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Just Call Me Spaghetti-Hoop Boy
My name is Adam Butters. I live on planet Earth, I like eating spaghetti hoops and I've decided I'm going to be a SUPERHERO.
Everyone loves superheroes, they solve problems and make people happy, and that's good because my mum needs cheering up. Also, I've found out that before I was adopted my real mum called me ACE. So now I've just got to prove to the world that's what I am. One mission at a time...
Everyone loves superheroes, they solve problems and make people happy, and that's good because my mum needs cheering up. Also, I've found out that before I was adopted my real mum called me ACE. So now I've just got to prove to the world that's what I am. One mission at a time...
336 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2017
18 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
About the author
Lara Williamson
8 books92 followersLara Williamson is currently attached to her computer keyboard in London. Before this she studied Fashion Design and was attached to a sewing machine in Northern Ireland. Her début MG novel A BOY CALLED HOPE will come out on March 1st 2014. Meanwhile, she is spelling out exciting words in potato alphabet shapes, looking at Uranus, thinking of zombie dogs and counting the days until she can tell everyone she is a proper author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
March 25, 2017
A lovely story about the highs and lows of family life, learning to value what you have, and self-acceptance. Lara Williamson writes about families so very well. All the characters are well-developed and unique, though a particular highlight (and lightness of touch) goes to Adam's younger sister, Velvet, and her imaginary dog, Sausage Roll! This story explores the themes of what it is to belong and what true family really is, and I think the superhero theme is sure to be a hit, too - I even had to rescue my copy several times from my Batman-obsessed three year old who'd taken a liking to the caped boy on the cover!
November 27, 2017
A lovely look at family life and what really matters this story builds from a gentle and funny start to a thoughtful and very poignant climax.
Adam Butters has always known that he is adopted and it hasn't mattered to him before but a family history project at school prompts questions in Adam's mind. Misunderstandings and snippets of overheard conversations add to Adam's confusion and he resolves to find his real mother and do something that makes him 'extraordinary' to make her proud of him too.
Lara Williamson has a knack of portraying boy characters with sensitivity allowing them to be vulnerable in a way that some authors don't. I think this is an important part of her stories. The humour is great too and the book may make you laugh and cry within pages.
I enjoyed this very much and understand why it features on award lists. Children will readily identify with the characters even if the situation is unknown to them. It also reinforces the idea that you don't have to be remarkable to matter. A reassuring message for young readers.
Adam Butters has always known that he is adopted and it hasn't mattered to him before but a family history project at school prompts questions in Adam's mind. Misunderstandings and snippets of overheard conversations add to Adam's confusion and he resolves to find his real mother and do something that makes him 'extraordinary' to make her proud of him too.
Lara Williamson has a knack of portraying boy characters with sensitivity allowing them to be vulnerable in a way that some authors don't. I think this is an important part of her stories. The humour is great too and the book may make you laugh and cry within pages.
I enjoyed this very much and understand why it features on award lists. Children will readily identify with the characters even if the situation is unknown to them. It also reinforces the idea that you don't have to be remarkable to matter. A reassuring message for young readers.
June 1, 2017
God, Lara and her distinct ability to make me cry in every book that she wrote. :')
And they aren't sad tears either. It is the kind of tears that you cried out because your heart feels warm and full and the only way to let it all out is by crying. She touched me deeply, without fails, with her words. I love this book, love it so much. My eyes were teary and eventually I cried in every few pages towards the end. You have a beautiful gift of words, Lara. I will forever adore your writing and your books. Please, never stop writing them. <3
And they aren't sad tears either. It is the kind of tears that you cried out because your heart feels warm and full and the only way to let it all out is by crying. She touched me deeply, without fails, with her words. I love this book, love it so much. My eyes were teary and eventually I cried in every few pages towards the end. You have a beautiful gift of words, Lara. I will forever adore your writing and your books. Please, never stop writing them. <3
June 3, 2017
Beautiful, hilarious & touching, with great characters & writing that made me swoon.
February 4, 2021
Great book
November 11, 2022
This was my mornings read, I thought it would be fun, something nice to start the day with. It was nice and fun, but it also made me cry in public transport.
April 4, 2017
Just Call Me Spaghetti-Hoop Boy by Lara Williamson
It's not very often I can't read and review straight away, but this is one of those rare occasions where a book touches me so deeply, I need to walk away, cry, think, and return.
