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Simon Mayo is best known for his BBC Radio 2 Drivetime show. He began writing four years ago, when he decided to create something for his son Joe, an avid reader and science nut. Having spent ten years interviewing scientists for his Radio 5 Live show he had plenty of ideas, and was soon consumed by ITCH and his story, waking up in the middle of the night to write. Simon has spent the last three years juggling his broadcasting job with visiting schools and talking about the ITCH series. During this time he’s met over 10,000 children as well as having appeared at literary and science festivals. Simon has worked on BBC radio since 1981 and runs a Book Club on his Radio 2 show. He is also the co-presenter of "Kermode and Mayo's Film Review" on BBC Radio 5 Live. In 2008, Mayo was recognized as the "radio broadcaster of the year" at the 34th annual Broadcasting Press Guild Awards and the "Speech Broadcaster of the Year" at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.
Shortlisted for Best Crime Novel for Young Adults, CrimeFest Gala Awards 2017 | July 2016 Book of the Month | In a nutshell : tense, unusual thriller Set in a not-too-distant future in which, following the collapse of the EU and a major recession in the UK (that must feel much more prescient now than when the book was being written), jails are filled not just with criminals, but the innocent family members of those who have committed crimes too, Simon Mayo’s first YA novel is a gripping, well-thought out thriller that asks interesting questions about our pre-disposition to apportion blame as a way of avoiding more difficult questions about what’s really gone wrong. The central character Ant, imprisoned with her foster parents and little brother Mattie, is the kind of feisty, impulsive and courageous heroine who lights up the best YA. ~ Andrea Reece One to recommend to fans of The Hunger Games. Readers who enjoy this kind of thoughtful political thriller will also like One of Us by Jeannie Waudby.
Fans of teen element hunter and chemistry aficionado, Itchingham Lofte, will be delighted to see him back for another adventure, and they won’t be disappointed: this is another gripping page turner. As ever the MacGuffin is the coveted chemical element 126: Itch and his accomplices Jack and Chloe must find the last pieces of it and destroy them. The plot takes them to exotic locations, and the action is typically explosive! Mayo keeps great control of his material though, uses humour well, and it’s great to watch the development of the main characters throughout the stories. Perfect for fans of Horowitz, this is a smart, well-written thriller. ~ Andrea Reece The first two books in the series - Itch and Itch Rocks - have sold over 100,000 copies combined. Itchcraft is the latest breath-taking instalment combining Alex Rider-esque action with a cool scientific edge. Fun, likeable male and female main characters Itch and Jack make this story appealing to both boys and girls. Simon Mayo says, "As soon as I came across the fact that a small number of people like to collect elements from the periodic table—they call themselves ‘element hunters’—I knew I had got my story... I wanted to make sure that everything in the book is technically accurate; even if this new element doesn’t actually exist, in theory it could."
Exploding euros and exciting elements - join Itch, Jack and Chloe on their latest adventure. Itchingham Lofte, teenage element hunter and unlikely hero, has had enough excitement to last him a lifetime.
It's time to save the world. Again. It is the second book in the explosively exciting ITCH series by radio presenter Simon Mayo.
It's time to save the world. Again. It is the second book in the explosively exciting ITCH series by radio presenter Simon Mayo.
After almost poisoning his whole class with arsenic gas, going on the run from a psychotic science teacher and nearly dying of radiation poisoning, life is getting back to normal for Itchingham Lofte - at least, as normal as it can be when you have a round-the-clock detail of government security guards watching your every move.
After almost poisoning his whole class with arsenic gas, going on the run from a psychotic science teacher and nearly dying of radiation poisoning, life is getting back to normal for Itchingham Lofte - at least, as normal as it can be when you have a round-the-clock detail of government security guards watching your every move.
Shortlisted for the National Book Tokens Children’s Book of the Year 2012 A terrific action adventure packed-full of fascinating true science! Itch is making an unusual collection: when it is finished, it will include all the elements of the periodic table. But collecting elements is a risky business and having almost killed his classmates by releasing arsenic vapour into a biology lesson, Itch takes possession of a new piece of rock which may have even more dangerous consequences. Itch and his cousin have to keep one step ahead of some very serious enemies who will do everything they possibly can to get it. Simon Mayo says, "As soon as I came across the fact that a small number of people like to collect elements from the periodic table—they call themselves ‘element hunters’—I knew I had got my story... I wanted to make sure that everything in the book is technically accurate; even if this new element doesn’t actually exist, in theory it could."
Shortlisted for the National Book Tokens Children’s Book of the Year 2012 and March 2012 Debut of the Month. A terrific action adventure packed-full of fascinating true science! Itch is making an unusual collection: when it is finished, it will include all the elements of the periodic table. But collecting elements is a risky business and having almost killed his classmates by releasing arsenic vapour into a biology lesson, Itch takes possession of a new piece of rock which may have even more dangerous consequences. Itch and his cousin have to keep one step ahead of some very serious enemies who will do everything they possibly can to get it. Simon Mayo says, "As soon as I came across the fact that a small number of people like to collect elements from the periodic table—they call themselves ‘element hunters’—I knew I had got my story... I wanted to make sure that everything in the book is technically accurate; even if this new element doesn’t actually exist, in theory it could." You can follow Itch on Twitter @itchingham. Click here to download an iPod app to bring the elements to life or click here for the Android App. To celebrate publication of Simon Mayo’s debut novel ITCH, the publisher has launched an ‘element hunt’ with six partner sites – Lovereading4kids is thrilled to be party to this really fun challenge and hidden somewhere on Lovereading4kids you’ll find one of the six hidden ‘elements’. Once you’ve found it click here to find out where to find the other five elements.
