Kirjahaku

In a gentle way, you can shake the world. James frequently needs to escape, to walk the streets of his local village and lose himself in his thoughts. James isn't finding his final year at primary school easy, and he wishes he had a brain that allowed him to chat and laugh like his classmates. Having spent his life avoiding trouble, it now seems to follow him wherever he goes. When he stumbles into Mrs Samuel in the churchyard one autumn day, nothing is the same again. For Mrs Samuel, the present is a blur but the past shines clearly in her mind. Her tales about the village’s history bring the past to life and ignite something deep within James Without realising it, Mrs Samuel helps turn James's world from black and white to colour and inspires him to become... The Flower Boy. But as Mrs Samuel loses her smile, will James find his?

Without fear there cannot be courage. James's first year at high school had an inevitability even he couldn't have predicted. Having a mind that stopped him talking freely, and a strong design to be invisible, was always going to be a challenge in the rush to make new friends. James’s spark has gone – even the churchyard and growing roses have lost their appeal. When his relationship with his dad starts to break down, neither of them are really sure why. Not knowing what has happened to Mrs Samuel doesn’t help his mood either. When James finds out what they have planned for the churchyard, it’s the final straw. But when things are going wrong, and life is far from a bed of roses, James will be reminded of the true value of kindness. Will James bloom again and find his… Flower Power!? The Sequel to The Flower Boy.

It’s 1955, and Richie is living a rather solitary life in post-war London, but it’s all he’s ever known. He can see signs that a colourful and exciting new world is emerging from those dark days of wartime. Until one day tragedy strikes and Richie’s life changes beyond anything he could ever have imagined. London is soon a distant memory, as Richie and his mum reluctantly move north to the Chemist Shop where they are expected to toil under Aunt Beatrice’s menacing eye. Richie, overwhelmed by the work he is expected to do, longs for his previous life and is unnerved by the mysterious presence of a boy called Peter. Is Peter just a figment of Gran’s imagination, and will Richie forever remain under Aunt Beatrice’s domineering control or will he and his mum escape from the misery of life at… The Chemist?

The 1980s – a dazzling decade of excess, hedonism and electrifying music. An era pulsing with vibrant energy and limitless promise, yet beneath the glittering surface, dark shadows are gathering that will change just about everything … Rock legend McKenzie McCall is struggling to stay relevant – and struggling even more to care. Were it not for his bulldog of a manager, Atkinson, he might have already swapped the limelight for solitude. Meanwhile, twelve-year-old Andy’s life is unravelling. His dad has walked out, his mum is unwell, and nothing makes sense anymore. Just as his world threatens to collapse completely, fate brings him face-to-face with the faded rock star. Together, this unlikely pairing embark on a profound and poignant journey – one that just might Rock the World.

“We were all just desperate men who wanted to be home for Christmas with the ones we loved; our hearts torn between the duty to our country and the warmth and shelter of our families.” The wartime correspondence between a son and his father during the Great War. As 1914 draws to a close, William’s letters are full of hope. Well they said the war would be over by Christmas, didn’t they? Helpful questions for discussion and First World War research ideas included.