CBI-ReadingGuide 2008

RECOMMENDED READING GUIDE • TREOIR LÉITHEOIREACHTA MOLTA
b
Edited by Liz Morris and Sarah Web
FREE • PLEASE TAKE ONE

SAOR IN AISCE • TÓG CEANN LE DO THOIL
Show
your
concern
and fast
There are plenty You may choose to FAST To take part in the
or perhaps take part in an
of ways to make a ‘Eat Healthily Day’. Either Concern Christmas
difference and help way, by doing the Concern FAST 2008 on
children and families Christmas FAST not only are December 4th go to
you helping Concern’s work
in extreme poverty. overseas, you could also be www.concernfast.org
in with a chance to win a great or call us today on
Few are as much fun as Children’s Books Ireland prize. 1850 50 50 55
the Concern Christmas This year, we hope to raise
FAST 2008 – so make over`1.3 million for people
who need help in some of the
sure you take part on poorest countries of the world
Concern Worldwide – committed to
a world without poverty.
December 4th. during the hunger season. Registered Charity No. CHY5745
BOOKFEST / LEABAR FHEILE
/
–
WELCOME
Welcome to BookFest – the recommended reading guide produced
by Children’s Books Ireland, the national organisation for children’s
books, and released in conjunction with the annual Children’s Book
Festival. The festival takes place across the country during October.
To check out what’s on, visit www.childrensbooksireland.ie, where
the events calendar will highlight what’s happening in your area.
Our review panel for this guide is made up of teachers,
librarians, booksellers, editors, lecturers, authors, illustrators and
interested parents. They have selected the best titles of 2008 and
we have collected them here for you. They are organised into easy- BookFest is the
to-use sections and listed alphabetically. Each section is recommended reading guide
introduced by an author or illustrator of interest to the age group. of the annual
This year there are two new exciting competitions running; Children’s Book Festival
Design A Cover Competition, and a Spooky Short Story Competition
– see the inside back of this guide for further details.
CBI would like to thank the editors Liz and Sarah for all their
hard work, and long hours. We also wish to thank our section
editors and, of course, our reviewers. Finally a big thank you to
Tomm in Cartoon Saloon for designing the festival image and to
Kieran and Paddy in Oldtown Design for all their work on BookFest
and on other festival material.
All that remains is to wish everyone involved in the festival lots Editor’s Choice
of fun and of course happy reading; we hope to see you at some of Irish author / illustrator /
the events. publisher
FUTHER INFORMATION:
Event Guide/CBI Membership CHILDREN’S BOOKS IRELAND
Further Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.childrensbooksireland.ie 17 North Great George’s Street
Dublin 1
Events Information . . . . . . . . . . . . tom@childrensbooksireland.ie Tel: (01) 872 7475
BookFest Reading Guide . . . . . . . jenny@childrensbooksireland.ie Fax: (01) 872 7476
THE CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL WOULD LIKE TO THANK: DESIGN AND LAYOUT:
Oldtown Graphic Design &
The Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, The National Youth Libraries Group, The
Typesetting, www.oldtown.ie
O’Brien Press, Dublin City Libraries, International Education Supplies, Oldtown
Design, Eason and Sons Ltd. Also, a big thank you to all the publishers for their COVER ILLUSTRATION:
Tomm Moore at Cartoon Saloon
continued support.
www.cartoonsaloon.ie
CBI has made every effort to ensure the information provided in this guide is PRINTED IN IRELAND
correct, however CBI cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. by Character Print Solutions
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 3
CONTENTS / CLAR
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CBI Bisto Book of the Year 2007 prize-winners … pages 6–7
AGE 0–4 … pages 9–16

HELLO TILLY Polly Dunbar (WALKER BOOKS)
THUGAS AN GHEALACH AG SIÚL
Carolyn Curtis agus Alison Jay (AN GÚM)
THE PIGEON WANTS A PUPPY!
Mo Willems (WALKER BOOKS)
AGE 5–8 … pages 17–22

HER MOTHER’S FACE
Roddy Doyle (SCHOLASTIC)
THE HENNY PENNY TREE
Siobhán Parkinson (THE O’BRIEN PRESS)
MR GUM AND THE DANCING BEAR
Andy Stanton (EGMONT)
AGE 9–12 … pages 24–33

AIRMAN Eoin Colfer (PUFFIN BOOKS)
ADOLF SNA hARDA

Marvin Halleraker (COIS LIFE)
SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT: PLAYING WITH FIRE
Derek Landy (HARPERCOLLINS)
Overall Editors: Liz Morris and Sarah Webb

Section Editors: Ruth Coleman, Liz Morris, Tomás Ó Dúlaing, Juliette Saumande, Sarah Webb,
and Enda Wyley
Reviewers: Úna Breathnach, Jennifer Carpenter, Helen Carr, Valerie Coghlan, Lisa Coleman,
Ruth Coleman, Donal Comiskey, Judy Deacon, Jessica Denbow, Audrey Devereux,
Martina Devlin, Tom Donegan, Emer Donoghue, Robert Dunbar, Kieran Fanning,
Eimear Gallagher, Emma Hannon, Rosemary Hetherington, Lucinda Jacob, Anna
Kamaralli, Andrea Khan, Marian Keyes, Joe Kinnane, David Lee, Catherine Loane,
Caitríona Magner, David Maybury, Oisín McGann, Paula McGeever, Pauline Mellon,
Jane Mitchell, Liz Morris, Jenny Murray, Rachel Ní Chuinn, Deirdre Nic A’Bhuí,
Paddy O'Doherty, Aodh Ó Domhnaill, Tomás Ó Dúlaing, Jane O’Hanlon, Finian O’Shea,
Barbara O’Toole, Helen Power, Síne Quinn, Maedhbh Rogan, Juliette Saumande,
Déirdre Uí Ghrádaigh, Mags Walsh, Sarah Webb, Laura Williams, Enda Wyley
4 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
editor’s choices/ Roghanna an eagarthora
/
AGE 12–14 … pages 34–41
STRANGLED SILENCE Oisín McGann (CORGI)
STRAINSÉIRI Colmán Ó Raghallaigh (CLÓ MHAIGH EO)

CREATURE OF THE NIGHT
Kate Thompson (THE BODLEY HEAD)
OLDER TEENS … pages 43–48

BLOODCHILD Tim Bowler
(OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS)
OSTRICH BOYS Keith Gray

(DEFINITIONS)
THE POISON THRONE, BOOK 1

Celine Kiernan (THE O’BRIEN PRESS)
POETRY … pages 49–51

BUBBLE TROUBLE Margaret Mahy,
illustrated by Polly Dunbar (FRANCES LINCOLN)
SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH P: NEW POEMS FROM
IRISH POETS Séamus Cashman (Ed)
illustrated by Corrina Askin & Alan Clarke (THE O’BRIEN PRESS)
INFORMATION BOOKS … pages 52–58

WE ARE ALL BORN FREE (FRANCES LINCOLN)
IN ASSOCIATION WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, UK SECTION
AN tUISCE, SÚ NA BEATHA
Beatrice Hollyer (AN GÚM)
WILD DUBLIN: EXPLORING NATURE IN THE CITY
Éanna Ní Lamhna, photographs by Anthony Woods
(THE O’BRIEN PRESS)
AUDIO BOOKS … page 59

AN NOLLAIG SA NAIGÍN Ré Ó Laighléis (MÓINÍN)
KEEPER Mal Peet, read by James Goode (WALKER BOOKS)
Irish-published children’s books 2008 … page 60

Competitions … page 62
CBi Bisto Book of the Year
CBI BISTO BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

The CBI Bisto Book of the Year Awards identify, honour and promote excellence in books for young
people by Irish authors and illustrators.
CBI is now accepting submissions for the Bisto Book of the Year Awards. Established in 1990, and
sponsored since their inception by Bisto (Premier Foods Ireland), they have been the leading awards
for children’s books in Ireland for the past 18 years. These awards are open to Irish children’s authors
and illustrators, writing in Irish or English, and published in Ireland or abroad.
Please send 14 copies of eligible titles to:
CBI Bisto Book of the Year Award

17 North Great Georges Street
Dublin 1
The closing date for all submissions will be the 15th December 2008. No late entries will be accepted.
For full terms and conditions and entry forms please visit www.childrensbooksireland.ie – or call
the CBI office on (01) 872 7475 with any specific queries.
6 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
/
LPE LEABHAR NA BLIANA
The CBI Bisto Book of the Year Awards 2007 were awarded on the 22nd May 2008. Full details on
www.childrensbooksireland.ie
CBI BISTO BOOK OF SHORTLISTED TITLES

THE YEAR 2007 Michael Scott
Siobhán Dowd THE ALCHEMYST
(DOUBLEDAY)
THE LONDON EYE
MYSTERY
(DAVID FICKLING BOOKS)
EILÍS DILLON AWARD Jessica O’Donnell

Tom Kelly DISCOVER ART
(DUBLIN CITY GALLERY
THE THING WITH FINN THE HUGH LANE)
(MACMILLAN)
CBI HONOUR AWARDS Caitríona Nic Sheáin

FE Higgins agus Andrew Whitson
THE BLACK BOOK GAISCÍOCH NA
OF SECRETS BEILTE UAINE
(MACMILLAN) (AN tSNÁTHAID MHÓR)
Oliver Jeffers Colin Bateman

THE WAY BACK HOME TITANIC 2020
(HARPERCOLLINS) (HODDER CHILDREN’S BOOKS)
Roddy Doyle Kate Thompson

WILDERNESS THE LAST OF THE
(SCHOLASTIC) HIGH KINGS
(THE BODLEY HEAD)
THE YOUTH LIBRARIES GROUP
T he Youth Libraries Group is a very active section of the Library Association of
Ireland which promotes children’s books and reading through planned
programmes. It organises seminars, workshops and lectures on topics relating to
children’s books, activities and children’s libraries. For more information please
contact us at ylg@libraryassociation.ie
New members and fresh ideas are always welcome. Details of membership of
the YLG are available from: The Secretary, Library Association of Ireland, 53 Upper
Mount Street, Dublin 2 or www.libraryassocation.ie
A Friend. A Father.
A Kingdom.
Which Would You Sacrifice?
Age 0–4 Edited by Sarah Webb
AGE 0 – 2 1⁄2
MEET POLLY DUNBAR

BookFest asked award-winning author and illustrator Polly
Dunbar about her new books for younger children.
Polly, what are your new Tilly books about?

The Tilly books are about a little girl called Tilly who lives in a
yellow house with her five friends who are all animals. The
stories are about the joys and difficulties of friendship. They
were inspired by my days of house-sharing in London – at one
time I shared a room with three friends. It was a very lively
household and mostly great fun, though there were often tears
too, usually over the smallest of things.
I was sitting in a coffee shop (getting some much needed
peace and quiet) when I had the idea of putting six animal
friends in a house together. Conversations and stories
immediately started popping into my head. The first sketch I
did was of an elephant stealing a chicken’s handbag.
Tilly by Polly Dunbar is reviewed on page 10
AGE 0 – 2 1⁄2 : A–Z

NICHOLAS ALLAN
WILL’S WHEELS SHOP
RED FOX, £4.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781862304857
Customers of Will’s Wheels Shop range from a farmer and fireman to a

racing driver and film star. Lift the flaps to see which vehicle they have
chosen. Part activity book and part story, it ends in a pleasing muddle,
which the young reader is invited to sort out. [LJ]
SEE ALSO: www.nicholasallan.co.uk
CLARE BEATON
BABY’S FIRST BOOK
BAREFOOT BOOKS, £14.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781846861420
A charming collection of favourite rhymes, everyday scenes and objects,

and familiar animals, all pictured using gorgeous hand-sewn collage
illustrations. From the ‘Fantastic Fruit’ pages, with their lush pink-felt
watermelon, to the exquisitely embroidered Indian elephant, this is a book
to savour. An ideal birth or christening gift, a great book to share. [SW]
SEE ALSO: www.barefootbooks.com
Age 0–4
LUCY COUSINS
QUACK QUACK, MAISY: A MAISY BUGGY BOOK
WALKER BOOKS, £3.99 (BOARD), ISBN 978140631368
A well-designed board book with brightly coloured animal images, from a fine
grey and white dotted horse, to a brace of buzzing bees. The animals are
accompanied by appropriate sounds – ‘moo moo’, ‘quack quack’ – and there’s
the added attraction of a soft, striped buggy strap and plastic clip. [SW]
SEE ALSO: www.maisyfun.com
EDITOR’S CHOICE
POLLY DUNBAR
HELLO TILLY
WALKER BOOKS, £9.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781406309065 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
Tilly lives in a yellow house with her best friends, five animals. Dunbar does
not shy away from the realities of communal living, and this ostensibly simple
book has a vein of truth and wisdom running through it. The illustrations are
a joy – delicate, beautifully coloured, and full of expression. [SW]
CAMILLA REID AND AILIE BUSBY

LULU’S SHOES
BLOOMSBURY, £6.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780747594031
Lulu is a little girl who loves shoes and can’t help trying them on – from her
mum’s heels to her own shiny red wellies. Attractive, colourful illustrations
and real laces, touchy-feely panels and flaps-to-lift combine to make this
sturdy book a real treat for babies, toddlers and their parents alike. [SW]
JAN PIEŃKOWSKI
COLOURS
WALKER BOOKS, £4.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781406314311
With a single bold image and word per page this is perfect for little children
not quite ready for narrative. Great too for adults fearful of reading aloud, as
it ends with a question that will encourage book-related chat. And could the
black cat be Mog from Pieńkowski’s Meg and Mog books? [LJ]
READ ALSO: Numbers
FIONA WATT
I LOVE YOU, BABY
USBORNE, £5.99 (BOARD BOOK), ISBN 9780746089118
This appealing book is the perfect size for small hands. The adorable
illustrations of a cuddly baby with his collection of blankets and toys will
instantly attract curious babies. The combination of simple colourful
drawings along with fluffy cut-outs makes this a wonderful gift for babies of
six months up. [SQ]
10 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 0–4
AGE 2 1⁄2 – 4
MEET MO WILLIAMS
Mo Willems is one of the most exciting new picture book artists to emerge in the
last few years. Based in New York, he began his career writing and animating for
Sesame Street. His books have won two Caldecott Honors and he has also won six
Emmy Awards for his children’s television work. His latest books are the Elephant
and Piggie early readers, and Are You Ready to Play Outside? His guiding
philosophy is ‘Always think about your audience, never think for your audience.
Things you didn’t know about Mo Willems

1. Mo once walked all the way across France with his dad (don’t ask him why).
2. Mo finds rain depressing. It’s always raining when Mo goes on vacation.
3. Mo’s arch-enemy is PRINT-TOR, the evil spirit of vengeance that makes
printing on any computer a near impossibility.
4. Mo reads really long, really boring books about history and everybody laughs
at him, but he doesn’t care what they say (much).
5. Mo gets very bored very…
With thanks to Walker Books – extract from www.walker.co.uk

The Pigeon wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems is reviewed on page 16
and My Friend is Sad is reviewed on page 22
AGE 2 1⁄2 – 4: A–Z
ALLAN AHLBERG ILLUSTRATED BY ANDRÉ AMSTUTZ

THE BABY IN THE HAT (AN EARLY ROMANCE)
WALKER BOOKS, £10.99 (HBK), 9780744581362
This book, in an old-fashioned style, is about a boy whose fate is sealed when
he catches a baby falling from a window – in his hat! With his reward money,
he takes a train, then falls off a bridge onto a ship where he progresses from
cabin-boy to mate, becomes captain and returns to his village where he falls
in love with a beautiful young woman he sees in a window … Humour, fun and
history rolled into one charming story with wonderful illustrations. [PO’D]
DAVID BEDFORD ILLUSTRATED BY RUSSELL JULIAN

IT’S A GEORGE THING
EGMONT, £5.99 (PBK), 9781405228053
George, a zebra, has two best friends: Peachy, a gorilla, and Moon, a lion.
Peachy likes to play ball. Moon likes to play with rocks. They visit each other’s
houses and play, but George isn’t very good at either game. Fortunately he
meets Priscilla and discovers a special talent: dancing. And can he move!
This is a colourful, fun story about not being afraid to express who you really
are. (Bedford dedicates the book to John Travolta!) [PO’D]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 11
Age 0–4
JOE BERGER
BRIDGET FIDGET
PUFFIN BOOKS, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780141384207 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Bridget Fidget is a charming story about a fun-loving, imaginative little girl. She
dreams of owning a new pet and, in that delicious way that fantasy and reality
merge for this age-group, an exciting parcel arrives next day! With echoes of Eloise
and a hint of Powerpuff Girls, Berger captures an authentic 1950s American
mood. Great energy, combined with superb design and comic-book touches (as
befits a cartoonist of his stature), it left me feeling breathless and eager to see
more from this versatile talent. [MK] SEE ALSO: www.arnodestang.co.uk
ANTHONY BROWNE
LITTLE BEAUTY
With a nod to ‘Beauty and the Beast’, Browne presents a tale of friendship
between a lonely gorilla and a kitten. They do everything together, but one day
the gorilla is threatened with the loss of his small friend until she steps in to
save the situation. Browne invests the two friends with character and
resolution, and the large-format, uncluttered pages and brilliant clarity of
Browne’s artistry emphasises the difference in size between the gorilla and
Beauty. A real delight. [VC] READ ALSO: Gorilla; The Tunnel; Willy the Wimp
LAUREN CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY BY POLLY BORLAND, SET CREATION BY

EMILY JENKINS
GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS
PUFFIN BOOKS, £12.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780141383309 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
A great way of making an old story new, the photorealism of this presentation
really is something to celebrate. Child, with some help from her friends, has
created sets inhabited by the familiar characters which are then photographed.
The attention to detail in the making of characters and artefacts is amazing,
and the colour and lighting give just the right air of drama to accompany a
lively retelling of the story. A version of ‘Goldilocks’ with appeal for a wide
audience. [VC] READ ALSO: The Princess and the Pea
ROGHA AN EAGARTHÓRA
CAROLYN CURTIS AGUS ALISON JAY
AISTRITHE GO GAEILGE AG GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK
THUGAS AN GHEALACH AG SIÚL
AN GÚM, €6.50 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917086
Bheadh an leabhar seo oiriúnach le léamh do pháiste óg ag am codlata.

