When a new boy joins Pearl’s class in school at first she is surprised to learn that he has two mums. In a refreshingly childlike way, she accepts this fact and goes on to learn more about her new friend and their shared love of art, humour and chocolate cake. This is a simple story with a simple message at its core and will be enjoyed by young artists in particular. The children are relatable and sweet, and the classroom context is one that many will feel familiar with.
After witnessing a magic ball of light leave her father in a coma, Akoma Addo makes it her mission to understand the supernatural. She even goes so far as to join a secret police unit dedicated to solving magical crimes in San Francisco’s AfricaTown, hoping to unravel the mystery of her father’s extended illness and to make use of the unit’s advanced tech in the meantime. But when a body is found in a pool of molten gold, Akoma finds herself at the centre of a much larger – and more dangerous – mystery.
Twelve-year-old Leonie is a force to be reckoned with. Having escaped the clutches of the wicked Wishmaker Institute, she finally feels free; her magic no longer caged, she begins to become an everyday girl.
Fans of Zainab Boladale’s debut novel, Braids Take a Day, will be delighted with the author’s second book that tackles a very modern problem. The protagonist, Aurora Kutti, is a teenage influencer living a glamorous life of constant attention. Her lifestyle is enviable, but tightly controlled by her ‘momager,’ and Aurora is starting to lose her sense of self.
This book is an explosion of colour and positivity and contains a strong message for its young readers about both freedom and acceptance. There is no conventional storyline within the book, rather the text addresses children directly, emphasising the importance of just being themselves, while allowing others the freedom to do the same. The text rhymes, and features some lovely, lyrical verse, which makes it perfect for reading aloud.
School sports day is approaching, and Luna is apprehensive: she doesn’t think she is good at sport. As Luna and her friend Abiola try out lots of different sports, they discover that it is not all about being the best, that just participating can be lots of fun. This story shows there can also be a magic to sport, for instance when a lesson in a pool turns into swimming with dolphins and diving for treasure.
This is an emotional and beautifully written story of a young man’s struggle to find his way.
Dusty and her little sister Poppy might not have the easiest life being in care and constantly moving home, but at least they have each other. Until suddenly, they don’t. After a breakdown in their foster placement, Dusty is sent to a children’s home away from everything she knows and – worst of all – away from her sister. It’s there that Dusty meets Cooper, a boy who is familiar with Dusty’s pain and is willing to help her get back to Poppy, even if it means running away together.
Max and Ella, Stuck Together is a warm, perceptive and uplifting middle-grade novel about identity, family and finding your voice. Told in alternating chapters from Max and Ella’s perspectives, the story explores what happens when two families are brought together through a shared connection: Max’s mums chose Ella’s dad, Hari, as a known donor, and the children are about to meet for the first time.
Owais seems to epitomise London swagger, whether navigating his extended family, school, or the gangs in his neighbourhood. Committed to his comedic persona, the patter of groan-inducing puns conceals an unfocused, uncertain yet charming teenager, struggling with self-doubt and fear of the future. Failing grades lands Owais in a summer programme and life is further complicated by the disruptive arrival of his moody and troubled cousin Abass into the midst of his stable and loving family.
