YA & Children’s Book Recommends Jan-Jun 2017 – for Independents
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As we all know, anyone who thinks they’re too old for Children’s Books has a lot of growing up to do. So for those of us who know better, here are our picks of the vibrant and fantastical Middle Grade and Young Adult (YA) titles publishing January to June 2017! |
(NB. Our Jul-Dec 2016 Children’s / YA Round-up can be found here…) |
NB. We believe in supporting bricks and mortar stores, Independent’s especially, whether online or in person, so we’ve created HIVE links for all of these through which you can support your local independent bookshop while often getting a better deal than from ‘more corporate sites’. Also a tiny snippet of any purchase comes our way to go towards site upkeep, so any and all support very much appreciated
Enjoy!
January
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THE INQUISITION * Taran Matharu * 9781444924244 * PB * £7.99 * Hodder * The Summoner * 2 More demons, epic battles, and fights to the death: introducing the unmissable next instalment in the New York Times bestselling Summoner Trilogy… On trial for a crime he did not commit, Fletcher must face the Inquisition who will decide his future – the process is gruelling, lead by those who will do anything to see him suffer and haunted by ghosts from the past with clues to Fletcher’s tragic origins. But Fletcher has little time to dwell on these new revelations when the king announces a deadly challenge to the graduating students at Vocans. One that involves entering Orc territory to complete a risky mission. With loyal demons by their sides, commoners and nobles, dwarves and elves must overcome barriers of class and race and work together to triumph. The reward: a fortune in gold, the safety of an empire and PEACE. With the entire empire watching, Fletcher has much to prove, but there are those out to get him and it soon becomes clear that there’s a traitor in their midst, trying to thwart the mission and create unrest within the Empire. With everything stacked against him, Fletcher must use everything in his power to fight his way to victory. ‘Friendship, loyalty, magic and political intrigue beckon …’ The Bookseller |
Check out also our preview of book one The Novice with title details here! | |
Taran Matharu’s creation has been getting crazy coverage and promotion in English and translated markets. Really one to watch out for… | |
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February
March
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ZOMBIE 18 * Alan Cowsill * 9780995699410 * PB * £7.99 “I will not die.” In a post-apocalypse world where everyone over eighteen has become a zombie, seventeen-year-old Alex Stevens and his friends fight their way across England to save Alex’s kid sister from certain death. But the dead are not the only threat they face in a world plunged into chaos… |
* Indie Author highlight: Check out also Alan’s Punch Drunk Kisses in (Adult) Fiction above and our profile of UK comics veteran Mr Alan Cowsill on Carabas here! | |
April
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THE FOREVER COURT * Dave Rudden * 9780141356617 * PB * £6.99 * Puffin * Knights of the Borrowed Dark Trilogy * 2 The second book in the brilliant Knights of the Borrowed Dark trilogy, perfect for fans of Skulduggery Pleasant. Life is returning to normal for Denizen Hardwick. Well, the new normal, where he has to battle monsters in quiet Dublin bookshops and constantly struggle to contain the new powers he has been given by Mercy, the daughter of the Endless King. But Denizen may need those powers sooner than he thinks – not only are the Tenebrous stirring again but the Order of the Borrowed Dark face a new threat from much closer to home… |
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Very Special Carabas Children’s / Adult Highlight
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DR FIRST * Adam Hargreaves * 9781405930055 * PB * £4.99 * BBC Children’s Books * Roger Hargreaves Dr Who (!!!) DR FOURTH * 9781405930062 DR ELEVENTH * 9781405930079 DR TWELFTH * 9781405930086 The greatest mash-up in the entire Whoniverse is here! Doctor Who meets Roger Hargreaves’ Mr Men in this new series of stories, written and illustrated by Adam Hargreaves! |
* *** This might just be one of our most favourite things ever! *** * And check out our preview pages on Carabas here! |
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May
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MOONLOCKET * Peter Bunzl * 9781474915014 * PB * £6.99 * The Cogheart Adventures * 2 * Usborne Quiet! I’ve one more trick up my sleeve…” Jack pulled a playing card from thin air and pinned it to the jail door. When he lowered his arm, Finlo saw what it was: the Jack of Diamonds. “And now,” said Jack, slipping into the shadows, “we disappear.” An escaped convict. A missing locket. A woman from the past… When infamous escapologist Jack Door breaks out from Pentonville Prison, he sets out for the town of Brackenbridge, determined to find his missing treasure – the Moonlocket. But when Lily and Robert unwittingly find themselves caught up in Jack Door’s search, they discover that Robert’s history holds the secret to the Moonlocket’s whereabouts… Another delicious slice of Victoriana, return to the mysteries locked at the heart of London’s dark and murky streets and a world of adventure and extraordinary invention. Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2017, Cogheart was a heart-stealer amongst last year’s publishing, becoming a fast favourite of booksellers across the country, who have been eagerly awaiting the next instalment. |
Check out book one Cogheart here… | |
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BATTLEMAGE * Taran Matharu * 9781444928426 * TPB * £12.99 * Hodder Children’s * The Summoner * 3 One boy’s ability to summon demons will change the fate of an empire… The epic conclusion to the fantasy trilogy described as ‘Harry Potter meets Lord of the Rings meets Pokemon’. After the thrilling cliffhanger at the end of book two, we rejoin Fletcher and his friends in the ether, where they must undertake a mortally dangerous quest all the while avoiding capture by enemies and facing foes more terrifying than anything they have yet encountered. But this is nothing compared to what truly lies ahead for Fletcher, as his nemesis, albino orc Khan, is on a mission to destroy Hominum and everything and everyone that Fletcher loves. Epic battles, dramatic revelations and breathtaking drama await in the third and final book in the New York Times bestselling Summoner series. ‘Friendship, loyalty, magic and political intrigue beckon …’ The Bookseller * |
Check out: Extract / Preview of Book One: The Novice, our Author Profile of Taran, and details of Book Two: The Inquisition in MMP… | |
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June
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