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Skyfleet by Victoria Williamson

I am delighted to see a resurgence in the number of science fiction stories being written for the middle grade reader.  The genre allows for a huge range of plots, from those set in this world, but with aliens, to those set in  worlds ‘far far away’.  Victoria Williamson has chosen to send us to an unknown distant colony, far from Earth and in this instance the colony is facing terrible danger.

The heroine of this story is twelve year old Amberley Jain, who was paralyzed in the jet crash that killed both her parents.  Her close friend is Ricardo, a young technical genius, who is blind and depends on the high tech glasses that allow him to see the world around him.  Their home colony has been under threat from giant mutant insects, that were created after a deadly meteor strike.  Because of their young age, the children are not allowed to help in fighting this threat, but they know that they need to do something.  Re-building her parents’ spaceship, the ‘Firehawk’  and its very specialized firepower seems to be the only way to save the world that they know.  However, the two young people face opposition form the adults who do not really believe that they have the skills to complete this enterprise.  But as the mutants get ever closer and even more large and dangerous, the options seems to be diminishing at a rapid rate.  Can Amberley and Ricardo defy expectations, despite the risks to themselves, and save the only home that they know?

What an absolute roller-coaster of a ride this is.  A fast paced and exciting adventure that has you hanging on to your seat.  It is one of those extremely readable stories that is as much about the action as it is about the characters.  In this case the two central characters are having to overcome physical disabilities but they are determined to still be useful, despite the misgiving of the adults.  I love the way that the book is laid out in different sections, with different fonts to designate their purpose.  Firstly there is the old type, that looks as if it is written on an old typewriter and which shows the messages being sent back to Earth from the colony.  We also have other fonts to show different members of the defending pilots and council.  My favourite sections are those where we see the images and technical data for the various ships that are used by the defenders; they feel almost like the descendants of the  Thunderbird’s rescue machines.  Overall this is a wonderful science fiction story that feels as if it reflects elements from the classical sci-fi of the 1950s and 1960s.  It is going to appeal to both boys and girls and maybe even those who have not tried this genre before.

 

About the Author

Victoria Williamson grew up in Glasgow, Scotland, and has worked as an educator in a number of different countries, including as an English teacher in China, a secondary science teacher in Cameroon, and a teacher trainer in Malawi.
As well as degrees in Physics and Mandarin Chinese, she has completed a Masters degree in Special Needs in Education. In the UK she works as a primary school special needs teacher, working with children with a range of additional support needs including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, physical disabilities and behavioural problems.
She is currently working as a full time writer of Middle Grade and YA contemporary fiction, science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on creating diverse characters reflecting the many cultural backgrounds and special needs of the children she has worked with, and building inclusive worlds where all children can see a reflection of themselves in heroic roles.
Victoria’s experiences teaching young children in a school with many families seeking asylum inspired her debut novel, The Fox Girl and the White Gazelle, an uplifting tale of redemption and unlikely friendship between Glaswegian bully Caylin and Syrian refugee Reema.
You can find out more about Victoria’s books, school visits and free resources for schools on her website: www.strangelymagical.com

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How to be a Revolutionary by Lucy Ann Unwin

Given the events of the last six months, both in this country and abroad, it is easy to understand that young people will perhaps wonder what the adults are doing and how it will affect them.

The heroine, Natalie, is suddenly aware that her home is being filled by an assortment of people, including her father, and they are spending hours folding leaflets and then going out and putting them through doors.  Her mother calls them ‘revolutionaries’, but as we find out during the story, they are actually local labour party activists.  The situation is not helped when her mother moves out and a couple of days later her father says that one of the female helpers, Kali, and her son Avinash are going to be moving in.    As an addition to all of this, Nat is an avid fan of Rats and all of the campaigning makes her decide to try and improve the image of her beloved pets, both at school and in the wider community.  Of course utter chaos ensues and the rats begin to proliferate at a rapid rate.  Can Natalie and friends find homes for these new additions and how will the situation at home resolve itself?

This is an extremely funny story in parts, but it is then mixed with some very serious elements.  The breakup of a family unit is always traumatic, and in this case not helped when their father springs the situation on Nat and her sister. We also have the election campaigners who are so keen to help the cause, but who were in this scenario, doomed to failure.  It is fascinating that Nat is so unaware of the  world around her;  she is only eleven years old and like many of that age, thinks that she knows a lot about life.  However, as adults we grow to realise that we are always learning something new and that youth has much lower horizons than their adults, but we should be encouraging young people to think about the world they want to live in.  This is one of those books that make a great read for young enthusiasts, but it could also be used as a discussion point for classes looking at the world of politics and how the normal citizen can get involved in a positive way.

