What do you think?
Rate this book
Horrid Henry #13
Mega-Mean Time Machine: Book 13
Number One for Fiendish Fun!This book contains a HORRIFIC hike, a time machine, a love letter and SNAILS for dinner!Four utterly hilarious and totally brilliant Horrid Henry stories by Francesca Simon, with illustrations by Tony Ross. An irresistible introduction to reading for pleasure.
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2005
41 people are currently reading
359 people want to read
About the author
Francesca Simon
386 books206 followersFrancesca Simon grew up in California and attended both Yale and Oxford Universities, where she specialised in Medieval Studies. How this prepared her to write children’s books she cannot imagine, but it did give her a thorough grounding in alliteration.
She then threw away a lucrative career as a medievalist and worked as a freelance journalist, writing for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Telegraph, and Vogue (US). After her son Joshua was born in 1989, she started writing children’s books full time. One of the UK’s best-selling children’s writers, Francesca has published over 50 books, including the immensely popular HORRID HENRY series, which has now sold over twelve million copies.
Francesca won the Children’s Book of the Year in 2008 at the British Book Awards for Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman. HORRID HENRY is published in 24 countries and is also an animated CITV series. She lives in London with her husband, son, and Tibetan Spaniel, Shanti.
She then threw away a lucrative career as a medievalist and worked as a freelance journalist, writing for the Sunday Times, Guardian, Mail on Sunday, Telegraph, and Vogue (US). After her son Joshua was born in 1989, she started writing children’s books full time. One of the UK’s best-selling children’s writers, Francesca has published over 50 books, including the immensely popular HORRID HENRY series, which has now sold over twelve million copies.
Francesca won the Children’s Book of the Year in 2008 at the British Book Awards for Horrid Henry and the Abominable Snowman. HORRID HENRY is published in 24 countries and is also an animated CITV series. She lives in London with her husband, son, and Tibetan Spaniel, Shanti.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
September 28, 2018
داستان "ماشین زمان" عالی بود:))) واقعا جدای از شیطون بودنش، یه هوش خاصی تو اذیتهاش داره.
و جوری که پیتر رو سرکار میذاره با جعبهای که بهش میگه ماشین زمان:))) عالی.
داستان آخر هم " ماشین سواری هنری" بامزه بود.
و جوری که پیتر رو سرکار میذاره با جعبهای که بهش میگه ماشین زمان:))) عالی.
داستان آخر هم " ماشین سواری هنری" بامزه بود.
March 7, 2013
This was one of the first book to ever read, and i had enjoy this book for most of my childhood.This book is a bout a boy who lives with his mum and dad and younger brother who he hates very much.In this series Henry tricks his brother into thinking he's got back into time which is a successful prank for Henry.This is a great book for reading during a long durance ride or in you're spare time. This could also b a great reading aloud book for many subjects such as, Reading groups, English reading aloud, or just for a " Goodread ".
January 15, 2010
This book is funny because Horrid Henry is always doing things to his brother, Perfect Peter, and then Perfect Peter tries to do something back. It's funny how it turns out in the end!
September 26, 2021
I find it tricky rating Horrid Henry books. I am not the target audience, but my children currently enjoy having them read at bedtime.
I can't say I particularly like the books, but both my kids seem to find the humour engaging. My youngest likes to try and find words he knows in the stories, and frankly if it encourages a love of books/reading then I'm happy.
I can't say I particularly like the books, but both my kids seem to find the humour engaging. My youngest likes to try and find words he knows in the stories, and frankly if it encourages a love of books/reading then I'm happy.
November 21, 2018
Having not (yet) watched any of the Horrid Henry episodes or film I really enjoyed reading these stories...
December 22, 2018
it is funny!!!!!!!!!
Read
July 15, 2019We've got a review of this easy reader import at the Reading Tub.
December 5, 2019
Entretenido.
May 31, 2020
Just rubbish.
February 22, 2022
I like the.time machine and I also love Horrdd Henry
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2023
Usual format. 4 stories same old Henry!
July 7, 2024
I like it because it makes perfect Peter put on a dress and make up on
February 16, 2025
No lo recomiendo, por lo menos a mí no me ha gustado. Ahora quién se lo quiera leer se lo puede leer, pero no lo recomiendo. Marcos J.S. (8 años)
November 13, 2025
I wish I could make a Time Machine like Henry did and didn’t let Peter in. That’s why he’s called Henry but horrid that’s why I called horrid Henry and I like reading orian books.
