Itch Rocks: The Further Adventures of an Element Hunter - Hardcover

Mayo, Simon

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1454905107 ISBN 13: 9781454905103

Publisher: Splinter, 2014

Synopsis

Itchingham Lofte is back—and now he's the most protected boy in the world! After narrowly escaping the thugs from Greencorps and disposing of element 126, Itch and his family live under constant surveillance by England's famed MI5. But even these top agents may not be able to help him when enemies old and new scheme to get their hands on the super-radioactive rocks—even if they have to kill Itch to do it. Filled with danger, thrills, and some shocking surprises, this suspenseful sequel is every bit as exciting as the first! 

About this title

About the Author

Simon Mayo is one of Britain's best-loved radio DJs. He works for BBC Radio, and in 2008 he was recognized as the “radio broadcaster of the year” at the 34th annual Broadcasting Press Guild Awards and the “Speech Broadcaster of the Year” at the Sony Radio Academy Awards. Itch was his first novel. Simon lives in England.

Reviews

Gr 7 Up—Mayo picks up the story of Itchingham Lofte just a few months after he has survived kidnapping by a psychopath and near-fatal levels of radiation. Cornish high-schooler "Itch," as he is known to all and sundry, managed to hide several samples of the heretofore unknown element 126 that has potential as a source of energy and a horrible weapon. Now he and his family are protected 24/7 by a team of MI5 agents and with good reason. Nathaniel Flowerdew, Itch's kidnapper, and Shivvi Tan Fook, Flowerdew's murderous associate, want 126, as do other criminal groups, and that means they need to trick or force the location from Itch. School is strange for Itch, his sister Chloe, and his cousin Jack, especially now that the formerly friendly Lucy Cavendish has become inexplicably cold and even vicious toward the trio. MI5 foils one kidnapping attempt but Itch and the girls are fooled into ducking their minders, and all three are captured. Shivvi coerces Itch to return to face element 126 at Woodingdean Well. Mayo carefully layers action with moments between family and friends to provide both adrenaline and a human side to the story. Itch, Chloe, and Jack are terrific characters who combine brains, heart, and will in a believable fashion. Regardless of their feelings about science, readers will cheer for these kids.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library Wisconsin Rapids

For element hunter Itchingham Lofte, or Itch, life has changed drastically since hiding the highly radioactive (and only known samples of) element 126 down a well—an act that almost cost him his life. With a powerful few after his secret, a security team now follows him everywhere to ensure he and his family are safe. Despite these protective measures, danger is inescapable, and Itch finds himself once more on the run. Heavy on recap, this sequel to Itch (2013) is a little slow to take off; however, once it gets going, it takes the reader through exciting chases, fight scenes, and explosions. Additionally, Itch’s enthusiasm for chemistry imparts science facts to the narrative without coming off like a lecture. A few plot devices are implausible but can be forgiven for the sheer fun of the story. A sure hit for fans of the Alex Rider series, this sequel proves to be an action-packed read with a healthy dose of risk and an unhealthy dose of radiation. Grades 5-8. --Julia Smith

Edition details

• Publisher: Splinter
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1454905107
• ISBN 13: 9781454905103
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 448