The Best Children's Book Picks JAN 2025 - Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books

 

Penny Boxall - Letty and the Mystery of the Golden Thread - Published by Puffin (30 Jan. 2025) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241657447 - Paperback - Age: 8+

Anybody who found themselves in the rigging of the good ship Lotus very early that morning would have seen an unusual sight: a shy, plump girl with a magpie fidgeting on her shoulder, holding in her hand a glinting coin…

We begin in LONDON, 1774.

Twelve-year-old Lettice Breech is excited to visit Europe with her Pa, who is eternally fascinated by ancient objects. Together they’re going to admire breathtaking French art, astounding Roman ruins, and spectacular Greek carvings.

But their plans are dashed when part of a famous statue is exposed as a forgery, and Pa is thrown in gaol for the crime.

Susan Brownrigg (Author), Jenny Czerwonka (Illustrator) - Wrong Tracks - UCLan Publishing (9 Jan. 2025) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1916747340 - Paperback - Age: 8+

Who is sabotaging the Rainhill Trials?

It is 1829. Everyone is talking about the exciting new rail ways and young Edward Entwistle cannot believe his good fortune: a chance encounter sees him offered a job at the Stephensons’ Steam Locomotive Manufactory.

The Stephensons are preparing for an important competition – The Rainhill Trials. A race of innovation and daring which will award the winner a contract to run the new Liverpool & Manchester Rail Way. Edward must protect the father and son inventors’ latest creation – their precious Premium Engine – but strange and dangerous accidents keep stalling construction.

Edward and his new loco-mad friend Prudence soon realise someone is trying to scupper the Stephensons’ chances. It is up to the friends to spot sabotage and chase down spies in a thrilling race against the clock.

Inspired by the Rainhill Trials.

Jo Todd-Stanton - The Comet - Published by Flying Eye Books (2 Jan. 2025) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1838741242 - Paperback - Age: 4+ (Picture Book) 

When Nyla has to leave her home in the countryside to start life again in the city, all she can think about is everything she misses from before. So when a comet comes crashing through the city streets and starts to glow and grow, Nyla can’t resist a chance to head somewhere that feels closer to what she had before … but what starts as an escape could be just the thing to make her finally feel at home. From the award-winning Joe Todd-Stanton, comes an exquisite and heartfelt picture book touching on the bewildering experience of moving house. This beautiful story explores how this can affect a child's sense of belonging, but also how it can open them up to new and wonderful experiences.

Alice Nuttall - The Zombie Project - Published by Chicken House (2 Jan. 2025) - ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1915947345 - Paperback - Age: 9+ 

The action-packed and horrorful zombie adventure from debut author Alice Nuttall, with an original environmental twist . . .

In a world without bees, death-flies are needed to grow food. But death-flies need bodies – lots of them. And bodies mean zombies.
Merian understands this, but others are afraid. Can one girl prove that zombies are the future?

• The action-packed debut novel of MSLexia Children’s and YA 2023 winner, Alice Nuttall.
• An original idea that turns the usual zombie story on its head – save the zombies, don’t kill them!
• With environmental themes packaged alongside age-appropriate horror and scares.

Read Extract HERE

Humza Arshad & Henry White (Author), Aleksei Bitskoff (Illustrator) - Little Badman and the Rise of the Punjabi Zombies - Book Review

 

Asian YouTube sensation, Humza Arshad, and comedian, Henry White, have smashed it up with another book from the laugh-out-loud little BADMAN series. Are you ready to rap your way out of a paper bag? This third book is another madcap adventure based on Humza Khan and his group of friends. Welcome to Big School (Egginton High) and the most embarrassing first day as Humza is driven to the school gates by his not-so-COOL dad or car. 

