Jim Eldridge - Author
Jim Eldridge was a teacher before becoming a full-time writer - his writing credits include episodes for the seminal children's TV drama 'Grange Hill' and the novelisation of Noel Clarke's 'Kidulthood' and '4.3.2.1.' He has also written for the My Story series for Scholastic and most recently Black Ops, a teen action series for Egmont. Jim now works as an associate lecturer in scriptwriting and media at the University of Cumbria. He lives with his wife in Cumbria.
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 6+ “Put your hands up! If anyone moves we shoot!” The action starts on page one of this heart-stopping thriller and doesn’t let up until the very end. Junior plumber Alex is in the cramped roof space of the Town Hall examining its water pipes when armed men storm the building and take everyone in it hostage, including her dad. Hidden above their heads, she’s got one hour until they start shooting, but manages to immobilise one of the gangsters, John McClane-style, and lead the police into the building, saving the day! Great stuff for anyone who dreams of being a hero, told with a punchy brevity. Comic style illustrations add to the entertainment value. ~ Andrea Reece Barrington Stoke is the foremost publisher of dyslexia friendly books and those for reluctant readers. Here on Lovereading4kids we are constantly selecting new titles and refreshing our special dyslexia friendly category. Click here to view our current selection which is broken down by age range.
In this penultimate adventure in the Wrestling Trolls series, the little band of friends must pull together and face their toughest challenges yet. A Piece of Passion from Holly Kyte, Editor Jim's Wrestling Trolls stories just get more thrilling every time, and in this, the fifth and penultimate book in the series, things are really hotting up before the final showdown. . . We're on more rip-roaring adventures with Jack, Milo, Princess Ava, Big Rock and the gang as they get into all kinds of scrapes on their travels, but this time they are facing their toughest challenges and most dastardly villains yet. The bonds between these wacky characters become stronger than ever as they must pull together to rescue their grumpy but lovable friend Robin from some nasty horse thieves, and help Jack recover a family treasure from the depths of Veto Castle - which might just lead them to some shocking revelations that will blow your socks off! What I love most about these stories is that they are packed full of both adventure and heart. So expect plenty of action, loads of fun, heartwarming friendships, scary monsters, new (and extremely villainous) villains, and of course lots of bone-crunching wrestling - all brought to life by Jan Bielecki's bold and brilliant illustrations. It's another fizzing couple of tales for younger readers that show just how important it is to play fair and stick by your friends when things get tough.
The Wrestling Trolls are BACK, facing nasty bullies and vengeful villains. Here come the Wrestling Trolls with two great new adventures! A Piece of Passion from Sara O'Connor, Fiction Digital Director Fresh off the wonderful chaos of the third book, where school children helped create the characters featured in the story, this fourth book is seeing those new characters grow and change. My favourite thing about these books is how they show different types of people (and trolls!) getting along in difficult circumstances. It's a feeling I hope young readers will take on board. Differences are good, and help people work together.
Challenged to a Giant Rumble but suffering from a shortfall of wrestlers, Jack and his friends set out to find more participants for their great battle. But what starts as a fun-filled road trip in their trusty caravan soon becomes an action-packed adventure filled with dangers including animals and insects of many kinds. This Wrestling Trolls story was created on The Story Adventure, where week by week Jim wrote a new chapter using ideas from school children - characters, locations and plot twists. See if you can spot them!
With even more smack-downs, tie-clinches and backwards pinfalls, the second instalment of the Wrestling Trolls series has hunky wrestlers with hairy feet, a horde of vile villains and a little boy with a BIG personality. A Piece of Passion from Sara O'Connor, Editorial Director This series does what is says on the tin - trolls that wrestle. But is has other charming, wacky and wonderful characters that wrestle, too. And underneath all the action, there is real heart to these characters who grow together as a family and support each other, through spandex mishaps, minor head injuries and brushes with the evil Lord Veto. And that's why I love it!
In 1914 a war broke out that was to touch every corner of the globe. By 1918, the year the war ended, more than 16 million people were dead from almost every nationality. See how events unfolded chronologically, meet key figures of the conflict and discover the lasting impact of the war. Packed with facts, maps, infographics and photographs, this is the perfect introduction to a tragic chapter in world history.
February 2014 Book of the Month A comic new series from this award winning writer and illustrator - with lively, fun storylines and vibrant drawings. Each book contains two stories as well as lots of troll based activity pages in full colour to get stuck into with friends and family.
The extreme danger and appalling horrors of fighting in the trenches during the First World War are made dramatically real in this diary of Billy, a young lad growing up in Carlisle. Billy’s mum is dead against him signing up but he is determined to show what he is made of. Everyone thought the war would be over by Christmas but, when Billy turns 16 in 1917, it is still raging. Despite his mum’s objections, Billy is determined to join up. Billy’s experiences as the British army prepares for the Big Push are vividly imagined. Photographs and a timeline add useful detail to this effecting story. ~ Julia Eccleshare
This informative and sensitive collection of short stories brings 1914-1918 to life through the experiences of twelve children and young people. From the efforts on the Home Front in both Britain and Germany, to the young soldiers in the trenches at the Western Front and from the horrors of Gallipoli to the naval battle of Jutland.
The follow up to the gripping and action-packed historical sleuth thriller The Invisible Assassin is in the vein of The Da Vinci Code, and will appeal to teens who have grown up with the likes of Young Bond and Artemis Fowl. In his quest to discover more about the secret ancient order Jake puts his life in danger to protect his girlfriend.
A gripping and action-packed historical sleuth thriller in the vein of The Da Vinci Code and indeed teens who have grown up with the likes of Young Bond and Artemis Fowl. The clever mix of intricate and action-packed plotting and characters that seem all too real make this a terrific adventure thriller not to be missed. It is the first in a series but also a self-contained story.
Note: this novel contains graphic scenes of warfare. A high octane, action-packed adventure which will grab readers attention from the opening plane drop and right on into the heart of the bloodiest of conflicts. Black-Ops soldiers Mitch, Two Moons, Gaz, Tug, Benny and Nelson work undercover. Their secret military squad, operating under the code name Delta Unit, has a deadly mission. Somehow they must get through the fighting in Afghanistan with an undercover peace negotiator in their midst. With danger never far away, it is frightening stuff and realities of war are brought vividly to life. This is the second in the Black Ops series – the first is Jungle Kill - and perfect for teens who have moved on from the Alex Rider titles for example.
A terrific new series for teen boys who want something that bridges the gap from Anthony Horowitz and Charlie Higson to authors such as Chris Ryan and Andy McNab. This, the first in the series is a high-octane, adrenalin-fuelled combat adventure series – a real page turner and sure to get readers hooked on the series. Thrown out of the SAS, Mitch thought his days as a Special Forces soldier were well and truly over. But when he is approached by an undercover unit embarking on a dangerous mission to rescue a West African freedom fighter, kidnapped by a gang of ruthless bandits who will stop at nothing to get what they want, he must make a choice. But is Mitch the right man for the job? Can he secure the trust of the men in the undercover unit, and step back into the danger zone? Perfect for boys looking for a gripping, aspirational read.
Interest Age 11+ Reading Age 6.5+. A real story in history is brought to life brilliantly for the seriously struggling reader. In addition, it is also very dyslexia friendly as it’s printed on cream paper, as all Barrington Stoke titles are, with plenty of space between the lines of text on the page and plenty of illustrations too to provide that additional visual appeal for struggling readers. The Tirpitz was one of the Nazis’ most lethal battleship during World War Two. This book is a retelling of its sinking while it was moored, heavily guarded, in a Norwegian fjord with bombs using mini submarines. Find out who was brave enough to go on this dangerous mission and was it successful? To view other titles we think are suitable for reluctant readers please click here. A Dyslexia Friendly title.
A powerful novel about identity and loyalty, and reaching a hand out across cultural divides. Aithne is a twelve-year-old girl - a Briton - who wears the silver moon of a Wise Woman. Castus is a boy the same age, a Roman servant brought up to think of the Britons as barbarians not worth sparing. When Castus is sent to infiltrate the camp of the Britons, these two children from completely different worlds meet and form an unlikely alliance, before being swept into Boudicca's rebellion. Reflect is a series of emotionally powerful books with realistic settings, carefully crafted to promote thoughtful discussions and develop higher-level reading comprehension. Written by top childrens authors and developed with Literacy expert and Series Editor Nikki Gamble, these are books you can trust to engage, entertain and support childrens personal development. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to stories with the right depth and complexity for them, and helping them to progress. Each book contains inside cover notes to help children deepen their understanding and support their reading comprehension. Teaching notes on Oxford Owl offer cross-curricular links to relationships education and support literacy skills.
A gripping first-hand account of life back home after World War One. Thirteen-year-old Joe Henry tricked his way into the army to bring his father home, but fighting in the Great War has been tougher than he could have ever imagined. One night, he's tasked with guarding a railway carriage in the middle of a forest - inside the carriage, very important people are making very important decisions... Finally, an armistice is signed - the war is over! But when Joe returns home, it's to a very different life than the one he left behind. His father is injured and furious at Joe for going to war, plus the Spanish flu is raging, with more and more people dying every day... Joe may have survived World War One, but the danger isn't over yet.
