Published by HarperCollins

The Cleopatra Curse by Katherine Roberts

Set in Ancient Egypt. Zeuxis has to collect fuel for the lighthouse at Alexandria, but his dream is to drive a chariot in the races at the Hippodrome. His chance comes when the Romans need a charioteer for their team, but he doesn’t realise that this is all tied up with a plot to overthrow Cleopatra, the queen. Ptolemy her brother is also plotting against her, and Zeuxis and his friends find themselves in great danger.

Published by Simon & Schuster

The Printers Devil by Paul Bajoria

Mog Winter, a 12-year-old boy, works as a printer’s apprentice and, most of the time, enjoys his job.   Being able to read in Victorian London is definitely an advantage, although sometimes it is wiser not to show how much you know.

The murky back streets of London are not a safe place to be at the best of times.   But when a WANTED poster of a crook – which Mog has printed - leads to him becoming involved in a gang of murderers, he discovers that his own life is under threat.   However, this does not stop him – if anything, it makes Mog even more determined to try and find out the truth.

Together Mog, his faithful dog, Lash, and his friend, Nick, get drawn into the plot, and discover more than they bargained for.

Published by Walker

The Highwayman’s Footsteps by Nicola Morgan

Set in the late 1700’s, this story centres around two teenagers, Bess and Will, and their terrifying adventures. Will is the son of the High Sheriff and has led a privileged, sheltered childhood, never questioning where the family wealth comes from. But, his father calls him a coward once too often, so Will runs away from home, determined to prove his father wrong.

Bess is the orphaned daughter of a Highwayman, and is determined and fearless, quite different to weak, swooning females like Will’s mother and sisters.

Their paths meet, and together they face many dangers. Will realizes that the values he grew up with are not black and white. Is it right to steal, if the money is taken from the rich and given to the poor? Everything he has known and taken for granted is turned upside down. It is going to mean confronting his father – but will he have the courage to go through with it? Or is he still a coward at heart?

Montmorency by Eleanor Updale

A petty thief nearly loses his life after a robbery, but is saved by an ambitious young doctor.   While recovering, he learns all about the latest invention – the sewers of London.   Montmorency realizes that this could be the key to a new life of thieving.   Who would ever think of looking for a thief underground?

But will his double life lead him into trouble?   And what gives him the greater thrill – living the life of a gentleman that he had always wanted to be – or being a common thief? Can Montmorency ever entirely shake off his past?

The Whispering Road by Livi Michael

Joe and Annie must flee from their poor existence as servants.   They embark on a journey full of danger to Manchester to find their mother, however their future is influenced by the horrors of their past.   Annie is troubled by spirits and Joe is forced to make some decisions regarding her future which will see Annie working as a Medium in a fair.   Joe tries to create a new identity for himself on the streets of Manchester but the past won’t leave him alone and he finds himself being drawn back to Annie and their original quest of searching for their mother.
 

Deep Secret by Berlie Doherty

Twins Madelaine and Grace are identical – so identical that even their own mother can’t tell them apart.   When one girl dies in a tragic accident the other one pretends to be her sister as a way of dealing with her grief. . .
Meanwhile, the valley where the girls live has been taken over by the Water Board; a huge dam is to be built and the whole valley flooded to provide a reservoir for the nearby towns.

Set after WW2, and based on a true event, this story deals with people’s lives as they struggle to come to terms with what this will mean for their future. It is un-put-downable.

Three Blind Eyes by Alison Prince

An adventure set in Victorian London, involving the downward slide in fortune of Lucy and her father. An indulged child, Lucy grows in wisdom and worldy experience in the course of the book, as a result of her father's imprisonment. This novel attempts to recreate the violence, crime and battle for survival amongst less privileged city dwellers over a hundred years ago. Lucy's father has a weakness which she only gradually becomes aware of, and with some other children, she battles against the odds. A simple introduction to the world of Dickens.

The Dark Horse by Marcus Sedgwick

Set in a distant time, the Storn clan discover a girl who appears to have been raised by wolves. They call her Mouse and over the years, discover she has certain secret gifts. But when the village is attacked, the true identity of Mouse is revealed which shocks and literally tears the Storn apart.

A thrilling story of trust, betrayal and treachery.

The Seeing Stone by K Crossley-Holland

The Seeing Stone is a historical novel set on the Welsh Borders in 1199 following the daily life of Arthur de Caldicot, the 13 year old son of the local lord of the manor, who longs to leave home and become a squire. Interwoven with this tale of medieval life is another parallel story linking young Arthur to the legends of King Arthur, and for once it is a fresh approach to using the Arthurian legend. The book has an interesting structure - some chapters are very short, some longer and the language is at times poetic.

The Fated Sky by Henrietta Branford

Set in Norway and Iceland during the time of the Vikings, this story is about Ran, a young girl whose father and brothers have been killed by Viking raiders. Along with her mother and Vigut, a callous stranger, they travel to Sessing by sledge for the celebrations and sacrifices to Odin Allfather, one of their gods. Fate then deals a cruel hand to Ran as her mother dies from the injuries she received from a wolf attack, then Ran is accused of her murder and of witchcraft. When it seems as though things couldn't get any worse, Brokk the dwarf magician chooses her to be the sacrifice to Odin. Will Ran manage to escape the clutches of Brokk and ultimate death? And if so, will she manage to lead a normal life with the constant fear that someone somewhere will recognise her and kill her for escaping her destiny as Odin's sacrifice?

In the Blood by June Oldham

Rigby's grandfather has gone missing and is wandering the countryside. He finds clues to where his grandfather may have gone and discovers not only what happened to his grandfather during the Second World War, but also secrets about his own identity.