Visit to Dorset House Preparatory School

A couple of weeks ago I went back to my old prep school, Dorset House, which is in a Norman manor house nestled in the Arun valley. My childhood was spent roaming the beautiful river banks, running through the woods, with Amberley and Arundel castles not far away: a timeless landscape, pretty much as it must have been when the Normans settled there. It was naturally a powerful influence on my imagination, and my first novel, The Other Book, was certainly inspired by the location. The West Sussex County Times have written up the visit here - though the current piece erroneously states I was there in the 1980s; I was in attendance in the mid-90s. We had about two CDs - Queen's Greatest Hits and Nirvana's Nevermind.

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne: review

I've reviewed John Boyne's new book, The Boy at the Top of the Mountain, for the Guardian, available here.

Interview with Annabel Pitcher for Books for Keeps

Morning all: I've interviewed Annabel Pitcher for Books for Keeps. The piece is available here.

News roundup and Waterstones Piccadilly Event

I will be doing an event at Waterstones Piccadilly on the 15th September, with the authors Sally Gardner, Chris Priestley and Taran Marathu. It's at 6.30pm - do come along. We will be exploring other worlds - not literally, of course, but do bring an astronaut's suit should you so wish.

More details here. This event is free but please email Piccadilly@Waterstones.com to RSVP

I've reviewed three books whilst I've been away: firstly, Cressida Cowell's How To Fight a Dragon's Fury, for the Telegraph, available here. 

Secondly, Tessa Hadley's new novel, The Past, done for the Independent on Sunday, available here.

And finally, Harry Mount's new book, Harry Mount's Odyssey, I reviewed for Literary Review; not available online, but you can go in actual personhood to an actual newsagent and buy a copy of the September issue, which has got reams of other splendid stuff to read.

THE KING'S SHADOW: Independent Best Summer Reads

PW: Thrilled

I was utterly thrilled to see that The King's Shadow had been selected by Nicholas Tucker as one of the 12 Best Summer Reads for Children in The Independent on Sunday last weekend. You can see the whole list here.

The Ecliptic by Benjamin Wood: review

Wood: playfully experimental

I've reviewed Benjamin Wood's new book, The Ecliptic, for the Telegraph. Read it here.

Check out the July issue of Literary Review for my children's book round up, featuring:

The Lie Tree by Frances Hardinge
Arsenic for Tea by Robin Stevens
The White Umbrella by Brian Sewell
Pike by Anthony McGowan
The Dreamsnatcher by Abi Elphinstone
An Island of Our Own by Sally Nicholls
The Wordsmith by Patricia Forde
Beasts of Olympus by Lucy Coats
Julius Zebra by Gary Northfield
Apocalypse Bow Wow by James Proimos III
Uncle Gobb and the Dread Shed by Michael Rosen
The Story of King Lear by Melania G Mazzucco.