The Secret of Platform 13 (For 9+ Readers)

Before the world had ever heard of Harry Potter and Platform 9 3/4 to the Hogwarts, there was a Platform 13 at King's Cross where a doorway led to a fantastical island. The doorway, however, was opened for only nine days every nine years. Last time it was opened, the island's baby prince was stolen in the streets of London. Now nine years later, a rescue party is sent to find him and bring him home. But the prince is not quite what they expect, he is a spoilt rich boy who doesn't believe in magic and doesn't want to go back. Can they rescue him before the doorway disappears?

This beautifully written fantasy is a delight. It is fun to follow the four rescuers, a wizard, an ogre, a fey and a young hag, Ogre Gribble in their attempt to bring back the prince. Though the story is predictable with the mistaken identity of the prince and the kidnapper's son, it doesn't fail to engross readers with its humour and the author's stylish writing. This imaginative tale has just the right dosage of witchcraft to hook young readers without the story becoming too scary.

The newly designed anniversary edition illustrated by Alex T. Smith, a very up and coming name of the illustrator scene, makes it much more approachable to the 8+ year old readers.

'This kind of fun will never fail to delight' says Philip Pullman. We at Blooming Club couldn't agree more. Highly recommended.

Mountwood School For Ghosts (For 9+ Readers)

Fredegonda, Goneril, and Drusilla are Great Hagges, much more important and much rarer than regular old hags. They think that ghosts these days are decidedly lacking in character and that people haven't been scared of ghosts for years. So one day they decide that something needs to change - it's time for these ghosts to learn a thing or two about being scary. And what better way to teach them than to set up their very own Mountwood School for Ghosts?

But Percy, a young ghost whose parents had applied for Mountwood,misses the bus laid to transport all the new school applicants to School and is instead transported by mistake to a new home in a removal van. It is a sweet little story about how his ghost friendly neighbour Daniel and his best friend Charlotte help him find his parents in Mountwood.

Toby Ibbotson's debut novel reads like a timeless classic. The dilemma of the three ghosts who feel strongly that the standard of ghosts in Great Britain has fallen and their determination to re-educate them is hilarious. It really will tickle readers' imagination.

The Abominables (For 9+ Readers)

Discovered after Eva Ibbotson's death, the manuscript of The Abominables was previously completely unknown. Published in paperback recently, it is the perfect finale from this master storyteller. This charming, original story is about Agatha Farlingham, a young explorer and aristocrat in the Victorian era, who is kidnapped by a gigantic monster, a yeti, in the middle of the night in her tent in the Himalayas to help the yeti raise his family for 100 years.

But times have changed and many humans are spoiling the peace and quiet of the Himalayas. Fearful for the yeti's future, Lady Agatha enlists the help of two children whose father is the chef of a new hotel and together they devise the most ingenious plan to take the yeti family back to her ancestral home in Farley Towers, Hampshire. This laugh-out-loud story manages to touch on human rights and environmental issues, with subtlety and humour. Sharon Rennta's charming illustrations add to the enchanting quality of this book.

This book was shortlisted for The Guardian Fiction Prize.

One Dog and His Boy (For 9+ Readers)

All Hal wants is a dog. But his parents refuse to let him have one for it will ruin the posh carpets in their beautiful, spotless home. That is, until they discover Easy Pets: a local dog-rental agency. They don't tell Hal that the clever little puppy he chooses is not for life, but only for the weekend. Imagine his desperation when Hal discovers that Fleck, the terrier, has to be returned. Somehow Hal has to find a way to be together with Fleck. As Hal decides to take things in his own hands, he and Fleck trek off to his grandfather in Northumberland together with Pippa, the girl who works at Easy Pet Agency and her five dogs.

This old fashioned canine adventure is a fantastic read for anyone who loves dog stories, and is somewhat reminiscent of One Hundred and One Dalmatians. The bonding between Hal and Fleck is truly touching.

"Eva Ibbotson weaves a magic like no other. Once enchanted, always enchanted." Michael Morpurgo

Journey to the River Sea (For 9+ Readers)

Journey to the River Sea has one of the most memorable heroines in 20^th century children's literature and is a glorious book not to be missed. Set at the turn of 20^th century, it's the story of an orphaned, but rich, 10 year old girl called Maia, who leaves England to go to Manaus in Brazil to stay with distant relatives who turn out to be mean but need her money. Accompanied by an eccentric governess Miss Minton, the two manage to have fabulous adventures in spite of all the unreasonable rules set by Mrs. Carter, Maia's distant aunt. In contrast to the aloof Carters, our indomitable pair get to know the local people and take part in the search for Finn, the son of a local aristocrat and an Indian, whose friendship with Maia blossoms. Each of the characters is so well developed that the reader even finds oneself caring what happens to the mean-spirited twin cousins and the awful Mrs. Carter! This classic book is full of wisdom for young people highlighting the right kind of attitude to adopt when embarking on journeys to foreign parts. The writing is so evocative it makes you feel like you are right there in the plot with the characters, sharing their emotions whilst exploring the beautiful city of Manaus in Brazil, its Opera House, the Amazon river and enjoying the local customs and colour.

Journey to the River Sea is a journey not to be missed. This enchanting novel is for both boys and girls alike, and adults too!