Blitzers

Hot on the heels of his equally excellent book Reek, Alastair Chisholm has written another engaging science fiction story, Blitzers, about a group of school friends and their gaming devices.

Blitzers are the latest must-have craze and Danny does not want to be left out of the fun. However these virtual fighting creatures are not cheap. Jay, Danny's older brother, manages to secure one for his younger brother but 'Chew Lip' is not like the other fighting creatures, preferring to live his virtual life peacefully and gently.

Danny realises he has been gifted a reject but neither wants to seem ungrateful after Jay went to so much trouble, nor let his pacifistic Blitzer show him up amongst his school friends who are all vying to have the champion Blitzer. As he grows to care for his creature, the story develops a dark edge when suddenly a glitch occurs, forcing the children to put aside their Blitzer differences and solve the mystery of their disabled bots.

Blitzers is a fast past, page turning story which will engage older children from 9 years and upwards in this part school-based real life story, and part that of the alternative virtual world of the fighting creatures.

It is an accessible story for children with dyslexia with plenty of space, an easy to read font, and illustrations by Francesca Ficorilli, which enhance the text. It is longer than the usual Barrington Stoke books at 143 pages but manages to capture plenty of plot twists in a story which still has the traditional beginning, middle and end.

A highly enjoyable sci-fi adventure with dramatic moments as well as a mystery to solve and a solid, heart warming relationship between the brothers all depicted in a great new addition to the science fiction shelves at school. Highly recommended.

Suggested Reading Age 9+