10–12

Mixed is equal parts encouraging pep talk, history lesson and two-way discussion with the reader about all elements of the mixed experience.

In this adaptation of an anime series, Hikaru faces a challenge even bigger than middle-school as he finds himself attached to a mechanical arm named Alma. With Alma having lost her memory, Hikaru must dodge the mysterious characters of Kita-Kagami city that are out to get them.

Hikaru Ogino loves to sing, but only ever in the comfort of her family bathhouse. She is in awe of her best friend, Ran, a former girl group idol. Ran has sung in front of large crowds and never seemed nervous. Hiraku dreams of a day when she too has the confidence to perform in front of people.

Tuftorious Snook awakes while his fellow Finders hibernate, and he cannot get back to sleep. He decides to break the strict rule against seeking the Faraway Forest, a place whither many Finders set out, and whence none of them returned. Tuft’s own parents were among those lost, and his aunt Timordora has become a cautionary tale for the young.

This is an uplifting story about a young Sikh boy called Bobby Bains. Bobby’s love of family, and particularly his close relationship with Nana-ji, his maternal grandfather, shines through this story. Bobby’s father left when he was small, and Nana-ji lives with Bobby and his mum. But Bobby has one other enormous love, which is football. A shared obsession with Nana-ji. They share dreams about Bobby playing for Liverpool one day and scoring the winning goal.

Always Angel represents those who are not always in the spotlight. Whittam gives a voice to her protagonist, Angel, who is living in foster care, and coping with her parent’s mental health problems. Whittam creates a genuine and sincere world in which Angel exists, and writes with flair to present authentic characters. While Angel struggles to hold onto her relationship with her mum, she also must confront toxic friendships, all while competing in the school-wide baking competition. While baking, Angel shines brightly, now all she has to do is avoid lunchtime detention!

This is a sequel to the immensely popular middle-grade fantasy The House with Chicken Legs, published in 2018, and combines the same winning team of author and illustrators. The plot of the original novel is synopsised in a short prologue, so a reader approaching the sequel won’t feel lost, though they will surely want to seek out the first volume.

This special picturebook deals with the very difficult topic of death in childhood. The story features an angel called Barnabel who longs to become a guiding angel, but the older angels tell him he is too young and that he doesn’t yet understand the Dark Things. The image of a bridge is used to explain what happens after a child dies. A guiding angel meets them at the bridge, helps them across and relieves them of their Dark Things, which are feelings like pain and fear.

Eleven-year-old Alex’s whole world turns upside down when his untimely death means that he is now a vampire. You’d think that being a vampire would mean lots of cool superpowers and a whole new way of life, but not for Alex. His parents insist that he carries on with his (after)life as though everything is perfectly normal. This means school, swim trials, and secrets as he can’t reveal the truth to anyone, not even his best friends Archie and Mia.

If you enjoy mysteries, fast-paced adventures and an irresistible animal cast then The Feathered Book is the perfect middle-grade book to read. From the very first page, the story grabs your attention and doesn’t let go.