Henry Hobbs, space voyager - Kathryn Cave

Henry Hobbs's home planet, Omicron, is so boring that no one has contacted it in years. So the visit of a foreign space ship is a HUGE event. For Henry, it's also the perfect chance to escape from his fearsome older brother, Rolo . . .

It's only when he stows away on board that Henry discovers the crew's mission. They're looking for a new, intelligent life form - and it might take them fifty years! Terrified at the thought of spending nearly all his life in space, Henry hatches a desperate plan - but will it work?

Kathryn Cave is the author of more than a dozen books for children of all ages. One of them, a picture book, Something Else, was shortlisted for the Smarties and the Kate Greenaway awards in 1994. She has written several books for Hodder, including The Emperor's Gruckle Hound, William and the Wolves and the picture book, Horatio Happened! She has three children, and lives in West London. She won the UNESCO award in 1997.