Milton the Mighty

by Emma Read

The first book in a fresh, funny new series for readers aged 7+, illustrated by Alex G. Griffiths!

When little spider Milton discovers he's been branded deadly on social media - and is targeted by pest-killers BugKILL - he fears for his life and the future of his species. Alongside his BFFs, big hairy Ralph and spindly daddy-long-legs Audrey, he searches for a way to clear his name. But to succeed, Milton realises he must communicate with his house humans, a schoolgirl called Zoe - and her arachnophobic dad. Is he mighty enough to achieve the impossible?

Genres: Fiction, Middle Grade

130 pages, Paperback

Published June 6, 2019

About the author

Emma is the award-winning author of the Milton the Mighty series (The Times book of the year) and brand new spooky standalone, The Housetrap. She also co-wrote Panda in the Spotlight with Sarah Horne, all with Chicken House Books.

When not writing, Emma is a freelance novel editor with EmDashED and a writing tutor and mentor with WriteMentor.

She loves Hallowe'en, sci-fi, and board games, and plays too much Fortnite. She lives in the southwest of the UK with her cat and two pet children ... is that right??

Reviews

[Marisa Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful book for children, and any big kids who might find themselves a wee bit afraid of spiders. Not only is it written with humour and heart with a really good pace, it dispels some common myths and sends a lovely message to our children today about fake news and the awful consequences.

I cant wait for Milton 2!!!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. A fun story about the importance of standing up for your kind, for others and looking after the environment.

[Miya Peel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is good for people who aren’t keen on reading and cant read small letters like me. This made me want to continue reading different books and I cant wait to keep my reading journey up

[Lydia Massiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this story as I had read extracts before when the book was shortlisted for various prizes. Though not usually a fan of 'funny fiction' I was charmed from the opening pages because of the warmth and humour of the writing. Milton is an adorable spider character, and his bravery to fight for his kind, and win the understanding of humans, carries a great message - along with a great many gags!

This is a lovely tale of friendship for younger readers, and of what cooperation can achieve, even if you are tiny, and unpopular. As Milton deals with fake internet news in his campaign for tolerance, his web of friendship widens! His friends - both human and spider - unite as eco-warriors to encourage people around the world to respect spiders and not fear them. #notscaredofspiders
A really original idea, with up-to-date themes about caring for the environment, and the use of the internet, along with a warm-hearted and totally engaging voice.

[Rhian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable!! Fun for kids to read alone or to read with parents, has some hilarious references, generally a good time with a sweet message.

[Evelyn Evertsen-Romp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volgens Bibi (van Billy Bones dus) was zij na het lezen van dit boek van haar spinnenangst af.
Helaas werkte dat voor mij niet, misschien had ik geen plaatjes van spinnen moeten googelen, want het kriebelt me nu overal. Fun fact: voor iedere mens bestaan er 3 miljoen spinnen op de wereld.

Zo, nu we het kriebelige deel gehad hebben kan ik met volle overtuiging zeggen dat Maarten de Machtige een hartstikke leuk boek is. Ik vond het grappig, hartverwarmend, spannend, leerzaam en helemaal niet eng. (En ik ben écht bang voor spinnen.) Net als Charlotte's Web laat dit boek de mooie, nuttige kanten van deze beestjes zien. Ik denk dat kinderen heel veel aan dit boek kunnen hebben en daarom hoop ik dat het veel gelezen zal worden. (Al ben ik blij dat mijn dochter niet op Zoë lijkt.)

[Kimia Domire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm exploring literature to gift to my preteens nieces and nephews - this was first on my list.

This was a heartwarming story with a cool plot. All the spider-human communication through letters and words reminded me of Charlotte's Web, as did the pleas for humans to stop killing animals.

The tone is however nothing like Charlotte's Web. The author's voice is so strong it almost has an accent, and the only way I can describe it is British. From the vocabulary, to turns of phrase, to cultural references, and especially its sense of humour - it'll either feel cosy and familiar, or exclusionary and alienating, depending on where you're from.

