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katykelly's review
4.0
Children vs. Old People... plus monsters.
I was reminded a little of Anthony Horowitz's brilliant book 'Granny' while reading this - about a sadistic grandmother hellbent on using young people for her own nefarious ends. Children's books have often given us the age-old battle between brave and resourceful children and experienced and loathsome grown-ups (think Dahl's Matilda and most David Walliams' efforts), and readers take delight in putting themselves in the shoes of the protagonist as they battle superior power.
Here, the targeted loathsome ones reside in a retirement community. Duncan is left at Arthritis Hall to stay with an elderly relative while his parents visit Japan. And Ursula lives there as the caretaker's daughter. When they meet, both are aware of some strange and scary goings on, involving noises in the walls, creatures that don't seem alive, and plots involving some very cute electronic pets - Poo-Chis.
It's all rather bonkers, with some laughably odious old ladies (some playing distinctly against type) and a plot that young people will relate to - the Poo-Chis have their own planet, accessories and many obsessed fans in a shared online world.
I really liked the occasional black-and-white illustrations and the chapter headings which harked back to very old books and the chapter information that told you what the content of the forthcoming pages would be.
The story will hold the interest of primary-aged readers, and there's lots here to amuse and entertain. I enjoyed the use of electronic pets as integral parts of the story, very contemporary. And Duncan and Ursula made a good pairing, if a little conventional (on Duncan's part particularly) most of the time.
For ages 8-12.
With thanks to Pushkin Children's Books for providing a sample reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was reminded a little of Anthony Horowitz's brilliant book 'Granny' while reading this - about a sadistic grandmother hellbent on using young people for her own nefarious ends. Children's books have often given us the age-old battle between brave and resourceful children and experienced and loathsome grown-ups (think Dahl's Matilda and most David Walliams' efforts), and readers take delight in putting themselves in the shoes of the protagonist as they battle superior power.
Here, the targeted loathsome ones reside in a retirement community. Duncan is left at Arthritis Hall to stay with an elderly relative while his parents visit Japan. And Ursula lives there as the caretaker's daughter. When they meet, both are aware of some strange and scary goings on, involving noises in the walls, creatures that don't seem alive, and plots involving some very cute electronic pets - Poo-Chis.
It's all rather bonkers, with some laughably odious old ladies (some playing distinctly against type) and a plot that young people will relate to - the Poo-Chis have their own planet, accessories and many obsessed fans in a shared online world.
I really liked the occasional black-and-white illustrations and the chapter headings which harked back to very old books and the chapter information that told you what the content of the forthcoming pages would be.
The story will hold the interest of primary-aged readers, and there's lots here to amuse and entertain. I enjoyed the use of electronic pets as integral parts of the story, very contemporary. And Duncan and Ursula made a good pairing, if a little conventional (on Duncan's part particularly) most of the time.
For ages 8-12.
With thanks to Pushkin Children's Books for providing a sample reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
lucycatten's review
4.0
‘Bad people in chaotic situations are not always very fair’.
Oh my goodness, what a gorgeously topsy turvy and brilliant story from Kate Milner! There is absolutely nothing ordinary or boring about this book – kids will love it.
Meet Ursula who from the very beginning, we realise is not living an ‘ordinary’ life. We learn that she sleeps in a cardboard bed with newspaper blankets and shares only one room with her father, Mr Meager who is the caretaker for the most amazingly named retirement complex ever: Arthritis Hall. Whilst he works, Ursula explores. On the face of it, you’d think Ursula would be rather down in the dumps but there is nothing sad about this story. Ursula, like every other child in this world, covets the latest toy craze – robotic pets called Poo-Chi Pets…
Ursula’s story runs alongside that of Duncan who owns a Poo-Chi pet called Gizzmo. He also has the Poo-Chi Pet app on his phone – Poo-Chi Planet – and he plays it ALL THE TIME along with various other children from around the world: Zhang from Shanghai, coding expert Kobe from Kenya and Ratboy Ryan from Australia. At the start of the story, he is travelling to Arthritis Hall to stay with his Great Aunt Harriet. Harriet is no gentle old lady leading a quiet life. Far from it. She is a rather mad inventor whose previous successes include a mechanical armadillo and a robot postman!
