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Bubble
Wonder meets Mark Haddon in the poignant and uplifting debut novel about superheroes, super-nurses, and the beauty you can find in hope.
Eleven-year-old Joe has never had a life outside of the hospital, with its beeping machines and view of London's rooftops. His condition means he's not allowed outside, not even for a moment, and his few visitors risk bringing life-threatening germs inside his bubble. Then a new nurse offers Joe the possibility of going outside. But Joe doesn't know if the nurse is serious--or whether he could survive the adventure.
Bubble is the touching story of how Joe spends his days, copes with his loneliness and frustration, and looks--with superhero-style bravery, curiosity, and hope--to a future without limits.
Eleven-year-old Joe has never had a life outside of the hospital, with its beeping machines and view of London's rooftops. His condition means he's not allowed outside, not even for a moment, and his few visitors risk bringing life-threatening germs inside his bubble. Then a new nurse offers Joe the possibility of going outside. But Joe doesn't know if the nurse is serious--or whether he could survive the adventure.
Bubble is the touching story of how Joe spends his days, copes with his loneliness and frustration, and looks--with superhero-style bravery, curiosity, and hope--to a future without limits.
352 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2016
140 people are currently reading
1477 people want to read
About the author
Stewart Foster
16 books105 followersStewart Foster lives in Bath and wishes he'd never left school. So he went back to university far too many years later and he wrote a book, We used to be Kings, and then he wrote another, The Bubble Boy, that was loved by The Guardian and many others. It won Sainsbury's book of the year 2016 (10+) and The Trinity Schools Book Award 2017 and many other library awards
'All the things that could go Wrong" has also won many school and library awards, and continues to be shortlisted.
His next novel will be published in May 2019
Like his page on Facebook - Stewart Foster Author and follow him on twitter @stewfoster1.
'All the things that could go Wrong" has also won many school and library awards, and continues to be shortlisted.
His next novel will be published in May 2019
Like his page on Facebook - Stewart Foster Author and follow him on twitter @stewfoster1.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
May 12, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
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*Disclaimer: An ARC of I Found You by Lisa Jewell was provided to me by Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
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I was initially intrigued by Bubble when I first heard its synopsis. It reminded me a lot of Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon as they both deal with kids who suffer from SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency). While I wasn't very happy with the way that Everything Everything ended, I wanted to give a story with a similar idea another shot. It's always tough to read about kids that are suffering from serious illnesses, but these stories are important to read and to learn from.
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What I Liked
The characters. The characters were one of the best aspects of this novel. Although I would have liked to have learned a bit more about a few of them, I did enjoy reading about them. Joe was very naive which makes sense for an 11 year old. While at times I felt frustrated that he couldn't see how dangerous some of the decisions he was making were, I kept having to remind myself that he was only 11 and probably didn't know any better.
The realistic aspect. This book didn't romanticize illness. It was real and at times, heartbreaking. The kids featured in this story are very sick and unfortunately that is something that is all-too-real in our everyday lives. Bubble didn't sugarcoat any aspect of the illnesses that these kids are suffering from and at times this was hard to read, especially while reading a middle grade novel.
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What I Didn’t Like
The writing style. There were a few different aspects of the writing style that I couldn't really get into. One, the way that these kids were speaking. It was hard for me to remember that they were kids because they just seemed so much older. I kept picturing Joe as a teenager, meanwhile he was only 11. While I don't think their dialogue needed to be dumbed down, there was just something that was off that made them seem older than they were meant to be. Another aspect of the writing style that threw me off was the way that the text messages and Skype calls were written. They weren't labeled with the person who was speaking/typing and when the same person spoke two sentences in a row it was really hard for me to understand the flow of the conversation.
The slow pace. This book took me a long time to read even though it should have been quick and easy. I'm still not entirely sure why that was. It just felt like nothing was really happening and then when things did start to happen, it didn't feel satisfying.
Amir. I just didn't understand this character at all. How did he get a job as a nurse so easily? How did he get away with everything with barely any punishment? I couldn't tell what his intentions were or if maybe he was potentially mentally ill. I just wish more was explained.
