Spark (Paperback)

M.G. Leonard, internationally bestselling author of Twitch, Beetleboy and Adventures on Trains, is back with another thrilling wildlife mystery for birdwatching detectives The Twitchers! >> Twitch won the Sainsburys' Children's Book Award for Fiction 2021 >> Twitch won the CRIMEFEST Award for Best Crime Novel for Children 2021 >> "a twist-laden, thriller-like tale" Observer on Twitch >> "a lively, twisty crime drama" The Times on Twitch When Jack rescues a wounded cat, he quickly suspects foul play. Could there be a wildlife criminal on the loose in Briddvale? Jack rushes to investigate, determined to catch the culprit, only to stumble into a deepening mystery and a sinister criminal plot. Can Jack and The Twitchers stop the villains before it's too late? Praise for Twitch: "Leonard knows her audience and the jeopardy comes in flocks ... Find your nest, curl up and enjoy." The Times, Children's Book of the Week "A twist-laden, thriller-like tale of a bird-mad boy, some bullies and an escaped convict hiding in the nearby woods." Observer "A twisty crime drama as well as a persuasive story about friendship and nature." The Sunday Times "Simply genius." BBC Wildlife Magazine "[A] pacy mystery adventure featuring a birdwatching detective hot on the heels of a dangerous escaped prisoner." iNewspaper "Leonard has crafted an intelligent mystery from unlikely material, with bonus bird facts." Irish Times "A winged masterpiece." Maz Evans "Enthralling from beginning to end, it really touched my young bird-loving heart! Just wonderful!" Dara McAnulty "Birds, mystery and fowl play! What more could you want?" Gill Lewis "Glorious! Full of excitement and wonder!" Sophie Anderson "A brave and thrilling new adventure from one of my favourite writers. I honestly didn't put the book down until the very last, exciting, page-turn and I'm twitching for the next adventure!" Jasbinder Bilan "Twitch is an absolute triumph. The perfect blend of mystery and adventure, a winning hero with an eye for ornithological facts and a heart as big as the countryside, plus a cracking whipsmart plot, I think this is M. G. Leonard's best book yet." Christopher Edge "Cracking characters, beyond pacy plotting and an ending that is almost Bugsy Malone-esque!" Phil Earle "Twitch is a compelling read - an adventure mystery with birds - what more could any reader want?!" Stephen Moss "Adventure, friendship and the pure unassuming beauty of nature ... a book that could have been a collaboration between David Attenborough and Roald Dahl." Dr Jess French "A superb adventure of friendship, bravery and the wonderful world of birds, with a strong, but non-preachy theme of the benefits of connection with the natural world." The Bookseller "One of those really, really good books ... Recommended for readers around 8 to 12 years old, and grown-ups like me who still enjoy the delight of a great adventure story!" The Bookbag