Ollie Spark and the Accidental Adventure

By Author / Illustrator

Gillian Cross, Alan Snow

Genre

Environment

Age range(s)

Publisher

David Fickling Books

ISBN

9781788452397

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

06-01-2022

Synopsis

Machines, mysteries and mayhem - this must be a case for Ollie Spark! Ollie Spark loves mending machines and solving mysteries. But he gets more than he bargained for when fixing Aunt Caz's van throws him into a real-life spy adventure! Ollie is whisked away to a mysterious city with strange plants, an unknown language and suspicious people round every corner. With the help of Gasket, his new dog best friend, he sets off on a mission to save the city - and Aunt Caz - from disaster. Can Ollie fix things before it's too late?!

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Reviews

Ollie Spark and the Accidental Adventure written by Gillian Cross Illustrated by Alan Snow Ollie Spark loves mending machines and solving mysteries! Ollie Spark loves to take machines apart and modify them. Aunt Caz, who has been signed by a publisher to write a series of spy mysteries, asks for his help to fix up a van she has bought. No problem thinks Ollie, unaware of the real-life adventure he is about to experience. Aunt Caz gets kidnapped and Ollie has a race against time and smog to save her. Along the way he picks up a stray dog, that he calls Gasket, to keep him company on his travels. Will he find Aunt Caz? Where did all the smog come from? Can he solve the mystery?

I loved this action-packed adventure with Ollie and Gasket that has a serious message about looking after the planet and how it is not too late to change. The author and illustrator compliment each other perfectly, adding fun and excitement to the story. It is very exciting to hear that there will be future adventures with Ollie. This would make a great class story to go alongside topic work on climate change.

Reviewed by Carol Wright, school librarian