Books with author Katherine Roberts

A free prequel to the thrilling Pendragon Legacy quartet, starring King Arthur's daughter, Rhianna Pendragon. Smuggled out of the land of men as a baby by her father's druid, Merlin, and brought up in secret in enchanted Avalon, Rhianna is yet to discover her royal heritage. It’s the day of the magical mist horse ceremony in Avalon, and Rhianna is desperate to take part. Only problem is, humans definitely can't ride mist horses... Or can they? Discover the heartwarming story of how Rhianna Pendragon first met her beloved mist horse, Alba.

This collection of seven fantasy tales by the author of 'Song Quest' brings together some of Katherine Roberts' best loved short fiction from the 1990's. Each story carries an introduction by the author, giving a fascinating glimpse into the inspiration behind her award-winning debut novel and early days of her writing career.Note: These stories were originally published for adults, hence reading age 13+.ALSO AVAILABLE: Weird & Wonderful - a collection of seven science fiction tales by the same author.

Prepare to be enchanted in this long-awaited sequel to SPELLFALL.It has been six months since the rebel Caster Lord Hawk kidnapped Natalie in an attempt to bond her to his spellclave and was imprisoned inside the Thrallstone by his son Merlin. Natalie and her family have moved to Scotland, where her mother’s magehound is teaching her magic, while Merlin stayed behind in Earthaven to help heal the root system of his father's poison.Now the soultrees of Earthaven are preparing for the Blossoming, when treemages will fertilize their flowers with unicorn dust to grow new spells. But Earthaven’s magic is draining through the gateways into the human world. To restore their power, the Spell Lords summon Natalie to take her mother’s vacant seat on the Council of Oq. Meanwhile, one of the young treemage candidates they have chosen for her spellclave has fled through the forbidden Thrallstone gateway into the human world, unwittingly releasing Lord Hawk.With the Blossoming fast approaching, Natalie and her friends find themselves once again fighting Lord Hawk’s Casters in a desperate race to gain Power of Thirteen – only this time Natalie has learned how to cast spells and is determined to do things her way, no matter what the Spell Lords say...Praise for Spellfall:“Roberts knows exactly how to rack up the tension and create parallel universes.” The Guardian."Fantasy adventure with shades of Tolkien and Pullman. Superb." The Bookseller.

As an English teacher, Kate Roberts has seen the power of whole-class novels to build community in her classroom. But she's also seen too many kids struggle too much to read them--and consequently, check out of reading altogether. Kate's had better success getting kids to actually read - and enjoy it-when they choose their own books within a workshop model. "And yet," she says, "I missed my whole-class novels." In A Novel Approach, Kate takes a deep dive into the troubles and triumphs of both whole-class novels and independent reading and arrives at a persuasive conclusion: we can find a student-centered, balanced approach to teaching reading. Kate offers a practical framework for creating units that join both teaching methods together and helps you: - Identify the skills your students need to learn - Choose whole-class texts that will be most relevant to your kids - Map out the timing of a unit and the strategies you'll teach - Meet individual needs while teaching whole novels - Guide students to choice books and book clubs that build on the skills being taught. Above all, Kate's plan emphasizes teaching reading skills and strategies over the books themselves. "By making sure that our classes are structured in a way that really sees students and strives to meet their needs," she argues, "we can keep reaching for the dream of a class where no student is unmoved, no reader unchanged by the end of the year." Video clips of Kate working with students in diverse classrooms bring the content to life throughout the book.

Prepare to be enchanted in this long awaited sequel to Katherine Roberts’ best-selling novel SPELLFALL. It is six months since the rebel Caster Lord Hawk kidnapped Natalie and was imprisoned inside the Thrallstone by his son Merlin. Now the soultrees of Earthaven are preparing for the Blossoming, when treemages will fertilize the flowers with unicorn dust to grow new spells. But Earthaven's magic is draining away through the gateways into the human world, where Lord Hawk has escaped and is reforming his spellclave. To restore their power, the Spell Lords summon Natalie to take her mother’s seat on the Council of Oq. They have chosen a powerful young treemage called Squirrel to join her, but he is not ready to sacrifice his familiar and flees into the human world, where he becomes Lord Hawk's prey. With the Blossoming fast approaching, Natalie and her friends once again find themselves fighting Hawk’s Casters in a desperate race to gain Power of Thirteen - only this time Natalie has learned how to cast spells and is determined to do things her way, no matter what the Spell Lords say... Praise for Book 1 Spellfall: "Fantasy adventure with shades of Tolkien and Pullman. Superb." The Bookseller.