As you may already have worked out, Arthritis Hall (with its executive helipad on the roof) is no ordinary retirement complex. It is managed by the tiny but terrifying Linoleum Grunt (yes, really!) who makes it abundantly clear that children are not welcome. ‘You will be required to stay in one place at all times and make no noise whatsoever’... As well as Linoleum and Harriet, it is also home to Mrs Pettigrew who turns out to be a world class computer game player and Pork Pie the cat.
But things at Arthritis Hall are not destined to just chug along peacefully. A new robotic toy is hitting the shelves. Will Googleys prove more popular than Poo-Chi Pets? There are people out there that will make damn certain of it…
‘Duncan could not help feeling that the whole world was a bit more mad than he could cope with’.
I loved the craziness of this story and read it in one sitting. Stylistically, it is different to any other kid’s book I’ve read and there is so much within it that children today will identify with that they are sure to be sucked in. Highly recommended.
Page count: 224
Age group: 8 - 10 years
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Pushkin Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my goodness, what a gorgeously topsy turvy and brilliant story from Kate Milner! There is absolutely nothing ordinary or boring about this book – kids will love it.
Meet Ursula who from the very beginning, we realise is not living an ‘ordinary’ life. We learn that she sleeps in a cardboard bed with newspaper blankets and shares only one room with her father, Mr Meager who is the caretaker for the most amazingly named retirement complex ever: Arthritis Hall. Whilst he works, Ursula explores. On the face of it, you’d think Ursula would be rather down in the dumps but there is nothing sad about this story. Ursula, like every other child in this world, covets the latest toy craze – robotic pets called Poo-Chi Pets…
Ursula’s story runs alongside that of Duncan who owns a Poo-Chi pet called Gizzmo. He also has the Poo-Chi Pet app on his phone – Poo-Chi Planet – and he plays it ALL THE TIME along with various other children from around the world: Zhang from Shanghai, coding expert Kobe from Kenya and Ratboy Ryan from Australia. At the start of the story, he is travelling to Arthritis Hall to stay with his Great Aunt Harriet. Harriet is no gentle old lady leading a quiet life. Far from it. She is a rather mad inventor whose previous successes include a mechanical armadillo and a robot postman!
As you may already have worked out, Arthritis Hall (with its executive helipad on the roof) is no ordinary retirement complex. It is managed by the tiny but terrifying Linoleum Grunt (yes, really!) who makes it abundantly clear that children are not welcome. ‘You will be required to stay in one place at all times and make no noise whatsoever’... As well as Linoleum and Harriet, it is also home to Mrs Pettigrew who turns out to be a world class computer game player and Pork Pie the cat.
But things at Arthritis Hall are not destined to just chug along peacefully. A new robotic toy is hitting the shelves. Will Googleys prove more popular than Poo-Chi Pets? There are people out there that will make damn certain of it…
‘Duncan could not help feeling that the whole world was a bit more mad than he could cope with’.
I loved the craziness of this story and read it in one sitting. Stylistically, it is different to any other kid’s book I’ve read and there is so much within it that children today will identify with that they are sure to be sucked in. Highly recommended.
Page count: 224
Age group: 8 - 10 years
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Pushkin Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
engrossedreader's review
4.0
Duncan Versus the Googleys by Kate Milner is a super read, full of good humour, fantastic feats, and friendship. These are children you wish you knew and were friends with. Deftly weaving social issues in a rip-roaring tale of heroic tweens and villainous seniors. Pleased to see the black and white illustrations at the beginning of chapters in this Kindle edition.
My thanks to Edelweiss and Pushkin Children's Books for an advanced review copy in exchange for a candid review.
Full review to follow in January 2020
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My thanks to Edelweiss and Pushkin Children's Books for an advanced review copy in exchange for a candid review.
Full review to follow in January 2020
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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