If you have a teenage book worm in your family, here’s a recommendation for a stocking filler with a local twist.
When it comes to books, I’m not usually one for science fiction, fantasy or alternative reality. But I was gripped by Anthony Horowitz’s latest teen fiction title.
Necropolis is the fourth book in the Power of Five series – five books in all telling the story of a group of teenagers, from around the globe, brought together to help save the world from an evil force. This instalment in the narrative will be of particular interest to readers in our locale.
The latest of these young heroes – and the main character in this new book – is a fifteen-year-old girl from Dulwich village. Although the school she attends is fictional, much of the rest of the description of the local area is pretty accurate.
It’s quite fun to imagine Horowitz’s characters wandering by local landmarks we all know and love – the Crown and Greyhound, Dulwich Park, Half Moon Lane, the underground station… Er, the underground station? In Dulwich?
But who can question the accuracy of local details in a book that sees characters capable of reading each other’s minds and journeying round the world via a complex network of mystical doors.
In fact, Horowitz really transported me to these amazing places and made me believe, just for a moment, that it was indeed all real. That’s the power of a good story-teller, I suppose.
If you know someone who’s in to teen science fiction the chances are they will enjoy Horowitz’s book – they may have even read some of his other titles. He’s already a well-established author of countless books, including the successful Alex Rider series, one of which was turned into the Hollywood movie Stormbreaker last year.
Others may know Anthony Horowitz as the writer of award-winning Foyle’s War TV series.
Necropolis is out now, priced £12.99. (Walker Books)
If you’ve read the book, tell us what you think by leaving a comment below.
Image: with thanks to busymommy on flickr, with CCL.
