Joseph Delaney used to be an English teacher, before becoming the best-selling author of the Spook's series, which has been published in 30 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. The first book, The Spook's Apprentice, was adapted into a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

Joseph Delaney

PublicationStatus

Brand

Format

AgeRange

Series

Imprint

CategoryLabel

Joseph Delaney's popular book, The Spook's Apprentice, told the story of Thomas Ward, apprenticed to the local spook to help keep the county safe from the Dark. The novel is the inspiration for the movie Seventh Son, starring Jeff Bridges, Ben Barnes and Julianne Moore, but has now been adapted for the stage by Joseph and his son Stephen. 
 
 
Suitable for casts large and small, this script is ideal for use in drama groups, english lessons and school plays.

The Spook's Apprentice - Play Edition

The Spook's Destiny is the eighth book in Joseph Delaney's terrifying Wardstone Chronicles – over 3 million copies sold worldwide! 
 
'You belong to the blade now. You'll belong to it until the day you die . . .' 
 
Tom, the Spook's Apprentice, has travelled to Ireland, where he must tackle a group of evil mages. His dangerous mission leads him to the Destiny Blade - a sword with a dark side, and a thirst for blood. Could this new weapon give him a fighting chance against the Fiend? And dare he accept the help of Grimalkin, the terrifying witch assassin?

The Spook's Destiny

Book 8

The first book in the exhilarating new fantasy sequence from Joseph Delaney, the multi-million-selling author of The Spook's Apprentice. 
 
Welcome to Arena 13. Here warriors fight. Death is never far away . . . 
 
Leif has one ambition: to become the best fighter in the notorious Arena 13. Here, punters place wagers on which fighter will draw first blood. And in grudge matches, they bet on which fighter will die. 
 
But the country is terrorized by the creature Hob, an evil being who delights in torturing its people, displaying his devasting power by challenging an Arena 13 combatant in a fight to the death whenever he chooses. And this is exactly what Leif wants . . . 
 
For he knows Hob's crimes well. and at the heart of his ambition burns the desire for vengeance. Leif is going to take on the monster who destroyed his family. Even if it kills him.

Arena 13

The Spook's Blood is the tenth book in Joseph Delaney's terrifying Wardstone Chronicles – over 3 million copies sold worldwide! 
 
'I am Siscoi, the Lord of Blood, the Drinker of Souls! Obey me now or you will suffer as few have suffered.' 
 
Thomas Ward's final battle with the Fiend is drawing near, but he has never felt more alone in his task. Isolated and afraid, Tom must risk his life against a ferocious vampire god, even as he learns that the final destruction of the Fiend may involve a sacrifice more terrible than he can imagine . . .

The Spook's Blood

Book 10

I Am Grimalkin is the ninth book in Joseph Delaney's terrifying Wardstone Chronicles – over 3 million copies sold worldwide! 
 
'I am Grimalkin, and I have already chosen those I will kill . . .' 
 
Grimalkin has made it her lifetime ambition to destroy the Fiend. Having assisted the Spook and his apprentice in the binding of the Fiend, she is now on the run. And her mission is deadly. She has to keep the Fiend's severed head in her possession no matter who - or what - comes after it . . .

Spook's: I Am Grimalkin

Book 9

‘He’s the seventh son of a seventh son. His name is Thomas J. Ward and he’s my gift to the County. When he’s old enough we’ll send you word. Train him well. He’ll be the best apprentice you’ve ever had and he’ll also be your last.’ 
 
These were the words of Tom's Mam to the county Spook some years ago. As Tom, the Spook and their allies prepare to battle with the Fiend on a huge scale, to finally enact their revenge, it now remains to be seen whether Mam's declaration will come true.

The Spook's Revenge

Book 13

Erich Kästner

Emil and the three twins? Three Twins? Yes, you read that correctly. Emil Tischbein has another adventure with his old friends the Professor, Gustav and Little Tuesday - this time by the sea. Of course, the detectives couldn't have an ordinary seaside holiday like other people - and when they become entangled with the mystery of the three acrobat twins and the wicked Herr Anders, it looks as if it's going to turn into a most extraordinary time for them all!

