This series by Alex Scarrow sounds really fantastic-gripping and fast paced adventure and dealing with moments in history at the same time! Based on these articles I'm rushing off to Kinokunyia to try and find these books. For those of you who need to find a good book right now, read this article from the Guardian and rush off to the book-shop or check to see if it's in our library.
'Liam O’Connor should have died at sea in 1912. Maddy Carter should have died on a plane in 2010. Sal Vikram should have died in a fire in 2029. Yet moments before death, someone mysteriously appeared and said, ‘Take my hand'
But Liam, Maddy and Sal aren’t rescued. They are recruited by an agency that no one knows exists, with only one purpose – to fix broken history. Because time travel is here, and there are those who would go back in time and change the past. That’s why the TimeRiders exist: to protect us.'
Guardian review
Trailer :overview of the series from Puffin
August 11: GUARDIAN LONG-LIST 2010
'Prisoner of the Inquisition, by Theresa Breslin (Doubleday, £12.99). Age: 12+
Wealthy Zarita has enjoyed a cosseted existence as a magistrate's daughter; Saulo's life has been dogged by persecution, danger and poverty. An unlucky accident causes their paths to cross as the officers of the Inquisition arrive in their small town. Zarita struggles to survive the brutality and trickery of the Inquisitors while observing the courtly intrigue of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, while Saulo, sentenced to work as a galley slave, faces shipwreck and pirates before encountering Christopher Columbus. Large in its scope and rich in its sense of history, this is a thrilling story deftly told.
Now, by Morris Gleitzman (Puffin, £6.99). Age: 9+
Set long after the second world war is over, Now concludes Gleitzman's exceptional story of Felix and Zelda, two children whose lives were blighted by the Holocaust. Felix is now an old man, and the only Zelda in his life is his granddaughter. Knowing the bravery of her namesake gives Zelda a lot to live up to. Against a background of school bullying and a race against time to escape a forest fire, she has to overcome her fears as she tells her own story. Gleitzman's trademark fine balance of tragedy and comedy is a sure as ever.
Unhooking the Moon, by Gregory Hughes (Quercus, £6.99). Age: 11+
Propelled at great pace and embracing any number of dangers and disasters, this is a brave, zany and warm-hearted road story following two children's rollercoaster journey from Winnipeg to New York. When their father dies, "the Rat" refuses to contemplate being taken in as an orphan and sets off to find her uncle in New York. Wiser and older, Bob knows he must follow his sister, whose feisty, determined and fearless behaviour leads to potential disasters from which she has an unusual, if not always honest, knack of extracting herself. Bob and the Rat survive much and grow strong as they live on their wits.
Ghost Hunter, by Michelle Paver (Orion, £10.99). Age: 10+
Those who are new to the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness and those who are already fans will be equally delighted by this final instalment of Torak's adventures in a richly imagined prehistorical world of snowy mountains, ice-bound rivers and seemingly impenetrable forests. Torak sets out on his quest to set his world to rights with the support of his friend Renn and his loyal companion and pack-brother Wolf. In the end, though, he has to make the final journey alone. And when it is over, what then? What choice will Torak make? The warm-hearted, dramatically tense, many-layered sequence of novels is brought to a most satisfying conclusion.
White Crow, by Marcus Sedgwick (Orion, £9.99). Age: 13+
Newly arrived from the city, Rebecca hopes that the small village her father has found to be their home will be a place of safety. Adjusting is hard but, when Rebecca meets Ferelith, it looks possible. Ferelith is strange, unpredictable and ever changing, but Rebecca is drawn into the dangerous plan she has which leads to a shocking discovery from the past. The chill of horror is never far below the surface in this gripping, blood-soaked gothic novel which questions life, death and friendship.
The Guardian children's fiction prize will be awarded in September. Budding critics have a chance to prove their skills in our young critics' competition. Full details are available at guardian.co.uk/books/guardianchildrensfictionprize.'
Reference:
Eccleshare,J
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/29/guardian-childrens-fiction-prize
August 10 PATRICK NESS: AUTHOR OF THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO
Other places to check out prize winners are:
The Australian Children's Book of the Year -older readers
Redhouse Book Awards
Carnegie Medal
