Pizza Pete and the Perilous Potions

Pete and his dad are about to be kicked out of their flat and pizza shop because they owe money on the rent. And Pete has made a promise to himself to never leave home again. Which means that Pete and his friend Anna must come up with an ingenious plan to sell more pizzas, to raise some dough. Luckily, they find a suitcase full of magical potions in the attic. What if they added a drop or two to some pizzas? And what if the results were so extraordinary that word got around and customers were lining up round the block?

Throw in a fire-breathing dog, an exploding headteacher and an interfering boy called Archie, and you have the recipe for… well, action, enjoyment and slapstick fun!

This debut novel touches on serious issues like mental health and bullying in a sensitive way, and the humour throughout doesn’t belittle these. Instead, the reader roots for Pete and Anna as they ricochet from one magical mishap to the next. Sarah Horne’s brilliantly energetic illustrations perfectly complement the mayhem, with hilarious facial expressions galore. The relationship between Pete and his dad is very touchingly portrayed too – they adore each other.