Skandar and the Unicorn Thief

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief
Author: A.F. Steadman
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 448
Release: 2022-05-03
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1665912731

Soar into a breathtaking world of heroes and unicorns as you’ve never seen them before in this fantastical middle grade debut perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Eragon series! Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call. Skandar is thrust into a world of epic sky battles, dangerous clashes with wild unicorns, and rumors of a shadowy villain amassing a unicorn army. And the closer Skandar grows to his newfound friends and community of riders, the harder it becomes to keep his secrets—especially when he discovers their lives may all be in graver danger than he ever imagined.

The Unicorn Thief

The Unicorn Thief
Author: R. R. Russell
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2014-05-06
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1402279930

Readers who fell in love with Twig, Ben, and the fierce, wild unicorns of misty Lonehorn Island better get ready for an even more action-packed, heart-wrenching sequel. In the land of the unicorns a thief is at work. One so skilled and so bold, he's even taken the queen's prized unicorn. Now all of the captive unicorns are in danger and only Ben and Twig, the last unicorn riders, can save them. Twig and Ben are unicorn riders—guardians whose job it is to keep the last free unicorn herd safe. But a new danger is threatening the beautiful, mysterious creatures of Lonehorn Island. A thief from Terracornus has snuck onto the misty island and stolen Ben's loyal unicorn, Indy. There's only one path for Ben and Twig—straight into the secret, shadowy heart of the island and through the passage to Terracornus. But their rescue mission is unexpectedly complicated by a secret Ben has been hiding. A secret about the Queen of Terracornus who has enslaved all the unicorns of Ben's homeland. A secret that could save them all—or start a war.

Last Shot

Last Shot
Author: Jock Zonfrillo
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 362
Release: 2021-07-28
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1761101927

A coming-of-age memoir of addiction, ambition and redemption in the high-stakes world of Michelin star kitchens. From reckless drug addict to one of Australia’s top chefs and television stars: MasterChef judge Jock Zonfrillo's powerful life story will shock and inspire. Jock’s life spiralled out of control when he tried heroin for the first time as a teenager while growing up in 1980s Glasgow. For years he balanced a career as a rising star amongst legendary chefs with a crippling drug addiction that took him down many dark paths. Fired from his job at a Michelin star restaurant in Chester, England, after a foul-mouthed rant, Jock made his way to London looking for work and found himself in front of the legendary Marco Pierre White. He credits White for saving his life, but Jock continued to struggle with addiction in a world of excess, celebrity, and cut-throat ambition. On New Year’s Eve 1999, Jock shot up his last shot of heroin before boarding a plane to Sydney, where he would find passion and new meaning in life in the most unexpected places. There would be more struggles ahead, including two failed marriages, the closure of his prized restaurant during COVID-19, his time on-country, and some very public battles. This is the unforgettable story of an incredible life cut short too soon. Praise for Last Shot 'I’ve known Jock for 25 years. He is not only a great mate but an incredibly talented chef - in Australia and around the world. Last Shot really shows how resilient Jock is and how far he has come in his personal and professional life. I’m inspired by how brave Jock has been for putting this biography out there. I couldn’t put it down. Loved it!’ Matt Moran ‘Zonfrillo climbed his way to the top of the gastronomic ladder only to abdicate his position. He still inspires chefs worldwide.’ Marco Pierre White ‘An amazingly candid story of a prolific but complicated chef who made it back from the brink despite the obstacles, surely one of the best comeback stories there is!’ Gordon Ramsay ‘Jock absolutely lives and breathes his passion for food, which began in childhood. And between the incredible ups and downs of his life that we read about in Last Shot, what really comes through for me is his search for knowledge of Indigenous foods – I so admire how the depth of his learning combined with his amazing skill and creativity has allowed him to celebrate the uniqueness of the cultures he has embraced.’ Maggie Beer AO

The Night I Met Father Christmas

The Night I Met Father Christmas
Author: Ben Miller
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 162
Release: 2018-11-01
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1471171558

‘A sheer delight for all kids both big AND small’ Ruth Jones 'Bubbles with warmth and mischievous humour . . . irresistible' Alexander Armstrong 'Wonderful, funny, magical' Chris Evans on How I Became a Dog Called Midnight Enter a world of wonder with this heartfelt Christmas classic from bestselling children's author Ben Miller. Jackson knows all about the flying reindeer, he knows about the elves and the secret North Pole workshop, he knows about the magic that allows Father Christmas to deliver presents around the world in just one night, but there's one thing he doesn't know . . . how did Father Christmas become Father Christmas? That all changes when, one Christmas Eve, Jackson meets Father Christmas and hears his incredible story. So begins an enchanting fairy-tale into a magical snowy landscape, where Torvil, a mean-spirited and miserly elf, is about to discover the true meaning of Christmas. This might not have been the story Jackson was expecting but, as Father Christmas tells him, no good story ever is... With beautiful illustrations throughout from Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini and warm, funny words from Ben Miller, this book will remind everyone of the true spirit of Christmas and prove once and for all that Father Christmas really does exist! Praise for Ben Miller 'A magical adventure' Sunday Express on The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale 'Great for reading aloud' The Week Junior on The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale 'A fire-side gem of a story' Abi Elphinstone on The Night I Met Father Christmas 'Fabulous' Sunday Express on The Boy Who Made the World Disappear 'Enchanting, funny and intriguing in equal measure' Philip Ardagh on The Night I Met Father Christmas 'Each of [Ben’s] five books is joyous and thoughtful' Red Magazine

The Bone Keeper

The Bone Keeper
Author: Luca Veste
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2019-02-05
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1492671304

A chilling psychological read, for fans of serial killer thrillers that asks the question: What if you found out the figure that haunted your nightmares as a child was real? He'll slice your flesh. Your bones he'll keep. The Bone Keeper's coming. And he'll make you weep. Twenty years ago, four teenagers went exploring in the local woods, trying to find the supposed home of the Bone Keeper. According to lore, victims are lured into his lair, never to be seen again. Only three returned. Now, a woman is found wandering the streets, horrifically injured, claiming to have fled the evil urban myth. Detective Louise Henderson must convince skeptical colleagues that this urban myth might be flesh and blood. And then a body turns up. For fans of C.J. Tudor and Riley Sager, The Bone Keeper is a haunting suspense novel of old legends, past demons, and all the things that go bump in the night. "A well-crafted, deliciously unsettling blend of police procedural and horror folklore that shares appeal with John Connolly's and Lauren Beukes' thrillers."—Booklist "Like the scariest urban legend from your childhood all grown up, The Bone Keeper is spine-tingling, hair-raising entertainment."—Abby Endler, Crime by the Book

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun

Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun
Author: Tolá Okogwu
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2022-06-14
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1665912618

When twelve-year-old Onyeka discovers that she has psychokinetic powers, her mother reveals that she is Solari, part of a secret group of Nigerian mutants that trains at the Academy of the Sun.

The Midnight Unicorn

The Midnight Unicorn
Author: Alice Hemming
Publisher: Scholastic
Total Pages: 279
Release: 2019-09-05
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1407199528

An epic unicorn fairy tale filled with adventure, magic and a fight like no other... In a faraway kingdom, two girls live separate lives. Growing up in the wilderness of the west, Alette is the daughter of a sorcerer. In the warmth of the east, Audrey is the daughter of a baker. The girls could not be more different... and yet something draws them together. Are they connected by the unanswered questions of their pasts?Or by the identical pendantsthey both wear around their necks? Whatever it is, the girls are on a collision course that cannot be avoided, as a past they never knew they hadleaves them hurtling towards a future they could never have dreamed of. Danger, mystery and enchanted unicorns await them. Their story began once upon a time. But how will it end? Enchanting dark fairy tales with magical unicorns, fearsome villains and inspiring heroines Perfect for fans of SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF Great for people who love fairy tales, Disney and unicorns DARK UNICORNS - COLLECT THEM ALL! The Midnight Unicorn Paperback eBook The Darkest Unicorn Paperback eBook The Cursed Unicorn Paperback eBook The Blazing Unicorn Paperback eBook Coming Soon: The Frozen Unicorn Paperback eBook

