What's happening to Charlie Bone? Charlie doesn't want to believe it when he discovers that he can hear the thoughts of people in photographs. But his horrible aunts are delighted – it means that he is one of the chosen and must attend the Bloor's Academy for gifted children. Once there, Charlie realizes that some of his classmates have equally mysterious powers, and soon Charlie is involved in uncovering the mysterious past of one of them. Book One in The Children of the Red King series!
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"I feel as though the author read the Harry Potter books and then decided to write something similar for a slightly younger age group. I expect middle school children would really enjoy these books. Charlie is a young boy whose father died when he was very little. His father came from a magically gifted family, and when Charlie suddenly discovers he has a magic power, he is moved to a new school for special students."
— Liz (4 out of 5 stars)
" A little like Harry Potter, not as much detail, but a easir read "
— Nan, 2/11/2014" Great series they just keep getting fatter every year (well read) "
— Lorelle, 2/10/2014" Rich loaned this series to me after Harry Potter #7 came out. I found them to be extremely derivative, mostly from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Harry Potter. The story felt very manufactured, rather than inspired. I powered through six, or so, although I think there are more. "
— Sharon, 2/4/2014" Read in like 4th grade, and I hardly remember it. There was some girl who could control weather though, and I thought she was cool. "
— Alex, 1/26/2014" Great, fabulous, and absolutely extraordinary. One of the best series I've ever encountered. Nimmo knows his stuff when it comes to creating another world of imagination. First Installment of The Children of the Red King. "
— Ryan, 1/26/2014" This was a fun story but it started too slow and was generally poorly told. I will listen to all the books in the series but I am hoping it will improve "
— Jacob, 1/25/2014" it was vvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyy interesting "
— Deannabaltimore, 1/19/2014" While the marketers are clearly trying to conjure up another Harry Potter-like series, this one doesn't even come close in story-line, ingenuity or complexity...but still, a charming read directed more toward just children...I will attempt the next installment. "
— Wendy, 1/19/2014" Currently reading this book. It is good so far and getting very exciting along the way. Similar to Harry Potter, only with supernatural powers, versus magic. "
— Shannon, 1/15/2014" I like this books quite a bit, reminds me of Harry Potter though there a lot of variations of the plot. Charlie is a very interesting character and I especially like the change in POV between the other characters. The ending was excellent! "
— Zaira, 12/28/2013" It went a little slow for my taste, but the ideas in the book show potential. "
— Robyn, 12/25/2013Jenny Nimmo is the author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Charlie Bone series as well as Griffin’s Castle, The Dragon’s Child, and the award-winning Magician Trilogy. Several of her books have been awarded and short-listed for the Smarties Prize, the Carnegie Medal, the Whitbread Award, and the WH Smith Mind-Boggling Books Award. She lives with her husband in an old mill in Wales.
Simon Russell Beale is a British actor, author, and music historian. A multiaward-winning actor of stage and television, he was described in the London Independent as “the greatest stage actor of his generation.” He has won eight AudioFile Earphones Awards for his narrations.