BOOKS FOR 8-12 YEAR OLDS

I love reading and many of the books I enjoy are thrillers. There's nothing I like more than reading an exciting, page-turning book with lots of puzzles and twists and turns and where all becomes clear in the end. So it seemed quite natural to me to write thrillers for children.

 


DANGEROUS DIAMONDS
NOMINATED FOR THE STOCKPORT CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 2010 AND THE WEST SUSSEX BOOK AWARD 2011.

After the shock of Dad's sudden disappearance, Harry and Charlie scour Edinburgh to find him. But, as they step into a world of criminal activity, they soon discover that others are out to stop them. Then the twins find themselves in terrible danger but use their grit and determination to outwit those who are holding their father. From the streets of Edinburgh to an ancient monastery and the wild Scottish coastline, Harry and Charlie are determined to survive and to find Dad.
 
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Barbara says: Some friends live in a very interesting flat in a very old building in the middle of Edinburgh. It has a stone spiral staircase and some higgledy piggledy rooms. It was while I was staying there that I thought it would be a wonderful place to begin a book and so Harry and Charlotte, the children in the story, live in that flat.

STORM RUNNERS
WINNER OF THE SOLIHULL CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 2009
An action packed adventure. A total thriller for 9-12 year olds.

When dramatic storms batter a small Scottish island and reduce a village to ruins, Ally and Kirstie think they are the sole surviviors. But they meet Brad, the son of American scientists, and together uncover the terrifying truth about the storms and the evil man who controls them.

Click here to read the first chapter of "Storm Runners"


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Barbara says: I've spent many holidays in Scotland and I love the mountains and rugged coastline in particular. I had no difficulty in imagining a small Scottish island where strange things are happening and so that's where I set my story, with children cut off from the mainland, having to fend for themselves and face up to terrible dangers.

 


KIDS ON THE RUN
A novel for 8-10 year olds

Have you ever been in deep, deep trouble, involved in a diamond robbery, on the run and chased by crooks? I have. It happened last year when I was least expecting it. Of course, my sister panicked, but I stayed cool, sorted out the thugs, got Dad out of prison and wrote a best-selling novel at the same time. How did I do it?
Read this book and find out. It's an awesome story. MAX
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Barbara says: I always wanted to write a book where the kids saved the grown-ups. The book above is about a boy called Max and his sister, Kaz. I like the idea of them keeping one step ahead of the criminals who got their dad into trouble. Very exciting.