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Children's reading lists

17 must-have historical fiction books for kids

The spellbinding historical tale for readers who love The Night Circus and The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock

Tomorrow

'Bask in the brilliance . . . Golden Age Amsterdam, Versailles, the court of Charles I - it's armchair travel with a unique companion' MAIL ON SUNDAY 
 
The spellbinding and beautifully written story of courage and devotion, for fans of historical and magical fiction like The Night Circus, The Binding and The Girl in the Tower 
_________ 
 
Valentyne has lived many lives - physician, philosopher, soldier - but his defining work has been his ability to stop the clock. He has lived for centuries, as has his dog, Tomorrow. 
 
Inseparable, they've voyaged across Europe, using their time wisely. They've attended royalty in a dozen courts, healed soldiers on a hundred battlefields, and met with the greatest minds of the Renaissance. Until one day, in watery Venice, Valentyne vanishes without trace. 
 
Broken-hearted, Tomorrow begins a search that will endure for centuries. But as the continent collapses into war, he must risk everything to find his master - or lose him forever. 
 _________ 
 
'Moving and tender. I was captivated by its charm from the beginning' Rachel Joyce, bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry 
 
'Tomorrow is an epic tale of love, of courage, of hope' London Evening Standard 
 
'What a novel! Ambitious and wonderfully achieved. A book to read again and again' Michael Morpurgo, bestselling author of War Horse 
 
'A tale of love and unbreakable bonds' New York Post 
 
'Definitely - HIGHLY - worth the read!' Seth Meyers 
 
'Original, ambitious, moving' Stylist

Bask in the brilliance . . . Golden Age Amsterdam, Versailles, the court of Charles I - it's armchair travel with a unique companion

Ornate, vivid, deeply coloured, and so precise I could smell and taste the world . . . the story of a dog crossing continents and centuries in search of the man he loves is moving and tender. I was captivated by its charm from the beginning

Sunday Times bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

It's a rich and complex tale, beautifully told. Historic detail and dog-like thinking are vividly conveyed, carrying the reader along. It is a joy to read. It raises deep questions about what it means to be human

A tale of love and unbreakable bonds

A grand sweep of adventure and travel, war and romance, and a rich exploration of love, life and loyalty

Dog lovers will want to have this heartbreaking, century spanning novel for their next discovery

Beautiful. Rich in perseverance, love and the sweetness of life

A lyrical commentary on war, rivalry, sacrifice, and above all else, loyalty

Timeless. Humanity's foibles and failings are on full display. This soulful debut is a charmer

With a hint of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Tomorrow confronts big questions about life's purpose and celebrates life's pleasures

Damian Dibben's novel is guaranteed to make you shed a tear . . . sure to appeal to readers who enjoy fiction embedded in history

The story of a dog that doesn't die, of the wonders he'd seen, and the horrors, who lost his master a hundred years ago and has been searching for him ever since, Tomorrow is an epic tale of love, of courage, of hope

What a novel! Ambitious and wonderfully achieved. A book to read again and again

Michael Morpurgo, bestselling author of War Horse

Definitely - HIGHLY - worth the read!

Damian Dibben's novels have been translated into twenty-seven languages and published in over forty countries. His series The History Keepers was an international publishing phenomenon. Dibben originally trained as an artist and scenic designer before becomnig an actor and screenwriter. He lives on London's South Bank with his partner Ali and their dogs Dudley, Daphne and Velvet. The Colour Storm is his second novel to explore seismic events of the past, whose influence and power can be felt to this day. His first, Tomorrow, was published to critical acclaim in 2018.

Valentyne has lived many lives - physician, philosopher, soldier - but his defining work has been his ability to stop the clock. He has lived for centuries, as has his dog, Tomorrow. Inseparable, they've voyaged across Europe, using their time wisely. They've attended royalty in a dozen courts, healed soldiers on a hundred battlefields, and met with the greatest minds of the Renaissance. Until one day, in watery Venice, Valentyne vanishes without trace. 
 
Broken-hearted, Tomorrow begins a search that will endure for centuries. But as the continent collapses into war, he must risk everything to find his master - or lose him forever.

The History Keepers: Nightship to China

The third book in the explosive History Keepers series. There's danger in the deep . . .

History can be fun too! Damian Dibben’s books have got kids’ imaginations going – and cultivated their interest in the past to boot

Move over Harry Potter, it is time for Jake Djones to take the limelight

Today’s answer to Harry Potter crossed with The Hunger Games

We are predicting extremely big things for this new adventure series

The time travel aspect is excellently described and written and really transports the reader back in time - and you will learn a lot of history on the way! An exciting, quirky, humorous and pacy read, with great (and believable) characters - so much going for it and a great series.

Damian Dibben has worked extensively as a screenwriter on projects as diverse as The Phantom Of The Opera and Puss In Boots. He is a keen explorer, inspired by everything from archaeology to cosmology, and loves nothing more than a great adventure story. 
 
Nightship To China is the third in his History Keepers series after The Storm Begins and Circus Maximus. The books have been translated into twenty-six languages. 
 
Damian lives on London’s South Bank with his dog Dudley.

