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GargantisThomas Taylor
Gargantis
by Thomas Taylor
A storm is tearing at Eerie-on-Sea, and the bottle a fisherman pulls up seems to be what is causing it.
A story about children and magical creatures, spooky and adventurous in tone. We would put it with children of 9–12, and at a reading age of about 10 for reading alone.
Worth knowing before you buy
- Frightening scenes
- Mild peril
None of this makes it a bad book — often the opposite. It is here so you can decide whether it is right for your child now or in a year or two.
Part of a series
This is book 2 of the The Eerie-on-Sea Mysteries series, so there is more to read if it goes down well — which is worth a great deal with a reluctant reader.
Our take on this book
A storm is battering the harbour town of Eerie-on-Sea, a strange fish with a mysterious relic in its belly has turned up at the aquarium, and Herbie Lemon, keeper of the Lost-and-Foundery, must work out what ancient creature is stirring beneath the town before the whole place shakes apart. Thomas Taylor's Eerie-on-Sea mysteries are a delight: a wonderfully atmospheric seaside town of fog and legend, an appealing pair of young sleuths in Herbie and Violet, and a spooky, inventive mystery with just the right amount of shiver. This second book stands largely on its own but rewards readers of the first. The peril is real but the tone is more thrilling than terrifying, wrapped in gorgeous, gothic-tinged storytelling. For a nine- to twelve-year-old who likes their mysteries with cobbles, sea-mist and a touch of the uncanny, it is a richly enjoyable read, and part of a series that builds a whole world worth getting lost in.
If they like this, try these
Chosen by matching age, reading age, tone and subject — not by what is selling.
MalamanderThomas Taylor
CoralineNeil Gaiman
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan CrowJessica Townsend
Orphans of the TideStruan Murray
Or let them write their own.
Nothing gets a child reading like a story they invented themselves. Your child plans the characters and the plot, and we write, illustrate and print it as a real book with their name on the cover as the author.
Find another book
Tell us the age, the reading age and what they like, and we will suggest a handful.