The Spook's Apprentice, written by Joseph Delaney, is the first story in The Wardstone Chronicles arc of the Spook's series. The plot centres on a 13-year-old farm boy named Tom who lives in the countryside of The County, loosely based on the English county of Lancashire, where the author resides with his large family. As Tom is the seventh son of a seventh son he is able to see things others cannot, such as boggarts, ghasts, ghosts and others.
Plot
Tom Ward has lived his whole life in the County. Because he is the seventh son of a seventh son and thus has the ability to see ghosts and fight other supernatural beings, his parents have apprenticed him to the Spook, a cloaked man named John Gregory. The Spook travels the County fighting troublesome creatures such as boggarts, ghosts, ghasts and witches for the people who need these things gone. Tom will have to learn how the Spook fights "The Dark", so that he may one day become a Spook as well. The Spook tells Tom that most of his other apprentices have failed due to them being cowardly, disobedient, or deceased. It is revealed that one of the deceased was Billy Bradley, who had his finger bitten off and died from loss of blood while fighting a particularly dangerous boggart. Tom goes to live in the Spook's house in Chipenden. This house is protected from unwanted visitors by a boggart, with whom the Spook has made a contract which states that as long as the house is standing, the boggart must guard it. Tom is sent out on an errand to pick up some food for the house. He is given a strict warning by the Spook: Do not talk to women wearing pointy shoes. On his way home, some boys about the same age as Tom threaten to beat him unless he gives them some food. Tom refuses and the boys are about to beat him when suddenly a girl in pointy shoes shows up and scares them away by telling them a certain person is back. The mysterious girl's name is Alice, and she is a relative of some of the most dangerous witches in the County: Mother Malkin and Bony Lizzie.
Characters
Thomas Ward, apprentice to John Gregory and the seventh son of the seventh son.
John Gregory, the Spook for the County who mentors Thomas. He previously was a priest. He is also a seventh of the seventh son.
Alice, a young witch who befriends Tom.
Bony Lizzie, a malevolent witch and Alice's ex-teacher and her aunt. She uses Bone Magic
Mother Malkin, Bony Lizzie's aunt and a malevolent witch who was bound in a pit by the Spook.
Tusk, the son of Mother Malkin.
Mam, Tom's mysterious mother who seems to be able to look into the future.
John Ward, Tom's father.
Jack Ward, Tom's oldest brother, inherited the farm except for one room meant for Tom.
James Ward, Tom's second oldest brother, blacksmith by trade.
Father Gregory, the Spook's brother. They haven't spoken with each other in over forty years.
Film adaptation
The book was very loosely adapted into a 2014 film titled Seventh Son released in 3-D and IMAX 3D. Whilst most of the characters remain, their story has been much changed and expanded – It stars Ben Barnes, Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore. Kit Harington and Alicia Vikander were cast as Tom Ward and Alice but in June 2011 Variety revealed that Ben Barnes was cast as Tom Ward.
Drama script
In 2014, Stephen Delaney, Joseph Delaney's son, adapted The Spook's Apprentice into a 160-page play script; it is published under the title The Spook's Apprentice - Play Edition.
Other books in ''The Wardstone Chronicles''
2. The Spook's Curse 3. The Spook's Secret 4. The Spook's Battle 5. The Spook's Mistake 6. The Spook's Sacrifice 7. The Spook's Nightmare 8. The Spook's Destiny 9. Spook's: I am Grimalkin 10. The Spook's Blood 11. Spook's: Slither's Tale 12. Spook's: Alice 13. The Spook's Revenge
Related books
The Spook's Tale / Interception Point - This short story was combined with Mark Walden's Interception Point as part of a small special publication for World Book Day UK 2009 which could be purchased at that event for a £1 coupon.
The Last Apprentice: The Spook's Tale And Other Horrors - A collection of four short stories ; this is a U.S.-released compilation incorporating the earlier published The Spook's Tale.
The Spook's Bestiary - A guidebook to the creatures found in The Wardstone Chronicles universe. Published in the U.S. as The Last Apprentice - The Spook's Bestiary: The Guide to Creatures of the Dark.
The Ghost Prison - The book occupies the same world as The Wardstone Chronicles, but with different characters and story lines.
The Last Apprentice: The Seventh Apprentice - A novella featuring the Spook's seventh apprentice, a boy named Will Johnson)
