The first book in Patience Agbabi's Leap Cycle introduced us to Leaplings – children born on February 29th - who have the power to travel through time. Its brilliant sci-fi premise inspired lots of leap-year-related chat in our house, so were looking forward to being reunited with athletics-loving Elle and her car-crazy best friend Ben,... Continue Reading →

The Lewis Chessmen have been enchanting those who encounter them since they were discovered on a Hebridean beach nearly 200 years ago. In her new book, Barbara Henderson channels their timeless appeal and shares it with new generation of readers, who are set to be captivated. In its own way, this story is as much... Continue Reading →

In our regular Q&A, we ask a Scottish author to share some stories about their own life. This month, we are delighted to welcome Barbara, an author with an unrivalled talent for bringing Scotland's past to life. This interview was part of the blog tour for her new book, The Chessmen Thief. It gave us... Continue Reading →

As a household filled with little readers who compulsively resist bedtime, we were intrigued by this book as soon as we saw the title. Imagine if you really couldn't get to sleep – ever. David C Flanagan's young fiction story introduces Harry, a boy who has never even been tired, and explores what now sleeping... Continue Reading →

This book is a rare thing: a picture book with words and illustrations which are equally beautiful. The story of a boy who rescues and cares for an abandoned fawn, it is a lyrical celebration of Scotland's landscapes and wildlife which conveys the atmosphere of its setting perfectly. As a summer unfolds, we see the... Continue Reading →

Sixteen-year-old Dolly Shepherd loves living life on the edge, and while her weekdays are spent working in her aunt's Ostrich Feather Emporium, one weekend she seizes a thrilling opportunity – to parachute from a hot air balloon. It the first leap in what will prove a daring, dangerous and fulfilling career. Karen McCombie's story re-imagines... Continue Reading →

In our regular Q&A, we ask a Scottish author to share some stories about their own life. This month, we welcome Hannah, who has dazzled us with her debut middle-grade story, The Spellbinding Secret of Avery Buckle. We're hoping to uncover the secrets of how she came to create Avery's fantastical world.  News story: What... Continue Reading →

This is our favourite read of the year, so far - a fast-paced, magical adventure that takes readers to iconic settings in the company of characters who are memorable, endearing, and so much fun! Avery's daily life seems quite normal (apart from her shimmering guardians and the fact that she is half cat) until, at... Continue Reading →