Review: Boom! - Mark Haddon

It was a stupid, insane, suicidal idea.
Which makes it quite hard to explain why I decided to help.
I guess it boils down to this.  Charlie was my best friend.  I missed him.  And I couldn't think of anything better to do.  Really stupid reasons which were never going to impress the police, the headmistress or my parents.

Looking back, I reckon this was the moment my whole life started to go pear-shaped.

This book was originally published with the title Gridzbi Spudvetch! but was updated by the author before being re-released as Boom!

Visit Mark Haddon's website for more information

Review:
When Jimbo's older sister Becky tells him that he is about to be expelled his friend Charlie helps him bug the staff room so they can find out if it's true or not.  While they don't hear anything relating to Jimbo being expelled they do hear two of their teachers talking in a strange language that neither of them have ever heard before.  Their curiosity about this language leads them to start an investigation into their teachers which ends up having very surprising results.

I'm a big fan of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time so was keen to try Boom! but I have to admit that I didn't realise that it is targeted at a much younger age range (I'd guess somewhere between 8-11).  I don't usually read books aimed at this age range so I found the story a little less well developed that I would have liked but I think it is probably perfect for it's target audience.  As an adult you have to be able to suspend belief at the things a couple of young children manage to achieve (driving all the way to Scotland despite the fact that they've never driven before for example) but the story was a fast paced and funny read and I finished it in one sitting.

I would definitely recommend this for younger children, especially those who like science fiction stories but I don't think it will really appeal to most adults apart from as a book to read with their children.  It has left me with the strangest craving to try a cheddar cheese and strawberry jam sandwich though!

Source: Received from RHCB in exchange for an honest review

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