Most Popular Books by Terry Deary

Flanders 1918. The extraordinary true story of a pigeon who saved nearly 200 lives. A troop of Americans are trapped behind enemy lines. Not only are their German enemies firing at them but so are their own side. Somehow they have to get a message to their comrades. The only way is by pigeon. But every time a pigeon rises in the air it is shot down. The last pigeon, a black bird called Cher Ami, flies with bullets zipping through the air all around him, covering 25 miles in just 65 minutes, helping to save the lives of the 194 survivors. In his epic journey he is shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, and left with a leg hanging only by a tendon. Army medics save his life. They can''t save his leg, so they carve a small wooden one for him. When he recovers, the pigeon is put on a boat to the United States, a hero.

750 BC. The boys at school are excited. Their teacher suggests the school holds its own Olympic games. Elena watches as her twin brother, Cypselis, prepares and discovers a bet with Big Bacchiad. If Cypselis wins he gets a new goat, if he loses then Elena becomes Bacchiad''s slave. Elena needs to make sure her brother wins. But will he?

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories... In a tunnel under the Thames, an urchin named Jenny and the young Queen Victoria dream of a wonderful new idea – underground trains! Twenty years later, the dream is finally becoming a reality. However, the construction of the Underground is tearing London apart and destroying the home of Jenny and her family. When Jenny comes face-to-face with the Queen again – will she tell her about the human cost of the ''dream''? Terry Deary''s Victorian Tales explore the fascinating world of the Victorians, including many of the incredible achievements and breakthroughs that took place, through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.

Young Acheron is a liar. Everybody knows it. But when a stranger comes to the city to announce that the Greeks have departed, leaving a special gift of a wooden horse, Acheron is suspicious. He races to tell Prince Paris about the Greek plot, but will anyone believe him?

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named ''the outstanding children''s non-fiction author of the 20th century'' by Books For Keeps ____________________ 387 BC Rome is under attack from the vicious Gauls and the barbarian army is now preparing to besiege the Temple of Juno on Capitol Hill, home of Brutus, a trainee priest. The temple''s inhabitants are offered help from the army of Lord Furius, but are not sure if he is to be trusted. However, when rescue eventually comes it is from an even more unlikely source... A tale based on one of the most famous of all Roman legends, full of Terry Deary''s dark humour and dry wit. ____________________ ''Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers'' interest in all things historical.'' Books For Keeps

''Sinister and hilarious. Great fun'' SUN ''[A] smart, funny and deftly executed page turner'' GUARDIAN ''Extraordinarily fun and oh-so-gripping'' i PAPER ''Dark, witty . . . had me racing for the end'' JANICE HALLETT ''Funny, and so very, very clever . . . the most fun I''ve had reading a book in a long time '' M. W. CRAVEN ''Wonderful'' IAN MOORE ______________ A hilarious and whip-smart crime novel by the multimillion-copy bestselling author of the Horrible Histories. The perfect mystery for fans of Anthony Horowitz, Richard Osman and Janice Hallett. Four strangers on a train. An unlikely introduction: ''Actually, I''m a murderer.'' It is 1973 and the lives of four people are thrown into turmoil when sharing a carriage with an unremarkable little man with glasses, on the night train back to Newcastle. By the end of the following day, one of them will be dead, one will turn blackmailer and another forced to commit a crime. And all of them will be under the astute observation of Aline, the local police officer with her own agenda to fulfil. When the body count begins to rise, the question is: just how many murderers are out there... and who will be the next victim? ______________ ''Laugh-out-loud funny'' WOMAN & HOME ''A delightful joyride of a book'' SIMON BRETT ''A fun page-turner . . . a gripping book and perfect for Knives Out fans'' PRESS ASSOCIATION ''Gripping, original and hard to put down'' KATE ELLIS ''Witty, wonderfully paced and great fun'' MATURE TIMES ''Highly original and deeply engaging'' FRANCES BRODY * PRE-ORDER THE NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES, ACTUALLY, I''M A CORPSE, NOW *

Horrible Histories author Terry Deary presents a laugh-out-loud collection of Viking tales based on thrilling true stories – four books in one!

Readers can discover all the foul facts about the FRIGHTFUL FIRST WORLD WAR, including how sniffing your own pee could save your life in a gas attack and why a pair of old socks gave away top German secrets. These bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories... A crowded train takes a wrong turn and hurtles at full speed into a section of track that should have been closed for repair. Among the passengers is the writer Charles Dickens. Can young workman Tommy stop the train in time and save the lives of those on board – or is it already too late? In this dramatic re-telling of one of the worst rail accidents in Victorian Britain, the Staplehurst Railway disaster, Terry Deary''s Victorian Tales explore the fascinating world of the Victorians, including many of the incredible achievements and breakthroughs that took place, through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.

When the conquering Vikings settle in North America, they realise that their new home might not be as pleasant as they thought. The land is green and fertile but will they ever become friends with the natives, the fierce and war-like people they call Skraelings? Or will they be forced to return to Greenland? A Viking story blending Norse mythology with historical fact and Terry Deary''s vividly imagined characters.

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories... Henri Giffard has devoted all his free time and money to inventing the first steam-driven hot air balloon. He''s determined to make mankind''s first ever-powered flight, and so in 1852 he sets off for Paris with just an urchin girl to help him. Thousands of people gather to watch the flight. Will the machine work when the weather changes – or will Henri''s dream of flying become his downfall? Terry Deary''s Victorian Tales explore the fascinating world of the Victorians, including many of the incredible achievements and breakthroughs that took place, through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.

The North Atlantic, 1726 Captain Fly is the greatest pirate to sail the seven seas - or so he says. But his captives Jed and Arthur think he''s a bad-tempered bully. Now Captain Fly has ordered his prisoners to work for him as pirates, or he''ll kill them! It''s time to stop the cruel captain for good... A fantastic story blending pirate legend with historical fact and Terry Deary''s vividly imagined characters!

Readers can discover all the foul facts about the SMASHING SAXONS, including who got cow pats as Christmas presents, why wearing a pig on your head is lucky and how to make a dead Saxon happy. These bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.

From the author of the blockbuster Horrible Histories series, which is now a TV show and movie, and has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. ''Deary''s storytelling is simple, historically accurate and compelling'' – The i newspaper on The Silver Hand Horrible Histories author Terry Deary presents a hilarious collection of Egyptian tales based on thrilling true stories – four books in one! Perfect for history fans (and those who don''t know they''re history fans yet) aged 7+. The Gold in the Grave A group of thieves plot to rob Tutankhamen''s tomb of its vast wealth. If they succeed, it''ll be the greatest robbery in history. If they fail, the consequences are severe... The Magic and the Mummy When the pharaoh dies, it''s Neria''s job to mummify his cat. The trouble is, the cat is still alive. Can Neria find a way to save the cat without being caught and punished? The Plot on the Pyramid The Great Pyramid is a lively place to work. The only problem is Antef, the fussy, irritating supervisor. When the workers go on strike, everyone''s loyalty is tested. The Phantom of the Nile Menes, a trainee scribe, is tasked with getting rid of a ghost. But what if the phantom is actually more human than supernatural? It will take all of Menes''s skill and ingenuity to find out the truth... Terry Deary''s Terrible True Tales: Egyptians explores the world of ancient Egypt through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. Packed with fun illustrations by Helen Flook, these stories feature real people and take place in some of the most recognisable Egyptian settings. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.

From the author of the blockbuster Horrible Histories series, now a TV show and movie, who has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide. ''Deary''s storytelling is simple, historically accurate and compelling.'' – The i newspaper on The Silver Hand Horrible Histories author Terry Deary presents a hilarious collection of Roman tales based on thrilling true stories – four books in one! Perfect for history fans (and those who don''t know they''re history fans yet) aged 7+. The Fatal Fire Mary is terrified to accompany her master into the big, scary city of Rome. Then she finds herself the only witness to a terrible crime, and suddenly there''s danger at every turn... The Captive Celt Rome is thrilled by the news that the infamous British chief Caratacus has been captured. Little does Bran, a feisty young Celtic slave, realise that this event is going to change his life. The Goose Guards Rome is under attack and the barbarian army is now preparing to besiege the home of Brutus, a trainee priest. Will rescue ever come and will Brutus know who to trust? The Grim Ghost Pertinax is helping his grandmother when the great Pliny himself tells him a ghost story set in the very garden they''re standing in. But there''s no truth in ghost stories... right? Terry Deary''s Terrible True Tales: Romans explores the wonders of the Roman Empire through the eyes of children who could have lived at the time. Packed with fun illustrations by Helen Flook, these stories feature real people and take place in some of the most significant moments in Roman history. This new edition features notes for the reader to help extend learning and exploration of the historical period.

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named ''the outstanding children''s non-fiction author of the 20th century'' by Books For Keeps _______________ Ideal for readers aged 7+ Mesopotamia, 2500 years ago Everyone in the tribe must work; all the men go hunting for bulls and mountain lions - apart from Sin-leqi, that is. Sin-leqi stays home and reads tablets in the great temples. The tablets tell tales of the legendary Gilgamesh, tales that are so fantastical that lazy Sin-leqi doesn''t have to work, as long as he keeps telling them. But when the story comes to end, Sin-leqi is in trouble... A brand new and exciting tale, based on real historical and archaeological evidence, this story is full of Terry Deary''s imaginative style and dry wit. Book band: Grey ________________ ''Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers'' interest in all things historical'' - Books For Keeps

From the bestselling author of Horrible Histories, named ''the outstanding children''s non-fiction author of the 20th century'' by Books For Keeps _______________ Ideal for readers aged 7+ 9500 years ago, as the Ice Age is ending... Jay''s grandfather is old, maybe twice as many summers as he has fingers and toes, but he is wise too. Jay loves to sit in their house by the river and listen to his stories of the Great Spirit and the Earth Mother. But outside, danger is at their door; food is getting scarcer, tribes are at war, and all the time the river water is rising... A brand new and exciting tale, based on real historical and archaeological evidence, this story is full of Terry Deary''s imaginative style and dry wit. Book band: Grey _______________ ''Bubbling with wit, language play and robust dialogue....just the right mix of ingredients to trigger young readers'' interest in all things historical'' - Books For Keeps

All the most horrible facts about the Gorgeous Georgians ready for readers to uncover, including what they used squashed fish eyes for and all the skills you need to be a good body snatcher. These bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.

Readers can discover all the foul facts about France, including which king thought he was made of glass, why French bread was once made from broken tiles and bricks and how to play hopscotch like a French highwayman. With a bold look these bestselling titles are sure to be a huge hit with yet another generation of Terry Deary fans.