No one can believe it, but the sirens that make the city, “….sound like it’s screaming” leave no doubt. Kat and her family must follow other citizens down into the underground train stations to try and avoid the bombing. But even that is no guarantee of survival as Kat soon learns. She hates being separated from her classmates and normal life, but knows there in no option in their current lives.

When they are rounded up and ordered onto buses, they are fearful but glad they are all together… until they aren’t. Kat’s Papa and his best friend are detained as Kat, her mum and her sister climb aboard the buses. Or so her mum believes.

Kat decides in a moment she must stay behind too. Living alone on the bombed out streets of her beloved city, Kat looks for a way to find her father, and get him back.

Adam is missing home. But at least he now has something to write home about as his unit are moving on a city that needs them. Liberation of its citizens is an exciting prospect, as they will be sure to welcome Adam and his fellow soldiers as they march on the city.

He is teased by others in his unit about all the letters he writes home, but he is missing the farm he grew up on and is looking forward to returning for Christmas. That is not to be as they move further and further into the city, discovering return gunfire, not open arms and smiles.

The third in this thought provoking and sobering series about serious issues around the world, WAR is directly mirroring what is happening right now on our News screens or directly for thousands of people.

Seeing both points of view from the attacker (Soldier Adam) and citizen of a city (Citizen Kat), allows readers to see both sides – even if one has been told untruths about the mission they are on. In doing so, Kat rises as the courageous hero as a mindless army attacks a peaceful city.

But of course, this graphic novel has been written to highlight all wars, the waste, the horror and the scattering of dreams, futures and lives.

In sobering colours of war – mud browns, camouflage greens, dark blacks, and fiery yellow or orange, this graphic novel also portrays the emotions of grief, fear, and hopelessness, but also courage, relief and hope.

A true story from a refugee of war is shared at the end of the novel – also in graphic novel format.

Sobering.

(Thank you to Source Books for the ARC)

Authors – Eoin Colfer / Andrew Donkin

Illustrators – Giovanni Rigano

Letterer – Chris Dickey

Graphic Novel

Age – 10+

(2026, Source Books, Graphic Novel, War, Tanks, Bombs, Gunfire, Soldiers, Family, Courage, Hunger, Separation, Escape, Action, Grief, Real Life, Conflict, Poverty)

The post War Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

A group of teens are to attend a surf life saving camp on an island, but get quickly swept up in a terrifying and perilous smuggler retrieval mission gone wrong.

New relationships are formed and old ones strengthened and unknown family history events discovered.

Plot summary of We Did It Anyway (No Spoilers)

Milly and her best friend Luna are travelling with Milly’s brother Jasper and his friends Otto and and Alex on a barge to Talmar Island. They are to attend a week long camp of team building, ocean swims and surf life saving with their club from their small town of Red Sands.

Luna is regretting it already, as it’s not her thing, but Milly convinced her to come. Alex is just pleased to finally be away from school and the trouble he caused before leaving. No one knows it was him, and he’s dreading any possible fallout.

Arriving on the island, they are asked if they can walk a new Eco trail before the rest of the group arrives – to test it for the new ranger. Luna’s not keen but everyone else is excited to sleep on the beach. Little do they know they will be running for their lives in merely hours.

Discovering a gold stash in the sand, Alex decides it could be useful to get him out of trouble back at school. But taking it causes more trouble than he could have imagined – putting all their lives in danger.

Review

This real-life contemporary novel continues the lives of teens Milly, Jasper and Otto from the author’s previous novel – We Saw What You Started from 2025.

With two points of view (Alex and Luna), we experience the increasing peril they find themselves in, making this a fast paced, captivating novel. Their predicament and with no adults to fall back on or trust, the friends must rely on each other, especially when things go wrong again and again along the way.

A new relationship builds slowly between two teens that have known each other for a long time, and family secrets reveal themselves in both the teen’s past and those of the villains.

A great read for those wanting exciting, tension filled, real life action.

Book Style

298 pages / 35 chapters / Two points of view

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

12+

Where & When is it set?

A fictional setting on the Australian Coast called Talmar Island / 2026

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

First person / Present tense

What genre is We Did It Anyway?

Young Adult Contemporary Real Life Thriller

Themes

Action / Family / Responsibility / Relationships / Crime / Thriller

Is it part of a series?

Yes – but it can definitely be read on its own

If you liked this, you might like:

We Saw What You Started

Saltwater Boy

Author

Carla Salmon

Publisher

Pan Macmillan Australia

(2026, Pan Macmillan, Australia, Surf Lifesaving, Crime, Smugglers, Gold, Relationships, Trust, Guilt, Family, Friendships, Tension, Courage, Camp, Island, Series, Trouble, Intermediate, Secret, Action)

The post We Did It Anyway Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

She has always been drawn to the sea. When in the water, she feels at ease more than anywhere else and can stay underwater for longer than should be possible. She has few memories of her mother, but knew she too was drawn to the water. The chest her father promises to open every year, but never does, beckons to her as she knows it could hold the answers she seeks.

With her special skills, Mira is one of the Seven. These seven people swim out into the sea along a rope held by her father and others on the beach. But not before they have lit fires which lure unsuspecting ships onto the island’s rocks and hidden reefs. This is how the people of Rosevear live – plundering the sinking ships, but always vowing to save as many sailors as they can. One stormy night, Mira saves a man not much older than herself from the swirling waters around his sinking ship. She doesn’t give him much thought afterwards except that his survival helps tip the scales of their treachery in the right direction.

It is well known among the archipelago what Rosevear does, and there is a ruling force called The Watch who want to stop them. A new leader of The Watch is more determined than anyone ever before him, to stop this practice and anything else he deems against the law.
When he raids their island looking for evidence, he arrests two people close to Mira – one of them being her beloved father. Mira knows she must leave everything she knows behind and venture out into the world to save them – something she’s always wanted, but now is apprehensive to do. The young man she saved from the sinking ship offers to help her.

Mira discovers the world outside Rosevear is much more than she imagined. Full of noise and sights and people and even the magic she’d heard spoken of. It brings unexpected longings and romance, new friendships and rivals. There is also treachery, betrayals, battles and heartbreak, as she discovers her mother’s past, the secret of her underwater skills, and the trajectory of her future. Almost broken, she vows vengeance and now has the anger and help to wreak it.

From the very first page, in fact the very first sentence… The thunder sends me running.

