In the 780s northern Britain was dominated by two great kingdoms; Pictavia, centred in north-eastern Scotland and Northumbria which straddled the modern Anglo-Scottish border. Within a hundred years both of these kingdoms had been thrown into chaos by the onslaught of the Vikings and within two hundred years they had become distant memories. This book charts the transformation of the political landscape of northern Britain between the eighth and the eleventh centuries. Central to this narrative is the mysterious disappearance of the Picts and their language and the sudden rise to prominence...

Estelle thinks that a stay in a remote cottage will give her the peace and quiet that she needs, but the nearby wood holds a terrible secret. Can she and her friend Sandor discover what's going on in the mysterious military lab, before it's too late?

Project X Origins Graphic Texts can help children to reach higher standards in comprehension. This non-fiction text told in graphic form looks at the lives of some of the worlds most important historical figures. Join Kate and her grandpa as they find out about some of the world's greatest inventors, from Archimedes to Thomas Edison. Perhaps you'll even be inspired to invent something yourself! This book also contains notes on the inside front and back covers with advice on supporting older children with their reading, ideas for follow-up activities and higher-level comprehension questions.

By the end of this book, readers will be ready to design the best castle ever! From dungeons to battlements and everything in between, this is a fun and fascinating guide to medieval castles. Learn all about different castle designs, what rooms you'll need and how to decorate them, and what special features you can add - before moving on to find out how you can defend your castle should an invading army attack! The second half of the book describes four famous sieges from history: stories of tricks and tactics told using a variety of text types which are sure to engage readers. The whole...