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Published this month: CATHERINE FORDE: SUGARCOATED - check it out in this month's Books Monthly at www.booksmonthly.co.uk  and watch out for an interview with Cathy in the next issue!

DEAN LOREY ~ NIGHTMARE ACADEMY (1): CHARLIE'S MONSTERS (Harper Collins Childrens' Books PB)  Charlie Benjamin is not like other children – when he sleeps he has terrible nightmares, and when he wakes it is to find his room has been wrecked. Then one day he wakes up to find a monster by his bed. Luckily, a band of monster-hunting strangers arrives and saves him, only to whisk him away for interrogation by the mysterious "Nightmare Division". It turns out that Charlie has the "Gift" – a rare ability to open portals into the dimension where monsters lurk, and the explanation for the devastating force of his nightmares. But his gift makes him a danger to himself and others: when he is made to open a portal his power is so great that he inadvertently wakes Barakkas, one of the most powerful and evil of all monsters. Threatened with "Reduction" (a lobotomy that would remove his imagination) Charlie is saved by the wise Headmaster of the Nightmare Academy, where he is taken to explore his talents – and prepare for the coming showdown with Barakkas… This is the first volume in a stunning new series by famed screenplay writer Dean Lorey. Let me sum it up for you in just one word - it's fabulous. It could be the natural successor to Harry Potter, and is already scheduled to be a huge movie soon. Lorey has taken elements of all the most popular recent children's entertainment - Potter, Monsters Inc., Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc., and comes up with a "can't fail" formula which children of all ages will love. Charlie Benjamin's a loner, no friends, lacking in confidence; but he has a gift, the gift of being able to open portals to the Netherworld, which is peopled by fantastic and horrific monsters, the kind children dream about as being under their beds or in the cupboards (Monsters Inc.) It's set in a special academy (a bit like Hogwarts, but with subtle differences), where Charlie is befriended, for the first time in his life, by others his own age. The staff and pupils of Nightmare Academy are terrific, the story is brilliant. Check out some of legendary fantasy art painter J P Targete's illustrations at www.deanlorey.com - and coming soon, www.nightmareacademy.com Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

MARK BARRATT: JOE RAT (Red Fox PB) Set in the underbelly of Victorian London's East End, "Joe Rat" follows the fortunes of a tosher, Joe, who lives by scavenging in the sewers around the area of Whitechapel. It's a fast-paced and vivid tale of survival in a society which fosters neither friendship nor trust. But Joe comes to know both after a chance encounter with a runaway girl, Bess, and the 'madman' who inhabits Pound's Field. With gangs lurking round every corner and a life spent in the rat-infested tunnels below the streets, Joe needs more than a prime piece of tosh to change his fortunes. Charles Dickens brought up to date - absolutely riveting read, I couldn't put it down till I'd finished it! Win a signed copy in one of this month's great competitions. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

SHERRYL JORDAN: TIME OF THE EAGLE (Simon and Schuster (PB) Avala's father, Gabriel (the hero of Secret Sacrament), was the great Deliverer, the giver of freedom, the hero who began the prophesied Time of the Eagle. However, this freedom has not been easy, and the Shinali tribe have found the nomadic way of life very hard. Many times they have accidentally trespassed on the lands of the Igaal or the Hena, their former enemies, and have been driven violently away, making unification seem a long way off. Avala's relationship with a wonded Igaal hunter leads to her acceptance within the Igaal tribe, where her healing gifts and visions make her indispensable. But simply helping one injured Igaal hunter is not enough to meld the two peoples. And in her absence from her own people, a rival priest has arisen, claiming that the Time of the Eagle has come and that they must fight rather than unify with the Igaal. Can Avala reverse her tribe's decision, and finally make peace between the nations? The long-awaited sequel to SECRET SACRAMENT, Sherryl Jordan's new book is the story of Avala, Gabriel's daughter, who wishes to be a healer but discovers that her destiny has a far greater purpose. This is first-class fantasy for young adults and adults alike, magnificently written and extraordinarily good. I was intrigued to discover that it's set on Earth, which is revealed when Avala is taught her healing and seeing powers in the hidden fortress. There's no suggestion that it's an alternative Earth, or an undiscovered region or a period of Earth's history now forgotten or some time in the future - I guess that might have been revealed in SECRET SACRAMENT, which I shall be reading shortly, but this book is absolutely terrific. Buy it. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

