Review: How to Steal the Future

*Written by Christopher Edge*
*Illustrated by Pete Lloyd*
*Published by MacMillan Children’s Books*

How to Steal the Future is an absolutely gripping, action-packed speculative science-fiction adventure flowing with high-tension and astounding twists that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. An absolute must-read.

Drew Blake enters the challenge of his life: he has 67 minutes to reach the heart of a seemingly unsolvable maze to claim its prize – a device known as the Avenir which has the power to unlock the future. Except Blake has no interest in stealing the future. He only wants to find his sister, Evie, who has been lost in the maze for seven days.

Once inside, he meets his team mate, Meg. Together, they must face the dangerous, ever-changing challenges presented by the maze as they race against time to reach its heart, and unlock the future. Can Drew find his sister before his time runs out? Can he weave his way through, and survive, the perilous conundrums and challenges created by the maze to unveil its secrets?

What an incredibly compelling, exciting and thought-provoking read! I was immediately drawn into the maze with Drew and could really sense his trepidation, panic and confusion triggered by the obstacles placed in his way as he searches for his lost sister. The tension increases inexorably as Drew races to escape the constant dangers of the maze: dead ends, traps and closing corridors that force him along new paths, paths that take him towards an inescapable truth. Whilst the action is relentless and claustrophobic, there is also hope in the evocation of memories of his sister, in his determination to reach the heart of the maze, and in his courage in facing its secrets.

This is an incredibly clever and complex story, with such emotional depth, that I just had to keep reading. For older children, the short chapters, with cliff hanger endings, will undoubtedly make this a just-one-more-chapter read. I am a firm believer that stories should be read and shared with older readers just as much as with younger, so this is absolutely a story that I’d highly recommend as a class read aloud for Year 6 and into secondary school. I can also see lots of curiosity around the use of the experimental science of quantum computing connected to AI that I have no doubt will fascinate many children – and encourage many ‘What if?’ questions – and just maybe inspire our scientists of the future!

I really enjoyed the references to other stories within the book including Theseus and the Minotaur and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and discovering the shared central themes. At its heart, this is a story of the inimitable strength of human connection and consciousness, resilience and hope that makes it such an unforgettable and emotive read.

A heart-racing, action-packed and thought-provoking adventure through a mind-blowing maze, perfect for readers of 10+.

Thank you to MacMillan Children’s Books for sending me a proof copy of this book. It was my decision to read and review this book, and my review is my honest opinion of the book.

Review: The Time Engine written by Lindsay Galvin and illustrated by Kristina Kister

*Written by Lindsay Galvin*
*Illustrated by Kristina Kister*
Published by *Published by Barrington Stoke (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)*

The Time Engine is a gripping blend of science-fiction and history that sees a young boy spinning through time and into a life-changing adventure.

When 11-year-old Eric Finch arrives home from school early one day, he hears a noise coming from the attic but his mum dismisses it, telling him it was only her looking for some old papers, and forbidding him to enter the room. With his curiosity piqued, that night Eric searches the attic where he discovers a notebook belonging to his mum’s ancestor, Ada Lovelace. The book has a sketch of an intriguing machine, a machine that his mum, a brilliant mathematician, has built in secret. Unable to resist temptation, Eric begins fiddling with the machine … and finds himself travelling back to Victorian Britain, and into the heart of an incredible adventure. Could Eric’s decision have altered the fabric of time? Will he be able to find a way to return to his home or does he risk being trapped in the past?

I absolutely loved the blend of science-fiction and history in this exciting adventure, and was fascinated by the idea of a machine which would enable travel back to another time. I really enjoyed the ancestral link within the story, and the focus on two female mathematicians during two different periods of history, but two periods where women faced obstacles, but where they were determined to follow their own paths.

Both Eric and his mother have hidden depths, and real strength of character, which I think is beautifully portrayed in the story as we learn more about their lives. I loved that Eric is such a determined, resourceful and curious young boy, and that his mother continues her studies in secret, both showing courage in standing up to those who would knock them down. This is such an empowering message for young children today.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations are absolutely stunning, bringing both time periods to life wonderfully and capturing the sense of adventure through brilliantly expressive characters.

An exciting time-slip adventure, perfect for young enthusiasts of history, science and maths.

Both books are published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages. This is suitable for 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Review: The Experiment by Rebecca Stead

*Written by Rebecca Stead*
Cover art by Devin Ellie Kurtz
*Published by Anderson Press on 1st January 2026*

The Experiment is an absolutely gripping, thought-provoking science-fiction adventure that took me on a heart-racing journey of discovery that kept me utterly enthralled.

