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The Last Pebble
From the creator and presenter of Taskmaster comes a beautifully told story of a young boy’s connection with his grandpa – and a mystery that may come between them.
"Charming and funny and uplifting. I loved it." Greg James
"As delightful as a bucket full of beachcombed treasures." Thomas Taylor
Trader and his grandpa have combed the beach of Bognor Regis for as long as he can remember, and every time they find a beautiful or special stone, it’s added to the treasure collection. But when Trader finds a particularly special pebble, he stumbles on a secret that was supposed to be kept for ever...
Can Trader and his new friend Charlotte unravel the mystery of this treasure, and return it to its rightful home?
"Charming and funny and uplifting. I loved it." Greg James
"As delightful as a bucket full of beachcombed treasures." Thomas Taylor
Trader and his grandpa have combed the beach of Bognor Regis for as long as he can remember, and every time they find a beautiful or special stone, it’s added to the treasure collection. But when Trader finds a particularly special pebble, he stumbles on a secret that was supposed to be kept for ever...
Can Trader and his new friend Charlotte unravel the mystery of this treasure, and return it to its rightful home?
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 3, 2025
12 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Alex Horne
14 books108 followersAlex Horne (born 10 September 1978) is a British comedian. He is the host of "The Horne Section", a live music variety show which has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
Horne was educated at Lancing College (Fields House, 1991–1996) and the University of Cambridge, where he was a member of Footlights.
He made his first appearance at the Edinburgh festival in 2000 with his show, "How To Avoid Huge Ships". His 2003 Edinburgh show, "Making Fish Laugh" was nominated for a Perrier newcomer award. In 2004 he won a Chortle Award for Best Breakthrough Act. His shows with Tim Key have been "Every Body Talks" and "When In Rome", both of which featured unusually extensive use of Microsoft PowerPoint for a comic act. Horne toured Roman towns of the UK with the "When In Rome" show in early 2006.
More recently he has worked alongside fellow comedian Owen Powell, in the attempt to find a person from every nationality living in London. After a year's search, they finally managed to meet people from 189 of the UN's 192 countries whilst satisfactorily proving that there is nobody in the capital from Tuvalu, Palau or the Marshall Islands.
As a solo performer, Horne then wrote and performed "Birdwatching" at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival and "Wordwatching" at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival. He has signed a two-book deal with Virgin Publishing to write up both of these stories as books. The first, entitled Birdwatchingwatching, came out early in 2009. The second came out in early 2010.
On January 18, 2007, Horne became the first ever comedian to perform in Second Life for a feature on Sky News.
As of April 2010, Horne is attempting to become the oldest man in the world with the Long Live Alex project.
In 2011 he compered "The Horne Section", a comedy variety show with live music which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
Horne was educated at Lancing College (Fields House, 1991–1996) and the University of Cambridge, where he was a member of Footlights.
He made his first appearance at the Edinburgh festival in 2000 with his show, "How To Avoid Huge Ships". His 2003 Edinburgh show, "Making Fish Laugh" was nominated for a Perrier newcomer award. In 2004 he won a Chortle Award for Best Breakthrough Act. His shows with Tim Key have been "Every Body Talks" and "When In Rome", both of which featured unusually extensive use of Microsoft PowerPoint for a comic act. Horne toured Roman towns of the UK with the "When In Rome" show in early 2006.
More recently he has worked alongside fellow comedian Owen Powell, in the attempt to find a person from every nationality living in London. After a year's search, they finally managed to meet people from 189 of the UN's 192 countries whilst satisfactorily proving that there is nobody in the capital from Tuvalu, Palau or the Marshall Islands.
As a solo performer, Horne then wrote and performed "Birdwatching" at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival and "Wordwatching" at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival. He has signed a two-book deal with Virgin Publishing to write up both of these stories as books. The first, entitled Birdwatchingwatching, came out early in 2009. The second came out in early 2010.
On January 18, 2007, Horne became the first ever comedian to perform in Second Life for a feature on Sky News.
As of April 2010, Horne is attempting to become the oldest man in the world with the Long Live Alex project.
In 2011 he compered "The Horne Section", a comedy variety show with live music which was later broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 24, 2025
The Last Pebble by Alex Horne, is absolutely brilliant, from page one up to the very last page, it’s one of my top favourite stories. In my view this exciting new children’s novel by Alex, is not only for children 9-12 but I know adults will fall in love with novel, taking you down memory lane to the beach with your children. Furthermore this story took me down my own memory lane with going to the beautiful, Bognor Regis for a family holiday many years ago.
