Brand New Boy by David Almond – Book Review (Blog Tour)

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Brand New Boy Synopsis

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?

Brand New Boy by David Almond – Review

Last year, I read Skellig by David Almond and I loved it. I loved its whimsical fantasy and it introduced me to a whole world of middle grade fiction that I hadn’t discovered before. So when I was asked if I wanted to join the blog tour for David Almond’s new book, Brand New Boy, I was excited to see if it was as good as Skellig, which by now is a children’s classic.

Brand New Boy absolutely lived up to Skellig and I adored it. It’s the story of a boy called George who joins a new school, but his classmates think he’s a bit weird. With his blank stares, his speedy but perfect handwriting, his odd speech, and the fact that his ear falls off in class… there’s something about George that they can’t figure out, but they know something isn’t right. Is he an alien? A robot?

The thing that makes this book feel so special is the fact that the children are never mean or horrible to George. The story is told from the perspective of Dan, a boy who befriends George. Dan and his best friend Maxie are so inquisitive and interested in learning more about George, and although they have many questions (like whether he’s a robot or an alien), their intent is never to bully him or be mean; they just want to learn about him and what makes him different.

Big, important themes are explored throughout the story, like what makes us human, how to treat people who are different to us, and the importance of family and friends, among others. But every theme is dealt with in a way that feels light and accessible, and from learning about Almond’s other works, this seems to be something he does best.

I loved everything about this book. The friendships, the Northern twang, the relationship Dan has with his mum, the way Dan and his friends treat George and include him effortlessly as a part of their friendship group, and the way the children’s inquisitive minds help George grow and learn.

As you learn about George and the sinister truth about the people who made him, you start to realise what’s going to happen at the end — but it doesn’t make the ending any less emotional and bittersweet.

Summary

Brand New Boy introduces readers to important topics and themes of identity, belonging, and friendship. Perfect for old children and adults alike, this beautiful, heartfelt story will make you feel a whole range of emotions and the bittersweet ending will leave you with a smile on your face.

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