Townsend John – författare

When a glass Christmas angel smashes in front of Chris's motorbike, a stranger warns him this must be an omen. It is only when he and his girlfriend get trapped on the moors on Christmas Eve, that Chris wonders if he should have taken the warning more seriously. For soon, very strange things start to happen. Who is the mysterious driver of an old car? What are the secrets in the snow? And just who is the third angel?Recently republished as a new edition, this book is one of the Shades 2.0 series. This book is perfect for reluctant teens who still want an exciting, unpatronising story that is relevant to their interests and concerns, but who don't want to read a longer novel. With a length of only 6,000 words, and filled with drama, this story will appeal to all reluctant teen readers.

When Chris sees an ornamental glass angel smash at his feet he doesn't think anything of it. But when a trip to the moors with his girlfriend brings strange events, he begins to think it may have been a bad omen. Then, out of the blue a stranger warns him to beware. Will Chris ever find out what connects these events, and if he fails what will be the consequences?In the same style as the Shades 2.0 series, this book tells a fast-paced story but is much shorter than the Shades, allowing for less-able readers to still experience the gripping story but with much simpler language and a larger font. The excitement of the Shades series is still there in these shortened versions of the dramatic, enticing stories.

Ex-SAS explorer Baron and his son Greg have been sent to the African jungle to find a lost TV crew. The crew were looking for a living dinosaur that is said to lurk in the vast jungle swamp. Baron and Greg start on a search that brings them face to face with the mysterious ancient terrors of the swamp. And it could cost them their lives. Action! Adventure! Danger! This standalone book from Jonny Zucker's Toxic series is a fast-moving chapter book, filled with high-quality black and white illustrations to grab readers' attention. The Toxic series reads are ideal for reluctant and struggling readers who are enthused by short, fast-paced adventure stories. The cliff-hanger at the end of nearly every chapter certainly helps!

The Night Raiders came without warning. They killed many and took others away. Hari's sister Maya was one of those taken and now Hari vows to find her. But Hari has more than The Night Raiders to fear. Is there a brighter future waiting out there for Hari and Maya - somewhere beyond the deadly mountains?This book is part of the Breakouts series. It is perfect for readers who have gained a bit more confidence in reading and who are after a more challenging read, but who aren't yet ready for longer, more demanding reads.

There's been a gruesome shark attack off an Australian beach. It looks like a massive man-eater has struck - but things are not quite what they seem. Mumbling a meaningless message to his young rescuers, the victim draws them in to a web of intrigue, lies and deadly danger.This book is part of the Breakouts series. It is perfect for readers who have gained a bit more confidence in reading and who are after a more challenging read, but who aren't yet ready for longer, more demanding reads.

A long time ago, when Bernard was thirteen, he killed a man. Everyone called him a hero. But ever since that time the past has haunted his dreams. Can Bernard ever come to terms with what he did?Part of the Fresh Shades series, this is a shorter version of the original book. The Sharp Shades stories are illustrated and have simpler language and a larger font than the original book. They are perfect for older readers who may find longer books too daunting, but who still want the excitement of a great story told with pace and style.

Not long into the flight on a crowded plane Toby gets a text from Todd, a fellow passenger. Todd is carrying a bag with something extremely dangerous hidden in it - but Todd doesn't know what it is, how it will be used or who will use it. But he needs Toby's help. Now.This book is part of the Breakouts series. It is perfect for readers who have gained a bit more confidence in reading and who are after a more challenging read, but who aren't yet ready for longer, more demanding reads.

The Breakouts pack contains eight titles , with stories ranging from shark attacks on an Australian beach, peril in the Himalayas, witches, ghosts and dystopian futures.These are strong modern, adventurous stories for both boys and girls. The titles in Ransom's Breakouts series offer a challenging read in terms of ideas and vocabulary but in a style and length that make them easier to read. These books are perfect for readers who have gained a bit more confidence in reading and who are after a more challenging read in terms of ideas and vocabulary but who aren't yet ready for longer, more demanding reads. Authors include popular writers including John Townsend, Fanie Viljoen, Jill Aitkins, Mary Chapman and Edwina Shaw.

