Fiction Guide 2024

Fiction Guide 2024

Welcome to the Usborne Fiction Guide for 2024

I am thrilled to share with you this stunning line-up of fiction titles from Usborne. 2024 marks twenty years of our fiction list, and we’re delighted to continue to curate the best books for our young readers, who are always at the heart of everything we do.

This year, readers can join our characters on adventures which will take them through time, across continents, to the bottom of the ocean and the top of a beanstalk and onwards into endless realms of magic, to be entertained, educated, challenged, terrified and thrilled.

We hope you have a wonderful time exploring with them, and we can’t wait for the next twenty years of stories. Happy reading!

Rebecca Hill

Fiction Editorial Director

Younger Fiction

Izzy the Inventor

Zanna Davidson, Illustrated by Elissa Elwick

• A funny adventure story for aspiring scientists and fans of fairy tales.

• An exciting new chapter book series, packed full of illustrations, comic strips and beautifully written text, starring female scientist Izzy the Inventor and a lovable unicorn.

• Includes fun step-by-step science experiments and a QR code which leads you to even more experiments and science videos, online.

2024

writes fiction and non-fiction for Usborne. Her favourite things to write about are small monsters and talking animals. She used to live in London but now lives in a cottage on the edge of some woods. She is only sorry there are no bears or witches in them.

9781474999793 • £5.99 • PB • 5 years +

9781803702551 • £5.99 • PB • 5 years +

Zanna

9781474969918

• £5.99 • PB • 5 years +

9781474999786 • £5.99 • PB • 5 years +

Billy and the Mini Monsters

Zanna Davidson, Illustrated by Melanie Williamson

• Original series of laugh-out-loud fiction for newly independent readers with easy reading text.

Perfect for bridging the gap from picture books to chapter books.

• Packed with comic strips, maps and speech bubbles, with an action-packed plot, to appeal to even the most reluctant reader.

• Selected for The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge for three years in a row.

9781803705583

9781474978415

9781474978378

9781801314985

9781474978408

9781474978385

• £5.99 • PB • 5 years +

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9781474978439

9781474978361

9781474986038

9781474978347

9781474978392

Tiny the Secret Adventurer

Aisha Bushby, Illustrated by Kübra Teber

• Introducing a relatable, bold and tiny character for a new generation of young readers to get to know and love.

• Some great messaging about belonging, finding friends and looking out for each other - messages that seem more vital than ever.

Over 300K copies sold!

9781474992275

9781474978354

9781474978422

Zanna writes fiction and non-fiction for Usborne. Her favourite things to write about are small monsters and talking animals. She used to live in London but now lives in a cottage on the edge of some woods. She is only sorry there are no bears or witches in them.

9781801314138

• Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

9781801314121

• £5.99 • PB • 6 years +

9781801314145 • £5.99 • PB • 6 years +

• Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

“Ideal for younger readers looking for adventure close to home.”

The Guardian

Aisha Bushby was born in Bahrain and has lived in Kuwait, England and Canada. The first novel she ever worked on was a piece of fan fiction, based on her favourite book series, which she stayed up all night to write when she was thirteen. She now writes children’s books and this series is her first for younger children.

• £5.99 • PB • 6 years +

Middle Grade Fiction

Countdown to Yesterday

Shirley Marr

• A beautifully sensitive and nuanced depiction of divorce and the complexities of parental separation from a child’s perspective.

• A stunning new middle-grade standalone from the author of the critically-acclaimed A Glasshouse of Stars, which won the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award: Younger Readers.

James is stuck in the present and that’s the last place he wants to be. His parents have separated, and he must get used to living two completely different lives. Now, he has two homes, two bedrooms and two routes to school, with nothing adding up to the one great life he used to have. James wishes he could go back to the past, to his Top Six memories with Mum and Dad.

Then, James meets Yan, a girl who looks at the world differently, and he discovers that travelling back in time might be possible after all. But are his memories as perfect as he remembers?

•

“Gentle yet powerful, truly a book to treasure.”

Sophie Anderson

Shirley Marr is a first-generation Chinese-Australian author living in sunny Perth. Shirley describes herself as having a Western mind and an Eastern heart and likes to write in the space in the middle where both collide, basing her stories on her own personal experiences of migration and growing up. Arriving in mainland Australia from Christmas Island as a seven-year-old in the 1980s and experiencing the good, the bad and the wonder that comes with culture shock, Shirley has been in love with reading and writing from that early age.

9781805073628

• £7.99

• PB • 9 years +

• Not available in the US, Canada, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

9781474991087

years +

9781803704326

Shadowhall AcademyThe Whispering Walls Phil Hickes

• Ghost stories meet boarding school adventures, in this chilling new series from the author of the acclaimed Aveline Jones series.