Tugann buachaill óg an ghealach ag súil timpeall a chomharsanacht i lár na
hoíche. Feiceann siad agus cloiseann siad a lán rudaí éagsúla, na hainmhithe
oíche, na mamaigh, na héin agus na feithidí sin a chodlaíonn i rith an lae. Tá
draíocht, samhlaíocht agus filíocht le fáil sa scéal seo. Tá léaráidí iontach
greannmhar agus tarraingteach ar gach leathanach den leabhar. [DNA’B]
12 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 0–4
MAX EILENBERG ILLUSTRATED BY NIAMH SHARKEY
CINDERELLA
WALKER BOOKS, £9.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781406307986 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Cinderella is the most famous fairytale of all, with its enduring themes of
virtue, reward and a fairy godmother to champion our cause. This is an
agreeable, humorous re-telling. But what sets it apart are Niamh Sharkey’s
eye-catching illustrations – stylish, with a slight medieval twist. I loved the
lizard coachmen with frock coats as curly as their tails. The three-year-old I
read it with was enchanted by Cinderella’s transformation from maid to
princess with a simple change of frock. Girls will be girls. [MD]
JONATHAN EMMETT ILLUSTRATED BY MARK OLIVER

TOM’S CLOCKWORK DRAGON
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780192763358
When Tom is fired by the Toymaker for spending too much time with his
beloved clockwork toys, he has to find another job. The only job going is that
of ‘Brave Knight to rid the kingdom of Flamethrottle’, a ferocious dragon.
Together with his friend, Lizzie, Tom overcomes the dragon using his wit and
intelligence, not to mention more than a touch of clockwork. An original story
with bright, cartoon-style illustrations that children will enjoy. [SW]
MICHAEL FOREMAN
THE LITTLEST DINOSAUR
BLOOMSBURY, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780747589846
The Littlest Dinosaur takes ages to hatch from his egg, and when he does he
seems too tiny to be anything but a nuisance. However, when his huge family
gets stuck in the mud he is the one who is able to go for help from the even
bigger Long Neck – showing that everyone, large or small, has a role to play
and that difference need not be a barrier to friendship. Watercolours in
Foreman’s signature blues, greens and ochres will again attract his young
audience. [LJ]
CLAIRE FREEDMAN & BEN CORT

AISTRITHE GO GAEILGE AG GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK
SEACHAIN DO BHRÍSTÍN!
AN GÚM, €7.50 (BOG), ISBN 9781857916997
Tá ábhar an scéil seo cinéal neamhgnách – fó-éadaí. Tagann na carachtair sa

scéal ón bplainéad Cneas agus bíonn siad sa tóir ar bhrístíní. Is aoibheann leo
bheith in Éirinn agus is cuma leo cé leis na brístíní. Is leabhar lán le beocht
é ach an rud is fearr faoin leabhar ná na learáidí geala atá lán le dathanna
láidre agus spraoi. Tá seans ann nach réiteoidh deireadh an leabhair le achan
duine áfach. [DNA’B]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 13
Age 0–4
EMILY GRAVETT
SPELLS
MACMILLAN, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780230014923
A wonderfully inventive book that will make any child smile. A small green frog
finds a spell book and starts to play with it, tearing up the pages to make a boat’s
sail, a castle and a princess. Then he discovers a spell to become a handsome
prince, with hilarious consequences. The spell pages are split in half, and frog
and reader must piece the jumbled spells together to produce a handsome
prince. The illustrations in black, gold and pond-green are magical. [SW]
SEE ALSO: www.emilygravett.com
RICHARD HAMILTON ILLUSTRATED BY BABETTE COLE

IF I WERE YOU
BLOOMSBURY, £8.65 (HBK), ISBN 9781599902890 (PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2008)
Three generations of us read this book – granny, aunt, niece – and each was
beguiled by it. As a dad puts his daughter to bed, they ponder what it might
be like to walk in the other’s shoes. Dad fantasizes about handing over
housework duties and bouncing on beds, while Daisy imagines dressing him
up in her pink tutu and feeding him porridge while she eats endless chocolate
fromage frais. Quirky, original and thought-provoking, the strength of the
father-daughter bond is a particular pleasure.
OLIVER JEFFERS
THE GREAT PAPER CAPER
HARPERCOLLINS, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780007182299 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
When, mysteriously, branches start disappearing from trees in the forest, the
inhabitants conduct an investigation. Jeffers’s highly stylized and slightly
quirky artwork adds sophistication and an appropriate atmosphere to the
unmasking of the bear who is the culprit. But this is no mindless vandal – the
bear has a reason for his wood-gathering, and when he has been duly
sentenced in court, the others rally round to help. The pictures expand the
deliberately simple text, adding lustre and interest to a delightfully satisfying
picturebook. [VC] SEE ALSO: www.oliverjeffers.com
SAM LLOYD
MR PUSSKINS – BEST IN SHOW
ORCHARD BOOKS, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781846165245 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
Mr Pusskins is a cat with attitude, and in this picture book he has his eyes on
the prize in the local pet show. To win it he has to beat all the other pets
including the mean poodle, Madam Fifi Foo-Foo. The tension is palpable but
this is a story full of arch good-humour, matched by the delightful energy and
retro-poise of the illustrations. Of course what it is really saying is that love is
not about being best or winning prizes. [LJ]
14 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 0–4
LINDA NEWBERY ILLUSTRATED BY CATHERINE RAYNER
POSY
ORCHARD BOOKS, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781843629900
An exceptionally lovely title, written and illustrated by true cat lovers who
have succeeded in capturing the very essence of kittenish playfulness and
fun. You just know that the creators have lived with, studied and loved Posy
and her ilk. The text is economic yet evocative and is complemented by
inventive illustrations where the delightful Posy is a shimmering tortoiseshell
with layers of impressionist texture. [MK]
SEE ALSO: www.catherinerayner.co.uk; www.lindanewbery.co.uk
JANE O’CONNOR ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN PREISS GLASSER

FANCY NANCY AND THE POSH PUPPY
HARPERCOLLINS, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780007254835
Nancy wants a sweet, small dog, a Papillon, so she can be ‘fancier’ than ever.
But her parents aren’t so sure. So Nancy decides to dog-sit her neighbour’s
Papillon dog, Jewel, to show them just how a delicate little dog would make
the perfect pet, with disastrous consequences. Poor Jewel just isn’t up to the
rough and tumble of family life. An unashamedly sweet tale, with matching
pink, highly detailed illustrations. Perfect for little girls who like dressing up
in pink fairy costumes. [SW] READ ALSO: Fancy Nancy
VIVIANE SCHWARTZ
THERE ARE CATS IN THIS BOOK
WALKER BOOKS, £9.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781406300949 (PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2008)
Follow feline friends Tiny, Moonpie and André on their mischievous adventure
throughout the book. Lift the flaps and watch their spirited and adorable
antics, as they play with wool, boxes, pillows and fish. The playful kittens
encourage reader interaction by inviting you to dry them by blowing on them,
and to tuck them in with their woollen blankets. Schwartz’s lively illustrations,
painted in primary colours, are sure to entice young readers to turn every page
and lift every flap. [SQ]
HANNAH SHAW
EVIL WEASEL
JONATHAN CAPE, £10.99 (HBK), 9780224070911
Evil Weasel is a bully and a sneak. But he soon learns that ‘being rich and
powerful isn’t much fun when there’s no one to impress’. This book is perfect
for the 4–7 age group who enjoy being read to, but who also like to figure out
the words by themselves. The text is quirkily distorted and varied with lots of
interesting signs and labels. Shaw’s bold, colourful illustrations are packed
with humorous detail, which means young readers will come back to this book
again and again. [PO’D]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 15
Age 0–4
JEANNE WILLIS ILLUSTRATED BY GWEN MILLWARD
THE BOG BABY
PUFFIN BOOKS, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780141500300
Most children, at one time or another, take an animal or some living creature
from the wild and keep it until … This honest and powerful book tells us
about Chrissy and her sister who find a bog baby, take him home and keep
him in secret. They love him, feed him cake-crumbs and play with him until
he becomes unwell. The two girls learn that if they really love their bog baby
they will have to let him go. Beautiful, eye-catching illustrations. [PO’D]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MO WILLEMS
THE PIGEON WANTS A PUPPY!
WALKER BOOKS, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781406315509
Pigeon wants a puppy. When his dream comes true and a huge, slobbering puppy
arrives, he quickly changes his mind. Instead he wants … a walrus. The pared-
back illustrations are extraordinary; Willem’s expresses more in one seemingly
simple line than some illustrators do in a whole book. And the background colours
– palest egg-shell blue, candyfloss pink, soft rain-cloud grey – beautiful. The future
of children’s picture books is in good hands. (Did I mention it’s also hilariously
funny?) Brilliant for reading aloud. [SW] SEE ALSO: www.mowillems.com
e-mail: moinin@eircom.net or on the web : www.moinin.ie MÓINÍN

Available from MÓINÍN by phone: 353 65 7077256,
This acclaimed collection looks at the rise, the fall
ch Reasca, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare and the versatility of the human spirit, touching as it
MÓINÍN,
does, on almost every aspect of human trial and
existence.
Books Ireland Price €10
of his prose allows for no authorial moralising.” ISBN 0-9532777-9-8
Ecstasy has been widely translated and is winner of a
gives the collection its undeniable power. The economy
Bisto Book of the Year award, a North American
intelligence...It is Ó Laighléis’ creative imagination that
NAMLLA award, a European White Ravens award
lives and deals with them with profound insight and
and an Oireachtas literary award.
unflinchingly with major social issues that affect all our
“Ó Laighléis is not one for the soft option. He deals
“Ó Laighléis is not one for the soft option. He deals
unflinchingly with major social issues that affect all our
and an Oireachtas literary award.
lives and deals with them with profound insight and
NAMLLA award, a European White Ravens award
intelligence...It is Ó Laighléis’ creative imagination that
Bisto Book of the Year award, a North American
gives the collection its undeniable power. The economy
Ecstasy s been widely translated and is winner of a
ISBN 0-9532777-9-8 of his prose allows for no authorial moralising.”
Price €10 Books Ireland
existence.
does, on almost every aspect of human trial and
MÓINÍN, Loch Reasca, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare
and the versatility of the human spirit, touching as it
This acclaimed collection looks at the rise, the fall
Available from MÓINÍN by phone: 353 65 7077256,
MÓINÍN e-mail: moinin@eircom.net or on the web : www.moinin.ie
Age 5–8 Edited by Juliette Saumande
ANDY STANTON’S MR GUM SERIES

With five books published Have you ever tried out in real life the curses
and another three in the and insults used by your characters?
pipeline, Andy Stanton’s I haven’t. But a lot of parents tell me their kids
laugh-out-loud-till-you-get- call each other ‘trouserface’ as a result of my
the-hiccups Mr Gum series books. Sorry, parents!
is a definite winner with 5–8
year olds … and their elders! Will we ever learn more about Mr Gum’s shady
Welcome to Stanton’s mad- past? his youth? his ma? his favourite underwear?
cap world! Maybe, very possibly, perhaps and YUCK, NO WAY!
If you had to prepare a dinner for the Inter-
What about his love life?
national Mr Gum Day, what would be on the
menu? There may be a book about Mr Gum falling in
love one day, stay tuned!
You could choose from a ‘Heroes’ menu and a
‘Villains’ menu. The Heroes’ menu would involve You have been warned!
pizza and chocolate cake. The Villains’ menu
would consist of rancid tripe followed by pork Mr Gum and the Dancing Bear by Andy Stanton
sorbet. Take your pick! is reviewed on page 21
AGE 5– 8: A–Z
MICHAEL BOND ILLUSTRATED BY PEGGY FORTNUM
PADDINGTON HERE AND NOW
HARPERCOLLINS, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780007269402
This is the fiftieth anniversary year of this beloved bear but he hasn’t changed
a bit and is as delightful as ever. Paddington still has a way of blissfully
avoiding disaster. As an immigrant from Darkest Peru, Paddington must
choose where to call home and the Brown family who found him all those
years ago will begin to feel that there’s a lot they don’t know about
their beloved newcomer. Beautiful illustrations by Peggy Fortnum bring
Paddington’s adventures to life. A charming new classic. [JDen]
MARIE BURLINGTON
THE LITTLE WITCH WHO CAN’T SPELL
THE O’BRIEN PRESS, €5.95 (PBK), ISBN 9780862789824 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Willow Witch mixes up her spells until Miss Wart, her teacher, takes Willow’s
wand away. So when she finds a powerful wizard’s wand – well, what’s a
wandless witch supposed to do? Willow is only trying to help when, with
whizbangs and wallops, tickles and toenails, she makes even bigger magic
muddles. It’s double trouble now on Witchty Mountain, but Willow is forgiven
when her spell whisks up the best Hallowe’en party ever. A fun read, well-
aimed for emerging readers 6+. [PM]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 17
Age 5–8
ROSS COLLINS ROSS COLLINS, MÁIRTÍN Ó CLÉIRIGH A D’AISTRIGH
AN DAID IS CLISTE AR FAD!
AN GÚM, €7.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917406 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Bhí Snap, an crogall óg, agus a chara, Ruball, amuigh ag súgradh lá éigin. Fad
is a bhí siad amuigh, bhuail siad leis na hainmhithe eile. Bhí gach ainmhí óg ag
déanamh gaisce dá n-athair. Luaigh siad go léir na buanna a bhí ag a n-athracha.
Bhí Snap ag éirí buartha. Ní raibh a fhios aige céard a rinne a athair ó mhaidin
go hoíche. Bhí cleas ag gach daid eile. Faoi dheireadh faigheann Snap freagra ar
a cheist agus bíonn sé an-bhródúil as a Dhaid. Bheadh Daid ar bith fíor-shásta
an leabhair álainn, meallacach seo a léamh lena pháistí óga. [DNA’B]
ANNA DONOVAN ILLUSTRATED BY TATYANA FEENEY

WHERE’S MURPHY?
Murphy is Rory’s dog. He’s also his best, best friend in the whole world. But
then, one windy afternoon, Murphy goes missing … Here is a very gentle tale,
reassuringly focusing on what can be done to solve the problem rather than
dwelling on the sadness and anxiety a pet’s disappearance can cause. A
simple text with plenty of room for illustrations, Where’s Murphy? follows the
recipe that has made such a success of the Panda series. [JS]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
RODDY DOYLE ILLUSTRATED BY FREYA BLACKWOOD
HER MOTHER’S FACE
SCHOLASTIC, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781407107073 (PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2008)
This warm and exquisitely illustrated story tells us of a young girl called Siobhán
who is desperately trying to cling on to memories of her deceased mother, while
being brave in the face of loss. Roddy Doyle’s delicate story is in equal parts
heartbreaking and hopeful, and offers a tender glimpse of how we cope with
losing a loved one on a day-to-day basis. A beautiful book that reminds us that,
with time, some memories can bring joy and laughter instead of tears. [EH]
ALAN DURANT ILLUSTRATED BY ROSS COLLINS

THE FAIRYTALE FILES: CINDERELLA
Who is Cinderella, Prince Charming’s mysterious fiancée? Rumple Stiltskin

from the Fairytale Agency is on the case: birth certificate, shopping lists,
invitation to the ball, wish contract – the investigator-in-chief leaves no stone
unturned. The photos, magazine clippings, envelopes to open and cartoony
illustrations make for a very dynamic presentation. Although the book
respects the main lines of the traditional tale, the text is full of zany details,
the tone is humorous and slightly irreverent at times. A refreshing read. [JS]
18 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 5–8
SUSAN EDWARDS & RÉ Ó LAIGHLÉIS LÉARÁIDÍ LE EMILY COLENSO
AN PHLEIST MHÓR
MÓINÍN, €14.00 (CRUA), ISBN 9780955407963
Is cúpla iad Amy agus Claire agus bíonn siad i gcónaí le chéile. Lá fliuch, tá
siad istigh ag féachaint amach ar an mbáisteach. Chomh luath is a stopann
sé bíonn siad réidh le dul amach ag súgradh, cóta báistí agus buataisí ar an
mbeirt acu. Bíonn an-spraoi acu ag léimt sna loganna uisce. Ach, an mbeidh
Mamaí sásta nuair a fheiceann sí iad agus iad fliuch báite?? Usáideann an t-
údar an-chuid focail imeartha, rud a thaitneoidh go mór le páistí óga. [DNA’B]
MAEVE FRIEL ILLUSTRATED BY JOELLE DREIDEMY

