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Itch [Hardcover]

Simon Mayo (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)
RRP: £10.99
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Book Description

Publication Date: 1 Mar 2012 | Series: Itch

'A great debut . . . you'll be itching to read more.' Anthony Horowitz

Meet Itch - an accidental, accident-prone hero. Science is his weapon. Elements are his gadgets. This is a hero with Geek-Power!

Itchingham Lofte - known as Itch - is fourteen, and loves science - especially chemistry. He's also an element-hunter: he's decided to collect all the elements in the periodic table. Which has some interesting and rather destructive results in his bedroom . . .

Then, Itch makes a discovery. A new element, never seen before. At first no one believes him - but soon, someone hears about the strange new rock and wants it for himself. And Itch is in serious danger . . .

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Itch + Itch Rocks
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  • Itch Rocks by Simon Mayo Hardcover £8.35

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Doubleday Childrens (1 Mar 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0857531301
  • ISBN-13: 978-0857531308
  • Product Dimensions: 14.4 x 3.8 x 22.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 61,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

"A great debut . . . You'll be itching to read more" (Anthony Horowitz )

"A gripping read" (Financial Times, Books of the Year )

"Amid the teenage intrigue and heart-in-mouth escapades there are sequin flashes of real science: reminders that physical chemistry really does make things happen" (Tim Radford Guardian 20120519)

"A cracking thriller which had me seriously worried our hero might not survive the story . . . A fantastic read" (Rachel Ayres Nelson The School Librarian )

"An exciting and nail-biting thriller" (Booktrust )

Book Description

Meet Itch - an accidental, accident-prone hero. Science is his weapon. Elements are his gadgets. This is a hero with Geek-Power!
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Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
90 reviews
4.4 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for children 24 Feb 2012
By Dave VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Being a children's book I got this for my young grandson to read when he visits but the synopsis on the cover sounded quite good so I read it first and it was a really good read.

The basic premise is that a young schoolboy, Itch (short for Itchingham), is a collector of items that correspond to the elements of the period table. He comes across a completely new element and aided by his sister Chloe and cousin Jack (Jacqueline) try to fend off different groups of people trying to capitalise on Itch's `find'.

It is refreshing to read a book with no sex, swearing and gratuitous violence and Simon Mayo has done just that while keeping the story quite exciting and not in any way condescending to his younger readers. That is not to say this book is all sweetness as there are some terrible consequences written into the story line.

The touching relationship between Itch, Chloe and Jack, the school bullies (mild) and the pupil's natural instinct for good and bad all went into the pot to make this a well rounded story.

It is quite conceivable imagine this plot in a James Bond type scenario. Just add gorgeous girls/chases and fight scenes, Oddjob and Spectre.

I think parents can buy this book for their children with no qualms about it being unsuitable in any way. Roll on Simon Mayo's next book.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Itch. - Calls for Early Nights for More Reading Time 23 Feb 2012
By Alessi Lover TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Itch finds the rock that no one else could and the amount of trouble it brings ...... More than enough to fill any teenage boy (or one over 10). Not going to tell how or that would spoil the book, but he does get into a heap of trouble and possible danger .... Chemistry.

Had a quick look through it myself and was somewhat impressed with what Simon Mayo has come up with, a book that would appeal to most over the age of 10.

Itch the main character is fourteen and is not your typical teenager, bored with computer games and the usual things teenagers do. Yes, he is a geek, but one that finds a rock compound that hasn't been found before. Lots of chemistry make ups, some of which I didn't understand but our youngest got.

He found it to be an entertaining read, but did keep asking who was 'Simon Mayo'. Yes, us adults know him but not as being an author of a book like "Itch".

Just look out for the main villain in it, one to be reckoned with according to our son,

A nice thick book to keep your child amused, it worked in our house, early nights just for the reading of "Itch".
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Strong and harmless teen adventure 21 Mar 2012
By D Peers TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
As Mayo's Wikipedia page says, "think Alex Rider with Geek Power!"

Itch is a harmless, accident prone and refreshing hero for a book that seems squarely aimed at younger teenage boys. Think Flint Lockwood from Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs [DVD] [2010] and you'll be about there, but exchange gadgetry for a collection of elements.

