Be blown away by Patrice Lawrence’s trade-mark brilliance in ‘PEOPLE like STARS’ - a fictional middle-grade true crime mystery with its oh so clever plot twists and turns, chaotic struggles with loyalty and justice, many clandestine trips to the library to research records, and the inter-changing narrators enabling readers to deep-dive into each character’s identity and inner struggles.

For ages 9+ (or confident readers 8+) this initial ‘Time Keys’ mystery brings together the author’s passions for music, history and adventure, for without music, or should I say, the children in this story and their playing a musical instrument, the world as we know it today is at great risk from time travelling magical artefact hunters who could alter our reality forever! 

An unforgettable, powerful and all-consuming story of two Year 7 children (one autistic, one non-binary) struggling with their first term at Secondary school, puberty, friendships, dysfunctional family life, discrimination and bullying.

This has to be one of the most highly anticipated middle grades for 2023 - a new novel from the Costa Book Awards winner for ‘The Voyage of the Sparrowhawk’, author Natasha Farrant! Very exciting! This is a BIG story. BIG because like one of my favourite cakes, there are layers upon layers of delicious storylines for the reader to immerse themselves in, but at the heart of it is a dollop of yummy chocolate ganache - unconditional love for one's family and friends.

I love to travel in the books I read (as you know)… and I have never read a book before filled with narrative from the perspective of the First Country people of Australia. The landscape, wildlife and plants of the bush, almost feel alien to my own lived experience of the European countryside. It is totally fascinating. This is top notch storytelling from someone who has an incredible imagination, foresight and attention to detail. This book is so 'deadly'!! I loved it!!