The Headless Ghost; Laser Quest; Bodyparts; Moving the Goalposts
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The Headless Ghost
Lucy Su
Laser Quest
Peter Dennis
Bodyparts
Janek Matysiak
Moving the Goalposts
Gary Rees
With their comic book approach 'Graffix' shout 'pick me up' to their teenage audience.
Grant in The Headless Ghost has only a little hearing but can lip-read perfectly. When out ghost-hunting at the local war memorial the ghost of a WW2 airman appears and before his head quite disappears Grant is able to lip-read his warning of danger - an unexploded bomb. Grey pencil shading makes for some nicely spooky pictures.
I fancy the readers who pick up a book called Laser Quest will be the kids who find these places fun rather than the seedy dive Louise finds it to be as she reluctantly helps to organise kid brother's party. A fault at the computer check in desk presages the appearance of a mystery man in the game who is playing for real. Only Louise and her pal can save the day.
Bodyparts is a futuristic story set in a Genetic Clone Unit where the archetypal mad professor whom no one suspects is dabbling in creating monsters.
Moving the Goalposts comes down the age range a couple of years. Sam is a super goalie - but the butt of some unpleasantness from team mates and PE teacher because of his dyslexia. When the goal posts get vandalised and Sam realises he will have to play in adult-sized goals he hits on the idea of building transportable, adjustable goals. Some inevitable hiccups ensue but Sam is a winner in the end.