By Malcolm Judge (author) Part of the Jonny Jakes Investigates series
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June 2015 Debut of the Month The Hamburgers of Doom is exactly the kind of nutty adventure that fans of sci-fi comics will love. Jonny Jakes is undercover editor of a scurrilous school newspaper, regularly dishing the dirt on teachers. It’s too much for his headmaster, who steps down, but there’s something really odd about his replacement. Jonny misses out on the scoop – New Head is Alien – but organises resistance when he works out what – or rather who – is on the menu for the school’s celebration lunch.
Jonny has a great line in deadpan humour, the situation comedy is satisfyingly wacky, and the author (a teacher) pokes fun at staff and pupils alike! ~ Andrea Reece
A Piece of Passion from Penny West, Curious Fox editor I’ve got something I’ve been keeping secret. It’s a killer scoop that needs to be brought to the attention of the public. And you can read all about it on June 4th.
Jonny Jakes is an 11-year-old with a distain for authority and a nose for truth. When I first read his story on the slush pile, I was immediately caught up in his voice. I showed the manuscript to the team and we knew we had something special.
Jonny runs an underground school newspaper, which exposes hypocritical teachers and moldy baked beans in the school canteen. But he must constantly avoid being unmasked himself.
There’s something so fun about a secret identity (Jonny Jakes is not his real name – will we ever discover what it is?) and the fact that Jonny is both top reporter and editor-in-chief (and, author Malcolm tells me, photographer, sports writer and playground correspondent), meaning there’s a delicious tension as Jonny darts and weaves to stay hidden in the shadows.
It could be a lonely job, but Jonny quickly discovers an ally in Norris Morris, who’s the brawn to Jonny’s brains. Together they set about investigating some strange goings on at Woodford School, putting their mettle to the ultimate test when they must enter the girls’ toilets (duh-duh-duuuuuuuh)!
I adore his nemesis relationship with his headmaster, Mr Hardy, who can’t surreptitiously start wearing a toupee or even eat a cream cake after banning treats without Jonny’s withering editorial telling all.
One important part of Jonny’s investigative journal is his photographic evidence, complete with doodles to tell the full story. When we were looking for an illustrator to capture Jonny’s style, Alan Brown hit the nail on the head first time with his drawing of our junior journalist – camera at the ready, determined expression.
Jonny sketches himself and Norris doing the Leap of the Double-Backed Tiger as part of his plan to fight against the forces of evil, but he’s not sure he’s captured Norris’s ‘best side’. Alan’s interpretation of this is priceless. We had fun adding exclusive interviews with both the author and illustrator in the back of the book.
For an editor, there’s a magical stage where you send the edited manuscript to the designer and it comes back looking like a real book, with all the newspaper clippings, Post-its and survival guide pages come to life. Though sometimes, you do get a little too involved and I did have a lengthy discussion with the designer about the exact shade of neon yellow to use on the front cover.
The Curious Fox team and I are so excited for this world exclusive to hit the headlines in June. Just watch out for the alien snot on page 77.
Longlisted for the Times/Chicken House writing competition. The judges commented: "the story really gallops along from one situation to the next at a rollicking pace....sparky writing".
Malcolm will be appearing at the Cheltenham Festival on Sunday 11th October. Click here to find out more.
Further information from the Cheltenham Festival.
Meet Jonny Jakes, undercover schoolboy reporter. He offends everyone he writes about and hates anyone finding out his real name.
Read the full description
It's not Jonny Jakes.
When a new head teacher rolls in to town, Jonny sniffs out his first earth-shattering exclusive. He just didn't expect it to be so out-of-this-world....
Malcolm Judge has always dreamed of being a writer, but along the way he’s tried his hand at many different jobs: newspaper boy, waiter, caddy, pot washer, conservation officer, carer, tree surgeon before finally settling on teaching. He is now a drama teacher and fits his writing around his day job. In a quest for world fame, Malcolm competed in The World Coal Carrying Championships. He did not win, but he did go on to beat the winner (his former PE teacher) in a training race, which almost counts as world fame. He lives in Cumbria with his wife and three sons.
A Q&A with Malcolm Judge
Describe your book in one sentence? Jonny Jakes (undercover schoolboy reporter) Vs Mr. Jones (evil alien maniac).
What inspired you to write your book? The opportunity to try and be rude and funny at the same time.
Favourite character in your book? Jonny
Favourite sentence or line in your book? ‘Out there was T.V., electricity and food that wouldn’t kill you.’
Describe yourself in three words? Optimistic, creative, modest.
Shakespeare or Dickens? Shakespeare
Your favourite author? Too many to choose from.
Favourite character from a book? Huckleberry Finn
If you weren’t an author, you would be… An international film star
Favourite place/setting to read a book? Somewhere in the mountains with a cup of tea.
If you had a dinner party what three authors or characters from literature would you invite? Shakespeare, Gandalf, Death (The Terry Pratchett version).
Where do you get your ideas from? It’s a good question and I’m not really sure. The best ones have a habit of coming completely out of nowhere.
Do you base your characters on people you know? Not consciously but I’m sure that must happen from time to time.
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The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Jonny Jakes Investigates the Hamburgers of Doom and determined it is suitable for children aged 9-12 years old
Jonny Jakes Investigates the Hamburgers of Doom features in the following genres: Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, Recommendations, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Crime & Mystery, Adventure Stories, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Recommended Children's eBooks, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback. Not Available.
Jonny Jakes Investigates the Hamburgers of Doom was written by Malcolm Judge and published by Curious Fox
Jonny Jakes Investigates the Hamburgers of Doom has 223 pages
Yes it is part of Jonny Jakes Investigates series
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