The Trouble with Wenlocks by Joel Stewart

Stanley Wells is an ordinary boy that has some extraordinary things happen to him. He is on a train when everyone else is made sleepy by the mysterious wenlocks, and then, when they awake, they appear to have some spark missing from their eyes so Stanley is drawn into investigating what has happened. This leads him on a strange adventure with his rather odd acquaintances - Dr Moon and Morecambe the talking dog - where they discover that Albert's daughter Umiko may be the cause of the problem as she is trying to help mankind by taking away their sorrow.

This is a very gentle tale illustrating the point that we are the sum of all our experience both happy and sad, and that without the sadness we are changed, somehow less.

Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls

This scrapbook as from an 11 year old boy who is dying of cancer will make you laugh and cry, it will touch your heart and it will stay with you for a very long time. Read it.
http://www.waystoliveforever.co.uk/

Born to Run by Michael Morpurgo

A beautifully written and thought provoking life of a greyhound. Illustrations by Michael Foreman - including the chance to see Best Mate run by flicking the pages.

Best Mate is rescued from drowning, then kidnapped as it is obvious he is speedy and could win races. The dog shows us both the best and worst of human life through the problems he faces in his life. I am not one for reading animal stories in the main - but this is a thoughtful exploration of our relationship to animals, and each other.

Skulduggery Pleasant-Playing with Fire by Derek Landy

Derek Landy started life as a screen writer and this certainly shows in his style which creates a rollercoaster of a ride.

The skelton detective Skulduggery and his sidekick Valkyrie Cain (Stephanie to her family) have to defeat terrible evil in the form of Baron Vengeous who is trying to master the deadly armour of Lord Vile and thus gain world domination....

This is a rip roaring adventure that will pull the reader into the story and keep them reading right to the exciting end. This is the second in the series - and more promised for the future.
Great for top of primary schools!