kailey_luminouslibro's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Daniel and Maxie are intrigued when a new boy comes to school. They can't figure out if the new boy, George, is just a shy person or if maybe he has a developmental disorder. Max good-naturedly jokes that George might be an alien! They reach out to befriend him, but George's behavior is a little odd. George is definitely weird, but after all... everyone in school is weird in their own unique ways. Daniel and Max, along with some other friends in their class, take George under their wing, inviting him to play football/soccer with them, and they are surprised by the interesting way George becomes their friend. Could George be something more than they ever realized?
I loved this book so much! All the characters have such beautifully complex and yet somehow simple personalities; simple because they are just so relatable, so they are easy to understand, and complex with all the crazy weirdness of all humanity.
I love love loved the teachers in the school! They are so dynamic and excited about their subject. The history teacher gets everyone to imagine that they are part of an explorer ship in Magellan's time. The music teacher knows just how to develop the music talents of each student, and give them the confidence to join in. She's really inspiring! As a music teacher myself, this resonated with me in a special way.
I loved that there was no question of bullying anywhere in the class. From the moment they met him, the whole class rallied around George to support and accept him. Even when he said strange things or did something weird, no one teased or insulted him. They just tried to understand and to act with kindness. It's refreshing to have a story about a weird kid and the main plot does NOT revolve around defeating a bully as the villain.
The writing style is so thoughtful and pensive. Daniel and his friends really ponder over the big questions in life, and I loved the way that their philosophical contemplations merge into the plot and drive their actions.
The plot is a bit slow, but it feels right for this type of story. We take the time to analyze all the nuances of what Daniel and his friends value in this world, and then when the plot is pushed forward because of their values, it is so satisfying! I liked the slow plot, and it never felt like it dragged. It felt restful.
This is such a beautiful book! I loved the positive moral messages and the lovely characters and the interesting plot. There are also excellent illustrations throughout the book that brought a lot of emotion into the story!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I loved this book so much! All the characters have such beautifully complex and yet somehow simple personalities; simple because they are just so relatable, so they are easy to understand, and complex with all the crazy weirdness of all humanity.
I love love loved the teachers in the school! They are so dynamic and excited about their subject. The history teacher gets everyone to imagine that they are part of an explorer ship in Magellan's time. The music teacher knows just how to develop the music talents of each student, and give them the confidence to join in. She's really inspiring! As a music teacher myself, this resonated with me in a special way.
I loved that there was no question of bullying anywhere in the class. From the moment they met him, the whole class rallied around George to support and accept him. Even when he said strange things or did something weird, no one teased or insulted him. They just tried to understand and to act with kindness. It's refreshing to have a story about a weird kid and the main plot does NOT revolve around defeating a bully as the villain.
The writing style is so thoughtful and pensive. Daniel and his friends really ponder over the big questions in life, and I loved the way that their philosophical contemplations merge into the plot and drive their actions.
The plot is a bit slow, but it feels right for this type of story. We take the time to analyze all the nuances of what Daniel and his friends value in this world, and then when the plot is pushed forward because of their values, it is so satisfying! I liked the slow plot, and it never felt like it dragged. It felt restful.
This is such a beautiful book! I loved the positive moral messages and the lovely characters and the interesting plot. There are also excellent illustrations throughout the book that brought a lot of emotion into the story!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
hweezbooks's review
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Darwin Avenue Primary Academy is as average a school as it gets, and exactly where George gets sent to visit. This new boy is a little strange, and is constantly tailed by Miss Crystal, a lady taking notes.
George writes in perfect lines, does complicated math and plays awesome football. But as it turns out, George’s makers are the “New Life Corporation” and he’s but a million-pound investment about to be recycled into parts to make way for George Version 2.
Here’s where you begin to realise that David Almond is proving his chops again. The award-winning author of Skellig, and The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas (illustrated by Oliver Jeffers) shows all of this from the innocence of a child’s eyes.
Daniel, and his bestie, Maxie, just want to get George on his own, away from his minders, away from all the weirdos. Who’s the one that’s weird anyway?
“At one moment, he seemed like the rest of us, and the next he was hardly like a boy at all.
Maybe he’s not even human.
But he touched all of us.
And when he’s not here, it’s like he leaves a hole in all our lives.”
Almond spouts a lot of truisms and this book has such a good heart. All children are “entirely new” and to be treasured.
Lots of food for thought for young readers 9+ about what is in fact being different, and AI or not, the beauty of a child’s simplicity of purpose.
📚: @definitelybookskids
George writes in perfect lines, does complicated math and plays awesome football. But as it turns out, George’s makers are the “New Life Corporation” and he’s but a million-pound investment about to be recycled into parts to make way for George Version 2.
Here’s where you begin to realise that David Almond is proving his chops again. The award-winning author of Skellig, and The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas (illustrated by Oliver Jeffers) shows all of this from the innocence of a child’s eyes.
Daniel, and his bestie, Maxie, just want to get George on his own, away from his minders, away from all the weirdos. Who’s the one that’s weird anyway?
“At one moment, he seemed like the rest of us, and the next he was hardly like a boy at all.
Maybe he’s not even human.
But he touched all of us.
And when he’s not here, it’s like he leaves a hole in all our lives.”
Almond spouts a lot of truisms and this book has such a good heart. All children are “entirely new” and to be treasured.
Lots of food for thought for young readers 9+ about what is in fact being different, and AI or not, the beauty of a child’s simplicity of purpose.
📚: @definitelybookskids
janebranson's review
4.0
George is a new boy at Daniel's school. He is pale and tidy and he speaks rather strangely, but he's brilliant at maths and football and when he goes home for tea with Daniel, the cat loves him.
The teachers are weirdly excited about George and soon it becomes clear he isn't an ordinary boy at all, but a very intelligent, learning robot. What will Daniel and his mates do when their new friend George gets packed away in his box?
This is a brilliantly written story which lightly poses some profound questions. Why do people ever do as they are told? What makes us who we are? Who has the right to create life? Is AI a good thing? As you'd expect from Almond, the dialogue is perfectly observed and wittily done, and the relationships are real and tender. I particularly enjoyed the scenes between Dan and his mum, a beauty salon owner engaged in her own version of making people feel 'brand new'.
Accessible, pacy and thought-provoking with lively illustrations by Marta Altes, this is a great novel to read with or recommend to 9-11 year olds.
The teachers are weirdly excited about George and soon it becomes clear he isn't an ordinary boy at all, but a very intelligent, learning robot. What will Daniel and his mates do when their new friend George gets packed away in his box?
This is a brilliantly written story which lightly poses some profound questions. Why do people ever do as they are told? What makes us who we are? Who has the right to create life? Is AI a good thing? As you'd expect from Almond, the dialogue is perfectly observed and wittily done, and the relationships are real and tender. I particularly enjoyed the scenes between Dan and his mum, a beauty salon owner engaged in her own version of making people feel 'brand new'.
Accessible, pacy and thought-provoking with lively illustrations by Marta Altes, this is a great novel to read with or recommend to 9-11 year olds.
powisamy's 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.
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.
tbhonest_uk's review
5.0
Brand New Boy is a really nice read. It's all about friendship, acceptance and learning to be and love yourself. A great read for kids and adults a like, has lots of talking points and shows the power of having good friends around you.
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