Books with author Spencer Barrett

Born into the carinatae, a race of shape-shifters and magical beings, Yöst believes his life in their island village wondrous – until death comes to call.In the guise of the local priest, who is determined to wipe the carinatae from the face of the earth, only Yöst and two young children, Zande, destined to be the next ruler, and Tatania, survive the massacre.Aware the priest will not cease his search until they too are dead, Yöst begs sanctuary from Ramon, a gypsy farmer whose family fled the war in Spain and, unaware of their history, Ramon offers a home in return for work. Unused to labour of any kind, Yöst strikes up a close friendship with Rico, the only son in a house full of girls, who helps him through the first difficult years. As their relationship strengthens and deepens, Yöst begins to think of staying and making his life there as a farmer … forgetting that as carinatae, his own date with destiny is fast approaching.And so is death ..."This is a true delight for all readers."

‘Where historical fiction and fantasy collide’ ‘You must promise never to speak out about your heritage,’ his grandmother warned, ‘because people fear anything different.’ ‘Fear us!’ Yöst laughed in protest. ‘We are too few to fear.’ ‘It makes no difference. You are descendants of Zeus, magical creatures …’Persecuted throughout the centuries by the church for their ability to shape-shift into swans and heavenly beings, in 1930s Europe, three children, survive the latest purge. This is their story.

While staying in a 17th century manor house, fifteen-year-old Molly accidentally slips through time and reappears in 1648, towards the end of the Civil War, to find she has taken the place of Molly Hampton, the eldest daughter of a Puritan family. Labelling the seventeenth century as barbaric, Molly is hell-bent on escaping back to her own life - but the manor house is now barred to her.Forced to continue with the charade, Molly meets Richard, supposedly her best friend, only to find herself falling in love with him. Gradually, Molly begins to change her mind believing that she can stay and take Molly Hampton's place - little realizing that danger and disaster lie in wait for her ...

Children of powerful and wealthy parents are vanishing. It's serial kidnapping on an international scale ~ and the kidnappers are calling all the shots. It started in the UK with the disappearances of PJ Scott, only son of the world's highest paid film star, and Hunter Driscoll, whose Irish father is a high tech billionaire. Then it spread to the US and Europe, with no end in sight. Having eliminated the possibility of terrorists, and with no real clues, Scotland Yard is rapidly running out of options... And the clock is ticking.

Scott Anderson has a secret so big he daren’t share it even with best friends. He and his dad are American. If you’re American, you don’t talk about it. If you don’t talk about that, you don’t talk about any of the other secrets that haunt your life – that your dad’s really a computer scientist and people are searching for him.When his dad disappears, Scott is determined to find him. He has already lost his mother. She disappeared in the California earthquake, which killed ninety percent of the world’s computer scientists; a tragedy for which America is held responsible. But there’s little for Scott to go on; a scrap of paper left in a printer and a poster pinned to the Wall. Now someone’s looking for Scott too…

Philip James Longbotham is twelve. His nickname is OC and he possesses a most amazing brain. It might not go round corners but it’s a whiz at science and plays chess like a dream. It also has a nasty habit of seizing up at the wrong moment; Kitty says it only does that because it’s overloaded with maths equations. Kitty and Anna are OC’s sisters and they’re the reason Mum wants to leave home. OC’s best friend is Charles Andrew Sheridan Harris. He lives next door and goes round in an excessively speedy wheelchair. Nicknamed 'The Cash', his ambition is to become the world’s greatest villain and make a bankful of money. He’s not doing such a bad job of it either! While OC plays chess and does maths and science homework for lazy kids, Cash has a nice sideline in forging sick notes and shop-lifting. When a chess tournament lures the four friends to Birmingham, Cash takes OC to meet Jim Bowie, one of the all-time great villains, with the intention of asking if he can become an apprentice villain. Told they don’t hire kids in wheelchairs, Cash is devastated. If villains don’t want him, what is he to do with the rest of his life? With Cash in decline and refusing to go to school, OC attends the carol service on his own in Gloucester. He witnesses some suspicious men board his coach and recognises one of them as Jim Bowie. Remembering that Cash has warned him to never talk to Jim Bowie again, OC stays out of sight. The coach trundles him back to Bristol where the men are intending to rob a bank. Unfortunately, the bank they have chosen is where OC keeps his chess winnings, over three hundred pounds, and he’s not about to let them steal that!

