Ostrich Boys

by Keith Gray

'It's not really kidnapping, is it? He'd have to be alive for it to be proper kidnapping.'

Kenny, Sim and Blake are about to embark on a remarkable journey of friendship. Stealing the urn containing the ashes of their best friend Ross, they set out from Cleethorpes on the east coast to travel the 261 miles to the tiny hamlet of Ross in Dumfries and Galloway. After a depressing and dispiriting funeral they feel taking Ross to Ross will be a fitting memorial for a 15 year-old boy who changed all their lives through his friendship. Little do they realise just how much Ross can still affect life for them even though he's now dead.

Drawing on personal experience Keith Gray has written an extraordinary novel about friendship, loss and suicide, and about the good things that may be waiting just out of sight around the corner . . .

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Teen, Adventure, Contemporary, Friendship

368 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Keith Gray grew up in and around Grimsby and Cleethorpes on the east coast of England and decided he'd better take his writing ambition seriously after achieving 0% in his accountancy exams. His debut, 'Creepers', was published when he was only 24 and was shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Prize. Since then his books have either won or been shortlisted for awards all over the world including the Sankei Cultural Publishing Prize of Japan, the American Library Association Best Books (YA) and the Booktrust Teenage Prize. In the UK his bestselling novel 'Ostrich Boys' was shortlisted for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie Medal, the Costa Children's Book Award and won the Scottish Children's Book Awards, and has been adapted for the stage. Keith has been a reviewer for both the Guardian and Scotsman newspapers. In 2017 he moved to live in Vienna, Austria, with his partner, their daughter and a parrot called Bellamy. Keith is a co-founder of Sunday Writers’ Club.

Reviews

[bup · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book accomplishes a lot. First, It's a coming-of-age/loss-of-innocence story, wherein three 15-year-old friends take the ashes of their recently dead fourth friend on a journey they all need. Second, it's a book that reminds you that no matter what happens on a road trip, road trips are always worth it. Third, it's sickly funny.

Before I go on, I need to say I won this book in the goodreads 'giveaways' program.

So, yeah, these three mates (that's British for 'friends') take their mate's (friend's) ashes. Take them. Out of the dead guy's sister's hands. Because they're angry that the funeral was just what a bunch of people who didn't care particularly for their friend made it. And they book for Scotland. They figure what they're doing is illegal, but don't quite know what crime it is. Things don't go smoothly, of course - otherwise you wouldn't have a book, would you? - and they find themselves off course, without money, hungry, and more interested in the girls on the train than the coming storm and their shelterless evening awaiting.

Some of what you know is going to happen toward the end happens, but it has to happen, because some of it was pretty much inevitable. That's not the point, though, is it? It's the journey, after all.

Road trips are always worth it.

By the way, I'm a modern, enlightened dad, and want to make sure everybody's kids but my own are exposed to the most vile stuff imaginable, but be aware that the language in this book is like real fifteen year old boys talk, when adults aren't around. There's plenty of sex slang and meaningless curse words throughout. It's YA, but definitely for the older members of that demographic.

[raya (a little mango) · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ross was hit by a car, knocked off his bike. At the funeral the vicar had called it an accident. But somehow the word wasn't enough. It wasn't big enough, powerful enough--didn't mean enough. He hadn't spilled a cup of tea, he hadn't tripped over his own feet. He'd had his life smashed out of him. It felt like there should be a whole new word invented just to describe it."

Upset over the loss of their best friend, Ross, and displeased by his funeral, Blake, Sim, and Kenny all agree: their dead mate deserves a proper ceremony. The funeral "felt like genuine betrayal," says Blake, because Ross means more to them than hoaxed compassion expressed by people who didn't care about him--not like Blake, Sim, or Kenny did, anyway. Ross was their friend and worthy of something authentic. Born in a moment of grief, hurt, and eagerness to do one last thing for their friend, the boys plan to take Ross to Ross--Ross, Scotland, that is.

"It's not really kidnapping, is it?" Kenny said. "He'd have to be alive, wouldn't he? For it to be a proper kidnapping, I mean."

