Newest Confident Readers Reviews
Star Wars Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
Roan has dreamed of going to pilot school his whole life, so it comes as a bit of a shock when he doesn’t quite make the grade. The next best alternative, unfortunately, is Tatooine Agriculture Academy, and a life as a farmer on his dusty, desert homeworld. Luckily, fate steps in and Roan receives a letter from Master Yoda, inviting him to train at the Jedi Academy on Coruscant. It may not be pilot school, but Roan realises that it may be his ticket to a better life. He just needs to get to grips with the Force, lightsabers and of course...girls... Full review...
The Ghost Prison by Joseph Delaney
Meet Billy Calder. The young orphan has got a job, which is lucky as he's nearly too old for the Home for Unfortunate Boys. Unluckily it's a job at the local spooky castle, which is the town prison. It's sat looming above everyone and has generated a whole host of legends and ghost stories among the people below. More unluckily, the truth behind those ghost stories is even worse than the public imagination. Even more unluckily, Billy has been singled out for the night shift. And we find out just how Billy's luck runs out completely when we learn who requested him to work nights… Full review...
The Lord of Opium by Nancy Farmer
At last! A long-awaited sequel to Nancy Farmer's acclaimed House of the Scorpion, in which she explored the life of a little boy who was created solely to provide organs for the failing body of a drug lord. Matt's story was exciting and heartbreaking - would you want to find out you were a clone? It was also incredibly thought-provoking, exploring ideas of prejudice, power, courage, love and sacrifice. And it all took place in a dystopian future in which the drug trade was all but legitimised and in which people are enslaved by microchips in the brain. Full review...
Lockwood and Co: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud
Sensing ghosts is a risky business, even if you're as talented as Lucy. And when one simple mistake leads to the death of several children, she sets off for a new start in London. Here there is an absolute epidemic of ectoplasm, icy air and bloodthirsty beings from beyond the grave. But ghost-hunting is big business down south, and the major firms won't hire an unknown. The only agency which will take Lucy is a down-at-heel place run, in the basement of their home, by two teenagers. Full review...
The Little Ghost by Otfried Preussler and Anthea Bell
I have to admit I was slightly prejudiced about this book. The Little Ghost immediately brought back memories of Robert Bright's Georgie which I had cherished as a child. Like Georgie, Little Ghost is a wonderful friendly character, if you are looking for a fright, this book will not be at all suitable. But if you jut want a feel good adventure for younger readers, this book is just the thing. Full review...
The Dinner Club and Other Stories by Rob Keeley
Being on home dinners gives Aidan the chance to make some money...
A bridesmaid and a page chase a runaway wedding cake...
Mia and her Dad turn detective...
These are just a few of the premises you can try out for size in Rob Keeley's third book of short stories for middle grade readers. He's really having some fun with this format. I approve. We need more short story collections for this age group. They're entertaining and they appeal particularly to reluctant readers. Short stories like this can act as a springboard to full-length novels. Full review...
Rendezvous in Russia by Lauren St John
When Skye, Laura Marlin's three-legged Siberian husky, saves an actress's life, Laura and her friend Tariq get the chance to work on a film set in Russia. Heading to St Petersburg initially seems to be the chance of a holiday of a lifetime - but as 'accidents' start piling up, Laura and Tariq realise that they could be in yet another dangerous situation. Can they save the day again? Full review...
Stay Where You Are And Then Leave by John Boyne
Alfie is just five years old when the Great War breaks out in 1914. His father joins up straightaway. Cheerful letters come from Georgie for a while and Alfie's mother reads them to him. But then the letters grow miserable and frightening. Alfie's mother stops reading them aloud and hides them away - but Alfie finds them anyway. And then the letters stop altogether. Alfie is told that his father is on a secret mission and can't write, but he sees through the lie immediately. And then, one day, a chance meeting tells Alfie exactly what has happened to his father. He's home from the front but he's in hospital, suffering from a condition nobody understood at the time: shell shock. Full review...
