Top Ten Tuesday- favourite books Coming soon

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book blogging initiative hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl with new themes each week.

This weeks theme is Favourite Books Released In the Last Ten Years (one book for each year)

Hmm, not really feeling this one so I’m going to go with Top upcoming releases I have been lucky enough to have LOVED instead.

The Dragon in the Library – Louie Stowell Illustrated by Davide Ortu

Cover illustration by Davide Ortu design by Elisabetta Barbazza

Just say it again with me. The Dragon in the Library.

Dragons, Libraries, Magic, a Fiesty Sporty grubby-kneed heroine who dislikes reading and thinks she’s nothing special but finds out she has magical powers!

Perfect for 7-9 and a lovely read for any age but especially those who feel they can’t live up to the perfectly clever-clog bookworm Hermiones and Matildas of childrens fantasy.

Published 6th June by Nosy Crow

Review coming very soon!

The Butterfly Circus- Francesca Armour-Chelu

Cover illustration by Studio Helen

I’ve adored circus set children’s books since I was a child and read the Galliano’s Circus stories so when I saw the twinklings of this book on Twitter I got very excited. The Circus, plus sisters and magic, not only is this a book to make my heart glow, it sounds perfect for my daughters in time.

I’m delighted that I got an early copy because it is such a wonderful story of courage, memory and the love between sisters all amidst adventure, a quest and the lights and glamour and sometimes grit of the Circus.

Published 6th June by Walker Books

Review coming very soon!

The Garden Of Lost Secrets – AM Howell

Illustrated by Amy Grimes and designed by Katherine Millichope

I first got a nudge about this book by Samuel J Halpin (author of The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods) on Twitter and I am so thankful for his interactions with fellow Usborne debut authors because this is such a special book. Like future classic book.

A story of innocence and confusion, loss, grief and hopeful curiosity against a backdrop of a Aristocratic Manor in the aftermath of the Somme (World War I) where private feelings didn’t necessarily match up with the public attitude of jingoistic nationalism.

This book has all the hallmarks of a future classic, for those still wavering it has flavours of the Secret Garden but still utterly unique.

Published 13th June by Usborne

Review coming soon!

The Paper & Hearts Society- Lucy Powrie

Book cover by Alison Padley

This is the Book I needed when I was a bookish teen being mercilessly bullied by my friendship group for various reasons. I didn’t have the horrors of social media then but it didn’t make it any less traumatic. I still have some social fears today thanks to those girls.

A book like this about starting over and finding kindred spirits thanks to BookTube sensation (and still a teenager!!) Lucy Powrie is the hope that I needed and many still need that things can be ok and that you will find your best bookish life!

Published 13th June by Hodder/Hachette

Review coming soon!

I also have a full list of the books mentioned in the novel if anyone was interested, although Lucy did say she was going to blog her own, fingers crossed as I don’t want to step on toes.

The Sharp Edge Of A Snowflake- Sif Sigmarsdottir

This YA Thriller takes all the ennui and simmering tension of classic Nordic Noir and creates a tense, claustrophobic narrative punctuated by musings on Instagram captions that is dialled back on the intensity of horror that humans are capable of just enough to teen/YA level.

The story concerns two very different girls sent to Iceland but didn’t want to be there; a body on the snowy tundra beside the highway into Reykjavik; scary Russians in the shadows; and the dangerous power of social media to control and corrupt.

Excellent and thought provoking stuff especially in the wake of Cambridge Analytica and targeted social media propaganda.

Published 27th June by Hodder/Hachette

Review to follow closer to date!

The Last SpellBreather – Julie Pike

Oh!! This book is just wonderful with such a unique magical system, a quest, magical creatures and a magically-cynical sidekick it is actually the wunderstuff of my dreams.

Beautifully following the classic Hero’s Quest but in a magical landscape where ‘all magic has a price dearie’ especially if you break your mums spell book!

Published 4th July by OUP

Review to follow closer to date!

Where the River Runs Gold- Sita Brahmachari

A wonderfully timely and thoughtful MG Dystopia about what would happen if the bees just disappeared and climate change got out of control.

With reflections of classic YA dystopia yet still original enough with its divisions in society of the Have and Have-nots driven to child slavery to feed the ignorant haves, it is a powerful story about family, friendship and taking the risks that are for the right reasons.

A book for young eco warriors and budding Greta Thunbergs.

Published 11th July by Orion

Review to follow closer to date!

Rose Interrupted- Patrice Lawrence

Patrice Lawrence just about broke my heart with this one. Rose grew up in a strict evangelist community (some may say cultish) where everything and everyone is controlled under fear of being exiled from the group- but one day they had to leave and she and her brother have been trying to adjust to the outside world but it’s not easy.

Rose has gone so far in the other direction in her self prescribed deprogramming that she puts herself at risk and her brother is just so hungry to get back to the only world he felt safe in that something is going to crack and soon.

Published 25th July by Hodder/Hachette

Review to follow closer to date!

I Cosmo – Carly Sorosiak

Cover illustration by Ben Mantle design by Elisabetta Barbazza

As a mama of two furbabies, who are approaching Cosmo’s age this book hit me in the feels constantly especially when taking about pains, aches and wistful memories of not needing help.

The book is narrated by 13 year old Cosmo, a gorgeous golden doggy who was sold for half price due to being pigeon toed but has devoted his entire life to the love and care of his family which is now falling apart as the marriage is disintegrating and the repercussions blooming in the hearts of the children he loves so much he will do anything to save them.

Published 1st July

Review to follow closer to date!

Have you been lucky enough to read any of these?

What books are you looking forward to?

Many thanks to Nosy Crow; Julie Pike, AM Howell and Francesca Armour-Chelu and their publishers; and my review programme for the advance copies.