Joseph Delaney - The Spook's Stories:Witches Post

This to me was a refresher of all things good in the Joseph Delaney world. It gave a re-cap on some of the tales related to the different witch clans and brought me back to Pendle Hill
on a misty night with bats flying over the sky. Whilst the howl of the wolf and the cackle of a witch all became interspersed into one. 
This is a great book to read, it will entice you to read all of the books in the series from start to finish. I'm left wanting more new stories but I will have to wait until 2010 for the next gripping installment.


Book published by Bodley Head Children's Books 1 October 2009


Book synopsis
This is a fabulous collection of stories based on many of the witches from Joseph Delaney's Spooks books. Ever wondered why the Spook doesn't trust girls who wear pointy shoes? Or why Grimalkin became the Assassin for the Malkin Witch clan? Find out all this and more in this a dark and eerie collection. You don't have to know the Spook's books to enjoy the stories. They're all standalone and absolutely haunting. This is a perfect introduction to the world of "The Spook's Apprentice". But for any fans of the series out there, this collection will be a must-have.

About the Author
Joseph Delaney is a retired English teacher living in Lancashire. He has three children and seven grandchildren and is a wonderful public speaker available for conference, library and bookshop events. His home is in the middle of Boggart territory and his village has a boggart called the Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the step of a house near the church. Most of the places in the Spook's books are based on real places in Lancashire. And the inspiration behind the stories often comes from local ghost stories and legends. The Spook's Apprentice, The Spook's Curse and The Spook's Secret have all been shortlisted for the Lancashire children's Book for the Year Award. The Spook's Apprentice is the winner of both the Sefton Book Award and the Hampshire Book Award. His latest book is The Spook's Sacrifice, the sixth book in the spine-tingling and best-selling Wardstone Chronicles series. And The Spook's Tale was his successful WBD book for 2009. It has recently been announced that Spook's Apprentice will be adapted into a feature film by director Kevin Lima, who directed last year's family blockbuster movie Enchanted.


All the books in the Wardstone Chronicles:



The Spook's Apprentice -  July 2004
The Spook's  Curse -  June 2005
The Spook's Secret - July  2006
The Spook's Battle -  July 2007
The Spook's Mistake - June  2008
The Spook's Sacrifice -  June 2009
The Spook's Witches -  Oct 2009
The Spook's Nightmare - June 2010
The Spook's Bestiary - Oct 2010      


All books published by Bodley Head Children's books.


Please check out the author web site for more Spook's  Shananigans.


www.spooksbooks.com

Two Picture Book Reviews - Knight Time - Jane Clarke and Jane Massey

Knight Time - Jane Clarke and Jane Massey -  New story cd edition - Red Fox 1 Oct 2009

Book Synopsis

Every night, when their daddies tuck them in, Little Knight dreams of fierce knight-eating dragons and Little Dragon dreams of dangerous dragon-slaying knights. But one dark, stormy night, their two worlds collide and Little Dragon and Little Knight discover that they both have teddy bears and cuddly blankets - and they're not scary at all! It's silly to hunt each other!" they tell their daddies. And so it is. Simple language and powerful imagery shows up the nature of mistaken prejudices and uncovers the universality of night-time fears by using characters who are naturally scared of each other. The result is a reassuring bed-time book with a difference.





Book Review By Mrs Ripley
This is a beautifully illustrated book with an incredible amount of detail included on each page. Each time I opened a page I saw something different, yet all the detail adds to and enhances the story. The story is delightful in the way it addresses the fears of a dragon and a knight. The parallel storyline of both merges well to bring the two lives together. A lovely book to share together at storytime.


Anthony Bourke and John Rendall - Christian the Lion:My Scrap Book - Published by Red Fox 3 Sep 2009


Book synopsis
Follow the heartwarming and true story of Christian. The lion cub bought from Harrods, raised in a Chelsea flat and finally returned to live wild and free on the African plains. Christian's story is told in a scrapbook style, using original photographs of him as a cub. These images are both funny, moving and heart warming. The simple and accessible text, told in Christian's voice, deals with themes familiar to little ones - love, friendship, play and exploration.

Book Review by Mrs Ripley

A unique story that has been brought to life by many incredible photographs. An informative and interesting book which educates the reader in the re-housing of Christian the Lion to Africa, and his plight in adjusting to the wild. I think children will be amazed by his journey and be delighted with his new life in Africa. 

David Walliams - Mr Stink - Illustrated by Quentin Blake - Book Review

Mr Ripley's Book Review


This book comes with an overpowering smell, so if you are offended by the pong put two rabbit droppings up your nostrils and that should do the trick!
This is the second book written by David, it has been greatly illustrated by the amazing Quentin Blake. I was sent a copy of the book this week and moved it up the pile, I think it was curiosity that made me do this. 
This is a very touching story about a young girl Chloe, who makes friends with a local tramp. Chloe's mum is running for election and one of her policies was for all homeless people or 'soap-dogers' to be banned from the streets. So Chloe decides to hide him in the garden shed. What follows next is a well written story, that reads in a similar style to that of Roald Dahl. It's a magical family read, with lots of laugh-out-loud moments. The comedy in this book is quite evident showing great wit and intelligence throughout the book.  The touching and personal side to this book is well developed, bringing each characters story to life.
I loved every page of this book, in some parts it was like reading poetry. A great original story that deserves to be read.


 I give this book five out of five and would recommend it whole heartedly.


Book published by HarperCollins Children's Books  29 October 2009 

Book synopsis
 "Mr Stink stank. He also stunk. And if it was correct English to say he stinked, then he stinked as well!" Chloe sees Mr Stink every day, but she's never spoken to him. Which isn't surprising, because he's a tramp, and he stinks. But there's more to Mr Stink than meets the eye (or nose) and before she knows it, Chloe has an unusual new friend hiding in her garden shed. As Chloe struggles to keep Mr Stink a secret, and her dad tries to hide a secret of his own, the stage is set for an epic family confrontation. But there's one other person with a an extraordinary secret -- Mr Stink himself!

Ian Beck - Pastworld - Book Review

Mr Ripleys Review


This is a really great read,one of the best books that has used the themes of Victorian and Time travel  to good use.  A clever thriller of a book  and no end of entertainment to the reader.

Startling and original, Ian Beck’s vision of a world in which people are pawns and your future is predestined by place of birth makes compelling reading. Five out Five also being made into a Film as we speak.

