Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything by Sam Copeland and Sarah Horne

Uma Gnudersonn has a head full of questions: How can I save my home from being sold? Will my dad ever start talking again? And how do alpacas get drunk? But since her mum died, Uma's life has been short on answers.

Then she finds a genius artificial intelligence called Athena who knows everything.

Suddenly Uma has the answer to any question she can imagine - from the capital of Mozambique to the colour of her headteacher's underpants - and she's going to use them to save her home and her father.

Along the way, Uma will have to confront the sinister inventor who will stop at nothing to get Athena back - and face up to the fact that not all questions have answers . . .

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This is a brilliantly funny book where every joke has a meaning and everything you think was nothing turns out to be something. Also it's funny, did I mention that? And very clever.

There's a lovely story about grief and how it affects families under all the humour. I very much hope that that storyline doesn't put people off buying because it really shouldn't. It's something that a lot of children would like to read.

The illustrations are spot on, making an already hilarious book even better. Pick this one up for your kids, and once they've gone to bed, settle in for a read yourself. You won't be sorry. (Apart from one scene near the end, which might make you sad. But it's worth it.)

Oh, and, uh, let me see here...

'Hilarious! Like a cross between Roald Dahl and The Goonies!'

Sam, I'll wait for your DM...

Uma and the Answer to Absolutely Everything publishes on the 21st January, 2021