The author

Lucy Ann Unwin worked as a music journalist at BBC 6 Music for 10 years, where she was privileged to interview the likes of Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Adele. Brought up in Birmingham, she lived for a year in the Chilean city of Valparaiso and for three years in San Francisco, where she tutored children and young adults in creative writing as part of the 826 Valencia writing programme, set up by Dave Eggers.

Now settled in Sussex, she divides her time between writing, editing and reading as much children’s fiction as she can. Her first Book, The Octopus, Dadu and Me, was shortlisted for multiple awards, including The Brilliant Book Award.

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The World’s First Roller Coaster by Mike Barfield and Franziska Wollbacher

National Non-Fiction November has been part of the book scene for nearly 15 years  years now and its importance has grown dramatically over that time.  As chair of judges for the Information Book Award I have been very conscious of the impact that these different projects have on highlighting information books and their importance, not only in studying but also as part of Reading for Pleasure.

This book is not just about the first roller coaster, it also covers a wide range of amazing inventions  from skyscrapers to cars, but also including the domestication of wild dogs and the development of fizzy drinks.  As you can see from the illustrations, this is intended for lower KS2 readers and shows how learning about things can be enjoyable, as well as informative.  There is a real sense of fun in many of the facts and I particularly enjoyed finding this comment which is very amusing; it is definitely a case of “what goes around, comes around”, as cotton nappies were the norm until the 1980s in the UK; I am sure many people still have memories of the daily task of washing them.

The book is divided into 8 sections, which each focus on a different theme and have titles such as ‘Fun and Games’, ‘Run and Jump’ and ‘High and Mighty’.  The contents page is clear and easy to follow and when showing an article about a person, it is actually highlighted, which is very helpful.  there are two really useful sections at the back; one of them has information about inventors, many of them from around the world and very young when the first had their ideas, whilst the second gives information about how you can patent your ideas to keep them safe.

With the new report on ‘Reading for Pleasure’ from the National Literacy Trust it is even more important that young people are able to access as wide a range of reading materials as possible.  The ability to chose what you read is something that most adults take fore granted, but children are often told that books are ‘too difficult’, ‘too easy’, or even ‘not a real book’. All of these things are likely to put young people off reading for enjoyment.  Beautiful, well written and fascinating information books are a large part of the positive support that we can give children in making their reading choices and developing a sense of enquiry and enjoyment.  This is one of those great books that people love to just dip into, so that they can impress their friends with weird and wonderful facts, but it can also  be used as part of the curriculum when studying STEM topics such as friction, velocity and digital technologies.  It is very highly recommended for primary schools.

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Ayo’s Adventure across the African Diaspora by Ain Heath Drew and Erin K Robinson

Barefoot books, 979888892120

There has been a plethora of books written about Africa in the last few years, although still a relatively small proportion of them are aimed at children.  This  book expands the understanding that people have about where they come from and their heritage, but in a very relatable and charming way.

The young hero Ayo is having trouble getting to sleep and tries to relax by counting sheep in Swahili, the language of his ancestors and starting on an A-Z book.  The next thing he knows is that he is in a dreamland that shows him how the people of Africa have moved around the world, taking their various cultures with them.  The clever way in which this has been achieved by the author, is to treat the book as an A to Z,  which gives a sub-title of ‘Afro to Zulu’.  We follow Ayo as he visits a wide range of countries and experiences the history, religions and cultures that form part of his heritage.  Although the book is arranged in this alphabetical order, we also have a note at the top of each double page spread which tells us which country is being used as the example.  I also love the map at the back of the book which shows us just how far African communities have spread, many of those as a result of the slave trade.  As you can see from the cover, this is a vibrant, colourful and  exuberant look at the world of the diaspora.  Both the author and the illustrator have undertaken a lot of research in their attempts to be accurate in their work and they have done a really excellent job.

This book is aimed at the young reader and will be great for sharing with individuals or small groups.  Although the main character is African American, the book looks at countries in the Caribbean and also to African countries that were ruled by the British in the past; this means that the cultural references can be appreciated by a British audience.  This is a book that should find its way in to all primary school libraries and will make a brilliant starting point for a whole range of discussions.

