Oleg and Emma are the best of friends. Together they are missing their friend Sarah Tuppet who has moved away to the country. Secretly they are envious of Sarah and her big new house and garden with lots to do and little to worry about.

Emma’s mum works long hours and her brothers aren’t really bothered about what she’s doing, and Oleg’s dad is seriously depressed and asleep on the couch pretty much 24/7. His Grandma also lives with them, but hardly leaves her attic room, always tapping away on her old typewriter, trying to recapture her golden days of being an author.

Oleg and Emma decide to try and pick up their spirits at school, by making up a new friend. He’s a boy called Sebastian Cole. When they hand in their own essays, they also hand in an essay written by Sebastian. After all, their relieving teacher Mr Clay won’t know the difference.

Oleg and Emma don’t realise their timing is terrible, there are magical forces at work, and the Universe is about to tip them on their heads. Soon after the fake essay prank, they are faced with a boy who claims to be called Sebastian Cole. They’ve found him in their secret den, stepping out of a large cardboard box he claims is his spaceship. After their surprise they decide he is their responsibility. After all, they made him up!

Sebastian is quirky, strange, a little bit old-fashioned and funny too. But what are they going to do with him?

This adventure involving imagination, a cowboy caretaker, a roving goat, the school bully, strange vans with crow-masked drivers and a visiting asteroid called B612, grabs hold of these three and takes them on a wild ride. The improbable and impossible suddenly becomes real. A fun read that also touches on depression, blended families, lost dreams and the thought that teachers can have trouble fitting into a new school too.

Author – Ben Brooks
Illustrator – George Ermos
Age – 8+

(Imagination, Humour, Funny, Friendship, Family, Responsibility, School, Relieving teachers, Substitute teachers, Reality, Made up)