Best New Chapter Books for Children and Teens

Edge-of-your-seat-type books are finding their way into younger readers’ hands – not quite entering the horror genre, but certainly filled with elements of creepiness and suspense. This summer, two particularly gripping reads emerge, best suited for key stage 2 and above.

The Last Life of Lori Mills (HarperCollins) by debut author and avid gamer Max Boucherat conjures memories of various books and films where reality and virtual worlds blur. Boucherat’s lively writing and vivid world-building truly bring his story to life. Eleven-year-old Lori finds herself unexpectedly home alone and eager to dive into Voxminer – her favorite game – past her bedtime. Soon, she notices her own bedroom door within the game. What ensues is a thrilling adventure through a swampy virtual underworld. In reverse-order chapters, Lori’s in-game character, RoaryCat11, must use her virtual skills and real-life bravery to outsmart the menacing Shade Girl and safely return to her room.

Another standout, The Tall Man (Everything With Words) by poet and short fiction writer Mary Cathleen Brown, delves into peculiar old legends. Tom and his mother have moved to an affordable house with unusual high ceilings and doorways, coupled with eerie folklore. As his mother battles depression, Tom faces challenges at a new school and experiences strange dreams of a trapped boy and his domineering tormentor. This beautifully crafted tale interweaves past and present as Tom uncovers the house’s historical secrets, all while maintaining an inventive and engaging narrative.

Acclaimed sci-fi writer Alastair Chisholm brings his knack for fast-paced storylines to his latest book, Reek (Barrington Stoke). The air in Edinburgh has turned toxic, and a tech mogul controls the oxygen supply. Sparrow, a young courier working to support her family, receives a prototype air tank from a friend. When the inventor ends up in the hospital, Sparrow is tasked with delivering a crucial message to the billionaire ex-colleague. This timely dystopian thriller promises excitement and relevance, appealing even to so-called “reluctant” readers.

Venturing beyond these isles, more adventures await. Award-winning author MT Khan’s second book, Amir and the Jinn Princess (Walker), follows the journey of Amir, the pampered son of a Pakistani industrialist, who finds himself in a power struggle with his siblings. The stray cat Amir has been feeding is actually a jinn – a trickster spirit with her own sibling issues. Drawing from Pakistani folklore, this fantastical story explores dynastic pressures and family conflicts, all while shedding light on extractivism and the importance of shared values.

In Storm Child (Pushkin), Ele Fountain tells the story of surfer girl Maya, who must leave her familiar British coastal life for a distant tropical island after her father’s fishing boat is wrecked. Themes of the sea’s power and the fallibility of adults weave through this insightful narrative. Maya’s cultural shocks and hardships are balanced by unexpected kindness from strangers and stellar, show-not-tell writing, capturing the inner life of kids navigating unwanted change.

If you spot kids eagerly diving into books this summer, you might understand why. Grownup novelist Chibundu Onuzo’s children’s debut, Mayowa and the Sea of Words (Bloomsbury), presents a fresh take on the power of reading. Half-British, half-Nigerian Mayowa comes from a family of eccentrics. When she is sent to stay with her grandfather, she discovers a mysterious ability to channel the emotions of books through “book-jumping.” But an unknown group is using “logo-saltering” to spread fear and hate. As a parliamentary vote on the refugee crisis approaches, Mayowa and her initially reluctant grandfather must uncover who is behind the malicious influence. The first book in a trilogy, this imaginative story tackles significant contemporary issues with fun and a sense of possibility.

Source: The Guardian