What Are You Looking For?

A fast-moving Irish fantasy about protecting a magical world from destruction, combining folklore, adventure and danger. It offers an imaginative quest while bringing contemporary concerns, including bullying and climate change, into an ancient-myth setting.

This is a family adventure shaped by sudden loss of security and encounters with people connected to the railway. Its central interest is how the siblings respond to changed circumstances.

This is a child-centred war story about Ayesha’s attempt to obtain help for her grandmother, set amid divided communities, danger, bereavement and family separation.

Expect a mystery-adventure centred on a schoolboy Bond, with friendship, rivalry and investigation leading from Eton to Scotland. Its appeal lies in suspense, courage and a darker, occasionally grotesque atmosphere.

This is an imaginative fantasy adventure about siblings entering a winter-bound world and taking part in its liberation. Its moral framework includes courage, sacrifice, repentance, forgiveness and explicitly Christian allegory.

This is a family-centred coming-of-age story: Katy’s energetic adventures give way to pain, dependence and gradual change. Its strongest appeal lies in a vivid household, an imperfect heroine and a sustained focus on how relationships respond when ordinary life is disrupted.

Expect a brisk, spooky adventure led by a frightened but determined child. The book foregrounds mystery, supernatural danger and emotional bonds rather than realistic horror, with hope alongside its darker elements.

A tense historical adventure about separated siblings and Jan, a young thief who joins them. Its strongest qualities are resourcefulness, loyalty and compassion, alongside a serious portrayal of children navigating war’s aftermath.

This is a historical novel about friendship under Nazi persecution, combining Felix’s optimism and humour with fear, loss and moral danger. Its child’s-eye viewpoint may make a vast history feel immediate, while keeping the human cost in view.

This is a historical family story about rebuilding after hardship. Ellie’s practical courage, connection with nature and willingness to help others sit alongside grief, difficult choices and uncertainty about what people have experienced.

Expect an imaginative treasure hunt in a world of vampirs and werwolves, driven by danger, mystery and changing trust. The book combines supernatural adventure with Tibor and Roza’s need to decide whom to believe.

A gentle but serious rural story in which Spider’s connection with animals gives him purpose and belonging. It presents difference, kindness and courage through a character whose strengths are recognised by those who care for him.

A high-stakes myth-inspired adventure about rescuing a sister and confronting powerful gods. It offers determined protagonists, alliances between unusual characters, imaginative battles and a story shaped by African and Caribbean cultural and spiritual influences.

This is an energetic eco-adventure combining world travel, time travel, friendship and environmental questions. It may suit readers who enjoy quest-driven stories, imaginative devices and child protagonists facing mysteries with animals alongside them.

Expect a fast-moving, imaginative adventure in which time travel connects family relationships, grief and responsibility. The story also makes room for humour, friendship and emotional growth, with Al facing both practical dangers and difficult choices.

This is a journey of identity and connection, set against the Australian outback. It offers friendship, discovery and engagement with First Country history and culture, while the girl’s lost memory creates an uncertain starting point.

A lively, joke-filled spy adventure in which Vi confronts family upheaval alongside super-villains. Expect gadgets, secrets, action and emotional pressure, with the family situation driving her determination.

Rumaysa’s search for her parents leads into a magical adventure involving a queen, traditional fairy-tale figures and unusual creatures. The story combines danger, humour and a heroine who takes an active, compassionate role.

This is a tense wartime story about an ordinary teenager taking increasingly dangerous steps to help others. Its strongest emphasis is on courage that exists alongside fear, rather than fearlessness.

A tense wartime adventure about a young Muslim protagonist whose family and community face Nazi occupation. Safiyyah undertakes dangerous errands, while the mosque becomes a place of sanctuary for persecuted Jewish people.

A sweeping fantasy adventure centred on two young people, a hidden magical world and the struggle to preserve disappearing magic. Expect imaginative creatures, perilous quests and emotionally significant losses alongside companionship, ingenuity and moral responsibility.