Two sorcerers: one good, one bad. Jacob, who uses his power to safeguard the Prince and inhabitants of the Kingdom of Sudana; Mendorun who has already learned the secret of positive energy and wields an army of giant crows. Now he is snatching away children, to steal their souls and create birds that can think. His plan? To become the most powerful sorcerer on earth and he will destroy anyone or anything that gets in his way.The only person standing in his way is a football-mad teenager from Birmingham, Jack Burnside, whose best friend a camel called Bud, can walk through time and space. Jack is in Morocco when Jacob appears with the news that Bud has fallen into Mendorun's hands. Jack must reach him before Mendorun can unlock the camel's magical powers. Unwilling to get involved in another scary adventure, Jack refuses. He couldn't help even if he wanted to. He's on an organised tour with fourteen other boys and every minute of their time is accounted for. He couldn't possibly help...Or could he?A fantasy for children, aged 9 - 12, The Bird Children is the second of the Jack Burnside adventures.

Fifteen year old Scott Anderson has a secret so big he daren't share it even with his best friends. He and his dad are American. If you're American, you don't talk about it. If you don't talk about that, you don't talk about any of the other secrets that haunt your life - that your dad's really a computer scientist and people are searching for him. When Bill Anderson disappears, Scott is determined to find him. He has already lost his mother. She disappeared in the California earthquake, which killed ninety percent of the world's computer scientists; a tragedy for which America is held responsible. But there's little for Scott to go on; a scrap of paper left in a printer and a poster pinned to the wall. Now someone's looking for Scott, too. Is it the mysterious Frenchman, who pretends to be a radiation expert, or Sean Terry of the American Secret Service, who believes the United States innocent of the crimes levelled against it? Could it be Hilary Stone, the prettiest girl in class, who also claims to work for the American Secret Service? Or is it someone else entirely? Following the clues, Scott heads north on his dad's bike. As his pursuers catch up with him, it is Hilary Stone who saves him. Despite not trusting her, he grudgingly allows her to go with him to Scotland, where he believes the answer lies. After all, as Hilary points out; she has the gun. The annual flower festival at the Keukenhof in Holland plays host to the final scene where, at last, Scott comes face to face with his pursuers, and learns the secret his father has always kept hidden from him.

*Styrus, a computer virus so powerful it can penetrate any computer and steal its secrets, has fallen into the hands of the wrong man *His name - Smith *His ambition - to rule the world When fans demanded a sequel to Running, Barbara Spencer was happy to oblige. Set in the 21st century, Turning Point portrays a world which we may very easily come to inherit. One dominated by money and greed, with Europe a major world power and England reduced to island status off the coast of Europe, in which the little guy stands no chance. The action-packed, Turning Point follows Scott Anderson and Bill, one of the scientists that created Styrus, as they head for Geneva - where Bill is to address the United Nations and formally hand over control of the computer programme. Meanwhile Mr. Smith, despite a massive manhunt by the American Secret Service, continues his meteoric rise to power, driving global corporations into bankruptcy. When Scott accidentally overhears a secret conversation, the mirage of calm and safety that his family and friends have tried so hard to create is shattered forever. Within forty-eight hours, Scott has become a wanted criminal, accused of gunning down an innocent bystander; his bodyguard, his home, and his father - all gone. With only his school friends believing in his innocence, Scott heads for Exeter on his motorbike to the headquarters of the American Secret Service - only to find that destroyed too. Barbara Spencer's new book once again offers young adults a thrilling, roller-coaster of a read.

Jack, who shares his name with the soccer superstar, Jack Burnside, is a keen footballer. When his best mate, Saleem, fails to return after a visit to his home, there is little Jack can do about it, until he receives a mysterious parcel in the post. It takes him on a journey to a land ruled by sun and peopled with tyrants, sorcerers and giant crows.Now he must find Saleem, coach a team for a football match - and stay alive ... which might just prove rather difficult if your only ally is a cantankerous camel.