What is supposed to be a two-day scheme stretches out to be a longer adventure as lost money, forgotten train tickets, and evading police jeopardize the mission. The biggest threat, however, lies with each other. Together, Ross, Kenny, and Sim all see themselves as the only three people who never wronged or abandoned Ross--not like his sister Caroline (who'd publicly embarrassed him), his ex-girlfriend Nina, the bully Sean Munro, or even Ross' parents. They easily dismiss the idea that Ross intentionally biked into the oncoming vehicle, but their sureness and friendship are tested as they each question their loyalty. This trip will become a bookmarked chapter in their lives they can’t forget. Expected to fortify their friendship, their willingness (or lack thereof) to speak honestly–to listen and understand–quietly lingers in the background. Difficult to ignore yet subtle, it hovers between the text, and I could sense its claws intimidating to tear an already weakened bond.

Our friendship used to be a solid square, one of us to each other. Things were very different as a triangle.

Ross is what they all gravitated toward in the beginning, and it was Ross who bound the four of them together. Now that Ross is dead, the remaining three will either strengthen their connection or watch it unravel.

Coming-of-age stories, by their nature, are stories most people relate to. They often capture those moments when the simple ignorance of childhood or youthful innocence begins to fray. For me, personally, I enjoy the dynamics of male friendships much more than the bond girls share. Perhaps it's because I find societal gender roles versus natural male and female relationships interesting, but boys often have a hinted intimacy sitting underneath all that masculinity. It's an affection that is, naturally, very different from girls. Once these little moments in the story are pieced together and viewed as a whole, it can strike powerfully as touching and meaningful.

Oddly, however, I am apathetic toward Ostrich Boys. Some kind of emotion usually rouses the instant I finish reading a book's last sentence. Whether I feel happy, disappointed, sad, bored, in love, or relieved, I at least feel something, but I am entirely void. This books is about three friends doing whatever they can to reach their destination--throw in a bungee jump, a few girls, a little bickering, and car-chase... Well, I just summarized the book for you. Gray could not, no matter how badly I wished he could, hook me into Ostrich Boys. Once again, I'm somewhat to blame. When I read the summary I mentally went back to Stand By Me (the movie, of course, because I sadly haven't read The Body) and Looking for Alaska. Both are great coming-of-age stories dealing with adventure, friendship, life, and death. Ostrich Boys, on the other hand, also deals with those issues, but they are dealt with lightly. I'll explain:

What I felt Gray failed to add was the right amount emotion, which felt brushed over like a secondary element. The humor helps deliver a light-hearted, young atmosphere, but I missed the sincerity. Indeed, there are moments when one or all three of the boys are caught brooding; albeit, they are short-lived moments. But I mean: hey! Their best friend just died. I know it's part of our cultural norm for boys to blanket their emotions, but these boys are friends. I didn't expect the characters to mourn via a sob party, letting their emotions run loose like caged animals desperate to be let out. What I did expect was to witness the boys loosen the grip that's strangling their feelings, thoughts, and in consequence: their friendship. With that, I thought they would thicken emotional ties that already have, in some way, connected them for life.

Maybe I am wrong, but I'd think Blake, Kenny, and Sim would feel the foundation of their friendship is strong enough to speak to each other. Why do they hesitate? It feels like they don't completely trust each other enough to know the other two--or at least one of the two--has the third's back. In a way, Gray explores the friendship through Blake's conversation with Kayleigh:

"We phone each other every night, and send each other texts all the time too. It's not only when we see each other. Boys don't talk to each other about proper things. I know I can talk to my pals all the time anytime I want and tell them anything."

I knew there were one or two things I would never dream of telling Kenny or Sim. But maybe I would have talked to Ross about them. . . . "You're being a bit unfair, aren't you?" I said. "Okay, maybe we don't talk all the time, but maybe we don't need to. I know Kenny and Sim would be there for me if I need them. In fact, just today with that bungee jump? The guy who ran it was a total arsehole, but Kenny and Sim were right by my side all the time."

But will they always be there for Blake, and is Blake willing to always stand up for Kenny and Sim? There is an interesting moment where Blake comes clean and outs his betrayal to Ross. Sim's reaction sets the final landing on where they all stand with one another, and that reaction intrigued me. What I would have given for Sim to open up to his friends about his home life, how he felt about Ross' death, and what the trip meant to him. Regardless, Blake understands Sim better than I or even Kenny, explaining:

"I think Sim looked up to Ross more than any of us. And I bet if Sim could've swapped lives with someone, he would've jumped at the chance of being Ross for a while."

Hindered by its own restricted emotional range, I feel disappointed over the book’s shallow exploration and inability to move me. But, in the end, would I recommend Ostrich Boys? I give a tentative "yes."

This review and more can be read at Midnight Coffee Monster.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

OSTRICH BOYS is about friendship and loyalty. Blake, Sim, and Kenny just lost their best friend, Ross. Hit by a car while riding his bike, he is gone and they can hardly believe it.

After the boys attend his funeral, they decide the ceremony didn't do their friend justice. Ross was so much more than a collection of words and hymns. As a sort of revenge for the fact that he was taken in such unfair circumstances and at an early age, they concoct a plan to honor him in their own way.

Ross always dreamed of visiting a town of the same name, Ross, Scotland. The three remaining friends "kidnap" Ross's ashes and head to Scotland. The removal of the funeral urn from Ross's home didn't go as smoothly as planned, so their scheme to take a train to Scotland and back in just two days turns into a sort of escape that has Ross's family and the families of the three boys frantic.

Just before leaving Ross's house, his father confronted Blake about the possibility that Ross may have taken his own life by riding his bike into the path of the car. Blake is shocked by the question, as are Kenny and Sim, but shortly into their journey there is word that they have been on the evening news. Speculation is that the three boys are part of a suicide pact, and now the hunt is on.

OSTRICH BOYS is filled with action and adventure. Each boy is unique - Blake is known as the intelligent one, Kenny is the computer whiz and happens to be the bankroll for their trip until he unfortunately forgets his bag while switching trains, and Sim possesses an amazing knowledge of collective nouns that is sure to fascinate and provide remarkably useless information for readers.

Author Keith Gray combines bungee jumping, wild train rides, quirky characters, and the emotional upheaval of losing a close friend to create an incredible tale. A bit of a slow start might discourage some readers, but if they are encouraged to stick with it, most will find it a rewarding read.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a lovely, funny, moving book! I happened upon it by chance, never having heard of the author, so I didn't really know what to expect. What I got was a memorable and believable story about friendship.

The story centers around three teenage boys whose friend, Ross, has died. They decide his funeral was not what he would have wanted, and steal his ashes to take them to a town called Ross in Scotland. Now this may seem somewhat absurd, but trust me, it somehow makes total sense. I really enjoyed this story of their adventure, told by Blake, one of the boys. Keith Gray weaves a smooth, engaging tale with flashbacks and plenty of believable banter, which left me looking him up to see if there was anything else of his I could read.

Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com

[Joseph]

I read and write fantasy but occasionally step outside that genre to sample something else. On this occasion I was delighted to read the ‘Ostrich Boys’. Three boys steal the urn that contains the ashes of their best friend, called ‘Ross’ and flee north. They have decided to scatter his remains near the hamlet of ‘Ross’ in Scotland. It is a journey of self-discovery as they gradually lift their heads out of the sand. This is a book that you will never forget.

[Piyush Mourya · Rating 5 out of 5]

UBF #3/10
I really like this book. The British humor ranges from crude to witty to brutal. The story takes you by surprise. You feel like you are a part of the adventure these boys set out for. After reading this one, I realized I can shamelessly enjoy the books which might be targeted for a younger audience. I might read it again someday just for the jokes. Many a times in between the writer puts some pretty moving lines through his characters. (Forgot to highlight most of them but felt pretty good reading them). The book deals beautifully with the feeling of losing someone and as you finish the book, you are left with bittersweet memories of your own friends, who you might never be the part of your stories.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a very different story line than most books I read. It's the story of four 15 year-old boys who experience a tragedy when one of the boys is killed in a bicycle accident. The remaining three boys seek to give their friend a proper funeral by taking his ashes to the one place in Britain he always wanted to go - the place that holds his name - Ross. The boys not only experience adventure, they find themselves searching deep within themselves to solve the biggest question everyone is asking - did Ross cause the accident? And the next important question - did any of them contribute to the situation.

