Another World

By A. J. Hughes

Sam and his sister Lauren think they are ordinary kids just like everyone else, but when a new family moves into the neighbourhood, another extraordinary world is revealed to them.After a narrow escape from child snatchers and a run-in with bullies, Sam and Lauren learn an earth shattering secret about their new friends. At the same time they make an incredible discovery about themselves, one that cannot be shared with anyone, not even their parents. Learning about this other world takes them back in time and shooting across the globe, where they meet others like them. As their friendship group grows, they realise with horror that one of them has trusted someone they shouldn't.
They must put their newfound skills into play as they fight to defend all they know and love from the threat brought by a stranger who has walked in both worlds.
An enthralling, original story that will captivate anyone!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Apr 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9781779411877

A. J. Hughes

Amanda Hughes was born and raised in the northwest of England, and two things have always fascinated her. The first is what it would have been like to live in any period of history before today. The second is what it would be like to live on another planet and have extra-terrestrials as friends. She's spent years of her working life trying to learn from the past and make a better future, and recently decided that writing books for the kids who will do just that is a good way to spend a day. Amanda moved to Perth in Western Australia with her husband Andy and their two children who inspired her stories. When she's not writing, Amanda loves spending time with her family in England and Perth and travelling to new places around the world. She also enjoys trying to teach her bonkers border collie, Toby, new tricks.For fun facts and information on Amanda's upcoming books, visit ajhugheschildrensbooks.com.

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Another World

Copyright © 2024 by A.J. Hughes

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-1-77941-186-0 (Hardcover)

978-1-77941-185-3 (Paperback)

978-1-77941-187-7 (eBook)

For Mum and all my family

Reviews

This book is an exciting original story full to the brim with humour, suspense and action. Cleverly crafted with a fascinating story line, intriguing characters and funny exchanges, this story is perfect for imaginative innovators. Elly Beurteaux, High School student, Western Australia

I read Another World to my kids each night before bed. They couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, it’s the only time I have ever seen them excited to go to bed! We’re all eager for the sequel - even me. - Michelle, age 42

A really cool and fun book, Sam is very relatable I think we would be friends! What an awesome combination of space and time travel, I can’t wait to go on their next adventure with them. - Jack, age 11

Such a clever and interesting story! I loved thinking about all the old costumes the children had to wear. I wish my school was like that! - Gracie, age 9

It was full of action and laughs.- Kassandra, year 4 student

I love the brave and adventurous characters, especially Peri! – Phoebe, year 4 student

It was fun and hooked me in, I couldn’t stop reading! – Tahlia, year 4 student

After beginning to read this story to my class, I had their immediate attention. They were so excited to see what happened next, and were enthralled by the direction of the story. Gasps of WHAT!! I didn’t think that would happen! could be heard and after breaking to continue lessons, I was begged to continue to read the story. Just one more chapter, please! It has become our favourite time of day to read the next instalment of this wonderful novel. Thank you. Primary Teacher, Western Australia

The children in my class really enjoyed reading this book. They quickly felt a connection to the characters and liked how they were constantly kept wondering what would happen next. It’s definitely a book that made us want to keep on reading. Jo Watkinson, Year 4 teacher, Western Australia

An engrossing read. Time and space intermingled with historical events, sibling rivalry and other-worldly travel agents – what more could you want? Likeable protagonists who learn to cope with more than the problem of ‘hat hair.’ I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book. Naomi Carter, Primary Teacher, UK.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1     Sam Hits the Post

Chapter 2     Lauren Drops an Egg

Chapter 3     Wizards, Dragons, and UFOs

Chapter 4     Maid of Air

Chapter 5     Angel of Death

Chapter 6     A New Power

Chapter 7     Discoveries

Chapter 8     Beam Us Up

Chapter 9     The Academy of Space Exploration

Chapter 10   Mr Beatty Goes Batty

Chapter 11   Living History

Chapter 12   Betrayal

Chapter 13   The Cushion Fight That Saved the World

Acknowledgements

About the Author

ONE

Sam Hits the Post

I t seemed like another ordinary day at Number 23 Beaufort Drive. Sam’s school day routine began with his usual predicament of trying to find the football sock he’d promised his mum he’d put in the wash. He was frantically rummaging under his bed, looking for it, when he banged his head on the empty sock drawer hanging out of the dresser. Predictably, he didn’t find the sock but uncovered an old cereal bowl instead. He seemed to have discovered four new types of mould on four different types of wholegrain that used to be Cheerios. He couldn’t get in the bathroom to check the wash basket for his sock because his annoying little sister was practising being annoying in there (that was the only possible explanation for someone spending more than 30 seconds near running water). Typical! As normal, Mum yelled for them to hurry up and get breakfast.

All in all, the day didn’t promise to be different to any of the others in Sam’s so far unremarkable eleven years on the planet Earth.

Sam’s epic quest in search of all the bits of his treasured football kit would have made Indiana Jones proud. Then he hunted down his French book that had mysteriously made its way to the downstairs toilet. He sprinted to the bus stop and casually joined the queue like he’d been there all the time, then pushed his way through to the last empty seat. On later reflection, that was the moment when Sam’s day, in fact, his life took a turn that was a long, long way from normal.

After stuffing his French book and lunch box into his bag, Sam sat halfway up and ran his hand through his mop of thick ash-brown hair. Then he noticed the bag next to his was brand new and neatly zipped up. He turned around to see its owner, a Japanese-looking boy wearing glasses and the familiar navy blue uniform. He seemed to be genuinely enjoying staring out the window as the green hedge of the English country lanes rushed by.

Hello, Sam said. Haven’t seen you before. Are you new?

Yes, I am. We arrived in Kent recently, said the boy quietly.

Thought so; your uniform looks new, and your bag’s a dead giveaway. Pleased with his amazing detective work, Sam introduced himself, My name’s Sam Black. What year are you in?

The boy looked puzzled, 2008. Strangely, he didn’t say Duh! and pull a stupid face.

Sam just laughed good-naturedly. He always gave new people the benefit of the doubt and said, No, I mean, which year group are you in at school?

Oh, I see, the boy said with an uncertain smile. I’m in year seven.

That’s great, so am I! Whose tutor group are you in?

The boy seemed pleased to get an easy question and turned to face Sam. Mrs Winter. I’m Ben, by the way.

Uh, Frosty Winter! Bad luck! Sam recoiled at the memory of a particularly tedious detention where he’d written out I must remember my homework a hundred times in his own handwriting. Then Frosty made him do it again so it didn’t look like a dying spider had crawled across the page.

Oh, she’s not too bad; this is my second week at Pleckhill High, and she’s been quite nice to me. Ben sensed this was not the right response and quickly added, But I’ve come very close to getting detention. Sam stopped looking at him like there was something wrong with him.

Where do you…? Sam didn’t get to finish the question before Ben answered as if he was taking some kind of test, Number 12 Sunningdale Way.

Cool, that’s just around the corner from me. Do you play soccer? Oh! Have you got a bike? I could show you around. Sam asked, accelerating to his usual high speed of talking.

Yes, that would be nice…

They were interrupted by the pneumatic hiss of the doors opening to the next lot of blue uniforms piling onto the school bus, which was now full. With someone’s bag in his face, conversation was difficult, and Sam’s mind wandered to the inter-school football match against archrivals Cromwell Comprehensive. It would be a tough match, and Sam was imagining how he would do the perfect sliding tackle on Jordan Bennett. Ben didn’t say anything until the bus pulled up at the lay-by in front of the school.

Good luck for the match tonight, he said.

Yeah, thanks, replied Sam without even glancing up; he was too busy jostling for position to get off the bus.

Sam was so convinced this was a normal day that he didn’t think there was anything strange at all about his first meeting with Ben. But then he could look in his wardrobe and swear blind that his clean shirt wasn’t in there…

The morning came and went, and fifty seconds after the lunchtime bell sounded, Sam was sitting on the steps outside B Block. His best mate, Ryan Penfold, peered into his lunch box. What you got today, then?

Cold roast beef, Sam replied with his mouthful.

You won’t be wanting to trade then. His friend looked down on a squashed ham sandwich.

Two minutes later, Ryan made a low buzzing noise. Sam glanced up from wiping the yoghurt that had exploded onto his trousers and asked, Where is he?

