Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball

Laura Ellen Anderson's Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball is a silly, slimy monster adventure for 7 year olds about a young vampire whose pet pumpkin is taken by a very spoilt prince.

What happens

Amelia lives in Nocturnia, where everyone gets up at night and sleeps through the day. Her mum and dad call each other things like "belch-breath" (lovingly).

Every year the Fangs throw the Barbaric Ball. It's grown-ups only and Amelia finds it VERY boring. She'd much rather be with her two best friends. Florence is a huge hairy yeti with a voice to match (she talks in capitals). Grimaldi is a small grim reaper whose job is dealing with squished toads.

Then there's Squashy. He's Amelia's pet pumpkin, and he bounces, squeaks and blows raspberries. Who wouldn't want one?

This year the king is coming, and nobody's seen him in years. He's bringing his son, Prince Tangine, who is also starting at Amelia's school. Someone her own age at last!

Unfortunately Tangine is horrible (and not in the nice way, as Florence puts it). He gets carried about by Mummy Maids. He calls Florence a beast. At dinner with the Fangs, whatever he points at, his dad lets him have. First a family statue. Then a very grand chair. Then he points at Squashy.

So Amelia and her friends set off for the palace to get him back, with sunrise not far away. Daylight is when the truly terrifying creatures come out. Unicorns. Fairies. Fluffy flying kittens. And glitter!

Everything your reader thinks is cute is scary here, and the food is all armpit-sweat shakes and toe jam.

It's worth knowing there's a sad stretch once Squashy has gone. He's miserable at the palace, Tangine is really mean to Florence, and Amelia's own mum tells her not to cause a scene. The story going round is that the prince's mother was eaten by a fairy. It's passed about like playground gossip, but the king shut himself away for years afterwards. If your reader takes a lost pet or a missing mum to heart, this might be one to read together. If they like their jokes disgusting and their friends loyal, they'll race through it.

This is the first Amelia Fang book.

What to read next

If the monsters and the revolting food go down well, try The Nothing to See Here Hotel. Frankie's family runs a secret hotel for magical creatures on Brighton seafront, and they're in a flap as well. A goblin prince is coming to stay, and he's bringing his own Royal Nose Blower.