Julia Eccleshare's comment:
Take a thrilling journey into the past in this clever time slip mystery which, written in different voices from different times, takes its readers from a dystopian future to a Dickensian past. Caleb is on a tourist trip to the future when his father is kidnapped and he is accused of murder. Eve comes from Pastworld and knows nothing of contemporary life. From different worlds Caleb and Eve find themselves caught up in the murderer’s wicked plans and escape will not be easy.

Synopsis

 

Pastworld. A city within a city. A city for excursions and outings. Pastworld is a theme park with a difference, where travellers can travel back in time for a brush with an authentic Victorian past. But what if the Jack the Ripper figure stopped play-acting and really started killing people? For Caleb, a tourist from the present day, his visit goes terribly wrong when his father is kidnapped and he finds himself accused of murder. Then Caleb meets Eva Rose, a Pastworld inhabitant who has no idea the modern world exists. Both Caleb and Eva have roles to play in the murderer's diabolical plans - roles that reveal disturbing truths about their origins. 

About the Author

Ian Beck is well known as an illustrator as well as more recently a writer of young fiction with the publication of the very succesful Tom Trueheart titles by OUP. This is his first foray in to the world of teen fiction. Ian lives in West London. He began his career as an illustrator working on album covers including the still in-print classic for Elton John's album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

Book you also may like to read are the books by Tom Becker the Darkside Series.

Darksid
1. 2010)

Kazu Kibuishi - The Stonekeeper's Curse (Amulet, Book 2) Event In Alhambra, Califonia U.S

Mr Ripley Say's
This looks like a great event for everyone. The only problem for me, is that I am in England and this event is in the U.S! So if you area in the Alhambra, California area, why not take a look and have a fun day. If anyone would like to review the event for us, please drop me an email. Then we can let, all who could not attend know, what was actually missed - including me!

wade buchanan gallery@gallerynucleus.com
CONTACTS
Gallery Nucleus Presents
AMULET: BOOK TWO ARTIST PANEL & SIGNING
Saturday, September 12, 2009 (1 pm – 5 pm)
Admission is free. All-ages event.
Alhambra, CA – Gallery Nucleus invites you to join us as writer, artist, and Eisner Award Nominee Kazu Kibuishi discusses the process behind the latest release in the Amulet series as well as other current projects. Hear the artist read from the latest book as well as answer questions from fans and other aspiring artists. A signing of the new book will follow.
Also, register now for the much anticipated workshop “Storytelling for Comics & Film” instructed by artist Kazu Kibuishi. Through this seven week course beginning on Sept 15, Kibuishi will share his wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience. Learn more about taking your ideas and turning them into comics ready for publication. Each student will complete one 10-page comic by the end of the course. Learn more or register at www.gallerynucleus.com


SYNOPSIS TO BOOK TWO
Emily and Navin's mother is still in a coma from the arachnopod's poison, and there's only one place to find help: Kanalis, the bustling, beautiful city of waterfalls. But when Em, her brother, and Miskit and the rest of the robotic crew aboard the walking house reach the city, they quickly realize that seeking help is looking for trouble, dangerous trouble.

The Elf King's son, Trellis, is still after them, but this time he's accompanied by a mysterious and dangerous guard, Luger. Then an equally mysterious fox, Leon Redbeard, steps in to help. This new fox friend offers to take Em on the perilous trip up Demon's Head Mountain to find the antidote she needs. Miskit is suspicious, Navin is worried about being left behind, and Emily is in the toughest spot of all. She's got to let loose the power of the amulet—without losing herself!

More about the artist and praise for his work.
Born in Tokyo, Kazu Kibuishi is an American graphic novel author and illustrator. He is best known for his critically acclaimed Amulet series as well as being the creator and editor of the comic anthology Flight as well as creating the web comic Copper. The web comic artist and noted critic Scott McCloud has said that some of Kazu Kibuishi’s work is so beautifully drawn that “it hurts my hands when I look at it.”
More praise for Amulet:
“...Fans of Jeff Smith’s Bone will happily fret with the good guys and hiss at the baddies.” -- Kirkus Reviews
“ [The] action-packed adventure sequences move at an exciting clip...Part fantasy...and part manga, this has much to appeal to readers.” -- Booklist
“[S]tellar artwork, imaginative character design, moody color and consistent pacing...” -- PW Comics Week
Visit the artist’s website at www.boltcity.com
Event address and details
210 e. main st. alhambra, ca 91801
tel: 626.458.7477 fax: 626.458.7486
www.gallerynucleus.com
210 EAST MAIN ST. ALHAMBRA CA 91801 (626) 458 - 7482 www.gallerynucleus.com

Gill Harvey - Egyptian Chronicles:The Horned Viper Book Review

Book synopsis:
The Horned Viper is the second in a new series of four books set in Ancient Egypt. The Spitting Cobra, the first in the series, was published in August 2009. Two further instalments will be released in 2010. Each book is a well researched and atmospheric evocation of Egyptian life encased in an exciting adventure story. The boy and girl characters, Hopi and Isis, feature in each book and readers will be intrigued to follow their struggles for existence and adventure in Egypt circa 1150 BC. In this story, The Horned Viper, Isis and Hopi find themselves on the banks of the River Nile, pitting their wits against dangerous servants. 


Mr Ripley's Book Review
The authors love for Egypt is evident and allows the reader to feel and sense the events clearly, even without any prior knowledge of ancient Egypt. The book is written in the same vein as the debut book "Orphan of the Sun" which sets the characters headlong in to the world of Egypt, circa 1150 BC. The book develops around an adventure, following the characters of Hopi and Isis, overcoming dangerous enemies and their fears. The story flows like the River Nile; the historic culture of this book makes it an enjoyable read, with much more to be developed within the next few books. 
The other great feature of this book involves the factual and detailed notes which are included, these will help younger readers to enhance their understanding and interest of ancient Egypt. 
I give this book three out of five - only due to the short nature of the story, I wonder if some of the stories could have been compiled into two books rather than four?


Another recommended read is Marissa Moss - The Pharaoh's Secret - See book review. 


Egyptian Chronicle Series:
Book One     The Spitting Cobra  Published by Bloomsbury 3 August 2009
Book Two     The Horned Viper    Published by Bloomsbury 5 October 2009
Book Three   The Sacred Scarab  Published by Bloomsbury 1 February 2010
Book Four     The Deathstalker    Published by Bloomsbury 5 April 2010


About the Author
Gill Harvey studied French and Philosophy at Oxford. After experimenting with a number of careers, she eventually got a job as a writer/editor at Usborne Publishing in 1994. Five years later, and having reached the position of Senior Editor and completed an MA in Modern Literature, Gill decided to go freelance. Since then, writing has become a way of life. Her love of horses has resulted in eight of the Heartland titles for Scholastic Inc under the name of Lauren Brooke; she has also written a couple of Hodder Children's Books Animal Ark series as Lucy Daniels. A year spent commuting to Egypt led to the writing of Orphan of the Sun, Gill's first book for Bloomsbury.

New Books Out In The U.S In October 2009 - Patrick Carman

Patrick Carman - Ghost In The Machine (Skeleton Creek)
published by Scholastic Press October 1, 2009




Synopsis:Strange things are happening in Skeleton Creek...and Ryan and Sarah are trying to find out why. Ryan writes down everything in his journal, and Sarah records everything on her videocam. The two move deeper into the mystery they've uncovered, determined to discover the secrets buried in Skeleton Creek, in the conclusion to Patrick Carman's thrilling series.

In this groundbreaking format, the story is broken into two parts -- Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the book.

New Books Out In The U.S In October 2009

These are some of the best picks due to be released in  the U.S in October. I will add more during this week.

Brandon sanderson - Published by Scholastic Press October 1, 2009
Alcatraz Versus The Knights Of Crystallia 

Synopsis:When Alcatraz and Grandpa Smedry make a pilgrimage to the Free Kingdom city of Crystallia, the Smedry home base, Alcatraz is shocked to see that he is, in fact, a legend. When he was a baby he was stolen by the Evil Librarians, and his mother, a Librarian herself, was behind the whole scheme. Now, with his estranged father, who is acting indeed strange, Bastille, who has been stripped of her armor, and Grandpa Smedry, who is, as always, late to everything (that's his Talent), Alcatraz tries to save a city under siege. From who? Why, the Librarians of course.

Jessica Meats - Child Of The Hive - Book Review

Mr Ripley's Review

Close your eyes and turn off all your senses . . . . .  all you should see is the blackest of black, even blacker than you thought possible, with voices (so many voices) all different, yet saying the same things. But your mind is telling you a thousand other things that you can't take in . . . . . what kind of place would you be in?
This book is a really interesting, debut Sci-Fi Fantasy teenage book which has been written incredibly well. It covers a great concept - if we ever get to the point where technology is developed to think for itself and function on its own, what would happen within this world for better or for worse. The action, which is on-going within the story develops the readers thinking all the way through the book. The characters are very well constructed and help to create the pace and build up within the middle section of the story. But then the story slows down somewhat to establish a gentler ending, which I thought perhaps needed more action and punch, like the start of the book. I found the general style of writing refreshing in its use of vivid and detailed description. I really connected to this book; its thought process and deployment of characters. I intend to read it again as I got a lot of out of it, and I don't say that everyday.
I give this book four out of five, as I would have liked some aspects of the story to have been sequenced slightly differently, in order to give maximum impact.

Book Published by Book Guild Publishing 30 Sep 2009

Book Synopsis:

Will is different... 'special'. He's a genius at maths and even though he's still at school studying for his A levels, he lives on his own in a dingy, run-down bed-sit and has to work at night to support himself. But there's something more that sets him apart - something he has to keep hidden from everyone, even his friends. Otherwise, he risks blowing his cover or, worse, losing his life…

Sophie is 'special' too. Deep in the bowels of a secret government facility she spends her days colouring in seemingly unfathomable patterns on endless sheets of graph paper, never speaking a word. To those around her she seems like a simpleton, but little do they suspect that she, like them, is fighting a secret war - a war against the deadly organization known as the Hive.

Set in a Britain of the near future, Child of the Hive is both a tense sci-fi thriller and a gripping philosophical exploration of what it means to be human in a world of ever-increasing technological sophistication. An unputdownable read.

About the Author

Jessica Meats grew up in Nottinghamshire and is a recent graduate in Mathematics and Computer Science from the University of York, where she was a regular contributor to a university creative arts magazine. Today she works as a Technology Specialist.

Sharon Tregenza - Tarantula Tide - Book Review

Book Review By Mrs Ripley

I bought this book whilst at the Edinburgh book festival. I was intrigued by the bold, simple front cover which gave hints of Viking adventure and . . . .  spiders! Unable to wait, I read the whole book on my train  journey home. I was so glad of this great book, it was a welcome distraction to accompany me home. The first chapter set the tone well and introduced key aspects which were returned to and developed throughout the book. I thought the way the book addressed Jack and his inner turmoil was sensitive and didn’t shy away from his raw thoughts and feelings. The friendship between him and Izzie enabled a great adventure to take place, with unexpected twists and turns. I loved the atmosphere established on Shetland - laid back and familiar yet still full of adventure, especially concerning smuggling and the discovery of an exotic creature.
A great read and a book I would recommend - four out of five.

Published by Floris Books 16 Oct 2008


Synopsis

Smugglers. Vikings. Shetland should be a fascinating place for a holiday, but Jack is harbouring a secret and is less than enthusiastic to be there. Then he meets Izzie and her exotic pets and things soon start to get more interesting: Jack finds an unexpected visitor underneath the fridge; the wandering tramp is not what he seems, and each night a mysterious person waits on the beach outside Jack's cottage. But what do all these have to do with an unusual visitor named Octavia? Jack and Izzie unwittingly find themselves in the middle of a dangerous adventure, wondering what the next tide will bring to the land of the Viking Fire Festival. "Tarantula Tide" is the winner of the Kelpies Prize 2008.

About the Author

Sharon Tregenza was born and grew up in Cornwall. She currently lives with her husband in an old mill house on the Welsh border. She has an MA in Creative Writing and has had almost four hundred stories, poems and articles published worldwide. One of her poems has been included in Pan Macmillan's recent poetry anthology, There's a Hamster in the Fast Lane. She was inspired to set her book on Shetland when her husband worked on the island and she fell in love with the warm people and varied wildlife.

Neil Gaiman & Andy Kubert - Whatever Happened To The Caped Crusader?