December 27, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this one it's so funny 😂
January 1, 2026
شخصیتها باورپذیر و عمیق بودند.
January 17, 2026
داستان کتاب جذاب و قابل دنبالکردن است، محتوای کتاب الهامبخش و تأثیرگذار است، نویسنده توانسته ارتباط خوبی با خواننده برقرار کند.
January 17, 2026
پرداخت موضوعات کتاب هوشمندانه انجام شده، داستان کتاب جذاب و قابل دنبالکردن است، این کتاب بسیار روان و خوشخوان بود، این اثر ارزش چند بار خواندن را دارد، لحن کتاب صمیمی و گیراست.
January 26, 2026
این کتاب ارزش وقت گذاشتن و مطالعه را دارد.
January 26, 2026
ساده و تأثیرگذار
February 12, 2026
در کتاب هنری زلزله و ماشین زمان فضاسازی دلنشین و متعادلی دیده میشود. جملهبندیها خوشریتم است و ارتباط با متن را آسان میکند. این کتاب میتواند انتخاب خوبی برای علاقهمندان مطالعه باشد.
June 1, 2012
Shadai Austin
May 2012
Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine
Francesca Simon
Protagonist: The main character is Henry. Henry is always outraged. He is always mad and bursting out at someone. He never agrees with his parents and he is always screaming at them.
Antagonist: Peter is Henry’s brother and he is the opposing character to me because he is always going against him. Henry and Peter are always arguing and fighting. I think they are always arguing because they are always together and they live together. Henry is older than Peter but he is always “right”.
Conflict: The main conflict in the story is that Henry is always doing something horrible. Henry is never acting right. Henry is always acting up and never listening. Henry always states what he is feeling and tells his parents how he feels.
Theme: I think the universal lesson is Henry finally listens to his family and his cousin Steve. After the night that his family went to a dinner Henry finally learned how to listen to his family. When he went to the dinner, Steve was telling him not to eat the snails but he didn’t believe that they were snails so he ate them and he didn’t like it. Henry learned to listen to his family because they are on his side they are not his enemy.
Setting: The time is mostly in the day. The book never shows what is happening in the book which I think is a bad thing. I think it is a bad thing because when you write a book it supposed to show different scenes, not just 1. This book only shows 1 scene.
Plot: In the beginning of the book, Henry never listened to his parents. He always screamed at them and did the wrong things. Henry never did anything his parents told him to do. Every time his family wanted to go out on a family walk or go out Henry always denied it.
In the middle of the book, Henry was really mean to his brother. He pranked him all the time. He told him a lot of lies. Henry made him do a lot of things. Peter got really tired of it.
In the end of the book, Henry learned his experience. He learned to listen to people. He learned not to yell at his parents anymore and he started to think before he spoke. At first he blurted out anything that he was thinking but stopped doing that. I think the day of his mom birthday changed him.
Climax: The major turning point in the book is when Henry started to think before he spoke. I think that is the major turning point in the book because that’s when his attitude started to change. He started to change the way he spoke to others and how he talks to his teacher.
Resolution: The major conflicts in the book were resolved mostly by Steve. Steve changed Henry in a weird way. He changed Henry without him knowing. Henry also changed himself. If Henry didn’t want to change he wouldn’t have.
May 2012
Horrid Henry and the Mega-Mean Time Machine
Francesca Simon
Protagonist: The main character is Henry. Henry is always outraged. He is always mad and bursting out at someone. He never agrees with his parents and he is always screaming at them.
Antagonist: Peter is Henry’s brother and he is the opposing character to me because he is always going against him. Henry and Peter are always arguing and fighting. I think they are always arguing because they are always together and they live together. Henry is older than Peter but he is always “right”.
Conflict: The main conflict in the story is that Henry is always doing something horrible. Henry is never acting right. Henry is always acting up and never listening. Henry always states what he is feeling and tells his parents how he feels.
Theme: I think the universal lesson is Henry finally listens to his family and his cousin Steve. After the night that his family went to a dinner Henry finally learned how to listen to his family. When he went to the dinner, Steve was telling him not to eat the snails but he didn’t believe that they were snails so he ate them and he didn’t like it. Henry learned to listen to his family because they are on his side they are not his enemy.
