Perfect reads for children and teenagers

By Clare Bourke on December 21st 2011

FAERYTALE

A magical story about the power of believing, Faerytale is an enchanting story written entirely in verse. St Albans-based author Rachael Fuller offers up this dark childrens’ tale told in narrative rhyme in a slim hardback book. Rachael’s vivid imagination conjures up a fairytale world through the eyes of two sisters when the elder girl goes in search of her missing sibling and finds herself in a strange new land. She must rescue her little sister and bring her back to the real world, overcoming her fears for the sake of the younger girl. Soft and fluffy it certainly isn’t and it’s clear to see a Brothers Grimm influence in here in the clever and detailed writing.

Faerytale by Rachael Fuller; published by Safkhet; priced £13.99; ISBN 9781908208040

SANTA'S DELIGHT

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a Santa story so it’s lucky that St Albans author Marisa Laycock had one up her sleeve. Santa's Delight is a heart-warming Christmas read ideal for families who are separated over the festivities. It tells the tale of Santa’s special plan to bring special cheer to those in the emergency services, armed forces and people working in homeless shelters the world over at Christmas. Beautifully illustrated by Jan Legge, the book is bright and bold with a mixture of full colour pages and some black and white images and is aimed at children of all ages. Alongside her writing, author Marisa works as a school teacher and volunteers at a local homeless shelter at Christmas.

Santa’s Delight by Marisa Laycock; published by Matador; priced £5.99; ISBN 9781848762688

THE WHITE FOX

Becoming a published author is some achievement but doing it at the age of 19 is something else altogether. But that’s what teenager James Bartholomeusz, from Digswell has done with his first novel, The White Fox, published this month. Aimed at a young adult audience, it tells the story of teenager Jack Lawson who has few friends and is living a mundane life until the Cult of Dionysus, a sect of sorcerers, crosses his path along with an old friend back from the dead and then the white fox, and suddenly life is very different. James, who is studying English Literature at the University of Exeter, has a talent for the descriptive and writes with a flair that really brings his story to life.

The White Fox by James Bartholomeusz; published by Medallion; priced £8.50; ISBN 9781605424620

BLACKMORE'S TREASURE

A 13-year-old boy finds himself suddenly transported back in time 350 years into the life of a Roundhead captain in the English Civil War from whom he is descended. How did he get there? Is this really all a dream? Blackmore’s Treasure is the debut novel of 78-year-old Derek Rogers and takes readers on a trip though history but with a difference. A young Tobias Allinson gets a unique insight into the past, meets characters he’s read about in his school history books and has the chance to solve the mystery of the legend of Blackmore’s Treasure at his family’s farm. An intriguing and charming book by author Derek, from Bengeo, who wrote the book in response to a comment by one of his grandchildren that the English Civil War was boring.

Blackmore’s Treasure by Derek G Rogers; self published; priced £7.99; ISBN 9781908481610

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