Published by HarperCollins

Alone on a Wide, Wide Sea by Michael Morpurgo

After the war, a six-year old boy, Arthur, along with hundreds of other orphans, is shipped off to Australia to begin a new life. However, he is separated from his sister, Kitty, whom he begins to think was just a figment of his childhood imagination. All he has to remember her is a key, his lucky key, which he is sure she gave him before he left England.

Based on the true history of many child migrants who were taken away from their home, and who spent a lifetime trying to rediscover their real identity, this story follows Arthur’s life, with all its ups and downs.

Having hated his sea journey to Australia, Arthur later discovers a passion for boats, and this becomes his career. Life is however, not plain sailing. When at his lowest point ever, hope returns to Arthur; he meets a nurse who believes in him, and loves him. Their daughter, Allie, like Arthur, loves the sea, and so she decides to sail around the world, back to England, in the hope of maybe finding Kitty once again.

This is a real and moving account of one family’s journey, and their determination to be reunited.

Published by Puffin

Driftwood by Cathy Cassidy

The couple at Beachcomber Cottage make a living out of driftwood – taking things that have been washed up, and making them into something beautiful and unusual. They have adopted Joey, and now also foster Paul, who feels like he himself is a piece of driftwood, at the mercy of the tide.

Paul gets to know Joey, her best friend Hannah, and her brother Kit, and they do their best to make him feel welcome at school. But it is difficult, especially when it becomes obvious that Paul is not like the other boys, and won’t conform to what is expected.

When Hannah discovers that he is being bullied, she tries to remain loyal, but it is not easy. Meanwhile, she has difficult issues of her own to deal with – her best friend is going out with her brother, and Hannah feels invisible and abandoned.

Then things get to a stage which cannot be ignored any longer. Will Hannah have the courage to be a real friend to Paul? Even when he doesn’t want her – or anyone – to help? Will these teenagers recognize the value of driftwood, and the potential it hides?

This story, set in the Borders of Scotland, deals with friendship and family in a real and honest way. You will NOT be able to put this book down.

Kira Kira by Cynthia Kadohata

Set in South Georgia, America, in the 1930’s, this is a story about a hardworking Japanese family and, in particular, about two sisters. It is written from Katie’s viewpoint; she tells how her big sister, Lynn, teaches her that the world is ‘kira kira’ – a glittering place – if only you look hard enough. She dreams of one day going to California, and living by the sea. . .

This optimism is a theme throughout the book, even during difficult times, which involve financial hardship, illness, and even death. The family remains fiercely loyal to each other throughout.

Helicopter Man by Elizabeth Fensham

Pete’s Dad has been behaving strangely. Convinced that they are being pursued by the Government, and determined to keep Pete safe, they go into hiding. Although eventually Pete begins to question his father’s thinking, he decides to remain loyal to him, whatever the outcome.

Set in Australia, this compelling story is told from the viewpoint of a young teenage boy. His diary deals with the taboo subject of mental illness, family loyalty, and the choices that are part of growing up.

Chicken Friend by Nicola Morgan

If your parents embarrass you, then you will easily identify with the main character in this story!  Becca’s parents decide that they don’t believe in school, so she has to leave behind friends that she has known for years, and move to the country for a new start. Some local girls take an interest in her, and in trying to make them like her, she has to decide whether it is worth changing who she really is, just to be ‘friends’.

Diamond Geezers by Echo Freer

Diamond Geezers brings together London’s criminal underworld with the De Mise family funeral directors. Modesty De Mise is the unlikely heroine of this crime thriller. She has a mission to save the local cemetery from the developers. However, she is also busy helping with unusual funerals, solving the mystery of the missing diamond and falling in love with the charming Oz Appleby.

Clay by David Almond

Geordie and Davey are best mates. Altar boys, they get into fights, look at the girls and try to avoid being beaten up by bully, Mouldy. Then a poor strange artistic lad called Stephen Rose moves in with his Crazy Aunt nearby. Is Stephen just a young lad who dropped out of training to be a priest, or is he really an evil influence? Stephen makes beautiful objects from wood and clay, and with Davey creates a new age Frankenstein's monster, which becomes real. There is a tragic outcome. This wonderfully imaginative book develops themes and ideas already familiar to Almond fans. Thought provoking and highly original, it explores themes of creation, belief, friendship and the nature of both good and evil.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Matthew, called Moose, has just moved to Alcatraz Island with his family. His father is an electrician and guard at the prison, where the gangster, Al Capone, is one of the prisoners. Moose’s sister Natalie is autistic, a condition not recognised in 1935 when this story takes place. As his mother is trying to earn enough money to get Natalie the special schooling she needs, Moose has to spend a lot of his time caring for his sister. This makes it difficult at first for him to join in and make friends with the other children on the island and at his new school. However, Piper, the Governor’s daughter has some schemes to make money out of having Al Capone as a neighbour, and Moose finds it impossible not to be drawn in.

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

Max is tall for his age and doesn’t show much interest in schoolwork because of this people think he is tough and stupid. All that changes when a boy moves into the same street as Max who is cripple. The new boy is short for his age and very intelligent. The two boys team up and become great friends who are not afraid to take on anything that comes their way.

Hero Game by Pete Johnson

This story centres around a teenage boy and his Grandfather, who was a fighter pilot in the WW2. Charlie, the boy, is fascinated by this, so he manages to trace several of the men who fought with him. But the twist comes when another old man gets in touch with Charlie – somebody who knew his Grandfather before the war. Charlie is stunned to discover that all is not as it seems about his past – is his Grandfather really the hero he appears to be?

