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The Scarlet Letter
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Illustrated by
ISBN: 978-1-906230-76-0
ATOS®/AR Level: 6.1 what is this?
F&P Level: Z what is this?
£6.99
Hester Prynne stands defiantly on a scaffold before hostile Puritans in seventeenth-century Boston, Massachusetts.
The baby in her arms and the bright scarlet letter ‘A’ on her gown are evidence and punishment for the shame she has brought on her religious neighbours.
Will Hester continue to conceal the name of the husband who sent her away from Europe years before as well as that of the father of her baby? Will the husband get his revenge on the man who has shamed him? Will that man admit his past, and join Hester and her daughter Pearl?
Or is the matter out of their hands, waiting to be decided between the forces of the Lord and of Satan?
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The Iliad
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-53-1
ATOS®/AR Level: 6.7 what is this?
F&P Level: Y what is this?
£6.99
It is the ninth year of the siege of Troy by the Greeks. Will the fighting go on for ever?
Achilles, the greatest of Greek heroes, is angered by Agamemnon and decides to withdraw from the battle. What is the reason for his wrath? Is there anything that will make him change his mind and return to the battlefield?
Both armies have suffered tremendous losses, and the long war seems to be heading towards a stalemate. The Greeks, however, have an ingenious stratagem that may well determine the outcome of the war.
Brave warriors, noble heroes, women of divine beauty and envious gods moved by human passions come alive in this wonderful retelling of the most famous epic war story of all time.
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The Odyssey
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-54-8
ATOS®/AR Level: 6.2 what is this?
F&P Level: Y what is this?
£6.99
After ten long years of war and the fall of Troy, the Greek hero Odysseus sets sail for his homeland. His voyage, however, is destined to take much longer than he expects.
During his eventful journey Odysseus comes across all sorts of monsters and mythical creatures, and loses his ships and crew. When he finally reaches his beloved island he finds his queen besieged by suitors who claim his throne. What tricks will Penelope resort to in her effort to avoid them? And how does Odysseus get rid of the impudent suitors and regain his wife and kingdom?
The amazing adventures of the legendary hero come alive in this masterful retelling of Odysseus’s epic voyage.
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Les Misérables
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-79-1
Lexile® Rating: 990L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 6.0 what is this?
F&P Level: Y what is this?
£6.99
‘Send the brat home? Oh no we won’t! Her mother must have met some rich man – we can make a load of money out of this.’
It seems that poor Cosette will never escape from the wicked Monsieur and Madame Thénardier. She is only eight years old, but they force her to work hard every day.
Jean Valjean has promised her mother that he will rescue the little girl – but Inspector Javert is on his trail. Will the fierce Inspector arrest Jean Valjean? If he does, will Cosette ever be set free?
Cosette is not the only person who desperately needs help. When Marius is badly wounded, will even Jean Valjean’s courage and determination be enough to save the brave young student?
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The Hunchback of Notre Dame
A frightful horde of men and women, armed with scythes, pikes, billhooks and rusty swords, advanced towards the massive front doors of Notre Dame Cathedral.
For many years Quasimodo the bellringer has lived peacefully in the Cathedral of Notre Dame with his master, Archdeacon Claude Frollo. But the arrival of Esmeralda, the young and dazzlingly beautiful gypsy dancer, changes everything.
Esmeralda has fallen in love with the brave and handsome Captain Phoebus. Will the Archdeacon be able to control his violent jealousy when Esmeralda rejects him?
Esmeralda’s life is in danger, but Quasimodo will do anything to protect her. When the King's soldiers clash with the thieves and beggars of Paris, can the innocent young dancer survive?
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The Call of the Wild
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-77-7
ATOS®/AR Level: 6.1 what is this?
F&P Level: X what is this?
£6.99
Buck recognised the wild brother. He was whining softly, and they touched noses. A second wolf, old and battle-scarred, came forward and sniffed noses with him; he sat down, pointed his nose at the moon, and broke out in a long wolf howl. Buck, too, sat down and howled.
Buck, a big, powerful dog, is kidnapped from his California home and sold as a sled dog in the Arctic. In his new environment he must learn quickly how to deal with man’s club and dog’s fang, or he will not be able to survive.
He is transformed by two opposing forces – his love for John Thornton who saved his life, and the memories that awaken within him of the ways of his ancestors, both dogs and wolves. How will Buck survive, and not just survive, but become a leader of dogs and eventually a leader of wolves?
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The Three Kingdoms
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-35-7
Lexile® Rating: 1090L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 7.1 what is this?
F&P Level: Y what is this?
£6.99
The great empire of China is in turmoil.
As the government becomes increasingly incompetent, warlords and nobles battle for power. In the north is the Kingdom of Wei, headed by cunning and manipulative Cao Cao. In the southeast is the Kingdom of Wu, ruled by masterful and charismatic Sun Quan. In the west is the Kingdom of Shu, commanded by kind-hearted and humble Liu Bei.
Cao has committed murder and betrayal on his way to glory, only to see his family’s throne overthrown by other scheming crooks. Sun and his advisor Zhou Yu have established a military stronghold, but are no match against Liu’s military strategist Zhuge Liang, who wisely advocates tolerance and mutual respect.
Full of thrilling action, sophisticated stratagems, passionate brotherhood and loyalty, The Three Kingdoms sums up all the most important lessons of history.
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Moby Dick
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-72-2
Lexile® Rating: 730L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 4.5 what is this?
F&P Level: Y what is this?
£6.99
‘Breach your last to the sun, Moby Dick!’ cried Ahab. ‘Thy hour and thy harpoon are at hand!’
Why does Captain Ahab look like a man who’s being crucified? How did he come by that hideous scar and the false leg made of a whale’s bone? And why is he obsessed by Moby Dick, the great white whale?
Ishmael, the new recruit, has other strange shipmates. There’s Queequeg for instance, covered in weird tattoos and selling shrunken human heads. And what of the shadowy figures creeping on board the whaling ship Pequod?
Ahab leads them all in reckless pursuit of Moby Dick. Will he succeed in killing the whale, or will Moby Dick lure Ahab and his crew to destruction?
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Nineteen Eighty-Four
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-10-3
Lexile® Rating: 900L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 5.6 what is this?
£6.99
If there is no word for freedom, how can anyone be free?
Winston Smith lives in a nightmare world where the Thought Police spy on everyone and children are taught to betray their parents. Even the smallest sign of disagreement with the Party results in torture, imprisonment, or death. Big Brother oversees everything – but who is he?
Winston tries hard to keep his thoughts and fears to himself. But then he meets Julia, a strong-minded young woman who is willing to run the terrible risk of their being found together. Will kindly Mr Charrington keep their secret? Can Winston and Julia find happiness despite the dangers that threaten them?
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A young reader's review for Real Reads Nineteen Eighty-Four :
This book is emotional, puzzling, surprising and intriguing. I liked this book because you never knew what was going to happen. The book is rhetorical and it makes you think.
The main character, Winston, thought he was safe but he found out that most of his friends were bad and had reported him to the thought police. Winston seemed to be the happiest when he was with other people like Julia and Mr Charrington. He was most worried and upset when he was alone and had time to think and reflect on his life and others.
I think it would be horrible to live a life that you can never have any privacy and for all your thoughts and words to be traced.
The information at the end of the book was useful. It gives a greater understanding of the history and the work George Orwell produced.
George, 10
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Animal Farm
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Illustrated by
ISBN: 978-1-911091-11-0
Lexile® Rating: 940L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 5.7 what is this?
£6.99
All the animals were looking forward to the new, happy lives they would lead when Mr Jones’s rule over them came to an end.
When the animals get rid of Mr Jones and take over the farm, they are excited by their new freedom. But can they run the farm with tools that are designed for humans? Will they be able to harvest the food that they need for the winter?
The farmers decide to band together to win back the farm for Mr Jones. Will the animals be able to fight them off? Can life on Animal Farm be as wonderful as they had all hoped for – or will new dangers threaten their happiness?
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A young reader's review for Real Reads Animal Farm :
Animal farm is a really interesting, thought provoking story based on events that have happened in the past. The ideas in the story made me think about authority; what makes a good leader and whether it is important that the rules are the same for everyone. It was clever that animals were the main characters in the story not people. As the pigs became more like people they started to be more selfish and they did not care about the other animals and the group became less united.
I really liked the characters Boxer and Snowball. Boxer was hard working and never gave up but his hard work didn’t really help the other animals. Snowball tried to make the farm a better place but his ideas were over-ruled by Napoleon who was a stronger leader.
It was interesting to read the ‘Taking Things Further section’ about how the book was written about things that had happened in Russia. This taught me things about history that I did not know. After reading the story, it made it much easier to understand. It also made me think more carefully about some of the things that are happening at the moment. I would definitely recommend this book to other children my age. It is a brilliant story and very educational.
George, 10
Review from a Teacher :
The abridged version of Animal farm is a thoroughly enjoyable story for children. The adaption of the story would be a valuable text to study at Primary level as it provides an accessible opening to more mature themes such as authority, equality and inequality, class, power, control and corruption. Animal Farm would be a fantastic book to generate higher-level thinking, discussion and debate that could support the teaching of Literacy, RE, History, PSHE and Philosophy for Children.
Review from a Parent :
I enjoyed reading this book with my 10-year-old son. We were eager to see how the plights of the different characters would evolve. The story led to fantastic discussion about authority, equality, honesty and loyalty. My son was able to draw parallels between the story and religion, governance and current affairs. The ‘Taking Things Further’ section developed a thirst for more information which led him to conduct his own history research.
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The Gold-Bug
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Illustrated by
ISBN: 978-1-906230-81-4
Lexile® Rating: 820L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 5.2 what is this?
£6.99
‘Dat gold-bug was a vicious bug. Massa caught it first but it bit him. I think da bite has made Massa poorly. It has affected him in da head.’
William Legrand has found a new type of bug, a golden bug, unusually heavy. His servant, Jupiter, is worried. Why is Legrand behaving so oddly? Has the bug’s bite made him mad? When Legrand shows his friend a drawing of the gold-bug, it looks more like a skull. What can this mean?
The arrival of the gold-bug leads the three men on an exciting adventure towards skeletons, a skull, and a hunt for buried treasure.
Should we believe Jupiter’s superstitious fears, or is there a more logical explanation of events? If there is, can you, the reader, discover it?
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The Murders in the Rue Morgue
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-48-7
Lexile® Rating: 890L what is this?
F&P Level: Z what is this?
£6.99
Here is a test, a puzzle for you. It is a faithful account of two most gruesome murders. Can you work out what actually happened in the early hours of one fateful morning in the Rue Morgue?
Before you start, here are a few tips. To be a good detective you need the same skills as a good card-player. You must consider and examine every detail, not just the obvious ones. You have to observe every change in a person’s face, everything they say, everything they do and you must always expect the unexpected. And finally, you must remember it all.
In this most strange tale, you’ll see a friend of mine at work. He has an astonishingly analytical mind. So, pit your own powers of analysis against his – and against mine. Can you solve the mystery of the murders in the Rue Morgue?
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The Pit and the Pendulum
The blackness of eternal night encompassed me. The intense darkness oppressed and stifled me so that I struggled for breath.
Having been condemned to death by the Spanish Inquisition, the narrator descends into a kind of hell. Dizzy with weakness and fainting with fear, he experiences such torments that death itself would be welcome. What troubles him most is the eternal question: how will he die?
Toledo Prison is notorious for the torture of the condemned. What minds have dreamed up the terror of the pit in the centre of the cell? What is the significance of the painted figure of Time with his menacing pendulum? Why do the walls glow with heat?
Experience with the narrator the intensity of his suffering when death seems inevitable but its form uncertain. Can anything, or anybody, help him?
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All Quiet on the Western Front
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Illustrated by
ISBN: 978-1-906230-66-1
Lexile® Rating: 840L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 5.3 what is this?
F&P Level: X what is this?
£6.99
‘There is a whistling sound behind us. Shells pass overhead and explode in a sheet of flame a hundred meters away.’
When Paul Bäumer and his classmates join the army, nothing has prepared them for the death and destruction that they witness. Machine guns, huge artillery shells and poison gas create a nightmare world for these young men and their older comrades.
