Abie Longstaff is the eldest of six children and grew up in Australia, Hong Kong and France. She knows all about squabbling, chaos and bossing younger sisters around. So she logically began her career as a barrister. She started writing when her children were born. Her favourite childhood books were Hating Alison Ashley, A Little Princess, Maura's Angel and The Black Stallion and she sneakily reads them again sometimes. Abie lives in Hove with her family.

Abie Longstaff

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Candy Gourlay

Be careful what you wish for . . . 
Andi is short. And she has lots of wishes. She wishes she could play on the school basketball team, she wishes for her own bedroom, but most of all she wishes that her long lost half brother, Bernardo, could come and live in London, where he belongs. 
Then Andi's biggest wish comes true and she's minutes away from becoming someone's little sister. As she waits anxiously for Bernardo to arrive from the Philippines, she hopes he'll turn out to be tall and just as mad as she is about basketball. When he finally arrives, he's tall all right. But he's not just tall ... he's a GIANT. 
In a novel packed with humour and quirkiness, Gourlay explores a touching sibling relationship and the clash of two very different cultures.

Tall Story

Malaika Rose Stanley

Big ambitions, big bullies and big problems 
 
When 13-year-old Brummie babe, Destiny enters the Bright Sparks beauty contest behind her (ex-model) mum's back, she is determined to prove she has talent and brains - and that she is not just a pretty face. 
 
Together with her cousin, Keisha and best friends, Ebyan and Bee, Destiny deals with every challenge life throws at her - including scary eyeball-to-eyeball confrontations with bully-girl Bella and secret winks from heart-throb, Joel. 
 
And then real disaster strikes...

Skin Deep

Ben Morley

Carl Pearce

When a new family moves in next door, Joe's mum explains that they are asylum seekers. Joe hears that they are silence seekers, especially as Mum adds that they need peace and quiet. When he sees a young boy from the family sitting disconsolately on the steps, Joe decides to help him find a quiet place in the noisy and chaotic city. 
 
A simple, moving story which is the perfect way to gently open discussion around the refugee crisis.

The Silence Seeker

Malorie Blackman

Maxine is a little girl full of big ideas. She loves solving problems, and can usually be found with her twin brothers in tow causing all kinds of mischief. Whether it is solving the mystery of the tooth fairy, building the biggest snowball ever or just causing trouble, they always have the best time together. This selection of fantastically funny short stories is perfect for spring boarding younger readers into the world of reading via an endearing heroine who has a lot of fun.

When Maxine has a plan, you can be sure it involves her twin brothers Anthony and Edward. You can also be sure it involves BIG TROUBLE! 
 
Nine fantastically funny short stories, perfect for building confidence in new readers, whether reading aloud or reading alone.

Girl Wonder and the Terrific Twins

From scaring Mum at Halloween to building the biggest snowball the world's ever seen - Maxine always has a super plan and needs the help of her twin brothers, Anthony and Edward. Together the super siblings make all sorts of mischief . . . Can they fix it before Mum finds out? 
 
These seven funny short stories are perfect for building confidence in new readers, whether reading alone or reading aloud.

Girl Wonder's Winter Adventures

Madhvi Ramani

Nina’s schoolfriend Lee is in trouble, so she must borrow her aunt’s travelling spice shed and head to Beijing. Now they are both on a great adventure involving a kung fu master, a yellow snake and a mysterious riddle . . .

Nina and the Kung-Fu Adventure

Christine Ohuruogu

Maxine is crazy about sports! She's thrilled to be going to Camp Gold, an elite sports summer camp. She's nervous too - will she be good enough? 
 
At the camp she meets good friends, cute boys and, best of all, she discovers her hidden talent - running. 
 
Soon she's training for the Nationals, which will be watched by Olympic champions. It's tough but it'll be worth it if she wins. Then the pranks start and her things go missing. . . Someone is out to sabotage her chance of winning. Can she stop them before it's too late?

Camp Gold: Running Stars

When she receives a call-back from the amazing Birchwood School for Dance, thirteen-year-old Keisha is over the moon. She’s one pirouette closer to becoming a superstar ballerina! 
 
But getting a place at Birchwood would mean moving schools and leaving behind her BFFs – and the swoon-worthy Joel Daley-Clarke. Until she knows the outcome, Keisha must keep the biggest news of her life a secret from her best friends. 
 
Can she hold it together, or will her dance dreams turn into a nightmare?

Dance Dreams

Poor Fangs, the tarantula, is terribly lonely and bored with her life in the pet-shop. So when Nathan takes her home, she's more than excited about her new life. But before Nathan can introduce his new pet to his family, he's going to need her help to convince them that spiders aren't just creepy and crawly . . . They're beautiful and brave too! 
 
This funny story from the Children's Laureate, Malorie Blackman, is perfect for building confidence in young readers - whether reading aloud or reading alone.

Fangs

Ann Cameron

Julian to the rescue! 
 
