The Brain Sucker Read online

  Oh, well, the boy thought. If he does resurface, we’ll just have to stop him again. With the help of his friends he could do anything. As Callum drifted off to sleep, he was thankful to be safely home, but most of all he was thankful for being able to be thankful.

  Acknowledgements

  A great number of people assisted in bringing this book to print, so if you don’t like it, they’re to blame.

  Firstly, my reading guinea pigs – Kerrie, Dave, Jackson, Marcus, Lachie and Ella, all enthusiastic Brain Sucker fans; also Alix, Struan, East and Hale; plus Matt and Mckenzie Bolland – your feedback was brilliant. Cheers Jules for the proofread.

  Thanks to Luke who helped me work out the mechanics of the slapping spoon. And to author Brian Falkner, who doesn’t know me from a bar of soap, but has been extremely generous with his time and support.

  Huge thanks to Mike Spindle, the managing director and inventor of the Trekinetic All Terrain wheelchair, which was a major inspiration for the Thunderkit. I love Mike’s philosophy of creating a functional, quality product that also looks cool. The Thunderkit is a mix of several designs and the result is purely fictional, especially once Sophie has finished with it.

  Now to the publishing professionals. My assessors – Barbara Else and Jill Marshall, your insights really helped me hone my manuscript. Then, of course, my amazingly patient agent – Barbara Mobbs; how you didn’t give up on me in the first few months is nothing short of a miracle. Your advice and counsel have been invaluable.

  And most importantly thanks to everyone at Walker Books in Sydney, who have been an incredibly enthusiastic and professional team. Special mention to Sarah Foster for her support and encouragement (and for deciding to take a risk on me) and to Jess Owen, my editor, who has been, quite simply, awesome.

  Finally, well done, Glenn; it took a while, but you got there. Apologies to anyone I’ve forgotten.

  About the author

  Glenn Wood grew up in New Plymouth, New Zealand. After he left school he went straight into the police force. He was something of a disaster as a policeman and his less than illustrious career spawned his first two books. Glenn found he was much more suited to being an advertising copywriter and has since won numerous national and international awards for his work. He currently works as a freelance writer for many of New Zealand’s top advertising agencies.

  Published in 2012

  by Walker Books Australia Pty Ltd

  Locked Bag 22, Newtown

  NSW 2042 Australia

  www.walkerbooks.com.au

  This ebook edition published in 2014

  The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

  Text © 2012 Glenn Wood

  Jacket/Cover Illustration © 2012 Craig Phillips

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise – without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry:

  Wood, Glenn, author.

  The brain sucker / Glenn Wood.

  For primary school age.

  NZ823.4

  ISBN: 978-1-925081-21-3 (ePub)

  ISBN: 978-1-925081-20-6 (e-PDF)

  ISBN: 978-1-925081-22-0 (.PRC)

  To my wife Eula, for being my sounding‐board, rock and financier;

  and to Devon, my daughter/creative consultant (unpaid).