It started out a little difficult to love, because of the heavy reliance on all these cultural shortcuts (which don't really work for me). It's light hearted and full of unfunny jokes, which prevented me from seeing into the hearts of the characters. But by the end, they all won me over and I found myself vigorously rooting for their success.

Again, we have the plot to thank for all that's good about this book.

I'd recommend this book to British kids for a fun breezy read, and anyone trying to address their own fear of spiders.

[Glen Deakin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic story that educates as it entertains. The hero, Milton, is a false widow spider who decides to take matters into his own hands when his species are the subject of 'fake news' campaign to eradicate spiders - much to the delight of the evil head of the BugKILL extermination company. With the help of his arachnid friends and his friendly house human, Milton finds a way to use the web to his own advantage.

The interactions between Milton and his friends are great, and the bond that forms between him and the young human heroine of the tale is lovely. This book works on many levels - it's a charming, light-hearted romp, with a hissable villain, but it's also guidebook to bugs, a tale about having courage to stand up for yourself, and a modern parable about the dangers of believing all that you read in the media. Although aimed at a younger audience, older children - and adults - will get a lot out of it too.

[Rachel Lefever · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a triumphant story, with all the superhero ingredients – threats, rescues, daring feats and of course the important ‘all is lost’ moment to make our character question whether he is up to the challenge. And any challenge is going to be particularly big when you’re a weeny spider, fighting for justice in a huge human world. Milton is a much maligned false widow spider – just one victim of an over-sensationlised news story about deadly spiders invading homes. With a pest control maniac on his tail, Milton must clear his name worldwide, for the sake of all spider species. This is a light, fantastically fun tale with lessons to be learned – you’ll learn about spiders, human nature, and how one small voice can make a big difference. And there's also a little something about the dangers of spreading lies on the web. Not the spider web. The other one. But there are spiderwebs in this too. Plenty of them. Great big magical glorious spiderwebs. Enjoy!
Age 7+ #spiders #fun #friends

[Anna Orridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really charming and witty lower MG novel. Milton, the little false widow protagonist, is easy to root for, as is his human counterpart, Zoe. My son is 7 years old and a strong reader, but tends to prefer non-fiction to fiction. This book, however, commanded his attention every night, and he was genuinely upset when I forgot to read the entire epilogue.

It combines valuable messages about social media, both its educational potential and its dangers, as well as plenty of information about arachnids. As an environmental activist, I love the way that the novel promotes respect and concern for wildlife, without feeling too heavy or didactic. A fantastic gift for any 7 to 9 year old who loves animals and a rip roaring adventure, as well as plenty of giggles along the way.

[Hannah Kates · Rating 5 out of 5]

MILTON THE MIGHTY is a fast-paced, educational read for adventurers of any age. Packed with eight-legged humor, unforgettable characters, and elucidating spider facts, I highly recommend "webbing" this book to readers 7-10. With its beautiful illustrations and outstanding ecological themes, I can honestly say I haven't loved a spider this much since CHARLOTTE'S Web.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Milton and his eight legged hairy pals Audrey and Ralph take on BugKill!, an extermination company spreading fake news that false widow spiders are deadly. This is brilliantly told in a unique voice and if you are one of those crazy people who are afraid of spiders this book will change the way you see these cute little critters.

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appearances can be deceiving and when tiny spider Milton finds that he has been falsely branded as a deadly spider he must join forces with his house human Zoe to defend his species! A funny and warm story about courage and cooperation and not believing everything you read on social media.

[Marie Basting · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Milton, the tiny false widow spider, is branded deadly by the media, he sets out to clear his name. What results is a funny, warm adventure story that shows how even the teeniest of us can be a hero. Who knew spiders could be so adorable?

[Patrick Morrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I thought the story was great and funny and witty. I also learned a lot about spiders which I never knew. I would definitely recommend it. I am looking forward to reading the second book “Milton The Megastar” by Author Emma Read.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book.
It is easy to read.
Who would have to thought a spider could be a super hero