Shiverton Hall


Book Description

They slowed as they reached the gate; two stone columns, each with its own crumbling angel perched on top. The angels held up a rusty, wrought-iron arch that read, in curling, serpentine letters: SHIVERTON HALL. Arthur Bannister has been unexpectedly accepted into Shiverton Hall, which, as it turns out, is an incredibly spooky school, full of surprises. And it is just as well that Shiverton Hall has made its offer, because Arthur had a horrible time at his previous school, and was desperate to leave. Timely indeed . . . But Arthur has no time to worry about the strange coincidence. He is too busy trying to make head or tail of Shiverton Hall, dogged as it is by tales of curses and bad fortune. At least there are a few friendly faces: George, who shows him around; also Penny and Jake. But not all the faces are friendly. There are the bullying Forge triplets for starters. And then there is the acid tongue of the headmistress, Professor Long-Pitt, who seems to go out of her way to make Arthur's life a misery. Luckily Arthur has his new friends to cheer him up. Although there are some friends that you don't want to have at all, as Arthur is soon to find out.




Shiverton Hall: The Creeper


Book Description

Sinister schemes and deadly deeds are afoot in this second terrifying tale from Shiverton Hall.




Monsters


Book Description

'Disturbingly compelling' Guardian A blackly comic tale about two children you would never want to meet - from the script writer for Killing Eve Season Two and director of Promising Young Woman Set in the Cornish town of Fowey, all is not as idyllic as the beautiful seaside town might seem. The body of a young woman is discovered in the nets of a fishing boat. It is established that the woman was murdered. Most are shocked and horrified. But there is somebody who is not - a twelve-year-old girl. She is delighted; she loves murders. Soon she is questioning the inhabitants of the town in her own personal investigation. But it is a bit boring on her own. Then Miles Giffard, a similarly odd twelve-year-old boy, arrives in Fowey with his mother, and they start investigating together. Oh, and also playing games that re-enact the murders. Just for fun, you understand... A book about two twelve-year-olds that is definitely not for kids.




Tales of Terror from the Black Ship


Book Description

A follow up to Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror, this is another creepy middle grade story collection with a chilling frame. This time, the stories are all tales of the sea: pirates and plagues and storms a plenty...




Fame Game


Book Description

Imagine you were rich and famous… And suddenly you lost all your money, your home and all the things you'd worked so hard for - what would you do? How would you feel if your ex-PA wrote a 'tell all' book, exposing your family's most shameful secrets? If your public turned against you and the press reviled you? If your phones were tapped, your car was followed and your house was under siege - where would you run to? Who would you turn to if all your friends dropped you and you needed refuge? The Spenders, once Britain's favourite family, have suffered all this and more. Now, forced to flee to the beautiful but dilapidated estate of an old friend, they find that country life doesn't offer quite the calm, uncomplicated solution to their problems that they were hoping for. In fact things are about to get a whole lot scarier… The gripping sequel to Dead Rich.




This Old Thing


Book Description

Are you fed up of the same fashion chain shops? Are you bored of your wardrobe? Do you fear arriving at a party and seeing someone wearing the same thing? Yes? Then you're in need of a modern vintage makeover! Dawn O'Porter is a woman on a mission: to ignite passion for vintage fashion! Modern shoppers are obsessed with cheap, disposable clothing - but Dawn and her vintage style experts will show you why hunting for one-of-a-kind fashion gems is more exciting, better value for money, and a lot more fun. THIS OLD THING ties in to Dawn's new six-part show, which is airing in the UK in 2014. Let Dawn introduce you to a world of beautiful and unique fashion treasures, and show you how to create your own glamorous personal style. Packed full of insider vintage fashion know-how, THIS OLD THING will take you through the history behind your fashion favourites (the Little Black Dress), advise you on how to find vintage jewels, and show you how to turn an old item into a fabulous outfit.




Dead Rich


Book Description

The Spenders are Britain's Favourite Family - they are glamorous, rich and very, very famous, everything that their celebrity obsessed culture requires them to be. Their charisma and looks ensure that they are constantly feted, and hounded, by the press. The public adores them. They live what appears to be a charmed and enviable existence. In the claustrophobic confines of their exquisite houses there is a darker reality. Isolated and hemmed in by the paparazzi and their crazed fans, they are trapped in their fame. Constantly surrounded by an army of long-suffering employees: stylists, PAs, personal trainers, drivers, security teams, hair and make-up artists, managers, agents, publicists - they are never alone but always lonely - with nothing else to do but 'drink and fight and screw' they breakfast on prescription drugs, lunch on vodka and dine on anything illegal they can get their hands on. Their privileged, high profile lifestyle is shattered when tragedy strikes - tearing apart the fragile fabric of their existence, and sending them spinning out of control. Dead Rich is a black comedy, a cautionary tale for our times.




The Spindlers


Book Description

Evocative of Alice in Wonderland, this novel from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver is a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty and the enduring power of hope. Perfect for fans of the author’s other middle grade novels: Liesl & Po and the Curiosity House series. Looking across the breakfast table one morning, twelve-year-old Liza feels dread wash over her. Although her younger brother, Patrick, appears the same, Liza knows that he is actually quite different. She is certain that the spindlers—evil, spiderlike beings—came during the night and stole his soul. And Liza is also certain that she is the only one who can rescue him. Armed with little more than her wits and a huge talking rat for a guide, Liza descends into the dark and ominous underground to save Patrick's soul. Her quest is far from easy: she must brave tree-snakes, the Court of Stones, and shape-shifting scawgs before facing her greatest challenge in the spindlers' lair, where more than just Patrick's soul is at stake.




Unnatural Creatures


Book Description

Chosen and introduced by Neil Gaiman, this thoroughly beguiling collection of short stories is inhabited by an amazing menagerie of creatures from myth, legend and dark imagination The griffin, the sunbird, manticores, unicorns – all manner of glorious creatures never captured in zoos, museums or photographs are packed vividly into this collection of stories. Neil Gaiman has included some of his own childhood favourites alongside stories classic and modern to spark the imagination of readers young and old. All contributors have given their work free to benefit Dave Eggers' literacy charity, 826DC. Includes stories by: Peter S. Beagle, Anthony Boucher, Avram Davidson, Samuel R. Delany, Neil Gaiman, Maria Dahvana Headley, Nalo Hopkinson, Diana Wynne Jones, Megan Kurashige, E. Nesbit, Larry Niven, Nnedi Okorafor, Saki, Frank R. Stockton, Gahan Wilson, E. Lily Yu.




Pretty Monsters


Book Description

The crossover literary sensation...now in paperback! Through the lens of Kelly Link's vivid imagination, nothing is what it seems, and everything deserves a second look. From the multiple award- winning "The Faery Handbag," in which a teenager's grandmother carries an entire village (or is it a man-eating dog?) in her handbag, to the near-future of "The Surfer," whose narrator (a soccer-playing skeptic) waits with a planeload of refugees for the aliens to arrive, these ten stories are funny and full of unexpected insights and skewed perspectives on the world. Kelly Link's fans range from Michael Chabon to Peter Buck of R.E.M. to Holly Black of Spiderwick Chronicles fame. Now teens can have their world rocked too!