The Spirit Snatcher - Cat Gray

Pip wants nothing more than to fit in and for his parents to be less eccentric than they are. As they head to London to begin a new life, he is dreading his new school and is thankful he has a few weeks before he needs to start. Arriving in Elbow Alley is far from what Pip was expecting, especially not when confronted by a girl who warns him to leave immediately. On their first night, Pip is woken by a strange mist-like apparition which enters his room causing him to feel strange; however, it quickly leaves and Pip begins to think it was just a dream until he awakes the next morning to find his usually bouncy parents sitting lifeless in front of the TV. Heading out, Pip bumps into Fliss, the girl who warned him against staying the pervious day. When he tells her about his parents, she informs him they have been spirit snatched and the same fate awaits him and Fliss when they turn 13 in two days' time. Can the pair, along with Fliss's dog Splodge, get to the bottom of who is snatching spirits before it's too late?

The Spirit Snatcher has all the ingredients for a captivating read: a spooky setting, a mystery to solve,  brilliantly engaging characters, a cute dog and the ability to draw reads in from the start. Mix them all together and you have a book that I promise you won't be able to put down. 

Pip is a character many will be able to relate to as he is profoundly embarrassed by his parents and wants nothing more than to blend in and have a 'normal' life. The move to London is supposed to be a new start but he really can't see his parents changing their ways any time soon. The phrase 'be careful what you wish for...' springs to mind here as Pip ultimately gets what he wants: once his parents have been spirit-snatched, they do nothing but sit in front of their TV and phone, enabling Pip to eat all the junk food he wants. However, he soon realises that all he actually wants is to have his parents back, eccentricities and all.  Perhaps it also helps that the residents of Elbow Lane are far from your usual neighbours.  As Pip gets to know Fliss, she shows him that blending in isn't everybody's goal in life. I loved her individuality and her sense of self.  

The Spirit Snatcher is a book that will remind you that it's OK to be yourself and that family aren't always as embarrassing as they may seem (I've been telling my son that for years!).  Publishing at the end of September, The Spirit Snatcher is the perfect read to cosy up with as the evenings turn chilly and you need a friend to keep you company. It's a brilliant read and one I know will go down well in school next term.