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 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.

The Day that Everything Changed by Ben Myers

Written in collaboration with a primary school as an Arts Council funded project, the remit in creating this novel was to provide stories that children would want to read. Told from the individual points of view of six children, all of different ages, as well as third-person sections called 'Everyone's Story', it can be read either straight through or by choosing one or more characters to follow. Presumably this structure is designed to make the book accessible to different levels of reader, but it could potentially become confusing.

The story itself has a distinctly environmental, somewhat preachy message, as each of the children has to complete a task - invariably a test on their personal weaknesses - in order to save humanity. This all takes place in what was their school, but is fast disappearing, as 'nature' rises up to reclaim the world in protest at man's mistreatment of it. Very much reminiscent of the meandering stories that filled endless exercise books in my own childhood, I can see how children might well identify on some level with the naïvely constructed characters and far-flung adventures, although more advanced readers may find it all rather patronising.

Buy The Day That Everything Changed

Sunshine for the Sunless by Gareth Thompson

Much of Andy's childhood has been haunted by the memory of a terrible event he once witnessed in which a father and son drowned in quicksand on the beach near his home. Blaming himself for not being able to help them, the shadow of this harrowing experience hangs over him as he struggles to move on. His only escape is in daffodils, a passion he has inherited from his grandfather - also the most reliable male role model in his life. Then the beautiful Angie comes into his life, taking an unexpected interest in Andy's unusual horticultural hobby, she also becomes the object of his desire, as the rumblings of first love begin to stir.

Set in a rough industrial town in the Lake District, the title refers to a line of poetry from one of the area's most notable exports, William Wordsworth. And very much in the spirit of Wordsworth, the landscape is passionately and intricately evoked, setting an atmospheric backdrop to what turns out to be a compelling and moving rites of passage. The unusual slant of daffodil obsession gives a familiar story a refreshing twist, and provides some genuinely interesting facts along the way.

Chicken Dance by Jacques Couvillion

In the spirit of 'Holes', with splashes of subtle magical realism, Couvillion's debut is a highly compelling and ultimately uplifting 'rise of the underdog' morality tale. On Horse Island, where nearly everyone is a chicken farmer with an alliterative name, the Schmidt family are relative outsiders, bequeathed their house by an uncle on the condition that they continue to care for its chickens.

Ignored and resented by his parents, Don Schmidt spends most of his home life trying not to annoy his neurotic chicken-hating mother. School isn't much better, until one day he wins a chicken-judging contest and becomes suddenly popular, so that even his parents are forced to notice him.

Meanwhile, Don has accidentally discovered that his name used to be Stanley, and is anxiously following a trail of clues about his past, desperate to find out why it was changed and what exactly his family has been hiding from him. As the truth gradually unfolds, with some cleverly plotted twists and turns, the story becomes ever more enthralling. Don/Stanley is a perfectly constructed hero – humble, naïve, kind and courageous - and you can't help but be consumed by his plight.

Accidents of Nature by Harriet McBryde Johnson

A deeply moving and provocative novel that boldly confronts attitudes to disability from the perspective of a sixteen year old with cerebral palsy. Set in a 1960s holiday camp for what would now be called 'special needs' children, it is the antithesis of the politically correct 'issue-based' book.

Jean goes to Camp Courage to please her parents, who have always tried to give her as normal a life as possible, and are keen to foster her independence. During Jean's stay she meets Sara - a veteran of what she herself calls 'Crip Camp' - and an outspoken rebel against the patronising influence of the camp leaders, and other 'normal' people in general.

Refusing to submit to society's expectations of her, Sara opens Jean's eyes to a whole new way of thinking about her disability. Based on the author's own experience of growing up as an invalid in even less liberated times, Accidents of Nature is not always a comfortable read, but all the better for that.

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.