Trader is a young 11 year old, boy, who loves going to the Bognor Regis beach finding objects with his grandpa. When Trader finds an amazing pebble, his grandpa has the ability to make Trader’s pebble clean and shiny. Everywhere Trader goes he takes his precious pebble with him as he believes it’s magical. When Trader is bullied at school he thinks it’s the magic pebble, stopped the fight. The Last Pebble by Alex Horne, is superb, absolutely superb, page-turning fun! At the back if the book is the names of the stones, which I have some crystals that are listed. With enjoying The Last Pebble so much, I do hope Alex Horne will write another children’s book.
Trader is a young 11 year old, boy, who loves going to the Bognor Regis beach finding objects with his grandpa. When Trader finds an amazing pebble, his grandpa has the ability to make Trader’s pebble clean and shiny. Everywhere Trader goes he takes his precious pebble with him as he believes it’s magical. When Trader is bullied at school he thinks it’s the magic pebble, stopped the fight. The Last Pebble by Alex Horne, is superb, absolutely superb, page-turning fun! At the back if the book is the names of the stones, which I have some crystals that are listed. With enjoying The Last Pebble so much, I do hope Alex Horne will write another children’s book.
July 21, 2025
I didn't like this from the start. The book is aimed at children and I'm not sure that children would know the word "Turmoil" and there was lots throughout that i felt were questionable.
I then found the whole concept of the story so ridiculous. I don't think I've ever known a kid to be obsessed with pebbles and think they're magical. It was laughable what the character was saying.
I maybe being a bit harsh I just found this such a silly concept and none of the characters had any depth. It was just bad.
Thanks Netgally for my copy in return for an honest review
I then found the whole concept of the story so ridiculous. I don't think I've ever known a kid to be obsessed with pebbles and think they're magical. It was laughable what the character was saying.
I maybe being a bit harsh I just found this such a silly concept and none of the characters had any depth. It was just bad.
Thanks Netgally for my copy in return for an honest review
June 9, 2025
I initially requested this because of the cover without realising it was written by the same Alex Horne we all know and love from Taskmaster. Thank you to NetGalley and Walker Books for this eArc.
The Last Pebble is a very wholesome middle grade story about a boy and his grandpa who find a special stone whilst beach-combing. But there’s more to it that’s all discovered through an eleven year olds eyes. It has all the charm of Michael Morpurgo, and it’s simple yet so well structured and concluded.
I loved the little illustrations inside of all the pebbles and the overall vibes of this book were great!
The Last Pebble comes out July 3rd, in time for the perfect little summer read!
The Last Pebble is a very wholesome middle grade story about a boy and his grandpa who find a special stone whilst beach-combing. But there’s more to it that’s all discovered through an eleven year olds eyes. It has all the charm of Michael Morpurgo, and it’s simple yet so well structured and concluded.
I loved the little illustrations inside of all the pebbles and the overall vibes of this book were great!
The Last Pebble comes out July 3rd, in time for the perfect little summer read!
June 27, 2025
Thank you to Walker Books, the author and NetGalley for a DRC in return for an honest review
This delightful childrens book, by Taskmaster genius Alex Horne, is a timeless tale about a boy named Trader. The beautiful relationship he has with his eccentric Grandpa is the emotional anchor of the story. This book could have been written in another era and yet feels so thoroughly modern. Aimed at 9-12 year olds but will surely invoke nostalgia for adults. Perfectly capturing the zeitgeist of childhood summers spent on the beach.
Trader feels different. Whilst he finds it difficult to connect to children of his own age, he has a heartwarming relationship with his Grandpa. They enjoy beachcombing and share a passion for pebbles. Trader's Grandpa invokes whimsical memories of Grandpa Joe in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, in the way he holds a kind of quiet magic. He's kind, full of stories and sees the world a little differently to other grown-ups.
Everything about this book was just perfect, right down to the beautiful cover art by Júlia Moscardó. The blossoming friendship between Trader and Charlotte was a delight to behold. I found myself smiling out loud at Trader's little observations on life, as it reminded me so much of my own Son at that age. The humour of the frequent but perfectly placed peculiar cravings of Trader's Mum littered throughout the text was amusing and knowing that Trader is named after Alex Horne's own GF brings a personal touch to the book. All the little drawings of the pebbles in between chapters and at the end made the book feel more tactile, more personal.
