In this episode of BookQuest, we’re lacing up our boots and taking the pitch. We’re exploring the beautiful game from two completely different angles: the ultimate thrill of winning the cup, and the heavy choices that come when you discover the truth behind the gear we wear.

On the Shelf This Week:

• Mitch Johnson joins the show to discuss his gripping novel, Strike. A football-obsessed boy is finally on the verge of achieving his ultimate dream of turning professional. But when he uncovers a hidden message stitched into his boots by the workers who made them, he's forced to confront the real human cost of the game and decide what truly matters.

• Gordon D'Arcy and Paul Howard also feature with their brilliant interactive picture book, Let's Play Football!. This high-energy story puts young readers directly into the boots of a footballer competing for the championship cup, teaching real skills and encouraging movement as the match unfolds.

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In this episode of BookQuest, we’re exploring what it means to find your crew—whether that’s a mismatched pack of dragons on the high seas or a massive, unexpected family right here on Earth.

On the Shelf This Week:

• Cressida Cowell joins the show to discuss How to Train Your Dragon School: Fight of the Flamestrike. When a routine Viking training lesson goes completely off course, Hiccup, Toothless, and the gang find themselves trapped on a mysterious, abandoned vessel at sea. Get ready for a hilarious, action-packed adventure full of dragon chaos and hidden dangers!

• Kristina Rahim also features with her heartfelt and moving contemporary story, The Doughnut Club. Twelve-year-old Quinn has always felt like the odd one out in her adventurous family. But when she makes the life-changing discovery that she has sixteen donor siblings, she sets off on a journey of identity, belonging, and true self-discovery.

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In this episode of BookQuest, we’re dealing with the ultimate test of survival: stepping into the unknown! Whether you’re accidentally blinking across different centuries or just trying to survive the terrifying halls of secondary school, growing up is a wild ride.

On the Shelf This Week:

• Amelia Tait joins the show to chat about her hilarious diary-style adventure, Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller. Imagine ringing in the New Year only to wake up in a completely different point in history! We follow Lily as she tries to balance mind-bending time-travel mishaps with regular friendship drama, family life, and growing up.
• Tola Okogwu also features with her funny, relatable new story, Bim Blake's Hot Takes. Step inside the chaotic first year of secondary school with Bim as she takes on new friendships, family madness, crushes, and the ultimate quest to find her own self-confidence when everything feels completely new.

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The Carnegie Awards take place on 23 June, and to celebrate, this special episode of BookQuest features two authors shortlisted for the 2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing.

Rob Harrell joins the show to discuss his funny and heartfelt novel about a boy trying to survive a disastrous school picture day while juggling anxiety, family worries, and a series of increasingly chaotic mishaps.

JP Rose also features with a thoughtful and moving story exploring friendship, identity, and what it means to find your place in the world when everything around you seems to be changing.

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In this episode of BookQuest, we’re stepping off the edge of the map and into lands where the shadows are alive. Whether you’re dealing with ancient spirits in an enchanted woods or trying to stop a war between humans and dragons, you’re going to need some serious inner strength!

On the Shelf This Week:

• Bec Manser joins the show to introduce her magical debut fantasy, Wildheart. Follow Nettle as she breaks the rules and enters the forbidden, ghoul-infested Dryda Forest to save her sister. Along the way, she must face her deepest fears and decide who the real monsters are.

• Struan Murray also features with the epic sequel, Dragonborn: The Twilight Child. Having discovered her true identity as a dragon, Alex Evans is thrown into a dangerous quest to stop a war against humanity. Together with her friends, she must journey north to battle ancient demons and master her fearsome powers.

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In this episode of BookQuest, we’re looking at what happens when ordinary kids are thrown into the absolute deep end of history and myth. Whether you’re dodging air raids or outsmarting skeleton armies, survival takes some serious teamwork!

On the Shelf This Week:

• Tony Bradman joins the show to introduce Tales of Cobb Street Commandos. Walk into the chaos of World War Two alongside Jimmy and his friends, who refuse to just hide from the air raids—instead, they form their very own commando unit to protect their neighborhood.

• Clare Pollard also features with Othernauts, a hilariously fresh retelling of the classic Greek myth of Jason and the Argonauts. Follow eleven-year-old Phoebe as she stows away on a legendary quest full of harpies, sea monsters, and skeleton armies—aided by a crew of kids whose "powers" include unreliable shapeshifting and headache-inducing siren singing.

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In this episode of BookQuest, we’re leaving the ordinary world behind to explore dangerous islands and ancient destinies.

On the Shelf This Week:

• Ollie George Clark joins the show to talk about his epic fantasy adventure, Youngest Faircrest. We follow a young hero trying to survive a world of danger and discovery while balancing massive family expectations and unlocking hidden powers.

• Natasha Farrant also features with her sweeping adventure, The Children of Wolf Rock. Set on a wild, remote island, this gripping tale follows two children whose courage is put to the ultimate test by nature, ancient secrets, and the fight for survival.

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In this episode of BookQuest, we’re stepping into the shadows and blasting off into space! We’re tracking down clues, unlocking dangerous secrets, and asking what it takes to solve a mystery when the truth could change everything.

On the Shelf This Week:

• David Solomon joins the show to discuss his fast-paced mystery adventure, Spyglass. We follow our heroes as they dive into a world filled with secrets, hidden danger, and unexpected twists where every single clue counts.

• Laura Anderson also features with her fun sci-fi adventure, Star Kitties: Detective Kitty. Join a clever detective cat as they solve mysteries, crack cases, and cause absolute chaos among the stars.

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