Explorers on Witch Mountain

By Author / Illustrator

Alex Bell, Tomislav Tomic

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

Publisher

Faber & Faber

ISBN

9780571332564

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

01-11-2018

Synopsis

The second title in this gorgeously imaginative middle grade fantasy adventure series combining the best of Peter Pan, Lemony Snicket, Northern Lights and Alice in Wonderland. Stella Starflake Pearl is eagerly anticipating her next expedition. Suddenly disaster strikes when Stella's father, Felix, is snatched by a fearsome witch. Stella must bring her magic ice princess tiara to Witch Mountain or she will never see Felix again! But no one ever returns from Witch Mountain . . .

Stella, Ethan, Shay, Beanie and reluctant Jungle Cat explorer, Gideon, set off into the unknown. They will face chomping pumpkin patches, vampire trolls, poisonous rabbits, outraged vultures and deranged broomsticks in their quest to rescue Felix.

Praise for the series:'A magical adventure of friendship, bravery and derring-do in a richly imagined world.' The Bookseller 'A fantastic frosty adventure.' Sunday Express 'Wintry, atmospheric, highly imaginative fantasy.' Metro 'The most huggable book of the year . . . An (iced) gem.' SFX

Reviews

Stella Snowflake Pearl is back, along with her friends from her previous adventure with the Polar Bear Explorers Club. But this time it is different and it is very personal. Stella's father Felix has been kidnapped by a giant vulture and taken to Witch Mountain. Stella, with her friends Ethan, Shay and Beanie, travel there to rescue him in an unauthorised and highly dangerous mission. No-one returns from Witch Mountain….

Explorers on Witch Mountain is fun and adventure from the outset. The whole story is littered with crazy and imaginative magic, which is always completely unexpected and the charm of the book. The jungle fairies in the book are a real highlight! The characters are also so memorable, it was like meeting old friends when reading about them again. As the entire book is quite anarchic, it is not so easy to guess the plot or work out how they will escape from one terrifying event to the next.

Tomislav Tomic once again illustrates the story and his double page spreads are fantastic. They entirely fit with what is happening in my own imagination and I confess I spent quite a lot of time just looking at the pictures. This is quite unusual for a Middle Grade book and a real bonus for readers. This series is a great deal of fun as well as fast paced adventures and I’m looking forward to the next book.

384 pages / Reviewed by Jacqueline Harris, teacher