Author(s): Simon Haynes

Children's Fiction

Hal Junior lives aboard an orbiting space station. His mum is chief scientist, his dad cleans air filters and his best mate is Stephen 'Stinky' Binn. As for Hal ... he means well, but his wild schemes never quite turn out as expected During a tour of a visiting freighter, Hal Junior uncovers a secret which could endanger the space station and the lives of everyone on board. How will he warn everyone? More importantly, will anyone believe him? Hal Junior: The Secret Signal features mayhem and laughs, daring and intrigue ... plus a home-made space cannon What they're saying ... "The only part I didn't like was the explanation of how food is made. I understand why Stinky's face turned green." "This is a charming book full of wacky, innovative fun that can be read quickly and easily by readers of all ages. It's a perfect way to encourage readers to keep reading." "A fun, easy to read story that is perfect for adventurous and imaginative young readers that like the idea of saving the day. Especially those who can identify with the kids whose hearts are in the right place, but their behavior quite often isn't." "Hal Jr is educated by a robot, his home is a space station, his homework has just been sucked into the recycling hatch, his mother has just been promoted to head of research, and trouble is brewing." "This particular book could be enjoyed by kids 5 and older - much older. I am in my twenties and I thought that this 175 page book was a quirky, smart, and fun little riot for boys and girls of all ages." "This book is a must-read for boys who enjoy sci-fi aged 8-12 years old. I found it entertaining as a light read for myself (being a 13 year old girl) so I pretty much recommend this to everyone." "There are all sorts of fun things in the book, from morse code to a mysterious watch recovered from the junk heap, a reverse canon that shoots garbage, and even a guide on how to build Hal's homework paper plane." "Hal is such a typical kid. He gets into more scrapes that should be possible and yet always seems to come out on top. He's endearing and funny, exasperating and brave and earnest. Hal is quite likeable and you find yourself both cheering and groaning at his antics." "I know that the kids in my class will just love this. It doesn't come any more highly recommended than that " "There is elements of physics, environmental science and more throughout the book, which would grab the attention of those who are science buffs, as well as those who like a good story." "I may love Hal Junior better than the adult version." "A very fun read, and the level is just right for late-early readers."