 

About the author:

Ain Heath Drew

Ain Heath Drew is the author of Ari J.’s Kinky, Curly Crown. As an educator, she uses books to expand her students’ knowledge about the world around them. Ain lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

About the illustrator:

Erin K. Robinson is an Emmy-nominated illustrator trained at the Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art. Erin’s illustrations have been featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post, and she has illustrated numerous picture books, including the multiple star-reviewed title A Library which was written by Coretta Scott King Honor winner Nikki Giovanni. Erin splits her time between Brooklyn, NY, and Washington, DC., USA.

About the publisher:

Barefoot Books is an award-winning, independent, women-owned and run, children’s book publisher based in Concord, MA. Founded by two mothers in England in 1992, we are committed to creating visually captivating books that celebrate global awareness and diversity, spark curiosity and capture imaginations. Today, our unwavering commitment to opening children’s hearts, minds and worlds feels more important than ever. Barefoot Books was shortlisted for the Alison Morrison Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award in 2024’s IPG Awards.

On a personal note I had the great pleasure of visiting Barefoot books when they were based in Bath in the early 2000s and I was a children’s librarian in the area.

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Spooksmiths Investigate: The Cinderman by Alex Atkinson

This is the time of year when spooky and frightening stories come into their own.  The coming of Halloween seems to remind people of those scary stories and legends that abound in all mythologies.

Indigo Smith is the narrator of this story and lives with her parents and twin brother Rusty (Russell) in the funeral parlour that her parents run.  She is convinced that ghosts do not exist and is far more interested in the nature to be found locally.  When she accidentally discovers a hidden room in the house, she manages to knock over an old urn and releases the ashes of the Cinderman.  This is the most dangerous type of spirit and he is out to wreak revenge on the local population for what happened when he was alive.  Overnight the village becomes coated in ash and the twins discover that the Cinderman has taken control of the inhabitants and turned them into zombie like people..   At the same time that this happens the two children discover that they have the power to see and speak to ghosts, including their grandfather; he explains that they are a new generation of Spooksmiths, who can see ghosts and are able to protect the village from evil spirits.  The question is whether they can overcome the Cinderman, save all their family and friends and enable some of the local ghosts to find peace at last?

What a chillingly good story for even people like myself who are not great fans of the horror or ghost genre.  The author has managed to combine the lurking menace of the Cinderman with the delightfully funny character of Phrank, a wild pheasant that has taken up residence in the garden (and the kitchen, if he can sneak in).  However, this is also a story about family and how relationships can affect future generations.  There seems to be an assumption that twins are always very close, but perhaps that it not always the case or at least the individuals can have differing interests and temperaments.  This is a brilliant read for those who want to dip their toes into the horror genre, but it also show how aficionados of war-gaming learn strategies that might help them in other circumstances.  It is a very compelling story and I am delighted to see that there will be a second outing for Indigo and Rusty in the future.

 

The author

Alex Atkinson loves scary books filled with oddball characters. She blames her idyllic North Yorkshire childhood spent playing murder-in-the-dark and listening to her dad’s blood-curdling bedtime stories. After studying English and Politics at Newcastle University, she worked as a website content editor. She now lives in a village in Hertfordshire with her husband, kids, dogs and tortoise, but dreams of abandoned buildings, ghosts and zombies. SPOOKSMITHS INVESTIGATE: THE CINDERMAN is her debut novel.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/alexatkinsonstories
X: https://x.com/alatkinson

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The World between the Rain by Susan Cahill

I was delighted to be asked to take part in this blog tour and to host this  lovely piece by Susan Cahill.  Being half Irish, I really feel the magic and poetic feel of her writing and think I might be in line to play Mrs Flynn in any future production. It is also likely that I will never think of frogs in the same way again. I will be writing my own review of the book later, but it definitely has a lot of stars attached.  Thank you so much Susan, I look forward to reading more of your work.

 

My favourite characters from The World Between the Rain

I loved writing The World Between the Rain so much, especially getting to know some of the people and animals who populate the story. Marina, my main character, shares lots of traits with me: daydreaming, hoping to discover portals to other worlds, and a tendency to notice magic everywhere. But I really fell in love with some of the other characters in the story, and I’d like to introduce some of them to you.

Mrs Flynn: Marina and her sister Seri live with their mum, Maeve, in a small cul-de-sac beside one other house that’s almost hidden behind a tangle of overgrown bushes and plants. This is the house of their neighbour, Mrs Flynn and her cat, Miss Rose. Marina and Seri always try to avoid Mrs Flynn because she talks almost non-stop, her social life is going to funerals (a very Irish trait), and she likes to discuss this at length. Their mum, Maeve, who tries to be a very tidy person, can’t handle the chaos of Mrs Flynn’s garden. However, there’s much more to Mrs Flynn that meets the eye. (As an aside, Miss Rose is named after a real-life cat. She lives with my aunt and has very strong opinions about people, mostly negative.)