Setting: The time is mostly in the day. The book never shows what is happening in the book which I think is a bad thing. I think it is a bad thing because when you write a book it supposed to show different scenes, not just 1. This book only shows 1 scene.
Plot: In the beginning of the book, Henry never listened to his parents. He always screamed at them and did the wrong things. Henry never did anything his parents told him to do. Every time his family wanted to go out on a family walk or go out Henry always denied it.
In the middle of the book, Henry was really mean to his brother. He pranked him all the time. He told him a lot of lies. Henry made him do a lot of things. Peter got really tired of it.
In the end of the book, Henry learned his experience. He learned to listen to people. He learned not to yell at his parents anymore and he started to think before he spoke. At first he blurted out anything that he was thinking but stopped doing that. I think the day of his mom birthday changed him.
Climax: The major turning point in the book is when Henry started to think before he spoke. I think that is the major turning point in the book because that’s when his attitude started to change. He started to change the way he spoke to others and how he talks to his teacher.
Resolution: The major conflicts in the book were resolved mostly by Steve. Steve changed Henry in a weird way. He changed Henry without him knowing. Henry also changed himself. If Henry didn’t want to change he wouldn’t have.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 15, 2009
Reading Level: 2-4
Ross uses small illustrations throughout the story to increase the flow and to add more detail to the story. The illustrations break up the text and also paint a better picture for some of the things that may be a little abstract for a 2nd grader to think about. The cover shows a picture of a young boy (Henry) and would automatically be appealing to a boy this age and likes to think outside the box. Simon’s text is large and is broken up into short sentences. The chapter length is fairly big for the age range, sometimes spanning several pages before a good stopping point. The font varies throughout the book in certain places to make it more fun and enjoyable for readers.
I would use this book as a read aloud during quiet times for the younger children and then I would use it as a book report option in classroom activities.
Content Connections: Language Arts: Write your own time machine story. Imagine going back or ahead into time and what you would see and do.
Social Studies: Discuss what kinds of things you would run into if you traveled back into time during a certain time period. Give groups different time periods and see what they come up with.
Ross uses small illustrations throughout the story to increase the flow and to add more detail to the story. The illustrations break up the text and also paint a better picture for some of the things that may be a little abstract for a 2nd grader to think about. The cover shows a picture of a young boy (Henry) and would automatically be appealing to a boy this age and likes to think outside the box. Simon’s text is large and is broken up into short sentences. The chapter length is fairly big for the age range, sometimes spanning several pages before a good stopping point. The font varies throughout the book in certain places to make it more fun and enjoyable for readers.
I would use this book as a read aloud during quiet times for the younger children and then I would use it as a book report option in classroom activities.
Content Connections: Language Arts: Write your own time machine story. Imagine going back or ahead into time and what you would see and do.
Social Studies: Discuss what kinds of things you would run into if you traveled back into time during a certain time period. Give groups different time periods and see what they come up with.
September 26, 2011
This series is on my "consideration" list to buy for the school library. I think it will be a hit with a certain group of students. It's not my cup of tea today, although even I had to smile at some of the antics. The first chapter (the hike) was my favorite. I also chuckled at the restaurant. I wasn't brave enought to try escargot while at the posh eatery overlooking a river fort, but I did eat the frog legs.
March 14, 2012
While more humorous and more grammatically correct than the Captain Underpants books, I still don't think it's great reading. BUT my 6-year old reads a lot of non-fiction so this is a welcome change of pace for him. It makes him laugh and that's a sound that I cherish, so therefore, I give it decent rating.
March 28, 2015
Horrid Henry builds himself a time machine and tricks Perfect Peter. Perfect Peter strikes back, Henry dines at Restaurant Le Posh, and he is made to go on a hike. I read this for school with a younger child to help with her reading, and I ended up enjoying it more than her! Now that shows something either about my maturity or how good these books are!
August 4, 2009
This was my first introduction to Horrid Henry, and I really liked him! The snarky sense of humor will totally appeal to kids like my daughter. The stories are short and illustrated, so they read quickly. Great for second-fourth graders.
December 6, 2016
In my opinion, I was not a huge fan of this book. It was an easy read, but I thought it was kind of boring to be honest! If you are a kindergartner teacher, then it would probably being exciting for those students, but any grade above kindergartner would be boring to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews