Will Shakespeare Mysteries: The Pearly Pants - Kaz Penney

 

Will and Tybalt are back and this time they find themselves on the school archery trip to Scotland!  Once in Dunsinaine, they discover that Lord Gracious Dunkin is due to present King James VI with a priceless set of pearly pants; unfortunately, they go missing before they can be handed over and the archery team are prime suspects!  It's up to Will and Tybalt to uncover the real culprits before they are all put to death!

Following the success of their first investigation, The Stinky Stolen Toenails (you can read my review here), Will and Tybalt are at it again in this laugh out loud book.  As the duo follow the clues to the whereabouts of the Pearly Pants, the chaos ensues and readers will be caught up in the action.

With short chapters, a diary style format and illustrations from Sammy Elgie, The Pearly Pants is guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone's face and leave them wondering what Will and Tybalt will be investigating next. 

Royal Institute of Magic: Elizabeth's Legacy - Victor Kloss

 

It's been two years since Ben's parents vanished and he still has no idea where they are.  When he discovers a mysterious note it leads to a place called the Royal Institute of Magic, a place Ben has never heard of but is convinced holds the answers to where his parents are.  With his best friend, Charlie, he discovers how to get there and they find a way inside.  From there, they discover a whole new hidden world of magic and power that will lead to him discovering more about his parents.  But danger lurks.

I have to admit that this book has been sitting on my tbr pile for far too long, and now I've read it, I can't quite figure out why!  This is an utterly immersive adventure that is completely unputdownable.

It's been two years since Ben's parents disappeared and life hasn't been easy for him since.  All he wants to do is to find out what has happened to them and he'll do anything for information, so when the letter appears in a box of their things he's going through, he jumps at the chance to follow it up.  With Charlie by his side, they take a leap of faith and dive into the building that holds the sign on the letter.  Neither of them could imagine what would await them or how much it would change their lives.  

From the start, the book is a rollercoaster of an adventure with wonderful world-building that will mesmerise readers and make them want to head to the Institute themselves.  Modern day mixes seamlessly with magic, dragons, danger and daring, and I'm now desperate to get my hands on the rest of the series.

Royal Institute of Magic: Elizabeth's Legacy is out now and is perfect for fans of  the Skandar series, Nevermore, Felix and the Future Agency, and Amari and the Night Brothers.

 

Fear Files: A Trick of the Light - Christopher Edge

 

Hazel wasn't looking forward to the school residential and hates it even more when she's there as everyone is deliberately ignoring her.  She's feeling very lonely until she meets Alice who is there with another school.  Together, they decide to seek revenge by inventing a legend about a ghost who haunts the stately home they're staying in.  But the further they get with their plans, the more Hazel begins to worry they may be going too far.

This is the second in Christopher Edge's Fear Files, (you can read my review of book 1, Hide and Seek, here) and I loved how creepy it was so I was pleased that I'd decided to read A Trick of the Light in the sunshine!

Wow!  What a deliciously creepy book this is!  Hazel is feeling incredibly lonely and pushed out so meeting Alice seems perfect as she's someone to talk to and seems to understand what she's going through.  Then Alice begins to suggest revenge and Hazel is onboard ... until it seems things are going too far.

The setting is perfect for the book: a school residential in an old, converted stately home; creaking and groaning pipes and floor boards abound; dark corners and plenty of places to get lost in.  Set in the middle of extensive grounds, you just know that something bad is bound to happen!  

Publishing on the 8th October, A Trick of The Light is the perfect book for those who like a scary read; it will have you in the edge of your seat and gripping your teddy for support!  Full of atmosphere and with an ending that will leave you shocked, this is the perfect read as the dark nights take hold.

Operation Doodlebug - Tia Fisher

 

It's 1944 and Stan wants nothing more than to keep his family together, so he's shattered when his dad announces that he has joined the war effort and is going away to fight.  He is left in Croydon with his mother where they spend many evenings in their neighbour's air raid shelter.  When Stan and his mum receive the news that his father is missing, presumed killed, his mother is distraught but Stan clings to the hope that he is still alive somewhere.  When a V1 bomb lands too close to the family home, Stan's mum decides she is sending him somewhere safe and so he, Billie and Nellie are evacuated to Norfolk where a piece of shrapnel Stan has brought with him could hold vital information from a prisoner of war, and Stan, with his friends, is determined to unlock its secrets.

Anybody who knows me, will know that I have a love of middle grade World War II books, so when Operation Doodlebug popped up on NetGalley whilst I was on holiday, there was no question about me reading it!  

