Carnegie Greenaway Award

Here are the Carnegie Medal shortlisted titles for 2012.  More detail about the books can be found on the Carnegie Greenaway website:

http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/2012awards/carnegie_shortlist.php

Wimpy Kid News!

Romance is set to enter the world of Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley in the latest instalment of the series, which is due out in November.
 The first novel, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, was voted best children's book of the decade by Blue Peter viewers earlier this month and Puffin is predicting that the seventh book will be one of the bestselling titles of 2012. Its publication was announced  by Jeff Kinney at the biggest annual event in children's publishing, the Bologna Children's Book Fair.
He said:
"I've only written about a third of it and I haven't drawn a single picture yet. But it's all in my head and on my phone."
Follow the link below to hear Jeff Kinney talk to Michelle Pauli about the bestselling series and answer questions from 'Guardian Children's Books' site members: http://gu.com/p/33eg4

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games, the science fiction, action-drama directed by Gary Ross and based on the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins will be in cinemas this Friday!  The film has a 12A certificate.
Here are a few reviews from our Book Club members about the book:

'I liked this book very much.  It really caught my attention and I couldn’t stop reading it.  I liked all the characters and wasn’t bored when I was reading it because there was always a new topic or a new adventure to read about.  I admired Katniss.  This is the best book I have ever read in my life!'

'The Hunger Games is one of the best books I have read in a very long time.  It was extremely gripping and I was hooked into the story from the start.  It’s full of action and each page keeps you wanting to read onto the next.  A fantastic book!  Highly recommended!'

'A gripping, effortless twist on the dystopian genre.  The most well-paced and suspense-filled book I have ever read.  The elements I find fault with are so few I can count them on one hand (and I’m a harsh critic!).  I defy anyone not to enjoy this book.'

One for our older readers...

Here is what author Ally Kennan has to say about the storyline of her new teen novel, Bullet Boys:

 Max, 17, has been booted out of his school for extremely bad deeds. He's wily, resourceful and bubbling with resentment at his military family and the world at large. Alex, 17, is a gamekeeper's son and a crack shot. A real country-boy, he's calm and intelligent. Only a girl, teen-mum Sasha, can make him lose his cool. Diplomatic Levi, 18, is sharp and sociable, but has a thirst for adventure of any kind.

Set on Dartmoor, the boys make a deadly discovery on the edge of an army training ground. Explosive and life-threatening events are set in motion as an old crime is gradually uncovered and everyone has a different agenda.

If you would like to read an extract just follow this link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/childrens-books-site/interactive/2012/mar/02/bullet-boy-extract

Journey to the River Sea

‘Journey to the River Sea’ has been released with a new cover to mark its tenth anniversary.

This is an adventure story set in the Amazon rainforest. An orphan called Maia goes to live with her relatives in the Amazon and meets an Amazonian boy who is looking for his lost tribe. Maia doesn’t get on well with her cousins but strikes up a real friendship with the boy and they go on to share many adventures.

This is a great book - why not try it yourself?

The World Book Day App!

The brand new World Book Day App is available now for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch on the iTunes store, for the low, low price of absolutely FREE!
It includes six brilliant short stories written especially for World Book Day by some of the best Young Adult authors in the world!
Go to www.worldbookday.com to find out more.