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 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 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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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)

The post R.I.P Nanny Tobbins Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

A 12 year old boy named Quill learns he is part of a plan to rid another world of a terrible evil. To his horror he must take the place of his dead father, learn to fight deadly dragons, lead an army, and defeat a evil villain who has cursed two worlds with constant winter.

There are even worse things that have befallen these worlds, and only Quill has the power to restore them to their past. But it’s not all hard work. He makes amazing new friends both human-like and magical creatures, and realises his own potential on his quest.

Plot summary of Quill and the Last Generation (No Spoilers)

12 year old Quill lives in a world where he is among the last generation of children born. It has been winter his entire life, and no one knows why. His is a simple life with his sail-maker dad and his loving mum, but now his mother is unwell with the constant cold. He has one good friend in Jona as many find Quill’s life-long affinity with birds, strange.

Little does he know, two of these birds are from another world and have been watching him grow up. When he finally learns his true past, he is suddenly in a race to prepare for a battle he’d never imagined. There is a link between his old world and his new, and this has been interrupted by a villain who is also responsible for no more children born in Quill’s world.

His life is now full of weaponry lessons, dragon history and breeds, and battle plans. With new friends alongside, he faces his destiny with courage and trust, whilst remembering advice given while growing up in his human family.

Review

Quill’s story captured me early. No babies born for 12 years? No summer either? Instantly I knew there was something wrong within Quill’s world, but I never expected it to flip on its axis. The new world he finds himself in answers many of his life-long questions and my new ones, leading us together into a land of dragons, captured souls, danger and new-found courage.

It’s also a tale of kindness where it hasn’t been shown before, with surprising results. There is action aplenty, soldiers on trusty steeds and Quill on a magical one. It reminded me a little of Skandar the Unicorn Thief series, with a young boy learning who he really is, making friends along the way and proving himself to those around him and to his self.

Packed with heart, myth and magic, this is a gripping read. I’m pleased to learn it’s the beginning of a trilogy.

Book Style

266 pages / 30 illustrated chapters + a prologue & epilogue.

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

9+

Where & When is it set?

A small fictional Celtic Welsh harbour town during a Beltaine Festival & an Underworld connected to it by it’s people / (May 1st – During the Iron Age)

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

Third person / Past tense

Is there Violence?

Yes – Battles including sword play, archery and magical beasts.

What genre is Quill and the Last Generation?

Middle Grade Fantasy

Themes

Fantasy / Friendship / Family / Love

Is it part of a series?

Yes – It will be a trilogy

1. Quill and the Last Generation
2. Quill and the Castle of Mirrors (Jan 2027)
3. ?

If you liked this, you might like this

Author

C M Lewis

Publisher

Pan Macmillan UK

(2026, Pan Macmillan UK, Fantasy, Family, Action, Friendship, Love, Courage, Adventure, Destiny, Two Worlds, Dragons, Dark vs Light, Upper and Lower Worlds, Magical Creatures, Water Horse, Monster Hound

The post Quill and the Last Generation Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

10 year old Michael explores the run-down garage at his new home and finds a strange man sitting amongst discarded carpet, boxes and bags of cement. He keeps the man a secret as he hardly believes what he saw.

His parents have worries enough with his new premature baby sister in and out of hospital. Michael must deal with his secret, the strange girl down the street, and worries about his very ill sister.

Plot summary of Skellig (No Spoilers)

Michael can hardly believe his eyes. There is a man inside the garage at his new home,  sitting amongst the rubbish that fills the space. This man wears an old black suit and is covered in dust and spider webs. His voice comes out croaky and dry.

After being told to stay out of the crumbling garage by his parents, Michael doesn’t want to tell them about the strange man and he’s not even sure what he saw. When he finally does share his secret, it is with the girl called Mina who lives down the street.

Mina is home schooled and seems so much wiser than his own friends, so in between them, they decide to help the stranger who tells them he is called Skellig.

Holding this secret close, Michael is also dealing with the worries that fill his home. Mum is in and out of hospital with her premature baby girl, while Dad spends many hours redecorating for when they return, and Michael hangs out with Mina.

Tension rises as Skellig builds his strength, but his baby sister gets sicker. Who or what is Skellig? Will his baby sister be okay?

Review

This is the 3rd time I’ve read Skellig over the past 20 years, and I love it more every time. Winner of the Carnegie Medal 1999, and the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year Award, Skellig is also now deemed a classic.

I’m a strong believer in,

“Just because it’s an older book, doesn’t mean it’s not worth reading.”

Skellig can be read by anyone now (2026), and enjoy it just as much as when it was published in the late 1990’s.

David Almond has a unique way with his stories, and Skellig is a mix of reality and fantasy for a boy of 10 dealing with big issues. I love all of the characters of this novel, who seamlessly slot themselves in your heart as they face the challenges in front of them.

The themes of new life, hope and love are mirrored in the oncoming of Spring, Skellig‘s health improving and Michael’s baby sister receiving the help she needs.

A beautiful story.

Book Style

170 pages / 46 chapters (short)

FAQ’s

What age is it for?

11+

Where & When is it set?

Newcastle Upon Tyne England / Late 1990’s

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

First person / Past Tense

Is there Violence?

No

What genre is Skellig?

Middle Grade Fantasy-Mystery

Themes

Fantasy / Friendship / Family / Love

Is it part of a series?

Yes

1. My Name is Mina (2010) Prequel to Skellig
2. Skellig (1998)

Author

David Arnold

Publisher

Hodder Children’s Books

(1998, Hodder Children’s Books, Family, Love, Secret, Animals, Fantasy, Friendship, Growing up, School, Award Winners, England, Football, Angel, Stranger, Premature, Heart, New Baby in Family, Illness)

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

The life of war hero Nancy Wake from age 16 in Australia, to the end of WWII. This YA novel takes the reader from Australia, to England then France. It shares Nancy’s exciting, but death defying journey from a junior journalist to being an important part of the French Resistance.

Plot summary of A Flame in the Dark (No Spoilers)

Nancy Wake knows she cannot live with her mother any longer. At 16 years old she yearns for more. Setting out on her own, she longs for adventure and has a strong belief that she has something important to achieve.

With an unexpected gift, Nancy can finally venture out into the world and she makes her way to London and then her dream city of Paris. Becoming a journalist, she meets many interesting people and even someone she can love for life.

When Hitler rises to power and she sees first hand the punishment of innocent German citizens, she wants to fight back, but isn’t sure how. When France is in Hitler’s sights, Nancy steps up again and again as the French Resistance forms, grows, and battles the invading forces.

Nancy’s courage grows exponentially as she aids in escapes and then must make her own. She endures endless dangerous situations, interrogations, and constant harsh conditions as she performs small tasks, right up to leading men in and out of battle.

Her famous bike ride is portrayed with all the terror, pain, and determination it would have needed to succeed, and help bring the freedom of her beloved France.

(The rear of the book has photos of all the important people in Nancy’s life and many of her. There is also a glossary of French and Spanish words used in the text.)

My thoughts

Wow! I didn’t know much about Nancy Wake beyond that she was a kiwi war hero and worked in the French Resistance. A Flame in the Dark has filled all the blanks in my knowledge with bold colour, and a plethora of emotions along the way.

Beginning with a captivating first page in Chapter 1, I was hooked. Maria Gill took me on a journey with Nancy from family in Australia, to love and terrible danger in France. Nancy Wake was a supremely courageous, determined, and intelligent woman who often proved herself more skilled than the fighting men that constantly surrounded her. But she still craved sleeping comfort, clean and tidy clothing, and her beloved red lipstick.

Each chapter heading has a title indicating what’s next and a newspaper snippet which also includes a date. This allows readers to place Nancy in this important time in history.

The settings are rich without too much exposition, the characters thrive on the page, and Nancy’s thoughts and feelings are portrayed realistically.

Maria Gill’s extensive research, including walking in Nancy Wake’s footsteps and riding a bike on the very French roads Nancy did, is woven expertly into her first YA novel.

Both Teen and Adult readers will enjoy this portrayal of this amazing woman who saved so many lives while constantly endangering her own.

I’d be surprised if A Flame in The Dark isn’t in future Award lists.

(Thanks to OneTree House for my ARC)

Writing Style

A short prologue begins the story.

Each following chapter has a title and an image of a torn out newspaper headline also showing the date. This is historically accurate based on true events.

An epilogue, photographs, a glossary and author’s note finish the novel.

What age is it for?

Age – 13+

Where & When is it set?

Australia / England / France – 1932-1944

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

First person / Past tense

Is there Violence?

Yes

What genre is A Flame in the Dark?

Historical Narrative Non-Fiction

Themes

War / Courage / Historical / Real Life

Is it part of a series?

No

Find Teacher Notes and see the Book Trailer here

If you liked this, you might like…

The Secret Sparrow

Author

Maria Gill

Publisher

Onetree House NZ

(2026, Onetree House, Aotearoa New Zealand, War, Courage, Historical, Romance, Love, Animals, French Resistance, Nazis, World War II, WWII, Prejudice, Racism, Journalism, Fighting Back, Violence)

The post A Flame in the Dark Book Review appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

A teenage girl named Lotta finding out her way of life on an island isn’t what she has been taught. Folktales and suspicion are key factors.

Plot summary of Song of the Saltings (No Spoilers)

A 16 year old girl helps a teenage boy save his horse from the bogs that spread across their island. They clash at first, as he is one of the exiled people from their village. His family hid him as a child from the annual village lottery, which choses a child to sacrifice for the good of the village.

The ruling Council believes that a child must be given to the mythical creature below the island called the Glimm. This ensures the coming year’s crops will thrive and all manner of good will fall upon the village.

The girl herself is an anomaly, as she was chosen by the lottery years before, to be payment to the Glimm. But for the first time ever, the creature took her horse instead. She is part feared and part revered by the villages, but besides the stable work she does for a Councilor, the villages are wary of her.

