When you look up into the night sky what do you see? A bright white moon, twinkling stars, constellations and if you know where to look, maybe another planet? Now close your eyes and imagine one of those distant planets is a planet bathed entirely in violet hues, where the air hums with melody and every breeze carries a chorus of cosmic beats. Can you imagine it? Well, that planet would be Drumendus (or you might know it as Purple-1812), the fabled “purple planet” that sits hidden between Earth and Mars, where music is as vital as oxygen.
In his debut novel, Drumendus: Mission to the Drum Planet, Andrew Ashwin invites readers on an out-of-this-world space adventure to this extraordinary realm, blending friendship, family secrets and toe-tapping magic in one unforgettable journey. It’s a musical odyssey for young explorers.
Drumendus: Mission to the Drum Planet rockets young readers into outer space on a homemade Grand Piano Spaceship on a very secret mission. Onboard this unique spacecraft is 12 year old Ella Crinkle and her best friend Freddie, along with Ella’s eccentric Aunt Belinda, the most famous astronaut in history.
Twelve-year-old Ella Crinkle is a devoted “Drumgazer” – she spends the starlight nights daydreaming about Drumendus and its whispering mystery. When her eccentric Aunt Belinda, history’s most famous astronaut, reveals she has spent twenty years building a homemade spaceship shaped like a grand piano, Ella knows the adventure of a lifetime is about to begin. Joined by her loyal best friend Freddie, they blast off toward the enigmatic purple world, only to discover that Aunt Belinda’s voyage is more than a sightseeing trip. It’s a quest to unravel a Crinkle family secret buried for over twenty-five years – one that could reshape their lives forever.
And that’s just the start of this awesome adventure. Drumendus is a planet that is home to more than a family secret. It has a population of undiscovered purple people, musical instruments and music everywhere. And, of course, it is also home to the Crinkle family secret that is totally out of this world unbelievable. A secret that Ella has to come to terms with as well as finding out more the mysterious musical planet and helping to overthrow a tyrannical leader. But will she, Freddie and Aunt Belinda be able to accomplish their mission and return safely home?
Overall, I really enjoyed visiting Drumendus and its purple people through the pages of this book for middle grade readers. While there are lots of books based around space adventures, this story is different as Drumendus is no ordinary planet, it is built around music and musical instruments, giving it that unique twist that makes it exciting, captivating and extremely enjoyable. A high-energy blend of sci-fi thrills and heartfelt family drama that young readers will be fascinated by and want to keep reading.
The characters of Ella, Freddie, Aunt Belinda are fascinating, brilliant and very likable. Ella is a loveable heroine: she is curious and brave but prone to moments of self-doubt that young page turners will be able to relate to. Freddie, with his steady humour and unwavering loyalty, is the perfect companion to Ella as he balances her occasional flightiness – they make the perfect team. And we can’t forget Aunt Belinda – she steals every scene with her whirlwind inventiveness: one minute she’s calibrating spaceship hydraulics, the next she’s playing a jazz riff on a theremin-style dashboard. Then there is the minor characters such as Uncle Otto, with his dry wit, and the mysterious purple people of Drumendus, leave a lasting impression, each adding their own flavour to this interstellar symphony.
Music and musical instruments feature heavily throughout the book, supplying the melody and magic that powers the story and have readers tapping their feet along with the story.
Drumendus: Mission to the Drum Planet is an exciting book packed with adventure, fantasy, magic and excellent characters that strike the right note. It is fun to read with themes of truth, forgiveness and courage – it will definitely capture readers imagination with the musical planet of Drumendus, purple people, the Plectrumm Palace, power and corruption.
If you are looking for a fun and engaging story for your children to lose themselves in, then this out of this world crazy adventure is definitely whole-heartedly recommended. So gather your drumsticks, tune your ears, and prepare for take-off – this interplanetary symphony is one you won’t want to miss!
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £7.99 (Paperback)
For more information, visit drumendus.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
PUBLISHER: The Book Guild Ltd
PUBLICATION DATE: 13 September 2022
ISBN: 978-1915352231
PRINT LENGTH: 281 Pages