Skip to main content

Blog Tour: Brand New Boy by David Almond

 * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review for part of a blog tour. All thoughts are my own. *


Title: Brand New Boy
Author: David Almond
Publisher: Walker Books
Source: From Publisher

(Bookshop UKHiveGoodreads)


Book Summary:

A warm and thought-provoking tale from a master storyteller, winner of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award and author of the Carnegie Medal-winning Skellig.

“Mam, did you think George was,” I say, “a bit … weird?”
“Weird? Yes, I suppose so. But you kids are all a bit weird if you ask me. And to tell the truth, it’d be weird if you weren’t.”

When a new boy joins the class, everyone thinks he’s a bit strange, but he’s brilliant at football and loves crisps, and that’s all that matters to Dan and Maxie. However, the truth about George is stranger than anyone could have imagined ... and more sinister, too. Can his new pals help him to become truly free?

Book Review:

Even though I am not normally a massive fan of middle grade, I have read and enjoyed some of David Almond's books in the past, so I wanted to give this one a go. I was pleased that I read this one because it captures what it is like to be a child and grow up.

So first I am going to get the negatives out the way. I think that at the start that the main characters seem to think a lot older than they were. This also seemed to match the ending, which I felt was kind of rushed, and it felt slightly strange and again, something that children would not do. I don't know, maybe it is just me.

I really did like George as a character, and I think that David Almond did a great job of building up tension in the book over his character. I liked seeing the hints towards George, and I like how I was guessing what George was until it was finally revealed. I also don't blame the kids that didn't want to find out as I would definitely be the same at 12.

Due to all of this, it did give me E.T vibes because the relationships between the characters were heightened, and David Almond does do a great job of making this really important. Especially after a major plot point happened, I felt like the characters really came together and were united for George. It was lovely about how friendship was at the core of the book.

The illustrations were also a highlight of the book, and they added to the story. I did love them, and I think that Maria and the parts of the story that she picked some features of story that were great to see in the book.

As a lot of books are set in the South, so the Northern setting was a nice change. Also, this went into the dialogue as well, so it added to to the Northern feel of the story.

The Verdict:

Brand New Boy is a great new book by David Almond that explores the heights of friendship. 

Have you read Brand New Boy? If so, what did you think about it? Let me know in the comments. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

My Reading Tastes Are Changing

For the last couple of years, I feel like this has become a reoccurring blog post but I want to talk about it now because I think something is actually happening in my reading life. My reading tastes are changing. I've felt it for a while. I haven't really been drawn to YA titles that much anymore especially contemporary. Being busy in my time, I have been really selective in the books that I pick up so for me: the shorter, the better. And when picking up shorter books, the less likely they are to be YA. The more I am exposed to more books, the more I get to read books that I connect to Some of the books that I have picked up have really surprised me because of how much I ended up enjoying them. I think as I grow older, I am looking for different stories, different experiences and different perspectives. These don't just fit the YA mould. I also have been really into different genres like horror and the occasional thriller which have not read from before and I'm interes

Favourite Graphic Novels & Manga of 2021

As I have read a lot of books this year, I always want to give graphic novels and manga their own celebration as they often get overlooked and do make up a lot of my reading. I also find that even though I read a lot of them, it takes a lot to convince me and make it a new favourite. So here are my best... Heartstopper Volume 4 by Alice Oseman  Like everyone on the internet, I too am a massive Heartstopper fan and Volume 4 is no different. I love the relationship of Nick and Charlie and the side characters also make the series. This one also explores the way that mental health can impact romance and it still does justice to the story and does not fall into cliches. I am eagerly anticipating the final volume but I don't want it to be over.  The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott by Zoe Thorogood One of the last graphic novels I read this year and the one that has the second amount of hype, The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott also leaves a lasting impression. I love a good Briti

Book Review: The Great Godden by Meg Rossoff

   * I am reviewing this book which I was gifted for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own. * Title: The Great Godden  Author: Meg Rossoff Publisher: Bloomsbury  Source: NetGalley ( Bookshop UK |  Hive |  Goodreads  |  Storygraph ) Book Summary: Everyone talks about falling in love like it’s the most miraculous, life-changing thing in the world. Something happens, they say, and you know … That’s what happened when I met Kit Godden. I looked into his eyes and I knew. Only everyone else knew too. Everyone else felt exactly the same way. This is the story of one family, one dreamy summer – the summer when everything changes. In a holiday house by the sea, our watchful narrator sees everything, including many things they shouldn’t, as their brother and sisters, parents and older cousins fill hot days with wine and games and planning a wedding. Enter two brothers – irresistible, charming, languidly sexy Kit and surly, silent Hugo. Suddenly there’s