Eleven-year-old Nathan has been keeping a secret his whole life, an incredible secret that is in danger of being exposed following something that happens to him on his family’s vacation in Florida. In order to stop his secret being revealed, Nathan must return to the Wagon, a spaceship from the planet Kast, his home world. Nathan has grown up believing that he is part of an experiment to ascertain whether the Kast can permanently maintain human form on Earth but what has happened in Florida has thrown doubt on its success …

When Nathan is recalled to the Wagon, it is with the knowledge that other members of his group, who he has spoken to virtually each year, have begun to disappear, including close friend Izzy with whom he has been communicating without his parents’ knowledge. Could the experiment have failed and will be have to leave Earth?

And so begins an absolutely riveting, action-packed adventure as Nathan and his parents are brought to the Wagon. When he meets some old friends onboard the mothership, it is not long before Nathan begins to question the nature of the experiment which has been such a part of his identity. Could Hester, who controls the ship, have been keeping the truth about the true purpose of the experiment from its participants? Can he protect those he loves from the egocentricity of someone intent on the success of the experiment, no matter the consequences? And, what will he learn about himself and what he has been taught to believe about why he is on Earth?

This really is the most compelling, thought-provoking read which I absolutely could not put down and read in a single sitting, helped by the short chapters which kept me eagerly turning pages. I really liked that the story is structured into six parts which gives the reader both an insight into the ship’s journey towards take-off, giving a sense of urgency and expectation, and a focus for what the characters will experience.

I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers but I found this an incredibly thought-provoking read as it delves into the human experience, interactions and relationships, self-identity and how self-concept can be affected both positively and negatively by others.

I absolutely adored the strong friendship between Nathan and his best friend, Victor with each wanting to support and protect the other, showing real courage in doing so. I loved how accepting Victor is when Nathan reveals the truth about himself, and loved that he finds joy in the ordinariness and comfort of Victor and his family. Whilst Nathan clearly adores his mum and dad, he is aware that his is not a ‘normal’ family life with his life being monitored and recorded by his mum so he enjoys the normalcy he feels through his friendships and school life. There is someone else who shows Nathan incredible kindness, friendship and understanding – but I will let the reader discover that wonderful someone for themselves!

A thought-provoking, fast-paced, page-turner, full of twists and turns, perfect for readers of 9+.

Thank you to Jade at Anderson Press for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein abridged for Young Readers by Lucy Strange

*Abridged for Young Readers by Lucy Strange*
*Cover and interior illustrations by Kristina Kister*
*Published by Walker Books*

Frankenstein: Abridged for Young Readers is a powerful and masterful abridgement of this classic gothic tale of ambition, abandonment, vengeance and love, an incredibly emotional story that absolutely gripped me from start to finish.

On an ambitious expedition to the North Pole, Captain Robert Walton rescues a young man desperate to find someone who he has been pursuing … and so we learn the tragic tale of Victor Frankenstein and that of his creation …

Victor was brought up in a loving household with his parents, their adopted daughter and two younger brothers. Following the death of his mother, he travels to Germany to study, a place where he develops a keen interest in chemistry and an obsession to discover the mysteries of creation. His fascination with life and death leads him to create new life … but the creature disgusts him and he immediately abandons his creation to fend for itself …

The repercussions of this split-second decision will haunt Victor for the rest of his life as the creature that he has created and rejected becomes the monster he both fears and loathes. As the creature seeks to form bonds and find a place in the world, it can find no succour and is only ever met with fear and loathing by others, even when the deeds it performs show that it is capable of goodness and kindness. Being denied basic human connection and comfort leads to a craving for vengeance against its maker with the most heart-breaking consequences.

I was absolutely gripped by this story from start to finish, a classic masterfully re-told with such quality of language and depth of emotion that I found myself completely lost in the story, my heart at times aching for both Victor and his creation but also despairing and angered by their intentions and actions.

I think the themes in this story transcend time through its exploration of universal human experiences, offering some wonderful opportunities for discussion. Who is the real monster of the story? Was this creature born a monster or was it made into one by its experiences? What would have happened if Victor had not negated his responsibility towards his creation? The story serves as a timely reminder of what happens when individualistic ambition runs unchecked with a disregard for ethical considerations.

A poignant and powerful abridgement of this classic story, perfect for young readers of 10+.

Thank you to Walker Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: Blitzers written by Alastair Chisholm and illustrated by Francesca Ficorilli

*Written by Alastair Chisholm*
*Illustrated by Francesca Ficorilli*
*Published by Barrington Stoke (an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers)*

Blitzers is a high-octane, sci-fi adventure that crackles with fast-paced action, danger and discoveries in a world of virtual reality and real-life daring.

