When Clark persuades his parents to let him take a part-time job he meets Tia Haines. Tia seems to have something to hide. She seems to be terrified of her domineering father and brother, her mother having left the family some years earlier.

At the same time there are a series of mysterious muggings. In all cases the victim never sees his assailant. The only evidence seems to be some small green feathers left at the scene of the crime.

When Lana Lang's boyfriend, Whitney Fordman is attacked and the takings from the family store stolen Clark finds himself embroiled in a mystery that seems to defy all explanation. As the police suspect Whitney has taken the money himself it is up to Clark to try and find the truth before Whitney is formally charged with the crime.

Flight is another of the Smallville books aimed at younger readers and, again, it is gentle and inoffensive. I was impressed by the way that the authors managed to put across various messages to the reader. One such message revolves around the way that Tia is treated by her family just because she is different and how her true friends accept her just as she is.

This was another book that helped pass the time when I couldn't sleep. Yet again it lasted for one sitting. This is helped by the fact that, being a children's book, it is shorter than most adult novels but it was the true "readability" of the story that made it impossible to put down.

I am a great believer in the need for children and young adults to read. It used to distress me that so many people felt happy to admit that they never read books. With the advent of Harry Potter things have started to change and TV tie-ins like the Smallville books will hopefully encourage these younger readers to branch out and try something new in addition to the ongoing saga of Hogwarts most famous pupil.

Although I do not have any children I do believe in the need for reading to encourage imagination and creativity. Smallville can only help with this.

(I'll get off my soap-box now!!!)