More about the authors: Much more about Muchamore

Robert Muchamore provides a big finish to the Amazing Books for Boys event. The mega-selling author of the CHERUB series of books will be meeting fans and taking questions from 4pm in the main theatre. Here, Mark Thornton of Mostly Books analyses the phenomenon that is Robert Muchamore, and why he seems to be able to reach the reading part in kids (particularly boys) that other authors cannot reach...

"A troika of children's authors can be found dominating the area of teen reads for boys. Anthony Horowitz with his Alex Rider books, Charlie Higson with Young Bond...and Robert Muchamore with his CHERUB series of books. Knocking on the door increasingly is 'Jimmy Coates' author Joe Craig (also appearing on June 20th as one of the authors Trapped By Monsters) - but these three stand alone.

All three produce cracking adventure stories concerning child spies and gadgets galore, but whereas the young James Bond and Alex Rider have glamorous backgrounds and/or upbringings, what gives Muchamore's writing an edge (in my opinion) is the background of the main man: James Adams. Here's a kid who has every disadvantage in life, who moves with the wrong crowd, goes into care - and from there into the shadowy, murky world of Cherub.

The other children recruited into the CHERUB organisation have similar unfortunate backgrounds - one interviewer described Muchamore as having created "The Lost Boys (and Girls) in the 21st century". The fact that the Cherub kids have a touch more grit and realism about them may be one reason that kids - particularly boys - who have never been interested in reading, suddenly devour the Cherub books and start looking for more. I can vouch for this on a personal level: a thirteen year old nephew - never that interested in books - has been transformed by his brush with Cherub. Now we have something to talk about when it comes to discussing the shop.

One of the things Robert does in his writing - like all the best authors - is to empower the kids that feature in the stories. But uniquely for Robert, there are no magic powers or privileged background to elevate the boys and girls he writes about, they call on inner reserves of strength to survive brutal training and missions. It's this empowerment of kids at the very bottom of the pecking order that I think strikes a chord with children who've perhaps been tagged as reluctant readers, or having problems with reading. There's an instant connection there - and the stories are given a chance.

This isn't Robert's first visit to Abingdon. Back when The Recruit was fresh out, Robert did one of his first ever events at Abingdon School. We're hoping that he has a triumphant return on June 20th. We're very excited that he's coming - and his fans are too."

For much more about Robert, including the latest news about his Eagle Day tour, visit the official CHERUB campus, or the Robert Muchamore site.