This mahoosive story features a magical orb, a school bully, an evil teacher, and an unlikely friend who helps him with his homework. However, this is only the start as the fantasy brain is flexed in a fast-paced, hilarious roller-coaster read that is as fresh as my underpants and as diverse as a curry. The authors and the illustrator bring a magical mix of fantasy, comedy, and illustration that you will not find in any other stories. However, it's time to save the world from destruction, defend oneself from giant killer hamsters as well as the rise of the PUNJABI ZOMBIES, and don't forget that little voice in your ear. In fact, I think I can still hear him now. 

This story has a great slice of British culture coursing through its veins. I've never enjoyed such amazing and wildly over-the-top themes that are told with so much heart and comedic uproar. It's entertainment with a capital E and is a real joy to read and love. It's a series that I would definitely recommend; perfect for readers of seven years and up. The characters are brilliant and feel very memorable whilst the plot is pure genius with a bit of a moral in the tale. You can never second-guess what is coming. The only thing in this book you have to be careful of is what you wish for .... and I wish for another book really SOON. You can buy it HERE!

Press Release: New trailer by budding film makers released for Charlie Higson’s The Fallen

New trailer by budding film makers released for Charlie Higson’s The Fallen

Trailer created by winners of unique film making competition

with Penguin Books and the BFI

http://www.the-enemy.co.uk/competitions

·         Over 25’s category, and overall winner: http://youtu.be/87Knn-zJebg

·         Winning trailer in the 16 – 24s category: http://youtu.be/YUE9Gl7JEy0

·         Winning trailer in the under 16s category: http://youtu.be/56tPCoWSmlU

A group of young film making enthusiasts have made the official trailer for Charlie Higson’s new thriller The Fallen, after winning a unique film making competition.  The Fallen is the fifth book in cult thriller series The Enemy and is published by Penguin on Thursday 12 September.

Penguin Books teamed up with the British Film Institute as part of the BFI Gothic: The Dark Heart of Film blockbuster project, which runs until January 2014, to run a unique film making competition to make the official trailer for Higson’s new book.  The competition launched in May and entries equates to hundreds of hours’ worth of blood, sweat and tears, from budding film-makers around the nation.

Author Charlie Higson judged the competition and announced the winner at an event at BFI Southbank, London, on Saturday 7 September.  He said, ‘This was a really professionally made trailer, with particular attention paid to sound and music. It also captures the story and atmosphere of the series well and has some really powerful shots. It will be a great advertisement for The Fallen.’

The trailer can be viewed here, http://www.the-enemy.co.uk/competitions  

The competition was open to all ages, in three different categories - under 16s, 16-24s and 25 year-olds and over.  The best film from each category was chosen by Higson, before the overall winner was selected to become the official trailer for the book.

The winners are a group from the over 25s who made the film on a budget of £300.  It took just over a week and was shot at Kingston University, where one of the group studies.   They had two make-up artists on the team, which was led by 24 year-old James Lee from London. 

He comments, ‘Two of us had worked on a short film a month earlier and were really motivated from that experience. We wanted to work on another film project from the ground up and see what we could do.  It was a great experience but quite intense, as we came to the competition quite late.  Coming up with the idea and script didn't take too long and I tried to write it in a way that would make it easy to create. After working on the project, I'm excited to get my hands on the books and dive into the world Charlie Higson has created. I would definitely do something like this again!’

The winning group is made up of twelve people including James Lee (24).  The others are Saruta Puff Pisanwalerd (25), Poom Saiyavath (25), Carl Ward-Reid (25), Mui Vattanasiriporn (24), Luke Doolin (32), Leanne Alamiri (19), Claudette Fruchier (33), James Pickering (35), Emmett Glynn (22), Maxwell Sweeney (22) and Ed Matthews (30).

In addition to the main prize, the group will also have the chance to meet with industry specialists at the BFI Film Fund.  Each of the category winners gets £350 vouchers for film making equipment, BFI Membership and signed copies of The Enemy series.  In addition, the winners of the 16-24 category, win a mentoring experience with IdeasTap.