Bobby the dog lived 150 years ago. This is his story and his loyalty is a lesson to us all. Best Friends is a book-banded reading book for developing readers, carefully levelled at Orange Book Band for guided reading. Illustrated throughout with beautiful photographs, this non-fiction title is suitable for struggling teen and adult readers. Best Friends features a longer, less structured text with a more extended vocabulary. More literary language is used with more complex sentence structures. More space is allowed for text than for pictures.Best Friends is part of Ransom's Neutron Stars, a structured reading programme for teens and adults learning the basics of reading. The series offers progression through ten levels of reading, four phonics and six coloured book bands.More information on the structure of the scheme can be found here.

Four tales of terror to keep you awake at night ...A girl gives a lift to a stranger on a misty road ...Zitty Zoe makes a promise in return for glowing, radiant skin ...An ancient wrong needs to be set right ...A Series One Land Rover brings terror and death ...This fantastic collection of four short stories follows one of four exciting themes, ideal for readers with less stamina or those just looking for a quick read. Fat-paced and intriguing, these short stories will entice readers with their quick narratives and fun plots.

In the attic of his house Sam finds a leather case that belonged to his great great grandfather, Freddy Ovel. The case contains a diary, and as Sam begins to read it he is taken right back to just before the First World War when Freddy was a boy. Sam also finds a photograph and discovers that at his age, Freddy was his exact double. But the diary unlocks much more than just the events of the war. Sam discovers that there is much more to 'Freddy' than meets the eye - not only heroic wartime deeds and terrible injuries, but also some very dark secrets.Thought-provoking and poignant, this book is an excellent way to teach children more about history and the first great war of our times. As part of the Cold Fusion series, this stimulating read is for the curious child that wants something a little more demanding than the usual range of books on offer for their age group.

We're off to feed the dragon in this light and amusing text. We're off to Dragon Mountain! Feeding the Dragon is a book-banded reading book for developing readers, carefully levelled at Gold Book Band for guided reading. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this 742-word fiction story is suitable for ages 7 - 8. Feeding the Dragon features a longer, more demanding text with extended vocabulary and sentence structures. It has wider vocabulary and terminology and the story-line is sustained for longer. More than one point of view is expressed and illustrations no longer support the text.Feeding the Dragon is part of Ransom Reading Stars, a structured programme for children learning to read. The series has fifteen levels: four phonics levels and eleven book band levels (Pink through to Lime).

What was the world like a long time before humans arrived on Earth? This book offers an account of the dinosaurs - but from a slightly different perspective. A Lost World is a book-banded reading book for more confident readers, carefully levelled at White Book Band for guided reading. Illustrated throughout with beautiful photographs, this 818-word non-fiction book is suitable for ages 7 - 8. A Lost World features a more demanding text with extended vocabulary and literary devices. It has more clauses in sentences, the use of metaphor is introduced, and the story plot is more involved.A Lost World is part of Ransom Reading Stars, a structured programme for children learning to read. The series has fifteen levels: four phonics levels and eleven book band levels (Pink through to Lime).

Winter has come to the forest, but the forest animals live in fear of the hungry snow-wolf. The snowy owl has a solution, but will the other animals help? A beautiful parable for our times. A Light in the Forest is abook-banded reading book for more confident readers, carefully levelled at Lime Book Band for guided reading. Beautifully illustrated throughout, this 837-word fiction story is suitable for ages 8 - 9. A Light in the Forest features a more demanding text with extended vocabulary and literary devices. Metaphor and technical language is introduced and illustrations no longer support the text directly.A Light in the Forest is part of Ransom Reading Stars, a structured programme for children learning to read. The series has fifteen levels: four phonics levels and eleven book band levels (Pink through to Lime).