Author: Fox, James
Reading age: from c 8 years
Published on 12 September 2024 by Scholastic in the United Kingdom.
Paperback | 384 pages
196 x 129 x 26 | 272g
“A funny, tender, poignant debut with a believable,
sympathetic protagonist.” - The Guardian
“Tender, truthful and touching.”
- The Times“A really lovely book,
so tender and truthful.” - Jacqueline Wilson, bestselling
author of The Story of Tracy Beaker“Fox
writes with great warmth and humour: his triumph
is to turn this story of modern domestic strife into an uplifting
read, with plenty of surprises en route.” - Daily Telegraph
“An urgent, nuanced book.[James Fox writes a]
deceptively breezy tale of austerity and mental illness with deft
compassion; would that real kids in Solo's battered shoe should
be so lucky” - Observer“Addressing
complex real-world issues (the cost-of-living crisis,
mental health, friendship problems...) with honesty, clarity
and compassion.” - Teach Primary“Expect
to have your heart broken and mended in one
reading of this must-read novel.” - Belfast Telegraph“A
tender, moving story beautifully
capturing life in all its light and shade” - Hannah
Gold, author of Waterstones Children's Book Prize Winner The Last
Bear“It is a beautiful, heartfelt
gem of a book, I loved it.” - Tom Vaughan, author
of Hercules“This story is full
to the brim with heart” - Helen Rutter, author of The
Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh“Honest,
funny and touching, Solo's story will stay with you long
after the last page.” - Lisa Williamson“A
moving...and thought-provoking story”
- Cath Howe, author of Ella on the Outside
It's not easy to fit in when you're the boy in the suit...
Ten-year-old Solo - embarrassingly, that isn't short for anything
- just wants to be normal.
He wants a name that doesn't stand out. He wishes he had a proper
school uniform that fitted him. He dreams about a mum
who doesn't get the Big Bad Reds, like his mum
Morag.
But most of all he longs to stop crashing funerals for the free
food.
But when Solo and Morag crash the funeral of a celebrity and get
caught, the press are there to witness their humiliation. The
next day it's splashed across the papers. Before Solo knows it, he
becomes a viral sensation, and life may never
be normal again.
Solo's uphill pursuit of security, community and connection will
break your heart and then mend it.
Page-turning, moving, but ultimately life-affirming, this story
is perfect for fans of The Boy at the Back of the Class, The
Goldfish Boy, Wonder and Jacqueline Wilson.
A sensitive, empathetic, timely portrayal of a family struggling
during the cost of living crisis.
This extraordinary debut will make you laugh and cry.
