A Review By Frances
An old castle with a moving staircase, a young boy with magical powers who doesn’t know he is a Wizard, messages sent by rats…For many this series about Septimus Heap, the young Wizard apprentice will obviously appeal to fans of JK Rowling.  But the world Sage creates for Septimus and Jennna and the rest of the Heap family is firmly set in its own time and place.  There are no mere mortals here, but adventures a-plenty for the ExtraOrdinary Wizard, Marcia, the ghost of her one time master, Alther  and the evil Necromancer, DomDaniel as well as the Heap family, Silas, Sarah and Aunt Zelda.  Powerful potions, “darke magyk”, spells and lots of books all play their part in this story.  Septimus Heap does not actually make an appearance until near the end of this first book ….I am looking forward to reading more in the series.  Ideal for young readers aged eight upwards and adults like me  who like magical escapism!

Laszlo is afraid of the dark. The dark lives in the same house as Laszlo but mostly it spends its time in the basement. It doesn’t visit Laszlo in his room.

Until one night it does. With emotional insight and poetic economy, Lemony Snicket and Jon Klassen bring to light a universal and empowering story about conquering fear. Join a brave boy on his journey to meet the dark, and see why it will never bother him again. Might prove useful!

A Review by Frances

Stormy works in the kitchens of the Academy where life is harsh but where the rhythm is regular.  He loves looking at  the spitfyres (magical flying horses) and dreams of one day being able to ride one. One day, out of the blue, Stormy is sent away from the kitchens up to the castle to work looking after the magical horses.  He finds all is not well up at the castle – why is one Spitfyre – number 13 – alone and neglected?   A lovely magical fantasy for  children 7 –12. Hot Key books are a new children’s publisher with exciting new authors and stories..I’m loving them.

A Review by Frances

This is a brilliant science fiction book for young teenagers. JD’s Pa has recently been killed by the mysterious “SilverMen”  His Ma disappeared some time before, but now JD knows she has to get away from the Dry Marsh where he has always lived before the “Silver Men” come back for him. He soon meets a strange old man whose mouth has been sewn up, but who still manages to talk. And so JDs dangerous adventures begin….Hot Key books are a new children’s publisher with some really exciting new authors on their list.

The brilliant new book from bestselling author Jacqueline Wilson, set in the children’s ward of a 1950s hospital. It’s 1953, the year Elizabeth is to be crowned Queen of England. Elsie Kettle can’t wait to go to London to see the celebrations on Coronation Day.

Elsie lives with her Nan – her mum works as a showgirl, so she’s not around very often. Spirited and imaginative, but often lonely, Elsie longs for a best friend. Luckily, she and Nan are very close; Elsie just wishes she was allowed a cat to keep her company sometimes.

Then tragedy strikes. Nan and Elsie both fall ill with tuberculosis, and Elsie finds herself whisked away to the children’s ward of the hospital. Confined to bed for months on end, Elsie finds it very hard to adapt to the hospital’s strict regime.

But she invents astonishing ways of entertaining the other children on the ward, and for the first time finds herself surrounded by true friends – including Queenie, the hospital’s majestic white cat. Finally, Elsie is well enough to leave hospital. But before she does, she has one very special, very unexpected visitor…