Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Wish I Had Read As A Child

It’s another Tuesday which means it’s time for another Top Ten Tuesday. Today we’re talking about books we wish we’d read as a child I’m going to be honest I don’t think there are any. I was a huge reader as a child, my parents had me reading before I started school and I devoured books like they were going out of fashion. I was lucky enough as a child to read a huge range of books, those that were already classics like The Secret Garden and The Famous Five, those that were popular at the time like the Josie Smith series by Magdalen Nabb, and the Sophie series by Dick King Smith, to those that have gone on to become classics like Harry Potter. That’s not even thinking about the books I went on to read as a teen. I can’t think of a book I read as a child I’d want to swap so these are less books I wish I had read as a child and more middle grade books I’m thrilled I’ve had the chance to read as an adult.

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme currently hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Books I Wish I Had Read As A Child

The Train To Impossible Places by P. G. Bell

About The Book

A train that travels through impossible places. A boy trapped in a snow globe. And a girl who’s about to go on the adventure of a lifetime.

The Impossible Postal Express is no ordinary train. It’s a troll-operated delivery service that runs everywhere from ocean-bottom shipwrecks, to Trollville, to space.

But when this impossible train comes roaring through Suzy’s living room, her world turns upside down. After sneaking on board, Suzy suddenly finds herself Deputy Post Master aboard the train, and faced with her first delivery―to the evil Lady Crepuscula.

Then, the package itself begs Suzy not to deliver him. A talking snow globe, Frederick has information Crepuscula could use to take over the entire Union of Impossible Places. But when protecting Frederick means putting her friends in danger, Suzy has to make a difficult choice―with the fate of the entire Union at stake.

This book was such a joy to read, it was so wonderfully written and the illustrations are stunning. I’ve the sequel sitting on my shelf waiting to be picked up.

You can find my review here

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Cogheart by Peter Bunzl

About The Book

Some secrets change the world in a heartbeat…

Lily’s life is in mortal peril. Her father is missing and now silver-eyed men stalk her through the shadows. What could they want from her?

With her friends—Robert, the clockmaker’s son, and Malkin, her mechanical fox—Lily is plunged into a murky and menacing world. Too soon Lily realizes that those she holds dear may be the very ones to break her heart…

Murder, mayhem and mystery meet in this gripping Victorian adventure.

This is a wonderful adventure! It’s a little dark in places but at the core of it are some wonderful characters. I adored Lily, Robert and Malkin so much, the follow up Moonlocket is just as delightful and I have the final two books in the quartet waiting for me!

Want to see my thoughts on Cogheart?

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Agatha Oddly and the Secret Key by Lena Jones

About The Book

Meet thirteen-year-old Agatha Oddly – a bold, determined heroine, and the star of a stylish new detective series.

Agatha Oddlow has been a detective for as long as she can remember – she’s just been waiting for her first big case. And nothing gets bigger than saving the City of London from some strange goings-on.

With a scholarship to the prestigious St Regis School, a cottage in the middle of Hyde Park, a room full of beloved sleuthing novels, and a secret key that gives her access to a whole hidden side of London, Agatha is perfectly poised to solve the mystery of what’s going on. But just who can she trust when no one is quite who they seem…

I’ve read all three of the Agatha mysteries already published and really enjoyed them all. I’m not sure if there are any more cases to come but I hope so! Agatha always manages to find herself in the middle of some trouble!

You can find my Agatha Oddly and the Secret Key review here

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Witch Wars by Sibeal Pounder

About The Book

When Fran the Fabulous Fairy turns up in Tiga Whicabim’s shed to tell her she’s a witch, Tiga doesn’t believe her. Or at least not until Fran points out that TIGA WHICABIM is actually an anagram of I AM A BIG WITCH and magics her away down the drainpipes to compete in Witch Wars †“ the competition to crown the next Top Witch of Ritzy City.

Filled with silly spells, delectable dresses, ridiculous riddles and a serious shoe problem, Witch Wars is a witch story like no other. Although if you enjoyed The Worst Witch, you’ll love this too!

This was just a delightfully fun read! I adored learning all about Sinkville along with Tiga! The first book in the series just has such a fun concept and I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next to Tiga and her pals! Also bonus mention to Laura Ellen Anderson for the fabulous illustrations that really bring the book to life.

My thoughts on Witch Wars!

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Rumblestar by Abi Elphinstone

About The Book

‘Adventures are unpredictable and often terribly badly behaved – a bit like pickled onions if you’ve ever tried to fork one on a plate – but they have a way of unlocking people and turning them upside down so that all the astonishing things fizzing around inside them start to tumble out…’
 
Eleven-year-old Casper Tock hates risks, is allergic to adventures and shudders at the thought of unpredictable events. So, it comes as a nasty shock to him when he accidentally stumbles into Rumblestar, an Unmapped Kingdom full of magical beasts.
 