Mr Ripley Say's

I was never a particularly big fan of comics and graphic novels, as a result I always stayed away from this format. But over the past year I have been drawn towards this media and have finally been persuaded by the illustrative lure expressing a story within its pages. Anyway to cut a long story short I was up in Edinburgh on the day of the Neil Gaiman event, where I was drawn to an area of the festival bookshop which had a nice collection of his books (some of the more popular titles and some not). After some time of perusing the books I got my hands on a nice Deluxe Edition (of the above title) and started to read this on my train journey back home. Unfortunately it remained unsigned, due to the incredibly long queue which took over three hours, by which time I had a train to catch! But hats off to Neil who persevered to sign for that amount of time.
The story is very good, I got into the spirit of the characters of the book really quickly and enjoyed every page. It actually left me feeling that Batman was an under-rated super hero! The images are particularly striking and work really well with the text. They capture your interest and allow you to delve deeper into the intended vision rather than the reader elaborating on a basic concept. A recommended read and a great book to have in any book collection.

Book Synopsis

Gotham City is plagued with crime and corruption in places high and low, but one man has taken a stand against evil of all forms: the dark avenger known as Batman. But now the Dark Knight is dead; apparently fallen at the hands of dying god Darkseid. "Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader" is a captivating and mysterious tale, the likes of which Batman and friends have never experienced before. Delving into the realms of life, death and the afterlife, no stone is left unturned in this exploration of every facet and era of Bruce Wayne's life. Neil Gaiman, the multiple award-winning author of "Sandman" and "Coraline", is joined by legendary artist Andy Kubert ("Batman and Son") for the ultimate Batman story!

About the Author

Neil Gaiman is the most critically acclaimed comics writer alive and is the author of numerous bestselling books and graphic novels, winning countless awards. His best known work in comics is the epic Sandman series. Andy Kubert has long been one of comics' greatest talents, with work including both X-Men and Ultimate X-Men, Adam Strange, Captain America, 1602 and much more!

On My Travels To Scotland And Back

I have been very busy in the last few weeks, so I have had very little time to do any reading or to update this blog. It is at busy times like this that it would be great to have a helper. Anyway I took a visit to the Edinburgh book festival this last week and had a great time. Whilst there I had a look in the local section of the well-stocked festival bookshop and found some of the below titles which might take your fancy.

Sharon Tregenza - Tarantula Tide - Published by Floris Books 16 October 2008

About the book:

When one expects Vikings and barbarians and simply finds civilization, you'd expect to be underwhelmed. "Tarantula Tide" follows Jack as he finds himself vacationing in Shetland, a land with a history far more interesting than its present. When he meets Izzie, his vacation suddenly turns strange, as Jack's own private secrets may soon come to light. "Tarantula Tide" is a unique children's mystery, sure to please young adult readers.


Lari Don - Wolf Notes and Other Musical Mishaps - Published by Floris Books 28 August 2009

Synopsis:

Helen has won a place at a prestigious summer music school in remote north-western Scotland. But as she practises for a concert on Midsummer's Eve, her friends, the fabled beasts, prepare for battle - in the very forest where the young musicians are staying. When Yann the centaur arrives and warns Helen of impending danger, she is forced to cast her musical ambitions aside. Helen finds herself catapulted into a perilous quest, allied with fantastical creatures against a powerful enemy, the Faery Queen. She finds the mythical island of Tir nan Og, breaks the law and administers first aid to old friends and new ...but will it be enough to help her friends and save herself? This is the magical sequel to the bestselling "First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts".

Sam Wilding - The Second Gateway: Book Two of the Denthan Series - Published by Olida Publishing 19 April 2009 ( Still need to track this book down!)

Synopsis:

One year on, the zany villagers of Drumfintley are, yet again, all that stand between a peaceful world and certain disaster. When a whole new array of monsters and dark magic begin to emerge from the murky waters of Loch Echty all hell breaks loose. Beneath the Scottish loch, Mendel and James discover the submerged village of Fintley, a huge obelisk and a new crystal key. It is soon clear that they face a greater threat than ever before. In this, the second epic struggle to keep the Peck family together, some souls may be lost for good this time…

Will James, Craig and Bero still be able to save us all? Will Mendel, the wizard-goldfish, continue to outwit his oldest and greatest adversary? Will the second gateway take the villagers of Drumfintley on a one-way trip to catastrophe.



Douglas Bruton -The Chess Piece Magician - Published by Floris Books 10 Sep 2009

Synopsis:

When Corrie's family returns to Uig Bay on the Isle of Lewis for yet another miserable summer holiday, he has no idea of the incredible adventure that lies ahead. He finds a strange figurine on a windswept beach, which looks very like the ancient chess pieces found there centuries ago ...but this one has a magician's staff. Corrie makes friends with local girl, Kat, who tells him the island's legends - of a terrible sea serpent who summoned up never-ending winter, and of a powerful magician who finally banished him. When Corrie hears a voice in the night and the strange little figure starts to glow, he finds himself drawn into an incredible battle between good and evil. Douglas Bruton's brilliant first novel tells a fictional story behind the famed Lewis chessmen, which date from the 12th century and were found in Uig Bay in the 1830s. This gripping fantasy adventure will have both boys and girls on the edge of their seats.

New Children's Books For October 2009 (paperbacks)

Some of the best paperback books for release in the normally quiet month October 2009.



Joseph Patrick Kanon & Rick Yancey - The Monstrumologist - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's - 1 Oct 2009


Synopsis:

A gruesome gothic-horror adventure about a monster-hunting scientist and his apprentice. Will Henry is an assistant to a doctor with a most unusual speciality: monster hunting! In the short time he has lived with the doctor, Will has grown used to late night callers and dangerous business. But when one visitor comes with the body of a young girl and the monster that was feeding on her, Will's world changes forever. The doctor has discovered a baby Anthropophagi - a headless monster that feeds through the mouthfuls of teeth in its chest - and it signals a growing number of Anthropophagi. Now, Will and the doctor must face the horror threatening to consume our world and find the rest of the monsters before it is too late...


Marcus Sedgwick - Raven Mysteries:Ghosts and Gadgets - Published by Orion Children's -
1 Oct 2009


Does my beak look wonky? Edgar's battered beak is nothing to crow about. He's so preoccupied that when Cudweed sees a guh..., a guh...You-Know-What, Edgar almosts forgets that he's the Guardian of Otherhand Castle. But the rumblings and wailing from the Lost South Wing can no longer be ignored. Lord Valevine is busy trying to save the family from destitution with his latest Gold-detecting-Gadget, so it's up to Solstice and Edgar to go ghost-hunting, and pit their wits against the obnoxious Captain Spookini.