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While it may seem as though I didn't like a lot of this book, there was plenty to fall in love with. As mentioned, I loved almost all of the characters and the friendships that are found within the story. It was heartbreaking at times, but also uplifting.
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Initial Post Reading Thoughts: I'm not really sure what to write about this one at the moment. I didn't love it, but I definitely didn't hate it. I'm going to need a little while longer to think about it, but at the moment I'm just feeling a little indifferent.
August 26, 2020
If you a book that is full of heart and finding hope in the most unexpected of places then The Bubble Boy is for you.
Joe has lived in an immunity bubble all his life. Everything is monitored. Everything is checked. But one day everything changes but it isn’t until he looks really closely that he realises that anything has actually happened.
Joe is a real life superhero fighting battles everyday against unknown assailants. He never knows what the day will hold but he will battle for survival.
Such a beautiful and tender book which completely took my breath away!
Joe has lived in an immunity bubble all his life. Everything is monitored. Everything is checked. But one day everything changes but it isn’t until he looks really closely that he realises that anything has actually happened.
Joe is a real life superhero fighting battles everyday against unknown assailants. He never knows what the day will hold but he will battle for survival.
Such a beautiful and tender book which completely took my breath away!
August 10, 2016
Like 'Wonder', The Bubble Boy forces readers to see their life if they were not so fortunate. Joe has spent his entire life in a hospital ward of his own, protected from the germs in the everyday air outside that could kill him.
What a life to lead, at 11. What a start for a children's story.
We get to see Joe's routine - the boredom and the medication, the TV and the visits. Joe only has a sister to come and see him (we learn what has happened to his parents early on), who he feels he is holding back from a life of university and friends.
He does get to share the frustrations with a fellow 'bubble boy' over in America, both dreaming of the day they might be allowed out in special NASA suits, what they would do, where they would go.
We also get to meet the busy nursing staff, for whom Joe is just one of many patients in the children's hospital, a long-term occupant amongst cancer patients and those fighting for their lives around him.
A new face turns the story in a new direction - Amir, a new carer talks about aliens - and about helping Joe escape his everyday trappings.
Joe is adorable, more worldly than you'd expect for someone caught in a hospital ward for a decade. His technology keeps him up-to-date with the world around him and a contemporary of readers his own age.
It's a situation you can't imagine, but through Joe you get a feel for his life and how hard it must be. Amir, I wasn't sure about, but the ultimate direction of the story was heart-warming and I really loved it.
Unique story, a protagonist young readers aged 10-13 will root for, and a great book for book clubs and class discussions.
What a life to lead, at 11. What a start for a children's story.
We get to see Joe's routine - the boredom and the medication, the TV and the visits. Joe only has a sister to come and see him (we learn what has happened to his parents early on), who he feels he is holding back from a life of university and friends.
He does get to share the frustrations with a fellow 'bubble boy' over in America, both dreaming of the day they might be allowed out in special NASA suits, what they would do, where they would go.
We also get to meet the busy nursing staff, for whom Joe is just one of many patients in the children's hospital, a long-term occupant amongst cancer patients and those fighting for their lives around him.
A new face turns the story in a new direction - Amir, a new carer talks about aliens - and about helping Joe escape his everyday trappings.
Joe is adorable, more worldly than you'd expect for someone caught in a hospital ward for a decade. His technology keeps him up-to-date with the world around him and a contemporary of readers his own age.
It's a situation you can't imagine, but through Joe you get a feel for his life and how hard it must be. Amir, I wasn't sure about, but the ultimate direction of the story was heart-warming and I really loved it.
Unique story, a protagonist young readers aged 10-13 will root for, and a great book for book clubs and class discussions.
July 30, 2021
This is a story where the characters are everything, because if you are a kid who lives in a single hospital room all your life, you are only ever going to experience one place, the people who surround you are everything. Joe is 11, he has no immunity at all. He sees his nurses and his sister. His parents were killed in a car crash. For all this Joe is a relatively happy kid. He has a friend with the same condition who lives in the USA, they meet virtually and often.