All Casper wants is to find a way home, but Rumblestar is in trouble. An evil harpy called Morg is sending her followers, the Midnights, into the kingdom to wreak havoc and pave the way for her to steal the Unmapped magic for herself. But Casper cannot turn a blind eye because the future of his own world, he discovers, is bound up with that of the Unmapped Kingdoms. 
 
And so, together with Utterly Thankless, a girl who hates rules and is allergic to behaving, and her miniature dragon, Arlo, Casper embarks upon an adventure full of cloud giants, storm ogres and drizzle hags. Can he, Utterly and Arlo, the unlikeliest of heroes, save the Unmapped Kingdoms and our world from the clutches of Morg and her Midnights?
Book Blurb

Starting with the short story Everdark and then moving on to Rumblestar the first full length novel what a series The Unmapped Chronicles is shaping up to be! Abi has created such a rich world and it was simply a joy to explore Rumblestar alongside Casper Tock!

Here’s my Rumblestar review!

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The Mystery Of The Clockwork Sparrow by Katherine Woodfine

About The Book

You are cordially invited to attend the Grand Opening of Sinclair’s department store!

Enter a world of bonbons, hats, perfumes and MYSTERIES around every corner. WONDER at the daring theft of the priceless CLOCKWORK SPARROW! TREMBLE as the most DASTARDLY criminals in London enact their wicked plans! GASP as our bold heroines, Miss Sophie Taylor and Miss Lilian Rose, CRACK CODES, DEVOUR ICED BUNS and vow to bring the villians to justice…

This was such a great start to the series! I loved stepping back in time to the world Sophie and Lily inhabit! It’s just a classic mystery read with the just the right amount of drama for a middle grade read! I have 3 more cases sitting on my Kindle, and then there’s the spin off series to read so plenty more adventures to go!

My The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow review

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Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson

About The Book

Meet Amelia Fang.

She loves playing Goblin Tag, and cuddling her pet pumpkin, Squashy. She hates going to her mum and dad’s boring Barbaric Ball. Oh, and one more thing – Amelia is a vampire.

When the spoilt prince of Nocturnia captures Squashy, Amelia must plan a daring rescue. But things in the Kingdom of the Dark may not be all they seem…

Join Amelia on her first abominable adventure. She won’t bite!

Laura is making a second appearance on my list, although this time she’s writing the book as well as providing the delightful pictures! My Goddaughter told me about this series after she read it at school. Even as an adult it’s just a delight to read, the characters are such a funny mix, it definitely left me with a smile on my face!

See my thoughts on Amelia!

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The Last Chance Hotel by Nicki Thornton

About The Book

Seth is a kitchen boy at the remote Last Chance Hotel. His father has long ago left, leaving him imprisoned until he is old enough to set out on his own. If there’s any hope he has, it’s to be the greatest chef that ever lived… just like his father.

One night, a band of magicians begin to arrive to participate in a secret meeting — a Prospect Selection Procedure to determine the most talented magicians in the world, judged by their leader Dr. Thallonius. Seth has one task: to make Dr. Thallonius the greatest dessert he’s ever tasted. Then, maybe he will help Seth find a way to freedom.

But when the doors to the private meeting open, and Dr. Thallonius lay dead on the floor, the group blames the dessert, which means that it’s Seth who will pay the price. But Seth knows he’s innocent, and only has so much time to eliminate each suspect and prove his innocence.

This is a magical middle grade mystery quite literally! Seth, the kitchen boy at the Last Chance Hotel discovers magic is real and then finds himself the prime suspect in a murder in quick succession! The story follows him as he tries to find the real culprit and prove his innocence! Also as a person who grew up with Sabrina the Teenage Witch any book which features a snarky talking cat is going to be a hit with me!

Want to find out more? Check out my review!

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Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

About The Book

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she’s blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks–and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It’s then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city’s most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart–an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests–or she’ll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate

There’s no review for this one on SWB yet as I only finished it on Sunday but I knew it had to find a place on this list it was that good! Jessica finds the perfect mix of darkness and humour and I absolutely devoured this book and then went straight online and ordered the sequel!

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The Christmasaurus by Tom Fletcher

About The Book

The Christmasaurus is a story about a boy named William Trundle, and a dinosaur, the Christmasaurus. It’s about how they meet one Christmas Eve and have a magical adventure. It’s about friendship and families, sleigh bells and Santa, singing elves and flying reindeer, music and magic. It’s about discovering your heart’s true desire, and learning that the impossible might just be possible.

If there was perhaps one thing I was missing from my childhood it was a good Christmas-y book to re-read year after year. I think The Christmasaurus and it’s follow up may just be those books!

Here’s my The Christmasaurus review!

There we are ten middle grade books I’m so pleased I’ve read as an adult! Do you still read middle grade books? Let me know some of your favourites in the comments!