• Murder Most Unladylike meets Lockwood & Co with a dash of Stranger Things.

• Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

9781474972147

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years +

9781474972154

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years +

When Lilian Jones starts at creepy, cold and bewilderingly large Shadowhall Academy, she’s nervous about making friends. And when her roommates tell her the school is haunted, she thinks they’re just trying to scare the new girl.

But then bizarre things start happening - tapping and whispers in the walls at night, tales of missing students and strange figures in the woods.

Lilian discovers that not only are the school ghost stories true, but her new friends could be in danger. So she sets out to uncover the secrets of Shadowhall Academy, whatever it takes.

9781474972161

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years +

“Genuinely chilling... Kids are going to absolutely love it.”

Jennifer Killick, author of Dread Wood

Born in the UK, Phil now lives with his wife in Oregon, where he works as an advertising copywriter. He has a passion for horror, ghosts and all things that go bump in the night.

The Fights That Make Us

Sarah Hagger-Holt

• A completely compelling and accessible read tackling timely issues, from the winner of the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award for radical fiction.

• An incredible insight into Section 28 and the history of LGBT rights, including exploration of what history means and how it’s remembered, and the importance of protesting and standing up for what you believe in.

978147496623

Jesse has recently come out as non-binary, and is struggling to find their place at school, and ideas for their project on lost stories from history.

Thirty-five years earlier, Jesse’s cousin Lisa is falling for her best friend, but with new laws being introduced to restrict LGBT people’s rights, they’ll have to fight for the world to accept who they are.

When Jesse stumbles across Lisa’s teenage diary, they are fascinated and horrified by her stories of living a secret life and protesting in the streets. Now it’s Jesse’s turn to find a way to shine a spotlight on a history that mustn’t be forgotten.

“A thought-provoking, heartwarming wonder.”

Maz Evans, author of Who Let the Gods Out?

9781474966245

9781801315784

Sarah Hagger-Holt lives with her partner and two daughters in Hertfordshire. She is the author of two adult non-fiction LGBTQ+ books and has written for The i paper, the Huffington Post, and spoken on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour about LGBTQ+ parenting.

FEB 2024

9781801315791

• £7.99 • PB • 10 years +

• Not available in the US, Canada, the Philippines.

• £6.99 • PB • 9 years +

Winner of the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award 2022

• £6.99 • PB • 9 years +

• £7.99 • PB • 10 years +

FEB 2024

9781805314905 • £7.99 • PB • 9 years +

The Spectaculars - The Wild Song Contest

Jodie Garnish

• The sequel to Indie bestseller and Book of the Month The Spectaculars.

• A major middle-grade series, set at a magical boarding school with a theatrical twist! Perfect for fans of Nevermoor, The Train to Impossible Places and Carrie Hope Fletcher.

•

9781801312561

•

Philippines

•

9781803708102

Harper can’t wait for her second year of Spectacular training, where a song can send you on a rollercoaster, a dance can lift you into the air, and you can send notes to your friends via a mechanical dragon.

This year, her school at the Wondria is hosting the Spectacular Song Contest, where theatres from across the Hidden Peaks will compete to win the Wild Song, a powerful piece of music that can cause chaos.

When the Song Contest is sabotaged, it’s down to Harper and her friends to find the culprit and make sure the show can go on, before the wild magic destroys everything...

“A story of magic, friendship and theatre that shines star-bright.”

Maria Kuzniar, author of The Ship of Shadows

Jodie Garnish is a playwright and performer, usually based in London. She studied Drama at the University of East Anglia before going on to train at Drama Studio London. She has had plays produced at various London theatres and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which were critically acclaimed. Her career as a performer, including in shows designed for young people, has allowed her to shape the world of The Spectaculars, as well as giving her good insight into what young people love.

Alex Neptune Zombie Fighter

David Owen

• This fourth adventure adds a spooky new twist to the bestselling series.

• Short, pacey, action-packed adventures with illustrations by George Ermos, perfect for reluctant readers and fans of Percy Jackson and Dragon Realm.

APR 2024

9781474999236

9781474999274

When a creepy fog rolls into Haven Bay, Alex, Zoey and Anil are ambushed by terrifying crab-riding zombies, controlled by the evil spirit of Brineblood the pirate.

The only weapon that can stop Brineblood’s zombie army is a powerful trident - but it’s been broken into three pieces. Alex, Zoey and Anil must enter three deadly worlds that have been magically trapped in bottles to retrieve the hidden pieces, all before the zombies can catch them. But with some penguins, an octopus and a frozen dragon on their side, how can they go wrong?

•

9781474999298

loved it!”

