Vashti HardyHarley Hitch and the Fossil Mystery: 3

Vashti Hardy’s third book in the Harley Hitch series is a real treat. Harley and her mechanical dog, Sprocket, discover a fossil that not even Professor Anning can identify. Harley’s two Grandpas have always encouraged her to follow her curiosity, plus this time there’s a prize up for grabs too, so Harley embarks on a mission to invent a way to travel back in time to meet the mystery dinosaur.The world of Inventia, where the story is set, is a fantastical place where technology and machinery literally grow on trees, the Rusty River is teeming with mechanical fish who impart inspiration when you catch them, and where Dr. Orbit’s Star-Chatter Observatory is filled with telescopes set up to watch the talking stars, whose personalities are as big as the sky itself. One of the key ingredients for successful world-building is consistent internal logic, and this author is a pro. Inventia is a hybrid universe, where nature and human invention are interconnected; Harley’s hair is dyed with red cabbage and cherry tree root, but Sprocket, her mechanical pet dog, is made from things harvested from plants such as the cog ferns found in the Iron Forest, and every detail, from every period of time, makes complete sense – no mean feat!Readers of all ages will be delighted by both the ingenuity and the heart of the story.It has a great plot and a lively, energetic style. The characters are both relatable and individual, with bags of humour and humanity so you can’t help but be captivated by them. And if the problems they face are out of this world, the relationships between them are hugely recognisable. Harley’s Grandpas are a tonic, Professor Anning (a lovely nod to the real-life palaeontologist, Mary Anning) is that special teacher we all wish we’d had, and Cosmo is as wonderful a friend as Fenelda is an archenemy; so when Harley has to make some tough decisions about who to trust and what’s important, we really feel for her! But as Professor Spark says, ‘Sometimes it’s when you help others put things right that the real you begins to shine.’

The perfect read for children who like adventure and fun, a wonderful warm hearted series.