Showing titles in Historical Fiction

A brilliant debut brimming with secrets, mystery and friendship, set against a backdrop of the First World War in the walled gardens of Ickworth estate. ​October 1916. Clara is sent to stay with her formidable aunt and uncle in the grounds of a country estate. Clara soon discovers that her new surroundings hold secrets: a locked room and a hidden key, and a mysterious boy who appears in the gardens only at night.... But can Clara face up to her own secrets and a war she's desperate to forget?

Brought to you by Penguin. Dodger is a tosher – a sewer scavenger living in the squalor of Dickensian London. Everyone who is nobody knows Dodger. Anyone who is anybody doesn’t. But when he rescues a young girl from a beating, suddenly everybody wants to know him. And Dodger’s tale of...

Discover the history of our lifetime through one girl's adventure, in the epic new children's novel from bestselling author and broadcaster, Professor Alice Roberts. 'A fine storyteller' Philip Pullman ‘A wonderful book – exciting, fascinating, gripping, beautifully written’ Anthony...

Alice and Sonny are excited for their summer trip, sailing on the luxurious yacht the Lady Rose. They're even more excited when they find out the King of England is going to be onboard too! There's also a precious jewel on the boat—a rare opal, kept in a tank protected by a poisonous octopus. Until one morning, Alice discovers that the opal and octopus are both missing. The search is on to retrieve the priceless gem, before the ship reaches its destination, and everyone on board finds themselves in serious trouble.

It’s 1940, and Joseph has been packed off to stay with Mrs F, a gruff woman with no great fondness for children. To Joseph’s amazement, she owns the rundown city zoo where Joseph meets Adonis, a huge silverback gorilla. Adonis is ferociously strong and dangerous, but Joseph finds he has an affinity with the lonely beast. But when the bombs begin to fall, it is up to Joseph to guard Adonis’ cage should it be damaged by a blast. Will Joseph be ready to pull the trigger if it comes to it?

When war breaks out in September 1939, Laura, Andy and Tim Clark are evacuated to the countryside. The Colonel's comfortable home in Dorset is a huge contrast to their cramped terraced house in London, where their loving parents struggle to put the next meal on the table. Though unused to having children around, the Colonel proves to be a kind and generous, if gruff, guardian until a terrible turn of events means the kids must move on.

From the Costa Award-winning author Hilary McKay, comes a moving World War II story of family and friendship on opposite sides of a devastating conflict. The Swallows' Flight is the stunning companion novel to The Skylarks' War. 'It’s not necessary to have read The Skylarks’ War (though many...

Books 17–24 of the New York Times bestselling Magic Tree House series! These eight titles are the perfect gift for a Magic Tree House fan or any child who loves a good adventure. Parents, teachers, and librarians hail the chapter-book series as a tool to promote reading, as even the most...

Brought to you by Penguin. 'Harper Lee has a worthy successor. Wolk is a big new talent' - The Times An unforgettable novel from the award-winning author of Wolf Hollow and Beyond the Bright Sea. 1933. When Ellie and her family lose everything, they flee to Echo Mountain to build a new life...

Gunnar is the son of a Viking chieftain, living peacefully with his mother, father, and their people - until they are raided by Skuli and his Wolf Men, who raze his home to the ground and take his father’s life. Gunnar swears to avenge his father’s death and save his mother from Skuli - but first he must run to save himself facing murderous raiders, hand to hand battles, mythical flying wolves, and a relentless sea journey to the Land of Fire and Ice... Unknown to Gunnar, his life has been foretold, and he finds he has a destiny greater than his own story.

Michael Morpurgo’s classic tale, capturing the power of the human spirit. First published back in 1982, ‘War Horse’ has taken the world by storm. The book was adapted to the stage and was performed at the National Theatre and on Broadway. This full and unabridged edition is beautifully...

The first in Caroline Lawrence's internationally bestselling Roman Mysteries series. Flavia Gemina is a natural at solving mysteries. The daughter of a ship's captain living in Ostia, the port of Rome, in AD79, she and her three friends, Jonathan, a Jewish boy (and secretly a Christian); Nubia...

Read by Derek Jacobi and Michael Morpurgo Set on a farm in rural Devon, this is a collection of Grandpa’s reminiscences and stories as told to his grandson. Grandpa’s nature and his touching relationship with the boy is evoked superbly by Michael Morpurgo’s writing. This two-voice read...

Backpack? Check! Passport? Check! Compass? Check! Heart of an adventurer? Double check! Ok, we’re ready to meet some of the history’s bravest explorers! These audiobooks help children learn about their environment on a journey of discovery with narrators Ben Bailey Smith (a.k.a. Doc Brown, rapper, comedian and writer) Sophie Alred (Dr Who) and Kristin Atherton as Missy.

A SUNDAY TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK From the author of The Roman Mysteries comes a nail-biting time-travel adventure, set in Roman London - where past meets present. Billionaire Solomon Daisy is obsessed with the skeleton of a blue eyed African girl from Roman London. When his tech guys...

Brought to you by Penguin. The day the First World War broke out, Alfie Summerfield's father promised he wouldn't go away to fight - but he broke that promise the following day. Four years later, Alfie doesn't know where his father might be, other than that he's away on a special, secret mission...

From the internationally bestselling creator of Claude and Mr Penguin comes a brand-new tongue-in-cheek murder mystery series, stylishly illustrated in black and white, and perfect for fans of Robin Stevens, Enola Holmes and Knives Out. When the tyrannical family patriarch Sir Ignatious Gristle...

When first published, Walker’s versions of the Iliad and the Odyssey attracted attention for the quality of the writing. Multi-award-winning author Gillian Cross makes two of the greatest stories in the world come alive for children in her strong, clear, deceptively simple retellings, which are faithful to the spirit and structure of Homer’s epic poems, and this new bind-up in a friendly format comes complete with an introduction. 

More than anything else in the world, Emily Byrd Starr wants to be a writer. When Emily's stern and proper Aunt Elizabeth finally consents to send her away to high school, the budding author is overjoyed...until she learns of her aunt's conditions. Emily must live with her even sterner and more proper Aunt Ruth, and she has to give up writing stories for the duration of her schooling. Still, to climb one step higher on the Alpine Path to success, Emily agrees. Follow Emily and her friends Ilse, Teddy, and Perry as they head off to school in Shrewsbury.

Read by Ellie Kendrick and featuring an exclusive audio introduction and bonus conversation between authors Leah Williamson and Jordan Glover. A time-twisting adventure from Leah Williamson, captain of the Euros-winning women’s England team, written with debut author Jordan Glover, perfect for...