Blat Magic

Description

Pinguel, a titan, was saved from the wolves who killed his mother by Cliffkin, an old sorcerer blat living in the Deep Forest on one side of the Cold Mountains. Pinguel learns language quicker, is much more curious, and does not want to learn invisibility to survive as do the blats. But one day, an owl of Deep Forest tells Pinguel the world is in danger and he must leave in order to save the blats and the Forest. His father, Cliffkin, gives him the Ant Bell which Pinguel is to use in times of extreme danger. In the company of an eccentric wolf and the owl, Pinguel leaves on his long journey out of the Deep Forest. In the city of the Lord Duke Pinchie du Henderson the travellers find that a number of Blats are to be executed and plan a daring escape, with the help of a family of hawks. Pinguel is to continue the quest to find Hugo, the human child who is a friend of blats and other creatures...Hugo lives on the Orestea, an ocean-going liner. All the Blats of the Deep Forest will be able to find refuge there. Saved from nearly freezing to death on the Cold Mountains by ringing the Ant Bell and finding himself in tunnels within the mountains, Hugo eventually continues his journey. Ages 10+

Michael Stephens has written adult fiction, as well as children's books for which he has won awards and commendations. His first children's book, Titans!, was shortlisted for the CBC Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers in 1993. Blat Magic, the exciting sequel to A Flock of Blats, won the 2002 Queensland Premier's Award for Best Children's Book. It was also shortlisted for the 2001 Aurealis Awards, and named a Notable Book in the 2002 CBC awards. A full-time writer who occasionally takes on speaking engagements, he lives in Sydney with his wife and two sons.