The weekend was a bit hectic – with the Mountains to the Sea Festival children’s events running both days. Fab authors – Marita Conlon McKenna, Derek Landy, Oisin McGann – all gave thier all. David Maybury did a stonking Dahl reading – very talented boy, that David.

Festivals and talks are an important part of a writer’s life, and it’s always lovely to meet young readers and their parents. So hi to all the gang I met at the festival, especially the lovely Abby!

As the Indo did not have room for my children’s reviews last month – here they are – a little out of date but not to worry!

August round up:
There are many ways to create a reader for life, and taking children along to meet their favourite author is one of them.

Here’s your chance, with two September Book Festivals – Books 2009 and the Mountain to Sea Festival – both providing comprehensive children’s programmes. And October sees Children’s Book Festival swing into action in schools and libraries all over Ireland.

Derek Landy, author of the hugely popular Skulduggery Pleasant books will be speaking at both September festivals – Saturday 12th September in People’s Park, Dun Laoghaire, and again in the National Gallery, Dublin, on Saturday 19th September. Other highlights include John Connolly reading from his new teen novel, The Gates (Books 2009); and much loved author, Marita Conlon-McKenna talking about her writing (Mountain to Sea).

Speaking of creating readers, O’Brien has come up trumps with The Train Driver by Kunak McGann (e5.99), a charming and well written early reader about a young boy, Dara, who’s mad about trains for children of 4 plus, with excellent full colour illustrations. For GAA fans, Feile Fever by Joe O’Brien (e7.99) will hit the spot. Fast paced, exciting, with lots of authentic match action and well rounded characters, this is a welcome addition to sport literature for readers of 7 plus.

And Somerville Press in Bantry has just published West Cork and Kerry for Kids by Cammy Harley (e9.99), a comprehensive guide to activities in these areas, ideal for holiday makers.

Finally, for teens, The Wisdom of Dead Men (£6.99 Random House) by Irish author, Oisin McGann is an explosive fantasy read, set in the Victorian era. It opens with a gripping spontaneous combustion scene and the action never lets up. Idea for any Philip Reeve fans. Oisin McGann will also appear at the Mountains to Sea Festival, don’t miss him!

Sept round up:
Teenagers are well served this season, with some exceptional titles including The Bride’s Farewell by Carnegie Winner, Meg Rosoff (£10.99 Penguin), a beautifully produced hardback about Pen, a young woman who runs away on the morning of her wedding. Set in the 19th century, it’s a lyrical, Hardy-esque read for older, thoughtful teens.

Love, Aubrey by American writer, Suzanne LaFleur (£9.99 Puffin) is another hard hitting novel, this time set in America. When Aubrey is abandoned by her mother, she has to fend for herself, before starting to rebuild her life with the help of her granny and some old and new friends. Cleverly plotted, with some exceptional writing, ideal for older readers of 14+.

If Darren Shan books are your teen reader’s poison of choice, check out The Enemy by Charlie Higson (Puffin £12.99), a taut, gore-filled horror/thriller set in London. A strange disease has turned everyone over the age of 14 into a zombie, but one hardened gang of youngsters is determined to survive.

Life Swap (Walker Books £6.99) by Abby McDonald is a clever, well written ‘grass is always greener’ novel about two girls, American party girl, Tasha and shyer English girl, Emily. What happens when the two girls swap places makes for light hearted yet compelling reading. Ideal for Meg Cabot fans.

And finally, Irish author, Celine Kiernan is back with book two of the Moorhawke Trilogy, The Crowded Shadows (O’Brien e10.99), a theatrical historical fantasy set in medieval Europe. This time our feisty teen hero, Wynter Moorhawke sets off to find the Rebel Prince, encountering dangerous wolves, and the strange and otherworldly Merron people along the way. With smatterings of Irish, used to great effect as the Merron language, this is a cracking adventure yarn, with added layers.