Sky Pirates: Echo Quickthorn and the Great Beyond

Sky Pirates: Echo Quickthorn and the Great Beyond

By Author / Illustrator

Alex English, Mark Chambers

Genre

Fantasy

Age range(s)

7+

Publisher

Simon & Schuster Ltd

ISBN

9781471190773

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

23-07-2020

Synopsis

Take to the skies in this thrilling new series from author Alex English. (BEWARE: THERE WILL BE PIRATES!)

11 year-old Echo Quickthorn has grown up believing that nothing exists outside the Kingdom of Lockfort, but everything changes when an eccentric professor parks his airship outside her window armed with a map that shows all the magical places that exist beyond the city walls.

Together with her pet lizard, Gilbert, Echo sets off on an incredible adventure to find her missing mother; an adventure that will take her to unimaginable places filled with giant butterflies, mechanical dragons and . . . sky pirates!

Praise for SKY PIRATES: Echo Quickthorn and the Great Beyond:

"Fizzes with magic and wonder" - Abi Elphinstone, bestselling author of SKY SONG

"A charmingly madcap adventure, with endearing friendships, sparkling wit, and a swashbuckling journey across pirate-infested skies. I loved it. Perfect for fans of Nevermoor and Cogheart." - Hana Tooke, author of THE UNADOPTABLES


"An incredible adventure, brimming with friendship and danger" - The Bookseller

Reviews

Hayley

Sky Pirates is the breathtaking middle-grade debut from Alex English. This exciting adventure story is full of swashbuckling journeys across lands unknown to the main characters, Echo and Horace.


Having grown up in Lockfort, Echo and Prince Horace are unaware of the world beyond the kingdom gates. Accordingly, they have been raised to believe that after the Great War the gates were locked to protect the citizens of Lockfort and that nothing else exists. Echo, who is a warden of the King, has never quite felt she belonged in Lockfort and her adventurous nature often gets her into trouble with the King and residents within the castle. That is, until one-night when Professor Daggerwing's airship crashes outside Echo's window and ignites Echo's curiosity for the world beyond the kingdom walls.


I just love how this story entwines marvellous inventions, sky-pirates, stolen treasure and mysterious undiscovered islands into one book. From the moment I started to read the story, I was hooked on how the themes unravelled and the characters and plot developed. My imagination was brought to life by the setting descriptions used by the author and her ability to portray endearing friendships.


I think this book would be an excellent accompaniment to the teaching of Alchemy Island in Upper Key Stage 2 and Castles in Lower Key Stage 2. If you were to use this book to teach Alchemy Island you could create maps used by Professor Daggerwing, descriptions of new creatures and plants discovered on the Violet Isles. There are endless English opportunities: poems sung by Professor Daggerwing, Speeches by King Alfons, letters sent by the postal pigeon and much more. Furthermore, you could explore themes of stereotypical pirates and tyrant rulers, as well as look at futuristic inventions.


I would highly recommend this book because there are many fantastic teaching and learning opportunities that can be created from it for both Key Stages.


323 pages / Ages 8+ /Reviewed by Hayley Summerfield, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

 

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