Small Wonder

The brand-new exciting adventure for 9-12-year-olds from the award-winning, bestselling author of I Am Rebel

Binding: Paperback

Imprint: Walker Books

Age 9+

Adventure Stories

From the award-winning, bestselling author of I Am Rebel, this brand-new adventure is perfect for fans of Percy Jackson, Michael Morpurgo and Wild Robot.

'[A] thrilling, full-tilt adventure' - Guardian

Family secrets, a kingdom in danger, the adventure of a lifetime for two brothers and their horse . . .


‘Small Wonder’: that was what Tick’s grandfather always called him. He taught Tick a lot of things: how to take care of himself; how to take care of his little brother, Leaf; how to take care of their horse, Pebble. But Grandfather is no longer around . . .

So when the family home is under suddenly threat, it’s on Tick to put everything he’s learned into practice and protect his family, by taking them on a quest filled with danger. Because it’s not just their home at risk; enemies are invading the whole land. He has only six moons to get to Kings’ Keep and warn their ruler . . .

Travelling through forests and mountains, encountering bandits and rogue knights along the way, the journey is not an easy one. But Tick is determined to honour his grandfather’s last advice – Make it count, Small Wonder. . .

‘Ross is one of the finest storytellers writing for young readers today’ – Phil Earle, author of When the Sky Falls

‘A thunderous, galloping thrill ride of a read’ – Piers Torday, author of The Last Wild series



‘A big-hearted, arrow-sharp story’ – Emma Carroll, author of Frost Hollow

Creators

Ross Montgomery started writing stories as a teenager, when he should have been doing homework, and continued doing so at university. His debut novel, Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door, was shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book of the Year and Branford Boase Award. It was also selected as one of the Sunday Times' "Top 100 Modern Children's Classics". His books have also been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Award, while his picture book Space Tortoise was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award and included in the Guardian's Best New Children's Books of 2018. The Midnight Guardians, Ross's first fiction novel with Walker Books, was selected as a Waterstones Children's Book of the Month and shortlisted for the Costa Children's Book of the Year Award. I Am Rebel won the Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Year in 2024. He lives in south-east London with his wife and their cat, Fun Bobby.

Reviews

A big-hearted, arrow-sharp epic of a story. It’s small wonder Ross is such a firm favourite with booksellers and readers alike.

Emma Carroll, author of FROST HOLLOW

A thunderous, galloping thrill ride of a read, written from the heart. Everything Ross Montgomery touches turns to classic.

Piers Torday

The pace never lets up and this is a book children will be reading under the cover with a torch. It is even better than I am Rebel, Montgomery’s most recent novel, which was crowned Waterstone’s Children’s Book of the Year.

The Bookseller

A tale of bravery and strength in adversity that will surely set hearts racing.

Sam Copeland

Pacy, thrilling, tense, and brilliantly written. This is a classic adventure story that is also fresh and exciting. Ross Montgomery goes from strength to strength with every new book.

Katya Balen

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