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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · 20h

Thanks, Fleur! And it's a piece of British history that so few people know about... #WW1 #internees

Fleur Hitchcock @fleurhitchcock.bsky.social · 2d

My book is out this week, but so is @karenmccombie.bsky.social 's awesomely good My Family, The Enemy.
Loved it and learned so much!
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/my-family...

My Family the Enemy

London, 1914. Fred Müller's life is turned upside down when his dad is taken away by the police - suddenly his family are the enemy because of where they come f…

www.bloomsbury.com

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · 21h

OUT TODAY! It's 1914, and as war looms, London boy Fred is about to see his father taken away, accused of being an enemy of Britain... My new children's novel (age 9+) is based on little-known true events. @bloomsburyed.bsky.social

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · 3d

What an astounding image!

Nicolette Jones @nicolettejones.bsky.social · 5d

#NewIllustrationOfTheDay by Fred Fordham from his graphic novel adaptation of Phil Earle’s wartime story When The Sky Falls. Fiery rooftops, searchlights and bombers in an air raid, vividly evoked in ink and watercolour. Andersen Press 9 October. @andersenpress.bsky.social @philearle.bsky.social

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · 8d

This book is a cracker… two 11-year-olds are on the run from very different but difficult home lives and meet by chance. Author @elnorrywriter.bsky.social weaves a story that touches on tricky themes but is ultimately uplifting. #RUNAWAYS
@bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · 10d

It's #DylslexiaAwarenessWeek in Scotland this week & the rest of the UK the week after. Dylslexia-friendly publisher
Barrington Stoke are offering 20% off individual books during this time, using code DAW20. Plenty authors to choose from, but here's a selection of my books! bsky.app/profile/barr...

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · 14d

That's a lot of lovely spoonfuls, Sarah! 😍📕🥄

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · 23d

Just arrived; a bundle of advance copies of my new WW1 novel! Stunning cover by #MarcoGaudalupi and lovely cover quote courtesy of the awesome Catherine Johnson @catwrote.bsky.social Out 9 Oct...

@bloomsburyed.bsky.social
@theagencybooks.bsky.social

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · 28d

Happy book birthday to @emmashevah.bsky.social, on the publication of her #YA novel 'MY NAME IS JODIE JONES'!
15-year-old Jodie Jones is NEVER just 'Jodie', and she's not shy about telling people off if they get that wrong! But what family secret is dragging her down?
@dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Aug 5

My 2025 books... so far! WORLD OF WANDA (10+, featuring an #ADHD main character + a secret family!) & novella MY PERFECT COUSIN (for anyone who likes a short read, plus it's #dyslexiafriendly #yay).

@foxandinkbooks.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Aug 5

Ooh, I have STRONG stamper envy, Louie!

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · Aug 5

My new toy from @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

A stamp of my character loki's face saying foolish mortals and a test of the stamp on a post it, plus an ink pad.

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Aug 5

A gorgeous selection, as always! 😍📕

Just Imagine @justimaginecentre.bsky.social · Aug 5

Here are the latest book reviews for this week, many of which are on our updated recommended book lists. Thank you to all our reviewers this week:
justimagine.co.uk/childrens-bo...

Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Jul 17

"This is a cracking title for those at the top end of primary and into KS3, where those who need shorter stories like this often miss out..." Thanks for this review of MY PERFECT COUSIN, Jacqui! It's always a pleasure to write for the amazingly inclusive @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

Jacqui Sydney 📚 @jacquisydney.bsky.social · Jul 14

A fabulous duel narrative with a twist, My Perfect Cousin by @karenmccombie.bsky.social, illustrated by Sofia Miller Salazar, is out now for 11+ readers from @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

#KidlitUK #UKKidlit

worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/2025/07/14/m...

My Perfect Cousin by Karen McCombie, illustrated by Sofia Miller Salazar

worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Jul 9

Thanks for including 'Fagin's Girl' in this fabulous collection of #Victorians themed books! (And always happy to answer questions via a teacher, if it's used in class!)

BooksForTopics @booksfortopics.bsky.social · Jul 9

🎩📚 VICTORIANS topic booklist:
➡️ booksfortopics.com/booklists/to...

🚂 Known as an age of invention & industrial development as well as an era of poverty, child labour & crime, the Victorian period was a time of great contrasts.

Check out our KS2 list of Victorian-themed topic books.