Alexander Gordon Smith - Furnace:Death Sentence - Published by Faber Children's Books - 1 Oct 2009

Synopsis:

In order to escape them, I must become one of them. We were so close. We had one last shot at freedom and we failed. This time the warden will show us no mercy. This time, our punishment is a death sentence. Only death won't come for us here, not in Furnace. It wouldn't dare. No, our fate is something much, much worse. Because in the bloodstained laboratories deep beneath the prison lies the horrific truth behind the warden's plans. Down here, monsters are made.



Andy Stanton - What's for Dinner, Mr Gum? - Published by Egmont Books - 5 Oct 2009

Synopsis:

Well, Shabba Me whiskers! Mr Gum's back! But what's he up to this time? Oh, dreadful things my friends, dreadful things indeed. It seems he's found himself a brand new treat - rancid kebabs just dripping with dirty grey sauce. And he just can't get enough of them. He's gotta have more! More! Less! I mean, More! But not everyone's too happy about Mr Gum's new dinnertime arrangements and soon the town of Lamonic Bibber is gearing up for war. Can Polly and her friends save the town from being torn apart? Will Mr Gum's hunger ever be satisfied? And who on earth is Thora Gruntwinkle? All will be revealed when you read "What's For Dinner, Mr Gum?" You'll see a gingerbread man driving through London! You'll see an annoying little monkey driving everyone mad! You'll see Friday O'Leary falling asleep in a hedge! Yes, it's all there in glorious black and white, my friends. Except for the cover, which is in colour. It's Bonus.


Nancy Farmer - The Islands of the Blessed ( Sea of Trolls Trilogy) - Published by Simon & Schuster Children's - 29 Oct 2009


Synopsis:

In the final adventure of Nancy Farmer's acclaimed trilogy a malevolent spirit of a vengeful mermaid is wreaking havoc on Jack's village and it's up to him, the old Bard and Thorgril to confront and vanquish the restless draugr. But the task will not be easy and the three find themselves travelling once more with Thorgil's northman brother and his crew into the most dangerous of waters. Their quest to right old wrongs leads them from a village plagued by a hogboon to the fin folk land of Notland and via every danger in-between. Can they escape the perils they face and return in time to help undead spirit to find peace?

New Children's Books For October 2009 (Hardbacks Post Two)

Some more great book titles to get your pulse racing. The next post will be paperbacks, picture books and novelty books for October.

Philip Reeve - No Such Things As Dragons - Published by Scholastic 5 Oct 2009 (See book review)

Synopsis:

A dragon story with a brilliant twist from multi award-winning writer, PHILIP REEVE. Ansel's new master slays dragons for a living. He says he's hunted the monstrous worms all over Christendom and has the scars to prove it. But is Brock just a clever trickster in shining armour? Ansel is sure there are no such things as dragons. So what ishe man-eating creature that makes its lair in the crags of Dragon Mountain? Ansel and Brock must climb the ice face to discover the terrifying truth.

Ian Beck - Pastworld - Published by Bloomsbury Publishing 5 Oct 2009 (Have this one to read)

Synopsis:

Pastworld. A city within a city. A city for excursions and outings. Pastworld is a theme park with a difference, where travellers can travel back in time for a brush with an authentic Victorian past. But what if the Jack the Ripper figure stopped play-acting and really started killing people? For Caleb, a tourist from the present day, his visit goes terribly wrong when his father is kidnapped and he finds himself accused of murder. Then Caleb meets Eva Rose, a Pastworld inhabitant who has no idea the modern world exists. Both Caleb and Eva have roles to play in the murderer's diabolical plans - roles that reveal disturbing truths about their origins.


Chris Preistley & David Roberts - Tales of Terror from the Tunnel's Mouth - Published by Bloomsbury Publishing 5 Oct 2009 (I love this series of books)

Synopsis:


A boy is put on a train by his stepmother to make his first journey on his own. But soon that journey turns out to be more of a challenge than anyone could have imagined as the train stalls at the mouth of a tunnel and a mysterious woman in white helps the boy while away the hours by telling him stories - stories with a difference.


Martin Howard - The Wickedest Witch - Published by Pavilion 19 Oct 2009 (One to look out for)

Synopsis:

The headline in The Cackler is grim. Old Biddy Vicious, the Most Superior High and Wicked Witch and owner of the Black Wand of Ohh Please Don't Turn Me Into Aaaaarghhh - Ribbett is dead. But witches like their news on the dark side and there is great anticipation in the witching world. After all, there will need to be a new leader and a diabolical competition to find out who is to become the new Most Superior High and Wicked Witch. Esmeila Sniff fancies her chances, after all she is exceedingly wicked and has warts in all of the right places. As she and her surprisingly cheerful apprentice, Sam, set off to find three other witches to nominate her for the job, the meanest and the baddest witches in the world are hatching their own devious plan to become "The Wickedest Witch".

Angie Sage - Syren - Published by Bloomsbury Publishing 5 Oct 2009 (Book one soon to be a film)

Synopsis:

In the fifth book of this Magykal series, Septimus and his friends find themselves on an island whose secrets are as dark and dangerous as its inhabitants. Septimus Heap returns to the House of Foryx with Spit Fyre to pick up Jenna, Nicko, Snorri, and Beetle. But the journey home does not go well and when Septimus and his friends are caught in a storm, Spit Fyre crashes into the Rokk Lighthouse. They are rescued by the lighthouse keeper who is disturbingly sinister, and who has an equally sinister cat And all the while, Septimus is trying to fight the strange pull he's feeling to the island and its mysterious secrets.

New Children's Books For October 2009 (Hardbacks Post one)

So many good hardback book releases in October, I have split this into two posts.
Lots of great reading and something to wet your appetite.

Kate Thompson -The White Horse Trick (New Policeman Trilogy) - published by Bodley Head Children's Books 1 Oct 2009

Synopsis:

It is the latter part of the 21st century, and dramatic climate change has made life in Ireland almost impossible. Meanwhile, Tir na n'Og is faced with a refugee problem, and the king of the fairies is not happy about it and when it is revealed that the warlord who is behind the problem is a member of the Liddy family, JJ is sent to sort him out...Following on from "The New Policeman" and "The Last of the High Kings", "The White Horse Trick" travels from the now to far distant futures: from world's end to world's beginning.