I was captured by main character Mira and the way of life on her island. Sure it was nefarious, but it was also the only way of survival for her people. Growing up sheltered from the world made Mira’s relationships with fellow islanders loyal and very close. Relationships with anyone new were fraught with danger, uncertainty, longing or mystery. This constantly had Mira and me on edge, wondering who to trust as she does everything she can to save her kin from the gallows.

Although this cover IS beautiful, I really don’t think it does this story, justice. Yes, there is the sea, a young woman searching for meaning and the truth about her life, and much maritime action, but Compass and Blade is so much more!

Deemed YA Romantasy, there is also heaps of action, hand to hand combat, courage and a quest for this character. There are two men who capture young Mira’s interest – one with a connection to her island, and one a shadowy but extremely handsome enigma.
The ending had me online checking if there was more – indeed, it is the 1st book of a trilogy, and I can’t wait to see Mira in full revenge mode with her new found courage, and skilled and powerful friends at her side.

Author – Rachel Greenlaw

Age – 14+

(2024, Harper Collins, Series, Trilogy, Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Revenge, Betrayal, Romance, Historical, Friendship, Courage, Magic, Islands, Power, Hand to hand combat, Fighting, Sea, Ocean, Sirens, Magical Creatures, Blood, Ships, Boats, Hanging, Retribution, Control, Fear)

The post Compass and Blade (1) Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

It’s only when her enemies attack her island of Rosevear, killing members of her village; that Elijah appears in her life again. With no home left standing, Mira travels with Elijah through the shadows to his castle home.

She learns that despite his grand home and title, Lord Tresillian is well-liked and respected and kind to his people. Saving many from her island home, she is in his debt. Not that he reminds her of it. In fact, she begins to see and admire this other side to him.

Mira is still struggling with her Siren heritage, especially after summoning a storm to save her island, then again in a dream. She feels she has little control over this power and is desperate to know more. Learning that Elijah has his own troubles with his past and power, brings them closer together.

Tension is rising however as Mira’s enemies have put a hunter on her tail, vowing what’s left of her island will be sacrificed if she doesn’t hand herself in. Elijah and his family and friends vow to fight for her and her people, knowing The Watch, Captain Renshaw and a Monster Hunter from a powerful witch coven must be stopped.

Mira increasingly struggles with her rising powers, her constant fight training and her feelings for Elijah whom she now calls Eli. But her island must always come first.

The 2nd in this trilogy, Shadow and Tide allows us to learn more about Mira’s powers and her past, and Lord Tresillian’s struggles with his own problems. The building tension between them is sizzling and the battle scenes exhilarating.

There are many characters to keep track of, but worth doing so as loyalties bend and snap, and the body count builds. I feel this falls in the ‘necessary middle book’ category for a series because besides the many battles and creatures leaping off the pages, the plot starts and finishes in the same place – vowing vengeance, albeit with new forces on their side.

Much looking forward to the conclusion novel though. If Shadow and Tide is anything to go by, it will be a powerful, angst ridden, racing romance, battle scared, monster screaming read!  

Author – Rachel Greenlaw

Age – 14+

(2025, Harper Fire Books, Fantasy, Series, Magic, Romance, Love, Family, Murder, Crime, Ocean, Sea, Sirens, Witches, Kraken, Monsters, Battles, Shadows, Revenge, Hand to Hand Combat, Fight, Fires, Arson, Monster Hunter, Loyalties, Choices)

The post Compass and Blade (2) Shadow and Tide Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

12 year old Sparrow Xia is about to begin her 1st year at Zenith Academy where her older brother Ainsley is already a student.

Sparrow envies Ainsley for his powerful fire magic and the attention it brings him from family and friends. She aims to work hard at the academy and build her own fire magic. After all, when she becomes an adult, her magic will fade. This is normal in her world, so she wants to experience the same glory as her brother before that happens.

Her new school brings new friends, new challenges, and more danger than she’s ever known.

Plot summary of The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia (No Spoilers)

Sparrow travels by portal from her home to the bottom of the steps to Zenith Academy. Reaching the top is her first magical challenge, determining if she can actually enter the school for further magical training.

The ascent is tough, but rewarding in many ways and she’s relieved she can follow her dream of becoming a fire mage as accomplished as her older brother.

There are many classes to attend, friendships to build and magic to practise, and soon even more to occupy her mind. Fellow students are losing their magic and falling ill. Sparrow believes she has clues to why this is happening, but convincing anyone it almost impossible. Her brother’s contempt for her is even stronger when she tries to warn him.

Can she save more students? Is she next?

Review

Not quite as big as a Harry Potter novel, but of the same reading level, The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia is a novel based in a magical school. Well written, with strong world building and characterisation, and with building tension and a thrilling climax and conclusion, what really stood out for me was its presentation.

From the eye catching cover to the sneak peek of the cover to the next in the series, this magical middle grade novel is lusciously illustrated throughout. It might be a picture in the corner of a page or down the length of one. Sometimes an illustration stretches across both pages, and some even fill entire spreads with the text continuing on top.

The characters are introduced in the text and with a picture of them with their name on the page. As with school settings, there are usually many characters. These small portraits help readers picture each character as they become part of the story.

The conclusion leaves readers wondering what will happen next and how Sparrow Xia will develop her magic further.

Book Style

307 pages / 30 Chapters / Illustrated throughout with small to large pictures and even full page spreads behind text of the story.

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

9+

Where & When is it set?

In a country called the United Realms – mostly at a fictional fantasy school called the Zenith Academy for Magical Development

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

Third person / Past tense

Is there Violence?

Magic – Fire

What genre is The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia?

Illustrated Middle-Grade Action

Themes

Magic / School / Friendship / Family / Mystery / Sibling Rivalry

Is it part of a series?

Yes

If you liked this, you might like these

Author / Illustrator

Leia Ham

Publisher

Penguin Books

(2026, Penguin Books, Fantasy, Magic, Friendship, School, Family, Action, Fantasy, Mystery, Courage, Series, Fire, Elemental magic, Sibling Rivalry, Power, Greed)

The post The Missing Magic of Sparrow Xia Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

A 13 year old boy becomes the target of a classroom bully with a focussed barrage of intimidation and fear tactics, building quickly to exclusion and a terrible choice. Told in multiple points of view from the bullied boy, his friends, one of his teachers and the bully himself.

The constant bullying causes the boy to believe he has special powers to avoid his tormentors, not realising the truth – which is even worse than the bullying itself.