I enjoyed the later part of the story when one of the girls they meet is explaining to them the difference between how girls relate to each other and how boys are lacking in that department. Also, the ending did tie in nicely when it related what living is all about - about not knowing for sure what's going to happen next.

Due to the deep topic of suicide being continually discussed, I wouldn't recommend this book for young readers. It would say it's more appropriate for older teens and that it's nice to have a book about boys that visits emotions.

With the pacing so slow for three quarters of the book and the topic of suicide, I wouldn't say it was for me. I'm still glad I gave it a chance.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro che si divora in un attimo, molto leggero e piacevole. Il finale mi ha fatto cambiare radicalmente opinione, fino agli ultimissimi capitoli avrei dato 3 stelle, appunto poiché mi sembrava un libro scorrevole e simpatico, ma nulla di più: il finale invece, che non anticipo, permette di dare una nuova prospettiva alla storia, rende i personaggi più profondi e lascia aperta una riflessione piuttosto interessante sull'amicizia, la morte, le scelte. E' la storia di tre adolescenti, che hanno appena perso un amico, investito in bicicletta. Come molti adolescenti giudicano senza possibilità d'appello e semplicisticamente gli adulti, che ritengono comportarsi ipocritamente al funerale dell'amico (nessuno infatti lo conosceva come loro) e si autoassolvono come unici portatori di autenticità in un mondo di falsità. Galvanizzati da questa sensazione e dal reciproco sostegno, rubano le ceneri dell'amico e si tuffano in un'avventura improvvisate e piena di intoppi per portarle in un luogo a cui l'amico era molto affezionato: una fantomatica cittadina, Ross, omonima del ragazzo. Ovviamente le cose non andranno come previsto e diventerà una bel viaggio di formazione. Molto consigliato per la fascia d'età 12-16, ma direi godibilissimo e forse anche più comprensibile per un pubblico adulto.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absorbing YA book about adolescent boys and expressing their feelings. The core group of boys have different backgrounds and characters but fate has conspired to bring them together as a group of friends. However, this is seemingly shattered when Ross is killed in a road accident. The remaining boys find the funeral extremely unsatisfactory and begin to extract some revenge on those who they see as having treated their friend badly. They take it into their heads to give him a better send-off by enacting the adventure that Ross had talked about in the past but this proves more problematic than their initial thoughts. The book is quite effective at conveying the different characters of the boys and their responses to the accident. As the rumours that Ross may have intended to kill himself become more secure, they begin to realise that each of them had contributed to aspects of Ross' unhappiness. The book is quite moving at times but avoids being preachy; no doubt would be a useful book for many YAs to consider their feelings and relationships.

[Yami · Rating 4 out of 5]

what do you call a group of Ostriches???
a "Pride"
though according to the net it should be a flock, let's for the sake of this novel agree it is a Pride, cos it does make sense if it is intended to be a pun. the boys were between glowing with pride with what they were doing, and hiding their heads in the sand as Ostriches at the same time...

enough of the title,

about the plot, as it says three boys are going in an adventure to give their friend Ross the funeral he deserves by stealing his "ASHES" to a place called Ross.

although I suspected the events to be darker and scarier ,since we are in the era of the dystopian novels , but no, actually it was innocent, and there is STILL humans who have heart to actually help. there is no real climax, only the bad luck you might face in an ordinary road-trip especially with normal kids of such age.
it felt kind of a novel wrote a generation ago which it is, when young adults were just teens ,no warriors , rebels ,twinkling vampires or whatever they are in the modern literature.

but the thing is after all the happy go lucky and the harsh enjoyable trip, the darkness did exist and the source was the three friends who started it all. it came so sneakily that it gave my heart a jolt and I felt their suffocation. it ended with a sad finale and a regret which everyone might have witnessing someone close by passing away, but for those kids the truth behind it was devastating.