TIGER LILY: A HEROINE WITH A MISSION!!
STRIPES PUBLISHING, £4.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847150400
Animal- and book-lovers alike will enjoy meeting book-obsessed Tiger Lily,
Sammy her Trusty Companion and Rosie the crazy three-legged greyhound in
an adventure featuring loose wild boars, Big Unfriendly cycling Giants and a
fair number of peacocks. With illustrations galore (be these Dreidemy's fresh
black-and-white pictures or the many book-reports, diary-excerpts and even
TV headlines), this second instalment of Friel's series makes for a fun and
easy read. 7+ [JS] READ ALSO: Tiger Lily: A Heroine in the Making!
WILLIAM HENRY ILLUSTRATED BY DELPHINE ARNAULT

TÍR NA nÓG, A NEW ADVENTURE
MERCIER PRESS, €14.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781856355971
Luke, Danielle and David embark upon an incredible adventure the day they
meet the beautiful lady coming from a secret land somewhere in the sea. The
lady is Princess Niamh and the land Tír na nÓg. On a bold move, the children
ask to be taken to Niamh’s country. A mad race against time and fate follows,
during which we meet Oisín, Brasil and many more. A relatively easy, fast-
paced read, it is a good introduction to the fantastic world of Irish mythology
for readers aged 8+. [JS]
ALAN MACDONALD ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID ROBERTS

DIRTY BERTIE: YUCK!
STRIPES PUBLISHING, £4.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847150394
Fans rejoice! Parents beware! The best-loved little horror is back with three
more zany adventures: 'Yuck!' 'Beg!' and 'Bum!' If you think grannies are
boring, parents reasonable and toddlers cute, go and ask Bertie. The
illustrations are hilarious and add a lot to a simple and straightforward text.
Yuck! is perhaps not as 'dirty' as you may fear (or hope!), but it is great fun
all the same. [JS]
READ ALSO: Dirty Bertie: My Book of Stuff
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 19
Age 5–8
OISÍN McGANN
WIRED TEETH
THE O’BRIEN PRESS, €6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170033
Wired Teeth is the cautionary tale of a school bully who rules the playground.
His life changes when he is given experimental braces for his teeth by a crazy
orthodontist. Jason begins to hear voices and sees a very nasty figure lurking
around his school. This humorous fast-paced book is filled with hilarious
illustrations, short chapters, snappy sentences and lots of mischief. This book
will definitely appeal to boys and should encourage the most reluctant reader
to read. [ED]
READ ALSO: The Evil Hairdo; The Mad Grandad series
DAVID MELLING
GOBLINS 4: SHADOW GOBLINS
HODDER, £8.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780340944110
All is not well in Black Wood. An entire flock of sheep have lost their shadows
and it’s up to apprentice Shadow Goblins Pungent and Stringlip to solve the
mystery. The only problem is they’re really not very good at being Shadow Goblins
at all! Part spotters-guide, part conventional narrative, this fourth title in
Melling’s popular series once again sees mildly eccentric prose and personable
artwork combined to humorous effect. The result is an appealing and accessible
adventure ideal for those gaining confidence as independent readers. [TD]
MÁRIE NÍ GHALLCHOBHAIR MAISITHE AG PETER DONNELLY

NÍL CEAD SNÁMH SA LOCH
LEABHAR BREAC, €4.90 (BOG), ISBN 9781898332268
Lá breá atá ann agus tógann Bean de Róiste rang Lúsaí ar shiúlóid sa choill.
Cuireann an maor coille fáilte rompu agus siúlann sé leo. Is cailín lán le spraoi
agus le greann í Lúsaí. Bíonn sé deacair smacht a choinnéal uirthi. Ag
deireadh an lae téann Bean de Róiste abhaile agus í fliuch báite. Is scéal deas
simplí é seo a bheadh oiriúnach don léitheoir óg. Cuidíonn na léaráidí leis an
léitheoir míniú iomlán an scéil a fháil. [DNA’B]
JOE O’BRIEN ILLUSTRATED BY JEAN TEXIER

ALFIE GREEN AND THE SUPERSONIC SUBWAY
THE O’BRIEN PRESS, €7.95 (HBK), ISBN 9781847170958
Alfie is the only one who can save the Emerald Cactus that has exploded and
covered Budsville in green sand. In his grandad’s shed he finds a special
lawnmower. Can this machine help Alfie stop the Desert Elves and will Alfie and
Fitzer take part in the go-kart race? The magical events flow into each other with
an ease that gives an air of credibility. The excitement is enhanced by the
detailed black and white illustrations. Readers will hang on every word. [ÚB]
READ ALSO: Alfie Green and the Snowdrop Queen
20 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 5–8
EDITOR’S CHOICE
SIOBHÁN PARKINSON ILLUSTRATED BY LISA JACKSON
THE HENNY PENNY TREE
Great Uncle Fergus gives Littlest a copper coin. Not as good as the gold and silver
he gave her older sisters Tall One and Middling. Or is it? There isn’t one word too
many in this brilliant retelling of a traditional tale. It is funny and fast, and
simultaneously modern and timeless. The family dynamics are pure Parkinson.
Lisa Jackson’s illustrations serve the words admirably; they are fresh and full of
energy, and bring an extra touch of modernity and quirkiness to the text. [JS]
READ ALSO: Finn’s Thumb; The Riddle both by Felicity Hayes-McCoy
JUSTIN RICHARDS
AGENT ALFIE, THUNDER RAKER
HARPER COLLINS, £4.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780007273577
By some mad coincidence, Alfie finds himself enlisted in a school for future
secret agents, where Miss Fortune teaches Assassination Techniques (at least
to the pupils who survive) and Mr Trick is in charge of Camouflage (that is, if
the teacher can be found). Alfie turns out to be very good at it all. Richards’
style is punchy, and the plot at times hilariously silly yet well-mastered. This
is the first of what promises to be a fun and eccentric series that will have
boys and girls in stitches. [JS]
PHYLLIS ROOT ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID PARKINS

AUNT NANCY AND THE BOTHERSOME VISITORS
In four short, separate tales, Phyllis Root introduces us to an extraordinary

cast of characters: Aunt Nancy who’s nobody’s fool; her cat Ezekiel who knows
what’s good for him, Old Man Trouble, Cousin Lazybones, Old Woeful and
Mister Death who do exactly what it says on the tin. Unusual in tone and rich
in unexpected twists, these stories are very original and very endearing. David
Parkins’ silhouette illustrations are extremely effective and add to the humour
of the book. A real gem. [JS]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
ANDY STANTON ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID TAZZYMAN
MR GUM AND THE DANCING BEAR
EGMONT, £4.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781405241793 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
This is the fifth book in the hilariously funny Mr Gum series and the best yet.
This time it involves a depressed dancing bear, a mad pirate captain and a
hot-air balloon. The baddies are more evil and gross than ever, but Polly is up
for the challenge. While spinning a totally eccentric and totally unpredictable
plot, Stanton still manages to infuse his text with poetry, of the nonsensical
kind of course. What a feat! What a treat! [JS]
SEE ALSO: http://egmontbooks.co.uk/mrGum/
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 21
Age 5–8
MADDIE STEWART ILLUSTRATED BY GREG MASSARDIER
HAL’S SLEEPOVER
What small child won’t identify with Hal? Hal’s big brother goes to a sleepover
party where all needs will be catered for with sweets, movies, torchlight chases
and no bedtime. But Hal is too small. Luckily Granny seems to understand,
never having been to a sleepover party herself, and now being too old. Young
and old, Granny and Hal organise their own ‘best ever ever’ sleepover party.
With vibrant illustrations and text well judged for emerging readers this should
appeal to 5+. [PM] READ ALSO: Molly’s Night Out by Úna Leavy
JEREMY STRONG ILLUSTRATED BY ROWAN CLIFFORD

LOST! THE HUNDRED-MILE-AN-HOUR DOG
Streaker the dog is REALLY lost! Having stowed away in a pie van she finds
herself stranded miles from home. The journey back is fraught with danger.
Butchers, baboons and other strange beasts lie in wait at every turn, and to
make matters worse, she’s only got a clever-clogs cat for company! Using, for
the first time, Streaker’s own words throughout, Strong brings a fresh twist to
this fourth instalment of his ever-amusing series, whilst Clifford’s cheeky
illustrations remain as appealing as ever. A doggy delight! [TD]
SEE ALSO: www.Jeremystrong.co.uk
VALERIE THOMAS AGUS KORKY PAUL MÁIRTÍN Ó CLÉIRIGH A D’AISTRIGH

LÁ BREITHE CHITÍ!
AN GÚM, €6.95 (BOG), ISBN 9781857916942
Lá breithe Chití atá ann. Rinne Cití agus a cat, Smúróg, cinneadh cóisir
gharraí a eagrú. Sheol sí na cuirí ar an ndraíocht-phost. Fuair Cití an-chuid
bronntanaisí óna cairde. Bhí spórt agus spraoi go dtí gur shéid Cití an trumpa
draíochta, ceann de na bronntanais a fuair sí. Go tobann, bhí gach duine
imithe!! Conas a éireoidh le Cití a cairde a fháil ar ais go dtí an chóisir? Is
leabhar breá tarraingteach é seo le léaraidí álainne, geala. Is cuid de shraith
leabhair é seo faoi Cití Cailleach. [DNA’B]
MO WILLEMS
MY FRIEND IS SAD
Willems is an exceptional talent in picture books. This is a fantastic book for

everyone aged five and upwards. This story of Elephant and Piggie is a brilliant
bridge from reading aloud to reading alone. Willems is a master, using the bare
minimum of text and illustration to convey very great stories, which are also
incredibly funny. He uses a limited colour palette and plenty of white space
very effectively. A great book and every one of the fifty-five pages should be
savoured. [MW] READ ALSO: There is a Bird on Your Head!
22 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 9 12 – Edited by Ruth Coleman
WRITING FOR YOUNG READERS:

A CHALLENGE AND A PLEASURE
– MARILYN TAYLOR
As a child, reading – thanks to my local library – provided a welcome refuge
from humdrum daily life. Later, in Ireland, I wrote humorous articles for
community magazines and newspapers. Later still, a long-time Dublin
school librarian, I wrote to tempt reluctant teenage readers, finally turning
to historical fiction, a genre which had given me a love of history.
A ‘war baby’ growing up in the London Jewish community, I discovered that
only by an accident of geography had I escaped the fate of 1 1⁄2 million
Jewish children murdered by the Nazis in Europe, just across the Channel. So it’s no accident that
my two most recent novels are set in the 1940s – the decade that saw World War II, the Emergency
and the Holocaust. These novels deal with racism, anti-Semitism and the disrupted lives of young
refugees – themes that are all only too relevant today.
17 Martin Street by Marilyn Taylor is reviewed on page 32
AGE 9–12: A–Z

DAVID ALMOND ILLUSTRATED BY DAVE McKEAN
THE SAVAGE
Using the convention of a story within a story, this sophisticated graphic novel
introduces the reader to Blue. Having recently lost his father, Blue begins to
write a story in an attempt to come to terms with his bereavement; however,
this story soon blurs the boundary between Blue’s imagination and reality.
Although parts of the narrative lack oomph, Blue’s dark and violent ‘savage’
is brought to life by McKean’s distorted yet stunning illustrations. Overall, an
engaging read. [JC]
READ ALSO: My Dad’s a Birdman
DAVE BARRY AND RIDLEY PEARSON ILLUSTRATED BY GREG CALL

NEVERLAND: THE CAVE OF THE DARK WIND
Based on JM Barrie’s world of Peter Pan and Neverland, Barry and Pearson
have been inventing some adventures for the Lost Boys to get up to while
Peter is away. The famous Captain Hook and his sidekick Smee are there to
give the boys plenty of trouble. This is a rollicking, old-fashioned adventure
narrative, with all the classic elements: pirates, cursed treasure, mysterious
caves, an exotic island and rather politically retro island natives. A fun page-
turner suitable for younger readers. [AKam]
24 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 9–12
COLIN BATEMAN
TITANIC 2020: CANNIBAL CITY
HODDER, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780340944462
This second instalment in Bateman’s series sees Lucky Jimmy Armstrong,

Claire and fellow crew members of the new Titanic dealing with the
devastating fall-out of the deathly plague that swept the globe in Part 1. The
ship has become a floating refuge for survivors. On land, things are becoming
ever more sinister – civilisation as we know it an increasingly distant memory.
As with the first book, action and dialogue is top of the agenda. Witty, pacey
and scary in just the right doses. [TD] READ ALSO: Titanic 2020
HENRY CHANCELLOR
THE REMARKABLE ADVENTURES OF TOM SCATTERHORN:
THE MUSEUM’S SECRET
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, £10.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780192720832
There is something rather old-fashioned about this story of a boy discovering

time-travel and talking to animals in a dusty Victorian museum. The details
are very inventive, however, and there are plenty of larger-than-life characters.
The marvels of taxidermy are just the beginning for Tom, who is soon on the
trail of malevolent beetles and the elixir of eternal life. A captivating read,
although the author seems to lose control of his material as the resolution
becomes increasingly complex. Suitable for readers 11+ [AKam]
EMMA CLAYTON
THE ROAR
THE CHICKEN HOUSE, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781905294633
Twins Mika and Ellie have grown up behind a wall that allegedly protects them
from the plague carried by the animals on the other side. Then Ellie disappears
and is presumed dead, though Mika refuses to accept this. Not until the
Minister for Youth Development launches the ‘Fit for Life’ project does the
sinister truth begin to emerge, and Mika’s entire family finds itself in grave
danger. A brilliantly imagined near-future world, with thrilling action sequences,
about how we care for our planet and its inhabitants, animal and human. [LM]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
EOIN COLFER
AIRMAN
PUFFIN BOOKS, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780141383354
Born in a balloon over the Paris World Fair only to be shot down moments later, it
seems that Conor Broekhart was destined to fly. In the style of a true adventure
tale, the reader is gripped from the first page. Early on, Conor saves the princess
from certain death and quickly becomes a classic hero struggling through
challenges that would leave Superman gasping. Colfer’s characters are wonderfully
drawn – Bonvilain is the epitome of an evil pretender to the throne, while the self-
serving prison officer Billtoe stands for all that is petty and small-minded. [RC]
READ ALSO: Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox; Half Moon Investigations
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 25
Age 9–12
ZIZOU CORDER
LEE RAVEN: BOY THIEF
Lee is a street urchin living in a future London with global warming and petrol
drought. On the run for pick-pocketing, he’s thrown into even more peril when
he steals something far more valuable than he first thought – a book, which
becomes the story the reader desires. Different character’s viewpoints are
used to give a varied account of the happenings while developing the plot
brilliantly. Lee is a delightful anti-hero with his own hilarious vernacular.
Quirky, original and highly recommended. [DC]
READ ALSO: The Lionboy Trilogy
FRANK COTTRELL-BOYCE
COSMIC
MACMILLAN, £9.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780230709782
Cottrell Boyce, a multi-award winning author and screenwriter, triumphs

again with this story of Liam and his friend Florida. Liam is exceptionally tall
for his age, so tall in fact, that he can sometimes pass himself off as
Florida’s father. When they end up in China training for a space flight, Liam
thinks that perhaps this time they might have gone too far. A funny and
touching tale of friendship and fatherly relationships and a great adventure
suspense story too. Age 11+ [MW] READ ALSO: Millions; Framed
JUDI CURTIN
ALICE AND MEGAN FOREVER
Megan and Alice are starting secondary school and dealing with new
friends, new teachers and new subjects. Alice is thriving, but Megan finds
it harder to settle in. The only friend she makes is class bad boy Marcus; is
he as bad as he seems or is there more to him? As well as dealing with
teenage fun and friendship, Curtin writes about the transition to a new
school, fitting in and bullying with the light, deft touch readers have come
to expect from this series. Age 11+ [LM]
EMILY DIAMAND
REAVERS’ RANSOM
THE CHICKEN HOUSE, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781905294978 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
Set two hundred years in the future, when the world has undergone catastrophic
climate change and the coastline of Britain has been transformed by floods, this
is the story of independent and resourceful Lilly Melkun, who, taking a ‘talking
jewel’ as a ransom, sails off, with her sea cat, to rescue the Prime Minister’s
young daughter, recently kidnapped from Lilly’s village by Medwin’s reavers,
jeopardising the whole community of fisherfolk who are being held accountable.
An exhilarating, funny adventure story, from a talented new writer. [LM]
26 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 9–12
LARI DON ILLUSTRATED BY AMANDA SINCLAIR
FIRST AID FOR FAIRIES AND OTHER FABLED BEASTS
FLORIS BOOKS, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780863156366
This is an enjoyable fast-paced yarn featuring Helen, whose day-to-day school

life is punctuated by night-time adventures as a healer of fantastical creatures
while saving them from the evil ‘Master of the Maze’. Secretly using her
mother’s veterinary resources, Helen not only saves a fairy’s life, but heals an
injured centaur, dragon and phoenix. The diverse characters and exciting
storyline will enthrall readers who like animals and magic. This book would be
even better with a few line drawings scattered throughout. [EG]
JOHN DOUGHERTY ILLUSTRATED BY JAMES DE LA RUE