The category winners:

Winning trailer in the under 16s category: http://youtu.be/56tPCoWSmlU

A group of twelve children who made their trailer during a BFI Future Film DIY film-making workshop in August, won the under 16s category.  They include Ava Bogdanovic, Luc Dellaway (10), Joe Walker (11), Jamie Moreland (13), Jack Moreland (10), James Rantell (12), Izabelle Chappell (13), Victor Jack (14), Grace and Beth Volante(13),  Bill MacKillop (11) and Fred MacKillop (9).

Charlie said: ‘The trailer really encapsulates what kids love about zombies and the fun they must have had making these films. It was great to see so many trailers with all members of the family getting involved and I think the kids making them must have had a blast being chased around by zombie adults. This trailer also had the added detail of the two little boys remembering how things used to be. The shots of them are really strong and make this video stand out.’

Joe Walker said: ‘I love the books because of the action, suspense and fun. I also liked the children being in control.  Making the trailer was a fantastic experience and overall just a brilliant day. We were so lucky to have professional directors helping us. We learnt so much about filming and make up.  I really hope we do get to meet Charlie Higson, he is so Epic that would definitely be the icing on the cake!’

·         Winning trailer in the 16 – 24s category: http://youtu.be/YUE9Gl7JEy0

The winning film was created by a group led by Samuel de Ceccatty, a 23 year-old French-American living in London. He worked with animator Caroline Landry (22), composer Gaston Ardisson (17) and producer Manon Ardisson (24).

Charlie comments, ‘This was a really strong category with a huge number of entries, so it was very hard to pick an overall winner, but I loved how original and spooky this trailer was – so different to all the others. The clever use of animation and the ghostly figures of the children are very effective and this trailer really sticks in the mind.’ 

Samuel de Ceccatty said: ‘I entered the competition because it combined the two industries I'm interested in: my ambition is to become a film director but I work as a book cover artist.  I'm also really interested in zombies.  The experience was creative and intense! I worked with illustrator Caroline Landry non-stop for two weeks. She designed and animated the characters in photoshop and then I integrated them in photographs I took around London.  I graded the whole film to give it a zombie-like feel.  It was great working with Edward Newgate on the music! He sent me some initial suggestions and then we spent a day tailoring the soundtrack to the trailer.’

Press Release: COMPETITION TO MAKE NEW CHARLIE HIGSON BOOK TRAILER FOR - THE FALLEN

                                      

                   Competition launches to make official trailer for

                    Charlie Higson’s new zombie book, The Fallen

With Penguin Books and the BFI

www.the-enemy.co.uk

Penguin Books have joined with the BFI (British Film Institute) to launch a unique film making competition ahead of the release of The Fallen, the fifth book in Charlie Higson’s best-selling zombie series, The Enemy.

Open to anyone of any age - whether they are fans of the books, budding film makers, or just huge zombie fans - the competition offers the chance to make the official trailer for The Fallen, published on 12 September 2013.

Previous trailers for the series have had more than 100,000 combined viewings on YouTube and Charlie Higson has played a pivotal role in each of them.  He starred in the first and wrote and directed the latest trailer which was the publisher’s most ambitious trailer for a book ever.

Charlie Higson launches the competition with a twitter Q&A today, 22 May 2013, at 8pm BST.  The deadline for entries is midnight on Friday 23 August.

There are three categories in the competition: under 16s, 16-24s and 25 year-olds and over.    Charlie Higson will choose a winner from each category alongside a judging panel from Penguin Books and the BFI.   An overall winner will be chosen as the official trailer for The Fallen, and will be announced by Charlie at a Future Film event inspired by the BFI’s forthcoming Gothic season at BFI Southbank on Saturday 7 September.

The overall winner will become the official trailer, but there will be prizes for all winning entries.  The 16 – 24s winner wins a mentoring experience with IdeasTap and the winner of the over 25s category will have the chance to speak to industry specialists at the BFI Film Fund.  Each category winner will get £350 vouchers for film making equipment, BFI Membership, signed copies of The Enemy series and a ticket to the BFI Future Film event on 7 September.

