Cirrus@Austlit

'When Danny Cloke writes to his favorite author, he doesn't think he'll end up bargaining with a ghost! But Cyril Spectre turns out to be a spirit with mighty powers, and he's happy to take revenge on Danny's real-life, twenty first century wicked stepmother for all the dreadful things she's made him do, like eating fried-hair sandwiches and cleaning up after her vicious pet hyena, Cuddles. Danny's desperate to stop awful Aunt Mildred, but Cyril's wild magic comes at a price. Too late, Danny realizes what it means to take a turn in the grave.' (Author's website)

'Davey Turner is a dreamy schoolboy with a wild imagination and a penchant for wandering off by himself. But even Davey could not have foreseen the amazing world upon which he stumbles on the day of the school nature outing when he is sidetracked into an alluring dell among the trees: a land of fabulous forests, meadows and waterfalls; elves, hobgoblins, eccentric wizards and all manner of bizarre talking beasts.

'But he is confronted by even deeper mysteries. Why can he not remember his own name? Why does he catch occasional glimpses of his parents and his early childhood? Why is it vital that he finds The Forbidden Jewel? And why must he do it before the supply of mushrooms in his bag has been eaten up?' (Author's website)