Book reviews: Spooky

Feather and Bone by Lazlo Strangolov (Walker, £6.99 HB)

Here’s a book with a difference. This is a cold, hungry, fearful world of dark woods and dark doings centred around an abandoned industrial poultry farm. Why does the schoolteacher have missing fingers? Why does Cosmina Barbescu get extra rations in the food parcels? What is spooking the chickens? Why are the rabbits exploding? Kamil and Flori find out.

Wow! What a story! And such powerful illustrations. Lazlo’s random pencil doodles are scribbled over the text – an inspired touch. It’s absolutely wonderful.

Take a look at Lazlo’s top tips for children wishing to write their own spooky stories.

Suitable for: boys; girls; older readers; more able readers; reading aloud.

Barnaby Grimes: Phantom of Blood Alley by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell (Doubleday, £9.99 HB)