Charlie Higson comments, “We want you to make the trailer for The Fallen.  It doesn’t matter how you make it or what equipment you’ve got, whether you’ve got a 3D 35 mm camera or just your phone.  What we’re looking for is great ideas, imagination, loads of atmosphere and plenty of gore.  The winning film will become the official trailer for my next book which means it will be seen by thousands of people all over the world.  Not just that, there will be money can’t buy prizes for the runners up.  If you’ve ever dreamed of making your own zombie movie, now is your chance.”

The BFI comments, “This competition offers aspiring filmmakers of all ages a great opportunity to practice working to a brief and the BFI is thrilled to be able to help provide some of the prizes on offer from BFI Membership to invaluable career advice from the BFI Film Fund”

The Enemy series is set in a post-apocalyptic London after a mystery illness attacks everyone over the age of fourteen.  Some survive, but those that do face a more terrifying fate – they turn into hideous zombies with an insatiable appetite for human flesh. Children form gangs and attempt to survive in an unrecognisable world where there are dangers around every corner.

Further details including information on how to enter and a brief story arc to be used as a narrative guideline, can be found at www.the-enemy.co.uk.   

The Fallen is published by Penguin Books on 12 September 2013 at £12.99

Mr Ripley's: Horror Book Reads - For A Great Halloween

                                             

Robert Westall - The Scarecrows - Published by Bodley Head Children's - March , 1981

There were three people, standing in the darkest place, watching him.

Simon is outraged that his Mum plans to remarry. He can't bear her new fiancé or the way his mother and sister seem to have forgotten his late father. Overwhelmed by hatred and anger he seeks solace in a nearby abandoned water mill. But another, powerful hatred lingers within its walls. And it is about to be unleashed...

Westall's immense talent is evident from the opening line - Simon's anger and unhappiness are tangible, and the Scarecrows' ill-intentions terrifying.

                                        

Clive Barker - The Thief Of Always - Published by HarperCollins 5,Nov 1992

Mr Hood’s Holiday House has stood for a thousand years, welcoming countless children into its embrace. It is a place of miracles, a blissful round of treats and seasons, where every childish whim may be satisfied.

There is a price to be paid, of course, but young Harvey Swick, bored with his life and beguiled by Mr Hood’s wonders, does not stop to discover the consequences. It is only when the House shows its darker face – when Harvey discovers the pitiful creatures that dwell in its shadow – that he comes to doubt Mr Hood’s philanthropy.

The house and its mysterious architect are not about to release their captive without a battle, however. Mr Hood has ambitions for his new guest, for Harvey’s soul burns brighter than any soul he has encountered for a thousand years…

“A dashingly produced fantasy with powerful drawings by the author”

                                        

R.l. Stine - The Sitter - Published by Ballantine Books - 31 July, 2003

Ellie Saks is dying to escape the city. She’s sick of dead-end jobs, her mother’s disapproval, her loser ex-boyfriend, Clay, who won’t take a hint, and the memories of a terrible incident that occurred years ago. When her best friend suggests a summer in the Hamptons, full of glitzy parties, cool cocktails, and hot dates, Ellie’s on the first Jitney out. To fund all this glamour, Ellie takes a job as a nanny.

From the outside, the family’s beachfront home is perfect. But then Ellie meets four-year-old Brandon, who hasn’t spoken for months. The boy’s icy stare and demonic laughter make clear to Ellie that he is troubled, haunted by something too horrible for words. She begins to receive threatening messages and disturbing gifts. But it’s not until she barely escapes a harrowing experience that she realizes her life may depend on figuring out who’s behind it: Clay? Brandon? And why? And every once in a while, in a crowd, she sees a face she hasn’t seen in seven years—the face of a boy who died long ago. It would seem that Ellie’s summer of fun has turned into a summer of horror—one she’ll never forget . . . if she survives it at all.

