Vashti Hardy

Mabel and Will Greystone are looking forward to an exciting trip with their aunt Lucy, a renowned relic hunter in the land of Marvolia. Using an ancient map, they are searching for the legendary lost town of Umber, famous for the invention of clockwork, which was mysteriously abandoned hundreds of years ago. The only other clue they have is a strange old key left behind by the last inhabitant of the town, but they have no idea what the key is for. Also on the hunt for Umber is devious Byron Cogsworth, who is desperate to claim the glory such an important discovery will bring. Can Mabel, Will and Aunt Lucy find Umber before him? And what secrets will the clockwork key unlock?

Hana and Ace race to track down Brumble the bear wizard’s missing medals before the contest is won in this exciting Moonlight Mystery Agency adventure from Vashti Hardy. It's race time for the animals of Moonlight, but disaster has struck! Brumble the bear wizard has lost the winners' medals! Hana and Ace must use their detective skills to track down the medals, but can they also find time to enjoy all the wonders they see along the way?

Hana and Ace help the animals of Moonlight uncover the identity of a mysterious creature in this exciting Moonlight Mystery Agency adventure from bestseller Vashti Hardy. A strange creature with great big paws and a terrible growl is roaming the land of Moonlight. No one knows what it can be, so they’ve called in Hana and Ace the detective cat of the Moonlight Mystery Agency. Can Hana and Ace puzzle out what’s going on, and will solving the mystery help Hana find the answer to some worries of her own?

Embark on an action-packed quest with the Greystones as they race to find the lost gold of ancient Hath in this exciting steampunk fantasy adventure from bestselling author Vashti Hardy. A long-lost amulet holds the secret to finding the ancient land of Hath and its hidden treasures. But just as famous relic hunter Lucy Greystone is about to retrieve it, the amulet falls into the hands of nefarious glory hunter Byron Cogsworth. Now the race is on to be the first to uncover the location of Hath and its gold. But how can Mabel and Will Greystone help their aunt when they only have access to half of the clues, and can they stop Cogsworth before his dirty tricks lead to treasure being lost for ever? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

It's the height of summer in Moreland, and Grace Griffin and her fellow warden Tom Eely are sweltering in the heat, until they answer a strange call for help that comes through on the amazing Griffin map. After teleporting to Oakwell, they find the town paralyzed by a freezing snowstorm, which is ruining the famous summer market that brings in visitors and trade. Using their mystery-solving skills and amazing inventions, can Grace and Tom find the cause of the weird weather and restore summer from the snow? Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books are expertly written, thoughtfully designed with dyslexia-friendly fonts and paper tones, and carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

Hana joins the Moonlight Mystery Agency to help Spark the bionic unicorn find her missing birthday cake in the first of an exciting new series from bestseller Vashti Hardy. Hana has always longed to have a pet of her own. So when a cat turns up at her bedroom window one night, she thinks her dream has come true. But Ace is no ordinary cat. He’s a detective cat who has come to invite Hana to join the Moonlight Mystery Agency, and that’s when the magical adventures begin! Join Hana and Ace on their first mission to solve the mystery of Spark the bionic unicorn’s missing birthday cake!

"Warden Griffin at your service. Can I ask if you've seen a monster in the area . . . ?" Grace's family are wardens of the Griffin Map, using its teleport technology to fight crime across Moreland. Although Grace is still too young, she longs to go on missions herself. After all, if her brother, Bren, can do it, why can't she? So when Grace finds herself alone with the map when a distress call comes in, she jumps at the chance to prove she's up to the task. But the map transports Grace to a remote village where nothing is quite as it seems . . . Has she taken on more than she can handle? Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books are expertly written, thoughtfully designed with dyslexia-friendly fonts and paper tones, and carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

"Ravens and a witch and a haunted house?" said Grace. New recruit Tom Eely has joined warden Grace Griffin and her family as they use their amazing map to teleport through the country of Moreland fighting crime. Grace and Tom are keen to get to work, but their first call to a quiet mountain village doesn't seem to offer many chances to use their exciting gadgets or combat skills. As the pair investigate, however, the situation becomes more puzzling. Why are a flock of ravens attacking the villagers? And are the locals' tales of a mountain witch really to be believed. Grace and Tom will need all their wit skill and courage to solve the raven riddle . . . Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books are expertly written, thoughtfully designed with dyslexia-friendly fonts and paper tones, and carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

