#YA Review: Dead Happy by Josh Silver

Publisher: Rock the Boat, 2 May 2024, ISBN: 978-0861547821

Dead Happy is a tremendously tense and twisted thriller aimed at the YA market…but don’t even think about picking it up if you haven’t read Happy Head first!

This sequel picks up almost immediately from the cliff-hanger ending of Happy Head, you are gripped from page one and not released until the final sentence. Rarely have I experienced a YA novel that kept me in suspense of the final outcome until so late in the narrative. I am going to say as little as possible about plot details because I definitely do not want to ruin anyone’s enjoyment of such a finely crafted tale. Instead, I will just try to concentrate on some of the aspects that appealed to me.

Firstly, I loved the way that Dead Happy subverted a very real phenomenon in today’s society and twisted it into a dark and exciting dystopian story. Author Josh Silver has used his experience as a mental health nurse and his own acknowledged struggles with mental health to create a scenario where a mental health guru has created a nightmarish facility and programme to supposedly solve the teenage mental health crisis. Rather than being a force for good however, Professor Gloria Manning has embarked on an experiment in eugenics which involves putting the teenage protagonists through a series of emotionally shocking and life threatening trials, to select the elite from those she deems expendable. If heart-in-the-mouth tension is what you seek, this novel serves it up relentlessly.

At the heart of the story we have the hugely sympathetic character of Seb, a seventeen year-old who has struggled with his sexuality, has been bullied, and cannot conform to his parents’ strict religious lifestyle. Despite all his hardships, he is kind, caring and motivated to do the right thing. Seb is one of the ten chosen winners from the trials in the previous novel, they have been paired up to be tested on the remote Scottish island named Elmhallow. He is no pushover, and one of my favourite aspects of the novel was Seb’s continuous inner commentary showing his cynicism about the pseudo-science being spouted by the creepy adult guardians, Ares and Artemis, as well as the antics and pronouncements of his teen peers on the island. Seb has been matched with the relentlessly competitive Eleanor, both of them are aware that Seb has fallen deeply for Finn, but they must keep up the pretence of being a loving couple to ensure their survival as the challenges become increasingly bizarre and dangerous. The levels of courage and resilience portrayed by the teens as the adult guardians deploy cult-like techniques to break their spirit, will engage readers emotions, guaranteeing that you empathise with them throughout their story arcs.

Ultimately, Dead Happy is a novel about acceptance, owning every part of one’s lived experience, and not bowing to the pressure to fit in with the expectations of others. It delivers these messages in a thrillingly inventive plot, which I am sure will be extremely enjoyable for readers of 14/15+.

I am very grateful to Liz Scott PR and Rock the Boat for sending me a copy of Dead Happy to review ahead of publication.

#MG Review: Where the World Turns Wild by Nicola Penfold, cover art by Kate Forrester

Cover art by Kate Forrester, published by Little Tiger Press,
6 February 2020, ISBN: 978-1788951524

Welcome to Portia Steel’s city; a sterile, post-apocalyptic fortress against the invisible danger posed by any Wild lifeform! Fifty years earlier scientists created a disease fatal only to humans and set it free to disperse through the tick population. The ReWilders’ plan to wipe out huge cohorts of the human population was successful. Those who survived took refuge in fortified cities, where now the only greenery allowed are the cacti grown in the Palm House and the only living creatures are a few stick insects kept in vivariums. In this environment we meet siblings Juniper and Bear who live with their grandmother Annie-Rose, the keeper of the Palm House on the extreme southern edge of the city.

The siblings are marked as different because unlike the rest of the population, they were actually born in the Wild and arrived to live with Annie-Rose as young children. They seem to be incapable of staying out of trouble at school, and when their suspected immunity to the tick-borne disease brings unwanted attention from their sinister head teacher Mr Abbot, they have to accelerate their plan to escape the city and seek their parents in the Wild beyond the walls, the razor wire and the buffer zone. The sibling bond between Juniper and Bear is beautifully written, as is their loving relationship with Annie-Rose, who has already lost her daughter to the Wild and now faces the prospect of sending her beloved grandchildren out into the unknown. The other major protagonist in the city is Etienne, their teenage neighbour, who feels that he will never breathe the air outside but is willing to endanger himself to enable Juniper and Bear’s escape. The parallels that he draws between himself and Colin from The Secret Garden are likely to send readers off to look for the classic story once they have read this.

