Goggle-Eyes

by Anne Fine

An alternative cover for this ISBN can be found here

Kitty Killin is not only a good storyteller, but also the World's Greatest Expert when it comes to mothers having new and unwanted boyfriends. Particularly when there's a danger they might turn into new and unwanted stepfathers...

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult, 20th Century, Middle Grade, Coming Of Age, Novels

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Though readers often find themselves inadvertently laughing aloud as they read Anne Fine's novels, as she herself admits, "a lot of my work, even for fairly young readers, raises serious social issues. Growing up is a long and confusing business. I try to show that the battle through the chaos is worthwhile and can, at times, be seen as very funny." In 1994, this unique combination of humour and realism inspired the hit movie MRS. DOUBTFIRE, based on Anne's novel MADAME DOUBTFIRE and starring the late comedic genius Robin Williams.

Anne is best known in her home country, England, as a writer principally for children, but over the years she has also written eight novels for adult readers. Seven of these she describes as black - or sour - comedies, and the first, THE KILLJOY, simply as "dead black". These novels have proved great favourites with reading groups, causing readers to squirm with mingled horror and delight as she peels away the layers in all too familiar family relationships, exposing the tangled threads and conflicts beneath. (It's perhaps not surprising that Anne has openly expressed astonishment at the fact that murder in the domestic setting is not even more common.)

Anne has written more than sixty books for children and young people. Amongst numerous other awards, she is twice winner of both the Carnegie Medal, Britain's most prestigious children's book award, and the Whitbread Award. Twice chosen as Children's Author of the Year in the British Book Awards, Anne Fine was also the first novelist to be honoured as Children's Laureate in the United Kingdom. In 2003, Anne became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an OBE. Her work has been translated into forty five languages.

Anne Fine lives in the north of England and has two grown up daughters.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading Anne Fine's 1989 and Carnegie Medal winning novel Goggle-Eyes (and which is known as My War With Goggle-Eyes in the USA, probably to allude to the pan Western European anti-nuclear movement of the 1980s being a central topic, but that this in my opinion kind of feels rather unnecessarily spoilerish), I did find myself a bit confused and a trifle textually aggravated until I realised that in Goggle-Eyes, Fine is actually using a very clever and deftly managed framing device (and one that definitely leads itself well to the first person narration of Goggle-Eyes and how main protagonist Kitty's teenaged viewpoints and attitudes are rather in a constant state of flux), namely that Kitty (at her teacher's urging) is comforting distraught and hysterical classmate Helen who is majorly upset that her mother is going to be marrying a man Helen vehemently despises (and whom she, whom Helen calls Toad-Shoes). So for the length of Goggle-Eyes, Anne Fine has Kitty and Helen hiding for the entire morning in a school closet, as Kitty with much animation and passion tells Helen how just like her, she was majorly annoyed at and outraged with her divorced mother's new and seemingly steady boyfriend, how Gerald Faulkner (whom Kitty was secretly calling Goggle-Eyes because of him constantly goggling, staring at her mother) not only seemed at over fifty massively elderly to Kitty, that Gerald was insisting on calling the mother not Rosie but Rosalind, and Kitty's younger sister Judith instead of Jude and that his, that Gerald's conservative notions extended from the minor (such as turning out lights and thinking that Kitty should be helping around the house a bit more and also keeping her bedroom clean and tidy) to the major (and this being Gerald Faulkner vehemently but very much articulately disagreeing with Kitty and her mother's anti-nuclear activism, and considering nuclear weapons a necessary tool for preventing war).

But although Kitty does specifically and repeatedly relate to Helen in Goggle-Eyes that she definitely did originally respond to Gerald incredibly negatively and also that she certainly let him know that for her, he was not an acceptable boyfriend, not an acceptable partner for her mother, But conversely, Kitty also points out that she did notice (and also consider) that Judith, that her younger sister totally adored Gerald, that Gerald's home repairs and ideas were majorly helping and convenient, that he was clearly making the mother feel both happy and appreciated, and with Kitty even albeit of course a bit grudgingly admitting that some of Gerald's political and economic ideas were actually both reasonable and fair (and that when Gerald and her mother split up due to the mother getting herself arrested at an anti-nuclear demonstration and not having thought about providing child care for her two daughters whilst incarcerated, that Kitty was startled to discover she really missed Gerald and wanted him back in back in her and her family's respective lives).

