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The Waterstones Children's Summer Reading Round-up
Children's storytelling has never been so accomplished, engaging or diverse as it is now, with books that create intricately rendered and utterly immersive imaginative worlds sharing shelf-space with titles that tackle contentious contemporary issues with wit, insight and a tone that never condescends or patronises.
From zany anthropomorphic capers to fantastical tales of escapist adventure and compelling narratives about growing up fast in the twenty-first century, our round-up of the best children's fiction to devote your summer to contains something for everyone. So switch that phone to silent and hit pause on the Playstation, because it's time to feed your imagination with some wonderfully chosen words.
Younger Readers
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A deliriously silly new series perfect for fans of Toto the Ninja Cat, Agent Weasel’s madcap adventures take in every threat to security in the United Woodlands. Brave, bold and frequently clueless, the anthropomorphic super-spy must foil a gang of frisky foxes in this hilarious opening installment.
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This buccaneering book series grew out of Duddle’s picture book The Pirate Cruncher, and the rollicking adventures of Matilda, Jim and Nugget have caught the imaginations of countless young readers. Our intrepid trio must rescue the children of Dull-on-Sea from a pesky Pirate Piper in this fantastic fourth instalment.
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Anna, the redoubtable owner of Hotel Flamingo, has a bit of a climate problem; it’s a baking hot summer but some royal penguins are on their way and they need things kept chilly! Another gently funny offering from a series whose heart is as warm as this volume’s soaring temperature.
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Everyone’s favourite Loser returns in the eleventh rollicking comic caper from the eternally ‘keel’ Jim Smith. Barry wants a sausage dog – mainly because he likes sausages – but hasn’t quite thought through the barking, or the pooing or the scrapes and chaos that a pet can get you in to. Another hilarious addition to a well-loved children’s series.
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From the author of the irreverent Darkmouth series comes a heartwarming tale of a lost toy robot and its quest to be reunited with its young owner. Whilst WALL-E might be an easy point of comparison, Hegarty’s tale has a humour and personality all its own, introducing us to a colourful array of mechanised characters and a touching story of devotion and persistence.
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In the first of Stowell’s fun-filled series, Kit, who is dragged along to the library against her will, makes an incredible discovery that will change her life forever.
Older Readers
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The enthralling sequel to The Storm Keeper’s Island sees an epic battle between Soulstalkers and Merrows that will test Fionn’s fledgling role as Arranmore’s Storm Keeper to the limit. Channeling myth and legend to thrilling effect, The Lost Tide Warriors is a worthy successor to a modern children’s classic.
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Inspired by current environmental concerns and set in a caste-divided, dystopian world, Where the River Runs Gold is an adventure built on the enduring hope of a better, fairer future.
£12.99
Hardback
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Claire Balding’s Racehorse series is like a big, warm hug and this latest instalment, with its page turning plot and affirmative messages about friendship and ambition, is the perfect read for any children who are excited about all things equestrian.
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In the finest horticultural tradition of Philippa Pearce and Frances Hodgson Burnett, AM Howell anchors this charming, domestic wartime mystery in an evocative, allegorical garden. Intrigue, secrets and strange nocturnal figures abound as Clara is sent to stay with her formidable aunt and uncle during the Great War.
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Jacqueline Wilson has an extraordinary ability to understand and empathise with the hopes, dreams and concerns of her readership, and Rose Rivers proves once more that she can pull this feat off just as well in period garb as modern dress. Characters from Wilson’s previous Victorian novels make reappearances in this winning story about battling against constraint and following your dreams.
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Like a diminutive Doctor Dolittle, young Evie can talk to the animals. It’s a habit that has landed her in trouble before but when an alarming number of animals start to go missing, Evie realises that she is the only one who can solve the mystery. Another winning children’s tale from the delightful Matt Haig.
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Derek Landy’s gloriously gruesome children’s series fuses crime with horror and fantasy and the stakes just keep getting higher. Bedlam finds our titular skeletal detective and his all too human partner Stephanie confronted with their biggest threat yet; a truly terrifying plan from the diabolical super-villain Crepuscular Vines.
