Defender of the Realm

by Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler

Overview

For hundreds of years the United Kingdom has been protected by a mysterious guardian known as the Defender. Part myth, part superhero, few truly believed the Defender existed... until now.

Alfie thinks he knows his destiny. As Prince Alfred, heir to the throne of Great Britain, he's fated to become the most disappointing king in the nation's history. Alfie longs for a way to prove himself, but little does he realize that with the throne of England comes an ancient secret. He who wears the crown must protect the country as the legendary hero -- the Defender of the Realm.Hayley is an ordinary girl, living an ordinary life. She certainly never believed in the mysterious superhero, the Defender. Then, after witnessing a very public battle at the Tower of London, everything is different, and Hayley is left with no doubt. The Defender is real.Two kids with two very different lives are about to get caught up in a centuries-long battle for the fate of a nation. Monsters and criminals, villains and dragons, together Hayley and Alfie must protect their home at all costs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545936842
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	03/28/2017
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	28 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Mark Huckerby is an Emmy Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter best known for writing popular TV shows such as Danger Mouse, Thunderbirds Are Go, and Peter Rabbit. Defender of the Realm is his first novel.
Nick Ostler is an Emmy Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated screenwriter best known for writing popular TV shows such as Danger Mouse, Thunderbirds Are Go, and Peter Rabbit. Defender of the Realm is his first novel.

Editorial Reviews

"A thrilling mashup of history and fantasy." – Kirkus Reviews"Readers will find it hard to resist." – Booklist"This fast-paced story will keep readers guessing until the very end." – School Library Connection

From the Publisher

2016-12-06
A reluctant heir to the throne learns that the king of England's job is more dangerous and fantastic than he imagined. Alfie, named for Alfred the Great, does not dream of defending the country against Vikings but of being just a regular white kid. But as Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, his life is mapped out for him. Fourteen-year-old mixed-race Hayley is visiting the Tower of London with her Jamaican-born grandmother when she witnesses an epic battle between the Black Lizard and the mysterious white knight known as the Defender. However, even though dozens caught it on video, any evidence is quickly squashed. When his father dies unexpectedly, Alfie must become not only the monarch, but the literal Defender of the realm. But the key to defeating the Black Lizard might lie in the lizard scale that Hayley retrieved from the Tower battle. The familiar theme of reluctant hero-turned-determined savior is enlivened here by a combination of fast-paced action and intriguing characters. Alfie, with his clumsiness, fear, and insecurity, is decidedly human. Hayley is tough, determined, and bright—in short, an excellent sidekick. An obvious reveal at the end only diminishes the story slightly. The open ending hints at more adventures to come. A thrilling mashup of history and fantasy. (Fantasy. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews