Hey hey hey,
Welcome back to the Big Kids Book Club, and come join us in the New Book Nook.
A cosy corner of the internet where we look a couple upcoming releases, coming out in the next month.
As there are tons of books released every month, these are just a few of the Middle Grade releases that we here at BKBC are excited for:
Book: Dreamstalkers: The Night Train
Author: Sarah Driver
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Release Date: 01/02/2024
Everything changed the day the dreams disappeared… and the nightmares came.
Twelve-year-old Bea lives with her mother Ula and her owl Pip in a cottage on the wild moors. Since the day the dreams disappeared, and an affliction of nightmares began sweeping across the lands, everyone is leaving and their settlement is being abandoned. But when Ula grows sick with the affliction, she won’t leave – and she’s keeping a secret from Bea.
Just as Bea begins to despair, the mysterious Night Train steams across the moors, bringing a stranger who offers her the chance to save her mother. Bea is flung into a faraway adventure in the world of the Dreamstalkers, skilled warriors and performers who must go to work each night inside the dreams of the powerful. But the nightmares are following close behind.
It’s time to board the Night Train and dive into an epic, magical adventure in the world of the Dreamstalkers. (But beware the nightmares…)
‘A glorious world, a wild adventure and a fierce heroine. I can’t stop thinking about this book!’ – Robin Stevens on The Huntress: Sea
‘A new book by Sarah Driver is always something special – this does not disappoint. Vivid storytelling full of magic and sparkle from one of my favourite authors.’ Jasbinder Bilan, Costa award-winning author of Asha and the Spirit Bird on Once We Were Witches
Book: The Clockwork Conspiracy
Author: Sam Sedgman
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: 01/02/2024
The co-writer of the Adventures on Trains series spins a thrilling, brilliantly clever mystery through the streets of London.
Aspiring inventor Isaac Turner lives with his dad, the Chief Horologist in charge of Big Ben. But when his father vanishes from the belfry on the night the clocks go back, leaving behind only a smashed pocket watch and a cryptic message, Isaac determines to find him.
Hunting a trail of clues through London’s landmarks, Isaac uncovers a sinister plot in the gears of government and embarks on a race against time to save his father – and time itself.
We spoke to Sam, about his co-written Adventure on Trains series, back in Podcast Episode: 8 – Listen to it here
Book: The Pirate’s Dragon
Author: Liz Flanagan
Publisher: UCLan Publishing
Release Date: 15/02/2024
In the relaunch of the Legends of the Sky series, we now get the epic conclusion.
Serina and Raff live on separate islands, each believing the other’s people to be their sworn enemy. Forced together in dramatic circumstances, they become unlikely friends while caring for their young dragons. But when Serina’s home, family, and all the dragons of Arcosi are threatened, can Raff and Serina persuade their families to work together? It will take faith, forgiveness and courage to save the dragons!
We spoke to Liz about her other series, Wildsmith, in Podcast Episode: 185 – listen to it here
Book: Hercules: the Diary of a (Sort of) Hero
Author: Tom Vaughan
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: 29/02/2024
If Hercules Braver is going to survive his new secondary school, he has to live up to his name, fast. He needs to become strong and tanned and popular, like a Greek hero. Not weak and pale and unpopular, like a Greek yoghurt.
But his bid for popularity ends up saddling him with a set of impossible tasks… like cleaning out the monster-riddled school pond, facing up to the school bully and finding the headmaster’s missing cat.
Then Herc’s charming, impressive birth dad turns up after years living in Greece, and Hercules thinks his problems are solved. With God-like strength and awe-inspiring powers, could his dad even be … the real Zeus?! And will Hercules learn what it truly means to be a hero?
A hilarious, accessible package brilliantly illustrated by David O’Connell. Ideal for fans of Louie Stowell’s Loki, Maz Evans, Marvel’s Thor films and Disney’s Hercules. Hercules Braver’s ‘trials’ are loosely based on the first three Labours of Hercules, ideal for all young fans of Greek mythology!
We spoke to Tom about his previous book, A Gangster Stole My Trunks, in Podcast Episode: 149 – listen to it here
Book: The Secret of the Moonshard
Author: Struan Murray
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Release Date: 29/02/2024
Domino is an eleven-year-old girl with a strange affliction: if she goes anywhere near magic, it will kill her. All her life she’s been trapped in a floating laboratory, safe from magic but not from the cruel children and the crueler Science Barons who live there.
Domino believes the Barons are trying to invent a cure for her magic allergy, but when a mysterious wizard arrives and unleashes total chaos, she discovers that everything she’s been told is a lie.
Domino escapes to the wondrous city of Abzalaymon, its streets filled with marvels she’s never seen, from automobiles to televisions to hulking thunder lizards. But the Science Barons are on her trail, and Domino must brave a hidden realm of magic if she is to defeat their sinister plot and uncover a secret that might just save the world: the Secret of the Moonshard.
That’s our picks for the upcoming Middle Grade releases for February 2024.
We can’t wait to dive into these books, and we hope that maybe you’re inspired to pick up one or two of them yourself.
If you do fancy picking them up and helping not only us out, but also independent bookshops, then consider grabbing them through our Bookshop.Org affiliate page: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/bigkidsbookclub
Until next time, take care, stay safe, but most importantly – keep on reading.
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