Alexa Dretzke
Alexa Dretzke is a children’s & YA book specialist at Readings Hawthorn
Review — 29 Jan 2019
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
I have reread Tuck Everlasting twice in the last three years and am always struck by the beauty and simplicity of Natalie Babbitt’s writing; why use many words when one…
Review — 29 Jan 2019
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Lighthouses have an iconic charm, but beyond the pristine whiteness fables of shipwrecks and smugglers swirl around them. And then, there is the reality of staffing and maintaining them which…
Blog post — 15 Nov 2018
The best picture books of 2018
Every year our staff vote for their favourite books, albums, films and TV shows of the past 12 months. Here are our top 10 picture books of the year, voted…
Review — 23 Sep 2018
A House for Mouse by Gabby Dawnay & Alex Barrow
Mouse decides it’s time to move house and ‘with a flick of his whiskers and twinkling eyes, he packed up his stuff and said his goodbyes’. Leaving the only home…
Review — 22 Oct 2018
The Tales of Mr Walker by Jess Black & Sara Acton
I fell in love with Mr Walker when he came to a booksellers’ function. He had the insouciant manner of a well bred dog; he was a golden boy.
Trained…
Review — 22 Oct 2018
The Afterwards by A.F. Harrold & Emily Gravett
A.F. Harrold’s books always explore a parallel, often creepy world that looks at love, loyalty and loss. The Afterwards is no exception, portraying a tight friendship between Happiness (Ness) and…
Review — 19 Aug 2018
The Dress and the Girl by Andros Camille & Julie Morstad
Julie Morstad is a sensitive illustrator and she delicately brings to life this gentle story by Camille Amos about a girl and her favourite dress made by her mother. The…
Review — 23 Sep 2018
The Skylarks' War by Hilary McKay
For all the children who loved The War That Saved My Life and its sequel by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, this beautiful story is an excellent addition to the genre.
Clarry…
Review — 19 Aug 2018
The Things That Will Not Stand by Michael Gerard Bauer
You meet a girl, oh the perfect girl, and then you meet the wrong girl and life gets really interesting!
The day starts simply for Sebastian and his best mate…
Review — 28 May 2018
Hansel and Gretel by Bethan Woollvin
Now, we all know Hansel and Gretel were the poor children cast out of their home into the forest and treated rather badly by a witch – but is this…
