Confident Readers (8-10yrs)

Ten of the best-known Irish Legends are retold...with a twist. Etain and Midir - gorgeous girl is pursued by hunky guy in a green tunic. The result is pure magic. Read all about it in Etain's secret diary..."The Man with the Silver Arm" - The Irish Messenger gives you the inside info on big battles, lost limbs and a boy with amazing powers..."The Ballad of the Little Fawn" -...

Nine-year-old Conor’s day doesn’t start well. His right arm seems to be missing! Then he appears to have grown horns. But it’s the next event that proves fateful. His mum catches her skirt on a loose spring in the sofa. It’s time to replace the sofa … obviously. But money is tight. So when Conor sees an old sofa bobbing in the tide as he walks to school, about to strand itself on the muddy...

Golf-nutter dad secretly organises a holiday at a rough and rugged, far-away-wilderness place known as Shark Tooth Bay. When Dad goes fishing off the rocks, Fletch and Ozzie meet a leathery old man who warns them about the monster inhabitants of caves that dot the cliff face. "Those creatures don't like young larrikins like you poking your noses into their bedrooms." Then he points to where...

One dark night on the island of Great Saltee, fourteen-year-old Conor is framed for a terrible crime he didn't commit. Thrown into prison by the dastardly Hugo Bonvilain, Conor is trapped in a sea swept dungeon and branded a traitor. He must escape and clear his name; he wants his old life back - his family, his friends...and his princess. Conor knows there is only one way out. It's an impossible...

Anya used to dream of moving to Britain to start a brand-new life. But as she sits in a school where nobody understands her, she dreams of Polish summer skies and the place where she once belonged. Then Anya meets bad boy Dan. He's no angel, but she's sure there's a sweeter side to him. And when things begin to fall apart, Anya realises she's not alone - how can Dan be such bad news when being...

From Cornwall to Cuba, Venice to France, Alex Rider has travelled far and wide as a spy for MI6, facing danger and death at every turn. But in his last mission, fighting the criminal organization, Scorpia, Alex appeared to have finally met his match. In the thrilling sequel to "Scorpia", find out the answer to the question on everyone's lips - "Will Alex Rider live to fight another day?"

Artemis Fowl. You've probably heard the name. If Internet rumours are to be believed, he's responsible for every major crime of the century. If you haven't heard of young Artemis, then you're lucky. You'll sleep better not knowing that someone like him is out there. But if you must know, if curiosity is eating away at you, as it did at me, then let's start at the beginning ...In this, the story...

Someone has been supplying Class A illegal human power sources to the goblins. Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit is sure that her arch-enemy, thirteen-year-old Artemis Fowl, is responsible. But is he? Artemis has his own problems to deal with: his father is being held to ransom and only a miracle will save him. Maybe this time a brilliant plan just won't be enough. Maybe this time Artemis...

Thirteen-year-old criminal mastermind Artemis Fowl has constructed a supercomputer from stolen fairy technology. In the wrong hands it could be fatal for humans and fairies alike. But no need to worry, Artemis has a brilliant plan. He's not going to use the computer; he's just going to show it to a ruthless American businessman with Mafia connections. His bodyguard, Butler, will be with him. What...

Ten millennia ago, the fairy People were defeated in a great battle with mankind, forcing them to move underground. Only the eighth family of fairies remained undefeated: the demons. But now one demon has discovered the secrets of the fairy world, and if humans get hold of this information the fairies are in big trouble. Only one person can prevent this disaster - teenage criminal mastermind...

Evil pixie, Opal Koboi, is back and she's more dangerous than ever. This time she doesn't just want power over the fairy People - this time she wants the humans too. Captain Holly Short is the only fairy with a hope of stopping her, but as Holly knows, it takes one genius criminal mastermind to fight another. But the 14-year-old genius that Holly is thinking of doesn't even remember that fairies...

