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Paperback368 pages
Author's Website
www.alisparkes.co.uk/Publication date
2nd August 2007ISBN
9780192754684Children's Author 'Like-for-Like' recommendations
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The Shapeshifter 4 : Dowsing The Dead
Ali Sparkes
Part of the 'Shapeshifter S.' Series
This title is in stock
Lovereading4kids Price: £5.24
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The Lovereading comment:
Fans of Alex Rider love this series, which involves fast-paced action where the spirit world and the real world meet; where shapeshifter Dax and his friends are looking for a slightly quieter life, but not for long. All is not well in the spirit world and once again is Dax able to ensure good overcomes evil? This is the penultimate title in the series, we rate the first three very highly and are looking forward to reading the fifth and final in the series. Perfect reading for the 8+ age range and we’ve found boys and girls have enjoyed them evenly.
If you enjoyed this then check out Ali Sparkes' other titles, including Finding the Fox, Running the Risk, Going to Ground, Stirring the Storm, and her latest book Frozen in Time.
Synopsis
The Shapeshifter 4 : Dowsing The Dead by Ali SparkesThe fantastic Shapeshifter series continues with Dax and his friends settling into their new secret hideaway in the Lake District. The whole place has been fortified so that the Children of Limitless Ability won't ever be under threat again. After dodging death once too often for his liking, Dax is looking forward to a quieter time - building a treehouse in the grounds and shifting to a fox or a falcon and exploring the countryside. But all is not well in the spirit world - strange messages are coming through and Dax, Gideon, Lisa and Mia must once again join forces. Could the messages be coming from Luke and Catherine, Gideon's dead brother and sister? Perhaps they're even still alive? In which case, they have to rescue Luke from Catherine's evil clutches - but is Dax really a match for her?
About The Author
Ali Sparkes grew up in Southampton and despite some exciting months in London and even more exciting months in Lowestoft (where she really experienced life on the edge), still lives in Southampton today, with her husband and two sons.
She has worked as a singer, journalist, broadcaster, magazine editor and the spangle-clad assistant to a juggling unicyclist (frighteningly, there is photographic proof).
Ali’s stories capture the imagination of children everywhere, and her novel Frozen in Time won the Blue Peter Book of the Year Award in 2010.
Ali Sparkes...
On JOAN AIKEN
Most people know Joan Aiken for the Wolves of Willoughby Chase but for me her best was The Whispering Mountain, featuring the wonderfully bookish Owen, unloved grandson of a Welsh museum curator, caught up in a dark plot involving an ancient harp, dodgy Cockneys, a girl with a pet hawk and a travelling poet – to say nothing of the school bullies he has to enlist to help save the day. Joan inspired me so much, I know my stories bear her mark!
On ENID BLYTON
Without Enid I probably would never have become a bookworm or, eventually an author. Discovering Five Go to Smuggler’s Top in the back of a toy cupboard really changed my life. I understand when people say the characters are a little 2D and the plots a bit similar, but Enid knew exactly what young readers want – fast paced adventure, dogs, secret passages, midnight feasts. I still want all those things.
On JEAN CRAIGHEAD GEORGE
When I was nine our teacher read us My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George - the story of young Sam Gribley who runs away to the mountains to live on his own wits, armed only with a survival handbook and the peregrine falcon he trains to hunt for him. This brilliant book inspired the ‘survival’ and peregrine falcon elements of the Shapeshifter series…
On ANTHONY BUCKERIDGE
The Jennings books were serialised on the radio from the 1950s onwards. Anthony Buckeridge really knew how to write a brilliantly funny schoolboy story which could be read aloud. I loved all the Jennings books, about Jennings and his friend Darbisher, and their complicated and hilarious lives at Linbury Court Preparatory School. I read them aloud to our sons recently and they cracked up, just like I did.
On JEROME K JEROME
Now although this isn’t a children’s book, Three Men in a Boat is something that every bookworm MUST read by the time they turn 14. The story of the author, his two friends and Montmorency the dog, on a boating holiday is strewn with mad incidents involving cheese, scary unopenable tins and a dead dog floating by in the water. I laughed so much I nearly ruptured myself.
Q & A with Ali Sparkes
1. What inspired you to write Frozen in Time?
Two
things – 1. I’ve always had a thing about finding something spooky in
the woods and 2. I’ve long pondered on what the Famous Five would make
of the 21st century world. So I wanted some characters who were very
50s and rather proper – but with grit and courage – to encounter 2009
after being found in the woods.
2. Describe it in two lines?
Freddy
& Polly are discovered by Ben and Rachel, cryonically frozen in an
underground chamber since 1956 – and woken up. What Ben and Rachel
defrost is a mystery involving secret passages, missing scientists,
international spies – and Pot Noodle.
3. How long did it take you to write?
Around four months of focused effort, but a much longer period of turning it over in my mind – three or four years.
4. What do you think people will say about this book?
I hope they will say ‘Wow! Get me that book!’
5. Are you working on something else at the moment?
Oh
yes. A series of younger children’s books for Oxford, currently
entitled CreepyCrawlers, out in 2010, is my main thing right now, but I
am planning some other exciting projects with Oxford and Scholastic for
2009. It’s going to be a very busy year.
6. What is your favourite food?
Slightly warm, home made lemon meringue pie.
