By author Gabrielle Kent, and illustrators Rex Crowle and Luke Newell (Knights Of)
Sometimes you find the best adventures…and sometimes the best adventures find you!
This is one of the books that was longlisted for the new Alligators Mouth Book Award, and is based on the upcoming crowdfunded ‘Knights and Bikes’ video game, inspired by The Goonies and Earthbound.
Demelza, her pet goose Captain Honkers, and her new best friend (after a shaky start!) Nessa decide to solve the mysteries of the Penfurzy Knights, following the clues left behind by Demelza’s mother. But it won’t be easy!
With its 1980s setting, the nostalgia is strong (though may be lost somewhat on younger readers) and we are thrown back to the time of frisbees, boom boxes and bread bag fasteners fixed to your bike ‘cause they make a cool noise! We join the girls in their hilarious thrill-a-minute quest across the island of Penfurzy, hot on the trail of the Knights fabled treasure, and building a strong friendship along the way.
The quick wit and imagination of Demelza works fantastically with the crazy impulsiveness of Nessa, and it’s great to see such strong-female characters dictating and leading the action. Together with the loyal Captain Honkers, they keep you enthralled as they dive at breakneck speed from one situation to another.
The story’s magic and mystery is perfectly visualised by the excellent illustrations, in a quirky hand-painted comic style that really suits the book and will definitely work well in the video game (honestly, go check it out on their website, because it looks adorable).
Full of derring-do, water-balloons, suspense and even a toilet plunger, I fell in love with Demelza, Nessa and even Captain Honkers, and will certainly be picking up their next adventure ‘Knights and Bikes: Rebel Bicycle Club’, coming out this August!
