Month: December 2017

What better time to brush up on an old hobby or gain a completely new one than the new year? Join us this new year for all the great courses taking place across Hampshire Libraries, from guitar for beginners to Tai Chi – there is lots to choose from!

Arts and crafts

An introduction to digital photography

Fine painting and drawing sessions

Watercolour sessions

Dressmaking

Portraits

Music

Guitar for beginners  

Blues guitar workshop

Ukulele for beginners

Health and wellbeing

Yoga mixed ability 

Mindfulness meditation

Tai Chi

Languages

Spanish for beginners

French intermediate

Italian

Everyday English in the workplace

If these types of course do not suit you or perhaps you are looking for children, then please visit our website here for different courses or activities.

 

2018 is fast approaching and it’s time to get excited for another year of reading! Below we have listed some great reads for children, teenagers and teen plus. You can reserve your copy online or in branch with help from a member of staff.

Make sure to check out our 2018 recommended reads for adults.

Young Children

Blue monster wants it all, Jeanne Wills

Blue Monster loves brand new things. A fancy new hat . . . a shiny submarine . . . a fabulous funfair . . . and a paradise island, all of his own. But he’s still not happy! What will it take for Blue Monster to realise there are some things that money can’t buy? An original, humorous and unforgettable fable from the creators of the award-winning The First Slodge, perfect for introducing little ones to the idea of materialism and helping them realise the importance of family.

The bear who didn’t want to miss Christmas, Marie Tibi

little bear is worried that he won’t be able to celebrate Christmas with his woodland friends because he has to go into hibernation. In the festive spirit of friendship, the other animals decide to hold Christmas early so that the bear can join in. This heartwarming, festive picture book will enchant young readers.

The carnivorous crocodile, Jonnie Wild

The first in a series of original, humerous, animal tales featuring African wildlife – introducing themes of sharing, community, problem-solving and self-reliance. The jungle animals find that an extremely carnivorous crocodile has claimed their water hole for himself! Not even the elephant wants to tangle with those terrible teeth, until five flamingos show that by being cunning and brave the crocodile can be made to share his waterhole.

Charlie’s magical carnival, Marit Törnqvist.

Charlie can’t wait to go the carnival, but first his mum must find his party hat and red balloon. While she’s searching, Charlie imagines all the wonderful things they might see: lemonade rivers and lollipop trees, elephant taxis and a cake as big as a town square. When they finally arrive at the carnival, it’s even more amazing and magical than Charlie had hoped. This beautiful book, from award-winning children’s author and illustrator Marit Trnqvist, celebrates the intensity of children’s imaginations and their ability to see their imagined worlds as reality.

Horrid Henry’s school fair, Francesca Simon

Early Readers are stepping stones from picture books to reading books. A blue Early Reader is perfect for sharing and reading together. Henry is sick of never winning ANYTHING, so when he gets the chance to cheat his way to an amazing prize at the school fair, he just can’t resist. But sometimes winning isn’t all it’s cracked up to be . .

Children/Teens

The 1,000 year old boy, Ross Welford

The astonishing, beautiful new story for all readers of 10 and over from the bestselling and Costa-shortlisted author. This is a story about someone who wants to stop, Alfie Monk is like any other nearly teenage boy – except he’s 1,000 years old and can remember the last Viking invasion of England. Obviously no one believes him. So when everything Alfie knows and loves is destroyed in a fire, and the modern world comes crashing in, Alfie embarks on a mission to find friendship, acceptance, and a different way to live.. which means finding a way to make sure he will eventually die.

The day that aliens nearly ate our brains, Tom McLaighlin

Best friends Freddy and Sal have accidentally intercepted a message from Alan – a spectacularly grumpy, brain-munching alien from outer space. Alan has only one message. Earth is going to be invaded in exactly ten hours’ time. Soon the police, Nasa and even Presidents from around the world are getting involved – and Freddy is about to become the most famous kid on planet earth for all the wrong reasons. Wolverhampton, we have a problem.

Bee boy – the clash of the killer Queens, Tony Da Saulles

Half BEE. Half BOY. Melvin Meadly is . . . BEE BOY. As a bee, Mel is ready to defend his hive against all enemies taking on killer wasps, terrifying hawkmoths, and battling queen bees. But as a boy, has he got what it takes to protect his bees (and himself) against the greatest menace of all Nasty Norman Crudwell? The highly entertaining story of an unlikely superhero, full of fantastic facts, and illustrated in black and yellow!

