New Releases by Tim Bowler

A pack containing:* 15 copies of the Rollercoasters Educational Edition of Storm Catchers by Tim Bowler* 15 Storm Catchers Reading Guides to support the student in their study of the novel

Luc possède un véritable don pour le piano. Son père aussi était un musicien exceptionnel, avant de mourir il y a deux ans. Depuis, Luc n''est plus le même : il se laisse entraîner dans un cambriolage par Skin et sa bande. Son esprit est hanté par des sons étranges, des mélodies qu''il n''arrive pas à déchiffrer... Mais une mystérieuse petite fille va bouleverser sa vie.

Midget A unique and unnerving story about Midget - fifteen years old, three feet tall, and target of his older brother''s bullying and cruelty. Midget dreams of buying a boat and sailing away, but people say it''ll take a miracle for that to happen. Midget knows miracles can happen, but sometimes they hurt people who get in the way . . . Dragon''s Rock Benjamin can''t stop the nightmares. Every night they come - so real and vivid that Benjamin lives in terror and sleep has become a place of fear. He knows he must return the stone he took from Dragon''s Rock - this could be the only way to end the horror. But once there he realizes that he''s not the only one in torment and the dragon of his nightmares is more terrifying than ever.

Grandpa is dying. He can barely move his hands any more but, stubborn as ever, refuses to stay in hospital. He''s determined to finish his last painting, ''River Boy'', before he goes. At first Jess can''t understand his refusal to let go, but then she too becomes involved in the mysterious painting. And when she meets the river boy himself, she finds she is suddenly caught up in a challenge of her own that she must complete - before it''s too late . . .

Each River Boy Class Pack contains 15 copies of the Rollercoasters edition of River Boy by Tim Bowler and 15 River Boy Reading Guides to support the student in their study of the novel. Grandpa is dying. He can barely move his hands anymore, but stubborn as ever, refuses to stay in hospital. He''s determined to finish his last painting, ''River Boy'', before he goes. A poignant story that explores the subject of grief and loss in an accessible and affecting way. Themes: grief, bereavement, testing physical limits, artistic challenge Teaching Focus: * Language rich in metaphor and other rhetorical devices * Strong chracterization and sensitive portrayal of relationships * Creation of mood and setting through descriptive language * Key images woven through the narrative and plot Recommended for students in Years 8 and 9 The Rollercoasters series is a set of imaginative and exciting books that your students will not want to put down. All books are supported by extensive teacher resources online, in print and on CD-ROM, and contain themes that will appeal to girls, boys and mixed ability classes. Each book is also accompanied by Reading Guides to provide essential background material for students on the novel of the same title, and include a letter to the student from the author of the novel, thematic activities, wider reading references and short reviews.

Fifteen-year-old Kit and his parents must ground their sinking sailboat on a rocky island inhabited by a primitive sect who believe the stranded family has been sent by the devil.

Fin is devastated by guilt when his sister, Ella, is kidnapped. She is snatched away from the house in the middle of a storm. As the kidnappers make their demands, Fin''s guilt is replaced by a fierce determination to find his sister by whatever means he can, and bring the criminals to justice. But as the drama unfolds, a complex web of family secrets is revealed. It emerges that Ella''s kidnapping is revenge for mistakes Fin''s father made, years before. The consequences will change all their lives forever.

Stevie is having an unhappy break with his father. In a rage he storms off and eventually finds himself in a quiet courtyard where a strange old man is washing in an old well. Repulsed by the figure, Stevie nonetheless takes the broken bell the man leaves behind, but that night he wakes to find ghostly figures in his room.

While struggling to cope with the death of his father, a gifted musician, fourteen-year-old Luke must deal with a dangerous bully, a lonely old woman, a blind young girl, his mother''s romantic involvement, and his own musical talent.

Luke''s father is dead and he feels his mother is moving on too quickly. Since his father''s death Luke has changed his priorities, and has fallen into bad company. His new friends persuade him to break into a house when its owner, an unfriendly and unlovable old woman, is out. Once inside he is confronted with the sound of a girl crying, and through a locked keyhole sees a young girl standing alone, crying in despair. Luke becomes drawn into finding out who the girl is, why she is in the house, and why she is so unhappy. Finding the answers will change all of their lives. Prize-winning author: Tim Bowler has won the Carnegie Medal, the Angus Book Prize (twice), and the Lancashire Children''s Book Award

Benjamin has terrible nightmares. Ever since taking the stone from Dragon''s Rock he feels the beast chasing him. Sleep has become a place of fear, where the dragon hunts him. Benjamin returns to Dragon''s Rock in the hope that he can put things right and so get rid of the visions. Once there, his nightmares become even more dangerous. And Benjamin realizes that he''s no longer the only person at risk ...

Midget is fifteen and three foot tall. Trapped in a body he hates, Midget is tortured by his cruel older brother Seb. His father is kind but unaware of Seb''s treatment of Midget.But Midget can sail and his dream is to sail his own boat. Everyone says it''ll take a miracle, but that''s when Midget starts to realise that he has a special power. He can make things happen. But in the process people get hurt - including his brother Seb. Through this crisis, the brothers find anew understanding.

"Shadows" is a gritty, uncompromising book and also, unusually, a boy''s love story. It focuses on Jamie, a fifteen-year-old squash prodigy and his relationship with his overbearing father, who is determined that his son will achieve the success he himself never enjoyed and drives the boy to apoint almost beyond endurance. Then Jamie finds a girl hiding in his shed, and in helping her to escape from the danger that is pursuing her, he is at last able to deal with his own problems. He realises that he can''t run away for ever. He has to come out of the shadows and face up to his father,whatever the cost. * Winner of the Angus Book Prize and the Lancashire Children''s Book Award. * Major prize-winning author: Tim Bowler won the Carnegie Medal with "River Boy". * Strong themes of overcoming fears, helping others, and standing up for what you believe. * New cover treatment to match Tim Bowler''s wonderful new novel, "Storm Catchers". * Author was born and brought up in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, and now lives in Totnes, Devon

An Australian journalist tells the story of his time as Reuters'''' correspondent with the English Cricket team during the notorious 1932-33 bodyline tour. Contains many cricketing anecdotes, accounts of the political manoeuvering during the tour and biographical details of the author. Includes a bibliography and an index.