For months and years attack is followed by counter–attack. Will any of Paul’s friends survive long enough to return to their families and loved ones? Will there be a place for them at home, when peace finally comes?
Can any of these soldiers make sense of the massive conflict in which they are involved?
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Waverley
Edward Waverley is an English officer in the army of King George, but will his love for Flora, the beautiful Scottish rebel, lead him to betray his King?
Life with his regiment in Scotland is dull until he visits his uncle’s friends in the Highlands, where he meets Fergus McIvor and his sister Flora. Attracted by the wild freedom and romance of the Scottish clans, Edward finds himself in a difficult and dangerous position. His new friends are Jacobites, planning to overthrow King George and restore the Stuart monarchy.
The Jacobites rise in rebellion. When Prince Charles leads an invasion of England, Edward’s loyalties are hopelessly divided. Whose side will he take? And what fate awaits them all?
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Rob Roy
Frank hates working in his father’s office. He swaps places with his cousin Rashleigh. But what is Rashleigh up to? Who are his mysterious friends?
Frank has to find some missing papers to save his father’s business. The search takes him to Scotland, where he finds that his life is in danger. But who is it that wants to kill him?
Frank meets the outlaw Rob Roy and heads for the Highlands, where he’s seized by soldiers looking for Jacobite rebels.
Whose side is Rob Roy really on? And how can Frank recover the papers which will save his father?
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The Heart of Midlothian
Edinburgh, 1736.
In the town’s grim prison, the Heart of Midlothian, two prisoners await execution. Captain Porteous of the Town Guard has been sentenced to death for ordering his soldiers to open fire on Edinburgh citizens. He hopes for reprieve. The people want revenge.
Effie Deans, wrongly accused of killing her new-born baby, will die unless her sister Jeanie tells a lie. Jeanie, determined to save her sister, makes a terrifying journey as Effie’s life hangs in the balance.
Will the two prisoners get the justice they deserve?
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South
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ISBN: 978-1-911091-03-5
£6.99
At 5 o’clock on the evening of November 21st, after the ice had drawn back like pall bearers at a funeral, Endurance slipped lower in the water, her stern pointing skywards. We stood in silence while she said her last farewell. A cacophony of cracking timber and rushing water signalled her end and then she was silent, slipping into the watery grave. The bravest ship, she had struggled to the bitter end and now she was gone. Endurance – well named.
When his ship Endurance sinks in the icy Antarctic, Ernest Shackleton is left with the responsibility of getting his crew safely back home. Can they survive crossing dangerous icefloes and setting up camp on a remote island?
Even when they reach land nobody will know where they are unless somebody can sail the tiny ship’s boat across eight hundred miles of the world’s most dangerous seas to summon help. Can it be done?
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The Tempest
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Illustrated by
ISBN: 978-1-906230-46-3
Lexile® Rating: 680L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 4.7 what is this?
F&P Level: Z what is this?
£6.99
A storm, a shipwreck, an enchanted island ...
A violent storm shipwrecks the King of Naples and his noblemen on what appears to be an uninhabited island. What the king doesn’t know is that they have been brought here by powerful magic.
Prospero, the mysterious ruler of the island, has a plan, but will he use his magic for good or bad against the castaways? His daughter, Miranda, has never seen another man except her father. What will she think of the stranger who stumbles into her life? Prospero’s monstrous servant, Caliban, sees a chance to overthrow his master. Will he succeed?
Enchantment and treachery are everywhere on the island – which will prove the stronger?
Click here for the Shakespeare original language comparison
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Twelfth Night
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ISBN: 978-1-906230-56-2
Lexile® Rating: 570L what is this?
ATOS®/AR Level: 4.2 what is this?
F&P Level: Z what is this?
£6.99
Viola survives a shipwreck, but she thinks her twin brother Sebastian has died.
Alone in a strange country where it isn’t safe to be a single girl, Viola disguises herself as a boy called Cesario and finds work as a servant.
But dressing in boy’s clothes doesn’t stop Viola falling in love with a man – who is in love with someone else. Will she ever manage to win his love for herself?
And who is this other young man that appears, looking so like Cesario? What confusion will result from his arrival? Perhaps Viola’s brother didn’t drown after all …
Click here for the Shakespeare original language comparison
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