Incoming, eleven o’clock.

Stinger Beeston rounded the corner between C and D blocks right in front of them. Just then, Ben stepped out of D Block, squinting in the daylight, looking lost.

Oh, no, groaned Sam. He stood up, waved a frantic warning, and Ben stepped back into the door recess just in time.

Whoa! That was close!

Yeah, he was lucky not to get flattened. Who is he, d’you know him? asked Ryan.

Met him this morning; name’s Ben. Sam shoved his lunch box in his bag, which he then threw towards the wall. It joined all the others beneath a row of empty pegs.

They bounded down the steps three at a time towards Ben.

Hi, Ben. You had a close one there, mate. He’s one to steer clear of, said Sam, jerking his neck to the right. By the way, this is Ryan, he added, jerking his neck to the left.

Hi, the two boys said together. Suddenly, a high-pitched wail came from the covered walkway to their right. The wail was followed by laughter—the kind of mean and vicious laughter parents don’t expect to hear from their darling daughters. Sam and Ryan looked at each other and said simultaneously, Ashleigh!

Ashleigh Clayton-Smith was one of those girls who, at thirteen, already towered over her mother and her classmates, including the boys. She wasn’t fat, but she certainly wasn’t skinny. She wasn’t ugly, but she wasn’t pretty. In fact, she was average—just average at everything except being a bully. She excelled at that. She was clever enough to do it in such a way that all grown-ups could not believe a word said against her by anyone stupid enough to suggest she was being mean. She lived on Sam’s estate, so he had a lot of experience with her methods. Knowing exactly what to do, he marched to the covered walkway. Ashleigh had her back to him, arms stretched out like she was bracing the two corners of the walls, blocking the view of her cowering victim.

"Hey Trashleigh, what are you doing?" Sam demanded, with the authority of a teacher.

Ryan and Ben were close enough to look supportive of their friend but far enough away to be out of striking distance. It was like watching Steve Irwin poke a spitting cobra.

None of your business, Sam, came the reply through gritted teeth. As she turned around to scowl at him, she threw her arm back to stop her victim from running for it. Sam looked Ashleigh directly in the eye, then looked around her and said, You okay, Afra?

The terrified girl, clutching a sparkly pen topped with a Disney princess, looked at her captor and timidly nodded.

"That’s good because I’m sure ASHleigh wouldn’t want her mum to know… Sam knew that with the emphasis on ash," he wouldn’t need to finish the sentence.

Okay, okay, grumbled the girl, who seemed to have shrunk in the last few moments. She dropped her arm, and Afra fled.

Ashleigh barged past Sam sulkily. I’ll flatten you one day, Black.

You know you can’t! he called after her triumphantly and re-joined his friends.

Wow, that was great! Ryan slapped Sam on the back. You must have something good on her.

Ben agreed, Yes, I don’t think she wants her mum to know she’s been smoking cigarettes with… but before he could finish, his new friends interrupted, incredulous, How did you know?

Err, well, it was obvious when you said ‘ash’ like that, and anyway, she…err, smelled of cigarettes, he added hastily.

Hey, you’re smart, beamed Sam, giving Ben a friendly shove on his shoulder.

Yeah, added Ryan less enthusiastically. He was starting to feel like last year’s model. To remind Sam who his best friend was, he added, So, when are you going for your black belt, then? And then in a stage whisper to Ben, "He’s a black tip in Tae Kwon Do, which is why she can’t flatten him."

Dunno whether I’ll get put forward this time around; I’ll find out next week. You coming to the footy field?

Ben smiled to himself as he followed the others. Another tick in the box.

The grey cloud that had been rolling in ominously over the afternoon had completely covered the sky by 3 o’clock. It hung there, toying with those who wanted dry weather. Sure enough, at ten past three, the heavens opened.

"Ah! Quel domage! Il pleut!" Madame Jolie exclaimed theatrically as she scurried past, wrestling with a frilly pink umbrella.

"Yeah, plugh is right!" muttered Sam under his breath as he headed for the changing rooms.

By the time the match kicked off at 3.45 pm, the pitch was a mud bath. Cromwell Comp, as usual, took control of the game early, scoring a convincing goal in the first five minutes. Ten