7. What makes you laugh out loud?
My
kids, frequently, The Mighty Boosh, David Mitchell, and people assuming
that since I’ve been published I am filthy rich. I hope to stop
laughing at that last one eventually.
8. What is your one luxury item you would take with you on to a Desert Island?
My
recorder. I am no major talent on it, but I would finally have the time
to work out Faure’s Pavanne without making the neighbour’s cat go into
spasms.
9. What is your most treasured memory?
(Jointly) The first moment with each of my baby sons & their dad.
10. What is your weakness?
Fondant
creams. Especially the ones in the Burley Fudge Shop in the New Forest.
I am working on the aversion therapy principal that if I eat enough of
them this madness will eventually stop of its own accord – so if anyone
gets the urge to send me a box or two, they will be assisting me
greatly. (My agent will pass them on… vanilla and strawberry flavours
are my biggest challenge.)
11. What do you think your children would say about you?
Mum?
Was that the lady we saw at 5am this morning..? Actually, no – I hope
it’s not that bad! Jacob (14) and Alex (10) seem to be hugely enjoying
all the book stuff (not least because they’re written in to the
Shapeshifter series, from book two; see if you can find them!). They
would probably say I’m ‘cool’ but there may be a pocket money dimension
to this…
12. Who is the person you most admire?
I
admire anyone who has to battle through great adversary to get to their
goal, and doesn’t give up. It’s a bit of a cop out, I know – there are
too many of them to list! On a personal level, my mum and older sister
have undoubtedly saved lives in their nursing careers and it doesn’t
get much more admirable than that. I admire Johnny Depp too… but for
altogether different reasons…
13. What is your most embarrassing moment?
I
once spent a day at a local radio station on work experience. It was
going really well and I’d even voiced a news report which went out in
their hourly bulletins. I felt pretty cool as I said goodbye to them
all and caught the train home – and when I got back through my door my
husband pointed out to me that I had a long tail of pink toilet roll
hanging out the back of my trousers. I worked out that it had to have
been there, floating gaily in the breeze behind me, for at least the
last hour of my work experience day. I flushed.
14. What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
When
I was angsting as a theatre-struck teenager, over possibility of
failing an upcoming audition, I would whine ‘Yeah but – why me?’. My
parents would always answer ‘Why not you?’ It’s a way of thinking which
has served me very well.
15. What is the best piece of advice you could give to someone?
Do
what you say you’ll do. Even if it’s only you that knows about it. Make
this a habit (unless it becomes genuinely impossible or unwise). Most
people talk about what they will do, but never actually do it. You’ll
be way ahead of the pack if you just do what you say you’ll do.
16. Define beauty.
The faces of my children (obviously a fairly personal one, that!). A woodland at dawn. Most of Cornwall.
17. What are you reading at the moment?
Hazel
by Julie Hearne. It’s painfully frustrating because I can only grab
snatched chapters while waiting at the dentist or in the car or
something, but the little I’ve read so far is masterfully written. Very
very good. Will have time to read it all soon. Not sure if it’s out
yet, as mine is an uncorrected proof.
18. What would be on the soundtrack of your film – and who would play you?
Feeling
Good – the Muse version. No Surprises Please by RadioHead. Hmmm. Alex
Kingston would be good (although a little unfeasibly attractive – but
this is MY fantasy, yes?!)
19. Favourite holiday destination?
Cornwall in good weather. With the sun switched on, there’s nowhere to touch The Lizard.
20. Which authors have most inspired you?
Stephen King, Joan Aiken, Anthony Buckeridge, Douglas Adams, Jerome K Jerome… oooh – I could go on and on and o
21. What is your favourite children’s book?
Tough
to pick just one, but it would probably have to be The Whispering
Mountain by Joan Aiken. On another day it might be Brendan Chase by BB.
22. Most treasured possession?
Aside
from family photos and my Apple Macbook, I have some little hematite
hearts, gifts from my sons, which I would hate to lose.
23. Where are you happiest?
In my wellies in a woodland stream, poking about with my family on a warm autumn day.
24. Favourite biscuit?
Used
to be Lemon Puffs until somebody changed the shape. Manufacturers
please note – you can’t lever the top bit off properly with your front
teeth when it no longer has corners! This was a vital part of The Lemon
Puff Experience. Bring back the rectangle ones! Until they do, I will
remain in the chilled, fresh-from-fridge Penguin camp.
25. Pet hates?
The
malicious content of newsagents shelves, Big Brother (although I’ll
stoop to the celebrity version occasionally), Gordon Ramsey style
on-screen bullying and mature male strangers who take it upon
themselves to shout ‘left hand down’ and stand in your way while you
are trying (perfectly ably!) to park.
26. If you could change one thing about the world we live in today what would it be?
That
people would be less easily offended. Too many people seem to have ‘Get
offended, as quickly and irrationally as possible’ on their To Do list.
Followed by ‘Stay offended, and if possible allow a mate/partner to
further whip up your indignation, before nursing said offence for as
long as possible.’ Let it go, people – let it go!
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