BOOK: HUMOR (ages 9-12)
Brief Description: Liam Digby is thirteen years old. Because he is extraordinarily tall for his age, and even has facial hair, he is often mistaken for an adult. Through a series of bizarre events, Liam and his friend Florida pose as father and daughter after winning a trip to Infinity Park, and end up going to space. When the mission goes wrong, will the kids and Florida's "dad," armed with a copy of How to Talk to Teens, be able to get back to earth?
Awards: Guardian Award - 2008 shortlist; Carnegie Medal - 2009 shortlist
Personal Opinion: This hilarious romp through space had me laughing out loud. What Cottrell Boyce does best is pair humor with a serious poignancy that touches the heart. While I really enjoyed the book, I must say that his book Framed still holds its first place spot on my list. Portions of the book reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory; kids with parents win a prize, and their strange relationships and focus come through. Characters in the story are particularly well drawn, exhibiting their quirks throughout the story to great effect. I thought Liam did, in fact, make a great dad as he used all his resources, including his love of the video game World of Warcraft, to see him through dealing with the kids and getting a rocket gone astray back to Earth.
Curriculum/Programming: This book would be a great supplement to both a science class on astronomy and a math course. Use it also in a home economics class to discuss family relationships and the roles a dad has in the family; compare Liam's fathering skills those of real dads.
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