The Mystery of the Forever Weekend

By Author / Illustrator

Lisa Thompson

Genre

Mystery & Detective

Age range(s)

Publisher

Scholastic

ISBN

9780702322648

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

11-04-2024

Synopsis

A gripping, page-turning mystery adventure from the bestselling author of modern classic The Goldfish Boy.

Cory dreads Sunday evenings. It's school the next day, where a bully is picking on him and he's struggling to keep up in class. The night before a Monday that will include a maths test and another lonely lunch break, Cory wishes that the weekend would never end... and when he wakes up the next day, time has reset itself to Sunday morning. This is amazing! He can lounge about all day watching TV, have pizza for dinner over and over again and play the lottery knowing which numbers will win big! But Cory soon longs for life to move on - can he break the time loop and bring the forever weekend to a close?

A wonderfully funny and imaginative twist on classic movie Groundhog Day. The Times has called Lisa Thompson "one of our most inventive writers for children."

PRAISE FOR LISA THOMPSON BOOKS: Goldfish Boy - "This empathetic debut is a middle-grade whodunit with a very special heart." Kirkus. "A heart-warming tale" Books for Keeps. The Light Jar - Shortlisted for the Children's Book Awards 2019, Books for Older Readers Category "Bags of empathy to a deftly plotted tale" The Guardian. "A hugely endearing boy hero" The Times. The Day I Was Erased - "Lisa Thompson's light touch in delicately exploring emotional wellbeing means the story can be enjoyed by younger children and teenagers alike and can help begin important conversations about memory loss, parental discord and the meaning of friendship." BookTrust

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Reviews

Although The Mystery of the Forever Weekend is essentially a mystery, Lisa Thompson has written an excellent book which I would highly recommend as a read-aloud during empathy day in June.

The main character Corey Turner is finding school a struggle with both his studies and his friendship groups. Will Higgs is 'stealing' his best friend Rowan, spreading nasty rumours about him and teasing him about his Dad. Dennis Turner, Corey's Dad, is the presenter on cheesy daytime TV programme 'Deja Vu'. Eternally cheerful and optimistic, Dennis does not understand the level of teasing his (z-list) celebrity status is causing his son. And Corey, caught up in his own problems and unable to see his Mum for support as she is working away, does not understand the sacrifices his Dad has made to balance working and family life.

The mystery element of the book begins when Corey wishes Monday would not come. This wish is, of course, relatable to every student reader who is anxious about the upcoming maths test or who feels wobbly about their friendships. Unfortunately for Corey, achieving his wish does not solve his problems but through an unlikely friendship with Agatha, who has her own problems, he not only learns to overcome challenges but helps others along the way and develops a closer relationship with his Dad.

The Mystery of the Forever Weekend is part humorous, part pathos, and the dynamics of friendship are explored in a way which will resonate with many readers, making the story very relatable. Trigger warning: contains story lines including bullying and the serious illness of a close family member.

320 pages / Reviewed by Ruth Cornish, school librarian