Superpowers, mysteries, animal agents and a whole lot of laugh-out-loud chaos in Jennifer Killick’s Alex Sparrow books.

Fast-paced, gloriously silly and bursting with brilliantly bonkers ideas, the Alex Sparrow series is perfect for readers who like their adventures packed with humour, mystery and the unexpected. Originally published to great acclaim and now newly reissued with fresh covers, all three books follow would-be super-agent Alex and his best friend Jess as their rather unusual superpowers land them in increasingly extraordinary situations.

Alex has always dreamed of being a superhero, but when he finally develops a special ability, it is not quite the power he might have chosen. He becomes a human lie detector. His new best friend Jess has an equally unusual talent: she can communicate with animals. Together, along with a wonderfully clever goldfish called Bob and a growing cast of unlikely allies, they discover that even the strangest abilities can be exactly what is needed when trouble comes calling.

Jennifer Killick combines all the ingredients that make a series irresistible to young readers: quick-fire jokes, big mysteries, eccentric characters, cliff-hangers and just the right amount of gross-out humour. Underneath all the silliness there is also a lovely celebration of friendship and individuality, with Alex and Jess repeatedly discovering that the qualities that make people different can also be their greatest strengths.

Alex Sparrow and the Really Big Stink

"Full of farts, jokes and superhero references this is a perfect read for fun-loving kids with ambitions to go far." - LoveReading4Kids Reviewer Andrea Reece

The adventure begins with Alex Sparrow and the Really Big Stink, when Year 6 pupil Alex suddenly discovers his lie-detecting powers. When pupils at school begin behaving suspiciously well, Alex and Jess realise that something very strange is going on. With their peculiar superpowers and Bob the goldfish in tow, they set out to discover who is behind a decidedly villainous plot. Expect superheroes, school-day mayhem, mysteries, jokes and, as the title suggests, more than a few farts.

It is a wonderfully accessible introduction to the series, immediately establishing the warm friendship between Alex and Jess and Jennifer Killick’s irresistible blend of comedy and adventure.

Alex Sparrow and the Furry Fury

Things get even wilder in Alex Sparrow and the Furry Fury. Catching runaway school guinea pigs is hardly the exciting super-agent work Alex had imagined, but a much bigger mystery soon presents itself.

Jess has started helping at an animal sanctuary, where the animals are behaving strangely and seem terrified. Meanwhile, things are disappearing, property is being destroyed and even the local squirrels appear to have developed a distinctly mean streak. With the police baffled, surely this is a case for Agent Alex and his exceptionally unusual team.

The second adventure turns up both the mystery and the animal madness, while keeping the humour racing along at full speed.

Alex Sparrow and the Zumbie Apocalypse

Then comes Alex Sparrow and the Zumbie Apocalypse, a wonderfully ridiculous festive adventure in which members of the local Zumba class appear to be dying and then mysteriously coming back to life.

With Alex’s mum and nan potentially next in line to join the living Zumba dead, Alex, Jess and Dave need to uncover exactly what is happening. Why are the mysterious Zumbies attracted to Christmas lights? What does the strange Octopus sign mean? And, most importantly, who is the evil genius behind the whole thing?

It is a suitably outrageous finale to the trilogy, bringing together strange superpowers, bizarre villains, animal agents and plenty of comedy in another frantic race to save the day.

Why we love the Alex Sparrow series

Jennifer Killick knows exactly how to keep young readers turning the pages. The stories move quickly, the mysteries are intriguing without becoming complicated, and there is always another joke, surprise or wonderfully weird character waiting around the corner.

The series is particularly well suited to readers aged around 9+ who enjoy funny adventures but want plenty of plot and excitement too. With three complete adventures to race through, Alex Sparrow is also a brilliant choice for children who discover a book they love and immediately ask,“What can I read next?”

Most importantly, beneath all the silliness, Alex and Jess are heroes precisely because they are themselves. Their powers are odd, their plans do not always go smoothly and their adventures rarely unfold as expected, but friendship, courage and embracing what makes you different repeatedly save the day.

Win all three Alex Sparrow books!

And there is even more reason to discover Alex Sparrow this month.

We’re giving one lucky LoveReading4Kids reader the chance to win a complete set of all three Alex Sparrow books.

To enter, head over to our competitions page here.

The competition is free to enter and closes on 30th September 2026, so get your entry in for the chance to win all three brilliantly bonkers adventures.

Superpowers that nobody would choose, mysteries that nobody else can solve and enough jokes and chaos to keep even the most reluctant reader entertained: step into the wonderfully weird world of Alex Sparrow and prepare for some seriously funny adventures.