Bandit is a puppy who thinks that the happy days with his friend, 12-year-old Isla, will never end. But they do. Isla and her family move far away and he’s left with a strange old lady and her strict rules.
Forming an escape committee with some animal friends, he makes a daring plan to find Isla. But more perils await. Can Bandit use his wits to fight for survival and will the best friends ever be together again?
Told from the perspective of lovable puppy Bandit, this heart-warming story is about a dog and his girl who’d do anything to be together again. The entertaining and emotional adventure sits between ‘I, Cosmo’ and ‘I Am Rebel’, and has echoes of ‘Chicken Run’.
Glowing Reviews of Bandit’s Great Escape
‘Reader’s Favourite’ WriteMentor Novel-in-Development Award 2023.
‘I was extremely engaged and pulled into the story incredibly quickly. I couldn’t stop reading, it was sooooo good!’
~ Child reader feedback
‘Bandit is a great character, with a fabulous voice and personality – he has so much to endure, but never really loses his joy.’
~ Emma Read, editor and children’s author
‘I loved the book and I’d recommend it to everyone in my class. I really liked the characters especially Bandit, Isla and Rat, and I enjoyed laughing at the two bumbling crooks.’
~ Raphael 10
‘I really liked how Croaky is trying to make Bandit into a human by teaching him to sit at the table to eat. She was lonely and stressed as she had issues, and he made her happy.’
~ Ruth 10
‘I loved reading Bandit’s Great Escape. I particularly liked how Bandit made good friends with Nero the rottweiler, and how they both changed as characters.’
~ Joshua 12
‘It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. Bandit’s Great Escape is 2nd in my Top Ten books after Mary Poppins and equal with Black Beauty.’
~ Hannah 8
‘I really enjoyed how Bandit kept changing from playful when Croaky taught him to have manners, then he changed back to a normal dog. I liked Rat’s personality – he was trying to help Bandit escape, but also trying to help himself by getting food off Bandit!’
~ Holly 10