Children's Book of the Month

The Astounding Broccoli Boy by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Published by Macmillan Children’s Books, 2015.

Rory Rooney’s favourite book is Don't Be Scared . . . Be Prepared, and he knows every page off by heart, He also knows that just because something is unlikely doesn't mean it won't ever happen . . .

When on a school trip he ends up in a hospital isolation ward, far from home, his whole body having turned inexplicably green, Rory is confused and this time, quite simply doesn’t know what to do.

Worse than that, neither do the doctors. So Rory decides to take action. If this is not a virulent virus…could it be that he and his fellow sufferers are in fact superheroes? To put this theory to the test they slip out of the hospital past security each night to explore their powers around the city of London.

Rory has to work out how to handle the school bully, who it turns out, has troubles of his own. Their escapades in night time London sharing weird and wonderful adventures cements a new and unpredictable friendship.

Like all Frank Cottrell Boyce’s books, there’s more to the story than meets the eye with a generous helping of the author’s trademark style and humour. Packed with adventure and likeable characters, this is an engaging read for 8 to 12 year olds.