Coffee house Caffè Nero has announced the 16-strong shortlist for the inaugural Nero Book Awards, recognising the outstanding books of the past 12... Thank you to the publishers for this early review copy from Jenny and Sam, I would love to have been a witness to these guys writing this book!

THE UNDERPANTS OF CHAOS is first in the Tuchus and Topps series co-written with superstar author Jenny Pearson. Jenny and I write alternate chapters in this series, so you can play a fun game and decide who the better author is! (Hint: it’s me. I’m the better author.) Sam:It is remarkable that in two books we haven’t had a single disagreement. And likewise, I trust Jenny completely to allow me to have full and total creative control.Obviously full of laughs, well let’s be honest with these two authors writing it would be rather disappointing if you weren’t crying with laughter. Het raadsel van de boosaardige onderbroeken is een mysterieus en spannend verhaal waarbij de jeugdige lezer zijn vingers kan aflikken. Humor, spannende en ook hilarische situaties worden beeldend omschreven en samen met Lenny en Agatha gaan ze op zoek naar de reden van de RILLINGEN. Wat hebben meneer Pardon, Dr. Errno en mevr. Wortelbips er mee te maken? En zullen ze erachter komen hoe het zit? Jenny:We write a chapter each and then edit each other’s chapters as we go. We’ll plan a little bit before we start and meet over Zoom at regular intervals. We’ll also both go over the final draft several times and chat about that once it’s done. I loved how both of them thought the other was an assistant. Didn’t speak it out loud.. well until the end. Oh Lenny, you shouldn’t have said that. There must be some inevitable creative disagreements – surely? Any funny writing quirks you’ve discovered about each other?

Author Anna Kemp introduces The Hollow Hills, the sequel to her dark magical tale, Into Goblyn Wood. Jenny: Tuchus and Topps investigate is a funny series that follows Agatha Topps and her hapless assistant, Lenny Tuchus. The first book, The Underpants of Chaosis based upon Sam Copeland’s very own underpants. (Part of what I have said may be a lie). The ending was exciting, fun, but I also foresee some trouble on the horizon given that last illustration. Het raadsel van de boosaardige onderbroeken is geschreven door Sam Copeland (die je misschien kent van Kasper wordt een kip) en Jenny Pearson (Razende recordbrekers). Een samenwerking tussen twee auteurs die samen dit soms hilarische verhaal over boosaardige onderbroeken hebben geschreven. The story follows Agatha and Lenny who choose to investigate a strange happening in the school where shivers and strange things keep happening. We get to see each of their perspectives through alternating chapters and discover the reason for these strange events.

Customer reviews

Therefore, at what conclusions might they arrive? What truths are revealed by the Book of Chaos? Could Gregor, the gargoyle add any light to the story, or might he just doubt either of their accounts? Furthermore, what danger might Agatha and Lenny be putting themselves into, as they continue their research? After all, there are Transylvanian gargoyles out there, at the very least! Spy-detective Agatha Topps is determined to find out. She’s the only person who doesn’t forget the Strangeness as soon as it’s over. At least, until new boy Lenny Tuchus turns up and remembers too.

Sam:Jenny already told you what it’s about because she gets to answer first and give all the easy answers. Ask a difficult question like ‘What’s the capital of Togo?’ and guaranteed I’ll be the one who has to answer it first. In turn, Agatha and Lenny narrate their first detective case in alternating chapters throughout The Underpants of Chaos. At times, each disputes the other’s recall. What’s more, each has their own illustrator to describe their story. Yet, not only are they drawn together through the fact they alone remember the Shiver and then the Strangeness, but also, because they are lonely. While Lenny is new to Little Strangehaven Primary School and dealing with a negligent father, Agatha’s coping with the arrival of twin siblings, and in need of sleep! Spy-detective Agatha Topps is determined to find out. She's the only person who doesn't forget the Strangeness as soon as it's over. At least, until new boy Lenny Tuchus turns up and remembers too. Jenny:As I said earlier, it’s all about approaching him the right way and letting him think he came up with an idea! I was absolutely HYPED when I saw that Sam Copeland was writing a new series! I just LOVE LOVE his books, he is one of my auto-buy authors. This book sounded hilarious and fun and I loved that he co-wrote it and that we also got two illustrators instead of one!Jenny:Sam might find it easy because he doesn’t have to go through the soul-destroying task of editing his chapters. We have had many a Zoom meeting when we’ve hit a difficult moment in the story. Countless times, I have had to sit in silence, watching Sam whilst he lies on his sofa, massages his temples and enters his mind palace to come up with a solution. Heel leuk is ook dat er veel illustraties in het boek staan, die alles nog wat levendiger maken. Die werden getekend door Robin Boyden en Katie Kear. Curriculum links: friendship, family life, separation, loneliness, perseverance, kindness, hope and determination.

The Underpants of Chaos is a book I was intrigued to read as I've loved all of Sam's books in the past and I was interested in how this book would be with him having paired up with another author who I had not read before. Het raadsel van de boosaardige onderbroeken van Sam Copeland en Jenny Pearson is een echte aanrader voor alle jongeren én hun ouders die houden van een spannend, grappig verhaal. I should have realised that there was going to be something SERIOUSLY weird about a town called Little STRANGEhaven."

Publisher

Wie de boeken van Sam Copeland over Kasper gelezen heeft, weet dat je soms nogal moet zoeken naar de zaken die in de titel vermeld worden. Maar jawel hoor, in dit boek komen op een bepaald moment echt boosaardige onderbroeken voor!