BANSI O’HARA AND THE BLOODLINE PROPHECY
CORGI YEARLING, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780440867876
Bansi O’Hara and her parents travel to Ireland to visit her grandmother. What
she doesn’t know is that she is part of an ancient prophecy which means that
one side of the faery world will stop at nothing to protect her and the other to
capture her. This is a funny, fast-paced read that will keep readers
entertained. The antics of Bansi’s grandmother and her friend as they careen
dangerously through the countryside are guaranteed to raise a smile. [RC]
READ ALSO: Jack Slater, Monster Investigator
MALACHY DOYLE
SWAP
A tale of mistaken identity gone awry – you’ve heard it before – but Doyle
manages to put a modern twist on this classic set-up. Two boys, one Irish, one
Welsh, realise they’re ‘the perfect spit’ of each other and devise a swap that
quickly goes wrong. The story moves rapidly; the narrative is an exciting mix
of dialogue and text-messaging, of Irish and of Welsh. Only an author with the
knowledge of both cultures that Doyle possesses could have pulled off the
story so eloquently. [JDen]
DEBORAH ELLIS
THE PRISON RUNNER
A narrative written with great passion and conviction about the dispossessed
in Bolivia, The characters, particularly thirteen-year-old Diego, speak directly
to the reader. Diego lives in prison with his mother and baby sister Corina,
while across the yard his father serves his sentence in the men’s gaol. Diego
helps to support his family by running errands for the prisoners. One mistake
ends in his making a rash decision, which endangers not only himself but also
his family. [FO’S]
READ ALSO: Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 27
Age 9–12
MARVIN HALLERAKER
AISTRITHE AG TREASA NÍ BHRUA AGUS MAGNUS VESTVOLL
ADOLF SNA hARDA
COIS LIFE, €9.00 (CRUA), ISBN 9871901176810
Is leabhar álainn smaointeach é seo faoi tiománaí craenach uaigneach, a

chónaíonn ina chuid cabáin gan baint aige leis an domhan laistíos, ach amháin
go gcloiseann gach éinne an ceol binn á sheinnt aige ar an bhflúgalchorn os
cionn na cathrach istoíche. Go tobann, titeann sé i ngrá le Ramona agus bíonn
air í a mhealladh ar bhealach éigin. Aistriúchán simplí oiriúnach is ea é ar
bhunsaothar Ioruaise. Tá maisiúchán aoibhinn ann a chuireann atmaisféar
dugaí, calafoirt agus long in iúl do leitheoir ar bith. [RNC]
LÉIGH FREISIN: Poll agus a Mhac
JIM HALLIGAN ILLUSTRATED BY CARTOON SALOON

DIABOLIC DOWNLOADS
Having a hand-me-down phone can be torture for a child – or it can save his
life. A new business comes to town promising free (!) ringtones to all – except
Jack, whose phone is too old to be compatible. But beware of anything free:
these downloads do strange, horrifying things to their owners. Creepy imagery
and eerie situations fill this book and will captivate the readers. An exciting
thriller. [JDen]
SAM HAY ILLUSTRATED BY EMMA DODSON

BILLY ANGEL
A & C BLACK, £4.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780713688818
Up until now, Billy didn’t seem to have much choice of career, being next in
line in a family of plumbers that went back to the dawn of time. But there is
a shortage of angels in heaven and Billy has been called upon to step in.
Strong comic characters, unexpected setting and storyline (involving zombies,
eating contests and blocked pipes) and a very convincing and very funny
narrative voice: Billy Angel ticks all the boxes. [JS]
JULIA GOLDING
EMPTY QUARTER
EGMONT, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781405228190
Darcie Lock in another rollercoaster adventure in the world of espionage.

Acting upon the suggestion of her grandfather – who just happens to be
Director of Regional Affairs at MI6 – her parents send her on a cruise with
Fresh Start Travel. But FST is a team-building programme for troubled teens,
and the daughter of the US president is on board. Soon Darcie finds herself
involved in an international incident, fighting for survival where lines between
friend and foe are never clear. Are the odds stacked too high? 11+ [AKha]
28 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 9–12
SALLY GRINDLEY
BROKEN GLASS
BLOOMSBURY, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780747586159
Sandeep and Suresh are living a relatively comfortable life in their village.
Events in his work and home life plunge their domineering father into despair
and outbursts of violence. Eventually the brothers flee and find themselves
homeless and fending for themselves in the big city. Vivid descriptions of the
sights, sounds and aromas of India draw the reader into this enthralling tale
of brotherhood and a desperate struggle for survival amongst the ragpickers.
An important insight into the world inhabited by the world’s poorest children.
Age 11+ [AKha] SEE ALSO: www.sallygrindley.co.uk
VIVIAN FRENCH
THE BAG OF BONES
WALKER BOOKS, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781406306248 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
Wicked witch Truda Hangnail sets out to restore evil to its rightful place in the
Five Kingdoms. An unlikely hero emerges in Loobly who with the help of Prince
Marcus and Gracie Gillipot, amongst others, saves the day and dispatches
Truda to the house of the Ancient Crones to face her punishment. A good
rollicking story, French introduces not only a cast of amazing characters, but
also situates the narrative in a cleverly constructed world where the
unbelievable becomes believable. [FO’S] READ ALSO: The Robe of Skulls
F E HIGGINS
THE BONE MAGICIAN
The Bone Magician – a mysterious man who claims that he can make the dead
speak. Just one of a series of memorable, eccentric and occasionally menacing
characters encountered by young Pin Carhue in the brilliantly dank, dreary city
of Urbs Umida after his father’s disappearance under suspicious circumstances
leaves him to fend for himself in this macabre, blackly humorous, inventive and
very enjoyable tale of mystery, magic and illusion. [JK]
SEE ALSO: www.thebonemagician.com READ ALSO: The Black Book of Secrets
EDITOR’S CHOICE
DEREK LANDY
SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT: PLAYING WITH FIRE
Written with gusto, wit and panache, this is the second fantasy adventure
featuring a skeleton detective, Skulduggery Pleasant, and his protégée, thirteen-
year-old Dubliner, Stephanie. This time the duo have to use their magical talents
to fight ‘the Grotesquery’, a creature who has been created by weaving and
stitching together body parts from mythical monsters and beasts. Knowledge of
the first book would be an advantage, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel.
I’d heartily recommend it to any reader, adults included. [SW]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 29
Age 9–12
DEAN LOREY
NIGHTMARE ACADEMY: CHARLIE’S MONSTERS
Charlie has been isolated most of his childhood life, because he has the
power to manifest monsters from his imagination. Everything changes when
he is rescued by a group of monster-catchers who bring him to a special
academy to train him in. The idea behind this book is ingenious. There’s no
lack of action or humour and Charlie’s journey from a scared and lonely boy
to a great student of the Academy will keep readers glued to this excellent
debut. [DC]
TADHG MAC DHONNAGÁIN KIERON BLACK A MHAISIGH

BRAN AGUS SCEOLÁN
AN GÚM, €7.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917116
Meascán idir Indiana Jones agus na Fir Bolg atá anseo! Leathanach i ndiaidh
leathanach de eachtra i ndiaidh eachtra. Do-chreidte an méid a tharlaíonn
taobh istigh de 64 leathanach. Tá na maisiúcháin go hálainn, rud a
chiallaíonn gur leabhar fíor so-léite atá ann. Le Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin, ar
ndóigh, tá greann is samhlaíocht ann. Níl mé iomlán cinnte faoi dheaireadh
an leabhair. B’fhéidir go bhfuil an samhlaíocht sínithe beagáinín an iomarca.
Sin ráite, is leabhar an-taitneamhach é. [TÓD]
LÉIGH FREISIN: Fionn Mac Cumhaill – Taoiseach na Féinne
KATE McMAHON ILLUSTRATED BY TERRY MYLER

THAT TOUCH OF MAGIC
THE CHILDREN’S PRESS, €6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781901737608 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Liz is the new girl at school and doesn’t like it one bit. Karen, her one
potential friend, sees her as competition. To make matters worse, Liz’s Gran
is on a mission to get Liz on the all-boy hurling team. Will Liz ever find a way
to fit in at St Gabriel’s? The trials and tribulations of life in the sixth class are
realistically portrayed. It’s a story for any “new kid” or girl with both brains
and brawn to relate to. [JDen]
READ ALSO: Growing Pains
GARTH NIX
SUPERIOR SATURDAY
Another Challenge for Arthur as he tries to get the sixth key of the Kingdom.
This time the task proves to be monumental as Superior Saturday is the most
powerful sorcerer in the House. With the approaching Nothing destroying
everything in its way, Arthur must reach Saturday’s Incomparable Gardens to
claim the key. But using his powers makes him more Denizon and less able to
return to save his family from the authorities’ decision to destroy his home
and the spreading plague. Riveting stuff! [JDea]
SEE ALSO: www.garthnix.co.uk
30 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 9–12
COLMÁN Ó RAGHALLAIGH
NA CAILLEACHA GRÁNNA
CLÓ MHAIGH EO, €8.99 (BOG), ISBN 9781899922451
Cónaíonn Micilín agus a chlann i gcarabhan taobh leis na habhann. Nuair a

théann Micilín agus a mháthair isteach sa choill chun cipíní a bhailiú le
haghaidh na tine, casann siad ar chailín óg. Insíonn sí dóibh faoi conas ar
éalaigh sí ó na cailleacha gránna agus go bhfuil go leor páistí eile fós gafa acu.
Ceapann an chlann seift leis na páistí ar fad a shaorú le diúrachán draíochta.
Leabhar simplí, taitneamhach atá ann le pictiúirí móra tarraingteacha. [RNíC]
WILL PETERSON
TRISKELLION
It is fascinating the way this story draws on elements of folklore, including the
Green Man myths and Celtic history, although the plot itself is almost
outrageously clichéd: fourteen-year-old American twins Rachel and Adam are
sent to stay with their ancient grandmother in a mysterious and isolated
English village, complete with an eccentric and mysterious old beekeeper, a
cantankerous and mysterious old squire, a mean and mysterious old vicar, and
so on. An intriguing book, nevertheless. [AKam]
PETER REGAN ILLUSTRATED BY TERRY MYLER

RIVERSIDE: EXIT POINT
THE CHILDREN’S PRESS, €5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781901737592 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
The Riverside boys are back – and growing up. After passing his Leaving Cert,
Jimmy Quinn decides it’s time to leave childhood behind and join the working
world as a football reporter. Focused around a wild campaign to save a historic
school, this is a story about saying hello to the adult world and good-bye to a
childhood that’s hard to leave behind. Myler’s colourful, action-packed
illustrations complement Regan’s convincing narrative of what it’s like to
become adult – whether you like it or not! [JDen]
READ ALSO: Riverside: Spring Fever
GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK RÓISÍN CURÉ A MHAISIGH

NA DAOINE DALLA
AN GÚM, €10.50 (CRUA), ISBN 9781857916805
Bhí Lugh de Paor agus a chairde amuigh ag imirt iomáint. Bhí siad cóngarach
go leor le teach an chailligh críonna a fheiceáil. Gheall duine de na buachaillí
a chamáin nua a thabhairt do Lugh dá bpógfadh sé an chailleach. Ní raibh an
chailleach sásta go raibh siad ag magadh fúithi agus bheartaigh sí ar cheacht a
mhúineadh dóibh. Tá buanna ag an leabhar seo le léaráidí ildaite tarraingteacha
tríd, ach ní hé an leabhar is taitneamhaí do pháistí a léigh mise ariamh. [TÓD]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 31
Age 9–12
MICHAEL SCOTT
THE MAGICIAN
DOUBLEDAY, £12.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780385613101
The second book in the Nicholas Flamel sequence, concerning ‘twins of legend’
Josh and Sophie Newman, takes the action to Paris where we encounter, among
others, Joan of Arc, Nicolo Machiavelli and Mars, God of War. The action
proceeds at the familiar breakneck pace and with more and more dark creatures
from lore and mythology coming to light. The shape of the work is more evident
in this book and we are also given a ‘taster’ from Book 3. Age 10+ [JO’H]
READ ALSO: The Alchemyst
PAUL STEWART ILLUSTRATED BY CHRIS RIDDELL

BARNABY GRIMES, RETURN OF THE EMERALD SKULL
DOUBLEDAY, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780552556224
When Barnaby Grimes is asked to deliver a mysterious package, he finds himself

the unwitting accomplice in a sinister plot. Dashing across the rooftops of
Victorian London, he sets out to fight the terrible evil he has helped unleash.
Wonderfully illustrated, this is another successful collaboration between
illustrator Chris Riddell and writer Paul Stewart and is the second in the Barnaby
Grimes series. Packed with grisly goings-on and atmospheric adventure, it makes
an exciting summer read. [CL] SEE ALSO: www.barnabygrimes.co.uk
TRENTON LEE STEWART

THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY
THE CHICKEN HOUSE, £12.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781905294572 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Four exceptionally honest, creative and talented children are selected as

secret agents by Mr Benedict and are sent on a mission to the Learning
Institute for the Very Enlightened (LIVE, or EVIL backwards!) to foil a dark and
dastardly plan by the reclusive and ruthless Mr Curtain. Is Mr Benedict correct
in his suspicions that thought-altering messages, currently being transmitted
into minds through televisions and radios, will soon be broadcast directly into
everyone’s minds? A very engaging debut novel with unpredictable plot twists
and plenty of humour. [LM]
MARILYN TAYLOR
17 MARTIN STREET
A timely story about cultural differences set in Dublin during the ‘Emergency’
years and based on the true story of Renata Stern, a refugee from Berlin. In
‘Little Jerusalem’ Hetty, herself new to the area, tries to trace Renata, but when
next-door neighbour Ben Byrne learns of this he wonders if he should report
the refugee as a possible spy. Eventually they join forces to try and prevent
Renata’s deportation. Taylor skillfully illustrates how newcomers have always
enriched Irish communities in this historically accurate and moving story. [LM]
32 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 9–12
KATE THOMPSON ILLUSTRATED BY JONNY DUDDLE
HIGHWAY ROBBERY
THE BODLEY HEAD, £6.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780370329574 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
A dark stranger, a beautiful mare, some shifty individuals, a handful of

redcoats and a golden guinea – there is mystery and trickery in the air. Be
careful you are not the one who gets tricked! This is not exactly an adventure
story, but a brilliantly written tall tale about trust, story-telling and story-
making. Thompson’s first book for younger readers is lavishly produced with a
black velvet cover, gold lettering and high-quality illustrations throughout. [JS]
KAYE UMANSKY ILLUSTRATED BY NICK PRICE

CLOVER TWIG AND THE INCREDIBLE FLYING COTTAGE.
This magical book begins when Clover Twig takes a housekeeping job in Mrs
Eckles’ cottage. Mrs Eckles’ cottage however is no ordinary cottage … it can
fly! The problems start when Mrs Eckles’ nasty sister Mesmeranza wants this
incredible cottage for herself and is prepared to go to any lengths to get it.
The story has everything – loveable characters, chaotic adventures, witches
and spells along with wacky illustrations making it an excellent read. [ED]
READ ALSO: The Pongwiffy Series
Hooked
Hooked Ré
RéÓÓLaighléis
Laighléis
discovery of her husband’s infidelity. There are no

discovery of her husband’s infidelity. There are no
ribbons wrapped around the story here - it is hard,
ribbons wrapped around the story here - it is hard,
factual and written with sensitivity and skill.
factual and written with sensitivity and skill.
“His raw and concise style peels the layers from a
“His raw and
shadowy topicconcise styleitpeels
and makes the layers
accessible from
for both a
teenagers
shadowy topic and
and their parents.” makes it accessible for both teenagers
and their parents.”
Samantha Novick, Limerick Leader Weekender ISBN 978-0-9554079-3-2
Samantha Novick, Limerick Leader Weekender ISBNPrice
978-0-9554079-3-2
€12.50
Price €12.50
MÓINÍN Available from MÓINÍN by phone: 353-65-7077256
MÓINÍN Available
e-mail: from MÓINÍN by
moinin@eircom.net orphone: 353-65-7077256
online at www.moinin.ie
e-mail: moinin@eircom.net or online at www.moinin.ie
Age 12–14 Edited by LIz Morris
EVERY BOOK IS DIFFERENT – KATE THOMPSON