HOLLY BLACK: TITHE (Simon and Schuster PB) Do you believe in faeries? Not the soft, gentle kind, but the sinister, feral kind - the ones that wreak havoc on everything in their path...Sixteen-year-old Kaye is a modern nomad. Fierce and independent, she travels from city to city with her mother's rock band, until an ominous attack forces them back to her childhood home. To the place where she used to see Faeries. They're still there. But Kaye's not a child anymore. This time she's dragged into the thick of their dangerous, frightening world. A realm where black horses dwell beneath the sea, desperate to drown you...where the sinister Thistlewitch divines dark futures...and where beautiful faerie knights are driven to perform acts of brutal depravity for the love of their uncaring queens. Once there, Kaye finds herself an unwilling pawn in an ancient power struggle between two rival faerie kingdoms - a struggle that could end in her death... Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

HOLLY BLACK: IRONSIDE A MODERN FAERY'S TALE (Simon and Schuster PB) The eagerly awaited sequel to bestseller TITHE. A sinister, chilling fantasy about ancient power struggles, menacing villains and beautiful dark heroes from the author of the Spiderwick Chronicles. When pixie Kate declares herself to Roiben on the day of his coronation, he is forced to send her on a seemingly impossible quest. Now Kaye is forbidden to see or speak to him unless she can find the one thing she knows doesn't exist: a faerie who can tell a lie. Miserable and convinced she belongs nowhere, Kaye makes a rash decision to reveal the truth to her mother - that she is a changeling left in place of a human child. Her mother's shock reaction sends Kaye running back to the Faerie realm in search of her human counterpart in a bid to return her to Ironside. But Kaye once again finds herself a pawn in the games of the Seelie Court. Queen Silarial wants Roiben's throne and she will use any means necessary to get it! In this twisted game of wits and power can a pixie outplay a queen? This is a  far cry from the Spiderwick Chronicles, though it does touch on other realms than the one in which we all exist, that of the faery. Be warned, it contains swearing, but it's an enchanting tale, brilliantly told. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

KATE BRIAN: CONFESSIONS (Simon and Schuster PB) Sometimes the truth hurts.... Reed Brennan came to superposh Easton Academy to make a brand-new life for herself. At first it seemed as though her dream had come true-she was living in the ultraexclusive Billings Hall, hanging out with the all-powerful Billings Girls, and dating the very hot Thomas Pearson. But Thomas turned out to be different from what she thought...and then he turned up dead. And if that wasn't twisted enough, Reed's new boyfriend, Josh Hollis, was arrested for Thomas's murder. Now everyone is back to worrying about the regular stuff, like how to sneak to the boys' dorms at night, whether two-ply cashmere is warm enough for fall, and whether to fly to London or Barcelona for Thanksgiving break. Everyone except for Reed. Reed is convinced that Josh is innocent, which means the killer is still out there. Now it's up to Reed to uncover the truth. But the deeper she digs, the more secrets she unearths and the closer she gets to the confession that will change everything...if she's alive to hear it. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but whatever it was, I loved it. It's a boarding-school romp with a difference - rich bitch students caught up in a tangled love-web that leads to the murder of one of the boys. Reed is a terrific character, well, they all are! An easy read but worth it. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

CONSTANCE M BURGE: CHARMED TRICKERY TREAT (Simon and Schuster PB) It's Halloween, and Piper is busy decorating the Manor, which has become the neighborhood hot spot on the most bewitching night of the year. Meanwhile, Paige decides to use the party as a chance to honor the dead. She casts a spell that creates a portal for a clan of leprechauns...and other wandering spirits. The guests are thrilled and impressed with the realistic effects, but Phoebe, Piper, and Paige soon realize that they have a big trick to deal with: one not-so-friendly ghost going out of his way to turn the Manor into a haunted house. The Charmed Ones must stop this evil soul with a vengeance before he takes the life of one experienced ghost hunter who knows his story and has met him before.... The girls from CHARMED in a desperate fight against an evil ghost - as charming as the TV show, and written well enough. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

JAMES A OWEN: SEARCH FOR THE RED DRAGON (simon and Schuster PB) John, Jack, and Charles (who met nine years ago when they became Caretakers of the Imaginarium Geographica, an atlas of all the lands we think of as imaginary) have come together again. Someone is kidnapping the children of the Archipelago of Dreams - and the legendary Dragonships, which can cross between the two worlds, have disappeared. Their search takes them from Sir James Barrie and Peter Pan, to Jason and the Argonauts, Medea, the Pied Piper of Hamelin, and much more! An inventive, magical adventure that will keep readers riveted. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

HOGSQUEAL'S ACTIVITY BOOK (Simon and Schuster PB) Calling all Noodlebrains! Hogsqueal is featured in his very own activity book! Hogsqueal, a natural prankster, makes the activities extra exciting. This book wouldn't be fit for this hobgoblin without the included special scratch and stink stickers. Join your favorite hobgoblin in Hogsqueal's Activity Book. Younger Spiderwick fans will love it. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

THIMBLETACK'S ACTIVITY BOOK (Simon and Schuster PB) Our beloved brownie, Thimbletack, has a very special knack for creating trouble when he doesn't get his way - lucky for us, he is thrilled to have his very own activity book! Bring this brownie into your house with Thimbletack's Activity Book. The stickers include all characters - both appealing and unappealing! - in The Spiderwick Chronicles movie. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES OFFICIAL MOVIE COMPANION (Simon and Schuster PB) Long ago Jared Grace's great, great uncle, Arthur Spiderwick, discovered a world of fantastical creatures. He recorded all his amazing findings in a field guide and hid it well. For years it was guarded safely and hardly anyone knew it even existed - until the Grace children moved into the old, abandoned Spiderwick Estate. One day while nine-year-old Jared Grace is exploring his new house he discovers Arthur Spiderwick's field guide hidden deep within the upstairs attic and meets his first fantastical creature, the house brownie named Thimbletack. Once the Grace children open their eyes to the fantastical world of sprites, goblins and faeries, there's no turning back. Now it's up to them to keep the field guide out of harm's way or else they must suffer the consequences...This must-have movie tie-in is filled with photographs from the movie as well as behind the scenes, interviews with cast and crew, and exclusive information about the making of the movie. Everything you ever wanted to know is here... Yes, the behind-the-scenes are great - again, this is a terrific souvenir of what will be one of the biggest movies of the year. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

STACY GREGG: DESTINY AND THE WILD HORSES (HARPER COLLINS CHILDREN'S BOOKS PB) The third gripping adventure in this exciting new pony-club series. With gymkhanas to win, rivals to defeat, mysteries to solve and ponies in danger to save -- these books are perfect for all girls who love ponies. Issie and Blaze were hot favourites to win the Chevalier Point Pony Club dressage competition, but now they have to spend the summer on her aunt's farm instead! When Issie finds out Blaze can go with her -- and she'll be helping to train horses for the movies -- things start to look up. During her stay Issie overhears a conversation about plans to cull a group of wild ponies, and she is determined to find a way to save them, especially the beautiful stallion Destiny, who bears a striking resemblance to her aunt's favourite stallion Avignon. It's lucky that Issie's made friends with her aunt's handsome farm manager, and can call on her pony-club friends, because she is going to need all the help she can get! This is a gripping story, full of wonderful horsy detail, that will have readers hooked all the way to the nail-biting finish. A natural successor to the massively popular SADDLE CLUB series from a few years back. Enchanting. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

MARY POPE OSBORNE: MAGIC TREE HOUSE NIGHT OF THE NINJAS (RED FOX PB) Eight-year-old Jack and his little sister, Annie, are playing in the woods during their summer holiday, when they find a mysterious tree house full of books. But these are no ordinary books ...And this is no ordinary tree house ...Morgan le Fay - the owner of the Magic Tree House and all its mysterious books is missing and needs Jack and Annie's help! They follow her clues to Japan where they find themselves in the middle of a feud between Japanese ninja warriors and Samurai warlords. Will Jack and Annie find the tree house again? Or will they be caught up in a terrifying battle? Interesting take on Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

J M TREWELLARD: BUTTERFINGERS (CORGI PB) Not even the bravest knights in the kingdom can save her from the huge, dark, fire-breathing creature with enormous wings, a great swishing tail and deadly claws. But clumsy Ned the stable boy is determined to rescue the princess. Can he defeat the mighty monster? Or will he let the chance to become a hero slip through his butterfingers? Join Ned and his animal friends on their daring quest across the plain, through the woods and into the mountains and the monster's lair to find out . . .  Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

LUISA PLAJA: SPLIT BY A KISS (CORGI PB) Jo has just moved to America with her mum. She's always been a fairly average girl - not a nerd but certainly never one of the popular kids. But on her first day in her new school, she seems to be adopted by the It girls - and is invited to one of their parties. There, she meets Jake Matthews, officially the hottest boy in school, and when they begin to play the kissing-in-the-closet game, Seven Minutes in Heaven, amazingly Jake picks Jo join him in the closet! She can't believe her luck. But the reality of being kissed and groped by Jake is not quite as great as the fantasy...Jo has a choice to make: should she carry on, kiss Jake and secure her position in the It crowd - or should she tell him where to get off and risk relegation back to the land of the ordinary ...? At this moment - Jo splits. She's Josie the Cool - girlfriend of Jake, member of the It crowd. She's also Jo the Nerd - rejected by the It crowd, single ...Will her two halves ever come back together again? Is Jake the guy she's meant to be with or could some of the other people she meets along her journey - Rachel the scary goth, David the misfit or Albie the rocker - be the answer? A fabulously inventive, heartwarming and funny take on the Sliding Doors idea, for teen readers. One can't imagine what it would be like to up sticks and move to a different country. Bad enough for grown-ups, but imagine what it would be like for a teenager, faced with starting at a new school and making new friends. Again, bad enough in the same country, but in America? This is great fun. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

E E RICHARDSON: THE SUMMONING (CORGI PB) Justin hasn't ever really believed in the occult, even though his Grandpa, Blake is an expert in it and has a house full of curious objects and old tattered books on magic. But when Daniel Eilersen, the class know-it-all, starts acting all high-and-mighty, Justin thinks he can scare him by performing a magic ritual from the ancient book he's stolen from his granddad's study. His friend Trevor, who always goes along with what Justin says and his little sister, Joy, complete the group. It's all about the atmosphere of course and Justin plans to give Eilersen a proper scare, but nothing will actually happen ...Or will it ...? On the old tennis court in the park, late one night, the four of them, unaware of the consequences of their actions, summon Dracherion, a malicious and dangerous spirit bent on revenge for being imprisoned in the ancient book by Grandpa Blake, years ago. Things go wrong and Dracherion breaks out of the circle designed to enclose him. The ritual has bound them to Dracherion and Justin, Joy, Trevor and Daniel know that the spirit will try and possess one of them so it can grow in strength and wreak its vengeance. A terrifying struggle follows as Dracherion grows stronger and stronger. It's a race against time to try and find a way of banishing the spirit out of this world. But how do they do that when one of them can't be trusted ...?  From the Inside Flap
Justin has always been curious about his grandfather's fascination with magic, but that doesn't mean he believes in it. So when he gets the chace to scare know-it-all Daniel Eilersen with a ritual from one of his grandfather's books, he doesn't think twice. After all, what can go wrong? It's only a bit of old mumbo-jumbo. His friend Trevor and his sister Joy aren't quite so sure, but Justin isn't planning to hurt anyone. He just wants to humiliate Eilersen. But when a real creature of magic turns up in response to a summoning that was only meant to be a joke, none of them are prepared for what happens next. A great evil is unleashed that threatens not only their lives, but the very wiorld they live in. As Justin and Joy race against time to undo the damage they've caused, they find that some of the answers they seek are buried in their family's hidden past. This is a paperback reissue of what I'm sure was a children's book of the month when first published - pure hokum, of course, but it's brilliantly done and young teens will love it! Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

MELISSA DE LA CRUZ: THE ASHLEYS (Simon & Schuster PB) Ashley "Ash" Spencer: The only one who can use her real name. Lives in tunics and grosgrain headbands. Highly allergic to peanuts. Secret: Her Gwyneth-blonde hair is due to a salon first-process. Ashley "Lili" Li: Fashion-forward Lili won't leave the house without her oversized sunglasses and Pucci head scarf. Father co-founded yourTV.com and forces her to befriend Lauren Page, the daughter of his co-founder. Secret: Wishes Ashley Spencer would swallow a peanut. Ashley "Bunny" Alioto: Captain of the lacrosse team; smart, pretty, and outgoing. Secret: Rumoured to have got to first base with Robert Austin Elliott "Tri" from the Towne School for Boys, but at a recent encounter at a film premiere, he couldn't remember her name. Meet Lauren Page. New to the Hamlin School. Father's company went public last month, and with that came a mansion in Pacific Heights and a Bentley with a driver named Thomas. Last year she was playing with Barbies, this year she's been promoted from the rank and file to the top of the heap - from geek to goddess, stickers to Saint-Laurent. Her parents tried, but they got the trend wrong: her name is Lauren, but she's so obviously an Ashley. Sensationally hilarious - you can't help but laugh out loud - brilliant fun. I loved it! Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

F E HIGGINS: THE BONE MAGICIAN (Macmillan HB) The Silver Apple Killer preys on the people of Urbs Umida, a rotten and wretched city. Two things connect the victims they all had a small silver apple in their pocket, and they had all recently visited a notorious inn to see one of two acts: the hideous Gluttonous Beast and the astonishing Bone Magician ...Since his father disappeared under a dark cloud of scandal, Pin Carpue has been alone in the world. His work for the local undertaker keeps him busy, but his life is bleak. Then Pin encounters the Bone Magician, a man who can raise corpses and make the dead speak. As Pin is drawn into an intoxicating world of mystery and intrigue, he becomes suspicious of Juno, the Bone Magician's young assistant. A strange darkness haunts her just as the Silver Apple Killer stalks the streets at night and as Pin pieces together the secrets of Bone Magic, his own life becomes fraught with grave danger... Higgins' world is a mix of Dickensian and fantasy - alive with fascinating characters and a rattling good story. Terrific fun and perfectly told with lashings of black humour. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

L. BRITTNEY ~ NATHAN FOX: TRAITOR'S GOLD (Macmillan PB) A consignment of Spanish gold is making its way across the Netherlands and England's Spymaster General must call on a team of his top agents to intercept it. Nathan Fox is hungry to complete his new mission but is there a traitor in the midst? Brittney lives in Devon and has worked as a teacher, playwright and author of adult non-fiction. This is the second thrilling adventure starring Nathan Fox, a cool and aspirational hero for the boys' market. Perfect for fans of the "soldiers and spies" genre – and a rich and detailed imaging of the Elizabethan world. Second thrilling adventure starring Nathan Fox - first rate fun and thrills. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

LENE KAABERBOL: SILVERHORSE (Macmillan PB) In the country of Breda, men are forbidden a home to call their own. They live as nomads, resting only at the mercy of the ruling women. Kat's mother, Tess, the Maestra of Crowfoot Inn, is one of these powerful women and Kat has always known it is her destiny to follow in Tess's footsteps. But then, one rain-swept night, a scarred woman comes to Crowfoot riding an extraordinary silver horse and Kat's world is turned upside down. From that moment on, it is her burning ambition to become a Bredanari - a keeper of the peace and rider of these magnificent creatures. But, it isn't easy for a girl from the Vales to fit in at the Bredanari training academy in the big city. Worse still, Kat knows something which has put her life in danger. She has accidentally discovered the whereabouts of a dangerous outlaw known as Ermine. Now, there are ruthless people who will do anything to keep her from revealing this secret, including leaving her unconscious on Hellhorse Mountain, where the beautiful but deadly stallions run wild. Kat soon finds herself deeply enmeshed in the dangerous plots and politics that threaten her country, not to mention the life of someone she has come to love. This is first of two spellbinding books following Kat's adventures. First class fantasy to introduce teens to the genre. Loses nothing in the translation. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

SHERRYL JORDAN: THE RAGING QUIET (Simon and Schuster PB) A captivating tale of two remarkable and extraordinary young people - Marnie, a courageous young woman, and Raver, a strange and spirited young man - whose only real crimes are that they are different. Set within a chilling world of predjudices and hypocrisy, ignorance and self-righteousness, The Raging Quiet explores the tenderness of love and friendship and the power to overcome the injustice of being different. This is the story of two outsiders in medieval times. Both are set apart from their small community: Marnie because she is a newcomer, brought to the seaside village by her new - and much older - husband, and Raver because he is the village lunatic. The distrust surrounding Marnie increases when her husband suddenly dies. Her subsequent isolation pushes her towards Raver - and an important discovery: the villagers have mistaken his deafness for madness. The two outsiders soon develop a rudimentary sign language. But their precious new friendship is cut short when the villagers misconstrue their strange, private communication, and put Marnie on trial for witchcraft...Suspenseful, tender and compassionate, The Raging Quiet effortlessly draws the reader into a chilling world Despite the historical setting, it is a world that is still all too recognisable as our own. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

