Anyone who has ever read Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl series will know by now that this guy is a great writer. His skill is fast moving, neat and downright hilarious storytelling, whatever the subject matter.
With just five neat chapters, starting with Ugly Frank, the poor kid who earned his name as a victim of the legendary librarian's spud gun, this little story leaps along with enough boys' action to appeal to them, and enough cute humour to keep the girls happy too.
The Legend of Spud Murphy is aimed at a slightly younger audience than Artemis Fowl, and is brilliantly illustrated on every page with action-enhancing pen and ink sketches by Tony Ross.
Nevertheless, this story of Marty and Will being packed off to the library to get them out of their mother's hair for the summer holidays is well-written enough entertain more advanced readers too, and is a great choice for encouraging reluctant readers to brave the horrors of the library!