Tag Archives: historical

Read a series – The Extraordinary and Unusual Adventures of Horatio Lyle by Catherine Webb

Looking for something a little bit Historical with a pinch of Steampunk, some detecting and a lot of daring adventure? Try the Horatio Lyle books by Catherine Webb, a series of books with real explosive force!

The Bank of England robbed! Murder on the streets of London! Hypnotism! Mystery! Pursuit! Saint Paul’s Cathedral ablaze!

Horatio Lyle is a former Special Constable with a passion for science and invention. He’s also an occasional sleuth. Thrown together with Tess (a reformed pickpocket) and Thomas (a rebellious young gentleman), Lyle and his faithful hound Tate find themselves pursuing an ancient Chinese plate, a conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of polite society and a dangerous enemy who may not even be human…

The Horatio Lyle books can be found in the junior fiction section of the library. Ask one of the Library Team if you need help to find them.

Cogheart by Peter Bunzl – Book of the Week

Leave a reply

This week’s featured book is a fantastic Victorian steampunk adventure, with a fearless heroine and a clockwork fox called Malkin. I absolutely loved it!

Some secrets change the world in a heartbeat.

Lily’s life is in mortal peril. Her father is missing and now silver-eyed men stalk her through the shadows. What could they want from her?

With her friends – Robert, the clockmaker’s son, and Malkin, her mechanical fox – Lily is plunged into a murky and menacing world. Too soon Lily realizes that those she holds dear may be the very ones to break her heart…

Murder, mayhem and mystery meet in this gripping Victorian adventure.

If you click on the book cover the link will take you to Peter Bunzl’s official website where there are lots of freebies, including how to write your own Penny Dreadful and how to make a Zoetrope (which is an early form of animation) and free gifs, including this running fox gif, (which I really like and may have to permanently post on the blog sidebar). Have a look!

Silver Skin by Joan Lennon – Book of the Week

Leave a reply

Silver Skin is the second of the three shortlisted titles for the Scottish Teenage Book Prize to be featured as our book of the week. In this video, Joan Lennon introduces the book and then reads from it.

Our Wednesday Bookclub is taking part in the Prize – they are currently reading the three titles and once everyone has had a chance to do so, and to talk about them, they will be voting for their favourite.

The blurb on the back of the book reads:

Skara Brae, Orkney, the end of the Stone Age. The sun is dying, storms batter the coast and people fear the end of the world. When Rab crawls out of the sea, wearing the remains of his Silver Skin, he throws the islanders into confusion. Who is he? Why has he come?

Hell and High Water by Tanya Landman – Book of the Week

Leave a reply

Hell and High Water is a historical novel based quite firmly on the true story of Thomas Benson, the High Sheriff of Devon, and his criminal activities on the Island of Lundy. Its also a very exciting story about Caleb and Letty, and their search for the truth about what happened to Caleb’s father.

It was a man. Drowned. Dead.

Lying on the sand, waves breaking over his back.

The body should be moved, but Caleb couldn’t manage alone.

Yet who in this godforsaken place would help him?

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly, reviewed by misssallylockhart

Leave a reply

Jennifer Donnelly’s newest book, “These Shallow Graves” is a fantastic read and I know most would love this. The story follows Josephine Montfront, one of New York’s most eligible heiresses, who’s world is drastically changed forever when she is informed of her father’s death. She knows something isn’t right and she even knows that her father wouldn’t kill himself, or is his death more deadly? Now with the help of young journalist Eddie Gallagher, Jo wants to find out what really happened the night her father died but will she be able to handle the truth?

Book of the Week – These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Leave a reply

You wait a while for Jennifer Donnelly’s books, but it is always worth the wait. These Shallow Graves is no exception: historically accurate and detailed, with main characters who leap off the page and a story that draws you into the world of New York in the 1890s, this is a really good read.

The blurb says…

Josephine Montford is one of the city’s most eligible heiresses, and as such, she understands the importance of doing what is expected. She knows that a suitable marriage and comfortable life is what she should dream of – but her heart can’t help yearning for more.

But then Jo’s father dies, and suddenly her charmed life is shattered. His death appears to have been a tragic mistake, but Jo quickly discovers that the details of his death don’t quite add up. If her father’s death wasn’t accidental, could it really have been suicide? Or worse… murder?

Book of the Week – My Name’s Not Friday, by Jon Walter

Leave a reply

This week’s Book of the Week is set in the American Civil War, and is the powerfully told story of a boy sold into slavery.

“This boy has bought me. He owns me body and soul, and my worth has been set at six hundred dollars.”

Samuel’s an educated boy. Been taught by a priest. He was never supposed to be a slave. He’s a good boy too, thoughtful and kind. The type of boy who’d take the blame for something he didn’t do, if it meant he could save his brother.

So now they don’t call him Samuel anymore. And the sound of guns is getting ever closer…

New Books in the Library – Between Two Seas by Marie-Louise Jensen

Leave a reply

Bound by a vow made to her dying mother, Marianne sells her few belongings and leaves Grimsby. Her destination? Denmark, where she will search for her father, Lars Christensen – the golden-haired fisherman her mother fell in love with many years before.

The journey will be long – and dangerous for a young girl travelling alone. As Marianne boards the fishing boat that will carry her across the North Sea, she wonders: will Denmark be the fairy-tale land she has dreamt of? Will she find happiness there? Will the father she has never met welcome the arrival of his illegitimate child?

And why didn’t he return for her mother, as he promised he would?

New Books in the Library – Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders

Leave a reply

‘We didn’t ask him to come back,’ Robert said.

‘Didn’t we?’ Jane replied. ‘All the other times, the Psammead turned up because something was wrong. Well, the war counts as something wrong, doesn’t it?’

They were all silent for a moment.

‘I have a ghastly feeling you may be right,’ Cyril said. ‘In which case, we’re honour-bound to help him. Eat quickly, chaps-or I’ll be late for the war.’

Book of the Week – Little Stars by Jacqueline Wilson

Leave a reply

littlestars Jacqueline Wilson’s latest book is a Hetty Feather story, the fifth in the series, set in the world of music halls in Victorian London.

The blurb says…

Hetty Feather has begun a new chapter in her life story. Escaping from Tanglefield’s Travelling Circus with her friend Diamond, Hetty is determined to find them positions as music-hall artistes.

The pair quickly become the Little Stars of Mrs Ruby’s show at the Cavalcade, alongside many colourful acts – including a friend from Hetty’s past, Flirty Bertie. But the music hall is both thrilling and dangerous, and Hetty must fight to protect her darling Diamond, who longs for a normal childhood. Meanwhile Hetty struggles with her feelings for Bertie – and for Jem, whom she has never forgotten.

Hetty dreams of a glittering future for herself and Diamond. The bright lights of London beckon – will Hetty become a true star?

We have all five Hetty Feather books in the library – ask at the desk if you can’t see them on the shelves.