Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Steve Cole (Author) Jim Filed (Illustrator) Invisible Inc. (Magic Ink 4) - Book Review

Noah’s mum’s new invention can zap ANYTHING into a ghost of its former self. It’s still there, but you can’t see it. You can’t touch it.

When the sinister ‘Seerblight Solutions’ steal her invention, Noah is zapped – and finds he’s not the first to have been turned ‘invisible’ through the ages. With all humankind in terrible danger, Earth’s last line is defence is one you’ve never seen or heard of: Invisible Inc.

A medieval knight. A Victorian inventor. A poetic pony. And an ordinary boy. Saving the world? THEY’LL SEE TO IT!

Step Away From The Television, flip over the book cover and turn the pages of a hilarious read from the bestselling author, Steve Cole. He has written some of the best inventive reads and delighted large audiences with cracking, ingenious worlds such as Astrosaurs and Magic Ink as well as his older series the Young Bond books.

This is another brilliant book which has been illustrated by the talented Jim Field. The black and white images enhance the craziness by giving an atmospheric and fiendish feel creating a world of mayhem and chaos. Every page that you turn will make you giggle like a new born baby. Be warned though as the book is full of advice that you should ignore and definitely not follow! 

You will find yourself running a monster battling gauntlet with the main character Noah Deer, an ordinary boy, who needs to save the world against the force of Seerblight. This character is a dangerous 1000-year old bad guy, who is accompanied by his unpleasant sidekick, Mr Butt. Fortunately, Noah has backup in the form of the singing medieval knight, Sir Guy de Yupp, who has a knack of bursting both into trouble and tuneless yelling. 
Here is a ditty from Sir Guy: 

"I asked my mama what will I be 
When I am five times taller than your knee. 
BE A HERO! said she.  
SMITE YOUR ENEMY!
With A SWORD AND MACE,
YOU CAN SMASH HIM
IN THE FACE!
OHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

Also within this inventive escapade, you will meet the inventor, Trudi Deer, a teacher and a scientist who is always working on amazing projects. She is a lover of baked beans or perhaps not! You will also be enchanted by Maloney the Phony the poetic pony and Lady Jemima Smyth who will pull the strings. She has retired from Invisible inc, as a battler of ninjas and is the fire power against some hypnotising chickens. 

You will really be engrossed in this frantic explosion of action and adventure. It is a cracking book to pluck off the shelves for the younger reader, especially reluctant boys. The humour and the jokes come thick and fast; they hit the mark for all ages and genders. Throughout this fantastic story, you won't be able to stop yourself from reading this book out aloud with funny accents as you snort with laughter at the ensuing wizardry madness. 

This is another outstanding performance from Steve Cole that will provide a smile on your face and lead you into a wold of pure escapism. It is a fantastic choice for a family read and thoroughly recommended. 

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Sarah Baker - Through the Mirror Door - Book Review

Since the accident, Angela has been alone. When she is invited on holiday with her cousins, it is her chance to be part of a family again if she promises to behave herself. But secrets lie in the walls of the crumbling French holiday home and the forbidden rooms draw Angela in. Soon night-time footsteps, flickering candlelight and shadows in windows lead her to a boy who needs her help. To save him Angela must discover the truth about what happened in the house all those years ago . . . and face the terrible secret of her own past.

Sarah Baker has worked extensively in film, as a story editor, with roles at Aardman Features. She has now turned her creative hand from fashion blogging to the catwalk of writing books for children. Through the Mirror Door is a very good middle grade read that is incredibly immersive and well accomplished for a debut book. It will certainly attract readers of all ages, in my opinion. The eye catching cover is designed by Will Steele and illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle; it's very in-keeping with the story as it pulls out the mystery and leaves you wanting to find out more inside the cover. 

You get a really good feel about the plot from the very first page. The plight of the main central character is Angela. She is perhaps not the most well formed character and might need just a little more work around her to fully develop her personality. She is a troubled twelve-year old suffering from the death of her family when she suddenly finds herself embroiled into a mystery story that sucks her into the crevices of the French manor house, Maison de Noyer. 

EVERY HOUSE HOLDS A SECRET. 