                                                

Darren Shan - Lord Loss (Book one of the Demonata) - Published by HarperCollins - 6 June , 2005

“The door feels red hot, as though a fire is burning behind it. I press an ear to the wood – but there's no crackle. No smoke. Just deep, heavy breathing… and a curious dripping sound. My hand's on the door knob. Inside the room, somebody giggles – low, throaty, sadistic. There's a ripping sound, followed by snaps and crunches.

My hand turns. The door opens. Hell is revealed.”

When Grubbs Grady first encounters Lord Loss and his evil minions, he learns three things:

                                                 

Charlie Higson - The Enemy - Published by Puffin 3 Sep , 2009

They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you...When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. But can they make it there - alive?

                                             

Marcus Sedgwick - White Crow - Published by Orion Children's 7 April, 2011

It's summer. Rebecca is an unwilling visitor to Winterfold - taken from the buzz of London and her friends and what she thinks is the start of a promising romance. Ferelith already lives in Winterfold - it's a place that doesn't like to let you go, and she knows it inside out - the beach, the crumbling cliff paths, the village streets, the woods, the deserted churches and ruined graveyards, year by year being swallowed by the sea. Against her better judgement, Rebecca and Ferelith become friends, and during that long, hot, claustrophobic summer they discover more about each other and about Winterfold than either of them really want to, uncovering frightening secrets that would be best left long forgotten. Interwoven with Rebecca and Ferelith's stories is that of the seventeenth century Rector and Dr Barrieux, master of Winterfold Hall, whose bizarre and bloody experiments into the after-life might make angels weep, and the devil crow.

                                                  

Chris Priestley - Mister Creecher - Published by Bloomsbury - 2 Oct, 2011

Billy is a street urchin, pickpocket and petty thief. Mister Creecher is a monstrous giant of a man who terrifies all he meets. Their relationship begins as pure convenience. But a bond swiftly develops between these two misfits as their bloody journey takes them ever northwards on the trail of their target . . . Victor Frankenstein.

Darren Shan - Zom-B - Published By Simon & Schuster - 27 Sep 2012

Zom-B is a radical new series about a zombie apocalypse, told in the first person by one of its victims. The series combines classic Shan action with a fiendishly twisting plot and hard-hitting and thought-provoking moral questions dealing with racism, abuse of power and more. This is challenging material, which will captivate existing Shan fans and bring in many new ones. As Darren says, "It's a big, sprawling, vicious tale...a grisly piece of escapism, and a barbed look at the world in which we live. Each book in the series is short, fast-paced and bloody. A high body-count is guaranteed!"

Book Review: The Unfed by Kirsty McKay

                                               

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Chicken House; 1 edition (6 Sep 2012)

Language: English

Age: 12+

ISBN-10: 1908435321

ISBN-13: 978-1908435323

• Book Synopsis:

  The good news: Bobby survived her Undead school trip. Bad news: her best mate, Smitty, is missing. Bobby knows she's got to find him \. even if it means risking it all and going out into the starving-zombie-infested wastelands again. Even if it means taking fellow survivors \- including a couple of old frenemies \- along for the ride. And even if the zombies are not the only ones who are chasing them this time.

  
  
If you are a vegetarian then this might not be the book for you - there is so much floppy dead skin within this story that it would even make a butcher blush! This is the second installment in the gripping Zombie series, and it will certainly not disappoint, if you are gagging for a good horror read. This book starts where the Undead finishes off. No time is lost in bringing the dramatic bus crash into focus as it flips onto its side and everything turns to blank before being flung headlong into more action, as the bloody entrails drip through every page.


The Zombies are growing with intelligence and things are really starting to heat up; there's no time for Bobby to lose. She finds herself in a strange hospital with lots of unanswered questions but before long she is faced with a full-scale Zombie disco, playing to the tune of ripping out flesh and brain feasting! At this point of the story, there is certainly lots to get your teeth into for sure.

