Hal’s blood froze as realised the danger he was in. Stinky couldn’t hold on forever, and if Hal stayed in the chute much longer he was going to fall all the way to the bottom. ‘Don’t mess about. Pull me up!’
‘I can’t do it on my own. You’ll have to help.’
Hal Junior is always in trouble. He is late for school, doesn’t do his homework and tends to stick his nose in where it isn’t wanted. But he can’t seem to help himself – life on board the space station means there’s always interesting things to look at and explore. And Hal is always having crazy ideas – some of which might actually work. But when his whole class gets into trouble on an excursion Hal’s ingenuity might just be the thing that saves the day.
Hal Junior the Secret Signal is the first in a new series by the author of the Hal Spacejock series. Making use of the formula which has worked in the Spacejock series, author Simon Haynes aims to entertain a younger audience. And it works. There is lots of action, silliness, and a main character who is at times bumbling but, when it matters most, is also brave and inventive.
Haynes says he wants to fill a gap in providing science fiction stories to children. Hal Junior the Secret Signal is likely to appeal to readers aged from 8 to 10, and reluctant readers perhaps a little older.
Hal Junior the Secret Signal, by Simon Haynes
Bowman Press, 2011
ISBN 9781877034077
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