CHILDREN’S
TIME TRAVELLING WITH A TORTOISE by Ross Welford (Harper Collins €8.79, 272pp)
THIS sequel to Welford’s bestselling, moving and funny debut, Time Travelling With A Hamster, reunites us with Al Chaudhury, who travelled back decades to save his father from a fatal accident. Now living happily as a family again, his muchloved grandfather loses his memory after a crash, so Al tries to repeat his rescue feat — only to find himself and two companions stranded in the prehistoric era, with angry dinosaurs . . . can he find the way home and which reality will he finally choose?
Welford plays with the concept of alternate universes and multiple existences so we are kept guessing until the very end what the consequences of Al’s decision will be in this action-packed adventure.
STITCH by Padraig Kenny (Walker €9.49, 208pp)
USING the story of Dr Frankenstein as inspiration, this gothic drama follows the fortunes of Stitch (sewn together from dead bodies) and his friend Henry Oaf, who were both brought to life by the scientist Dr Hardacre. But Hardacre is now dead and his evil, ambitious nephew Giles has arrived at his uncle’s castle determined to profit from his experiments.
When unworldly Stitch realises that Giles wants to use the forthcoming storm to ‘adjust’ Henry’s brain, he rebels and helps him to escape into the real world, which is hostile to anyone who looks like a ‘monster’.
Thought-provoking and heartwarming, this humane tale is beautifully and simply written.
THE BOY WHO FELL FROM THE SKY by Benjamin Dean (S&S €8.79, 320pp)
ZED’S dad is the world’s most successful Demon Hunter, tracking down dangerous spirits who fall from the stars to attack the world. He’s desperate for hapless Zed to follow in his footsteps, which looks unlikely, until one night Zed sees a shooting star and discovers Spark, a Demon, hiding in his garden.
But Spark poses no threat and is just looking for his captured brother, which leads confused Zed to question everything his fiercely competitive father has ever told him. Which side will he choose? A highly imaginative and fast-paced look at independent thought, prejudiced lies and family loyalty told with wit and humour — and with a cliff-hanger ending.