Children of the Red King facts for kids

Children of the Red King is an exciting series of eight fantasy and school adventure novels. They were written by British author Jenny Nimmo. The books were first published by Egmont between 2002 and 2009. People often call it "the Charlie Bone series" because Charlie Bone is the main character.

A prequel series, Chronicles of the Red King, tells the story of the Red King.

The Books in the Series

The Children of the Red King series has eight books. Egmont Books first published all of them. David Wyatt created the cover art for the original editions. The first two books came out in paperback. The rest were released in hardcover.

• Midnight for Charlie Bone (January 2002)
• The Time Twister (October 2003)
• The Blue Boa (April 2004)
• The Castle of Mirrors (June 2005)
• Charlie Bone and the Hidden King (June 2006)
• Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf (June 2007)
• Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock (September 2008)
• Charlie Bone and the Red Knight (October 2009)

In the United States, some books had different titles:

• Midnight for Charlie Bone (March 2003)
• Charlie Bone and the Time Twister (September 2003)
• Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy (July 2004)
• Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors (July 2005)
• Charlie Bone and the Hidden King (May 2006)
• Charlie Bone and the Beast (May 2007)
• Charlie Bone and the Shadow (September 2008)
• Charlie Bone and the Red Knight (May 2010)

What Happens in the Books

Midnight for Charlie Bone

In the first book, 10-year-old Charlie Bone finds out he has a special power. He can hear voices from people in photographs. Charlie learns he is a descendant of the Red King, an ancient magician. Many of the Red King's family have magical powers.

Charlie's strict Grandmother Bone and her sisters send him to Bloor's Academy. This is a school where many kids with powers study. With help from Mr. Onimous and his magical cats, Charlie helps Julia Ingledew. Julia is a bookstore owner whose baby, Emma, went missing.

Emma, now 10, is at Bloor's Academy. She is under a spell by Manfred Bloor, another student with powers. Charlie, his friend Benjamin, and their dog Runner Bean rescue Emma. Charlie also discovers his father is alive but also under Manfred's spell.

The Time Twister

This book is called Charlie Bone and the Time Twister in the US. In 1916, Charlie's great-great-uncle, Henry Yewbeam, looks into the Time Twister. This magical device brings him to the present day without aging him. Charlie sees him at Bloor's Academy and helps him.

A dog named Blessed sees Henry too. Blessed tells Billy Raven, an orphan who talks to animals. Billy is spying for Ezekiel Bloor, hoping to be adopted. Ezekiel wants Henry.

Charlie and his friends make a plan to send Henry back to his time. They use a freezer and the Time Twister. Cook, who works in the kitchen, helps them when Henry gets too cold. Charlie also helps Manfred Bloor's mother escape through the Time Twister. Henry goes to live with his younger brother by the sea.

The Blue Boa

This book is called Charlie Bone and the Invisible Boy in the US. Charlie's Uncle Paton goes on a secret mission. Meanwhile, Charlie meets Belle Donner, a pretty girl joining Bloor's. At school, they learn about an invisible boy named Ollie Sparks. An ancient blue snake made him invisible.

They find out Mr. Boldova, an art teacher, is Ollie's brother. He is trying to save Ollie. Belle is actually Yolanda Yewbeam, Charlie's great-great-great aunt. She is a shape-shifter. She puts Mr. Boldova under a spell, making him leave. Uncle Paton returns very ill.

Charlie visits Skarpo, but things go wrong. Skarpo and his mouse escape. Luckily, Cook finds Skarpo. Charlie agrees to help Skarpo return to his painting if he helps heal Paton.

The Castle of Mirrors

This book is called Charlie Bone and the Castle of Mirrors in the US. Billy Raven is adopted by the de Greys, a mysterious and unkind couple. They have powers and trap him on weekends. A distant relative tries to adopt Billy but sacrifices himself to save Charlie's Uncle Paton.

Manfred and Ezekiel cause trouble for all the kids with powers. Ezekiel accidentally brings back the Red King's wife, Berenice, as a white horse. He was trying to bring back the King's evil son, Borlath. Olivia Vertigo discovers her power to create illusions.

