Fallen Star Stories

Earlier this month, it was announced that Frances Hardinge had won the Costa Childrens Book of the Year. This out her in line for the possibility of winning the overall Costa Book of the Year Award. It was announced today, 26 January that Hardinges' amazing novel, The Lie Tree had beat out all the others to become the Costa Book of the Year! This makes Frances the second childrens' book author ever to win this prestigious award, (The first was Philip Pullman in 2002 for The Amber Spyglass; part of the His Dark Materials series.) The Lie Tree tells the story of Faith Sunderly, whose family has moved to a small, dismal island for her fathers' research...and, unbeknownst to Faith, to escape a scandal about to be revealed that would disgrace her father and the entire family. When Faiths' father is found dead under mysterious circumstances, Faith embarks on a journey to uncover the truth. Part murder mystery, part Victorian horror, part historical fiction, The Lie Tr...

On the 11th of January 2016, the Association for Library Service to Children (an arm of the American Library Association) announced the winners of the 2016 Newbery medal, Caldecott medal for illustration and Printz award for YA fiction. It is the most prestigious award in childrens' literature in the US and it is a very big deal to win! These are authors/illustrators that everyone working in childrens' books or with children, in general should pay attention to, for their work is now and always has been the most outstanding, meaningful and marvellous work going. The winner of the 2016 John Newbery Medal has gone to Matt de la Pena/ illustrations by Christian Robinson for "Last Stop on Market Street" . This is a beautifully expressed picture book , which sees young CJ and his grandmother heading home after church on Sunday. While CJ would rather take a car and revels in modern technology, his grandmother shares the clear and wondrous observations and diversity that...

A HUGE congratulations to one of the best writers working today, Frances Hardinge for scooping the Costa Childrens Book prize 2015. Her intrepid novel, The Lie Tree won out over a very strong short list including, Sally Nicholls ( An Island of Our Own ), Hayley Long ( Sophie Someone )  and Andrew Norris ( Jessica's Ghost ). The Lie Tree is based on one unique idea: what if your lies gave you the ability to reveal other peoples' secrets? The gothic-style story of fossils hunters in the Victorian era sees a young girl, uncover her fathers' unearthly discovery of a tree that can exist only in complete darkness and must be fed lies in order to grow. When her father mysteriously dies, it is down to Faith to prove it was murder, not suicide. As the tale winds its' way through secrets upon conspiracy upon impossibilities, Faith reveals a few of her familys' most deeply hidden secrets, a spell is cast upon the reader that shocks and compels. It also begs the question, i...

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, and that the New Year treats you well. Thought I'd start off 2016 by giving you a glimpse of some of my favourite childrens' books of 2015. I could go on and on, but I am trying to limit myself. What were your best books of 2015? Picture Books: (always a difficult choice for me. We all need more picture books in our lives, both young and old readers. Here are some of the ones I really loved!) The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes How The Library....by Wendy Meddour Imaginary Fred by Eoin Colfer/Oliver Jeffers The Christmas Eve Tree Delia Huddy/Emily Sutton Side By Side by Rachel Bright/Debi Gliori The Marvellous Fluffy Squishy Itty Bitty Beatrice Allemagna Picture Books Plus.... Pierre The Maze Detective... City Atlas by Martin Haake Nature's Day by Kay Maguire For those who are reading (7-12...a wide reading age!) Maisie Hitchens by Holly Webb The Dreamsnatcher by Ab...