Harley Hitch and the Iron Forest by Vashti Hardy & George Ermos

I can’t wait for the world to meet Harley Hitch! She’s sassy and smart, impulsive and full of initiative – such a fantastic role model for girls and boys. Harley Hitch and the Iron Forest is a delightful romp through a mechanical forest bursting with STEM-fuelled girl power!

Harley lives in Inventia with her dog, Sprocket – a spunky robot with turbo legs. It’s the beginning of a new term at Cogworks School and Harley would love to win ‘Pupil of the Term’. The thing is, trouble seems to follow her everywhere and she just can’t beat Fenelda Spiggot – a real goody goody who is the best at everything. Maybe this term will be different.

When a strange, colourful fungus starts rippling through the forest, destroying the essential mechanical parts that grow there, Harley sets off with her new friend, Cosmo, to try to solve the mystery and save the forest.  A giant slug, talking mechanical fish from the Rusty River, explosions and runaway robots create non-stop adventure and brilliant scientific solutions.

No matter what, Harley wants to do the right thing. – it just doesn’t always go as she planned. With kindness, creativity and absolute resilience, Harley does all she can to keep the precious ecosystem in balance and prove she’s just as clever as the experts on the case.

George Ermos’ illustrations complete this brilliant adventure for young readers. Fascinating characters and amazing inventions fill the pages drawing the reader in.  Perfect for Lower Key Stage Two upwards, many children will enjoy this fun story. Harley Hitch is a girl to be reckoned with and no one is going to stand in her way!

Thank you to Scholastic for this fantastic adventure!

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Primary English In Action by Kate Heap will be published in August 2026. Preorder it now!

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