As you arrive at the foreboding tall dark house, it looms over you in a crumbling state of dilapidated character and rural charm. Three floors, twenty-four shuttered windows, all in total darkness lead you into a world that will intrigue and spook you to the very core as you cross over the threshold. The question is: do you dare? 

Every door that you open, the more secrets you will find as you follow Angela on a twisty and turning adventure that will have you rooting for her. The climatic adventure turns into a pulse gripping race against time to save Julien, a boy, from 1898 France. You will be transported back in time to a time slip period adventure that vibrates into a tale of deceit and survival. It will work up the imagination and lead you down the path of a gripping fantasy novel. It will certainly flex the brain and entertain the sole as you follow the night-time footsteps, the flickering candlelight and a whole host of ghostly visitations. 

This book is essentially a huge atmospheric ghost story, which is layered full of mystery and dark intentions that I really did connect with. The narrative is one of my personal favourites.  You will soon be sucked into a cavernous story; a haunting and enchanted world that has a timeless classic feel. It is historically rooted which leads to pure escapism, but also has a dollop of romance and a big splash of friendship in a tale of hope and fear. 

This is a brilliant debut book and a highly recommended read. It is out now in all good book shops - published by Catnip Publishing.
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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Teens/Children's Book Picks US Published - July 2016

Louis Bayard - Lucky Strikes - Published by Henry Holt and Co. (July 5, 2016)

With her mama recently dead and her pa sight unseen since birth, Amelia is suddenly in charge of her younger brother and sister―and of the family gas station. Harley Blevins, local king and emperor of Standard Oil, is in hot pursuit to clinch his fuel monopoly. To keep him at bay and keep her family out of foster care, Melia must come up with a father―and fast. And so when a hobo rolls out of a passing truck, Melia grabs opportunity by its beard. Can she hold off the hounds till she comes of age?

Jeri Baird - Tokens and Omens - Published by Jolly Fish Press (July 19, 2016)

In Puck's Gulch, sixteen-year-olds undergo a dangerous trial known as the Quest. During a time of magic, Fate hands out tokens and omens based on their behavior. Zander trusts Fate. Alexa only trusts herself. Now, Fate has given them each a special gift—Zander sees secrets he doesn’t want, and Alexa's thrilled to find she can control events through her embroidery scenes. After Zander and Alexa each earn a omen that makes surviving the quest nearly impossible, they must break the rules and challenge Fate together. If they don't, one will die. And Fate has made it clear—she won't be cheated.

Mike Storey - Teddycats - Published by Razorbill (July 12, 2016)

Bill is a young Teddycat, which means he’s one of the most special--and mysterious--animals in the jungle. Teddycats can climb higher than any other mammal around. And because the Teddycats can climb so high, they get to live way up in the highest branches of the tallest trees, in a well-hidden and protected place called Cloud Kingdom.

There are a lot of perks to Teddycat life, but there’s also a lot of responsibility--and rules--that come with it.
 
Here are some things that Teddycats CANNOT do:
   • Use their super-strong, razor-sharp claws for anything except climbing or life-or-death situations 
   • Reveal their existence or the location of Cloud Kingdom to humans and other predators  
 
And the number one thing that Teddycats can definitely, no matter what, NEVER do:

   • Bring outsiders into Cloud Kingdom 

That last rule is the most serious one of all. Unfortunately, it’s also the rule that Bill breaks one fateful day, when he brings his buddy Luke, an Olingo, up into Cloud Kingdom. All of a sudden, predators are circling, the ground beneath Cloud Kingdom is littered with human traps, and the Teddycat sanctuary is under attack. Their secret has been exposed, and Bill’s in danger of being banished for his crime. 
            When a baby Teddycat is trapped and taken by a potentially vicious human, Bill knows he has to make things right. Along with a brave but ragtag team of comrades, he sets out into the jungle, determined to fight for the future of his species. 

S . A . Bodeen - Trapped (Shipwreck Island) - Published by Feiwel & Friends (July 26, 2016)

Sarah Robinson and her family are shipwrecked on a remote and mysterious island. Their food is scarce and there's no sign of rescue. They have seen strange creatures, rescued a mysterious girl, and found the Curator, who has captured Sarah's father and stepbrother to use in a bizarre time travel experiment. And then the only man who knows about the island comes back―he's looking for buried treasure and won't leave without it, even if it means leaving the Robinsons stranded. Sarah knows an important key to finding the treasure, but will she keep it a secret?

