Fully-rounded characters that young readers will recognise and engage with. The dialogue is number 1 haircut grade sharp - it powers the story along and is full of witty, entertaining banter. Perfect for the middle-grade reader. A joy to read. * Alex Wheatle, author of Crongton Knights * ALISHEA: Yeah, wow. Um, so there is a sense of social activism in the book as well. So what would you say to somebody who might be interested in making a change in the world? ALISHEA: Yeah, they're both very similar kind of characters. They're both very powerful. But yes, good answer. Thanks so much, Bec, it's been lovely getting to know the book and you. And also, how you use comedy as well as horror and how they're connected, also. So I hope you guys have enjoyed it as well. And it's all going really great. They're earning their badges. But one day they go for their camping badge and they end up outside an abandoned factory. And it all gets a little bit spooky, actually. So... R.J. Palacio talks about what you should do in a situation where you do not know what to do. She says “Just be kind”. Ask the children if they have ever been in a similar situation where they didn’t know what to do. Were they kind? What could they do to be kind?

one of the coolest people in the whole world. She's amazing. In fact, she's my favourite person. She's so talented. And I'm so excited to have here because she's the best. The dialogue within the story is beautifully composed, really showing the feelings of the characters as they explore their mysterious find in the abandoned factory. With the chapters being nice and short, the book lends itself really well to whole class reading activities; my group of children enjoyed the story and really felt for the characters as their stories unfolded. Looking for more challenging tasks, Josie enlists her friends Wesley and Margot into her very own Scout troop, the Copseys, named after the street they all live on. Together they start their quest for their camping badge by sleeping out near to the abandoned factory behind their houses. ALISHEA: laughs Let's go for it. So, obviously, as these are crimes as well, I've got to do it in a very mysterious and spooky way. So I'm going to try and set the scene as best as I can. So, a priceless painting has been stolen from a Peruvian forest. Ooh.ALISHEA: I mean, you were on the right lines. You're on the right lines, at least you didn't say something completely random. laughs Didn't do too bad there, Sharna. You got two out of three. But excellent mystery solving. And also here on Book Club, what we like to do is write and read and review.

In the South East, there was a strong focus on sport, with a wide variety of shortlisted entries including gender inequality in sport, as well other entries which focused on accessibility and discrimination of disabled children in education. Even though there are a lot of differences, I felt like this book is a new version of the Famous Five. Yes, there are three characters in the book, not five (and no Timmy the dog). No, there isn't a private island, they don't have picnics with ginger beer (though there is a camping picnic) and in The Good Turn, it's about three neighbours who want to do good deeds in their neighbourhood, rather than cousins who enjoy spending the school holidays together at Kirrin Cottage. I think the main reason I was disappointed with this book was the gap between my expectations and what I read. I was expecting a book that was much more of a mystery than I got, more in line with her previous books and the blurb, Instead, this felt much more like a contemporary about friendship and the injustice of the past. Author Anna Kemp introduces The Hollow Hills, the sequel to her dark magical tale, Into Goblyn Wood. A sharp, funny middle grade adventure with themes of real-life activism and how to help others for fans of The Goonies and The London Eye Mystery.

Sharna Jackson Press Reviews

But that night they stumble across something strange. Someone seems to be living in the derelict building! The Copseys have to solve the mystery...and perhaps earn their bravery and activism badges along the way...

Dapo Adeola, Tracy Darnton, Joseph Coelho and Chitra Soundar are among the 19 authors and illustrators longlisted for the Inclusive Books for Child... This book's narrative, character development, rooting in historical context and picture-painting is absolutely fantastic, and I think it's a must read for any older primary school pupil and above. I loved Margot and Wesley's friendship development in particular, as well as how Wesley calls out Jo's focus on herself, and her self-realisation. The book kept me guessing, too - even when I thought the end was looking bleak, a sort of semi-resolution was formed, and I think that was the perfect way to tie up the book. Together they start their quest for their camping badge by sleeping out near to the abandoned factory behind their houses. But that night they stumble across something strange. Someone seems to be living in the derelict building! The Copseys have to solve the mystery... and perhaps earn their bravery and activism badges along the way...So begins a series of adventures, small ones at first but then after seeing lights on in the empty factory building Josie wants to explore a bit more and everything becomes a lot more serious. Perfect for readers who love Robin Stevens and Katherine Woodfine, and full of fast-paced adventure, brilliant characters and snappy dialogue with themes of real-life activism and how to help others. ALISHEA: That's brilliant. So Josephine was inspired by Josephine. But who were you inspired by when you were younger? Josephine Williams is definitely a leader - and her teachers know it! What other eleven-year-old is desperate for MORE schoolwork? Looking for more challenging tasks, Josie enlists her friends Wesley and Margot into her very own Scout troop, the Copseys, named after the street they all live on.

But that night they stumble across something strange. Someone seems to be living in the derelict building! The Copseys have to solve the mystery... and perhaps earn their bravery and activism badges along the way... I utterly loved The Good Turn; it's bone-deep brilliant; a joy to the very end. It's so warm and so funny, and so ferociously on the side of justice and of hope. I wanted to know the kids; I loved them like they were real - and I wanted every child I know to have the chance to be in the Copseys. It has a clarity to it that means that to read it feels like being nourished. I adored it. - Katherine Rundell Ok, Pizza Girl says, one day a girl named Florence was sitting near a tree. When all of a sudden, a magic wand fell onto her head. Bash! You get one wish granted, came a strange voice from nowhere. So the girl decided to wish for a mug.This story reads with a rare freshness and energy. The voices and the setting are convincing and vivid... an intriguing mystery The Times Now Book Clubbers, it is time to meet another of our awesome authors. As well as being a presenter and a paper puppeteer, she's also a comedian. And not only that, but she's scarily good at writing creepy books. Everybody, it's Bec Hill. The winners of the Diverse Book Awards 2023 have been announced, with one winner from each of the four categories announced: Picture book, Children... For 9+ readers, this gripping, thoughtful update to the Blytonesque 'secret society' genre engages squarely with racism and social injustice. - Guardian