Some ideas take months to mature and others take years. The basic
outline of Creature of the Night had been with me for a long, long
time, but every time I visited it I found that there was something
missing – a certain quality or device that would lift it into life.
In the spring of 2007, I was trying to write a different book, and
it just wouldn’t happen. I tried all my old tricks but none of them
would work. My mind was rebellious. It kept returning to Creature.
But I didn’t want to write Creature. Creature wasn’t ready.
In the end I had to listen. I abandoned the other book and embarked upon Creature. From the very
first line, the character of Bobby began to emerge. He was so real to me that it felt as though he was
in the room and looking over my shoulder. His character was that elusive thing I’d been looking for,
and before I knew it he had taken over and was driving the book himself. That was a new and
surprising experience for me.
As I said, every book is different…
Creature of the Night by Kate Thompson is reviewed on page 41 and Highway Robbery on page 33
AGE 12– 14: A–Z
DAVID ALMOND
JACKDAW SUMMER
HODDER, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780340881989 (PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2008)
This gripping novel, beautifully crafted, is David Almond writing at the top of
his form. A jackdaw leads two boys to an abandoned baby, and this sets in
motion the momentous events of the summer as tensions rise between former
friends, and a palpable air of menace, even evil, seems to hang over the land.
Violent yet sensitive, it packs a lot of emotional power into a short novel, and
readers will be thinking and talking about it long after they’ve finished
reading. [LM]
HOLLY BLACK
IRONSIDE: A MODERN FAERIE TALE
SIMON & SCHUSTER, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847380630
Caught between two dangerous faerie courts, the pixie changeling Kaye finds
herself struggling to fulfil an impossible quest. Set in a dark and dangerous
world, this edgy story skilfully combines a menacing fairy world with a journey
of self-discovery for the teenage Kaye and her best friend Corny. Black cleverly
manages to weave together themes of self-doubt, identity, hate, love and
sexuality in this highly original and modern fantasy tale. A unique story that will
really appeal equally to male and female readers. [RC] READ ALSO: Tithe
34 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 12–14
TIM BOWLER
BLADE: PLAYING DEAD
Bowler delves into a shorter, punchier story-format with his new series. Blade
is a teenage fugitive with a dark past. This first book sees Blade witnessing
a murder. Forced to go on the run again, he is discovered by old enemies and
runs foul of a teenage girl gang along the way. More macho readers might be
a bit put off by Blade’s constant doubts and fears, but Bowler has created a
tough, dynamic character who promises plenty of tension, action and
attitude. [OMcG] READ ALSO: Blade: Closing In
HERBIE BRENNAN
FAERIE LORD
Henry’s mission is to save the Faerie Realm from a mysterious age-inducing

disease before time runs out for those infected – a daunting task for any human
teenager. An intriguing suspense-filled plot with sorcery and espionage, where
nothing is as it seems. The double-crossing antics culminate in a thrilling climax.
An exciting tale of good versus evil, it is highly imaginative, visual, humorous and
compelling. Like Tolkien, Brennan has created a complete world with its own
history, language, mythology and beings. [LW] SEE ALSO: www.faeriewars.com
CATHY CASSIDY
GINGERSNAPS
PUFFIN BOOKS, £9.99 (HBK), ISBN 978014383279
On entering second-level school Ginger sheds her ‘loser’ image, delighted to

be chosen as best friend by ‘cool, careless’ Shannon. The arrival of
‘hopelessly, gloriously weird’ Sam challenges Ginger to question her views and
values and to think about what is important in friendship. Can Shannon and
Ginger’s friendship survive Shannon’s thirteenth birthday party and its
aftermath? Readers will identify with Ginger’s concealed insecurity and will
enjoy her first romance. A story about the importance of being true to your
own individuality. [RH] READ ALSO: Lucky Star; Sundae Girl
JACQUES COUVILLON
CHICKEN DANCE
Twelve-year-old Don narrates this quirky tale about his lonesome life on Horse
Island chicken farm. He is tolerated, if frequently forgotten, by his querulous
parents and generally ignored by schoolmates. Life is made tolerable by caring
for his beloved chickens. When Don wins a chicken judging contest and is
elevated to celebrity status, there are a few surprises all round. With an
endearing protagonist, this funny and original novel is sure to get readers
clucking. [JMit]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 35
Age 12–14
JACQUELINE DE BRÚN LÉARÁIDÍ LE CARTOON SALOON
SCOIL AN CHNOIC
AN GÚM, €8.50 (BOG), ISBN 9781857916799
Suite i scoil, scéal bleachtaireachta a bhfuil beagán den fhinscéalaíocht ag

baint leis atá sa leabhar seo. Ní haon gnáth-shaol scoile í áfach. Tá an scoil
suite ar chnoc atá chomh géar sin gur gá rópa a úsáid chun cabhrú leat dul
suas ann. Tá rún nó dhó ag baint léi agus ról ag cuid de na múinteoirí sna
heachtraí a tharlaíonn sa scoil agus sa leabharlann ina mbíonn an ríomhaire
as feidhm i gcónaí. [DUíG]
SARAH DESSEN
THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER
Macy Queen is struggling to come to terms with her father’s death, but she
feels horribly alone. Her mum is no use, she’s thrown herself into her work,
selling upmarket housing, and Macy’s boyfriend, the rather serious and
unemotional Jason, is off to ‘Brain Camp’ for the summer. But when she
meets a group of new friends, including the gorgeous but troubled artist, Wes,
her life starts to change. A highly readable, well-written and thoughtful teen
novel about learning to be yourself. I loved it. [SW]
CATHERINE FORDE
SUGARCOATED
EGMONT, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781405229319
Forde’s chilling story is anything but sugar-coated. In the opening chapter,

comfort-eating Claudia, ‘Clod‘ to her Dad, is sole witness to a vicious
gangland murder. Not long after, a handsome stranger becomes very
interested in her. The senseless violence of Glasgow’s underworld is grippingly
realised in Forde’s book as the killers piece together clues about Clod’s
whereabouts. The cliff-hanger ending is sure to leave any reader breathless. A
compulsive read. [AD]
PAULINE FRANCIS
A WORLD AWAY
USBORNE, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780746081129
Set in the turbulent late-sixteenth century, this book uses the blossoming
relationship between Tom, an English blacksmith, and Nadie, an abducted
North-American Indian girl, as its central plot, around which the political
upheaval of the era revolves. Set in Plymouth, England and in the New World,
their tale is told in alternating first-person chapters with interesting detail of
life at the time. A thoughtful, though sometimes shocking and violent novel,
further elucidation of the social and political environment would further
enhance the plot. [JMit]
36 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 12–14
CORNELIA FUNKE
INKDEATH
THE CHICKEN HOUSE, £12.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781905294718 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
Writer Fenoglio has run out of words and must watch Orpheus twist his words
and plunder the last copy of Inkheart for treasure while new rulers destroy
Ombra in this eagerly anticipated final instalment in the Ink trilogy, where
storybook heroes and villains can be ‘read’ into real-world existence. Can
Silvertongue and daughter Meggie rewrite the story with a happy ending?
Inkdeath is complex, beautifully written and very dark, taking readers to a
fairytale world inspired more by the Grimm brothers than by Disney. [LM]
JAMILA GAVIN
THE ROBBER BARON’S DAUGHTER
EGMONT, £7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781405242936
Nettie has led an extremely pampered and sheltered existence but the sudden
and mysterious disappearance of beloved tutor Miss Kovachev gradually
forces her to recognise a world of crime, abuse and human trafficking that
links her luxurious life in London with the Bulgarian underworld. Why are her
parents telling her lies, and could her father really be involved in ‘the racket’?
Only her Great Aunt’s ballet lessons can provide respite from her reluctant
investigations. Written from two different viewpoints, Gavin handles a difficult
and topical subject with sensitivity. [LM]
JULIA GOLDING
DRAGONFLY
Two cultures collide when reserved and dutiful high priestess, Princess
Taoshira, ‘Tashi’, is promised in marriage to fun-loving and gregarious Prince
Ramil. Neither of them is happy with the proposed union, although both are
keen to serve their respective nations. Their loyalty to their countries, their
gods and each other is tested when they are kidnapped by the malicious war
lord Fergox. Golding’s lavishly written novel depicts a parallel world in which
Tashi and Ramil must challenge deep-seated prejudices or perish. [AD]
KEITH GRAY
GHOSTING
BARRINGTON STOKE, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781842994900
Sandy and younger brother Nat are well-practised in the art of ‘ghosting’, a
skill learned from their mother. But when it seems that Sandy has accidentally
contacted an evil spirit, one that exerts a malign influence on cherished
possessions of her client, she sets in motion a series of events that convinces
the unbelieving siblings that she is neither a fake nor con-artist who can trick
vulnerable victims, but a medium who has – to her cost – realised her true
potential as a medium. Gripping, dark, and completely unputdownable. [LM]
READ ALSO: The Runner; The Chain
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 37
Age 12–14
CATHY HOPKINS
LOOKING FOR A HERO
PICCADILLY PRESS, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781853409752
The third in the bestselling Cinnamon Girl series sees India Jane giving up on
Joe, her erstwhile ‘soulmate’, and looking for love elsewhere. Surely she’ll find
love by Christmas? But boys seem to be like buses – there’s no sign of a
suitable one for ages, and just as she is about to give up, two come along at
once. Fans of Hopkins will devour this with as much relish as all her previous
for its humour, warmth and sheer sense of fun. [LM]
READ ALSO: Mates, Dates & Flirting
CONOR KOSTICK
MOVE
Conor Kostick is back with a bigger, better and even more thrilling book called
Move. Liam O’Dwyer discovers he can move between parallel universes – when
he wants something to go his way, he moves to the universe where it happens.
But there are consequences to each move and they are starting to catch up
with Liam and his friends. As with his two previous books, Epic and Saga,
Conor has created a world that is hard not be sucked into. [DM]
TANYA LANDMAN
AZTEC: THE GOLDSMITH’S DAUGHTER
A new perspective on the arrival of Cortes’ army into Tenochtitlan. This book
weaves together the last days of the Aztec Empire under Montezuma with the
developing relationship between a Spanish soldier and a goldsmith’s
daughter, Itacate. While some liberties are taken with historical facts, the
main thrust of events is accurate. Beautifully told and gripping throughout, it
provides a fresh insight into the destruction of a civilisation. [BO’T]
READ ALSO: Apache
MICHELLE MAGORIAN
JUST HENRY
EGMONT, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781405227575
Henry lives for the cinema. He struggles to fit in at school and in a home now
filled with a step-father and an annoying half-sister. When given an expensive
camera he is plunged into a mystery that will change his life forever. This is
a gripping story that creates a wonderfully vivid picture of life in post-war
Britain. Magorian has once again crafted a delicious mix of touchingly real
characters and powerful drama. An achingly good read you won’t forgive
yourself for missing. [RC]
38 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 12–14
JUDY MAY
DIAMOND STAR GIRL
THE O’BRIEN PRESS, €7.99 (PBK), ISBN9781847170903 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Fifteen-year-old Tia is smart and funny, but she sometimes wishes she were cool
and stylish instead, like her best friend Ro. When she and her friends are hired
as extras on a film, Tia gets a chance to shine, and learns that the ‘cool’ people
don’t necessarily make the best friends – or boyfriends! Written in diary form,
this is a lively, warm-hearted story about learning to like yourself. There’s also
plenty of behind-the-scenes information on filming for budding actors. [LM]
READ ALSO: Blue Lavender Girl; Copper Girl; Hazel Wood Girl
EDITOR’S CHOICE
OISÍN McGANN
STRANGLED SILENCE
CORGI, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780552558624 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
It is only paranoia if they aren’t after you. In Oisín McGann’s new book they most
certainly are after Amina, Chi and Ivor. Amina, a young journalism student, Ivor,
a war veteran in his twenties and Chi, a hacker on a quest to uncover UFOs, are
an unlikely trio to stop one of the world’s largest conspiracies. Strangled Silence
is an exciting intriguing thriller with more twists than a Curly Wurly – a book to
keep you looking over your shoulder as you read. [DM]
SEE ALSO: www.oisinmcgann.com
SALLY NICHOLS
WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER
SCHOLASTIC, £7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781407104997
An accomplished debut novel, this beautiful and finely drawn study in

character recounts in first person, eleven-year-old Sam McQueen’s final weeks
as he loses his long fight with leukaemia. Sensitively told, with accurate
medical detail, the poignant subject matter is skilfully lightened with wry
humour, quirky detail and witty observation from the bright protagonist. A
bittersweet tale, it permits us to closely observe Sam and his family struggling,
not always successfully, to deal with the unfolding heartbreak. [JMit]
COLMAN Ó RAGHALLAIGH
STRAINSÉIRÍ
CLÓ MHAIGH EO, €8.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781899922390
Cairdeas agus ciníochas, flaithiúlacht agus fuath ag suí lámh le lámh le chéile
agus scríofa i mbealach an-speisialta. Lámhsaíonn an t-údar téamaí móra le
tuiscint is le goilliúnachas a chruthaíonn scéal a théann i bhfeidhm go mór ar
an léitheoir. Tá clúdach álainn ar an leabhar is tá usáid pictiúirí ó lár an chéid
seo caite an-éifeachtach ar fad. Ní minic a déarfá gur fiú go mór agus gur
chóir do gach déagóir leabhar a léamh – ach is eisceacht é seo. Tá píosa oibre
álainn ar leith cruthaithe ag an údar. [TÓD]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 39
Age 12–14
SIOBHÁN PARKINSON
DIALANN SÁR-RÚNDA AMY NÍ CHONCHÚIR
COIS LIFE, €10.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781901176780
Ceapann Amy nach bhfuil aici ach gnáth-shaol leadránach. Óna dialann,
cuirimid aithne ar a cara galánta Lucy, go bhfuil a carta Visa féin aici.
Faighimid amach faoi Marietta, go bhfuil dath glas ar a cuid gruaige, a
chaitheann todógaí agus a phógann fear féasógach sa pháirc. Cad tá idir í
agus an Máistir “Gloomy Twoomey”? Cad as a tháinig an cárta Vailintín? Cad
a tharla ag bainis dheartháir Lucy? [AÓD]
ANN RINALDI
HANG A THOUSAND TREES WITH RIBBONS
This is the thought-provoking story of Phillis Wheately, an eighteenth-century

slave and poet. Having survived an arduous journey to America she is bought
by sympathetic and progressive owners. She is educated and encouraged by
them to further her gift of poetry writing. Caught up in the politics of the time
she longs for freedom but is afraid that she will hurt those who have helped
her. Well-researched, this book brings the historical period to life from the
perspective of both slave and owner. 13+ [JDea]
DARREN SHAN
THE DEMONATA – DEATH’S SHADOW
Grubbs Grady and the Disciples race against time to stop The Shadow, a new
and very powerful demon from breaking through into our world. With the help
of Bec, a priestess trapped for 1600 years and their new weapon the Kah-
Gash, they try to close the windows between our world and the demon worlds
forever. As always, Shan’s well drawn characters and otherworldly settings
make this an unputdownable read. A must for all horror fans. [LC]
SEE ALSO: www.darrenshan.com
JUSTIN STANCHFIELD
SPACE COWBOY
USBORNE, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780746087121
Sixteen-year-old Travis is one of a group of colonising ‘terraformers’ on the

harsh, desolate planet called Aletha Three, his particular role being that of
cattle drover. When ‘something unnatural’ takes up residence in the wastelands,
he is involved in tracking down and confronting this avian creature, resulting in
a narrative in which western and science fiction genres come together very
entertainingly. Relationships in a small community riddled with tensions and
rivalries are convincingly described, as is the barren landscape of Aletha itself:
and there’s even the first, tentative signs of young romance! 13+ [RD]
40 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Age 12–14
JEREMY STRONG
WEIRD
Strong’s trademark sense of humour translates well into Weird, his second
offering for teens. The story is told from the alternate viewpoints of the two main
characters, Josh and Fizz, on work experience in a home for the elderly. This is
a funny story about falling in love and learning to accept your family, even if they
are weird and fill the house with stray goats! The elderly characters are also
quirky and have interesting pasts. Ideal for young teens of both sexes. [MR]
READ ALSO: Stuff
EDITOR’S CHOICE
KATE THOMPSON
CREATURE OF THE NIGHT
THE BODLEY HEAD, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780370329291
A gritty tale about angry fourteen-year old Bobby, whose mother moves
himself and his brother from a tough Dublin estate to the countryside. He
fights with everyone on his personal journey to a reluctant realisation that
country life holds some opportunity for his redemption. The characters are
completely authentic and it is easy to understand Bobby’s frustrations as he
deals with his struggling mother’s incompetence. With Kate’s signature hint
of fantasy and supernatural, it is an original and very satisfying read. [JMit]
SEÁN UA CEARNAIGH BOB Ó CATHAIL A MHAISIGH

AN GOBÁN SAOR
AN GÚM, €7.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917086
Tá luas an leabhair seo iontach le go leor rudaí ag tarlú ann ón gcéad

leathanach go dtí an leathanach dheireannach. Tógáil agus fuadach agus go
leor eile … níl teorann ar bith leis an gcineál eachtra a tharlaíonn sa leabhar
seo. Tá sé taitneamhach, éadrom, is bainfidh páistí sult as. É sin ráite, ní
leabhar ar leith atá anseo, ach scéal a choinníonn suim an pháiste ón tús agus,
ar ndóigh, cónaíonn gach duine go sona sásta go deo ag am deiridh. [TÓD]
LÉIGH FREISIN: Cill Chais
JACQUELINE WILSON
MY SISTER JODIE
DOUBLEDAY, £12.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780385610124
The book has a fantastic setting, a Victorian boarding school called Melchester
College. The central characters, Pearl and Jodie, are sisters and their parents
have just started working as cook and caretaker at the school, so from the start
the family are outsiders. Confident teenager, Jodie, has always been the leader
but slowly things are shifting. Jodie doesn’t fit in at the new, ‘posh’ school,
while nine-year-old Pearl is blossoming. Be warned, the ending is sad, yet deftly
handled. Tissues at the ready. Also available on CD. [SW]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 41
Older Teens Edited by Liz Morris
MEET TIM BOWLER

I live in a small Devon village. It’s a peaceful place with fields, moor, sea and
solitude within easy reach. My workroom is an old stone outhouse ten
minutes’ walk from my home and known to the family as ‘Tim’s bolthole’. It’s
sparse, cobwebby and decidedly eccentric but I like it. The only sound I hear
when I’m working is birdsong and the occasional snort of horses in a nearby
stable. Sometimes I take my laptop outside and write in a field overlooking
the village.
I have written stories since I was five. I believe in the power of stories to
transform us. The great stories in our cultures travel with us through life. They
become part of our emotional bloodstream and help to shape us. I love writing
about teenagers. I find them complex, mysterious, fascinating. They’re not children or adults but a
species all their own with more voices in their heads than a choir. Writing about teenagers involves
remembering one’s own voices and listening for them again.
Bloodchild by Tim Bowler is reviewed on page 43 and Blade: Playing Dead on page 35
OLDER TEENS: A–Z
SHERMAN ALEXIE
THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN
ANDERSEN PRESS, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781842708446
Encouraged by a teacher to move beyond the confines of the American Indian

reservation where he lives, Junior switches to a wealthy, white school and
immediately encounters resentment in his own community. Through his
interactions with his new classmates, his relationship with his best friend and his
cartoons – which are scattered throughout the text – we follow Junior’s struggles
with personal and community identity. The narrative looks unflinchingly at
reservation life, and is sometimes heartbreaking, yet the resilient, compelling
hero means it’s never depressing, but often funny and uplifting. [HC]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
TIM BOWLER
BLOODCHILD
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, £12.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780192719805 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Fifteen-year-old Will is involved in a very serious accident. When he awakes in

hospital he can’t remember who he is. His family takes him home to their sleepy
seaside village and the boy tries to piece together his memory – and find out
why there seems to be a sinister conspiracy against him. A hint of the
supernatural adds to the mystery. A tense, fast-paced, atmospheric thriller
where neither protagonist nor reader can be sure in whom to trust. Bowler at his
absolute best. [DL]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 43
Older Teens
KEVIN BROOKS
BLACK RABBIT SUMMER
PENGUIN BOOKS, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780141381459
‘I wondered,’ ruminates the sixteen-year-old narrator of Brooks’s chilling novel,