Delightfully, wonderfully penned, with much wit and an appreciated sense of thematic balance, Anne Fine with Goggle-Eyes gives to readers from about the age of eleven or so onwards an engaging, thoughtful and also not afraid of admitting her mistakes storyteller with Kitty. But furthermore and very much appreciatively, Fine textually also shows both sides of the nuclear power/nuclear weapons debate, and by making neither camp villainous, by showing both the pros and the cons equally. And indeed, by leaving the question of nuclear power yes or no rather open-ended and unanswered in Goggle-Eyes, by having Gerald Faulkner appear as reasonable and that although neither he nor Kitty and her mother end up being converted, that Gerald is still going to be pro nuclear energy and nuclear weapons and Kitty and her mother against this, but that they can nevertheless be friends and even partners, Anne Fine shows with Goggle-Eyes that families can be happy and harmonious even if there are political and philosophical differences encountered, and that everyone in Kitty's new family unit, including herself and Gerald are working hard at the end of the story she tells to Helen in Goggle-Eyes to make things work out.

Four stars for Goggle-Eyes and a novel I would definitely have absolutely adored as a teenager when I was having my own often nasty confrontations with in particular my father regarding nuclear energy, with me being against and with him being for (but well and of course, if I had in fact been a teenager when Goggle-Eyes was published). And indeed, the only reason why rating for Goggle-Eyes is not five stars is that I kind of do feel a bit cheated that Anne Fine only lets Helen say that the man whom her mother is intending to marry she ice calling Toad-Shoes (but that we basically get nothing more than that and are kind of left hanging, as is Kitty herself of course).

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Growing up is a long and confusing business. I try to show that the battle through the chaos is worthwhile and can, at times, be seen as very funny" (Fine, 1994.)

I recall reading this book in year five and feeling really grown up; it was and still is more of a mature take on children’s literature. I think it would suit upper key stage 2 readers as it has some tricky words but could encourage the use of a dictionary amongst less confident readers. Fine touches on the delicate issue of broken families and how children interpret new additions to their family in the form of step parents. Fine is able to make light what some may find a delicate subject writing in a humorous yet compassionate way and in doing so provides the reader with a giggle.

Goggle-eyes is constructed to be read from the main character Kitty’s perspective. Kitty hates her mum's new boyfriend. The way in which Kitty described her first encounter with her mums’ new boyfriend was excellent “my mum busy upstairs turning herself into some simpering Barbie-doll for the sort of man she’d usually take a ten mile hike to avoid, and I’m stuck downstairs with the political Neanderthal”. Kitty isn’t happy with the whole set up and surprise surprise goes out of her way to be cheeky, she even came up with the wonderful nickname ‘goggle eyes’ for her mums’ new boyfriend. Fine ends with a great little twist which I didn’t see coming.

This would be a perfect book to give to a pupil who may be experiencing the same sort of thing as ‘Kitty’ at home; it could help a child to see the result of a new addition to the family more positively.

[elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

you know those books that come along when you need them to in your life, and you know they wouldn't mean anything to most people but for you they help you in so many ways? well this is one of those books for me. i read it exactly when i needed it, and sometimes i just reread it because i need it, and i love it, and it helps me feel safe and secure and okay with life. so. hmmm.

maybe one day i will write a semi sensible review about this book and how good it is but today is not that day so have no fear.

[Dasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice book.
I think I would have liked it when I was little.

[Chris Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books when I was young. It really holds up to a re-reading as an adult. Anne Fine really knows something about children, and humanity. And she doesn't patronise.