However, escape from the city is just the first step on a perilous journey and Juniper and Bear soon realise that disease is not their only enemy. Nicola Penfold writes with such skill that the reader can hear every twig snap, feel the rising sense of panic when one or other child stumbles into danger and smell the scent of untamed nature as the children journey through unfamiliar landscapes. The pacing is perfect to enrapture readers aged 9 and above, the characters spring to life from the page and the story arc brings a deep sense of respect for our natural world. I loved reading Where the World Turns Wild and highly recommend it to parents, carers, teachers and librarians for any upper middle-grade readers in their care.

This book was a personal purchase.

My review of the sequel, When the Wild Calls can be found here.

My review of Between Sea and Sky by Nicola Penfold can be found here.

#MG Review: When the Wild Calls by Nicola Penfold, illustrated by Júlia Moscardó

Cover art by Júlia Moscardó, published by Little Tiger, 11 April 2024, ISBN: 978-1788956215

A dual-narrative, dystopian eco-thriller, I read When the Wild Calls in the space of a day and the voices of Juniper and Etienne will stay with me for very much longer.

The sequel to Where the World Turns Wild begins with Juniper and her younger brother Bear, living in the wilderness community at Ennerdale. Despite escaping from the barren and dangerous city ruled by President Steel, and being reunited with their father, Juniper cannot find peace. She burns with a desperation to return to the sterile city to rescue her grandmother, Annie-Rose, and best friend Etienne who risked everything to facilitate her escape. Furthermore, not all members of the community have welcomed their arrival and when a delegation of aid workers, Star, Moss and Orla, come to the community council meeting to plead for aid for another group of escapees from a southern city, it becomes apparent to Juniper that the undercurrents of distrust towards outsiders are strong. Additionally, rumours are spreading that conditions in the city are worse than ever, causing Juniper to fear for Annie-Rose’s existence. Having survived her own journey through the wilderness, Juniper feels empathy with those seeking sanctuary and aid. She is also mystified by her father’s secrecy and reluctance to share a vaccine for the tick-borne disease which makes living in the Wild so deadly for those who, unlike Juniper’s family, do not have natural immunity.

Meanwhile, back in the city, Etienne is still working in the glasshouse at the North Edge, planting the few licensed species which are allowed to grow in the city and taking part in a clinical trial of the regime’s experimental vaccine against the tick disease. The isolation policy enacted by President Steel is failing, the city cannot produce enough food to sustain the population and despite the tyrannical rule and the ever present threat of incarceration in The Institute, a rebel group known as the Polecats is gathering strength. I loved the way that the story slowly unfurled like a fern, alternating between Juniper’s journey across the Wild landscape of post-viral England, from the mountains and lakes of Ennerdale to the flat plains of Cambridge, where we witness Etienne’s guerrilla attempts to re-Wild the city. As the fragile shoots rise from the earth and rebellion rises from the Warren, the sinister leaders of Portia Steel’s city will apparently stop at nothing to keep their grip on power. The tension builds to a gripping peak as Etienne battles for survival.

As always with Nicola Penfold’s writing, I found myself swept up into this adventure so entirely that it was almost painful to set the book aside when chores needed to be done. The quality of her storytelling, the compelling voices of Juniper and Etienne, and the wonder and awe with which she describes the natural world are a glorious combination. There is sufficient of the back story integrated into the early chapters to allow readers to enjoy this book as a standalone but in my opinion, you will derive far more pleasure from it if you read Where the World Turns Wild first. You will feel as if you have been reacquainted with old friends and accompanied them on their journeys of discovery.

This is a perfect read for children aged 9 and above, at approximately 300 pages, it is an achievable length for independent reading. The short chapters and fast-pacing also make it an ideal classroom read-aloud. I highly recommend it for all primary school library collections as well as for the KS3 collections in secondary schools.

I am very grateful to Dannie Price and Little Tiger Press for sending me a review copy of When the Wild Calls in exchange for my honest opinion.

#MG Review: Bigg School 2 – Double Drama by Lisa Williamson, illustrated by Jess Bradley

Front cover of middle grade paperback Double Drama by Lisa Williamson and Jess Bradley. — Cover art by Jess Bradley, published by Guppy Books,
4 April 2024, ISBN: 978-1916558083

The second book in the Bigg School series, Double Drama, moves across the tutor group desks from Book 1 (reviewed here – Best Friends Forever) to focus on Daniel Littleton’s story.