‘if that’s what it was all about. Friends.’ The hazards of ‘friends’ being reunited
serve as principal theme, starting on a sticky Saturday night when five
teenagers, formerly childhood friends, agree to meet one final time in their old
‘den’. Drinking, drugs and an attempted sexual seduction all follow, though
these are merely the prelude to a sequence of totally nightmarish events.
Strong characterisation and equally strong realistic contemporary setting
combine to give us a powerful and unnerving novel. [RD]
ANNE CASSIDY
FORGET ME NOT
SCHOLASTIC, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780439942904
This book centres on the mysterious disappearance of two toddlers who vanish
twenty years apart. Both occurrences involve Stella’s mum, Terri, much to her
daughter’s disbelief and suspicion. Present-day narration, interwoven with
flashbacks to when Terri was a teenager, tantalisingly reveals the
circumstances of events, and although the characterisation is a little unsteady
at times, curiosity and intrigue are successfully sustained, making for a
satisfying read. [JMit]
SIOBHÁN DOWD
BOG CHILD
DAVID FICKLING BOOKS, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780385614269
Bog Child is a moving story set in Northern Ireland during the time of the hunger
strikes. Fergus’s life is upside down. He’s discovered a bog body, his brother is on
hunger strike, he’s being blackmailed to courier mystery packages and he’s falling
in love. The bog child’s story is gradually revealed through Fergus’s dreams while
he works with the archaeologist and her daughter to discover the circumstances of
her murder. This is a gripping read and proves again what a great storyteller
Siobhán Dowd really was. [MR] READ ALSO: The London Eye Mystery
CLAIRE HENNESSY
BIG PICTURE
POOLBEG PRESS, €7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781842233177
Approaches to the Leaving Certificate year are explored in this diary-format

novel by ambitious, focussed Anna and her ‘naturally brilliant’ friend Vicky, who
plans to study – sometime! Friends flit in and out of Vicky’s diary and inevitably
become the ‘problem’ and there are broken relationships and friendships. Both
girls ponder the value and structure of the Leaving Certificate examinations as
a major step to the next phase of their lives, which would interest the pre-
Leaving Certificate student. A realistic portrayal of a vital year in any young
person’s life. [RH] READ ALSO: That Girl; Afterwards
44 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Older Teens
JACK GANTOS
THE LOVE CURSE OF THE RUMBAUGHS
Ivy stumbles on her families’ morbid secret when she is only seven and gradually
comes to understand her connection to the elderly twins, her appreciation of the
familial ‘love-curse’ and her deepening fear for the loss of her mother. This
inevitable and rather homely horror tale ends when Ivy, now a taxidermist, is
sixteen. Without ever scaring his reader, Gantos logically works us through what
is essentially an unusual love story about preserving the unconditional love
between mother and child. (I challenge you to forget it). [JMur]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
KEITH GRAY
OSTRICH BOYS
DEFINITIONS, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780099456575
A powerful and skilfully developed novel that reflects on the sensitive and rarely
addressed subject of how teenage males deal with the unexpected death of a
contemporary, particularly when there are suggestions that the friend, Ross, may
have had a hand in his own death. This is a journey of self-discovery as much
as a physical journey for Ross’s friends, as they steal the urn containing his
ashes and take these to be scattered 261 miles away, in Ross, a small village
in Scotland. Humorous, poignant, brilliant – not to be missed. [LM]
READ ALSO: The Fearful; Malarkey
DENNIS HAMLEY
DIVIDED LOYALTIES
A German/English family’s experience during the WWII, told through third- and
first-person narratives, this books gifts the reader a rare insight into both sides
of the war from various characters’ perspectives, which is thought-provoking.
Tensions within the family are well-explored and detail is remarkably authentic,
particularly of battles, aircraft and military life. This excellent book, with good
characterisation, makes a very satisfying read, appealing to readers with an
interest in the era, or in a good human interest tale. [JMit]
MARY HOOPER
NEWES FROM THE DEAD
THE BODLEY HEAD, £8.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780370329482
1650s Oxford. Servant girl Anne Green was hanged for infanticide after her
premature baby died. As physicians gathered to begin dissection, signs of life
were noticed and Anne was revived. This true story is told through Anne’s eyes
– her seduction and pregnancy, imprisonment and trial – revealing the bleakness
of servant life, especially for women, at that time. Despite a rather abrupt
ending, this is a good read. [BO’T]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 45
Older Teens
EDITOR’S CHOICE
CELINE KIERNAN
THE POISON THRONE BOOK 1:
THE MOOREHAWKE TRILOGY
THE O’BRIEN PRESS, €12.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847171108 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
Fifteen-year-old Wynter Moorehawke returns with her father to the Kingdom

after a five-year banishment. But much has changed, and religion and race
have become divisive, fear and prejudice commonplace. Forced to abandon
her ailing father, she and her friends attempt to restore the fragile kingdom to
its former stability. The first in a trilogy, this novel, set in a fictionalised
fourteenth-century Europe, is a remarkable combination of court intrigue,
adventure and romance. The narrator’s voice is strong and the writing stylish.
An excellent story from a debut Irish author. [CM]
MARGO LANAGAN
RED SPIKES
DAVID FICKLING, £10.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780385613224
These ten short stories from Australian writer Margo Lanagan will be a treat for
readers not easily scared by forays into spooky fantasy domains. Her quirky, inventive
and occasionally disturbing world – lightened at times by an engagingly macabre
sense of humour – is given vivid realisation in narratives which successfully combine
emotional and aesthetic impact. To gain an immediate flavour of their approach,
start with ‘Winkie’, Lanagan’s re-working of the traditional nursery rhyme ‘Wee
Willie Winkie’ – and keep the light on when you go to bed that evening. [RD]
CAROLYN MACKLER
GUYAHOLIC
V seems to have turned over a new leaf – after an unsettled childhood, she’s
living with her grandparents, is headed for university and has a steady boyfriend.
But a combination of events at graduation sends her on a road trip to visit her
unreliable mother. On her journey, she reconnects with her past and makes
some hard decisions about her future. Funny, at times poignant, but never self-
pitying, this is an unsentimental account of V’s voyage of self-discovery. [HC]
READ ALSO: Vegan, Virgin, Valentine
PATRICIA McCORMICK
SOLD
Thirteen-year-old Lakshmi is sold into sexual slavery, taken from her Nepalese village
to a brothel in India, where her childish innocence is brutally shattered by the horrors
of her new life. Powerful and uncompromising, this important book, endorsed by
Amnesty International, tells the story of the 12,000 Nepali girls trafficked into the
sex trade each year. While its ending suggests rescue and survival, the reader is left
with the certainty that thousands of women do not escape. Disturbing but completely
gripping from beginning to end. [BO’T] READ ALSO: Cut
46 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Older Teens
ANTHONY McGOWAN
THE KNIFE THAT KILLED ME
This chillingly realistic story exposes the harshness and casual brutality of
secondary school life, where the pressure to belong and to fend off bullying
compels Paul to accept a knife from another boy and to become involved in a
gang fight. While the book’s title suggests the violence of the ending, its
power is in the build-up to the shocking climax, and is both heartbreaking and
riveting. A gripping novel. [BO’T]
PERRY MOORE
HERO
CORGI, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780552555869
Being a teenager isn’t easy at the best of times, particularly if you are gay. Or
a superhero. Hero does not shy away from taboos or controversial areas.
However, this is an entertaining and witty read, with a well-developed and
likeable central character. Although somewhat predictable, Hero is one of the
most outstanding books of the year, bravely tackling sensitive issues with tact
and sympathy in a gripping book that never fails to thrill or amuse. [PMcG]
PATRICK NESS
THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO
Patrick Ness reckons that his new book, The Knife of Never Letting Go, is like
‘reading Philip Pullman while simultaneously falling off a cliff’. It’s his first
book for teenagers and it doesn’t let you stop to catch your breath from
beginning to end. Todd Hewitt was born on New World. He can hear the
thoughts of everyone in his village and they can hear his. But life on New World
is full of secrets and Todd is about to start discovering the truth. [DM]
MEADHBH NÍ EADHRA
FÁINNE FÍ FÍFÍ
MÓINÍN, €9 (BOG), ISBN 9780955407956
Úrscéal é seo atá lonnaithe san Eoraip i saol an lae inniu. Tá sé dírithe ar
dhéagóirí is tá taisteal, grá, fuath is feallaireacht ann. Tá an bealach a insítear
an scéil an-suimiúil. Tá ceithre príomhcharachtair agus tógann siad muid tríd
an scéal i gcaibidil difriúla. Thaitin an bealach seo go mór liom agus d’oibrigh
sé. Bíodh sin ráite, bhí forbairt an scéil ró-mhall, rud a thóg ó thaitneamh an
leabhair don léitheoir seo. Taobh amuigh de sin, is leabhar é seo a bhainfidh
déagóirí sult as. [TÓD]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 47
Older Teens
HELENA PIELICHATY
ACCIDENTAL FRIENDS
What happens when your master-plan doesn’t work out? Pielichaty’s four
characters become the ‘accidental friends’ of the title when they are thrust
together on the first day of term, in a college that none of them wanted to end
up in. The story of their reluctant friendship unfolds in this quirky and
engaging novel charting the group’s eventful passage into adulthood. This is
a story which will appeal to anyone who has ever waited on exam results. [AD]
SARAH SINGLETON
THE AMETHYST CHILD
The Amethyst Child is a story of friendship, love and mystery that changes the
lives of three teen misfits forever. Over the course of a summer, Amber finds
herself drawn into a cult – a seemingly loving and harmonious group that hides
some dark and dangerous secrets. The story is told in flashback, with scenes
of Amber being interviewed at the police station. The author captures the
vulnerability and confusion of lonely, unconventional teens very well. She also
deals with some difficult issues, such as suicide, in a sensitive manner. [MR]
TABITHA SUZUMA
A VOICE IN THE DISTANCE
Suzuma’s challenging and memorable A Note of Madness introduced us to

young musical genius Flynn and this is the sequel that excellent book
deserves. Jennah, his lover, is a wonderful foil to the chaos that is Flynn as
he once more faces his depression and deals not only with his condition but
the lives of those who care for him: his friends, parents, brother and teachers
at the College of Music. Suzuma is a master storyteller, dealing with her
characters in a very realistic and uncompromising way. [FO’S]
JOHN VAN DE RUIT

SPUD
Spud Milton is thrown into the chaotic world of a South African boarding
school in 1990. Through his diary he records his adventures as his world
changes against the backdrop of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. Rude,
crude and raucous with plenty of talk of bodily functions – Van de Ruit has
captured the spirit of a hormone-driven thirteen-year-old boy perfectly. The
light- hearted tone doesn’t waiver but some of the comic set pieces are
possibly just a little too farcical. [DL]
48 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Poetry Edited by Enda Wyley
SÉAMUS CASHMAN ‘…WITH MY LITTLE I…’

In 2004, when I wrote the preface to Something Beginning with P:
New Poems from Irish Poets, I knew there was much of real value
between the covers. But how to strike an enticing note for even the
reluctant reader? Browsing through the collection, I found what
seemed to be just the right words of introduction. The book, I wrote,
‘is a maze of poem-filled words, juggling with ideas and images,
filled with laughter, sadnesses and wonders throughout all is a kind
of madness – the madness of being alive…’ Now, four years later,
with the book recently published in a seductively vibrant paperback
format by The O’Brien Press, these words hold true for me. The
‘madness’ that energises these poems still shapes my surprise and
delight each time I revisit the book – and will do so for years to come.
Something Beginning With P is reviewed on page 49
POETRY: A–Z
JOHN AGARD ILLUSTRATED BY SATOSHI KITAMURA

THE YOUNG INFERNO
FRANCES LINCOLN, £12.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781845077693 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Read Dante’s Inferno as never before in John Agard’s version written

specifically for younger readers in a graphic novel format and wickedly
illustrated by the inimitable Kitamura. In the city of Dis everyone disses
everyone. But with Aesop as his guide, can the hoodie hero make it through
nine circles of Hell and back again? And will he find his soulmate Beatrice?
As Agard writes, ‘behind this adventure into hell lies a search for love.’ An
explosive retelling of Dante’s classic. 8+ [EW]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
SÉAMUS CASHMAN (ED)
ILLUSTRATED BY CORRINA ASKIN AND ALAN CLARKE
SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH P:
NEW POEMS FROM IRISH POETS
The newly-issued paperback edition of ‘Something Beginning with P’ is a book

full of words and wonder. Featuring a new cover illustration, this is an anthology
in which the pictures and poems dance around each other in delight. All the work
was especially commissioned for the book and the combined result makes the
pieces leap off the page. Suitable for readers and listeners up to twelve-years-old,
this book can equally be read from by parents or be used in the classroom. [JO’H]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 49
Poetry
JONARNO LAWSON (ED) ILLUSTRATED BY JONNY HANNAH
INSIDE OUT
In this anthology twenty-four poems are followed by notes from the twenty-
four poets, giving a real sense of how a poem is made. Unfortunately this
reviewer found the design irritating and the illustrations too busy. Small white
text on a blue background will have young readers reaching for a magnifying
glass – or worse, throwing the book aside! Which is a pity, as a feast of poems
and comments by top class writers are there to enjoy – if only the design were
more reader friendly. Age 8+ [EW]
ANDREW FUSEK PETERS AND POLLY PETERS

ILLUSTRATED BY JIM COPLESTONE
THE NO-NO BIRD
FRANCES LINCOLN, £11.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781845078102
The No-No’s favourite word is No! – that is until he meets the starving snake whose
favourite food is No-No Bird. A simple narrative poem for young readers that might
also be of use to parents dealing with feisty children who adore saying no. The
rhymes are fun and the plot, though not hugely original, will no doubt keep
younger readers guessing as to just how the bird escapes a sticky end. A perfect
book for reading aloud and also to encourage independent reading. Age 3+ [EW]
CHOSEN BY ROGER McGOUGH ILLUSTRATED BY CHRIS MOULD

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
A COLLECTION OF CAUTIONARY VERSE
Grisly poems fill the pages of this collection of poetry compiled by Roger
McGough. Great tall tailors snip thumbs off from thumb-sucking children,
disobedient goblins have their ears twisted by angry mothers, mischievous
boys cause havoc with dangerous toys … These are just some of the themes
that fill this fun book of naughty verse. And what about poor Gregory Gruber
the glutton whose gut exploded? A collection that should keep readers
giggling, and certainly one to pass on to friends for a laugh. Age 8+ [EW]
MICHAEL ROSEN ILLUSTRATED BY QUENTIN BLAKE

MUSTARD, CUSTARD, GRUMBLE BELLY AND GRAVY
BLOOMSBURY, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780747587385 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
Looking for one of the best collections of poems for children? Bloomsbury has
recently combined Michael Rosen’s groundbreaking You Can’t Catch Me and
Don’t Put Mustard in the Custard into one volume. First published twenty-five
years ago, these poems have stood the test of time and remain as unique as
ever. The book is ingeniously illustrated by Quentin Blake and includes an
introduction by Rosen and a CD of the poet masterfully reading his poems.
Poetry for children doesn’t get much better than this. Age 4+ [EW]
50 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Poetry
CHOSEN BY ROGER STEVENS ILLUSTRATED BY NIGEL BAINES
LET’S RECYCLE GRANDAD:
A COLLECTION OF NEW AND RECYCLED POEMS
A & C BLACK, £3.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780713688511
Roger Stevens has compiled many poetry anthologies, including The Monster
that Ate the Universe and The Secret Life of Pants. He also runs the ‘Poetry
Zone’ website for children, which admirably encourages children to read and
write poetry. That Stevens is a dynamic, pro-active author shows in this great
collection of poems for children, quirkily put together in sections such as
‘Things to Do in a Traffic Jam,’ ‘Things that go Bump in the Night’, or ‘The
Last Laugh’. An exciting, inspiring read. Age 8 + [EW]
GORDON GREEN ILLUSTRATED BY SHOLTO WALKER