[Rameen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very interesting book about how the protagonist has to adjust to a new person in her life. I recommend it.
Summary:
Google's eyes is about a girl named kitty whose mother and father have divorced. Kitty lives with her younger sister Jude and her mum. And her dad lives in Berwick-upon-tweed. Her mother meets a person named Gerald Faulkner and she gives him the name google eyes as a sign of him starting too much at people. However, he doesn’t know that, and she takes an absolute dislike in him. she makes every effort to ruin the relationship between him and her mother. As he’s around too much and judges everything they do as well as coming to their special places. However, towards the end of the story Kitty acknowledges that Gerald 'Goggle-eyes is a nice person and realizes that she actually misses him when he's not around.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is perfect for children struggling to come to terms with new additions to their family in the form of stepfathers/mothers. Engagingly and humourously told, the story of Kitty highlights that people are not always as bad as they seem and making snap judgements can make a situation worse, while never losing sight of the fact that this is inevitably a difficult period of a child's life. I was also struck by the addition of climate change and nuclear protest in the younger generation, which reads now as particularly prescient in this time when children are striking for climate change and begging the older generation to do something. Anne Fine proves once again that she knows how to address children on their level.

[Lorna Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering 'Goggle-Eyes' is a children's book, I found it to be a lot more adult than I was expecting. The main character/narrator, Kitty, has a very reflective attitude which I'm not sure many children of that age actually have, and her views on environmentalism etc seemed really mature and developed. Speaking of environmentalism, I actually learned quite a lot about the CND from this book.

One thing I particularly liked was the fact that Gerald isn't portrayed as the stereotypical 'evil' stepdad, as is so often the case in children's fiction. He is shown as a complex, well-rounded character, which is backed up by Kitty's changing attitude towards him throughout the story.

[Ramona Cantaragiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me Anne Fine is at its best when she describes the experiences of parents going through a divorce or of single parents. I keep thinking about making a list of books for children that should be read by adults and every time I think of this list, Anne Fine's books are on it (I am referring to Ms. Doubtfire in particular). In Goggle-Eyes, Fine explores what happens when a single mother with two daughters starts dating a guy and the eldest daughter simply does not like him. She sees him as an intruder, as a thief who steals her mother, as an annoyance, and as a threat to their way of living and seeing the world. In this regard, Fine does a good job at portraying him as totally different from the mother, but she emphasizes the fact that he has his qualities. He is calm, highly dependable, always honest, and good-natured. He appears to understand that Rosie (the mother) has done what she could to raise her two daughters after the separation from their father, but at the same time he is not afraid to criticize some of her choices and to point out that they are illogical and hurtful in the long-run for the girls. So why is he so hated by the eldest daughter? Because he disrupts their life, comes barging in with his own view of the world and points out the inconsistencies in their own behavior. In this respect, Fine is able to masterfully adopt the perspective of the child who sees her mother changing her behavior and feels suffocated by the intruder’s overwhelming presence in the house. As in all of Fine’s books there is also a lot of humor in this one which makes the narrative run smoothly and serves as a diffuser of the tension and the drama. And what this makes this book particularly remarkable is the fact that Fine chose to use her own experience as an anti-nuclear activist to show how British people used to protest against the proliferation of nuclear technology especially in the military. Rosie is part of a group that regularly goes to protest in different forms and she sometimes takes her daughters with her. She sees nuclear power as a threat for life on the planet and she cares deeply about this. In contrast, Gerald is clearly a supporter of nuclear power considering that it is the only way to maintain peace as well as a good source of energy. It is very clever of Fine to present both sides and to make sure not to demonize or ridicule either of them. It is also very clever that she makes the two adults cohabitate in harmony despite their differences in opinions.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember as a student being in FG03 and seeing Goggle-Eyes on display thinking 'well, the title interests me but not the cover' and so I never picked it up. As years passed during my BEd degree I read a few of Anne Fine's books, The Diary of a Killer Cat and The Tulip Touch to name some and realised how talented she was as a writer. By that time, Goggle-Eyes had been forgotten and it was only when I came back to lecture that I re-encountered the very same copy of the book and thought I would read it.

Goggle-Eyes tells the story of two schoolgirls sharing their worries, frustration and anger over an unwanted man coming into their mother's (and their) life. Helly, who is normally incredibly well-behaved in the girl's school arrives one day, disgruntled and emotional: eventually storming out of the classroom. It takes an astute and knowledgeable teacher to work out why and rather than sending Helly's best friend after her, she sends the rather stand offish Kitty. Why? Because she knows that both girls have something in common. Both lives are about to change and there is little they can do about it.

Whilst some of the politicised elements of Goggle-Eyes may seem dated now, the concept of dealing with divorce and new adults coming in your life remain ever-present: I loved how both girls spend the better half of a day hiding in a store-cupboard sharing their stories. Goggle-Eyes is full of humour and sharp wit, as much as Fine's work is, but it still explores serious issues with wit and understanding. I may have waited a few decades to pick the book up but am very glad I did. Aimed more at KS3 really but some Y6s would love it.

[Sara Darr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Goggle-eyes is about a girl called Kitty, whose mother and father have divorced. Her mother then meets Gerald who Kitty takes an absolute dislike to and nicknames him 'Goggle-Eyes'. She makes every effort to ruin the relationship between him and her mother. However towards the end of the story Kitty acknowledges that Gerald 'Goggle-eyes is a nice person and realises that she actually misses him when he's not around.

Goggle-eyes is written in informal english with an element of humour, so children will be able to feel part of the story and relate to. I would recommend for Y6 upwards, possibly advanced readers in Y5 too.

[Sana Shahid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read! its so much fun!

[Dove Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my dad died when I was a kid, I was given a lot of divorce books. There were plenty of sickfic books back then, but since my family had lied to me about why he died, they gave me divorce books instead. (I have issues. But not as many as my idiotic family, with their collective room-temperature IQ.)

This was by far my favourite. I read this over and over. The story definitely spoke to me – not so much that it was relevant to my life, because it really really wasn’t – but because I just loved Kitty. She was smart and sassy, and had a lovely turn of phrase, and I would listen to her stories all day.

Reading this in my 40s hit me just the same as it did in my youth. Anne Fine is a massively underrated writer, and I was delighted to revisit this.

Also, fun side-story from the very early 00s: I was at a party thrown by a friend-of-a-friend, and while waiting for the bathroom, I started looking at the pictures on the wall. “Holy f**k!” I said in astonishment. “That’s Honeysuckle Weeks!” and the guy next to me – the host, I realised a sentence later – said, “How the hell do you know my cousin?” For about a minute we gaped at each other. Him thinking I was some creepy stalker obsessed with his family, and me being astonished I was at a party hosted by the cousin of Kitty Killin. Apparently she’d been there earlier that night but I’d missed her. (He warmed up to me once he realised I was a fan, not a creep.)

So this whole book is just a wave of nostalgia for me.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Helen Johnston rushes out of registration in tears, Kitty Killin is sent after her. Kitty is not only a great storyteller, she is also the world's leading expert in mothers with unwanted boyfriends.

So it is that Helen and Kitty spend a morning closeted together in the privacy of the Lost Property Cupboard, while Kitty tells the story of Goggle-Eyes, once the most unwanted boyfriend of them all.

Goggle-Eyes is over fifty, grey-haired and gets in the way of Kitty's time with her mother. His greatest fault, though, is that he doesn't agree with their strong-held beliefs about nuclear disarmament, and doesn't mind telling them so.

I was worried this would be lefty, preachy and patronising book where the author would state her depressing narrative without room for argument or opinion, but I was mistaken. This was a very amusing account of how a family of different characters get on despite having very different opinions on nuclear weapons, protesting, family life etc. I could imagine all the characters she created and it made for a very enjoyable read.

SPOILER ALERT BEYOND
The ending was positive without Goggle eyes changing his opinion in some awful schmaltz about how we should all agree that nuclear weapons should be eliminated now. It has made me want to have a discussion/further research about whether nuclear weapons are needed, if they have stopped future world wars etc.

Highly recommend, even for children and it is never heavy going.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book by accident and found myself liking it a great deal. The story seems simple: kid from a broken family, mother's new boyfriend, and no way everyone is going to get along. Add to this some interesting anti-nuke views, the framework of telling the story within the story, and some fairly deep commentary on how parents don't always get things right and you have something surprising and even refreshing.

This was one of those books which maybe is a little bit dated, but who really cares? It's a good book all the same, even read today as the heart of it is still very resonant with readers. We understand the pain and the difficulty in accepting someone new into the dynamic. But what I loved most was there was no glossing over the fact relationships can be hard for the adults too and no one is ever going to get it right. There's no sugary sweet happy ever after, which makes this book feel even more genuine, which I loved.

Overall, if you spot this book, grab it. You won't be sorry.

[Alya Khomenok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Книжка, которая разгоняет сама себя. Простое начало с рыдающей школьницей, которая никому не признается, что произошло, вырастает в историю о взаимоотношениях с новым человеком в семье. Главная героиня - девочка с принципами, которую сложно обвинить в подросковых глупостях. В подростковых книгах мне нравятся образы мам. Мамы всегда второстепенны, но те эпизоды, в которых они появляются, часто раскрывают очень сложные грани характера главных героев-подростков. В "Пучеглазом" она не мямля, не чудачка, не лакмусовая бумажка для своих детей. В этой истории мамы много: у нее можно учиться, с ней можно спорить, ее уважаешь. История понравится не всем детям. Но она идеальна для переживания опыта появления чужого человека в семье. Книга - друг, которому не стыдно пожаловаться на жизнь.

[Gill James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goggle-eyes is Kitty's potential step-father. He earns the title because of the way he looks at Kitty's mother. Kitty slowly get to know him and accept him for what he is. This is set in another era. The characters don't have mobile phone and Kitty and her mother are protesting abut nuclear weapons. Yet Anne Fine presents us with a problem that is recognizable even in the first quarter of the 21st century. Marriages break up and mothers and fathers acquire new partners that the children have to learn to tolerate. Kitty tells her story to another young girl who dislikes her motehr's new partner.

[Eithne Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very insightful YA book with some excellent characterisation. If anything, the adults are more clearly delineated than the children, which leaves me with a sneaking query about the intended audience. Also a wonderful cameo of a daft teacher.

It's amazing how much the politics have dated. So much that a modern child reader would require more explanation than they would reading The Secret Garden.

[Hannah Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on the recommendation of a YouTuber as it was listed as a book you could read in one sitting and described as laugh out loud hilarious. It’s definitely very smart and witty with its humour but I’m not sure about laugh out loud… I did like this story and it’s one I might recommend to some of my students. It’s also interesting that the story transcends the time in which it was set around the nuclear warfare debate and remains relevant now. I liked this book!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh, I love this book. Simple, but brilliant, and to the point. Anne Fine deals with difficult subjects and makes them accessible to children without ever being patronising or talking down to them. I love how Goggle-eyes gradually wins Kitty round, and I love the fact that Kitty and her mum are CND members. Fab book.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I read it in primary school! I can still remember the scene of the two girls at school telling the story of Goggle-Eyes. Sure, maybe if I read it as an adult it wouldn't be as good, but it's stuck in my memory all these years as being excellent.

[Tamara Zann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this one quite sweet. Kitty is a character I could find myself in and I read the book with pleasure. It was quite a short read but somehow it didn't feel short at all.

[Frida Sjöberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school.

This was an easy read. It was interesting and funny and could appeal to both children and adults.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charmante, treffende und witzige Darstellung der Schwierigkeiten mit neuen Partnerschaften der eigenen Eltern

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my type of book but enjoyed it

[Layly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este o lectura ok, însă pe care am înțeles-o mai greu...

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable easy read and a poignant reminder of the fear of nuclear disaster we all felt in the eighties.

[Madeleine Sutcliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only Ann Fine could make you love them hate them love Gerald Faulkner.

[Daisy Holt · Rating 3 out of 5]

the original cover art is better

[Blue Sakuta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for an assignment in my college, and I didn't expect to like it this much. I think this book is a great way to kind of teach children about issues that are sometimes hard to tell to them, like divorce and all that. An enjoyable book overall.