The Boy in the Bubble

by Ian Strachan

'How was I supposed to know it was going to be the kind of day when you could get hit by a shooting star, or find an extra strip of gum in the pack?'

This is how Anne remembers the day she first met Adam, the boy born with no immune system. But what hope is there for a relationship with a boy whose entire life is spent protected from the outside world by a plastic tent; who has never been kissed by his mother, much less kissed by a girl?

Anne knows she can never be satisfied with being merely Adam's 'life-taster', but then comes the opportunity of an operation which could change all that.

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens, Fiction

173 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Joie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this back when I was around 12~13 years old. I was lying on my bed at way past my bedtime, and crying over the ending. The story was quite original at that time although now there are several books about this certain theme going around (a boy/girl with a very low immunity living inside a bubble). I don't know how I'll feel about it now if I re-read it, but I'll give it 5 stars for how I remember it as and what it made me feel back then.

[Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very sad, but inspiring read

[SBC · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really good read but ultimately too sad for my tastes. Shortlisted for the Whitbread Award. Anne is 15 and skinny with no boobs and friends with a girl, Mel, who is well-endowed and also goes through dates and boyfriends like tissues. A new neighbour shifts in and turns out to be Adam Simmonds, who has SCID, Severe combined immunodeficiency. It means he has no natural resistance to bacteria so any mild infections could kill him. In the past such people used to die soon after birth but now they live longer, though rarely to his age, we're told. Basically, he lives in a big plastic room. After an initial embarrassing encounter, Anne decides to do a project on Adam and they become friends, then decide to be boyfriend and girlfriend. Adam is a really nice guy, though he has a few personality quirks from having socialised little in his life. He and Anne really fall in love, but then for his 16th birthday she arranges for him to go to a movie in his portable bubble and he becomes quite famous and gets a bit arrogant and gets her to go out and try things he can't do, like galloping a horse. Then he asks her to try sex, pretty much, partially also as he feels he is holding her back and she gets so angry she starts dating Tony, a nice guy who has had a lifetime crush on Mel. They have a pretty physical relationship, which she enjoys but when it comes to the crunch she can't sleep with him because she loves Adam. She felt more touching Adam's hand through plastic than making out with Tony. But now Adam is in hospital; they think they might be able to help him by transplanting some bone marrow. He and Anne reunite and he has the operation but then he goes downhill, so he comes out of the bubble for a couple of days and for the first time in his life is able to touch people and he and Anne have a night together. Then he dies and there is the grieving process to go through. He wants her to remember him but let him go, and live as he couldn't, and she does this by symbolically releasing the balloon he gave her into the sky.

[Georgina Aristodemou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read will always remember aimed at teens/young adults but I enjoyed

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came back to me recently, I found it very moving when i read it like a decade or so ago. I don't remember much more than that.

[Sara Garden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro letto da ragazzina. La storia mi aveva toccato molto

[Twiggs Magee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story. One of my absolute favourites growing up, and is still a favourite now

[Soobie has fog in her brain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo era strano. Nel senso che trattava di un argomento poco trattato dai romanzi per ragazzi: l'immunodeficienza congenita. Il protagonista è difatti costretto a vivere dentro una bolla di plastica per evitare ogni possibile contaminazione dal mondo esterno.

Non ricordo come cominciasse la storia d'amore con la ragazza però il romanzo mi era piaciuto parecchio. C'erano un sacco di cose interessanti nella collana ex libris delle Edizioni Elle.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had to study this book at high school in 1999 (Year 9 for me), and it has stayed with me ever since. I think of it often, and other people around me often reference it. It's thought-provoking, more than anything. Books like these only come along occasionally in a lifetime! Give it a try. :-)

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in year 7, along with most of the rest of my class. Really loved it.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading this novel in high school, and it being one of my favorites!
Must re-read :)

[Barbra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I should re-read it again

[Nikhita · Rating 5 out of 5]

One word...beautiful. I will have to read this again and again.

[Kimberley Phiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and absolutely inspirational. The love story is both bizarre and normal. Remember stumbling across this in year 7 and I fell in love with the book.

[Dawn Gehler · Rating 5 out of 5]

very inspiring book and movie. It makes you think of what it would be like to be allergic to everything and have to live in a bubble without touching anyone else. or petting your animals.

[Jae-bum Jb · Rating 5 out of 5]

living and loving inside the bubble, RIP Adam

[M.H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember this book from my primary school years, and I remember that I loved it.

I think I need to get my hands on it some day in the future to be able to read it again!