Meet Adam Butters. He loves spaghetti hoops, comics, his bobble hat and his family. But there's a piece of Adam missing; he's always known he's adopted, but he knows nothing of his real mother. When his Year 6 teacher sets a class project to research their family tree, Adam decides that he knows everything about his family and it's time to find his missing piece, his real mother. How? By being super! Then everyone will be happy.
From laugh out loud funny one page to tearily touching the next, Lara Williamson takes the reader on Adam’s heart wrenching journey to discover who he is and where he belongs. Family, friendship and love flow from the page into your heart, as we discover that there is a superhero inside all of us.
For once, I won't tell you it's great for fans of… Just read it.
It's not very often I can't read and review straight away, but this is one of those rare occasions where a book touches me so deeply, I need to walk away, cry, think, and return.
Meet Adam Butters. He loves spaghetti hoops, comics, his bobble hat and his family. But there's a piece of Adam missing; he's always known he's adopted, but he knows nothing of his real mother. When his Year 6 teacher sets a class project to research their family tree, Adam decides that he knows everything about his family and it's time to find his missing piece, his real mother. How? By being super! Then everyone will be happy.
From laugh out loud funny one page to tearily touching the next, Lara Williamson takes the reader on Adam’s heart wrenching journey to discover who he is and where he belongs. Family, friendship and love flow from the page into your heart, as we discover that there is a superhero inside all of us.
For once, I won't tell you it's great for fans of… Just read it.
November 16, 2017
Sweetly naive protagonist in a KS2/3 family drama
You can't help but like Adam Butters, the adopted son who dreams of superheroes and his real mother. His family are hiding something, could it be a new baby? His best friend is upset, but Adam doesn't really notice after he finds his birth certificate and real name - Ace! And his mother's name...
Watching this boy puzzle out adult dramas and emotions is reminiscent of other books featuring naive children puzzling out the world of grown-ups. It was rather sad at times, especially when as a reader you can see the love of Adam's family for him, and the fact that his best friend is trying hard to tell his that something is wrong, that things are about to change. It's something Adam has to find out and deal with by himself.
This will engage readers aged 9 and over, with some possibly upsetting situations (adoption and abandonment) dealt with sensitively. The narrator captured Adam's young voice nicely (audiobook version read).
You can't help but like Adam Butters, the adopted son who dreams of superheroes and his real mother. His family are hiding something, could it be a new baby? His best friend is upset, but Adam doesn't really notice after he finds his birth certificate and real name - Ace! And his mother's name...
Watching this boy puzzle out adult dramas and emotions is reminiscent of other books featuring naive children puzzling out the world of grown-ups. It was rather sad at times, especially when as a reader you can see the love of Adam's family for him, and the fact that his best friend is trying hard to tell his that something is wrong, that things are about to change. It's something Adam has to find out and deal with by himself.
This will engage readers aged 9 and over, with some possibly upsetting situations (adoption and abandonment) dealt with sensitively. The narrator captured Adam's young voice nicely (audiobook version read).
May 13, 2017
Adam is a normal eleven year-old boy. He likes spaghetti hoops and always wear a bobble hat. He’s also adopted but he never thought about his real parents; he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else on the planet than with the parents he already has. But when his teacher comes up with the idea of a family tree project everything changes.
This great story is sometimes happy, sometimes funny and some parts nearly made me cry. Lara Williamson has done a brilliant job with this book; the characters seemed to come to life even though I knew they were fictional. My favourite part was when Adam and his friend had to travel down the street in a wheelie bin!
This is definitely a must read for 9-12 year olds. I’m going to tell Alex, one of my brothers, that he should read this book next. I’ve also read A Boy Called Hope by Lara Williamson and I would recommend that one too.
This great story is sometimes happy, sometimes funny and some parts nearly made me cry. Lara Williamson has done a brilliant job with this book; the characters seemed to come to life even though I knew they were fictional. My favourite part was when Adam and his friend had to travel down the street in a wheelie bin!
This is definitely a must read for 9-12 year olds. I’m going to tell Alex, one of my brothers, that he should read this book next. I’ve also read A Boy Called Hope by Lara Williamson and I would recommend that one too.
April 17, 2020
This was a great book that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. Adam is in year 6 (UK year 6 is 5th grade equivalent, last year of primary schooling) adopted and when the school start a project on family trees he decides to seek out an envelope that was being kept for him when he would turn 16, and which tells him who his real mother is. This sets of a chain of events, misunderstandings and chance encounters that lead to a wonderful and heartwarming climax.
