Our Book of the Week this week is the riveting new children's book from Eirlys Hunter, The Mapmakers' Race (illustrated by Kirsten Slade and published by Gecko Books). 
Four children temporarily lose their parents just as they are about to begin the race that offers their last chance of escaping poverty. Their task is to map a rail route through an uncharted wilderness. They overcome the many obstacles posed by nature—bears, bees, bats, river crossings, cliff-falls, impossible weather—but can they survive the treachery of their competitors?

>> Read Stella's review. 

>> Read the first chapter. 

>> Read another extract. 

>> Meet Eirlys Hunter. 

>> Meet the illustrator, Kirsten Slade.