Books in the Conkers series

Roll up! Roll up! The Shortbread Family Circus is in town! Introducing the first tale in The Big-Top Mysteries, an exciting new series from Alexander McCall Smith and illustrator Sam Usher.

Lily has lots of worries. She's struggling to compete in her fell-running races and, worse, she's losing her gran to Alzheimer's. But then she discovers her great-great-grandfather's diaries from the First World War. Could his incredible story of bravery help her reconnect with her gran and even give her the inspiration she needs to push through and win?

"e;The best children's fiction book I've yet read about the Holocaust"e; - Tim Robertson, CEO Anne Frank TrustSummer 1945. The Second World War is finally over and Yossi, Leo and Mordecai are among three hundred children who arrive in the English Lake District. Having survived the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps, they've finally reached a place of safety and peace, where they can hopefully begin to recover.But Yossi is haunted by thoughts of his missing father and disturbed by terrible nightmares. As he waits desperately for news from home, he fears that Mordecai and Leo - the closest thing to family he has left - will move on without him. Will life by the beautiful Lake Windermere be enough to bring hope back into all their lives?

Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer returns with a thrilling naval adventure inspired by the incredible history of the Second World War Arctic convoys.Winter 1943. Teenagers Frank, Joseph and Stephen are Royal Navy recruits on their first mission at sea during the Second World War. Their ship is part of an Arctic Convoy sailing to Russia to deliver supplies to the Soviets. The convoys have to navigate treacherous waters, sailing through a narrow channel between the Arctic ice pack and German bases on the Norwegian coast. Faced with terrifying enemy attacks from both air and sea, as well as life-threatening cold and storms, will all three boys make it home again?

Jack can't wait for the school trip to the D-Day landing beaches. It's his chance to learn more about the war heroes he has always admired - brave men like his dad, who is a reserve soldier. But when his dad is called up to action and things at home spiral out of control, everything Jack believes about war is thrown into question. Finding comfort only in the presence of his loyal dog, Finn, Jack is drawn to the heart-wrenching true story of one particular D-Day paratrooper. On 6 June 1944, Emile Corteil parachuted into France with his dog, Glen - and Jack is determined to discover their fate ...

Can Jack and his teammates survive the horrors of war to get the chance to play football again? A stunning new edition of Tom Palmer's bestselling novel based on the true story of WWI war hero and footballing legend Jack Cock..

First instalment in an explosive rugby trilogy. Woody is the new boy at Borderlands, a boarding school for children whose parents are in the armed forces, but he is already desperate to leave and get back to his dad. Can rugby help him get through? Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 8+

Roll up! Roll up! For the second exciting instalment in The Big-Top Mysteries series from Alexander McCall Smith and Sam Usher! A new season is about to begin at the Shortbread family circus but something is wrong with chief clown Mr Birdcage ... Looks like Billy, Fern and Joe have another mystery to solve!

The lives of teenage brothers Nicky and Kenny told in three powerful and moving stories by Carnegie Shortlisted author Anthony McGowan.

A fun football story from one of the UK's top writers of sports fiction for children, in an appealing chunky edition with lots of fun extras, activities and quizzes.