She knows she is different. She hears and feels the Glimm below the island and is somehow connected to it. It pulls haunting song from her, and somehow she is connected to the weather elements too. This knowledge, and advice from village elders, send her on a trek to find the truth about the Glimm, the island’s past, and herself.

The answers she seeks shocks her to her core, and the result is part horror, part wonder, and found love.

My thoughts

Wow! This YA novel had me captured from the first few sentences to the very last, as I turned the pages faster and faster. The pacing of the story is excellent, building the setting, characters gradually (but not slowly), giving me all the understanding I needed to fully appreciate what it was like living on an island of contrasts.

There were the rich, their followers, and the exiled, banished for the crime of hiding their children from harm. The characters are lush and credible, with convincing motivations, and actions, tugging on my own emotions while reading.

The bleak, remote, island setting is eerie at times, especially around the bogs and moors at night where the villagers fear to tread.

Tension builds throughout the novel, as hearts are broken, others found, truths are revealed, and choices made.

Song of the Saltings is beautifully written by NZ’s own multi-award winning author, reviewer and past literary festival director, Rachael King.

My favourite YA read of 2026.

Main Characters

Lotta Salter – Aged 16 and works hard in the Manor stables of Councilor Lewis – one of the important men of her island home of Brack. She has a natural affinity with horses, and is head groom. She lives above the stables and has had the apprenticeship for three years.

Besides her friend Daphne (daughter of the Manor), she’s not close to anyone. Lotta fell out with her parents after they meekly did the Council bidding when she was chosen as the Glimm sacrifice. Everyone else was wary of her, after the Glimm let her live. Lotta is brave, detests cruel treatment of person or animal, and will stand against it when she can. Her connection with the Glimm is growing, but she doesn’t fear it.

Moss Smith – is labelled a hideling by the villagers. This is spoken as an insult, no matter how many times he tells people he didn’t ask to be hidden by his parents. This was done to prevent him being entered into the annual sacrifice lottery, but it has done much more harm than good.

Their life of exile is now one of poverty and hardship. His eyesight has also been affected, and he avoids bright clear days, preferring to be out at night.

Marten Salter – 18 years old and works with the gardener for the same Councilor as Lotta. He is in love with the Councilor’s son Roderick, and they grab whatever time they can together, often in the stables while Lotta and Daphne are on watch. His love for Roddy soon becomes a broken heart, which sends him to drink and trouble.

Writing Style

Prologue / 42 Chapters in 2 parts / Epilogue

The story follows Lotta and Moss’ points of view, blending along the way.

FAQs

What age is it for?

12+

Where & When is it set?

A fictional remote island named Brack in the Scottish Isles  “…in an alternative history or possible future.”

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

Third person / Present tense

Is there Violence?

Yes

What genre is Song of the Saltings?

Historical / Folk Horror / Young Adult

Is there any sex in the novel?

No

Themes

Truth, Mythical Creatures, Sacrifice, Control, Courage, 1st Love, Community

Is it part of a series?

No

Find a junior series by Rachael King here

Find an award winning middle-grade novel by this author here

Author

Rachael King

Publisher

Allen & Unwin

(2026, Allen & Unwin NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand, Intermediate (NZ), Multi Award Winning Author, Suspicion, Folktales, Family, First Love, LGBTQ+, Folk Horror, Sacrifice, Horses, Mythical Creature, Serpent, Connection, Control, Truth, Lies, Historical, action, Betrayal, Love, Secrets)

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A young teen named Dell is upset that her mother has returned to their small town after years of being away. With no thought for her four daughters and loving husband, she left five years before when her youngest daughter was only a toddler. She has been chasing UFO sightings and crop circles around the world.

Dell decides the only way to protect her family is to prove the new local crop circles in their small town that her mother has returned to see, are fake.

Plot summary of Running in Circles (no spoilers)

One Sunday, Dell and her best friend Teddy are walking home from a local creek after looking for a special type of frog.  On the way past a corn crop, they see it moving and decide to take a look.

Not only do they see a large area of corn mowed down in a perfect circle, they find Dell’s mother. Dell hasn’t seen her Mum since she left years before – to chase UFOs.

The only reason Mum has returned is that crop circles have been discovered in local cornfields of their small town called Tully. Dell decides not to tell her dad and 3 sisters that Mum is back in town, hoping she’ll leave as fast as she appeared. This decision backfires terribly, even though Dell just wanted to keep everyone from more heartache and disappointment.

With faithful Teddy at her side, with their entire town turning UFO crazy, and news stations flocking to Tully, Dell decides to prove the crop circles are fake. She knows that the sooner she does it, the sooner her mother will leave again, and things can get back to normal.

Review

Running In Circles is a story of family, love and how messy they can be. There are 3 generations in the mix, as grandparents come to the rescue as four sisters and their dad are tipped out of their chaotic comfort zone, as their awol mother and wife unexpectedly comes back into their lives.

Main character Dell is a character churning with complicated feelings trying to protect everyone around her. All as her best friend Teddy tries to protect her. Dell’s love of everything ‘weather’ is shared in the chapter headings.