Daniel lives in a small terraced house, spending a lot of his ‘free’ time keeping an eye on his riotous, 5 year old twin siblings Nelly and Nia. His Dad works long hours trying to keep the roof over their heads, while mum has spent much of the past five years suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) which leaves her bed-ridden on many days. Since moving to Henry Bigg Academy, Daniel’s main interests have been playing football or X-Box with a group of mates, some from his old primary school and some, like cool kid Ollie, who are new acquaintances. But when his X-Box falls victim to a spilled glass of cola and a caring drama teacher, Ms Whitfield, invites him to utilise his talents in the upcoming school production, Daniel feels the need to hide his new pass-time from his friends. Can his dramatic flair help him keep his new hobby under wraps until performance night?

Lisa Williamson writes contemporary fiction seamlessly, her school and home settings are so recognisable that young readers will easily relate to the characters and situations depicted. Daniel is an extremely sympathetic character and readers will appreciate that his life is restricted by the responsibility of being a young carer and being part of a family where money is tight. Unfortunately, his so-called friends show no empathy whatsoever and tease him for not being able to buy a new game console or being able to buy snacks from the fried chicken outlet. It is understandable that he begins spinning yarns to cover up his embarrassment, but as always in these situations, the truth comes to light. As Daniel digs deep to find his courage, reflected in his role in The Wizard of Oz, his new drama group friends rally round, he begins to understand his Dad’s behaviour and the power of an adult who shows belief in a struggling youngster is demonstrated.

In a week when I have seen a lot of comments on social media about the length of middle grade books, I would suggest that Double Drama is ideal for the majority of readers aged from 9-12. At just over 200 pages, interspersed with Jess Bradley’s doodle-style illustrations, this is an enjoyable book in which the narrative flows so beautifully that reading it is immensely pleasurable. I would highly recommend it for primary and secondary school classrooms and library collections.

My thanks to Guppy Books and Catherine Alport and Dannie Price for sending me a review copy of Double Drama ahead of publication on 4 April 2024.

#BlogTour: Girl on the Fly by Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl

Cover art by Bex Glendining, published by David Fickling Books,
4 April 2024. ISBN: 978-1788451840

I loved this joyous story of family and friendship, set in 1990s Philadelphia, which bounces with energy and rhythm. It follows thirteen-year-old Kamaria, known as Kam to those around her, as she prepares for the culmination of three years intense training with her track relay team at the upcoming regional and state athletic championships. Kam loves her life. She has a loving mum and dad, a pleasant home, a bedroom decorated with Olympic rings and posters of her track idols; Flo-Jo and Jackie Joyner-Kersee. She and her relay teammates Alexis, Luce and Neeka have formed a tight bond through their intense training and now Kam just has to come up with an appropriate chant and all the finely detailed planning for the championship races will be complete.

But something is amiss with Kam’s usual sense of rhythm, and try as she might, she is struggling to find the groove she seeks. Could it be the recent falling out with her lifelong best friend and neighbour Odie? Does it have something to do with her lawyer father being constantly distracted by the important case that he’s working on? Surely it has nothing to do with her American mother’s comical attempts to cook Tanzanian food! Will the added stress of a visit from her Dad’s sister, Aunt Rose, whom Kam has never met but is unexpectedly arriving from Tanzania, throw her plans into even more disarray?

Kam greets Aunt Rose’s arrival with undisguised resentment, the thought of sharing her room with a stranger threatening to break all the structure and rhythm that she depends on. However, Aunt Rose is full of gentle wisdom, heart-deep stories of Kam’s Tanzanian family history and her own rituals and heart-songs. She introduces Kam to the idea of listening and observing, to strive for a deeper understanding of her external and internal worlds. Slowly, a deep connection is formed between aunt and niece. The bonds are made tangible in the gifting of a series of kangas, shawls which have words of wisdom stitched into the hems, and which encourage Kam to listen to her heart, find her own wings and soar.

Author, Nansubuga Nagadya Isdahl, brings all aspects of early teenage girlhood to life in this uplifting tale, from raucous singing along to favourite tunes, to loading up on sweets and snacks at the corner store, and the shared joy of successful teamwork. It also explores the support of friends in helping to overcome setbacks and adversity. I loved the way that the story was structured in short energetic chapters, mirroring the explosive sprints of the 4 x 100m relay team, and arranged into three parts: on your marks, get set, go, in the build up to the final race. I must also acknowledge the vibrant cover artwork by Bex Glendining, the embossed butterflies giving tactile reference to the meaning of this engaging story.

I think that Girl on the Fly will be greatly enjoyed by readers at the top end of primary school and beginning of secondary school, who will recognise many aspects of their experiences in this empowering story.

