Gareth Cooper

First of the Harper Hall Trilogy. Menolly, a talented musician, runs away when her father betrays her ambition to be a Harper. She chances upon a group of newly hatched wild fire lizards and lets her music swirl around them.

Sixteen year old Lucas Swain becomes intrigued by the urn of ashes left in a cab office. Convinced that its occupant, Violet Park, is communicating with him, he contrives to gain possession of the urn. But little does he realise that his quest will take him on a voyage of self-discovery and identity.

Like bad smells, uninvited weekend guests or very old eggs, there are some things that ought to be avoided.

Snicket's saga about the charming, intelligent, and grossly unlucky Baudelaire orphans continues to alarm its distressed and suspicious fans the world over. The tenth book in this outrageous publishing effort features more than the usual dose of distressing details, such as snow gnats, an organised troupe of youngsters, an evil villain with a dastardly plan, a secret headquarters and some dangerous antics you should not try at home. With the weather turning colder, this is one chilling book you would be better off without.