Dell’s passion for the environment and humankind’s havoc on it, is woven effortlessly through the book. These are all reminders about what is happening around us, along with the ability to get people to believe something without scientific evidence.

Whether an event is a hoax or not is quickly swept aside by the sensationalism of it. People of the town are quick to believe media and town gossip, instead of making decisions themselves. Something for young readers to think about?

A wonderful read.

Characters

Dell – (Adelaide) Aged 12 and 2nd oldest of four siblings (sisters). She wants to be a storm chaser or a climate scientist when she grows up. Fascinated in weather science, she has built her own weather station in her front yard (in an optimal position for correct readings, of course).

Dell looks out for her younger sisters, no matter how annoying their constant squabbling is. She is increasingly worried about her 15 year old sister Summer, who she shares a bedroom with, and about the fallout her mother’s return will inevitably bring.

Teddy – Dell’s best friend. Dell sticks up for him against a verbal bully at school, as Teddy is a kind, thoughtful boy who loves frogs as much as she loves weather.

Mum – Left her family to chase UFO’s and everything connected to them. She seems oblivious to the hurt she causes coming and going, and this time is no different as she treats her youngest daughters with donuts and car rides, and confuses her eldest with possible escape.

Writing Style

Dell tells the story as it happens. She talks about her day with her sisters, her friend Teddy and going to school. Readers learn about family quirks and dynamics and day to day life in their household. She is honest about her feelings about her mother’s leaving and then return and the turmoil it causes in her family – all in the authentic voice of a 12 year old girl.

FAQs

What age is it for?

9 -12 years

Where & When is it set?

Tully – a small town in Australia

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

First person / Present Tense

Is there any Violence?

Not physical. There is a class bully who is verbally teasing a classmate.

What genre is Running in Circles?

Middle-Grade / Contemporary / Real Life

Themes

Family, Friendship, Love, Science, Alien Crop Circles, Hoax?

Is it part of a series?

No

Author

Shivaun Plozza

Publisher

University of Queensland Press

(2026, UQP, University of Queensland Press, Australia, Small Town, Aliens, UFO’s, Crop Circles, Family, Love, Complicated emotions, Siblings, Sisters, Grandparents, School, Bully, Hoax, Conspiracy, Selfishness, Environment, Science, Secret)

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Theo has an ability to see how long a person will remain in his life by a number he sees when he looks in their eyes. He must learn how to deal with this gift/curse and overcome the all encompassing fears and worry they cause him.

Ultimately this YA novel is a beautiful love story with a twist, with a boy taking the chance to love a girl, with all the risk that might entail.

Plot summary of Counting Down with Theodore Brown (No Spoilers)

Theo is 19 and is studying Creative Writing at Community College. He has been told by his tutor to get some life experience to help flesh out his characters and writing itself.

He sets out (warily) to do just that, but has some hurdles to face along the way. He tells it like it is, with all the feelings he experiences from dark to light, hate to love.

He begins with how his gift affects him around about losing people close to him, then the reader follows him in his journey of first love and all it entails. This is all while he still sees numbers in loved one’s eyes.

Review

The intriguing premise attracted me to this book and the fact that the author is a fellow bookseller in Aotearoa New Zealand. I tried to imagine what it would be like facing the numbers in friend’s and loved one’s eyes and how I would possibly deal with that. This was especially true when Theo was young and didn’t know whether the number was a death sentence or not.

I enjoyed his personality, even when he was going through the hard stuff and was awful to his mum, as their mutual love soon shone through again. I also enjoyed meeting HeyJude, (Theo’s therapist) with his calm, wise advice, whether he believed Theo about the numbers or not.

Theo and Lil’s love of retro music and movies is fun, which also star in the novel’s Chapter Headings.

Counting Down with Theodore Brown is a beautiful love story with an intriguing twist. The end result is something we all should think more about.

Characters

Theo – 19 years old. He’s always been seen as a weirdo by others because he would avoid looking people directly in the eye at any cost. Discovering that wearing sun glasses helped what he was trying to avoid was a game changer, but didn’t change his weirdo status much.

He learnt what the numbers he saw in people’s eyes really meant the hard way, when he lost his father. They were very close and it affected him deeply, further moulding his character. Theo loves his mum and appreciates her support, even though she doesn’t believe what he sees.

He loves retro music and movies.

Theo is a sheltered teen with little life experience with girls or many friends. This makes his first romance all the more sweeter to experience along with him.

Theo meets his first love on an online game, and finally arranged to meet up in person.

Lil (Fly)

A talented artist, a straight talker and daughter of wealthy Mexican parents who don’t really understand her. They are tidy, driven and business minded. She is messy, fun-loving and also a talented gamer.

She shares Theo’s love of retro movies and music – especially Dolly Parton, which helps the early stages of their relationship. She also loves any movies with Jeff Goldblum starring in them.

Writing Style

Theo talks directly to the reader explaining his ability to see numbers in people’s eyes. eg. (I shit you not – this is my unfortunate truth).

