March 2016 Book of the Month For action-packed stories, combining real-life adventure with a touch of magic, Chris Hoy’s Flying Fergus series is hard to beat. He’s collaborated with accomplished children’s author Joanna Nadin, a writer who knows her way round a young child’s imagination as well as Sir Chris knows his way round a velodrome, and the result is sparky books with lots of appeal. Fergus lives with his mum and grandad and dreams of making the cycling team at his local track. They can’t afford flash kit and Fergus has to compete on his dad’s old bike. It turns out there’s something amazing about it though, and it transports him to a magical world where he learns lots about competition. The story makes clear what’s so great about cycling, is just as good on friendship and family, and there are some very funny moments too.
Emma Matthewson, Editor, Hot Key Books, said:“Sir Chris has already provided a lasting legacy of inspiration to young people with his tremendous list of achievements. What drew me to Flyign Fergus was a genuine warmth and heart to the books and Sir Chris’s clear dedication to the next generation. We can’t wait to see young cyclists across the country enjoy reading about their new hero!”
Fergus Hamilton, a boy who always dreams big, gets a rusty old bike for his ninth birthday from his mum and granddad. It's not the flashy Sullivan Swift he'd longed for - but when it's all cleaned up and he takes it for a test run, he discovers something amazing. When the pedals turn backwards, Fergus and his dog, Chimp, are magically transported to Nevermore, a land where cycling is banned by the wicked King Woebegot. He meets the ever enthusiastic Princess Lily, has an amazing adventure bunny-hopping on his bike over the Swamp of Certain Death and outwitting the Knights of No-Nonsense and their Hounds of Horribleness, and lands back in the real world with a bump. Fergus still has to complete the time trial to join the local cycling team though - can Grandpa Herc and his best friend Daisy help him realise that he doesn't need magic to succeed, and that hard work, a bit of patience and some help from his friends can do the trick?
With fantastic illustrations from Clare Elsom.
Sir Chris Hoy has written his stories with the help of Joanna Nadin.
Sir Chris Hoy Sir Chris Hoy MBE was born and raised in Edinburgh. He raced BMX until he was 14. Chris won his first world medal in 1999 - a silver in the Team Sprint - and has won 11 world and two Commonwealth titles to date. Chris won his first Olympic gold medal in Athens in 2004 and went on to win three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics. In 2012 at his home Olympic Games in London, Chris won his fifth and sixth gold medals- in the Keirin and Team Sprint- becoming Great Britain's most successful Olympic athlete of all time with six gold medals and one silver. Chris was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2008 and awarded a Knighthood in 2009.
