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The 1,000 Year Old Boy
The astonishing, beautiful new story for all readers of 10 and over from the bestselling and Costa-shortlisted author of TIME TRAVELLING WITH A HAMSTER.
There are stories about people who want to live forever.
This is not one of those stories.
This is a story about someone who wants to stop…
Alfie Monk is like any other nearly teenage boy – except he’s 1,000 years old and can remember the last Viking invasion of England.
Obviously no one believes him.
So when everything Alfie knows and loves is destroyed in a fire, and the modern world comes crashing in, Alfie embarks on a mission to find friendship, acceptance, and a different way to live…
… which means finding a way to make sure he will eventually die.
Obviously no one believes him.
There are stories about people who want to live forever.
This is not one of those stories.
This is a story about someone who wants to stop…
Alfie Monk is like any other nearly teenage boy – except he’s 1,000 years old and can remember the last Viking invasion of England.
Obviously no one believes him.
So when everything Alfie knows and loves is destroyed in a fire, and the modern world comes crashing in, Alfie embarks on a mission to find friendship, acceptance, and a different way to live…
… which means finding a way to make sure he will eventually die.
Obviously no one believes him.
411 pages, Paperback
First published January 11, 2018
1068 people are currently reading
4081 people want to read
About the author
Ross Welford
24 books318 followersRoss Welford is a British author of fantastic children's fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 564 reviews
August 25, 2023
Aidan and the unflappable (and delightful) Roxy are saddened to find that reclusive neighbour and fellow 'eleven-year-old' Alfie Monk has been made homeless after a tragedy at home, but still manage not to tell the authorities that Alfie is over 1,000 years old. This is the story of Alfie's quest for mortality!
A very well conceived and played middle-grade read that treats its children readers like adults in this fascinating look at immortality and its cons as well as its pros. This book does not presume to be at all a look at historical fiction, despite Alfie's Viking-linked past. It also plays down the fantasy elements, this is a fab read about friendship foremost. A hearty 8 out of 12, Four Star read, that I presume many like me, will just pick up for the title!
2023 read
A very well conceived and played middle-grade read that treats its children readers like adults in this fascinating look at immortality and its cons as well as its pros. This book does not presume to be at all a look at historical fiction, despite Alfie's Viking-linked past. It also plays down the fantasy elements, this is a fab read about friendship foremost. A hearty 8 out of 12, Four Star read, that I presume many like me, will just pick up for the title!
2023 read
May 26, 2018
Book Review: The 1,000-year-old Boy by Ross Welford
I guess at some point in our lives, all of us must have had this wish - of living forever. Or, even better, to be able to remain stuck at one age. To escape death. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Well, not if you are Alfie Monk. He is a 1000-year-old boy. And all he wants is to grow old and die.
The 1,000-year-old Boy by Ross Welford has easily been the book of the year for me. This is a thunderbolt of a book that has completely blown me away. I can’t remember the last time I have had so much fun with a novel. It made me smile, it made me cry. And most importantly, it made me wonder whether if having a really long life would be worth it.
Brief plot:
This is the story of Alfie Monk – an ageless (not immortal) young boy who deals with the gift/curse of living forever. Alfie has been living with his mother (who has the same gift) for the past thousand years in various parts of Britain and has seen it all – the Viking invasions, the French revolution, the World Wars and much more. He can speak in multiple languages and is extremely intelligent.
The only problem is, ‘young’ Alfie is lonely. He craves genuine companionship. But due to his condition, he is never really able to make true friends. You see, after a while, people realize that Alfie doesn’t grow up and see him as a weird kid, eventually abandoning him. After years of facing humiliation and rejection, Alfie has become secluded and avoids human company.
Both Alfie and his mother have kept their gift a secret from the world. And to avoid suspicion, they cannot remain at one place for more than a few years.
At one point, tragedy strikes Alfie’s life and he is left completely alone in the world. He is frustrated at his condition and wants to grow old. But for that he needs help.
And then he meets two friends – a young boy, Aidan, and a girl, Roxy.
Thus begins a riveting adventure that shall change Alfie’s life forever.
What I loved about the book:
This is a very unique, refreshing and moving tale that kept me engaged till its last page. It’s fast-paced, breezy and thoroughly entertaining.
Although it is 410 pages long, the chapters are short and packed with enough elements to keep you interested in turning the page over.
The narrative is split between two points of views –Alfie’s and his friend Aidan’s. This really worked as apart from Alfie narrating his life story, through Aidan’s words we also get to know a real perspective of how the outside world sees him.
For any story to connect to the reader, the protagonist has to connect to the reader. Alfie Monk is a fascinating character. He is not someone you would adore or sympathize with immediately as you might perhaps have done with August Pullman in Wonder. He is complex and you get to see so many layers in him as the story moves along. Eventually, you sympathize with him. Feel for him as he is struggles to cope with the modern world. And root for him to achieve his goal.
At the point when Alfie is left all alone, I couldn’t help but wonder – what it would have been like if I was given this gift? Sure, I would be thrilled at first. But, say after a 100 years, when I will find that I have no family and friends left and am just living on, how would that feel? As Alfie says: “without death, life is just existence”.
Another part I loved about was the character of Roxy. She is a wonderfully crafted character – a gutsy, smart, free-spirited and courageous girl who brings out the best of those around her. She is a staunch friend and has no negative bone in her body. While the book does revolve around Alfie, Roxy certainly steals the show in several scenes.
The book also has that adventurous feel to it – especially towards the end as it hurtles towards a nerve-wrecking climax.
And while the idea - of being ageless- might be far-fetched, it has been presented with a lot of realism and plenty of emotion. I was so invested in the story that I could not put it down, eagerly anticipating what awaits me in the next chapter.
The ending is so well done and so beautiful, that I felt overwhelmed. As I read the last lines of the book, I felt a tear glide down my cheek. It is after a long time I have felt this way about a story and I must thank the author for coming up with such a brilliant story. So impressed am I with his work that I have gone ahead and bought his previous two books as well. Can’t wait to begin them as well.
I leave you with the quote from this book that had a lasting impression on me:
“I long to grow up to be a man. I long to be in a hurry to do something, before time runs out. I long for the feeling that life is precious, that I have to cram as much as I can into every sun-drenched day and every frost-filled night; to know that childhood is special because it does not last forever; to have friends like Aidan and Roxy, who will not look at me strangely, and then turn away from me when I fail to age like them.”
Conclusion:
The 1,000-year-old Boy is a beautiful, thrilling, moving and brilliant story that, while being targeted at a younger audience, can be read by everyone. It has interesting and complex characters and is fast-paced and easy to read. I can already see it being made into a popular children’s Hollywood movie someday very soon – it has all the elements for it.
I give two royal thumbs up to The 1,000-year-old Boy. It will now go down as one of the best books I have read. Highly, highly recommended.
And if I ever meet the author some day, I will certainly tell him: “What an idea, Sir jee!”
I guess at some point in our lives, all of us must have had this wish - of living forever. Or, even better, to be able to remain stuck at one age. To escape death. Wouldn’t that be cool?
Well, not if you are Alfie Monk. He is a 1000-year-old boy. And all he wants is to grow old and die.
The 1,000-year-old Boy by Ross Welford has easily been the book of the year for me. This is a thunderbolt of a book that has completely blown me away. I can’t remember the last time I have had so much fun with a novel. It made me smile, it made me cry. And most importantly, it made me wonder whether if having a really long life would be worth it.
Brief plot:
This is the story of Alfie Monk – an ageless (not immortal) young boy who deals with the gift/curse of living forever. Alfie has been living with his mother (who has the same gift) for the past thousand years in various parts of Britain and has seen it all – the Viking invasions, the French revolution, the World Wars and much more. He can speak in multiple languages and is extremely intelligent.
The only problem is, ‘young’ Alfie is lonely. He craves genuine companionship. But due to his condition, he is never really able to make true friends. You see, after a while, people realize that Alfie doesn’t grow up and see him as a weird kid, eventually abandoning him. After years of facing humiliation and rejection, Alfie has become secluded and avoids human company.
Both Alfie and his mother have kept their gift a secret from the world. And to avoid suspicion, they cannot remain at one place for more than a few years.
At one point, tragedy strikes Alfie’s life and he is left completely alone in the world. He is frustrated at his condition and wants to grow old. But for that he needs help.
And then he meets two friends – a young boy, Aidan, and a girl, Roxy.
Thus begins a riveting adventure that shall change Alfie’s life forever.
What I loved about the book:
This is a very unique, refreshing and moving tale that kept me engaged till its last page. It’s fast-paced, breezy and thoroughly entertaining.
Although it is 410 pages long, the chapters are short and packed with enough elements to keep you interested in turning the page over.
The narrative is split between two points of views –Alfie’s and his friend Aidan’s. This really worked as apart from Alfie narrating his life story, through Aidan’s words we also get to know a real perspective of how the outside world sees him.
For any story to connect to the reader, the protagonist has to connect to the reader. Alfie Monk is a fascinating character. He is not someone you would adore or sympathize with immediately as you might perhaps have done with August Pullman in Wonder. He is complex and you get to see so many layers in him as the story moves along. Eventually, you sympathize with him. Feel for him as he is struggles to cope with the modern world. And root for him to achieve his goal.
At the point when Alfie is left all alone, I couldn’t help but wonder – what it would have been like if I was given this gift? Sure, I would be thrilled at first. But, say after a 100 years, when I will find that I have no family and friends left and am just living on, how would that feel? As Alfie says: “without death, life is just existence”.
Another part I loved about was the character of Roxy. She is a wonderfully crafted character – a gutsy, smart, free-spirited and courageous girl who brings out the best of those around her. She is a staunch friend and has no negative bone in her body. While the book does revolve around Alfie, Roxy certainly steals the show in several scenes.
The book also has that adventurous feel to it – especially towards the end as it hurtles towards a nerve-wrecking climax.
And while the idea - of being ageless- might be far-fetched, it has been presented with a lot of realism and plenty of emotion. I was so invested in the story that I could not put it down, eagerly anticipating what awaits me in the next chapter.
The ending is so well done and so beautiful, that I felt overwhelmed. As I read the last lines of the book, I felt a tear glide down my cheek. It is after a long time I have felt this way about a story and I must thank the author for coming up with such a brilliant story. So impressed am I with his work that I have gone ahead and bought his previous two books as well. Can’t wait to begin them as well.
I leave you with the quote from this book that had a lasting impression on me:
“I long to grow up to be a man. I long to be in a hurry to do something, before time runs out. I long for the feeling that life is precious, that I have to cram as much as I can into every sun-drenched day and every frost-filled night; to know that childhood is special because it does not last forever; to have friends like Aidan and Roxy, who will not look at me strangely, and then turn away from me when I fail to age like them.”
Conclusion:
The 1,000-year-old Boy is a beautiful, thrilling, moving and brilliant story that, while being targeted at a younger audience, can be read by everyone. It has interesting and complex characters and is fast-paced and easy to read. I can already see it being made into a popular children’s Hollywood movie someday very soon – it has all the elements for it.
I give two royal thumbs up to The 1,000-year-old Boy. It will now go down as one of the best books I have read. Highly, highly recommended.
And if I ever meet the author some day, I will certainly tell him: “What an idea, Sir jee!”
July 31, 2021
دلم تنگ شده بود برای ۴٠٠ صفحه هیجانانگیز رو در یک روز خوندن.
داستان گیرایی داشت واقعاً و خوندنش بهم خوش گذشت.
داستان گیرایی داشت واقعاً و خوندنش بهم خوش گذشت.
May 30, 2019
I read this to my 8 year old son. He'd be perfectly capable of reading it himself, but I'm glad he let me read it to him - I really enjoyed this book.
Before we get stuck into the review - the quick obligatory plug. I don't just read, I write. Mostly fantasy, but with a little English folklore on the side. Most people seem to enjoy my books and many see them as refreshingly different from the typical titles in the genre. If you're interested - check them out.
Right onto the review! So what's this book about? Well, I think it falls neatly into the YA category. The narrative POVs are all of highschool aged children, if albeit one of them is actually 1000 years old as the title suggests. The main protagonist of this story, the character whose story it is if you like, is a boy called Alve. He's living in a tumbledown cottage with his 1000 year old mother and cat, with nothing but a wireless and a bookcase for entertainment. It transpires that Alve and his mother have been living secret lives, always hiding their true age since the time of the Anglo-Saxons.
The secondary characters are a likable pair. There's slightly hard on his luck Aiden whose dad is out of work and who seems to be losing his only friends at school. Then there's the diminutive, but feisty, skip-diving Roxy Minto. A slightly mad, but kind girl who lives next door. Aiden discovers her 'Den' an old garage decorated with the spoils of her various 'skip-diving' adventures. They become friends and Roxy promises to show Aiden where a witch lives in the woods. Of course it isn't a witch, it's a woman whose given up on society and gotten sick of hiding from authorities and changing her identity. Alve has too. He yearns to grow up like a normal boy and feel the preciousness of life that you only get with a normal human lifespan, lived in the shadow of the horror of old age.
