The Demon Headmaster - Gillian Cross

 

Dinah is being fostered by Lloyd and Harvey's parents, and will be attending the same school as them.  However, on her first day at school, she quickly realises that there is something very unusual about this school for everyone is impeccably behaved, never putting a foot out of line; everyone that is except Lloyd, Harvey and a couple of other children.  How has the headmaster got control over these children?  Dinah, Lloyd and Harvey are determined to find out exactly what is going on.

The children at school love it when they discover a book I haven't read, and this was the case last week with t

The Demon Headmaster, much to the delight of the child I was chatting to, who immediately insisted that I borrow their book so I could rectify this wrong!  Who am I to refuse a new book to read?

The Demon Headmaster is a great read! A school story that will ensure you never quite look at a headteacher in the same way again!  A perfectly formed story at 146 pages, the plot is engaging and remarkably plausible in a rather weird way!  It's fun in its scares and full of characters you'll enjoy getting to know.  It was just the book I needed! And with 7 other books in the series, it's the gift that just keeps giving and goes to show that, at nearly 10 years old, it is standing the test of time.

Now, the next time my head wears his sunglasses, should I be worried?!

How To Steal The Future - Christopher Edge

 

Drew is facing the biggest challenge of his life: he must entre the maze in search of the Avenir, something which has the power to tell you your future.  His sister has already entered and hasn't come out so his mission has become two-fold as he is adamant he is going to find her as well as the Avenir.  As he and Meg, the other person who enters the maze with him, make their way through, they face challenges at every stage.  And they also encounter others along the way.  But can Drew do what he has set out to do and find his sister as well as the Avenir? 

For me, Christopher Edge's name has become synonymous with writing brilliant books that combine science with adventure in a plot that really makes you think and takes your breath away ... and don't get me started on the endings I never see coming!  With that in mind, I was excited to dive into How To Steal The Future, keen to discover what was waiting for me.

The plot is fast-paced and thrilling, not only in the obstacles Drew and his fellow questers face in the maze, but also their thoughts about the Avenir and their race against time.  Readers will find themselves questioning many things along the way, including characters' motivations (can they be trusted?) and whether they will ever find the answers they are looking for.  The ending, once again, was something I didn't see coming, even though I was trying to guess what the twist would be from the start!  I won't spoil anything but I will say that I'm still thinking about it days after I've finished reading the book.

How To Steal The Future is incredibly clever in its ideas as well as the way Christopher creates the plot. It's a novel I would love to read aloud to a class as the questions it would generate would be wonderful to discuss. At 198 pages, it's a fairly quick read and would be perfect for those who can be daunted by larger books.  But please don't be fooled: the book packs a real punch and will leave you pondering life and the future in a way you didn't expect to!

I can't wait to see what Christopher writes next!