Want to find out about this year’s shortlisted books?

The books are…

This is the story of Jake Biggs and his dad, George. George spends all week knocking down buildings and all weekend knocking down wrestlers. He’s the Demolition Man, and Jake couldn’t be prouder. But when Jake hears about a pro-wrestling competition in the USA, and persuades his beloved dad to apply, things don’t quite turn out the way he expected.

Ghost, Cormac and Kate are junior recruits of the Black Lotus, a school for ninjas. When a
powerful weapon is stolen, the three must battle through 16th-century Japan and present-day New York to stop a power-hungry shogun from destroying the city.

Cabin boy Mel Foster has always been told that he’d come to a bad end – he just never thought it would be as a meal for a giantess from the Arctic wastes! But as Mel is about the find out, looking monstrous doesn’t make you a monster. Eve Frankenstein has no interest in eating Mel. She wants to protect him. And very soon he’ll need as much protection as he can get. While Eve and Mel become firm friends in the Arctic, far away in London Queen Victoria’s strange new butler is hatching a plan that could destroy the British Empire … and only Mel has the power to stop him.

Imara and Bobo are two children living with a band of rebel soldiers in the African jungle. When an orphaned gorilla is brought to their camp they swear to protect it. But in their war-ravaged world, can they ever find true safety?

My brother is a superhero, and I could have been one too, except that I needed to go for a wee. My name is Luke Parker, I’m 11 years old and I live in a mild-mannered part of London with my mum, dad and big brother, Zack. He wasn’t always a superhero, but with a name like Zack you’ve got to wonder if my parents had a hunch that one day he’d end up wearing a mask and cape and saving orphans from burning buildings. I mean, come on! It’s what you get in a comic when a superhero punches a supervillain. Pow! Blam! Zack!

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 villains to justice.