Pete Johnson enjoying a fantastic day at Brooke Weston College. A dynamic and exciting school. The visit was funded by Corby Learning Partnership and arranged by the brilliant Liz Billett, Team Librarian, Children and Young People – North Area.
WHAT'S NEW?
HOW TO GET FAMOUS VOTED SHEFFIELD LIBRARIES FAVOURITE BOOK
How to Get Famous, the ‘really funny book on the pitfalls of the fame game’ (Writeaway), has won the Sheffield Community Libraries prize for their favourite children’s book.
Pete says, ‘Sheffield has a special place in my affections, so this prize means a great deal to me. Hearing the list of previous winners of this award, including the marvellous The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, makes me also feel very honoured to be in such great company.’
How to Get Famous, described as ‘a thoroughly, good-hearted and entertaining book with lots of humour and witty dialogue,’ (School Librarian) will also be available in a special edition for schools soon (Pub. Oxford University Press) with notes and discussion points.
THE TV TIME TRAVELLERS SHORTLISTED FOR TWO REGIONAL PRIZES
It’s just been announced that The TV Time Travellers has been shortlisted for the Leeds Children’s Book Award. Recently it has also been shortlisted for the East Sussex Book of the Year Award. The TV Time Travellers is proving to be one of Pete’s most popular books.
‘The TV Time Travellers is another great humorous book from critically acclaimed Pete Johnson.’ Literacy Times
‘The TV Time Travellers ultra modern concept, sassy characters and humorous asides all contribute to make this a highly accessible and engaging book.’ The Bookseller
SCHOOL STORIES: FOUR OF THE BEST
Pete has written many school stories. Here are the four most talked about . . .
THE FRIGHTENERS(Corgi/Yearling)
When Chloe starts at a new school she is befriended by the mysterious Aidan. But why is everyone so terrified by Aidan?
"Prepare to be thoroughly spooked." Daily Mail
TRUST ME I’M A TROUBLEMAKER (Corgi/Yearling)
Twelve year old Archie thinks he’s already grown-up. His fellow pupils just think he’s unbearable. Until Miranda decides to reform Archie and turn him into a trouble-maker, exactly like herself.
"Full of comedy, this book has a light touch that can be so difficult to achieve." Teaching and Learning
AVENGER (Corgi/Yearling)
What happens when a former friend turns the whole school against you?
"Johnson has written about bullying before, but this is a more ambitious plot and its twists and turns will have readers wrestling with their loyalties." Lindsay Fraser, Glasgow Sunday Herald "It’s a brilliant read. The Sunday Express
Click here to read Pete’s thoughts on his two anti-bullying books: Traitor and Avenger.
RUNAWAY TEACHER(Barrington Stoke)
A new young teacher would rather hang out with the pupils than the other teachers – with shocking results. One of Pete’s most talked about books.
"Johnson really makes us care about the characters … comically tragic."
Glasgow Herald
What the critics say about Rescuing Dad . . . ‘Pete Johnson is a gifted storyteller. When you read any of his books you can feel his enthusiasm ripping through each page. Rescuing Dad is one of his masterpieces. If you have any reluctant male readers in your family or in your class why not try them with a Pete Johnson book ….’ . . . and Traitor . . . ‘One of those delicious books that once started is impossible to put down.’ Read full reviews of these and other Pete Johnson books reviewed by Cindy Shanks, on a super website for children’s books called www.helium.com. . . . and Spook School: Lair of the Mothman . . . "‘One of the sweetest, laugh out loud, funny stories I’ve had the honour to read.’ Click here to read the full review at my favouritebooks.com.
World Book Day, and the days immediately after it, have become one of the most popular times of the year for events. And this year Pete is devoting a whole fortnight to visits.
These include on World Book Day … a special ‘Spook School’ Event with Waterstone’s in Potters Bar – where Pete will be launching the third title in the series: ‘Horror from the Deep.’
Meanwhile, preparations are under way for the launch of ‘The Vampire Blog’ in June, which includes exciting events in Norwich and with The Derbyshire Literature Festival – as well as two days in Dublin. More details soon.
WRITEAWAY INTERVIEW Click here to read a major new interview with Pete about Simon Cowell, ‘Boys into Books’ and The TV Time Travellers at www.writeaway.org.uk.
THE OFFICIAL PETE JOHNSON WEBSITE!
“Dear Pete Johnson, I am writing to you because our class is studying you as a significant author and you never guess what, you’re fab.”
Each week Pete receives letters like this one from Kane, in Salford, and he takes care to answer them all, as Pete was inspired to become a writer through his correspondence with an author – Dodie Smith, who wrote his all-time favourite children’s book: ‘The 101 Dalmatians.’
Pete has now written over forty books, which have been translated into more than twenty languages. He is best known for his award-winning comedies such as ‘How To Train Your Parents,’ ‘Help! I’m a Classroom Gambler,’ ‘Trust me, I’m a Troublemaker,’ ‘How to Get Famous,’ and ‘Diary of an(Un)teenager’ and thrillers such as ‘The Ghost dog, ‘Traitor, and ‘The Frighteners.’ He has also written highly popular titles for younger readers including, ‘Pirate Brother,’ ‘Bug Brother,’ and soon to be launched, ‘Spook School’ series.
The Times wrote that Pete Johnson provides a ‘heady cocktail of compulsive readability.’ He has also been described by TES as ‘one of our best contemporary humorists,’ and praised for ‘writing about characters that every child will recognise and every adult should try to understand.’ (The Observer)
His key themes include Bullying (‘Traitor,’ ‘The Frighteners,’) Feeling different: (‘Phantom Fear,’ ‘Trust me, I’m a Troublemaker.’) Family Relationships: (‘Rescuing Dad,’ ‘How to Train Your Parents,’ and ‘How Embarrassing is That?’) And the journey from childhood to adolescence: (‘Diary of an (Un)teenager,’ Runaway Teacher,’ and ‘Trust me, I’m a Troublemaker.’)
Pete Johnson lives in St Albans, England. He is a movie fan - both of current films and British and American films from the 1940s and 1950s. He has been a film critic on BBC Radio One, as well as a film extra and teacher of English and Drama. He collects signed books, of which he has several hundred.
Find out here how many of Pete's books are being studied in schools and libraries. Or click here for information about Pete's visits and how to arrange one.
THE FRIGHTENERS
