(Ages 7+) THE MAGICIAN'S ELEPHANT BY KATE DICAMILLO, ILLUSTRATED BY YOKO TANAKA (Walker Books £8.99) So starts a wildly energetic and anarchic adventure involving kidnaps and scooter rides, with the children trying to outwit the evil or incompetent adults (not terribly difficult). JIM and Charlie hope to find out some playground gossip when they bug the teachers' staff room, but instead they discover some teachers speaking a secret language - and behaving in a suspicious way. (Ages 11+) BOOM! BY MARK HADDON (David Fickling Books £10.99) Deliciously stomach-churning, this will thrill demanding readers who like their gore festering and their characters resourceful. Only the under-14s survived unharmed, but now they must fight off the very people who used to protect them. THERE'S no slow burn to this gruesome gothic horror story - a small child is ruthlessly kidnapped by starving grownups on the first page!Īfter a horrible sickness, all adults either died or were left crazed and feral.

(Ages 9+) THE ENEMY BY CHARLIE HIGSON (Penguin £12.99) Weaving in a contemporary message about girls' education, McKay's ear for dialogue creates a lively story, while Sara's continuing contact with her former life asks questions about friendships and loyalty. Taking up the story when Sara Crewe leaves Miss Minchin's Seminary, we follow the progress of her lonely friend Ermengarde and the other girls left behind.

It's a brave writer who attempts a sequel to Frances Hodgson Burnett's 1905 classic A Little Princess, but McKay's track record suggests she's up to the task.

WISHING FOR TOMORROW BY HILARY MCKAY (Hodder £10.99)

Wishing for tomorrow by hilary mckay