Malamander by Thomas Taylor

Better than hot chips on a blustery day. Thomas Taylor’s middle-grade marvel Malamander catapults to the top of my favourite reads of the year. It gets all the stars.

What’s it all about, then? Well, there’s a sea-monster, a shipwreck, a legend, lights in the night, and two fantastic heroes. Creeping through the briny streets of Eerie-on-Sea is a man with a hook, another with a book, a chef, a beachcomber, a bookseller, and the periscope eye of a spy. Their stories all ravel up tight as yarns in a fishing net.

Back to the heroes. Herbert Lemon is the twelve-year-old narrator. He’s a bit of an old man, likes to rest his feet by the fireside. Washed up like jetsam on the shore, he’s now in command of the lost-and-found department at the grand hotel. Tumbling through his window one day is Violet Parma, a girl declaring herself lost and in need of being found. She appoints Herbie detective and propels him into adventure. They are salt and pepper, fish and chips. Made of different stuff, serving different elements of the plot, perfect together.

The book is seasoned with amusing nautical vocabulary: things are sea-green and coral-pink, Herbie freezes his cockles off, and Violet fishes for information. There’s a Lady Kraken, a Mr Mollusc, and a Mr Eels - the latter dishing up some delicious lines.

“Oh, indeed.” Sebastian Eels grins, passing his tongue over his teeth as he does so. “But in a place like Eerie-on-Sea, legends can sometimes have a little more … bite.” (67)

A wholly-satisfying adventure. And yet, what’s this? The tide is rushing in! Watch out! Your shoes are getting wet! We’re about to be sucked out to sea in a sequel: Gargantis! Goes without saying that I can’t wait for the second course.

Published in 2019, Malamander is suitable for children and monsters aged eight to twelve.

More terrific middle-grade adventures:

Premeditated Myrtle by Elizabeth C. Bunce - another favourite: a horticultural whodunnit introducing Myrtle Hardcastle

The Polar Bear Explorers Club by Alex Bell - an expedition goes awry in the enchanted ice-lands

The Highland Falcon Thief by MG Leonard and Sam Sedgman - hugely enjoyable steam train whodunnit