Trapped is the thrilling third installment of the middle-grade Shipwreck Island series by S.A. Bodeen, full of mystery and unexpected twists and turns.

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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's/Teen Book Picks UK Published - July 2016 - Post Three

Marten Sanden - A House Without Mirrors - Published by Pushkin Children's Books (28 July 2016)

Thomasine has spent months living in her great-great aunt's dusty, dark house with her father, and her aunt, uncle and cousins. While her father's siblings bicker about how much the house must be worth, her distant, elderly aunt is upstairs, dying, and her father has disappeared inside himself, still mourning the death of Thomasine's little brother.

But one day, her youngest cousin makes a discovery: a wardrobe, filled with all the mirrors missing from the big house. And through the mirrors, a different world - one in which you can find not what you most wish for, but perhaps what you most need...

Michelle Harrison - Other Alice - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK (28 July 2016) - (See my book review here)

What happens when a tale with real magic, that was supposed to be finished, never was? This is a story about one of those stories . . .

Midge loves riddles, his cat, Twitch, and – most of all – stories. Especially because he's grown up being read to by his sister Alice, a brilliant writer.

When Alice goes missing and a talking cat turns up in her bedroom, Midge searches Alice’s stories for a clue. Soon he discovers that her secret book, The Museum of Unfinished Stories, is much more than just a story. In fact, he finds two of its characters wandering around town.

Sarah Baker - Through the Mirror Door - Published by Catnip Publishing (7 July 2016)

Since the accident, Angela has been alone. When she is invited on holiday with her cousins, it is her chance to be part of a family again if she promises to behave herself. But secrets lie in the walls of the crumbling French holiday home and the forbidden rooms draw Angela in. Soon night-time footsteps, flickering candlelight and shadows in windows lead her to a boy who needs her help. To save him Angela must discover the truth about what happened in the house all those years ago . . . and face the terrible secret of her own past.

James Nicol - The Apprentice Witch - Published by Chicken House Ltd (7 July 2016) - (See book review here) and (interview here)

Arianwyn fluffs her witch's assessment. Awarded the dull bronze disc of an apprentice - to the glee of her arch-rival, Gimma - she's sent to protect the remote, dreary town of Lull. But her new life is far from boring. Turns out Gimma is the pompous mayor's favourite niece - and worse, she opens a magical rift in the nearby forest. As Arianwyn struggles with her spells, it's soon clear there's much more than her pride at stake ...

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's/Teen Book Picks UK Published - July 2016 - Post Two

David Solomons (Author) Laura Ellen Anderson (Illustrator)  - My Gym Teacher is An Alien Overlord (My Brother is a Superhero) - Published by Nosy Crow Ltd (7 July 2016) - Book Review Here

Sequel to the bestselling My Brother is a Superhero - over 47,000 copies sold to date! David Solomons is a meteoric new voice in children's fiction - perfect for fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce Zack and Lara have superpowers. Luke has new school shoes and a burning sense of resentment. He KNOWS that aliens disguised as gym teachers are about to attack Earth but will anyone listen? No. So one dodgy pact with a self-styled supervillain later, and Luke is ready to save the world. He just needs to find his trainers...

Caroline Clough - Silver Storm: Red Fever 3 (Kelpies) - Published by Kelpies (21 July 2016) - Buy Book Here.

A terrible virus has wiped out most of the human population and Scotland is now a wasteland. Toby and his family are being held hostage on the island of Orkney by a terrifying militia group called the Corporation. Toby knows he and his friend Tash must escape and find their way to Edinburgh if they are ever to bring about an end to the carnage that the red fever has caused. Arriving in Edinburgh, things are even worse than they feared: the city is deserted, and overrun with wild animals. All they have is a name - but can they find the one person who could help them save not only their friends and family, but the whole world?

Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell - Scavenger: Mind Warp - Published by Macmillan Children's Books 14 July 2016) 

My name is York. I'm a scavenger. I'm fourteen years old . . . I am on a mission to save mankind.

The zoids have taken over the Biosphere and it is up to York to journey back into the memory banks of the central computer to discover the glitch that first corrupted the zoids and threatened humanity. In danger of losing himself in this warped world, York must battle his own mind to find the answers he needs. 

