Brand New Boy

In Brand New Boy, Daniel and Maxie are two ordinary boys at an ordinary primary school in the North East. They like crisps, football, playing in the woods and pretending to be zombies. One day, George, a new boy, joins their class and there's something a bit odd about him - did his ear really fall off in the middle of a lesson?

Daniel and Maxie don't really care, though: he's impressively good at mental maths and football and he seems to like crisps, so that makes him a friend. However, as they get to know him better, they can't ignore the growing number of questions about who George really is - and the answers they find are more sinister than they could ever have imagined. By the end, Daniel, Maxie and the readers of this book are forced to confront what it really means to be human.

I loved the way this superficially straightforward story made me think deeply about humanity and morality. I loved the fact that within the story there are some optimistically positive (although never too good to be true) characters: children who accept difference, teachers who care about children, parents who listen and support. And I loved the illustrations by Marta Altes which support the characterisation and upbeat outlook.

All in all it's a charming combination of traditional first person storytelling and a serious theme in the tradition of all those books from The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler to The Boy at the Back of the Class. As a class read for Year 3 or 4, it is full of possibility for book talk about artificial intelligence and what defines us as humans. It would also make a terrific addition to any school library or book corner as a 'where next?' read for fans of school stories. Stuck on Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Try this.

320 pages / Ages 7+ / Reviewed by Louisa Farrow, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+