We get to know Joe and understand his daily life which is such a small life, but he manages to have a full life within the confines of his room. When an opportunity arises to leave his room and try life on the outside, things get very real.
It is a very good story, I think it would be a great read for middle grade kids.
We get to know Joe and understand his daily life which is such a small life, but he manages to have a full life within the confines of his room. When an opportunity arises to leave his room and try life on the outside, things get very real.
It is a very good story, I think it would be a great read for middle grade kids.
September 19, 2016
This book was really good. It also made me realise how lucky I m to be able to go out and play and do stuff that Joe could not do.
November 28, 2017
Como será viver 24 horas por dia, todos os dias do ano, confinado a um curto espaço físico? O quarto de um hospital é o único sítio que Joe, de 11 anos, conhece, e onde tem de permanecer para que a sua imunodeficiência combinada severa não o vença. Está terminantemente proibido de sair do seu quarto e as visitas são limitadas aos enfermeiros, a irmã e uma equipa televisiva que o visita uma vez por ano para uma reportagem em curso sobre a sua peculiar vida.
Joe é, obviamente, um miúdo solitário, e esse elemento – a solidão – é por vezes destacado de uma forma dolorosa. Mas para uma criança de 11 anos, mesmo que não conheça o mundo repleto de cores e cheiros, a vida é um mar de possibilidades; por isso, no início da história encontramos um Joe relativamente esperançoso na sua vida, apesar das contínuas dificuldades que enfrenta. Contacta frequentemente um rapaz ligeiramente mais velho, Henry, que vive do outro lado do Atlântico e que padece de uma doença semelhante à sua. Ainda que nunca se tenham encontrado, por razões óbvias, Joe e Henry são os melhores amigos e trocam mensagens com frequência, apoiando-se mutuamente.
A chegada do enfermeiro Amir, com as suas teorias e ideias aparentemente loucas, potencia a esperança de Joe, mas aos mesmo tempo os seus medos, e é nesta altura que descobrimos a dose de coragem de que Joe se reveste todos os dias da sua frágil vida. Focando-se bastante na vida interior de Joe, ao revelar ao leitor os seus medos e esperanças, Stewart Foster oferece-nos um retrato emocional, intenso e genuíno do que será a vida de uma criança nestas condições, criando facilmente empatia com o leitor.
O positivismo e a mensagem de esperança que este livro transmite são notáveis, porque nos faz questionar sobre a importância de viver todos os dias da melhor forma que pudermos. Gostei que o autor não tivesse optado pela via do excesso de sentimentalismo, para o qual muitos dos livros com pessoas doentes resvalam. Preso na Bolha é um livro que consegue retratar muito bem uma realidade, emocionando o leitor sem nunca ficar a sensação de que isso é feito a qualquer custo. Joe permanece como uma personagem marcante, um verdadeiro herói. Porque nem todos os heróis vestem capas, certo?
Joe é, obviamente, um miúdo solitário, e esse elemento – a solidão – é por vezes destacado de uma forma dolorosa. Mas para uma criança de 11 anos, mesmo que não conheça o mundo repleto de cores e cheiros, a vida é um mar de possibilidades; por isso, no início da história encontramos um Joe relativamente esperançoso na sua vida, apesar das contínuas dificuldades que enfrenta. Contacta frequentemente um rapaz ligeiramente mais velho, Henry, que vive do outro lado do Atlântico e que padece de uma doença semelhante à sua. Ainda que nunca se tenham encontrado, por razões óbvias, Joe e Henry são os melhores amigos e trocam mensagens com frequência, apoiando-se mutuamente.
A chegada do enfermeiro Amir, com as suas teorias e ideias aparentemente loucas, potencia a esperança de Joe, mas aos mesmo tempo os seus medos, e é nesta altura que descobrimos a dose de coragem de que Joe se reveste todos os dias da sua frágil vida. Focando-se bastante na vida interior de Joe, ao revelar ao leitor os seus medos e esperanças, Stewart Foster oferece-nos um retrato emocional, intenso e genuíno do que será a vida de uma criança nestas condições, criando facilmente empatia com o leitor.
