August anticipated releases …

There are LOTS of books due for release in August which I am really looking forward to reading. I’ve taken the synopsis for each of these books from the Waterstones website. I have read, and loved, previous books by most of these authors, and so am really looking forward to either their next book in a series, or something new from them. There are also a few new-to-me authors whose books I am looking forward to reading.

Release Date: 5th August

The robot Adam-2 has been locked in the basement of a lost building for over two hundred years – until one day he is discovered by two children, and emerges into a world ruined by a civil war between humans and advanced intelligence. Hunted by both sides, Adam discovers that he holds the key to the war, and the power to end it – to destroy one side and save the other. But which side is right? Surrounded by enemies who want to use him, and allies who mistrust him, Adam must decide who – and what – he really is.

When the Star Boy’s space-pod crashes in the grounds of Fairfield Academy he knows he must seek shelter. Taking refuge in the school’s boiler room to await rescue he discovers that the room’s small window is the perfect place to watch humans go by. The Star Boy knows about humans from his Earth lessons but no one from his planet has ever studied them up close. Now he has the perfect opportunity. There are two humans in particular that catch his attention – a boy called Wes and a girl named Kiki. But as his curiosity grows so does his courage and, making a momentous decision, the Star Boy follows Wes and Kiki into class … and into their lives.

What you don’t remember can’t hurt you… Cyan has lived at the Elsewhere Sanctuary for as long as he can remember, freed by Dr Haven from dark memories of his past life. But when Cyan finds a mysterious warning carved into the bones of a whale skeleton, he starts to wonder what he had to forget to be so happy. New resident, Jonquil, begins to resist the sanctuary’s treatment, preferring to hold on to her memories – even the bad ones. So when Dr Haven resorts to harsher measures, Cyan embarks on a secret mission to discover the truth about the sanctuary…and himself. 

Transplanted from her exciting life as an explorer’s daughter, Freya finds herself miserable at a posh boarding school. Freya hates all the boring rules, the other girls are mean to her, and the headmistress is frosty good manners personified. When a bat removal expert is called in to deal with an infestation, Freya meets his irrepressible children – and finds herself making friends at last. Together they explore the city, with particular interest in the grand exhibition showing priceless artefacts for the first time. When the objects are stolen in a dramatic heist, Freya is sure her new friends are responsible – but the true culprit might be closer to home… 

Cordelia and her triplets Rosalind and Giles have lived safely in the castle at the centre of the forest all their lives, protected by the spells their mother has woven. The only time Cordelia feels truly free is when she turns into a dragonfly or a blackbird and can fly beyond the great stone walls. But then one day the outside world comes to them. Two rival dukes and their soldiers have come for the triplets – because whoever is the eldest is the heir to the throne. But their mother knows that since the Raven Crown was broken, no one has been able to rule the kingdom of Corvenne and live, and she will not give up any of her children to that death sentence. When she refuses to reveal which child is the eldest, she is taken prisoner, and Cordelia and her brother and sister find themselves on the run in a dangerous new world. And as they set out across Corvenne to rescue their mother, Cordelia begins to see that there is a deep magic at work, driving her towards a destiny that could tear her family apart, take away her freedom forever or, just maybe, heal a kingdom devastated by a war that has raged for generations.

For Daniel Margate, life is muddled because everything moves: letters, numbers, even classrooms sometimes. Daniel is dyslexic and most of the time, school just doesn’t make sense. He’s in the bottom reading group at school with other kids who are trying to make sense of it all. There’s Akin who can’t sit still for more than two minutes and is almost always getting into trouble, sports star Ste is recovering from a car accident that left him learning how to walk again and Molly-May’s school uniform never fits and is a regular at the local foodbank. But when a mystery horse gallops into their lives one stormy evening, it changes everything. Desperate to keep him safe they form the Secret Horse Society and vow to protect this amazing creature.

Every night Ollo goes to sleep willing something wonderful to happen, like flying out of the window and soaring over town, or galloping through a field of flowers on a unicorn. But nothing ever does: she can’t dream. All the other kids at school have dreams. And they’re not just ordinary dreams; they’re enhanced, fantastical ones with a guaranteed nightmare-free adventure every single night. That’s because there’s a special place in town called the Dream Store, which sells every fun dream imaginable to those who can afford it, in the form of DreamDrops. When Ollo finally tries a DreamDrop, will she have the adventure of her life, or will things take a nightmarish turn…?