A good novel, fast paced funny till you reach the last part.

[Eva Mitnick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sensible, stocky Blake is our narrator, and he makes it seem an inevitable result of the trio's true friendship with and understanding of their friend Ross that they steal his cremated ashes (not long after he has been killed by a car while riding his bike) and abscond with them to Ross, Scotland. As it turns out, they didn't understand Ross - or each other, or themselves - as well as they thought, but after a whirlwind trip full of missteps, bonding, quarreling, girls, and bungee jumping, things are much more clear. Not necessarily better, just more clear.

The nature and mystery of male friendship is slowly revealed between madcap bouts of misadventure, and somehow it all feels realistic. Well - there's a wild ride on stolen motorscooters that has more than a touch of Teen Movie about it, but still, the scene is both funny and ludicrous enough to work.

Girls are the ones who know how to be friends, a girl tells Blake at one point. They tell each other everything, give each other presents, and are always there for each other. Boys don't do that! And while Blake feels hotly defensive of his own close friendship with his pals, he doesn't quite know how to convince her; he just knows how important it is. Readers of Ostrich Boys will certainly agree with Blake that Guy Friendship is a deep thing indeed.

[Alejandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book in less than 24 hours, I have to agree with The Herald when they say that "if there were more writers like Keith Gray, more teenagers would read". Mr. Gray certainly knows the way a teenage mind works and he writes with such force that you can't help get sucked in the story.
This is the tale of Sim, Burke and Kenny; three 15 year old boys who have just lost his friend Ross in a terrible accident. All of them agree that no one really understood Ross, and feel the need to give him a proper funeral. A while back, Ross told them he wanted to go to a small town in Scotland called Ross -fitting indeed!-. So, the boys decide to steal his friends' ashes and set out on a journey to give Ross' death some sort of meaning. What they discover about themselves and their soon departed friend will affect their lives deeply. The journey gets more and more complicated as they travel along and you can't help rooting for them to reach that Scottish town before their parents or the police catch up to them.
I really loved this book: it is just like taking a peek inside your typical, moody teenager boy. You get to experience the fearlessness, the hilarious irreverent thoughts and that warm, comforting feeling that having good friends gives you. Funny, sad, lovely, eye opening and shocking all rolled into one book called Ostrich Boys. Brilliant!

[Sue Wargo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the quintessential buddy book. When high school friend Ross dies in an accident, the remaining three buddies decide that his ashes need to be taken to a town north of their home called Ross. Almost like a bad joke, the boys steal the urn from Ross's family and set off on a journey to pay respects to their friend. There are antics such as losing the back pack, not enough money,missing a stop in the transit, picking up girls, ans sleeping in an abandoned house. All the while the boys are inundated with calls from home that they are in big trouble. This has an undercurrent of sadness as there are rumor that Ross's demise was not an accident but a suicide. The boys won't believe it and feel an even stronger mission northward to settle Ross's remains.As I said in the beginning this is a buddy story, there are many incarnations of this kind of plot,but for teens this is bitter sweet. Each character is well formed and the counter play among them believable. The loyalty of the boys and the answers to the enigma that was Ross has an unexpected ending but a truthful one. I really enjoyed reading this even as an adult and would highly recommend o my students. Only drawback for my students might be the English slang. But I am sure they can work past that.

[Sydney LaForest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ostrich Boys entertained me the whole way. It simply made me smile -- there's nothing better than an illegal road trip taken by 15-year-old boys filled with... well, boyish antics (though there was nothing really daring about any of it, besides taking the actual trip). However, that's all it was to me. Throughout the novel, I wanted to know what happened, but it didn't really hook me. I enjoyed the characters and the flaws they clearly all had, but I didn't see much character devlopment. Although their beliefs may have been altered a bit by what happened to Ross, everyone basically stayed the same. I kept expecting the book to be more emotional -- after all, their best friend just died -- but it just wasn't. There were a few heartfelt moments, but they didn't particulary move me to tears or even make me that sad. In this book, the emotions seemed kind of skimmed over, as if the actions were more important. Overall, it was a fun read, but if you're expecting something emotional and over-the-top crazy, you're reading the wrong book.

