Published by Puffin

Blood Red Horse by K M Grant

Set at the time of the crusades Blood Red Horse tells the story of one boy’s quest to become a knight. Will knows he has what it takes so when King Richard calls for a crusade to the Holy Land he knows it is his destiny, along with his brother Gavin, to go. Will has a lot to deal with, an impending brutal war and his secret love for his brother’s future wife Ellie. Two things will get him through the crusade his secret love and his mysterious red horse Hosanna.

Sequels: Green Jasper (The De Granville Trilogy); Blaze of Silver (De Granville Trilogy)

Published by Puffin

Midnight Saboteur by Martin Booth

Set during World War 2, Jacob discovers his mother is a secret agent working in France for the French Resistance. A telegram arrives at his grandparent’s house informing them that his mum has been captured and is now a prisoner of the Gestapo. Thinking only of rescuing her, Jacob stows away on a flight and ends up fighting an underground war.

This is a great war adventure which shows you some of the real tactics the French Resistance used in the war against the Nazis.

Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo

This book must be read! It is moving and gripping. A superb account of family life leading up to and during the First World War, which really brings home the impact on young men, really just teenagers, who were called up to fight for their country in the trenches. Tommo remembers and relives his childhood, spent with brothers Charlie and Big Joe, and close friend Molly. We experience the circumstances of Charlie and Tommo going to war, and the promises they made to those back at home. The book has an unusual structure, arranged during the longest night of Tommo?s life. In the morning an unavoidable tragic event must happen. Not for the faint hearted?

Music on the Bamboo Radio by  Martin Booth

Nicholas is a young British boy whose parents are captured in the Chinese invasion of Hong Kong. He is disguised by a Chinese family and lives with them, later to become involved in war related activities and ultimately “plays music on the bamboo radio”. 

What does this mean?

Nicholas gets fully involved in his new identity and almost forgets his old life, until U.S. planes fly over, dropping news of the Japanese defeat. 

A fast moving and realistic Second World War story.

Hannah Goslar Remembers by Alison Leslie Gold

This is the moving story of Hannah Goslar's memories of childhood friend, Anne Frank. She recalls what life was like before and during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam.  It portrays the fear of the Nazi knock on the door and the horror of the concentration camp, Bergen-Belsin, where she met up with Anne Frank again for the last time.