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Books of the month
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Books of the month
March
Each month we recommend a selection of our favourite books that are either newly published or are appearing in paperback for the first time. The key stage/s indicate the age range for which each title is most appropriate.
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Terry Deary
The knight of swords and spooks
As Henry Tudor is amassing an army to confront the evil King Richard, young George Stanley is held hostage by the king to ensure that his father, Sir Thomas Stanley, does not turn traitor. But, with the Battle of Bosworth turning against the king, George’s life hangs in the balance. Will he live to be reunited with his family? With obvious curriculum links and local interest, this accessible tale from the ever-popular Terry Deary is based on real events and portrays the brutal reality of life at this time without being too gory. 6+
A & C Black 2009 £4.99 ISBN 9781408106181
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Claire Pyatt
Cinderella’s not so ugly sister
So, everyone knows the story of Cinderella. She goes to the ball, meets the Prince and leaves her ugly sisters behind. This is the follow-up diary of Mildred, her kind, not so ugly sister who discovers that her mother and Agatha (the ugly one) are hatching a plot to poison Cinderella at her own wedding. All of the usual fairy story characters feature in the diary: the scatter-brain Bo-Peep who has a habit of losing her sheep, girly gossips Rapunzel and Goldilocks and a rather splattered Humpty Dumpty! Can Agatha save the day before Cinderella bites into the delicious apple pie. A lovely alternative fairy tale that will delight girls of 9+.
Potter Books 2009 £5.99 ISBN 9781906824402
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Jeremy De Quidt
The toymaker
A real lie-detecting doll, a toymaker with ‘a blade as cruel as frost’ and a story to scare even the bravest reader. Mathias, the grandson of a conjurer in a travelling circus, finds a secret note sewn into his dying grandad’s coat. From that moment on, his life is in serious danger and he has to escape from the evil circus master and his wife who are threatening to kill him. On his trail is Doctor Leiter and his malevolent sidekick Valter, who are out to stop him in any way they can. Mathias meets various people who either help or hinder his escape and he endures much serious injury along the way. The secret they are all pursuing is well worth waiting for! With terrifyingly convincing characters and suitably sinister illustrations, this is an outstanding first novel. Dark, nightmarish and frighteningly brilliant. 11+
David Fickling 2010 £5.99 ISBN 9781849920049
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Paul Dowswell
Auslander
During the invasion of Poland, Piotr and other blond haired, blued eyed children are taken by the Nazis to be re-educated as good Germans. Renamed Peter, he initially supports the Nazi cause and is adopted by a professor of Eugenics living in Berlin. Slowly, though, under the influence of his girlfriend Anna and her family, he comes to realise that the Nazis’ cause is evil and begins a dangerous double life as a member of Hitler Youth helping Polish slave workers and Jewish refugees. With the Gestapo constantly in the background, the sense of menace is almost overwhelming. Eventually Peter, Anna and her mother leave Germany on a daring escape full of danger. This original historical thriller is wonderfully exciting, historically enlightening and highly recommended. 12+
Bloomsbury 2010 £6.99 ISBN 9780747594192
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Emily Gale
Girl, aloud
Kass has had enough. Her dad just won’t take no for an answer and has entered her for the X-Factor, despite the fact that she can’t sing! Whether it’s auditioning for adverts or joining Mensa, her dad keeps obsessing about making her famous. The only reason Kass puts up with it is because he has a form of Bi-polar Disorder and the family are not coping with it. Not only that, she has completely fallen for the gorgeous Cassian, who turns out to be more full-on than she’d expected. Kass’s life goes from bad to worse when she discovers that her mum is having an affair with her friend’s dad. Funny yet incredibly emotive, this is an insight into how families try to cope with mental illness and marital breakdown. 13+
Chicken House 2010 £6.99 ISBN 9781906427207
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further information
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Contact: Library Services for Education
Telephone: 0116 305 3800
E-mail: lse@leics.gov.uk
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Last Updated:
26 February 2010
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