“Put your hands up! If anyone moves we shoot!” The action starts on page one of this heart-stopping thriller and doesn’t let up until the very end. Junior plumber Alex is in the cramped roof space of the Town Hall examining its water pipes when armed men storm the building and take everyone in it hostage, including her dad. Hidden above their heads, she’s got one hour until they start shooting, but manages to immobilise one of the gangsters, John McClane-style, and lead the police into the building, saving the day! Great stuff for anyone who dreams of being a hero, told with a punchy brevity. Comic style illustrations add to the entertainment value.
Alex and her dad are working a routine plumbing job in the Town Hall when it is suddenly taken over by terrorists. Their leader Mr Blue demands the release of a high-profile prisoner, or he'll start killing hostages - and one of them is Alex's dad! Hidden in the attic's pipes, Alex must rely on her wits to ensure they all stay alive. And she only has precious minutes before time runs out.
Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant and dyslexic readers aged 10+
Jim Eldridge was a teacher before becoming a full-time writer - his writing credits include episodes for the seminal children's TV drama 'Grange Hill' and the novelisation of Noel Clarke's 'Kidulthood' and '4.3.2.1.' He has also written for the My Story series for Scholastic and most recently Black Ops, a teen action series for Egmont. Jim now works as an associate lecturer in scriptwriting and media at the University of Cumbria. He lives with his wife in Cumbria.
