==Confident readers==
__NOTOC__
{{newreview
|author=Alan Snow
|title=Ratbridge Chronicles: Worse Things Happen at Sea
|rating=3.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=#Meet the Nautical Laundry. A boat, crewed by piratical rats who weren't wicked enough to bring themselves to actual piracy, it's wedged under a bridge in the town of Ratbridge. They're trying to lead a humble life, doing the town's laundry - but when someone sees the scanties displayed for all around to see, they're whisked to court - and fined a pirate's treasure. Luckily, there might be help at hand - the local miracle medicine man, who's just started curing everyone of everything with the same gloop, called Black Jollop, is willing to pay a king's ransom for a boat to take him for new supplies. Or, is there something else, secret and evil behind these weird happenings?
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192719653</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=P L Travers
|summary=Nick and his friend Marta are ordinary kids. They don't look for trouble, and they don't cause it. But when an unpopular teacher punishes a difficult classmate by making him write an essay about his pimples, then trouble can't be far away. The teacher goes missing during a wildfire, and Duane (nicknamed Smoke, because he has a reputation for setting fires) gets the blame. But the evidence doesn't add up, and our young heroes decide it's up to them to discover the truth.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444000594</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Astrid Lindgren
|title=Pippi Longstocking
|rating=5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=A true classic of children's literature? Check. Illustrations from a modern star with her own unique and delightful style? Check. If you're not already gurgling with delight at the prospect of a Lauren Child-illustrated version of Pippi Longstocking, then, quite frankly, what are you doing at a book review website? Buy it. Buy it now. Buy it for yourself and everyone you know.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>019278241X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Adam Epstein and Andrew Jacobson
|title=The Familiars: Animal Wizardry
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Meet Aldwyn, Skylar and Gilbert, three familiars to three wizards in training. Aldwyn the cat is something of an impostor however, since unlike Skylar, a vision-casting bird, and Gilbert, a prophesying frog, he doesn't have any magical powers. He is just a cat-about-town, sneaking a fish here, dodging a meat cleaver there, and he fell into the role of familiar quite by accident whilst running into a pet shop to escape a bounty hunter. Still, when the boy wizard he works for, Jack, is kidnapped along with his friends, Aldwyn and the other familiars must find a way to track them down and rescue them before they are all killed.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007371772</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Penny Dolan
|title=A Boy Called M.O.U.S.E
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=There seem to be a lot of Victorian adventures around at the moment: the combination of neglect, poverty and fiercely-protected social divisions typical of the age allows evil and greed to flourish, and creates wonderful situations for adventure. And this book is an excellent example of the genre, with its wide range of characters both good and bad, and its child hero who must suffer and struggle as he travels through a multitude of colourful settings before reaching his goal.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408801388</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Simon Cheshire
|title=Saxby Smart: Private Detective: The Secrets of the Skull
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Saxby Smart solves mysteries brought to his office in the garden shed by friends and neighbours. So far so good, but nothing really new. What is so attractive about this series of stories is the fact that it is the reader who acts as Saxby's side-kick, playing the role of sounding-board for the young detective. Add to this exciting, complex plots and a protagonist who is warm and funny and you have a winning formula.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848120559</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Daren King and David Roberts
|title=Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: Ghostly Holler-day
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=After scaring all the still-alives from their house we're back with the frightfully friendly ghosties who, since it's winter, have decided that they need a holler-day. After an argument over their destination (will it be Frighten-on-Sea or Scare-borough?) they receive a postcard from their friend, Headless Leslie. He is in Frighten and has forgotten how to get back home! So, off they go to Frighten to enjoy the delights of a haunted pier and fun fair and to try and rescue Headless Leslie from whatever trouble he has landed himself in.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857380451</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Nadia Aguiar
|title=Secrets of Tamarind
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=The Island of Tamarind is once again under threat, from the evils of the Red Coral. Once more Simon and his sisters Maya and Penny (but mostly Simon) must save the island that only they can reach, as it lies in some exotic Bermuda Triangle. For a second book running they must breach the barriers, solve mysteries surrounding their native friend Helix's legacy, and the native magical element ophalla, and put the island to rights.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0141384336</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Francesca Simon and Tony Ross
|title=Horrid Henry Rocks
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=''Horrid Henry Rocks'' brings us four more stories from the delightfully horrid little boy, Henry. Here we see him battle with his sappy little brother Peter, sabotage his neighbour, Moody Margaret's, sleepover, write his autobiography and finally he's evicted by security from the Dancing Daisies children's stage show where he stands on stage singing songs by The Killer Boy Rats!
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1842551345</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=John Boyne
|title=Noah Barleywater Runs Away
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Noah Barleywater gets up very early one morning. He's eight years old and he's decided to leave home in search of adventure. Off he goes through the forest and villages until he sees a marvellous tree. As he gazes at it, he meets a friendly dachshund and a (very) hungry donkey who tell him all about the toyshop behind the marvellous tree. And so Noah opens the door and goes in.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0385618956</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Chris Priestley
|title=The Dead of Winter
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Michael Vyner's father died when Michael was just a baby. He was a hero, sacrificing himself to save the life of Sir Stephen Clarendon whilst fighting for the British Empire in Afghanistan. This was precious little comfort to Michael and his mother, who resented the rich man's largesse over the years, wishing for the man they lost and not the charity of the man he saved. So, when Michael's mother dies too and he finds himself all alone in the world, he is not entirely overjoyed to discover that Sir Stephen is now his guardian and has invited him to spend Christmas at Hawton Mere.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408800136</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Natasha Narayan
|title=The Book of Bones: A Kit Salter Adventure
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=I thoroughly enjoyed Kit Salter's previous two adventures, [[The Mummy Snatcher of Memphis: A Kit Salter Adventure by Natasha Narayan|The Mummy Snatcher of Memphis]] and [[The Maharajah's Monkey: A Kit Salter Adventure by Natasha Narayan|The Maharajah's Monkey]], so I was looking forward to her latest outing. Here in ''The Book of Bones'' I read anxiously as Kit and her friends were kidnapped by their arch enemies, The Baker Brothers. The Baker Brothers tell them that one of the friends has been poisoned, but not which one, and the only way to save themselves is if they undertake a dangerous journey to China in search of an ancient book about martial arts, the Book of Bones. En route the children do battle with pirates, doctors of phrenology as well as the Emperor's army. Will they discover which of them has been poisoned, or find the magical book, before it's too late...?
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849162417</amazonuk>
}}