L.D. Lapinski

Having worked as a freelance games journalist and taught on a BA Creative Writing course for three years, David Owen’s debut novel, Panther, was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and was followed by three further highly acclaimed YA novels. Alex Neptune is his first series for younger readers, born of his love for nail-biting heists, fantastical monsters and heartfelt friendships.

9781805316817 • £7.99 • PB • 9 Years +

• Not available in USA or Canada.

• £7.99 • PB • 9 years +

• £7.99 • PB • 9 years +

£7.99 • PB • 9 years +

“I

£7.99 • PB • 9 years +

Not available in USA, Canada and the

£7.99 • PB • 9 years +

Mysteries at Sea

A.M. Howell

• Two new additions in this exciting and bestselling new series from A.M. Howell - combining the glamour of historical nautical travel with twisty and compelling mysteries.

• Perfect for fans of Emma Carroll, Robin Stevens and Adventures on Trains.

9781801316750

• Not available in USA, Canada or the Philippines.

9781801316767

“A true ocean delight packed with peril, adventure and secrets.”

Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear

9781801316743

• £7.99

9781474959551

9781474959568

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A.M. Howell has always been inspired by the stories around her, and how imagination can unlock the secrets of the past. Her thrilling historical mysteries have garnered great critical acclaim, winning both the Mal Peet Children’s Book Award, and the East Anglian Book of the Year Award, as well as being shortlisted for lots of other prizes. A.M. Howell lives in Suffolk with her husband and two sons.

The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie

Radhika Sanghani

• The first book in a new set of standalones from Radhika Sanghani - contemporary, character-centred stories with a little sprinkle of magic!

• An uplifting, hilarious middle-grade debut that kids will genuinely love reading, from an award-winning journalist, adult author and body positivity campaigner.

9781805316749 • £7.99 • PB • 9 years +

• Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

Priya Shah lies. A lot. She pretends everything in her life is perfect, so she doesn’t disappoint anyone.

But when she puts on a bangle left to her by her Ba - the one person she was always honest with - she finds herself unable to tell a lie.

Priya is mortified. She tells her dad she hates his cooking, she tells Dan Zhang about her huge crush on him, she shares her best friends’ secrets at school. She can’t get the bangle off, and she can’t stop the truths pouring out of her.

As more things go wrong, and Priya’s truth-telling spirals out of control, can Priya learn to be honest without hurting the people she loves?

“A gem of a book.”

Jen Carney, author of The Accidental Diary of B.U.G.

Radhika Sanghani is an award-winning features journalist, acclaimed author, screenwriter, influential body positivity campaigner and a 2020 BBC Writers Room graduate. Radhika writes regularly for the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Elle, The Guardian, Grazia, Glamour and Cosmopolitan; was recently featured in Italian Vogue as well as on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour and is a regular guest on Sky News and Good Morning Britain. She is also a TedX speaker on body positivity, a yoga teacher and runs a charity initiative with AgeUK fighting loneliness in older women.

The Secret of the Blood Red Key

David Farr

• A phenomenal follow-up to The Book of Stolen Dreams, an instant modern classic which was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize.

• One of the UK’s leading screenwriters and directors, David Farr is an astonishing new talent in children’s fiction, bringing his skill for creating riveting drama to a new audience.

9781805076360

• £7.99 • PB • 9 years +

• Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

9781801315135

The Wanderdays - Journey to Fantome Island

Clare Povey

• A hugely exciting new middle-grade series from Waterstones Book of the Month author, Clare Povey, perfect for fans of M.G. Leonard and Thomas Taylor.

• Pitched as Spy Kids meets Indiana Jones, this is a wildly exciting adventure, jam-packed with intrigue, humour and plenty of wonder for the natural world.

Rachel and Robert have defeated the tyrant Malstain and become the heroes of Krasnia, but all is not how it should be. Robert is swept away with his new friends, leaving Rachel alone to take care of her ailing father, who’s lost without their beloved mother.

From nowhere, a boy appears knowing the secrets of the hidden blood-red key. For the key is a way into the Hinterland - and Rachel must promise that, as a new key keeper, she will answer when it calls. When a young girl, Elsa Spiegel, is illegally smuggled into the Hinterland, Rachel has no choice but to use her key to save Elsa. But her fate is linked with Krasnia, and Rachel must battle to save her home as she knows it.

“A new and important voice for young people.”

Michael Morpurgo

• £7.99 • PB • 9 years +

David Farr is one of the UK’s leading screenwriters and directors for film, TV and theatre. In 2009, he was appointed Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where his productions of The Winter’s Tale, King Lear and The Homecoming all opened to critical acclaim. David is known for his work on Spooks and his 2016 BBC adaptation of The Night Manager, starring Hugh Laurie and Tom Hiddleston. He completed his first feature film, Hanna, in 2009, and has since adapted it into a hugely successful series for Amazon Prime, and has recently adapted The Midwich Cuckoos for Sky.

