Tag Alessia Trunfio

Scrap: Escape from Somewhere 513

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Scrap: Escape from Somewhere 513
Guy Bass, illustrated by Alessia Trunfio
Little Tiger

With old rivals and some new foes to deal with, Scrap, Paige and Gnat undertake a hazardous journey to the Ocean Jungles in search of the Wigeon, the last rocket ship on Somewhere 513. But they face a desperate struggle to extricate the ship from frogbears. While these beings dislike the taste of metallic Scrap, they’ll most likely have a taste for human flesh and bones.

Then Paige manages to get the ship airborne but Gnat is beguiled by a baby frogbear calling it cute; that is before it attacks. Eventually the ship crashes, happily with no fatalities, but the Wigeon is in a terrible state. However, over the space radio come voices supposedly broadcasting from Somewhere Five One Four saying they need help.

During all this a kind of alliance with Newman is formed but is he to be trusted?

With Scrap doing his utmost to repair the Wigeon and Harmony Highshine’s forces moving ever closer, it seems that if Paige is to keep her promise to her mum to keep Gnat safe, there’s no option but to remain with the Moochfolk, while Gnat and Scrap leave in the airship bound for Somewhere 514.

This is the final story in Guy Bass’s wonderful trilogy and its end chapter and epilogue brought tears to my eyes.
If you’ve not read the first two books, Scrap and Scrap: The Good, the Bad and the Rusty, start with those: they’re all gripping stories and Alessia Trunfio’s illustrations are a powerful addition to the narrative each.

Scrap: The Good, the Bad and the Rusty

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Scrap: The Good, the Bad and the Rusty
Guy Bass, illustrated by Alessia Trunfio
Little Tiger

In this second story in the trilogy readers join Scrap, Paige and Gnat as they journey across Somewhere 513. The book opens with the three going on a quest to find the Pink-Footed Goose, supposedly it’s landed somewhere in the no-go Badlands of Elsewhere and it’s their only chance – so the children’s mother said – of getting off-world. There are perils aplenty but then they encounter Wired Bill who takes them to the wandering robot town of Mooch where the robots have rejected Mayor Highshine’s views, welcome the three visitors and make them feel at home.

Wired Bill is even more welcoming when he learns that Scrap and KI-NG are likely one and the same. Scrap then begins to think perhaps the three of them should abandon their plans to escape the planet and instead make their home with the folks of Mooch. Enter Newman desperate to know where the King’s core is and promising to help and keep the children safe in return.

Then Paige starts seeing visions of ghostly humans: now she can hardly wait to get away from the strange town. And when their gofer is fixed that’s what she’s determined to do but then agrees to stay another night, the result being an attack from glowsharks, one of which bites Paige. When they eventually depart for Tumbledown Canyon things get more perilous and suddenly Scrap learns something that rocks him to the very core. Events get progressively weirder, Gnat gets angry, but who can be trusted?

The book ends on a cliff-hanger with Scrap, Paige and Gnat taking the only chance they have and heading off in search of Newman’s ship which may or may not have been destroyed already. Brilliantly done with a scattering of splendid illustrations by Alessia Trunfio. Book three can’t come quickly enough for me and I’m sure Scrap’s countless followers.

Scrap / Solve Your Own Mystery: The Transylvanian Express

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These are two recently published adventures from Little Tiger – thanks to the publisher for sending them for review.

Scrap
Guy Bass, illustrated by Alessia Trunfio

This is a sc-fi, action-packed adventure that will intrigue you from the outset. It stars loyal robot and former king Scrap, and the only humans left on the planet, two young sisters Paige and Gnat who are struggling to survive against the odds. The setting in the future is Somewhere 513, where the robots intended to prepare the way for human habitation, decided to keep it for themselves. A battle was the result and the other robots fled leaving King, who sided with the humans.

Fast forward a decade and a mangy robot is living a solitary existence on the Pile – an area of abandoned junk – where he has carefully constructed himself a home in which to see out his days. As he reflects upon how desperate he is to belong to his surroundings his thoughts are interrupted by the appearance of two figures, their faces hidden beneath their clothes. He tells them to get lost, but convinced that this robot is the one they’ve been searching for, the girls tell the robot that their mother had told them to find him. At least Gnat believes it’s King, but Paige is far from certain.

When the robot refuses to reveal his name, Gnat decides he is to be called Scrap. Paige is quick thinking, slow to trust Scrap on account of his appearance mainly, but very loving towards Gnat. Gnat in contrast is open-minded and her manner of speaking is delightful.

Scrap really wants nothing to do with the girls but his conscience won’t let him abandon them to the Hunters who are searching for them and despite his grumpiness he proves to be full of heart, loyal and caring towards them.

We also meet Mayor Harmony Highshine, full of evil plans, and Morten Prometheus, playing a role he doesn’t like; indeed new characters keep on appearing as the plot twists and turns with Scrap, Paige and Gnat facing various enemies, escaping and then finding themselves in further danger.

All this makes for a thrilling and thought-provoking adventure, not least on account of the upgrading issue. There’s humour too though, partly thanks to Gunner whose phrases that aren’t quite right; “charm down”, “hazard a guest” and “I’m folding all the cards” will surely make you smile and there’s a wealth of other wordplay too. Then we have Alessia Trunfio’s superb illustrations.
Bring on the second adventure of Scrap, Paige and Gnat.

Solve Your Own Mystery: The Transylvanian Express
Gareth P. Jones, illustrated by Louise Forshaw

Want to be a detective? Then try this the fourth of this series that puts the reader in charge of the direction in which the mystery story goes. Like the previous ones, it features characters from the town of Haventry.

You and your yeti boss, Klaus Solstaag are seven days into a railway journey aboard the Transylvanian Express, destination Castel Ursprung, home of the vampire Count Fledermaus. However, before you get there, a mystery needs .solving: Night Mayor Franklefink has vanished from the train. Somebody aboard must have played a role in his disappearance, but who has the strongest motive?

There are several possibles. Could it be Franklefink’s archnemesis Bramwell Stoker? Or is Sandra Rigmarole, elf District Governor and colleague of the Night Mayor, a more likely suspect? Maybe Franklefink’s monster wife has turned against him? You dear reader, decide!

By following the prompts and choosing what route to take, you will be lead down various paths and be offered a number of clues to assist you in solving the crime. One thing I can assure readers is that this trip will be anything but boring and that eventually the perpetrator of the crime will be unmasked.

With a wealth of mock scary illustrations by Louise Forshaw to add to the fun, this will be especially welcome for readers who enjoy problem solving.

The Thief of Farrowfell

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The Thief of Farrowfell
Ravena Guron, illustrated by Alessia Trunfio
Faber

Twelve year old Jude Ripon is part of a criminal family and so desperate is she to impress the other family members, in particular the patriarch Grandleader, that she steals some rare magic from the Westons, one of the most powerful families in all of Farrowfell. Surely that will make them take notice of her so they’ll allow her to do more than keep watch while they carry out daring heists.
However, she learns that the magic – which can seriously impair her family’s business – is protected by a curse that can only be lifted by returning it to the rightful owners. This though isn’t possible, as Mr and Mrs Weston have been missing for more than a year.

Reluctantly, Jude joins forces with the Weston children to find their parents and break the curse. While doing so, she begins to question her loyalty to her own family and consider whether she really wants to be a true Ripon at all.

The three children search for clues and piece together evidence, taking care to evade any Lilthrum, the blood-thirsty monsters formed from raw magic, whose deadly attacks on people have recently been increasing at a disturbing rate. The more time Jude spends with Eli and Fin, she cannot but appreciate and enjoy their kindness and friendship, things she’s never before experienced. This makes her feel even more at odds with her upbringing in a criminal household.

With edible magic (I’ve not met that before), a flawed hero and a twisting, turning plot with Alessia Trunfio’s interesting chapter heading illustrations, this is the first of what will become a series; it’s hugely exciting and full of dark humour. I envisage children around Jude’s age will be eagerly anticipating the next adventure; this reviewer certainly is.