When one book closes, another opens
SO T HE k i d s h a v e d e v o u r e d a l l t h e books in all the series by t heir favourite author. They would like something similar — or perhaps a fresh challenge. What should they read next?
IF THEY WERE ENCHANTED BY... ENID BLYTON’S
(BUT ARE A BIT OLD FOR IT NOW)
Then try...
by Diane Greene (Autumn Leaves, £6.99)
Rosalie’s story is the second part of an atmospheric time-slip trilogy f o r y o u n g teens, which wil l f o s t e r a n i n t e r - e s t i n hi s - tory, classical mytholog y and genealogy. Children c o u l d u s e t he s t ori e s a s i nspiration for their own familyhistory inquiries and diary-keeping— encouraging two kinds of writing, factual and imaginative. Age 10 up.
IF THEY GIGGLED AT...
AND
Try...
by Marianne Levy (Egmont, £5.99)
Ellie May is an incredibly famous young film star — and doesn’t she know it? When she and her long-suffering chaperone, Jeffrey are invited to try the luxuries of the brand-new Hotel Marvellousa, Ellie May wheedles a secret out of Jeffrey, concerning the popstar Kiko, who is staying, undercover, in the same hotel. Ellie May blurts out this hush-hush information within moments, starting a madcap chain of events involving waffles, paparazzi, more waffles, a nervous Broadway star and the singing of a “top Q”. There are some brilliant running gags, gentle moral lessons about bravado as well as secret-keeping, fun illustrations by Ali Pye and a satisfying ending. Age seven to nine (adults will enjoy it too).
IF THEY LOVE...
Then try... by Anna Kemp (Simon and Schuster, £5.99)
Frankie lives with his old nanny Alphonsine, who used to belong to the French Resistance (“she’ll crack code faster than you can crack an egg”) and her husband Eddie, who is a whizz at mending things. When a new toyshop comes to town, Frankie soon notices something sinister about the robotic “Mechanimals” which are the latest playground craze. Then, his best friend disappears, leaving only a baffling message. Could this be something to do with Frankie’s arch-enemy, Dr Calus Gore? Why is he messing with children’s brains? And can Frankie come to the rescue, before it is too late? Age seven to 11.
IF THEY LURVE...THE
SERIES BY LOUISE RENNISON (BUT ARE A BIT YOUNG FOR IT STILL)
Then try... by Louise Rennison (HarperCollins, £10.99)
Georgia Nicholson’s cousin, Tallulah Casey, is back for another year at drama school, in the wild wuthering moorlands. As ever, her affections are torn between rugged Heathcliff type, Cain and gentle Charlie from a neighbouring boys’ school, while her tights are torn by the exertions of theatrical training under the stern eye of Dr Lightowler. Age 10 up.
IF THEY ARE GRIPPED BY... ALEX RIDER AND JIMMY COATES
Then try... by Allen Zadoff (Orchard, £6.99)
Boy Nobody is not just another boyassassin novel. It’s a boy-assassin novel with an unselfconsciously AmericanJewish backdrop. The boy of the title is set to infiltrate the life of a mayor’s daughter and target her dad — but will romance be his downfall?
Zadoff favours short, choppy sentences, which create a tough-privatedetective edginess — and are also a boon for less-able readers. Age 11 up.
IF THEY WERE THRILLED BY... KEREN DAVID’S
TRILOGY
Then try... by Katie Dale (Simon and Schuster, £6.99)
When Lucy starts university, she quickly falls for an enigmatic guy called Christian, whose baffling habits include a reluctance to go out after dark. Gradually, his dangerous past is revealed —- but Lucy has secrets of her own, which make her an unreliable narrator. It’s a rare pleasure to find a YA book set at a British university. This one is agreeably scary, without causing nightmares. Age 14 up.
IF THEY SIGH OVER... AND BY JOHN GREEN
Then try...
by Robyn Schneider (Simon and Schuster, £6.99)
Another novel which is comfortable with its own Jewishness, Severed Heads, Broken Hearts centres on Ezra Faulkner, former homecoming king and tennis star, who has to reassess his life when a car crash irreparably shatters his knee, his sporting prowess and his social status. No longer part of the jock set, he falls back on childhood friend Toby and his geekish, debate-team crowd. Through them, he meets Cassidy — a new girl with a mysterious past. It is easy to fall in love wit h t hes e witty, quirky c haracters, s t e e p e d i n Gatsby and arcane philosophy; wry, angsty and del i c i ously brooding on
love and life. Age 14 up.
IF THEY WERE MOVED BY... ANNE FRANK’S DIARY
Try... by Elizabeth Wein (Electric Monkey, £7.99)
This book approaches the Holocaust from the perspective of a female American pilot. Not allowed into combat, Rose’s job is to deliver the planes, but when a mission goes wrong, she ends up in Ravensbruck, among the “rabbits” (victims of medical experiments). Rose’s voice is c o mpel l i n g and the historical backg r o und has been intensively researched, but do bear in mind that this is an exceptionally harrowing read. Age 16 up.