O positivismo e a mensagem de esperança que este livro transmite são notáveis, porque nos faz questionar sobre a importância de viver todos os dias da melhor forma que pudermos. Gostei que o autor não tivesse optado pela via do excesso de sentimentalismo, para o qual muitos dos livros com pessoas doentes resvalam. Preso na Bolha é um livro que consegue retratar muito bem uma realidade, emocionando o leitor sem nunca ficar a sensação de que isso é feito a qualquer custo. Joe permanece como uma personagem marcante, um verdadeiro herói. Porque nem todos os heróis vestem capas, certo?
March 9, 2021
A story about a very different life.
Eleven year old Joe is born without an immune system and must live his life in a temperature and air-purity controlled hospital room known as 'the bubble'.
I think this must have a rather difficult feat for an author to pull off, as almost everything that happens takes place in this one room. But it is so well-written and the character, Joe, is so endearing that my interest was held from start to finish. An unusual insight into a life that few can even imagine living.
I'll look for other books from this writer.
Eleven year old Joe is born without an immune system and must live his life in a temperature and air-purity controlled hospital room known as 'the bubble'.
I think this must have a rather difficult feat for an author to pull off, as almost everything that happens takes place in this one room. But it is so well-written and the character, Joe, is so endearing that my interest was held from start to finish. An unusual insight into a life that few can even imagine living.
I'll look for other books from this writer.
May 5, 2017
Hmmm, what to say? This is a good book. However, it is described as "Wonder meets Mark Haddon," and neither of those things are true. Consequently, I went into my reading expecting far more than was delivered. I expected to love this book. I adored Wonder. I adored Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. I am a sucker for "disease" books. But, on the whole, I was disappointed on all three accounts.
Joe, the Bubble's protagonist is a mighty extraordinary kid but the heart that shone so brightly in Wonder's Auggie is a bit dimmer here. The only parallel I could see between Curious Incident's Christopher is their British ethnicity. As for the disease element, I never quite understood the full parameters of SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficieny.) As I surmised it, this disease occurs when a child is born lacking an immune system. Consequently, Joe is kept sequestered in a sterile hospital room receiving his daily meals through a sealed plastic tube and having limited contact with visitors. What was less clear to me was why he felt so tired and ill all of the time. In addition to having being hospitalized since he was two months old, eleven-year-old Joe is an orphan having lost both his parents in a car crash at a very young age. His only relation is an older sister in medical school who is not not able to visit him with terrific frequency. Come on already! Seriously? How many blows can one poor soul take? It was the same feeling I got watching The Pursuit of Happyness. Can't he get a break at some point? Having spent a fair amount of time in hospital myself (Did you read what I did there? I pretended to be British by eliminating the article in front of hospital. The minor ways I amuse myself...) I shudder at the thought of spending my entire life (sans two months) shut in a hospital room, wiling away the hours watching television and playing on the computer. I think I would honestly rather die.
Anyway, back to the book. Of course, this being a story, something has to happen and that something did lighten the story considerably as well as improve my opinion. Overall, it is a good book (as stated previously) but it is not "WONDERful."
One more note: those west of the pond may not catch many of the references to British football (soccer) players and London landmarks. There are search engines for that. If this were to be used in the classroom many geography, sports, medicine, and "maths" lessons could be incorporated as well providing plenty of fodder for discussions and writing prompts.
Joe, the Bubble's protagonist is a mighty extraordinary kid but the heart that shone so brightly in Wonder's Auggie is a bit dimmer here. The only parallel I could see between Curious Incident's Christopher is their British ethnicity. As for the disease element, I never quite understood the full parameters of SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficieny.) As I surmised it, this disease occurs when a child is born lacking an immune system. Consequently, Joe is kept sequestered in a sterile hospital room receiving his daily meals through a sealed plastic tube and having limited contact with visitors. What was less clear to me was why he felt so tired and ill all of the time. In addition to having being hospitalized since he was two months old, eleven-year-old Joe is an orphan having lost both his parents in a car crash at a very young age. His only relation is an older sister in medical school who is not not able to visit him with terrific frequency. Come on already! Seriously? How many blows can one poor soul take? It was the same feeling I got watching The Pursuit of Happyness. Can't he get a break at some point? Having spent a fair amount of time in hospital myself (Did you read what I did there? I pretended to be British by eliminating the article in front of hospital. The minor ways I amuse myself...) I shudder at the thought of spending my entire life (sans two months) shut in a hospital room, wiling away the hours watching television and playing on the computer. I think I would honestly rather die.
Anyway, back to the book. Of course, this being a story, something has to happen and that something did lighten the story considerably as well as improve my opinion. Overall, it is a good book (as stated previously) but it is not "WONDERful."
One more note: those west of the pond may not catch many of the references to British football (soccer) players and London landmarks. There are search engines for that. If this were to be used in the classroom many geography, sports, medicine, and "maths" lessons could be incorporated as well providing plenty of fodder for discussions and writing prompts.
January 13, 2021
INCREDIBLE!!! It takes a really good book for me to keep reading willingly and complete the book within a couple of days but this book I could not put down. It follows the journey of a boy named Joe, the only person in the UK to be living in a Bubble, as he battles a very rare disorder which has left him with an incredibly weak immune system. Joe has spent practically his whole life hooked up to wires and see the world through his television screen and the glass window of his high rise hospital ward. It's no life for a child to be living and one wrong move could be fatal, but Joe is just thankful for each day. The story encompasses Joe's parallel life in the form of Henry, a boy over in America with the same condition. The two are inseparable over screen and Joe become incredibly close to Henry, a truly reliable friend, as well as his sister Beth and an array of Drs and Nurses. A must read to find out if bubble boy ever bursts his bubble, remember... one wrong move could be fatal.
March 15, 2023
I want to say a sad middle grade should not be this long with nothing much happening just to get tired of the same scenes repeated over and over again. I would say the characters do not stand out as much as they should.
This is the story of a boy who needs to stay inside the hospital isolated from everyone and get treatment day and night. He tries his best to remain normal believing that he can be a superhero and make things right.
The concept is good. However, it got too repetitive and I stopped caring. This shouldn’t happen especially with middle grade sad books 😞
This is the story of a boy who needs to stay inside the hospital isolated from everyone and get treatment day and night. He tries his best to remain normal believing that he can be a superhero and make things right.
The concept is good. However, it got too repetitive and I stopped caring. This shouldn’t happen especially with middle grade sad books 😞
September 1, 2021
With this book, I guess you really have to be into it to like it. I thought that by the end of the book he was going to get out of the room and end up living a normal life but he really just stayed there the entire time. The book never really progressed. The author did do a good job of keeping you on the edge of your seat whenever he was in trouble or something was happening though. Overall, I think that the book was okay but if they made another with an alternate, happy ending, the book would be a lot better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2018
Tearjerker about Joe, an 11-yr old Briton diagnosed with SCIDS (Severe Combined Immune Deficiency) and hospitalized in relative isolation, from the age of 2-months on. Joe enjoys a close relationship with his sister, who's actually the only non-medical person allowed to touch him; but she's older and venturing out on a career path which drastically curtails her visits. Their parents were killed in a car crash she survived, and that gives Joe nightmares even though he wasn't even there when it happened. Joe's American best-friend and fellow bubble sufferer is hospitalized in Philadelphia, and the two of them communicate constantly online.
I didn't find the action believable, but it was definitely riveting. Reading this book made me want to go out and find a kid with a chronic disorder, to entertain or alleviate some loneliness for them, to relieve some burden for their family members. And for offering a lesson on compassion to a juvenile readership I'm giving the book an extra star.
I didn't find the action believable, but it was definitely riveting. Reading this book made me want to go out and find a kid with a chronic disorder, to entertain or alleviate some loneliness for them, to relieve some burden for their family members. And for offering a lesson on compassion to a juvenile readership I'm giving the book an extra star.
June 23, 2017
I had tears rolling down my face at several points in this moving novel by Stewart Foster about a boy who can not leave hospital for fear of getting a fatal infection from being outside his 'bubble'. I loved the characters especially the main character Joe, his best friend Henry, his loving sister Beth and his nurses, Greg and of course the eccentric but ever resourceful and caring Amir. Although parts of the story seemed a tad far-fetched, the novel still worked as the tears proved, and it is a great story of empathy love and resilience. My students who love 'Wonder' and 'Out of my Mind' will love Joe's story and thoroughly enjoy this book. I can't wait to get it for the library.