Steve Augarde - X - isle - published by David Fickling Books 1 Oct 2009 - (Great book see book review)

Synopsis:

Ever since the floods came and washed the world away, survivors have been desperate to win a place on X Isle, the island where life is rumoured to be easier than on what's left of the mainland. Only young boys are in with a chance, the smaller and lighter the better. Baz and Ray are two of the lucky few to be chosen, but they soon discover that X-Isle is a far cry from paradise. Ruled by Preacher John, a dangerous religious fanatic, it's a violent, unpredictable place where terrible things can happen at any moment. The boys hatch an extraordinary plan in order to protect themselves - the construction of a mighty weapon of defence. But can they complete this weapon in time, and are they really prepared to use it in order to secure their freedom? Powerful and compelling, "X Isle" is a fast-moving thriller that will keep you guessing right to the very end.

Scott Westerfeld - Leviathan - published by Simon & Schuster Children's 1 Oct 2009 (Looking forward to reading this one)

Synopsis:

The year is 1914 and Europe, armed with futuristic machines and biotechnology, is on the precipice of war. Prince Aleksandar is fleeing for his life, having discovered that his parents have been assassinated and that he is now a target for the Clanker Powers, a group determined to take over the globe with their mechanical machinery. They will stop at nothing to get what they want, so Alek knows his only choice is to keep on running. When he meets Deryn Sharpe, an orphan girl who has disguised herself as a boy so she can to join the British Air Service, they form an uneasy, but necessary, alliance. But the pair will soon discover that their emerging friendship will dramatically change their lives and the entire course of the Great World War...

Darren Shan - Hell's Heroes ( The Demonata) published by HarperCollins Children's Books 1 Oct 2009

Synopsis:

The final dramatic conclusion to Darren Shan's international phenomena, The Demonata. Expect the unexpected..."The girl gazes up at me. She's even younger than I thought, clutching a small teddy bear in one hand. 'Are you the bogey man?' she whispers, eyes round. 'Yes,' I croak, then take hold of her head with my huge, scarred, blood-soaked hands and crush..." Beranabus and Dervish are gone. Bec has formed an unholy alliance with Lord Loss. Kernel is blind, held on Earth against his will. Grubbs is mad with grief and spinning out of control. The demons are crossing. The Disciples are falling. The Shadow is waiting. Welcome to the end.


Joseph Delaney - The Spook's Stories: Witches - published by Bodley Head Children's Books 1 Oct 2009

Synopsis:

This is a fabulous collection of stories based on many of the witches from Joseph Delaney's Spooks books. Ever wondered why the Spook doesn't trust girls who wear pointy shoes? Or why Grimalkin became the Assassin for the Malkin Witch clan? Find out all this and more in this a dark and eerie collection. You don't have to know the Spook's books to enjoy the stories. They're all standalone and absolutely haunting. This is a perfect introduction to the world of "The Spook's Apprentice". But for any fans of the series out there, this collection will be a must-have.

Sam Wilding - The Magic Scales - Denthan Series - Book Review

Mr Ripley's Review

I've just had a nice Scottish week away to the gateway of the Highlands - the picturesque and once thriving fishing town of Oban, which now relies on the tourist trade. I only took one book on my hols and read that quite early on, so I went in search of a local book to read - keeping me in the Scottish spirit of the week. We found this book in the local section of the bookstore; I was hooked by the synopsis.
It's a great little tale - a fantasy adventure for the young and old. The book is laced with humour and action throughout.
The journey follows two boys, one asthmatic and the other highly talkative, plus a magical fish who used to be a wizard! I know it perhaps sounds a little unbelievable but it's not. They embark on a rollercoaster ride to the fantasy land of Denthan. It's a nice wee tale, incorporating lots of well written creatures, which have been developed from the author's great imagination.
The book reads really well; lots of action and split story segments which bring all the characters alive to great affect. The book also encompasses lots of Tolkien-like battles making it very memorable. The reader is thrown head-first into the adventure and in doing so the pages of the book fly by. This a well crafted debut book from a new writer. Book two is apparently also in the shops entitled "The Second Gateway" which I did not see - published in April 2009. I will give this book a good four out of five and will track down the next installment before book three is published.

Published by Olida Publishing; First Edition edition 16 May 2008
For more information please check the author's website and click the link to this post.
http://www.samwilding.moonfruit.com/


>The Magic Scales synopsis:

James's father is missing. With no clue why his dad would run out on him and his mum, he hides out by an ancient stone circle to think. There, James discovers a dead stoat, crushed in an impossibly huge footprint. The mystery of what smashed the little animal leads James into finding Mendel, a wizard from another world called Denthan. Mendel has his own problems though. He's trapped in the body of a goldfish and Denthan's sun is about to die and destroy the planet. James is soon drawn into Mendel's plight and hopes against hope that the goldfish can somehow help him find his dad.

Will Denthan be saved? Can Mendel regain his true form? But more importantly, will James ever find his father?

About the author:

Born in Helensburgh, Scotland, Sam grew up beside Loch Lomond on the edge of the Scottish Highlands.

He gained an honours degree in Zoology at Glasgow University and always maintained a strong interest in nature and the outdoors. He also became involved in songwriting and through the years played rock guitar in the UK, Holland and America.

Sam soon moved on from song writing to poerty, short stories and eventually on to his first novel, The Magic Scales, Book One of the Denthan Series, which he wrote in the early hours of the morning for his oldest son, Ryan.

Sam still lives and works in the Scottish Highlands and is currently working on Book Three of the Denthan Series.

Steve Augarde - X-isle Book Review

Mr Ripley's Book Review

My enthusiasm to get hold of a copy of this book to read, resulted in the nice people at Random House sending out an early copy. As a result I feel incredibly privileged (and nervous) to be one of the first to write a review for this book.

I am glad to say that the anticipation and wait has engaged me in a worthwhile journey. I will be honest and state that I am a very big fan of Steve Augarde's work, after devouring the 'Various' Trilogy. In fact when they came to their sad end, I was not sure that Steve would and could write books that would equal, never mind better them. But Steve has risen to and conquered the challenge; I now embark on my mission to review his exciting and new masterpiece.

Surviving in a world, where most of the land is underwater, pockets of people endeavour to keep themselves alive. Trading becomes common place, everything is traded - even human life. As Rae and Baz, two young boys (only related by association) are traded by their parents to the Eck brothers. Unfortunately the optimism of hope and a better life for their children are not upheld, but of course they aren't aware of this. Instead the brothers' ruthless and sometimes cringe worthy actions, as well as the cruelty embarked upon by Steiner and Hutchinson, enforcers of the Eck brothers and preacher John's rules, persistently taint the boys lives. However circumstances prevail (I don't want to give much away) and moral justice, of a kind, enables wrong-doing to be righted - cloak and dagger jargon to protect the ending of the story.

