Mayo balances the high-stakes plot and serious reality of radiation poisoning with an underlying absurdity, particularly the over-the-top nastiness of Flowerdew and his compatriots.

When Flowerdew threatens to throw Jack into a deep mining well Tim tackles him, throwing them both into the mine well in the process but rescuing Jack. Itch's mum is far more understanding than many, and there aren't many hobbies that can make people so very sick. Mysterious guys in black pursue Itch trying to get ahold of the rock, so Itch is forced to rely on help from Tim.I’m always recommending moms use RR to screen books as well as find new series to try with their kids. Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives. Together, this trio find themselves tangled in a shadowy web of mystery and action punctuated with brief forays into chemistry.

I heard Simon review this book on Chris Evans show ages ago, but when I wanted an 'easy read' for last thing at night I remembered about Itch. An amazing book that helped me learn without me even noticing and gets me interested in the side topic of the book.For Itch, who collects elements from the periodic table (calcium from a seashell, fluorine from a Teflon frying pan, etc. Rowling has the edge on inventiveness and pure fantasy, but Mayo has some great material up his sleeve, and some of it is very dark material indeed. His previous books include the Sunday Times bestseller Knife Edge , Mad Blood Stirring , Blame and the Itch trilogy, filmed for TV by the ABC. At first no one believes him - but soon someone hears about the strange new rock and wants it for himself. After almost poisoning his whole class with arsenic gas, going on the run from a psychotic science teacher and nearly dying of radiation poisoning, life is getting back to normal for Itchingham Lofte - at least, as normal as it can be when you have a round-the-clock detail of government security guards watching your every move.

Mayo's hero Itchingham Lofte is a nerdy fourteen year old science geek obsessed with collecting elements from the Periodic Table. Meanwhile Lucy tests the water at the beach and discovers it has been poisoned by chemicals, meaning if anyone goes into it a lot more than the fish could become sick and die.Loved both books and I highly recommend them but do be advised that both can be a little gory and violent, at times, so there are difficult moments if you have a weak stomach.