Wendy Leighton-Porter
BOOKS by WENDY LEIGHTON-PORTER
SHADOWS OF THE PAST is a series of time-travel adventures, featuring three children and a rather special Tonkinese cat called Max. Wendy has also written some shorter books to accompany the series: In MAX'S ADVENTURES, Max the cat undertakes various special solo missions. SHADOWS OF THE PAST
was awarded the gold medal in the Children's Literary Classics Book Awards
2017, being named Best Middle Grade Series, while MAX'S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE
won a separate gold medal for Best Holiday Book.Wendy also won a gold and a silver medal in the 2018 Children's Literary Classics Awards
for THE SHADOW OF THE TUDOR ROSE. The same title was also awarded silver in the Nautilus Book Awards. A bronze medal for THE SHADOW OF THE VOLCANO
in the Readers' Favorite Book Awards 2019 is the most recent award to be added to her collection.
Her books have twice been shortlisted in the Rubery Book Awards.
"Author Wendy Leighton-Porter’s Shadows of the Past children’s series is an outstanding collection of books that would make an excellent addition to any home or school library. Written in an engaging style with characters that will have great appeal to young readers, this page-turning collection will be as enticing to avid book enthusiasts as it will be for reluctant readers."
CHILDREN'S LITERARY CLASSICS BOOK AWARDS 2017
"The Shadows Of The Past
series is perfect for a rainy day and a must-have for a child's shelves! The author writes her stories in such a way that children love reading them, yet, they aren't too immature for the older reader. These books are perfect for the advanced reader that feels most middle-grade books are beneath them. At the same time, the author keeps her stories simple to understand for the more average reader, so as to build confidence and encourage the child to expand their reading skills. These books are perfect for a child reluctant to learn history, myths, and legends, as the stories are so well written, they don't even know that they are learning. Even the explanations at the end of the book, separating fact from fiction is done in such an engaging manner, that it should whet the history appetite in even the most reluctant student. The author's characters are so real that the reader is drawn into the pages, standing beside Joe, Jemima, Charlie, and Max, fighting against/with historical, mythical and legendary beings. It really is like traveling through time to the past."
READERS' FAVORITE 2017
THE SHADOW OF
ATLANTIS
Three 10-year-old children, one Tonkinese cat, four golden owl charms, an old book, and a special key that unlocks the secrets of the Shadows of the Past.
The stage is set for a thrilling ride through the pages of history…
The stage is set for a thrilling ride through the pages of history…
THE SHADOW OF THE MINOTAUR
Ten-year-old twins Jemima and Joe Lancelot continue the search for their missing parents who are trapped somewhere in the past.
Together with best friend Charlie, and their talking cat Max, they are transported back in time to ancient Crete and the Palace of Knossos, where the fearsome Minotaur lurks in its labyrinth, feeding on human flesh.
Can they help Prince Theseus of Athens destroy the terrifying monster before it devours them all?
And will the children survive the storm that threatens to wreck their ship as they attempt to flee the island?
Together with best friend Charlie, and their talking cat Max, they are transported back in time to ancient Crete and the Palace of Knossos, where the fearsome Minotaur lurks in its labyrinth, feeding on human flesh.
Can they help Prince Theseus of Athens destroy the terrifying monster before it devours them all?
And will the children survive the storm that threatens to wreck their ship as they attempt to flee the island?
THE SHADOW OF THE TROJAN HORSE
The Trojan War is just a game for the gods and goddesses of ancient Greece, but it’s no laughing matter for Jemima and Joe Lancelot when they are transported back in time to Troy, slap-bang in the middle of the deadly conflict.
Still on the trail of their missing parents who are lost somewhere in the past, the twins, together with best friend Charlie and their talking cat Max, do all they can to prevent the destruction of the famous city.
Can the children persuade the Trojans to reject the Greeks’ gift of the Wooden Horse or will it prove impossible to change the course of history?
Still on the trail of their missing parents who are lost somewhere in the past, the twins, together with best friend Charlie and their talking cat Max, do all they can to prevent the destruction of the famous city.
Can the children persuade the Trojans to reject the Greeks’ gift of the Wooden Horse or will it prove impossible to change the course of history?
THE SHADOW OF THE PYRAMID
Max the talking Tonkinese cat is terrified of Egyptian mummies, so is understandably nervous when he’s transported back in time to ancient Egypt, along with his owners, twins Jemima and Joe Lancelot, and their friend Charlie.
As they continue their search for the twins’ missing parents who are trapped somewhere in the past, the young time-travellers arrive at the court of Tutankhamun where they uncover a plot to assassinate the young Pharaoh.
Can they save his life and will they make it safely back to their own time before the plotters discover their true identities?