The characters in this book are very well done, and there is plenty of humour, and more than one story thread to keep the reader interested. Clever writing and a great protagonist in Adam made this a standout book. It may not be an all time favourite of mine but I was very glad to read it. The ending was beautifully done, and very satisfying.
The characters in this book are very well done, and there is plenty of humour, and more than one story thread to keep the reader interested. Clever writing and a great protagonist in Adam made this a standout book. It may not be an all time favourite of mine but I was very glad to read it. The ending was beautifully done, and very satisfying.
November 23, 2018
Hea õppetund iseendale, et pealkirjal ei tohiks end kõigutada lasta. Mingil põhjusel mulle see pealkiri lihtsalt ei meeldi, ei eesti ega inglise keeles. Aga IBBY sügisõhtul loeti raamatust lõik ette ja see haaras tähelepanu. Ja kui ka tõlkijaga tutvusin, siis no kuidas ma saaksin selle raamatu lugemata jätta? Ja tegelikult oli mõnusalt kirja pandud. Hea pilguheit laste maailma ja sellesse, kuidas nemad maailma mõistavad. Mõni väike tähelepanek ja kogu nende maailm võib olla selliselt pea peale olla pööratud, et ümbritsevad täiskasvanud midagi aru ei saa. Mulle meeldib ka see, et peategelane on adopteeritud, mis on muidugi selle raamatu juures ka eriti vajalik. Igal juhul julgen soovitada nii lastele kui täiskasvanutele.
January 31, 2019
Raamat adopteeritud poisist Adamist. Juhuslikult pealtkuulatud kõne põhjal järeldab ta, et tema kasuema ootab last ja seetõttu tahab ta Adami ära anda. Adam hakkab siis otsima oma pärisema, et tema juurde elama minna.
Hästi vastandlikke tundeid tekitav raamat. Ühest küljest on raamatus naljakaid seiku, kuid üldine alatoon on tohutult kurb - adopteeritud lapse mure, et teda ei armastata ja et tal oleks pärisema juures parem, kuigi kasupere on ideaalilähedane. Kogu aeg tahaks öelda: "No rääkige üksteisega!" Igal juhul mul oli kogu aeg klomp kurgus.
Kindlasti peaks seda raamatut lugema need, kellel on kokkupuuteid adopteeritud lastega.
Hästi vastandlikke tundeid tekitav raamat. Ühest küljest on raamatus naljakaid seiku, kuid üldine alatoon on tohutult kurb - adopteeritud lapse mure, et teda ei armastata ja et tal oleks pärisema juures parem, kuigi kasupere on ideaalilähedane. Kogu aeg tahaks öelda: "No rääkige üksteisega!" Igal juhul mul oli kogu aeg klomp kurgus.
Kindlasti peaks seda raamatut lugema need, kellel on kokkupuuteid adopteeritud lastega.
July 5, 2017
A great book for boys (of course I'm certain girls will love it to). I really enjoyed reading this book and read it start to finish in 2.5 days, which says a lot in the life of a busy teacher. One chapter before bed turned into 3 or 4. It will certainly be making it's way on to my class bookshelf and I will be recommending it to pupils, especially those boys not yet gripped by the reading bug. Between this and David Solomans 'My Brother Is A Superhero' (which I read just before this) the boys are finally getting a bit more choice and seeing books which incorporate their love of comics.
November 22, 2017
This is just adorable! I really felt for Adam. He's such a lovely, genuine character who tries desperately to do the right thing - even if he isn't sure what that thing is. I knew he must have got the wrong end of the stick, but I didn't figure out what was really going on (well, partly I did - the birthday present WAS a big giveaway!). The ending is so heartwarming - I especially love the letter Adam writes. Definitely recommend.
September 21, 2018
I enjoyed this book very much. We follow Adam's journey as he tries to find out about himself. He knows he is adopted and that his forever family loves him but he needs that little bit more. This book made me smile and brought me close to tears. Maybe people who work with children who may be adopted/fostered should read this, it may help them to understand the battles that go on within such a child's mind.
May 22, 2017
Finished this superbly heroic read last night.
Glorious characters (especially the wonderful Mrs Chatterjee😍), laughter, love & most importantly compassion. There's a particularly funny scene involving a wheelie bin which I've now read 4 times at the request of my children.
Like all of Lara's books this is one which will appeal to all readers.
Glorious characters (especially the wonderful Mrs Chatterjee😍), laughter, love & most importantly compassion. There's a particularly funny scene involving a wheelie bin which I've now read 4 times at the request of my children.