Cover not final

JUN 2024

9781803708089

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years + • Not available in USA and Canada.

9781474986489

• £7.99 • PB • 9 years +

9781474986502

• £7.99 • PB • 9 years +

Meet Flo and Joseph Wanderday. Their mum is one of the world’s greatest explorers, but she’s gone missing on her latest expedition.

When a mysterious stranger appears, they discover sinister secrets about the reason for Mum’s trip. It turns out this was no ordinary expedition and Mum was trying to uncover the crimes against nature committed by famous Earth-Hero, Sir Frederick Titan.

Flo, Joseph and their friends Funmi and Isaac find a map and follow clues taking them to an island that no one knows exists to save Mum and to expose Titan’s fishy plans…

“A delightful literary mystery with a dastardly villain to boot!”

Christopher Edge, author of Escape Room

Clare Povey is an author and the editorial and communities manager of the Writers’ & Artists’ website. She fell in love with reading as a child, inspired by the stories in her local library, and also discovered a passion for French, when her parents bought her Usborne’s First Thousand Words in French. Clare did a degree in French and Francophone Studies, and her first book The Unexpected Tale of Bastien Bonlivre was Waterstones Book of the Month.

Sunshine Simpson - Friends Always and Forever

G.M. Linton

• Won in a seven-way auction, G.M. Linton’s Sunshine Simpson series is a classic in the making.

• Meet Sunshine Simpson – a brand-new best friend for 9+ readers!

9781801313360 • £7.99 • PB • 8 years +

• Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

9781801313346,

• £7.99 • PB

• 8 years +

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

9781801313353, • £7.99 • PB

• 8 years +

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

Sunshine Simpson is off on the holiday of a lifetime! Her Auntie Sharon has WON THE LOTTERY, and she’s taking the whole family to JAMAICA! Sunshine can’t wait for sun, fun, and seeing the country where her grandparents grew up.

There’s also a SECRET WEDDING to organise for Sunshine’s parents - the perfect distraction from thinking about starting secondary school.

But then everything starts going WRONG! Auntie Sharon is sick and can’t be a bridesmaid, they only have chicken and chips for the wedding banquet and Sunshine has to become chief wedding planner.

Will it be an island disaster, or can Sunshine pull off the wedding of the century?

Shortlisted for the Waterstones

Children’s Book Prize

“A series that will appeal to fans of Jacqueline Wilson.”

The Times

The Boy to Beat the Gods

Ashley Thorpe

• An action-packed high-stakes fantasy adventure, inspired by the West African Yoruba mythology of the author’s ancestry.

• Children of the Quicksands meets Percy Jackson in a fierce and fun story of one boy versus six gods, balancing deadly adventure with friendship and humour.

9781805075639

Kayode dreams of eating the forbidden fruit of the Orishas, so he can gain their power and stop those merciless beings who terrorise his people. So when a fruit mysteriously appears in his path after the Orishas snatch his sister, he leaps on it.

Surging with new and difficult-to-control powers, he joins forces with a shapeshifting trickster god and a vengeful princess to save his sister and put an end to the mighty Orishas. But each has more fearful powers than the last - and Kayode’s stolen half-god strength won’t last for ever...

G.M. Linton lives with her family in the West Midlands and can often be found happily snacking on stuffed green olives or hunting out a slice of cake. She enjoys nothing better than snatching time to read a good book and losing herself whilst imagining characters and storylines. The Sunshine Simpson series is particularly inspired by G.M.’s parents, who arrived in Britain, from Jamaica, as part of the Windrush generation, in the 1950s.

“Tremendous, nail-biting action filled with brilliant characters you can’t help but root for; this is children’s fiction at its finest.” Lizzie Huxley-Jones, author of Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend

Ashley Thorpe is a Black British debut author who works as an editor at Storymix, where he helps other writers to create epic stories. His greatest wish is to bring diverse characters to life that he would have loved to have seen, but sorely missed, as a young reader. When he isn’t writing or reading, Ashley enjoys making music, outdoor pursuits, indulging in anime and gaming. He lives in Manchester.

Shipwrecked

Jenny Pearson, Illustrated by Nick East

• A child-centred, laugh-out-loud, action-packed adventure story.

• Jenny Pearson has been shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Award, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Week Junior Book Award, and was the winner of the Laugh Out Loud Book Award.

9781474999908 • £7.99 • PB

• 9 years + • Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

9781474974042

• £6.99 • PB • 9 years +

9781474974059

Sebastian Sunrise and his two best friends, Lina and Étienne, are in a bit of trouble. They are stranded on a desert island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, after a rowing race went very, very wrong.

