Genius and child prodigy Leah Baker is one victory from chess Grandmaster, as the pieces of her family life align for catastrophic loss. Leah finds that she has everything but no one to play for. Chess has been her whole life – what could she choose if she no longer chose chess?
Where Happiness Begins is a picturebook that sings. The words and pictures create a rhythm that brings us through the meaning of what true happiness is. In the times we are living in – a world where, sadly, there is too much value placed on materialistic things – Eland offers a chance for reflection. This book holds a message to us all.
Susin Nielson’s latest offering is a heart-warming coming-of-age story. Lonely outcast Wilbur is settled in his routines: he works his part-time job at a sandwich shop, he goes to Aquacise at the weekends with his 85-year-old neighbour and he plays the triangle in the school band.
Good historical fiction for the YA readership can be hard to find and good historical fiction with a strong female voice is rare indeed and worth shouting about. Mai is a thirteen-year-old girl, growing up in fifth century Britain. Bloodthirsty Saxons have descended on the island to take advantage of the chaos that the Romans left in their wake. It is a dangerous time for anyone, but particularly for a young girl. The stakes are life and death and your life can depend on what you have to trade – even if it’s just a story.
Bea’s life is transforming all around her and it’s proving impossible for her to keep her bearings. Her parents have divorced after her father coming out and now he is getting remarried. She’s happy for him and is looking forward to the wedding yet she can’t help but worry about … everything, really. Homophobic uncles, new step-sisters, mean girls at school – she has a lot going on.
Catherine Barter’s latest novel, We Played with Fire, is based on the infamous nineteenth century Fox sisters, an American duo who made their supernatural fortunes communicating with the spirits and ghosts of those who had already passed on.
Barter’s take on this old tale makes for a sophisticated and spooky read. Her innovative use of the supernatural horror story within the structure of a YA novel is both captivating and challenging.
Written and illustrated by award winning illustrator LeUyen Pham, this timely picturebook is dedicated to the first responders and essential workers whose selfless dedication during the pandemic proved so vital to us all.
Every summer, a young girl visits her grandad’s cottage by the sea. It’s full of fruits and vegetables from the garden, places to hide and treasures from Grandads’ travels around the world with Gramps. More than anything, she loves to hear the stories about the amazing adventures Grandad and Gramps had together. Gramps is gone now, and Grandad doesn’t feel like having adventures – it just wouldn’t be the same. Then one day, the young girl has a wonderful idea to bring that missing spark back into Grandad’s life. They go to the garage, uncover the old camper van and…
This coming-of-age novel explores the struggles and relationships of Aideen, a savvy high school student with attitude. A slap stick series of incidents with her colleagues hide the serious issues and worries Aideen faces with her troubled mother and life in general.
This is a must-read-in-one-sitting title, inspired by a true story. Young Joseph experiences the trials and tribulations of life during World War II. Left without either parent, he is sent to live with his grandmother. Joseph’s feelings of abandonment and disdain for the war that caused everything create a deep- seated resentment within him. Incapable of taming his rage, he pushes everyone around him as far away as possible, refusing to behave. Unable to break his walls down and overcome his unfailing resolve for conflict and trouble, Joseph’s gran sends him away, again.