SHERRYL JORDAN: THE HUNTING OF THE LAST DRAGON (Simon and Schuster PB) High overhead, a dragon flies on coppery wings, raining down fire and destruction on all that lies below. The last of the great beasts, it wreaks havoc everywhere it flies, burning the countryside and its terrified inhabitants to grey ash and cinders with its fiery breath. Desperate and frightened, the people pray for a hero to save them. Jude is no hero. Deeply traumatized after returning to find his village a charred ruin and his family dead, he is picked up by a travelling fair, where he rescues the strange yet beautiful Jing-wei from a life as a caged freak. Eluding their pursuers, Jude and Jing-wei meet Lan, a wise old Chinese woman who straightens Jing-wei's bound and crippled feet, and reveals to Jude his destiny. He alone must kill the last dragon. With Jing-wei's help and Lan's ancient knowledge, Jude and Jing-wei set out to destroy the beast, and embark on the perilous journey of what becomes the hunting of the last dragon. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

GARTH NIX: THE FALL (THE SEVENTH TOWER) (Harper Collins Children's Books PB) First of a thrilling fantasy adventure series set on the Dark World, where society is ranked according to its colour clan and the most precious commodity is light. In all the world there is only one place that ever sees the sun. A seven-towered castle built upon a mountain high above the desolate ice lands below. Tal is getting ready for the Day of Ascension -- a day when all the 13-year-old Chosen from the Castle of Seven Towers enter the spirit world of Aenir. Then his father disappears with the family's Primary Sunstone. Without it, Tal cannot enter Aenir and bind himself to a Spiritshadow -- a guardian being, both protector and friend. Tal tries to steal a Sunstone, but during his act of thievery is thrown off the Castle of Seven Towers by a powerful Spiritshadow Keeper. He falls down to the iceworld below, where he is captured by Icecarls. To save his life, he must team up with Milla -- a Shield-Maiden-in-training -- and offer his aid to the nomads. Which complicates his task immeasurably! The great Aussie fantasy author comes up trumps again! First in a brand new series - excellent characters and a plot to die for. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

THE BEASTLY BOYS: AN AWFULLY BEASTLY BUSINESS (Simon and Schuster PB) Ulf is an orphaned werewolf who has lived all his life at Farraway Hall, the home of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Beasts and a sanctuary for endangered and sickly secret beasts. When Ulf and his friends - Dr Fielding who runs the RSPCB, Orson the giant, Tiana the fairy, Druce the gargoyle and others - invvestigate the death of a young dragon, they uncover a plot by the world's most vicious beast hunter, Baron Mordecai, to ressurect the cruel sport of dragon fighting. Soon Ulf and his companions are in a desperate race to save the dragons from a painful death - and with full moon approachig Ulf's expecting a transformation. Full of inventiveness and excitement for 8-12 year-old readers. Fans of dragons, giants, fairies and werewolves will love this new series, written by a group of chaps, childhood friends now writing full-time. Excellent fun. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

DIANE AND CHRISTYAN FOX: ENZO THE RACING CAR (Egmont PB) Today is Race Day - the most exciting day in the WheelyWorld calendar. Enzo the Racing Car is hot favourite to win, but his best friend, Roddy, plans to give him the race of his life. And they're not the only ones who want to win the Cup. Jake the Snake is revving his engine - and he's a car who never plays by the rules.If you're car-crazy and love high-octane excitement, then buckle up for this action-packed WheelyWorld adventure! Enchanting. Young children will love this - the illustrations are excellent and informative, plenty to look and point at, and a lovely little story. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

