Not only is it lovely to look at, but Hoakes Island gives the brain a really good work-out too. Readers are challenged to find out what happened to Henry Hoakes, owner of Hoakes Island amusement park, who vanished in mysterious circumstances. This means studying the notebook and map he left behind. On each page of the book there are ingenious puzzles to solve, with more clues to be decoded on the map too – a special red lens neatly included with the book reveals hidden images in the pictures. Poor old Henry went missing in 1953 and there’s a charming retro feel to the illustrations, and some jolly ads on the map too. Stylish, puzzle fun.
Henry Hoakes has gone missing and Hoakes Island Amusement Park is in grave danger. This notebook, a hastily assembled collection of diary entries, notes, puzzles and clues, is the only key to find out what's happened to Henry and stop the dastardly developers who want to knock down the park. Solve the puzzles and discover keys and clues as you travel around the island on a quest to rescue Rita the anteater, Granville the gorilla and the rest of the talking animals who live there. It's a race against time that only a puzzle master can win!
This ingenious and immersive puzzle adventure comes with a fold-out map of Hoakes Island and a special red lens to discover secret messages and clues. Can you solve the mystery and save Hoakes Island? We're counting on you!
Ian Friel became a freelance writer and historian in 2007, after a long career in museums. He has published several books on maritime history, and has co-written Billy Bow, a musical set during the Napoleonic Wars. Hoakes Island is his first children's book, written with his daughter, Helen Friel.
