Stormwalker by Mike Revell

Quercus Children's Books, 2016. ISBN 9781784290696
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. A year ago, Owen lost his mum. He has tried hard to get on with his life but his dad is still struggling. After an argument, Owen's dad agrees to go to counselling and starts to write again. All of a sudden, Owen's reflection is different and during a moment in class Owen sees a dead world around him. After a run in with a bike, Owen finds himself running from the Darkness and running for his life. The world is different, he looks different and everyone is calling him Jack. What is going on? Owen has Jack's memories but he also remembers his life as Owen. As Owen settles into this new life, he has a crazy idea. Is he part of his dad's story? How will he get back to his own world? Can he help save the lives of his new friends? Will Owen's dad realise what he has done?
Storm Walker tackles loss, recovery, adventure and change. The descriptive text is easy to read and follow as Owen skips between make believe and reality. The story moves quickly, keeping the readers on the edge of their seats and it is highly recommended for boys aged 10+. The topic of loss is discussed sensitively but also shows the strength a child can have despite such a great loss.
Kylie Kempster