The rusty old digger has been in Dak's village for years. Dak is sure he can get it working again, but can he? Books in the Wayfarers strand are for learners who can read a range of texts accurately and fluently. Wayfarers titles require learners to read beyond what is on the page, inferring characters' feelings, thoughts and motives from their actions. There is more emphasis on understanding through reading and less use of illustrations to show meaning. Repetition is used for dramatic effect rather than to build vocabulary. Contains teaching support including learning outcomes, curriculum links and follow-up activities.
When the war comes, Ahmed and his family leave the city in search of a better future, but life in the refugee camp proves to be difficult. Books in the Voyagers strand are for learners experienced in reading a range of genres. Learners will be able to discuss how language is used and how the vocabulary chosen causes reactions and inferences in the reader. Texts use flashbacks, parody, summary and commentary. Fiction titles include chapters to reflect sustained reading while shorter books have deeper inferential meaning needing more comprehension. Contains teaching support including learning outcomes, curriculum links and follow-up activities.
November 1920. Ireland is in the middle of a war for independence. One Sunday, events come to a head and an exciting football match turns into a survival battle for eleven-year-old Liam Donnelly. Soldiers shooting, machine guns firing, people screaming... How will Liam make it out of the stadium alive? And even if he does, is there anywhere safe left to go?
Cat and Dog are detectives. Can they solve The Case of the Disappearing Fish? Oxford Reading Tree All Stars is an engaging chapter fiction series which combines age-appropriate content with imaginative stories, perfect for inspiring and stretching able infants. The series develops comprehension skills and provides a wide variety of fiction topics and styles, alongside illustrations that aid understanding. All the books in this series are carefully levelled, so it's easy to match every child to the right book - one which will develop their reading skills and fuel their love of reading. Help with children's reading development is also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk.
ESCAPE FROM POMPEII tells the story of a young boy fleeing Pompeii as Mount Vesuvius erupts. This gripping first-hand account is perfect for children studying Pompeii at school. An exciting story - perfect for readers interested in Roman history.
It's AD 84 when Bran, a prince of the Carvetii tribe, is captured by the Romans. A legion of soldiers is marching east, to build a military road. It's hostile country, and Bran is to go with them as a hostage to ensure the legion's safety ... but no one is safe in newly conquered Britain.
Interest Age 9+ Reading Age 6+ “Put your hands up! If anyone moves we shoot!” The action starts on page one of this heart-stopping thriller and doesn’t let up until the very end. Junior plumber Alex is in the cramped roof space of the Town Hall examining its water pipes when armed men storm the building and take everyone in it hostage, including her dad. Hidden above their heads, she’s got one hour until they start shooting, but manages to immobilise one of the gangsters, John McClane-style, and lead the police into the building, saving the day! Great stuff for anyone who dreams of being a hero, told with a punchy brevity. Comic style illustrations add to the entertainment value. ~ Andrea Reece Barrington Stoke is the foremost publisher of dyslexia friendly books and those for reluctant readers. Here on Lovereading4kids we are constantly selecting new titles and refreshing our special dyslexia friendly category. Click here to view our current selection which is broken down by age range.
It's 1917 and Billy Stevens is a telegraph operator stationed near Ypres. The Great War has been raging for three years when Billy finds himself taking part in the deadly Big Push forward. But he is shocked to discover that the bullets of his fellow soldiers aren't just aimed at the enemy...
The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was formed in July 1940 - its mission: to send agents into occupied Europe to conduct covert operations against Allied enemies. Many of these agents were women and girls. MY STORY: CODENAME C LINE tells the thrilling tale of 'C line', a young teenager, desperate to do her bit towards the war effort. Parachuted into occupied France to help the Resistance, C line finds herself on the front line of fierce and terrifying fighting - will she be able to keep her nerve and complete her mission before it's too late?
The Wrestling Trolls face their ultimate challenge - a fight for the troll kingdom! Lord Veto has been kidnapped and is being held at the dreaded Mount Doom. But now Jack knows the shocking truth - that his arch enemy is in fact his grandfather - he can't just abandon him. So the gang find themselves on the most unexpected mission of all: to save Lord Veto. But are they walking straight into a trap? In the second and final story the Wrestling Trolls face their most terrifying opponent yet. As the rightful heir to the troll throne, Jack must defeat Massive, the tyrannical troll who claims that he is the High King. In a wrestling match to end all wrestling matches, Jack must save not only himself, but his friends and his kingdom too. In this thrilling final adventure in the Wrestling Trolls series, the gang must pull together - even with their enemies - to fight for the very future of trollkind.