The action sequences are well placed within the story. They bring well deployed bouts of scary tension that really create an impact on the reader. The giggles are perhaps optional as the quick one-liners might escape some readers. The slight development of sizzling romantic passion didn't necessarily enhance the storyline for me; at times it felt this was aimed at a more romantic audience. Nevertheless, this book had more graphic detail in than book one. In fact it had been intensely ramped up, which in my opinion was a good aspect, but the jury is perhaps still in discussion for me in terms of the romantic element. 


This was a very engaging and gripping book to read, and to be quite honest, I loved (nearly) every page. It had a good ending in which to start book three, but I hope that this next book will continue to remain imaginative and to consider different approaches in order to keep it fresh.

Alexander Gordon Smith - The Fury Blog Tour & Trailer Competition

CALLING ALL ASPIRING YOUNG FILMMAKERS!!

A brand new competition from THE SPARK  HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.co.uk/thesparkpage" www.facebook.co.uk/thesparkpage, Faber’s new online community aimed at creative 13 – 18 year-olds. 

THE FURY is a brand new YA thriller from Alexander Gordon Smith, about what would happen if, without warning, the whole world tried to kill you. It’s a non-stop, rollercoaster ride of excitement, mystery and supernatural terror – and we giving YOU the chance to create the trailer for it!   

If you’re between the ages of 13 and 18 and fancy trying your hand at filmmaking, all you need to do is send us a script and storyboard for the trailer of THE FURY, by 2 July. You don’t need filmmaking experience or equipment – if your script is selected in our top five you’ll win a Flip camera with which to bring your trailer to life!

Finally, the filmmaker behind the best of those five trailers will win a £500 Apple Store voucher and see their film used worldwide as the official trailer for the book.

Go to the competition page  HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/stayfurious" http://www.facebook.com/stayfurious to find out more about the book, how to enter and tips on how to write the storyboard for your book trailer. Closing date Monday 2nd July 2012. 

Charlie Higson - The Fear - Book Trailer

Watch the trailer for Charlie Higson's 

new zombie book, The Fear

The Fear is the latest in Charlie Higson's

zombie series, 

following on from The Enemy and The Dead. 

It features the author himself in full 

zombie glory, terrorising a group of children. 

Watch and see what you think.

TheEnemy is coming for you . . .

HE DOESN'T KNOW IT BUT DOGNUT IS ABOUT TO SET OFF A CHAIN OF EVENTS THAT WILL AFFECT EVERY KID IN THE CITY.

The sickness struck everyone over the age of fourteen.


Mothers and fathers, older brothers, sisters and best friends. No one escaped its touch. And now children across London are being hunted by ferocious grown-ups . . .


They're hungry. They're bloodthirsty. And they aren't giving up.
DogNut and the rest of his crew want to find their lost friends, and set off on a deadly mission from the Tower of London to Buckingham Palace and beyond, as the sickos lie in wait. But who are their friends and who is the enemy in this changed world?

+++++++ Kirsty Mckay - Undead - Book Review +++++++

• Pages -  294
• Published - by Chicken House
• Date -  1 September 2011
• Age 12+
• ISBN: 978 1906 427870

It was just another school trip... When their ski-coach pulls up at a cafe, and everyone else gets off, new girl Bobby and rebel Smitty stay behind. They hardly know each other but that changes when through the falling snow, the see the others coming back. Something has happened to them. Something bad...Soon only a pair of double doors stand between those on the bus and their ex-friends the Undead outside. Time to get a life.

I have survived yet another action packed zombie novel and am still alive in which to tell the tale. I have actually had this book on the radar for sometime now, but I have only just finally managed to get around to reading it. Therefore, the question must be was it worth the wait? Well, all I'm going to say at this point, is that the story has all of the ingredients that you would expect within this genre, and perhaps even a few more . . . . .  

1. Survivors - Bobby, who is a girl and bad boy Smitty. Alice (or Malice) as she is sometimes referred to and geeky-type character, Pete. Although, the last two characters are portrayed rather sketchily within the book.

2. Plot - an over run storyline of re-animated dead people wanting and needing to feast on brains and to bite flesh. However, to be quite honest this is good for the gore fest count!

