What Are You Looking For?

A historical account of Fred V. Cherry’s capture and prolonged imprisonment in Hanoi, focused on the ordeal of captivity and the qualities tested by it.

This is an illustrated biography about Alcott’s determination to serve during the Civil War, her nursing of wounded soldiers, serious illness, and the way those experiences informed Hospital Sketches and Little Women.

A lively introduction to people presented as admirable for different reasons, from persistence and kindness to peace activism. Its short portraits can spark curiosity, though they offer little context for weighing each person’s whole life.

This is an informational collection of women’s wartime experiences, spanning roles such as medical work, journalism, resistance and revolutionary activity. It presents participation on multiple sides of the Vietnam War rather than treating the conflict as an all-male story.

A lively introduction to women’s contributions across history and different fields, presented through colourful illustrations, short profiles, facts and quotations. Its page-by-page structure supports dipping in, revisiting individual figures and noticing links between personal achievement and wider social change.

Expect a bleak flooded setting, solitary travel, danger from other young people and a determined search for family. The ending is described as positive, although the journey is repeatedly presented as harrowing and gloomy.

A true story follows Jennie from childhood through meeting Abram, love, his death and her search for courage. It links fear and bravery while showing grief as part of continuing life.

A lively first encounter with Greek mythology: ten short, illustrated adventures introduce heroes, monsters, magical objects and transformations. The collection prioritises memorable action and recognisable figures, making it suitable for sharing aloud or dipping into story by story.

A fast-moving magical quest gives Chompa a determined central role while opening discussion of Indian and South Asian folklore, colonial power and cultural loss. The journey spans India and London, with friendship and new skills supporting her search.

A dramatic piece of narrative nonfiction about Blondin’s repeated Niagara tightrope crossings, it combines historical events with page-turning suspense. The visual presentation makes the falls, height and risky feats central to the reading experience.

This is a child-focused historical account of persecution, concealment and courage during the Holocaust. Its central contrast is between a community’s ridicule of Anton and his decision to protect Jewish neighbours at great personal risk.

This is a factual, story-led collection about animals involved in wartime. It combines rescue, communication, morale and service with a gentle, sometimes uplifting presentation, while acknowledging that some animals died.

This offers a lively introduction to Tchaikovsky through travel, family adventure and listening. Its distinctive feature is the meeting of his music with American ragtime, spirituals and folk traditions.

A football-centred story about ambition, exclusion and family support, alongside factual material about African football and celebrated players.

Three true animal-rescue accounts centre on a dog, dolphins and gorillas. The book combines lively episodes with photographs, sidebars and fun facts, presenting animals as capable participants in dramatic encounters involving trains, sharks and a zoo enclosure.