Emil And The Three Twins

Arthur Ransome

It's great detective work that's needed now. Bill, Peter and Joe are falsely accused of setting boats adrift and the whole river is against them. Only Dick, Dorothea and Tom Dudgeon are there to stand by their friends and they soon set to work to investigate the crimes and trap the real criminals

The Big Six

Shirley Hughes

Annie Rose and Alfie have lots of games they like to play together, like being scary monsters with Bernard, or running their own shop. But there are some things Annie Rose is too little to do and even some things Alfie would rather do without her. But if Annie Rose is ever sad or cross there is only one person who can make her feel better . . . her big brother. This is Shirley Hughes at her best - warm and wonderfully observed illustrations, and a touching text about the special bond between siblings.

Annie Rose Is My Little Sister

Sylvia Waugh

The Mennyms have always lived in danger, ever since their maker, Kate Henshaw, instilled in them an indomitable life force, a life force that has carried them through many perils. But now with shocking suddeness, that life force has abandoned them all except for Soobie - the sole survivor. As the blue Mennym he's always been a bit special, and it's amazing he's come this far when others have perished . . . but are Soobie's problems just beginning?

Mennyms Alive

This gorgeous storybook is full of snapshots of family life, from breakfast to bedtime and from birthdays to walks in the park. All small children will be able to identify with Alfie and Annie Rose, two hugely appealing pre-schoolers who are constantly tackling new experiences and making new friends.

The Big Alfie and Annie Rose Storybook

Steve Cole

BEFORE THE MAN BECAME THE LEGEND. 
BEFORE THE BOY BECAME THE MAN. 
 
James is back in Steve Cole's fourth and final blistering Young Bond adventure . . . 
 
James is on home soil when he receives a package with a message from beyond the grave. The package’s mysterious contents put James at the heart of a long-running plot that, if it runs its course, will paint London’s streets red with blood. Not only will James have to fight to stay alive and save the country he loves, but to clear the Bond family name, which he holds so dear. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and James doesn’t know who he can trust . . . 
 
Books in the series: 
1. SHOOT TO KILL 
2. HEADS YOU DIE 
3. STRIKE LIGHTNING 
4. RED NEMESIS

Young Bond: Red Nemesis

All is quiet at Alfie's house - Mum and Dad have gone out and Maureen's baby-sitting. Then . . . drip, drip, drip. It's raining inside! The drip turns into a downpour and Maureen's parents have to come round to deal with the burst pipe, but only Alfie can work out what's worrying Annie Rose. . . . 
 
Join Alfie in this wonderfully warm celebration of brothers and sisters (and babysitters!).

An Evening At Alfie's

The Swallows and Amazons are sailing with Nancy and Peggy's Uncle Jim (better known as Captain Flint) when their hired deckhand tells them a tale of his younger days - a tale to set pulses racing and hopes shooting sky high. Soon their boat is on its way to a Caribbean treasure hunt and they find themselves up against shark, storm, earthquake - and the vilest pirate who ever eavesdropped at a porthole.

Peter Duck

Molly wished that they had a real garden, big enough to play in. Then one day, her wish came true! Mum and Dad told the children that they had found a house with a garden for them all to live in! Right away everyone began to make plans.

Moving Molly

Birthday parties always make people happy and Alfie's neighbour, Mr MacNally, really does need cheering up because his beloved cat, Smoky, has died. Alfie thinks a party might just help, and there's an extra special surprise in store for Bob MacNally. . . . 
 
Join Alfie as he tries to keep a secret in this celebration of pets old and new.

Alfie & The Birthday Surprise

Philip Caveney

Sebastian Darke has the world on his narrow shoulders. The son of a human father and an elvish mother, he is deperately trying to become the family breadwinner and has taken on his late father's job - celebrated jester, Prince of Fools. 
 
Trouble is, Sebastian can't tell a joke to save his life. Dressed in his father's clothes and accompanied by his talking (and endlessly complaining) buffalope, Max, he sets off for the fabled city of Keladon, where he hopes to be appointed court jester to King Septimus. On the way he encounters a tiny but powerful warrior called Cornelius; the beautfiul Princess Kerin; blood-thirsty Brigands and enough perils to make him wonder why he ever decided to leave home. 
 