BUZZ OFF!
TWO PLUS4 PUBLISHING, €7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780955832208
Husband and wife team Maria Macklin and Gordon Green established an
independent publishing company to ensure that Gordon’s story be illustrated,
printed and reach a younger audience. It is a simple story which seems perfectly
pitched at 3–5 year olds. When a weary fly seeks a bed for the night his request
is rejected by all but one of the farmyard animals. A rhyming tale with a smelly
end that will no doubt be much enjoyed by younger readers. Age 3+ [EW]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MARGARET MAHY ILLUSTRATED BY POLLY DUNBAR
BUBBLE TROUBLE
FRANCES LINCOLN, £11.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781845077587 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Margaret Mahy, one of the most outstanding writers for children today, and
acclaimed illustrator Polly Dunbar team up in this wonderful book.
‘Little Mable blew a bubble and it caused a lot of trouble … Where it
bobbled over baby and it wafted him away.’ The story flows along in hilarious
and often tongue-twisting rhyme as the people of the town try to get the baby
down from the bubble safe and sound. A fun, richly imaginative book for 3–5
year olds. Age 3+ [EW]
COMPILED BY JUDITH NICHOLLS ILLUSTRATED BY BETH KROMMES

THE SUN IN ME, POEMS ABOUT THE PLANET
BAREFOOT BOOKS, £7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781846861604
Poems from many different cultures are gathered here by the poet Judith
Nicholls in a beautiful anthology which celebrates our planet and also
encourages that we respect and conserve the natural wilderness we have.
‘Forest could keep secrets/ And we must keep forest.’ the poet Grace
Nicholls advises, keeping very much to the spirit of this volume. Vibrant
illustrations, important themes and strong poetry make this an essential book
of poetry for any household. Age 8+ [EW]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 51
Information Books
WRITING AN INFORMATION BOOK
– LAOISE NÍ CHOMHRAÍ
I wrote the book Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa tSeapáin because I wanted
Irish children to have the opportunity to learn about other cultures in
a way that was enjoyable. When I was a child I loved reading about
other countries but the books were dated and I wasn’t interested in the
level of pollution or modes of transport. I wanted to learn about the
day-to-day lives of children: the food they ate, the games the played,
the stories they were told, etc. I had lived in Japan and I found the
country fascinating. The culture is very different and I knew that
children would be interested in that.
As well as making notes on ordinary things such as education and
food I collected coins, dolls, clothes, festivals, traditions and stories.
When I got home I put together the material and wrote the story around it. In the end there was so
much material I set up a website (www.agtaistealletarlach.com) earlier this year.
Laoise Ní Chomhraí’s next book Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa Pholainn will be published by An Gúm in
November 2008.
INFORMATION BOOKS: A–Z
EDITOR’S CHOICE
WE ARE ALL BORN FREE
FRANCES LINCOLN, IN ASSOCIATION WITH AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL, UK SECTION, £14.99 (HBK),
ISBN 9781845076504 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
The power of this book is in its simplicity – the thirty Articles of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights laid out in unambiguous language, every page
containing a superb illustration, all contributed by well-known authors /
illustrators, including our own Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick. The different styles of
each combine to create a unique tapestry. A must-have book. In this 60th
anniversary year of the Declaration, a copy should be distributed free-of-charge
to every household in the country. [BO’T]
CÉN FÁTH A mBÍONN RUDAÍ AITE

AR BUN AG AINMHITHE DEASA?
AN GÚM, €6.50 (BOG), ISBN 9781857916959
Leabhar eolais faoi ainmhithe é seo. Tá sé deas simplí le fíric amháin ar

ghach leathanach m sh cén fáth a mbíonn madra ag tafann? Bheadh suim ag
páistí uile an leabhair seo a léamh. Tá sé curtha ós comhair an léitheora i
mbealach fíor-thaitneamhach. Tá pictiúir amháin ag dul le fíric amháin ar
ghach uile leathanach, rud atá an-éifeachtach ar fad. Oiriúnach do léitheoirí
aois 9–12. [DNA’B] LÉIGH FREISIN: Cén Fáth A Bhfuil Cuma Ait Orainn?
52 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Information Books
SIMON ADAMS
ARCHAEOLOGY DETECTIVES
This book examines fifteen archaeological sites of significance from around

the world. These sites cover the span of human history from the cave
paintings of Altamira, to the wreck of the Titanic, and the four corners of the
world from Mohenjo-Daro, a city in the Indus River Valley, Pakistan to Ozette,
a Native-American village in Washington State, USA. Fascinating snippets of
information about the places and objects and the people who discovered them
are backed up by full-colour photographs and illustrations from bygone
centuries. Age 8+ [HP]
DAVID BURNIE
COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION: ANIMALS IN DANGER
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, £12.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780199116003 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
This book discusses the species of animals that have already become extinct,
and the others that are in danger of joining them. It covers the causes of
extinction, concentrating on those that are the result of human interference.
Hunting and the loss of habitat and the measures being taken to combat them
are described in some detail. A note of optimism occurs occasionally with the
inclusion of stories about the few species that have been successfully brought
back from the brink of extinction. Age 8+ [HP]
SALLY POMME CLAYTON ILLUSTRATED BY SOPHIE HERXHEIMER

AMAZONS! WOMEN WARRIORS OF THE WORLD
FRANCES LINCOLN, £14.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781845076603 (PUBLISHED: OCTOBER 2008)
This is an excellent collection of stories and myths from all over the world, each
celebrating a strong female warrior. From the Chinese ‘Dragon Girl’, to ‘Durga’
the Indian Dragon Slayer and ‘Winning Eagle Feathers’, a Native-American Girl,
they are fascinating, exciting tales, ideal for reading aloud. The lush, painterly
illustrations by Sophie Herxheimer add visual drama to each page. The book
closes with an empowering ‘Amazon Spell’, encouraging girls to be strong, brave
and confident, based on a Sanskrit hymn. Age 7+ [SW]
DAVID DE ROTHSCHILD (ED)

EARTH MATTERS
DORLING KINDERSLEY, £17.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781405318884
A beautifully produced book of over 200 pages which is packed with

information about our planet and animals, from the story of the earth’s
formation, to each climate zone, including its oceans, and its animals. It also
explains what is happening to our planet and what people can do to help save
the environment. As with a lot of DK books, the photographs are stunning,
catching squirrels in mid flight, and snow leopards running, and this is a
terrific, lively book for sharing with children. Age 7+ [MK]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 53
Information Books
MALACHY DOYLE ILLUSTRATED BY ANGELO RINALDI
HORSE
Following Malachy Doyle and Angelo Rinaldi’s last collaboration, Horse is

another impressive book that puts the reader at the paddock fence. The
simple text introduces a beautiful palomino, then her foal, and follows its
growth through the seasons until it’s ready to be trained. The stunning
realistic oil paintings of the stable, the meadow, the dusky clouds and beach
are idyllic. And the illustrations of the horse make you want to reach out to
touch its mane and pet its nose. The reader can really appreciate the beauty
and attraction of this magnificent animal. [PO’D]
NICOLE DRYBURGH
THE WAY I SEE IT
HODDER, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780340956922
It is hard not be moved by this remarkably upbeat story of a teenager’s battle

with life-threatening spinal cancer over the past seven years. At the outset,
Nicole – now eighteen-years-old, blind and wheelchair-bound – sets out rules
for the reader: no pity or sympathy wanted. She delivers a blow-by-blow
account of her experiences with her cancer and her determination nonetheless
to get on with the things she likes doing. It also covers the experiences of her
family, friends and care-team. This is essential reading for anyone facing
serious illness, either firsthand or indirectly. Age 10+ [EG]
ALEX FIRTH ILLUSTRATED BY PETER ALLEN

SEE INSIDE PLANET EARTH
USBORNE BOOKS, £8.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780746087541
This picture book explores the wonder that is planet Earth. It describes how
special and how fragile it is. Scientific and environmental facts are scattered
across the pages and hidden beneath copious flaps. The wealth of detail in the
colourful, cheerful, cartoon-style illustrations makes repeated readings rewarding.
There is a strong environmental theme throughout the book, and the final double-
page spread is devoted to the small changes everyone can make to combat climate
change. Friends of the Earth receives a donation for every copy sold. Age 6+ [HP]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
LEONIE FLYNN, DANIEL HAHN AND SUSAN REUBEN
THE ULTIMATE FIRST BOOK GUIDE
A & C BLACK, £12.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780713673319
There are over 8,000 children’s books published every year, and guides like this
are indispensable for parents, teachers, booksellers, librarians, and everyone
working with children and children’s books. As well as being a brilliant guide to
over 500 books for the 0 to 7s, it’s also great fun and so bright and well-
designed it’s a joy to read. It doesn’t take itself too seriously either. Every library,
school and home should have a copy of this great book. [SW]
54 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Information Books
ALAN GIBBONS ILLUSTRATED BY LEO BROWN
CHARLES DARWIN
KINGFISHER, £14.99 (HBK), ISBN 9780753417294 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
Ten-year-old James is Charles Darwin’s assistant on the Beagle’s second

voyage, helping him to study exotic animals and collect specimens. Through
his eyes the reader learns about some of the most exciting natural history
discoveries of the nineteenth-century. The text is well-written and funny in
places, blending historical facts with a boy’s fictional diary to produce a most
interesting book. The illustrations are colourful and packed with detail. Ideal
for the classroom or for sharing at home. Age 7+ [SW]
REG GRANT
WORLD WAR II
DORLING KINDERSLEY, £17.99 (HBK WITH DVD), ISBN 9781405328715
Over 50 million people died during World War II and this book – produced in
association with the Imperial War Museum – chronicles the war through the eyes
of the people who lived through it, both soldiers and civilians. The text is well-
written and informative, and each page is attractively laid out, with maps,
diagrams and stunning photographs. The accompanying DVD shows film footage
of the time, maps, charts and timelines, bringing this period of history vividly to
life for modern children. Age 9+ [SW]
BEATRICE HOLLYER SEOSAMH Ó MURCHÚ A RINNE AN LEAGAN GAEILGE
RÉAMHFHOCAL LE ZADIE SMITH
AN tUISCE, SÚ NA BEATHA
AN GÚM, I GCOMHAR LE OXFAM, €7.50, ISBN 9781857917246
Is leabhar iontach é seo a phléann an tábhacht a bhaineann le huisce. Sa

leabhar, buaileann muid le seisear páiste ó thíortha éagsúla. Tugann an seisear
eolas dúinn faoina saol agus an stadas atá ag uisce ina saoil. Tá a lán le Beatrice Hollyer
i gcomhar le
foghlaim sa leabhar. Tá grianghrafanna ann in áit pictiúirí, rud a cheadaíonn Réamhfhocal le Zadie Smith
don léitheoir ceangal a dhéanamh leis na páistí atá sa leabhar. Is fiú go mór
an leabhar seo a cheannach. [DNA’B]
CATHERINE JOHNSON ILLUSTRATED BY SEB CAMAGAJEVAC

ARCTIC HERO: THE INCREDIBLE LIFE OF MATTHEW HENSON
BARRINGTON STOKE, £5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781842994931
This gripping yarn is the true story of explorer Matthew Henson, a black male
born just after the abolition of slavery in America. Henson was a hero to his
comrades on Polar expeditions but discriminated against at home. It wasn’t
until after his death that his achievements were fully recognised and honoured.
Johnson has managed to express ‘grown-up’ concepts in a clear, concise fashion
without being patronising. This book will appeal to reluctant readers, and have
particular relevance in the classroom. Age 8+ [PM]
READ ALSO: Escape From Colditz by Deborah Chancellor
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 55
INformation Books
KIDS’ OWN PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP
THIS IS THE PLACE I LIKE BEST
KIDS’ OWN PUBLISHING PARTNERSHIP, €15.00 (PBK), ISBN 9781902432298
A bright, zany, honest collection of stories, jokes, poems and art work by children
themselves. The product of a series of Children’s Book Festival workshops in
association with various libraries all over the country, from Deansgrange, to
Donegal, and Clonakilty, it’s beautifully produced, well-edited, and a fascinating
insight into what children living in Ireland, but from many different cultures,
really think and feel about their towns. The eye-poppingly colourful artwork is a
treat. This book should be in every library in the country. Age 4+ [SW]
KATE KNIGHTON ILLUSTRATED BY ADAM LARKUM

WHY SHOULDN’T I EAT JUNK FOOD?
USBORNE BOOKS, £6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780746087558
This informative guide is clear, simple and factual, without being preachy. It
is a good way to introduce children to the reasons why healthy eating is so
important. Topics, such as food groups, processed food, the importance of
exercise, Fairtrade, organic food and genetically modified food are all handled
in a conversational style. With easy step-by-step recipes and alternative lunch
box suggestions, accompanied by vibrant illustrations, this book is sure to be
a hit with parents, teachers and children. [SQ]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
ÉANNA NÍ LAMHNA PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANTHONY WOODS
WILD DUBLIN: EXPLORING NATURE IN THE CITY
THE O’BRIEN PRESS, €24.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781847170125
A terrific book, by a wonderfully charismatic nature expert, crammed with

interesting facts about Dublin wildlife, with glowing colour photographs by
Anthony Woods. I had no idea there were lizards in Dundrum, or minks beside
the Liffey, or that frogs were introduced to Ireland in the 1600s by a fellow of
Trinity College Dublin who put frogspawn in College Park (or so the story
goes). I had such fun reading this book, and it’s perfect for sharing with
children. Highly recommended. Age 7+ [SW]
VINCENT McDONNELL
MICHAEL COLLINS: MOST WANTED MAN
COLLINS PRESS, €7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781905172627
This book details the life and times of Michael Collins, beginning with his
boyhood growing-up near Clonakilty to his death at Béal na mBláth. This a
most enjoyable read, from the opening cinematic description of one of Collins’s
closest escapes from pursuing British forces to the closing speculation on what
he could have achieved if he had not died so prematurely. Although the
author’s view of Collins is mostly uncritical, his penchant for biting the ears of
his wrestling opponents is mentioned more than once. Age 10+ [HP]
56 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Information Books
ULTAN MACKEN
THE STORY OF DANIEL O’CONNELL: IRISH HEROES FOR
CHILDREN SERIES
MERCIER PRESS, €9.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781856355964
This is a short biography of Daniel O’Connell, who successfully fought for

Catholic Emancipation in nineteenth-century Ireland. It covers his life, from
childhood to death. The influences that shaped him and the notable events in
his life are described in detail. The explanations of the background to his
struggle makes his achievements appear all the more remarkable. The legacy of
the man known as ‘the Liberator’ is described in glowing terms. This book is
readable and informative, and a useful resource for project work. Age 10+ [HP]
MICK MANNING AND BRITA GRANSTROM

TAIL-END CHARLIE
FRANCES LINCOLN, £11.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781845076511 (PUBLISHED: SEPTEMBER 2008)
This is a fascinating true account of World War II seen through the eyes of the
author’s father, Charlie Manning, who was a tail-gunner in a B25. It covers RAF
training, to flying into flak, facing enemy fighters, and much more. Full of original
photographs, letters, newspaper cuttings and lively cartoon strip illustrations, this
book really brings the war alive. A must for any child who is interested in history,
the family story behind the book makes it all the more poignant. Age 6+ [SW]
AGNES NIEUWENHUIZEN
RIGHT BOOK RIGHT TIME:
500 GREAT READS FOR TEENAGERS
ALLEN & UNWIN, £12.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781741148831
Keeping teens reading is no easy matter, and this rewarding and comprehensive
book is a vital tool for teachers, librarians and parents. Nieuwenhuizen is an
Australian expert on children’s books and she reviews five hundred novels in
twelve themed sections – from ‘When You Want to Laugh’ to ‘This Sporting Life’.
Some of the titles were new to me, others familiar. The reviews are honest, funny,
and above all, relevant. An excellent reference book for anyone interested in
teenagers and what they read. Age Teens and Adults [SW]
RICHARD PLATT PAPER ENGINEERING BY DAVID HAWCOCK

MOON LANDING: A POP-UP CELEBRATION OF APOLLO 11
WALKER BOOKS, £14.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781406315271 (PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 2008)
What sets this spectacular book apart from many in the genre is the wealth of
experience that the award-winning author and paper-engineer bring to the project.
There is tremendous variety on each double-spread, guaranteeing that even the
most reluctant reader will engage with the contents, picking up memorable gems
from the accessible text. Presented in a way that could cater for a range of interest
levels and ability, this is a highly recommended resource for school project work
and general interest.7+ [MK] SEE ALSO: www.richardplatt.co.uk
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 57
Information Books
JAMES ROY
THE ‘S’ WORD:
A BOYS’ GUIDE TO SEX, PUBERTY AND GROWING UP
James Roy is a trained nurse and also works with young people; and he certainly
knows his stuff. Written in a funny, jaunty voice, with lots of cartoon
illustrations, this is a hard-hitting, informative and slightly shocking guide to
growing up for teenage boys. As the mother of such a creature, I found it most
enlightening but it’s certainly not for the easily embarrassed (parent that is!).
But it is ideal for teenage boys, and best of all, they might actually read it.
Age 13/14 + [SW]
TRACEY TURNER AND RICHARD HORNE

101 THINGS YOU WISH YOU’D INVENTED
It’s hard to find an information book that will keep a teenage boy reading, but
here it is, a slightly unorthodox, but very entertaining book about cool
inventions, real and imaginary. From the thermometer, to pizza, submarines,
teleporters, and rollercoasters, this book is packed with interesting facts
about the world we live in. There are also quizzes to take, Sudoku pages,
things to make and even recipes. A seriously addictive, interactive book, ideal
for boys with short attention spans. Age 11+ [SW]
MELANIE WALSH
THINGS I CAN DO TO HELP MY WORLD
This picture book lists the ways that even toddlers can help make our planet a
better place. The illustrations are simple, bold and colourful, perfect for the
youngest reader. These pictures, combined with the clever cut-outs, make turning
every page an entertaining experience. Each of the ten points listed is followed by
an aside, in smaller text. This explanation of the environmental value of each
activity snakes through the relevant illustration. The book’s green credentials even
extend to its manufacture: only recycled materials were used. Age 3+ [HP]
GEOFF WARING
OSCAR AND THE BIRD: A BOOK ABOUT ELECTRICITY
Oscar is a curious cat with lots of questions. Luckily, wise Bird is there to
provide some answers. How did the windscreen wiper start moving? What is
electricity? How is it made? Bird explains how a switch can power it on and
off. This simple, colourful picture book gives some answers to the everyday
questions that young children ask. A gentle introduction to electrical power
and the laws of physics. Strong, graphic illustrations add to the appeal of this
attractive and useful book. Age 3+ [PO’D]
58 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Audio Books Edited by Sarah Webb
BETTY G BIRNEY, READ BY GREG PROOPS

THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY
FABER & FABER, £10.99 (AUDIO CD), ISBN 9780571240449
Comedian Greg Proops breathes life into this observation of life from the
viewpoint of the ultimate outsider, the school hamster. Humphrey shows that
brainy Sayeh is not just shy, that troublesome Garth has problems at home, and
that even strict Mrs Brisbane needs compassion and help. An entertaining and
charming rendition. 7+ [PM] READ ALSO: Friendship According to Humphrey
NICOLA DAVIS ILLUSTRATED BY NICK MALAND, READ BY STEPHEN TOMKINSON

BIG BLUE WHALE
WALKER BOOKS, £6.99, (PBK AND AUDIO CD), ISBN 9781846430718
This wonderfully informative book should satisfy even the most enquiring little
minds. Cross-hatched pen and ink illustrations perfectly capture and convey the
essence of the text (from the vastness of the whale to the loneliness of the ocean).
The accompanying audio CD contains brilliant sound effects, a read-along version
and a catchy ditty. 5+ [PM] READ ALSO: Ice-Bear; White Owl; Barn Owl
EDITOR’S CHOICE
RÉ Ó LAIGHLÉIS LÉITE AG RÉ Ó LAIGHLÉIS
AN NOLLAIG SA NAIGÍN
MÓINÍN, €12.50 (DLÚTHDHIOSC CD), ISBN 9780955407901
Leagan CD de An Nollaig sa Naigín le glór an údair féin ag léamh na scéalta.

