Age: 11+

This book, the first in a series from adult-thriller writer Paterson, has all the characteristics of his work for grown-ups: pace, action, mystery and cool; it has a slangy, staccato style that does not pretend to be literary, but is sharp and punchy with plenty of jokes and shocks. The hero, Max, is the leader of a “gang” of child escapees from a mind-blowingly cruel laboratory that experiments on mixing up humans and animals. Max and co have wings, and can fly — this is only one of their strange skills. But they are constantly on the run from human/wolf fusions, called Erasers, created by the same lab. Set in California and New York, the book unfolds like a computer game — all episodic surprise attacks and violent retaliation. Somewhere under the wild, rebellious surface are reactionary values: killing makes you feel bad, but sometimes it is appropriate revenge; mothers who make cookies are the ideal; prayer helps. But this skilled and compulsive tale is so involving about kids being brave against the odds that it sweeps away any qualms. And it proves that girls can be tough, too.

(Headline £12.99)

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