Features
Check out the full lists of interviews, top tens and articles.
Jill's Top Ten YA novels of 2012
2012 was a great year for YA fiction. Here are Jill's favourites. Why not tell us about yours? Read more...
Mairi Kidd Talks To Bookbag About The Founding Of Barrington Stoke
Here at Bookbag Towers we love books and reading and it horrifys us that many children can't share that love because they suffer from dyslexia. To celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the founding of Barrington Stoke, MD Mairi Kidd popped in to tell us how it all began. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Candy Harper
Robert was seriously impressed when he read Have a Little Faith and he had plenty of questions for author Candy Harper when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...
File:Booknewsletters.jpg August 2013 Newsletter
Hi, hello and how the devil are you? Enjoying the summer? Looking for books to read while you're on holiday? Looking for books for the children to read while they're on holiday? Look no further. We'll give you our picks of the month and more.
What do you think to Jane Austen being depicted on the £10 note? We like it! We also like the suggestions from Abe Books about other authors and other currencies. Take a look at their ideas and see what you think! Read more...
Emily Diamand Talks To Bookbag About how scary should it be?
We loved Emily Diamand's Ways To See a Ghost and when we plucked up the courage to peep out from under the covers we were fascinated to hear what Emily had to say about how scary children's fiction should be. Read more...
Jillian Larkin Talks To Bookbag About The Flappers
Robert was very impressed by The Flappers, but he was keen to find out how Jillian Larkin felt about the series and what she had planned for the future. Read more...
File:Booknewsletters.jpg July 2013 Newsletter
Hi, hello, how are you?
We have exciting news! Bookbag reviewer Robin Stevens has signed a deal with Random House for three books about a children's detective agency. Hooray! Robin has a day job working for Orion Children's Books. She writes reviews for us and an interesting blog. And she writes novels too! What a woman. Where does she find the time? Seriously - congratulations to Robin. The deal is richly deserved. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Simon Pont
Before she started Remember to Breathe Sue wondered if it was going to be the sort of book she would enjoy, but she loved it and had quite a few questions for author Simon Pont when he popped in to see us. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Tom Clempson
Robert thought that One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend: In the Otherwise Un-Messed-Up Life of Jack Samsonite by Tom Clempson was rude and crude, but seriously funny and recommended reading - as long as you're not on public transport! Read more...
Dan Smith talks to Bookbag about Paper Movies
Jill was mightily impressed by Dan Smith's debut novel for young people, My Friend the Enemy and loved Dan's YouTube videos about it. Here, he tells us about the making of... Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rick Yancey
Robert thought that The 5th Wave was tough, brutal and completely gripping and he was delighted when author Rick Yancey popped in to see us. Read more...
Sophia Bennett Talks To Bookbag About Books She Loved When She Was A Teenager
Robert was blown away when he read You Don't Know Me by Sophia Bennett and they got chatting about books Sophia read when she was a teenager. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Siobhan Curham
Robert thought that Shipwrecked had brilliant charaterisation and a really interesting setting. He had a few questions when author Siobhan Curham popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...
File:Booknewsletters.jpg June 2013 Newsletter
Hi, hello and good reading to you.
We'd just like to say a sad goodbye to Iain Banks, who died this month, long before his time. He was two brilliant authors, and we will miss him.
The Desmond Eilliott Prize shortlist is out. It's for debut fiction published in the UK in 2013 and we have reviewed all three books. Take a look. You should read all three - of course! - but The Panopticon by Jenni Fagan has a special place in a corner of Bookbag's heart. We defy you to read our review and fail to rush out and buy a copy! Read more...
Jackie Marchant Talks To Bookbag About Mice and Tarantulas - the things we do for research
Jackie is terrified of spiders but with the boy-next-door, Dougal Trump she's just written a book about tarantulas. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Ben Mezrich
Robert doesn't often say that a book should have been longer, but Straight Flush was one of the rare exceptions. There were quite a few questions he wanted to ask Ben. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Sophia Bennett
When Robert reviewed You Don't Know Me by Sophia Bennett he couldn't bring himself to say too much about it in case he gave any spoilers. He did take the opportunity to chat to Sophia when she popped in to see us though! Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Joe Craig
Robert is a great fan of Joe Craig and he had a whole list of questions for him when he poppoed in to chat to us. Read more...
Simon Packham Talks To Bookbag About ''Firewallers''
One of the highlights of the first few months of 2013 for Robert was reading a new book by Simon Packham, one of the most consistently excellent YA contemporary authors writing today. Firewallers is a fantastic read, so he was thrilled when Simon agreed to write a guest post for us. Read more...
The Desmond Elliott Prize for Debut Fiction Published in the UK 2013
We've reviewed the shortlisted books! Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lynne Thomas
Jill thought that Jelly Cooper: Alien was a fun book about a teenager with special powers and she had a few questions she wanted to ask author Lynne Thomas when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Katie McGarry
Robert enjoyed Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry and he was delighted when the author popped in to see us. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Steve Cole
Here at Bookbag Towers we're massive fans to Steve Cole and we thought his latest book was just brilliant, but when we heard that Steve was popping in to chat to us we decided that we needed an expert to conduct the interview - eight-year-old Billy Young. Over to you, Billy! Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To O H Robsson
Sue thought that The Spark by O H Robsson was a rewarding read for those who like to get to know their characters - and that it was likely to tempt you into planning a holiday in western Norway. She had quite a few questions when the author popped in to see us. Read more...