Plot summary of INVISIBLE (No Spoilers)

A boy wakes in a hospital, not sure at first why he is there. His parents take turns to be with him day and night, and friends and kids from his school visit him. He has been in pain, and is only sleeping 3-4 hrs at a time, but is healing. Something he’s disappointed about is the fact he can no longer turn invisible.

He’d mastered the skill, along with other superpowers like speed and an impenetrable shell over the past several weeks. These powers had helped him against a bully in his class everyone called MM. MM also had buddies who helped with the bullying in and out of school.

The boy had two very close friends, one of which he would’ve liked to get closer to, but she didn’t seem to want the same thing, and then didn’t seem to want to help him either.

When his parents tell him another type of doctor is coming, he finally reveals all that has happened, how he became a wasp, and then became INVISIBLE.

Review

Thanks to Source Books & Net Galley for the opportunity to read this novel (on a device).

With tears, my gut swirling and my head shaking at the injustice, I jumped online to find anything else by this Spanish Author I had never come across before. I couldn’t find any other books for children or young adults by Eloy Moreno in English anywhere.

The next day I promptly went out and bought a paperback version of INVISIBLE (Released in NZ/Aust 4/8/26) – and read it again. It hit just as hard the 2nd time.

For me, this book is a little bit Wonder (RJ Palacio), a smidgen of The Wrong Shoes (Tom Percival) and a pinch of A Monster Calls (Patrick Ness).

The style of the storytelling is so captivating, and the story gut punching and compelling at the same time, because it is so real.

INVISIBLE not only portrays a victim and a bully’s pain, but made me wonder about all the ‘monsters’ – those who looked away. They were adults, classmates and even friends, but one teacher’s clever ways to make them see this, is inspiring.

Hands down – THE BEST BOOK I’VE READ IN 2026. With over a million copies sold, in 60 editions, in 30 languages around the world, this will make a powerful read aloud in New Zealand and Australian schools too.

Find a copy here

Book Style

323 pages / Short chapters / 5 Parts / Multiple Points of view

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

10 – 16 (But really…. everybody should read this book)

Where & When is it set?

A modern school and hospital – Easily recognisable by readers whether they live in NZ, Australia, UK, US, or Europe.

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

The main character is mostly in 1st person/ Other key characters are in third person / Mostly in present tense

What genre is INVISIBLE?

High Middle Grade / Young Adult Crossover

Themes

Bullying / School / Family / Isolation Trauma / Lack of consequences / Our own responsibilities

Is it part of a series?

No

If you liked this, you might like:

Letters from the Upside

The Wrong Shoes

A Monster Calls

Find more books about Bullies here

Meet the author of Invisible here

Author

Eloy Moreno

Publisher

2018 (Spanish), 2026 (English), Source Books USA, Bullying, Bullies, Betrayal, Guilt, Shame, Responsibility, Fear, Exclusion, School, Friendship, A Caring Teacher, Choices, Family, Growing up, Peer Pressure, Real Life, School, Secret)

The post INVISIBLE Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Leon is one of seven children in his family. They are all confident and happy with loving parents, but Leon feels different much of the time. He needs his alone time, is obsessed with cats and is upset that his best friend has moved away for a year.

A new student named Victor arrives in his class, and decides he’s going to be Leon’s friend. Soon they are seeing each other everyday at school and home, where Leon’s family takes Victor under their wing. This makes Leon feel more alienated, no matter how hard he tries.

Plot summary of Stuck in the Middle (No Spoilers)

Leon knows the exact number of days it will be before his best friend Jacob returns from Alaska. He’s not sure what to do in the meantime, because they did everything together. When a new kid starts at their school, Leon’s teacher tasks him with the job of showing Victor around.

There is no way Leon can accept a new best friend, but looking after Victor isn’t so bad. Victor is a little intense for Leon however, and he struggles a bit with their ‘friendship.’

Victor is hiding something, and when Leon discovers it, he’s confused. Suddenly Leon is not only following him at school, but staying in his room. Leon’s siblings and parents accept Victor whole heartedly, and he them. Although Leon is Stuck in the Middle age wise amongst his siblings, he feels more and more detached, and more and more as if Victor is taking his place

Review

This novel is all about family, being accepted for who you are within that family, and even unexpected dynamics that bring change. The author is one of nine siblings, and this shines through in the dialogue and actions of the main character’s siblings. There are squabbles, teasing and loud chaos, but also love, kindness, and funny banter between them.

Readers will relate to day to day life within Leon’s family home and at school, and also encounter another family who needs a helping hand for a while. Leon is an introvert among the siblings, and easy to like as he reveals his confusion in trying to do the right thing, but dealing with emotions of jealousy, resentment and insecurity.

A funny and authentic real-life read.

Book Style

286 pages / 37 Chapters + Epilogue

Chapter headings indicate coming events

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

9+

Where & When is it set?

An Australian town / Present

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

1st person / Present tense

Is there Violence?

No

What genre is Stuck in the Middle?

Middle-Grade Real Life / Humour

Themes

Family / Change / Friendship

Is it part of a series?

No

Find another novel by this author here

If you liked this, you also may like:

Finn’s Epic Fails

Hari Kumar – Superstar

Author

Anton Clifford-Motopi

Publisher

Allen & Unwin

(2026, Allen & Unwin, Australia, Funny, Humour, Family, Friendship, Emotions, Introvert, Cats, Animals, Homelessness, Kindness, Siblings, Big family, Change, Real Life)

The post Stuck in the Middle Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Jake Whyte is in Year 10 (NZ), and is keen to put meat on the table at home. He teaches himself hunting techniques, while avoiding a guy at school who taunts him with the nickname Great White Hunter. Without planning it, he is soon on hunts with his nemesis and his family members. Jake also has a crush on his bully’s sister which makes things even more awkward.

But hunting together and finding themselves in danger, helps them to confront their differences.

Plot summary of Jake Whyte Pig Hunter (No Spoilers)

Jake is hungry. Meat is scarce in their home where his mum works three jobs to look after them and pay for Jake’s sister’s care in a school in Dunedin (NZ).

After Jake brings home an injured piglet one day, and it doesn’t make it, he realises he can help his mum put meat on the table. Studying books and Bear Grylls shows, Jake learns how to hunt without a gun. There is a guy in his year 10 class named Bevan, who he knows goes hunting regularly with his dad and guns, but Jake knows his own mother would never allow it.

But after bringing home meat for the table and freezer, Jake’s mum agrees to let him go on a supervised hunt. Sure, Jake finds it a little awkward going with Bevan who has taunted him for years about his name, but Jake doesn’t want to pass on Bevan’s dad’s invite to hunt properly with real pig dogs and guns. It also helps that Bevan’s sister Georgie is along for the hunt, as Jake has a crush on her.