I am most grateful to Liz Scott PR and David Fickling Books for my review copy and for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour. Do check out the blog posts by my fellow book reviewers on the tour schedule.

Review: Rabbit & Bear This Lake is Fake by Julian Gough and Jim Field

Cover art by Jim Field, published by Hachette Children’s Group, 14 March 2024, ISBN: 978-1444947571

This Lake is Fake is the sixth and final title in the popular Rabbit & Bear series, written by Julian Gough and illustrated by Jim Field. This winning combination of humorous, character-driven writing and beautiful, expressive artwork has created another accessible story to encourage young readers who are starting their independent reading journey.

The contrasting characters of Rabbit and Bear contribute to an engaging story in which kind, hard-working bear eventually succeeds in helping Rabbit to discover that his vision for a ‘Perfect World’ which excludes his friends and requires no effort from himself, will not actually guarantee his happiness. I love the way that the pink colour palette used in Jim Field’s magnificent artwork depicts Rabbit’s rose-tinted view of the world. Once Rabbit realises that planning, teamwork and friendship are needed to create a space in which to live productively, the story delivers a heart-warming ending. There is a great deal of gentle humour as well as a large side-helping of poo jokes which are likely to entertain the intended readership of children from the age of 6 years.

This book is presented as a small sized hardback, perfect for younger children to hold comfortably, with well-spaced, clear text and illustrations on every double page. It features a glorious map of Rabbit and Bear’s forest home at the start, and at 100 pages in length, it provides children with the achievable aim and subsequent satisfaction of reading an entire book independently. This Lake is Fake is a lovely choice to offer young readers in classrooms and primary school libraries to read for pleasure.

My thanks to Antonia Wilkinson PR and Hachette Children’s Group for sending me a copy of This Lake is Fake in exchange for my honest opinion.

Update added 04/01/2025

I am extremely grateful to the brilliant children’s book blogger Anne Thompson who included a link in her first Reading Matters bulletin of 2025 to an article written by Julian Gough in The Irish Times: The invisible problem with children’s books. In the article, Julian Gough articulates the need for fully illustrated books of less than 5000 words for children who are making the transition between picture books and more text-heavy books. He also explains the publishing models that have caused there to be such a lack of available books in this space. It’s a very interesting and informative read. Incidentally, if you don’t already follow her, do subscribe to Anne’s blog, she brings a wealth of experience as a school librarian to her wise, kind and informative blog posts.

#YA Review: Eddy, Eddy by Kate De Goldi

Cover design by Candlewick Press, published in UK by Old Barn Books, 14 March 2024, ISBN: 978-1910646922

Eddy, Eddy is a YA novel which deals with big, existential themes through the lens of a teenage boy, in an unconventional family. As the story unfolds, we accompany Eddy in trying to understand his feelings towards religion, family, love, loss and identity – this is a novel which the publisher recommends for ages 14+ due to sensitive content. To avoid spoilers here, I will put a trigger warning at the end of this review.

It seems fitting that a story which interleaves so many layers should be set in a time and place devastated by a rupturing of the earth’s strata. Nineteen year old orphan, Eddy Smallbone, lives with his uncle in Christchurch, New Zealand and two years after the earthquake that devastated his city, his own life is about to suffer the aftershocks of some profound experiences. The first third of the novel is recounted through Eddy’s perspective and inner voice, revealing an uncomfortable relationship between Eddy and his Uncle Brian – known by everyone as Uncle Brain. Following the death of their ancient and beloved labrador, Marley, the two men are increasingly uneasy in each other’s company, and Eddy in particular wants to spend as much time outside the home as possible. This is facilitated by his expanding pet-care business. When he is not walking dogs, or feeding chickens or taking care of exotic amphibians for absent owners, he is filling shifts at the local supermarket. His employment seems at odds with the level of intellect on display within the first chapter, where Eddy and Brain trade quotations from A Christmas Carol.

It is apparent that Eddy’s upbringing by Uncle Brain, a bachelor research librarian, has furnished him with an extensive vocabulary, a love of classical literature and music, and in recent years a determination to rebel against his teenage academic persona. He has been expelled from his Catholic school for amongst other things, leading a student rebellion against a performance of Murder in the Cathedral and is now trying to discover where his broken life fits into the shattered city, the ravaged streets of which he walks with his canine charges.