The story has been imaginatively written, it is original and thought-provoking making it a gripping read. The constant developments within leaves the reader musing, as to whether the expected will actually happen. The abuse endured, both mental and physical, added to the heightened sense of tension and melodrama. One of my favourite aspects of the story involves the depiction of the character Preacher John and his twisted beliefs, which bring the book alive and cement the story. The ingenuity of Rae and Baz's plans never failed to intrigue, their 'back-to-nature' ideas were cleverly devised to produce an outstanding ending.

A super book, one of the best books I've read this year. I loved every page and was left wanting more. Totally emotional and a truly captivating read. I give this book five out of five. I want to know, will there be another book?


Published by David Fickling Books (1 Oct 2009)


Book synopsis

Ever since the floods came and washed the world away, survivors have been desperate to win a place on X Isle, the island where life is rumoured to be easier than on what's left of the mainland. Only young boys are in with a chance, the smaller and lighter the better. Baz and Ray are two of the lucky few to be chosen, but they soon discover that X-Isle is a far cry from paradise. Ruled by Preacher John, a dangerous religious fanatic, it's a violent, unpredictable place where terrible things can happen at any moment. The boys hatch an extraordinary plan in order to protect themselves - the construction of a mighty weapon of defence. But can they complete this weapon in time, and are they really prepared to use it in order to secure their freedom? Powerful and compelling, "X Isle" is a fast-moving thriller that will keep you guessing right to the very end.

About the Author

Steve Augarde was born in Birmingham, but spent most of his life in the West Country, working as an illustrator, paper-engineer, and semi-pro jazz musician. He has written and illustrated over 70 picture-books for younger children, and has produced the paper-engineering for many pop-up books, including those by other artists - as well as providing the artwork and music for two animated BBC television series. His first book for older children, THE VARIOUS, won a Silver Smarties Award in 2003.

James Bond Museum - Keswick - England

We had a great day out in Keswick recently; one of things we did was take a visit to the Bond Museum. It's a great attraction to go to aswell as the Cars for the Stars museum, both of which are owned by the same person. A great family place to go to if you get the chance.

This article is taken from the JamesBond.org

Keswick’s James Bond Museum will feature numerous vehicles and gadgets that were used in the James Bond films, all from the private collection of Peter Nelson who has been collecting James Bond items for 20 years.

Press Release

An exciting new museum will open in the Lake District on the 5th of April 2009. The Bond Museum is the brainchild of Peter Nelson who has been collecting James Bond items for 20 years and now has the biggest private collection in the World. The museum will feature several Aston Martin and Lotus cars used in the Bond films along side many other vehicles including the actual Russian T55 main battle tank used in the film GoldenEye, as well as boats , planes and even a Bell Jetranger helicopter.

The 5th of April is also a very special date being the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Albert R (Cubby) Broccoli. As a tribute to the Bond producer Nelson will unveil a bust on that date at the museum.

Nelson has also collected many of the props from the films, several being donated by many of the actors and crew. One of the iconic items on display will be the original Colibri Golden Gun plus many Q gadgets. However, it is the vehicles, many of which have never been seen by the public which will form the centre piece of the museum.

Nelson also owns the now famous Cars of the Stars Motor Museum in the town, but because the current museum is too small to house his large collection of Bond vehicles it had to have a new purpose built site close by.

“This will be a museum dedicated to the fans of 007,” states Nelson, who was a school boy when he first read the books of Ian Fleming and later became a fan himself of the films. “Like many others I have grown up with James Bond and its fantastic that the franchise continues in the very capable hands of the Fleming family, Barbara Broccoli, Michael Wilson and family,” says Nelson.

Ask him who is his favourite Bond and he states that each Bond was perfect for that era however his favourite film is Goldfinger, simply because it features the gadget laden DB5 which he states is the greatest car ever made—he should know he has two!

But Nelson has had his problems building such a major attraction, namely the sheer cost of the project. When he required a further extension to his overdraft he sent a very ‘tongue in cheek’ fax to his bank manager stating that failure to comply with his request would result in demolition of the bank with his tank. When the fax was intercepted by one of the junior staff in the absence of the manager he thought it a serious threat and nearly called the police! However the manager eventually granted the payment without recourse to Nelson’s threat!

At one time Nelson thought about selling the entire collection and did approach Christies, but on reflection he felt that it would be a shame to split the collection up since it is one of great historic as well as cultural importance. “Fans of Bond will want to see this collection in it’s entirety” Nelson states. And he has ensured that the museum has been completed to a standard that will impress visitors and also help to promote the films and the books. Nelson said that he is re reading Fleming’s books and has been so impressed how well written they are. “New Bond books have been written, but you simply can’t equal Fleming: he was an outstanding author”, says Nelson. Nelson also states that he is a great admirer of the work of Cubby Broccoli who he sites as a genius in his ability in finding and attracting the very best cast and crew for the films. “The most amazing thing is that Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson have been able to carry on Cubby’s superb legacy extremely well indeed, which was no mean feat.” He is therefore sure that Bond will go on for many years to come.

The museum will be open from the 5th April 10am to 5pm. The unveiling of Nelsons bust of ‘Cubby’ at 10am on that morning.