In this penultimate adventure in the Wrestling Trolls series, the little band of friends must pull together and face their toughest challenges yet. A Piece of Passion from Holly Kyte, Editor Jim's Wrestling Trolls stories just get more thrilling every time, and in this, the fifth and penultimate book in the series, things are really hotting up before the final showdown. . . We're on more rip-roaring adventures with Jack, Milo, Princess Ava, Big Rock and the gang as they get into all kinds of scrapes on their travels, but this time they are facing their toughest challenges and most dastardly villains yet. The bonds between these wacky characters become stronger than ever as they must pull together to rescue their grumpy but lovable friend Robin from some nasty horse thieves, and help Jack recover a family treasure from the depths of Veto Castle - which might just lead them to some shocking revelations that will blow your socks off! What I love most about these stories is that they are packed full of both adventure and heart. So expect plenty of action, loads of fun, heartwarming friendships, scary monsters, new (and extremely villainous) villains, and of course lots of bone-crunching wrestling - all brought to life by Jan Bielecki's bold and brilliant illustrations. It's another fizzing couple of tales for younger readers that show just how important it is to play fair and stick by your friends when things get tough.
COURAGEOUS FIRST WORLD WAR STORIES is a collection of three wartime adventures that will transport the reader to the heart of the First World War by land, sea and air. In THE TRENCHES, Billy Stevens, a telegraph operator, finds himself part of the deadly Battle of Passchendaele. STANDING ALONE tells the true story of Jack Cornwell, the sixteen-year-old hero of the last great naval battle of WW1. FLYING ACE takes us into the skies where Jack Fairfax of the Royal Flying Corps finds himself under attack. Riveting fictionalized accounts, packed with historical detail, give a new immediacy to the First World War that will enthral young readers.
Challenged to a Giant Rumble but suffering from a shortfall of wrestlers, Jack and his friends set out to find more participants for their great battle. But what starts as a fun-filled road trip in their trusty caravan soon becomes an action-packed adventure filled with dangers including animals and insects of many kinds. This Wrestling Trolls story was created on The Story Adventure, where week by week Jim wrote a new chapter using ideas from school children - characters, locations and plot twists. See if you can spot them!
In 1914 a war broke out that was to touch every corner of the globe. By 1918, the year the war ended, more than 16 million people were dead from almost every nationality. See how events unfolded chronologically, meet key figures of the conflict and discover the lasting impact of the war. Packed with facts, maps, infographics and photographs, this is the perfect introduction to a tragic chapter in world history.
Alan Turing was one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. He created one of the first designs for a stored-program computer and is widely considered to be the father of computer science and artificial intelligence. During World War II, Turing worked for the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, Britain's codebreaking centre, where he was responsible for breaking German naval codes, including the supposedly unbreakable Enigma code, and helping the Atlantic convoys avoid German U-boat attacks. This work probably shortened World War II by up to four years, saving millions of lives. This is the story of the amazing life and work of a British hero and one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th century.
Centuries-old wisdom. Knowledge people will kill for. The ultimate prize: The Index of the Order of Malichea. And the most powerful organisations in the world are in a deadly race to find it. The Index will change the shape of the future. Jake and Lauren must get to it first . . . Alex Munro, high-flying lawyer, is dead. Murdered in cold blood. The prime suspect is Jake. He has a history with the victim, one tainted by his attempts to obtain the lost books of the Order of Malichea. It's down to Jake to discover who wants him behind bars, away from The Index for good. But the clock is ticking . . .
Action packed thriller. Rob's the army's youngest bomb disposal officer. And he's also the best. But when he's called in to school to defuse a bomb planted by terrorists he must recall some painful events from his past in order to make sure the bomb doesn't explode. The clock is ticking. Will he do it in time? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers of 10+
The Taliban attack the much-needed hospital Sari and Joe are building in a small Afghan village. When a young girl is injured in the attack, Joe must draw fire away from the village while Sari performs the most dangerous operation of her life. Can Sari and Joe hang on in there? Accomplished author of The Malichea Quest series (Bloomsbury). Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers.
This title is part of Bug Club, the first whole-school reading programme to combine books with an online reading world to teach today's children to read. In this Year 4 Grey B (NC level 4c)... Could you...Start school at 6 o'clock in the morning? Manage with only two days' holiday a year? Sleep on a mattress filled with straw? If the answer is no you probably wouldn't make it as a Tudor schoolboy! Look inside to experience what life was really like for a 9-year-old boy in Tudor Britain.
Captain James Hawk and his sidekick robot Xan-X are in serious trouble. Captured by the evil warlord Pinn, they have been sent on an impossible mission to recover the priceless Stone of Destiny, and to make things even worse, they only have 48 hours to do it.
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