The Tower HamletsPrimary Booklist

2012

40 of the best books to borrow from your school library or any of the Tower Hamlets public

libraries or Idea Stores

Books selected by Schools Library Services librarians, secondary school librarians and pupils.

Mulligan, AndyReturn to RibblestropAn opportunity to visit again the madcap school where crocodiles, scorpions, and children are treated with affection and kindness, and second chances and support are a part of everyday life.

Simon, Francesca The Sleeping Army In an alternate Britain where Wodenism is practiced instead Christianity, a night spent in the British Museum takes Freya on a whirlwind adventure to Asgard, the legendary realm of the Viking gods.

Sheth, Kashmira Boys without Names Eleven year-old Gopal flees his village, and starvation, for the city of Mumbai and the hope of a future. But there’s only the sweatshop, no money and little food at the end of each day. Locked away from the world with other children, can Gopal’s stories be the key to their survival?

Gleitzman, Morris Too Small to FailOliver’s parents own a bank. This makes them very rich, very important and very busy. Oliver, on the other hand, is terrible at maths and aspires to nothing more than owning a puppy. But when things start to go wrong and the Bank is in trouble only Oliver can save the day.

Zucker, Jonny Monster Swap Voxy is ten feet tall, has blue fur and Amazing Elastic Eyebrows, and his favourite food is cabbage and soil burgers which might mean Robbie is in for a crazy time when he takes part in a Monster Swap.

McGowan, AnthonyDonut diaries Dermot loves donuts. But he hates having his poo analysed by a nutritionist who says that if he eats too many he’ll be off to Camp Fatso for the holidays. As if worrying about moving to big school wasn’t enough for him...

Webb, Holly Lily Magic is outlawed, and Lily’s family, once rich and powerful magicians, now hide away and secretly train her older sister, Georgie, in magic. But when Lily discovers her parents’ plot to use Georgie to restore the country to its magical glory, she knows she must rescue her sister - and flee.

Newbery, Linda Lob Lucy loved visiting her grandparents’ house in the hope of catching a glimpse of Lob, a mysterious green man who lived in their garden. One day, to her astonishment, she finally spots Lob but soon after a terrible event changes Lucy’s world. Will she ever see Lob again?

Grisham, John Theodore Boone A cold-blooded killer is about to go free, and only Theo, half boy, half lawyer, knows the truth.

Johnson, PeteThe Vampire Hunters On Marcus’s thirteenth birthday, his life changes for ever as he learns the shocking truth that he is a half-vampire. His secret blog is the only thing that keeps him from going crazy. Now there are some strange attacks in the woods and a super-vampire may be behind them.

Asquith, R.L.Letters from an Alien Schoolboy:Cosmic Custard An alien attack has caused Flowkwee to return to Earth with orders to enslave the human race. Things are going okay until the arrival of the dreaded Wiffly Biffly...

Davies, Katie The Great Cat Conspiracy The New Cat doesn’t like being locked out of the house. It would prefer to carry on bringing gifts in to its owners, like a hedgehog or the head of the vicar’s Koi carp. But its owners are not prepared for a possible conspiracy involving the Cat Lady.

Dolan, PennyA Boy called M.O.U.S.E Unwanted and unloved by both his grandfather and his uncle Scrope, Mouse‘s nurse, Hanny, is the only one who cares for him and realises the danger he is in. When a sinister man takes Mouse away to the grim Murkstone Hall, will he be able to escape from the people who wish him harm?

Pichon, LizThe Brilliant World of Tom GatesTom has embarrassing parents, a best friend with a mischievous dog and a big sister he’s constantly winding up. He’s the master of excuses for late homework: dog attacks, spilt water, lightning... Tom’s exercise book is full of doodles, cartoons and thoughts, as well as comments from his long-suffering teacher, Mr Fullerton.

Hare, LucindaThe Dragon WhispererQuenelda loves dragons and has a magical way with them, but Root feels nothing but fear. Despite this, a friendship develops between the two of them as they join the battle against the hobgoblins and unravel a conspiracy.

Wynne Jones, DianaEarwig and the WitchEarwig is very good at getting her own way, and so when she’s sent from the orphanage to foster parents Bella Yaga and Mandrake and discovers she is only wanted as a skivvy to pound ingredients for magic potions, she gets Thomas the talking cat to help her develop her own talents.

Caldecott, Elen Operation Eiffel Tower Lauren, Jack, Ruby and Billy’s parents are always arguing, and their dad moves out. Lauren and Jack decide they have to get them together again. And so begins Operation Eiffel Tower.

Busby, C.JFrogspell When would-be wizard Max accidentally invents a new spell that turns people into frogs, he can at last win the Novices’ Spell-Making Competition. But events take an unexpected turn when he finds himself helping Merlin fight an evil sorceress. Could his unpredictable frogspell be of any use?

DiTerlizzi, Tony The Search for Wondla Eva Nine was raised by the robot Muthr and has never seen another living person. But when her underground sanctuary is destroyed she is forced to flee and search for someone else like her. Will she find any other humans on this strange planet?

Evans, LissaSmall Change for Stuart A tin box with a secret compartment and a handwritten message from Great Uncle Tony sets Stuart off on a strange and dangerous quest. “I have to go away, and I may not be able to get back. If I don’t return, then my workshop and all it contains, is yours if you can find it - and if you can find it, then you’re the right boy to have it.”

