Xander loves to draw – super heroes in particular. He’s got two good friends at school, but unfortunately they can’t stop him from being bullied. Especially when the bullies find a picture Xander has drawn of them being beaten themselves.

These bullies are the Clagg brothers, but they like to call themselves the Bruise Brothers. They terrify as many kids as they can, with no worries of repercussions. Their father employs many in their town, including Xander’s parents.

One day as Xander is being pursued by the Clagg brothers, he stumbles upon a market. He finds a strange pen and is compelled to buy it, despite its scratched surfaces. This pen is like no other he has drawn with. He continues with his super hero sketches, frustrated with what’s happening around him, but this time his drawings come true!

At first, this has wondrous effects on his family. He changes his sister’s life, gets his own back on the Clagg brothers and wins a school competition. But this good luck has terrible flow-on effects. His friends aren’t speaking to him, his parents aren’t speaking to each other and his sister is hospitalised.

Can he reverse everything he has done? Is there a way to heal his family, get his friends back and stop the Clagg family once and for all? Xander has to return to the person he was before he bought the amazing pen.

A tale of being careful what you wish for, being happy with what you have, and realising the important things in life.

There is a mystery to solve, bullies to beat, a stray dog to save and friendships to rebuild, all while main character Xander is also trying to improve his lot with the help of a fantastical pen.

Imagine being able to draw something and it comes true! But making things happen, causes other things to happen and Xander soon loses control.

This is the second book in this series with this magical pen. Both books have high production values, eye-catching sparkly covers, a double page illustration spread every chapter, along with illustrations peppered throughout.

Another fun read in this series.

Author – David Lawrence

Illustrator – Cherie Dignam

Age – 8+

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(2023, EK Books, Exisle Publishing, Series, School, Friendships, Family, Bullies, Bullying, Wealthy, Powerful, Corrupt, Cheating, Magic Pen, Drawing, Super heroes, Stray dog, Treasure, Mystery, Wheelchair, Things going wrong, Humour, Funny, Art, Animals, Crime, Action)