A reminder that childrens books can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Perfect for children and adults to read together but also to read on their own. I feel confident that this book will stand the test of time and be enjoyed for generations to come. A childrens classic in the making. The perfect blend of warmth, humour and mystery to satisfy any child, or any adult who’s ever pocketed a pebble without quite knowing why.
It just goes to show you don’t need explosions or constant action to captivate young readers. Just warmth, humour, a little mystery and a gifted author. Alex Horne spent seven years writing this book and you can feel it in every detail. It’s clearly a labour of love — gentle, thoughtful and deeply personal. I would like to say to Alex that it was totally worth the wait.
The Last Pebble is proof that quiet books can roar.
#TheLastPebble #NetGalley
This delightful childrens book, by Taskmaster genius Alex Horne, is a timeless tale about a boy named Trader. The beautiful relationship he has with his eccentric Grandpa is the emotional anchor of the story. This book could have been written in another era and yet feels so thoroughly modern. Aimed at 9-12 year olds but will surely invoke nostalgia for adults. Perfectly capturing the zeitgeist of childhood summers spent on the beach.
Trader feels different. Whilst he finds it difficult to connect to children of his own age, he has a heartwarming relationship with his Grandpa. They enjoy beachcombing and share a passion for pebbles. Trader's Grandpa invokes whimsical memories of Grandpa Joe in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, in the way he holds a kind of quiet magic. He's kind, full of stories and sees the world a little differently to other grown-ups.
Everything about this book was just perfect, right down to the beautiful cover art by Júlia Moscardó. The blossoming friendship between Trader and Charlotte was a delight to behold. I found myself smiling out loud at Trader's little observations on life, as it reminded me so much of my own Son at that age. The humour of the frequent but perfectly placed peculiar cravings of Trader's Mum littered throughout the text was amusing and knowing that Trader is named after Alex Horne's own GF brings a personal touch to the book. All the little drawings of the pebbles in between chapters and at the end made the book feel more tactile, more personal.
A reminder that childrens books can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Perfect for children and adults to read together but also to read on their own. I feel confident that this book will stand the test of time and be enjoyed for generations to come. A childrens classic in the making. The perfect blend of warmth, humour and mystery to satisfy any child, or any adult who’s ever pocketed a pebble without quite knowing why.
It just goes to show you don’t need explosions or constant action to captivate young readers. Just warmth, humour, a little mystery and a gifted author. Alex Horne spent seven years writing this book and you can feel it in every detail. It’s clearly a labour of love — gentle, thoughtful and deeply personal. I would like to say to Alex that it was totally worth the wait.
The Last Pebble is proof that quiet books can roar.
#TheLastPebble #NetGalley
September 3, 2025
*4,25 stars
Read this book in a little over 24 hours and I think it was really good! Knowing Alex Horne from his television work and having read his books from a bunch of years ago, I was curious how he'd write this. Needless to say, he did not disappoint.
The story is quite witty and educational. It was hard to guess what would happen next. That's good, but I am curious what the author had in mind when writing this. Was there a specific timeline he had in mind or was this the process of editing? Any who, I wasn't bored because of it. It did leave me wondering what would be next.
The characters are well-written. Trader is a smart boy who discovers things in his own peculiar way, which is nice to read. I like how Charlotte was written, caring and a bit of a daydreamer, but ready to take action. I personally find it hard to imagine how characters would look or act, but the writing was nice and easy, solving my questions about the characters as the story went along. I found it funny to notice things that kids would normally read over themselves and the nice confirmation when my suspicion was right.
I do wonder what age this was written for. It felt to me that it was good for 8-10 year olds and perhaps a fun book to read aloud to your kids at bedtime. I could see my godson or younger cousins getting bored if I read it as a bedtime story, because of the ''long'' chapters? Then again, they're not interested in stones. Meh. What I mean to say, it may not be for everyone. But I definitely enjoyed it.
Good book, even for adults. Defo would recommend as a nice lil read. It got me out of a reading slump, so that's good!
Read this book in a little over 24 hours and I think it was really good! Knowing Alex Horne from his television work and having read his books from a bunch of years ago, I was curious how he'd write this. Needless to say, he did not disappoint.
The story is quite witty and educational. It was hard to guess what would happen next. That's good, but I am curious what the author had in mind when writing this. Was there a specific timeline he had in mind or was this the process of editing? Any who, I wasn't bored because of it. It did leave me wondering what would be next.