Shortlisted for the National Book Tokens Children’s Book of the Year 2012 A terrific action adventure packed-full of fascinating true science! Itch is making an unusual collection: when it is finished, it will include all the elements of the periodic table. But collecting elements is a risky business and having almost killed his classmates by releasing arsenic vapour into a biology lesson, Itch takes possession of a new piece of rock which may have even more dangerous consequences. Itch and his cousin have to keep one step ahead of some very serious enemies who will do everything they possibly can to get it. Simon Mayo says, "As soon as I came across the fact that a small number of people like to collect elements from the periodic table—they call themselves ‘element hunters’—I knew I had got my story... I wanted to make sure that everything in the book is technically accurate; even if this new element doesn’t actually exist, in theory it could."
Shortlisted for Best Crime Novel for Young Adults, CrimeFest Gala Awards 2017 | July 2016 Book of the Month | In a nutshell : tense, unusual thriller Set in a not-too-distant future in which, following the collapse of the EU and a major recession in the UK (that must feel much more prescient now than when the book was being written), jails are filled not just with criminals, but the innocent family members of those who have committed crimes too, Simon Mayo’s first YA novel is a gripping, well-thought out thriller that asks interesting questions about our pre-disposition to apportion blame as a way of avoiding more difficult questions about what’s really gone wrong. The central character Ant, imprisoned with her foster parents and little brother Mattie, is the kind of feisty, impulsive and courageous heroine who lights up the best YA. ~ Andrea Reece One to recommend to fans of The Hunger Games. Readers who enjoy this kind of thoughtful political thriller will also like One of Us by Jeannie Waudby.
Fans of teen element hunter and chemistry aficionado, Itchingham Lofte, will be delighted to see him back for another adventure, and they won’t be disappointed: this is another gripping page turner. As ever the MacGuffin is the coveted chemical element 126: Itch and his accomplices Jack and Chloe must find the last pieces of it and destroy them. The plot takes them to exotic locations, and the action is typically explosive! Mayo keeps great control of his material though, uses humour well, and it’s great to watch the development of the main characters throughout the stories. Perfect for fans of Horowitz, this is a smart, well-written thriller. ~ Andrea Reece The first two books in the series - Itch and Itch Rocks - have sold over 100,000 copies combined. Itchcraft is the latest breath-taking instalment combining Alex Rider-esque action with a cool scientific edge. Fun, likeable male and female main characters Itch and Jack make this story appealing to both boys and girls. Simon Mayo says, "As soon as I came across the fact that a small number of people like to collect elements from the periodic table—they call themselves ‘element hunters’—I knew I had got my story... I wanted to make sure that everything in the book is technically accurate; even if this new element doesn’t actually exist, in theory it could."
It's time to save the world. Again. It is the second book in the explosively exciting ITCH series by radio presenter Simon Mayo.
After almost poisoning his whole class with arsenic gas, going on the run from a psychotic science teacher and nearly dying of radiation poisoning, life is getting back to normal for Itchingham Lofte - at least, as normal as it can be when you have a round-the-clock detail of government security guards watching your every move. But sinister forces are still hunting for Element 126 and will stop at nothing to find out where Itch has hidden the precious radioactive rocks. With the help of his sister Chloe and his tomboy cousin Jack, Itch has to put 126 beyond the reach of unscrupulous scientists and international terrorists forever. It's time to save the world. Again. The second book in the explosively exciting ITCH series.
Shortlisted for the National Book Tokens Children’s Book of the Year 2012 and March 2012 Debut of the Month. A terrific action adventure packed-full of fascinating true science! Itch is making an unusual collection: when it is finished, it will include all the elements of the periodic table. But collecting elements is a risky business and having almost killed his classmates by releasing arsenic vapour into a biology lesson, Itch takes possession of a new piece of rock which may have even more dangerous consequences. Itch and his cousin have to keep one step ahead of some very serious enemies who will do everything they possibly can to get it. Simon Mayo says, "As soon as I came across the fact that a small number of people like to collect elements from the periodic table—they call themselves ‘element hunters’—I knew I had got my story... I wanted to make sure that everything in the book is technically accurate; even if this new element doesn’t actually exist, in theory it could." You can follow Itch on Twitter @itchingham. Click here to download an iPod app to bring the elements to life or click here for the Android App. To celebrate publication of Simon Mayo’s debut novel ITCH, the publisher has launched an ‘element hunt’ with six partner sites – Lovereading4kids is thrilled to be party to this really fun challenge and hidden somewhere on Lovereading4kids you’ll find one of the six hidden ‘elements’. Once you’ve found it click here to find out where to find the other five elements.
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