What if the secret to surviving monster mazes lay in teamwork, not strength?
Kieran Larwood and illustrator Joe Todd-Stanton team up for “Dungeon Runners: Hero Trial”, a fantasy-adventure series targeting 7–10-year-olds. The story follows Kit, a diminutive gnorf (half gnome, half dwarf), who assembles a misfit team with Sandy, a sand-magic apprentice with a hermit-crab familiar, and Thorn, a gentle vegan vampire to compete in Zerb’s national sport: Dungeon Running. Teams navigate booby-trapped labyrinths, battle monsters, and solve puzzles to climb leagues. Kit’s journey from bullied underdog to unlikely hero is amplified by live commentary from bickering giants Jenna and Dirk, whose banter adds humor to the action. The trio faces rivals like Breg, a cheating troggle, and creative obstacles like slime monsters and labyrinthine traps. Larwood balances high-stakes challenges with lighthearted moments, such as Sandy’s sandcastle magic unexpectedly foiling foes. The book’s first installment sets up a series (with Sky Battles and Ocean Chase forthcoming), offering continuity for serial readers.
“Hero Trial” excels as a classroom resource for students needing scaffolded support. Its dyslexia-friendly design with large text, generous white space, and frequent black-and-white illustrations reduces cognitive load, making pages feel manageable. Todd-Stanton’s visuals, including character stat cards and comic-strip panels, act as visual anchors. For example, Sandy’s sandcastle illustrations help decode her limited magic, while Thorn’s vampire traits are humorously clarified through dialogue.
Language accessibility is a standout feature. Sentences are short, with minimal complex clauses. Fantasy terms like gnorf or troggle are context-glossed through pictures and repetition. Idiomatic phrases like “fight your way to the top” are embedded naturally, offering opportunities for pre-teaching. Teachers can use the dungeon maps to teach spatial language, stat cards for data-handling activities, or ethical dilemmas (e.g., Breg’s cheating) to spark classroom discussions. Larwood’s focus on teamwork and resilience mirrors real-world sports, encouraging reflection on perseverance.
In short, “Hero Trial” is a triple threat: its engaging storytelling, visual scaffolding, and inclusive themes make it ideal for classrooms seeking to boost literacy, global citizenship, and creative learning. Teachers can use it to build serial reading habits, support visual learners, and spark debates about fairness—all while keeping students hooked from the first page.
