Download the guide in PDF format

We are delighted that John Brindley, author of THE RULE OF CLAW, will be joining us for a live forum on Thursday 20th September. More details to follow. Full details of our recommended titles below.

Forthcoming themes: OCTOBER 'Terrorism and Teen Fiction'; NOVEMBER 'War Horse and the Great War in Children's Literature'; DECEMBER 'Hans Christian Andersen'

THE BOOKS

RULE OF CLAW A move away from the effervescent over-the-top world of Amy Peppercorn, this is a powerful stand-alone novel in the best tradition of thrillers. We enter a futuristic world and meet a band of sixteen year olds who were dumped in isolation at an early age. They're educated partly by gleaning facts from the few books in their possession, but primarily through their experiences of survival which features death and danger. A new threat emerges when the teens transcend their own rules and eat animal flesh. Ash is kidnapped and becomes a pawn in the power struggles between the formidable raptors. In these beautiful beasts, she glimpses new forms of evolution which make her consider her own humanity. Soon she learns the frightening truth of their origins. And realizes the dangerous implications for herself and her friends.

Buy Rule of Claw

 BELONGING As in the author's previous picture book, Window, this book is observed through the window of a house in a typical urban neighbourhood, each picture showing a year's developments. This is Window in reverse, though, with the land being reclaimed from built-up concrete to a gradual greening, shown through the artist's characteristic collage illustrations.

Buy Belonging

SECRET OF THE SIRENS: When Connie is sent to live with her aunt, she knows it's going to be one more place where she doesn't fit in. But soon she realises how wrong she is. The seaside town is full of adults and children who have strange links to creatures. It's the heart of the secret Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures, a group of people sworn to ensure that mythical beasts are kept safe. Normally the creatures and their chosen humans work in harmony. But something abnormal is happening here. The Sirens, who for generations have kept their deadly song to themselves, are once again luring humans to their deaths. It doesn't take long for Connie to realise that the victims are oil workers. The Sirens are fed-up with their seas being polluted, but should the Society protect the Sirens or the oil industry? Connie doesn't think she has a role to play, until it becomes clear that she's a Universal - the first person in over a century who can communicate with every type of beast on earth and in the air. Her power is immense. It corrupted the previous Universal...and now he's back. And he'll use any means he can - from violence to the terrifying Storm Giants - to turn Connie to the dark side.

 Buy Secret of the Siren

THE DECLARATION: Anna Covey is a 'surplus'. She should not have been born. In a society in which aging is no longer feared, and death is no longer an inevitability, children are an abomination. Like all surpluses, Anna is living in Grange Hall and learning how to make amends for the selfish act her parents committed in having her. She is quietly accepting of her fate until, one day, a new inmate arrives. Anna's life is thrown into chaos. But is she brave enough to believe this mysterious boy? This is a tense and utterly compelling story about a society behind a wall, and the way in which two young people take the chance of breaking free.

Buy The Declaration

AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH: The truth about the climate crisis is an inconvenient one that means we are going to have to change the way we live our lives - and this affects young people above all. Our climate crisis may at times appear to be happening slowly, but in fact it has become a true planetary emergency and we need to understand that we are facing a crisis. Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States, has been a passionate advocate of action to halt climate change for many years. In this young adult edition of "An Inconvenient Truth", adapted from his acclaimed book and film, he writes about the urgent need to solve the problems of climate change, presenting facts and information on all aspects of global warming in a direct, thoughtful and compelling way, using explanatory diagrams and dramatic photos to clarify and highlight key issues. For this young adult edition, the text has been edited down from 320 to 192 pages, with younger readership in mind, so sections aimed specifically at adults (e.g. insurance implications, investing in energy and political material)and the text) will be omitted in favour of clear text, appropriate photographs and easily understandable graphs. The overall aim is to gear the content to the people who will in fact be dealing with global warming for the rest of their lives.

Buy An Inconvenient Truth

YOU CAN SAVE THE PLANET: Published in association with the "Guardian", "You Can Save the Planet" leads readers minute by minute through an average day. From dressing and eating to using email and mobile phones, this book reveals the impact of everyday life on the environment, and shows how even the smallest actions can make a difference to the future of our planet. Up-to-the-minute facts and clear explanations of key concepts are combined with practical advice in this essential book for young adults and their families.

Buy You Can Save the Planet