Events

2014 EVENTS:
Holly Bourne, Non Pratt and James Dawson - 30th October
Becca Fitzpatrick - 15th November

Thursday, 10 April 2014

REVIEW: What Milo Saw - Virginia Macgregor

Thursday, 10 April 2014

PAGES400
PUBLISHER: Sphere
FORMAT: Hardback
BUY ITWaterstones
RATING: 4 Stars
PUBLICATION DATE: 31/07/14

This review refers to an uncorrected advance edition.

SUMMARY
A BIG story about a small boy who sees the world a little differently Nine-year-old Milo Moon has retinitis pigmentosa: his eyes are slowly failing and he will eventually go blind. But for now he sees the world through a pin hole and notices things other people don't. When Milo's beloved gran succumbs to dementia and moves into a nursing home, Milo soon realises there's something very wrong at the home. The grown-ups won't listen to him so with just Tripi, the nursing home's cook, and Hamlet, his pet pig, to help, Milo sets out on a mission to expose the nursing home and the sinister Nurse Thornhill. Insightful, wise and surprising, What Milo Saw is a novel filled with big ideas, simple truths and an emotional message that will resonate with everyone. Milo sees the world in a very special way and it will be impossible for you not to fall in love with him, savour every moment you spend with him and then share his story with everyone you know.

REVIEW
This book is a very clever and well written novel; it addresses some very important, and sometimes touchy, subjects with sensitivity and humour throughout. I liked how each chapter was told by one of the four main characters, it gave me more of an insight into how each person viewed the events that were unfolding (I wish there had been one chapter in Hamlet's point of view, that would have been hilarious!). It played out much as I expected it to, there were no big shocks or twists, it just moved along with a lovely pace and sense that once Milo had completed his mission there would be an end of sorts, and indeed there was. I think this novel has great crossover potential, much like other child narrated fiction like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and Wonder. 

I for one will be giving it a very positive review once we get it in store. 

Can't wait to see what issues the author tackles next.

- Gem.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Content © YA Birmingham. All rights reserved.
Template by Color It YOU. Powered by Blogger.