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Black Powder

Book Synopsis

A rip-roaring historical adventure set at the time of the Guy Fawkes’ Gunpowder Plot – winner of the Historical Association Young Quills Award! England, 1605: 12-year-old Tom must save his father from hanging.

He falls in with a mysterious stranger – the Falcon – who promises to help him in exchange for his service.

But on the long journey to London, Tom discovers the Falcon’s true mission – and a plot to blow up Parliament with barrels of black powder.

Tom faces a terrible decision: secure his father’s release, or stop the assassination of the king …

A rip-roaring, action-packed life-and-death quest, packed with history and adventure

Set at the time of the Gunpowder Plot and featuring Guy Fawkes – perfect for Bonfire Night and beyond

Ideal for readers aged nine and up

Our Review Panel says...

An action-packed historical adventure that transports the reader back to England at the time of the Gunpowder Plot. Black Powder tells the story of a boy called Tom, who finds himself at the service of an intriguing stranger called ‘The Falcon’. The stranger seems to be the only person who can help Tom to save his father from being hanged, but as Tom journeys towards London he discovers that the Falcon has his own, somewhat explosive, mission in mind. Suddenly Tom is faced with the choice of freeing his father or saving the king from an assassination plot. This gripping adventure will capture imaginations and is likely to resonate with anybody who has ever felt like knowing which people and beliefs to trust can sometimes be extremely difficult.

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Crime and Punishment Topic

Black Powder: Chapter-by-Chapter Notes

A pack provided by the publisher – with chapter-by-chapter guidance, including comprehension questions, writing opportunities and cross-curricular ideas.