I am not sure about your household, but I know my friend’s children have taken to devouring books so fast that they are continually looking for something new to read. If your tween loves to go on an adventure, a bit of a laugh or to delve into a new series, then they are bound to want to jump into one of these books!
E-Boy by Anh Do
Illustrated by Chris Wahl
Published by Allen & Unwin
Date: March 2020
R.R.P. $14.99
From being a Librarian, I know that thousands of children across Australia devour Anh Do books. Each and every one of them is in constant rotation, even his early WeirDo series. One of his latest series is E-Boy – Part Human – Part Robot but all hero!
We begin Ethans adventure with him meant to be doing regular teenage things, but he is in the hospital getting a brain tumour removed by his doctor who happens to be an android. During the operation and a bolt of big lightning, Ethan wakes feeling like he is part machine…
E-Boy will take you on an adventure of Ethan navigating what all this means to him and see him learning new skills to stay alive.
What I love about Anh’s books is that they are relatively easy to read, especially with the added illustrations by Chris Wahl. I found the illustrations to be a mix between real life and graphic novel style, and they add significant value to the story.
Adventures on Trains: The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard
Illustrated by Sam Sedgman
Published by Pan McMillan
Date: 31 January 2020
R.R.P. $14.99
Just like E-Boy, The Highland Falcon Theif takes us on another adventure, this time on a train. Set in Scotland, Harrison Beck investigates a brooch that goes missing the train he is travelling with his Uncle Nate – he comes across many surprises along the way.
This adventure is fast-paced, action-packed and gets you thinking with all its clues to help you solve the mystery. The biggest question is, can Harrison solve it?
At 252 pages, The Highland Flacon Theif is the longest out of the three books but is broken up with illustrations by Sam Sedgman throughout. As a child, I always loved a few illustrations through my junior fiction books, and I see the value of them for readers that need to ‘pause’ more often than at the end of a chapter.
Crack Up by Jules Faber
Published by Pan Macmillan
Date: 31 March 2020
R.R.P. $12.99
If you are a fan of the WeirDo series, then you are probably familiar with the illustrations of Jules Faber. It is evident from the books he has written and illustrated that he loves to have fun… and be funny!
I like how this book has been set out, with lined pages like it has come from a diary, there is a right balance between words and illustrations that are a mix of a graphic novel and other illustrations.
In Crack Up, Max Crack and his bestie Frankie are back for more adventure and a shiny new quest list which includes – making a movie, finding a meteorite, eating a truckload of chocolate and solving a sisterly feud! Adorned with toilet brush on the cover, we begin to wonder whether Mac and Frankie’s list is bound to happen?
If it is simply plain fun and laughs your tween wants, or they are a reluctant reader, then this is without a doubt the book for them.
Little Big Reads 