Charlie Bone and the Hidden King

Charlie goes to Bloor's Academy to find his father. A dark force called 'The Shadow' is set free. It causes problems everywhere. Charlie's mother is put under a spell to forget her life and family. 'The Shadow' cast this spell. Eventually, Charlie learns that Mr. Pilgrim is actually his father.

Charlie Bone and the Wilderness Wolf

This book is called Charlie Bone and the Beast in the US. Charlie and Uncle Paton visit Charlie's old house. They find it was broken into. At Bloor's Academy, Charlie meets a new boy, Dagbert Endless. Dagbert can control water and tries to drown people. He has to stay near Charlie.

A strange howling sound scares the town. People call it the "wilderness wolf." Uncle Paton is bitten by a creature. He says it wasn't a wolf but more human-like. Charlie's friend Benjamin thinks Asa Pike might be the creature. Asa had helped Charlie before.

Billy Raven tells Charlie the "wilderness wolf" is shouting "Help." Dagbert experiences strange symptoms on his birthday. He becomes more powerful. Charlie and his friends go into the forest to find Asa. They find Asa's mother instead. She explains Asa was taken away for helping Charlie.

Charlie and Billy plan to save Asa. They find Asa in his beast form. Billy uses special candles and Charlie uses his magical wand. Asa turns back into a human. They see the Red King, and Asa leaves with him. Asa thanks Charlie for his help.

Charlie Bone and the Shadow of Badlock

This book is called Charlie Bone and the Shadow in the US. The evil enchanter Count Harken returns. He wants revenge on the Red King's family, starting with Charlie's family. Charlie's ancestors are kidnapped and trapped in Badlock, a dark land. Charlie must save them.

Charlie and Runner Bean, his best friend's dog, travel through a painting to Badlock. Runner Bean gets stuck in the painting. Charlie needs his friends' help. Can they get past an army of trolls? Can they rescue Runner Bean and Charlie's ancestors? Will they escape before it's too late?

Charlie Bone and the Red Knight

The evil Bloors gather more powerful magical allies. These allies cause trouble in the city. Charlie wants to stop them. The Pets Cafe is closed, Billy is trapped, and Olivia is "taken over." Charlie's only hope is the mysterious Red Knight.

Charlie and his friends search for a will. This will reveals who truly owns Bloor's Academy. Uncle Paton believes the Raven family should own it. This means Billy could inherit the school.

The Red Knight is revealed to be Lyell Bone, Charlie's father. He wanted to watch his son in disguise. The will is hidden in a church. It shows the Bones own the academy. Manfred and Ezekiel are no longer a threat. Dr. Bloor and other unkind people leave. Bloor's becomes Bone Academy, a happy school. Billy is adopted by Lyell and Amy. Paton and Julia marry and move to the bookstore. The series ends with Tancred and Emma holding hands.

Main Characters

Children of the Red King

• Charlie Bone is the main hero. He can hear voices from people in photos and paintings. He can even take things from paintings sometimes. He is related to the Red King through his father. He is also related to a Welsh magician named Mathonwy through his mother.

• Manfred Bloor is a main villain. He can hypnotize people. He put Charlie's father under a spell. Later, his power changes. He can create and control fire.

• Naren Bloor can send shadows using the moon over long distances.

• Idith and Inez Branko are twins with telekinesis. This means they can move objects with their minds.

• Zelda Dobinski can also move objects with her mind. She leaves Bloor's Academy to study Math.

• Dagbert Endless can control water. He used to follow the Bloors.

• Dorcas Loom can put spells on clothes.

• Una Onimous can become invisible. She is the niece of Orvil and Onoria Onimous.

• Asa Pike is a werewolf. He can change his shape at dusk. He helped Charlie and his friends in book 5. Charlie later rescued him in book 6.

• Billy Raven is an albino. He can talk to animals. He was an orphan and was briefly adopted by unkind guardians. The Bones adopt him at the end of the series.

• Lysander Sage can call upon his spirit ancestors. He is Tancred's best friend. Lysander is also good friends with Charlie Bone.

• Eric Shellhorn can bring stone statues to life. He lives with his stepmother, Venetia Yewbeam.

• Gabriel Silk can feel emotions and events by touching other people's clothes. He comes from a family of psychics.

• Joshua Tilpin can control magnetism.

• Emma Tolly can turn into birds and fly. She is also a great artist. Manfred Bloor put her under a spell for eight years. Charlie and his friends rescued her. She lives with her aunt, Julia Ingledew. She starts dating Tancred at the end of the last book.

• Tancred Torsson can control storms. He can summon wind, thunder, snow, rain, and lightning. He is a close friend of Lysander Sage.

• Olivia Vertigo is an illusionist. She can create illusions. She discovers her power in the fourth book. She loves changing her appearance.

Other Characters with Powers

• Alice Angel is a witch. She is Olivia Vertigo's godmother. She took care of Billy Raven's guardian, Mr. Crowquill.

• Cook (Treasure) helps keep balance among the Red King's family. She has the power of tranquility. She lives in secret rooms under her kitchen.

• Dr. Saltweather is immune to water. He becomes the headmaster of Bone Academy.

• Titania Tilpin is a witch and Joshua Tilpin's mother. She used to teach at Bloor's Academy.

• Mr. Torsson is a very powerful storm-bringer, like his son Tancred.

• Señor Alvaro can make people believe things by putting images in their minds.

• Eustacia Yewbeam can see the future. She is one of Charlie's great-aunts. She grows many plants and herbs.

• Paton Yewbeam is Charlie's great-uncle. He is one of the good Yewbeam characters. His power is electrical boosting. He makes lightbulbs explode. He prefers to walk at night to avoid causing problems. He lives with Charlie's family. He marries Julia Ingledew in the last book. He is also a historian.

• Venetia Yewbeam is the youngest of the Yewbeam sisters. She is Eric Shellhorn's step-mother. She designs magical clothes. She seeks revenge against Charlie and Uncle Paton.

• Samuel Sparks was an art teacher at Bloor's Academy. He was looking for his brother Ollie. Samuel can heat up rocks and make them sparkle. He and Ollie left Bloor's Academy after Ollie became visible.

Characters Without Powers

• Amy Bone is Charlie's mother. She is married to Lyell Bone. She works at a greengrocer.

• Lyell Bone is Charlie's father. He disappeared for most of the series. He was put under a spell by Manfred Bloor. Lyell does not have powers, but he is a talented musician. He plays piano and organ. In book 8, it is revealed he is the true owner of Bloor's Academy.

• Benjamin Brown is one of Charlie's best friends. He lives across the street from Charlie. He does not have powers. He has a dog named Runner Bean.

• Fidelio Gunn is a great musician. He is one of Charlie's loyal friends. He does not have powers.

• Julia Ingledew owns Ingledew's Bookstore. She is Emma Tolly's aunt. She marries Paton Yewbeam.

• Maisie Jones is Amy Bone's mother and Charlie's grandmother.

• Onoria Onimous is Orvil Onimous' wife. She owns the Pets Cafe. She loves animals.

• Orvil Onimous is Onoria Onimous' husband. He co-owns the Pets Cafe. He knows a lot about the Red King's history. He and his wife help Charlie and his friends.

• Grizelda Yewbeam is Charlie's grandmother and Lyell Bone's mother. She does not have powers. She and her sisters often work with the Bloors against Charlie.

• Lucretia Yewbeam is Charlie's great-aunt. She is the oldest of Charlie's great-aunts. She is also the matron of Bloor's Academy. She does not have powers.

The Charlie Bone Universe

Jenny Nimmo and Egmont have also created a prequel series called Chronicles of the Red King. These books tell the story of the Red King. The Internet Speculative Fiction Database lists all these books as part of the "Charlie Bone Universe."

Chronicles of the Red King

• The Secret Kingdom (April 2011, ISBN: 978-1-4052-5732-9)
• The Stones of Ravenglass (April 2012, ISBN: 978-1-4052-5733-6)
• Leopards' Gold (August 2013, ISBN: 978-1-4052-5734-3)