Fortunately, the Milk... by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell
A boy and a girl are horrified to find their fridge is milkless, which means their cereal will be too dry for their breakfast. Luckily, even though mum is off working away from home, dad can nip out and fetch some. Or he could if he weren't as a result kidnapped by aliens, threatened by pirates and gods, forced to cooperate with a dinosaur in a hot-air balloon, and a lot more… Fortunately, the milk can save him and breakfast – or can it? Full review...
Samurai by Ian Beck and Daniel Atanasov
The hero of our story is nameless. He is only the Samurai, and not even quite that. He is dishonoured, a masterless Samurai, or Ronin. We do not know his master's fate but we can only assume it is death, and that Ronin has fled the field taking his injured dog to safety. The land is desolate and barren and both the text and the superbly drawn illustrations build a feeling of darkness and despair. The path he travels on is lined with skeletons of defeated warriors lashed to wagon wheels. It gives the reader the impression of the road to hell. The young Samurai takes refuge in a ruined palace, yet another sign of devastation upon the land, seeming to exist for the next few days only to care for Cho, his dog, while awaiting the punishment of the gods for his failure. He rises from despair to help others, first to defeat a demon haunting the palace, and then undertaking a journey to find and defeat another deadly demon. Soon the young warrior comes to a village suffering under the most horrific of curses. His courage will be put to the test as he must risk even his beloved Cho to save an innocent girl and lift the curse. Full review...
Thor and the Master of Magic by Kevin Crossley-Holland and Siku
I grew up with tales of the heroes of Asgard, and this story was always a firm favourite, but today's children are more likely to know Thor from The Avengers. This book is sure to interest any young comic book fans, and the illustrations will certainly help with this, but it is still faithful to the original myth, and in my mind would count as literature, rather than just a fun read - but I wouldn't tell the children that. This is an excellent retelling of Thor's visit to Utgarda - Loki ( the giant king's hall) from Prose Edda a collection of Norse poetry thought to have been compiled by the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson in the 13th century. Full review...
The Summer of Telling Tales by Laura Summers
Grace and Ellie are at the seaside with their mum. They're not on a holiday, though - they've escaped from their domineering and abusive father. As the two settle into a new school and make new friends, Grace - who only ever speaks to Ellie - meets someone she can be herself around, while Ellie reinvents herself as Elle, a confident and popular girl instead of the shy and scared youngster she used to be. But can they ever be free of the shadow of her father? Full review...
The Secret Mirror (Emily Feather) by Holly Webb
It was hard enough for Emily to cope with the news that she was adopted. She had missed all of the signs, but now everything seemed painfully obvious. She didn’t resemble her sisters and brother, with their slender, delicate features. 'They belonged together.' It was clear that Emily was different from the rest of her family, but the real shock was when she realised how different she was. The Feather family were not even human. They were high-ranking fairies and their home served as a gateway between the human and fairy realms. Full review...
Big Nate Compilation 3 : Genius Mode by Lincoln Peirce
They say you should live your life like an adventure, and Big Nate certainly does that, even if it is only four panels at a time, meaning the full plot of the story can take a week or more to come out. For Big Nate is a star of an American newspaper comic strip, and this, believe it or not, is his tenth collection. We learn from this all about his friendships at school, his relations with his teachers and father, and just what a soppy thing his most unmasculine dog can be. Here are comics, baseball and laziness, as every American kid knows them. Luckily for us, though, Big Nate travels well. Full review...
The Bomber Dog by Megan Rix
Grey begins his life in occupied France, but Sabina can not bear to see him handed over to the German Army and ends up tossing the pup into a departing boat heading for Dover. We never know why the soldiers agreed to take him, perhaps refusing might have drawn attention. But for whatever reason Grey finds himself alone that night. He is befriended by a small spaniel who has become lost when a her owner was injured in an air raid. Molly's devotion to Grey will help him grow up, and he will repay his debt to her in act of courage that draws the attention of Young Nathan, a young dog lover who is just getting ready to start basic training. Nathan desperately tries to find a home for the dog, but Colonel Parry offers them a unique chance to stay with the dog that has so quickly won his heart. They can both train as paratroopers. Grey seems uniquely suited to this task with his courage and high intelligence. There is only one problem - Nathan is terrified of heights. Full review...