Grown-ups aren’t very good at solving crimes. That’s why it’s time for Julian, Huey and Gloria to take matters into their own hands. 
 
The crime-busting kids go on a mission to track down wanted criminals. They have a special motto, a secret code and plenty of plans. All they need now is their first crook . . .

Julian, Secret Agent

Bali Rai

GRACE and her mates hate late lunches and being last in the canteen queue. They always get stuck with the rank leftovers. But then they think of a wicked plan . . . 
 
DEAN is always up for making some extra cash. When he gets his hands on a sweet stash of mobile phones and games, he knows he’s going to make millions. Unless school bully Jason makes trouble instead . . . 
 
Two hilarious stories from the Devana High gang.

Trouble

Lauren Castillo

See the world through a dog’s eyes – and nose! 
 
Tiger loves his Human family, especially his Boy, Huey. But whenever he tries to speak to them, all they can hear is “YERF!” 
 
Poor Tiger can never get his point across – even when he has very important things to say. 
About eating Dad’s socks, 
 chasing squirrels 
 . . . or saving Fiona the Cat!

Tiger Tells All

Odette Elliott

Georgina McIntyre

Sammy dreams of flying. His older siblings are going on a school trip to an aeroplane museum. But Sammy is too small to go. Then Grandma plans a magical day out just for Sammy.

Sammy Goes Flying

Did you know that Nina's aunt's spice shed is a travel machine? 
 
Well neither did Nina - and now she's head first into a great adventure involving a lost envelope, a charming street thief, a glamorous Bollywood star and a fierce tiger . . .

Nina and the Travelling Spice Shed

Maxine can't wait to start at Camp Gold International! 
 
But the minute she arrives, things start going wrong - her training isn't going well and, worse, someone has been vandalising the plush building. Now fingers are pointing at Maxine and her friends. 
 
When it happens a second time, the principal makes it clear that if the vandals don't stop, the camp may have to be closed. 
 
For Maxine, Camp Gold means everything. Can she solve the mystery and focus on training . . . and win?

Camp Gold: Going for Gold

Ken Wilson-Max

Baby Ruby won't stop crying. Dad gives her a bath, Mum gives her a feed, Nana takes her for a drive and Grandad walks her around the garden. But Ruby keeps on bawling. At last her brother Theo has a go and sings her a special song he makes up. The whole family are so tired after all of this, they fall asleep - all except Ruby.

Baby Ruby Bawled

Nina has to take part in the school talent show in a few days, and she still doesn’t know what to do! 
 
When her teacher mentions a magical fantasia that could help, Nina sets off to Brazil in the travelling spice shed to find it. There, she has a great adventure involving . . . 
 
a mysterious costume, 
a samba parade 
and a top-secret mission!

Nina and the Magical Carnival

Huey has a bright idea! 
 
Huey wants to surprise his mum on Mother's Day, so he invents banana spaghetti. It takes a bit of help from Dad to get it right, but Huey is determined to show everyone that he is just as clever as his big brother, Julian. 
 
And when Huey beats his fear of the dark, he proves he is just as brave too.

Banana Spaghetti

How do you catch a zebra? 
 
Huey’s big brother, Julian, is mean. He says that Huey is too little and noisy to play with him. But Huey has a plan. 
 
With a few tools and a lot of skill, Huey teaches his brother a lesson – and makes a new friend along the way!

Huey's Tiger

Miss Bubble is a super-cool teacher at Topley Primary School. The children in Rainbow Class have lots of fun with her. When Miss Bubble ends up in a spot of trouble, her parrot Shriek and her cat Milkshake try their best to help. But they need Rainbow Class to come to the rescue... 
 
A story in rhyme about a great teacher and her class.

Miss Bubble's Troubles

Susan Gates

Something strange is going on by the slimy river Oozeburn. But Jin is the only one who knows. The ancient predator Zilombo is loose and has snatched Jin's baby brother. When Mizz Z, a secret agent, arrives to investigate, the race is on to save him. But the beast's mysterious powers are evolving. She's getting stronger. As Jin, his sister Frankie and Mizz Z make their plans, Zilombo grows hungrier...

Zilombo

Michael Williams

'Diamonds for everyone.' That's what fifteen-year-old Patson Moyo hears when his family arrives in the Marange diamond fields, leaving his previous life, school and friends behind with hopes for a better life. Soon Patson is working in the mines along with four friends in the Gwejana Syndicate – teen diamond miners, secretly pooling their profits and hoping to find the priceless stone that will change everything. But when the government's soldiers come to Marange, Patson's world is shattered. 
 
Set against the backdrop of President Mugabe's brutal regime in Zimbabwe, this is the story of a young man who succumbs to greed, but finds his way out through a transformative journey to South Africa in search of his missing sister, in search of freedom, and in search of himself.

Diamond Boy

Never leave a yummy pudding lying around! 
 
Dad makes a pudding that tastes like a whole raft of lemons and a night on the sea. But then he does something really silly. He goes for a nap and leaves Julian in charge. Bad idea. 
 
Before he knows it, Julian’s in a sticky situation. And that’s just one of his many adventures, which involve catalogue cats, cave-boy teeth . . . and a new next-door neighbour!

The Julian Stories

Winner of the 2014 UKLA Award 
 
Deo is a great footballer, a fierce protector of his older brother, Innocent. His brother is easily nervous, easily happy but good at keeping score on the dusty fields of Zimbabwe where the boys play. 
 
Then Mugabe's soldiers come, destroying the only home the boys have known. Now, Deo has nothing but his brother, and a football stuffed with billions of worthless dollars. And so starts their journey to find their father. But with soldiers everywhere, they have only one chance to cross the border, one chance to escape. 
 
In face of such a challenge, it is Deo's brotherly love that endures, his belief that he will lead them both to safety. Micheal Williams's is a masterful storyteller who pulls you along the journey of a lifetime. Deo and Innocent's journey is a universal story of hope in the face of despair, and the search for a better life.

Now is the Time for Running

Pippa Goodhart

Lizzie Finlay

Mrs Kapoor and a whole host of animals and friends give chase to a cheeky chapatti in this hilarious modern take on the runaway pancake story. Follow the trail of the chapatti as it bounces and bursts through the book -- where will its adventure end?

Chapatti Moon

Verna Allette Wilkins

David Grant and his wife Carrie are the best known pop vocal coaches in the UK. Their client list includes Take That, Spice Girl Melanie C., Lemar, Will Young and numerous others. David also had a music career of his own, and has won a MOBO Award and been nominated for a Brit Award. This book follows the life of the young David, a boy who loves music and reading. He overcomes a daunting move from Jamaica to post-war Britain, a near-fatal car crash, dull jobs and unsuccessful auditions with hard work and determination.

David Grant

Monsters are in the eye of the beholder. 
 
Rosa suffers from a rare condition that renders her mute. She lives on the strange island of Mirasol where the rain never seems to stop. 
 
In the gloom of the island, its superstitious population are haunted by all sorts of fears . . . they shun people who suffer from Rosa's condition, believing them to be monsters. So Rosa must live hidden away in an isolated house with its back to the rest of the world, with only the internet for a social life. 
 
But Rosa has no desire to leave Mirasol. This is where her mother died and every night she lights a candle on the windowsill. The islanders believe this is the way to summon ghosts, and Rosa wants her mother back. 
 
One day she is befriended by a boy online who calls himself Ansel95 – and she quickly realizes that this is one friendship that can take place in the real world. Can she really trust him? What does he want from her? 
 
And then Mother turns up at the front door. 
 
From the author of the critically-acclaimed Tall Story comes a haunting, intense and moving novel which weaves myths and ghosts into a modern setting. As Rosa's social life blossoms, how will she seize the freedom to be who she really is?

Shine

Juan lives in Guatemala, in the mountains. It is a poor but beautiful place, with volcanoes rising from the shores of a blue lake, and flocks of brilliantly plumed wild parrots living in the trees. 
 
Juan is a shoe-shine boy. Although he’s only seven years old, he works hard every day to earn his keep. He has lived with his grandmother since his parents abandoned him. 
 
But Juan dreams of other things. Most of all, he longs to go to school like other children his age . . .

The Most Beautiful Place in the World

Dawne Allette

"I want you to know that we have very much in common. For nothing in my life would have predicted that I would be standing here as First Lady of the United States of America..." 
 
When Michelle Obama spoke these words in a London school, the effect on the students was overwhelming. Her inspiring words, approachable nature and regal style make Michelle a much-loved public figure and a role model in her own right. A child of working class parents in Chicago, Michelle went on to become an Ivy League graduate, a lawyer, and an international icon as wife to President Barack Obama. Her life is a tale of extraordinary achievement in a changing society.

Michelle Obama

The Making of a First Lady

Crystal Chan

'Grandpa stopped speaking the day he killed my brother, John. His name was John until Grandpa said he looked more like a Bird with the way he kept jumping off things, and the name stuck. Bird’s thick, black hair poked out in every direction, just like the head feathers of the blackbirds, Grandpa said, and he bet that one day Bird would fly like one too. Grandpa kept talking like that, and no one paid him much notice until Bird jumped off a cliff, the cliff at the edge of the tallgrass prairie, the cliff that dropped a good couple hundred feet to a dried-up riverbed below. From that day on, Grandpa never spoke another word. Not one. 
 
The day that Bird tried to fly, the grown-ups were out looking for him – all of them except Mom and Granny. That’s because that very day, I was born.' 
 
Twelve-year-old Jewel never knew her brother, but all her life she has lived in his shadow. Then one night, on her birthday, she finds a mysterious boy sitting in her oak tree. His name is John. And he changes everything.

Bird

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