Brand New Boy

Description: "Mam, did you think George was," I say, "a bit ... weird?" "Weird? Yes, I suppose so. But you kids are all a bit weird if you ask me. And to tell the truth, it'd be weird if you weren't." When a new boy joins the class, everyone thinks he's a bit strange, but he's brilliant at football and loves crisps, and that's all that matters to Dan and Maxie. However, the truth about George is stranger than anyone could have imagined ... and more sinister, too. Can his new pals help him to become truly free? Review: Almond takes a thought-provoking look at AI, and what it means to be human, in an illustrated story set in the north-east of England. -- Fiona Noble * The Bookseller * Cleverly disguised as a heist, Almond 's moving page-turner ponders nothing less than humanity and free will, and how to have a great time in the woods. * The Observer (The New Review) * David Almond tackles deep philosophical themes with an invisibly light touch in this funny story about George, a new boy at school. * The Daily Mail, The Irish Daily Mail & The Scottish Daily Mail * Like so many of David Almond's books, this ends up being a celebration of humanity and wonder, and of what it feels like to be young. * The Times & The Irish Times * I really liked the plot of this book as I couldn't guess what George's secret was until it was revealed half way through. Then the story gets really exciting as the friends try to save their strange new friend. If you like exciting books that are told by the child themselves, I think you will like this book. -- Ted (Age 9) * Books Up North * Prizes: Short-listed for Little Rebels Book Award 2021 (UK). Author Biography: David Almond is the acclaimed author of Skellig, winner of the Whitbread Children's Award and the Carnegie Medal; Kit's Wilderness, winner of the Smarties Award Silver Medal, Highly Commended for the Carnegie Medal, and shortlisted for the Guardian Award; and The Fire-Eaters, winner of the Whitbread Award, the Smarties Gold Award, shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal and is the 2010 winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for writing! He lives in Northumberland. Slog's Dad was shortlisted for the 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal.