Alis by Naomi Rich

Faced with the prospect of being forced by her parents to marry a forty year old priest whom she does not love, young Alis chooses instead to escape the strict surroundings of her village and brave the outside world. In order to do this though, she must also leave behind Luke – a boy of her own age, with whom she is falling in love.

Life outside her own community may be less oppressively judgmental and controlling, but Alis faces other trials in the mercenary city, where one must toughen up to survive. Despite being reunited with her long-lost runaway brother, life is hard and eventually she is forced to return home and accept her fate. Thinking Luke dead, she submits and marries the priest - but their union is short-lived.

An enthralling love story in the Romeo and Juliet tradition, with some unexpected twists and turns – and a definite resonance with contemporary religious extremism issues - Alis is an impressively memorable debut.

The Sailing Ship Tree by Berlie Doherty

Originally published in 1998, The Sailing Ship Tree is a semi-biographical tale, based on the diaries of the author's late father - a butler in a big merchant's house. Set in Merseyside in the early 20th Century, it tells of four children from very different social backgrounds and how their lives become entangled. Walter and Dorothy are twins whose father works at 'the Big House by the Mersey'.

They strike up a forbidden friendship with Master George, who lives as a virtual prisoner in the house, under the custody of his bitter older sister, while his father is away at sea. An even more unlikely ally is Tweeney, the lowliest servant at the house, who remains feisty and determined in the face of constant oppression. Skillfully dotted with a wealth of historical detail, this sweet story of friendship against the odds also serves as a fascinating social document.

The Roman Mysteries XVII: The Man from Pomegranate Street by Caroline Lawrence

Since the release of The Thieves of Ostia in 2002, Caroline Lawrence’s rip-roaring Roman Mysteries series has taken its readers on a string of heart-stopping and vividly evoked adventures all over the Roman Empire - from the port of Rome to the capital city itself; to Pompeii, Rhodes, Athens, Egypt and even Asia.

Anyone who has followed the series cannot have failed to absorb at least some of the profuse and fascinating historical detail that has been carefully woven into its gripping pages, but most will probably have been more preoccupied with the ever-precarious fate of its four feisty protagonists.

Facing all manner of adversities in the pursuit of the truth, the headstrong heroine of the series, Flavia Gemina has matured from an nosy, naive child to a brave young woman with a talent for solving mysteries. Her loyal friends, Lupus, Nubia and Jonathan have all evolved too, each experiencing their own often heartrending rites of passage.

It hardly seems possible that the final book in the series has arrived so soon, but here it is - volume 17, The Man from Pomegranate Street. The story begins with fifteen year old Flavia being prepared for a marriage ceremony, then goes into flashback as she recounts her final - and most dangerous - mystery. Drawing together loose ends left from the previous books, and putting the four friends in almost constant peril, Lawrence delivers yet another absorbing and illuminating historical whodunit.

The main mystery this time is who killed the Emperor Titus, but as ever, there are many twisty-turny sub-plots that keep things constantly taut and suspenseful. Did Jonathan kill Titus? Will Nubia’s feelings for Aristo be revealed? And who is Flavia marrying? All will be revealed in the captivating conclusion to this epic and hugely engrossing series.

Burn My Heart by Beverley Naidoo

A hard-hitting political story that dramatically juxtaposes the contrasting lives of two young boys living in Kenya during the 1950s. Celebrated for her uncompromising treatment of racist issues, Naidoo once again pulls no punches as she explores and exposes the harsh realities of African colonial politics. Told from the point of view of two very different families on either side of the struggle for colonial freedom, Burn My Heart presents an enlightening, sometimes shocking, look at this often overlooked conflict.

Mathew is the son of a wealthy farming family of settlers (called 'wazungu' by the natives), and is friends with a native servant boy, Mugo, who works in his family's kitchen. At first oblivious to the political crisis in their midst, the boys' friendship is gradually fractured by the spiralling unrest.

Through a series of distressing events, each boy has his eyes opened to a complicated, frightening world of oppression and racism, that causes them to re-evaluate their respective beliefs and allegiances. A dark and harrowing ending is followed by a moving and informative afterword, reinforcing the severity of the crisis, and the fact that its repercussions are still felt today.