The detail in the plot and the accuracy of the historical details are a credit to Tia - it's clear that she researched the period well.  Set towards the end of the war, the book gives you a feel of what life in central London was like as well as how children coped with evacuation.  Many WWII books focus on the start of the war so I found it refreshing that this is set much later and readers are able to understand that the end of the blitz didn't equate to the end of the bombing.  

Whilst I loved the setting, I feel that the friendships in this book are what really make it: Stan is dealing with so much following his father's departure and it's clear he thinks deeply about a lot of things.  Nellie is his neighbour and he looks out for her like she was his sister, especially when they are in Norfolk.  He has a different friendship with Billie who is more fearless; his dwarfism is dealt with sensitively and is woven into the plot seamlessly.  The trio balance each other well and the relationship between them is warm and wonderful to read.

Operation Doodlebug is immersive and exciting, whilst being beautifully written - it has a real feel of a classic novel and one that will be read for years to come.

Operation Doodlebug publishes on the 5th November.

Into Thin Air - S E Durrant

Things are tricky for Luna and her family since they had to close their café, but with both Mum and Dad working, they are managing.  Then Dad leaves in the middle of the night and doesn't come back.  Mum says that he's gone to visit their grandma and that seems plausible to Luna, but then Dad's boss bangs on their front door demanding to see him; Grandma's home calls to ask to speak to Dad and Mum seems to be acting strangely.  Luna is worried and the only people she feels she can trust are Casey, her best friend, and Jade, her younger sister.  Together, they need to piece together the clues Dad has left before it's too late.

Luna is good at maths and counts in prime numbers to stop her anxious thoughts; her one passion is space and she dreams of being an astronaut which is why she follows astronaut Mimi's journey on the space station.  She knows that her mum is struggling so is determined to get to the bottom of things without worrying her.  In stark contrast is her younger sister Jade, who is bouncy and full of energy and confidence.  Together, the one thing they want is to get their father back.

This is a great mystery: with the clues building, the sisters decide to write everything they know down and follow-up on their leads.  This leads to an adventure that takes them on a journey they won't forget.  

Into Thin Air is a book that is quietly powerful with strong messages about family, finance, resilience and sticking together. 

Into Thin Air is out now. 

A Werewolf Ate My Homework - Emily Snape

 

Asher's life has been turned upside down by the arrival of his Mum's fiancé and son in their small flat.  If this wasn't bad enough, Asher is becoming increasingly convinced that Luca (his soon to be step-brother) is actually a werewolf and he needs to find evidence to present to his mum before the next full moon.

A Werewolf Ate My Homework is such a great read and full of fun as well as carrying some heart-warming messages about friendship and blended families.

Asher is not at all happy at the fact that Luca and his dad have moved into their small flat, and is even more annoyed that he and Luca have been forced to share a room.  Their relationship is already a frosty one and this becomes even more strained once Asher suspects he is a werewolf.  With his mum refusing to listen to him, he has no choice but to enlist the help of his best friend, Helga; despite the way he has treated her recently, she jumps at the chance to help.  Readers will love the characters who are relatable and engaging.  

Each chapter begins with the time of day and how long there is until the next full moon and the evidence list is added to at the end of every chapter.  This is a book with just the right amount of spookiness and adventure that will leave readers howling with laughter when it publishes on the 10th September.

Lykewise - Darren Simpson

 

When a travelling salesman passes through Harrowmere, nobody thinks anything is untoward and folks happily buy his mirrors.  And Dunn and his friends think nothing of playing around with an old mirror ritual that will allow you to see your true self.  But then things take a very dark turn in Harrowmere and the locals begin to fear each other as, one by one, they turn nasty.  When Dunn realises what's actually happening, he knows he has to do something quickly if he is to save his village and his friends. 

Like Thirst (you can read my review here), Lykewise is a book that will grip you.  It's folklore style of writing almost lulls you into a false sense of security; however there is a darkness to it that puts you on guard from the beginning.  Set in foggy boglands with sinister goings on from the start, the eerie atmosphere is built well and will have shivers running down your spine, even on the warmest of days.  As the plot unfolds, you begin to realise that the Lykewise is a dark and twisted entity set upon destroying towns and villages for its own pleasure.  The fact that villagers don't know who the next victim will be puts everyone, including the reader, on edge as they try to deduce who has been duped. It's a clever premise for a book and one that will definitely make readers think.  

At 236 pages, Lykewise is a short but perfectly formed read that will appeal to fans of Phil Hicks and Dan Smith.  It's the perfect MG/YA crossover and will have readers gripped when it publishes on the 24th September.