Guardian Children's Fiction Prize

A dramatic and eerie story of lost identity and family secrets, told in Leon Garfield's memorable and distinctive style. A fast-moving, exciting read! 14-year-old George Treet is happy with his life as part of a family of travelling actors. But George's world turns upside down when he discovers that he is actually the son of a great nobleman, and that he must go and live with his real family. . . Where someone, somewhere out in the fog, is waiting for him, and he is surrounded by mystery, danger and deceit.

Brilliant. Not at all clear that it's a children's book. An extraordinary re-creation of a myth in a way that explains how myths are created, and why they aren't just myths. During a summer vacation in a secluded Welsh valley, three young people find themselves driven by the spirits of three mythical lovers to reenact an ancient tragedy.

In the small town of Pennygaff, where Owen has been sent to live after his mother’s death, a legendary golden harp has been found. Knowing of the prophesy of the Harp of Teirtu, Owen must prevent the magic harp from falling into the evil clutches of its reputed owner, the sinister and diabolical Lord Mayln. But it won’t be easy. Owen and his friend Arabis are plunged into a hair-raising adventure of intrigue, kidnapping, exotic underground worlds, savage beasts...even murder. For only too late will Owen learn that Lord Mayln will stop at nothing to have the golden harp. Winner of the Guardian Prize for Fiction

Twelve-year-old Christina Parsons is sent to live with her fierce uncle and his two sons, Mark and Will, in their decaying mansion, Flambards. Christina discovers a passion for horses and riding but finds herself part of a strange household, divided by emotional undercurrents and cruelty. 1st book in the Flambards series.

In a world where two nations rule all, Rob must find a way to live among them both in this futuristic story from the author of the Tripods series.

In the future, the world has been divided into two societies. One is the Conurb—a sprawling, modern city where technology rules and people live with only the bare minimum they need to survive. The other is the County—a land of green fields and beautiful mansions, where the people have turned back the clock to a pristine past.

Rob has always lived in the Conurb, but after he is sent to a terrible boarding school, he decides his only option is to take a chance and cross the Barrier into the unknown world of the County. There he meets another boy who introduces Rob to the very different society, and all the wondrous things that come with it.

But even though Rob wants to believe that the County is a utopia, he begins to learn about the darkness that lurks beneath the smiles of his new family and friends. And when sinister secrets are revealed, Rob is forced to make a choice: stay in the County, where everything is a perfect lie, or return to the Conurb, where life is hard, horrible, and real.

Pressured by his father to leave school for a career he doesn't want, a nineteenth-century Manchester boy runs away and gains a new perspective on his future.

*Watership Down* is the compelling tale of a group of wild rabbits struggling to hold onto their place in the world—soon to be a BBC and Netflix animated miniseries starring James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult, and Oscar and Grammy award-winning Sir Ben Kingsley. A phenomenal worldwide bestseller for more than forty years, Richard Adams's *Watership Down* is a timeless classic and one of the most beloved novels of all time. Set in England's Downs, a once idyllic rural landscape, this stirring tale of adventure, courage and survival follows a band of very special creatures on their flight from the intrusion of man and the certain destruction of their home. Led by a stouthearted pair of brothers, they journey forth from their native Sandleford Warren through the harrowing trials posed by predators and adversaries, to a mysterious promised land and a more perfect society.

Orphaned in 1557 by the plague and disowned by her "brother's" widow who claims she is not true kin to the family, fifteen-year-old Lilias begins a life-long attempt to identify her true parentage.

Jinnie, a straight-laced English school-girl of the twenties, learns about life when she goes to stay with her grandmother in the north.

'Warm and funny, this tale of a pint-size pig and the family he saves will take up a giant space in your heart' — Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Girl of Ink & Stars ‘What a consummate storymaker Nina Bawden is’ — Michael Morpurgo, author of Kensuke's Kingdom Winner of The Guardian's Prize for Children's Fiction, The Peppermint Pig is a modern classic by Nina Bawden, beloved author of Carrie's War. Perfect for children aged 9+. ‘D’ya want a peppermint pig, Mrs Greengrass?’ Poll looked at the milkman, thinking of sweets, but there was a real pig poking its snout out of the milkman’s coat pocket. It was the tiniest pig she had ever seen. It is a difficult year for the Greengrasses. Poll’s father has gone overseas for work and the family has to rely on the generosity of two aunts. After moving to a small country town, Poll struggles to settle into her new life and she just can’t seem to keep out of trouble! Everything changes when a clever, mischievous pig arrives. Can he bring joy and laughter back into their lives?

The Blue Hawk is powerful, sacred, untameable. Its sacrifice will bring glory to the gods, strength to the nation - and the success of evil plans by sinister priests. But when the gods command Tron, a temple boy, to rescue the bird and overturn the sacrifice, the destiny of the kingdom is placed in his hands. Hunted by temple assassins, Tron and his hawk flee into the blazing desert, where they are helped by an ambitious young king with dark secrets of his own. And soon they find themselves at the heart of a ferocious battle for the future of their world. "Magnificent. Peter Dickinson is the past-master storyteller of our day" - "TLS".

An elegant stranger appears on seedy Coven Street and collects the two Chant orphans -- Gwendolen, a powerful young witch, and Cat, her brother. The stranger, known as "Chrestomanci," delivers the children to the grandeur of Chrestomanci Castle. Frustrated that the witches of the castle refuse to acknowledge her talents, Gwendolen conjures up a scheme that could throw whole worlds out of whack. These can be read in the order published, or the author has suggested a different reading order, found here: https://www.howtoread.me/chrestomanci-order/

Currently fascinated with wars, army, killing, and guns, Conrad becomes convinced that through dreams or time warp he is experiencing action in a past war.

Paul's act of vandalism triggers emotions within him that cause him to question his place in his orderly society of the future.

HMS Sentinel is sent on the worst service in the Royal Navy - the West African anti-slavery patrol.

During World War II, an aging recluse's stony heart is softened by his friendship with a young evacuee from London.

When their family falls on hard times, thirteen-year-old Lila and her twelve-year-old brother, Hari, try desperately to keep their home intact--an almost impossible task until Hari gets a chance to go to Bombay and returns with some positive plans for the future.

From the Author: There aren’t enough trees to make enough paper to write enough words to say how much I love my mom, and words would just make a big bucket of ink. I only knew her for a short time, as she died when I was thirteen, but those years gave me infinite joy and strength. I carry her with me every day. The love we had for each other will last me my entire life. She dreamed I’d become a musician—a famous musician. She would say, “I want to be known as Beethoven’s mother.” It was her dream to see me perform at Carnegie Hall. She made this known to me at an early age. She always said it with a smile, but I knew she really meant it. I never performed at Carnegie Hall because I wanted to save it for a special occasion. That occasion finally became a reality on May 22, 2026, the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of my mom, Anita-Francis Livingston Connick. What you’re about to read is an elaboration, an elaboratio, a swirl of truths and legends as I remember my mother, which also serves as a blueprint for the music by the same name that I’ve written in her honor. I hope that this book provides insight into not only the musical score but also the infinite love I have for the magnificent woman for whom I’ve composed it. From the Publisher: In Babe: Elaboratio, Harry Connick, Jr. pays a heartfelt tribute to his mother, Anita-Francis Livingston Connick, lovingly known as Babe. In these pages, Babe’s story unfolds as a magnificent musical fantasy, rich with emotion and layered with history. From her early childhood in New York to the serendipitous meeting with her husband in Morocco to the impressive career as one of the first female judges in New Orleans, Babe’s life was a testament of love, determination, and wisdom. In his debut book—written to accompany his first-ever Carnegie Hall performance—Harry Connick, Jr. unpacks the emotional journey of his composition, revealing the memories and musical significance hidden in the measures of his orchestration. Featuring personal photography and measures from the score, Babe: Elaboratio is a tribute to Babe, a celebration of music, and a meditation on the power of a mother’s love to shape a life forever.

In a combination of prose and poetry, God reveals the meaning of truth to his Son as together they visit a farm on Earth.

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When young Spit MacPhee comes to live with his grandfather, the people of the Australian country town of St Helen fear for his future. Fyfe MacPhee is a crazy old man, and barefoot Spit has to fend for himself along the riverbank where they live. While some people feel that Spit can look after himself, others believe he would be better cared for in a boys home - and when old Fyfe dies after one of his 'turns' a fierce battle to decide Spit's destiny begins.

Featuring a new introduction from Phillip Gwynne in this Text Classics edition, The True Story of Spit MacPhee is a much-loved, quintessentially Australian novel for readers of all ages.

James Aldridge is a multi-award winning Australian author and journalist. Aldridge was born in Bendigo and his family moved to Swan Hill in the mid-1920s. His novels based on the real living conditions of Swan Hill include his 1985 Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year The True Story of Lilli Stubeck and the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize-winning The True Story of Spit MacPhee. James Aldridge now lives in London.

When the Runaways eliminate the Pride from Los Angeles, it leaves a vacuum of power in the city's underworld, and soon Nico, Karolina, Gert, Chase, and Molly are on the run again to uncover the truth behind their parents' past before it catches up to them. "The "IT" book of the early 2000s with the original cast is back - Nico! Karolina! Molly! Chase! Old Lace! And, could it be? GERT?! The heart of the Runaways died years ago, but you won't believe how she returns! Superstar author Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor & Park, Carry On) makes her Marvel debut with fan-favorite artist Kris Anka (ALL-NEW X-MEN, CAPTAIN MARVEL) in the series that will shock you and break your heart! Did Chase and Gert's love survive their time apart? Have Karolina and Nico's feelings made their friendship impossible? What emotional landmines lie in wait to DESTROY the Runaways?!"--

As MCC Berkshire, the mysterious, book-obsessed man helping in Ailsa's mother's antique shop, tells wild stories that persuade customers to buy various items, teenaged Ailsa believes he is a liar but fears that he is not.

Kitty Killin is not only a good storyteller, but also the World's Greatest Expert when it comes to mothers having new and unwanted boyfriends. Particularly when there's a danger they might turn into new and unwanted stepfathers...

One of a series of top-quality fiction for schools, this is a Guardian Children's Fiction Award-winner about a boy growing up. When his house on Tyneside is bombed in the war, and his family killed, Harry goes to live on the beach and makes his way up the coast with only a stray dog for company.

The four Conroy sisters spend a wild summer at the seaside with Big Grandma, who tries to break them of their reading habit by substituting fresh air and hard work for books and gets unexpected results.

Set immediately after World War II, this is the story of how a young girl and her mother cope with the problems of peace, particularly the unexpected return of the girl's father. This book won "The Guardian" Children's Book Award.

Fishing along Jade Bay, part of an island off the coast of New Zealand, Charlie, Wiremu, and Charlie's sister, Elizabeth, discover a long-lost ship--which takes them to a far-off land. By the Carnegie Medal-winning author of Drift.

A family of life-sized rag dolls live quietly and happily in a British village, secure that everyone takes them as human, until a letter from their landlord's relative in Australia threatens their existence.

MapHead is a visitor from the Subtle World it exists side by side with our own. He is based in a tomato house, the traveller has come to meet his mortal mother for the first time. But with all his dazzling alien powers can MapHead master the language of the human heart?