The Clockwork Friend

by Steven Butler

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Book cover for The Clockwork Friend

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Sometimes being unusual is awesome!
The people of Middleditch have been keeping a suspicious eye on
the Garlics.


Marguerite Garlic is an ex-opera singer from the big city, her
father, Percival, is a jazz musician, and her son, Archibald, is...
is... different.


When Archibald inherits a dented old trumpet, a love of music
is born in the unusual boy. He discovers that when he plays, he can
see the music. Each note has a colour and a pattern, kaleidoscopic
in its beauty. But complaints come from all over the town about
Archibald’s incessant trumpeting. It's too jazzy! I'ts
too noisy! It's too TRUMPETY!


Seeking a place to practice his trumpet in peace, Archibald sneaks
into the town clocktower and builds himself a den. It is here
that he builds his masterpiece... A one-man band to wear on his
back. It's perfect!


But a twist of fate comes when a lightning storm rumbles-up over
Middleditch and Archibald's clocktower is struck by lightning
and... and... the one-man band he'd been intending to wear on his
back, comes to life. Cogs...


From the author of The Nothing To See Here Hotel series
and Humbug: The Elf Who Saved Christmas - Steven Butler is one
of our best loved storytellers. 





Perfect for fans of Wall-E and The Boy Who Made
Everyone Laugh. 

A gentle nod to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. 


A story about friendship, othering and synaesthesia.
  • ISBN13 9780702316081
  • Publish Date 11 September 2025
  • Publish Status Forthcoming
  • Publish Country GB
  • Imprint Scholastic
  • Format Paperback
  • Pages 224
  • Language English