The Collection

•Vanquish Aston Martin from Die Another Day - the actual hero car used by Pierce Brosnan in the film.
•DB5 Uncle/Goldfinger car - The actual gadget laden car used in period Man from Uncle film, driven by James Bond. The original car was stolen.
•DB5 from GoldenEye - The actual Hero car used by Piece Brosnan
•Aston Martin V8 - The Living Daylights - The actual car used in the film
•Aston Martin DBS - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service - The actual car used in the film
•Lotus Esprit S1 from The Spy Who Loved Me - The actual car used in the film
•The Underwater Submarine from The Spy Who Loved Me - The actual submarine used
•Lotus Esprit Turbo white - For Your Eyes Only - The actual car used in the film
•Lotus Esprit Turbo copper - For Your Eyes Only - The actual car used in the film
•Scaramanga’s car - The Man With The Golden Gun - The actual car used in the film
•Mustang from Diamonds Are Forever - The actual two wheel stunt car
•General Ourumov’s Volga from GoldenEye - The actual car used in the film
•Renault Taxi from A View To A Kill - The actual car used in the film
•Tuk Tuk taxi - Both goodies and baddies from Octopussy - The actual vehicles used in the film
•Dragon tank - Dr No - a recreation for a major Bond event
•Mini Bede jet - Octopussy - From the Ian Fleming Foundation
•Skiddoo - Die Another Day - The actual vehicle from the film
•Parahawk - The World Is Not Enough - The actual vehicle from the film
•Jet Pack - Thunderball with a figure of Sean Connery. Especially built for a major show but some original parts included
•Toyota 2000 GT - You Only Live Twice - Thought to be one of only two/three in the world - with the original control panel from the film fitted
•Q Boat - The World Is Not Enough - The actual car/boat used in the film
•Fairey Huntress - From Russia With Love - The actual boat used in the film
•BMW Motorcycle - Tomorrow Never Dies - Both bikes including Pierre Goys own bike.
•Cagiva - GoldenEye - The actual bike used in the film
•Rocket firing Motorcycle from Thunderball - The actual one used in the film
•The Spy Who Loved Me bike with exploding side car - The actual one used in the film
•Space Shuttle - Model - The actual one used in the film Moonraker
•The Hovercraft from Die Another Day - The actual one used in the film
•The Glastron Speedboat from Live And Let Die - The actual one used in the film - the gold boat that Bond drives through wedding party
•Various other show/promotional items and vehicles. Including the red Glastron GT150 boat (claimed to be original but no docs!) Small Mig fighter from GoldenEye. Citroen 2cv display - model and full size.
•The Spy Who Loved Me Pinewood Reunion Wetbike
•The actual Landrover from Casino Royale
•Little Nel. Second cousin twice removed of Little Nellie Exhibition autogyro
•The ‘Pinewood’ The Spy Who Loved Me Stromberg Black 206 Jet Ranger Helicopter
•BMW 750iL Tomorrow Never Dies - with the actual blue screen Ericcson telephone
•Triumph Stag used by Sean in Diamonds are Forever
•Tank from GoldeneEye model - The actual one used in the film
•The actual Beach Buggy used in the film For Your Eyes Only
•The actual Russian T55 main battle tank from GoldenEye

Barry Hutchison - Invisible Fiends:Mr Mumbles - Book Review

Book Review by Mr Mumbles and Mr Ripley

Mr Mumbles stumbles down a dark alleyway in search of young readers who own a copy of this book. The anticipation and the feeling of horror is what he feeds on as you read the pages which lie within this book. He could be lurking in a neighbourhood near you - his tall hat, big ears and bushy eyebrows, dancing in the moonlight, give a very big clue to this creatures whereabouts. If you unfortunately bump into him in the night, I suggest you run the other way.
Kyle's imaginary friend doesn't exist or he didn't until one day, when he heard something lurking in the attic. The story takes on a twisted tale of persual by his imaginary friend, who becomes not so friendly any more. There is a grudge to settle leaving Kyle running for his life.
This is a new series of exceedingly good books from a new voice in children's horror books. The book first came to my attention in the pre-run up to this years Bologna Book Fair as HarperCollins were showcasing this book; great things were said about this fresh new project.
The imaginative characters in this book feel realistic and as we speak, Mr Mumbles is on a train to Scotland, to find his creator and find out more about himself.
The feeling this book gives is not for the faint-hearted; its twists and turns regarding the families past is too much to bear. The action and the battle scars are also severe.
I loved reading this book as I re-lived all the dangers and heart stopping momments throughout its entirety. It makes it a top read for all children and adults; leaving an everlasting edgy feeling as Mr Mumbles is a well-crafted character in the making. The book has lots to offer and would work really well as a film. I give this book five out five; I will definitely follow Mr Mumbles on his next outing - to the grave yard!





Book published by HarperCollins Children's Books 7 Jan 2010

Book synopsis

Kyle's imaginary friend from childhood is back! with a vengeance. Kyle hasn't seen Mr Mumbles in years. And there's a good reason for that: Mr Mumbles doesn't exist. But now Kyle's imaginary friend is back, and Kyle doesn't have time to worry about why. Only one thing matters: staying alive! A major series from a fresh new talent, brought to you by the publisher that put horror on the map.

About the author

Barry Hutchison is from the Highlands of Scotland, currently writing books for children.
Over the past decade and a bit I’ve written everything from screenplays to magazine articles, but didn’t turn my hand to children’s books until late 2006, at the suggestion of another author, Tommy Donbavand.

Since then I’ve written six 7-9 year old adventure novels for Egmont Press, and have recently sold Invisible Fiends, a six book horror-series, to HarperCollins Children’s Books.

I am thirty-one years old – but on a good day could easily pass for mid-forties – and live happily with my long-term partner and our six year old son.

I am tall – but not like the BFG or that – and like seafood, comics and Elvis, though not necessarily in that order.

Rebecca Stead - When You Reach Me - Guest Review

This looks a great read from the U.S I have heard really good things about this book.

Book Review by Meghan Cox Gurdon (Thanks for this great Review!)

Young readers may not realize how terrific “When You Reach Me” is until they’ve almost finished it. Rebecca Stead’s writing here is so clean and unfussy that it’s ­almost deceptive: The complexity of the story is obvious in hindsight, but only the most attentive children are likely to catch all the author’s clues the first time through. At its heart, the book is a mystery, but ­precisely what puzzle is being solved in these closely plotted pages remains itself a mystery until the end, when the main character has a series of jaw-dropping realizations. We see events unfolding through the eyes of 12-year-old Miranda, who lives with her single mother in a scruffy Manhattan high-rise in 1979. A savvy latchkey kid, Miranda normally walks home from school with her best friend, Sal, past the intimidating boys who lurk by the garage and past the crazy homeless guy who has recently started hanging out on the corner. Then things start going wrong. One of the garage boys ­inexplicably punches Sal in the stomach. Suddenly, Sal won’t talk to Miranda, and someone steals the ­extra key to her apartment. Soon, Miranda begins ­receiving enigmatic notes on bits of paper: “I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own,” reads the first message. “The trip is a difficult one. I will not be myself when I reach you.” Readers age 9-15 (and older) will share Miranda’s wonderment as she discovers who has been communicating with her, and why, and are likely to find themselves chewing over the details of this superb and intricate tale long afterward.

Book Published by Wendy Lamb Books July 14, 2009

Book Synopsis

Four mysterious letters change Miranda's world forever. By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it's safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. The apartment key that Miranda's mom keeps hidden for emergencies is stolen. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper: I am coming to save your friend's life, and my own. I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter. The notes keep coming, and Miranda slowly realizes that whoever is leaving them knows all about her, including things that have not even happened yet. Each message brings her closer to believing that only she can prevent a tragic death. Until the final note makes her think she's too late.