As we roll back round to the summer break, there are more distractions than ever vying for children's attention; from video games, to TV, to social media. Combined with a steep 36% decrease in reading enjoyment for young people aged 8-18 since 2005, it can be a real challenge to keep them engaged with books during the holidays and avoid the so-called 'summer slide'.*
To help, we've pulled together a list of unputdownable, absorbing stories from our award-winning writers; all in a neat bite-size format perfect for holding their attention and squeezing in between summer adventures. From mind-boggling sci-fi, to gripping footy action, to intriguing mysteries and even swoon-worthy romance; there's something for everyone!
* Our publisher Ailsa explains why Barrington Stoke books help young readers to tackle the summer slide:
Ages 5+
For the mystery solver ...
Hana has always longed to have a pet of her own. So when a cat turns up at her bedroom window one night, she thinks her dreams have come true! But Ace is no ordinary cat. He's a detective cat who has come to invite Hana to join the Moonlight Mystery Agency, and that's when the magical adventures begin ... (First in a series)
For the one who love to laugh ...
Big Goat Gruff is always in trouble for eating things on the farm. So when the farmer discovers that the birthday cake he made for his wife has a huge bite taken out of it, Gruff is naturally the first suspect. But he didn’t do it! Can Gruff find the culprit and clear his name before the farmer and his wife get home and turn him into goat pie?!
For the aspiring sports star ...
Lottie Dod is DETERMINED to show that girls can be just as good as sports as boys. She runs and jumps and leaps after the ball – playing tennis makes Lottie feel WONDERFUL. After beating her brothers, she eventually goes on to reach the finals of the most important tennis competition of them all – WIMBLEDON! Can she continue her winning streak to become the world’s first female sports SUPERSTAR?
Ages 7-9+
For the wannabe monster hunter ...
Joe is tired of being called average and feeling completely forgettable at school. So when he hears that a Bigfoot-like beast has been spotted in some nearby woods, he senses an opportunity. Surely capturing Bigfoot will make him stand out from the crowd and bring him the popularity he longs for? With no real plan or survival skills, Joe and his best friend Tiago set off on what turns out to be an unforgettably hilarious quest with some very unexpected results!
For the Indiana-Jones-in-training ...
Mabel and Will Greystone can't wait to join their aunt Lucy, a famous relic hunter in the land of Marvolia, on an exciting quest to search for the legendary lost town of Umber. But also on the hunt is devious Byron Cogsworth, desperate for the glory such an important discovery will bring. Can Mabel, Will and Aunt Lucy find Umber before him? And what secrets will the clockwork key unlock …? (First in a series)
For the sci-fan fan ...
Sparrow lives in the world after the Reek. The atmosphere is toxically polluted, and Axel Brodie, the tech billionaire behind Zephyr Industries, is cashing in as the only supplier of clean air. Sparrow is struggling to help her family survive until her brilliant inventor friend, Miriam Fenn, comes up with a new form of technology that could break Zephyr’s stranglehold on the air supply. But men like Brodie are hard to defeat, and he will do everything in his power to stop Miriam and Sparrow. Who will triumph in this battle to breathe?
For the football fiend ...
Football used to be a way for Amelia to escape when her parents were arguing, but now that her dad has moved out and her mum is struggling to cope, it’s just another source of stress. Amelia is late for practice while trying to help her mum and finds it hard to concentrate during important matches. Her coach and team-mates are all worried, but it’s difficult to help when Amelia lashes out in anger. Can Amelia find a way to get the support she needs before her temper pushes everyone away?
For the history buff ...
Ann Storer has inherited her grandmother’s mysterious gift of healing, which she shares through the special tinctures she dispenses in her family’s apothecary shop. When she combines her talents with the genius of a young Isaac Newton, recently arrived to board above the shop, the two create an incredible elixir with seemingly unlimited powers. But seventeenth-century England is a dangerous place to display any special abilities, and Ann must hide all evidence when witchfinder Abel Geach arrives in town. So when the plague starts to run rife and those she loves are in danger, will Ann risk everything to help them?
For the animal lover ...
Unwanted and lonely living with her unkind aunt, Puloma ends up running away with the circus. She’s relieved to find work and a place to live but can’t understand why the other circus workers are constantly worried about the police finding them. The reason for their fears is the circus’s star act – a dancing sloth bear called Nyla. This form of cruelty is now illegal in India, and when Puloma sees Nyla being mistreated, she decides to try to help her escape …
Ages 11+
For the summer adventurer ...
It’s the end of the summer and Denny is having to move away with his mum now that she’s found a good job, but he’s not planning on leaving quietly. He’s made a list of scores to settle and wrongs to right before he goes. He asks his best friend, Jake, to help. Jake is absolutely gutted that Denny is leaving and worries what life will be like without him. Of course he’ll do anything to help, no matter how weird or unrealistic the items on Denny’s list might be. But the list is more powerful than either of them realise – it can make and break friendships ...
For the thrill seeker ...
Kyle and Lauren Dempsey believe their soldier stepdad is dead, killed in action in Northern Ireland. But then he turns up at their flat in the Alpine Heights tower block, terrifyingly changed. One day later, a mysterious virus seems to be running rampant through the building and many residents are dead. Nobody has ever discovered what really happened – until now … (First in a series)
For the nature enthusiast ...
Kyle is less than happy about getting dumped at his eccentric old grandad’s on a Saturday afternoon. Embarrassed by his grandad’s ratty old Elvis wig and his weird three-legged dog, Kyle thinks the day is going to be a nightmare until his grandad introduces him to the marvels in the beck at the bottom of his garden. Once filthy and full of rubbish, the stream has been cleaned up and is now home to some amazing creatures. But this magical world is under threat from a new development. Kyle’s grandad is determined to stop the builders and has an audacious plan to save the beck, but when he falls ill, will Kyle find the courage to carry it out by himself?
Ages 13+
For the romance lover ...
Harvey is popular, cool, plays football and has been in a relationship with his girlfriend Summer for as long as anyone can remember. Alfie is not popular, not cool, has a sick note so he doesn’t have to play any sport, and has been in a relationship with his Xbox since forever. So when Summer dramatically dumps Harvey just a few days before the school prom, no one is expecting Alfie to ask Harvey to be his date. Least of all Alfie. But sometimes amazing things can happen when you take a chance …
For the reader who prefers a side of murder ...
When an American-style residential camp is set up in the grounds of an English stately home, the teenage camp counsellors are looking forward to a fun summer of activities. But right from the outset, things don’t feel quite right at Camp Miller. Rumours circulate of a tragedy that took place in the grounds and there are unexplained sightings of a ghostly presence. Then the incidents begin – a near-drowning out on the lake, a fatal fall from a cliff-face … Are these tragic accidents or is there something more sinister going on at Camp Killer?
Encourage reading for pleasure during the holidays with our range of free activities, designed to keep the fun going after the final page