Gaul was divided into three parts. No, four parts - for one small village of indomitable Gauls still held out against the Roman invaders. BOOK 6 Getafix, Obelix, Dogmatix and Asterix visit Egypt to help an architect build a palace for Caesar. There they are entranced by the Sphinx, the pyramids and Cleopatra's nose.

In ancient Rome the slaves are revolting ...and not only that, they've stolen Julius Caesar's own galley, the finest warship in the Roman navy. Under their heroic leader Spartakis, the former galley slaves make for the little Gaulish village where Julius Caesar's old enemies Asterix and Obelix live - only to find the place in crisis, for Obelix, after drinking the druid Getafix's magic potions on...

A collection of 12 new stories - all linked by the theme of Asterix's anniversary celebration.

A baby boy is left in a basket outside Asterix's hut - who can have dumped the foundling there, and why? Child-care is something new to the Gaulish warriors, but Asterix and Obelix do their best, although they have had more practice in thumping Romans. Child-care is also new to Crismus Cactus, Prefect of Gaul, who finds himself masquerading as a Gaulish nursemaid. Why are the Romans after the...

The Gauls have only one fear: that the sky may fall on their heads tomorrow. But tomorrow never comes, says Chief Vitalstatistix. Or does it? It looks as if it's come at last for Asterix, Obelix and the other villagers. And some surprising new characters fall along with the sky. Our friends soon find themselves in the middle of a space race...This new Asterix story, the first in four years, is a...

Gaul was divided into three parts. No, four parts - for one small village of indomitable Gauls still held out against the Roman invaders. BOOK 22 Asterix and Obelix are lost at sea and finally reach what they think is a Roman colony, but when the Vikings turn up on a voyage of discovery, they realise that they have, in fact, discovered a strange New World.

When the Vikings kidnap Justforkix, the timid but very trendy son of one of Chief Vitalstatistix' closest and most powerful friends, believing he has the key to the secret of the magic potion, Asterix and Obelix are sent on one of their most dangerous missions. For they must voyage north to the Vikings' home territory and rescue Justforkix, before the Vikings find out he is not who they think he...

Gaul was divided into three parts. No, four parts - for one small village of indomitable Gauls still held out against the Roman invaders. BOOK 16 Quaestor Vexatius Sinusitus turns up in Gaul to investigate the creative accountancy of Governor Varius Flavus. When the quaestor is poisoned, he turns to Getafix the druid and the other Gauls for help.

Gaul was divided into three parts. No, four parts - for one small village of indomitable Gauls still held out against the Roman invaders. BOOK 1 When Getafix is kidnapped by the Romans, Asterix penetrates their camp to rescue him with hair-raising results...

Mandy has been picked on at school for as long as she can remember. That's why she is delighted when cheeky, daring, full-of-fun Tanya picks her as a friend. Mum isn't happy - she thinks Tanya's a bad girl and a bad influence. Mandy's sure Tanya can only get her out of trouble, not into it...or could she?

Gemma and Alice, born on the same day, have been devoted best friends ever since. Despite Gemma's larger-than-life personality and Alice's quieter, calmer character, the two are inseparable - until that is Alice has to move house, all the way to Scotland. Gemma is utterly distraught, particularly at the thought that Alice might find a new best friend. Is there anything Gem's brothers, or perhaps...

Black Beauty is a handsome, sweet-tempered colt with a strong spirit. As a young colt he is free to gallop in the fresh green meadows with his beloved mother, Duchess, and their kind master. But when his owners are forced to sell him, Black Beauty goes from a life of comfort and kindness to one of hard labour and cruelty. Bravely he works as hard as he can, suffering at the hands of men who treat...

Like so many kids, Joshua works hard at appearing to be just your average 12-year old. He does ok at school. He has plenty of friends - although he hasn't had a best friend since he was five. And he's very good at sport. This is his account of the six weeks in the spring he turns sixteen.