"The weirder this mystery gets," said Grace, "the more determined I am to solve it . . ." Newly qualified warden Grace Griffin is excited to be using the amazing teleport technology of the Griffin map to travel throughout Moreland fighting crime. But her first mission, investigating a series of petty thefts, is proving to be a bit of a puzzle. Who would steal a jar of jam, or a spanner, or a tin of machine oil? And why do all the reports mention the sighting of a bird at the scene of the robbery? When the clues finally lead to a ramshackle castle on a lonely island, Grace might find more than just a thief . . . Union Square & Co.'s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books are expertly written, thoughtfully designed with dyslexia-friendly fonts and paper tones, and carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

Embark on an action-packed quest to find the lost town of clockwork in the first of a new fantasy adventure series from Vashti Hardy, packed with her trademark STEM inventions. Mabel and Will Greystone are looking forward to an exciting holiday with their aunt Lucy, a famous relic hunter in the land of Marvolia. Using an ancient map, they are searching for the legendary lost town of Umber, famous for the invention of clockwork, which was mysteriously abandoned hundreds of years ago. The only other clue they have is a strange old key left behind by the last inhabitant of the town, but they have no idea what the key is for. Also on the hunt for Umber is devious Byron Cogsworth, desperate for the glory such an important discovery will bring. Can Mabel, Will and Aunt Lucy find Umber before him? And what secrets will the clockwork key unlock …? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

From the award-winning author of The Brightstorm Chronicles, Vashti Hardy, comes a powerful new story set in a surprising world filled with action, adventure and big questions about family and what it means to be human. Perfect for readers aged 9+ and for fans of Ross Welford and Piers Torday. Twelve-year-old Rose can't remember anything before last week, when she woke up not knowing her own name, her own house, or or even her own mother. The only thing Rose recognized was her puppy, North. But Mother patiently explained everything - well, not everything. Not the real-feeling dreams Rose has about a mysterious forest she half-recognizes. Or why she is not allowed to stray beyond the garden, out into Luminelle, the vast city surrounding them. Mother is kind and helpful, but Rose can't shake the feeling that something's not right. Or maybe it's everything that's not right? But then, when Rose flees to the outside world with North, it quickly becomes clear to Rose that she is different. And for reasons she doesn't understand, she's dangerous. On an unforgettable journey of discovery, Rose uncovers life-altering truths about the city she's in, the people around her ... and ultimately herself. An action-packed adventure filled with warmth and humour, this story will expand your mind - and your heart Tackling big questions such as: What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be family? By the award-winning author of The Brightstorm Chronicles, Vashti Hardy

Harley Hitch returns for an airborne adventure in this highly illustrated fiction series about a determined young inventor from award-winning author Vashti Hardy. The Aviation Parade is coming to Forgetown this summer, and Harley has her sights set on creating a flying machine that will really stand out: a robot hippogriff! And if the creature impresses Cosmo's mum enough, surely Cosmo will be able to keep it as a pet? But Harley wants the flying machine to be a surprise for everyone. She soon finds that keeping secrets leads to tricky explanations and lots of trouble - especially when REAL hippogriffs arrive and cause chaos! Join Harley, her robot dog Sprocket and best friend Cosmo for problem-solving adventures and mysteries in a world where science rules and technology grows in the forest! A rollicking adventure that celebrates STEM learning! Highly illustrated with lively, humourous illustrations by George Ermos. Vashti Hardy is an award-winning author of children's books. Her novel Wildspark won the Blue Peter Book Award for Best Story 2020, and Brightstorm was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2019.

“This festive story is timeless” - Woman's Weekly A gorgeously illustrated celebration of creativity, upcycling and Christmas magic! It's Christmas Eve at Lily's new house, but Lily misses the old one. Then, in a moment of magic, she is whisked away to the North Pole! Santa's elfbots need her help to invent new toys from used, discarded ones. Lily comes to learn that with a dash of imagination, she can make anything - even, perhaps, a new home... The perfect give for young budding engineers who love to invent things! Perfect for fans of The Polar Express and Rosie Revere, Engineer. This is the picture-book debut of Vashti Hardy, the Blue-Peter-Book-Award-winning author of children's novels known for their distinctive fusion of imagination and invention. Illustrator and rising star Katie Cottle was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

“This festive story is timeless” - Woman's Weekly A gorgeously illustrated celebration of creativity, upcycling and Christmas magic! It's Christmas Eve at Lily's new house, but Lily misses the old one. Then, in a moment of magic, she is whisked away to the North Pole! Santa's elfbots need her help to invent new toys from used, discarded ones. Lily comes to learn that with a dash of imagination, she can make anything - even, perhaps, a new home... The perfect give for young budding engineers who love to invent things! Perfect for fans of The Polar Express and Rosie Revere, Engineer. This is the picture-book debut of Vashti Hardy, the Blue-Peter-Book-Award-winning author of children's novels known for their distinctive fusion of imagination and invention. Illustrator and rising star Katie Cottle was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.