Now you'll have to bear with me a moment. The people who use the means Alve and his mother (and cat) to gain immortality are known as Neverdeads. Alve meets another Neverdead during the course of the story too. Therein lies the central plot to this book. That being that there is ONE liverperl or 'Life Pearl' left in the world. But three Neverdeads. The liverperl can be used once to stop aging and once to start it again. Aiden and his mother are the possessors of the last pearl and they hide with a plan that if one of them dies, the other will recover and use the last pearl to start the aging process again.
One thing that IS worth explaining here is that the liverperl do NOT really make you immortal. They seem to make you immune to disease and stop aging, but you can still be killed by any other normal means. This for me was something of a head-scratcher. The crux of this story is that the third Neverdead who claims to have killed Alve's father back in the Anglo Saxon times and claims that the liverperl were his and Alve's father stole them from him... Well, he want's to sell the pearl to science so scientists can synthesize the substance inside and provide freedom from age and disease for all mankind. Alve just wants to use it to grow up. (Due to a tragedy that befell his mother)
Now I have to say I'm NOT with Alve on this. If science COULD unravel the secrets of these pearls and offer them to society... Well that would be a good thing. I despise the fact that we're forced to watch people we love wither and dry like a dead leaf. Often losing their minds in tandem with their physical bodies. As humans we tend to get seventy years or so to live on average. Seventy years is NOT a long time. You spend twenty five of them growing up and learning who you are, then you spend twenty five of them nurturing, encouraging and caring for your children. By then you're 50 and your body isn't what it was. If you're lucky you'll see your grandchildren enter this world and have some time to reflect on your life and do a few the things you always told yourself you'd do but life got in the way. Then you die, you're either buried or burnt and you become nothing more than a memory and an inscription on a slab of granite. Life is harsh, it's cruel, it's savage, mainly for the shortness of it.
This is ultimately a brilliant, brilliant book. It's very well written with characters that come to life on the page. I even liked the way each chapter switched POV for each chapter and even changed the font so you always knew an Alve chapter from an Aiden chapter. I really liked the characters, particularly Roxy. She's awesome. I wish I'd had a childhood friend like Roxy.
So why not 5 stars? Simply because at the close of this book the agenda becomes clear. It's final message, is the slightly cliche, wish-washy 'Life is better because it's short.'
I don't like that message. Life is TOO short. I can't subscribe to some noble notion that it's a good thing that people I care about are growing old and dying. It isn't. It's horrible. I look in the mirror and I see a bald, old man with too many years on the clock. I don't feel like that inside. I feel like more or less the same as I did when I was 19. I'm not interested in 'adult stuff' like 'aftershave', 'the stock market' or looking for a better price on the house insurance. I like playing Xbox games, Board games and running around having fun with my kids. If I could use a liverperl to stop aging today and to never age again. I would, and I would feel no shame in doing so. Life being short isn't something to celebrate, you can dress it up all you like, but old age and dying are horrible aspects of life which we could all do without.
Martyn Stanley
Before we get stuck into the review - the quick obligatory plug. I don't just read, I write. Mostly fantasy, but with a little English folklore on the side. Most people seem to enjoy my books and many see them as refreshingly different from the typical titles in the genre. If you're interested - check them out.
Right onto the review! So what's this book about? Well, I think it falls neatly into the YA category. The narrative POVs are all of highschool aged children, if albeit one of them is actually 1000 years old as the title suggests. The main protagonist of this story, the character whose story it is if you like, is a boy called Alve. He's living in a tumbledown cottage with his 1000 year old mother and cat, with nothing but a wireless and a bookcase for entertainment. It transpires that Alve and his mother have been living secret lives, always hiding their true age since the time of the Anglo-Saxons.
The secondary characters are a likable pair. There's slightly hard on his luck Aiden whose dad is out of work and who seems to be losing his only friends at school. Then there's the diminutive, but feisty, skip-diving Roxy Minto. A slightly mad, but kind girl who lives next door. Aiden discovers her 'Den' an old garage decorated with the spoils of her various 'skip-diving' adventures. They become friends and Roxy promises to show Aiden where a witch lives in the woods. Of course it isn't a witch, it's a woman whose given up on society and gotten sick of hiding from authorities and changing her identity. Alve has too. He yearns to grow up like a normal boy and feel the preciousness of life that you only get with a normal human lifespan, lived in the shadow of the horror of old age.
Now you'll have to bear with me a moment. The people who use the means Alve and his mother (and cat) to gain immortality are known as Neverdeads. Alve meets another Neverdead during the course of the story too. Therein lies the central plot to this book. That being that there is ONE liverperl or 'Life Pearl' left in the world. But three Neverdeads. The liverperl can be used once to stop aging and once to start it again. Aiden and his mother are the possessors of the last pearl and they hide with a plan that if one of them dies, the other will recover and use the last pearl to start the aging process again.
One thing that IS worth explaining here is that the liverperl do NOT really make you immortal. They seem to make you immune to disease and stop aging, but you can still be killed by any other normal means. This for me was something of a head-scratcher. The crux of this story is that the third Neverdead who claims to have killed Alve's father back in the Anglo Saxon times and claims that the liverperl were his and Alve's father stole them from him... Well, he want's to sell the pearl to science so scientists can synthesize the substance inside and provide freedom from age and disease for all mankind. Alve just wants to use it to grow up. (Due to a tragedy that befell his mother)
Now I have to say I'm NOT with Alve on this. If science COULD unravel the secrets of these pearls and offer them to society... Well that would be a good thing. I despise the fact that we're forced to watch people we love wither and dry like a dead leaf. Often losing their minds in tandem with their physical bodies. As humans we tend to get seventy years or so to live on average. Seventy years is NOT a long time. You spend twenty five of them growing up and learning who you are, then you spend twenty five of them nurturing, encouraging and caring for your children. By then you're 50 and your body isn't what it was. If you're lucky you'll see your grandchildren enter this world and have some time to reflect on your life and do a few the things you always told yourself you'd do but life got in the way. Then you die, you're either buried or burnt and you become nothing more than a memory and an inscription on a slab of granite. Life is harsh, it's cruel, it's savage, mainly for the shortness of it.
This is ultimately a brilliant, brilliant book. It's very well written with characters that come to life on the page. I even liked the way each chapter switched POV for each chapter and even changed the font so you always knew an Alve chapter from an Aiden chapter. I really liked the characters, particularly Roxy. She's awesome. I wish I'd had a childhood friend like Roxy.
So why not 5 stars? Simply because at the close of this book the agenda becomes clear. It's final message, is the slightly cliche, wish-washy 'Life is better because it's short.'
I don't like that message. Life is TOO short. I can't subscribe to some noble notion that it's a good thing that people I care about are growing old and dying. It isn't. It's horrible. I look in the mirror and I see a bald, old man with too many years on the clock. I don't feel like that inside. I feel like more or less the same as I did when I was 19. I'm not interested in 'adult stuff' like 'aftershave', 'the stock market' or looking for a better price on the house insurance. I like playing Xbox games, Board games and running around having fun with my kids. If I could use a liverperl to stop aging today and to never age again. I would, and I would feel no shame in doing so. Life being short isn't something to celebrate, you can dress it up all you like, but old age and dying are horrible aspects of life which we could all do without.
Martyn Stanley
July 27, 2018
It was a buddy read. I found this amazing book on Goodreads, and ask people if they like to buddy Read the book.
Well we are glad we did it.
It's a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me.
Plot was simple and characters are amazing.
The trio is amazing, but Roxy is my favourite ♥️
I would ask people who want to read a funny loving book, give it a try you will love it.
Well we are glad we did it.
It's a ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me.
Plot was simple and characters are amazing.
The trio is amazing, but Roxy is my favourite ♥️
I would ask people who want to read a funny loving book, give it a try you will love it.
March 15, 2021
"I long to grow up, to be a man. I long to be in a hurry to do something, before time runs out. I long for the feeling that life is precious, that I have to cram as much as I can into every sun-drenched day and every frost-filled night; to know that childhood is special because it dies not last forever; to have friends, like Aiden and Roxy, who will not look at me strangely, and then turn away from me when I fail to age like them."
This book was not at all what I expected. I expected a humorous, time-pass book just for entertainment. But wow, this book was so much more. This book not only had light humor, but it actually had a deep lesson, leaving me warm and fuzzy inside.
Let's start with our lovely characters:
Alfie: I really enjoyed Alfie! He had quite a unique personality. He was distrusting at first only trusting his Mam. However, when he met Aiden and Roxy, he was suspicious and at first, but then became more trusting and opened his heart. I found it really cool that even though Alfie was only 11 (well 1,011) he had the mindset of an adult. You could see it clearly in the writing, and it was a good touch to detail. So Alfie grew from an isolated kid-adult to a happy man/boy and more trusting. I loved him so much.
Aiden: Aiden was amazing as well! I did not enjoy him as much as Alfie, but he was a valuable character. Aiden had moved into a new neighborhood and was feeling left out of everything. He was left in the dust by his two best friends, his parents were fighting alot, and he overall didn't enjoy life. That is, until he meets Alfie and Roxy. When he meets those two, Welford really brings out his personality. Aiden is skeptical, sarcastic, but a valuable friend once you get to know him. Throughout the story, Aiden grows from a skeptical, mistrusting boy to a friendly guy willing to do anything for his friends.
Roxy: Roxy was made more of a side character, but she is my favorite character of them all. Roxy was the one who brought the three pals together. Even though she's tiny, she's creative, smart, and an incredible actress. She was the one who discovered that Alfie was a 100 years old. She was the one who Alfie trusted first. She was the one who helped save Alfie's life by "acting." I didn't see much character development in her, but her personality was amazing and totally made up for it. Roxy is an outgoing girl, willing to make friends and help out people in need. She is also very curious, and her curiosity moved the story forward, giving it more spice.
Okay, that's enough about the characters. Now let's go on to the amazing plot!
The plot was quite interesting, I could not put it down!
The story is about Alfie, the 1,000 year old boy, and how he grew up in the world. He lived with his Mam, and learned not to trust anyone. He thought that friends will always go away and leave you behind. But, that all changes when He then find two strange kids, Aiden and Roxy. They begin to give him shelter and feed him. Alfie begins to trust them more, but not enough. He thinks that they will leave him behind like his other friends did in the past. But, then Roxy discovers that Alfie is older than he says. When Aiden and Roxy interrogate him, he comes clean and grows more trusting. But, that's not all. Alfie wants to stop living forever. He wants to grow up and cherish life. So the trio goes on a mission to find this pearl which will make him age. Of course, there are obstacles on the way, making the story all the more exciting.
The plot twists were amazing, and ones I NEVER saw coming. Like when
And the story also gave me an amazing lesson that life should be cherished lived at its best.
Writing: The writing was...eh. It was pretty good, but it was mediocre. However, I did like that Welford wrote the book in two perspectives: Alfie's and Aiden's. It was cool seeing the story in two different ways and I really enjoyed it. It was also pretty interesting reading how Alfie thought different than Aiden because of the huge age gap.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book! It had adventure, high stakes, loss, gain, and the overall moral of the story was incredible. I was sad to see this book end, and now I really wish for a sequel lol. Thank you Ross Welford for such a fabulous book, you have lots of talent!
------------------------------------------------
How have I not read this sooner? Beautiful, heartwarming book. Review to come!
This book was not at all what I expected. I expected a humorous, time-pass book just for entertainment. But wow, this book was so much more. This book not only had light humor, but it actually had a deep lesson, leaving me warm and fuzzy inside.
Let's start with our lovely characters:
Alfie: I really enjoyed Alfie! He had quite a unique personality. He was distrusting at first only trusting his Mam. However, when he met Aiden and Roxy, he was suspicious and at first, but then became more trusting and opened his heart. I found it really cool that even though Alfie was only 11 (well 1,011) he had the mindset of an adult. You could see it clearly in the writing, and it was a good touch to detail. So Alfie grew from an isolated kid-adult to a happy man/boy and more trusting. I loved him so much.
Aiden: Aiden was amazing as well! I did not enjoy him as much as Alfie, but he was a valuable character. Aiden had moved into a new neighborhood and was feeling left out of everything. He was left in the dust by his two best friends, his parents were fighting alot, and he overall didn't enjoy life. That is, until he meets Alfie and Roxy. When he meets those two, Welford really brings out his personality. Aiden is skeptical, sarcastic, but a valuable friend once you get to know him. Throughout the story, Aiden grows from a skeptical, mistrusting boy to a friendly guy willing to do anything for his friends.
