The 7 Professors of the Far North   by John Fardell Faber and Faber, 2004, 216 pages, ISBN 0571221556

How easy was it to get stuck into this book?
This book follows three young people, Zara, Sam and Ben, as they attempt to find their Uncle and friends after their kidnapping. It leads them onto an icy adventure in the north pole, with lots of action and excitement. However, it is better suited for younger readers.

Who are the main characters?
The main characters are Sam, Zara and Ben, who are spending their holidays together with Zara and Ben's Uncle Alexander in Edinburgh. Other important characters in the book are professor Murdo, an eccentric and power crazed professor who is obsessed with genetic engineering, Marcia Slick, who has been subjected to a course of treatment by her parents, but never wanted it and 5 other academics, friends of Alexander, who are kidnapped along with him.

What's the storyline?
The story goes that Alexander and his 5 professors, along with professor Murdo, set up a research facility and university upon the isolated and hard to reach island of Nordbergen, in the Arctic sea. However, soon Murdo's ambition got the better of him, and he left all the other professors stranded when they refused to cooperate with him. Many years later, he now kidnaps the other 6 professors and takes them to his secret hideaway. It is up to Zara, Sam and Ben to find them before it is too late.

How's it written?
Probably better suited for younger readers, and to me some of the aspects of the book seemed a little unoriginal.

Other books by the same author that Tim knows about?

The overall verdict is
Well worth a look

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