When shocking news reaches the History Keepers’ headquarters, Jake Djones is sent head-first into a new adventure. The time-travelling agents voyage from Shakespeare’s England to Imperial China in pursuit of their most villainous foe yet, Xi Xiang, whose aim is to destroy trade links between east and west and throw the world into war. 
 
Jake, Nathan and Topaz must join forces with international agents in a race against the clock to stop him. And at the heart of the battle lies the key to a long-lost family member – will Jake find his brother after all this time? 
 
The past is in danger – only Jake Djones can save it!

The History Keepers: Circus Maximus

The second book in the explosive History Keepers series. It's time for a new hero.

History can be fun too! Damian Dibben’s books have got kids’ imaginations going - and cultivated their interest in the past to boot.

Move over Harry Potter, it is time for Jake Djones to take the limelight. Almost too exciting for bedtime reading

Today's answer to Harry Potter crossed with The Hunger Games

An action-packed and entertaining story, which young readers will find hard to put down.

The characters are lively and hilarious, and there are some brilliant action scenes and plenty of hair-raising cliffhangers. Circus Maximus is a joy to read, and is guaranteed to entertain.

The History Keepers is a great series for young and old alike; with agents, double-agents and spies, you never know where Jake will end up as he attempts to stop those who would change history!

. . . The plot is superfast, and is just the kind of story that could suck in even the most reluctant of readers.

Dibben expertly captures the sights, sounds and smells of Sweden in the 1790s and all the horror, drama and everyday life of Ancient Rome, even down to the snacks people ate in the street . . . The History Keepers has reminded me why I first started reading teenage fiction again – when it’s done well, as this is, you get proper heroes and villains . . .  This series will be devoured by those who are looking for something new post Harry P.

An exciting plot, evil baddies and lovable heroes all add to this exciting page-turner as the History Keepers race around Rome.

Damian Dibben, described by the Observer as ‘one of the hottest properties in children’s fiction today,’ is the creator of international publishing phenomenon, The History Keepers. The books are published in over 40 countries and translated into 26 languages. 
 
The books follow the adventures of Jake Djones who finds that his parents are missing – lost in time. Jake sets out to find them and joins the secret society known as The History Keepers. His life will never be the same again.

The second instalment of the internationally acclaimed series which follows the adventures of Jake Djones and the extraordinary secret service that protects the true course of history . . . 
 
It's their deadliest mission yet: track down Agata Zeldt, the most evil woman in history, as she plots to topple the empire of ancient Rome and throw the world into turmoil. Jake and his friends are forced to travel further back into history than ever before to save the day. Well, all of the days actually. 
 
In this exciting sequel, the History Keepers embark upon another rollercoaster adventure, taking them from the snowy wilds of Sweden to the streets of Rome at the height of its glory. Their search leads them to Circus Maximus, the colossal stadium at the heart of the ancient world. It will be the race of their lives . . .

The History Keepers: The Storm Begins

It's time for a new hero . . . The swashbuckling first book in an explosive new series.

A time travelling detective tale. There are desperate chases, hair-raising escapes . . . and more comical or eccentric secondary characters than you could shake a wand at

We’re predicting extremely big things from this new adventure series from Damian Dibben

If you've got Harry Potter withdrawal, The History Keepers is just the thing. A cocktail of time travel, secret societies, double agents and edge-of-your-seat excitement, it's sure to fill that fantasy void. The only problem? You won't be able to put it down

Dibben makes gleeful use of the timetravel aspect to bring characters from different historical periods into a contemporary setting . . . It's playful, inventive and full of delightfully nerdy jokes and asides. Perfect for fans of Horrible Histories and Percy Jackson

This is an utterly rambunctious read, full of swashbuckling adventure . . . There's a great deal of humour, too . . . The whole thing has great heart and highspiritedness

Although time-travel plays a central part in the plot, it is first and foremost a cracking adventure story that is perfect for the 9+ age group. You want your swashes buckled? Then this is the story for you. Prefer the pace of the stories you read to be on the fast side? Then jump on this bob-sleigh of a story and enjoy the ride!

A thoroughly enjoyable action-packed romp through time that will appeal to adventure-lovers

Bags of commercial potential and a great read too

There are many exciting action sequences, which are almost cinematic in their execution, villains so dastardly they practically perspire evil, and it all adds up to a very enjoyable adventure story

Harry Potter meets Doctor Who in a blockbusting new time-travel series packed with secret societies, diabolical villains and daring heroes

A wonderfully imaginative adventure thriller giving an excellent introduction to fantasy fiction

Reading it left me breathless, I don’t think I’ve ever read a faster-paced book . . . Fasten your seatbelt because you’re in for one hell of a ride!

Imagine if you lost your parents - not just in place, but in time. 
 
Jake Djones' mum and dad have gone missing and they could be anywhere in the world - at any time in history. Because the Djones family have an astonishing secret, which for years they've managed to keep - even from each other. They belong to the HISTORY KEEPERS: a secret society which travels through the centuries to prevent evil enemies from meddling with History itself. 
 
In the quest to find his parents, Jake is whisked from 21st Century London to 19th century France, the headquarters of the mysterious History Keepers, where he discovers the truth about his family's disappearance - and the diabolical Prince Zeldt's plan to destroy the world as we know it . . .

Damian Dibben

A glorious, exuberant summer read. Dibben's triumph is the character of Zorzo, a buoyant, loveable guide to the grandeur and the dangers of Renaissance Venice

Ravishing, addictive, knife-sharp, ambitious, and singing with detail. A compelling thriller that takes us to the heart of sixteenth century Venice where the world's most famous painters compete to win the greatest commission of their lives. There is so much to think about and relish. Not simply the story itself - with all its glorious twists and turns - but the search to express ourselves. A celebration of art and a hymn to colour.

An engaging thriller and a compelling exploration of an artist's obsession with love and colour

The Colour Storm takes readers on a thrilling, murderous journey through the serpentine waters of High Renaissance Venice as one of art history's most gifted but often overlooked painters - Giorgione - searches for love, fame, and, most importantly, colour. Written with language as vibrant as a Giorgione masterpiece, The Colour Storm is for lovers of art, Italy, and page-turning plot

A story filled with intrigue and secrets as well as colour, Damian Dibben's new novel is filled with vivid descriptions . . . very rich in atmosphere and tone that keeps you wanting to read more

A terrific book . . . Absorbing, exciting and, dare I say it, colourful. An original tale told beautifully

Art and ambition, love and obsession all come into play in this compelling and spellbinding tale set in Renaissance Venice

Hugely evocative, it's a love story, it's a thriller, it's a fantastic page turner

A rich and rousing tale of art, love, rivalry and obsession in Renaissance Venice

An intoxicating story about an incredible period in history

The pace of this elegant thriller quickens as truths are bared between controlling Jakob Fugger and abused Sybille with her tortuous past, while lovestruck Zorzo is pulled into a powerful situation that draws richly upon all elements of the 16th century

An intoxicating and illuminating tale, bathed in colour, passion and ambition . . . A must for lovers of Renaissance art and the wonders of sixteenth century Venice

The pace of a thriller and the riches of a Renaissance painting

A vivid imagining of the artistic world of Renaissance Venice. There is an incredible charm in its depiction of the great painters of the period with all their flesh-and-blood idiosyncrasies and flaws. The life of the studio and the supreme importance of colour in all the essentials of its make up is rendered absolutely convincingly. The work has all the more emotional power as it focusses on a lesser known artist as he negotiates the precarious life of his city alongside competitors, those whose names have resounded through history.

A great work of historical fiction, which weaves together conspiracy, art and love in a thriller

What a novel! Ambitious and wonderfully achieved

I was captivated from the beginning. Ornate, vivid, deeply coloured, and so precise I could smell and taste the world

An epic tale of love, of courage, of hope

A grand sweep of adventure and travel, war and romance, and a rich exploration of love, life and loyalty

[An] opulent tale, with elements of both love story and thriller, featuring some of Venice's most admired High Renaissance artists hunting desperately for a dazzling new pigment that will transform their work and fortunes

Winner of the HWA Gold Crown Award 2023

Artists flock to Renaissance Venice for wealth, fame and revolutionary colour. Yet for Giorgione 'Zorzo' Barbarelli, competition is fierce and debts are mounting. Then Zorzo hears of a brand new pigment, owned by merchant Jakob Fugger, which could change his fate. 
To get closer to Fugger, Zorzo befriends his wife, Sybille. Soon, he's lost - enchanted by her - but acting on his feelings would put him in huge danger. 
As water levels rise and the plague creeps closer, Zorzo isn't sure whom he can trust. Will Sybille be the key to Zorzo's success, or the reason for his downfall?

Damian Dibben

Praise for The Colour Storm

A glorious, exuberant summer read. Dibben's triumph is the character of Zorzo, a buoyant, loveable guide to the grandeur and the dangers of Renaissance Venice

Ravishing, addictive, knife-sharp, ambitious, and singing with detail. A compelling thriller that takes us to the heart of sixteenth century Venice where the world's most famous painters compete to win ...

An engaging thriller and a compelling exploration of an artist's obsession with love and colour

A glorious, exuberant summer read. Dibben's triumph is the character of Zorzo, a buoyant, loveable guide to the grandeur and the dangers of Renaissance Venice

Ravishing, addictive, knife-sharp, ambitious, and singing with detail. A compelling thriller that takes us to the heart of sixteenth century Venice where the world's most famous painters compete to win ...

An engaging thriller and a compelling exploration of an artist's obsession with love and colour

A glorious, exuberant summer read. Dibben's triumph is the character of Zorzo, a buoyant, loveable guide to the grandeur and the dangers of Renaissance Venice

Ravishing, addictive, knife-sharp, ambitious, and singing with detail. A compelling thriller that takes us to the heart of sixteenth century Venice where the world's most famous painters compete to win ...

An engaging thriller and a compelling exploration of an artist's obsession with love and colour

Books by Damian Dibben

Series by Damian Dibben

The History Keepers

Articles featuring Damian Dibben

17 must-have historical fiction books for kids

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