Lee Newbery author page

Lee Newbery biography

Lee Newbery writes children’s fantasy and adventure fiction. His work includes The Last Firefox, a Puffin book illustrated by Laura Catalán and published on 3 March 2022. The Last Firefox follows Charlie Challinor, who becomes guardian of Cadno, a magical firefox cub pursued by a hunter from another world.

The Last Firefox is the first book in The Last Firefox series. The book won the Wales Book of the Year People’s Choice Award and was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize. It is aimed at readers aged eight and above, and its story includes school bullying, bravery, friendship, fantasy adventure and an adoptive family with same-sex parents.

The First Shadow Dragon, illustrated by Laura Catalán, was published by Puffin in 2023 as a follow-up to The Last Firefox. In this story, Charlie Challinor and his friends travel to Fargone to face Draig, a shadowy monster draining the life from the land.

The Moonlighters, illustrated by Geraldine Rodríguez, was published by Puffin in 2025. It follows Theo, Alistair Goodfellow and a group of runaway children called the Moonlighters as they search for four powerful Spellstones in a magical London adventure.

Newbery’s books also include The Lost Sunlion, Death Wish and Holomonsters. Penguin Random House Children’s UK acquired two young adult novels by Newbery, including Death Wish, in 2026.