It's SPOOKY SEASON - our absolutely favourite time to read!!! There's always a glut of fabulous new releases in autumn, many of which have a Halloween theme, which means we can get busy conjuring up our seasonal round-up. So, why don't you snuggle up cosily and take a look at what we recommend...
Picture Books
The Green-Fingered Witch by Helen Dockerty and Steven Lenton
In three words: witches, gardening, spells
This rhyming picture book is pure charm. It encompasses a witch school, spells and pumpkins with an adorable main character, Cress, who is desperate to fit in but just doesn't...
Cress isn't like the other witches at witch school. For a start, she only has green fingers. But green fingers can come in very handy when it comes to pumpkin problems. Can Cress save the day and champion her own talent?
There seems to be a lot of 'plant magic' appearing in books at the moment - for example, Greenwild for the middle grade audience - and there's just something so deliciously satisfying about it. Combining plants, gardening and growing with an loveable witch is just pure picture book magic. Of course, Steven Lenton's incredible illustrations also add an extra magical layer and every spread crackles with zingy colour and fun. Offering a Halloween take on the important 'it's okay to be different' and 'celebrate you' message, this is a total winner!
Witch Cat by Lucy Rowland and Laura Hughes
Published by: Bloomsbury, August 29th 2024
In three words: cats, witches, identity
This book reminded me of The Owl and the Pussycat in terms of rhythm and rhyme and Julia Donaldson's Sugarlump and the Unicorn in terms of plot. The story is centred around a witch's cat called Pippin who, not particularly happy with his job description, sets out on journey of discovery...
Pippin is a witch's cat...but isn't sure he wants to be a witch's cat. What other type of cat could Pippin be? Let's find out and see...
Lucy Rowland always combines a great story with superb rhyme and this is a simple and very fun concept that is really well executed. Will Pippin end up as a sea cat or a knight's cat or even a pet cat? This is a tale about exploring your identity, trying new things but also valueing what you already have.
Trixie, The Witch's Cat by Nick Butterworth
In three words: Cats, differences, spells
Unlike Pippin in Lucy Rowland's book, Trixie DOES want to be a witch's cat. Unfortunately though, thanks to her white paws, Trixie looks different to all the other cats. Will a spell help her to fit in?
With a simple plot, classic language and gorgeous traditional-style illustrations, this feels like a timeless picture book that will never age. Trixie wants to fit in but will fitting in make her happy? Maybe those white paws she dislikes so much make all the difference after all?
Trick or Treat? by Catherine Emmett and Laura Brenlla
Published by: Oxford University Press, 3rd October
This is a rare non-rhyming book from Catherine Emmett but, boy, are readers in for both a trick and a treat when reading this. With wonderful illustrations that boast a colour palette akin to a bag of tempting sweets, the story lulls you into believing that this is a Hansel and Gretel type tale...but is it?
When a little girl out trick or treating knocks on the door of a witch's house, she's convinced that the witch's outfit is just a Halloween costume. As she's lured inside to see the witch's cauldron, things don't look like they're going to end well for this poor soul. But all is not quite as it seems...
This is a clever story with a corker of a twist at the end that I should have seen coming but didn't. We were so busy shouting warnings at the little girl that we didn't think outside the box. Clearly, the author did though! As Catherine Emmett turns the whole story on it's head, adults can join in with the surprised incredulity of younger readers. Watch closely for the look of dawning on their faces - that is definitely the ultimate treat here.
Chapter Books
Adventuremice: The Ghostly Galleon by Phillip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre
In three words: mice, ghosts, treasure
I completely love this young fiction series but this fourth instalment is definitely my favourite one yet. Atmospheric and spooky from the get-go, it has all the Halloween vibes young readers could want and even provides some shiver-tingles for those who don't mind being a little bit scared. Never fear though because the beloved Adventuremice are here to get to the bottom of the mystery and regular readers of the series will know they are in safe hands...
The Adventicemice are on alert! They have heard rumours about some ghostly happenings at sea. Surely it can't be anything to do with the legend of Captain Cheesebeard and his treasure, can it? The Adventuremice are determined to find out.
I love that this adventure doesn't hold back from being genuinely spooky. Yet Reeve and McIntyre also use the safety net of humour, familiar characters and pictoral clues to imply that all is not what it seems. With ghostly galleons, old legends and treasure chests, just the pictures themselves are a pure delight. Think Treasure Island for emerging readers.
Lockett and Wilde's Dreadfully Haunting Mysteries by Lucy Strange and Pam Smy
In three words: ghosts, mysteries, mansions
This brilliant book has all the classic ingredients of a traditional ghost story: old mansions, haunted towers and...yes, actual spirits! For me, it straddles the upper chapter book/middle grade market in terms of content and style. The short chapters and white space make the text accessible and it's the perfect tale for reading alone or in a snuggly shared reading session...
Matilda Lockett helps her fraud of an aunt put on high-profile, theatrical seances. But when they are invited to deal with a haunting at Beauchamp Manor by an elderly duchess, Matilda realises she can actually see ghosts.
But something sneaky as well as spooky is afoot and soon Matilda is immersed in a ghostly mystery with only an actual ghost to help her. Can Matilda and Edgar Wilde solve the case?