I first encountered Mrs Flynn when she showed up on the page on a writer’s retreat run by the brilliant author, Rebecca Schiller. Rebecca often has us do prompts to warm up, in which she gives you a phrase and you must write for fifteen minutes non-stop, without thinking or editing. So much interesting stuff has jumped out during these prompts – if you’re a writer I highly recommend them. During one of these prompts, Mrs Flynn just started talking – and as I mentioned, she likes to talk a lot. She is inspired by some older women I’ve met in West Cork, enigmatic, full of wisdom, and hilarious. And she also has a secret, one that will be very important to the plot of The World Between the Rain and Marina’s story.

Cablo and Tuaim: I think these two might be my favourite characters of all. Cablo and Tuaim are two frogs who run The Office of the Lost and the Forgotten. It is not The Office of the Lost and Found because they have never found anything, they only deal with the lost. My friend, Gavin, once told me that when frogs are awake, they show sleep-like brain waves, and when asleep, their brains look like they’re awake. Now I know it’s not the same thing, but my brain immediately decided that frogs are constantly in a dream-like state. Cablo and Tuaim are quite dreamy and spacey and very very funny.

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The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright by Reece Carter and Eleonora Asparuhova

This is the second in the series of books featuring the very odd seaside village of Elston-Fright.  When I started to read, I thought that this was set in the UK, but then came across names such as Kookaburras, which of course made me realise that we are actually reading about Australia.

The central character of this story is the young Flip Little, who together with his grandmother are the last members of their family; a family that for generations have been Lightkeepers, protecting the village of Elston -Fright from magical monsters.  But the other locals no longer believe in magic and are not prepared when strange events start happening.  Luckily Flip is friends with two local ghosts, Corpse (the central character from book one) and Girl, as well as a giant spider called Simon and when Simon is kidnapped they decide they need to take action to solve the mysteries.  What they discover turns Flip’s world upside down.  Beneath the coastal rocks they discover creatures called Seafoam Sprites, and their leader, Glow, says that she is the Lightkeeper; which would mean that Flip’s ancestors had stolen the ability from the sprites.  However, there is still the need to protect the locals from the horrors called Poltergusts, but will the humans and the sprites be able to work together for  common good.

What a fascinating premise  we have here, particularly the two ghosts; Girl is a ghost that cannot be seen, but she can wear clothes to show where she is, whilst Corpse has created a body for herself out of wax and is able to inhabit this shell.  The story is told from the perspective of all three young people, so you have to check the chapter heading to make sure you know the current narrator.  All three of them have issues that they are trying to solve; with the ghosts it is about trying to remember their previous lives and why they are still connected to the area around Elston-Fright.  For Flip things become really difficult as the story progresses; his belief in his family and the role they have played in the past, is completely destroyed, as he finds that his ancestor is not the hero he had been led to believe in.  As readers we find ourselves having a great deal of sympathy for the three friends and you can truly understand the anger and frustration when Flip discovers the truth.  However, he understands that he can change things and works with the Seafoam Sprites to fight the Poltergusts.

This is one of those books that leave a deep impression on the reader, based on the characters of the central figures.  The ending gives the impression that there will be at least one more title in the series and I am longing to find out what happens to this unlikely group of friends as their hidden enemy gets closer and some of the secrets might be uncovered.  It is a great read for those who like a bit of horror in their stories, but not enough to scare them too much.

The Author

Reece Carter is a high-profile Australian nutritionist who has written two non-fiction books for adults, appeared on many of Australian’s major television networks, and written for magazines like GQ. He grew up in rural Western Australia and now lives in Sydney.

 

Instagram:  https://instagram.com/herbnerdreece

X: https://x.com/herbnerdreece

 

Book Information

Title: The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright (The Elston-Fright Tales #2)
Author: Reece Carter

Release Date: 10th October 2024

Genre: MG

Publisher: Usborne

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Witchspark by Dominique Valente and Eleonora Asparuhova

As someone who loves fantasy and history, I had every hope that I would enjoy this book; particularly as I really loved the author’s earlier series, ‘Starfell’.  However, this totally overwhelmed my expectations and is definitely one of my five star choices for this year.