From sweltering sun to a wild snowstorm, wardens Grace and Tom must brave the elements to save the day in this thrilling final Griffin Gate adventure from bestseller Vashti Hardy. It’s the height of summer in Moreland, and Grace Griffin and her fellow warden Tom Eely are sweltering in the heat until they answer a strange call for help that comes through on the amazing Griffin map. After teleporting to Oakwell, they find the town paralysed by a freezing snowstorm, which is ruining the famous summer market that brings in visitors and trade. Using their mystery-solving skills and amazing inventions, can Grace and Tom find the cause for the weird weather and restore summer from the snow? Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

Arthur and Maudie Brightstorm are back home in Lontown and finally settling in after their exhilarating--and secret--adventures in Erythea. Maudie's sky-ak invention is a hit, and Harriet has just announced that she will share her sky-ship's hydroelectric technology.But tensions are brewing. Pitch is becoming more and more difficult to mine, and the existence of super-sapient creatures on other continents threatens how the Explorers see themselves in the natural order of the world. When Arthur and Maudie begin hearing a strange song summoning them north--a song only they can hear--they know there's an adventure waiting for them that may change the lives of everyone in the Wide. As the crew of the Aurora prepares for their trip, they're joined by new members and old friends. But they're not the only sky-ship journeying northward to uncover the region's secrets. . . . Return to Vashti Hardy's "marvelously imagined" world (Publisher's Weekly) in this sweeping and propulsive new addition to the Brightstorm series.

A leap of faith in a race against time. When Princess Ganzorig's uncle falls gravely ill, she sneaks out of the Citadel to find a powerful cure, said to be guarded by the Serpent of the Sands. But is it only a story? Is she chasing false hope? But the further Gan travels, the more secrets are revealed - and the more she questions everything she believes... The fourth adventure in the Brightstorm Chronicles series, but this book can be read on its own! The story is told from the perspective of Princess Gan, a fan-favourite character from Firesong Perfect for fans of The Cogheart Adventures, Sky Song, Dragon Mountain, and The Land of Roar Praise for Serpent of the Sands: "A brilliant adventure story for upper KS2 and younger KS3 readers. Hardy builds a unique world that feels authentic and engaging and this book, and the series that it comes from, will feed the imaginations of young readers." Just Imagine Praise for Brightstorm (book 1) "Brightstorm is a wonderfully paced, absorbing read that delivers a special feeling of adventure reserved for stories that you just cannot put down." Fantasty Book Review "This is an unputdownable Victoriana adventure with characters that are vivid and most refreshing in their portrayal of gender roles. " BookTrust

In this third book in the series, Harley goes on a time-twisting adventure! On a school trip to the Inventia Jurassic Coast, Harley finds an unusual fossil. Has she discovered an entirely new species of dinosaur? Her class nemesis, Fenelda, doesn't believe it, so Harley decides to build a time machine to prove the discovery and win the 'best invention' competition. But messing around with time can have unexpected, dinosaur-size effects... Vashti Hardy’s immersive world building, cool science and tech, weird and wonderful inventions, warm and funny characters – all perfectly pitched for younger readers. A modern-day INSPECTOR GADGET meets THE WORST WITCH, with a STEM twist. Full of brilliant illustrations from George Ermos! Collect them all: Harley Hitch and the Iron Forest and Harley Hitch and the Missing Moon

Arthur and Maudie Brightstorm are back home in Lontown and finally settling in after their exhilarating--and secret--adventures in Erythea. Maudie's sky-ak invention is a hit, and Harriet has just announced that she will share her sky-ship's hydroelectric technology.But tensions are brewing. Pitch is becoming more and more difficult to mine, and the existence of super-sapient creatures on other continents threatens how the Explorers see themselves in the natural order of the world. When Arthur and Maudie begin hearing a strange song summoning them north--a song only they can hear--they know there's an adventure waiting for them that may change the lives of everyone in the Wide. As the crew of the Aurora prepares for their trip, they're joined by new members and old friends. But they're not the only sky-ship journeying northward to uncover the region's secrets. . . . Return to Vashti Hardy's "marvelously imagined" world (Publisher's Weekly) in this sweeping and propulsive new addition to the Brightstorm series.