Danny has finally got his hands on the latest tech-craze gadget, a Blitzer which links to a unique creature, trained by its owner and sent into fights against other creatures in a virtual reality online world. But when Danny discovers that his creature, Chew Lip, does not want to fight, he wonders if the Blitzer given to him by his brother could be a fake or faulty. Both his best friend, Tan, and school bully, Mel are unimpressed by his creature but Danny is determined to train him and prove them wrong.

Danny’s obsession with proving himself through the success of his virtual creature leads him into an online community of Blitzer players where the overwhelming advice is to be aggressive and controlling towards the creature in order to assert dominance, something that begins to show with Danny’s behaviour in the real world.

But when something which should have been impossible happens with Chewy, Danny tries a different approach which proves a catalyst that puts him and his friends in danger. Can he discover what the Blitzers really are? Can he put a stop to a terrifying secret operation? And can he save his best friend from being lost to him?

This is a brilliantly action-packed, gripping and thought-provoking adventure that deals with a range of issues including bullying, toxic masculinity, the impact of online influencers, the ethics of big tech and the potential addictive nature of gaming. But I also think that this is brilliantly balanced with positive role models, especially in Danny’s older brother, with fighting against influences that impact in a negative way and with empathising with others. As well as being a story children will enjoy reading and discussing with their friends, I think it would be a wonderful class or reading group read with those at the top end of Key Stage 2 and into Key Stage 3 due to its rich potential for much-needed discussion of issues which really impact on children’s lives.

The full-and-partial-page illustrations throughout are fantastic, complementing the themes and fast-paced action, in this story perfectly.

An exciting, compelling sci-fi adventure that will prove a real winner with children of 9+.

Thank you to Barrington Stoke for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is published by the wonderful Barrington Stoke who publish dyslexia-friendly, super-readable and accessible books for children of all ages. This is suitable for 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Review: The World’s Worst Alien

*Written by Alice Primmer*
*Illustrations by Fred Blunt*
*Published by Walker Books*

The World’s Worst Alien is a fantastically funny, zany adventure that kept me giggling, and sometimes pondering, throughout as I followed alien, and world-creator, Sky on her month-long mission to save her project from pesky humans.

So, you think you know how Earth was created? Well, think again! We are actually the end-result of a school project created by an interdimensional being (a.k.a an alien) who wanted to move from bottom to top of the class! And Sky was certain – well, almost – certain of success if only evolution hadn’t seen the dinosaurs being replaced with humans. And they just happened to be ruining her creation so, in an effort to rescue her project, Sky decides she has no choice other than to visit Earth to fix her project – something that will actually require her to do something she really doesn’t enjoy: make an effort.

When she arrives in London, Sky finds herself walking in to Oak Lane Primary School as a Year 6 pupil with the intention of becoming a Youtube Influencer as she is sure these are the people who can change the world. She soon meets Zana who offers to help her with creating a Youtube Channel, but it is not long before she is getting her new friend (whatever one of those is), and herself, into all sorts of trouble …

And so begins a brilliantly funny adventure as Sky begins her month-long mission to save the world she has created by replacing humans with a much-more deserving successor. But what if the humans have something to teach Sky, something about the value of friendship, something about determination and effort, and something about the power of a few to make a big difference for many …

There is no doubt that Sky is incredibly honest in front of both adults and her classmates as she doesn’t have any pre-conceptions of how she should behave which leads to lots of incongruous situations, misunderstandings and oodles of humour. It also leads to her sometimes coming across as uncaring, but is that something that can change as she learns more about human emotions, and opens herself up to these, as she connects with Zana and the members of the Eco Club? Will what she learns about humans in the microcosm of the Oak Lane Primary School community change her mind about replacing them in her project?

I really enjoyed the environmental focus in this adventure which shows that a few can make a real difference and, when people come together, they can effect change for the better. What a wonderful message for children to learn!

The illustrations throughout are absolutely brilliant and really complement the action, energy and humour in this wonderful story.

Could the world’s worst alien just make the best difference when she comes to visit her school project? A wonderfully humorous adventure for readers of 8+.

Thank you to Walker Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review: After by Pádraig Kenny

*Written by Pádraig Kenny*
*Cover and chapter illustrations by* *Steve McCarthy*
*Published by Walker Books on 6th March*

After is a powerful, thought-provoking dystopian sci-fi adventure with the ties of humanity, the strength of community and the promise of hope at its heart. This is a story that held me utterly enthralled and will undoubtedly be one of my books of the year.

Jen loves libraries and stories, but the one she is most interested in is a true one – even though it is a story that terrifies her: the story of how the world ended. Father tells her of the destruction of habitats, human over-reliance on technology and the return to the Dark Ages after the Flood, an apocalyptic event that decimated both civilisation and technology.

Father and Jen have been on their own ever since he found Jen as a baby and took her under his protection. They survive in a desolate, almost-deserted world by finding food and shelter and avoiding the scavengers who drove them from their previous home.