The story is set in a version of 19th century England, where magic has been let free after a tremendous earthquake.  Eglantine  lives in one of only three sentient houses in England and needs to find her magic, if she is to make a link with the house.  However her wicked uncle has other plans and tricks her father into signing the house over and then taking him prisoner. He gives Eglantine an ultimatum, with a three month timescale, to change her mind. Left in the house with only her wyvern butler Arthur and the house itself to help her, Eglantine comes across and advert for  “Miss Hegotty’s Course for Aspiring Witches” .  With nothing to lose and everything to gain, she goes ahead and signs up.

On the other side of the country another young girl is being challenged about magic, but in her case she appears to have discovered her witch’s powers.  Unfortunately, this girl is the 14 year old Princess Victoria and the law states that members of the royal family who have magic, cannot come to the throne.  So the young princess is desperate to get ride of her powers and hopes that Miss Hegotty’s course will show her how to do that.  With the help of a  young servant called Eoin (who has his own mystery to solve), she signs up and tries to control her powers.  Destiny and perhaps some help from the mysterious Miss Hegotty bring the two young girls together, where they are able to help each other with their problems.

There are some books that come along and you just know they are ones you will read again and again (I have already  read this one twice) and they just keep getting better.  The author has managed a fabulous re-imagining of the early 19th century; blending in historical facts with the magical element. The interactions of Victoria with her mother and Sir John Conroy, reminds me of the Lucy Worsley book “My Name is Victoria” and it really reminds us of the way women were treated in the past.  Perhaps my favourite character is Arthur, the butler; this may be because a Wyvern is the symbol of the local area where I live, but I also love anything to do with dragons.  Whilst there is a very satisfying ending to the story, there is a chink in the plotting which would allow the characters to have further adventures.  I must admit that I really do hope that we meet up with Eglantine and Victoria again.

 

The Author

Dominique Valente is the author of the bestselling Starfell series, and her unique voice and brand of quirky magic has found fans amongst readers and booksellers across the globe. She lives in Suffolk, in a (sadly non-magical) house with her husband and dog.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/dominiquevalente
X: https://x.com/domrosevalente

 

Book Information

Title: Witchspark
Author: Dominique Valente

Release Date: 10th October 2024

Genre: MG

Publisher: Usborne

 

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The Great Phoenix of London by Lindsay Galvin

Chicken House, 978191026972

If you are a fan of historical novels, especially authors such as Emma Carroll, then you have hopefully already become a fan of Lindsay Galvin.  Her previous novels have mixed history with adventure in a way that both educates and enthralls the reader.  As an adult who grew up with authors such as Rosemary Sutcliff, Cynthia Harnett and Leon Garfield, I am so delighted to see such a resurgence in high quality historical novels for MG children.

With this new book, the author has taken us to London in the year 1666, which as most readers will know means that great and terrible things have happened; with the Great Plague of the previous year, and now, just when the population is hoping for a more settled life, things are about to take an even more perilous turn.

The hero, Gil, is visiting his grandparents in Pudding Lane when a fire starts at a business further down the street and rapidly gets out of hand.  As the family have to evacuate the house, Gil’s young cousin Roly insists on bringing a mysterious stone, that had fallen from the sky, during a storm two years previously.  But something magical happens when the ‘stone’ splits open, showing that it is the egg for a small bird; the problem is that the bird seems to grow at a phenomenal rate and has a very odd diet of cinders, candles and other fire associated things.  As Gil’s grandmother and cousin head towards the Tower of London and the eastern part of the city, he and his grandfather (with the bird) decide to make for Gil’s home, close to St Paul’s Cathedral.  the river seems to be the safest option, but finding a boat is far from easy.  Eventually his grandfather is taken aboard a friend’s boat, but Gil and the boatman’s granddaughter Linnet have to make their way through the panicking city.  The two young people face a multitude of dangers, from both nature and the scared inhabitants around them and the fire loving bird is not really helping them.  The story follows the children as they overcome prejudice, fire and a mysterious character who tries to kidnap their bird for King Charles II.  the story is told chronologically and we follow the action as the flames spread over the days, always at the mercy of the wind direction.

Lindsay Galvin has once again crafted a brilliant adventure story that weaves historical accuracy and also manages to give us the feel of  17th century London, with its crowded and dirty streets,  fear of invasion by the French or Dutch  and the underlying mistrust of those who might be Catholics or foreigners at least.  I love the way that the author has included several well-know characters from the period, so we see the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Thomas Bloodworth, who did not do well and also the diarist Samuel Pepys, who was much more pro-active and involved in trying to save areas of the city.  We also get the fact that the many bookshops and printers near to St Paul’s did store their stock in the crypt, only for the fire to find a way inside and destroy almost everything.

