Nobody knows the city like Blade. You have to when you’re on your own, when you can’t trust anyone, when you’ve got a past you need to hide. Blade is practically invisible, perfectly alone, living only by his wits—just the way he likes it. Until the day a chance encounter sends his world crashing down around him and he finds himself on the run again. Yet he’s not alone this time. Suddenly he’s got Becky and her daughter, Jaz, weighing him down. But is he running from his past or from Becky’s? Blade knows he should drop these two, but he can’t. With people depending on him, he’ll need to find a way to outsmart the thugs who are hot on both of their heels, lurking around every corner.
England (UK)
The Love of Friends
A teenage girl finds friendship challenging on an emotion-filled journey to Scotland. Instead of exploring London on her first visit from Massachusetts, 16-year-old Charlotte travels to the north of Scotland with 18-year-old Oliver in this deeply moving novel.
Street Child
A fictional account of the experiences of Jim Jarvis, a young orphan who escapes the workhouse in 1860’s London and survives brutal treatment and desparate circumstances until he is taken in by Dr. Barnardo, founder of a school for the city’s “ragged” children.
In Camera: and Other Stories
The author of Blitzcat presents a collection of five scary stories of things that go bump in the night.
The Battle for Duncragglin
Set in the time of William Wallace, this is historical fiction at its bloody best! One of history’s most turbulent times comes to vivid life in this thrilling new novel. Twelve-year-old Alex has been raised by his uncle since his parents disappeared on a trip to Scotland many years ago. He’s resigned to spending the summer in Scotland with yet another relative and finds himself on a farm near the ruined remnants of an ancient castle that is rumored to be haunted. Could it have a connection to his parents’ disappearance?With three newfound friends, Alex sets out to discover the secret of a sealed cave along the rugged coast that borders the farm. The secret is far more powerful than anything they could have imagined, and they are catapulted to the very brink of a hellish past — the bloody late 13th century when the great Scottish rebel, William Wallace, was fighting a guerilla-style military campaign. Full of high drama as well as humor, bloodshed, and great tenderness, this fine novel marks the arrival of a major voice in historical fiction.
A Finder’s Magic
A boy who loses his dog meets a mysterious stranger and has a surprising adventure in an enchanting tale from a stellar author-illustrator team.When Till’s beloved dog slips its leash on their daily romp, the boy goes to bed in despair. But he wakes to meet Mr. Finder, an odd little man from his dream, who offers to help him retrieve the frisky pup. Together Till and Finder question some likely witnesses: a heron, a mole, a riddling cat, and two obliging old ladies, Miss Gammer and Miss Mousy. But Finder is a peculiar fi gure, given to disappearing suddenly, and Till starts to wonder: Can he be trusted? Part detective story, part fairy tale, A Finder’s Magic has mystery, darkness and light, and all the emotional truth that is a hallmark of Philippa Pearce’s writing.
Crazy Hair
“In my hair Gorillas leap, Tigers stalk, And ground sloths sleep. Prides of lions Make their lair Somewhere in my crazy hair.”
Dog Biscuit
Hungry Bridget ate a biscuit . . . a dog biscuit! It tasted good – salty and sweet at the same time – but dog biscuits are meant for dogs, not people. Bridget starts to worry. Are her ears getting bigger? Is she growing a tail? Could she be turning into a dog? In the middle of the night, Bridget is swept off on a joyous romp with a wild dog pack. She has so much fun – until she thinks about leaving her family behind, which makes her so sad that she wakes up immediately, safe and sound in her mother’s arms, and human once again. Bursting with wild doggy energy, Helen Cooper’s vibrant illustrations make this one of the most original picture books she has created yet. A recipe for Human-Being Treats is included!
Escape from Shangri-La
When the strange man who has been watching their house turns out to be the grandfather she has never seen, eleven-year-old Cessie couldn’t be happier — at first sight. But then he has a stroke and actually has to come live with them. Popsicle, as she calls him, is impossible to live with: moody, forgetful, clumsy. Only Cessie loves him and believes in him. So when he is sent off to a home for the elderly, she helps him escape. And plays first mate to him on a dramatic nighttime boat trip across the English channel to unravel a secret only the two of them know. This Morpurgo story makes the reader want to cheer — young people, the elderly, and courage at any age.
The Cow That Was The Best Moo-Ther
Marjorie the cow proudly enters her baby, Daisy, into a farmyard beauty contest strictly for cows. But Daisy isn\’t quite like the other baby cows—she\’s small and feathery, she has a beak, and she hatched from an egg! So there\’s no surprise that Daisy catches the judge\’s eye! But she\’s not the only one who attracts attention in this hilarious follow-up to the cow that laid an egg. Proud mom Marjorie is in store for an award of her own.