Book News: Hodder Children’s acquires new Charlie Fletcher series

Reported by the bookseller

Hodder Children's Books has acquired a new fiction series by author of the bestselling Stoneheart trilogy, Charlie Fletcher.

Publishing director Anne McNeil bought world rights in all languages for the new series, which will be linked to Stoneheart, from Karolina Sutton at Curtis Brown UK.

The new trilogy is aimed at children aged 9+, and the first book, The Dragon's Shield, will be published in March 2014. The story sees something dark awoken at the British Museum, and it has stopped time, freezing the city in its tracks; the people became like statues, and the statues find they can move. Two children in Great Ormond Street Hospital are the only ones not frozen, and they witness a terrifying fight between a city dragon and a golden girl that has far-reaching consequences.

Mr Ripleys Younger Fiction Book Choice For March 2011 - Janet Foxley - Muncle Trogg

                            

Giants live on top of Mount Grumble, hidden from humans below. But not all of them are giant-like.Muncle Trogg is so small that he’s laughed at by the others for being human-sized. Fed up, he decides to take a look at the Smallings that he’s meant to look like. But what he discovers is very surprising!

Winner of The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2010.

An affectionate and charming upside down fairytale, this is the magical story of the residents of Misty Mountain and the tiny giant who saves the day.

Exciting and laugh-out-loud funny, and filled with joyful illustrations.

First in a series of adventures starring Muncle, Emily and Snarg, the dragon.

Perfect for readers aged 7+

For anyone who loved Cressida Cowell’s, How to Train Your Dragon.

Small Extract to get your dragon's teeth into........'

‘Ma!’ shrieked Muncle.  ‘Gritt’s upside-downing me.’ 

        The only light in the Troggs’ underground home came from Ma’s fire.  Now it threw the shadow of a larger-than-life Gritt on to the rocky wall, with a much-too-small Muncle dangling helplessly from his hand.

        ‘Ma!’ Muncle yelled again.  His shadow swung wildly to and fro. 

        This sort of thing made him feel smaller than ever.  At twelve he should have been able to stand up for himself.  But at the moment he couldn’t stand up at all.  Gritt had him firmly by the ankles.  It wouldn’t have been so bad if Gritt had been his older brother, but Gritt was four years younger.

        ‘Ma!’  He was going to be sick if he stayed upside down much longer.  It was a good thing Pa wasn’t home yet.  Pa always took Gritt’s side.  Gritt was the sort of son a giant could be proud of.

Marcus Alexander - Who Is Charlie Keeper? The Book Review

Mr Ripley's review

Who is Marcus Alexander? Having read this book it has resulted in me asking this question and also questions about the self-published route.
I have heard lots of good things about this book but I thought it may be the hype that was turning the wheels but infact this is not so. This fantasy epic has all the makings of a classic book which will go far indeed.
The hero of the book is one Charlie Keeper; boy in name but cool action girl in nature. The book reads like a fantasy dream with all the qualities of a great author. But interestingly it also has a dark side which has hints of Chris Wooding's The Ascendancy Veil trilogy through the visionary description of the dark Bane character. Having all these great ingredients makes this book a special read. A great page turner which should entice and captivate a wide audience. A well deserved five out of five - can't wait for the next installment.

Published by Marcus Alexander Publishing 11 Jul 2008


About the Book

'Who is Charlie Keeper?' is a shockingly fast paced fantasy novel that tells the tale of Charlie, an iron-willed, twelve year old girl suffering an unjust and unhappy fate. Forced to flee her home in the gloomy, rain-drenched landscape of London by a bloodthirsty and terrifying new foe, she escapes to the vibrant, parallel land of Bellania with nothing more than her common sense and razor-sharp wits to keep her safe. Bellania, a land of myth, magic and marauding giants with bad attitude and poor anger management. With the fate of a world resting squarely upon her shoulders Charlie must learn about her destiny in order to defeat Bane, the Stoman Lord.And even with all the unspeakable betrayals, vicious enemies and terrible odds that are stacked against her, Charlie could probably succeed... ...if only she could learn to keep her big mouth shut and her opinions to herself.