Hannah Lamb

In the follow-up to her acclaimed debut, The Secret of Nightingale Wood, author Lucy Strange explores the harrowing history of England at the start of World War II through the eyes of a young, fearful girl.

Eleven-year-old Pet has grown up on the southeast coast of England with her mother, father and older sister, Mags. Her tight-knit family tends to their village’s lighthouse and has always led a quiet, happy life. But as the 1940s begin and the war moves ever closer, Pet’s beloved cliff tops turn from an idyllic place for a child to roam and play to a battleground of barbed wire and a target for bombings. As the war rages, everyone in her family seems to have a secret to hide, which strains their bonds when they need connection the most. Pet, a girl prone to freezing up in times of fear, will have to learn to be braver than she’s ever been if she hopes to untangle the mysteries shrouding her family. 

Set during one of the most momentous periods of world history, Our Castle by the Sea is a powerful novel, and the steady pace of the narrative will keep readers engrossed. Strange’s incorporation of coastal English folklore and legend adds a layer of depth to both the narrative and characters, making for a rich and immersive reading experience. At the heart of the story is Strange’s heroine, however unlikely, as well as her journey of growth and change during a time that absolutely necessitated it.

Debut author Beth Turley brings readers a heartwarming tale of a 10-year-old girl who sees magic in the world around her and even finds a way to create some herself.

Hannah Geller is a star speller and the only girl in her fifth-grade class who has pimples on her face. Her best friends, Courtney and Ryan, have always been there for her. But lately someone has been writing mean notes about Hannah, and Courtney is starting to become distant. Things aren’t much better at home with her parents and their constant fighting. In the midst of all this, Hannah finds herself less and less able to escape from the sad thoughts in her head, and she wishes her life was a happy story more than ever. But this is her reality, and if she wants things to get better, she’ll have to find the courage to let go of the words she keeps trapped inside so tightly.

With sage wisdom and delicate feeling, Turley pens a story that is equal parts melancholic and hopeful. At the center of it all shines an unforgettable heroine who demonstrates to young readers that one can be both tenacious and gentle, sensitive and strong. Every page calls to mind an ordinary magic in the world, from the first crisp air of fall to the luck of a heads-up penny, and with Hannah as a guide, readers can’t help but open their eyes and their hearts a little wider.

From the author of the Thickety series comes this chilling tale of sneaky witches and captured children.

Late one night, a boy named Alex heads out into the darkened hallways of his apartment building. His objective is to get to the basement and destroy his “nightbooks” in the furnace. He calls them this because he has spent countless hours recording his scariest nightmares and spooky stories in their pages. Alex prizes his imagination, but it’s also the thing that sets him apart from his peers. And when you’re a kid, being different isn’t always a good thing. Alex hopes that destroying his stories will help him fit in, but what he doesn’t expect is a detour that will lead him into the heart of the scariest story he’s ever faced.

Captured by a witch, Alex must tell her a scary story each night, and these stories provide an extra layer of fun and thrills, while never venturing so dark in tone as to be too intense for younger readers. At its core, J.A. White’s Nightbooks is a testament to the power of storytelling and friendship. The steady development of Alex’s friendship with his fellow captives is touching and well-paced, and the multifaceted characterization of the villain is refreshing. With a good blend of fast-paced fantasy and poignant emotion, Nightbooks is sure to please almost any reader, and it might even give them a few tips on how to craft their own stories along the way.

This article was originally published in the August 2018 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

David Almond, the award-winning author of such acclaimed titles as Skellig and Kit’s Wilderness, has penned a clever, touching novel that explores big themes through the tiniest of protagonists with The Tale of Angelino Brown.

Bert and Betty Brown live an ordinary life, Bert as a bus driver and Betty as a school cook. Each of their days look much the same as the last, until one day something completely unexpected happens: Bert finds an angel in his shirt pocket. And just like that, the arrival of this heavenly being with a penchant for sweets transforms their world, making everything a little bit lovelier than it was before. Even the other drivers at Bert’s bus station and the students at Betty’s school are taken by little Angelino’s charms as they begin to teach him about the world. But not everyone believes in angels or thinks them lovely, and soon Angelino is facing threats from shadowy figures. Can his new friends keep him safe, or will this little creature provide the salvation?

In his signature witty style, Almond has crafted a tale that expresses universal truths that all of us, especially adults, need reminding of from time to time. In this luminous story, those gone astray are given second chances, and grown-ups are reminded of the joy and wisdom of childhood. Ultimately, this book is a celebration of and a love letter to the incomprehensible beauty of the world, and the power that beauty has to transform us, if only we allow it.

From critically acclaimed author Catherine Gilbert Murdock comes an enthralling medieval adventure story featuring an unlikely young hero sure to win readers’ hearts.

With a hump on his back and an uncanny ability with animals, Boy has never really fit in with the other residents of his small village. And it doesn’t help that his past is shrouded in mystery. He is bullied and mistreated by everyone from the cook to the herdsman, and his only companions are the goats that he cares for at the manor he calls home. But all of that changes the day that Secundus, a pilgrim on a quest across Europe to gather seven relics of Saint Peter, sees Boy effortlessly climbing and jumping from trees, and enlists his help on the journey. Unsure about his motives, Boy is initially fearful of Secundus and what this perilous expedition might entail. But as they travel on together, facing all manner of challenges and triumphs, Boy begins to unravel the secrets of his origin and come into his own in ways that he never could have anticipated.

With a unique, multigenerational friendship at its heart and a style of writing that creates a convincing and immersive medieval atmosphere, The Book of Boy stands above the crowded middle grade adventure bookshelves. Murdock artfully strikes a balance between action and emotion, making for a well-rounded reading experience that has something to offer everyone.