The Demon’s Watch, by Conrad Mason
Age: 10+
Themes: magic; adventure; fantasy
Synopsis: On the island of Fayt, humans live peacefully alongside trolls, goblins and other magical creatures. However, their harmony is under threat from the League of the Light who are determined to wipe out all non-human creatures. Fayt’s survival lies in the hands of The Demon’s Watch led by Captain Newton and also an unlikely half-goblin orphan boy, Joseph Grubb.
Words in the Dust, by Trent Reedy
Age: 10+
Themes: Afghanistan; war; childhood.
Synopsis: Words in the Dust is told from the viewpoint of a young Afghan girl, Zulaikha. The story only recalls 18 months of her life, but this period is hugely seminal and life-changing for her. Zulaikha’s story is mainly driven by her misfortune of being born with a cleft-lip which distorts her mouth, nose and teeth. Zulaikha’s deformity has brought her a life of misery and suffering. Read the rest of this entry
The Shadow Thief, by Alexandra Adornetto
Age: 8+
Themes: magic, humour, friendship, adventure, fantasy.
The Shadow Thief was written by Alexandra Adornetto when she was only thirteen years old. It is this remarkable fact that influenced me to purchase a copy whilst on holiday in Australia (Adornetto is Australian). Ironically, this remarkable fact also caused me to have some cynicism and rather low expectations when I began reading The Shadow Thief. However, I can honestly say that my cynicism was unwarranted. To write such a novel at the age of thirteen is a truly impressive feat. Read the rest of this entry
The Red Wind by Isobelle Carmody
Age: 9+ (independent reading), 6+ (adult reading to child)
Themes: friendship, fantasy, adventure
The Red Wind is an enchanting, whimsical story which will stay in the reader’s imagination long after they finish the book. I picked it up whilst in a bookshop in Australia, attracted by the beautiful illustrations on the cover and also the gold badge marking it as ‘Book of the Year’ (Children’s Book Council of Australia). Read the rest of this entry
Dragon Rider, by Cornelia Funke
Age: 8 +
This was the first Cornelia Funke book that I read and it made me an instant Funke fan!
Dragon Rider is the story of a young boy, a brownie and a dragon who go in quest of the Rim of Heaven. They are a trio of unlikely heroes: Firedrake the dragon; Sorrell the brownie (you soon learn about brownies); and Ben, a boy who discovers friendship and courage. Read the rest of this entry
Small Blue Thing, by S.C.Ransom
Age: 12+
S.C.Ransom captivates her readers with this imaginative and unusual romance set in London. 17 year old Alex finds an amulet bracelet washed up in the Thames. Little does she know when she puts it on her wrist, that the amulet will be the start of her romantic relationship with Callum. Callum however, is no human boy but a dirge – Ransom’s creation of a ghost like spirit trapped between life and death.
As you can imagine, forging a relationship with a dirge is no plain sailing. Small Blue Thing is the first in the trilogy, recounting Callum and Alex’s determined battle to be together. Read the rest of this entry
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