Katherine Rundell writes gorgeous books and I’m a huge fan. If I’m recommending one of her books to a kid in my class, this is the one I’d start with – it’s the story of four children who end up stranded in the Amazon when their plane crashes. The setting is gorgeous, the wonder and peril of the Amazon is thrilling and it’s an exciting tale of survival and tenacity with characters who have real depth. 

As you’d expect from Katherine Rundell, the writing is gorgeous and immersive, but it also has a good pace and plenty of action to keep kids interested and wanting to read on. For kids who are intimidated by a longer book, this is a good one to help them build their confidence; although the spine is quite thick, the layout is welcoming and Hannah Horn’s illustrations are beautifully woven into the pages.