There are several occupational hazards for book reviewers, chief among them being the Curse of the Jaded Palate - that sinking feeling when you start reading a new book and begin to suspect that you've seen it all before. Tony Bradman beginbookchief share on social
I don't usually like teen novels written in the present tense, particularly those told from a first-person viewpoint. Too many writers seem to believe that using either or both devices automatically imbues their stories with deep seriousness and a contemporary feel. Tony Bradman automaticallycontemporarydeep share on social
My parents were of the generation that lived through the Second World War, but I grew up listening to my mother recounting her dad's tales about his terrible experiences during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 and later on the Western Front. Tony Bradman campaigndadexperience share on social
I studied Wilfred Owen for my English A Level, and that led me to Sassoon and Blunden, Rosenberg and Thomas. Tony Bradman blundenenglishlead Change image and share on social
I was delighted when Booktrust asked me to be chair of judges for the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2010. Tony Bradman askbooktrustchair Change image and share on social
Children's publishing is the jewel in the crown of British publishing. Tony Bradman britishchildcrown Change image and share on social
If your characters are two-dimensional and your plot uncompelling, it won't matter how incredibly detailed and believable your fantasy world might be. Tony Bradman believablecharacterdetail Change image and share on social
These days it seems that every big, new, heavily promoted children's book is rather like the ghost of poor old Jacob Marley. Each one comes trailing a long, clanking chain of references - in the form of overexcited press releases and slightly hysterical jacket blurbs - to bestsellers of a supposedly similar nature. Tony Bradman blurbbookchain share on social