PAMELA COX ~ ENID BLYTON: KITTY AT ST CLARE'S (EGMONT PB) There's a new girl at St Clare's - and she has a pet goat!Kitty Flaherty is joining the third form, along with McGinty the goat! Thanks to Kitty's infectious laugh and McGinty's talent for eating everything, the girls know that this term is going to be full of fun.But it's also full of upset. Pat misses the first few weeks, thanks to a broken arm, and another new girl, Amanda, seizes the opportunity to become Isabel's new best friend. Will the twins overcome this rift?And if that's not enough, there's also a rivalry with the second formers and the actions of the cold Margaret Winters, deputy head girl, to contend with!There'll be more trouble at St Clare's! You can tell it wasn't written by EB, but the story's good and it certainly captures the EB essence. Very, very good indeed. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

DONNA JO NAPOLI: HUSH (Simon and Schuster PB) Melkorka is a princess, the first daughter of a magnificent kingdom in medieval Ireland. But all of this is suddenly meaningless when she is kidnapped and taken aboard a Viking slave ship. Thrown into a new and unknown world, amongst people her former country's laws regarded as less than human, Melorka must learn quickly if she is to survive. Taking a vow of silence, however, she finds herself an object of fascination to her captors, and she soon realises that what little power she has may just make a difference. \par \par Based on an ancient Icelandic folktale, this is a heart-breaking story of a young girl who must learn to forget all she knows and carve out a place for herself in a new world - allwithout speaking a word. An entrancing story of Dark Ages Ireland and a young princess captured by Vikings. The atmosphere is captured brilliantly, with all the hardships she and her fellow prisoners must endure whilst suffering various indignities at the hands of their captors. A terrific read. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

LIZ KESSLER: PHILIPPA FISHER'S FAIRY GODSISTER (ORION HB) Philippa Fisher tries and fails to summon a fairy, but is taken aback when Daisy, the new girl at school, announces that she is her fairy godmother - or godsister, since they are the same age. Daisy is not best pleased with Philippa, but she has a mission to fulfil and is obliged to stick with her until she has granted her three wishes. The three wishes are at the heart of a traditional story in a thoroughly contemporary setting, which touches on friendship, luck and how we decide what we really want. It sparkles with magic and has the same warmth, charm and quirky characterization that Liz Kessler brought to her first three books. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

JOHN BRINDLEY: THE RULE OF CLAW (ORION PB) A powerful stand-alone novel in the best tradition of thrillers. We enter a futuristic world and meet a band of sixteen year olds who were abandoned in isolation at an early age. They're educated partly by gleaning facts from the few books in their possession, but primarily through their experiences of survival which features death and danger. A new threat emerges when the teens transcend their own rules and eat animal flesh. Ash, the leader, is kidnapped and becomes a pawn in the power struggles between the formidable raptors. In these beautiful beasts, she glimpses new forms of evolution which make her consider her own humanity. Soon she learns the frightening truth of their origins. And realizes the dangerous implications for herself and her friends. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

DAVID ALMOND: CLAY (KNOPF PB) With fascination, Davie and his friend Geordie watch the arrival of a new boy, Stephen Rose, in their town. He seems to have come from nowhere, and when he arrives to live with his distant aunt, the local 'loony', 'Crazy Mary', no one envies his new home. But perhaps he's the answer to Davie and Geordie's prayers - a secret weapon in their war against monstrous Mouldy and his gang Intrigued, Davie and Geordie befriend Stephen. But they are heading innocently down a path that brings with it a monster of an entirely unexpected nature. Their encounter with the mysterious Stephen is as incredible as it is menacing, and as the true story of Stephen's past slowly emerges, Davie's life is changed forever. Available from the Gateway Amazon store!

Gateway is published by Paul Edmund Norman on the first day of each month. Hosting is by Flying Porcupine at www.flyingporcupine.com - and web design by Gateway. Submitting to Gateway: Basically, all you need do is e-mail it along and I'll consider it - it can be any length, if it's very long I'll serialise it, if it's medium-length I'll put it in as a novella, if it's a short story or a feature article it will go in as it comes. Payment is zero, I'm afraid, as I don't make any money from Gateway, I do it all for fun! For Advertising rates in Gateway please contact me at paulenorman@yahoo.co.uk Should you be kind enough to want to send me books to review, please contact me by e-mail and I will gladly forward you my home address. Meanwhile, here's how to contact me: paulenorman@yahoo.co.uk

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