In a world of zombie plagues and opressing violent fiction, Itch is a refreshing read that you should have no hesitation in buying for your youngster to read. Not too complicated, a good length, and well written enough that I would expect to see more in this vein from Mayo in the future.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars no vampires here.... 29 Jan 2012
By Mad Saint Uden VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
This is great. A book for young people about a 14 year old lad, his 14 year old (female, but that's not relevant) cousin and his 11 year old sister. BUT.

There are no vampires (or werewolves)
There is no soppy love story sub plot
No teenage angst
No parents getting divorced
No one swears just because they can.

Just a huge implausible plot that has been crafted around good decent people.

The science is a bit dodgy. Element 126 sounds 'interesting' but the plot which is essentially a giant chase scene across the south of England is well devised.

I really feel this is like the Enid Blyton for today. Good morals, enthusiasm quick to read, but with modern values.

I'm looking forward to the inevitable sequel.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and page turning read 20 Jan 2012
By Mrs. F. Huxley TOP 1000 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Lots of action and adventure hence a book to get boys reading or perhaps keep reading. I would suggest this book would be enjoyed by boys aged between 9 - 14 depending on the reading level of the child. The story flows well with enough description to set the scene but not so much to lose the childs attention.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read for adults and older children- fast paced and engrossing. 15 Mar 2012
By A. I. McCulloch TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
This was a a bit of a surprise - not the expected foray into music or media from a well known DJ on a top national station but something very different.
Itchingham Lofte is a very unexpected hero, (or perhaps unexpected heroes are now the norm, post - Harry P. ), a quiet teenager, unsporty and bullied. Itch's not especially academically gifted but he has an absolute passion for science and particularly the periodic table of the elements.

Simon Mayo's deep love of Cornwall and deep knowledge of it makes the book realistic and enjoyable, dealing as it does with the highly improbable discovery of a new element. I loved the fact that one of the lead characters is called Cousin Jack, 'Cousin Jack' being the nickname for emigre Cornishmen.
Music does sneak in an appearance via Jack; 'Cousin Jack' is the title of a brilliant song by the band Show of Hands and one of the characters is described as wearing a Show of Hands T-Shirt. (Nice one.)

After some very realistic scene setting involving Itch's school, the tale really takes off and becomes a proper thriller - fast paced and page turning with nasty villains and tight, scary situations. It won't give nightmares, but realistically people aren't left unmarked by what happens to them. Radioactive materials are nasty and the book makes this very clear.

This book would be a great choice for any child who also finds it difficult to fit in through not sharing the enthusiasms that so many share in the playground.
The end is left open enough for a sequel whilst still being self contained; if this is the first of a series, I would love to read what happened next.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
ingrossed right from the first chaper it has now got me interested in the periodic table and science on the whole. many many late nights have been had. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Mrs S A Carter
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it
7 year old daughter was riveted.
Can't wait to read Itch Rocks..
Good pace and a fan way for getting girls interested in science.
Published 9 days ago by Chocobrit
5.0 out of 5 stars Good
Good book I tell you
I like it because it is a good book
Yes I am serious It is good book
Published 11 days ago by sam
5.0 out of 5 stars This has stayed with me
This is a truly impressive story. I found myself thinking about it often and even after finishing my thoughts have turned to it. The sign of a great book. Read more
Published 11 days ago by H J Mac
5.0 out of 5 stars a brilliant book to read
Itch is a fabulous book, I couldn't put it down. It absolutely engaged me, can't wait to read the next one!!!!!
Published 16 days ago by catherine
4.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Great read for reluctant readers especially boys. Unusual story line but it does stretch health and safety limits at times.
Published 1 month ago by mrs c l marsh
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
My 9 year old son really enjoyed this book and is looking forward to reading Simon Mayo's second book Itch Rocks.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs H S Barber
5.0 out of 5 stars great
One of the best books i have ever read. Itch is an element hunter and he has found element 126. It is not just about element hunting there are a lot of action seens and car chases.
Published 1 month ago by Lucy E. Gray
4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of A Trillian Books
Itch is bound to be a hit with fans of Charlie Higson's Young Bond series, Robert Muchamore's CHERUB books and Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider series. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Tasha
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic story for adults, too!
I bought this because I love Simon Mayo on the radio. Didn't realise it was a children's book. Gripping story and excellent writing. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Ms. B. M. Graham
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