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Kick-Off
Hannah Cole £3.50
Paula and Shazia know that they're just as good at football as most of the boys - and they are determined to prove it, despite the attitudes of the boys, the teacher in charge of the team and Paula's stepmother.
Walker ISBN 0744552974
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How To Write Really Badly
Anne Fine £3.99
Chester's attitude to Joe, the 'writer from hell' he sits next to, gradually changes as he agrees to help him with his writing, and realises that he has another extraordinary talent.
Mammoth ISBN 0749720239
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Zenobia and Mouse
Vivian French £3.99
Zenobia is a delightful mixed-race girl who gets worried about school trips, doesn't like baths much and is a bit accident-prone, but what makes her unusual is her friendship with her talking stuffed toy, Mouse. Mouse often comes off worse in her adventures, but tends to the philosophical view. Most chapters end with, '"Ah," said Mouse.' And we have to agree.
Walker ISBN 0744554519
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Grandpa Chatterji
Jamila Gavin £3.99
Neetu and her little brother Sanjay have two grandpas, Grandpa Leicester who is rather strict and Grandpa Chatterji who has come on a visit from India. He turns out to be a fairground-loving, meditation-practising, fun kind of grandpa, to the delight of his grandchildren.
Mammoth ISBN 0749717165
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Secret Friends
Elizabeth Laird £3.50
Lucy is the first to tease Rafaella because her ears stick out, but gradually she becomes her friend, albeit in secret, so the cool girls in school won't laugh at her too. When tragedy strikes, Lucy has to cope with guilt as well as grief. A powerful read about prejudice and strength.
Hodder ISBN 0340664738
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Josie Smith
Magdalen Nabb £3.50
Josie is an endearing Scottish girl whose 'best friend' Eileen can be pretty nasty to her.
Josie has a single mum and is poorer than Eileen and life is often unfair to her, but she has great spirit and makes us laugh.
Collins ISBN 0006737447
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Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants
Dav Pilkey £3.99
To an 8-year-old boy (or thereabouts) this series of books will be the most hilarious thing they've ever seen. Just try wrenching it out of their hands. And there's an accompanying website too.
Scholastic ISBN 0439998190
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Emiliano's Wickedness
Leon Rosselson £3.99
Emiliano is bewitched at birth by the wizard, Modo, but luckily a poor girl named Placida befriends him.
Will she be able to save him with just the powers of love & loyalty? A new take on the classic theme of good v evil, which shows that youth and poverty are no barriers to acting powerfully.
Macdonald ISBN 0750023635
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Captain Cranko and the Crybaby
Jean Ure £3.50
Ben is ill in bed reading a comic book about his favourite hero, when suddenly he finds himself in the adventure too…but with a superhero who seems to be questioning all the values he should hold dear…like that killing is a good thing, males don't cry and enemies don't have feelings. One of a very few books which challenge macho stereotypes, but with fun and humour.
Walker ISBN 0744531969
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My Brother Bernadette
Jacqueline Wilson £3.99
One of her books for younger children questions gender stereotypes in a story about brothers and sisters on a Summer Project. Bernard is only interested in the clothes design workshop and gets called Bernadette, but the bullies get their comeuppance.
Egmont ISBN 0749742232
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