3. Theme - perhaps a slightly different take on the world as it is still functioning within 'normal' parameters. Even when the characters find themselves fleeing to the safer castle grounds after looting a cafe and a petrol station.

4. Death - a small death count, which considering the genre, is really not too over the top. However, I think there will be a lot more to come perhaps within the next book. Especially, as it has finished on a very timely and clever note.

5. Romance - this final ingredient involves a slight and small romantic encounter between two of the characters.

I think this book is a great debut start which heralds a new writing talent of teenage horror. In parts it is written exceptionally vividly, but as a result, I felt at crucial moments that this did not always give that sense of reality that was required. Therefore, I felt it held back the pace and momentum of the storyline at times. However, the humour really did extend and lift the mood in places which uplifted the storyline and left me chuckling. 

Teenagers will definitely relate to this book as I am sure that they will easily find elements of themselves within one or more of the characters!

I was easily entertained throughout this book. For me, the best part involved the scene that was created on the bus when the bus driver came alive and the chaos ensued. The story has some heart stopping moments, like the one I've just described, but  I think it could have threaded more of these scenes throughout the book in order to fill a greater potential.

Nevertheless, this book is definitely worth reading. It is certainly written to a higher standard than most books within this genre, but unfortunately it is lacking some original elements. However, within such a well established genre, with so many books published each year, then this is a really difficult requirement in which to fulfill. 

                                           

Charlie Higson - The Dead - Book Review

                                    


Are you ready for the next book?

The Enemy is back - this is the second book in the series. Although, this book starts about a year before the events actually took place in book one. Therefore, anyone who would like to begin to read this amazing series can actually start with this book and not feel lost! 

The book begins with an entry into the world of the living dead. Most of the adults are either dead or infected with a killer virus that affects anyone, and everyone over the age of fourteen. However, a group of children, who are immune to the virus (due to their age), can be found hiding in a classroom. They are hiding from their teachers, and in some cases their parents who have turned into flesh-eating monsters. At the start of the book the fight for survival appears to have a light-hearted and playful theme to it - a similar outlook to that in the first book. However, as the story unfolds the tone becomes deadly serious and really shows the emotional torment of the characters. In fact, there are many moments of poignant reflection for the children, as they have to stop being children and grow up quickly in order to survive.


Charlie has weaved many famous landmarks into this story; developing and creating a greater sense of realism. He has also injected far more gory details into the story than in the first book. This is in an attempt to scare you out of your whits, but on a much bigger scale! The scene at the Oval cricket ground is very graphic, both in its delivery and imaginative creation. It provides a very memorable moment in the book - very thought provoking and captivating to read. 

Another great section within the story, is when the author really gets inside some of the "Sicko's" (Zombie) heads. He writes from within their demonic brain and expresses their evil personality - a clever and interesting perspective, which developed into an aspect of the book that I really loved. 


All in all this is another top book from Charlie and is one to be read by all fans of this ever popular genre. We should see the story joining up to a third instalment of mayhem.


Let us know your favourite books within this genre - we'd love to know your thoughts.


About the Author
Charlie Higson is a well-known writer of screenplays and novels, and is the author of the phenomenally successful Young Bond series. He is also a performer and co-creator of The Fast Show and Radio Four’s award-winning Down the Line series, which was recently made into a popular BBC2 sketch show, Bellamy's People. Charlie is a big fan of horror films and is now hoping to give a great many children sleepless nights with this series.

Cherie Priest - Boneshaker - (A Steampunk Adventure) Book Review

Mr Ripley's Book Review

This is a new author to me and I was interested to read the book after visiting another website. The synopsis sounded very good and I loved the last 'SteamPunk' adventure I read.

The book is set in the civil war period where a machine goes on a malfunction underground rampage and brings down Seattle's Banking District, causing mass destruction. In the process it uncovers a vein of 'Blight Gas' which turns everyone who breathes it into the living-dead; intent on killing and eating human flesh. A great build-up to some magical 'SteamPunk' adventure. 

The world Cherie has depicted is one of immense quality and every page read leaves you wanting more. This is a boneshaker of a ride with airships, Zombies and colourful characters that are all well written. The gruesome and gory scenes are depicted realistically and in a terrifying way. 

It's fast paced with lots of action, it has great imagination and I really recommend this book to older readers who might be seeking another outing in the fantasy world of Steampunk. I give this book five out of five - a darn skippy read!

Cherie has a second novel in the series entitled 'Dreadnought' which is coming in 2010 with Tor. Also to come is Clementine which is expected to be published by Subterranean Press 2010.

To find more about the author and her books please take a look at her web site. cmpriest.livejournal.com.

Also you may want to try Paolo Bacigalupi - The Windup Girl published by Night Shade Books (September 15, 2009)

Book Synopsis
In the early days of the Civil War, rumors of gold in the frozen Klondike brought hordes of newcomers to the Pacific Northwest. Anxious to compete, Russian prospectors commissioned inventor Leviticus Blue to create a great machine that could mine through Alaska’s ice. Thus was Dr. Blue’s Incredible Bone-Shaking Drill Engine born.

But on its first test run the Boneshaker went terribly awry, destroying several blocks of downtown Seattle and unearthing a subterranean vein of blight gas that turned anyone who breathed it into the living dead.

Now it is sixteen years later, and a wall has been built to enclose the devastated and toxic city. Just beyond it lives Blue’s widow, Briar Wilkes. Life is hard with a ruined reputation and a teenaged boy to support, but she and Ezekiel are managing. Until Ezekiel undertakes a secret crusade to rewrite history.

His quest will take him under the wall and into a city teeming with ravenous undead, air pirates, criminal overlords, and heavily armed refugees. And only Briar can bring him out alive.

Charlie Higson - The Enemy Book Review (Fourteen)

Mr Ripley's Review

Charlie Higson is a very talented writer, not only does he write screenplays and comedy sketch shows but he's also the co-creator of The Fast Show. He writes adult thriller novels but is best known as the writer of the bestselling 'Young Bond' series. More recently, out of the blue, he has just written a great teenage horror book. It's a cross between 'Shaun of the Dead' and the quality 'gory' parts of a Stephen King book.
The book starts with an understated opening, Small Sam is playing outside like a 'normal' child but then the plot soon escalates into the 'grown-ups' taking him! After a few more pages it soon becomes clear that Small Sam is intended to be part of the menu for the Zombie-like creatures, who are adults that have been infected with a sickness. The book then follows the story, of groups of children, trying to survive in a world which is unsafe and inhabitable.
I loved the way this book draws the reader into the deep depths of a frightening and macabre world. It explores the ways in which children have to live on the edge, fighting for survival when they should've been having fun. The story contains many action scenes including stand-offs between the sick infected grown-ups versus the children.
Charlie has managed to write a heart-stopping horror book, keeping the reader on the edge of their seats with their heart in their mouths. He has played a strong emotional card, portraying key elements of death and friendship resulting in a culmination of the two. The ending is a 'cracker' resulting in the story finishing with a bang!
Let us have more of this type of writing, it's captivating and stunning. The only problem I can envisage is it getting into the hands of younger children, as parents may think it is aimed at the 'Young Bond' market. Even with an age limit of 14+, the audience needs to be carefully monitored. I will have to go now there is a "Zombie" Knocking on my door for a cup of tea so I will catch you in the next post. Five out of Five what next?

Book synopsis

They'll chase you. They'll rip you open. They'll feed on you...When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult - fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city - down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground - the grown-ups lie in wait. But can they make it there - alive?

Book is published by Puffin out 3 Sep 2009


Young Bond Books:

1. Silverfin (2005)
2. BloodFever (2006)
3. Double or Die (2007)
4. Hurricane Gold (2007)
5. By Royal Command (2008)