Amelia Fang and the Memory Thief. Laura Ellen Anderson

      

       For my marvellous, magnificent,

       musical sister Marie!

       The memories we’ve shared

       are unforgettable and I love you

       more than freshly baked cookies xxx

      First published in Great Britain 2018

      by Egmont UK Limited

      The Yellow Building, 1 Nicholas Road, London W11 4AN

      Text and illustrations copyright © 2018 Laura Ellen Anderson

      The moral rights of the author and illustrator have been asserted

      First e-book edition 2018

      ISBN 978 1 4052 8707 4

      Ebook ISBN 978 1 4052 9262 7

       www.egmont.co.uk

      A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library

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      CONTENTS

       Cover

       Title Page

       Dedication and Copyright

       MAP OF THE KINGDOMS

       MEET THE NOCTURNIANS AND GLITTEROPOLANS

1. GOBLIN-SLIME SUPERGLUE

2. MY LIFE . . . IN SONG

3. SUBLIME

       4. PUMPKIN PARADISE PARK

       5. I JUST WANNA PLAY GOBLIN TAG

       6. BAKE FASTER

       7. BAD BOGIES

       8. THE PUMPKIN PATCH

       9. WHAT THE BATS IS GOING ON?

       10. SIT YOUR ROYAL BOTTOM DOWN

       11. LOOSE LIMBS LIBRARY

       12. UNICOOOOOORN! THE TERROR!

       13. THE FIELD OF FORGET-ME-NOTS

       14. PA-DOOF !

       15. JUST LIKE ME

       16. LOVE

       17. THE PUMPKINS AND THE GRUMPKINS

       18. TAKE ’IM AWAY!

       19. PUMPKIN-SHAPED DREAMS

CHAPTER 1

       GOBLIN-SLIME SUPERGLUE

      On a misty Wednesday night after school, young vampire Amelia Fang sat in her bedroom with her pet pumpkin, Squashy, surrounded by complete and utter mess.

      ‘Darkling,’ called Amelia’s mother, Countess Frivoleeta, from downstairs. ‘It’s time for your organ practice with Wooo. Remember your exam is coming up soon.’

      ‘Do I have to practise tonight?’ Amelia replied, her heart sinking at the thought of more organ practice – despite how ghoulishly enthusiastic Wooo, their ghost butler, was. ‘I’m making Squashy a cute costume for my birthnight party!’

      Squashy squeaked and span on the spot delightedly.

      ‘Isn’t it exciting, Squashy! Soon I’ll be eleven moon-years old!’ beamed Amelia, flicking through her Positively Pumpkin magazine. ‘And we get to celebrate in style at the Pumpkin Patch! Golly Ghouls, I do love pumpkins.’

      Amelia wanted to be a Pumpkinologist more than anything in the whole world when she grew up – she could imagine studying and caring for pumpkins like Squashy forever!

      Amelia also loved making things, and she especially loved making things for Squashy. Tonight her bedroom floor was covered in black-and-orange material, goblin-slime superglue and various cobwebbing tools.

      The bedroom door creaked open, revealing Countess Frivoleeta’s huge beehive hairdo before the rest of her body. When she saw the mess in Amelia’s room, she gasped.

      ‘Amelia, my dreadful little wart-picker, I can’t see your bedroom floor!’

      ‘It’s creative mess,’ Amelia grinned. ‘Look, I’m making some sunglasses for Squashy and some tiny bow ties.’

      The countess made a strange noise. ‘Amelia Fang! It’s like you’re living in a goblin cave. Wooo is waiting for you in the organ room, so tidy this mess up and then go downstairs for your practice. Quick-smart my dismal one!’

      Amelia felt her cheeks flush. ‘But Mum, it’s nearly my birthnight, and I’ve so much to catch up on in Positively Pumpkin ! Can’t I skip organ practice just this week?’

      ‘Certainly not, darkling – you already missed last week because you were at pumpkin-patch digging. Organ practice is important – pumpkin magazines are not. ’

      Amelia sighed. ‘Okay, Mum, I’ll be down in a minute,’ she said, as the countess left the room. Sometimes it felt like her mum just didn’t understand.

      ‘Don’t worry Squashy, we’ll have your costume ready, even if I have to stay up all day to finish