A hilarious and swashbuckling adventure!

Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools

BEFORE THE MAN BECAME THE LEGEND. 
BEFORE THE BOY BECAME THE MAN. 
 
The explosive action continues in Steve Cole's second Young Bond adventure . . . 
 
James's Cuban holiday has become a nightmare mission to save an old friend from a villain who has perfected 1,000 ways to kill. 
 
With corrupt cops and hired assassins hot on his heels, James must travel through Havana and brave Caribbean waters to stop a countdown to mass murder. 
 
Fates will be decided with the flip of a coin. Heads or tails. Live or die. 
 
Books in the series 
1: SHOOT TO KILL 
2: HEADS YOU DIE

Young Bond: Heads You Die

The Mennym family faces its most awesome struggle yet when the family patriarch, Sir Magnus, predicts the unthinkable - that their world is about to end. Suddenly it's all change and the simple, hermit-like life of the rag doll family is galvanised into action as they prepare for their fate. Is Sir Magnus's astonishing prediction of doom just the pessimism of old age - or is this really the end of the line for the Mennyms?

Mennyms Alone

Reunited for the summer, the Swallows and Amazons with Dick and Dorothea launch a prospecting expedition to find the lost gold mine of the high hills above the lake. But the mining camp runs into all sorts of trouble: not only the danger of fire in the drought ridden countryside but also scary encounters with unsafe tunnels. Worst of all is the sinister Squashy Hat, who appears to be a rival prospector and who's certainly a spy - how can they keep working without him discovering what they've found?

Pigeon Post

The Mennyms are faced with a crisis when plans to build a motorway straight through their home are announced. They've successfully survived living on Brocklehurst Road for forty years, carefully keeping the secret of their rag doll identity under wraps. But news of the motorway forces them to confront a cruel ultimatum: they can be destroyed with the house, or they can move out into the countryside. Either way the consequences will be devastating . . .

Mennyms In The Wilderness

Rosemary Sutcliff

It is seventeenth-century Scotland, and the Covenanters – those wanting religious freedom from the dictates of English rule – are gathering strength. Hugh Herriott, fresh from a Covenanting background, finds himself working for redcoat Colonel Claverhouse and his Lady Jean: first as the stable-lad and in later years, as galloper to Claverhouse. The tension mounts between the two sides of the divided country. Claverhouse, with Hugh always by his side, leads his troops in bloody battle against the Covenanters, through forest and valley, village and town, victory… and loss.

Bonnie Dundee

BEFORE THE MAN BECAME THE LEGEND. 
BEFORE THE BOY BECAME THE MAN. 
 
James Bond is back again in Steve Cole's third thrilling Young Bond adventure. 
 
When James stumbles upon a horrific sight, he knows things are not what they seem. His school is determined to make him believe what happened was an accident, but James believes what he saw was murder. 
 
The significance of the events at school only come to light in the course of an adventure that takes James across Europe and puts him within range of a warmongering villain. Has James got what it takes to triumph over this man, the worst kind of enemy, who boasts a new kind of weapon? 
 
Books in the series: 
1. SHOOT TO KILL 
2. HEADS YOU DIE 
3. STRIKE LIGHTNING

Young Bond: Strike Lightning

John Burningham

A classic story celebrating the power of babies... and avocados! 
 
The Hargraves family want their new baby to grow up big and strong. But the puny mite will hardly eat a thing... until Mrs Hargraves finds an avocado in the fruit bowl and the baby gobbles it up. Soon, the baby gets incredible strength, and the strangest things start to happen! 
 
This classic story from the bestselling author and illustrator John Burningham has been delighting families for over 40 years. 
 
“Amusing for adults, impressive for toddlers, good for greengrocers” The Observer 
 
“John Burningham is one of the most outstanding author-illustrators of children’s books today . . .” Twentieth-Century Children’s Writers 
 
John Burningham is the much-loved creator of Mr Gumpy's Outing and Would You Rather.

