By Mark Haddon
David Fickling Books, $15.99, 195 pages
Boom! (Or 70,000 light years) was previously written under the forgetful and unpronounceable title Gridzbi Spudvetch! in 1992 by author Mark Haddon. In the foreword, he declares only 23 people bought the book back then, but he decided to update it, give it a new name and we’re so glad he did! This truly delightful young person’s sci-fi adventure tale is sure to be a hit.
Jim lives in a small flat with his Dad, Mum and sister Becky. Your typical teenage boy, Jim and his precarious best friend, Charlie, discover that some of their teachers speak a strange, secret language when they’re alone together. This discovery leads them on a fantastical journey into space filled with chase scenes, fighting, and unbelievable travel and communication devices. Boom! delivers an uproariously entertaining story. Author Mark Haddon also wrote the critically acclaimed best seller The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-timeand many other award-winning books for young readers.