When travelling towards a new home, they arrive at a town where they meet two others who are part of a small community where they are welcomed as new members. But Father has a secret: he is not human, but a humanoid AI who somehow survived the Flood. Can Jen keep Father’s secret from her new friends because, if it were revealed, she is in danger of losing the place she has come to think of as home …

This is a story that completely gripped me both as an exciting, heart-pounding survival adventure brimming with danger, secrets and revelations, and as a story exploring what it means to be human, the nature of love and belonging, and whether the real danger in technological advancement lies with created or creator. These themes would open fascinating discussions in both homes and classrooms.

This is a story that evokes strong emotions: I could absolutely feel the hope and love, the painful decisions and the need for connection – and the ending made me smile through my tears – just perfect – as were the final illustrations. There is such power in words – the power to connect and divide, the power to hurt and heal and the power to bring hope when the world seems lost. Books like this incredible story are so needed in our world right now (and not just for children) and there was one sentence said by a character at the end of this story that still bring tears as I write and I think those are tears of hope.

Whilst Jen and Father are not biologically related, it is clear that there is a strong father-daughter bond between them which I found incredibly moving. Father has a powerful instinct to protect Jen and give her what she needs to survive, both physically and emotionally, even when this means withholding the truth and taking heart-breaking decisions and risks. Jen is a wonderful young girl who is kind-hearted, curious and determined and, whilst she is happy with Father, she also has a natural human need to connect with others and feel a sense of belonging which leads her to make to make some painful decisions.

The chapter heading and page illustrations are stunning and complement this intriguing, breathtaking story perfectly.

An exceptional sci-fi adventure pulsating with hope, connection and love – a captivating story that I cannot recommend highly enough to readers of 9+.

Thank you to Walker Books for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Graphic Novel Review: The Adventures of Invisible Boy by Doogie Horner

*Written and illustrated by Doogie Horner*
*Published by Scholastic*
*Published on 4th January*

The Adventures of Invisible Boy is a full-colour graphic novel which begins the adventures of a wonderful new superhero, and I have no doubt that children of 8+ will be keen to follow his first incredible adventure – and will be eager for more!

Eugene is working hard on his entry for the science fair, something he needs to keep secret from his parents as they don’t approve of his inventions. But he is hoping that, after he wins the science fair, he will be allowed to invent again.

Meanwhile, Stanley is worried about starting a new school in the middle of the year – what if he can’t make new friends? When he accidentally knocks over a potion at the science fair, something happens that will change his life: he is invisible! And the last place he intends to stay is in school … he’s off to have some fun!

But, when Stanley discovers that the creator of the potion has also turned invisible and he is out to cause trouble, Stanley decides that he must use his new powers to fight back – to become a superhero! Can Invisible Boy defeat the new supervillain in town? And, of course, every superhero needs a sidekick and what an unexpected, but brilliant, one he finds!

This is such a fun adventure with oodles of humour and mayhem as Stanley learns to use his new power; as he finds himself facing trouble in his efforts to help others; and, as he battles to defeat his would-be nemesis. There are so many cool inventions shared throughout the adventure and I can just imagine children wanting to use them – and maybe even come up with their own inventions!

This is also a story that lots of children will be able to relate to, or which will encourage empathy as it deals with issues such as worries about starting a new school, making new friends and loneliness.

The full-colour illustrations are brilliant and complement the action, humour and mayhem perfectly.

This is a fantastic first adventure for Invisible Boy, and is one that I know my class are going to love.

Thank you to Scholastic for sending me an early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

November Wrap-Up

Where did November go! I’ve been ridiculously busy at work this month and often working late in the evening with planning, so not as much reading done as I would have liked. I’m so glad I’ve made it a rule that I don’t work at the weekend, but I have now started a Christmas Movie Sunday afternoon, so only read in the morning.

Books I’ve read:

I’ve read 9 books this month which was a lot less than when I had half-term! I enjoyed all of these – the ones that really stood out for me were The Colour of Hope, Utterly Dark and the Heart of the Wild and Stitch.

Books sent by publishers:

I am grateful to have been sent 6 books by Publishers this month as well as a copy of Ember Spark, thanks to the kindness of two wonderful authors, Abi Elphinstone and Mel Taylor-Bessent.

NetGalley:

My Netgalley ratio is at 96%. I have five books on my shelf. I have read Stitch which is amazing and will hopefully find time to write my review this weekend. I have also been sent physical copies of three of these after I had requested them.

Books bought and gifted:

It was my birthday in November so I had some book presents but, as always, I also treated myself to some new books! I tend to ask mostly for adult/young adult books for my birthday and Christmas and buy children’s books myself.