Flora Belle Buckman is a cool and cynical observer of life who means never to get involved. But when Ulysses the squirrel gets trapped in the neighbour’s super-powered vacuum cleaner, it is Flora who comes to the rescue. It’s a life-changing action that throws Flora into unruly adventures that are refreshingly zany, as Ulysses shows off his unusual powers, including the ability to type. It also leads to Flora meeting William Spiver, the same neighbour’s great-great-nephew, who, with a passion for words and a great ability for friendship, changes her life. Photograph: Walker
Lucky dreams that the stars are singing to him. What can be the explanation for that, or for the power that fills his body with a heat so intense it leaves his sheets smoking? When Lucky is forced to flee from his home on planet Phoenix, he arms himself with his father’s astrolabe and sets off to find his mysterious father and some answers. Racing across galaxies Lucky soon finds that his personal journey is subsumed into a quest of giant proportions, as the entire Universe is at risk from the Wolf that Eats the Stars. Powerfully illustrated throughout, Phoenix is a thrilling space adventure with serious themes of tolerance and identity deeply embedded within it. Photograph: David Fickling books
The chaotic lives of the Gadsby family are kindly and wittily recorded in this second volume of Bluebell Gadsby’s diary entries. Falling in love - in all kinds of ways - is on the minds of the Gadsbys. Bluebell may or may not be going out with Jake, whatever going out means; while her older sister Flora is certainly very much in love with Zach. Even her younger brother Twig is developing an interest in a girl. Worst hit of all are Mum and Dad, who have a secret of their own which will change the family for ever. Only Jas, the youngest of the family but no baby, is untouched by love; she is writing poetry. Photograph: Faber
The medical condition which scars Rosa and leaves her without speech at birth is viewed with deep mistrust by the superstitious community in which she lives. To avoid their taunts she remains largely hidden at home from a world full of secrets and fears, with her head filled with half-remembered dreams. But, like any other 13-year-old, Rosa needs an independent life. Daringly beginning an online friendship, Rosa brings dangerous attention to herself, unleashing dark family secrets as she does so - but also setting herself joyfully free. Contemporary life and the spirit world are seamlessly interwoven in this skilful and poignant story about friendship, family and self-belief. Photograph: David Fickling
Kester, a 12-year-old with a rare gift for understanding animals, thought he had saved the animals from his cruel world where nature has been all but destroyed. But now, buried deep under the shiny city of Premium, Kester finds a new animal kingdom. Down in their dark wild, these animals are not looking to be loved or cherished by humans - they are looking for revenge, poised to bring wholesale destruction unless someone can stop them. Kester loves animals and is sympathetic to them, but whatever the wrongs caused by his fellow humans he knows he must do everything he can to prevent this all-out disaster. Photograph: g5_imac27_2/Quercus
In a world where the Norse gods still rule, Woden, Thor and Freyja make a trip to London to boost their worshipper numbers and so inflate their powers - powers that are desperately needed if they are to have any chance of defeating the Frost Giants. But arrogant and fame-seeking Norse gods are hard to accommodate in contemporary London. Things go badly: seeing the queues outside the Apple store the gods are sure it is a new temple; they are baffled by the idea of tweeting to raise their fame rankings, and Woden takes part in a TV talent show. Behind the excellent jokes lies a serious commentary on social attitudes and values of the 21st century. Photograph: Faber
When 16-year-old Laureth is convinced that her father is missing she searches for clues to help her find him. Her father is meant to be in Europe, but the only lead she has is an email from New York. Trusting her instinct that the mysterious emailer really does have her father’s precious notebook, Luareth sets out to retrieve it and, hopefully, find some more clues. Luareth is blind; accompanied by her younger brother who acts as her eyes, she embarks on a gripping, complex and surprising hunt which relies on coincidence and obsession as its guiding principles. Photograph: Orion
Cadence and her rich, beautiful and wealthy cousins meet year after year to spend their long hot summer holidays on an idyllic and secluded family island. But the teenagers’ relaxation is constantly interrupted by the adults’ power struggles and arguments, especially about inheritance. When Cadence revisits the island while recovering from an accident that happened several years previously, she gradually pieces together the shocking surprise she has forgotten. A glorious mystery, brilliantly unravelled. Photograph: Hot Key Books
Good luck to all the longlisted books. The winner of the prize will be announced on 13 November, 2014. Make sure to enter our young critics prize and you might even end up at the awards party! Photograph: OUP
