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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.
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.
It’s 2517 BC, and the river Nile has flooded. Unable to plough their fields, Nebka follows his uncle to build the pyramid of Khafre. It’s back-breaking work, all for the glory of the Pharaoh. Then he meets a mysterious prisoner claiming to be the rightful heir to the throne, and is drawn in to a deadly plot…
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.
It's 1870 when the Workhouse Master hires Will out as a chimney sweep's boy. It's a hard, dirty, dangerous life, and it's not long before events take an even worse turn, as Will's climbing skill attract the attention of the evil Hutch, who needs just such boy to help him with his burglary jobs...
Collins Big Cat supports every primary child on their reading journey from phonics to fluency. Top authors and illustrators have created fiction and non-fiction books that children love to read. Levelled for guided and independent reading, each book includes ideas to support reading. Teaching and assessment support and eBooks are also available. Britain, 1940. The Blitz. For 12-year-old Ellie and her brothers, it's not just about surviving the bombing, it's trying to solve the mystery of the enemy within. Who's attacking local people, and why? Diamond/Band 17 books offer more complex, underlying themes to give opportunities for children to understand causes and points of view. Text type: A story with a historical setting Ideas for reading in the back of the book provide practical support and stimulating activities. Jim Elridge was born in Camden Town in central London in 1944 during the Second World War. When he was a baby his pram was snatched from his elder sister's hands by a blast from an exploding V2 rocket, and he ended up unharmed (and still asleep) on a pile of rubble. He grew up in this area amid scenes of bomb-damage and devastation, and his memories and the tales of what his parents and elder sister went through during the Blitz have inspired this book, Blitz Kids.
It's AD 84 when Bran, a prince of the Carvetii tribe, is captured by the Romans in My Story: Roman Invasion. 'He is not a child!' said my mother defiantly. 'Bran is a prince, raised to be a warrior like his father!' 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. Experience history first-hand with My Story in this all-new look!
When a meteor heads towards Earth, there is only one person who can help... Using the world's largest known database of writing for and by children, our experts have defined 300 ambitious words to help children succeed at school. We've combined these with finelly levelled books that help you develop support comprehension and fluency, while inspiring and engaging your young readers.
My Story: The Trenches is a thrilling wartime tale about the Great War. 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... Experience history first-hand with My Story in this all-new look!
I Was There... is a perfect introduction for younger readers into stories from the past, allowing children to imagine that they were really there. I Was There... 1066 tells the thrilling story of a young page boy at the heart of the Battle of Hastings. Edwin risks everything to infiltrate the Norman army and find out William of Normany's plans for King Harold. Brilliantly reimagined, readers aged 7+ will love this vivid and exciting first-hand account of the last successful military invasion of England.
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.
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