I Love The Seasons – Summer by Lizzie Scott and Stephanie Fizer Coleman

The Blurb On The Back:

I Love The Seasons - Summer

What do you love about summer? Do you enjoy the long days and playing outside? Perhaps you like summer foods like ice creams?

In this series explore the many different things to love about the seasons and find to how they affect plants and animals. With beautiful illustrations and simple text, the books give younger readers a great introduction to what happens during the seasons.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Lizzie Scott is a writer and editor of non-fiction books for children who particularly loves plants, animals and the environment. Stephanie Fizer Coleman is an experienced children’s book illustrator who loves illustrating birds. This is a beautifully put-together book (part of a series) for readers aged 5+ that explores different aspects of summer and invites readers to think about what summer means to them and what they like about it.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam

The Blurb On The Back:

Storm has never liked to stand out from the crowd. But ever since she started Year 7, her life has been full of people telling her she needs to speak up, make friends and be more like her popular big brother.

Then Storm breaks a school record, and finds herself the new star of the athletics team. But as she’s thrust into the spotlight, her home life and friendships start spiralling out of control, and it’s time for Quiet Storm to show that she has something to say.

A tender, empowering novel about family, friendship and finding confidence in who you are.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Kimberly Whittam’s debut novel for readers aged 10+ is a well observed novel about shyness, anxiety and standing up for yourself. I think that anyone who is quiet or introverted will find it very easy to relate to Storm and her worries and the way Whittam draws the relationships between Storm, Zarrish and Melissa and Storm and her brother is very believable. All in all this is a very strong debut and I look forward to reading Whittam’s next book

QUIET STORM was released in the United Kingdom on 8th June 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

My Name Is Sunshine Simpson by G. M. Linton

The Blurb On The Back:

Meet … Sunshine Simpson

Sunshine’s larger-than-life Grandad is always telling her to get out and find her own adventures, but unfortunately BAD LUCK has a habit of coming her way.

Her new friend Evie is fast becoming a FRENEMY, her home haircut is a DISASTER, and the school showcase is so STRESSFUL! Everything seems to be going wrong! Especially with Granddad getting older every week.

Sunshine needs to find her voice, but can she break through the clouds to stand tall, stand proud and show the world she can SHINE?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

G. M. Linton’s debut novel for readers aged 9+ (illustrated by Fuuji Takashi and Emily Bornoff and the first in a series) is a sensitively written book about learning who you are and what’s important to you while also dealing with the difficult topic of illness, death and grief. I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on Sunshine’s Jamaican heritage and her and her family’s pride in their identity and I look forward to reading more of her adventures.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

In The Ends by Alex Wheatle

The Blurb On The Back:

Welcome to Crongton where your loyalties and wits will be tested …

Jonah’s the fastest sprinter in the ends. But that won’t help his dad find a new job, or stop his parents arguing over how to pay their never-ending bills.

Getting kidnapped by Manjaro, the most notorious warlord in South Crong, wasn’t the obvious solution to all his problems. But Manjaro likes games. And his latest one comes with a map and the promise of a big bag of cash at the end. Cash Jonah’s family could really use …

Jonah and his friends are up for the quest, but will the map lead them to treasure, or into more trouble instead?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

The 5th in Alex Wheatle’s YA CRONGTON SEQUENCE is a pacy affair whose portrayal of life on a council estate gives a feel of community and the ambition of its adolescents without downplaying the issues with living there. Wheatle’s got a great ear for dialogue (although I fear that it may date it more quickly than it deserves) and the rapport between Jonah and his friends rings very true such that I need to read the other books in this series.

IN THE ENDS was released in the United Kingdom on 17th August 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

Master List Of Books 2023

1. Fake Law: The Truth About Justice In An Age Of Lies by The Secret Barrister.

2. Winterland by Alan Glynn.

3. Speak Out, Leonard! By Jessie James and Tamara Angeón.

4. Ella And The Waves by Britta Teckentrup.

5. Be More Harry by Satu Hämeenaho-Fox.

6. Secrets So Deep by Ginny Myers Sain.

7. Be Confident Be You by Becky Goddard-Hill.

8. Scrublands by Chris Hammer.

9. Cash Is Queen by Davinia Tomlinson.

10. Rainbow Magic: Kat The Jungle Fairy by Daisy Meadows.

11. Beast Quest - Ossiron The Fleshless Killer by Adam Blade.

12. Beast Quest – Styx The Lurking Terror by Adam Blade.

13. Sea Keepers: The Missing Manatee by Coral Ripley.

14. The Pug Who Wanted To Be A Fairy by Bella Swift.

15. I Am Enough by Sheridan Stewart.

16. Blue Badger And The Beautiful Berry by Huw Lewis and Ben Sanders.

17. Reinventing Capitalism In The Age Of Data by Viktor Mayer-Schönberger and Thomas Ramge.

18. The Song Walker by Zillah Bethell.

19. Crookhaven - The School For Thieves by J. J. Arcanjo.

20. Rainbow Magic – Hope The Welcome Fairy by Daisy Meadows.

21. Two Places To Call Home by Phil Earle.

22. A Little Book Of The Orchestra – The Clarinet by Mary Auld and Elisa Paganelli.

23. Project Logic – Prove It: How To Think Rationally by Katie Dicker.

24. A Little Book Of The Orchestra – The Violin by Mary Auld and Elisa Paganelli.

25. Beware The Blue Bagoo by Karl Newson and Andrea Stegmaier.

26. The Swifts by Beth Lincoln.

27. Don’t Wake Mum by Eden Wells & Sharon Davey.

28. Wilder by Penny Chrimes.

29. Dread Wood Fear Ground by Jennifer Killick.

30. Dread Wood – Flock Horror by Jennifer Killick.

31. Connected Women by Kate Hodges.

32. Momo Arashima Steals The Sword Of The Wind by Misa Sugiura.

33. The Sad Ghost Club 3 – Find Your Kindred Spirits by Lize Meddings.

34. The Dinosaur That Pooped Easter by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter.

35. The Stickleback Catchers by Lisette Auton.

36. To The Other Side by Erika Meza.

37. Peter’s First Easter by The World of Peter Rabbit.

38. Stand Up by Nikesh Shukla.

39. The Truth Detective: How To Make Sense Of A World That Doesn’t Add Up by Tim Harford.

40. Superpoop Needs A Number Two by Sam Harper and Chris Jevons.

41. The Shattered Lands by Brenna Nation.

42. Jamie by L. D. Lapinski.

43. Wilder Than The Sea by Serena Molloy.

44. Why Do People Fight Wars? by Ali Brownlie and Alex Woolf.

45. The Kids’ Guide - Dealing With Death by Liz Gogerly.

46. The Ten Percent Thief by Lavanya Lakshminarayan.

47. A Dark Inheritance by H. F. Askwith.

48. The Lizzie And Belle Mysteries – Drama And Danger by J. T. Williams.

49. The Kids’ Guide - Anti-Bullying by Louise Spilsbury.

50. The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries – Portraits And Poison by J. T. Williams.

51. Beano Dennis & Gnasher – Little Menace’s Great Escape by Craig Graham and Mike Stirling.

52. Mr Men Little Miss The New King by Roger Hargreaves.

53. Myriad by Joshua David Bellin.

54. Mr Men Little Miss Sharing by Roger Hargreaves.

55. Mr Men Little Miss Be Yourself by Roger Hargreaves.

56. Not Now, Noor! by Farhana Islam and Nabila Adani.

57. Captain Looroll by Matt Carr.

58. Throwback by Maurene Goo.

59. Rudy And The Secret Sleepskater by Paul Westmoreland.

60. The Artist by Ed Vere.

61. Rainbow Magic – Sara The Party Games Fairy by Daisy Meadows.

62. Ten Minutes To Bed Little Library by Rhiannon Fielding and Chris Chatterton.

63. Breasts: An Owner’s Guide by Philippa Kaye.

64. Flames Of Mira by Clay Harmon.

65. God Save Texas: A Journey Into The Future Of America by Lawrence Wright.

66. Simply Artificial Intelligence.

67. Horrible Histories – The Worst In The World by Terry Deary.

68. I Am You Are by Ashley Harris Whaley.

69. Chaos & Flame by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland.

70. How To Be A Boy And Do It Your Own Way by Dr Ranj.

71. The Rule Of Three by Sam Ripley.

72. Murder On A School Night by Kate Weston.

73. The Starlight Stables Gang by Esme Higgs and Jo Cotterill.

74. Standing By The Wall by Mick Herron.

75. The Inner Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett.

76. The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu.

77. Castle Rock Mystery Crew by Vicky McClure and Kim Curran.

78. The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo.

79. Lads: A Guide To Respect And Consent by Alan Bissett.

80. A Fatal Crossing by Tom Hindle.

81. The First Move by Jenny Ireland.

82. Rebel Fire by Ann Sei Lin.

83. The Secret Hours by Mick Herron.

84. The Murder Game by Tom Hindle.

85. The Last Devil To Die by Richard Osman.

86. Straight Expectations by Calum McSwiggan.

87. The Leadership House by Patrick Flesner.

88. The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal.

89. The Art Of Being A Brilliant Teenager by Dr Andy Cope and Amy Bradley.

90. Where Are You Really From? by Adam Rutherford and E. L. Norry.

91. The Launch Party by Lauren Forry.

92. Reporter: A Memoir by Seymour Hersh.

93. Lily Grim And The City Of Undone by Andy Ruffell.

94. Diary Of A Pint-Sized Farmer by Sally Urwin.

95. Clarity Jones And The Magical Detective Agency by Chris Smith.

96. Unequal Planet by Anna Claybourne.

97. The Pronoun Book by Chris Ayala-Kronos and Melita Tirado.

98. I Love The Seasons – Summer by Lizzie Scott and Stephanie Fizer Coleman.

99. Quiet Storm by Kimberly Whittam.

100. My Name Is Sunshine Simpson by G. M. Linton.

101. In The Ends by Alex Wheatle.

If you fancy buying any of these books based on my reviews, then you can do so through Amazon UK, Waterstone's, or Bookshop.org UK. Please note that I earn commission on any purchases made via these links.