Kid Normal and the Rogue Heroes

by Greg James

  The Banshee whirred into life and rose into the air. For a second it hovered over the sunlit garden. Then, leaving a delicate vapour trail of different shades of blue in its wake, it shot up over the roof of the cottage and away.

  THANKS …

  First of all, thanks to YOU for reading our story. Now go and write your own!

  We’d also like to send a massive huzzah to the matchless Stephanie Thwaites, and an entire cask full of awe to the peerless Hannah Sandford. Love and lamingtons to all our other friends at Bloomsbury, especially Rebecca, Ian, Emma, Charlotte, Andrea and that bloke on reception.

  Abrazos muy fuertes to Erica and her magic pencils. You brought Murph’s world to life and you’re truly amazing.

  We of course also send peace and love to the Podcast family.

  And thanks to Michael Palin for being Michael Palin.

  GREG WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY:

  Hello! Thank you to my friends and family for your support and excitement. Having you alongside me on this extraordinary adventure is the best. To my incredibly talented and creative Radio 1 team, thank you for always encouraging me to be as silly as possible. And finally to Bella – thank you for making every day at least 100 times better. I love you.

  AND FROM CHRIS:

  First and foremost, thanks to Jenny and LJ. Without you it’s a waste of time. Thanks to all my brilliant friends, to the British Library, Primrose Hill Community Library and indeed all libraries ever.

  CHRIS SMITH grew up on his uncle’s isolated farm, but his life changed forever the day they bought two robots … No, wait, that’s Luke Skywalker. Chris is an award-winning broadcaster and journalist, best known for presenting Newsbeat on BBC Radio 1 and starring as a stone in the Park Infant School Christmas play of 1979. In his spare time he writes books. And if there’s any time left over after that he spends it lying quietly in a darkened room. Chris lives in North London with his wife, their son and a cat called Mabel, who loves soup.

  GREG JAMES is the host of BBC Radio 1’s award-winning Drivetime show, which spawned the That’s What He Said podcast that he and Chris mess about on every week. He also presents Sounds Like Friday Night on BBC One, and is in charge of the UK’s Official Chart every Friday on the radio. In his spare time he likes to watch cricket with his dad. Greg also lives in North London, but has no wife or cat to speak of. However, he does have a girlfriend, whose dog he uses for Instagram likes. Greg doesn’t know whether Bonnie likes soup, but that gives him an idea ...

  FIND OUT HOW IT ALL BEGAN …

  Bloomsbury Publishing, London, Oxford, New York, New Delhi and Sydney

  First published in Great Britain in March 2018 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 50 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3DP

  www.bloomsbury.com

  This electronic edition published in 2018 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

  BLOOMSBURY is a registered trademark of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

  Text copyright © Greg Milward and Chris Smith 2018

  Illustrations copyright © Erica Salcedo 2018

  The moral rights of the authors and illustrator have been asserted

  All rights reserved

  You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  Pages 171–172 – Frozen joke (parody fair dealing/use) – FROZEN® is a registered trademark of Disney Enterprises Inc. Princess Elsa and other Disney Frozen characters © 2013 the Walt Disney Company

  All rights reserved

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN: 978-1-4088-8455-3 (PB)

  ISBN: 978-1-4088-8454-6 (eBook)

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