The characters are well-written. Trader is a smart boy who discovers things in his own peculiar way, which is nice to read. I like how Charlotte was written, caring and a bit of a daydreamer, but ready to take action. I personally find it hard to imagine how characters would look or act, but the writing was nice and easy, solving my questions about the characters as the story went along. I found it funny to notice things that kids would normally read over themselves and the nice confirmation when my suspicion was right.
I do wonder what age this was written for. It felt to me that it was good for 8-10 year olds and perhaps a fun book to read aloud to your kids at bedtime. I could see my godson or younger cousins getting bored if I read it as a bedtime story, because of the ''long'' chapters? Then again, they're not interested in stones. Meh. What I mean to say, it may not be for everyone. But I definitely enjoyed it.
Good book, even for adults. Defo would recommend as a nice lil read. It got me out of a reading slump, so that's good!
September 8, 2025
Quite charming nerdy beachcomber family tale.
4.5 stars
I have no knowledge of the author from his TV output, so came to this as to a new writer. And I was very impressed. It's a lovely story, with wonderful characters.
Trader adores his grandfather, who may be slowing down now, but who still retains his spark for inventing and collecting finds from the beach near their homes. Trader has never found a kindred spirit at school interested in pebbles, though his grandmother in a care home and grandfather still retain this relationship.
But there's a particular pebble that comes Trader's way, that clearly has some meaning to his grandfather, but the secret of which seems maddeningly out of reach. Cue a new friend at school who actually seems interested in Trader's hobby and brings her own skills to the table in their partnership as they try to get to the heart of what his grandad seems to be withholding.
A sweet look at a loner boy finding a friend, a nerd whose quirks should be celebrated, and the family members who came before him - with all their hidden loves and history and stories.
Lovely to see passions like this brought to life for children, I enjoyed the characterisation and thought the author seemed very confident in his writing, it stands up well with established children's literature and creators.
Worked well as an audiobook, the voice actor (in this case the author!) did a grand job bringing the male and female voices to life without jarring.
For ages 9 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
4.5 stars
I have no knowledge of the author from his TV output, so came to this as to a new writer. And I was very impressed. It's a lovely story, with wonderful characters.
Trader adores his grandfather, who may be slowing down now, but who still retains his spark for inventing and collecting finds from the beach near their homes. Trader has never found a kindred spirit at school interested in pebbles, though his grandmother in a care home and grandfather still retain this relationship.
But there's a particular pebble that comes Trader's way, that clearly has some meaning to his grandfather, but the secret of which seems maddeningly out of reach. Cue a new friend at school who actually seems interested in Trader's hobby and brings her own skills to the table in their partnership as they try to get to the heart of what his grandad seems to be withholding.
A sweet look at a loner boy finding a friend, a nerd whose quirks should be celebrated, and the family members who came before him - with all their hidden loves and history and stories.
Lovely to see passions like this brought to life for children, I enjoyed the characterisation and thought the author seemed very confident in his writing, it stands up well with established children's literature and creators.
Worked well as an audiobook, the voice actor (in this case the author!) did a grand job bringing the male and female voices to life without jarring.
For ages 9 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
May 27, 2025
“Mum has always said that Grandpa is my rock. She says that’s how people describe someone they can depend upon. But it’s close to being a reality with Grandpa. He’s so solid, so reliable and often so silent.”
This book made me an emotional wreck! I was always really close with my grandad, and I lost him at the start of this year - so this one really hit home for me. When I saw the dedication of ‘For Children and their Grandparents’ I knew this was going to be an emotional read.
The Last Pebble centres on a young boy’s connection with his grandpa. Thomas and his grandpa have always gone to the beach to look for special stones to add to their treasure collection. One day he finds an extra special one, one that comes with a secret supposed to be kept forever. Can he uncover the mystery and return the treasure to its rightful home?
“All my favourite memories involve finding things with Grandpa on the beach.”
This was such a beautiful story of a boy and his grandpa’s shared love of treasure hunting, whilst also navigating issues such as a grandparent being poorly in a home, finding friends and dealing with bullies.
I loved the mystery elements and the way his friendship with Charlotte developed. Also the hints about the mom!
Overall this was such a wholesome read and I’d highly recommend for little readers!
ARC copy provided by Walker Books & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This book made me an emotional wreck! I was always really close with my grandad, and I lost him at the start of this year - so this one really hit home for me. When I saw the dedication of ‘For Children and their Grandparents’ I knew this was going to be an emotional read.
The Last Pebble centres on a young boy’s connection with his grandpa. Thomas and his grandpa have always gone to the beach to look for special stones to add to their treasure collection. One day he finds an extra special one, one that comes with a secret supposed to be kept forever. Can he uncover the mystery and return the treasure to its rightful home?
“All my favourite memories involve finding things with Grandpa on the beach.”
This was such a beautiful story of a boy and his grandpa’s shared love of treasure hunting, whilst also navigating issues such as a grandparent being poorly in a home, finding friends and dealing with bullies.
I loved the mystery elements and the way his friendship with Charlotte developed. Also the hints about the mom!
Overall this was such a wholesome read and I’d highly recommend for little readers!
ARC copy provided by Walker Books & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 28, 2025
Trader likes stones; in fact Trader actually loves stones, it's a passion that he has inherited from his Grandpa. One day, Trader finds abtruky special pebble and his life changes as he learns things about others around him.
This is an enjoyable book, it's very much written in the way Alex Horne entertains - it's quite witty and amusing. The story arcs nicely and it has a great twist towards the end. The vocabulary used is approachable and understandable with there also being quite specific terminology nabkutnrocks introduced throughout.
This book could be used as a class text when learning about rocks or geology in Science - it also has themes about moving on from year 6 so may interest children in UKS2 particularly. Trader himself is a little different and doesn't fit in with his peers,. particularly at the beginning of the book - it's sensitively explored how he struggles with this.
As an adult reading it, I quite enjoyed it due to the fact I've not read a book like it before - I couldn't predict what was going to happen! It is quite a gentle story, there are no obvious moments of peril but there is adventure.
This is an enjoyable book, it's very much written in the way Alex Horne entertains - it's quite witty and amusing. The story arcs nicely and it has a great twist towards the end. The vocabulary used is approachable and understandable with there also being quite specific terminology nabkutnrocks introduced throughout.
This book could be used as a class text when learning about rocks or geology in Science - it also has themes about moving on from year 6 so may interest children in UKS2 particularly. Trader himself is a little different and doesn't fit in with his peers,. particularly at the beginning of the book - it's sensitively explored how he struggles with this.
As an adult reading it, I quite enjoyed it due to the fact I've not read a book like it before - I couldn't predict what was going to happen! It is quite a gentle story, there are no obvious moments of peril but there is adventure.
June 13, 2025
As with others reviewing this title, I was very aware of the writing style being uniquely that of Alex Horne as we see him on Taskmaster.
Gently amusing, but also subversively clever, the book revolves around Trader, his Grandpa and, something very new for Trader, his friend, Charlotte.
Trader is a beachcomber, like his Grandpa, and one day finds a very special pebble which sets in motion a whole series of events which change him forever.
There is something very comfortingly familiar and traditional about this story, but Alex Horne is never blind to the fact that Trader does have a hard time because he is different and doesn't fit in with the others around him, nor does he allow Trader a gilded childhood, there are hiccups along the way, and, ultimately, a sad understanding that age does catch up with us all.
Do I think a little of the boy Alex Horne was is in Trader? I am sure there is and that perhaps is why Trader, as a narrator feels so authentic.
I will recommend this title to several of the children I work with as a librarian and very much enjoyed my e arc supplied by Walker Books and NetGalley.
Gently amusing, but also subversively clever, the book revolves around Trader, his Grandpa and, something very new for Trader, his friend, Charlotte.
Trader is a beachcomber, like his Grandpa, and one day finds a very special pebble which sets in motion a whole series of events which change him forever.
There is something very comfortingly familiar and traditional about this story, but Alex Horne is never blind to the fact that Trader does have a hard time because he is different and doesn't fit in with the others around him, nor does he allow Trader a gilded childhood, there are hiccups along the way, and, ultimately, a sad understanding that age does catch up with us all.
Do I think a little of the boy Alex Horne was is in Trader? I am sure there is and that perhaps is why Trader, as a narrator feels so authentic.
I will recommend this title to several of the children I work with as a librarian and very much enjoyed my e arc supplied by Walker Books and NetGalley.
June 25, 2025
I’ve long been a fan of Alex Horne through Taskmaster so I was interested to see how his comedy would transfer to children’s books, and I’m so happy to see what a lovely match it is. His humour is clear throughout and you can hear his voice in the writing style, but the story is gentle and old fashioned in the best possible sense.
It tells the story of Trader, who loves to go beach combing with his beloved grandfather in Bognor Regis. One day they find an unusual stone that causes great excitement in his grandpa but Trader isn’t sure why. Is it magic? Along with his new friend, he tries to find out all about the pebble and get to the bottom of why his grandpa is now behaving so strangely.
The relationship between Trader and his grandpa is at the heart of the story and is beautifully done. The characters all manage to be funny and real and the mystery at the centre perfectly shows a child’s imagination and idea of what may be happening around them. Highly recommended and I look forward to more from the author!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
It tells the story of Trader, who loves to go beach combing with his beloved grandfather in Bognor Regis. One day they find an unusual stone that causes great excitement in his grandpa but Trader isn’t sure why. Is it magic? Along with his new friend, he tries to find out all about the pebble and get to the bottom of why his grandpa is now behaving so strangely.
The relationship between Trader and his grandpa is at the heart of the story and is beautifully done. The characters all manage to be funny and real and the mystery at the centre perfectly shows a child’s imagination and idea of what may be happening around them. Highly recommended and I look forward to more from the author!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
July 19, 2025
Many thanks to Netgalley & Walker Books for this ARC.
I am reviewing this on behalf of my nine-year-old daughter, who asked me to apply for this ARC and to read it as our bedtime book. As a fan of Alex Horne, we were both looking forward to see what he had written.
Unfortunately, she asked me to DNF at 10%. As I'm writing this to give the viewpoint of the intended audience, I did not go on to finish the book myself.
Despite having a high reading age and a good understanding of fiction, my daughter constantly interrupted my reading of the story to question words and meanings. The author definitely seemed to have a case of thesaurus-itis, choosing to use big, complicated words where much simpler words would have sufficed. It made the story overblown and grandiose and too hard to understand. It didn't allow the reader/listener to become immersed in the story and kept her at arm's length, constantly questioning what was going on.
Whereas Horne was likely going for a "Look, come join me and my fascinating pebble" narrative, instead he only got "What?" and "Who's Trader?" 8% into the book.
Unfortunately not a hit in our house. Sorry, Alex. We still like you, though.
I am reviewing this on behalf of my nine-year-old daughter, who asked me to apply for this ARC and to read it as our bedtime book. As a fan of Alex Horne, we were both looking forward to see what he had written.
Unfortunately, she asked me to DNF at 10%. As I'm writing this to give the viewpoint of the intended audience, I did not go on to finish the book myself.
Despite having a high reading age and a good understanding of fiction, my daughter constantly interrupted my reading of the story to question words and meanings. The author definitely seemed to have a case of thesaurus-itis, choosing to use big, complicated words where much simpler words would have sufficed. It made the story overblown and grandiose and too hard to understand. It didn't allow the reader/listener to become immersed in the story and kept her at arm's length, constantly questioning what was going on.
Whereas Horne was likely going for a "Look, come join me and my fascinating pebble" narrative, instead he only got "What?" and "Who's Trader?" 8% into the book.
Unfortunately not a hit in our house. Sorry, Alex. We still like you, though.
July 7, 2025
What makes The Last Pebble interesting, is that although it is written by a ‘celebrity author’, it is not written to the standard paint-by-numbers formula that is usual for that type of book. This reads like a real story, written by a real person who actually cares about the characters and the real people (like the ones we all know) who the characters represent.
It starts in quite a lowkey way and gradually moves from representing simple relationships to being a little bit of an adventure and mystery novel, where secrets are discovered and old wrongs are made right – well, it is a children’s novel – but none of this in the usual or expected way.
The characters and their quirks are believable and relatable and can be funny throughout the book but without ever being cruel and without resorting to the obvious or expected tropes. It is also very moving in parts. The Last Pebble is truly, quite an original novel both in terms of content and plot and is never patronising to its readers.
It went down well with my kids, and for that matter with their father!
It starts in quite a lowkey way and gradually moves from representing simple relationships to being a little bit of an adventure and mystery novel, where secrets are discovered and old wrongs are made right – well, it is a children’s novel – but none of this in the usual or expected way.
The characters and their quirks are believable and relatable and can be funny throughout the book but without ever being cruel and without resorting to the obvious or expected tropes. It is also very moving in parts. The Last Pebble is truly, quite an original novel both in terms of content and plot and is never patronising to its readers.
It went down well with my kids, and for that matter with their father!
August 28, 2025
Wow! You know when you read a story and think “This is going to be really sad”? That was me. But this was a heart warming story full of adventure, new friends, and loving family.
I love a story like this because it has a little bit of everything. There is Traders innocence, the growing complexity of his Grandpa, and the character growth of his new friends. The mystery that needs solving!
What starts as a pair picking up rocks on the beach, turns into an adventure of both finding out what it is and solving the mystery of the messages in the bottles.
I loved that each time things seem to hard and stressful, Charlotte comes in and completely distracts Trader by going off to the beach with him.
This is a fantastic story for all children and adults alike. You will fall in love with this family, and the ending will simultaneously bring a tear to your eye and make you go “awww”
Highly recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and W.F. Howes Ltd for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
I love a story like this because it has a little bit of everything. There is Traders innocence, the growing complexity of his Grandpa, and the character growth of his new friends. The mystery that needs solving!
What starts as a pair picking up rocks on the beach, turns into an adventure of both finding out what it is and solving the mystery of the messages in the bottles.
I loved that each time things seem to hard and stressful, Charlotte comes in and completely distracts Trader by going off to the beach with him.
This is a fantastic story for all children and adults alike. You will fall in love with this family, and the ending will simultaneously bring a tear to your eye and make you go “awww”
Highly recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and W.F. Howes Ltd for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2025
I know I'm not the aimed for demographic for this book and I don't have children. I bought it because I'm a fan of Alex Horne and I read and liked his other two (non-fiction) books. As a child I was a voracious reader and a grade A nerd before it was cool and as a child I would have loved this book and would have absolutely understood the vocabulary. I'm not particularly interested in rocks but I have my own hyper fixations and had them as a child. I remember reading the encyclopaedia and learning about all kinds of different things. I think the kind of children who use reading as a form of escapism will love the book. It's gentle and kind and addresses issues such as elderly care, bullying, and family dynamics. I enjoyed it. I have never been diagnosed as being neuro-divergent but I definitely see aspects of that in Trader and I saw those traits both in myself as a child and now I'm an adult.
July 18, 2025
While this is a book for children, former children can read it as well. As I did, nearly all in one go. It has an enjoyable plot about a boy who finds a special pebble while beach combing with his grandfather. It's a pebble that seems to be magic, as well. The mystery of the pebble, and how it got to a beach in the south of England feeds you new questions while answering others.
June 23, 2025
Pebbles can sometimes hold so much history, teaching us about the past and the land around us. Trader is about to discover a secret that is a lot closer to home with his latest find.
Readers will be swiftly absorbed by the irresistible story that the author has crafted. Trader is the type of boy that parents want to smother with love and kids can relate to as a kindred spirit. Through his shyness shines a wonderful, relatable character. The adventure holds the reader as if in a spell, and I spent a lovely evening in Trader’s world cheering him on.
Honestly, is there anything that Little Alex Horne can’t do?
I received an early copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
Readers will be swiftly absorbed by the irresistible story that the author has crafted. Trader is the type of boy that parents want to smother with love and kids can relate to as a kindred spirit. Through his shyness shines a wonderful, relatable character. The adventure holds the reader as if in a spell, and I spent a lovely evening in Trader’s world cheering him on.
Honestly, is there anything that Little Alex Horne can’t do?
I received an early copy from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
June 26, 2025
“A perfect book to read with grandchildren”
In this story we follow a boy called Trader who loves to spend time with his grandfather on Bognor beach looking for everyday treasures. One day Trader finds a very special pebble which his granddad helps him clean. There is definitely a mystery associated with this stone. His grandfather knows more than he's saying about it. Can Trader and his new friend uncover the mystery.
This is a lovely light story. Perfect for grandparents to share with their grandchildren as the granddad ends up being a bit of a hero. This would also be a great read for children who enjoy books set in the real world or who have an interest in geology.
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
In this story we follow a boy called Trader who loves to spend time with his grandfather on Bognor beach looking for everyday treasures. One day Trader finds a very special pebble which his granddad helps him clean. There is definitely a mystery associated with this stone. His grandfather knows more than he's saying about it. Can Trader and his new friend uncover the mystery.
This is a lovely light story. Perfect for grandparents to share with their grandchildren as the granddad ends up being a bit of a hero. This would also be a great read for children who enjoy books set in the real world or who have an interest in geology.
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
September 30, 2025
Trader and his Grandad are pebble collectors they search the beach in their home of Bognor Regis looking for special stones to add to their collection. Trader one day finds a pebble that is very special. Trader and his friend Charlotte try to find out the mystery of the pebble and return it where it belongs.
This was a cute and wholesome little middle grade. Can definitely tell this was written by Alex Horne.
I listened to this on audio which was also read by Alex Horne and I would highly recommend this I think he reads the story perfectly (I mean he would it's his story 😆)
Thank you to Netgalley, W.F Howles LTD and Alex Horne for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute and wholesome little middle grade. Can definitely tell this was written by Alex Horne.
I listened to this on audio which was also read by Alex Horne and I would highly recommend this I think he reads the story perfectly (I mean he would it's his story 😆)
Thank you to Netgalley, W.F Howles LTD and Alex Horne for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2025
I was asked to read this cute book by NetGalley - I know Alex Horne from appearing in the Channel 4 show - The Last Leg so was intrigued if this would live up to the Cheltenham Literature Festival pre reviews - it did.
This is an intriguing story of a young boy and the relationship he has with his grandfather who is slightly eccentric - we would all have loved a eccentric grandfather.
They find a stone on the beach and brings back things from the past as well as friendships and secrets.
Really lovely story and due for publication 3 July 2025.
This is an intriguing story of a young boy and the relationship he has with his grandfather who is slightly eccentric - we would all have loved a eccentric grandfather.
They find a stone on the beach and brings back things from the past as well as friendships and secrets.
Really lovely story and due for publication 3 July 2025.
June 18, 2025
This is a lovely, gentle story about Trader, a quirky boy who never seems to fit in, and his eccentric grandfather who makes gadgets for everything and collects items from the beach.
Set in Bognor, it brought back childhood memories of stony beaches and long summer holidays spent outdoors.
With unique takes on life, dry wit, and a little mystery, this story is perfect for kids trying to find their place in the world. Themes of friendship and family are explored, and shows how the unexpected can be just around the corner. Highly recommended for middle-grade children.
Set in Bognor, it brought back childhood memories of stony beaches and long summer holidays spent outdoors.
With unique takes on life, dry wit, and a little mystery, this story is perfect for kids trying to find their place in the world. Themes of friendship and family are explored, and shows how the unexpected can be just around the corner. Highly recommended for middle-grade children.
July 30, 2025
I love the TV show Taskmaster, so even though this isn't a book I'd usually read, I gave it a try. I read MG, YA, and adult fiction, though never stories of real people in the real world. But, since Alex Horne wrote this, I wanted to give it a chance. Unfortunately it completely did not work for me, DNFed early on.
Related, the longer a book's title is on Amazon, the less I trust it. This book's title was the longest I've ever seen by far.
Related, the longer a book's title is on Amazon, the less I trust it. This book's title was the longest I've ever seen by far.
July 2, 2025
I read this with my daughter and we both enjoyed it - its a sweet story about Trader, a schoolboy who is passionate about beachcombing and pebbles in particular, but that's really about family, the difficulties of being a bit different and lonely, especially at school, and ultimately about family and friendship.
I thought it was a nice, gentle read but with a few good little mysteries through it.
I thought it was a nice, gentle read but with a few good little mysteries through it.
July 30, 2025
I love Alex Horne, the Horne Section, his adult books, what I’ve seen of Taskmaster, and this book came highly recommended from a friend. It was an interesting concept for sure, but I think it would have worked better as a novella instead of being as long as it was. It got a bit wordy and I think some children would lose interest with the wordiness and slow pace, then several major reveals all crammed in at the end. I would definitely read another children’s book by him, though.
October 20, 2025
A sweet little book - very gentle storytelling and some nice reflections on friendship and family dynamics. I was hoping I'd be able to read it to my class as it's about a year 6 boy and is set in Bognor but sadly it feels a little young for year 6 children. More suitable I would say for year 4. Not at all bad though and much better than most efforts by comedians turned children's authors!
May 5, 2025
A gentle story of a young boy, a bit of a misfit misfit, and his relationship with his exuberant and slightly eccentric Grandpa. Finding a special stone whilst beachcombing sets off a chain of events and revelations from the past.
July 13, 2025
A nice, gentle story. Well written.
July 29, 2025
A fun read that was tough to put down. Great for kids, as long as you don't mind them picking up a geological hobby.
Read
August 20, 2025very sweet
August 30, 2025
A key element of Trader's relationship with his beloved grandfather consists of beachcombing expeditions together, which have yielded many precious treasures for the duo.
Now, Trader also has a new friend, Charlotte, to share his finds and his secrets with, and to expand the beach combing tradition to include.
A sweet story of intergenerational relationships, the magic of new friendships, and the sharing of special secrets. It gets 3.5 stars, and is particularly enjoyable in the audiobook format.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Now, Trader also has a new friend, Charlotte, to share his finds and his secrets with, and to expand the beach combing tradition to include.
A sweet story of intergenerational relationships, the magic of new friendships, and the sharing of special secrets. It gets 3.5 stars, and is particularly enjoyable in the audiobook format.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
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