A secret society of female detectives who fight injustice and scandal in Victorian England. A deep-sea mining rig with dark secrets to uncover. A dystopian London where a mythical creature needs protection. WEREWOLVES. The shortlist for the Cheshire Schools' Book Award 2024 covers a fantastic array of genres and subjects, from realistic family-centred stories to … Continue reading Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2024
secondary fiction
Book review: Boy Queen by George Lester
With the winners of the Cheshire Schools' Book Award 2022 due to be revealed on Wednesday 29th June, ELS library assistant Rosie revels in the colour and joy of George Lester's shortlisted novel Boy Queen. George Lester’s Boy Queen captures the attention right from the first look. Rachel Vale’s eye-catching cover sets the tone for … Continue reading Book review: Boy Queen by George Lester
Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2022
The Cheshire Schools' Book Award is back! With last year's award cancelled due to school closures, we are determined to make this year a real celebration of reading, and the unique fellowship that can develop between readers. As immersive and enjoyable as solitary reading can be – we are all for getting lost in a … Continue reading Cheshire Schools’ Book Award 2022
Book review: Maggie Blue and the Dark World by Anna Goodall
ELS librarian Samantha follows a one-eyed cat into the unknown in Anna Goodall's debut novel Maggie Blue and the Dark World. Maggie Blue is an outsider, both at home and at school. She lives with her eccentric aunt Esme, and has no friends other than the irascible Hoagy, a stray cat who can talk to … Continue reading Book review: Maggie Blue and the Dark World by Anna Goodall
Book review: The Witch’s Blood by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr
ELS library assistant Aimee is back to review the final book in Katharine and Elizabeth Corr's magical Young Adult series, The Witch's Blood. You can read Aimee's verdict on the previous two books here and here. This is the third and final instalment in The Witch’s Kiss Trilogy. With Leo captured by Ronan and taken … Continue reading Book review: The Witch’s Blood by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr
Book review: The Witch’s Tears by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr
ELS library assistant Aimee falls further into the magical world of authors Katharine and Elizabeth Corr with their YA novel, The Witch's Tears. You can read Aimee's review of the first book in the series here. This is the second spellbinding instalment of The Witch’s Kiss Trilogy. After defeating the evil wizard Gwydion and the … Continue reading Book review: The Witch’s Tears by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr
Book review: The Twisted Tree by Rachel Burge
ELS library assistant Sarah succumbs to the lure of Rachel Burge's chilling YA novel, The Twisted Tree. Whilst pondering over this review it struck me: what is a sure-fire way to know that somebody really enjoyed a book? Is it a) they feel a little sad once it’s come to an end, b) they frantically look to … Continue reading Book review: The Twisted Tree by Rachel Burge
Book Review: Alex in Wonderland by Simon James Green
ELS librarian Samantha takes a mini-break with Simon James Green's hilarious YA novel, Alex in Wonderland. Sometimes you need a book that will make you laugh. The kind of snorting, warthog-like laughter that sends your breakfast – Coco Pops, of course – flying across the room, alarming both your cats and the strangers walking past … Continue reading Book Review: Alex in Wonderland by Simon James Green
Book review: The Witch’s Kiss by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr
ELS library assistant Aimee reviews Katharine and Elizabeth Corr's debut Young Adult novel, The Witch's Kiss. Having recently read and loved the first book in Katharine and Elizabeth Corr’s second series, The Throne of Swans, I decided my next move would be to give their first series a go. The trilogy starts with The Witch’s … Continue reading Book review: The Witch’s Kiss by Katharine and Elizabeth Corr
My kind of entertainment: new secondary fiction for summer 2020
As children, my older brother and I would compete for ownership of the Argos catalogue. The noise it made as it landed on the kitchen table in early December, that unmistakable plonk, was our starter pistol. We would push past my retreating mother, holding our arms out to the side to block each other, shilling … Continue reading My kind of entertainment: new secondary fiction for summer 2020
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