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Synopsis

The Invisible Boy by Sally Gardner

When his parents are lost in space, Sam is left, heartbroken, in the care of the horrible Hilda Hardbottom. Then he finds a tiny spaceship in the cabbage patch and meets a little alien called Splodge. How Splodge makes him invisible, and how Sam uses his new talent in his darkest hour, makes a touching and extremely funny story with lovely memorable characters.

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Reviews

A heartwarming story with a laugh-out-loud plot and memorable characters. Lancashire Evening Post, 8 June 2002 This story sparkles with originality and appealing out-of-the-ordinary events to provide a rivetting read. Junior Magazine What makes Gardner's book special is not just the cleverness of its plot, but its charming linguistic zaniness'It's a pleasure to read - to yourself and aloud. Sunday Telegraph, 14 July 2002 The Invisible Boy has enough humour and action to keep less confident readers as well as assured readers turning the pages. Books for Keeps A heartwarming and engaging story with wonderful memorable characters. Family Interest Magazine, September/October 2002
Sam's lucky parents win a trip to the moon. Unfortunately, he isn't allowed to go, and when the arrangements to stay with a friend fall through at the last minute, he has to stay with the next-door neighbours, wicked Hilda Hardbottom who doesn't like boys, and her hen-pecked husband Ernie. Just as his parents are due to return, their space shuttle mysteriously goes missing, and it looks as if Sam is going to be stuck with the Hardbottoms for ever. The scheming Hilda has her eye on the insurance money and hanging onto Sam is the only way to get it. All seems lost until a tiny alien called Splodge, who has the gift of making himself and (luckily) Sam invisible, mysteriously lands in the Hardbottoms
garden. This story has all the classic ingredients of a good children
's yarn - absent parents, cruel foster parents - combined with the essential modern elements of aliens and magic. But Gardner tells it lightly with much charm and a good deal of humour. Much of the comedy comes from Splodge's imperfect mastery of English: 'I come in peas. Take me to your chef.'
The illustrations, also by Gardner, complement the text nicely, from the grotesque Hilda to the spotty alien and his salad
-washer spaceship. It's a gentle, enjoyable read that will appeal to five- to seven-year-olds. (Kirkus UK)

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About The Author

Sally Gardner is an award-winning novelist from London. Her books have been translated into 22 languages and have sold more than one million copies in the UK.

Her historical novel for older readers, I, Coriander, won the Smarties Children's Book Prize in 2005.  Two thrillers both set at the time of the French Revolution, The Red Necklace and The Silver Blade, which was shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize in 2009, followed. Actor Dominic West ('The Wire') has bought the film rights to both titles.

Sally Gardner's stories for middle readers include Lucy Willow and the popular Magical Children series of six titles The Strongest Girl in the World, The Invisible Boy, The Boy with Magic Numbers, The Smallest Girl in the World, The Boy with the Lightning Feet, and The Boy who Could Fly, which are also available as audio books.

She has also written and illustrated picture books including The Fairy Catalogue, The Glass Heart, The Book of Princesses and Playtime Rhymes.

The Double Shadow is published in November 2011.

Sally Gardner continues to be an avid spokesperson for Dyslexia, working to change the way it is perceived by society. She is dyslexic and argues that it's not a disability, but a gift.

 

If you'd love to know more about Sally, click here to download a more detailed biography and Q&A.

To see a video of Sally talking about her book Fairy Shopping - CLICK HERE

Or watch a video of her talking about The Silver Blade:

 

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