A fantastic new range of historical books bring the past to life in the superb "Voices" range from Scholastic Publishing

Here's a trio of fantastic books from a new range of historical and educational stories, published by Scholastic.

The fabulous "Voices" range combines real-life history with the stories of three exceptional children who lived in different eras, but each with an amazing story to tell.

In "Son of the Circus" by E.L. Norry you'll hear the story of a young mixed race boy named Ted who joins the circus at the tender age of 12. Ted's story is tinged with sadness, but also some incredible adventures as he becomes wrapped up in circus life alongside his father, the first black circus owner in Victorian Britain.

There's also "Now or Never" by Bali Rai, a story from the 2nd World War about a young conscript fighting on the hell beach of Dunkirk in one of the most decisive battles of the war. Fazal travels a long way from his homeland in India to fight in Company 32. Fazal looks after the animals that the company uses for transport and utility, but his world is changing, and despite his loyalty to the British Crown Fazal begins to question why, when they're treated so badly by British troops, that the Royal Indian Army Service Corps are fighting at all.

Finally there's the superb "Diver's Daughter" by Patrice Lawrence. Shifting the focus to Tudor times, it's the story of a young West African girl, Eve, living with her mother in the Southwark slums of Elizabethan London.

When they hear from a Mary Rose survivor, George Symon, that one of the African free-divers who salvaged its treasures is alive and well and living in Southampton, mother and daughter agree to try to find him. But will the pair survive when George arrives to claim his 'share' of the riches?

Will Eve overcome her fear of water to rescue her mother from the sea?

Each of these novels offers fascinating insights into history, and does so without the need for endless fart and poo gags (unlike a certain other history series that seems to be popular at the moment). These are authentic, sometimes gritty but absolutely absorbing tales, fabulous for kids who will be covering these historical eras in school but equally brilliant just to read for pleasure at home too.

"Voices" books are out now, published by Scholastic (kindly supplied for review).