Roxy: Roxy was made more of a side character, but she is my favorite character of them all. Roxy was the one who brought the three pals together. Even though she's tiny, she's creative, smart, and an incredible actress. She was the one who discovered that Alfie was a 100 years old. She was the one who Alfie trusted first. She was the one who helped save Alfie's life by "acting." I didn't see much character development in her, but her personality was amazing and totally made up for it. Roxy is an outgoing girl, willing to make friends and help out people in need. She is also very curious, and her curiosity moved the story forward, giving it more spice.
Okay, that's enough about the characters. Now let's go on to the amazing plot!
The plot was quite interesting, I could not put it down!
The story is about Alfie, the 1,000 year old boy, and how he grew up in the world. He lived with his Mam, and learned not to trust anyone. He thought that friends will always go away and leave you behind. But, that all changes when He then find two strange kids, Aiden and Roxy. They begin to give him shelter and feed him. Alfie begins to trust them more, but not enough. He thinks that they will leave him behind like his other friends did in the past. But, then Roxy discovers that Alfie is older than he says. When Aiden and Roxy interrogate him, he comes clean and grows more trusting. But, that's not all. Alfie wants to stop living forever. He wants to grow up and cherish life. So the trio goes on a mission to find this pearl which will make him age. Of course, there are obstacles on the way, making the story all the more exciting.
The plot twists were amazing, and ones I NEVER saw coming. Like when
And the story also gave me an amazing lesson that life should be cherished lived at its best.
Writing: The writing was...eh. It was pretty good, but it was mediocre. However, I did like that Welford wrote the book in two perspectives: Alfie's and Aiden's. It was cool seeing the story in two different ways and I really enjoyed it. It was also pretty interesting reading how Alfie thought different than Aiden because of the huge age gap.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this book! It had adventure, high stakes, loss, gain, and the overall moral of the story was incredible. I was sad to see this book end, and now I really wish for a sequel lol. Thank you Ross Welford for such a fabulous book, you have lots of talent!
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How have I not read this sooner? Beautiful, heartwarming book. Review to come!
June 29, 2020
I really needed a sweet adventure after wallowing in the darkness of ‘My Dark Vanessa.’ And this book really made me recover. What if you are stuck at one age? Sounds tempting, but as Ross Welford points out in the beautiful story of Alfie, a boy who has been at 11 for 1,000 years, that also means you lose out on life itself.
Finding out how Alfie unfreezes Time along with a bunch of the sweetest friends is really what the book is about. But that’s not all. Like all children’s lit, there is so much warmth packed into it - along with the usual capers with villains and mad adventures.
Finding out how Alfie unfreezes Time along with a bunch of the sweetest friends is really what the book is about. But that’s not all. Like all children’s lit, there is so much warmth packed into it - along with the usual capers with villains and mad adventures.
February 7, 2018
An incredible book. Alfie, the main protagonist, deals with the gift/curse of living forever. When everything he loves is taken from him, he seeks to get rid of the gift/curse. The way Alfie is portrayed allows you to instantly connect and feel his pain.
October 16, 2018
Some books leave you, with a warm fuzzy feeling and a smile on your face. This is one of those books.
I really enjoyed this book. It has the perfect blend of history and magic. And I instantly loved Alfie. A sweet, young boy who just wants to be a normal and age like a normal boy. He befriends Adrian and Roxy, two curious kids who offer Alfie what he craves the most - Friendship.
(Roxy stole my heart. I wish I could be her!)
The book takes you on a wonderful journey, from self discovery to friendship and loyalty, it has everything in the right dose. Even though the main characters are middle schoolers, I connected with them easily.
The book is gripping, filled with twist and turns to keep you hooked. One of those books I will definitely reread.
After finishing the book I found my self wondering, what would I do if I lived for 1000 years?
I really enjoyed this book. It has the perfect blend of history and magic. And I instantly loved Alfie. A sweet, young boy who just wants to be a normal and age like a normal boy. He befriends Adrian and Roxy, two curious kids who offer Alfie what he craves the most - Friendship.
(Roxy stole my heart. I wish I could be her!)
The book takes you on a wonderful journey, from self discovery to friendship and loyalty, it has everything in the right dose. Even though the main characters are middle schoolers, I connected with them easily.
The book is gripping, filled with twist and turns to keep you hooked. One of those books I will definitely reread.
After finishing the book I found my self wondering, what would I do if I lived for 1000 years?
November 8, 2018
A very lovely, very sad look at what eternal life would really be like - and how important love is, no matter how old you are. (10+)
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. If you use it in any marketing material, online or anywhere on a published book without asking permission from me first, I will ask you to remove that use immediately. Thank you!*
July 30, 2020
Nope. He doesn't want to live for a thousand year. He just want to grow up. He regretted taking the magical life pearl that made him a mortal. But, it could be reversed!
Alfie, the protagonist, had failed many friendships in his 1000 years of living. But not the last one when he decided to end his mortality after his beloved mother died in their burning house. He finally found true friends.
The timeline jumped back and forth, from the present, back to the past and vice versa. The author introduced us to Alfie's childhood life and friends he had back in the war. Jack is his friend. Who then grew up becoming a man and leaving Alfie trapped in his kid's body that had aroused suspicion among the people. His mother never gets old, he never grew bigger and his cat Biffa, which he accidentally used the pearl on, stayed the same. So they moved around a lot. As long as he have his mother, cat and special edition set of Charles Dickens hardbacks by his side, he felt home.
After leaving the island, they moved into the woods far from civilisations. Until one day, Roxy, starts wondering around just to watch them and finally brought Aidan along. She suspected Alfie's mother being a witch.
This brilliant author had successfully made everything up that sounded like real history with actual geography and its own linguistic features. And while I was reading this book, I literally imagining the whole thing!
Do considered this in your TBR even if you have a mountain 😆 I was lucky that this is gifted to me by a friend 🥰 thanks @m3lin.89 !
Alfie, the protagonist, had failed many friendships in his 1000 years of living. But not the last one when he decided to end his mortality after his beloved mother died in their burning house. He finally found true friends.
The timeline jumped back and forth, from the present, back to the past and vice versa. The author introduced us to Alfie's childhood life and friends he had back in the war. Jack is his friend. Who then grew up becoming a man and leaving Alfie trapped in his kid's body that had aroused suspicion among the people. His mother never gets old, he never grew bigger and his cat Biffa, which he accidentally used the pearl on, stayed the same. So they moved around a lot. As long as he have his mother, cat and special edition set of Charles Dickens hardbacks by his side, he felt home.