Charlie and me: 421 miles from home, Mark Lowery

Thirteen-year-old Martin and his younger brother Charlie are on a very special journey. They’re going to be travelling 421 miles all the way from Preston to the very tip of Cornwall. By train, bus and taxi, they are determined to get there in the end; and they’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the dolphin that regularly visits the harbour there. But is that the only reason they are going? It’s a journey that’s full of challenges and surprises. Martin adores his brother Charlie but he’s not like ordinary kids. He’s one in a million. He was born far too early, and ought to have died. And cheeky, irrepressible, utterly unique Charlie is always keeping Martin on his toes – especially on this crazy trip they are now on. Martin is doing his best to be a good big brother, but it’s hard when there’s something so huge coming once they get to Cornwall.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down, Jeff Kinney

Get ready, Book 11 in the phenomenally bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is coming! The pressure’s really piling up on Greg Heffley. His mom thinks video games are turning his brain to mush, so she wants her son to put down the controller and explore his ‘creative side’. As if that’s not scary enough, Halloween’s just around the corner and the frights are coming at Greg from every angle. When Greg discovers a bag of gummy worms, it sparks an idea. Can he get his mom off his back by making a movie . . . and will he become rich and famous in the process? Or will doubling down on this plan just double Greg’s troubles?

Teen Plus (14-19 years)

Sunflowers in February, Phyllida Shrimpton

This funny yet heart breaking teen and YA novel movingly explores what happens when Lily dies in a car accident. The trouble is, Lily is really not sure at all if she wants to ‘move on’ . . Lily wakes up one crisp Sunday morning on the side of the road. She has no idea how she got there. It is all very peaceful. and very beautiful. It is only when the police car, and then the ambulance arrive, and she sees her own body, that she realises that she is in fact . . . dead. But what is she supposed do now? Lily has no option but to follow her body and see her family – her parents and her twin brother start falling apart. And then her twin brother Ben gives her a once in a death time opportunity – to use his own body for a while. But will Lily give Ben his body back? She is beginning to have a rather good time.

The walking land, Callie Bates

It’s been fourteen years since Elanna was taken hostage. Fourteen years spent being raised by the King who defeated her traitorous father. A man she’s come to love like family. But when the King is killed and Elanna framed for his murder, she must flee for her life. Her only hope is to reach her homeland, but her father wants to reignite his rebellion and use Elanna as a figurehead. He will tell his followers she is the goddess Wildegarde reborn, a warrior of legend who could make the very earth tremble. But what no one knows is that magic really does flow through Elanna’s veins. And now she must decide whether she’ll use her powers to create peace… or to enact revenge.

Anassa, Josh Martin

Less than a year since their cities were joined, the people of Athenas and Metis are still arguing. When the island is invaded by Vulcan, whose resource-ravaged, overpopulated island wants to claim Chloris as its own, Etain’s new leadership is compromised. The only way she can restore her people’s confidence and save her island is to take up a sea quest to retrieve a magical item from a volcano. Alongside her brother Taurus, Etain sets sail for the volcano. But they soon discover there is more to the quest than they realised.It’s up to Etain to be the leader she is destined to be. Should she fight, or should she try to unite?

Final 7: the electric and heart stopping finale to Cell 7 and Day 7, Kerry Drewery

The newest high-octane addition to the thrilling Cell 7 series Martha and Isaac have escaped, but are now on the run – the government has branded them rebels and a danger to the public. Despite the rewards being offered for turning them in, Martha and her friends are safe in The Rises, the area of the city full of the poor and the powerless. But then the Prime Minister orders a wall to be built. Is it to keep those inside safe – or is it to imprison them? Martha needs to act, and to act fast, in a tale of breathtaking treachery that reaches right to the heart of those in charge…

We come apart, Sarah Crossan & Brian Conaghan

Jess would never have looked twice at Nicu if her friends hadn’t left her in the lurch. Nicu is all big eyes and ill-fitting clothes, eager as a puppy, even when they’re picking up litter in the park for community service. He’s so not her type. Appearances matter to Jess. She’s got a lot to hide. Nicu thinks Jess is beautiful. His dad brought Nicu and his mum here for a better life, but now all they talk about is going back home to find Nicu a wife. The last thing Nicu wants is to get married. He wants to get educated, do better, stay here in England. But his dad’s fists are the most powerful force in Nicu’s life, and in the end, he’ll have to do what his dad wants. As Nicu and Jess get closer, their secrets come to the surface like bruises. The only safe place they have is with each other. But they can’t be together, forever, and stay safe – can they?

 

 

 

As 2018 approaches so does another year of wonderful reading! We have 10 reads for 2018 that you don’t want to miss out on – You can reserve your copy online or in branch with help from a member of staff.

Ambulance girls under fire, Deborah Burrows

Celia Ashton has driven ambulances throughout the Blitz for the Bloomsbury Auxiliary Ambulance Depot. Cool under fire, she revels in her exciting and extremely dangerous job. When her husband, a known Nazi supporter, is released from prison, Celia refuses to return to her unhappy marriage. Instead she joins forces with Simon Levy, a man who appears to despise her, to help a young Jewish orphan. In so doing she discovers that one ruthless traitor can be more dangerous than any German bomber, and that love can cross any boundary.