[Joey Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an emotional wreck right now.

No, really. I had to spend a few moments after finishing the book just crying my eyes out and trying to regain myself. (I still haven't, btw.) I just knew this book would make me cry like a baby. But I still torture myself.

What's not to love about this book? The prose is just beautiful. There were plenty parts of the story that made my heart ache. I fell in love with the four main characters and their wonderful friendship with one another, and I felt like I too had lost a friend whenever they would talk about Ross.

And the ending. I mean, I saw it coming, but I just...hoped it wouldn't happen, you know? And the tears just sprang out when it did.

So go ahead and read this book. And after you do, cry your eyes out. Stare at the ceiling wondering how emotional you feel. Then realize the beauty of friendship, and how lucky one is to have it. And realize that you never know how much time you have with a person...

...so make you sure they know that you love them.

[Amber Wortz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amber Wortz
Adventure

This is a young adult novel set in the UK, where 3 best friends run away from home to spread their dead best friend's ashes after his family gave him a funeral that they didn't approve on. On their adventure to Ross, Scotland they have to hitchhike, stow away on trains and bungee jump to get to their destination. On their journey that also discover things they didn't know about each other and about their deceased friend.

I thought this was a pretty realistic book about the thought processes of teenagers when they have a traumatic experience in life, such as the death of a friend. From an adult perspective it made me cringe that they would steal someone's ashes away from his parents, but many teenagers cannot see the consequences of their actions in the moment and the book portrayed that well. It was pretty predictable, but worth the read.

[Marten Wennik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really taken by this story. I could not put it down. I found that both the physical journey across England and Scotland was entertaining while the emotional and psychological journey was compelling. The way the author weaves these journeys, the boys trials and their growth is all well conceived and delivered. I recognize that the author was capturing the common tongue of the middle class Brit, but the language (swearing) was a bit too much for teaching in my seventh grade class. Yet I would still highly recommend this book to my students for their own reading with the caution for the language.

Overall, one of the best young adult books I have read in a while.

[OwenF English · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes place after Kenny, Sim, and Blake's best friend Ross has been killed after being hit by a car. Before Ross's death, the group had been nearly inseparable. With Ross gone, the three friends felt angry and lost. To make matters worse, Ross's funeral procession was a nightmare, and the boys didn't think that it represented his life well enough. So, they decide to go on the adventure of a lifetime, with Ross's ashes, to give him a proper funeral. Their friendship is tested along the way by girls, extreme sports, police chases, and more, but they learn valuable lessons along the way about loyalty and companionship.
Keith Gray did a great job of reflecting the incredible bond that friends share. The book has a common theme of the strength of companionship as well as coming of age and losing some of your innocence you had as a child. The story quickly developed in a way that made you always thinking about what could happen next. The plot, although easy to follow, was very intriguing and made you felt like you were on the adventure too. This is in part due to the fact that Keith Gray made the characters extremely relatable to teenagers. Each character possessed his own characteristic approach to situations and emotions that we can pinpoint to someone in our own lives. The dialogue was also appealing to teenagers because of the slang used by the characters. Overall, I thought that this was a great book because it really reflected what it's like being a teenager and the loyalty and willingness to stand by your friends no matter what that comes along with it.

[Draco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content warning: death, loss, grief, suicide

My first feelings upon starting this book were of sheer joy- stories centred around friendships are my weakness, they never fail to make me nostalgic for my own teenage friendships. The boys in this story are fierce in their love for their recently deceased friend, they're completely sure they know what's best for him, and set out on a cross-country trip to Scotland to get to a little village called Ross, to throw him a 'proper funeral'. The 'plan' however, gets botched quite a bit, as 15 year old boys would do, and along the way they begin to question what they knew about the circumstances of their best friend's death.

