The Haven: Book 1

By Author / Illustrator

Simon Lelic

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Hachette Children's Group

ISBN

9781444947601

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

07-02-2019

Synopsis

You don't know it exists, but when you have nowhere else to turn, the Haven will find you ... An adrenaline-fuelled adventure in a new series by top thriller writer Simon Lelic.

*Shortlisted for the CrimeFest Awards*

Our city. Our secret. Our rules.

Alone. On the run. Ollie Turner has nowhere to hide.

But he gets a second chance. Underneath the city there's a secret organisation, far from adult eyes.

It's called the Haven.

Soon Ollie is caught up in their battle: to stop Maddy Sikes destroying the city. Time is running out for Ollie and his new friends, and millions of lives are at stake ...

'What a cool idea. Modern street kids doing it for themselves and kicking adult butt.' Charlie Higson

'One of those grab 'em by the throat thrillers that takes off on the first page.' Eoin Colfer

'Adventurous, and thrilling.' Harsh Budhdeo, age 11, LoveReading4Kids

'An action-packed book, rammed full of adventure and danger. I loved reading this book.' Bella Rix-Clancy, age 11, LoveReading4Kids

'A riveting read - fast-paced from the off and with breathless action. A perfect haven for young readers!' Chris Bradford, author of Young Samurai

An explosive and compelling read from the writer of thrillers THE HOUSE, THE LIAR'S ROOM and RUPTURE.

Reviews

The Haven is perfect for fans of Alex Rider or The Cherub series. Ollie is snatched from his bed on the very first page so you are thrust into the action right away! He manages to escape and his rescue is ably assisted by Dodge. Dodge leads Ollie through the underground tunnels of London to The Haven. The Haven is an alternative to the other gangs in London where homeless and abandoned kids are actually cared for and educated. It is a secret organisation that is run by the children themselves. However, unrest is brewing as various prominent gang members or their relatives have gone missing and rival gangs are pinning the blame on each other. Can Ollie ease the tensions and prevent gang warfare by finding these missing teenagers? Will Ollie and his friends survive the evil Maddy Sikes and her guards? This is an exciting read and is set to be the first book of a series. It can be seen as a modernised take on Oliver Twist - although to be honest, other than the character names, this wasn't obvious as I was reading it. It will appeal to readers who enjoy spy/action/thriller/survival & adventure stories. 304 pages / Ages 11+ / Reviewed by Clair Bossons, school librarian.