FAQs

What age is it for?

12 – 18 years

Where & When is it set?

A small town called Fairview, Indiana, USA.

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

First person / Past tense

Is there Violence?

No. There is bigotry and homophobia without physical violence.

What genre is Counting Down with Theodore Brown?

Coming of Age / Romance

Is there any sex in the novel?

Yes

Is there any swearing in the novel?

Yes

Themes

Family, Love, Loss, Becoming an adult

Is it part of a series?

No

Author

Daniel Devenney

Publisher

Allen & Unwin NZ

(2026, Allen & Unwin NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand Author, Humour, Love, Romance, Coming of Age, Growing Up, Grief, Loss, Therapy, Bigotry, Family, Gaming, Fear, Road Trip, Retro Music, Retro Movies)

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It’s not long before Max notices the other cars heading in the same direction. Flash cars which are a lot different than their family station-wagon. On the slopes, he notices the ski clothes – all fitting properly, not in clashing colours and from the op-shop like his own family’s outfits.

This just reinforces the fact that he believes they need more money to be truly happy. More money could buy a sleek, blue, sports car like their host, clothe them in the latest ski fashions and feed them like the lavish breakfasts and meals they have been enjoying. But the true reason Max wishes they were more like those around them, is to impress a girl.

He knows it when it hits him. The tiny cherub who flies around with a little bow and arrow has scored a direct hit on Max, the moment he set eyes on a fifteen year old chair-lift operator named Kirby.

Despite Abby telling him he’s kidding himself that Kirby will even notice his short-for-his-age-and-super-annoying-eleven-year-old self, Max is determined to win her heart. His smooth words don’t work though. Just getting on the chair lift is an embarrassing comedy of errors, let alone learning to ski or trying to trick Kirby into thinking he’s rich.

Lots of pranks are being pulled on Max’s family and friends and they automatically poke their fingers at him – but he’s too much in luuurve, to even think about pranks. It’s a tough time for Max, hilarious for everyone else, and a lesson learned in the growing up stakes.

Max falling in love is just as funny as all of his other exploits throughout this clever, laugh out loud series. Each of the stories entertain readers with Max antics’ but I love the way each episode leaves the reader with something to think about.

This book explores whether money really does buy happiness, how important your friends are (no matter how weird they are being), and even your enemies can have your back sometimes. Even if they are only helping to then witness the hilarious fallout.

Author / Illustrator – Matt Stanton

Age – 7+

(2024, Harper Collins, Funny, Series, Humour, Snow, Skiing, Crush, Love at first sight, Cupid, Fast Car, Wealth, Rich and famous, Looking the part, Showing off, Chair Lift Disaster, Mountain Man, Money isn’t everything, Money doesn’t buy happiness, Prankster, Tricks, Missing boy, Rescue, Growing up)

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New baby Zeeshan is demanding, crying a lot and taking all of mum and dad’s attention. The family routine is all messed up and Myra isn’t quite sure where she fits in the family. She’s not the youngest any longer and wonders if she will be forgotten.

What makes things worse is her teacher at school keeps getting her name wrong. Myra wants to say something, but just shrugs and answers to another name… for a while.

At least Mum and Dad and Muthashi (grandma) are interested in her football trials coming up. But then Myra gets put on the team as a mid-fielder. No one cheers for people who don’t score goals or save them.

Feeling less and less seen by everyone around her, Myra feels worse and worse. Will she just disappear?

A charming story about a tween’s place in her home after a new baby joins the family. Becoming a middle child is confusing for Myra, and she struggles with a perceived whole change of identity.

With the help of her wise Muthashi, and parents who make sure Myra knows she is loved, Myra in the Middle is really special.

Large print and line spacing make Myra in the Middle a great book for young readers moving from junior novels up to longer chapter books. Myra loves maths and uses it to sort day to day problems, showing readers that Maths is present in everyday life, not just the classroom.

I did enjoy the way Myra stood up for herself and her name, and the fact that she was worried about her baby brother’s new name. Names from different cultures from a country’s own, are often shortened, nick named or pronounced incorrectly. This book will gently point out that that can often be hurtful and confusing.

Author – Seetha Dodd

Illustrator – Peter Cheong

Age – 7+

(2026, University of Queensland Press, Australia, Family, Love, Friendship, Growing up, Indian Malaysian Culture, New Baby, Middle Child, Identity, Football, Soccer, Mid fielder, School, Names)

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Living high up in Highmoor Manor by the sea, Annaleigh and her family must again go into mourning for a year.  Camille, the eldest of her sisters, is tired of the dark, drab dresses they have to wear once again, and is worried she will never find a suitor.

Their new stepmother makes a suggestion that not only breaks Camille’s melancholy, but endears the sisters to her. The resulting grand event only leaves them feeling more dejected. The rumours from the nearby town have finally crept up and through the halls of Highmoor. Annaleigh’s family has been cursed.

