FORMER journalist Eleanor Updale worked on BBC news programmes The World at One and Newsnight for about 15 years so she knows what makes a good story.

A graduate of Oxford University’s St Anne’s College, she started writing fiction in the year 2000 and has won awards on both sides of the Atlantic with her Montmorency series.

The mother-of-three says the books are popular with both sexes and, although they are aimed at young readers, adults enjoy them too.

Oxford-based publisher David Fickling specialises in publishing “crossover fiction”, which appeals to both markets, so it is not surprising that the Beaumont Street-based publishing offshoot of Random House has snapped up Eleanor’s latest offering, Johnny Swanson.

The author said the novel, set in the late 1920s, is designed to be a stand-alone book, although she could be persuaded to write a sequel if fans twist her arm.

Johnny Swanson is a likeable schoolboy whose mother struggles financially after her husband died in the Great War.

As a result, Johnny tries out a few money-making schemes to bring in some more cash.

As a back-story, the disease tuberculosis hovers over the village where he lives, and Johnny gets talking to a local doctor who wants to bring the BCG vaccine into the country.

This intriguing mix is told largely from Johnny’s point-of-view, which should make the story an engaging read for young readers.

Ms Updale tells me that when she first started writing the Montmorency books, the bulk of her fan mail came from girls, but now about half is from boys.

“Boys don’t get given pink notepaper to write on but they do write emails, so I think there are lots of boys out there reading,” she says.

“Not many people write about the 1920s and the school curriculum seems to jump between the two wars.

“Tuberculosis has been coming back in some inner-city communities so it’s a contemporary subject.

“I think the designers have done a fabulous job with the book – I think more publishers need to make books lovely objects.

“I’m already working on two new projects and one of them will be for young readers.”

Another book for boys written by an author with strong Oxfordshire connections is TJ and the Hat-Trick by Arsenal and England star Theo Walcott.

Theo’s grandfather, former Carterton Mayor Joe, must be proud of his grandson’s fictional debut, and the sequel TJ and the Penalty, both published by Corgi Books.

Co-written with Paul May, each book is linked to bonus content online, for web-savvy young readers, and my 10-year-old raced through these two football stories, which are simply illustrated by Jerry Paris.

Eleanor Updale and Theo Walcott are just two of the authors writing gripping tales for young readers at the moment.

So take a break from your Xbox and get down to the local library or bookstore.