The friends have no idea how long they might have to stay on the island, so they make a plan. They will try to survive, look after the island’s baby turtles, and have fun, if they can.

But Sebastian’s life has never gone to plan, and they quickly face jellyfish stings, burnt bums and an out-of-control goat. But when a boat arrives, bringing pirates who want to hunt the island’s baby turtles, the friends face their greatest danger yet...

•

9781474974066

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• £7.99

“The perfect adventure story, packed with humour and amazing illustrations.”

Dermot O’Leary

Jenny Pearson has been awarded six mugs, one fridge magnet, one wall plaque and numerous cards for her role as Best Teacher in the World. When she is not busy being inspirational in the classroom, she would like nothing more than to relax with her two young boys, but she can’t as they view her as a human climbing frame.

Adia Kelbara and the Circle of Shamans

Isi Hendrix

• An addictive action-packed middle-grade adventure about discovering the hero within and carving your own path in the world, bursting with imagination, heart and humour, from a bright new talent.

• Perfect for fans of magic school stories like School of Good and Evil and fast-paced fantasy such as Nevermoor and Amari and the Night Brothers.

MAY 2024

9781803706559

• £7.99 • PB • 9 years +

• Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

Life in the Swamplands is tough for twelve-yearold orphan Adia. Her aunt and uncle believe she is an ogbanje, a demon-possessed child thought to bring misfortune. And when Adia manifests mysterious powers, accidentally destroying her village, she starts to think they might be right.

Adia flees to the faraway Academy of Shamans, hoping someone at the school can figure out what is wrong with her and fix it. But she doesn’t expect to stumble across a bunch of squabbling deities with a secret...

Joining forces with a snarky Goddess, a 500 year old warrior girl and a status-obsessed soldier boy, Adia goes on a mission through hidden realms to save her kingdom. But if she is to succeed, she must learn to wield her mysterious powers and figure out who she really is.

“An immersive, funny, clever fantasy with real emotional depth. I couldn’t put it down!”

A.F. Steadman

Isi Hendrix is a Pitch Wars 2020 mentee and an Avengers of Colour 2020 mentee. She has degrees in anthropology and psychology from USC and has spent many years living in the Amazon and Gabonese rainforests working with shamanic tribes. She is a Black feminist, avid gardener, and, to the horror of her goat meat-loving Nigerian mother, a vegan since kindergarten.

Cover not final

The Light Thieves and the Terrifying Dawn

Helena Duggan

• Filled with Helena Duggan’s trademark quirkiness and imagination this is the third and final action-packed ecoadventure in The Light Thieves series that illuminates the importance of the sun and the natural world to our survival.

SEPT

9781474991124

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years +• Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

The truth is out and people now know that the sun is being stolen by tech-billionaire Howard Hansom who’s been spinning them a massive lie.

He’s stealing the sun’s light to power his domed city that will be saved while the rest of the planet dies. Friends Grian, Shelli and Jeffrey, aided by ace hacker Mushka, must find someone called the White Rose who is in hiding but has been sending out coded letters about how to stop Hansom’s despicable plan.

Dominique Valente

• A major new magical middle-grade series from the acclaimed author of Starfell, which was a Waterstones Book of the Month.

• A Pinch of Magic meets Pages and Co, filled with rebellious hope, quirky historical-fantasy, wondrous adventure and characters kids will love. Features a disabled protagonist written from lived experience.

OCT 2024

9781474924160

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years +

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

9781474949514

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

9781474964371

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years +

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

9781474991094

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

9781474991100

• £7.99 • PB

• 9 years

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

Helena Duggan is a children’s author, graphic designer and illustrator from Kilkenny, a medieval town in Ireland, which was the inspiration for A Place Called Perfect. She writes in a treehouse built by her husband Robbie and his brother in the bottom of their garden. She lives in a small house with Robbie, their daughters Jo and Bobbie and dog Tinker.

Cover not final

9781805314998 • £7.99 • PB • 9 years + • Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

Eglantine Bury is desperate. Her family and their magical house are being threatened by a terrifyingly powerful Whistlewitch. Eglantine must learn to use magic to save them, but she can’t seem to find her spark.

Across the land, Princess Victoria faces her own danger, as her secret magical powers start to spiral out of control and cause chaos in the palace.

Eglantine and Victoria both turn to the disgraced Miss Hegotty’s Correspondence Course for help. Miss Hegotty’s lessons are powerful, but are they a match for the dangers these two aspiring witches must face...

Dominique Valente is the author of the bestselling Starfell series, and her unique voice and brand of quirky magic has found fans amongst readers and booksellers across the globe. She lives in Suffolk, in a (sadly non-magical) house with her husband and dog.

Heartseer - The Tale of Anise Star

Rowan Foxwood

Full of strange, wonderful creatures, evocative settings and heartfelt characters, this beautiful and confident debut is the first in a series of standalone adventures set in the same fantasy world.

• For fans of Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman and Studio Ghibli, it is shaped by Celtic and Asian mythology and the author’s childhood travels.

The Beanstalk Murder

P.G. Bell

• A new magical middle-grade standalone from bestselling PG Bell, fusing fairy tale and murder mystery, inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk.

• A giant-sized whodunnit with a witchy twist, filled with enchantment, humour and suspense; this is cosy crime for kids.

• Perfect for fans of Murder Most Unladylike, Pages & Co and Terry Pratchett’s Tiffany Aching novels.

9781803707372

• Not available in USA and Canada.

Anise’s job is to help humans and daemons live happily together. But when the villainous Mr Babbitt tries to steal her home in the White Woods and drive the daemons out, she is forced to travel to the capital to ask the High King for help. First, though, she’ll have to convince him that daemons still exist.

Accompanied by loyal daemon-dog Wolf, Anise sets out on a spellbinding and treacherous journey, meeting runaway musician Robin and fox god Whin, and facing the cunning Magpie Queen and a deadly poisonous ink monster. In the midst of her battles she learns that it’s not just the daemons of the White Wood she must save, but all the daemons of the world.

9781805312536

“Spirited Away meets Northern Lights.”

Loris Owen, author of the Earth Quicksmith series

Rowan Foxwood is a Lecturer of Creative Writing, and holds a Masters in Writing for Children. Born into a family of globe-trotters, her world-wide travels as a child inspired a deep love of mythology, fairy tales and folklore that has saturated her writing. Settled now in the south of England, Rowan continues to indulge her wanderlust whenever possible, seeking out new myths and legends wherever she goes. She can be easily ensnared with the promise of books, cats and a nice cup of tea.

It’s not every day a dead giant falls from the sky and destroys your village. But meadow-witch Anwen is even more shocked when she realizes he was giant royalty – and he was murdered.

Determined to solve the crime, Anwen and trainee sorceress Cerys are transported by beanstalk to the giants’ palace. In this world they are smaller than mice - which means they can use their perfect spy-size and witchy skills to track down his killer. But how can you investigate a murder when you risk being squashed by your suspects?

“Truly genius!”

Sibéal Pounder, bestselling author of Wonka

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9781474948630

P.G. Bell is a native of South Wales, where he was raised on a diet of Greek mythology, ghost stories and Doctor Who. He’s had all sorts of jobs over the years, from lifeguard to roller-coaster operator, but has always wanted to write stories. He lives in Wales with his wife Anna and their two children.

The Lonely Lighthouse Of Elston-Fright

Reece Carter

• The second book in a spooky new middle-grade series set in the magical world of Elston-Fright, from the author of the acclaimed A Girl Called Corpse.

• A hopeful adventure story filled with heart, friendship, and bravery, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Sophie Anderson and Tim Burton.

The Lonely Lighthouse Of Elston-Fright

Reece Carter

Spooksmiths Investigate -

The Cinderman

Alex Atkinson

• A brilliantly spooky and child-friendly new horror-mystery series for fans of Dread Wood, Aveline Jones and Goosebumps.

• The perfect read for Halloween or any time of year, with demand for spooky stories higher than ever with young readers.

9781803700731

•

• 8

Flip Little’s family have always been Lightkeepers, guardians sworn to protect the town of ElstonFright from magical, monstrous threats. And Flip is no stranger to magic; only he knows about the two enchanted ghost girls living hidden in the sea caves beneath them.

When their spider friend, Simon, is kidnapped by Poltergusts, trickster ghouls out to cause mayhem, Flip, Girl and Corpse must find the Torch, a weapon that the Littles once made to protect Elston-Fright. There’s only one problem: the Torch has been lost, and its magical Light went out years ago. Hounded by vengeful seafoam sprites, the weather ghouls and their past, the trio must find a way to beat the Poltergusts... before they tear Elston-Fright apart.

“A spooky, funny, magical and atmospheric adventure.” Jessica Townsend, author of Nevermoor

9781835400937

• Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

Indigo and Rusty might live in a funeral parlour, but they don’t believe in ghosts. That is, until Indigo knocks over an old urn in a secret crypt under their house, releasing a terrifying ash monster. Luckily their dead grandpa pops up to explain everything: they have awoken the evil Cinderman, who will smother their town in ashes and turn everyone into zombies unless they can stop him by sunset.

Using their new spooksmith skills, Indigo and Rusty set out to enlist the help of other ghosts. But can the Blasted Banshee and Chuckles the Phantom Toddler really help them find the Cinderman’s true name and put him in his grave for good before Ashmageddon strikes?

Reece Carter is a high-profile Australian nutritionist who has written two non-fiction books for adults, appeared on many of Australian’s major television networks, and written for magazines like GQ. He grew up in rural Western Australia and now lives in Sydney.

“Spine-chilling terror and laughs on every page.”

S.J. Wills, author of Bite Risk

Alex Atkinson loves scary books filled with oddball characters. She blames her idyllic North Yorkshire childhood spent playing murder-in-the-dark and listening to her dad’s blood-curdling bedtime stories. After studying English and Politics at Newcastle University, she worked as a website content editor. She now lives in a village in Hertfordshire with her husband, kids, dogs and tortoise, but dreams of abandoned buildings, ghosts and zombies.

9781835406274 • £7.99 • PB

years + • Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

Young Adult Fiction

The Eternal Ones

Namina Forna

• The highly-anticipated finale to The Gilded Ones series, the epic YA fantasy, which was an instant NYT bestseller, and featured on Cosmo, Buzzfeed, BookRiot and Refinery 29.

• Set in a West-African-inspired world, The Gilded Ones is The Handmaid’s Tale meets Black Panther from stand-out voice Namina Forna - the second bestselling YA debut author in the UK in 2021.

9781474959599

• £8.99 • PB • 14 years +

Deka is a goddess-in-waiting with the potential to save her people from the brutal ancient goddesses who terrorize her kingdom of Otera. But first she must find her celestial essence - and if the Gilded Ones find it before she does, they will drain her power and tear Otera apart.

Alongside her army of friends, Deka faces the hardest battle of her life - not just with the goddesses but with her own doubts. What if becoming a goddess makes her as evil as the Gilded Ones? And is she ready to leave her earthly life and loves behind?

“Fans of Children of Blood and Bone and Black Panther are going to adore this one.” Buzzfeed

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

9781474959575

• £8.99 • PB • 14 years + Not available in the US, Canada and The Philippines.

9781474959582

• £8.99 • PB • 14 years +

Not available in the US, Canada and The Philippines.

Namina Forna is the author of the epic fantasy YA series The Gilded Ones. Originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, she moved to the US when she was nine and has been traveling back and forth ever since. Namina loves building fantastical worlds and telling stories with fierce female leads.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

• The unputdownable new YA contemporary mystery/thriller from the breakout sensation and New York Times bestselling author of Ace of Spades, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.

• Dark academia at its best, Where Sleeping Girls Lie is an impossibly compelling page-turner dripping in secrets, with a dark heart.

MAR

9781474967549• £8.99 • PB • 14 years +

Sade Hussein is the new girl at Alfred Nobel Academy, a prestigious mixed boarding school. She’s always been home-schooled, and has no idea what to expect when she steps through the doors of her imposing new home. But she certainly didn’t imagine her roommate, Elizabeth, going missing on her first night. Or for people to think Sade had something to do with it.

With sinister secrets rising to the surface of Alfred Nobel Academy, Sade and her new friends must uncover the truth surrounding Elizabeth’s disappearance and bring the culprits to justice... before Sade’s own secrets catch up to her.

9781474967532

• £8.99 • PB • 14 years +

• Not available in the US, Canada and The Philippines.

“Strong Gossip Girl vibes and a whole lot of mystery.”

Buzzfeed

Four Eids and a Funeral Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Adiba Jaigirdar

• A gorgeous, bright and swoony Muslim rom-com from two bestselling, award-winning stars of YA.

JUN 2024

9781805312970

• £8.99 • PB • 12 years +

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

Said Hossain hates Tiwa Olatunji. And Tiwa would happily never see Said again in her life. Growing up, the two were inseparable, but they have barely spoken since the incident many Eids ago and both of them would like to keep it that way. But when Said comes home for a funeral and the town’s Islamic Centre burns down on the same day, they have to face each other again and sparks fly.

Both of them want to see the Islamic Centre rebuilt. For Tiwa, it represents the community that she loves and a way to keep her fractured family together. For Said, it’s an opportunity to build his portfolio for his secret application to art school, where he hopes that he’ll be able to pursue his dreams of becoming an artist, rather than a doctor.

Working with your sworn enemy is never easy, and this could be the hardest thing that Said and Tiwa have ever done. Can they save the Islamic Centre, Eid - and their relationship?

“Bursting with joy, humour and so much love.”

Bea Fitzgerald, author of Girl, Goddess, Queen

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the instant New York Times, international bestselling and award-winning author of Ace of Spades. She is an avid tea drinker, a collector of strange mugs and a recent graduate from a university in the Scottish Highlands where she studied English Literature. When she isn’t spinning dark tales, Faridah can be found examining the deeper meanings in Disney Channel original movies.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the instant New York Times, international bestselling and award-winning author of Ace of Spades. She is an avid tea drinker, a collector of strange mugs and a recent graduate from a university in the Scottish Highlands where she studied English Literature. When she isn’t spinning dark tales, Faridah can be found examining the deeper meanings in Disney Channel original movies.

Royal Scandal

Aimée Carter

• Second in the Royal Blood series, with even more deadly scandals and secrets: The Princess Diaries meets One of Us is Lying.

• Fun, slick, commercial YA: the scandal and secrets come thick and fast and the insight into the luxury, glamour and seedy underbelly of high society is as addictive as the gorgeous romance.

9781803701745

•

9781803701721

•

When American teen Evan Bright came to live with her long-lost father - the actual king of Englandshe instantly became the most-hated member of the royal family. The vicious clickbait articles and backstabbing new relatives are tough enough, but now she’s facing much scarier threats.

First there are protesters outside the palace gates and creepy messages. But when an armed intruder accesses the grounds to attack Evan and her boyfriend Kit, she starts to believe that someone within the palace is plotting her downfall.

They say what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger...but what if it’s the royal family who wants you dead?

“An addictively fun one-sitting read for 14+ fans of Karen McManus.”

The Guardian

Aimée Carter is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the award-winning author of more than a dozen books, including the Goddess Test series, the Blackcoat Rebellion series, and the Simon Thorn series for middle-grade readers, now a #1 internationally bestselling series under the title Die Erben der Animox.

The Thread That Connects Us

Ayaan Mohamud

• With a brilliantly authentic teen voice and a gorgeous romance strand as well as a strong focus on sisterhood, this is an insightful and empowering YA read for fans of Clap When You Land.

• Featuring themes of racism, identity, borders and blended families, this powerful dual narrative story feels incredibly important for increasing understanding and empathy in our current times.

JUL 2024

9781803704517

• £8.99 • PB

• 14 years + • Not available in USA, Canada and the Philippines.

9781803704500

• £8.99 • PB

• 14 years +

• Not available in the US, Canada and the Philippines.

Safiya has struggled to pick up the pieces of her family since her dad left them and moved to Somalia. She refuses to trust in love, despite wishing she could fall for boy-next-door Yusuf... And then her dad moves back to town with his new family, shattering her life all over again.

Halima doesn’t want to move to England. She resents her stepdad for dropping her in a strange new life with a new language to learn - replacing her friends with bullies who set out to shame her.

When the girls are thrown together at school, it’s hate at first sight. But as they uncover life-changing secrets from their parents’ past, they begin to realize...What if the key to all their problems lies in their sisterhood?

“A powerful new talent.”

The Guardian

Shortlisted for the Waterstones

Children’s Book Prize

Ayaan Mohamud wrote her first ever book in lockdown and during NaNoWriMo, while also studying as a medical student, and it became her debut novel. It was inspired by her own experiences of Islamophobia and a desire to write about Somali culture, which she hopes to shine more of a light on in YA. She lives in London and can usually be found either writing or complaining about writing.

Old Wounds

Logan-Ashley Kisner

• An evolution in YA horror, Old Wounds introduces LoganAshley Kisner as one of the most exciting new authors to burst onto the scene, and is perfectly placed for the growing appetite for horror.

• A heart-pounding thriller that feels entirely fresh, Old Wounds is Wranglestone meets Adam Silvera, for fans of Erik J. Brown.

9781835400944

Notes

Erin and Max are two trans kids, just trying to get to California. Max is desperate to finally be able to transition, and Erin is longing to understand why she’s on this trip to begin with, after Max suddenly broke up with her two years earlier.

But when they find themselves stranded - and eventually separated - in the creepy woods of rural middle-America, they suddenly have much bigger problems.

First, there’s the creature that, according to legend, feeds on girls, hunting them through the shadows. And then there are the locals, who are searching for a female sacrifice. If either of them hope to survive to see the sunrise, Erin and Max will have to come together and stop running: from their attackers, from each other, and, ultimately, from themselves.

“Wholly original, endlessly subversive and genuinely terrifying.”

Laura Steven, author of Every Exquisite Thing

Logan-Ashley Kisner was born, raised, and continues to blindly wander around Las Vegas, Nevada. He graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and a minor in Film Studies. On top of writing horror fiction, he’s also spent the last few years as a historian, critic, and analyst of transgender characters and imagery often used in the horror genre. He’s been published on several horror websites (including Dread Central and Slay Away With Us) and his reading of The Evil Dead as a trans narrative was published in Hear Us Scream: The Voices of Horror Volume II.