The first instalment of the international best-selling fantasy series from Jenny Nimmo starring Charlie Bone. Classic magic and mystery from one of Britain's best-loved authors of fantasy adventure. Perfect for fans of Harry Potter, Eva Ibbotson and Christopher Paolini. An Academy for magic and special talents. A destiny unfulfilled. A secret legacy. Since his father died, Charlie Bone has lived with his mother and her mother, in the house of his other grandmother, Grandma Bone. Looking at a picture of a couple with a baby and a cat, he suddenly discovers he can hear their voices. Although he tries to hide his new gift, Grandma Bone and her scary sisters soon find out, and send him to Bloor's Academy. Charlie quickly finds life at Bloor's pretty tough, with its strict rules and the malevolent head boy, Manfred, set against him. When Charlie discovers that the child in the photograph is being held, hypnotised, against her will, he and his new friends with 'gifts' try to awaken her. But can they overcome Manfred's sinister hypnotic gifts? Have you collected all of the Charlie Bone books? Midnight for Charlie Bone Charlie Bone and the Time Twister Charlie Bone and the Blue Boa Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors Charlie Bone and the Hidden King Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock Charlie Bone and the Red Knight Also look out for The Snow Spider trilogy. Jenny Nimmo is the acclaimed author of the Charlie Bone books for children. She has won several significant awards for her children's books, including the Nestle Smarties Book Prize and the Tir na n-Og Welsh Arts Council award for The Snow Spider. This book is a gripping fantasy tale of mystery, suitable for children and adults. If you like Harry Potter you will love this.' Harry, aged 8, Books for Keeps 'The story is lively, accomplished and dramatic and the writing has an engaging directness and warmth,' Helen Dunmore, Daily Telegraph 'A fast moving, dialogue-driven romp with plenty of cliff-hangers for those first hooked into reading by Harry Potter,' The Bookseller 'Dark, funny, crackling with magic' - author Artemis Cooper. Reviews Jenny Nimmo is the author of the worldwide bestselling Charlie Bone series. As well as writing for children, she has been an actor, researcher, floor-manager and script editor for children's television. Her first book The Bronze Trumpeter was published in 1975. The Snow Spider won the Tir na N'Og award and the Smarties Grand Prix and was adapted into a CBBC series in 2020. Jenny Nimmo was born in Windsor, Berkshire and now lives in Wales with her bi-lingual family.