É iniúchach paróisteach agus domhanda ag aon am amháin. É ar fheabhas leis
féin nó mar thionlacan don leabhar. Aistear draíochtúil, aistear fírinne, ar
saibhra dá bharr. 9+ [TÓD]
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MAL PEET READ BY JAMES GOODE
KEEPER
WALKER BOOKS, £10.99 (AUDIO CD), ISBN 9781406310290
This unabridged audiobook is over six hours long but captivating. The narrative
takes the form of an extended interview with a world-class goalkeeper, El Gato, The
Cat, as he tells a football reporter a ghost story which explains how he learnt his
craft as a boy in the Amazon Jungle. Gripping! 12+ [LJ] LISTEN ALSO: The Penalty
WILL PETERSON READ BY TERESA GALLAGHER

TRISKELLION
WALKER BOOKS, £13.20 (AUDIO CD), ISBN 9781406316957
This audio version of teenage adventures in Triskellion will appeal to 11 to 14

year-olds interested in archaeology and the paranormal. Although well-voiced
– the main characters’ American tones are skilfully woven with various English
accents – the pace is uneven and the story’s disparate threads take a long time
to come together. [EG]
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 59
'
Irish Published Children s Books

AN GÚM MAOLÍOSA NÍ CHLÉIRIGH LEABHAR BREAC
RÓISÍN CURÉ A MHAISIGH
www.gaeilge.ie TURAS GO MAIGH EO www.leabharbreac.com
MARY ARRIGAN €9.50 (CRUA), ISBN 9781857917437 MÁRIE NÍ GHALLCHOBHAIR,

LOUELLA DE LAIGHT LAOISE NÍ CHOMHRAÍ MAISITHE AG PETER DONNELLY
€8.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781857916652 AG TAISTEAL LE TARLACH SA NÍL CEAD SNÁMH SA LOCH
PHOLAINN €4.90 (BOG), ISBN 9781898332268
MÁIRE BREATHNACH
€10.50 (CRUA), ISBN 9781857917413
VERA AGUS A VEIDHLÍN
LÉARÁIDÍ LE ROBERT BALLAGH GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK, RÓISÍN
€10.50 (CRUA), ISBN 9781857917185 CURÉ A MHAISIGH MERCIER
NA DAOINE DALLA www.mercierpress.ie
STEVE CANNON €10.50 (CRUA),
MAIRÉAD AGUS AN FOGHLAÍ ISBN 9781857916805 WILLIAM HENRY
MARA TÍR NA nÓG – A NEW ADVENTURE
€5.50 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917222 SEÁN UA CEARNAIGH, €14.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781856355971
BOB Ó CATHAIL A MHAISIGH
ROSS COLLINS AN GOBÁN SAOR ULTAN MACKEN
AN DAID IS CLISTE AR FAD! €7.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917086 THE STORY OF DANIEL
€7.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917406 O’CONNELL
€9.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781856355964
CAROLYN CURTIS, ALISON JAY A
MHAISIGH, GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK CLÓ MHAIGH EO IOSOLD NÍ DHEIRG
A CHUIR I nGAEILGE www.leabhar.com THE STORY OF MICHAEL COLLINS
THUGAS AN GHEALACH AG SIÚL €9.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781856355957
€6.50 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917093
NA CAILLEACHA GRÁNNA EILEEN O’HELY
JACQUELINE DE BRÚN €8.99 (BOG), ISBN 9781899922451 PENNY THE ATHLETE
CARTOON SALOON A RINNE NA LÉARÁIDÍ €8.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781856355704
SCOIL AN CHNOIC STRAINSÉIRÍ
€8.50 (BOG), ISBN 9781857916799 €8.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781899922390
CLAIRE FREEDMAN & BEN CORT, MÓINÍN
GABRIEL ROSENSTOCK A CHUIR I www.moinin.ie
nGAEILGE COIS LIFE SUSAN EDWARDS & RÉ Ó
SEACHAIN DO BHRÍSTÍN!
www.coislife.ie LAIGHLÉIS,
€7.50 (BOG), ISBN 9781857916997
LÉARÁIDÍ LE EMILY COLENSO
MARVIN HALLERAKER, AISTRITHE
BEATRICE HOLLYER AN PHLEIST MHÓR
AG TREASA NÍ BHRUA AGUS
AN tUISCE, SÚ NA BEATHA MAGNUS VESTVOLL
€14.00 (CRUA),
I gCOMHAR LE OXFAM, €7.50, ADOLF SNA HARDA ISBN 9780955407963
ISBN 9781857917246 €9.00 (CRUA), ISBN 9871901176810
MEADHBH NÍ EADHRA
TADHG MAC DHONNAGÁIN, KIERON SIOBHÁN PARKINSON FÁINNE FÍ FÍFÍ
BLACK A MHAISIGH DIALANN SÁR-RÚNDA AMY NÍ €9.00 (BOG), ISBN 9780955407956
BRAN AGUS SCEOLÁN CHONCHÚIR
€7.00, (BOG), ISBN 9781857917116 €10.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781901176780
TADHG MAC DHONNAGÁIN PHAETON PUBLISHING

OISÍN www.phaeton.ie
€7.00 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917420 KIDS’ OWN PUBLISHING
STACY AUMONIER
www.kidsown.ie
NICOLA MOFFAT EXTREMELY ENTERTAINING
LÁ BREÁ FUAR THIS IS THE PLACE I LIKE BEST SHORT STORIES
€4.50 (BOG), ISBN 9781857917130 €15.00 (PBK), ISBN 9781902432298 €17.50 (PBK), ISBN 9780955375637
60 BOOKFEST 2008–2009
Jan 2008 Dec 2008
–
POOLBEG JUDI CURTIN OISÍN McGANN

ALICE AND MEGAN FOREVER WIRED TEETH
www.poolbeg.com €7.99 (PBK) 9781847171191 €6.95 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170033
CLAIRE HENNESSY JUDI CURTIN
BIG PICTURE GREG MASSARDIER
BONJOUR ALICE
€7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781842233177 HAL’S SLEEPOVER:
€7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170965
PANDA CUBS NO. 7
BRIANÓG BRADY DAWSON, €5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170347
ILLUSTRATED BY MICHAEL CONNOR
THE CHILDREN’S PRESS DANNY’S CRAZY CHRISTMAS: JUDY MAY
PANDA NO. 37 DIAMOND STAR GIRL
KATE McMAHON, €5.95 (PBK), ISBN 9781847171245 €7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170903
ILLUSTRATED BY TERRY MYLER
THAT TOUCH OF MAGIC ANNA DONOVAN, ÉANNA NÍ LAMHNA, PHOTOGRAPHS
€6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781901737608 ILLUSTRATED BY TATYANA FEENEY
BY ANTHONY WOODS
CÁ BHFUIL MURCHÚ? SOS 15
PETER REGAN, €5.95 (PBK), ISBN 9781847171269
WILD DUBLIN: EXPLORING
ILLUSTRATED BY TERRY MYLER NATURE IN THE CITY
RIVERSIDE: EXIT POINT ANNA DONOVAN, €24.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781847170125
€5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781901737592 ILLUSTRATED BY TATYANA FEENEY
WHERE’S MURPHY? PANDA NO. 36 JOE O’BRIEN
€5.95 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170811 LITTLE CROKER
€7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170460
THE COLLINS PRESS MALACHY DOYLE
SWAP JOE O’BRIEN,
www.collinspress.ie €7.99 (PBK) 9781847170538
ILLUSTRATED BY JEAN TEXIER
VINCENT McDONNELL JIM HALLIGAN, ILLUSTRATED BY ALFIE GREEN AND THE
MICHAEL COLLINS: MOST CARTOON SALOON SNOWDROP QUEEN
WANTED MAN DIABOLIC DOWNLOADS €7.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781847171207
€7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781905172627 €6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170651
JOE O’BRIEN,
FELICITY HAYES-McCOY,
ILLUSTRATED BY JEAN TEXIER
ILLUSTRATED BY RANDALL
THE O’BRIEN PRESS STEPHEN HALL ALFIE GREEN AND THE
THE RIDDLE: PANDA LEGENDS 1 SUPERSONIC SUBWAY
www.obrien.ie
€5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170361 €7.99 (HBK), ISBN 9781847170958
MARIAN BRODERICK, ILLUSTRATED
FELICITY HAYES-McCOY, SIOBHÁN PARKINSON,
BY FRANCESCA CARABELLI
ILLUSTRATED BY RANDALL ILLUSTRATED BY LISA JACKSON
THE WITCH APPRENTICE
STEPHEN HALL THE HENNY PENNY TREE:
€6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847171290
FINN’S THUMB: PANDA LEGENDS NO. 3
MARIAN BRODERICK, ILLUSTRATED PANDA LEGENDS 2
€5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9780862789664
BY FRANCESCA CARABELLI €5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170354
THE WITCH IN THE WOODS CELINE KIERNAN JAMES ROY
€6.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847171085 THE POISON THRONE BOOK 1: THE ‘S’ WORD: A BOYS’ GUIDE TO
THE MOOREHAWKE TRILOGY SEX, PUBERTY AND GROWING UP
MARIE BURLINGTON
€12.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847171108 €11.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170569
THE LITTLE WITCH WHO CAN’T
SPELL: FLYER NO. 18 CONOR KOSTICK MADDIE STEWART,
€5.95 (PBK), ISBN 9780862789824 MOVE ILLUSTRATED BY MARILYN TAYLOR
€9.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170101
EDITED BY SÉAMUS CASHMAN, 17 MARTIN STREET
ILLUSTRATED BY CORRINA ASKIN & ÚNA LEAVY, €9.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847171252
ALAN CLARKE ILLUSTRATED BY WOODY FOX
SOMETHING BEGINNING WITH P: MOLLY’S NIGHT OUT: PANDA GRACE WELLS
NEW POEMS FROM IRISH POETS CUBS NO. 8 ICE DREAMS
€14.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170927 €5.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170682 €7.99 (PBK), ISBN 9781847170453
BOOKFEST 2008–2009 61
Competitions!
To celebrate the 2008 Children’s Book Festival, CBI is running two exciting new competitions!
DESIGN A BOOK COVER COMPETITION

CBI has teamed up with The O’Brien Press to offer one lucky
winner the chance to see their artwork on the front of a
professionally published book. A brand new edition of Linda
Moller’s classic tale The Great Pig Escape is due for publication in
2009 and we’re looking for young people nationwide to help
design the cover! Go online to download an entry form.
SPOOKY SHORT STORY COMPETITION

CBI is asking young writers to create a short story inspired by
Tomm Moore’s fantastic festival artwork. In 250 words or less, tell
us what you think the characters in this year’s CBF image have
read in their book of Scary Tales. The winner will be chosen by
Skulduggery Pleasant author Derek Landy, with a top prize of
€1,000 worth of books for your school or local library.
For further details on both competitions

and to download entry forms visit
www.childrensbooksireland.ie
The closing date for both competitions is

Wednesday 5th November 2008
Celebrate
Celebratethe
theChildren's
Children'sBook
BookFestival
Festivalwith
with
Fantastic
Fantasticnew
newreads
readsfor
fortoddlers
toddlerstototeens!
teens!
The
The
O'Brien
O'Brien
Press,
Press,
1212
Terenure
TerenureRoad
Road
East,
East,
Dublin
Dublin
6. 6.
P: P:
0101
4923333;
4923333;
F: 01
F: 01
4922777;
4922777;
E: E:
books@obrien.ie;
books@obrien.ie;
www.obrien.ie
www.obrien.ie

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RECOMMENDED READING GUIDE • TREOIR LÉITHEOIREACHTA MOLTA

FREE • PLEASE TAKE ONE

AGE 0–4 … pages 9–16

AGE 5–8 … pages 17–22

AGE 9–12 … pages 24–33

ADOLF SNA hARDA

Overall Editors: Liz Morris and Sarah Webb

STRAINSÉIRI Colmán Ó Raghallaigh (CLÓ MHAIGH EO)

OLDER TEENS … pages 43–48

OSTRICH BOYS Keith Gray

THE POISON THRONE, BOOK 1

POETRY … pages 49–51

INFORMATION BOOKS … pages 52–58

AUDIO BOOKS … page 59

KEEPER Mal Peet, read by James Goode (WALKER BOOKS)

Irish-published children’s books 2008 … page 60

CBI BISTO BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Please send 14 copies of eligible titles to:

CBI Bisto Book of the Year Award

CBI BISTO BOOK OF SHORTLISTED TITLES

EILÍS DILLON AWARD Jessica O’Donnell

CBI HONOUR AWARDS Caitríona Nic Sheáin

Oliver Jeffers Colin Bateman

Roddy Doyle Kate Thompson

MEET POLLY DUNBAR

Polly, what are your new Tilly books about?

Tilly by Polly Dunbar is reviewed on page 10

AGE 0 – 2 1⁄2 : A–Z

Customers of Will’s Wheels Shop range from a farmer and fireman to a

A charming collection of favourite rhymes, everyday scenes and objects,

CAMILLA REID AND AILIE BUSBY

Things you didn’t know about Mo Willems

With thanks to Walker Books – extract from www.walker.co.uk

AGE 2 1⁄2 – 4: A–Z

ALLAN AHLBERG ILLUSTRATED BY ANDRÉ AMSTUTZ

DAVID BEDFORD ILLUSTRATED BY RUSSELL JULIAN

LAUREN CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY BY POLLY BORLAND, SET CREATION BY

Bheadh an leabhar seo oiriúnach le léamh do pháiste óg ag am codlata.

JONATHAN EMMETT ILLUSTRATED BY MARK OLIVER

CLAIRE FREEDMAN & BEN CORT

Tá ábhar an scéil seo cinéal neamhgnách – fó-éadaí. Tagann na carachtair sa

RICHARD HAMILTON ILLUSTRATED BY BABETTE COLE

JANE O’CONNOR ILLUSTRATED BY ROBIN PREISS GLASSER

e-mail: moinin@eircom.net or on the web : www.moinin.ie MÓINÍN

ANDY STANTON’S MR GUM SERIES

ANNA DONOVAN ILLUSTRATED BY TATYANA FEENEY

ALAN DURANT ILLUSTRATED BY ROSS COLLINS

Who is Cinderella, Prince Charming’s mysterious fiancée? Rumple Stiltskin

MAEVE FRIEL ILLUSTRATED BY JOELLE DREIDEMY

WILLIAM HENRY ILLUSTRATED BY DELPHINE ARNAULT

ALAN MACDONALD ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID ROBERTS

MÁRIE NÍ GHALLCHOBHAIR MAISITHE AG PETER DONNELLY

JOE O’BRIEN ILLUSTRATED BY JEAN TEXIER

PHYLLIS ROOT ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID PARKINS

In four short, separate tales, Phyllis Root introduces us to an extraordinary

JEREMY STRONG ILLUSTRATED BY ROWAN CLIFFORD

VALERIE THOMAS AGUS KORKY PAUL MÁIRTÍN Ó CLÉIRIGH A D’AISTRIGH

Willems is an exceptional talent in picture books. This is a fantastic book for

WRITING FOR YOUNG READERS:

17 Martin Street by Marilyn Taylor is reviewed on page 32

AGE 9–12: A–Z

DAVE BARRY AND RIDLEY PEARSON ILLUSTRATED BY GREG CALL

This second instalment in Bateman’s series sees Lucky Jimmy Armstrong,