CHILDREN'S HALLOWEEN
THE WORST WITCH AND THE WISHING STAR BY JILL MURPHY (Puffin £9.99)
Sometimes, if you wish hard enough, a dream comes true - and it has!
A new Worst Witch adventure, the first in six years, starring the much-loved, if accident-prone, Mildred Hubble and friends (and enemies - we know your tricks Ethel Hallow…) is out.
In a nod to contemporary culture, the pupils of Miss Cackle’s Academy For Witches must compete in a talent contest, but when Mildred secretly wishes for a dog - and gets one - the school’s chances of winning are seriously damaged unless Mildred can train him to perform (remember Pudsey?). The long wait has been worth it as Murphy has yet again produced a funny, uplifting tale to soften even Miss Hardbroom’s heart.
Age 7+
THE DEAD MEN STOOD TOGETHER BY CHRIS PRIESTLEY (Bloomsbury £10.99)
Priestley has carved out an impressive reputation not just as an author of his own horror stories, but as a brilliant re-interpreter of classic tales, such as his Frankenstein-inspired Mr Creecher.
Now he tackles Coleridge’s nightmare voyage, The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner and tells it through the character of the seaman’s traumatised young nephew who travels with him on the doomed ship.
The gradual unfolding of the cursed journey - the shooting of the albatross, the ice, the heat, the unbearable stillness, the ghostly crew members and the descent into madness - is conjured up with such intensity that it is almost impossible to put the book down, even if you know the story well.
A masterful handling of a classic - and if it leads readers to seek out the original poem, Priestley will have scored a double success.
Age 11+
THE COMPANY OF GHOSTS BY BERLIE DOHERTY (Andersen £6.99)
Doherty’s superb control of her material and her beautiful use of language have never been more perfectly combined than in this genuinely chilling ghost story set on a remote Scottish island.
Sixteen-year-old Ellie’s parents have divorced and, feeling betrayed and isolated, she accepts an invitation to stay with her friend Morag’s family on the island.
When Ellie is accidentally left alone on the normally uninhabited isle for days, she is haunted by a ghost girl whose broken-hearted quest forces Ellie to confront her own confused and angry feelings.
Eerily atmospheric, emotionally authentic, this is a powerful and touching coming-of-age adventure with romance at its heart.
Age 14+
