Helen Dunmore |
Harper Collins |
0007204892 |
May 2006 |
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The ancient Greeks used to believe that the world was composed of four elements, earth, water, fire and air. |
Archives for June 2006
The Sirens of Surrentum
The Sirens of Surrentum by Caroline Lawrence |
Orion |
1842552554 |
April 2005 |
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Any long-running series of books, or TV for that matter, runs the risk of its formula becoming tired and its characters falling flat. Thankfully, with her admirable attention to detail and carefully planned story arc, Caroline Lawrence’s Roman Mysteries have so far avoided this trap. Now on book 11, Lawrence’s historical japes are still fresh, intriguing and entertaining. |
Beast
Ally Kennen |
Marion Lloyd Books |
0439951046 |
June 2006 |
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The cover of this one put me off: textured like the skin of a dinosaur, a huge yellow eye looking out of the beast’s face. Oh gawd, I thought, not horror, not Jurassic Park, not monsters, please. |
Breathe
Cliff McNish |
Orion |
1842551108 |
July 2006 |
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In many ways, this title is pure, traditional ghost story. It sets out to chill and it does. |
The Fourth Horseman
Kate Thompson |
Bodley Head |
0370328906 |
Jun 2006 |
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Recently given the distinction of being the only writer to win the Bisto award four times, it’s high time that Kate Thompson’s superbly pithy novels received the recognition they deserve. The publication of ‘The New Policeman’ in 2005 finally saw this happen. |
Down the Back of the Chair
Margaret Mahy |
Frances Lincoln |
1845074408 |
Apr 2006 |
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‘Down the back of the chair’ is the entertainingly imaginative new picture book by Margaret Mahy, the deserving winner of the 2006 Hans Christian Andersen author award. The book opens with a family catastrophe when dad loses his car keys ‘ observant readers will not miss the true location of the keys on the first double-page-spread featuring Polly Dunbar’s vibrant and wacky illustrations. Wisdom arises out of the mouth of two-year-old babe, Mary who advises a fair old rummage down the back of the comfy chair. |
The Road of Bones
Anne Fine |
Doubleday |
0385610637 |
Jun 2006 |
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A hybrid of political concern and an excruciatingly exciting adventure-thriller, Anne Fine’s ‘The Road of Bones’ could easily be described as a Magnum Opus. In it, the politicised nature of childhood is unravelled, a theme that runs central to the whole body of Fine’s work, whether that be in picturebooks for the youngest readers ‘Poor Monty’ or her recent coruscating comedy for adult readers, ‘Raking the Ashes’. |