The voice in this is instantly enjoyable - spooky but also incredibly funny in tone. It also has that timeless classic feel, which is enhanced by the beautiful hardback edition and ghostly front cover. This is Agatha Christie crossed with a spine-tingling ghost story for kids and is perfect for fans of Lucy Strange's The Ghost of Gosswater and Phil Hickes' series Aveline Jones. Alternatively, it's also a great starting point for readers who aren't quite ready for those denser middle-grade books. Destined to be a series by the clue, 'Mysteries', I can't wait for the next.
Middle Grade
(Book 2 of the Train Of Dark Wonders series)
Published by: Simon & Schuster Ltd, October 3rd 2023
In three words: Magical lands, trains, cursed creatures
We're stepping more into fairy tale territory with this spooky fantasy series by Alex Bell, author of The Polar Bear Explorers Club, and I enjoyed this second instalment as much as the first. There's something almost dreamlike in the world-building here. There's echoes of Enid Blyton's The Magic Faraway Tree with the different doorways into magical lands and Anna James' Bookwanderers series with The Train of Dark Wonders. Yet, Alex Bell adds a dose of darkness into the mix for good measure...
Despite the random concoction of components (trains, Cinderella, cursed clams, ninja/ballet schools) and the fact that there's a gentle plot to these books, there's something fabulously and elusively charming about the series. Perhaps it's the ode to fairytales or the delicious darkness of cursed creatures or the tempting descriptions of Halloween sweets. Either way, there's a undefinible magic to Bess's random adventures with her friends, which is culminating into what feels like a big and foreboding conclusion. The books makes me feel something, which is why I was so keen to dive into book 2 and why I can't wait for book 3. There's a unique spine-tinglingness to the atmosphere, the joy of an imagination gone dark (but not evil) and a celebration of all things that are traditionally villainous but might not actually be what they seem. Plus, when you enter a land that has zombie ducks, dread deers and lava yaks, what's not to get excited about.
Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson
Published by: Usborne, October 2024
In three words: siblings, monsters, mines,
This debut middle-grade novel by Alex Atkinson starts with some warring siblings but swiftly grows in spookiness thanks to the terrifying Cinderman that Indigo accidentally releases. With zombies, banshee's and a ghostly toddler called Chuckles, this has a distinctively sinister atmosphere, loads of tension and a brilliant monstrous baddie:
Indigo and Rusty are twins who live in a funeral parlour and can't stand each other. But when Indigo accidentally uncovers a secret crypt beneath their home and releases a terrifying spirit, she realises she might need her brother after all. As the pair discover they are actually 'Spooksmiths' and the only ones resistant to the Cinderman's power to turn everyone into zombies, it's up to them to work together to save their town from the ashy destruction this spook is unleashing...
There's something very cinematic about this novel, which is quite short in length compared to other middle-grade books out there. Perfect for fans of Aveline Jones by Phil Hickes and Jenny McLachlan's Ghost Detectives, it combines the atmosphere of a traditional 'haunted house' story with an essence of Ghostbusters. The pace and tension grows like the Cinderman's ash cloud the further you get into the story and there is both a real sense of malice woven around the relatable and often funny banter of the siblings. I found the writing very visual and easy to picture and, with some quite scary, edge-of-your-seat scenes, I suspect this is going to be a super-popular series.
Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull by Martin Howard, inside illustrations by Pete Williamson
Published by: Nosy Crow, 26th September 2024
In three words: necromancy, curses, skulls
If you want to dive into something both hilariously funny but deeply dark then Mallory Vayle and the Curse of Maggoty Skull is for you. Chosen as Waterstones Book of the Month for October 2024, the incredible writing had me gripped from the first page. This book doesn't hold back on the evil - with a brilliantly devilish baddy and a brooding mansion that chilled me to the bone. However, it also has bagfuls of VOICE, with incredibly inventive description, some sharp quips and characters which leap off the page.
Mallory Vayle's life has turned upside down. Both her parents have been killed in a suspicious accident and now she's standing at their funeral with their chattering ghosts standing next to her...
Yes, Mallory can see and communicate with the dead - something her estranged, psychic aunt definitely can't. But Mallory is more than a psychic. As she heads off to live in her aunt's terrifying home, she discovers that she's actually a necromancer. And when a truly wicked spirit snatches her parents' ghosts away, Mallory is pulled into the shadows of darkness with only a talking skull to help her. Will Mallory give Hellysh Spatzl what she wants to get her old life back..?
This is a gripping, high-paced read for those that can stomach the fear-factor. However, the humour really helps to temper the scariness and so does Maggoty the skull's incessant chatter, which I found both irritating and endearing, as does Mallory. There's a great plot with huge potential for discussion and I loved the character of Aunt Lilith. Also, watch out for the seance scene just after Mallory goes to live with Aunt Lilith as it's comedy writing at its finest! I loved both Mallory's boldness, courage and vulnerability as she explores what it means to be a necromancer...it's a Halloween classic!
P.S: For readers who want the humour and the voice but not the scares, I recommend checking out the fabulous Millicent Quibb's School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science by actress and comedian Kate McKinnon (review coming soon). This is very similar in style and tone with plenty of thrills but less of the chills...unless you count a monstrous, sharp-toothed worm.
What we'll be reading next...
Unfortunately, it's impossible for us to read everything out there, especially in a short space of time. But here are some other titles that are on our to-be-read pile:
The Bad Guys: Haunted Heist
Dave Pigeon (Zombies) by Swapna Haddow, cover art by Sheena Dempsey
We thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series which we featured in last year's round up. We're wondering if this is going to be as scary as the first...
The Elston-Fright Tales by Reece Carter, published by Usborne
