The Time School series follows Jess, Nadia, Ash and Tomma as they navigate their way through the first year of Secondary school whilst experiencing what life was like during pivotal moments in history and learning about their ancestry. Ideal for those who love...
I have just finished reading this with my eleven-year-old son and we both loved it. This story has everything for a young tween – the cringe-factor, the laughs – in equal measure. David is just trying to fit in at school, but best friend, Scott has decided he’s no...
The sports mad child. The one who seems to spend every waking moment living and breathing their favourite pastime. We all know one, don’t we? And there’s nothing wrong with this. In fact, it’s something to be celebrated. It’s hard to get them to do anything else...
What would happen if you lived in a society with pre-determined rules about how you should behave, speak and think? If you break any of those rules, you’re branded as a flawed for everyone to see and the type of branding shows the extent to which you are flawed. What...
I recently joined a book club. I’ve always wanted to be part of one, but had never managed to get myself an ‘invite’. I knew of ones that existed, but it always seemed like an elusive secret that you had to be especially asked to be a part of. And I never was. So that...
The Time School series follows four friends as they journey back to different periods of time over the course of their first year at secondary school. Not only do the children embark on the adventure that is their first year at secondary school, but they also get the...
There is a common misconception that once a child can read confidently on their own, you should stop reading aloud to them. Most parents stop reading to their child by the time they are eight years-old, with only 19% of 8-10's being read to on a daily basis. Research...
My Year 6 son is currently studying Oranges in No Mans Land at school and my Year 8 daughter had chosen it from the library. As they were both reading it, my interest was piqued, and I sat down and read the whole book in one sitting. My daughter, spurred on by how...
Childish Spirits, the first in a series of ghostly, mystery tales, follows Ellie and Edward as they embark on an unusual friendship and set of adventures.
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece is a powerful tale of how grief and loss affects those who are left behind. Ten year-old Jamie was only five when his sister, Rose, was killed. He doesn't really remember her, and as such, does not grieve for her in the way her twin...
The Lost Magician, by Piers Torday, feels like a cross between Narnia and the Hunger Games. Here’s why.
My book recommendation for April is one that both myself and my reluctant reader approve of. She read it in a few days, which, for someone who can take weeks-to-months to read a book, is a huge achievement. There are two reasons why she flew through Once, by Morris...
“Emily Knight is a teenage warrior who comes from a legendary warrior family so she is destined to be a hero” As a change from my usual monthly book review, I have an interview with Middle Grade and Ya author, Abiola Bello, this month, about her book series, Emily...
This month, my book recommendation for the middle grade category is, The Boy at the Back of the Class, by Onjali Q.Rauf. Told from the point of view of nine year old Alexa, this book looks at the refugee crisis as seen through a child’s eyes. For Alexa and her...
My aim for 2019 is to recommend a children’s middle grade fiction book each month, so here goes. January’s recommendation is The Skylarks War, by Hilary McKay. Although it’s aimed at children aged 9-12, The Skylarks War is a book that can be enjoyed by children and...
This month, Time School went on a blog tour. With a mix of interviews and reviews, thirteen book bloggers shared their thoughts and helped promote my new book during launch month. The response was amazing. Here are just a few quotes: "This would be a lovely read for...
The Summer Reading Challenge for 2018 is called Mischief Makers in honour of the much-loved children's title Beano, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. Children will follow clues and explore a map of Beanotown to find the mysterious buried treasure, with...
‘Time School: We Will Remember Them’ is book one of a series of four and is available to pre-order now. "A power cut and a series of mini disasters means friends, Jess, Nadia, Tomma and Ash barely make it to the station to catch their train to school. What they...
Today marks the start of #NationalStoryTellingWeek and in honour of this, I’m sharing my book recommendation for February and asking the question, do you still read with your children? I’m not talking the dreaded book scheme reading, that from my own personal...
Want to hear about my next book? It's a middle-grade fiction story for 9-11 year olds, like my first book, but that's where the similarity ends. This one is the first in a series that centres on four children, a school, the events that have occurred during its 100...