File:Booknewsletters.jpg May 2013 Newsletter
Hi, hello and how are you?
What are you reading? And is it any good? Choosing books is tricky, isn't it? Nobody chooses a book they think they'll hate. It can be even more tricky for reviewers, who have less choice in the books they read. We try to do things a little differently here at Bookbag. Our reviewers choose their own books from our review-copy stock. So they choose, mostly, the books they think they'll like. This does mean that our reviews are skewed to the positive - but it does mean that fans of chick lit are reading reviews by people who also enjoy reading chick lit, not by people who enjoy snotting all over it. So we think our policy leads not only to a happy place for its contributors, but also to a place where niche fans can find reviews by their peers. We like this policy, but we can see why some people wouldn't. And that's why Michael Deacon's hilarious take-down of Dan Brown over at the Telegraph made us laugh this month. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Clive Lawton
Jill really enjoyed Flowers From Fukushima by Clive Lawton, a haunting story of two survivors in a Japanese post-disaster wasteland. She and Clive ha a lot to talk about when he popped in to see us. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Andy Robb
Robert loved the live-action role playing in Geekhood: Mission Improbable and he had quite a few questions for author Andy Robb. Read more...
Emily Murdoch Talks To Bookbag About The Way To Fairyland
Emily Murdoch talks to us about the tenuous balance between the head and the heart for an author. Read more...
Phil Earle Talks To Bookbag About Book Covers
Phil Earle thought that he knew about the perfect cover for his book, until the booksellers told him otherwise. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Will Hill
Robert gave five stars to teen novel Department 19: Battle Lines and he had quite a few questions for author Will Hill when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
File:Booknewsletters.jpg April 2013 Newsletter
It still doesn't feel like spring, does it? A bright and breezy greeting is rather beyond us this month. We have gone into a slough of despond about the weather - and the loss of most of the soft fruit that should have been coming from our gardens this summer. Meh.
On the upside, Granta have produced their list of the best of young British novelists for the twenty-teens. You can see who they are here. Do you agree with the choices? If not, who would have been your choices? Everyone on the list is getting a turn on Radio 4's Book at Bedtime at the moment. We don't listen at bedtime any more, but we always catch up on iPlayer. Gotsta love the good old interweb, aintcha? Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To SJ Griffin
Jill thought that The Vanguard by SJ Griffin was an enjoyable post-catastrophe mystery thriller with enough twists and turns to shake a stick at with a super, unexpected ending and absorbing characters. She and SJ had plenty to chat about when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Graham Thomas
Jill enjoyed Maria & The Devil by Graham Thomas. It's a dark revenge fantasy with a western flavour in which themes of revenge, strong storytelling and evocative descriptions of landscape and setting combine to create a thoroughly enjoyable read. There was planty to chat about when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Janine A Southard
Jill thought that Queen & Commander by Janine A Southard was an enjoyable space opera and a fun read with plenty of potential to take the disparate central characters further. She had a few questions for Janine when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Laura Jarratt
Robert loved By Any Other Name by Laura Jarratt and thought it just as good as her debut Skin Deep, so he was delighted when she popped into Bookbag Towers to chat to us. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mac Carty
Sue found The Vagaries Of Swing (Footprints on the Margate Sands of Time) by Mac Carty thought provoking and she loved the humour. There was quite a lot she wanted to discuss with the author when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Mark Lingane
Ani really enjoyed Mark Lingane's genre-busting novel Beyond Belief and she had quite a few questions for him when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Luisa Plaja
One of our favourite authors, Luisa Plaja has been involved in something rather exciting. She popped in to bookbag Towers to tell us all about it. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Lauren Oliver
Robert thought that Requiem by Lauren Oliver was an absolutely stunning read and the best in the Delirium trilogy. As you can imagine they had a lot to chat about when Lauren popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Justin Huggler
Ani was very impressed when she read Burden of the Desert by Justin Huggler and there was a great deal to discuss when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Gail Carriger
Robert enjoyed YA novel Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger, famed for her adult Parasol Protectorate series and he was keen to chat to her when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
File:Booknewsletters.jpg March 2013 Newsletter
Oh, oh, oh. OH! It is March. And it is snowing. What is going on? Snow, fun though it is, does not belong in March. Daffodils belong in March. Where are the daffodils? Meh. Snow aside, how are you? Read more...
The CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013
We've reviewed the books on the shortlist. The winner will be announced at an afternoon ceremony at the Natural History Museum on Wednesday 19 June 2013. Read more...
