Book Reviews – February 2026
Week commencing 2nd February 2026
Nonfiction
The Wonder of Life on Earth
Henry Gee
A wonderful book that shares the story of life on our planet in an accessible way that makes it ideal for any age. Covering everything to feed the curious mind and beautifully illustrated by botanical illustrator Raxenne Maniquiz, this is a perfect book for a gift or to dip in and out of, to discover how life on our planet, the natural disasters and evolutionary oddities, shaped where we are today.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781035024247
Graphic Novel
Tiny Hercules
Jon Lock and Nich Angell
He’s strong! He’s the size of a jam jar! He’s Tiny Hercules, the world’s tiniest hero – and he’s winning his way back to Tiny Olympus, one legendary deed at a time! A great little comic book for fans of Dog Man and Phoenix Comics, Tiny Hercules is bold, bright and funny from the start bringing a new viewpoint on Greek Mythology.
Format: Paperback
Published by: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781035059645
Historical Fiction
The Mourning Necklace
Kate Foster
Set in Edinburgh, 1724, Maggie Dickson was hanged for the murder of her newborn child. Her family mourns the loss while facing the shame. But when Maggie appears at the door bruised, dazed and alive her family have little time for questions. Can she be hanged twice? Based on a true record from history, the story of Maggie explores and exposes the vulnerability, poverty and position she was in as she fights to live. Immersive, gripping and thought provoking, a beautifully written story.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781035052073
Young Adult
Control Alter Delete
K L Kettle
An interesting dystopian story for young adults asking the question, what would you choose – a beautiful untrue life, or a broken true one? Bringing together themes from Black Mirror, Hunger Games and Ready Player One, the protagonist, Hal, finds herself living in a perfect World 2.0 with everything she could ever want. But an opportunity to enter a competition exposes the decay just out of sight leaves Hal with a choice to make.
Format: Paperback
Published by: Little Tiger Press Group
ISBN: 9781788951234
Children’s Fiction
The Last Wolf
Rob Biddulph
Jax, Jovi, Esau and Fourth live for full-moon adventures, sneaking out after curfew, dodging the Nighthawks and roaming the empty streets of Moonhaven. But when a rare werewolf attack rocks the town, the friends become prime suspects. With the Nighthawks closing in on anyone who was out after dark, they’re forced to run—setting off a chain of rumours, secrets and betrayals. An edge-of-your-seat illustrated adventure story with short chapters that will help engage reluctant readers, and full of twists and turns. Recommended for ages 9+.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781035037315
Week commencing 9th February 2026
Children’s Fiction
A Girl’s Guide to Spying
Holly Webb
Taking us back to a lesser-known part of history, this is based on the true story of the Girl Guides who worked undercover for the MI5 during the First World War. A thrilling adventure for children aged 9+ with twists and turns, mysteries and double agents as sisters and friends take on the dangerous challenge of spying.
Format: Paperback
Published by: One World Publishing
ISBN: 9781836431213
Non-Fiction
Super Nintendo: How One Japanese Company Helped the World Have Fun
Keza MacDonald
A book of joy as we are shown how one company created a community of game lovers across the globe. Readers who have grown up with Nintendo classics will be delighted to find out how their favourites came about, all from the humble beginnings of a playing card company in Kyoto. With everything covered from the various consoles to the Power Glove, to the much-loved games of Zelda and Mario, this is a story of fun and the love of a good game.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Guardian Faber Publishing
ISBN: 9781783353057
Historical Fiction
White River Crossing
Ian McGuire
Based in 1766 and during a perilous expedition to Ox Lake to find gold, a party of prospectors commit a dangerous, violent and callous act which leads to disastrous consequences as they reach their destination. Cast against a bleak cinematic landscape, plans fall apart as arctic winter begins to descend. A collision of worlds at the edge of the British Empire with deadly results and life changing decisions make this a dark historical novel to remember.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781398505032
Crime Fiction
Mrs Sidhu’s Just Desserts
Suk Pannu
For Fans of BBC Radio 4’s Mrs Sidhu’s Investigates and those who enjoy a cosy crime mystery. Mrs Sidhu is catering for the most glamorous event of the year, the grand opening of Berkshire’s new art gallery. However, when the star painting is stolen and her favourite waitress is murdered, Mrs Sidhu finds herself investigating the strangest case of her career in attempt to take down a murderous and ruthless art thief.
Format: Hardback
Published by: HarperCollins
ISBN: 9780008562977
Week commencing 16th February 2026
Contemporary Fiction
Wiggling Words
Kate Rolfe
Learning to read is enough of a challenge for a child but throw dyslexia and other neurodivergence into the mix and it can feel impossible with letters jumping around the page and words not making much sense. This book perfectly portrays a little girl lost in a forest of letters and is a useful discussion point to encourage children to problem solve and build confidence, so that they can find joy and fun in reading too.
Format: Paperback
Published by: Macmillan Children’s Books
ISBN: 9781035019601
Contemporary Fiction
A Better Life
Lionel Shriver
Set in Brooklyn, a divorced mother living with her 26-year-old son, decides to sign up for Big Apple, Big Heart—a new city programme to take in a migrant as a boarder. A story that highlights a hot topic of today, with altruism and compassion against hostility as the narrator, her son, finds himself struggling with his views of the migrant crisis. This story promotes an interesting discussion point.
Format: Hardback
Published by: The Borough Press
ISBN: 9781783353057
Translated Fiction
Hot Chocolate on Thursday
Michiko Aoyama
A gentle series of observations of customers to the Marble Cafe by a frequent visitor and a young waiter. As with his previous novel “What you are Looking for is in the Library” this book is filled with heart and community as we glimpse into the personal lives of those around us. The stories give us space to think and empathise, and to see how small everyday acts can cause an unexpected change.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Transworld Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 9781529950120
Non Fiction
Tiny Gardens Everywhere: A History of Urban Resilience
Kate Brown
A look at how small gardens across the world have formed an important part of human history. From pre-industrial England to modern-day Ohio, via the Paris Commune, Barackia in pre-war Berlin, Soviet allotments in Estonia, the orchards tended by Black migrants in Washington and food forests in contemporary Amsterdam, we can see how these pockets of resilience and ingenuity have become part of the social fabric.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Vintage Publishing
ISBN: 9781847929259
Crime Fiction
I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home
Fergus Craig
A fun twist on the popular crime genre, when a former serial killer moves into a luxury retirement home she has hopes of starting again and leaving behind her dark past. However, it seems that a number of the residents have been involved in law enforcement, and a murder results in her identity being leaked as all eyes turn to her… only she is innocent. It is up to her to prove there is indeed another murderer in the building.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Little Brown Book Group
ISBN: 9781408734629
Week commencing 23rd February 2026
Picture Book
The Big Journey
Michael Rosen and Daniel Egneus
Following on from the success of the beautiful picture book ‘The Big Dreaming’, renowned author Michael Rosen has paired up once again with Daniel Engneus to produce this gorgeous sequel. We are once again with Big Bear and Little Bear as they undertake a grand adventure that takes them over the mountains. This is a story of courage and resilience as they undertake their journey to their new home.
Format: Paperback
Published by: Simon & Schuster Ltd
ISBN: 9781398537187
Children’s Fiction
The Blockbusters!
Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Steven Lenton
Previously released in hardback, the paperback is published this week. A group of friends find themselves unexpectedly and accidentally part of a major Hollywood blockbuster. But beyond the action, bright lights and VIP treatment, there is a mystery when his brother goes missing. There is more to this film than meets the eye. A fantastic action adventure which will hook in young readers aged 9+.
Format: Paperback
Published by: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781035033898
Historical Thriller
The Night Hag
Hester Musson
Set in Scotland in 1886, archaeologist Lil is leading a dig on a Bronze Age burial mound despite growing protests from the nearby villages. But Lil is plagued by nightmares and memories of her former life that haunt her sleep. When a mysterious doctor appears fears and secrets are shared, but who is this doctor? And how are her night terrors linked to the mysterious burial mound hoard? This is a thrilling mystery and recommended for fans of historical fiction.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Fourth Estate Ltd
ISBN: 9780008565657
Non Fiction
Careless People: A Story of Where I used to Work
Sarah Wynn-Williams
The darkly funny, candid and entertaining memoir from someone who previously worked for social media platform, Facebook. Despite believing the company could change things for the better when she joined, she found that over the course of her career she witnessed the truth of the company to be truly shocking, fuelled by ambition, schemes and aggressive pursuits of global dominance. This brings an alarming view of how technology dominates our lives, and the danger of who is in control with unchecked powers.
Format: Paperback
Published by: Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 9781035065967
Non Fiction
A History of Fashion in 21 Cats
Nia Gould
So, fashion and cats! What a great way to bring the two together. Taking the most iconic eras in the history of fashion, the inspiration from the designers and the legends who wore them and turning it into the media of illustrated cats. Humorous and informative, covering fashion from around the world including Ancient Egypt, Byzantines, Hollywood glamour and much more up to the grunge era of the 1990s. This is a wonderful and fun ‘coffee table’ book to dip into again and again.
Format: Hardback
Published by: Michael O’Mara Books Ltd
ISBN: 9781915751409