Triassic Terrors by Isaac Lenkiewicz and Nick Crumpton
With a son who has insisted he will become a palaeontologist since the age of three, we have collected a vast assortment of books on dinosaurs and prehistoric animals. I have never found one yet which so clearly explains exactly what is and is not a dinosaur. The majority of the reptiles in this book are not dinosaurs. The Triassic saw the very first of the dinosaurs to walk the earth, and these were much smaller than their Jurassic and Cretaceous counterparts. There is no shortage of fascinating creatures here though. This book has a wide variety of reptilian life, made all the more fascinating by the fact that these are creatures we see very little of in other books. The text in this book is limited, as this is primarily an activity book, but what is there is surprisingly informative. Books focussing on the Triassic period for children are few and far between. This is a rare treasure for any child with more than a passing interest in dinosaurs, and an absolute must have for budding palaeontologists. Full review...
I Am So Over Being a Loser by Jim Smith
There's not a lot in Barry Loser's life right now to recommend it. Leaving aside his awkward surname, there's the fact that not many people like him at school, he can't remember show-and-tell, he can't think of a decent thing to start collecting when the whole class decides the geeky girl with the large stamp album is on to a winner, and most importantly his mother's now the star of a whole series of embarrassing adverts for the local supermarket. But hey, at least he's not too put off by the haunted house down the street, he could always find an unlikely best friend, or pet, and he's going skiing with everyone else soon. Or is he? Full review...
Arthur Quinn and Hell's Keeper (The Father of Lies Chronicles) by Alan Early
It’s only been a week since Arthur Quinn returned to his home in Kerry. After defeating the World Serpent, after battling the Fenris Wolf and losing an eye in his efforts, you’d think he’d be glad of the peace, quiet and normality of his old home. But within the week that unsettled feeling is back. The pendant that protects Arthur from the Father of Lies is glowing bright green and the war hammer he found under the streets of Dublin is radiating an insistent warmth as if preparing, once again, for battle. The dreams have returned; dreams of an ancient past in Asgard, dreams warning of terrible events to come. And now, it’s not just Arthur having those dreams. It seems the entire world is seeing the same thing. Loki is on the move. Full review...
The Dead Men Stood Together by Chris Priestley
A young boy lives in a harbour town with his mother. It's a happy life, but the boy misses his father, a sailor who left for the sea a year ago and died far from home. He also dreams of the sea and of adventure. So when his uncle comes to visit, full of stories of faraway lands and treasure, he is entranced. He ignores the warning from the pilot's son. How could his uncle be the devil? And, despite his mother's tears, he follows his uncle to sea. Full review...
The Warrior Sheep Go Jurassic by Christopher Russell and Christine Russell
It all started so simply… Tod and his nan, Ida, were only hopping across to the Isle of Wight to lead some people in creating the world's best carnival float, but they had to demand their five rare sheep went with them. Crossing to the Isle, the motherly one, Sal, saw an advert for the Dinosaur Museum, and remembered a rare piece of sheep mythology, stating how the world needed saving from the hatching of the last dragon's egg. Still, there wouldn't be any trouble for these experienced Warrior Sheep to track it down, would there? Oh yes, what with not one but two groups of humans trying to get their hands on it at the same time… Full review...
Shine by Candy Gourlay
This is not a ghost story even though there are plenty of ghosts in it. And it's not a horror story though some people might be horrified. It's not a monster story either, even though there is a monster in it and that monster happens to be me.
Thirteen-year-old Rosa doesn't get out much. She lives with her father, a doctor, and their housekeeper-come-governess in the remote island community of Mirasol. It's always raining on Mirasol. And it's a superstitious place. People believe that if the rain stops, evil will come. And they also believe that monsters can stop the rain. Monsters like Rosa. Full review...
Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door by Ross Montgomery
If there's a young reader in your life who loves mystery and adventure stories with a large dollop of the eccentric stirred into the mix, then you could do worse than point them in the direction of this silly (in a good way!) book. What happened to Alex's dad that makes him constantly run away, even when he's promised not to? Why does he think he's not human any more? Why does he keep shouting squiggles? And what really lies at the centre of the mysterious forest on the edge of town? Full review...
