Calibre Audio Library

October's New Books

Ever wondered what would happen if you take your pet snake into school or else have you ever come across a really annoying elephant? Well you can encounter both of these things in the new collection of stories by David Walliams called Spectacular Stories for the Very Young (617464).

Witch Born by Nicholas Bowling (617477) is a children’s book that will definitely appeal to older readers who like history, fantasy and a bucket load of atmosphere. Set in the year 1577, Queen Elizabeth I has imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots, and Alyce's mother is burned at the stake for witchcraft. Alyce flees to London - but as she discovers her own dark magic, powerful political forces are on her trail. Soon she finds herself deep in a secret battle between rival queens, the fate of England resting on her shoulders.

The Goldfish Boy (617476) is Lisa Thompson’s debut novel and was a Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month in 2017. In the book we encounter Matthew who at twelve years old is confined to his bedroom living with his obsessive compulsive disorder. He spends his time viewing the outside world from his bedroom window until one day he is the only witness when a child goes missing on his street and Matthew must turn detective to help solve the mystery.

Theresa Breslin is a Carnegie medal winning author of books for children across all ages and The Rasputin Dagger (617478) is one for older children. Set in Russia in 1916 this story is full of mystery and intrigue and will appeal to anyone with an interest in history.

A good story for fans of the murder mystery category is Arsenic for Tea by Robin Stevens (617489) which follows the escapades of a couple of school girl detectives as they have to track down an elusive poisoner. This is the second book in the Murder Most Unladylike series.

Rowan Coleman is firmly established as an author of books for adults but she also writes for children and Ruby Parker: Soap Star (617491) is the first in the series featuring this character. Child soap-star Ruby Parker discovers fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be! Although everything looks perfect from the outside, Ruby knows the truth as she deals with the possibility of being fired, the pending divorce of her parents, and the daily struggle to maintain a normal life in the bright spotlight of fame. Readers who enjoyed Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries series may enjoy this.