The following suggestions offer a spectrum of different perspectives and are well worth seeking out. Twenty years on, I still know how much I lost from the accident, but I also know that it didn’t stop me – I found my way back – and that tells me who I really am.

The importance of characters with epilepsy and - BookTrust

This can certainly be recommended to readers of fantasy, and it seems that a second book involving Jayben may be coming in the future. When Jayben wakes up one day in the Elf world with the only clue as to who he is a compass engraved with his name we are as curious as he is and we are all drawn into a thrilling adventure as Jayben tries to find his magic, magic that will allow him to light a torch and save the elf world. As I learned to live with memory loss and epilepsy caused by my brain injury, I rediscovered the magic of reading and I fell in love with stories set in fantasy worlds, where the heroes were confronted with the unknown. The author creates a truly engaging world with fantastic characters but what struck me most was the way he handled the topic of memory loss and brain injury.This fantastic representation is extremely significant for kids and readers who might identify with Jayben so that they might see themselves as the hero of their story. Using the Golden Torch, Jayben is the only hope of getting their beloved memories back, and if he succeeds, he will have the chance to change the Memorywood forever.

Jayben and the Golden Torch - Hachette Childrens UK Jayben and the Golden Torch - Hachette Childrens UK

This quickly became my mantra and fuelled my fierce determination to become an author and to finally give the world a hero with a brain injury and epilepsy. Inspired by the author’s uniquely personal experience of memory loss comes an incredible, immersive fantasy series about a boy with no memories and a world that only he can save. This is not a Harry Potter story, but it will appeal to some fantasy devotees, aged 10+, if they can cope with the occasional confusions or absences due to memory loss.Jayben discovers that many moons ago, a giant put a dark spell on the golden torch, and the elves forgot everything that had come before. In a flash I was in another curious place; I saw some coloured glass lights on an enormous Christmas tree that towered over me.

Jayben and the Golden Torch by Thomas Leeds - Coles Books Jayben and the Golden Torch by Thomas Leeds - Coles Books

Thomas held on to those memories and with them came the seed of his debut Middle Grade novel, exploring and championing the power of memory and epilepsy.If Jayben can find his own magic and ignite the torch with its fierce violet flame, his power will be unstoppable… Can Jayben save the world before the lights go out forever? I feel that this book would help children understand what it is like to have seizures and how vulnerable it can make someone feel. unanswered and more mysteries to solve, and I’m thoroughly excited to see what comes next from Thomas Leeds. Since I woke up after my brain injury 20 years ago, it's been really encouraging to see what progress has been made on more forms of disability being positively represented in books. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you.