As they continue their search for the twins’ missing parents who are trapped somewhere in the past, the young time-travellers arrive at the court of Tutankhamun where they uncover a plot to assassinate the young Pharaoh.
Can they save his life and will they make it safely back to their own time before the plotters discover their true identities?
THE SHADOW OF THE VOLCANO
The ancient Roman town of Pompeii lies in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, but its inhabitants are blissfully unaware of the deadly threat of the volcano that is about to devastate their lives.
Still on the hunt for their missing parents who are lost in the pages of history, twins Jemima and Joe Lancelot travel back into the past once again, along with best friend Charlie, and Max their talking Tonkinese cat.
When the children arrive in the middle of a slave auction in the Forum, they are shocked to find themselves being sold to the highest bidder. Trapped in the household of a wealthy Pompeian, how will they manage to escape before the town is buried by the erupting volcano?
Still on the hunt for their missing parents who are lost in the pages of history, twins Jemima and Joe Lancelot travel back into the past once again, along with best friend Charlie, and Max their talking Tonkinese cat.
When the children arrive in the middle of a slave auction in the Forum, they are shocked to find themselves being sold to the highest bidder. Trapped in the household of a wealthy Pompeian, how will they manage to escape before the town is buried by the erupting volcano?
THE SHADOW OF
CAMELOT
Did King Arthur really exist? Continuing the quest to find their missing parents who are trapped in the past, Joe and Jemima Lancelot uncover the truth behind the legend when they find themselves in Camelot.
Together with friend Charlie and their talking Tonkinese cat Max, the young time-travellers are plunged into yet another thrilling adventure.
Was the famous knight Lancelot related to the twins? Luckily, he seems to think so and is on hand to protect them when danger threatens.
Meanwhile, Max has a mystery of his own to solve. Will he finally discover why Midnight has been haunting his dreams?
Together with friend Charlie and their talking Tonkinese cat Max, the young time-travellers are plunged into yet another thrilling adventure.
Was the famous knight Lancelot related to the twins? Luckily, he seems to think so and is on hand to protect them when danger threatens.
Meanwhile, Max has a mystery of his own to solve. Will he finally discover why Midnight has been haunting his dreams?
THE SHADOW OF THE NORMAN ARROW
The Battle of Hastings will soon be fought on English soil. King Harold knows the Normans are coming, but first he must head up north to fight the Vikings. Who will come to his aid?
Taking another trip back in time as they continue the quest to find their missing parents, twins Joe and Jemima Lancelot find themselves in the year 1066, together with their best friend Charlie, and Max the talking Tonkinese cat.
Many dangerous adventures await them during a hazardous journey across the country to help the king repel the invaders. Will they manage to change the course of history or will Harold fail to heed their advice?
Taking another trip back in time as they continue the quest to find their missing parents, twins Joe and Jemima Lancelot find themselves in the year 1066, together with their best friend Charlie, and Max the talking Tonkinese cat.
Many dangerous adventures await them during a hazardous journey across the country to help the king repel the invaders. Will they manage to change the course of history or will Harold fail to heed their advice?
THE SHADOW OF THE
TWO PRINCES
Uncle Richard is kind and caring... well, Joe and Jemima Lancelot certainly think so, but it's a different matter altogether for the two young princes imprisoned in the Tower of London – their Uncle Richard isn’t a nice man at all.
When the Lancelot twins travel back in time to the year 1483, they have a difficult task on their hands. Together with best friend Charlie and their talking cat Max, they know they must rescue the princes from certain death at the hands of their wicked uncle – none other than the infamous villain, King Richard III. Is this a task too far for the intrepid foursome? Will their mission succeed or must they risk their own lives to save the two boys?
When the Lancelot twins travel back in time to the year 1483, they have a difficult task on their hands. Together with best friend Charlie and their talking cat Max, they know they must rescue the princes from certain death at the hands of their wicked uncle – none other than the infamous villain, King Richard III. Is this a task too far for the intrepid foursome? Will their mission succeed or must they risk their own lives to save the two boys?
THE SHADOW OF THE
TUDOR ROSE
In 1588, a plot to invade England and overthrow Queen Elizabeth the First is about to unfold. At this crucial moment in English history, four visitors from the future arrive in Elizabethan London. Twins Joe and Jemima Lancelot, together with friend Charlie and their talking cat Max, embark upon their ninth journey into the past as they continue the search for their missing parents who are lost somewhere in the mists of time.
Finding themselves tangled in a web of conspiracy, can the young time-travellers solve the mystery of the Tudor Rose?
Finding themselves tangled in a web of conspiracy, can the young time-travellers solve the mystery of the Tudor Rose?
