Darkside (novel) facts for kids
First edition cover
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| Author | Tom Becker |
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| Cover artist | Studio Spooky |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | Darkside |
| Genre | Children's |
| Publisher | Scholastic |
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Publication date
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6 June 2007 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 256 pp |
| ISBN | 978-0-439-94436-6 |
| OCLC | 71541663 |
| Followed by | Lifeblood |
Darkside is an exciting children's novel written by Tom Becker. It tells the story of a boy named Jonathan Starling. He discovers a secret world hidden right beneath London. This hidden world is called Darkside.
Darkside is a strange and dangerous place. It is said to be run by the family of Jack the Ripper. Only the toughest and most unusual characters live there. Jonathan quickly finds himself caught up in a world full of mystery. He meets thieves, a werewolf, and even a vampire. A clever servant named Raquella helps Jonathan. She guides him through Darkside to find his dad. They even ride a spooky ghost train! Jonathan promises Raquella he will help her escape her master, who is the vampire. The book was published in 2007 by Scholastic. It won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize in 2007. It was also considered for the 2008 Manchester Book Award. Darkside also won the Calderdale Children's Book of the Year Award.
Contents
Meet the Characters of Darkside
This section introduces the main characters you'll meet in the book. Each one plays an important part in Jonathan's adventure.
Main Characters
- Jonathan Starling – He is the main character of the story. Jonathan is a quiet but brave 14-year-old boy. He finds himself on an unexpected adventure.
- Alain Starling – Jonathan's dad. He is very ill and is in the hospital. Jonathan's journey often involves trying to reach him.
Mysterious Figures
- Carnegie – A mysterious detective who is also a werewolf. He helps Jonathan understand Darkside.
- Marianne – A strange bounty hunter with bright, glowing hair. She is always looking for her next target.
- Grimshaw – The powerful leader of the Beastilia Exotica. He is a very strict and ruthless character.
- Vendetta – An evil vampire from Darkside. She is a dangerous and cunning character.
- Raquella – A clever servant who works for Vendetta. She helps Jonathan, hoping for her own freedom.
Other Important Characters
- Ricky Thomas – A normal student who gets bullied. He is kidnapped and taken to Darkside.
- Mrs Elwood – Jonathan's helpful neighbor. She cares for him and is a bit overprotective.
- Humble and Skeet – Marianne's two strange and quirky helpers.
- PC Shaw and Carter Roberts – Two policemen who seem a bit lost. They try to solve the mysteries in Lightside.
What's the Story About?
The story of Darkside begins with Jonathan Starling. He is a shy and unlucky teenager. His dad is sick, so Jonathan lives mostly by himself. This is his normal life in the "Lightside." But soon, everything changes.
Jonathan almost gets kidnapped by a bounty hunter. This event pulls him into the mysterious world of Darkside. In Darkside, he faces many dangers. He is attacked by a werewolf. He nearly gets stabbed with a knife. He even swims in a strange "pool of pain."
Meanwhile, back in the Lightside, detectives are working hard. They are trying to figure out who kidnapped Jonathan. Another student, Ricky Thomas, is also taken to Darkside. He is forced to face dangerous challenges there. What is the real reason Jonathan and Ricky are in Darkside? You'll have to read the book to find out!