With the fate of mankind in his hands, is York strong enough to hold on to himself?

The final book in this exciting series, Scavenger: Mind Warp is a gripping futuristic advetnure from the award-winning Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell.

Fleur Hitchcock - Bus Stop Baby - Published by - Piccadilly Press (28 July 2016)

On her way home from school, 13-year-old Amy finds a newborn baby abandoned at the village bus stop. It's wrong, just like when Mum walked out on Amy and her sister ten years ago - so she tries to fix it, by finding the baby's mother. But as Amy searches, she uncovers another story, a secret even closer to home. A thought-provoking story exploring the complexities of family, friends and making difficult choices.

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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: JAMES NICOL - THE APPRENTICE WITCH - BOOK INTERVIEW (Chicken House)

      Tell us about your self?

Oh golly - thats a bit like a job interview isn’t it! Well when I’m not busy writing I spend the rest of my time surrounded by books in libraries across Cambridgeshire (and they pay me to do that!)  or walking my dog. I really don’t have much more time for anything else besides that at the moment. Also I’m quite tall and I have curly hair. I’m terrible at spelling, I love tea. My favourite colour is blue and I wanted to be a dalmatian when i was about 8 years old! (after reading 101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith)

Who would love reading The Apprentice Witch, and why?

I really hope everyone will love The Apprentice Witch, even though I wrote it just for children it’s quite alright for some grown ups to want to read it as well I think. 

I really wanted to write a book full of magic and characters that have fun adventures and do brave things even when they are scared. Those were the types of books I loved as a child, like the Narnia books. Reading about other children being brave made me feel braver - as i was a terrible scaredy cat as a child (and i still am a little bit  - especially if it involves siders!!!) 

I hope readers will fall in love with the world and with the cast of characters that are in the book. I hope its a place readers will want to escape to - even with the scary bits!

Describe the dreary town of Lull from a witches eye?

Lull looks like its going to be quite dull and boring at first glance, despite its closeness to the Great Wood which is full of wondrous magical creatures. Very few people ever go beyond the edge of the wood and so Lull just sort of gets on with being a bit sleepy and quiet and tucked out of the way. It doesn’t look like its going to be much excitement for an eager young witch! But we all know appearances can be deceptive . . .

We all need a hero! Tell us about your protagonist(s)? 

Well the main hero is Arianwyn Gribble who is a young witch. She’s quite ambitious and has only ever wanted to be a witch like her mother and her grandmother. But she has a terrible secret that she can’t share with anyone and at the very beginning of the book this secret sets off a chain of events that leads her on a slightly different path than the one she imagined for herself. She’s a kind and thoughtful person, but she has a set back and that knocks her confidence quite a lot. She has to use her skill as well as her own personal reserves and nature to overcome everything that is thrown at her. 

What did you learn from writing your debut book that will help you to write future books?

That it’s easier (for me!) to write my very first draft in long hand with a pencil in lots of notebooks! 

I would just sit and stare blankly at the computer screen for ages, type a line then delete it. (then cry a bit)  But actually physically writing it all down felt much easier in a way and I knew nobody was ever going to read the notebooks and I don’t edit what I write there it's just to tell the bare basics of the story. 

Also its good to have a plan rather than to stumble about aimlessly - I thought a plan would make it too rigid and not leave space for creativity but I got into such a muddle without a plan! So an outline is good to have and find whatever works for you to get the first draft down - hand-written or typed it doesn’t really matter - just write! 

How important are stories to you? What do you like to read?

So important - I’ve been in love with stories forever. I was a bit of a reluctant reader as a young child but I could see the potential of all the stories in the school library and I wanted to be part of that. I love the way you can become totally lost in stories to the point it becomes physically impossible to put the book down. 

I love reading fiction mainly but I also enjoy biography and memoir - anything thats a really interesting tale really. I’m a massive Emma Carroll fan and I am rationing myself on her books at the moment as I’m tempted to just read them all in one go! I really enjoyed the Jonathan Stroud ‘Lockwood & Co’  series - just brilliant! And I’m currently reading The Girl of Ink & Stars by fellow chicken house author Kiran Millwood Hargrave. I am also a massive Alice Hoffman fan and love her books for adults, teens and children, she’s an amazing writer. 

What made you want to start writing, not just reading?

I think it’s the ultimate game of make believe isn’t it? As the story teller you are entirely in control of the world you are creating, you speak the words of the characters, you decide what the sky looks like and which way the wind blows and that has always appealed to me as someone with possibly to much imagination for my own good! Writing was a way to carry on being allowed to play long past the point where we have abandoned our toys and are supposed to do grown up things - which quite frankly are horrendously tedious most of the time! ;) 

Do you have a mentor for writing, and if so, how did you get that mentor?

I did have a mentor when I was working with The Golden Egg Academy and it was Bella Pearson from David Fickling Books. Bella was amazing and she just immediately got my story and me and was so clever in the way she worked with me, asking lots of questions - never telling me what to do or how to fix something so that it all came from me as a writer. She is amazing. Of course now I get to work with an awesome team of editors at Chicken House as well and that’s just an incredible experience as well. Editors are the best! 

If you found a time travel machine where would you go and what would you do?

I don’t think i’d want to go too far back as I’d be worried I’d get sat on by a dinosaur or catch the plague or something daft like that. I’d like to go back to the time my Great Grandfather was alive and find out more about him as he was a bit of an enigma! 

Last question, what five things would you take on a desert Island and why?

Pencils and notebooks, a never ending supply of midget gems, my dog (Bonnie!)  and a copy of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier as I could read that book a million times and never grow tired of it. 

The Apprentice Witch by James Nicol is a debut children’s fantasy novel full of adventure, mystery, magic and witches. Here is Mr Ripley's Book Review Here. 

 Published by Chicken House on 7th July 2016.

You can also find out more about James and his debut book on his website: 

http://www.jamesnicolbooks.com

 and you can follow him on twitter: @jamesENicol

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this brilliant post!

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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: The Other Alice by Michelle Harrison - Book Review

What happens when a tale with real magic, that was supposed to be finished, never was? This is a story about one of those stories . . .

Midge loves riddles, his cat, Twitch, and – most of all – stories. Especially because he's grown up being read to by his sister Alice, a brilliant writer.

When Alice goes missing and a talking cat turns up in her bedroom, Midge searches Alice’s stories for a clue. Soon he discovers that her secret book, The Museum of Unfinished Stories, is much more than just a story. In fact, he finds two of its characters wandering around town.

But every tale has its villains – and with them leaping off the page, Midge, Gypsy and Piper must use all their wits and cunning to work out how the story ends and find Alice. If they fail, a more sinister finale threatens them all . . .

The Other Alice is a story about unfinished stories, should every book have a ending? 
What about all of those stories hidden away, never to get that finishing chapter, a world unloved with characters stuck in limbo, forgotten and never to see the fantasy light of day? When the magical, written world comes in search of endings and the characters manifest into a physical presence and take over your life with a deadly outcome; what would you do? 

The narrative will certainly grab your undivided attention like no other book. This is a fantastic story, wonderfully captivating and straight from the heart. The author sets out the world and her intention with the very first line in the book. ALICE SILVER HAD NEVER MET ANYONE WHO HAD KILLED BEFORE. It's a very dark start and leads you into an unexpected troubled world. It will certainly pull you into a vice-like fantasy grip that will immerse you on so many levels. The thrilling intensity of the plot will certainly give you the chills, even on a warm summer's day. 

The books influence is certainly from the author's love of reading. In my opinion, Cornelia Funke's Inkheart influences are here and leeches into the pores of the story; very subtly but particularly effectively. You will certainly plunge into the deep, creative imagination of the author in this book. The ideas, passion and the author's personality have really excitingly evolved onto paper to make this a magical story. It is very psychological and so thrilling to read with a focus on family, reality as well as make believe and one killing deranged villain. The author has introduced her love of cats into the story. It's paws a way for a talking, cheeky cat that is very infectious as a character.  

I really loved the concept of this story and really connect with it. I always love a dark and disturbing read that will unsettle the reader and put you on edge with every page turned. The characters are a varied mixture, very vague and in need of more work, especially in the detail department.  Dorothy Grimes stole the show for me, she leapt out from the pages and would be very at home within the pages of a Darren Shan novel. 

This is a fantastic five star read for me; really engrossing and one of the best books that I've read so far from Michelle Harrison.   

• 
  
• Paperback: 352 Pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's UK (28 July 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1471124274

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Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: Children's/Teen Book Picks UK Published - July 2016

Emma Carroll - Strange Star - Published by Faber & Faber (7 July 2016) -  Author website here. 

They were coming tonight to tell ghost stories. 'A tale to freeze the blood,' was the only rule.

Switzerland, 1816. On a stormy summer night, Lord Byron and his guests are gathered round the fire. Felix, their serving boy, can't wait to hear their creepy tales. Yet real life is about to take a chilling turn- more chilling than any tale. Frantic pounding at the front door reveals a stranger, a girl covered in the most unusual scars. She claims to be looking for her sister, supposedly snatched from England by a woman called Mary Shelley. Someone else has followed her here too, she says. And the girl is terrified.

Peter F . Hamilton - The Hunting of the Princes - Published by Macmillan Children's Books (28 July 2016) 

The Hunting of the Princes is the second title in the Queen of Dreams trilogy. Featuring black and white illustrations, this fantastic series from the UK's best-selling sci-fi author, Peter F. Hamilton is a future classic in the making.

It had been a big year for Taggie Paganuzzi. From learning that she was actually the Queen-to-be of a magical realm, to learning to use magic, to fighting for her life against the King of Night, there had been a lot of 'firsts'. And when someone tried to assassinate her as she was cycling home from the local pool in Stamford, England. Well, that was a first too.

It turns out that someone has been killing royal heirs throughout the magical kingdoms, and every leader from every realm believes the King of Night's army, the Karraks, are responsible. War seems inevitable . . . and yet Taggie has just discovered two very interesting facts. Firstly, that the Karraks come from a cold, dark universe, and they cannot abide warmth and light. And secondly, that there was once a gate to this universe . . . now lost in the mists of time.

But where do you begin to look for a gate which was deliberately hidden centuries ago? To find out, Taggie must rescue the one Karrak Lord who also hopes for peace. Who happens to be imprisoned in an impenetrable fortress . . .

Polly Ho-Yen - Where Monsters Lie - Published by Corgi Children's (7 July 2016)

The children of Mivtown have grown up hearing the legend of the monsters of the loch. But it’s only a story – a warning to stay away from the water.

Then strange things start happening in the village. Effie’s rabbit Buster escapes from a locked hutch, her mum disappears without trace and slugs start to infest her home.

Along with her best friend Finn, Effie begins to hunt for clues to solve the mysteries of Mivtown. Could this all be connected to the legend? Is it really just a story or is there something lurking in those deep, dark waters?

Jacob Grey - The White Widow's Revenge - Published by HarperCollins Children's Books (28 July 2016) 

The third book in this gripping, high-impact, high-energy new series.

Orphan boy Caw has done battle with the most terrifying villains ever to stalk the city of Blackstone. But now he must face his toughest adversary yet – his friend Selina, bitten by the Spinning Man’s spider and transformed into the White Widow.

The city is drowning in a crime wave masterminded by Selina – Caw must stop her before the Spinning Man consumes her completely – and regains all of his terrible powers.

Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books: James Nicol - The Apprentice Witch - Book Review

Arianwyn fluffs her witch's assessment. Awarded the dull bronze disc of an apprentice - to the glee of her arch-rival, Gimma - she's sent to protect the remote, dreary town of Lull. But her new life is far from boring. Turns out Gimma is the pompous mayor's favourite niece - and worse, she opens a magical rift in the nearby forest. As Arianwyn struggles with her spells, it's soon clear there's much more than her pride at stake ...

Are you ready for a magical broomstick ride? If so, let's do a loop-de-loop with a cackle of laughter in pursuit of a cracking debut book by James Nicol. The Apprentice Witch has fully fledged into a printed version, with a quick flick of the wand and a magical spell or two. It is clucking into the published world through the mighty Chicken House from early July 2016.  The plot will certainly seek out and enchant readers from the age of 8 to 108 - " OH YES it will". Now you're thinking 108 years old, but witches do live that long. I know there is one at the bottom of my garden and she loves to read books. 

With odds stacked against her, apprentice witch Arianwyn Gribble must overcome a shaky start as she looks upon a poster declaring 'Your country needs you! Join up today!' In this story, you will fly through a small world in a barrage of fantasy gold that is packed with elegance and nostalgic charm. It's a very engrossing tale that follows fifteen year old trainee witch Arianwyn. A witch who is very lovable, but hides a deep dark secret. 

In the world of legend, witches use a set of five magical symbols, called glyphs, to control the natural flow of magic in the world. But Arianwyn Gribble has worst luck than most as she has seen a sixth glyph for as long as she can remember. A glyph that has always heralded trouble and darkness, like the death of her mother.  This brings a rather large slice of edginess and a darker side to the story. 

You will love the action and drama of this feel good read. Arianwyn's spells and magic don't always work and, therefore, the story tackles self-esteem issues. The main character deals with this in a sensitive and a realistic way. It's a really heart warming read as Arianwyn tries to overcome failure.  

Arianwyn is posted to the obscure village of Lull, which is full of evil monsters and magical dark creatures that lurk around every corner. The monsters/creatures are very inventive, in fact some of them made me chuckle whilst others made me shiver. Where did the ideas came from? Are they the author's nightmares/dreams or from his vivacious appetite for reading, who knows? Either way, they really lift the story and make it a fantastic and classic reading experience. 

The ending of the book is thrilling. It delivers mystery and action in a whirlwind of cinematic, magical adventure which is all fuelled by adrenaline, friendship and bravery. Finally, it all climaxes in a brilliant and vivid ending. I suddenly realised I had come to the last very page, which to me is a very good sign that I have read a great book....  

This is a cracking start to a new series with many more books to look forward.

Read the first chapter here.
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David Solomons (Author) Laura Ellen Anderson (Illustrator) My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord - Book Review

Sequel to the bestselling My Brother is a Superhero - over 47,000 copies sold to date! David Solomons is a meteroic new voice in children's fiction - perfect for fans of Frank Cottrell Boyce Zack and Lara have superpowers. Luke has new school shoes and a burning sense of resentment. He KNOWS that aliens disguised as gym teachers are about to attack Earth but will anyone listen? No. So one dodgy pact with a self-styled supervillain later, and Luke is ready to save the world. He just needs to find his trainers...

David Solomon is back with his magic cape and hero superpowers with the eagerly anticipated sequel to "My Brother is a Superhero." This was one of the biggest success stories in children's publishing last year and was awarded the Children’s Book of the Year as well as the British Book Industry Awards 2016. It also scooped up the overall winner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2016 and was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2016. It was a fantastic success and introduced a great new storytelling voice with a distinctive feel that is loaded with outlandish humour. 

Get ready to be a superhero once again. Hold onto your rocket boosters and maybe your pants as My Gym Teacher is an Alien Overlord will slip and flap discreetly onto the bookshelves across the galaxy on the 7th July 2016. Published by Nosy Crow, the publisher with avian expertise, this book is for everybody who loved the first book or those interested in comic fictional superheroes. You're going to giggle like a school kid falling out of a tree house which has just been set on fire by an Alien Overlord, but don't worry kids as Zack and Luke are on hand to save the day, or maybe not!

This book is a very clever work of fiction combining things that children will relate to in a big fantasy way. Computer games, movies with big action heroes, comics that always have a great moral ending etc. There are also some great references to other superheroes from Marvel or DC that make our perception of a superhero tie in with the characters in this crazy caper. 

The book makes references to school life, family and friendship troubles, which gives the story some grounding, as well as neatly integrating these into a thrilling plot of craziness and humour. The next esssential ingredient is one fiendish alien overlord and alongside an evil bunch of school gym teachers, who are about to attack earth and turn everyone into zombies who watch reality TV. You might be thinking that this sounds great and, yes, it really is. Regardless of your age, you will really enjoy this book. 

This is a book that you can sink into and relax. It is easy to read, emotionally charged and full of great one liners, which is pure fantasy escapism for the duration of the story. It is full of slapstick non-stop action to save the world, that is providing that Luke finds his trainers first.. and if Zack fights his epic bout of alien flu. However, with Laura in the wings everything is going to be OK, or is it? You will never know until the climatic ending and the last page has been turned. This is a great family read, as it is super funny and wildly inventive. Don't forget to check out the cool illustrations by the talented Laura Allen Anderson.