The breathtaking conclusion to the fantastical ECHORIUM SEQUENCE is now available in paperback!The Singers on the Isle of Echoes are finally living in peace. But their harmony is threatened by a dark force. Frazhin, the evil sorcerer, has returned. This time, his devious scheme is to destroy the Echorium by changing time itself.Only the spirited Kyarra, Frazhin's long-lost daughter, may be able to prevent the Echorium's downfall. With the help of the Dark Quetzal, an amazing boy-bird, Kyarra must rally all the forces of good. But will they be strong enough to thwart Frazhin's wicked plans once and for all?

BOOK 2 OF THE AWARD-WINNING ECHORIUM SEQUENCE.The Echorium’s enemies have been quiet for a generation, licking their wounds after the events of Song Quest. But now a new threat is emerging deep within the Mountains of Midnight. Once again, the Singers must use their Songs of Power to restore harmony to their world.As one of the few novices who can hear half creatures, Renn reluctantly teams up with the wild girl Shaiala who can kick like a centaur. Forced to leave the safety of the Isle of Echoes on a dangerous mission to find the missing centaur foals, they must learn to work together against their common enemy. For in a land where the slightest whisper can bring down an avalanche, the Echorium’s Songs alone will not be enough to defeat an evil that makes children and half creatures into slaves.Crystal Mask is the second adventure in the Echorium Sequence and continues the epic saga that began with the author’s Branford Boase award winning novel Song Quest.“A novel marked by rapidly paced adventure, fierce and costly fights, startling revelations and cataclysmic set pieces.” Times Educational Supplement.“The kind of book where the more you read, the more you feel involved.” Financial Times."Reminiscent of Tamora Pierce's Immortals... this book should appeal to the same audience." Voice of Youth Advocates."One of the most realistic fantasy worlds I have read in print." Sheelagh Wilson, The Daily Telegraph.There are three titles in the Echorium Sequence: SONG QUEST, CRYSTAL MASK and DARK QUETZAL. First published by Chicken House in the UK and Scholastic in the US, these full-length fantasy novels can be enjoyed by teens and adult genre fans.

Climb on my back, if you dare, and let me carry you into the battles that changed the world... So speaks Alexander the Great's bold black stallion Bucephalas, one of the most famous horses of the ancient world, as he recounts their epic journey from Macedonia across Persia and over the Himalayas into India, straight from the horse's mouth. In the tradition of Anna Sewell's Black Beauty and Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse, this mixture of fiction and history will appeal to readers looking for a lively account of the legends surrounding Alexander of Macedon and the men and women who followed him to the ends of the earth. “A major work of historical fiction.” John Newman - Bookseller’s Choice, Publishing News. “A funny, informative and highly original historical novel.” The Times. “Roberts wears her considerable research lightly, and you never question for a minute that this was how Alexander came to rule the Mediterranean and the east… but it is not romanticised; you feel the glory of victory but also see how it ultimately corrupts the victor. And the ending, for both king and horse, is as moving as anything I’ve read.” Mary Hoffman, The Guardian. “Seen through the eyes of Bucephalas and his groom, Alexander is admirably shown… Given that Alexander’s life is one long series of battles, Roberts sustains extraordinary tension, variety and surprise. This is a wild, surging, enormously readable narrative. Bucephalas joins Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty and Richard Adams’ Traveller as one of the great equine storytellers.” Books for Keeps (5 star review) “Relish this gallop through history and give “flat ears” to anyone who threatens to disturb your reading. This book is a tremendous achievement… a truly epic adventure story with masses of factual detail and sympathetic insights, not least into the psychology of warfare. What more can I say? Encourage your students to read it!” Alison Hurst, School Librarian magazine.

FINAL BOOK OF THE AWARD-WINNING ECHORIUM SEQUENCE.Kyarra is one of the most promising young Singers ever trained by the Echorium. But as the daughter of the Singers' arch-enemy, she has a dark inheritance. When her mother is kidnapped from the Isle of Echoes, and corrupted half creatures begin to attack humans, the Singers suspect Frazhin is stirring once again.Kyarra follows her mother into the depths of the Quetzal Forest, where she meets her crippled father, who is worshipped by the half creatures as a god. Only the dark quetzal boy Night Plume, resistant to enchantment, can help her stop Frazhin from changing history and destroying the Singers forever. But when khiz-crystal surrounds them, will Kyarra's blood prove stronger than the Echorium's Songs?"Those who make their way through the entire sequence will be rewarded by an intricate and intriguing world, memorable characters, and a satisfying conclusion." School Library Journal."A brilliantly conceived fantasy trilogy reminiscent of both JRR Tolkien and JK Rowling... ideal for confident readers." The Book People."One of the most realistic fantasy worlds I've read in print." Sheelagh Wilson, Daily Telegraph.There are three titles in the Echorium Sequence: Song Quest, Crystal Mask and Dark Quetzal. First published by Chicken House in the UK and Scholastic in the US, these full-length novels can be enjoyed by teens and adult genre fans. This series is best read in order of publication.

Climb on my back, if you dare, and let me carry you into the battles that changed the world...So speaks Alexander the Great's bold black stallion Bucephalas, one of the most famous horses of the ancient world, as he recounts their epic journey from Macedonia across Persia and over the Himalayas into India, straight from the horse's mouth.In the tradition of Anna Sewell's Black Beauty and Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse, this mixture of fiction and history will appeal to readers looking for a lively account of the legends surrounding Alexander of Macedon and the men and women who followed him to the ends of the earth.Originally published in hardcover by Scholastic US and in paperback by Chicken House UK, this book is a true crossover title that appeals to all generations.“A major work of historical fiction.” John Newman - Bookseller’s Choice, Publishing News.“A funny, informative and highly original historical novel.” The Times.“Unique and brilliant!” Dr Ian Mortimer (author of The Time Traveller’s Guides).“Roberts wears her considerable research lightly, and you never question for a minute that this was how Alexander came to rule the Mediterranean and the east… but it is not romanticised; you feel the glory of victory but also see how it ultimately corrupts the victor. And the ending, for both king and horse, is as moving as anything I’ve read.” Mary Hoffman, The Guardian.“Seen through the eyes of Bucephalas and his groom, Alexander is admirably shown… Given that Alexander’s life is one long series of battles, Roberts sustains extraordinary tension, variety and surprise. This is a wild, surging, enormously readable narrative. Bucephalas joins Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty and Richard Adams’ Traveller as one of the great equine storytellers.” Books for Keeps (5 star review)“Relish this gallop through history and give “flat ears” to anyone who threatens to disturb your reading. This book is a tremendous achievement… a truly epic adventure story with masses of factual detail and sympathetic insights, not least into the psychology of warfare. What more can I say? Encourage your students to read it!” Alison Hurst, School Librarian magazine.“A fast, fun, and engrossing read for horse enthusiasts of any age.” Miwok Livery Stables, US.

WINNER OF THE BRANFORD BOASE AWARD.Imagine a song with the power to heal or kill. Imagine being taught to sing such songs.Enter the Echorium, where the forces of good and evil are held in harmony by blue-haired Singers whose voices are their only weapons.On the Isle of Echoes, three young Singers are being taught to heal the sick and keep the peace in their world using five Songs of Power – Challa for healing, Kashe for laughter, Shi for pain, Aushan for punishment, and Yehn for death. When their lessons are interrupted by a Mainlander ship breaking up on the reef in an unnatural storm, talented novice Rialle, her best friend Frenn, and class rebel Kherron find themselves part of a dangerous quest to discover who is hunting the merlee half-creatures that protect the waters around the Isle.Soon the Singer party is buried deep under the mountains of the Karch, and Rialle is imprisoned in a cage by the evil Khizpriest who plans to use her voice against the Echorium. In a land where swords are more powerful than songs, the novices will need more than their voices to survive.“Roberts writes vividly and dramatically with an accomplished grasp of plotting that carries the reader along.” Rosemary Stones, Books for Keeps.“Imagine mixing a little Tamora Pierce with Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea, add a dash of The Hobbit and a pinch of Narnia… and read on as a thumping good story unfolds.” Tara Stephenson, Blackwell Children’s Bookshop.“Fascinating and poetic.” Joan Aiken."One of the most realistic fantasy worlds I've read in print" - Sheelagh Wilson, Daily Telegraph. SONG QUEST is the first title in the award-winning Echorium trilogy. It is followed by CRYSTAL MASK and DARK QUETZAL. These books are best read in order of publication.

Natalie thinks she is an ordinary girl until she sees a spell in the supermarket car park. She soon discovers her mother came from Earthaven, a place of breathtaking wonder where unicorns roam and giant trees talk. Her father is a Thrall who sells spells across the boundary between worlds. And Natalie has inherited powers the exiled spellmage Lord Hawk needs if he is to take his revenge on the Spell Lords who banished him.Snatched from her family and forced to choose sides in a magical battle between two worlds, Natalie's only hope is to join forces with her captor's son, the young spell-caster Merlin. Can they discover Hawk's evil plans in time to save Earthaven and its magic?"Roberts knows exactly how to rack up the tension and create parallel universes." The Guardian."A thrilling and fast-paced fantasy adventure with shades of Tolkien and Pullman." The Bookseller.The story continues in the long-awaited sequel: Spellspring - out now!