Meet the Characters
TOBY
Twelve year old Toby has been a young carer since his mum fell ill two years ago. He has to do most of the household chores and no longer has time to see his friends or be the star striker for his local football team. He wants a quiet life where he can look after Mum and maybe there’s a chance she’ll get better? He definitely does not want any sort of adventure, thank you very much.
WITCH BUMBLE
Bumble is prone to clumsiness and is not the best at magic but she has the biggest heart. She’s good-natured, loyal, and always sticks up for what she believes in. With pet bat and broken broom, she has crash-landed in Toby’s attic and desperately needs his help.
WITCH WILLOW
Willow is the Head Witch of Little Witchery – a hidden city in the sky. Tall and dignified, with a mass of orange curls, she rules firmly but fairly.
BARNABY
Barnaby is Bumble’s pet bat (or fluttermouse, which is the witches’ term for a bat). He’s wary of strangers (be prepared for unexpected attacks) but once he knows he can trust you, he’ll save your life if he has to.
THE SMI
The SMI is the building which lies beyond Toby’s back garden. Surrounded by a barbed wire fence, a patch of grass called No-man’s-land, and a high, thick hedge, it’s a mysterious organisation which keeps its activities secret. Toby has no idea what the SMI does but he’s haunted by something he saw at one of the windows a couple of years ago. SMI stands for Solar Material Investigation… or does it?