audio version is bound to go down well with parents and children alike - Mums especially will be charmed by Head's dulcet tones, and Wynne Jones's clever, multi-layered narrative allows her stories to be appreciated on many levels.

I, Coriander by Sally Gardner

Not since I feverishly immersed myself in the fantasy adventures of E. Nesbit and Elizabeth Goudge over twenty years ago have I been so utterly swept away with the fairies. As an adult I’ve enjoyed many ‘magical realism’ stories, and have at times revisited various interpretations of the traditional fairy tales, but Sally Gardner’s I, Coriander refreshed my imagination and enthusiasm for all things magical beyond any of these.

Part fairytale, part historical snapshot, it seamlessly weaves two sharply contrasting worlds – the oppressive, controlling and threatening real world of 1650s pre-Restoration London and a dreamlike fairyland – both seen through the eyes of our spirited heroine, Coriander. All the essential fairytale ingredients are here - a Wicked Stepmother, a Handsome Prince, Magic, Hardship and a Happy Ending - but there is also much originality and freshness about the author’s approach to the genre. Without the use of her paintbrush, Gardner expertly evokes through graceful yet unfussy prose a vivid, theatrical backdrop in which the reader feels almost part of the scenery. Her characters are equally well decorated, each with their own quirky back-story, and with a role to play in the advancement of the storyline.

Coriander’s transition from naïve and rather spoiled child to world-wise young woman is no picnic. She swings between heartbreak and exhilaration during an emotional and physical journey that sees the death of her mother, the prolonged exile of her father and exposure to brutal cruelty, as well as the forging of new friendships and the first flutters of romantic love. The impressively paced narrative comes to a satisfying conclusion without indulging in too many clichés and an uplifting ending suggests the beginnings of further adventures. Whether or not there is a sequel, I am content to entertain many more magical possibilities for the inhabitants of this beautifully imagined enchanted world.

Seeker by William Nicholson

Nicholson’s latest offering, the first instalment of a new trilogy, took a while to get under my skin. The sleek prose at least made for an easy read, but I didn’t start to really care about the characters, or their respective quests, until quite a way into the action. The three young protagonists from different backgrounds are introduced separately to the reader, before their paths cross and they discover a mutual ambition. Motivated by different circumstances, they all long to become a Noma - a type of revered, mystical warrior - but must first prove they are worthy. The ensuing adventure sees the brave but naïve young adults have their individual beliefs and ideals challenged and sometimes crushed as they come up against the harsh realities of the outside world.

The setting is fantasy, but the modern day metaphors are somewhat transparent – themes of suicide bombers, public execution, religious intolerance, blind faith and unjust social hierarchies are all explored. The balance of good and evil is more ambiguous however – the separate communities are each convinced of the supremacy their own beliefs, and the reader is invited to judge for themselves. If you can get past a slowish start and avoid getting bogged down by these potential moral dilemmas, you will find yourself immersed in a cracking fantasy adventure with well-painted and ultimately likeable characters.