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Jul 7

Incoming... new book for all the Beatles-heads! RINGO: A FAB LIFE, written by my music journo mister Tom Doyle, is out this October.
Ace Ringo tales a-go-go!
@newmodernbooks.bsky.social

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Jul 3

Thank you! And it's always a TOTAL pleasure and privilege to work with you, dear @barringtonstoke.bsky.social! Your commitment to helping every child and teen find a book that works for them gets me in the feels every time... #inclusivereads #everyoneareader #dyslexiafriendly

Barrington Stoke @barringtonstoke.bsky.social · Jul 3

Happy book birthday to #MyPerfectCousin by @karenmccombie.bsky.social! Ruby can’t stand her “perfect” cousin Yasmin, and always feel small around her. But is there another side to the story? A cleverly-composed clean-teen novella illustrated by #SofiaMillerSalazar. bit.ly/4ewlnnt

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Jul 2

Hope you enjoy my tale in two halves, Jacqui! #MyPerfectCousin #shortreads #accessiblebooks #everyoneareader #inclusivereads #dyslexiafriendly

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Jun 10

From childhood poverty to 1930s superstardom to WW2 spy... the life of legendary Black entertainer Josephine Baker is BRILLIANTLY retold in 'Dance of Resistance', by Catherine Johnson @catwrote.bsky.social. I read this advance copy in one gulp!
Out Sept '25 @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Jun 9

*SHINY NEW BOOK ALERT!*

I was lucky enough to be sent an early proof copy of MY NAME IS JODIE JONES, the new YA by the fabulous Emma Shevah! (Out September '25.)

Can't wait to dive in...

@emmashevah.bsky.social @dfbstoryhouse.bsky.social

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · May 2

Much appreciate the gushing, Emma! Thank you so much for your lovely, LOVELY words about #WorldOfWanda... 🥹🥰
#ADHD #SECRETFAMILIES #UKMG
@uclanpublishing.bsky.social

E.L. Norry @elnorrywriter.bsky.social · May 1

Gotta gush @karenmccombie.bsky.social 🤩 utterly voice-y, joyous. In an overcrowded (often samey) market this stands out by a mile. It addresses many things absolutely beautifully: ADHD, siblings, step, half families. Real, flawed adults. Warm, funny, pacy, wise. More Wanda! 🤩
#childrensbooks #UKMG

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Apr 22

Most excellent book post today: an advance copy of Catherine Johnson's next book - DANCE OF RESISTANCE: THE JOSEPHINE BAKER STORY - about the life of the iconic, Black entertainer of the 1920s, who was also a spy! (Out Sept '25)
@catwrote.bsky.social @barringtonstoke.bsky.social

Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Apr 9

Sorry it's a bit late-running, Sharon, but my bookmark is going in the post today! All the best with this year's fundraising #BookmarkProject25 by the Brownies.

Sharon Hattersley @shattersley.bsky.social · Apr 1

Hi, Please will you create a bookmark for the 2025 #BookmarkProject & help us to build a library at Katiyo Primary School in Zimbabwe, you can find more information here www.bookmarkproject.co.uk Thank you

The Bookmark Project founded in 2017 is a charity auction run by 1st Burley-in-Wharfedale Brownies from West Yorkshire in the UK. The Bookmark Project raises money for Katiyo Primary School in Zimbabwe- by auctioning online bookmarks doodled by authors, illustrators and celebrities. Since we started in 2017 we have raised £54,000 which has bought an English language reading scheme, built blocks of toilets, helped to safeguard the local water supply, purchased exam supplies and is currently building two brand new nursery classrooms for children who currently have no where for their lessons (other than outside or the local church.)

www.bookmarkproject.co.uk

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Reposted by Karen McCombie

The Society of Authors @societyofauthors.bsky.social · Apr 1

On the 3 April we’re organising a day of protest against Meta following revelations of pirated books being used to train their large language models. More information on how to get involved 👇

societyofauthors.org/2025/04/01/s...

SoA day of action following allegations of Meta’s mass theft of authors’ work – The Society of Authors

On Thursday 20 March, The Atlantic broke the story of how Meta has used the Library Genesis (LIbGen) dataset, which is full of pirated material, to develop their AI systems.

societyofauthors.org

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Mar 28

"A stunning story about family, belonging and acceptance - this has a quirky cast of characters, lots of drama and a pace that matches the speed of Wanda’s ADHD brain."
Thanks for the ace review, @childrensbooksireland.ie!
@uclanpublishing.bsky.social childrensbooksireland.ie/our-recommen...

World of Wanda | Childrens Books Ireland

Twelve-year-old Wanda has been travelling for three years with her mum and finds herself secretly longing for a more settled life. When she discovers clues to her father’s identity, she is catapulted ...

childrensbooksireland.ie

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Karen McCombie @karenmccombie.bsky.social · Mar 18

Hope you and Wanda (and Margot!) are getting along well, Emma! And of course I'm really pleased you opted for #WorldOfWanda to kick off your read-more-new-books push. Thank yoooo! 😍📕

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