The Nightkeeper's Apprentice Written by Jude Reid What does it take to become a Nightkeeper’s Apprentice? Sent to a remote Scottish island she’s never heard of, and to a family she’s never met, twelve-year-old evacuee Eilidh feels lost and lonely. But she’s drawn to the strange lighthouse she’s forbidden to enter. With the help of a … Continue reading Middle Grade Must Reads – July 2026 (Part One)
Author: helenbyles
Middle Grade Must Reads – June 2026 (Part Three)
Silent Night Written by Emma Read Published by Chicken House I had heard so many good things about this book so when I was in my local library and saw this, I picked it up straight away. And what a read. When Masen, Conor and Joss wake up in the caravan on Christmas morning, a … Continue reading Middle Grade Must Reads – June 2026 (Part Three)
Middle Grade Must Reads – June 2026 (Part Two)
Rules for Vampires 2: Ghosts Bite Back Written by Alex Foulkes Published by Simon & Schuster I loved book 1 so I couldn’t wait to revisit these characters. A vampire and a ghost being friends is unheard of. It makes no sense. The two factions have despised one another for all eternity. But . . . Leo the vampire … Continue reading Middle Grade Must Reads – June 2026 (Part Two)
Notable Non Fiction to Inspire
Rise and fall. Great Empires that shaped the World Written and illustrated by Peter Allen Published by Cicada Books Part of my performance management at school is to declutter the non fiction section and update it with better quality books. This is going to be one of the first ones that will be going in … Continue reading Notable Non Fiction to Inspire
Middle Grade Must Reads – June 2026 (Part One)
Lockett & Wilde: The Ghosts of London Written by Lucy Strange Illustrations by Pam Smy Published by Walker Books Book one of this series was great and book 2 promised to be just as good. And I bumped this to the top of my TBR pile as soon as I got my hands on a copy. … Continue reading Middle Grade Must Reads – June 2026 (Part One)
Middle Grade Must Reads – May 2026
The Big Bad Wolf Murder Written by P. G. Bell Published by Usborne I adore this author and series - the first book in the series The Beanstalk murder was one of my all time favourite books so I was looking forward to reading this one. At twelve years old, Ruby Calvino is the youngest human … Continue reading Middle Grade Must Reads – May 2026
Middle Grade Must Reads -April 2026
Tomorrow's Ghost Written by Tanya Landman Published by Walker Books This was amazing from the first page. Haunted by the past, can Anna rewrite the future? 1976: Twelve-year-old Anna, bored and lonely away from her friends for the summer, finds herself dreaming about a girl from 1919 – a neglected and lonely girl living in a … Continue reading Middle Grade Must Reads -April 2026
Middle Grade Must Reads – February 2026 (Part Two)
The Uninvited Written by Ross MacKenzie Published by Andersen Press I have loved everything Ross Mackenzie has ever written and I know this was going to be the same with this book. When the Faerie folk flee their world and come to ours, running from the nightmare of war, nobody in the everyday knows what to … Continue reading Middle Grade Must Reads – February 2026 (Part Two)
Middle Grade Must Read – February 2026 (Part Two)
Nora Nightsky Written by Rebecca Lewis-Oakes Published by Scholastic I was lucky enough to have been sent a sample booklet of this book which left me wanting to read the entire book. Nora Nightsky is a star - literally. Her glamorous mum is the North Star, and their dazzling family works hard, bringing to life the … Continue reading Middle Grade Must Read – February 2026 (Part Two)
Middle Grade Must Reads – February 2026 (Part One)
Medusa Gorgon's Bad Hair Day Written by Bethany Walker Illustrated by Katie Abey Published by Scholastic There is one thing you can guarantee from a Bethany Walker book is laughter, lots of laughing out loud laughter. And this book is no different. Twelve-year-old Meddy Gordon has serious anger issues. In this hilarious book for middle-grade readers, … Continue reading Middle Grade Must Reads – February 2026 (Part One)