Joe Craig Talks To Bookbag About Words, Death and Dilemmas
Joe Craig popped ito Bookbag Towers to tell us 'What I’m thinking when I think I’m learning about my audiences (but I’m probably not)'! Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Antony Wootten
Sue thought that Grown-ups Can't be Friends with Dragons by Antony Wootten was the perfect book for the child who struggles with childhood and can't seem to do anything right. It's not just a good story - there's a subtle message that life will improve. Sue had quite a few questions for Antony when he popped into Bookbag Towers Read more...
Romantic Novel of the Year 2013
When the categary winners were announced on 26 February Sophie Kinsella was awarded a lifetime achievement award for her continued contribution to the wordl of romantic fiction.
The five category winners compete for the overall prize which will be announced at the RNA summer party on 16 May. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Marie-Louise Jensen
Robert thought that Smuggler's Kiss was an excellent historical adventure with a feisty, resourceful narrator and a wonderful supporting cast. He was keen to chat to author Marie-Louise Jensen when she popped into Boobag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Holly Smale
Robert enjoyed Geek Girl by Holly Smale and he had plenty of questions for her when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
Daniela Sacerdoti Talks To Bookbag About Her Love Of Reading
Robert was impressed when he read Dreams, the first of the Sarah Midnight Trilogy by Daniela Sacerdoti and we were delighted she popped ito Bookbag Towers to tell us about her love of reading. Read more...
File:Booknewsletters.jpg February 2013 Newsletter
Here's a fun piece of book-related news, especially for those of you living in the capital. On the 24th March the National Literacy Trust is organising the first ever UK Fun Run to be run exclusively for an educational or literacy focussed charity. The race will take place in London’s Victoria Park and begin at 11am. With a Where’s Wally? theme they are hoping to attract a wide range of participants, young and old, from the book-loving community. 1 in 6 adults in the UK have poor literacy which impacts their standard of living, independence and mental wellbeing, so you can see it's a really great cause. Find out more here. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To J E Ryder
Sue hadn't really intended to stay up until four o'clock in the morning reading Blood Pool by J E Ryder but once she got into the story she had to know what happened next. When J E Ryder popped in to Bookbag Towers Sue had quite a few questions for her. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Patricia Watkins
Sue thoroughly enjoyed The Wayward Gentleman: John Theophilus Potter and the Town of Haverfordwest and she was delighted when author Patricia Watkins popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
Paula Weston Talks To Bookbag About Her Dream Dinner Party
We were very impressed by Shadows by Paula Weston, a book that promises thrilling plots, chemistry between the sassy lead characters and action and delivers. When she mentioned her dinner party we had to know who's been invited. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Laura Lam
Robert thought that Laura Lam's Pantomime was nearly as impossible to review as it was to put down and that this enthralling fantasy was a stunning debut. We had to have a chat with Laura. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Arthur Plotnik
Robert thought that Better Than Great by Arthur Plotnik was truly better than great and a fifty-carat, finger-licking-fabulous book which flies in the face of mediocrity. We had to chat to the author. Read more...
File:Booknewsletters.jpg January 2013 Newsletter
Hi! Hello! Happy New Year! We hope you had a marvellous festive season, weren't in trouble with floods and are about to be happily snowballing rather than in trouble with the white stuff.
We have some great news! Read more...
Annabel Pitcher Talks To Bookbag About Her New Year Resolutions
We fell for Annabel Pitcher when we read My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece and we knew that she was one of our favourite authors when we finished Ketchup Clouds. She popped into Bookbag Towers to tell us about her New Year resolutions. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Natasha Farrant
We loved The Things We Did for Love by Natasha Farrant so there was lots to chat about when the author popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Eve Ainsworth
Jill's cheeks ached when she read The Blog of Maisy Malone, so we were really looking forward to a chat with her when she popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To R Julian Cox
Sue was impressed when she read R Julian Cox’s eco-thriller SHADOW ON THE SUN, an elegant conflation of fact and fiction which kept her on the edge of her seat. She and Julian had quite a few things to chat about when he popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Damian O'Brien
Words have long fascinated Zoë and after reading If Houses Why Not Mouses? by Damian O'Brien she had quite a few questions to ask the author when he called in to Bookbag Towers. Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Guy Booth
Sue realised that The Arthur Moreau Story by Guy Booth could be read on two levels - and that both were terrifying. When Guy popped in to Bookbag Towers there were questions to which we needed answers! Read more...
Nefertaru's Story by Deborah White
This is the story of Nefertaru, a dancer and priestess at the temple of Sekhmet in Ancient Egyptian times. She appears briefly in both Wickedness and Deceit but is at the heart of the plot of both novels. Sekhmet was the divine consort of the god Ptah, who in later Ancient Egyptian history became merged with the god Thoth. Read more...
Richard and Judy Book Club Spring 2013
Richard and Judy have chosen some very good books for us - now we just want spring to hurry up and arrive! Read more...
The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Rosanne Licata
Jill thought that Blood Bonds: The Caravan by Rosanne Licata was enchanting, romantic and a multi-faceted story. There was plenty to chat about when Roseanne popped into Bookbag Towers. Read more...
Check out the full lists of interviews, top tens and articles.
