CHILDREN’S
SALLY MORRIS
UNTIL THE ROAD ENDS by Phil Earle (Andersen £7.99, 288pp)
This touching story, set in London during the Blitz, is narrated by Beau, a stray dog rescued and adored by young Peggy. When Peggy is evacuated to the south Coast and the government orders pets to be destroyed, Beau survives only by becoming a working bomb- dog. Then disaster strikes; Peggy’s parents are killed and Beau must find and comfort her, aided by the family’s sour-tongued cat and a military pigeon.
Based on several true events, this thrilling adventure is exciting, witty, warm and occasionally heart-breaking. Keep the tissues handy . . .
SPELLSTONE by Ross Montgomery (Walker £7.99, 336pp)
The tension in this absorbing tale of ancient powers keeps up to the very end.
Twelve- year- old evie feels increasingly invisible to family and friends until Wainwright, a mysterious magician, reveals she has untested sorcerer’s powers and recruits her to a secret organisation, The Order Of The stone.
Together with four other members she must find and protect the spellstone, the only thing that can fight malevolent Vale, an increasingly forceful renegade who seeks to control the world.
But can she discover and harness her powers in time? Vividly atmospheric with delightful characters, this spellbinding story also teases us with the possibility of a sequel.
THE THAMES AND TIDE CLUB: THE SECRET CITY by Katya Balen Illustrated by Rachael Dean (Bloomsbury £6.99, 160pp)
Carnegie- medal winner Balen launches a new series for slightly younger readers with this wildly imaginative romp set on the banks of the river Thames. Clem and her friends ash and Zara are mudlarkers who find hidden treasures (and lots of old rubbish) washed up on the shore.
But when Clem discovers a tangly loop of metal, strange things happen: the river rises up, the buildings shake, cracks appear everywhere.
The mysterious museum owner, Oswald, gives the children seal capes to dive underwater where they discover a royal kingdom — and a very disgruntled Porpoise Princess who has lost her crown . . . Packed with piscine puns and lovely descriptions, this is a watery wonder.