Power Up! the Pixel Portal

STEP INTO A WORLD WHERE VIDEO GAMES ARE REAL!
Power Up is a thrilling new series of illustrated chapter books packed with action and humor.

When ten-year-old Max Power finds a pixelated, glowing key in his grandad's garage, he has no idea what it can be ... but he can't help but reach out and touch it. And just like that, he's catapulted into the adventure of a lifetime!

Max finds himself in a strange world - a patchwork realm called Arcadia. This wonderful place is inhabited by strange creatures called sprites.

What's the connection between this fantastic realm and the video games Max has played in the real world? And what big secret has his grandad been keeping all these years? Max won't be able to linger over mysteries too long - because Arcadia is under threat.

A monster called the Glitch is trying to capture glowing power-ups like the one that Max found. Each key gives its user a different ability - and if the Glitch can collect them all, it will soon have ULTIMATE POWER.

An epic adventure for readers aged 7+.

Author: David MacPhail
Publisher: Arcturus Editions
Published: 01/06/2026
Pages: 144
Binding Type: Paperback
ISBN13: 9781398850651
ISBN10: 1398850659
BISAC Categories:
- Juvenile Fiction | Technology | General
- Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Intermediate
- Juvenile Fiction | Science Fiction | General

About the Author

David Macphail is a Scottish author of fiction and non-fiction for children. Fiction series include Thorfinn the Nicest Viking, which was shortlisted for the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards, as well as Velda the Awesomest Viking and Top-Secret Grandad and Me.

Miguel Díaz Rivas is a Madrid-based artist who studied Illustration at the Central Saint Martin's School of Art. His hyper-kinetic style is perfect for action-packed children's fiction. He loves making animations with After Effects and drawing comics.