Pinch has been busy lately, interviewing her neighbours on Tricky Dragon Lane. She is desperate to learn why her mum has become a ‘sleeper’.

She is the 7th victim to fall asleep but with her eyes wide open. She is barely breathing and like the others, completely unaware of her surroundings. Pinch is hoping to find clues to who or what could have caused this strange condition, and why?

Pinch Perkins is a witch, living with her family and witchkind hidden in a world within the Humdrum (human) world. A local boy named Henry is not only her neighbour, but her rival and nemesis. He tells her she should leave the investigating to the adults but this just makes Pinch more determined. Henry has always been allowed to venture out onto the streets of London amongst the humdrums, where she is not.

Much to Pinch’s chagrin, she needs Henry’s help to leave their safe witch haven and venture further than she’s ever been. It’s not long before he becomes an integral part of an ever challenging adventure to find the truth and if possible, a cure.

Both Pinch and Henry are amazed by the Humdrum world, and also the magical world that exists alongside. But it is dangerous too with spiteful fairies, cunning magical craftsman and strange and powerful magic. Luckily there are also folk and creatures along the way who help these twelve year olds unravel the mystery of who is stealing souls. Can they save Pinch’s mum and the other sleepers in time?

A thrilling magical adventure of two very different children trying to save a loved one. The human world and a magical dimension are interwoven effortlessly, as our heroes travel between them.

Read carefully to pick up essential clues as Pinch does in her quest to save her mum’s stolen soul. She finally pieces them together to find, catch and dispatch the culprits. It will surprise you as much as it did me, who and why the sleeper curse came to be. Not only a magical quest, but an action-packed and tense read, Pinch Perkins is a feisty, determined character and one to root for.

Support characters are imaginative and add their own unique magic to this tale which is the first in the series.

Thanks to Harper Collins & Net Galley for the ARC of this novel.

Author – Cathy Fitzgerald

Illustrator – Chloe Dominique

Age – 8+

Find more stories of Magical Worlds here

(2024, Harper Collins, Magic, Parallel World, Witches, Mirrors, Ghost, Fairie, Soul Stealer, Family, Courage, Friendship, Determination, Animals, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, Humour, Love, Series, Mystery, Secret)