The Book Ninja

The Book Ninja
Author: Ali Berg
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 327
Release: 2018-05-21
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1471177157

**Could you find your perfect man by looking at his book shelf?** 'Frankie, think about it. Literature is your life. You've been trawling Tinder looking for well-read intellectuals, but it's not working. Let's shake things up! Just use your favourite books to find a man.' Frankie Rose is desperate for love. Or a relationship. Or just a date with a semi-normal person. It’s not that she hasn’t tried – Frankie is the queen of online dating. But she has had enough. With the help of her best friend and colleague Cat, Frankie decides to embark on the ultimate dating experiment. Inspired by her surroundings at The Little Brunswick Bookshop where she works, Frankie places her hope in her favourite books to find her the perfect man… Secretly planting copies on trains, trams and buses, Frankie hopes to find the man of her dreams through a mutual love of good books. The only flaw to the plan? That she may never get her books back! But that turns out to be the least of her worries... In between crazy dates and writing them up on her blog, Frankie stumbles upon her perfect man. There's just one problem...Frankie is strictly a Jane Austen kind of woman and Sunny is really into Young Adult. Seriously, obsessively into it... Can Frankie overcome her book snobbery for the man of her dreams? Or will she be left searching the trains for her modern-day Mr Darcy forever? ~*~ Hear what fans are saying about The Book Ninja ~*~ 'Sure to make you smile. Brimming with bookish banter’ ‘The Book Ninja was an absolutely delightful read, full of quirky bookish themes, sweet and yet flawed characters and, of course, a liberal dose of humour that left me giggling throughout. This book warmed my heart, and left me feeling all kinds of warm and fuzzies after I finished it.’ ‘If you're looking for a funny, light-hearted, book-nerdy read, pick this up ASAP’ ‘This was a delightful read that I became completely consumed by and finished in one sitting!’ ‘This was a lot of fun to read because it's so relatable and I loved the whole book aspect of it’ ‘I loved it, better than pizza and I look forward to seeing what Ali Berg and Michelle Kalus come up with next.’ ‘The perfect book to tackle a book-reading slump’ ‘It's wonderful to finally have a book to recommend for fans of The Rosie Project’

The Vanishing Trick

The Vanishing Trick
Author: Jenni Spangler
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK
Total Pages: 305
Release: 2020-04-30
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1471190374

'A thrilling, original, evocative and eerie tale - I adored it!’ Michelle Harrison, author of A Pinch of Magic 'A thrilling page-turner. Madame Pinchbeck is a gloriously Dickensian villain’ Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song 'Ghosts, gadgets, likeable villains and unlikely heroes: The Vanishing Trick is a dark and dazzling adventure’ Emma Carroll, author of Letters from the Lighthouse 'A completely enthralling tale, oozing with atmosphere and originality’ Catherine Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper's Island 'Jenni Spangler is the next big voice in children’s magical history novels’ Lucy Powrie, author of The Paper & Hearts Society 'Deliciously dark and atmospheric … I couldn’t get enough' Nizrana Farook, author of The Girl Who Stole An Elephant 'A spectacular heart-stopping adventure in a dark and dangerous Victorian world' Tamsin Winter, author of Jemima Small Versus the Universe 'An eventful gothic adventure full of secrets and surprises' Sunday Times Book of The Week? Step into a world of secrets, folklore and illusions, where nothing is as it seems and magic is at play… Madame Augustina Pinchbeck, travels the country conjuring the spirits of dearly departed loved ones... for a price. Whilst her ability to contact ghosts is a game of smoke and mirrors, there is real magic behind her tricks too - if you know where to look. Through a magical trade, she persuades children to part with precious objects, promising to use her powers to help them. But Pinchbeck is a deceiver, instead turning their items into enchanted Cabinets that bind the children to her and into which she can vanish and summon them at will. When Pinchbeck captures orphan Leander, events are set into motion that see him and his new friends Charlotte and Felix, in a race against time to break Pinchbeck’s spell, before one of them vanishes forever… #TheVanishingTrick A historical adventure with a magical twist from an outstanding debut talent. Perfect for fans of Michelle Harrison, Sophie Anderson and Emma Carroll.