Hunt after hunt, Jake builds his skills, but the tension between he and Bevan builds until it overflows into danger. Alone and with only each other to rely on, they finally face off and sort out some misunderstandings.

All the while, Jake has been hiding the fact that he has a disabled sister. He’s worried what the backlash will be after being taunted by Bevan and his friends for years. When everything is finally out in the open and they are faced with a huge boar they’ve all been hunting for weeks, they must work together to survive.

Review

There are never enough hunting books on the shelves, and Jake Whyte Pig Hunter is a cracker!

With its fast pacing, short, punchy chapters and dialogue full of Kiwi lingo, this novel ticks so many boxes for so many different kinds of readers. It suits reading ages of Year 6 to Year 11, reluctant readers, lovers of action, or adventure and with Kiwi characters they can relate to.

Each chapter begins with a sketch by Cat Chapman, portraying the action or an item important to the chapter. It’s not just about hunting, either. Main character Jake has feelings for his nemesis’ sister, and he’s also hiding a secret, he knows he shouldn’t. These emotional developments are handled deftly and authentically, adding to the narrative.

Anyone who has ever wanted to hunt wild pig in the New Zealand bush can experience what it is truly like in this novel for 11+

Book Style

147 Pages / 40 short chapters / Each new chapter begins with a new illustration

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

11+

Where & When is it set?

Milford in Fiordland / Sth Island, Aotearoa New Zealand

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

First person – direct to the reader / Present Tense

Is there Violence?

Hunting violence

What genre is Jake Whyte Pig Hunter?

High Middle-Grade Action

Themes

Hunting / Action / Family / Relationships

Is it part of a series?

No

See another review here from someone who knows – Sam the Trap Man

Author

J D Crouchley

Illustrator

Cat Chapman

Publisher

Bateman Books

(2026, Bateman Books, Aotearoa New Zealand, Intermediate (NZ), NZ Authors, NZ Illustrator, Hunting, Fiordland, Milford, Tramping, Pigs, Deer, Fishing, Trout, Courage, Solo parent family, Disabled family member, Crush, Relationships, Action, Adventure, Family, Bully, Rivalry)

The post Jake Whyte Pig Hunter Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Charlie and her mum move to the small NZ town of Coalburn. Her mum loves to study cemeteries and they have moved in right next door to Coalburn’s graveyard.

A new friend is made in local, Tam and Charlie joins the local rugby team. While exploring the graveyard, Charlie finds a headstone that might interest her mum and with Tam’s help they investigate its owner.

Charlie and Tam discover an intriguing mystery and a heart breaking connection between them.

Plot summary of Charlie, Tam and the Singing Canary (No Spoilers)

There is a new girl at Tam’s school named Charlie. Tam and Charlie hit it off right away, sharing their family dynamics and a love of words. Tam is intrigued in Charlie’s life of moving around with her mum, following her need and interest in researching headstones in cemeteries around the country.

They get to know each other’s family dynamics and history, but there are things Tam wants to know about her own family, but has always been to afraid to ask. When Charlie asks Tam to help investigate a headstone in the local graveyard, Tam is keen to help.

Their investigation leads to family members on both sides revealing truths long held close, and the mystery of the gravestone finally brought to light.

Review

This middle-grade novel was so easy to immerse myself in, that I read it in one sitting.

Set in a small NZ rural town in the South Island of New Zealand, it has a slice of everything that makes a great read – A new kid in town, a mystery, a ghost and family secrets. Stir in a little rugby, a love of words and intriguing friendship and family dynamics, and it is a real-life tale with a touch of supernatural.

An authentic, captivating kiwi read. Kids are going to love it.

Book Style

217 Pages / 51 Chapters

3 Parts – Coalburn / The Kissing Kauri / The Singing Canary

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

9+

Where & When is it set?

A fictional town called Coalburn – a small town on the West Coast of New Zealand

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

Omniscient / Present tense

Is there Violence?

No

What genre is Charlie, Tam and the Singing Canary?

Middle Grade Mystery

Themes

Mystery / Friendship / Family / Secret / Ghost

Is it part of a series?

No

Read a sample here

If you liked this, you might like:

Children of the Rush

The Ghosts on the Hill

Enemy Camp

Author

Bill Nagelkerke

Publisher

Copy Press New Zealand

(2026, Copy Press, Aotearoa New Zealand, West Coast, South Island, Otago, Ghost, Cemetery, Graveyards, Headstone Art, New girl at school, Family, Secrets, Friendship, Grandmother, Tramping, Rugby, Old fashioned Words, Old fashioned Phrases)

The post Charlie, Tam and the Singing Canary Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Vinny’s teenage sister is angry all of the time, and if she isn’t storming around the house or slamming doors, she’s talking loudly with her friends on her cellphone and then getting upset.

His dad is working longer and longer hours and lately doesn’t even come home.

Not sure how to help his family members, Vinny doesn’t want to make things even worse with his own problems. He has two very good friends who he hangs out with at school and plays D&D on the weekends with. But even that’s changed lately after two girls join their tight group of three in a class project.

One night, while home alone, Vinny looks at his mum’s old blog and sees unanswered questions. Some seem far too complicated, but some seem perfectly simple to Vinny. The solution he gives to many is the solution he wants for himself – to be able to talk to somebody about his worries.

This story has been published with dyslexic readers in mind, with special fonts, paper and presentation, but as with all Barrington Stoke novels, the topic is universal for all readers.

A home full of busy people who have become disjointed from each other due to work stress, influencer expectations, time restraints and teen dramas left to boil over, is a possible scenario for many families. Vinny is neurodivergent and when he doesn’t have his family or his friends to talk to, he is also left struggling on his own.

A thought provoking and credible read from a Costa Book Award shortlisted author.

Author – Helen Rutter

Illustrator – Julia Christians

Dyslexic Read / Reading Age 8 / Interest Age 9+

Find more reads for Reluctant Readers or Dyslexic Readers here

(2026, Barrington Stoke, Intermediate (NZ), Harper Collins, Dyslexic, Dyslexia, Reluctant Readers, Family, School, Friendships, Growing up, Real Life, Secret, D&D, Dungeons & Dragons, Friendship Dynamics, Problems, Questions, Someone to talk to, Solutions, Parental split)

The post Advice from a 12-year-old Nobody Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

12 year old Alfie Piper is grieving the loss of his mum. He now lives with his dad and his wife Sophie and new baby sister Alice. He is trying to come to terms with the sudden loss of his mum, and the uncomfortable relationship he had with his stepdad.

