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A review by katykelly
Boy in the Tower by Polly Ho-Yen
5.0
Attack the Block crossed with Day of the Triffids - a children's story? Yep.
A bloomin' good one, too. Now nominated for the Carnegie, I hope it gets more attention, as this is a suspenseful, exciting and moving story that's part family drama, part sci-fi dystopia, with a very sympathetic hero.
Ade (pronounced Add-ee) and his mum live together quite comfortably in a high rise tower block in London. Ade's best friend lives in a tower opposite. Like a typical science fiction story, one day something unusual happens that at first seems simply strange, but soon metamorphoses into something much more sinister and dangerous, as first one building falls down... then another... and another... and then people investigating begin to die as well...
We see the reaction of the average person, as Ade tries to rationalise what is going on, and then his realisation of the danger. All the while, however, Ade's mum has closed herself off from the world after an attack of some sort that leaves her almost comatose and unresponsive as her son's world becomes a scary place that it seems he must face alone. School closes, the towers now begin to fall... and soon his is the only one left standing, with Ade unable to leave for supplies, and unable to rouse his mum. How will Ade cope as the world around him collapses?
A dystopian attack story with an under-ten as the hero? Very different. But a brilliant concept. I don't think it's too scary for the age group, for while there is death and destruction, it's written subtly enough to avoid graphic description. There's a detective element as Ade tries to work out what is happening, mystery of what has happened to his mum, the thrill of the 'invaders' unveiling, and a narrator who stays fairly calm and sensible, despite his isolation and loneliness. It's a brilliant read!
I was watching the film of this in my head as I read it, it would make an excellent film (or TV series) with some strong writing and characters.
You just don't know how it's going to turn out for Ade, the writing doesn't suggest it's going to be an obvious happy ending, I certainly prepared myself for tragedy, and right up to the climax I wasn't sure how the author would choose to end it. Loved how it all ended up, and yes, there are sad moments, but it's very tense and exciting as well.
A great debut by a talented writer for children who doesn't let her readers' ages get in the way of thriling and quite deep writing.
A bloomin' good one, too. Now nominated for the Carnegie, I hope it gets more attention, as this is a suspenseful, exciting and moving story that's part family drama, part sci-fi dystopia, with a very sympathetic hero.
Ade (pronounced Add-ee) and his mum live together quite comfortably in a high rise tower block in London. Ade's best friend lives in a tower opposite. Like a typical science fiction story, one day something unusual happens that at first seems simply strange, but soon metamorphoses into something much more sinister and dangerous, as first one building falls down... then another... and another... and then people investigating begin to die as well...
We see the reaction of the average person, as Ade tries to rationalise what is going on, and then his realisation of the danger. All the while, however, Ade's mum has closed herself off from the world after an attack of some sort that leaves her almost comatose and unresponsive as her son's world becomes a scary place that it seems he must face alone. School closes, the towers now begin to fall... and soon his is the only one left standing, with Ade unable to leave for supplies, and unable to rouse his mum. How will Ade cope as the world around him collapses?
A dystopian attack story with an under-ten as the hero? Very different. But a brilliant concept. I don't think it's too scary for the age group, for while there is death and destruction, it's written subtly enough to avoid graphic description. There's a detective element as Ade tries to work out what is happening, mystery of what has happened to his mum, the thrill of the 'invaders' unveiling, and a narrator who stays fairly calm and sensible, despite his isolation and loneliness. It's a brilliant read!
I was watching the film of this in my head as I read it, it would make an excellent film (or TV series) with some strong writing and characters.
You just don't know how it's going to turn out for Ade, the writing doesn't suggest it's going to be an obvious happy ending, I certainly prepared myself for tragedy, and right up to the climax I wasn't sure how the author would choose to end it. Loved how it all ended up, and yes, there are sad moments, but it's very tense and exciting as well.
A great debut by a talented writer for children who doesn't let her readers' ages get in the way of thriling and quite deep writing.