A magical Arabian Nights tale from the captivating creator of fantasy, Diana Wynne Jones. The dazzling sequel to Howls Moving Castle, soon to be a major animated film. Far to the south in the Land of Ingary, lives a young carpet merchant called Abdullah. In his dreams, he is the long-lost son of a great prince. This dream is a complete castle in the air! or is it? Abdullah's day-dreams suddenly...

Charlie Bone awakes one morning to find the city covered with snow and all the animals gone. Where have they gone - and why? Blessed the dog tells Billy there was a terrible shuddering of the earth and immediately after, he saw a witch with two shadows crossing the hall in Bloor's Academy. Could the discovery of an ancient mirror, and the movement of the shadow in the Red King's portrait have...

The enchanter Count Harken - the shadow in the painting of the Red King - is back and determined to stop Billy from discovering a life-changing family secret. His incredible power reaches out from the dark, magical land of Badlock, through space and time, to wreak revenge on Charlie and his friends. Charlie's ancestor, Otus Yewbeam, has been imprisoned in Badlock by Count Harken. Otus is a giant,...

This is the sixth thrilling magical adventure starring Charlie Bone!Charlie Bone has finally found his father, but he's disappeared again. However, this time Charlie knows where he is - on a second honeymoon with his mother.But there's no time to miss them, for there's a strange salty mist in the air, and chilling howls in the night. And someone has been searching Charlie's house.What are they...

A feel-good story about Josh, and his cantankerous pet hen, Semolina. Semolina can talk and in return for prawn crackers and the odd beer, she tells Josh all the animal gossip. The problem is that no one believes she can talk and Josh's warning about a fox on the loose in the chicken house is laughed at - until it is too late.

Em adores her funny, glamorous dad - who cares if he's not her real father? He's wonderful to her, and to her little brother and sister. True to form at Christmas, Dad gives them fantastic presents, including a real emerald ring for his little Princess Em. Unfortunately he's got another surprise in store - he's leaving them. Will Dad's well-meaning but chaotic attempts to keep seeing Em and the...

When a young girl ventures through a hidden door, she finds another life with shocking similarities to her own. Coraline has moved to a new house with her parents and she is fascinated by the fact that their 'house' is in fact only half a house! Divided into flats years before, there is a brick wall behind a door where once there was a corridor. One day it is a corridor again and the intrepid...

In this hilarious sequel to Truckers strange things start to happen when thousands of tiny nomes begin to move into the ruined buildings of an abandoned quarry.

No-one can ever be like a mother to us. No-one, no-one at all, especially not stupid Frizzy Dizzy Rose. Ruby and Garnet are ten-year-old twins. Identical, they do everything together, especially since their mother died three years earlier. But can being a double act work for ever? When so much around them is changing...

When Ingrid accidentally leaves her favourite football sneakers at a murder scene, she is sucked into the mysterious case. It's all her fault that the police are on the wrong track, so Ingrid swears to hunt down Cracked-up Katie's killer herself. But Ingrid's life is full of distractions - Joey, the son of the local police chief; portraying Alice in the Prescott Players new production; not...

Reluctant MI6 agent Alex Rider is relaxing in the south of France until a sudden, ruthless attack on his hosts plunges him back into a world of violence and mystery - and this time, MI6 don't want to know. Alex is determined to track down his friends' attackers, even if he must do it alone. But it's a path that leads to a long-buried secret - and a discovery more terrible than anything he could...

Pupils and staff at HIVE are horrified to discover that Dr Nero has been captured by the forces of HOPE, the Hostile Operative Prosecution Executive, the world's newest and most ruthlessly efficient security force. Three months pass without any news of his fate, and Number One has decided to appoint a sinister new headmistress for the school, somebody that the pupils and staff had thought that...

As featured in the first year set texts reading list in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an extensive introduction to the magical beasts that exist in the magical, non-Muggle world. Some of the animals featured in the A-Z you will have already met in the existing Harry Potter books: for example Hippogriff, Flobberworm, Kappa - others you...

