Buy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks.

Amy McKay - Editorial Expert

Amy is a knowledgeable, innovative and enthusiastic school librarian, living and working in Cumbria. Amy is a past UK School Librarian of the Year.

With over 17 years’ experience in school libraries and over a decade as the Yoto Carnegies National Coordinator she has a vast knowledge of children’s literature. She is a familiar face at festivals and has judged numerous book awards, including the Blue Peter Book Awards and the Nibbies.

Amy loves nothing more than sharing her love of books and reading, connecting young people with the authors and books that will enrich their lives for years to come.

Latest Reviews By Amy McKay

Set in Malaysia, A Flood of Memories, brilliantly shows the real and lasting impact of climate change. As flood warnings grow A-Level student Leila returns to her family home in Kuching to help her mother protect the family home. As the flood waters rise tension mounts as Leila is forced to confront painful memories of a childhood ruled by an angry, alcoholic father. Mikail powerfully evokes the fear and hopelessness of facing an incoming natural disaster, whilst capturing the more personal damage wrought by an unpredictable and abusive parent. A slow-burn romance adds an additional layer to the story, and ... View Full Review

Neurodivergent teen Elias might not have many friends at school, but he does have a big brother better than any friend. But when Bo gets caught up with dangerous people Elias's nerves and family begin to fracture. A raw and emotional story about addiction, brotherly love and redemption. Elias is a character who leaps from the page and lingers long after the last page. His determination to fix his broken family is empathetically evoked, whilst his penchant for cheesy jokes offers glimpses of light in this tense story. The 1990s setting and snowy Nova Scotian landscape are impressively brought to ... View Full Review

The realties of headship are far less illustrious than Harry Flanagan had hoped. Rather than the deep respect and admiration he expected to be lauded with, he is instead surrounded by self-interest, incompetence and hostility. As budgets tighten and expectations grow, he’s barely holding things together, so when a dreaded Ofsted visit coincides with a visiting TV crew much hilarity ensues. From aggressive inspectors to surly teachers, via useless TV producers and warring pig farmers – Outstanding enjoys a hilarious and varied cast of characters, many of whom will likely be all too familiar to those ... View Full Review

Jodie Jones is super intelligent but failing at school. Jodie Jones will only answer you if you call her by her full name: Jodie Jones. Jodie Jones loves words but struggles to talk openly with most people. Life is not easy for 15-year-old Jodie Jones, she is still struggling in the aftermath of a violent, traumatic event 5 years ago. Her family grows further apart everyday and even her best friend, Becca, is growing exasperated with her. With a super-skilled pen, Shevah slowly reveals Jodie Jones’ full truth, ensuring she will remain with readers long after the last page. My ... View Full Review

April 2024 Book of the Month Anton and his friends rule the school, they go where they like and say what they like. They consider everybody else beneath them, including the teachers. But when Anton keeps getting into trouble, his mum is less impressed by his fierce reputation and more concerned for his future. Hoping he’ll see the error of his ways and make new friends, she removes his internet privileges and signs him up to volunteer for a wholesome community. If he doesn’t join in, he doesn’t get back online. Surrounded by guitar-led sing-a-longs, ... View Full Review

Maaryah has enjoyed a life of luxury and privilege growing up in Dubai. With designer clothes, prestigious cars and expensive cars her norm, she has wanted for very little. So, when her parents divorce and she is uprooted to a tiny house in dreary Essex with her mum, she is left reeling by the sudden change. Being the new student is always hard, but as the only hijabi in her mostly-white new school Maaryah has a huge challenge ahead. Can she build a new life whilst remaining true to herself? This was a gripping read from the very first page, ... View Full Review

Seventeen-year-old Kay and her family left their sleepy hometown of Longrove under a dark shadow of grief, hoping for a fresh start in London. But one year on, with her parents jetting off on holiday, Kay is back in Longrove, and not everyone is happy to see her. When a sinister note from someone calling themselves Monday appears on her bed, promising a week of revenge-laden games which will culminate in her death, Kay doesn’t know what to think. Is it all a weird joke and, if not, who is the illusive Monday? From suspicious ex-friends to the ... View Full Review

Following the success and acclaim of Ten-Word Tiny Tales Coelho readers will be delighted by his next offering: Ten-Word Tiny Tales of Love. Rather than providing only the start of a story these non-traditional story starters each provide a glimpse of a full story, beckoning eagerly for creative writing enthusiasts of all ages to be inspired by his words and bring the story further to life. Those inspired by Coelho’s concise creations are offered tips and activities, that suggest ways they might expand the stories or create stories of their own. Each tale is brought to life with ... View Full Review

Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2024 Aspiring sleuths Kerry and Annie are just starting sixth form, but both have much better things to think about than their studies. Annie is obsessed with making this the year she finally becomes popular, and Kerry is smitten by new boy, Scott. When the most popular girl in school tasks them with finding her cyberbully things start looking up. But when a failed kiss leads to the discovery of a dead classmate, choked with a menstrual cup, things turn serious. The Menstrual Murderer is on the hunt and the bodies soon start piling up. ... View Full Review

Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2024 An epidemic of unhappiness has swept the UK and infected teenagers. Seb wants to make his family proud and show the world what he’s capable of, but his head just won’t let him. So, when he’s offered the chance to attend a radical retreat that aims to eradicate teen unhappiness, he jumps at the offer. Maybe this is his chance of a new future. As assessments, tests and tasks start to grow increasingly strange though, Seb starts to wonder if all is as it ... View Full Review

Shortlisted for the YA Book Prize 2024 | Shortlisted for the Children's & YA Jhalak Prize 2024 Fame, beauty, success, happiness…the stars of soon-to-be hit TV show Sunset High seemingly have it all. But behind the glitz and glamour the truth is very different - scandal, rivalry, secrets and possibly even murder reign supreme in the land of Hollywood dreams. British Abel is thrown into the world of celebrity culture when he is cast as the new teen star of a blockbuster Hollywood TV show reboot. Joining his fellow cast mates, Lucky, Ryan and Ella, he soon discovers that all is ... View Full Review

London teenager Clem enjoys her 15th birthday surrounded by friends, family, and glorious sunshine – a perfect day. The world is changing though, and soon everyone and everything she knows, and loves, will be in danger. Set in a not-so-distant future, England is ruled by a racist far-right authoritarian government, as civil unrest grows Clem must flee London with her younger sister, Billie. Safety lies in newly independent Scotland, but to get there the sisters must face unknown danger, suspicious bigots, and a terrifying small boat. This was a gut-wrenching read; the concept was so believable and the writing so ... View Full Review

Amy McKay - Editorial Expert

Latest Reviews By Amy McKay

Join Our Community