Like all of Lara's books this is one which will appeal to all readers.
August 20, 2019
My eldest enjoyed this so I read it too. Enjoyable but I didn’t find the characters’ naivety — in which the plot largely hangs — quite as believable as in the other books of hers I’ve read. Still found it a fun read though.
February 25, 2018
This is a beautiful book which really shows how some adopted children feel. I would recommend this to people of all ages.
March 22, 2018
Humorously written story about being adopted, trying to find your real mother and bobble hats. I loved it.
March 27, 2020
The cover and title do not match the plot. A wonderful book that handles sensitive subjects with a careful hand.
February 26, 2021
I didn't expect to like this book so much. It's a powerful story.
I recommend this book for everyone.
I recommend this book for everyone.
March 14, 2021
Lovely story about a boy who was adopted and the struggle he had with himself and his anxiety. Well written and a lovely storyline.
October 21, 2021
I like LG
May 27, 2017
I really enjoyed A Boy Called Hope & had high expectations for this one. Glad to say I wasn't disappointed - liked the original story, the fact the main character is adopted, enjoyed the friendships & twist at the end. Although, it's not a sickly happy ending, the overly sentimental end did annoy me.
Overall, really good though & the watch part at the end was a nice touch.
Overall, really good though & the watch part at the end was a nice touch.
March 2, 2017
The cover is bright and gives a welcoming, soft feel. Its exciting and eye catching, which makes it a must to dive into. Well paced, well worded and funny. Adutls and children in there early teens, will appreciate this work of art. I read it in two long sessions, and will, indeed have already recommended others do also.
August 26, 2020
Pleasantly surprised by this book. A shortlist for the Leeds Book Awards 2018, it addresses some challenging issues faced by a vulnerable child. We go on a journey with the main character and have access to his inner most thoughts as he tries to deal with his issues.
The writer managed to bring a tear to my eye in the way the main character’s relationship is portrayed with his adopted mum.
The writer managed to bring a tear to my eye in the way the main character’s relationship is portrayed with his adopted mum.
April 20, 2017
Adam is a kind hearted and easy going boy who has a loving family and an obsession with superheroes. He has always known he is adopted and has been fine with that; however, a series of events in his life make him start to question his origins. Firstly, at school there is the Family Tree project which makes Adam start to think about finding his birth mother and father and secondly, his parents are acting rather strange – there is much whispering and he knows they are keeping secrets. This is a humorous story of miscommunication where Adam gets many of the details wrong and makes way too many assumptions. Adam is a flawed hero but one who learns that love comes in many forms.
Suitable for 8+ humour, family drama, adoption, super heroes.
Suitable for 8+ humour, family drama, adoption, super heroes.
April 17, 2017
Values are at the heart of our behaviour, and family values form the foundation of our lives. Lara Williamson, in her third book, continues with the theme of the importance of family life and successfully demonstrates how values matter.
In this adventure, her young hero Adam is eleven years old, and although he has always known he’s adopted, a school project on tracing your family tree brings it to the fore. Adam is growing up and has lots of questions about who his mother is, and why she abandoned him. Aided by his school friend he sets off on a mission to find her.
Life in his adoptive family goes on, and Adam is caught between what he has and what he thinks life might be like if he found his birth mother. The truth is quite different. When his adoptive family is threatened by illness and the potential loss of a loved one, he realises what he has and the unique place the heart of a family is.
The mood of the book is positive, and the tone comical. It’s a faced paced story which addresses potent issues. A must read for tweens and adults alike. Thank you, Lara, for another splendid book.
In this adventure, her young hero Adam is eleven years old, and although he has always known he’s adopted, a school project on tracing your family tree brings it to the fore. Adam is growing up and has lots of questions about who his mother is, and why she abandoned him. Aided by his school friend he sets off on a mission to find her.
Life in his adoptive family goes on, and Adam is caught between what he has and what he thinks life might be like if he found his birth mother. The truth is quite different. When his adoptive family is threatened by illness and the potential loss of a loved one, he realises what he has and the unique place the heart of a family is.
The mood of the book is positive, and the tone comical. It’s a faced paced story which addresses potent issues. A must read for tweens and adults alike. Thank you, Lara, for another splendid book.
April 20, 2017
I really like Lara Williamson's books!
December 1, 2017
Decent contemporary junior fiction with enough plot twists to engage the reader and a diverse range of characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews