Bookbuzz ’25 – time to choose your book, Year 7

Toxic by Mitch Johnson (Adventure, Around the World)

Jessica is used to being dragged to remote locations around the world with her parents on their work research trips. She wishes she could stay in one place and make some long-term friends for once, but their latest destination is the Amazon rainforest, and Jessica has found an unusual book left behind by another researcher, which reveals an incredible secret: details of a rare frog which can give eternal life. It couldn’t possibly be real, could it?  

But the frog’s secret has got out and a powerful billionaire is determined to get their hands on it. They will do anything to get what they want – including destroying the rainforest in the process. Jessica and her new friend Renata enter the rainforest to find out more – but soon they are lost, without food, water or shelter, and being pursued by a ruthless mercenary. Can they survive the dangers of the rainforest and protect it and its secrets? 

This survival adventure story is fun and pacey, with a clever twist revealed towards the end and light-touch environmental and conversation themes. Fun fact: Mitch Johnson visited our school a few years ago to read to all of Year 8 following his debut novel ‘Kick’ which you may have read or are reading now in form!

Lunar by Chris Bradford, illustrated by Charlotte Grange (Adventure, Sci-fi, Thriller, Dyslexia-friendly)

Luna lives on the moon. Her father is a Moon Miner, searching for valuable minerals, and Luna is happy helping him in his work. Until the day they are out doing test drilling and get caught in a terrible storm. 

Being on the moon, this isn’t any average storm: it’s not raining hailstones, it’s raining meteorites.  As the full aftermath of the storm becomes clear, Luna finds herself stranded and alone. Without a rescue mission she will be dead in a few days. Does she have the knowledge, ingenuity, courage and determination to get out a distress message and stay alive until help arrives?  

With a great mix of science fiction and science fact, this nail-biting race-against-time is presented in an accessible format with black and white illustrations and dyslexia-friendly font. You’ll pick up lots of cool facts about life on the moon as well as practical uses for Newton’s three laws of motion so if you want to find out why you need to wear a space suit, what would happen if you took it off (among other things, your blood would boil!) and how you go to the toilet whilst wearing one, read this thrilling adventure story and find out.

The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie by Radhika Sanghani (Coming-of-age, Funny)

Every day has been rubbish for 13-year-old Priya Shah recently. She keeps falling asleep in Maths because she’s so tired. And she’s tired because it’s tricky to sleep when your parents are arguing loudly, and then you have to get up early for gymnastics. Plus she’s having to do the class bully’s homework, and she hardly has time for her own. At least her best friends Sami and Mei love her, unlike her secret crush Dan Zhang.

Then she gets her grandma’s bangle stuck on her wrist. And something strange starts to happen. Suddenly, Priya can’t lie. She blurts out secrets and – worst of all – tells people how she really feels. Can Priya find a way to be honest before she loses her friends, her place on the gym team, and her family’s privacy?

Told with great humour and empathy, this brilliant story will have readers laughing, then considering their own relationship with the truth. Funny, fresh and full of heart.

The Boy to Beat the Gods by Ashley Thorpe (Adventure, Around the world, Coming-of-age, Fantasy, Myths and legends, Thriller)

The Orishas are ruthless gods with a taste for destruction and human flesh. Kayode dreams of the day he can get his hands on the forbidden fruit of the baobab tree – the source of the Orishas’ power – and use that power to free his people. 

On the day his sister is snatched by the gods, a single fruit mysteriously appears in his path – and he takes his chance. But it’s a risk. Many humans who have eaten the fruit end up dead rather than powerful, but he needs his sister back. 

In a fun-packed fantasy adventure, inspired by aspects of Caribbean and African culture and spirituality, Kayode joins forces with a vengeful princess and a shapeshifting trickster god in an attempt to put an end to the cycle of terror and human sacrifice. 

With exciting and imaginative battle scenes, this story is one of determination and courage, showing that even those who seem indestructible have their weaknesses.  

The Double Life of Ted Amos by Simon James Green, illustrated by Jennifer Jamieson

Edward Amos is in Year 7 and unfortunately he is known as ‘Bin Juice Boy’ to all but one person – his friend Archie. Together, they dress up in Star Wars outfits, hang out, and write each other silly notes. But everyone else bullies Edward.

So when Edward’s parents split up and he goes to his dad’s house at weekends, it’s a chance to reinvent himself. Goodbye, Edward, hello Ted. Ted is cool. Ted is in a band. Ted does triathlons… Ted is telling a lot of lies to a lot of people. But what happens when his new cool friends – and worst of all, Archie – discover he’s been lying to them all? 

This is funny and real. The situations Ted gets himself into are funny and embarrassing, but he is ultimately a normal, relatable kid.

This life-affirming story is about working out who you are, and also shows the importance of being yourself, despite the haters. 

Safiyyah’s War by Hiba Noor Khan (Around the world, Coming-of-age, Historical, Thriller)

War is creeping across Europe but has not yet reached Safiyyah and her family. For the moment, Paris is still a free city and life at the Grand Mosque is ordered and calm; Muslims, Jews and Christians live harmoniously together.

It happens gradually; an influx of refugees, the exodus of many wealthy Parisians and most of the government. Then the dramatic arrival of German soldiers and the imposition of a curfew. And later, the shortage of food and introduction of draconian laws against Jews.

Safiyyah feels helpless as she witnesses the impact of war. But as she starts to notice unexplained irregularities around the mosque, it becomes clear that some great act of rebellion is happening right under her nose. And despite the dangers, she is determined to play her part.    

Focussing on the experiences of a small group of individuals, Safiyyah’s story shines a spotlight on an under-recognised pocket of resistance from World War II when hundreds of Jews were led to safety via underground passages from the Grand Mosque.

This a fascinating and moving story of courage, resilience and humanity that honours unsung heroes whose sense of justice outweighed concern for their own safety and a story personally recommended by Ms Sultana in English.

The Edge of the Silver Sea by Alex Mullarkyr (Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery)

Blair’s parents have uprooted her from everything she knows and moved their family to a falling-down house on a remote Scottish island. Blair is furious and desperate to find a way back to her old home. So when she meets a strange woman out in the island’s wilderness who promises to grant Blair’s wish, Blair grabs at the chance.  

It’s only after she says yes that Blair realises she’s entered into a dangerous fey bargain. Blair is now bound to Cailleach until the agreement is complete. She must undertake three apparently impossible tasks set by Cailleach; when and only when she succeeds in these tasks will her wish be granted.  

But are the tasks even do-able? And what consequences or ripple effects will they have on the island? As Blair learns more about her new home and begins to make friends, she must navigate a dangerous pathway to save herself and the island from the predatory fey. 

The Book of Useless Knowledge by Sophie Allan, Dr Victoria Atkinson, Dr Brittany G. Borowiec, Laura Buller, Dr Lucia Perez Diaz, Anna Goldfield and Dr Yara Haridy, illustrated by Hannah Li, Alexander Mostov and Liz Kay (Non-fiction, Around the world)

A brilliant book for fact lovers! Packed with over 200 fun and surprising facts covering topics from nature and earth to history, culture and science.  

Do you know what the world’s largest rock carving is? Do you know why you shouldn’t drink fizzy drinks in space? What about the number of brains an octopus has? Or what the ancient Mayans used to use as money?  

All the facts have been written by scientific experts so you can be sure they are true. Colour illustrations accompany each fact, and with just one or two facts on each page, the information is presented in accessible, bite-sized chunks and a larger, clear font – perfect for dipping in and out of.  

Despite the title of this book, it’s definitely not useless! You can find all sorts of fun and interesting things to learn about and then impress family and friends with.   

Stitch Head: the graphic novel by Guy Bass, illustrated by Pete Williamson

Stitch Head is the first of the creatures created by the obsessive Professor Erasmus – and Stitch Head is the one quietly protecting the town from the rest of the Professor’s monstrous creations.

Forgotten by his master, and working away in the shadows, Stitch Head is offered the chance to be seen, first by his new friend Creature, and then by an unscrupulous circus ringmaster. But does he really need a friend? And if so, who should he trust? 

This graphic novel edition of the first story in the much-loved series is terrific. Pete Williamson, the illustrator, has brilliantly depicted these characters – there are many illustrative details to pore over, and it is packed with action. There are emotional moments too, and the story subtly asks the reader to consider who the real monsters are – the humans or the creatures. Darkly funny, accessible and thought-provoking.  

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, illustrated by Tomislav Tomi (Adventure, Fantasy, Myths and legends)

The Archipelago is a collection of hidden, secret islands inhabited by all the magical creatures you probably think are just myths or stories: dragons, griffins, sphinxes, unicorns, krakens, and many more. But the Archipelago is in trouble. Something dark has taken root at its centre and the islands’ glimourie (magic) is disappearing.

Mal knows something’s wrong with the glimourie, but her biggest concern right now is the man who just tried to murder her. Why would someone want her dead? Thrown together with a boy from our world, Christopher, and hunted by the would-be murderer, Mal embarks on an unplanned journey across the Archipelago to look for answers. As the impact of the fading glimourie is revealed, their quest grows in urgency. Is there any way to fix it before the Archipelago and its inhabitants are lost forever? And what might they have to sacrifice in order to do so?

Katherine Rundell has created an incredibly real-feeling magical world and story to rival classics like Narnia, with writing that sweeps you up and main characters who are simultaneously humanly flawed yet inherently pure and good.

A wondrous, brilliant adventure. Read Ms Harrison’s review here.

Hercules: The Diary of a (Sort Of) Hero by Tom Vaughan, illustrated by David O’Connell (Adventure, Chapter books, Funny, Myths and legends)

Hercules Braver is certain that he’ll make a good first impression when he starts secondary school, but although he succeeds in attracting everyone’s attention, it’s for all the wrong reasons. He quickly becomes a target for the school bully and gets on the wrong side of the headteacher.

As things go from bad to worse, Hercules is intrigued when his mum mentions that Zooey, his Greek birth father whom he’s never met, is famous. Certain that a celebrity dad will improve his popularity, Hercules contacts Zooey and is delighted when he turns up on the doorstep.

Zooey is more awesome than Hercules dared hope: he’s tall, handsome, drives a gold-plated sports car and whenever he’s around, Hercules’ popularity surges. However, the more Hercules hangs out with the cool kids, the less time he has for his old best friends and his nerdy but devoted stepdad. The time comes when Hercules must decide what is really important.

With a generous smattering of Greek mythology, this laugh-out-loud tale explores the nature of friendship, love and loyalty with a perfect mix of humour and tenderness.

Written as a series of diary entries, it is illustrated throughout with amusing line drawings.

The Nine Night Mystery by Sharna Jackson (Mystery)

When Wesley Evans discovers the dead body of his neighbour, Rachel Kohl, he and his friends suspect foul play. They were at a surprise 40th birthday party for Rachel the night before, and the entire guest list are suspects. Even Wesley’s own mum! One of Rachel’s friends insists on a traditional Nine Night set-up, to put Rachel’s ghost, or duppy, to rest. Over the next nine nights, as the friends gather,Wesley, Margot and Josie investigate.They discover that Rachel had a lot of secrets, and so do the suspects. But was her death really murder? And who is the mysterious hooded figure who was hanging around outside her house that fatal night? 

This is a mystery full of twists and turns, and cracking dialogue. There are nearly 500 pages, but it’s a quick read because of the pacey dialogue.The nine-night structure gives form to the investigation and adds a ticking clock: will they solve the mystery in time for Rachel’s duppy to leave peacefully? An intriguing mystery with many layers to solve. 

Shadowhall Academy: The Whispering Walls by Phil Hickes (Coming-of-age, Ghost story)

Lilian has mixed feelings about starting at Shadowhall Academy. On the one hand she’s excited, having never been to boarding school before, but on the other, she’s nervous that she won’t make new friends.  

The school is old, chilly and absolutely huge with endless corridors and hidden nooks and crannies. So when her roommates tell her the place is haunted, she’s not sure if they’re just trying to scare the new girl or if the stories are true. 

But the tales of students who have vanished and strange sightings in the woods start to ring true when the girls hear odd noises in the night and it soon becomes clear that they are in real danger. Can they solve the mystery of the whispering walls before the worst happens? 

A clever plot takes the atmosphere in this tense ghost story from intriguing to quite creepy then through spine-tingling to moments of complete terror.  

Set in the 1980s, before mobile phones and the internet were on hand to help, Lilian and her friends must rely on documents and witness testimony to get to the bottom of the secrets of Shadowhall Academy.  

A great read for fans of mysteries and ghostly goings-on. 

Fallout by Lesley Parr

You can’t trust a Pritchard – everyone knows that. And Marcus is proving to be no exception. He’s just been suspended from school for blowing up the science lab, but his family won’t care.

Marcus knows he’s no angel but sometimes he wishes he had a choice in what and how to be. And when new girl Emma, with her political badges and peace protests, seems to see something in him that others don’t, he wonders if there might be another path for him. But then there’s a horrible incident that puts a man in hospital. And Marcus gets the blame. Is Emma’s faith in Marcus justified? And if so, can they work together to clear his name? 

This compelling coming-of-age drama, set in summer 1980, asks difficult questions about loyalty, expectation and personal responsibility. If people think you are bad news, what do you have to do to prove them wrong? And if they think you’re bad news regardless of what you do, what’s the point in trying to be better?  

Gripping and thought-provoking. 

I am Rebel by Ross Montgomery (Adventure)

Rebel is a good dog. Every day is perfect. He wakes up with ‘his boy’ Tom, spends the day on the farm with Tom, and curls up on Tom’s bed at night. Sometimes there are even lamb bones for dinner! What more could a dog want? But when 12-year-old Tom joins the rebel army, Rebel must find him and rescue him. Can one small dog track his friend across mountain and village, in time to save him from the King’s army? 

This story is heartwarming and heartbreaking, all in the best possible way. No dogs are harmed, so dog lovers are safe to read it – and Rebel’s love for ‘his boy’ is so universal that even cat lovers will fall for him. It’s written in Rebel’s voice, which allows readers to sometimes understand more than he does, yet still there are shocks and twists to the story.This is an exciting, passionate book that would make a great class read, or for bedtime reading as the chapters are short and full of action. Rebel is a very good boy indeed.