Ozzie and his family get ready for the visit of Uncle Rusty from London. As Ozzie says: Prediction: This forthcoming social event will throw my parents into a state of pre-visitor-tension, and our family will suffer from disharmony. And it does. Mum goes into a frenzy of getting the house tidy (read - Ozzie has to clean his room!), the lawn mowed and the menu prepared. The Brat, Snoops, Ozzie and...

Colliding hadrons! If Earth is to be saved, George and Annie - with the help of their computer genius friend Emmett - must use the super-computer to travel into space. First stop Mars - and then on to the very edge of the known galaxy, as they follow one clue after another on a fabulous treasure hunt across the cosmos.

Creepy creatures are howling, growling, and stalking through the artwork of the first Goosebumps Graphix anthology when three hot, talented comic artists adapt these bestselling Goosebumps books into a cool, new graphic novel format: SCOTT MORSE, creator of the popular comic, "The Magic Pickle," brings his quirky sense of humor and madcap illustrations to "The Abominable Snowman of...

Not long ago, Luke and Lizzy Morris dared to spend one day at HorrorLand, the terrifying theme park where nightmares come to life. They thought that NOTHING could lure them back, but their travel plans are about to change.... Who--or WHAT--is summoning ordinary kids to HorrorLand and trapping them there? Luke and Lizzy are determined to find out. They've gathered every clue, and they even...

The Joke is on them! Harry and his brother, Alex, are dying to fit in at Camp Spirit Moon. But the camp has so many weird traditions. Like the goofy camp salute. The odd camp greeting. And the way the old campers love to play jokes on the new campers. Then the jokes start to get really serious. Really creepy. Really scary.

Face to Face with a Nightmare! How ugly is Carly Beth's Halloween mask? It's so ugly that it almost scared her little brother to death. So terrifying that even her friends are freaked out by it. It's the best Halloween mask ever! It's everthing Carly Beth hoped it would be. And more. Maybe too much more. Because Halloween is almost over. And Carly Beth is still waering that special mask.

Someone - or something - is inviting ordinary kids to HorrorLand And trapping them there. But they're not the only guests of the terrrifying theme park where nightmares come to life.

GONE in a FLASH! A picture is worth a thousand screams-if it's taken with an evil camera that has a nasty vision of the future. Julie's future doesn't look pretty. And neither does anyone else's after they're caught in her lens! Things start looking up when Julie gets to HorrorLand. That is, until she starts falling down...into the Tunnel of Screams. Someone--or something--is inviting ordinary...

Greg thinks there is something wrong with the old camera he found. The photographs keep turning out...different. When Greg takes a shot of his father's brand-new car, it's wrecked in the picture. And then his dad crashes the car, nearly totaling it. It's like the camera can tell the future, or worse...maybe it makes the future! Greg's friends don't believe him. Shari even makes Greg take her...

Take these Terror Trips . . . and hope you return! Three hot, talented comic artists adapt these bestselling Goosebumps books into a cool new graphic novel format. JILL THOMPSON, the award-winning creator of The Scary Godmother series, brings her quirky humor and madcap illustrations to "One Day at Horrorland," where a family lost in an amusement park finds the rides a little too...

When a strange howling is heard and a rabbit is torn to shreds, everyone thinks that Grady's new dog is responsible, and Grady is determined to prove them wrong.

Twelve-year-old Boone and his sister Heather love animals of every kind. That's why they wanted to come to Camp Hither. The wild legends of man-eating snakes and disappearing campers are hisss-terical! But Camp Hither has a cold-blooded secret: Somebody has unleashed a hungry horde of slithery snakes! Can these two survive long enough to accept their invitation to HorrorLand? Yesssssss! But only...

In the beginning there was me and Mum and Dad and the twins. And talk about happy families, we were bountiful. But it came to pass that I started doing sins. And lo, that's when all our problems began.