What would you give up to save the world?

Swarm Rising

By Tim Peake @astro_timpeake and Steve Cole @SteveColeBooks

Published by Hodder Children’s Books @HodderBooks @HatchetteKids

£12.99 ISBN: 978 1 444 96084 6.

Published: 30th September 2021

First line: It’s time to get serious about aliens.

Genre: Science Fiction

Age: Year 6 upwards (10+)

Thanks to the UKLA for sending me a copy of the book.

What’s it all about?

‘They’re coming…’ That’s a scary set of words, when you know that esteemed astronaut Tim Peake has written them! I often find these types of science fiction books which are set in a realistic setting and have characters (Danny and Jamila) that try hard to be ‘normal’ and ‘cool’ a little hard to believe. However, once the story begins, I was really dragged into the world and enjoyed the adventure. Danny is a typical teenager, and with his best friend Jam living next door, they have lots of time for gaming and joking. Danny’s dad now lives abroad and his mum is absorbed by her work for the Lovell Telescope as a researcher (there are lots of science facts dropped into the story), so when he is contacted by the mysterious Adi things begin to get very weird. At the same time, his mum’s work is hit by a strange power surge and she has to work from home to try and find out what is happening. Soon, Adi ‘appears’ and tries to use Danny to save herself and the world.

Why should you read it?

Best for Year 6 and above for content reasons. This book would be great on the shelves of any school library and fit into a study of space. Friendship and family is really explored through the extreme activities that happen and would provoke good discussion within a classroom setting.