Boom!: (Or 70,000 Light Years). Mark Haddon - Tapa dura

"An explosive adventure" (Bookseller, Children's Buyer's Guide)

"A wildly energetic and anarchic adventure involving kidnaps and scooter rides, with the children trying to outwit the evil or incompetent adults (not terribly difficult). Great fun for young readers" (Sally Morris Daily Mail)

"One to read aloud" (Nicolette Jones The Sunday Times)

"Funny, pacy adventure that blends a fairly kitchen sink set of family dynamics with some utterly zany fantasy. The whole thing is a pleasure to read and I think probably a pleasure to share reading aloud. There is a big whiff of Roald Dahl anarchy about it, especially in the way the adults are awfully bad or bumblingly hopeless. The children save the day just as children should. A crackling little story" (Jill Murphy thebookbag.co.uk)

"A funny exciting read" (Carousel)

From the moment that Jim and his best friend Charlie bug the staffroom and overhear two of their teachers speaking to each other in a secret language, they know there's an adventure on its way.

But what does "spudvetch" mean, and why do Mr Kidd's eyes flicker with fluorescent blue light when Charlie says it to him? Perhaps Kidd and Pearce are bank robbers talking in code. Perhaps they're spies. Perhaps they're aliens. Whatever they are, Jimbo and Charlie are determined to find out.

There really is an adventure on its way. A nuclear-powered, one hundred-ton adventure with reclining seats and a buffet car. And as it gathers speed and begins to spin out of control, it can only end in one way . . . with a BOOM!

Note: This book was first published in 1992 under the title Gridzbi Spudvetch! It has now been completely re-written (Mark has changed pretty much every sentence one way or another) and given a new title that is much easier to pronounce!