When Lil is summoned to the Alliance of the Seven Skies, Echo decides to sneak along with her friend Horace. There, Horace is captured by the dastardly Thunder Sharks, a rival pirate clan, who present Echo with an ultimatum: they’ll release her friend in exchange for the legendary dragon’s gold … Echo must journey – through underwater libraries and active volcanoes – to the inhospitable Dragonlands, in order to find the dragon’s lair. But can she find the treasure and prove herself to be a true-sky pirate?

Stix is the tiny but heroic mouse that could be living behind YOUR washing machine. You wouldn’t know it though, because Stix knows how to stay hidden. That’s because Stix goes to P.E.S.T.S. – the Peewit Educatorium for Terrible Scoundrels – a school for pests in the basement of Peewit Mansions where Stix lives. At P.E.S.T.S. they teach you how to run around causing mischief without those pesky humans ever knowing you’re there. But now Peewit Mansions has a new landlord, the evil Colin Royale and his pet pooch The Duchess, and he wants everyone out – pests included. Stix and his friends are going to have to scare them away if they want to save their home and school. Sounds like a job for the PESTS …

When Marina discovers a boy with a head of tentacles and crab claws for hands, she resolves to help him unravel the mystery of his past … ‘Charming and delightful … a whimsical adventure story stuffed to the flippers with fish puns and fun.’ SAM SEDGMAN, CO-AUTHOR OF THE ADVENTURES ON TRAINS SERIES Marina lives in Merlington, a fish-obsessed seaside town. Unfortunately, she doesn’t care for fish; she loves telling stories. Marina finds her best story yet when she explores the ruined, haunted pier: a boy called William with a head of tentacles and crab claws for hands. He has lived on the pier all his life, cared for by a fisherman who has since disappeared and who warned him always to remain hidden. Together, the pair resolve to unravel the mystery of his past – but danger isn’t far away … 

Release Date: 19th August

Valerie has been living at Lightning Falls nearly all her life. She’s perfectly happy helping Meg and the rest of the family to haunt the guests who come to stay there at the crumbling Ghost House. One night, she sees a strange boy, Joe, up on the viaduct. There she discovers that beneath the river is a bridge – one that will take her to the world of Orbis, which Joe claims is her real home. A world that is under threat. Plunged into a dangerous adventure, as the link between the two worlds begins to crumble, Valerie is forced to confront the truth about herself . . .

School just got INTERESTING. Not only is Billie’s class learning how to P.E.E. in the classroom (don’t ask), they now have some very important contacts in the TV world. So as long as Janey McVey doesn’t keep doing the splits for attention, and Billie’s mums don’t keep distracting her with a huge secret thing they seem to be planning… well watch out, because it’s time for B.U.G. to make it BIG!

St Halibut’s has burned to the ground, but there’s no time to mope. With the sinister Ministry of FUN – Forms, Underlining and Notices – on their case, the rag-tag bunch of orphans must make a new home, and protect it from those who want to smash it (and them) to smithereens. But their tight-knit family is unravelling: Tig and Stef can’t see eye to eye, and all Herc can think about is cooking the perfect marshmallows. Worst of all, just when they need her sharp horns and unpredictable temper most, is Pamela giving up the fight? 

One frosty winter’s night, a pure white calf is born on an ordinary muddy farm by the light of a silver moon. This is the legendary Mooncalf, whose arrival has been foretold since the dawn of time. According to a dream passed down from animal to animal, if the calf dies, a great terribleness will come – rising seas, a plague, skies raining down fire, the end of all things… and Little Hare vows to persuade all the animals to protect Mooncalf, whatever the cost. But it’s easier said than done, and soon Little Hare realises that he is the only one who can save the world…

This is a classic wartime tale of a (real!) cat who made his home at the Faber offices and decided he’d never leave. Morgan is a young orphan who lives off scavenging – until he finds a cosy home at a famous London publishing house. Over time he learns a trade – and soon becomes the very best book cat in the business. And then the Blitz begins. Morgan finds himself training up twenty odd kittens to be book cats, and then there is the small matter of secretly evacuating them out of London. Happily, Morgan has a plan. 

August is going to be another bumper month for book purchases! Do any of these pique your interest?