July 20, 2023
3,5 ⭐
Oceniłabym ją nawet na 4 ale w porównaniu do poprzednich książek czytanych przeze mnie widać trochę różnice. Czytało mi sia ją bardzo dobrze. Poruszająca opowieść Joe pokazuje że warto cieszyć się z małych rzeczy takich jak pójście na spacer. Jednak uważam że trochę Szkoda ze nie ma smutnego zakończenia ale to tylko moje zdanie.
Oceniłabym ją nawet na 4 ale w porównaniu do poprzednich książek czytanych przeze mnie widać trochę różnice. Czytało mi sia ją bardzo dobrze. Poruszająca opowieść Joe pokazuje że warto cieszyć się z małych rzeczy takich jak pójście na spacer. Jednak uważam że trochę Szkoda ze nie ma smutnego zakończenia ale to tylko moje zdanie.
July 2, 2017
Amir! Such a great character.
December 30, 2017
it was a really cute book. i cried quite a bit. i loved how it was a about living on the side of danger and what adventure feels like and how some long for it.
January 16, 2023
I'm crying inside
June 7, 2017
I went into this book expecting something like Shannon M. Drapers “Out of My Mind” or R. J. Palacios “Wonder”, but in the end, I was underwhelmed.
What I Liked
Characters: I really loved all of the characters. They were all so loveable and realistic. The only issue with the characters is that the dialog between Joe and Henry seamed to mature.
Plot: As for the plot I really liked the idea of it,. But it took a turn that I was not a fan of. I also really liked that it did not glamorize illness in any way. It showed how Joe’s life was not a walk in the park.
What I didn’t like
How easy Things Were: There were some things that happened (That I am not going to specify cause spoilers) that all I could think is “Ummmm… Yea know that would never happen” I would have liked this quite a bit more if it was more realistic.
Pacing: This book was slow in the beginning, then it ended to abruptly. If it had a more consistent pace (even if it was really slow) I would have been a lot happier.
In all I did enjoy this book. If in intrigues you then by all means pick it up, but I would not call it a must read.
I gave this book a 3.5/5 stars.
What I Liked
Characters: I really loved all of the characters. They were all so loveable and realistic. The only issue with the characters is that the dialog between Joe and Henry seamed to mature.
Plot: As for the plot I really liked the idea of it,. But it took a turn that I was not a fan of. I also really liked that it did not glamorize illness in any way. It showed how Joe’s life was not a walk in the park.
What I didn’t like
How easy Things Were: There were some things that happened (That I am not going to specify cause spoilers) that all I could think is “Ummmm… Yea know that would never happen” I would have liked this quite a bit more if it was more realistic.
Pacing: This book was slow in the beginning, then it ended to abruptly. If it had a more consistent pace (even if it was really slow) I would have been a lot happier.
In all I did enjoy this book. If in intrigues you then by all means pick it up, but I would not call it a must read.
I gave this book a 3.5/5 stars.
January 23, 2020
What can I say? This book was truly a joy to read. Though my heart broke for Joe, his resilience and optimism are truly inspirational. His character and story mirrors that of the real-life famous bubble boy, David Vetter, who also showed immense patience and strength throughout his life. It would pay to go and do a little research into Vetter's life as it'll give a little background on what life is like for those who suffer from SCID.
Foster really does an amazing job of putting the reader in Joe's shoes. He shows the best of humankind through the characters in this book. There's a lot of really effective and interesting symbolism in the book.
Also as a side note, for those who might state that the writing style is a little simplistic, it might pay to remember that Foster is writing from the perspective of an 11-year-old. As such, the writing style mirrors a child's writing capabilities for that age.
It's perfect for young adults or pre-teen kids to teach them many valuable life lessons including empathy, resilience, persistence, and optimism. Well-worth the read!
Foster really does an amazing job of putting the reader in Joe's shoes. He shows the best of humankind through the characters in this book. There's a lot of really effective and interesting symbolism in the book.
Also as a side note, for those who might state that the writing style is a little simplistic, it might pay to remember that Foster is writing from the perspective of an 11-year-old. As such, the writing style mirrors a child's writing capabilities for that age.
It's perfect for young adults or pre-teen kids to teach them many valuable life lessons including empathy, resilience, persistence, and optimism. Well-worth the read!
August 6, 2019
Meh.
Bubble has promising ideas and interesting, realistic characters. Illness is not romanticized, nor is everything wrapped up in a neat, happy bow at the conclusion. Still, I wanted this book to be better. The pace was very slow and a great deal of the dialogue felt stilted or too advanced for an 11-year-old. Too many thematic tangents left waving in the wind. If the author had focused on a few more specifics or fleshed out some of the relationships a bit more, especially Greg/Beth/Amir, it might have held my attention. Honestly, it was boring.
I think I just talked myself into 2.5 stars.
Bubble has promising ideas and interesting, realistic characters. Illness is not romanticized, nor is everything wrapped up in a neat, happy bow at the conclusion. Still, I wanted this book to be better. The pace was very slow and a great deal of the dialogue felt stilted or too advanced for an 11-year-old. Too many thematic tangents left waving in the wind. If the author had focused on a few more specifics or fleshed out some of the relationships a bit more, especially Greg/Beth/Amir, it might have held my attention. Honestly, it was boring.
I think I just talked myself into 2.5 stars.
March 31, 2021
So original, I’ve never read anything like it. Soul lifting yet heart breaking at the same time. You can’t help but love the Bubble boy, his strange existence. This book made me laugh and cry in equal measure, to feel gratitude for the life I live, and moreover feel gratitude for totally unique, selfless individuals such as Amir whose kindness (and craziness) knows no bounds. An absolute gem of a book.
September 26, 2018
Such a lovely story, about the amazing Joe who is stuck in a hospital room due to a life threatening condition which means he can't come into contact with any germs.
This story is full of hope, desperation, friendship, loss and love. I borrowed this book from my daughter as I liked the sound of it. I am so pleased I did as it is a brilliantly written and inspirational story
This story is full of hope, desperation, friendship, loss and love. I borrowed this book from my daughter as I liked the sound of it. I am so pleased I did as it is a brilliantly written and inspirational story
October 30, 2024
An amazing book, about an 11 year old boy whose condition means he is confined to a hospital room. Poignant without being obvious, it moves you to tears but moves swiftly on to make you smile, even laugh. It is a humbling book, brilliantly written, with great characterisation of nurses Greg and Amir and Joe himself. I was surprised to see this categorised as a Juvenile read. It's so much more.
May 6, 2018
Poor Joe! A book that makes you think about how we get to enjoy the small things in life when others can’t. I really liked Greg a lot, and Beth is everything a big sister should be. This was definitely a rollercoaster ride of a book.
January 17, 2021
This is about Joe, an 11 year old British child diagnosed with SCID (Severe Combined Immune Deficiency) and hospitalised by himself. His parents were killed in a car crash and his sister survived miraculously. Joe's American best friend who is in the same situation is hospitalized in Philadelphia, and the two of them communicate constantly online.
This book made me think about how fortunate we are to be able to life to it’s fullest and go out to see other people, which is why I found this book very thought provoking.
This book made me think about how fortunate we are to be able to life to it’s fullest and go out to see other people, which is why I found this book very thought provoking.
September 3, 2018
This book will bring tears and laughs for its incredible story showing how life can be different in so many ways.
November 11, 2018
I loved this book. I really, really did. Heartwarming, humbling and sad but funny. A very lovely story indeed.
February 7, 2019
A moving story had my heart racing at one stage wondering what would happen next
June 17, 2020
I love this book from the bottom of my heart and my copy of Bubble boy is so battered. I take it with me everywhere and the ending still makes me cry!!!!!
July 12, 2021
very emotional book with ups and downs....1 would 10000000000 percent recommend this.... ages 10 and up 🖤
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