Books in World Book Day series

Praise for War World"*****FIVE-PLUS STARS to War World - deliciously unpredictable fiction from an expert storyteller - it's a well-written winner." --Publishers Daily Review "Killer gnomes, wizards, prehistoric monsters--War Worldgrabs readers from the first page and doesn't let go - the action is high-octane, pulling teens and adult readers alike - about as far from H.G. Wells as you can get." --Midwest Book Review"Spence has created an exciting world, one that sinks its claws into you - this is definitely one Sci-Fi series that I can get behind." --Abooktropolis One planet - 6 teenagers - a million light years of terror.School field trips shouldn't be this dangerous.Jeremy Austin never asked to save a planet--it's bad enough being a "B" average student as the son of a world-famous geneticist for crying out loud! He didn't ask to be attacked by Gnome assassins, didn't choose to become food for a prehistoric monster, would never have thought consorting with wizards a wise concept, and he definitely would never, ever sign up to do sword combat against the bloodthirsty Gnome King.Note to self: say NO to portals and wormholes.His father's expedition to a planet 2.4 million light years from Earth has gone missing. Jeremy and five high school friends embark on a rescue mission. Surrounded by an army of mercenaries, they travel through a high-tech portal and discover a nightmare planet on the other side--a violent world of alien races and man-eating monsters--a world in despair; anxiously awaiting the arrival of a savior who will defeat the evil Shadow Lord.For Jeremy, the search for his father becomes lost in a struggle for survival... and escape from those who would put the mantel of planet savior on his shoulders.A doomed expedition. Surrounded by aliens. Running out of time. Note to readers: This young adult, sci fi, fantasy contains a lot of action and adventure (think Jurassic Park meets Lord of the Rings), high school teens with issues (murder, bullying and juvenile pranks gone awry), genetic engineering (the world must have a new super soldier) and survival skills put to the test (monsters, aliens and mercenaries... oh my). So if you like a fast pace, some comic banter and a mysterious, deadly world to explore, this book series is for you! Includes preview of Book 2 of War World: Paladin. Q & A with the Author Q - How would you describe the War World series? A - Survival... in the vein of Crichton's Jurassic Park. Life on planet Genesis was supposed to be controlled, safe. It's anything but... The planet's humanoid races are violent killers. War World sends a group of high school students on a field trip to hell. There is lots of action, adventure, fantasy settings, and magic. There are even nefarious government agents and an army of mercenaries who think they can go through a portal and tame the dangers of the alien planet. Right... Q - Where did the idea for War World come from? What was the inspiration? A - My first big novel to read as a teenager was The Sword of Shannara- that led to reading The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings novels while recuperating from having four wisdom teeth removed one Christmas. So fantasy became a favorite of mine. Additionally, I've always been a fan of Michael Crichton's novels and his technothriller movies: Westworld, Jurassic Park, Sphere- the idea of technology running amok. About Rod: I'm passionate about technothrillers, fantasy and science fiction. I love young adult stories that combine mysteries with the excitement of action, danger and adventure. I write about characters who find their own special gift inside... and learn how to use that gift to help others. Most of all, I love books that draw the reader into a new world and I hope the War World series accomplishes that for you.

Fourteen year old Felicity Penfold is swept unwillingly into a mystical world where plants and beasts are equal, and all is heard. There she meets an Orion boy, Reuben, whom she must help in order to return home. His quest? To save his beloved Old World from the threat of the Toxics - led by Arrass, their venomous leader. Felicity is slowly drawn into this primitive, powerful Old World, and as the quest becomes a race to the Sacred Caves, she begins to understand her strength, helped by the creatures and plants who become her friends. With Reuben enticing her further into the folds of the Old World - his story becomes her story. But did she arrive in time?

Boonday is focused on figuring out who she is and how she fits in. She finds so many ways to entertain her self right in her very own neighborhood. She values the time she gets to spend with her neighbors. Even though she is expected to help out at home, she prefers a carefree life. Boonday stumbles across an unintended means of gaining some of the freedom she craves from the mysterious Covfeefee Tree. She seems to have it all figured out. No one even suspects what's really happening. Boonday forgets about the warning she was given. Her newly found freedoms are gone as quickly as they had come.