Luisa Agnese Dalla Fontana Books

The Peaceful brothers, Tommo and Charlie, have a tough rural childhood facing the death of their father, financial hardship and a cruel landlord. Their fierce loyalty to each other pulls them through, until one day they both fall for the same girl. And then the Great War comes. It tells the story of a country lad fighting a war he doesn't understand for people he cannot respect. We join 18-year-old Private Tommo Peaceful in the trenches as he tells us a story of courage, devotion and sibling rivalry on what may be his last night on earth. Private Peaceful was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, won the Red House Children's Book Award and the Blue Peter Book Award and is acknowledged by Michael Morpurgo (War Horse, The Butterfly Lion) to be his favourite work. This new, small ensemble version by Simon Reade was commissioned by Nottingham Playhouse.

Behind the magic of Harry Potter—a witty and illuminating look at the scientific principles, theories, and assumptions of the boy wizard's world, newly come to life again in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and the upcoming film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find ThemCan Fluffy the three-headed dog be explained by advances in molecular biology? Could the discovery of cosmic "gravity-shielding effects" unlock the secret to the Nimbus 2000 broomstick's ability to fly? Is the griffin really none other than the dinosaur Protoceratops? Roger Highfield, author of the critically acclaimed The Physics of Christmas, explores the fascinating links between magic and science to reveal that much of what strikes us as supremely strange in the Potter books can actually be explained by the conjurings of the scientific mind. This is the perfect guide for parents who want to teach their children science through their favorite adventures as well as for the millions of adult fans of the series intrigued by its marvels and mysteries.• An ALA Booklist Editors' Choice •From the Trade Paperback edition.

Calpurnia Virginia Tate is eleven years old in 1899 when she wonders why the yellow grasshoppers in her Texas backyard are so much bigger than the green ones.With a little help from her notoriously cantankerous grandfather, an avid naturalist, she figures out that the green grasshoppers are easier to see against the yellow grass, so they are eaten before they can get any larger. As Callie explores the natural world around her, she develops a close relationship with her grandfather, navigates the dangers of living with six brothers, and comes up against just what it means to be a girl at the turn of the century. Debut author Jacqueline Kelly deftly brings Callie and her family to life, capturing a year of growing up with unique sensitivity and a wry wit. The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate is a 2010 Newbery Honor Book and the winner of the 2010 Bank Street - Josette Frank Award.

Londra, 3 luglio 1837. Julius Higgins, 15 anni, sta correndo verso la libreria antiquaria di suo nonno cercando, come ogni giorno, di sfuggire ai bulli della scuola. Nel negozio trova un gentiluomo che lo affascina con i suoi modi sicuri. Si chiama Jack Springheel ed è alla ricerca del rarissimo Diario di John Harrison, a quanto pare irreperibile. Da questo momento in poi la vita di Julius inizia a riempirsi di eventi strani: prima un monaco tibetano compare dal nulla per consegnargli una chiave, poi la stessa chiave viene reclamata da un certo Professor Fox, ma soprattutto, Julius si imbatte in un essere disgustoso che emerge dalle acque putride del fiume e parla un'incomprensibile lingua gorgogliante. Fortunatamente interviene il Professor Fox a salvarlo, ma Julius è nel panico: non sa più di chi fidarsi, ha mentito a suo nonno e non può tornare a casa, perché ha rubato dalla bottega il diario di Harrison. Irretito in un perfido piano per cambiare il corso della Storia, Julius dovrà abbandonare tutte le proprie insicurezze e trasformarsi da preda in cacciatore, imparare a entrare nelle maglie del Tempo e conoscere i segreti della Gilda degli orologiai. Età di lettura: da 11 anni.