The Creatures of Killburn Mine by Dan Smith

The Creatures of Killburn Mine is the fifth book in the deliciously creepy Crooked Oak science fiction series for readers age 9+. After battling with strange pods at a fracking site, a terrifying beast on school residential, a forest full of spiders, and carniverous plants, the gang are facing their next adversary. There’s no end to science going wrong in the village of Crooked Oak and it’s up to Pete, Krish and Nancy to sort it out. Every adventure is like a story on their favourite website, “Mystery Shed”. Much like the X-Files, the truth is out there, if only they can find it in time!

Early one morning, Pete is sure he sees a strange light in the sky. Could it be a UFO? Anywhere else and everyone would just scoff at the idea, but not in Crooked Oak! After mentioning it to their physics teacher and doing some investigating of their own, the gang soon discover a meterorite has had a strange effect on the moor (and on Mr Bennings, their teacher). They set off on a thrilling adventure that might just end in disaster.

The Creatures of Killburn Mine is absolutely gripping and quite disgusting! Skin crawling descriptions force readers to keep turning the pages in search of relief from the dangerous situations they find themselves in alongside Pete, Krish and Nancy. There’s no escaping the peril between the pages! Readers are challenged to think about what they know about science and ask questions about what is possible. Instead of just accepting what they’re told, these characters go the extra mile to discover the truth, inspring their readers to do the same.

Fast-paced and accessible, The Creatures of Killburn Mine and the rest of the series are just right for children in Year 5 right through to Year 9 or 10. With dyslexia-friendly font, spacing and page tint, they are great for readers who need a bit of support but this doesn’t take anything away from the enjoyment of more confident readers. They are incredibly satisfying as a quicker read with a self-contained adventure in a short novella. This series is always one of my top recommendations for Key Stage Three readers who are struggling to find something exciting and manageable.

One of my reading comprehension books – Contemporary Children’s Literature for Years 5-6 – features an extract from the first Crooked Oak mystery, The Invasion of Crooked Oak.