My Brother's Ghost, by Allan Ahlberg (Puffin, £3.99 in UK)

This slim paperback is something out of the ordinary - a novella for children. Usually, a children's book of this length would be confined to the "early readers" section of the bookshelves. However, this story reaches out to all age-groups, especially those of nine plus, adults included, and makes an excellent read-aloud. Set in the 1950s, part family saga, part ghost story, it vividly evokes a working class childhood in all its often-painful reality. Narrated by Frances, now an old woman, whose brother Tom died when he was 10, it forces the reader to ponder philosophical questions concerning life after death and the existence of ghosts. Ahlberg is a gifted writer and his delicate, economical prose and attention to detail make this book shine. A modern classic in the making. What may at first seem "old-fashioned" to today's world-wise children will reveal itself to be a spine-tingling experience. Goosebumps eat your heart out!