SUMMER READING
Picture Books
Welcome to the quickest bedtime story ever! Your little one will be asleep in seconds. But wait! There are a couple of things you must do first. Have you plumped up the pillows? And colour-co-ordinated the teddy bears? Getting ready for a story is a very important business, I’ll have you know…
Black Bear is feeling lonely, so he decides to look for a friend. Luckily, he meets Brown Bear, who is in the same situation! The bears decide to search for a friend together. They search everywhere, but their elusive friend is nowhere to be found. Or have they been right there all along?
5-8 years old
Join new friends Pixie and Wyld as they set out to solve a mystery of mermaids and magical coins, in this brilliant new adventure story from author Jack Ryder
A brand new unforgettable magical adventure from the author of Jack’s Secret Summer and Jack’s Secret World, beautifully illustrated by Alice McKinley.
Join SPUD, the Super Perceptive Undercover Detectives, on their first fast-paced detective adventure. Getting your first hearing aids can be nerve-wracking; especially when you have to wear them to school. When Callie realises her new hearing aids – ‘the Slugs’ – give her the unique ability to communicate with Bo the Mynah bird, some of her worries are lifted.
A new mystery series, illustrated by Louise Forshaw and perfect for reluctant readers.
When Felix makes a special and desperate wish, little does he realise he is about to be catapulted into a secret world of magic and adventure. Now, Felix is an apprentice wishkeeper and must save the town’s wishes from the terrifying wishsnatcher, who wants to destroy hopes and dreams everywhere.
Michael is desperate to be a su-paw-star! His newfound talent of mind-reading might be his ticket to Hollywoof, as soon as he can convince the talent show judges that he and his assistant Stanley Big Dog have what it takes. But when they reach Hollywoof, it’s not as simple a life as Michael had dreamed. A rival show has started stealing their ticket sales and it’s up to him and his new friends to create a brilliant show, win back fans, and save the theatre.
9-12 years old
A recommended story of friendship, rivalries and resourcefulness based in a girls’ boarding school in Nigeria
This is an adventure book for readers who enjoy stories like the famous Harry Potter and the well-known Percy Jackson series. This story tells us how Skandar gained his goal to train as a unicorn rider. A Stormy storyline creates an action-packed book about an intriguing mythical world
Leeva Thornblossom loves to learn: her local newspaper teaches her a new word every day, and soap operas show her the many shades of human expression. And when she comes across the announcement that all children are required to go to school, Leeva sees an opportunity to do something that newspapers and television alone can’t provide: the chance to meet people.
But Leeva’s parents, the insufferable mayor and selfish tax collector of their small town, don’t want to send her to school, and they certainly don’t want her to meet other people. And so, with the help of the town’s librarian and her son, Leeva sets out to finds answers: what have her parents been hiding from her?
A thrilling middle grade mystery series, perfect for fans of Robin Steven’s Murder Most Unladylike. Set in eighteenth-century London, with all the fun and zest of Hamilton and inspired by real Black British historical figures.
Books for Teens
Seventeen-year-old Alosa, daughter of the feared Pirate King, is on a mission. She must retrieve an ancient hidden map, the key to a legendary treasure trove. The catch? Alosa needs to conceal her considerable combat skills and allow herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship. More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But luckily, she has a few tricks up her sleeve – and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.
A compelling and really enjoyable read which centres on two engaging characters in two time frames, one of whom is forced to confront a massive, heart wrenching decision and it’s consequences. Told with real empathy, this is a well written story full of heart, hope, friendship and family.
Trained and traumatised by a secret assassin programme for minors, Isabel Ryans wants nothing more than to be a normal civilian. After running away from home, she has a new name, a new life and a new friend, Emma, and for the first time, things are looking up.
But old habits die hard, and it’s not long until she blows her cover, drawing the attention of the guilds – the two rival organisations who control the city of Espera. An unaffiliated killer like Isabel is either a potential asset . . . or a threat to be eliminated.
Kicked out of her American boarding school, Evan is sent to live with her estranged father, the King of England. Her existence as his illegitimate daughter is top secret – until someone leaks it to the press. Suddenly she’s the focus of a thousand lurid headlines, plus the hatred of her stepmother the Queen and half-sister Princess Maisie. Then the royal scandal intensifies. After Evan is seen disappearing with a journalist’s son at a party, he is found dead and she becomes the primary suspect in a murder investigation. Did ‘the Killer Princess’ really do it? It seems that only the Queen’s gorgeous nephew Kit will help Evan clear her name. But can she really trust anyone at the palace?
Summer Reading list courtesy of Sevenoaks Bookshop
All books listed here are available through Sevenoaks Bookshop and can be ordered online
Author: Helen Loder
Co-Director of Sevenoaks Mums