MAX'S ARABIAN ADVENTURE
In this spin-off adventure from the SHADOWS OF THE PAST series, Max the talking Tonkinese cat goes on a solo mission without his usual time-travelling companions. Snatched from the house where he lives with eleven-year-old twins Joe and Jemima Lancelot, Max is dragged back into the past by an evil magician who has lined him up to perform a special task.
Torn away from all he holds dear, the despondent cat fears he may never be able to return to the present and his beloved owner, Jemima. What will become of him? Will he make it back or will he be condemned to remain forever in a distant time and place, far from home?
Torn away from all he holds dear, the despondent cat fears he may never be able to return to the present and his beloved owner, Jemima. What will become of him? Will he make it back or will he be condemned to remain forever in a distant time and place, far from home?
MAX'S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE
A second solo adventure awaits Max the time-travelling Tonkinese cat in this Christmas short story. Invited to accompany a well-known figure on a whirlwind trip into the past, he sets off on a journey to search for something very precious to Joe and Jemima Lancelot - their missing parents. The hunt reveals tantalising clues to this mystery and ends with a special surprise for the twins.
MAX'S MIDNIGHT ADVENTURE
Max the talking Tonkinese cat has a third solo adventure in this seasonal short story.
What happens when the feline hero is trapped in the attic one night?
Will he escape the clutches of the Christmas fairy, a regiment of soldiers and three obstreperous French hens in time to enjoy a holiday with his family?
One thing’s for sure, the Twelve Days of Christmas will never seem quite the same again …
What happens when the feline hero is trapped in the attic one night?
Will he escape the clutches of the Christmas fairy, a regiment of soldiers and three obstreperous French hens in time to enjoy a holiday with his family?
One thing’s for sure, the Twelve Days of Christmas will never seem quite the same again …
MAX'S UNDERCOVER ADVENTURE
Max the talking Tonkinese cat has his fourth solo adventure in this spin-off short story to accompany the Shadows of the Past series.
Max is snatched from his home in the middle of the night and spirited away to a secret location. There, in the company of other animals, he is put through exhausting physical exercises and tough endurance tests – a true nightmare for the comfort-loving cat. But who are the shadowy figures in charge and why has he been taken to their training camp? Will Max discover the truth about his mysterious undercover adventure?
Max is snatched from his home in the middle of the night and spirited away to a secret location. There, in the company of other animals, he is put through exhausting physical exercises and tough endurance tests – a true nightmare for the comfort-loving cat. But who are the shadowy figures in charge and why has he been taken to their training camp? Will Max discover the truth about his mysterious undercover adventure?
MAX'S HALLOWE'EN ADVENTURE
In his fifth solo mini-adventure, Max the talking Tonkinese cat, the feline hero of the SHADOWS OF THE PAST series travels back in time to the mid-seventeenth century. He doesn’t understand how this has happened until he recognises his surroundings and realises it isn't the first time he’s been to this place. Why has he been brought to this tumbledown cottage in the middle of nowhere? All is about to be revealed…
THE SHADOW OF THE WITCHFINDER
In
17th century Essex, at a time when most people believed in witchcraft, the name Matthew Hopkins was enough to strike fear into the heart of many a woman who lived alone with only a pet cat for company… for Hopkins was the Witchfinder General.
The 10th book in the Shadows of the Past series takes the time-travelling foursome back to the year 1646. It isn’t Max’s first visit to the village of Mistley Thorn, but this time his friends Jemima, Joe and Charlie are by his side.Their mission is to bring an end to Hopkins’ campaign of terror. Will they succeed, or might this prove to be their most dangerous challenge yet?
MAX'S ROYAL
ADVENTURE
The
rightful King of England is on the run. With a price on his head and in fear for his life, Charles Stuart is desperate to escape his pursuers, the Parliamentarians who executed his father. A rich reward has been offered for his capture and everyone is on the lookout for the young man. Nowhere is safe. How will he ever manage to flee the country without help?
Never fear – the Guardians of Time have a Special Agent lined up for the job … but he just so happens to be a cat!
THE SHADOW OF THE GREAT FIRE
In 1666, as London recovers from a deadly plague, the old medieval city with its narrow streets has become a tinderbox. After a long, hot summer, a small spark is all it takes for the whole place to go up in flames – but is this a simple accident or a deliberate act of sabotage?
Towards the end of August, days before the Great Fire is due to break out, three time-travelling children and their talking cat land on the doorstep of one of the most famous figures of the 17th century. Can they discover why they’ve been sent there before it’s too late? Time is running out…
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08F499JCP
Wendy is currently working on book number 18 in the series - The Shadow of the Slave Ship.
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