After leaving the island, they moved into the woods far from civilisations. Until one day, Roxy, starts wondering around just to watch them and finally brought Aidan along. She suspected Alfie's mother being a witch.
This brilliant author had successfully made everything up that sounded like real history with actual geography and its own linguistic features. And while I was reading this book, I literally imagining the whole thing!
Do considered this in your TBR even if you have a mountain 😆 I was lucky that this is gifted to me by a friend 🥰 thanks @m3lin.89 !
June 28, 2020
Well, it took us about 3 months but my 9-year-old and I finally finished this. His simple verdict: "Good." I found it was too long for how little story there actually was - surprising for a tale about a kid who's lived 1,000 years, along with his millenium cat, who appears for the literary equivalent of 5 minutes. Whaat? Cuz how cool would a thousand-year-old cat be? Seriously! Alfie, our title character, isn't terribly interesting or crafty, either, and acts strangely naive for a guy who has seen 10 centuries. Aidan was a good friend but an annoying narrator (the book alternates between Alfie and Aidan's POVs). The most interesting character was Roxy, who didn't get a voice, which was a shame. She was the one I wanted to know more about. So 3 stars because my son "kinda" enjoyed this but his cynical momma thought it lacked imagination.
September 13, 2018
This book was awesome! It had everything a great plot, characters,idea and vocab. I particularly liked Roxy who was the definition of what we all aspire to be: funny, smart, kind ,talented ect. Not only did it turn the pages itself and excite you no end , but this book carried a different moving , different message which made me reconsider the idea of living forever and cry!
May 2, 2019
Super Buch! Spannend und liest sich weg wie nichts!
Sehr empfehlenswert für Leser zwischen 10 und 1000. :)
Sehr empfehlenswert für Leser zwischen 10 und 1000. :)
February 19, 2023
This story amazed me and the plot is new and refreshing, giving me a sense that Ross Welford really thought about how he would write this book. The description is extremely advanced, as well as the idioms that paint a vivid picture in your mind. The idea that someone who is immortal wants to die, bamboozled me right out of the gate. The way the characters are written make you think that they actually exist in real life and the characterisation played massive part in how the story played out. The tragedies and revelations that occur throughout the story keeps you turning till the last page and even then the ending still surprises you. There is absolutely nothing that I didn't like about the book and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a page-turner.
March 7, 2018
Even though this is targeted at a middle school audience, it will be enjoyed by all ages. Alfie looks 11 years old, but has actually been alive for 1000 years. Luckily he is 'discovered' by 2 kids who are open minded and become his friends. There is lots of humour in this book, even when things are going badly wrong for our heroes. The story alternates between Alfie and his new friend Aidan, both of whom have problems fitting in with those around them in their different ways. The 'first hand' historical detail that Alfie provides is cleverly woven into the story. Roxy is also a great character, a gutsy girl whose no nonsense approach and gift for lying convincingly gets them out of some tricky situations. I really enjoyed this book - well written, heart warming and entertaining.
January 13, 2018
What. A. Concept. Ross has secured his hat-trick with a third thunderbolt of a book exploring a question many will have thought at one point or another. I can't wait to sit down and review fully, but to keep it brief I was entranced by this wonderful, emotional story and adored little Alve. At times laugh out loud funny and at others heartbreakingly emotional, full of twists, turns and Ross' trademark wit. Loved it!
April 21, 2024
I'm happy at the end of it. Does it suffice as review? Maybe. Maybe not. But, that's all that sums it up for me.
April 3, 2019
I liked the book for the entire first half. The characters were interesting and having Alfie as a boy stuck just before puberty made him a refreshing mix of "wisened grandpa" and "naive child". He knows a bit about everything but never knows when to shut up and his "plans" are essentially spontaneous ideas that always backfire. The style was a bit tiresome with almost all chapters ending in phrases like "I should regret this decision soon enough" or "We didn't know it yet but this would turn out to be the worst idea of our lives". I guess that's "Building Suspension 101".
However, the book suffers mostly from the age-old flaw of the entertainment industry: the villain makes no bloody sense.
Let's take a look. In the beginning, Jasper and his buddies own several objects that grant immortality. Jasper has taken one of them, we don't know much about his associates. They then encounter Alve's father and he somehow takes all of these magic items without killing Jasper.
Of course Jasper tries to find the man who stole from him. Apparently all his buddies are dead since Jasper is alone next time he is mentioned. He boards the same ship as Alve and his family, murders Alve's father and upon not finding the stolen magic artefacts he... does nothing and lets the family go. Um... what?
Now jump forward about a thousand years. Jasper claims he lost sight of Alve and his mother (so he did know who they were!) until he "found a woman (Aidan's aunt Alice) who had a nephew who had a friend (Alve)". This sounds like a clever plan, right? A proper twist for the 11-year-old reader. Well, except for the fact that Jasper and Alice were married long before Aidan moved next to Alve. Aidan and Alve only knew each other for about a day before Jasper accidentally meets the latter. And Aidan's parents say they have never liked Jasper, implying he's been around for years.
Okay, so that's a minor logical hiccup that a decent lector should have fixed in pre-production. We'll let it slide. But what about the characters' motives? Alve wants to reverse the immortality gimmick to age and live a proper life. Fair enough. Jasper is already an adult and should be able to enjoy eternal matureness to its fullest, right? He has no interest in the magic objects except maybe to protect his special status as immortal. Wouldn't it be horrifying if by some means modern science got hold of the liquid inside the pearls, synthesized it and made every human on earth immortal? That would certainly decrease whatever individual worth and skill Jasper has accumulated over the years. Buuuuuuuut that is exactly what the author makes Jasper aim for: get the pearl in order to sell it for short-term money. And just so you readers don't get confused thinking he might have honourable reasons, trying to help out humanity: no, he's described as "insane" and "greedy" when talking about this rather basic goal. Which is especially idiotic given the epilogue where Welford describes how Aidan's family inherits major wealth from the deceased Jasper. What...?
TLDR: Interesting setup with nonsensical villain that leaves you with a strong taste of "meh".
However, the book suffers mostly from the age-old flaw of the entertainment industry: the villain makes no bloody sense.
Let's take a look. In the beginning, Jasper and his buddies own several objects that grant immortality. Jasper has taken one of them, we don't know much about his associates. They then encounter Alve's father and he somehow takes all of these magic items without killing Jasper.
Of course Jasper tries to find the man who stole from him. Apparently all his buddies are dead since Jasper is alone next time he is mentioned. He boards the same ship as Alve and his family, murders Alve's father and upon not finding the stolen magic artefacts he... does nothing and lets the family go. Um... what?
Now jump forward about a thousand years. Jasper claims he lost sight of Alve and his mother (so he did know who they were!) until he "found a woman (Aidan's aunt Alice) who had a nephew who had a friend (Alve)". This sounds like a clever plan, right? A proper twist for the 11-year-old reader. Well, except for the fact that Jasper and Alice were married long before Aidan moved next to Alve. Aidan and Alve only knew each other for about a day before Jasper accidentally meets the latter. And Aidan's parents say they have never liked Jasper, implying he's been around for years.
Okay, so that's a minor logical hiccup that a decent lector should have fixed in pre-production. We'll let it slide. But what about the characters' motives? Alve wants to reverse the immortality gimmick to age and live a proper life. Fair enough. Jasper is already an adult and should be able to enjoy eternal matureness to its fullest, right? He has no interest in the magic objects except maybe to protect his special status as immortal. Wouldn't it be horrifying if by some means modern science got hold of the liquid inside the pearls, synthesized it and made every human on earth immortal? That would certainly decrease whatever individual worth and skill Jasper has accumulated over the years. Buuuuuuuut that is exactly what the author makes Jasper aim for: get the pearl in order to sell it for short-term money. And just so you readers don't get confused thinking he might have honourable reasons, trying to help out humanity: no, he's described as "insane" and "greedy" when talking about this rather basic goal. Which is especially idiotic given the epilogue where Welford describes how Aidan's family inherits major wealth from the deceased Jasper. What...?
TLDR: Interesting setup with nonsensical villain that leaves you with a strong taste of "meh".
September 19, 2018
SPOILERS MAY BE INCLUDED SPOILERS MAY BE INCLUDED SPOILERS MAY BE INCLUDED SPOILERS MAY BE INCLUDED
This book, the 1000-year-old boy is a meaningful, beautiful book which showed me that not everything may be lost.
I think the author used symbolism in this book. I think the author used the Livperlers (life pearls) as a symbol to hope. Like Alfie wanted to find the one last life pearl right after the fire, I think the life pearls meant hope for him. Hope is something you have and set goals. You have to work hard with the motivation of hope, and you feel satisfied and glad when you have finally reached your goal with hope. In the book, Alfie wanted to find life pearls right after when his mother passed away, which I can say that it was the only hope for him- to start growing again. He had to go through all the difficulties and obstacles to finally get the life pearls which I think matches the definition. However, hope does not go to the person who has goals and wants hope, not in a good way. In the book, Jason also wanted to get the life pearls but died to try.
This makes me think that the author of this book is trying to send us the message of hope is still there even if you think everything is lost. Alfie had lost his only home, his mom and his cat in the fire and also felt betrayed by his friends, but his only hope was the life pearls and he worked very hard - almost died, for it. After that, he came back to his age again and became friends with the 2 friends too. So even if it feels like everything is gone, you can still have hope worth working hard for.
This book, the 1000-year-old boy is a meaningful, beautiful book which showed me that not everything may be lost.
I think the author used symbolism in this book. I think the author used the Livperlers (life pearls) as a symbol to hope. Like Alfie wanted to find the one last life pearl right after the fire, I think the life pearls meant hope for him. Hope is something you have and set goals. You have to work hard with the motivation of hope, and you feel satisfied and glad when you have finally reached your goal with hope. In the book, Alfie wanted to find life pearls right after when his mother passed away, which I can say that it was the only hope for him- to start growing again. He had to go through all the difficulties and obstacles to finally get the life pearls which I think matches the definition. However, hope does not go to the person who has goals and wants hope, not in a good way. In the book, Jason also wanted to get the life pearls but died to try.
This makes me think that the author of this book is trying to send us the message of hope is still there even if you think everything is lost. Alfie had lost his only home, his mom and his cat in the fire and also felt betrayed by his friends, but his only hope was the life pearls and he worked very hard - almost died, for it. After that, he came back to his age again and became friends with the 2 friends too. So even if it feels like everything is gone, you can still have hope worth working hard for.
March 31, 2018
i can't believe this book!!!! i'd write the whole review in caps if it wasn't such a pain to read. also can someone please explain to me why writing reviews for fav books is so much harder than regular/negative reviews?
i absolutely loved this book. it was so well written and the characters were developed nicely. no scene felt like a filler and everything had a purpose. the three main characters (alfie, aidan and roxy) were an absolute pleasure to read about. i don't think there's a single thing that i disliked about the characters. although, i must admit, the cat is my absolute fav and i'm so glad it's okay. i had some worries when i first started reading the book.
i really enjoyed how the author referenced random parts of history that alfie had experienced. it was so well written. normally i get so bored with flashbacks (especially in books where the protagonist has either time travelled or lived through history) as they're hard to read and the writing style often differs from the rest of the book. however, i didn't have an issue with how this was written.
i've never read a book by ross welford before, but i definitely want to pick up the others that he's written. from this one book i can tell that he's easily going to become a new favourite author of mine.
i absolutely loved this book. it was so well written and the characters were developed nicely. no scene felt like a filler and everything had a purpose. the three main characters (alfie, aidan and roxy) were an absolute pleasure to read about. i don't think there's a single thing that i disliked about the characters. although, i must admit, the cat is my absolute fav and i'm so glad it's okay. i had some worries when i first started reading the book.
i really enjoyed how the author referenced random parts of history that alfie had experienced. it was so well written. normally i get so bored with flashbacks (especially in books where the protagonist has either time travelled or lived through history) as they're hard to read and the writing style often differs from the rest of the book. however, i didn't have an issue with how this was written.
i've never read a book by ross welford before, but i definitely want to pick up the others that he's written. from this one book i can tell that he's easily going to become a new favourite author of mine.
August 12, 2018
I stole this book from my little brother after my boyfriend’s mum recommended it to me. I love reading children’s books; it’s so cosy. The 1000 Year Old Boy floated somewhere between the realm of adult and children. It was magical. For me - the most important component of a children’s novel is the characters. They have to be lovable, they have to be your best friends and your heroes. Alfie, Aidan and Roxy were more than that. They each represented a little bit of me. The resilient, the loyal and the brave. 5 stars.
August 2, 2018
I really did enjoy reading this book it was a very good read. The storyline was brilliant and I found the ending particularly exciting! However I got confused when each of the chapters changed from one character to the other I found it hard to grasp who was speaking. Maybe stating the names of the characters might of been useful! Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to anyone!
December 19, 2018
A wonderful, original story. Full of emotion and wonder. And plenty of Tyneside reference too. Loved it.
October 20, 2024
My favorite part was when Roxy and Aiden found out that Alfie was 1000 years old.
March 22, 2021
#recommended✔️
Sometimes all that matters is "Story" and nothing more! 👦🌟❤️
BOOK : The 1000 year old boy
AUTHOR : Ross Welford
PUBLISHER : @harpercollins
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The 1000 year old boy, a beautifully written fantasy novel about a child Alfie monk (Alve) who is not really a child but a 1000 year old child , written by Ross Welford. This book is a well cooked one with the key ingredients of bold & blistering plot.
Alfie monk is left alone all of a sudden, all his life or more appropriately all of his 1000 years of life he had his mother whom he called "mam", but when she dies in a fire accident what will happen to him? Will he remain a child forever? Will his secrets be found out by the public?
I personally loved this book and all that matters is a good story , a story that is interesting, to the point, with strong characters. All people love a good read and no matter what if it speaks about things which may never happen in life like living for 1000 years and all but again who knows if someone is really living among us such a life which we don't know yet? The life's traumas, silly mistakes of a child that takes an unexpected turn & finding friendship mentioned in the book is really beautiful. I couldn't wait to complete it, loved the book alot.
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.
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.
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Sometimes all that matters is "Story" and nothing more! 👦🌟❤️
BOOK : The 1000 year old boy
AUTHOR : Ross Welford
PUBLISHER : @harpercollins
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
The 1000 year old boy, a beautifully written fantasy novel about a child Alfie monk (Alve) who is not really a child but a 1000 year old child , written by Ross Welford. This book is a well cooked one with the key ingredients of bold & blistering plot.
Alfie monk is left alone all of a sudden, all his life or more appropriately all of his 1000 years of life he had his mother whom he called "mam", but when she dies in a fire accident what will happen to him? Will he remain a child forever? Will his secrets be found out by the public?
I personally loved this book and all that matters is a good story , a story that is interesting, to the point, with strong characters. All people love a good read and no matter what if it speaks about things which may never happen in life like living for 1000 years and all but again who knows if someone is really living among us such a life which we don't know yet? The life's traumas, silly mistakes of a child that takes an unexpected turn & finding friendship mentioned in the book is really beautiful. I couldn't wait to complete it, loved the book alot.
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July 10, 2020
A very enjoyable story. I would like to see the story start around chapter 14, then introduce the earlier story gradually. Getting youngsters to read is getting harder and good stories like this one deserve wide readership so go hard out with the ‘hook’. I did read other reviews of families using it as a buddy read - great idea. ( Side note: When I was younger, I did sail along this coast listening to the Northumbrian pipes very loud on a yacht’s stereo but it was a blue sky day and calm!)
For 10+ age group, adventure lovers.
For 10+ age group, adventure lovers.
November 29, 2018
I really liked this book it took me a long time to start liking the plot but by the end it was great.
It starts of with a boy called Alve Monk (But now called Alfie) at 11 he uses a life pearl which makes him live forever. He lived in a isolated house in the middle of the woods with his mum, as his dad was killed by a man called Jasper. He has been well hidden his whole life and every I’ve someone suspected him he would move house. One day a girl and a boy named Roxy and Aidan find out where they live and work out his secret. Unfortunately Alfies house burns down and kills his mum. He then is helped by his friends to hide him. He gets found out by the police and is put in a care home. He gets in trouble at his new school as he is very start about history. He realises that Aiken’s uncle Jasper has been following him. He needs to find the life pearl so he can grow up like normal. He goes searching for it and gets in trouble with the police a lot. He works out where it is a sails there but Jasper is following them. Alfie finds the place where the life pearl is but its not there because an women named Dr Heinz had already found it. She lets Alfie have it but then Jasper comes and tries to it of him. Jasper ends up falling of a cliff and later dies in hospital. The end was good because Alfie was able to grow up and Aiken’s family adopted him. he also found his lost cat from the fire.
I really did like this book and i would recommend it to people.
It starts of with a boy called Alve Monk (But now called Alfie) at 11 he uses a life pearl which makes him live forever. He lived in a isolated house in the middle of the woods with his mum, as his dad was killed by a man called Jasper. He has been well hidden his whole life and every I’ve someone suspected him he would move house. One day a girl and a boy named Roxy and Aidan find out where they live and work out his secret. Unfortunately Alfies house burns down and kills his mum. He then is helped by his friends to hide him. He gets found out by the police and is put in a care home. He gets in trouble at his new school as he is very start about history. He realises that Aiken’s uncle Jasper has been following him. He needs to find the life pearl so he can grow up like normal. He goes searching for it and gets in trouble with the police a lot. He works out where it is a sails there but Jasper is following them. Alfie finds the place where the life pearl is but its not there because an women named Dr Heinz had already found it. She lets Alfie have it but then Jasper comes and tries to it of him. Jasper ends up falling of a cliff and later dies in hospital. The end was good because Alfie was able to grow up and Aiken’s family adopted him. he also found his lost cat from the fire.
I really did like this book and i would recommend it to people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. I've often wondered what it would be like to be a child 'forever', like Peter Pan, and I think the author did a brilliant job exploring the concept. I related to Alfie Monk quite a lot as I often felt out of place as a child, and still do now as a teenager. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll end the review by just reiterating how much I enjoyed the book. I couldn't put it down once I got in to it :)
August 8, 2023
I was expecting something different, but this was still a good read. Once I started reading it was difficult to stop - all the characters were amazing and so likeable (especially biffa).
The climatic end was everything I wanted. It was easy to forget its a children's novel - but 100% worth the read for any adult.
For teachers: warnings of death, theft, slight bullying and hints at swearing.
Topics that you could link this to: history, Anglo saxon, Charles dickens. Though the history mentioned is stated to be inaccurate - still a nice hook to grt children interested in a history topic.
The climatic end was everything I wanted. It was easy to forget its a children's novel - but 100% worth the read for any adult.
For teachers: warnings of death, theft, slight bullying and hints at swearing.
Topics that you could link this to: history, Anglo saxon, Charles dickens. Though the history mentioned is stated to be inaccurate - still a nice hook to grt children interested in a history topic.
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