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Bernard is proud to announce his new teenage thriller |
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DIVE BOMBING
YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE  The rain hit Nicky hard as he came out of school. It was screams and running feet all along the street, especially when the lightning started. So it seemed too good to be true when he saw his dad's yellow Mini. But it wasn't his dad's car – and Nicky is plunged into a terrifying adventure and a frantic race against time.
Fits with National Curriculum KS2 PSHD: Developing a healthy, safer lifestyle: '…to recognise the different risks in different situations and then decide how to behave responsibly…' Ashley Chappel Productions ISBN 9780957035713 £4.99 BERNARD ASHLEY SESSIONS FOR SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES AND FESTIVALS Bernard does an hour on his feet exciting audiences in the business of writing and enthusing about reading. He offers several themed sessions, aimed at various age groups, and is happy talking to audiences of any size. CLAN CONFLICT, GANG WAR, AND LOYALTY For UK Years 7-12 (tailored to the age of the audience) A fast-paced and exciting exploration of Bernard's stories of clan and gang conflict – incorporating character, style, and research. Featured books are 'Little Soldier', 'No Way to Go', and 'Down to the Wire'. (From spring 2012 the session will include Bernard's new teenage thriller 'Dive Bombing', where Charlie Peat's life with his famous rock and soul parents is put in danger by terrorist atrocities in London and on tour). THE BLITZ, EVACUATION, AND SWEETHEARTS For UK Years 5-7 An exciting and personal hour of Bernard's boyhood blitz and evacuation WW2 experiences, carried into fiction through 'Johnnie's Blitz' and 'Ronnie's War'. WHERE DID THAT STORY COME FROM? For UK Years 3-6 A fast-moving and embracing 'junior' session ranging from 'stranger danger' in 'Your Guess is as Good as Mine' to the outrageous exploits of the seriously mis-named Justin Perfect – with advice on children's own writing and the development of character woven into the talk. THE TRUTH ABOUT DONOVAN CROFT For UK Years 3-7 (and their teachers and parents) The story of a story – Bernard's award-winning seminal tale, 'The Trouble with Donovan Croft' - still reprinting (2011) after 38 years. AROUND THE FIRE AND UNDER THE TREE For UK Early Years to Year 2 Forty-five minutes of picture books and favourite tales, a mix of the colourful page and the oral tradition – with 'Cleversticks', 'Double the Love', 'The Bush'; and featuring Bernard's collection of story-dolls and artifacts. For bookings contact 'Speaking of Books' at jan@speakingofbooks.co.uk (020 8856 6616) or – for availability - Bernard at bernardashley@talktalk.net | |||
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'ONCE UPON A WARTIME' MOVES TO THE IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM NORTH AT SALFORD 
Bernard's best-selling novel LITTLE SOLDIER, one of five classic stories of war featured at the IWM London in 2011, moves with the exhibition to Salford in February.
'Five of the best books have been brought vividly to life. By transforming places from children's novels into interactive exhibits, it illustrates the link between stories and their historical setting… Bernard Ashley's book about an orphaned child soldier is the inspiration for one IWM tableau, which uses lights and mirrors to transform a housing estate into a war-torn African landscape.' (The Observer) (visit iwm.org.uk/wartime) Orchard Books ISBN 9781860398977 £6.99 |
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What happens to Charlie Peat's life with his famous rock and soul parents when terrorists put his life in jeopardy? In this thrilling, multi-layered book Bernard sensitively explores the effects of urban terrorism on young people today. 'Very gritty, very tense, very exciting, very emotional – some amazingly powerful scenes that really stick in the mind.'
Mr Anchor the headteacher kicks a football down the school corridor, hitting Mr Branston smack in the face with it. But Justin Perfect was there at the time, and could have done it. How can Justin get justice for himself, for poor Mr Branston, and for Mr Anchor?