Suddenly, this wholesome and happy novel dives into raw feelings of guilt and grief when they discover their friend is suspected to have deliberately caused his accident. So many raw emotions coming out on the last few pages of this book as each of the boys analyzes the last week of their dead friend's life- really daring themselves to look, and finally see how miserable he was, how tortured and upset and trying to hide it.

When I put this novel down, I had wet eyes, and such a profound respect for Sim, Kenny and Blake- who, for all their youth and misplaced anger at their dead friend, learned to accept what they had been trying to ignore for so long. The feeling that they could have done more, that they should've been there for him when he needed it. He should've been able to tell them when he wanted to give up. They should've told him more how much they adored and admired him, they should've shouted from the rooftops how their lives were so much richer with him in it.

A brilliant novel, a great read for young adults and anybody else. It made me take out my phone and text my best friend, someone I've known and loved for 15 years- and ask them how they're doing, tell them I miss them, tell them I love them. And later speak to them on phone for a good couple of hours.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the book for the creative aspects it excemplifies. My favorite part was when the traveling boys were in a place call black pool and did bungee jumping. My least favorite part was when Sim left, he was my favorite character and it saddened me, although fit his character to leave. The author chose the boys activities and destinations well, and had some very creative implements to it. This book was very realistic in the ways the boys talked, and cussed, and that made it better. I learned that you can do whatever you want, but what troubles yo create will always come back around. The author taught this by making the entire story fun, creative, and overall cool, but they committed crimes and that got back to them.

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[Monica Kessler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book back in 2009 as a Carnegie Shadower, along with the rest of the Carnegie Shortlist. At the time, I really disliked it due to the lack of direct plot and overly "realistic" style. I also disliked all of the characters because as you learn throughout the book, essentially they [SPOILER] all had a hand in their friend's death. One of the main reasons I enjoy book is for character, and the other is for plot, so it wasn't going well.

However, 11 years later and I still can't stop thinking about this book and the deep underlying message. Yes, the characters were all deeply flawed and selfish in their own way, but the book was about them coming to realise that and to lift their "heads out of the sand" like the title implies. It is a book I would pick up again as an adult and possibly enjoy more for the character development and the dawning realisations that they all face in this adventure that they place into their humdrum existence. This book really changed me, and even at the time I hadn't realised how it changed the way I thought about a friend who became suicidal a year after I read this.

No one talks about this book nowadays and I wish there was more discussion around it. For sure I expect that in 2020 there are better YA books that deal with such hard topics, but it was a very thought-provoking place to begin - if you know where to think from.

[Monica Caldicott]

Read p. 3: "Our best friend was ash in jar. Ross was dead. Kenny, Sim and I were learning to live with it."

Ross died after a car hit him on his bicycle.

And, for the record, Kenny, Sim and the narrator of this book Blake, are not dealing with the death of their best friend very well. To avenge the mental and emotional injuries done to their friend before his death, the boys spray paint messages on the front doors of the mean teacher who ridiculed Ross in class, the girl who broke his heart and the bully who tormented him.

Their friend's funeral is no better. A minister who didn't even know Ross got up and said a bunch of lame things that weren't even true. Then the head of the school repeated the travesty to their friend's name. Blake, Kenny and Sim just can't stand it.

Read p. 27: "Maybe that's what we should do … Kenny groaned."

In a crazy madcap adventure, the three friends steal Ross's ashes and high-tail it out of town on the first train to Scotland, where Ross's namesake town is located. Along the way, they deal with a lost train ticket, some strange guys in a "borrowed" taxi cab, bungee jumping and three hot girls. All the while, trying to learn to live without their best friend, Ross.

[Bek Nobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 rounded up)
This book was really interesting and immediately engaging. I didn’t like the main characters to start, and although I didn’t end up liking them too much as people, they felt so real - just like normal teenage boys - that I truly felt for them. Their relationships with each other, too, were complicated and genuine and added so much depth to the story.
It being targeted at younger readers meant that it was a simpler read, but this didn’t mean that the emotions and troubles the main characters went through were dulled down, or were any less real or impactful.
Also, there was a really strong sense of adventure that was prominent through the whole story that I really enjoyed, and thought it complimented the otherwise very sombre mood that overshadowed the rest of the story.
Overall, I’m glad that I read this book, it took me through such an emotional story of grief, adventure and friendship. It’s not too long, and being aimed at a younger audience means it’s a pretty easy read, and for these reasons, I’d definitely recommend it.

[Jaycee Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the book the ostrich boys by author keith gray
It is about 3 boys and one of their friends that had passed away named ross so their taking his urn to ross england because he always wanted to go their and they wanted to give him a proper funeral.on the way toward ross they met many people a man named gus who drove them to a train station where they would go all the way to a town called kirkbright(ker-coo-bree) they met 3 girls who would take them to a place called the tramps hotel where they would stay the night while they were their they all got hungry so they had a picnic under the stars it started to rain but they all stayed together then suddenly they heard a man shout out one of the girls names they all got scared she was talking with one of the boys named sim. Sim wanted to fight him for the girl but she left with him and all her friends went with her a girl named kat who was hanging out with a boy named kenny told him that she’ll come early the next morning so they went into the tramps hotel and layed down figuring who was going to sleep where. So they slept. The next morning they woke up kat came as promised. After kenny and kat said goodbye and were on their way to ross
They took a bus their and when they reached ross they were closer to one another.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book Ostrich Boys by Keith Gray is in the realistic fiction genre of books and is not part of a series. This book is about three teenagers who are were not satisfied with their best friend Ross's funeral and go on an adventure to steal his ashes and take him to where he always wanted to go Ross in Scotland. But on Blake, Sim, and Kenny's journey, they got in a situation after Kenny lost his bag with his train ticket, money, and everything else he had. While in this situation they find a taxi but it takes them to a bungee jumping tower where Blake is forced to face his fears and jump. Eventually, the three of them get what they wanted from the journey and for their friend' s death. I would give this book an eight out of ten because the book clearly showed the troubles they went through just for their best friend to have a real funeral. I would read this book if you like reading.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good YA novel. I enjoyed it, and kids would enjoy it. Subject matter *may* make it more appropriate for 8th grade and up, although the reading level would not be a challenge for most 6/7 graders.

The main characters are fifteen year-old boys in England; there are great messages about friendship, relationships between peers and adults, and gender roles. The messages are easily woven into the story, so kids would not feel like they are being "preached" at. Quick read and enjoyed the story, great read for anyone who teaches 6th-8th grade.

I gave it a "3" because it doesn't meet what I think of as the J.K. Rowling standard - there aren't any Dumbledores, Snapes, or Minerva McGonagalls - adults who understand and mentor youth.

[Dany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ita: http://lamenteaffilata.blogspot.it/20...
Eng: I didn't love this book but I really appreciated it. This book is about a strong friendship even though everyone seems to blame each other for the loss of Ross. i didn't like the adventure because I'm not an adventure person but the message of the book is really strong. I mean, what kind of friendship would make you run away on another state only for make a wish of a dead friend come true? It's sad that they didn't see what was happening to their friend also because of them. But somehow they made the whole situation a great treasure for themself.

[Dragoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were more books like this! I feel like there is something special about this book that you don’t find in many books.

Three reasons why:

It is such a strange plot line but instantly you feel towards the three boys that have just lost their best friend and you hope that you would do the same for your bestie.

The ending part when the boys bring Ross to Ross and scatter his ashes was such a happy sad moment and I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time!! You just feel so glad for them that they reached their goal.

The book is so funny and the characters act like teenage boys do- hash bash and running into situations head first without thinking it through!

[Armarna Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel tackles a difficult issue. And it does so boldly, right from the first sentence.

There are a lot of things I appreciated about the book. The realism, the content, the mad dash cross-country, the juvenile banter. The author's ability to articulate what it feels like to lose a close friend and not have all of the answers was handled exceptionally well, and I believe that adults and teenagers alike will be able to relate.

(And the bungee jumping scene is one of the most satisfying that I've read in a long while.)