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Bedlam - Skulduggery Pleasant Book 12 (Hardback)
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Bestselling author and Waterstones favourite Katherine Rundell returns with another exquisitely crafted story about resourceful children let loose in a beautifully rendered locale. The setting is prohibition-era New York and our hero is Vita, determined to claim back her grandfather’s home from the clutches of the mafia. Good old fashioned storytelling that feels as fresh as a daisy.
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Spiteful harpies, cloud giants and storm ogres people this wildly inventive novel from the author of Sky Song. Set in the magical Unmapped Kingdom, Rumblestar throws three highly unlikely adventurers headlong into a thrilling adventure brimming with wit, energy and excitement.
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The murder of their art school teacher sets young sleuths Nik and Norva on a thrilling adventure to bring his killer to justice in Jackson's winning detective story with vibrant urban setting and winning characterisation.
Young Adult
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From Waterstones Children Book Prize-winning Patrice Lawrence comes a hard-edged but tender-hearted tale about the difficulties of leaving your old life behind and the uncertainties that you face embarking upon a new one. From religious cult to an amoral modern society, how are Rose and her younger brother Rudder supposed to navigate their way through the world safely?
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Immerse yourself once more in the lush, multilayered world of the Arks with the second part of the Mirror Visitor quartet. Secret powers now revealed, Ophelia faces a race against time to stop a spate of mysterious disappearances, in this minutely imagined and exquisitely written follow-up to A Winter’s Promise.
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A true one-off, The Kingdom is a gripping fantasy thriller that blends Disney-esque fairytale, android scif-fi and courtroom drama to wonderfully disorientating effect. Beneath the flash and sparkle, though, lies a subtle treatise on political and moral corruption.
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Unashamedly geeky, this delightful debut from renowned Booktuber Powrie revels in a love of literature and rejoices in quirky awkwardness. A book club provides a lifeline to the socially stilted Tabby, encouraging her to embrace her inner nerd for better or worse. A feel-good hymn to the joys of reading and firm friendships.
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The City of Light is a principal character in this expressive, bittersweet tale of love lost and found on the Paris metro. Nimbly structured and effortlessly chic, In Paris With You is intelligent, escapist fun from beginning to end.
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The Shadow Market is where the characters from Cassandra Clare’s phenomenally successful Shadowhunters books all mass. These ten stories - two of them exclusive to this volume - pool the talents of the best YA fantasy writers around, to create spellbinding tales of warlocks and vampires, tormented souls and lovelorn heroes.
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One of the most important and distinctive voices in YA fiction, Juno Dawson turns her forensic gaze upon the iniquities of the fashion industry in the emotionally searing Meat Market. Jana Novak is an ordinary girl from a London estate catapulted into the glamorous yet ultra-competitive world of high fashion. Exposed and vulnerable, Jana will discover that modelling has a dark side.
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A companion piece to the hugely popular Dumplin’, Murphy’s uplifting latest highlights unlikely friendships and the fundamental similarities that all of us share. An overweight misfit and a snooty mean girl are thrown together, forging an unusual alliance in this feel-good book about acceptance and tolerance.
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A compelling murder mystery that follows in the footsteps of the genre-busting One of Us is Lying, Jackson’s impressively accomplished debut features a likeable teenage sleuth out to crack a cold case as part of her homework assignment. Twists, shocks and red herrings are liberally strewn about the plot, but the thrills are never allowed to overshadow the novel’s tender central relationship.
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Bryony Gordon’s Mad Girl was a wonderfully candid and refreshing exploration of mental health, and now the Telegraph columnist has penned a self-help guide for teenagers about a lot of the issues that she has faced. Written with the verve and punch that you expect from Gordon, You Got This is always illuminating and never condescending. A must read for all teenage girls.
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A beautifully designed explosion of colour and a great interactive journal, Free To Be Me radiates good natured fun, premium level sass and all manner of engaging LGBTQ+ activities.
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