Puzzle Train

The main character, 11-year-old TOM TREADWELL, is obsessed with a wildly successful adult TV quiz show, the PUZZLE TRAIN, where teams of 6 contestants move from carriage to carriage solving difficult puzzles using clues, while racing against the clock.

Tom watches every show, cheering the contestants on and getting frustrated when they take too long to solve clues. He and his best friend ISABELLE message each other constantly to discuss the clues and the contestants' progress or lack of! In nearly five hundred episodes, no team has ever won.

Tom is close to his mother TRUDI and his beloved GRAN, both of whom are fans of the show, but has a deep dislike and mistrust of his stepfather figure, PHIL. Phil's fanatical hatred of the Puzzle Train and Tom's hero, the brains behind the show THE CONDUCTOR seems to be out of all proportion. The Conductor's face is never shown, appearing only as a silhouette which fuels Tom's interest. Phil constantly berates Tom about his lack of interest in his schoolwork and his clumsiness at sport. But most of all, he lashes out at Tom for his obsession with the Puzzle Train.

STATION MASTER MARVIN is the charismatic, colourful host of the show. When he announces there is going to be a special, first-ever children's version of The Puzzle Train, Tom tries to apply but is initially thwarted by Phil who almost succeeds in depriving Tom of his chance through almost desperate delaying tactics, including an alliance with MR GRIFFON, Tom's bad-tempered history teacher.

A frustrated and despondent Tom is elated when Isabelle comes to his rescue and both qualify to take part on the show.

Tom is thrilled to be driven in a limousine to the station where he meets his fellow contestants HARVEY, HOLLY, SHAUN and GEORGE.

And of course, ISABELLE. Poor clumsy George injures himself during the filming of the introduction so only five children enter the train.

The level of difficulty of the puzzles is the same as the adult show.

The reader is privy to the clues and the puzzles, in addition to puzzles just for the reader, which makes the interaction a shared experience.

Tom is initially shy and reluctant to speak up. His confidence in himself grows as he realizes he can identify traps and help solve the puzzles. He befriends Shaun, a reluctant participant and encourages him through the carriages.

In carriage five, disaster strikes when Harvey and Holly are trapped in cages which seem to drop down from nowhere and lift again to disappear without a trace. Only Tom, Isabelle and Shaun progress to the final carriage.

Isabelle manages to complete puzzle six first and Shaun, unaware of the bonus station puzzle, sacrifices himself so Tom can complete the sixth puzzle on the train.

In the station puzzle, Tom and Isabelle solve most of the clues, but with time running out, Isabelle, in desperation, falls into a trap. Frustrated, she helps Tom to complete the puzzle from the cage, which Tom does with seconds to spare.

Tom goes on to become the game's first-ever winner and - apart from winning the huge prize - he finally comes face to face with The Conductor. He tries to get answers to the questions that have plagued him ever since the first show, but The Conductor is not forthcoming. Instead, he suggests Tom takes on the challenge of his next project, PUZZLE ISLAND.

Dettagli