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A review by nita_kohli
What Milo Saw by Virginia Macgregor
4.0
I had heard nothing about this book or the author before I saw it first time in the library. And I just picked it on a whim. I read the blurb and thought it would be a light breezy read and I might or might not read it but let me issue it for now from the library. But, I am glad I read this book because it is so good!
Plot
The story is about a nine year old boy, Milo who suffers from retinitis pigmentosa. A disease which means that he is losing his eyesight and one day he will go blind. But for now he has a pinhole view of the world. Through his grandmother's help and through playing games with her, he is able to notice things that others don't. He notes things which others might not even to bother to have a look at.
Milo has no friends and he is really close to his gran and he loves his teacup pig, Hamlet which is much bigger than usual tea cup piglet should be.
Milo's father has left him and his mom and has gone to live with 'the tart'(as his mother calls the other woman). His mom, Sandy, decides to send Milo's grandmother to a nursing home for old people as it is getting difficult to take care of her at home. Milo is not happy about this but he is not able to stop his mom from sending his gran to the 'Forget Me Not' nursing home. He decides that he will get her back by Christmas.
But, it's not only the fact that his gran has been sent away but he feels that something is wrong in the nursing home and the headcheese, Nurse Thornhill is not treating her patients in a right manner. Milo decides to expose the wrongdoings at the nursing home with the nursing home cook, Tripi and his pig, Hamlet.
Characters
The book is full with great main and secondary characters. Each has a role to play and the secondary characters do a great job in supporting the story. I love Milo and it was fun to read how he looks at the world. His point of view on certain matters, some frivolous, some big, put a smile on my face or made me laugh. The innocence of a nine year old is well portrayed by the author in the book. Here is a glimpse: Milo's conversation with the cook, Tripi who is from Syria
'Are you from the Middle East? That's what Mrs. Harris told us it's called if you come from bits of the world that are hot and sandy and where people walk around wearing sheets.'
Tripi smiled. It was the kindest way he had been referred to since he had arrived in England. 'Yes - I am from Syria.'
I don't want to interfere but I wouldn't carry around too many backpacks if I were you.'
Tripi had heard about this: Arabs + Backpacks = Terrorists
'They could lock you up.'
'Thank you, Milo. I will bear that in mind.'
This makes you smile but also makes you think.
I also liked Tripi who is such an amazing guy but has problems of his own. Milo's mother, Sandy is a character who you might not like in the beginning but gradually you understand what is she going through as a single mother. Her husband has abandoned her and now she has to look after everything and everyone. There is no money but piles of bills to pay.
What I like
I loved everything about this book! Be it story or the line of some great characters - everything worked for me.
What I did not like
No problems as such with the book.
My final thoughts on the book
This is wonderful read and one should definitely give this book a chance. I am pretty sure that it will not leave its readers disappointed.
Read this and my other book reviews at www.book-choose.com
Plot
The story is about a nine year old boy, Milo who suffers from retinitis pigmentosa. A disease which means that he is losing his eyesight and one day he will go blind. But for now he has a pinhole view of the world. Through his grandmother's help and through playing games with her, he is able to notice things that others don't. He notes things which others might not even to bother to have a look at.
Milo has no friends and he is really close to his gran and he loves his teacup pig, Hamlet which is much bigger than usual tea cup piglet should be.
Milo's father has left him and his mom and has gone to live with 'the tart'(as his mother calls the other woman). His mom, Sandy, decides to send Milo's grandmother to a nursing home for old people as it is getting difficult to take care of her at home. Milo is not happy about this but he is not able to stop his mom from sending his gran to the 'Forget Me Not' nursing home. He decides that he will get her back by Christmas.
But, it's not only the fact that his gran has been sent away but he feels that something is wrong in the nursing home and the headcheese, Nurse Thornhill is not treating her patients in a right manner. Milo decides to expose the wrongdoings at the nursing home with the nursing home cook, Tripi and his pig, Hamlet.
Characters
The book is full with great main and secondary characters. Each has a role to play and the secondary characters do a great job in supporting the story. I love Milo and it was fun to read how he looks at the world. His point of view on certain matters, some frivolous, some big, put a smile on my face or made me laugh. The innocence of a nine year old is well portrayed by the author in the book. Here is a glimpse: Milo's conversation with the cook, Tripi who is from Syria
'Are you from the Middle East? That's what Mrs. Harris told us it's called if you come from bits of the world that are hot and sandy and where people walk around wearing sheets.'
Tripi smiled. It was the kindest way he had been referred to since he had arrived in England. 'Yes - I am from Syria.'
I don't want to interfere but I wouldn't carry around too many backpacks if I were you.'
Tripi had heard about this: Arabs + Backpacks = Terrorists
'They could lock you up.'
'Thank you, Milo. I will bear that in mind.'
This makes you smile but also makes you think.
I also liked Tripi who is such an amazing guy but has problems of his own. Milo's mother, Sandy is a character who you might not like in the beginning but gradually you understand what is she going through as a single mother. Her husband has abandoned her and now she has to look after everything and everyone. There is no money but piles of bills to pay.
What I like
I loved everything about this book! Be it story or the line of some great characters - everything worked for me.
What I did not like
No problems as such with the book.
My final thoughts on the book
This is wonderful read and one should definitely give this book a chance. I am pretty sure that it will not leave its readers disappointed.
Read this and my other book reviews at www.book-choose.com