This book is populated with a wonderful mix of memorable characters, including Brain and his three close friends who have stuck together since school days despite their surface differences; Thos More, Eddy’s misanthropic and tragic best friend; Jasper and Delphine, a brother and sister with whom he develops an almost parental relationship when he is hired to dog sit; Sue Lombardo an unconventional nun; and Boo, his ex-girlfriend who takes on some of the narrative in the latter part of the book. I had not previously read anything by author Kate De Goldi, but I was not surprised to find out that she is an award-winning writer and highly esteemed in her native New Zealand. Her prose is beautiful, it lulls you into the rhythm of Eddy’s life and I loved spending time getting to know the characters. Additionally, I loved the literary references and the way that the story was built on the framework of Dickens’ Christmas classic. At times I simply wallowed in the magnificent imagery, take this example from one of Eddy’s city walks:

It was a sorrowful pilgrimage and he took it regularly, needing somehow to give witness to the rubble piles and empty lots, the boarded-up windows, the toppled and broken headstones of the old cemetery, and finally, the great open wound of the Cathedral, domeless and gutted, a still life of vomited stone
page 47

Obviously, I am considerably older than the target audience but I know that I would have enjoyed this immensely in my late teens (although I would have needed a dictionary beside me as I read). For me, this was an outstanding coming of age novel which explored soul-searching in the most profound way and also reflected on the deep meaning of parenthood and family. Although Eddy is an immensely sympathetic character, it was Brain who captured my heart with his unwavering kindness, intelligent humour and steady support of all those he loved. I will be recommending Eddy, Eddy to my book group as well as to friends and secondary school librarians*. I will also be looking out for other books written by Kate De Goldi.

I am very grateful to Ruth at Old Barn Books for sending me a review copy of Eddy, Eddy in exchange for my honest opinion.

*Trigger warning – the story does feature a character with a serious eating disorder and a character who has an abortion.

World Book Day 2024: Dread Wood Creepy Creations by Jennifer Killick

Published by Farshore Books for World Book Day on 7 March 2024

I know that there are already legions of fans of the Dread Wood series in primary and secondary schools around the UK, and I am sure that their numbers will have been further swelled by children who were introduced to ‘Club Loser’ in this special £1 mini adventure published for World Book Day 2024.

The action takes place on Prospective Parents’ Open Evening and the group of teenagers known collectively as ‘Club Loser’ – Angelo, Collette, Gus, Hallie and Naira – have been asked to help out as student guides. As they sit in the student services room with their favourite teacher, Mr Canton, they reminisce about the eye-popping, death-defying situations they have encountered during the previous year. This is such a clever way to summarise their prior adventures for anyone unfamiliar with the previous full-length adventures in the series, welcoming new fans as warmly as a mug of Mr C’s hot choccie!

When Mr C does not return from a planned quick trip to the school kitchens, Angelo and friends decide to go and look for him, each of them feeling that rising sense of dread that has visited them so often in the preceding months. A previously undiscovered route from the school kitchens into the labyrinth of tunnels under the ancient school building leads the friends into another fight for survival. The fiendish Latchitts, former genetic engineers posing as school caretakers, have left more of their mutant creations scrabbling for survival in the subterranean maze and these creatures are very, very hungry. Will Club Loser be able to rescue Mr C before he becomes a tasty supper for a jawed and clawed monster?

I guarantee that once you pick up Creepy Creations, you won’t want to put it down until you have found out! This is a thoroughly entertaining short read, blending age-appropriate horror with an engaging mix of humorous teenage banter, for anyone aged 10 years and over.

FCBG Children’s Book Award Tour: The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow, illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton

Federation of Children's Book Groups Children's Book Award graphic which features the front cover of The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow.

The Children’s Book Award is the only national award for children’s books that is voted for entirely by children. It is owned and coordinated by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and is highly respected by teachers, parents and librarians. It has brought acclaim and strong sales to past winners such as J.K. Rowling, Patrick Ness, Andy Stanton, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz and Michael Morpurgo, who has won a record four times. The award has often been the first to recognise the future stars of children’s fiction and has the ability to turn popular authors into bestsellers.

I was honoured to be invited to share a post to celebrate The Final Year, written by Matt Goodfellow and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton, which is one of the Top Ten Books selected for the 2024 final vote. Furthermore, I am delighted that Matt Goodfellow has written the following content about the power of voice, for me to share with you…

I am delighted that The Final Year has been shortlisted for the FCGB book award and very pleased that it has been chosen for the only national award voted on solely by children.