The Vanishing of Katharina Linden by Helen Grant

Set in an outwardly innocuous and mostly uneventful German backwater town, The Vanishing of Katharina Linden is an atmospheric, slow-building thriller in which nothing is ever what it seems. Peppered with German phrases and colloquialisms that conjure the spirit of the setting and its people, Helen Grant’s portrayal of place is cleverly and vividly executed.

A sometimes uncomfortably close community of curtain-twitchers and busybodies, everyone knows everyone else’s business in Bad Münsereifel, or thinks they do. For Pia, the schoolgirl infamous and ostracised for having an exploding grandmother, the unfolding of a sinister murder-mystery becomes a welcome obsession on which to focus her frustrated energies. She and the other school pariah, ‘Stink Stefan’ - thrown together by default - team up to try and figure out what is happening to the girls of the town, who keep disappearing.

Apart from said disapperances, the odd allusion to dubious incidents of the past, and some imparting of spooky local folklore, the first three-quarters of the book ticks along gently without much actual hair-raising. It’s not until right at the end that the pace really picks up and all of a sudden explodes into a startlingly chilling climax, packed with twists and turns and some genuinely stomach-churning moments. Gripping stuff, but not for the faint hearted.

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.

Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish by Kirsty Murray

Gus McGrath has never met his grandparents, and is oblivious to their existence, until his mother falls ill with cancer and he is sent to stay with them while she recovers. As if the shock of going to live with virtual strangers wasn't enough to cope with, it then transpires that they run a travelling circus - an unfamiliar and daunting world into which Gus is expected to assimilate himself. At first he is bitter and resentful about his situation, and is bewildered by the seemingly indifferent attitude of his grandparents towards him, unaware of the complicated history between them and his mother. But as he gradually adjusts to life in the circus, and begins to uncover a web of family secrets, he finds himself more comfortable with his new life than he could have imagined. A classic 'rights-of-passage' tale, which confronts the familiar issue of dysfunctional families, but within the more exotic setting of the Big Top, Zarconi's Magic Flying Fish is a pleasantly diverting, if not particularly challenging read.

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.

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.

Small Steps by Louis Sachar

Holes by Louis Sachar is one of my all-time favourite books, so it was with equal parts excitement and trepidation that I approached its sequel, Small Steps. Sequels can so often disappoint and even taint fond memories of the original (Star Wars…need I say more). Having said that, Small Steps is more like a spin-off than a sequel, since it picks up on two of the secondary characters from Holes three years after their horrendous hole-digging nightmare at the notorious Camp Greenlake correctional facility. The unfortunately nick-named Armpit is catching up on his education by way of summer school, whilst also making some money working as a gardening labourer – mostly doing something at which he is well-practiced - digging holes. The Small Steps of the title refers to his rehabilitation counsellor’s advice to take things one step at a time. This worthy intention is interrupted when his well-meaning but misguided friend X-Ray turns up with a dubious plan to make money by touting concert tickets, convincing Armpit to part with his hard-earned cash in order to purchase said tickets.
Sachar’s writing is as fresh and uncomplicated as ever, and one is immediately swept up into the compulsive narrative. Tension builds quickly as the two boys find themselves hurtling back towards incarceration when their supposedly fool-proof scam inevitably goes awry. Armpit finds counsel in an unlikely friendship with his neighbour – a younger girl with cerebral palsy who takes her problems in her stride and encourages him to do the same. A romance blossoms under the most unexpected circumstances and Armpit is drawn into the daunting world of a teenage rock-chick, further complicating his already fretful situation.

The somewhat far-fetched storyline is carried along by the tender and convincingly imperfect relationships and by the unaffected directness of the author’s voice. The story comes to a satisfactory conclusion, whilst mercifully avoiding a clichéd happy ending. Small Steps has a completely different feel about it to Holes – which makes it almost impossible to compare the two. Instead I would recommend treating the latest book on its own merits – a skilfully plotted, beautifully executed tale of friendship, trust, love, prejudice, disillusionment and redemption. I am happy to say that my only disappointment was with how quickly it was all over – I challenge you to try and make it last for more than one sitting – I couldn’t.

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.