April 2017 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: irresistible creep-crawly adventure | M.G. Leonard’s book Beetle Boywas one of the liveliest, most original and enjoyable debuts of 2016, and the follow up will have fans waving their (figurative) feelers around in glee. Lucretia Cutter is back, undoubtedly one of the creepiest (crawliest) villains in children’s fiction, and she’s up to no good again. Ranged against her are our hero Darkus and his friends Virginia and Bertolt, together with their special allies – bugs, beetles and assorted insects. The plot scoots along like a spider on a tiled floor, the dialogue crackles and the cast of characters features an array of the weird and wonderful. Irresistible reading and it will make you see the insect world in a whole new light. ~Andrea Reece
Piece of Passion from Barry Cunningham, Publisher :' I couldn’t wait to read the sequel to M.G. Leonard’s incredible Beetle Boy, and Beetle Queen just might be even better. All our friends are back, battling a terrifying villainess, and we don’t even know which side Darkus’s dad is on! Never mind – the beetles will help again … but can they save the day? Read on, and I promise you will wiggle your antenna with joy!’
Cruel beetle fashionista, Lucretia Cutter, is at large with her yellow ladybird spies. When Darkus, Virginia and Bertolt discover further evidence of her evil, they're determined to stop her. But the three friends are in trouble. Darkus' dad has forbidden them to investigate any further - and disgusting crooks Humphrey and Pickering are out of prison. Hope rests on Novak, Lucretia's daughter and a Hollywood actress, but the beetle diva is always one scuttle ahead ...
‘I loved Beetle Boy. It is at once engaging, creepy (bound to be), funny and full of excitement. Truly great storytelling.’ MICHAEL MORPURGO
‘I predict Beetle-mania.’ THE TIMES
‘It’s a cracking mystery adventure, with plenty of Roald Dahl-esque humour to engage readers.’ FIONA NOBLE, THE BOOKSELLER
‘[A] fast-paced, witty whodunnit … Full of Dahl-esque characters, funny plot twists and entomological details.’ BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE
‘An ingenious read.’ PRESS ASSOCIATION - CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK
‘The comparisons with Dahl are well deserved. As well as being brilliantly written, Beetle Boy is poignant, original and has that sinister edge so many of Dahl’s greatest tales have.’ THE SUN ‘Her dialogue is dark and punchy and her plot thrilling: in the end you can do nothing but hail her as an original new voice in children’s literature.’ THE TIMES - CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK
‘Roald Dahl meets 101 Dalmatians in a rollicking ride, full of adventure’ DAILY EXPRESS
‘. . . what really makes this book memorable is the supporting cast, researched in fascinating detail . . . The discovery that a seemingly powerless band of creatures can be possessed of such skill, beauty and strength should keep this gem on many a bedroom and library shelf for years to come.’ THE GUARDIAN
‘If you’ve always regarded beetles as something unpleasant to be chased away from picnics, then this romp of a mystery thriller may change your attitude . . . by the end young readers will have absorbed a huge amount of information on this resilient species.’ THE DAILY MAIL
‘Parents be warned: this enchanting story is likely to make beetles very popular pets.’ THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
‘Like Roald Dahl’s capers, this story has an edge of desperation and darkness that makes its animal interactions and adventure all the more exciting.’ AMANDA CRAIG, NEW STATESMAN
‘Leonard’s exceptional debut is exciting and educational.’ MAIL ON SUNDAY
Author
About M. G. Leonard
M.G. Leonard has made up stories since she was a girl, but back then adults called them lies or tall tales and she didn't write them down.
As a grown up, her favourite things to create stories about are beetles, birds, and trains. Her books have been translated into over forty languages and won many awards. She is the vice president of the insect charity Buglife, and a founding author of Authors4Oceans.
She lives in Brighton with her husband, two sons, a fat cat called Kasper, a dog called Nell, and a variety of exotic beetles.
M.G. Leonard has a first-class honours degree in English Literature and an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London. She is the author of Beetle Boy and is still overcoming her fear of all things creepy crawly. She works in London as the Senior Digital Media Producer for the National Theatre, and previously worked at the Royal Opera House and Shakespeare’s Globe. Leonard spent her early career in the music industry running Setanta Records, an independent record label, and managing bands, most notably The Divine Comedy. After leaving the music industry, she trained as an actor, dabbling in directing and producing as well as performing, before deciding to write her stories down. Leonard lives in Brighton with her partner and two sons and her pet rainbow stag beetle.
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