This is quite an unforgettable coming-of-age story about coping with loss, courage, the power of the imagination, and friendship. It is quite a dark story but it’s also well paced and compelling, with rich imagery, and brilliant twists and turns. The protagonist is given a chance to see that he deserves more than he thinks he does. The chance to become the hero by fighting the physical representation of his own insecurities in his own imaginary world, while also standing up to the bully in his real life. Grief and bullying are two very important themes, both tackled here well. The reader is presented with a study of bullying from all angles, including the bully and the bullied, the difficulties of speaking out and the shame of staying quiet. I really enjoyed it and so I recommend it for readers aged 11 +.
Valentina G, age 12, Munich, Bavaria