Plot summary of Six Weeks (No Spoilers)

Alfie Piper introduces himself to the reader. He has something to tell us. He’s struggling to voice it, and warns us it’s bad. His mum died.

He tells us how quick it all seemed to happen, about the funeral and his aunt and grandmother’s pain. Alfie finally talks of him – his mum’s partner.

Even though Alfie has known him since he was three, they never connected properly, only sharing his mum. But now she’s gone and she asked Alfie to do something before she died.

It’s a year before Alfie sees him again. The Summer holidays have arrived, and even though Alfie’s school friends have drifted away, he has a good life with his Dad, Sophie and Alice.

Six weeks of school holidays stretch before him. Six weeks of riding his bike wherever it takes him, and maybe even thinking about his mum’s last request of him.

Review

I thought my heart would break while reading The Final Year, but Six Weeks is even more powerful. Matt Goodfellow knows his characters – their hearts and their very souls. And this is how he breaks ours.

The beginning is masterfully done as a 12 year old boy introduces himself. He’s tentative, unsure and apologising for his revelation. Having his words in white text upon black pages is a masterful punch in the gut – where I gasped aloud. I hadn’t read the back blurb, just knowing I’d love another Matt Goodfellow novel regardless.

Alfie takes the reader on his painful passage from grief, loss, and confusion at his extended family’s behaviour, to more understanding of those around him and how it has affected his own life and relationships.

A slow healing, that he never thought possible; is aided by love, patience and time from close family, and honesty from others.

Wow. Simply beautiful storytelling of grief, complicated family relationships, and their fallout. But healing is possible, as loved ones share their truth.

Tissues definitely required.

Book Style

293 Pages /Verse Novel

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

10+

Where & When is it set?

Summer Holidays, England. The present

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

1st person / present tense

Is there Violence?

No

What genre is ?

Middle Grade Real Life / Contemporary Fiction

Themes

Family/ Grief / Loss / Growing Up / Real Life

Is it part of a series?

No

Find more books by Matt Goodfellow here

Author

Matt Goodfellow

Illustrator

Joe Todd-Stanton

Publisher

Hachette Children’s Books

(2026, Hachette, Intermediate (NZ), Starboard, Wow, Grief, Loss, Family, Connections, Bike Riding, Walking, Sharing, Change, Growing Up, England, Manchester, Blended Family, New Baby Sister, Summer Holidays, Real Life, Heartbreaking, Tissues required, Love, Music)

The post Six Weeks Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

A 17 year old girl moves back to the place her father killed 6 women, including her own mother. Hiding her identity from all but her aunt and uncle, she aims to stay under the radar until graduation and turning 18. However, this small town refuses to forget the crimes of the serial killer who lived among them.

Plot summary of Thornbird (No Spoilers)

Ryan Shipley (real name Gabrielle Thorn) moves back to the small town of Sparling, Tennessee, where she lived until she was 7 years old. That’s the age her father killed her mother and was arrested for six murders.

She went to live with her grandmother, taking a new name and trying to forget what her father did. Now 10 years later, she is living with her aunt, uncle and twin cousins.

Starling has never forgotten what Gabriel Thorn did, even now as he sits on death row with his execution pending. Ryan begins high school among them, keeping her secret identity close, as everyone knows she’s the new girl in town. She wants to live a normal life with her new family, go to school and graduate.

To her surprise, she attracts the interest of the handsome cliche quarterback and also the bad boy in town, no matter how much she tries to avoid them.

When the families of the slain women put up a million dollars for any clues that lead to the bodies of the missing women, Sparling true crime buffs and podcasters begin to investigate the crime themselves – trawling through the sparse facts from the last 10 years.

Filled with guilt, Ryan wants to find them herself to ease the pain in this town, and prevent anyone else getting hurt.

Review

This YA Thriller grabbed me in the first few pages. Secrets, serial killers and returning to the scene of the crime? Bring it on!

I really felt for main character Ryan who was only 7 when her father was revealed as a serial killer. The horror of losing her mother at such a young age, mixed with her confusion at missing her father, even though she knew he was a monster, is emotive. I want her to be happy in her new family, but know along with her that if her cousins find out who she really is – the fallout will be horrendous.

The tale is perfectly timed, gripping me more tightly at each plot hook or secret revealed, and then even more surprises are to come.

With letters from her serial killer father, FBI agents pressuring her and her emotions constantly swirling just below the surface, Thornbird is a captivating read.

Book Style

431 Pages / 145 Chapters Each chapter has a descriptive heading, and podcasts and texts are sprinkled through the narrative.

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

14+

Where & When is it set?

A fictional town named Sparling in Tennessee, USA

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

1st person / Present tense

Is there Violence?

Details of crime

Is there any sex in the novel?

Yes

What genre is Thornbird?

Young Adult Thriller

Themes

Family / Crime / Secrets / Guilt / Romance / School / Real Life

Is it part of a series?

No

Author

E Kennedy

Publisher

Electric Monkey / Harper Collins

If you liked this, you’ll love this

Find more YA Thriller Reads here

(2026, Harper Collins, YA Thriller, Family, Crime, Real Life, Secret, Romance, School, Tennessee, Cousins, Identity, Serial Killer,

The post Thornbird Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

It’s all an exciting adventure, and during the few weeks left before she begins her new school, Jet is kept busy helping her family, getting to know the area around them, and jotting down ideas for her stories. All the while she is emailing and messaging her best friend from forever, who now lives in Singapore. She loves sharing all her excitement about her new home, but keeps one secret to herself.

Jet has discovered, talked to, argued with and worried about… a ghost. To make things even more complicated, she has also met the most gorgeous boy she’s ever seen, which makes the ghost jealous!

She’s dying to share it all, but who would believe her? Things go from intriguing to infuriating to positively dangerous, when she ventures next door to an abandoned chateau. First it is with her ghost friend, and then with the gorgeous French boy. But it is once too often, and suddenly both their lives are in danger!

Such a captivating story! A run down chateau. A ghost hidden deep in a wardrobe. A gorgeous boy from the local bakery, and something not quite right happening right next door. The Girl and the Ghost has just the right amount of everything to kick off a brand new series for readers of 9+

There is a mystery, a secret to keep, emails back & forth from a close friend and possible disasters within their new home. A first crush gives just the right amount of stomach swirls, and then terrible danger all but swallows up the main characters.

I’m definitely keen to grab the next in the series.

Author – Jacqueline Harvey

Age – 10+

Read an Extract here 

Find Teacher’s Notes here

Find the next book in the series here

(2025, Penguin Books Australia, Adventure, Animals, Crime, Family, Friendship, Ghost, Growing up, Mystery, Secret, Series, France, Chateau, Rebuild, Renovations, Refurbishment, Dog, Marie Antionette, Royal, Art, First Crush, Young Romance)

The post The Girl and the Ghost appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Life quickly returns to normal with Josephine looking forward to her best friend coming to stay, her crush deepening with local boy Gabriel, and her friendship with Louis the ghost of French royalty stronger every day.

Louis is a little jealous of Gabriel. Josephine loves spending time with them both, but Gabriel is finding Josephine’s behaviour more strange every day, and she considers telling him about the ghost that follows them everywhere. Will he think she’s mad?

The reward money has helped speed up the renovations of their chateau, just in time for Josephine’s bestie, Hattie to arrive, and they are all soon enjoying the countryside of the town. A discovery of possible huge national significance has them excited, along with more clues about Josephine’s mother surfacing.

All the while, Josephine feels as if she is being followed. The police assure her family that the art thieves are in jail, but news of the leader’s escape has Josephine jumpy. Is she being paranoid?

Another great episode in this thrilling series. It is perfect for tween readers looking for a little romance mixed in with a ghost, a mystery and the beautiful country of France.

Historical fact is effortlessly threaded through the story and more about it is in the back of the book. Josephine’s worries about being followed builds the tension deliciously, as the key villain in the first book escapes from custody.

Clues to her mother’s life in the area begin to emerge with equally heartbreaking and wonderful results.

Definitely looking forward to reading more of The Girl and the Ghost series.

Author – Jacqueline Harvey

Illustrator – A Yi

Age – 10+

Find the first in the series here

Publisher – Penguin Books Aust

Set – France (present)

Viewpoint – 3rd person

Violence – No

Real Life – Yes

Fantasy – Yes – Ghost

Blend – Real Life fiction / Ghost / Historical Fact/ Mystery

(2025, Family, Humour, Ghost, Crime, Friendship, Romance, Ghost, Mystery, Crush, France, French Chateau, Refurbishing, Building, Prize, Paranoia, Belief in ghosts, Series)

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Josephine (Jet for short) is helping her family refurbish a French Chateau. The Grand Opening is approaching, and things begin to go wrong. Her locket that holds her ghost friend Louis the seventeenth of French Royalty has been noticed by a jeweller, which causes even more problems. What’s even worse is that her French boy-crush Gabriel is spending a lot of time with a pretty new girl at school.

Has Gabriel forgotten her? Will the chateau fail before it begins? Could it have anything to do with the escaped villain Anastasia?

Plot summary of The Girl and the Ghost (3) Grand Opening (No Spoilers)

The Grand Opening of the chateau Jet’s family have been refurbishing is fast approaching. It has been sped up with money Jet received after helping foil a neighbour and sophisticated art thief named Anastasia. Many treasured pieces of art were saved, but the villain herself escaped capture.

New neighbours moved in after Anastasia went on the run, but Jet finds them a little strange too. When they bring her a kitten as a gift, she is surprised and enchanted by the small bundle of stripes she soon calls Tiger.

With her step mum’s 40th also approaching, Jet visits a jeweller with her dad to help choose a ring. When the jeweller sees her locket he is intrigued. Jet is upset about leaving it with the jeweller for an appraisal, but of course cannot tell her father that her ghost friend Louis XVII lives in it!

When news of the locket hits the papers, Jet worries for its safety. The jeweller believes it could have been purchased many years before by French royalty in the very same store. All she wants is to have it back safely around her neck, but things keep getting in the way.

The same is happening at the chateau. The birthday celebrations don’t quite go to plan and the preparation for the Grand Opening is troubled by a continuous barrage of problems. Credit cards go missing. A load of rocks are delivered on the driveway and the wrong size beds are delivered. More and more problems arise, until Jet believes it can’t be a coincidence.

All the while, Jet is worried that her wonderful summer with gorgeous Gabriel is never to be repeated, as another girl takes up all of his time.

Who is responsible for the problems at the chateau? Will they open, only to receive terrible reviews? Will Gabriel ever kiss her again?

Review

More mystery is served at Jet’s new chateau home. Add a stripy new kitten, a beautiful classmate, and disaster after disaster as the grand opening approaches and tension is rife. When both her parents are physically injured and arson is added too, Jet is really beginning to worry.

The constant knowledge that Anastasia is still out there, and with her final threat still fresh in Jet’s memory, no one knows what is going to happen next. Red herrings swim everywhere, leaving me wondering who is causing the problems? The new housekeeper, the gardener or the tradies working on the property?

Another great episode of this series with just the right mix of romance, growing up, mystery and the through line of malice from the threat of Anastasia still out there….

Book Style

368 Pages /  38 Chapters / Epilogue

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

11+

Where & When is it set?

In a chateau in South western France / Present

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

Third Person / Past Tense

Is there Violence?

No

What genre is The Girl and the Ghost (3) Grand Opening?

Middle Grade Mystery

Themes

Real Life / Ghosts / Romance / Friendship / Mystery / History

Is it part of a series?

Yes – The Girl and the Ghost Series

1. The Girl and the Ghost
2. Family Secrets
3. Grand Opening
4. ?

Author

Jacqueline Harvey

Illustrator

A Yi

Publisher

Penguin Books Australia

Find the previous books in the series here

(2026, Penguin Books Australia, Series, France, Family, Humour, Ghost, Crime, Friendship, Romance, Ghost, Mystery, Crush, France, French Chateau, Refurbishing, Building, Prize, Jealousy, Belief in ghosts, Grand opening, Hotel, Locket, Secrets)

The post The Girl and the Ghost (3) Grand Opening Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

A 14 year old boy aiming to play for the NBL one day, loses his father in an accident. His dad was everything to him. Not only his coach, but all things basketball.

The tryouts he’d been training so hard with his dad for, come and go as he grieves. Instead of playing for the top school team he saw as the first step to his dream, he ends up in a training squad – deemed the worst in the school.

Plot summary of The Rebound (No Spoilers)

Harry and his dad love watching basketball together, training together and sharing everything about the sport. Their goal is to get Harry ready for his high school tryouts for the top team – the 1st step to his dream of playing for the NBA.