Told from Charlie’s perspective, this is a book about relationships, loyalty to your country, and what being a hero really means.

Ruby Holler by Sharon Creech

Dallas and Florida, named after words on a packing case, are known as “trouble twins” at the Boxton Creek children’s home, where there are many rules and many punishments. They expect to be there for ever, but then Sairy and Tiller Morey from Ruby Holler come looking for a boy and girl to help them realise their dreams of a trip to Kangadoon Island, and a trip down the Rutabago River. The children see it as a chance to escape, particularly when they discover that the elderly couple have hidden their money under some stones in the valley. However, they unexpectedly start to like Sairy and Tiller, and though many things go wrong they do work out right in the end.

The Love Bean by Siobhan Parkinson

This is an unusual story within a story. It involves a set of twin girls - Julia and Lydia - and their friendships, boyfriends and rivalries between boys. Within this book, the two girls are reading a book called "The Curiosity Tree" which involves another pair of twins - Sun'va and Eva - whose lives surprisingly mirrors their lives even though their story is set when the Romans first invaded Ireland. It also highlights the problem of finding your own identity when you have a twin.

Makeover by Kate Petty

After winning a makeover in a competition, Lianne has the brilliant idea that she and her friend Sarah will make money giving makeover parties for 7-8 year olds. This proves a lot more challenging than they anticipate.
Ruth is a new girl in their class, sent to live with her father and step family because her mother is too ill to look after her. Lianne decides that Ruth would also benefit from a makeover, particularly as befriending Ruth will give her an opportunity to get to know her stepbrother better. But will Ruth appreciate a makeover?

Chocolate Moon by Mary Arrigan

Teenager Chris and his Gran are a team. She’s the one he turns to when his parents nag and go on about exams. She fills his head with other ideas and possibilities. At least, she used to. Now she gets muddled up, more and more, as Alzheimer’s begins to take hold. Then she starts to talk about the Chocolate Moon, and Chris is sure that this is not just Gran getting confused. What is the Chocolate Moon, and why does it matter SO much? Chris is determined to find out, before it is too late.

Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer

Hope and her Aunt Addie have worked in diners from New York City to Atlanta. Now they’re moving to Mulhoney in Wisconsin to sort out the Welcome Stairways diner and impress the small town with treats like their Butter pecan pie. But trouble is stirring in Mulhoney that soon involves Hope …

This is a wonderful quirky American story about Hope’s life, how she deals with her absent mother, the Mulhoney election campaign for mayor, GT’s illness, her feelings for Braverman, her thoughts on waitressing, amongst others.

Holly by Mary Hooper

Holly receives an anonymous gift while working at the café. She and her best friend spend ages trying to work out who sent it when another one arrives. When she finally works out who the secret admirer is, it shocks and throws her whole life into turmoil. Will anything ever be normal again?

“We’d rowed in the past, of course, but even when we’d had a real go at each other, I’d known that it was just a blip, a temporary, tiny thing that could never alter the basic structure"

Who is Jesse Flood? by Malachy Doyle

Jesse Flood is trying to make sense of his world and that isn't easy when his Mum has just left home with no forwarding address and he has been excluded from school. At fourteen Jesse's had to cope with a lot of troubling experiences without the support of a stable family or friends. His survival has relied on books, music, his mother's imaginative stories and his own fantasy world. But Jesse wants to do more than survive. He wants to make some of his fantasies a reality, especially the one about getting to know Sophie Cameron aka Yellow Lily. A moving teenage story set in Ireland.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

A superb American novel which explores the freedom and costs of being truly different. Stargirl Caraway has "normal" parents, yet is a very special individual who casts a wide spell of magical presence throughout her school. At first she is adored, then shunned and hated, for her individuality. The story is told by sixteen year old Leo, who becomes her boyfriend, and begins to understand her unique personality. A book about being yourself, yet also being able to make friends. Stargirl is a beautiful person, generous, kind and sensitive - yet why can the other pupils not accept her as she is? Begin to understand the lasting effects of small secret acts of kindness, in the memories Stargirl leaves behind.

Read this book and you will remember it for a long time !

Silent Snow, Secret Snow by Adele Geras

This is a beautiful strange story of a family gathering together at Golden House for Christmas. As the snow falls and cuts them off from the outside world, secrets are revealed. Will Laurie reveal his true feelings? Will Marianne shock them with her career plans? Even Pamina the cat has her own secret …“Pamina lifted her head briefly and watched Ellie leave the dark room. Then she turned her attention to the huge moth-shapes blundering against the window pane. The snow was still falling. It was time to sleep.” P 17.

Freaky Green Eyes by Joyce Carol Oates

To everyone around her Franky Pierson has the kind of life that most people only dream of. Her dad is a sports commentator, her mother is a beautiful artist and they all live together in a state-of-the-art designer home. Franky’s dad keeps on telling her that they live the perfect life and she almost believes him. However, her mother spends all her time away from home, her step-brother is barely speaking to anyone and her little sister moans all the time. The only person who knows the truth is Freaky Green Eyes, Franky’s inner self. The only person who dares to look at Franky’s life properly and suggest that it is not the perfect world her father leads her to believe. Is she strong enough to do anything about her life before something terrible happens