Avocado Baby

Alfie and his mum and baby sister, Annie Rose, arrive home after shopping. While his mum struggles with the pushchair outside, Alfie rushes inside and slams the door behind him. So now Alfie's stuck INSIDE and his mum and Annie Rose are stuck OUTSIDE without a key! Soon everyone in the street is trying to help rescue Alfie - but he's got a plan of his own . . .

Alfie Gets in First

Pilbeam, the Mennyms' eternal teenager, is in a rebellious mood. Staying inside all the time is driving her crazy and she's fed up with leading the sheltered life vital for the survival of the Mennyms. One fateful night, Pilbeam throws caution to the wind and goes out to the theatre - and in doing so threatens her own safety and the very existence of her whole, rag doll family. . .

Mennyms Under Siege

Tom Dudgeon has cast off a motor cruiser from its moorings to protect a coot's nest, but now the cruiser is searching high and low for him - even offering a reward. Tom accepts an invitation for a week's cruise to teach his new friends, Dick and Dorothea how to sail. You couldn't get a better sailor than Tom but can he really stay one jump ahead of his pursuers long enough to complete the voyage?

Coot Club

Trevor Colgan

'Football matches can change in a matter of seconds. So too can lives.' 
 
Luke stands at the stern of the Stena Seacat, and stares down at Dun Laoghaire harbour below. His whole universe is about to alter. Ella is behind him, trials for Everton are ahead of him. He has no idea where the journey will take him but he can't wait to begin.This tremendous follow up to a powerful debut novel, The Stretford Enders, charts Luke's first love, football as he sets out to play for Everton and leave behind his home, and perhaps his heart.

The Stretford Enders Away

Ian Serraillier

An unforgettable story of life during and after the Second World War, based on true accounts. For readers of The Book Thief, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Diary of Anne Frank. 
 
This is a story of many different things. 
 
Of a terrible war and an occupied land 
 
Of the Balicki children who are determined to survive 
 
Of a dangerous journey from war-torn Poland to Switzerland 
 
Of a paper knife that gives them the courage to carry on when nearly all hope is lost. 
 
'I urge you to read this book as it will stay in your memory forever' Guardian 
 
'A true modern classic' Booktrust

The Silver Sword

If Mrs Tischbein had known the amazing adventures her son Emil would have in Berlin, she'd never have let him go. 
 
Unfortunately, when his seven pounds goes missing on the train, Emil is determined to get it back - and when he teams up with the detectives he meets in Berlin, it's just the start of a marvellous money-retrieving adventure . . . 
 
A classic and influential story, Emil and the Detectives remains an enthralling read. 
 
From November 16th 2013, an exciting new adaptation of Emil and the Detectives will be playing at the National Theatre in London.

Emil And The Detectives

biblio.categories.code

biblio.publicationStatus

biblio.brand

biblio.workEditions.format

biblio.ageRange

biblio.series.seriesName

biblio.imprint.description

biblio.type

About us

About Us (Header 4)

Best-Jane-Austen-quotes_Online-Desktop_Penguin

James-Baldwin

Marian-Keyes

haruki-murakami-320×320-1

Richard-Osman

Malorie Blackman

Lisa-Jewell

Charlie-Mackesy

Authors (Header 3)

Children&#039;s

Company

Discover

Fiction

Non-fiction

Penguin Classics

Penguin Shop (Header 5)

Useful links

Work with us

Search Results

The Fall of the West

Hunt the Villain

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Fight or Flight (Book 21)

The Mortons

Watch a trailer for The Spook's Blood

A photograph of Ben Barnes in character for Shadow and Bone Netflix series.

Interviews

Shadow and Bone’s Ben Barnes on tear-jerking books and what he’s reading

An image showing a selection of adventure stories for 9-12 year olds on a bright yellow background with orange doodles that include a hashtag, flag, danger sign and speech bubble

Children's reading lists

16 books for 9 to 12-year-olds that love adventures

An image of a selection of books for 9-12s on a blue background with a large splodge and striped print

24 must-read books for 9-12-year-olds

A picture of several different children's books on a pink to blue ombre background; each book has a bright yellow shadow

Showing results for: ‘joseph delaney’

Filters

Category

Age

Publication Date

Format

Series

Imprint

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter