Elemental Heroes: Hydrogen Showdown
By Chrissy Metge and Karen McMillan
About the Book
Queen Gold has requested help from the world leaders to stop the unrest that is happening in Elemental Land. Twins Sophie and Joey are chosen for this mission that will take them into the dangerous world where the elements, such as gold, iron, neon and sulphur, live.
Hydro, the leader of the hydrogens, wants to invade the human world to blow things up. The hydrogens love to blow themselves up in Elemental Land, and they can do this over and over. Can Sophie and Joey stop Hydro’s dastardly plans for humanity? Joey has the knowledge, Sophie has impressive powers of deduction, and their sword-fighting skills are exceptional. But will this be enough against exploding hydrogens?
An action-packed, imaginative read that brings the world of everyday elements wonderfully to life! Perfect for children 7 to 12 years.
Chrissy Metge is an Annie Award nominated producer and has been in the animation film and TV industry for 20 years, her love for children, storytelling and animation means it was natural for her to develop her own stories.
Her screen credits include Entergalactic (Emmy Award Nominee), Rons Gone Wrong, the Oscar-Winning Jungle Book 2016, Alvin and The Chipmunks Roadchip, The Hobbit Trilogy, IronMan 3, Fast and Furious 7, Hunger Games, Superman Man of Steel, Legend of the Guardians, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Gary of the Pacific, Animalia TV Series. The WotWots TV Series, Bro Town TV Series. Chrissy is also the author of the Max and His Big Imagination series, and Amy’s Dreaming Adventures.
Karen McMillan is the author of 23 diverse books, from bestselling novels, The Paris of the East, The Paris of the West, Brushstrokes of Memory and Turbulent Threads, to non-fiction books that inspire and help others: Everyday Strength and Unbreakable Spirit, and now the Elastic Island Adventures and Elemental Heroes series for children.
Karen was the resident book reviewer on The Café TV3 for two years and is regularly featured in New Zealand media.
Elemental Heroes: Hydrogen Showdown is an action-adventure fantasy story told with lots of humour. The books are an engaging way for children to learn about the elements of the periodic table. In this book, children will learn about gold, iron, and hydrogen as human twins Sophie and Joey enter Elemental Land from Greenland to stop the unrest there from spilling over into our world.
Twins Sophie and Joey are the ‘heroes’ of each story. They are both experts with swords, and Joey has extensive knowledge about science and the elements, while Sophie has the ability to observe things others wouldn’t, and with her great empathy she often brings about positive resolution. Apart, they often flounder without each other, but together, they are a formidable team.
The book’s themes are working together as a team, problem-solving and overcoming obstacles, and finding peaceful and kind resolutions in tricky situations.
This series also engages the theatre of the mind, with the personification of elements from the periodic table. They behave in one way in our world, but in a slightly different way in Elemental Land.
The text is in third person past tense. Hydrogen Showdown is written for 7–12–year–olds, but younger or older audiences will also enjoy this action-packed story.
ASK YOUR STUDENTS:
- Look at the cover. What do you think the tone of the story might be?
- How has the author set the scene in the first few pages? How do you think you would feel stepping from Greenland into Elemental Land?
- What do you think of the human characters Sophie and Joey?
- In Chapter 2, we meet the hydrogens. Quickly flick to the back of the book and compare real-life hydrogen with the youngsters we meet here. List how hydrogens are different in Elemental Land and how they are the same.
- In Chapter 3, we see the Golden Palace for the first time. Draw your own version of this palace.
- In Chapter 4, the readers meet Queen Gold and Medic Iron. Flick to the back of the book and compare how gold and iron are in the real world. List how gold and iron are different in Elemental Land and how they are the same.
- In Chapter 5, Joey and Sophie enter the Treacherous Forest. Can you find all the things that are dangerous about being in this forest?
- In Chapter 6, we meet Hydro, the leader of the hydrogens, for the first time. What do you think of his character? Is he scary, funny, or both?
- In Chapter 7, there is a mathematical equation. If a hydrogen blew itself up 10 times a day, every day, how long would it take to do its millionth blow-up?
- In Chapter 8, the young hydrogens like the idea of a World Hydrogen Celebration Day. Make a list of all the things you would do to celebrate. Be imaginative! What food would you serve? What songs would you sing? Would there be dancing? Do a pretend interview with your favourite hydrogen from the book.
- What have you learnt about gold, iron and hydrogen by reading this book?
- At the end of the book, the twins are asked to go on another mission. Would you like to go to Elemental Land on a mission? Which of all the elements would you like to meet?
