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. 

New Young Bond title and cover revealed at Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts 2014

Lights. Camera. Murder…

Shoot to Kill

New Young Bond title and cover revealed at Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts 2014

Young Bond is Back - Authors Steve Cole and Charlie Higson meet for official handover 

Today, on what would have been Ian Fleming’s 106^th birthday, Penguin Random House Children’s announced Shoot to Kill as the title of the new Young Bond novel by Steve Cole.

In front of a Hay Festival audience of Bond fans young and old, Steve Cole and the first Young Bond author Charlie Higson came together to mark the official handover of the authorship. Together they unveiled a giant replica book revealing the cover of Shoot to Kill, a striking black and metallic design which gives a few hints as to what will unfold in Bond’s next adventure. 

Steve Cole says: 'As a boy I played James Bond in the playground; what a rush to be writing Bond now in the playgrounds of his youth for new generations. I am both honoured and hugely excited to be taking on Young Bond from Charlie. I am having a fantastic time shaping a new era in the life of this truly iconic character – readers can expect many firsts, surprises and dangers to come as James´s exploits continue.’

Charlie Higson says: ‘As a lifelong Bond fan, having the opportunity to write five Young Bond books and bring the most famous secret agent in the world to life for a younger generation was a total blast. Being a part of the James Bond legacy, and being allowed to play in his world, was a real honour and I know only too well what excitement is in store for Steve as he begins a new chapter for Young Bond.’  

Shoot to Kill, publishing on 6 November 2014, follows teenage James in the aftermath of his expulsion from Eton and features a cross-Atlantic adventure taking James to Hollywood, where it doesn’t take long for him to realise that something terrible is happening in Tinseltown… 

Book Review: Steve Cole - Aliens Stink! - (Recommended Read May 2014)

Book Review:

Here comes another madcap adventure from Steve Cole flying high into the crazy world of Space and back. It is a mission of a rather unusual nature, if you ask me. If you carefully sniff the pages of this book you may get a faint whiff of wet fish. As one brave goldfish takes centre stage in this rather hilarious adventure that had me in stitches. 

Seriously weird stuff is happening on planet earth. Like pollution being cleaned up overnight. A sweet smell fills the air, SMELLY Vision AGAIN… Strange lights are seen in the skies. Could it be UFOs? Have aliens come to fix our world? I'm not going to tell you, you'll have to read the book….

Only one boy and his dad, and possibly his goldfish, might just save the world from DOOM. Over dramatic I know, but stay with me! Kidnapped and taken to a super-secret base, Tim soon discovers the full extent of the alien threat. Tim Goosheart, his highly intelligent friends and a babbling alien, called little G, take the battle to the aliens. Remember that goldfish? Well he also has a big part to play in this. 

This book delivers a yarn with the coolest possible intentions. The fantastic black and white embellishments by Jim Field and the great oversize character fonts will keep you focused on the plot. It is a perfect book for reluctant readers as it is so much fun. It's really fast paced with oodles of chaotic moments that everyone will love. In fact, it is a book that the family could read together as it is very interactive and engaging. Children will talk about this story long after the last page has been turned. This is Mr Ripley's recommended Younger Person read for May 2014.

Here is the new website:http://pages.simonandschuster.co.uk/magicink

Book Synopsis:
Some seriously weird stuff is happening on Planet Earth. Pollution is cleaned up overnight. A sweet smell fills the air. Strange lights are seen in the skies...Could they possibly be UFOs? Have aliens come to fix our world? Only one boy and his dad - and possibly his goldfish - know that the truth is stranger, scarier - and a whole lot smellier...Kidnapped and taken to a super-secret base, Tim discovers the full extent of the alien threat ...and the extraordinary kids fighting it. With the aid of a little huggy alien, and a depressed guard, Tim and his weird new friends take the battle to the aliens. Oh, and that goldfish has a big part to play...!

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books (8 May 2014)

Press Release: Steve Cole to Write Young Bond Series for Random House Children

This morning it has been announced that Steve Cole has been selected by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd, to write four books in the Young Bond series. These books will pick up the story of the young James Bond where Charlie Higson's By Royal Command left off....

‘A thrilling privilege and an exciting challenge.’ Steve Cole to take on Young Bond.

Random House Children’s Publishers will publish a new wave of authorized

Young Bond titles.

  

www.ianfleming.com

Random House Children’s Publishers (RHCP) are delighted to announce that Steve Cole has been selected by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., the Fleming family-owned company, as the author of a new Young Bond series.

RHCP have acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in four titles from Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown on behalf of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd. and Curtis Brown will represent all foreign rights.

The author to accept this exciting mission is DOCTOR WHO and ASTROSAURS author, Steve Cole, has sold over three million copies of his RHCP books in the UK.

These new titles will pick up where Charlie Higson – the writer of the previous wave of Young Bond titles – left off and will follow teenage James in the aftermath of his expulsion from Eton. This time in Bond’s life has never been explored before and readers can expect all the thrills, action, glamour and tension that are the essential ingredients of a classic Bond adventure.

Cole’s first Young Bond novel will launch with a dynamic marketing and publicity campaign in Autumn 2014. It will be published in hardback on RHCP’s highly respected Jonathan Cape children’s imprint.  

Steve Cole says: ‘I first encountered Bond in print as a teenager, when I read From a View to a Kill. Fleming´s writing was so vivid and authentic, Bond and the world he inhabited seemed suddenly real to me – and the danger and glamour led me through book after book. It´s both a thrilling privilege and an exciting challenge now to be shaping a new era in the life of such an iconic character – with many firsts and surprises to come as James´s life in the dangerous 1930s develops.’

Philippa Dickinson, Managing Director of RHCP says, ‘I’m absolutely delighted to be working with Ian Fleming Publications to publish a new quartet of Young Bond adventures. The period when James Bond would have been a teenager was an extraordinary time – a perfect setting for thrilling storytelling for young adults.  Steve Cole is an exceptional storyteller with a wonderful ability to connect with his readers.  A winning combination.’

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., says, ‘Steve Cole is an imaginative and engaging author whose plots are addictive and gripping, so we were thrilled when he agreed to steer Young Bond through his mid-teen years. As publishers of Ian Fleming’s original Bond books and William Boyd’s new Bond continuation novel, SOLO, Random House are the perfect partner to work with us in bringing the next generation of Young Bond books to life. On behalf of Ian Fleming Publications and the Fleming family, I’d like to welcome Steve Cole to the exciting world of 007 – we can’t wait to see what scrapes James gets into next.’