This author really does go from strength to strength, not only with her historical accuracy, but also with the emotions that she portrays in her characters.  Whilst the majority of young readers will read this because of the action and excitement, the book will also prove a favourite for KS2 teachers who are covering the events of 1665 and 1666.  What a fabulous book, this really does deserve five stars and a place on my favourites list for the year.

Lindsay Galvin is a full-time author and scriptwriter fascinated by history, the natural world, myth, and psychology. Her first middle grade book — word of mouth bestseller Darwin’s Dragons — has been published across the world and is commonly read in British classrooms. She presents lively book events for all ages, calling on 20 years teaching experience. When not working, she enjoys long shore-side dog walks with her family, and the occasional sea swim.

Find out more at lindsaygalvin.com and follow on Twitter: @lindsaygalvin.

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The Light Thieves and the Terrifying Dawn by Helena Duggan

What would you do if you found out that the sun was being ‘stolen’ by a tech-billionaire called  Howard Hansom and the whole world is facing annihilation?  That is the premise behind the brilliant trilogy, starting with “The Light Thieves”.  This latest book is the stunning finale to the sequence and follows the hero Grian and his friends as they struggle to save the world.  Although it is best to have read the first two books in the sequence, we are given a timeline of the story so far, which will bring readers up to speed, but also make them want to read the others.

In this story, the search is on for the mysterious ‘White Rose’, who has the secret to stopping Howard Hansom.  The heroes finally make it to the domed city of Quantum, which appears to be acting as an Ark for friends and followers of Hansom.  But time is ticking and they have less than 24 hours to solve the written puzzles they have found; however they find missing members of their family and are able to fit a few more pieces into the jigsaw.  Look out for a totally breathtaking end to the story, with a range of twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seats.  The sun might be in danger but this series of books provides the five stars to keep us in the light.

This is a fantastic story that reminds us of the importance of family and friends, but it also has really strong messages about nature and how we should be working with the natural world, rather than trying to tame it.  There are also strong reminders that “absolute power, corrupts absolutely”, but also that the wealthy often have a very selfish and narrow view of what is right for the world.  what an absolutely brilliant series.

 

Extract One

Grian woke just as he was slipping off the side of the fastmoving motorbike heading straight for the tarmac. “Whoo, steady on there!” Harry cried over the wind, shoving his arm back to stop Grian’s certain fatal descent. “You can’t be falling asleep on me, mate. I warned you the last time.”

“Yes, yes, right,” Grian mumbled groggily.

He looked over at Shelli and Nach, her fox, sleeping in the sidecar of another motorbike nearby and wished for a minute he could join them. Trying to stay awake on the back of this metal death machine was proving a struggle.

Their journey so far had been long. They’d left Hopper city, in southern Babbage, hours previously and zipped in a motorbike cavalcade up through the Hopper and Turing districts, passing dying landscapes. Nature wilted at pace under the frosts that now settled across the land since the sun turned half-dark.

Grian could handle looking at the devastated landscapes; he’d almost gotten used to it. Nature had been dying for a long time before he’d even cared, before he’d met his Wilde friend Shelli. It was even before their adventure began.

It was the hordes of people on foot lining the roadways that rattled his core.

Hairy Harry, leader of Riders of the Apocalypse, the biker group who’d offered them a lift, had spoken to a few walkers during a pit stop.

“Since another part of the sun went out, they’re scared, Grian. And their cars and scooters can’t be charged now that the power grid keeps dropping so lots have taken to their feet instead.”

“But where are they walking to?” Grian asked.

“To Quantum. Same place as us. They want answers. They’ve woken up to Howard Hansom’s lies,” Harry shouted over the roar of the engine. “It’s a good thing. You’re changing the world, Grian. You kids are giving us all hope.”

Book Information
Title: The Light Thieves and the Terrifying Dawn
Series: The Light Thieves #3
Author: Helena Duggan
Release Date: 12th September 2024
Genre: MG
Publisher: Usborne

 

Author Information
Helena Duggan is a children’s author, graphic designer and illustrator from Kilkenny, a medieval town in Ireland, which was the inspiration for A Place Called Perfect. She writes in a treehouse built by her husband Robbie and his brother in the bottom of their garden. She lives in a small house with Robbie, their daughters Jo and Bobbie and dog Tinker.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/helenadugganwrites
X: https://x.com/heldideas