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Released: 28/11/2020

ISBN: 9781800460751
eISBN: 9781800468184
aISBN: N/A

Format: Paperback/eBook/Audio Book

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The Girl in the Mirror

Horla's Visit

by James Walker

When Horla’s best friend Carar moves to another town, she wishes for a new friend, one that comes from a parallel world to Ivarnio, a parallel world where she becomes invisible and has special powers... A parallel world called Earth.

On Earth, Lucy sits sad and lonely in her bedroom, having waved off her own best friend Eleanor for a new life in Liverpool. Suddenly, Horla’s face appears in Lucy’s dressing table mirror, and quickly a unique friendship is formed.

Getting up to all kinds of mischief that baffles children and adults alike, together they are the perfect pair. That is, until, Eleanor says she misses Lucy terribly and begs to see her. Soaring up into the sky, Horla and Lucy set off on an adventure to meet her, and when Horla tries to help her make new friends, Eleanor is set the challenge of carrying out a very dangerous rescue; a rescue no other child would ever dare to attempt...

Author news

The second book in the series, The Girl in the Mirror: Isobel's Dream is scheduled for release autumn 2022.

Book Reviews

I’m loving this book so far! I’m half way through and I’ve laughed out loud more times than I can count! Lovely first book. I hope there’s gonna be another one!

by Michaela Fowler

I purchased this book to give as a Christmas present, and thought I would flip through it to make sure it was suitable, but ended up reading the whole book.

Good story, really funny in places : a mix of adventure, humour ( some subtle, some slapstick), with well-drawn characters and an underlying theme of ‘doing the right thing’.

It is also an attractive book, printed on good quality paper with a decent- sized print and distinctive chapter headings.

Thoroughly recommend this book.

by Mrs. A

What could be better than having a best friend that does good deeds with her magical powers? 'The Girl in the Mirror' is a 'cracker-doo-doos' read! Would highly recommend!

by Kenny Chapman

What an absolutely fantastic book. I highly recommend for all the family. Once I started reading I couldn't put it down. What a brilliant read!

by Rachel Bryan

I have read “The girl in the mirror” and I found this children’s book very well written, funny and an excellent read from beginning to end.

by Mrs C

I received this book as a Christmas present and I was hooked from start to finish. It’s a lovely and funny story which is beautifully written. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone.

by Ella C

Got this book for my daughter for Christmas, it was sooo much fun. Perfect for a 9 year old girl. The fact that it was only recently written gave it even more credibility and it was really easy for my daughter to relate to. The language used kept us entertained from start to end. We can't wait for the second one to come out!

by LV

I bought this at Christmas and found it very enjoyable. I was very excited to see what happened next and in fact I had read the book in two sittings. I look forward to the sequel and would recommend this book to anyone

by Christine Grant

Excellent book! My Granddaughter and I enjoyed this so much. The quality of the book, the illustrations, the fun element, altogether a great book by a first time author. Looking forward to the next!

by Mrs A D

This was a Christmas present for my daughter, 10. We read it together, and both laughed out loud a lot! It was perfect for her age and she could relate to many of the circumstances - highly recommended.

by Michelle Roberts

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 February 2021
My daughter and I loved this book. She found lots of it very funny! 100% recommend

by Nicola Fitzgerald

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 February 2021

A very well written book.

It's a well known fact that unknown authors get a raw deal! However this book deserves to do well. It's a well written book; with a good plot, and an interesting display of imagination. The author has done a good job with it.
I would recommend it; it will give David Walliams a run for his money.

by Peter Montgomery

Excellent story, I can see this book as a TV show, can't wait for the next book. Instantly draws you in. Definitely on my favourite authors list. Highly recommended.

by Mr George Stanley

I bought two of these books for both my grandaughters aged 9 and 12 as a stocking filler for Christmas. I forgot about them till I was talking to them the other day about a children’s film they were watching when all of a sudden the youngest said it reminded her a bit of that book I bought her for Christmas. I asked them both what they thought about it and they told me they loved it! It was funny and they really enjoyed it. I’m waiting for the sequel for the next stocking filler.

by PAULINE Bonner

Excellent! Loved reading this so far - only halfway through, but the humour is brilliant, and i love all the Liverpool references. Thanks

by Wendy Murray

My Daughter absolutely loved this book and can't wait for the next one to arrive.

by Jennifer Emery

Had the pleasure of meeting James last month. Bought this book for my 8year old daughter and she absolutely loved it, she couldn't put it down. Highly recommended

by Dominic Davidson

'The Girl in the Mirror' is a fantastic and funny book from beginning to end. I would highly recommend to anyone of any age!

by M Jones

About the Author

James Walker

I am a retired engineer and spent the early part of my career as a patternmaker, making models (patterns) in wood used to make castings of, amongst other things, propellers for the shipbuilding industry. I spent the latter part of my career supervising the building of aircraft undercarriages, most notably for the Hawk aircraft as flown by the Red Arrows.

I was brought up in the Scotland Road area of Liverpool, known, unjustifiably I always thought, for being tough, where the police walked round in twos, and where there was a pub was on every corner. I spent part of my early childhood chopping wood from houses bombed during the Second World War to sell as firewood, the money being used to buy comics which I loved reading. Amongst them were the Eagle, the Victor, Superman, and the very scary Frankenstein. Secret documents have since revealed that the Government were considering banning Frankenstein because of its horror and violence, something I really enjoyed, even though it did keep me awake at night as I read with my torch beneath the blankets, my parents thinking I was fast asleep.

In my teens, The Beatles put Liverpool on the map with their music. A near neighbour, (and second cousin), was becoming a famous pop star, too, and would go on to grace British television screens for decades. I did attempt to follow in her footsteps but, by the time I did, it wasn't enough to simply come from Liverpool to be noticed, and was told by the London record producer listening to my demo tape to go home, write some original material, and come back and see him.

Sadly I never did get round to writing that hit song, or anything else for that matter, until recently that is, when I decided to write The Girl in the Mirror: Horla's Visit for my grandchildren. To my joy they really liked it and urged me to write another. Well, how can an old grandad refuse? And I'm glad they did like it because I've become rather attached to the main character, Horla, and wonder what magical things she's going to get up to next. 'Always try to help people, persuade them to do what is right, and if you can teach a bully a lesson along the way, then that's even better,' seems to be her motto... now that's not a bad rule for children to follow, is it?

A keen runner and fell-walker, when not engrossed in family life or my new passion for writing, I like nothing better than to walk in the mountains of Snowdonia, the Lake District, and the Glen Coe area of Scotland.