Lionboy

Charlie Ashanti, the hero of LIONBOY, speaks cat - the language of all cats wild and domestic alike. His unusual talent helps him on his quest to find his kidnapped parents who have discovered a cure for asthma. The local cats of his home town (a futuristic London) start him on his search to solve the mystery of his missing parents, which leads him across the channel on board a circus ship bound for Paris. It is on this wonderful vessel that Charlie establishes a close relationship with the homesick circus lions who become his accomplices. But Charlie is in danger, for close behind him on his trail, is a crony of the mysterious group who have kidnapped his parents. They want Charlie too.

Charlie Ashanti is on the run from an amazing floating circus with six homesick beautiful Lions and an extraordinary sabre-toothed creature. Charlie has promised to help the Lions find their way home to Morocco but he has his own problems: his Mum and Dad have been kidnapped and he is determined to find them. His new friends, King Boris of Bulgaria and his security chief, Edward, have promised to help. But Charlie wonders if he was wrong to trust them when he and the Lions find themselves held virtually as prisoners in Venice. They eventually escape with the help of a friendly gondolier, and after a dangerous sea journey the Lions finally make it home and Charlie is at last reunited with his parents.

Charlie Ashanti – lion-rescuer, shipwreck-survivor and Catspeaker – is safe with his parents. Or is he?

Old enemies are closing in: Maccomo, the liontrainer, longs for revenge, and the evil Corporacy is still hunting Charlie and his mum and dad.

They could hide. But the time to hide is over. Now is the time to fight back . . .

Brilliantly written, fantastically exciting adventure fiction with a twist – boys and girls aged 9+ will love it!

Lionboy was the first ever selection by the Blue Peter Book Club.