Publisher's Synopsis
'Martin keeps the reader nicely on edge... Vividly creepy... Martin is a skillful wordsmith.' PP. Recommended Reading Ages: 10 to 14 / Chronological Ages: 8 to 16A children's slide becomes the gateway to another world in this gripping tale of a runaway, a cat and the stars.When Iris is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in the quiet town of Ryeford, she experiences a series of strange events. The stars are fading and someone is stealing the neighborhood cats. Then Iris receives the mysterious parcel. In her search to uncover the truth, Iris discovers a path to another world. 'The Star City Mystery' is an adventure story, that takes the reader on a journey around the world, as Iris and her side kick Alphard begin to solve the mystery that threatens the future of the stars. CM - The inspiration to write 'The Star City Mystery' came from two sources. The first were the wild animals who live in the woods - the type you see, white-eyed in the beam of your head torch when you're out for a late-night run. They give you a fright and then you begin to imagine what they're up to. The second came from the realisation there was a lack of choice for young and able readers. I was teaching in a primary school and was stunned to discover a seven-year-old who had a reading age of a fourteen-year-old. But where were the books suited to their interests and ability? Many popular books tended to align reading age with chronological age, which doesn't always collate, particularly when the difference between reading age and chronical age is wide. Able young readers need more choice. This is an essential and important stage in the development of reading and comprehension skills. 'The Star City Mystery' was written to appeal to young able readers, to support the development of vocabulary, whilst resonating with their interests.