Goodwin, Harriet Gravenhunger A mysterious house and a secret that Phoenix’s mother took with her to her grave. Something terrible happened at the house and Phoenix is determined to uncover the truth, but as he starts to investigate, he finds that he is in mortal danger.

Ewart, Franzeska G.There’s a Hamster in my Pocket! Yosser and Kylie have problems. Yosser has to share a room with Nani and her stuffed animals. Kylie’s got her brother and his rapper friends to deal with. Then there’s Nani’s mysterious locked box and key, and the hamsters, of course...

Thompson, Kate Highway Robbery A young gutter-snipe beggar, down on his luck, has a rather unusual day as a certain infamous highway man entrusts him with the care of his horse.

Lacey, JoshThe Island of Thieves

Tom is off to Peru with his shady Uncle Harvey on his quest for the long lost treasure of Francis Drake, which turns into a deadly race, with Tom and Uncle Harvey hounded all the way by dangerous criminals in the pay of a Peruvian mob boss.

Saunders, KateMagicalamity Tom is in shock. He has just discovered that his dad is an escaped fairy on the run. He must trust his life to three dangerous fairy godmothers that he has never met, survive their botched magic spells, learn to fly and enter the dangerous Fairy Realm to save his parents.

McCaughrean, GeraldineMonacello: the Little Monk Monacello was abandoned on the steps of a convent when he was a baby. No note was left, only two pieces of cloth: one red, one black; the colours of darkness and sin. Who and where was his mother? Monacello has to find her.

Foxley, Janet Muncle Trogg It’s no fun being the smallest giant in his world. Muncle Trogg becomes so fed up with being bullied by the other giants that he decides to visit the ‘Smallings’ who he’s meant to look like.

Boyne, John Noah Barleywater Runs AwayRunning away from his problems, Noah finds a toy shop selling some very strange things, such as an argumentative Russian clock and doorbell that forgets to ring. The elderly mysterious owner tells tells Noah some strange and wonderful stories - but why did the old toymaker run away from his own father?

Riordan, RickThe Red Pyramid Carter and Sadie’s dad is a brilliant archaeologist with a secret. When an explosion occurs at the British Museum which shatters the ancient Rosetta stone, it unleashes Set, the evil god of chaos. Carter and Sadie must embark on a terrifying quest from Cairo to Paris and the American South-West to save their dad.

Stewart, JoelTree Soup Stanley Wells is an ordinary boy with some extraordinary friends. When Stanley wakes up one morning to find his family are missing, and there are new trees in the garden, he needs the help of the mysterious Dr Moon and his canine companion Morecombe to solve the mystery.

Jarman, JuliaPiggywiggins and the Tree Witch

Natasha realises that the only way to free the fairy from the stone statue in her garden is to go into Fairy Land herself and rescue a witch’s baby. But legend says that any human who enters Fairy Land may never come out at all...

Mitchelhill, Barbara Run Rabbit Run The police come to arrest Lizzie’s dad when he refuses to fight in the Second World War. Lizzie and her brother Freddie go on the run with him, but it becomes more and more difficult to stay together as a family. Will they be able to? And will they ever be safe again?

Carradice, Phil Saving SS Shannon

When William hides from bully-boy Danny on the wreck of an old ship, an adventure begins to save the SS Shannon and the old dockyard area from redevelopment. Is William brave enough to stand up to Danny and his father and save the SS Shannon from certain destruction?

Nadin, JoannaPenny Dreadful is a Magnet for Disaster My name is not actually Penny Dreadful. It’s Penelope Jones. The ‘Dreadful’ bit is my dad’s JOKE. But I do not see the funny side. It’s just that sometimes my BRILLIANT IDEAS don’t work out. I can’t help it - I’m just a Magnet for Disaster.

Palmer, Tom Scrum! When Steven’s mother remarries and moves down south, Steven is torn between loyalty to his dad and a relationship with his mum’s new husband. Maybe even worse, he might have to leave his beloved Rugby League behind for a new Rugby Union team. How will he decide?

Morpurgo, MichaelShadow Never have Aman and his mother needed a friend more than when a Springer Spaniel appears in the mouth of their Afghan cave. The dog becomes a constant companion, a shadow, and that’s what Aman decides to call her. As life in Afghanistan becomes more dangerous they find the courage to leave. But how far can Shadow lead them?

Lewis, GillSky Hawk In their small farming village in Scotland, Iona shares with Callum an amazing secret about a wild creature that is living on his father’s farm. Callum and Iona become very close friends and together they will do anything to protect the beautiful creature.

Almond, David Slog’s Dad Slog believes there’s life after death and that his dead dad will come back and visit him. Slog’s mate Davie isn’t convinced. But how does a stranger know everything Slog’s dad would know? Because Slog says he’s really is his dad, that’s how.

Rundell, KatherineThe Girl Savage Will Silver’s world is turned upside down when she is transplanted from a carefree home in rural Zimbabwe to a posh London boarding school. Schoolgirls are more frightening than lions and hyenas, but where can she escape to in London? And will she survive?

Doherty, Berlie Treason William Montague becomes page to King Henry’s son, Prince Edward - a rewarding position, but also makes him some powerful enemies. When it becomes known that the Montague family worship in a way that the king had banned, William’s father is sent to Newgate. Can William do anything to get him freed?