The Confession, Jo Spain

What if the confession was juts the beginning? Find out who did it on the very first page, on the last page find out why! The Confession is brutal and brilliant’ Fiona Cummins, author of RattleLate one night a man walks into the luxurious home of disgraced banker Harry McNamara and his wife Julie. The man launches an unspeakably brutal attack on Harry as a horror-struck Julie watches, frozen by fear. Just an hour later the attacker, JP Carney, has handed himself in to the police. He confesses to beating Harry to death, but JP claims that the assault was not premeditated and that he didn’t know the identity of his victim. With a man as notorious as Harry McNamara, the detectives cannot help wondering, was this really a random act of violence or is it linked to one of Harry’s many sins: corruption, greed, betrayal? This gripping psychological thriller will have you questioning, who – of Harry, Julie and JP – is really the guilty one?

Child on the doorstep, Angela Bennett

Angela McClusky is haunted by the young baby that she left on the steps of the workhouse. Born out of wedlock and the result of a traumatic assault, the child has grown up away from the loving arms of her mother and only has a locket to remind her of the family she never knew. Angela, meanwhile, has carried the guilt of her actions with her for almost a decade, now widowed and alone, she is courted by a new suitor, Eddie, who seems to offer her the happiness she craves. When Angela’s teenage daughter, Constance, discovers that Eddie is not all he seems to be, it drives a wedge between mother and daughter. But her secrets won’t stay hidden and now Angela must face up to her past.

A damned serious business, Gerald Seymour

There is a new cold war raging and its frontline warriors are Russian hackers – gang-members working freelance for the FSB, successor to the KGB. Massive thefts of personal information, electoral interference, catastrophic disruption of commercial and social services, banks, airlines, even whole countries disabled – this is happening now.

The dark angel, Elly Griffiths

From the Sunday Times bestselling author. the 10th DR Ruth Galloway mystery – Ruth Galloway is flattered when she receives a letter from Italian archaeologist DR Angelo Morelli, asking for her help. He’s discovered a group of bones in a tiny hilltop village near Rome but doesn’t know what to make of them. In the town she finds a baffling Roman mystery and a dark secret involving the war years and the Resistance. To her amazement she also soon finds Harry Nelson, with Cathbad in tow. But there is no time to overcome their mutual shock – the ancient bones spark a modern murder, and Ruth must discover what secrets there are in Castello degli Angeli that someone would kill to protect.

Fall from grace, Danielle Steel

You find strength when you’re at your weakest . . .Tarnished. Talented. Tenacious. When Sydney’s husband dies, she is dealt a devastating blow. He never wrote her into his will, so she is forced to leave the beautiful home they shared and is left with nothing. On a flight from Paris to New York, an emergency landing forces her into the arms of Paul Zeller. The pair bond over a shared love of fashion, and before long he offers Sydney a chance to return to the industry she loves. But when a scandal hits the company, it’s Sydney who is in the firing line. Humiliated, publicly shamed and destitute, she hits rock bottom. There are two choices: give up or start over. With the unwavering support of her daughters and the assistance of an unlikely business partner, Sydney discovers that her greatest adventure might still be to come.

No middle name: the complete collected Jack Reacher stories, Lee Child

Jack ‘No Middle Name’ Reacher, lone wolf, knight errant, ex military cop, lover of women, scourge of the wicked and righter of wrongs, is the most iconic hero for our age. This is the first time all Lee Child’s shorter fiction featuring Jack Reacher has been collected into one volume. Read together, these twelve stories shed new light on Reacher’s past, illuminating how he grew up and developed into the wandering avenger who has captured the imagination of millions around the world. The twelve stories include a brand new novella, Too Much Time.

I’ll keep you safe, Peter May

On a business trip to Paris to promote their luxury brand, Niamh learns of Ruairidh’s affair, and then looks on as he and his lover are killed by a car bomb. She returns home to Lewis, bereft. Niamh begins to look back on her life with Ruairidh, desperate to identify anyone who may have held a grudge against him. The French police, meanwhile, have ruled out terrorism, and ruled in murder – and sent Detective Sylvie Braque to shadow their prime suspect: Niamh.

The poppy girls, Margaret Dickinson

The Poppy Girls is the first title in The Maitland Trilogy, by bestselling author Margaret Dickinson. Even amidst the horror of the trenches, friendship will survive. Thwarted in her desire to become a doctor like her brother Robert, Pips Maitland rebels against her mother’s wishes that she settle down and raise children. However, when Robert brings home a friend from medical school, Giles Kendall, it seems perhaps Pips might fall in love with an acceptable suitor after all. But the year is 1914 and the future is uncertain.

The seagull, Ann Cleeves

visit to her local prison brings DI Vera Stanhope face to face with an old enemy: former detective superintendent, and now inmate, John Brace. Brace was convicted of corruption and involvement in the death of a gamekeeper – and Vera played a part in his downfall. Brace promises Vera information about the disappearance of Robbie Marshall, a notorious wheeler-dealer, if she will look out for his daughter and grandchildren. He tells her that Marshall is dead, his body buried close to St Mary’s Island in Whitley Bay. However, when a search team investigates, officers find not one skeleton, but two.