Being called to the school office one day is the first inkling that something is wrong, and Harry learns that his dad has died in a car accident.

Reeling from loss, the funeral and his world pulled out from under him, Harry pushes everything aside – even the tryouts. He’s not ready to face everyone. When he finally is, it’s too late.

His best mate Jamal has made the top team without him, and is soon caught up in a relentless training schedule with others from school. Harry feels the gap between him and Jamal growing wider, and himself feeling angrier.

He takes this anger with him into a new team – the bottom training team in the school, with a coach he doesn’t believe knows what he’s doing. He decides he’s in the team for one reason – to keep fit for next year’s tryouts. But with a councillor, a new friend who knows what he’s going through, his mum, aunt and even the new coach, Harry finds a different path.

Review

If you didn’t like Basketball before, I challenge you to not enjoy it – at least as long as you are reading this book!

The Rebound is so full of heart, from the first page to the last, in so many ways. The relationship between the main character Harry and his father with basketball begins the story, with dreams to soar for. When it seems that all is lost, my heart went out for Harry in his confusion and grief.

His plans (made with his dad), are suddenly awry and his behaviour is so authentic, albeit terrible. But he finds his way through and winning has a whole new aspect to it. The heart he finds within his team builds slowly but surely and will fill your own as they conquer one obstacle after another.

The basketball component is high, and although also about loss, this is ultimately a feel-good story.

A great read for any sports fan.

Book Style

274 Pages / Thirty Seven Chapters with dates from Sat 29/3/25 to Thurs 25/12/25

Three sections – Off Season / In Season / Off Season

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

10+

Where & When is it set?

A fictional Australian town / 2025

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

First Person / Present Tense

Is there Violence?

No

What genre is The Rebound?

Middle Grade Contemporary Fiction

Themes

Family / Loss / Sport / Basketball / Friendship / Teamwork / Real Life

Is it part of a series?

No

Author

Fiona Harris

Publisher

Allen & Unwin

If you liked The Rebound, you might like this:

The Crossover

(2026, Allen & Unwin, Australia, Intermediate (NZ), Real Life, Friendship, School, Family, Grief, Love, Sport, Basketball, Coaching, Bullies, NBA, Life Goal, High School Basketball)

The post The Rebound Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

A teenage girl is found dead in the woods behind a high school. The crime has happened during school hours after a fire alarm was set off. Blame instantly falls on the Abbott triplets who were implicated in a girl’s death the year before. Everyone knows it’s always the boyfriend. But is it?

Plot summary of Beware the Abbott Boys (No Spoilers)

After a girl is found in the woods behind their high school, the gossip is swift and merciless. The girl named Kennedy, was hugely popular in school and the easiest culprits to blame are the three Abbott boys, Bram, Henry and Adam.

A year before, Adam’s girlfriend died in a terrible car fire, leaving Adam scarred for life and unable to play football any longer. He also changed on the inside, losing his confidence and outgoing personality. Blame swirled around the brothers as they were working on the car only minutes before, and their town’s opinion was even further swayed when influential people got involved. The triplets spend the following months at home, doing their schooling alone.

Now, after no charges were laid and the triplets are only recently back at school, Kennedy’s murder threatens to wreck everything again. Surely, one of the Abbott boys did it. Certain clues, camera footage and rumours all point to them.

Their neighbour and close friend Hadyn sticks up for them once more, fiercely opposing any blame. She can’t imagine any of the brothers committing murder. Closest to Henry, they decide together that she will looks for clues, ask around at school, and try and figure out who was in the woods with Kennedy that day and why.

But the more she digs, the more complicated things get. She personally is confused with her own feelings about the brothers. She discovers rivalries between them over girls in the past. Was Kennedy a victim of this too?

Review

If you liked Good Girl’s Guide to Murder or The Reappearance of Rachel Price, you’ll love Beware the Abbott Boys. The Abbott Triplets are all very different, and they all have their parts in this mystery, told in third person. This gives the reader an insight into what happened the year before to earn these brothers the terrible reputation they have in their small town.

The narrative gets more twisty the further you read, making me wonder which brother was telling the truth about the murder that has thrown them all under suspicion once more. Their neighbour Hadyn is a good friend to them all, and after knowing them for so long, has mixed and confusing feelings about them.

They aren’t the only ‘villains’ in the novel however, and a popular person looked up to in the town is particularly nasty. All the dramas of high school are stirred into the mix, with all the gossip and local news stations making everything a whole lot worse.

An entertaining Young Adult mystery.

Book Style

368 Pages

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

13+

Where & When is it set?

A fictional town called Silver Creek, Vermont, USA

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

1st person / Past tense – Now   +   3rd person / past tense – mostly 1 year ago

Multiple viewpoints

Is there Violence?

Girl found murdered

Is there any sex in the novel?

No

What genre is Beware the Abbott Boys?

Young Adult Mystery Thriller

Themes

Family / Friendship / Crime / School / Mystery

Is it part of a series?

No

Author

Chelsea Ichaso

Publisher

Penguin Random House

If you liked this, you’ll love these:

Tell Me What Really Happened

Four Good Liars

(2026, Source Books, Friendship, School, Crime, Betrayal, Courage, Family, Grief, Love, Murder, Mystery, Prejudice, Secret, Sibling Rivalry, Brothers, Triplets, Intermediate (NZ), Neighbours, Suspicion, School)

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10 year old Hari Kumar (75% Indian & 25% French) wants desperately to be a Bollywood Actor. Ultimate Superstar is a funny doodle-full diary novel, taking readers on his journey to get closer to his dream.

Plot summary of Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar (No Spoilers)

Hari Kumar wants to be famous like other kids at his school. But Hari wants to be even more famous – he wants to be a Bollywood movie star!

He tries his connections to Bollywood (his grandparents live in Mumbai), but it’s a no go. He’s tried (42 times) asking his parents if he can switch to acting school. They said NO! (42 times). His mates Lily and Raheem are keen to help him and Hari does have his super power.

Just like his mum, his superpower of Autism and ADHD really help him become super focussed. His Nani’s advice on manifesting something you want helps too.

If only his aunties weren’t so intense, and his nemesis at school wasn’t so mean? It doesn’t help when a new kid joins Hari’s enemy at getting in the way of his acting success.

Review

Anyone who loves Louie Stowell’s Loki series, or Ross Welford’s Prince Kal series, is sure to enjoy Hari Kumar and his antics.

This diary doodle format novel is clever, funny and very relatable to any readers 8+. Set in Hari’s home or school, readers will see themselves, or learn a little about his Hindi family, food and customs. I certainly did!

