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Chiamaka and Devon attend the prestigious Niveaus Private Academy. They both come from very different backgrounds; perfect Chiamaka is from a very wealthy family, whilst musician Devon lives in a flat with his mum and younger siblings in a poor neighbourhood. They aren’t really friends and they have nothing much in common, until an anonymous texter known only as “Aces” starts to reveal their deepest, darkest secrets to the rest of the school. As the texts and photos become steadily more incriminating, Chiamaka and Devon are drawn together to find out who is out to destroy them and why.

Told alternately from Chiamaka’s and Devon’s viewpoints, this is a powerful, compulsive read with a fast paced plot and great characterization. Whilst the main theme is institutional racism, the book also looks at homophobia and what it’s like for a gay teenager who isn’t able to come out and be himself. Shades of Get Out and Hunted would make this a great TV/film adaptation. Loved it. Suitable for 14+ year olds.

As the Second World War escalates and bombs start to fall, Joseph is charged with protecting Adonis the gorilla in this tense thriller based on a true story.

It’s 1940, and Joseph has been packed off to stay with Mrs F, a gruff woman with no great fondness for children. To Joseph’s amazement, she owns the rundown city zoo where Joseph meets Adonis, a huge silverback gorilla. Adonis is ferociously strong and dangerous, but Joseph finds he has an affinity with the lonely beast. But when the bombs begin to fall, it is up to Joseph to guard Adonis’s cage should it be damaged by a blast. Will Joseph be ready to pull the trigger if it comes to it?

Inspired by a true story, this is a deeply felt and movingly written novel with superb characterisation. An absolute masterclass in loss and redemption, this deserves to win all the awards. Can’t believe I’ve only just got around to reading it.

Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself. But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers. When his teacher asks each child in the class to write a story, Aaron can’t get a single word down. He is sure his dream of being a storyteller is out of reach…until inspiration strikes, and Aaron finds a way to spin a tale in a way that is uniquely his.

An uplifting story about the power of art, finding your voice, and telling your own story.

Wish it could be Christmas every day? Well, for nine-year-old Holly Carroll and her family, it is! Living in a house with year-round fairy lights and Christmas trees, a carol-singing toilet and a diva donkey who thinks he’s a reindeer, home-schooled Holly tries to spread cheer wherever she goes.
But when Holly goes to a new school with a singing Santa backpack and first day Christmas cards (during a heatwave in September!), she realises not everyone shares her enthusiasm for spreading cheer. In fact, when the neighbours try to remove the Carrolls from the street and Holly discovers a group of children that may not get a Christmas at all, her snowglobe world begins to crack. Is the world’s most Christmassy girl about to lose her Christmas spirit?

The Christmas Carrolls is a heartwarming, hilarious and inclusive tale about the power of spreading cheer, the magic of friendship and what really matters at this most wonderful time of the year. A great new addition to your Christmas Collection.

As it’s #NonfictionNovember  we just had to choose a book with facts as this month’s BOM.

Discover the enthralling and diverse stories of 50 brilliant Britons through the ages, from the warrior queen Boudicca of early Britain, who rose in revolt against the Romans, to activist Malala Yousafzai, who fights for every girl’s right to an education today. These gripping tales include key figures from all areas of British life – science, medicine, entertainment, sports, activism and more. Featuring the inspirational lives and achievements of amazing people such as Florence Nightingale, Alan Turing, Mary Prince, Stormzy, Charles Darwin and Noor Inayat Khan, Great Britons is not only a celebration of our history as an island, but also as part of a far larger and greater world.

Readable and informative, and doesn’t shy away from the problematic aspects of some Great Britons. This is a diverse and inclusive look at a wide variety of people. Great browser with good illustrations.