Again, the girls find another way to avoid this so called curse and attend what they love most of all – Glittering balls with handsome partners to dance all night with. Annaleigh too enjoys these magical events, especially after meeting the son of one of her father’s ship Captains.  But she increasingly grows wary as strange voices and ghostly visions of her dead sisters begin to follow her everywhere. Now sure her siblings were murdered, Annaleigh begins to ask questions, dig deeper and what she finds is almost too horrifying to bear. Where have her sisters been going? Who were they really dancing with? And who brought this curse down upon them all?

This retelling of The Brother’s Grimm’s The Twelve Dancing Princesses lured me in with empathy for Annaleigh and her grieving family, and the added customs and beliefs based around the sea provided a wonderful backdrop.

Unlike other retellings I’ve read, this story got darker and darker, letting in voices and visions, dreams and nightmares. I got to know Annaleigh well, as she grieved, then baulked at what she saw and heard, slowly beginning to understand the controlling forces over her family. The revealing answers were unexpected and riveting.

Intriguing. Involved. Intense. Loved it! 

Author – Erin A Craig

Age – 14+

Find more retelling reviews here

Find a review for the next book in this stunning series here

(2020, 2026, Penguin Random House, Mystery, Fantasy, Ghost, Murder, Classic, Retelling, Princess, Grief, Secret, Siblings, Sisters, Stepmother, Truth, Magic, Horror)

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What she has brought throughout her life from that time is her skill at drawing and now, painting. Now back in a rebuilt Highmoor and living with her eldest sister Camille (the Duchess of the Salaan islands) Verity spends her time looking after her nieces and nephews. The older she gets the more she yearns for a life her elder sisters have had. Balls and parties, meeting people and finally beaus and suitors and hopefully marriage.

But Camille seems to be set on keeping her youngest sister at Highmoor, making excuses every year for not attending the events that would introduce Verity to Society.

There is a reason, and Camille is finally forced into admitting it. Verity is shocked and can scarcely believe it, and when an opportunity to finally leave arises, she flees her family home.

She has been offered a place in the home of Duchess Bloem, while she paints the Duchess’ son’s portrait. His father the Duke of Bloem is an accomplished botanist, producing flowers unique to the world, and in Bloem, flowers and plants rule as much as the sea and salt rule in Verity’s world.

The son (Alexander) is charming, handsome and thoughtful, and Verity warms to him quickly. Spending time with him helps push aside her worries about what Camille must think after she ran away. The Duchess is incredibly generous with her time and wealth, and Verity begins to love her time in their grand home.

The only thing Verity struggles with is her broken sleep almost every night. Peacocks are said to roam the grounds, and their screams constantly pull Verity from her dreams. Soon, the very thing she fled from shows itself at her new surroundings. Was her sister Camille right? Is she going mad?

The preliminary sketches of the portrait are going well, and she’s enjoying Alexander’s easy ways immensely. In fact she believes he might have feelings for her. But the deeper their romance develops, the more eerie Alexander’s home becomes. There’s something not right at the Bloem estate. In fact, there might be something truly terrible behind the facade of flowers and fragrances…

A gripping sequel to House of Salt and Sorrows!

Although a key character in House of Salt and Sorrows, Verity was only 5 years old. Now she is 17 and in charge of her own destiny – whether her sisters like it or not. It does take some time to get into the thick of things in House of Roots and Ruin, but the world building behind this new way of life away from the sea is an enjoyable journey.

It is a rich world of flowers, fragrances, herbs, gods, customs, practices and foods that Verity must learn while she stays with her employer, to complete a portrait of their son. It certainly helps that he’s handsome, kind and funny, and Verity feels she may have found what she’s been yearning for for years.

The gradual getting to know this family sets up the shocking reveals that are to come for Verity and the reader, and the fallout becomes more gruesome the deeper and further you read.

Learning of a third book in the Sisters of the Salt series (2027?) is incredibly exciting! Can’t wait!

Author – Erin A Craig

Age – 15+

Not read the first book yet? Find a review here

Find more retellings tales here

Publisher – Bloomsbury

Set – Highmoor Estate on Fictional Selkirk Island

Viewpoint – 3rd person

Violence – Yes

Sex – No

Real Life – Historical

Fantasy – Fantasy

Blend – Fantasy / Romance / Fairytale Retelling sequel

(2023, Bloomsbury, Series, Fantasy, Love, Romance, Historical, Sibling Rivalry, Revenge, Murder, Ghost, Family, Betrayal, Flowers, Experiments, Secrets, Reveals, Mistresses)

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Separated into sections exploring the many different ways horses have changed our lives, whether it be through creativity, competition, breeding, or therapy, this collection has one constant – the pure love between people and their horses.

Horses are a lot of work and take commitment, but the humans in Horses & Us all agree on one thing – the health and happiness of their horse must always come first whether they are loaned, borrowed, owned or leased.

The bond between human and horse can be unbreakable across lifetimes and horses become very important parts of a rider’s life. Horses change lives, providing community, shared experiences, friendship and achievement.

In competition, whether it be dressage, eventing, show jumping, racing or mounted games, horses aid riders in building resilience, teamwork, sportsmanship, and strength in both body and mind.