Greater Gains by K.M. Peyton

Very much in the tradition of Jane Austen, Greater Gains is essentially a story of passion and longing, set against the backdrop of 19th Century rural Norfolk. The heroine, Clara Bywater, starts out poor, widowed, and pregnant by one of two possible fathers, neither of which is her dead husband. As if Clara’s problems weren’t enough for her long suffering parents, her sister Ellen is then transported to Australia, for accidentally killing a man. Such dramatic beginnings give way to a more gently-paced plot of romantic entanglement and family duties. Clara marries a man she does not love in order to save her brother, whilst secretly pining for a long-lost love, and only finds solace in her beloved horses. Greater Gains is the sequel to Small Gains, but it can be enjoyed perfectly well as as stand-alone novel, thanks to the author’s skill at subtly weaving in the backstory. I found myself more intrigued by Ellen’s antipodean subplot (of which there is little), than Clara’s constant domestic vexations, but was nevertheless curiously absorbed by the colourful characters and engaging dialogue. Romantically-inclined teenagers with a penchant for ponies will particularly enjoy this spirited historical drama.

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.

The Sirens of Surrentum by Caroline Lawrence

Any long-running series of books, or television for that matter, runs the risk of its formula becoming tired and its characters falling flat. Thankfully, with her admirable attention to detail and carefully planned story arc, Caroline Lawrence’s Roman Mysteries have so far avoided this trap. Now on book 11, Lawrence’s historical japes are still fresh, intriguing and entertaining. The latest in the series, The Sirens of Surrentum, is possibly the most risqué so far – tackling the tricky themes of sex, love and lust, as well as incorporating the usual ‘mystery’ at the centre of the story.

Flavia and friends find themselves surrounded by debauchery and decadence when they visit their friend Pulchra, whose father Felix Flavia idolises, at the Villa Limona. The mystery is who is poisoning Pulchra’s mother – the possible culprits being the other house-guests, who include a selection of eligible young men and women. While the grown-ups wine, dine, flirt and frolic, the children attempt to expose the poisoner. But Flavia is preoccupied with matters of the heart, as her infatuation with Felix grows stronger and she longs for another year to pass so that she will be of marriageable age.

The customs and etiquette of Roman courting and marriage are explored throughout the book, as Lawrence once again manages to educate without patronising. The potentially controversial issue of tween love is gracefully handled, with a subtle appeal to the reader – don’t rush into romance, and when you do, choose the safe man, not the dangerous one. It is a timeless message with which anyone who has ever experienced the highs and lows of a teenage crush will identify.

I for one was relieved when, in the process of solving the mystery, Flavia finally sees through her idol’s glamorous façade and is released from her infatuation. Boys shouldn’t be deterred by the romantic theme – there is still plenty of action and adventure to satisfy them, including a hilarious scene in which nearly all the characters (except the wise Nubia) are tricked into eating poison. Sirens of Surrentum is certainly a strong contender for my favourite Roman Mystery so far – roll on book 12!

The Colossus of Rhodes by Caroline Lawrence

Having read about a forthcoming television series to be made of Caroline Lawrence's popular Roman Mysteries series by the BBC, I was compelled to catch up with the antics of Flavia and friends. The most recent paperback, The Colossus of Rhodes takes to the sea, with the usual appealing mix of mystery, history, humour, myth and adventure. Each of the Roman Mysteries tends to focus on one of the four main characters - and this is Lupus's story. Setting sail from Ostia in Lupus's ship, with Flavia's father as Captain, the friends embark on their latest mission - to free the children kidnapped into slavery by the evil Venalicius the slave-dealer. Lupus also has his own agenda - to fulfil a sacred oath to himself to find his long-lost mother.

Lawrence's skill at mixing humour and tragedy is once again proved as Lupus's dream is dangled in front of him in an emotive, frantic and ultimately abortive quest. There is some resolution as far as the kidnapping strand to the story goes - but only after Flavia and co have run the gauntlet of obstacles and red-herrings, as always ducking out of mortal danger just in the nick of time. The journey from Ostia to Rhodes entails some wonderful descriptions of the Mediterranean and Greek Islands, conjuring an atmospheric backdrop and a vivid sense of time and place. Perfect entertainment for any families heading to the Greek Islands this holiday season, The Colossus of Rhodes keeps up the momentum of this excellent series, making you eager to read the next one.

Visit Romanmysteries.com for more information about the TV series and details of forthcoming books.