The Final Year is a story of things being lost and things being found, amidst the chaos of a family navigating life in the city’s stark shadow. Nate and his two younger brothers have a complicated background and as Nate transitions into the final year of primary school, he has to deal with shifting friendships, powerful emotions, absent fathers, the pressure of SATs – and a medical emergency which threatens to shatter everything he has ever known.

Nate tells his story in his voice, in the accent and dialect he’s grown up with – a voice that is Nate’s cultural heritage, steeped in the richness of a regionality that captures the musicality of the world he exists in: a voice that is power.

These are the voices that I’ve seen as a teacher and poet working across cities and regions in the North of England, as well as living and working in Manchester myself. Voice is entrenched in the place that it comes from and the voice of the character is important, in that it tells its own story.

One of the most brilliant and powerful things about poetry is that it can be a vehicle for children to write in their voice, about their life. As a former primary school teacher, I’m acutely aware how narrow the writing curriculum can be in some schools, and how much pressure teachers are under to get children writing in a certain way in order to satisfy the demands of the National Curriculum.

Our voices tell people who we are, and we should be proud of who we are and the voice we speak in. Laying that out on the page, as I’ve done in this book, enables characters to be authentic, to have a strong and individual identity and for a rich variety of voices to be seen as both valued and valuable, when Standard Spoken English is held up as a pinnacle. Any region, place or person should be proud of its accent and dialect.

Some of the time Nate writes poems as he talks, some of the time he writes in Standard English, depending on how he feels and what he thinks is right. These are decisions he makes as a poet. He becomes master of language, rather than allowing it to be his master.

The story centres on the experiences of a working-class family in the North of England. It’s an important and powerful story to tell because it’s a celebration of a way of life which has too often in the media been stereotyped and maligned. I wrote this story to represent the lives of the children and families that I have seen growing up and working in schools across Manchester and to give space for any children in any part of the world to see that all lives and voices matter. These children see their voices and experiences reflected so infrequently in the current landscape of children’s literature. I hope this book shines a light on accent and dialect, growing up in an unconventional and difficult family setting – and provides an opportunity to humanise all lives and experiences.

Does this book get your vote? If so, head to the link in the next paragraph and cast your vote!

Who Will Win?? FCBG groups are voting within their group and non-members can vote online via the link at https://fcbg.org.uk/cba-2024/. The deadline for voting is Friday 18th May. The category winners and the author of the best children’s book published in 2024 will be announced at a ceremony in Birmingham on 8th June, attended by representatives from all our local groups.

#MG Review: Interdimensional Explorers Alien Apocalypse by Lorraine Gregory, illustrated by Jo Lindley

Front cover of paperback book Interdimensional Explorers Alien Invasion, written by Lorraine Gregory and Illustrated by Jo Lindley. — Cover art by Jo Lindley, published by Farshore Books, 14 March 2024, ISBN: 978-0008508265

Alien Apocalypse, the second book in the Interdimensional Explorers series by Lorraine Gregory is a zany, fast-paced, space adventure, brilliantly constructed to bring maximum entertainment to children of 8 years and above.

Eleven year old Danny appears to live a pretty ordinary life to most of his friends, family and neighbours. However, his very best friend Modge and his super-intelligent cousin Inaaya are both in on the secret that Danny is apprentice caretaker at the Interdimensional Lost Property Office (IDPO) where Danny’s grandad has been caretaker for many years previously. When Grandad takes off on a cruise with his new ‘fancy woman’ at the IPLO’s busiest season, Danny finds himself called into action on a task for which he is in dire need of training. ‘Returns Day’ is looming, the date when all of the most rare and valuable lost items in the multiverse have to be returned to their rightful owners…and Danny doesn’t even know where the secure storage vault is, let alone how to access it!

Emergency training is organised. Theft, scapegoating and double-crossing ensue. Intergalactic travel and extra-terrestrial pursuits reveal dastardly plans being enacted. Creatures, civilizations and planets are imagined and illustrated with wit and furnished with mind boggling names. The action is relentless. Think; The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy on steroids! This really is a page-turner; blending laugh out loud humour with a race against time to save the entire multiverse. It is wonderfully illustrated throughout by Jo Lindley, and there are extracts from Inaaya’s Astrophysicist Notebook (IAN) scattered through the story, creating a format which is likely to appeal to young readers. I can see this story providing huge entertainment for confident readers from age 8 right through to readers at the top of primary school or early secondary school who want a substantial story where the text is broken into manageable chunks.

I am most grateful to Farshore Books for providing me with a review copy of Interdimensional Explorers Alien Apocalypse ahead of its publication on 14 March 2024.