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Find out moreM.G. Leonard has a first-class honours degree in English Literature and an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London. She is the author of Beetle Boy and is still overcoming her fear of all things creepy crawly. She works in London as the Senior Digital Media Producer for the National Theatre, and previously worked at the Royal Opera House and Shakespeare’s Globe. Leonard spent her early career in the music industry running Setanta Records, an independent record label, and managing bands, most notably The Divine Comedy. After leaving the music industry, she trained as an actor, dabbling in directing and producing as well as performing, before deciding to write her stories down. Leonard lives in Brighton with her partner and two sons and her pet rainbow stag beetle.
Author photo © Maya 1 by David Myers
Can a birdwatcher outwit an escaped convict? Twitch has three pet chickens, four pigeons, swallows nesting in his bedroom and a passion for birdwatching. On the first day of the summer holidays, he arrives at his secret hide to find police everywhere: a convicted robber has broken out of prison and is hiding in Aves Wood. Can Twitch use his talents for birdwatching to hunt for the dangerous prisoner and find the missing loot?
A Story of Plastic in Our Oceans | A brilliantly topical and delightfully funny picture book from internationally bestselling author M.G. Leonard, which shows children what happens to their plastic toothbrushes after they're thrown away.
Darkus and his friends continue their unforgettable adventure in this final instalment of the Beetle trilogy. Arch-villainess Lucretia Cutter has a secret Biome hidden in the Amazon rainforest: can Darkus and his friends, human and beetle alike, find it before it's too late? If they can't stop Lucretia, she will release her hoard of giant Frankenstein beetles, and the planet will never be the same again ...
April 2017 Book of the Month | In a nutshell: irresistible creep-crawly adventure | M.G. Leonard’s book Beetle Boy was one of the liveliest, most original and enjoyable debuts of 2016, and the follow up will have fans waving their (figurative) feelers around in glee. Lucretia Cutter is back, undoubtedly one of the creepiest (crawliest) villains in children’s fiction, and she’s up to no good again. Ranged against her are our hero Darkus and his friends Virginia and Bertolt, together with their special allies – bugs, beetles and assorted insects. The plot scoots along like a spider on a tiled floor, the dialogue crackles and the cast of characters features an array of the weird and wonderful. Irresistible reading and it will make you see the insect world in a whole new light. ~ Andrea Reece Piece of Passion from Barry Cunningham, Publisher : ' I couldn’t wait to read the sequel to M.G. Leonard’s incredible Beetle Boy, and Beetle Queen just might be even better. All our friends are back, battling a terrifying villainess, and we don’t even know which side Darkus’s dad is on! Never mind – the beetles will help again … but can they save the day? Read on, and I promise you will wiggle your antenna with joy!’
Winner of the Branford Boase Award 2017 | One of our Books of the Year 2016 | Shortlisted for the Children's category of the Books are My Bag Readers Awards 2016 | Longlisted for the UKLA 2017 Book Award and March 2016 Julia Eccleshare's Debut of the Month | A rollicking adventure spiced up with fascinating information about beetles, this debut novel fuses science, survival and sleuthing! Darkus’s life is turned upside down when his father goes missing. Darkus refuses to accept that his father is dead and he is determined to find out what happened for himself. Sent to stay with his uncle, he discovers the strange neighbours have a yard full of junk – and beetles. Darkus is befriended by a handsome, giant beetle who seems to understand Darkus and is also connected to his dad’s disappearance. What is going on? And who is Lucretia Cutter, one of the best villainess since Cruella de Vil? Books in The Battle of the Beetles Series: 1. Beetle Boy 2. Beetle Queen 3. Battle of the Beetles