This book is full of photos, stunning art by multiple artists, and a personal favourite – a poem about the legendary Phar Lap.

There are chapters on artist’s work around horses, the importance of horses in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history, and a link between Māoritanga and therapy for horses.

Another is from a movie stunt rider, and yet another from a multi award winning children’s author whose horse stories are enjoyed around the world.

A collection for everyone, Horses & Us is a wonderful celebration of human-horse bonds.

Author – Johanna Emeney

Illustrators – Ali Teo, Amy Haarhoff, Isobel Te Aho-White, Lisa Allen, Ross Hamilton, Sarah Laing.

Other Contributors – Bill Manhire, CK Stead, Geoffrey Heath, Liam Barr, Claudia Odlin, Erica Wills, Dayna Pomare Pai, Lucy Cheadle, Michelle Clarke, Stacy Gregg, Ben Weir, Manaia Dunster, Jaydah Dempsey, Kelsey Hannan, Lucy Schick, Wiremu Priest, Vivien Simmons, Hillary Milne, The Ellis Family, Louise Duncan, The Cocks Family, Mura Love, Ellie O’Brien, Sir Haare Williams (KNZM), Lily Nicholas, Pine Hollow Riding School, Tyson Miller)

Age – One for everyone

Non- Fiction

See inside here

(2026, Massey University Press, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ, Non-Fiction, Horses, Hōiho, Māoritanga, Eventing, Show Jumping, Dressage, Horse Racing, Mounted Games, Human-Horse Bonds, Family, Friendship, Therapy, Care, Love, Stories, Collection)

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Evelyn has lived multiple lives across the centuries. She has experienced first hand the 1472 ottoman Empire, the Western Front trenches, and the time of the Witch Trials.

In 1290 she travelled across the Sahara in a camel caravan that trades across the sands, lived in Athens in its historical prime, and been an inmate at a horrific insane asylum. She was incarcerated for speaking the truth of her existence. She and her beloved named Arden are doomed to the fate of living their lives over and over and over – reborn near each other, to enable Arden to find her and kill her before she turns 18.

They are born in both girl and boy existences, sometimes at the same time, drawn to each other regardless of time or gender. Evelyn wants to know why Arden does what he does. She yearns to live her life to the full, to age, have a big family and wrinkle and love them all, even as she loves desperately the one who kills her again and again.

This fate was struck at the beginning of time, and Arden will not tell Evelyn the answer she’s desperate to know. Why?

Now living in Wales in 2022, she just needs to stay alive until she can give the hospital the stem cells her sister needs to survive. Each time she is reborn, she doesn’t remember her fate at first, but when she does, she is hyper aware of those around her as she ages.

Could her work colleague at the bookstore be Arden? Watching. Waiting.

Could it be the cute boy at a nearby cafe? All she needs is a few more days to save her sister.

Such a fascinating premise, and written beautifully – Our Infinite Fates is an intriguing read!

Much of the novel is set in 2022 Wales, where main character Evelyn lives on a small farm, and works in a bookstore. Needing to stay alive for her younger sister with the imminent threat of her coming murder at age 18, Evelyn is constantly on edge. This amps up the tension as she does everything to stay alive.

She and a guy named Arden are inextricably linked in love and murder as they live their lives over and over, magnetically attracted to each other, but also in Evelyn’s case, trying to stay apart. The secret of why this must happen every 18 years is a jaw-dropping one which I much enjoyed.

I also loved the way their past lives were sprinkled throughout the story, showing Arden’s love for her even as he knew he had to kill her, and Evelyn’s love for everyone around her. Love in fact, despite the continuing murders through time, is a huge part of this tale.

“I love you. I have loved you. I will love you.”

Great read.

Author – Laura Steven

Age – 15+

Publisher – Penguin UK

Set in – Across 1000 years

Orphan – Lives multiple lives

Violence – Yes

Real Life – Yes

Fantasy – Yes

Sex – Yes

Blend – Romance / Determined Fate / Fantasy

(2025, Love, Betrayal, Family, Fantasy, Grief, Historical, Romance, Secret, Star-Crossed Lovers, Doomed, Murder, Deal, Leukemia, Hospital)

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Minutes later, he’s pinned underneath a boulder, wondering if he’s knocked any teeth out. Unfortunately for Ben, it is much, much worse. His lower leg is crushed beyond any miracles of surgery.

What follows is a long, painful, frustrating recovery with the loss of his lower leg. He’d taken so many things for granted, and can hardly get his head around the space that now lay beneath his left knee.

Luckily, he has support from family, his talented surgeon, nursing staff, physiotherapists, prosthetists, old friends and new. It’s a journey only he can take, having to learn to take time to learn each step, be comfortable enough to show others, and even talk about the event that took his leg.

Just as his wonderful novel See Ya Simon captured hearts, so will (multi award winning NZ author) David Hill’s latest – Stepping Up.

David Hill is masterful at portraying teenage boys in his writing. Whether it be learning about local POWs, showing off to girls, or supporting a friend with an illness, his characters are always authentic, and likeable, even if, especially if, they make mistakes finding their way.

Stepping Up has main character Ben facing a terrible price for a decision made in a moment. Months of rehabilitation include smaller mistakes, each time teaching Ben something new about himself.

Being there throughout his journey, made my heart race along with his when he believes he’s made another terrible error after a rash decision.

All of which makes Stepping Up a captivating, moving novel.

Author – David Hill (CNZM, MNZM)

Age – 10+

Publisher – Penguin Books NZ

Set – Present / New Zealand

Viewpoint – 3rd person

Violence – No

Real Life – Yes

Fantasy – No

Blend – Real Life / Determination / Recovery

(2026, Penguin Books NZ, NZ. New Zealand, Aotearoa, Tramping, Accident, Rehabilitation, Injury, Recovery, Introspection, Determination, Family, Friendship, Growing Up, Support, Award winning author, NZ Author, Mountain Climbing, Limb Difference, Limb Loss, Prosthetics, Physiotherapy, Hospital Care)

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It’s her boyfriend Noah whose opinion matters the most, and he’s perfectly fine with her working on the town’s dearly departed, and comforting their grieving relatives. She loves her job and has become almost as skilled as her mother. Together, they make their ‘guests’ look nearly as good in death as in life, with expert makeup and sculpting too, when required.

Life is good, business is going well, and her skills are getting better with each ‘guest’. Then a terrible loss affects them all, and everything changes.

Months later, Meka is just beginning to emerge from the loss when she spies strangers following her. Her dad’s pet ravens are acting strangely, and then a shop assistant is attacked while they are in the store. Meka is wondering about her sanity, when she sees something impossible. Have her parents been hiding a secret her entire life?

Make Me A Monster is just as amazing as previous novels by this author – Cinderella is Dead and Sleep Like Death, which are also bended tales on classics.

With a twist on Mary Shelley’s famous story, this novel is perfect for Frankenstein fans, with the original story and author referenced, and a delicious shock I never expected in the plot.

The further I read, the more intense the tale becomes. There are so many times it looks as all is lost as Meka is outmatched against her foe again and again. How will she cope with one secret after another being revealed about her family, her past and most of all, her true self?

I’d love to say more, but too much on this one would spoil the journey the reader takes with Meka.

Set in the present with historical nods, Make Me A Monster is perfect for my Frankenstein collection. 

Author – Kalynn Bayron

Age – 12+

Find more novels by Kalynn Bayron here

Publisher – Bloomsbury

Set – Contemporary New York State USA

Viewpoint – 1st person / present tense

Violence – Yes

Sex – No

Real Life – Yes / Horror / Fantasy

Fantasy – Undead (NOT zombies)

Blend – Real Life / Horror / Undead

(2025, Retelling, Bloomsbury, Family, Love, Grief, Horror, Secret, Mortician’s Assistant, Death, Funeral Home, Rituals, Frankenstein, Ravens)

The post Make Me A Monster appeared first on whatbooknext.com.

He and the other toys live in a house with Dasha and her mum Elizaveta. They have moved to the US from the Ukraine, missing Dasha’s Dad and trying to make a new life for themselves.

They have opened a place for toys to be rehomed, or found by those missing their fuzzy loved ones. The key to this is Zephyrina, their kleptomaniac cat. Zephyrina is an expert cat burglar, bringing home toys of all shapes and sizes. But she does admit, toy cars are difficult to carry and leave her with sore teeth.

One night she brings home a bear covered in tomato sauce and parsley, scrounged from a restaurant rubbish bin. This bear is quickly named Berwon by Dasha, and is cleaned up for his probation period outside the house where only his owner can claim him.

Berwon is an old bear. He’s in very good condition, and he and Pocket Bear being both from ‘The War to End all Wars,’ talk deep into the night, while all the other toys are playing.

Little do any of them know, just how special Berwon is.

Toy Story was right all along. Toys are alive!

By the author of The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate is a master storyteller of wonderful tales, and Pocket Bear joins some of her best.

Told in the viewpoint of a kleptomaniac cat called Zephyrina, this story for early middle grade readers has short chapters, and beautiful pencil illustrations by Charles Santoso. Some of these are double spreads, but smaller pics are also sprinkled through the story.

Zephyrina herself is a sassy, sarcastic, character. Like she says, she is a CAT after all. She doesn’t do hugs or sleep on her girl’s bed or even let herself be patted. But she IS very much attached to Pocket Bear.

Pocket Bear and Berwon are two toys bears who have a real life link to WWI, and there is more information in the rear of the book for readers.

Funny, lovely, and with just the right amount of tension about ownership of Berwon, Pocket Bear is a special read.

Author – Katherine Applegate

Illustrator – Charles Santoso

Age – 7+

Find more Katherine Applegate stories here

Find more stories about Cats here

(2026, Scholastic, Family, Fantasy, Friendship, Humour, Funny, Secret, Cat Burglar, Toys, Toy Bear, WWI, Brave, Love, New York, USA)

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