His autism and ADHD are key factors in the book, and more understanding of classmates like Hari is possible after meeting him in this first book in the series.

Almost every page has an illustration, doodle or list, adding even more humour as Hari shares his quest to become an actor. Most don’t go to plan. Some do however, all inadvertently woven into a ‘story mountain’ format Hari is learning at school.

A funny, relatable character in an enjoyable journal read.

Book Style

230 Pages /  This novel is written in a Journal style of approx 6 weeks, skipping a few days in between. The book begins with introductions of Hari, his friends and family and why he writing a journal. It is packed with funny drawings, notes, and speech bubbles. There are also small boxes of text explaining things (especially for his parents who shouldn’t be reading his journal!)

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

8+

Where & When is it set?

In England outside London

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

Third Person / Past Tense

What genre is Hari Kumar Ultimate Superstar?

Middle Grade Humour / Diary

Themes

Real Life / Diary / Friendship / School / Humour / Series

Is it part of a series?

Yes – Hari Kumar Series

1. Hari Kumar – Ultimate Superstar (2026)
2. Hari Kumar – Going for Gold (Aug 2026)

Author

Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Illustrator

Mamta Singh

Publisher

Harper Collins

Find more diary format books here

Find more funny tween reads here

(2026, Series, Journal, Diary, School, Funny, Humour, Doodles, Journal, Film Competition, Bollywood Actor, ADHD, Autism, Music, Real Life)

The post Hari Kumar (1) Ultimate Superstar Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Of course, to be able to do this, she had to post her parents somewhere else, so she could do as she pleased. It is a wonderful life.

When her nasty, dull, teacher Ms Thistle announces all her Year 3 children must invite their parents along to the upcoming school concert, Frances realises she must come up with a plan. Will grandparents do? It’s either that or Ms Thistle’s alternative of the Bleak Island Home for Unwanted Children & Dogs!

Frances needs to find some grandparents for her plan to work. She is a lot smarter than her devious teacher, and her new grandparents are a little different to most. Can she outsmart Ms Thistle?

Katrina Nannestad is an accomplished, award winning writer for children and Frances Bloom reminds me much of another title by this author – The Girl Who Brought Mischief. Both funny and with strong female main characters, Frances Bloom is for a slightly younger audience.

Requiring new grandparents is tricky to avoid trouble, but convincing others that a large, clumsy, honey coloured bear, and a fishing garden gnome fit the bill is hilarious, clever and a tiny bit bonkers. This makes Frances Bloom all the more readable for 6+, and would make a great read aloud in a year 3 classroom.

Finding a picture every time you turn the page is a treat, showing the cheeky, friendly, confident nature of Frances herself, and the sourness of her nemesis teacher. Throw in a large greedy bear causing chaos wherever she goes, a calm, quiet garden gnome and a giant pumpkin, and this early middle grade novel is a delight.

Author – Katrina Nannestad

Illustrator – Marina Zlatanova

Publisher – Harper Collins

Age – 6+

(2025, Harper Collins, Family, School, Funny, Humour, Animals, Mean Teacher, No Parents, Cheeky, Gnome, Bear, Grandparents, Secret)

The post Frances Bloom appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

Nine year old Albertine’s Nanny has died. Albertine knows she will miss her, not knowing that Nanny Tobbins has no plans on leaving her. Much to Albertine’s confusion, her beloved Nanny appears every midnight, insisting on continuing her lessons.

Along with a new stepmother who has no idea how to behave around children, Albertine isn’t sure what to do. Her father doesn’t believe her about a visiting ghost, believing all the trouble caused at night is Albertine’s way of misbehaving with all the changes in her life.

Albertine must figure out a way to convince Nanny Tobbins she is dead, before she gets into more serious trouble with her Pappa.

Plot summary of R.I.P Nanny Tobbins (No Spoilers)

When Albertine’s nanny has a fatal riding accident, Albertine is sad to have lost her. Nanny Tobbins was her constant companion, always guiding her on day to day manners, expectations, and teaching her about the world around her.

It’s not the only change, and despite her father telling her that his new wife is “…sweet like cake,” she is nothing like Albertine imagined. Her new stepmother takes up all the free time her father used to have for her, and when rarely together, hardly says a word to her step daughter.

Luckily, Albertine still has friends within the household. The cook (Cookie) and the chambermaid (Susan) are kind, and the paperboy is a special friend of a similar age.

Albertine suddenly feels quite alone, when her dead nanny begins to visit every night at midnight. She insists on Albertine getting up to do her lessons – whether it be in her room, or playing the piano which wakes up the whole household.

Albertine tries to explain to her Papa that Nanny Tobbins is back and she was just following her instructions, but although he is loving and understanding at all that has changed in his home of late – he refuses to believe in a ghost.

When a new governess is hired to try and curb Albertine’s strange behaviour, Nanny Tobbins continues to visit every night. It begins to take a toll on the house, but on Albertine especially. How is she going to prove to her father she is not being naughty, and all the trouble is coming from her dead Nanny?

Review

Set in Victoria London, I enjoyed this middle-grade novel. Albertine is an innocent, much-loved daughter and member of a wealthy household. She is well-liked among the staff, and she and her dog Quiver are delightful. The blurb for this book says it’s very funny – which is not how I found it at all.

It’s endearing, with a problem to solve, a young girl missing the close relationship she had with her father, and kind people around her trying to help.

The stepmother surprised me, and the main character’s solution did also. Readers 8+ will enjoy this. I’m definitely going to seek out the sequel.

Writing Style

38 Chapters beginning with a short chapter introducing main characters Albertine, her father and Nanny Tobbins. This scene at bedtime portrays the love and respect between the three, and the multi-lingual (English/German) component of the home.

FAQS

What age is it for?

Age – 8+

Where & When is it set?

London, England – 1851

What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?

Third person (Albertine’s POV) / Past tense

What genre is R.I.P Nanny Tobbins?

Historical Middle-Grade Fiction

Themes

Friendship / Historical/ Ghost / Family

Is it part of a series?

Yes

1. R.I.P Nanny Tobbins
2. Nanny Tobbins and the Midnight Plan

If you liked this, you might like…

Evie’s Ghost

Ferris

Author

Lucie Stevens

Publisher

Harper Collins

(2026, Historical, Friendship, Ghost, Animals, Family, Love, 1800’s, 1851, London, England, Series, Victorian, Stepmother, Governess, Dog, Maids, Footman)

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